Sorry, We Are Not Nigerians- Williams Sisters

The Williams sisters, Venus and Serena Wednesday put paid to insinuations that they were from Nigeria, when they said that they were proud to be American citizens.
Speaking at the Federal Palace Hotel, Venus, in a response to a question on their true origin, said that while they love Nigeria, the fact was that they were from the United States of America.
"This is another country that we would love to come from but we are from the United States and are proud to be from there as well", said Venus
On their mother's decision to name their late sister, Yetunde, after a Nigerian, Venus said that it was because of the mum's love for Africa.
"My mum named my late sister after an Africa name because she loves Africa and that is all to it", she said.

Brad Pitt Supports Gay Marriage Campaign, Donates $100K

Brad Pitt has agreed to donate $100,000 to help the Human Rights Campaign raise money for its efforts to support same-sex marriage initiatives in several states.
The nation's largest gay rights group announced Wednesday that Pitt agreed to match contributions from the group's members up to $100,000.
In an e-mail to members of the Human Rights Campaign, Pitt wrote that it's "unbelievable" that people's relationships will be put to a vote on Election Day.
Same-sex marriage will be on the ballot in Maryland, Maine, Minnesota and Washington state.
The Washington, D.C.-based Human Rights Campaign says it has spent $8 million to push for marriage equality for gays and lesbians over the past two years, including $5million in the four ballot measures this year.

7 Secrets For Hiring Great Employees

Over the years, I've interviewed hundreds of successful managers about everything from corporate strategy to managing the occasional nutcase.

Perhaps the most useful among these conversations have been the ones where we discussed exactly how to hire great employees.

Based on those conversations, here are the seven rules every hiring manager should memorize:

1. If you don't know exactly who you're looking to hire, it's stupid to actually hire somebody.

2. Interview candidates even when you're not hiring so that you know who to call when you are.

3. Never hire somebody who wants the job. Instead hire somebody who will be good at it.

4. When it comes to hiring (and getting work done), two "5s" do not equal a "10" on a scale of 1 to 10.

5. A history of success in an unrelated field is more valuable than a resume full of experience.

6. People accept jobs because they like companies and leave because they dislike managers.

7. Never be afraid to hire somebody smarter or better-looking than you.

Jonathan, Nigeria President, Swap Ministers Of Power And Niger-Delta

President Goodluck Jonathan has announced a minor cabinet reshuffle moving Minister of state for Niger Delta Affairs, to the Ministry of Power, while that of power moves to Niger Delta Affairs.
The president gave two major directives at the Federal Executive Council; the first is the swapping of positions between the two ministers.
He also directed that these two ministers should swap positions with effect from next week. In that regard Mr. Darius Dickson Ishaku now becomes the minister of state for Niger Delta Affairs and minister of state for Niger Delta Affairs, Hajia Zainab Kuchi becomes minister of state for Power.
President Jonathan further ordered that the council should not receive fresh memos concerning contracts from November 30th 2012.
The directives where made known to State House correspondents by Special Adviser to the president on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati after the council meeting.
He said that any step taken by the president in the power sector is geared towards strengthening the sector.

Rihanna Bans Chris' Ex From Halloween Bash

Rihanna is reportedly throwing a $100 000 Halloween party on Wednesday and is concerned that Chris Brown will bring along his ex-girlfriend Karrueche Tran.
A source told HollywoodLife.com: "Even though Ri is cool with what's going on [between the three of them] I ain't sure if she trying to have KT all up in her party.
"And KT don't want to go. Ri's crew don't like her. KT should keep her ass at home."
Rihanna has reportedly invited more than 300 guests to her party and is paying for an open bar.
Friends close to Chris recently revealed he is very confused about his feelings for his ex-girlfriend and they often exchange flirty messages.
A source said: "She basically lived at his house when they were together and she still feel some type of way about the entire situation.
"She's trying to be over him, but he [keeps] texting and sending her pictures of them together and [telling] her he [misses] her all the time and this and that. I wish he would be with her if he feels that way but I know he's a dog but Karrueche doesn't think so."
Friends of Karrueche, 22, insist Chris is chasing her and not the other way around.
The insider added: "I love Karrueche, that's my girl and she's not all in Chris' face trying to push up on it. She's keeping it real classy and cute, and he's been chasing her."
The former couple had dinner together at Wokcano in West Hollywood last Friday before attending the opening of new store Wild Style.

China Should Move To Two-Child Policy- Report

China should immediately end its one-child policy and instead adopt a two-child scheme, a foundation with close links to the highest levels of the Communist party has said.
The report from the China Development Research Foundation set a three-year deadline to phase in the reform.
The authors of the report are perhaps the most significant voices yet in the growing chorus for China to rethink its one-child policy.
"We have been discussing the one-child policy since 2000," said Li Jiamin, a specialist in population studies at Nankai university, and one of the co-authors of the study. "It is just a matter of finding the right solution. Making the jump to two children is only a matter of time now."
He added: "If China sticks to the one-child policy, we are looking at a situation as bad as the one in southern Europe. Old people will make up a third of the population by 2050."
Another co-author, Cui Fang, is an economist who heads the Population and Development department of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Mr Cui has lectured several members of the ruling Politburo Standing Committee.
Prof Cui said he was unable to comment because the report had leaked out ahead of the 18th Communist Party Congress, the highly sensitive moment when China will unveil a new set of leaders for the first time in a decade.
He said discussion of family planning at such a time is frowned upon, and that the report was supposed to emerge in ten days time.
However, in March, he argued that the government should keep the promise it made to the public three decades ago, when it introduced the one-child policy.
"They said if the circumstances changed, so would the policy. We should stay consistent to that and realise this promise," he said.
"In the past, family planning was important for our national development, but now the country has changed and the decision about how many children to have should be given back to families," he added.
The sacrifices made by Chinese families under the one-child policy have had an enormous impact, not only on China's resources but on the world. The Chinese population has been reduced by between 100 million and 400 million, according to various estimates.
However, the new study argues that bringing the policy to an end will not unleash a huge population boom.
It pointed to four experimental areas in northern and central China which had their family planning controls lifted in 1985.
"All these areas had low population growth, and the birth rate has been shrinking since 2000. But the gender balance in these areas is better, and so is the age distribution. These areas also have less conflict between the government and the people."
The report admitted, however, that some other experimental areas had seen births spiral "out of control" and had family planning policies reapplied.
Prof Li also said many families who have the right to have a second child under the current policies are choosing not to, perhaps because of the expense. "The effect of making a change will not be significant. This is not a bold policy [that we are suggesting]," he said.
However, he added that the report had not yet generated any feedback from the National Family Planning Commission in Beijing. "They basically feel that it will take more time to change the policy," said Prof Li.

Gene Hackman Slaps Homeless Man

Police in New Mexico say Gene Hackman was acting in self-defence when he slapped a homeless man who had become aggressive toward the Oscar-winning actor and his wife.
The Albuquerque Journal reported that the incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon in downtown Santa Fe.
Police did not immediately provide any additional details. A message seeking comment was left for Hackman's publicists at Guttman Associates in Beverly Hills, California.
Hackman and his wife have a home in Santa Fe.
The 82-year-old actor has won two Academy Awards and been nominated for three others over a career that has spanned five decades.
Hackman took the Best Actor trophy for his portrayal of Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle in "The French Connection" in 1971, and the Best Supporting Actor award for "Unforgiven" in 1992.

Zimbabwe Pair Nabbed For Drug Corpse

Zimbabwe police have detained two men on suspicion of drug-dealing after plain-clothes police caught them trying to recover a corpse stashed with 1.4kg of heroin, local media reported on Tuesday.
The state-owned Herald newspaper reported that the pair, in their thirties, were arrested at a funeral parlour in the capital when they went to collect the body of suspected drug mule Ally Omari Mpili.
"Mpili reportedly died with 1.4kg of heroin in his stomach while in transit to South Africa," the paper said adding that the drugs were valued at $112 000.
His body was taken by police to a local morgue while awaiting a post-mortem by a government pathologist.
The two men were arrested on 24 October and have since been charged with breaching the dangerous drugs act.
"A post-mortem done on 25 October by a government pathologist led to the recovery of creamish ampoules in the deceased's intestines," prosecutor Tungamirai Chakurira told the Harare Magistrate's Court.
Mlawa Jumanne Ndumbogane and Mufungo Ngara were denied bail and remanded in custody until 12 November.

Plane En Route To South Africa Missing In Mozambique

The hunt was on Wednesday for a small aircraft that was last heard of over Mozambique's remote northwest, with fears growing about the fate of its occupants.
The craft - reported to be a small Baron 55 with five people on board- was last heard of travelling in Mozambique's vast province of Tete en route to Lanseria airport, north of Johannesburg, the Mozambique Civil Aviation Agency said.
The plane did not send out a distress signal and no sign of its wreckage has been found.

Iran Delays Nuke Program, Stalling Moment Of Truth- Israel Defense Minister

Iran used over a third of its medium-enriched uranium for civilian purposes earlier this year, and with that delayed its military nuclear program, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said in an interview with The Daily Telegraph on Tuesday.
Barak told The Daily Telegraph that without this delay, the conflict with Iran would have escalated before the US presidential election.
The defense minister added he did not believe sanctions and diplomacy would succeed in resolving the situation. He predicted Israel and the US would likely have to face "the moment of truth" - the decision of whether or not to launch a military strike against the Islamic Republic's nuclear facilities - in eight to ten months.
Barak mulled possible reasons behind the delay in Iran's nuclear program, purporting that there could be a minimum of three explanations: "One is the public discourse about a possible Israeli or American operation deterred them from trying to come closer."
"It could probably be a diplomatic gambit that they have launched in order to avoid this issue culminating before the American election, just to gain some time. It could be a way of telling the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) 'oh we comply with our commitments,'" he said, adding that it could be a combination of all three elements.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu told French magazine Paris Match that an Israeli military strike on Iran would benefit Arab states,removing a potential threat and easing tensions across the Middle East.
Tehran denies its nuclear work has any military dimensions but governments in Europe and the United States are increasingly concerned over its intentions.
Diplomacy and successive rounds of economic sanctions have so far failed to end the decade-old row, raising fears of Israeli military action against its arch-enemy.
Analysts say Iran already has enough low-enriched uranium for several nuclear bombs if it were refined to a high degree, but may still be a few years away from being able to assemble a missile if it decided to go down that path.
Western diplomats say Iran appears to have nearly finished installing centrifuges at an underground nuclear plant, potentially boosting its capacity to make weapons-grade uranium if it chose to do so.

South Dakota Executes Man For Rape, Death Of 9-Year-Old Girl

A South Dakota inmate was executed Tuesday night for the 1990 rape and murder of a 9-year-old girl who disappeared after leaving her home to buy sugar at a nearby store so she could make lemonade.
Donald Moeller, 60, received a lethal injection at the state penitentiary in Sioux Falls, marking South Dakota's second execution this month in an unusual surge for a state that has carried out just two other death sentences since 1913.
When asked if he had any last words, Moeller replied, "No sir," and then said, "They're my fan club?"
Moeller then was administered a lethal injection at 10:01 p.m. He took about eight heavy breaths before the breathing stopped and Moeller turned slightly pink.
Moeller's eyes remained open, and his skin turned ashen, then purple. The coroner checked for vital signs, and Moeller was pronounced dead at 10:24 p.m.
Moeller kidnapped Becky O'Connell from a Sioux Falls convenience store, where she'd gone to buy sugar to make lemonade at home. He drove her to a secluded area near the Big Sioux River, then raped and stabbed the girl. Her naked body was found the next day; investigators said her throat had been slashed.
Becky's mother, Tina Curl, has been steadfast in her wish to watch Moeller die, even raising funds to cover the expenses to make the 1,400-mile trip from her home in New York state to Sioux Falls for the execution.
After the execution, she showed pictures of Becky at 9 followed by a framed artist's rending of what she would have looked like at 32.
Her husband, Dave Curl, said Moeller will never hurt another child.
"We despise that so-called man," he said. "The death of Donald Moeller is not going to give us closure."
Moeller initially was convicted in 1992, but the state Supreme Court overturned it, ruling that improper evidence was used at trial. He was again convicted and sentenced to die in 1997. The state Supreme Court affirmed the sentence, and Moeller lost appeals on both the state and federal levels.
Though he fought his conviction and sentence for years, Moeller in July he said he was ready to accept death as the consequence of his actions. He admitted for the first time in court that he killed the girl.
"I killed. I deserve to be killed," he said.
But even as Moeller insisted he was ready to die, several motions were filed on his behalf to stop the execution despite his protests.
Earlier this month, a federal judge dismissed a pending suit challenging South Dakota's execution protocol after Moeller insisted he wanted no part of it. Moeller also distanced himself from a motion filed by a woman with loose family ties who argued that his decades in solitary confinement had made him incapable of voluntarily accepting his fate. That motion was dismissed Monday.
Moeller's execution comes just two weeks after the Oct. 15 execution of Eric Robert for killing South Dakota prison guard Ronald "R.J." Johnson during a failed escape attempt.
Before that, the last execution in South Dakota was in 2007, when Elijah Page died by lethal injection for the murder of Chester Allan Poage, who was abducted and killed in a scheme to burglarize his mother's home.
In 1947, George Sitts was electrocuted for killing two law enforcement officers. And in 1913, Joseph Rickman was hanged for the murder of a woman and her daughter.
They were among 17 inmates executed since 1877, the oldest of which came during the days of the Dakota Territory.

Whitechapel Trader Was Sold Down The River, Court Told

A banker accused of committing Britain's largest ever fraud while working at UBS Bank in London said he confessed his situation to his colleagues.
Kweku Adoboli, 32, of Clark Street, Whitechapel, told Southwark Crown Court today the pressure he was under affected his relationship with his girlfriend, and led him to go to a nearby church to pray.
Between August 24 and September 13 last year matters came to a head as the umbrella fund was battered by the market's downturn.
Adoboli said: "Having lost control in July I didn't really appreciate just how big the position was.
"I had become de-sensitised to just how big the trades were."
UBS controllers started making inquiries about the deals, but Adoboli acknowledged today that he lied to keep them off his back.
He said that by doing so he was trying to buy time to fix the situation, adding: "My job as a trader is to recoup losses or make profits."
As the losses deepened, Adoboli discussed the situation with the other members of the ETFs desk - John Hughes, Simon Taylor and Cristophe Bertrand.
Following these talks at work and in an All Bar One establishment, Adoboli said he decided to bite the bullet for the others.
He told the court he did not see the point in "collapsing" other careers but he bitterly complained to his girlfriend at the time that they had "sold him down the river".
He also told his girlfriend that he had until Friday September 16 to save his career.
A WhatsApp instant message he sent her read: "I know a lot of people don't believe in divine intervention, but whatever way this plays out this is my lot. It's not over until the fat lady sings."
But the pressure proved too much and on Wednesday September 14 last year Adoboli went to St Mary's Church, round the corner from UBS's offices, to pray.
He denies two counts of fraud and four counts of false accounting between October 2008 and last September after he set up an "umbrella" fund for off-book trades.
The trial continues.

Who Will It Fit: World’s Largest Bra Fetches £3,600 For Charity

The world's largest bra has been sold for £3,600 to raise money for charity.
The piece of underwear - a 1,360B cup - was purchased by casino company Golden Palace via auction website eBay for an amount more than triple event agency Chillisauce.co.uk, which posted the item, was hoping to make from the sale.
The auction was organised for raise money for charity Breast Cancer Campaign, and Chillisauce.co.uk's director Adrian Simpson is delighted with the sale.
He said: "We're just really happy that so much money has been raised for Breast Cancer Campaign.
"The fact that it's going to a very interesting new home is a fantastic bonus for all of us who have been involved in the project for the last year."

British Met Police Ponder Selling New Scotland Yard To Cut Cost

The Metropolitan police is considering selling off New Scotland Yard, its central London home famous for its revolving sign, as it battles a cash crisis.
The tower has been the home of Britain's biggest police force since the 1960s but police chiefs are planning to sell the building and move to a smaller headquarters as they try to save £500m from a £3.6bn annual budget, following government cuts.
The plan to sell the building in Victoria, central London, is one of a raft of proposals from the capital's force. Others include closing public counters during off-peak hours, reducing the numbers of supervising officers and selling off numerous assets, including other property.
The force says it will maintain officer numbers at around the 32,000 mark. But its plans so far include no detail about cuts to police staff or to police community support officers who can be made redundant. The deputy commissioner Craig Mackey has overseen the plans.
Part of the logic for moving from Scotland Yard is an estimate that £50m would need to be spent to refurbish the building, which is run down in parts.
The Met is looking at a move to a nearby site in Cannon Row, which would house about 800 staff, far fewer than the current HQ, which the force moved to in 1967.
The Met's budget plans will be presented to the mayor's office for police and crime, and ultimately to the London assembly, but police chiefs stress they are for consultation. "No decisions have been made on any of these proposals,", Mackey said.
Many front counters in police stations face closure or partial closure. About half attract one visitor an hour, which police chiefs believe ties up too many resources for too little a result. One idea is to share what are called "public access points" with local councils, and even move some of these into supermarkets.
But plans such as permanent closure of some front counters, partial closure of others and cuts in local policing management may face opposition from communities.
The plans are notable for what is not mentioned. Job cuts are not mentioned, and nor is saving money by outsourcing more services to the private sector, as the government wants police forces to do.
In July the Met's finances were highlighted as being of particular concern by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary. The Met must make its £500m savings by 2015.
Mackey said under the proposals the proportion of constables available for the frontline would increase to 25,000 out of the 32,000 total.
The Met believes it can improve policing while delivering cuts, a challenge as its budget has increased every year since 1999, meaning police chiefs are not used to managing a time of austerity. To this end the commissioner, Bernard Hogan-Howe, has brought in top advisers from outside the force.
The Met is renowned among other forces for operating in an expensive way and being used to having more resources than other major urban constabularies in Britain.

Britain And Ireland Suspend Aid To Uganda After £10m Of Funding Ends Up In Prime Minister’s Account

Millions of pounds in foreign aid to Uganda have been funneled into private bank accounts of workers in its prime minister's office.
The money was meant to have been spent on helping the needy in the poverty-ravaged African nation.
But instead the 12million euros (£10million) – a joint gift from Ireland, Norway, Denmark and Sweden –  somehow wound up in accounts belonging to aides of prime minister Patrick Amama Mbabazi.
No British money was taken but last night Whitehall officials said they had taken the precaution of suspending British aid payments of £4million-a-year to Mr Mbabazi's office.
In total, Britain is sending £98million this year to Uganda, most of which will continue.
The apparent fraud was discovered when the Irish government was told by Ugandan auditors that the 12million euros had gone 'missing'.
The sum – of which Ireland's contribution was 4million euros (£3.2million) – was supposed to have helped pay for a 'peace recovery and development programme' in northern Uganda after decades of conflict and devastation.
Ireland immediately halted further payments to Uganda pending investigation.
A political storm is now raging in Dublin, with Irish foreign minister Eamon Gilmore branding the apparent theft 'intolerable'.
He announced there would be no more money for Uganda 'unless it is clear Irish money is being spent for the purpose for which it was allocated'.
The Irish ambassador in Uganda, Anne Webster, has met government officials to demand the money be repaid.
A Department for International Development spokesman said: 'We take these allegations extremely seriously and have already suspended UK aid to the Office of the Ugandan Prime Minister. We have set up an independent audit to investigate alleged fraud.'
A DfID source said: 'Aid to the office of the Prime Minister is entirely separate from our general budget support to the Ugandan government.
'If money has been misused, we will expect immediate repayment and will take all necessary action to protect our funds.'
Mr Mbabazi has publicly apologised to Ireland. He insisted: 'I didn't even know. No money was ever paid to me and I never handle money.
'As the prime minister I don't handle money of government at all, ever.'
He pledged prosecutions and said two senior officials had been charged – one of whom is the chief accountant –and 17 suspended without pay while the investigation continues.
The apparent fraud was uncovered by Uganda's own auditors.
Mr Mbabazi maintained that, although the missing money was discovered in private bank accounts, not all of it was  'misappropriated' but merely 'irregularly managed'.
Last year it was revealed British aid money was used to buy a £30million Gulfstream jet for Uganda's president, Yoweri Museveni. The autocratic 67-year-old leader – who was criticised after he launched a violent crackdown against democracy campaigners – bought the plane while millions of his countrymen struggled to feed themselves.
The latest revelation will reignite the row over British families being asked to fork out higher taxes to pay for aid.
Peter Bone, Tory MP for Wellingborough, said: 'People in my constituency simply do not understand why we are giving money desperately needed at home to a corrupt regime.
'It's good DfID have taken action but they should have done their checks much, much earlier.
'Uganda is not the only corrupt regime out there. I'm afraid to say it is largely endemic with some of our overseas aid.'
It was recently revealed Britain's aid budget is rising so fast the Tories will enter the next election spending more on international development, which is immune from austerity cuts, than on the police.

Unending Fuel Palava: Petrol Sells At Black Market Rates

Scarcity of petrol has worsened across the country with filling stations now selling the product at black market rates of between N110 and N250 per litre, investigations by our reporters revealed.
Long queues by motorists were observed at filling stations that sell fuel at the official rate of N97 while most major marketers have shut their stations due to lack of products.
In Lagos, filling stations now sale fuel between N110 and N140 per litre.
At Oando filling station, Seliat bus stop, petrol sold for N110 per litre, while other independent petroleum filling stations sold for N120 and N130 per litre.
In some of the stations dispensing fuel, customers were being forced to bribe attendants with N200 to jump long queues.
In Kano city, fuel was not available in most filling stations visited by our correspondent, a situation that forced motorists to drive long distances from the capital in search of petrol.
A litre of petroleum product was being sold between N130 to N140 per litre at few filling stations located out of town.
Some motorists told Daily Trust that they purchased 20 litres of the commodity from roadside black market at the rate of N3, 600.
Most fuel stations in Kaduna have been turned into black markets as petrol now sells at N120 and N160 per litre depending on location.
Daily Trust checks reveal that in most of the fuel stations, though the official rate of N97 per liter is on the display board, marketers have hiked the price.
In Akure, many private filling stations were selling products above N100 per litre to customers.
Some of the few stations opened to customers in Akure sell for N120 per litre.
In Jalingo, the product now sells at N250 per litre in the black market. Our reporter who went round the town observed that most filling stations were closed with only one station dispensing at N130 per litre.
In Katsina, most of the major marketers' filling stations were shut.
The commodity was only available at filling stations owned by independent marketers and is sold between N135 and N140 per liter.
Auwal Musa a fuel hawker along Jibia road told Daily Trust that they imported the commodity from the neighbouring Niger Republic.
In Sokoto, most of the independent marketers also sell petrol at N135 per litre.
Most major marketers in the metropolis were not selling the commodity.
Also, at time Daily Trust visited the NNPC mega station, it was not selling petrol.
The black marketers sell the product between N700 and 750 per gallon.
Also in Bauchi, fuel marketers have increased pump price to N135 per litre.
In Abeokuta, motorists now buy petrol at N140 against the official price of N97 per litre.
In Calabar, fuel scarcity has led to increase in oil bunkering and illegal refineries.
In Damaturu, all petrol stations have been shut for lack of fuel while black market operators were nowhere to be found.
Daily Trust gathered that in the last two days a four litre gallon of petrol sold at N900 at the black market.
In Makurdi, a litre of the petrol sells for between N125 and N130 in filling stations.
As motorists spend long hours trying to get the product, black marketers were having a field day, selling at between N150 and N200 per litre.
In Jos, prices at black market rose from between N600 and N650 per gallon (4 litres) to between N750 and N800 while the very few independent retail marketing petrol stations which had stock yesterday were selling at between N125 and N130 per litre.
Reacting, spokeswoman for the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Mrs Belema Osibodu, said the agency was doing its best to curtail the hike in pump price of fuel.
She said DPR was aware of the situation in some of the states and that the agency would dispatch its monitoring and supervision team.

Gerrard U-turn: Liverpool Captain Backtracks On Blast At Everton Over Playing Like Stoke

Steven Gerrard has admitted his criticism of Everton after the Merseyside derby on Sunday was over the top as he drew a line under the controversy.
The Liverpool captain was furious after the game and, in the heat of the moment, he said Everton's tactics were similar to those of Stoke, as he claimed they played a number of long balls.
His frustration stemmed from Liverpool having a last-gasp winner from Luis Suarez wrongly disallowed at Goodison Park and he made a number of inflammatory comments, such as Liverpool were the only team interested in playing football. 
However, statistics that were published following the pulsating 2-2 draw showed that Everton enjoyed more possession and significantly out-passed Liverpool, which is why Gerrard has felt the need to issue a retraction. 
'Just to clarify I've watched the game again and I've seen some of Everton's matches this season, and what I said in relation to their style of play went too far,' Gerrard.
'I was frustrated by the disallowed goal from Luis when I spoke and also some of the things that have been said about Luis in recent weeks, which haven't been fair in my opinion.
'As captain I have a duty to stand up for our players when I feel they are unfairly singled out. But it wasn't my intention to disrespect Everton or Stoke for that matter and I certainly didn't intend any disrespect to their manager or players.'
Gerrard was eager to stress that he had no intended to upset the respective managers of Everton and told the Liverpool Echo: 'I have the utmost respect for David Moyes and Tony Pulis and the job they have done at their respective clubs.
'My main issue was with the goal that wasn't given and that Liverpool did not get the three points I felt we deserved in what was a fantastic derby match.'
It comes after Phil Jagielka hit back at Gerrard's with his own barbed comments about Liverpool's style of play.
Everton were incensed by Gerrard's comments following Sunday's 2-2 draw at Goodison Park, particularly as stats for the game showed they made more passes (448 to 314) and enjoyed more possession (56 per cent to 44 per cent) than Liverpool.
While Jagielka was happy to admit Everton could be direct when they want to be, to utilise the strength and aerial prowess of Marouane Fellaini, he suggested that Liverpool's methods of always wanting to play on the ground are flawed.
'If Stevie says we are a long ball team then I'm not going to deny the fact that we play long balls,' said Jagielka. 'Do we play them for the full 90 minutes? No. But we play quite direct.
'Who wouldn't when you have someone in form like Marouane Fellaini, who can bring the ball down for fun and we start creating things from there? Why wouldn't you do that? We don't believe in passing it around for half an hour for the sake of it.
'If we can put the ball forward and cause them trouble then let's cause them as much trouble as possible. We won't change the way we play. We won't start to look to put in a thousand passes a game.
'If we need to play forward to Felli to create chances, or to Nikica Jelavic or to Victor Anichebe, then guess what? That's what we'll do.'
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers, though, is not someone who will change his philosophy and he has added further spice to the fallout by backing up his captain's claim that Liverpool have to play in a certain, attractive manner.
He did, however, acknowledge that Everton do have a number of skilful players who have made significant contributions this season.
'I believe there were two different styles,' said Rodgers. 'This is a club brought up with a certain way of playing. Its history has been defined by the many great managers who have been here. You have to win games but you have to win games by playing in a certain style.
'It's the beauty of the Premier League - there are so many diverse ways of working and playing.  We play a certain way. If you look at Everton and a number of other teams, they are a bit more direct and then play off the front players.
'But they have players with finesse like Leighton Baines and Leon Osman, who are terrific footballers. For us here at Liverpool, there's a way in which we play and want to win games. the supporters and the history of the club dictates that.'
There is a feeling amongst Evertonians that Gerrard's comments have shown that David Moyes' squad have started to get under Liverpool's skin. Everton are six points ahead of their neighbours and aim to finish above them in the table for the second successive year.
'I suppose it's a backhanded compliment,' said Jagielka. 'Stevie must have thought Liverpool were in a game to come out which such comments. It makes you chuckle, but if Stevie is saying things like that, there must be a reason behind it which must be that we are doing something well.'

Chelsea Race Case Against Clattenburg In Jeopardy As Club Call In Lawyers To Probe Players' Claims Against Referee

Chelsea's race case against Mark Clattenburg is in danger of collapsing after it emerged that the club have employed independent lawyers to investigate the claims of their players.
The club are expected to conclude their internal investigation on Wednesday into allegations that the referee racially abused John Mikel Obi and called Juan Mata a 'Spanish t***'.
The external lawyers will then provide Chelsea with legal opinion as to whether their case will be successful. Despite issues over the available evidence, Chelsea remained robust.
Clattenburg, who has been taken off the Premier League match list this weekend, has protested his innocence since his controversial handling of Chelsea's 3-2 defeat by Manchester United on Sunday.
Now it has emerged that Chelsea are fearful of the backlash if the players have misheard or misjudged Clattenburg's conversations during the stormy clash against United.
Chelsea will proceed with the case against the referee only if they are satisfied the claims made by the players after the game will stand up to the FA's burden of proof.
It means they will need to satisfy an FA commission 'on the balance of probability', but they also have to negotiate the complexities of the Metropolitan Police's investigation into the affair.
If the case breaks down, it will reflect badly on Chelsea, who made their claims of inappropriate language against Clattenburg in a strongly worded statement on Sunday, two hours after the final whistle.
Earlier it emerged that the club and Mikel could be charged with misconduct by the FA after the midfielder had to be restrained from manhandling the referee in his dressing room following the clash.
Clattenburg did not mention the behaviour in the 'extraordinary incident' report he filed on Sunday, but he now has to make a detailed statement to the FA. Clattenburg's assistants, Michael McDonough and Simon Long, and fourth official Mike Jones have filed reports in which they say they did not hear the Durham official say anything inappropriate.
All four were in the referee's room when Mikel burst in with Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay and manager Roberto Di Matteo.
Mikel's aggressive manner, along with the behaviour of other Chelsea officials, raises the possibility of FA action against the club.
Both Mikel and Mata claim they have a witness to Clattenburg's comments, and PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor, who has assessed both complaints, told Sportsmail the pair have his '100 per cent support'.
However, it has emerged that the allegations about the referee's comments were made only after a debate in the Chelsea dressing room. Mikel and Ramires were discussing the alleged use of racist language and were then quizzed by senior Chelsea players about what they had heard before the matter was taken further.
Sunday's controversy is also the subject of a police investigation and Clattenburg will be interviewed by them as well as the FA, who are conducting a separate inquiry into his handling of the clash.
The PFA had a delegate at the game and he has discussed the matter with Taylor, who said: 'The main thing is that the police investigation will not affect the process at the FA.
'We are supportive of the players and they have our 100 per cent backing. I find it difficult to believe that Chelsea's players would make something like this up. At the same time I find it hard to conclude that a referee could say something of this nature.'
Clattenburg found an unlikely ally in Leeds manager Neil Warnock, who said he was disgusted with Chelsea for 'trying to kill' the official.
Warnock, preparing for Leeds' Capital One Cup win over Southampton, was critical of the accusations against Clattenburg, who enraged Chelsea by sending off Fernando Torres for diving when replays showed he had been fouled.
Warnock said: 'You know my relationship with referees but I have to say I am disgusted with what's gone on. I'm on Clattenburg's side. We ask referees to man-manage and that's what he does. I'm sure he might have said a few things but are you telling me if Chelsea had won that game that there would have been one iota of a complaint?
'I hope if it is proved wrong, that the players, whatever they alleged Mark to have said, get done as well. I think he made a mistake but they are trying to kill him and I don't agree with that.'
In a further development, police chiefs upgraded security at Stamford Bridge for the Capital One Cup tie against United as tension between the teams threatens to escalate.

Nani Edges Nearer Old Trafford Exit As Contract Talks Continue To Stall

Manchester United winger Nani is set to leave the club at the end of the season with his drawn out contract negotiations showing no signs of reaching a conclusion.
The Portuguese, 25, sees his current deal expire in June 2014 and the club and player will agree on his departure in the summer should an agreement not be reached by the end of the season.
The Daily Telegraph understands that the two parties are miles apart on agreeing a salary and as such a sale is looking increasingly likely.
A move to Zenit St Petersburg fell through in August with the Russian club instead opting to sign Brazilian forward Hulk after Nani indicated he was not keen on a move to eastern Europe.
Nani, who has fallen well down the pecking order at Old Trafford this season, has been told that he will continue to play a bit-part while his future remains uncertain.
The winger is understood to have become tired of life at United and he is thought to be keen on a move to Italy, where Inter Milan and Juventus are monitoring his situation.
United are likely to demand £12million for the services of a player they paid £17m for back in 2007.
Nani has started just five of United's 13 games this season and was overlooked in favour of the returning Ashley Young for the 3-2 win at Stamford Bridge last weekend.
The Portuguese is likely to start when United again visit Chelsea on Wednesday night, this time in the Capital One Cup. 

Reading 5 Arsenal 7: Hat-Trick Hero Walcott Leads Stunning Gunners Comeback

Amazing. Incredible. Breathtaking.

After another weekend of controversy, football was finally the winner at the Madejski.
Reading manager Brian McDermott might not see it that way after watching his side squander a four-goal lead. But even he will find it hard to deny his side were part of something very special.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger claimed the Capital One Cup was rock-bottom of his priorities list at last week's fiery AGM. It certainly looked that way when his side went 4-0 down after 37 minutes.
But the Gunners somehow conjured a miracle — hauling themselves back into the game, forcing extra time with two goals in the last minutes of regulation and then claiming an unbelievable win.
Theo Walcott, who scored three of Arsenal's magnificent seven, told Sky Sports 2: 'It was an unbelievable game. I'm absolutely knackered now. Seven goals away from home — it was great going forward. Maybe defensively it wasn't great at times, but we're in the draw and that's what matters.'
Wenger described the results as a 'miracle' and added: 'Reading were playing very well and at a higher pace than us and we conceded goal after goal. The turning point came when Theo scored our first goal just before half-time to make it 4-1.'
McDermott admitted he was stunned by the result. He said: 'That was extraordinary. We have to pick ourselves up and move on. It is embarrassing but we have to take it on the chin and just move on.'
A night of heart-stopping action started in the 12th minute when the Royals were rewarded for their enterprising start as Jason Roberts slid home Hal Robson-Kanu's low cross.
flying down the flank before arrowing a low cross in the box that Laurent Koscielny made a mockery of clearing as the ball squirmed between goalkeeper Damien Martinez and his near post.
McDermott and the home supporters were in dreamland. So, goodness knows what must have been going through their minds in the 20th minute when midfielder Mikele Leigertwood picked up the ball 20 yards from goal before unleashing a powerful drive that Martinez could only parry into his own net.
It didn't seem possible, but Arsenal's night got even worse in the 37th minute when Noel Hunt climbed highest in the box to nod past the stunned Martinez after Garath McCleary's excellent cross.
That was the cue for dozens of Arsenal supporters to head for the exits. And who could blame them as they launched into cries of: 'We want our Arsenal back.' But how wrong they were to leave as the Gunners staged a scintillating comeback.
The early departures must have been kicking themselves as they listened to the game on the way home. First, Theo Walcott cooly  finished past Adam Federici after Andrey Arshavin's through ball on the stroke of half-time.
It was not enough to appease Gunners fans who booed their side off at half-time, but when substitute Olivier Giroud headed in Walcott's corner in the 65th minute, a sense of impossible hope took over.
Arsenal threw everything at their hosts and with a minute of normal time they cut the deficit to single goal as Koscielny nodded home another Walcott corner.
Fourth official Michael Oliver signalled four minutes of stoppage time and Reading looked home and dry with the ball deep inside the Arsenal half with seconds left to play. But with the final kick of normal time, Walcott somehow squeezed a shot past Federici to score what at half-time had seemed an impossible equaliser.
The Gunners were euphoric, so much so that Giroud and Francis Coquelin threw their shirts into the away supporters thinking they had won. But their delirium could easily have been short lived as substitute Jobi McAnuff drove into the  Gunners box two minutes into extra time before unleashing a powerful drive that Martinez did well to parry.
Marouane Chamakh put Arsenal ahead for the first time in the 103rd minute with a low drive from the edge of the box that flew past Federici.
The Royals keeper made a brilliant stop to deny Walcott in the first minute of the final period of extra time. And the Australian's save looked vital when Reading substitute Pavel Pogrebnyak nodded home to make it 5-5 in the 116th minute.
But you just knew that was not the end, and right on cue, in the dying seconds of extra time, Walcott completed his hat-trick, thumping home from close range after Arshavin's shot was saved.
Reading pressed for an equaliser and Wenger berated Martinez for hoofing the ball downfield when he could have ticked off a few seconds. But when Arsenal regained possession, Chamakh lobbed Federici for the seventh. Miracle accomplished.

Spain's Queen Sofia Suing Adultery Website For Using Her Face In Advertising Campaign

The Queen of Spain is suing an online dating site that encourages extra-marital affairs for using her photograph in an advert without her permission.
Spanish media say Queen Sofia is taking legal action against the American website Ashley Madison for 'damage to her honour and dignity'.
The company published a doctored picture of the smiling Queen, her arms seemingly draped around a semi-naked young man, first in February, and then again last week.
It appeared alongside a slogan saying, in Spanish: 'Now you no longer have to spend the night alone'.
The advert was printed for a second time last week in a newspaper published by the same company, which was distributed across the capital of Madrid by scantily-clad models.
It is believed to be in reference to wide-spread allegations that her husband, Spain's King Juan Carlos, has conducted several extra-marital affairs during their marriage.
The advertising regulatory board, Autocontrol, agreed that the advertisement should never have been published and ordered it to be removed, reports Spain's El Mundo newspaper.
The Queen is using a private lawyer in the case, and will not be spending public funds.
The same firm last year used a picture of Juan Carlos, flanked by two scantily-clad models, with the slogan: 'The best place to 'hunt' for an adventure'. No legal action was taken by the Monarch.
Ashley Madison - who uses the slogan motto is 'Life is short, Have an affair' - was launched in the U.S. in 2001 and now has its own portals in 25 countries.
The news comes in the same week as a Spanish waiter and a Belgian housewife lost legal bids to prove they are the illegitimate children of 74-year-old Juan Carlos.
Two Spanish courts rejected their demands to make him take a paternity test. They declared that under the country's constitution 'the monarch cannot be held accountable'.
Alberto Sola Jimenez, 56, from Catalonia, and Ingrid Sartiau, 46 from Belgium, joined forces earlier this year in after learning of each others' claims.

Hurricane Sandy's Devastating Effect In Pictures

The scale of the devastation left by Superstorm Sandy is mounting today as the death toll continues to rise - currently 39 people across the US and Canada have been reported dead, but the final figure is expected to be significantly higher.
President Obama declared a 'major disaster' in New York and Long Island as flooded streets were littered with cars, homes were razed to the ground and tankers washed up on shore.
The President warned that Sandy 'is not yet over' and announced that he would visit New Jersey on Wednesday to visit the scenes of the destruction.
Hundreds of thousands of people are without power in New York and the transit system, schools, the stock exchange and Broadway are all out of action after a 13ft wall of water caused by the storm surge and high tides brought severe flooding to subways and road tunnels.
Sandy, one of the biggest storms to ever descend on the country, hit the mainland at 6.30pm local time yesterday having laid waste to large parts of the coast during the day.
The storm that made landfall in New Jersey on Monday evening with 80mph sustained winds, cut power to more than 7.4 million homes and businesses from the Carolinas to Ohio, caused scares at two nuclear power plants and stopped the presidential campaign cold.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg says the death toll in the America's most populous city is up to ten - two children, aged 11 and 13, were killed instantly in the city by a falling tree. Many of the total number of victims were said to have been killed by falling trees.
Nearly 200 firefighters spent the night battling to get a blaze under control in the Queens, but over 80 homes were flattened in the fire.

Hurricane Sandy Blamed On Gays, Obama And Romney By Preacher John McTernan

The Eastern seaboard may have yet to experience the full wrath of Hurricane Sandy, but one right-wing Christian preacher is already pointing the finger at the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.
In a wordy and occasionally rambling blog on his website, chaplain John McTernan seems to link Hurricane Sandy (and a number of other recent weather-related trends and natural disasters) on LGBT people and President Barack Obama's recent backing of marriage equality. While most of McTernan's wrath is directed at Obama, he has some choice words for GOP candidate Mitt Romney, too.
"God is systematically destroying America," McTernan writes. "Just look at what has happened this year."
Calling Sandy "the most powerful hurricane on record" that "could do catastrophic damage to the entire Northeast," McTernan adds, "Obama is 100 percent behind the Muslim Brotherhood which has vowed to destroy Israel and take Jerusalem. Both candidates are pro-homosexual and are behind the homosexual agenda. America is under political judgment and the church does not know it!"
In a second blog titled "Hurricane Sandy and the Election," he said of Romney, "Yes, he is a big time pro-homosexual supporter to the point he will keep open homosexuality in the military; he wants homosexuals in the Boy Scouts; and he wants more open homosexuals in the Republican Party."
Earlier this year, McTernan similarly linked Hurricane Isaac with the LGBT community, pointing to the fact that the life-threatening storm coincided with Southern Decadence, New Orleans' "Gay Mardi Gras."
"New Orleans is still hosting Southern Decadence with open homosexuality manifesting in the streets of the city," he wrote in a blog. "It could be that God is putting an end to this city and its wickedness. The timing of Hurricane Isaac with Southern Decadence is a sign that God's patience with America's sin is coming to an end."

Anxiety Over Florence Ajimobi’s Alleged Arrest In UK

There has been palpable anxiety in the government circles of Nigeria's Oyo State over the alleged arrest of Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, wife of the governor, in the United Kingdom for alleged money laundering.
Reports on the web and some blogs claimed that the woman was arrested two weeks ago by the London Metropolitan Police on her 52nd trip to the UK since her husband became governor 17 months ago. She was allegedly found to be in possession of 400,000 pounds and thousands of dollars, with a combined value of N500million.
London Met Police has not issued any statement about her alleged arrest. And her name drew blank in a search of the Met Police website by P.M.NEWS.
The unconfirmed reports claimed that Governor Abiola Ajimobi has had to fly to the UK to get her bailed. Mrs. Ajimobi has a North London address in Golders Green and ordinarily visits the UK.
So far, the Oyo state government has kept mute over this story. And the disappearance of Governor Ajimobi from Ibadan, the capital for some two days has further given some ammunition to the purveyors of the news about his wife, styled The First Lady of Oyo state.
Governor Ajimobi was in office today, but bearers of the tale about the wife, have been unrelenting.
Mrs. Ajimobi's personal staff at Agodi have also not issued denials of any sort.
Miss Yemisi Dada, Special Assistant on Media to Chief Mrs. Ajimobi on a phone interaction at exactly 8:11am claimed that she was not in Ibadan at the time of the telephone conversation adding that she was not aware of such development.
"I cannot talk about that. I am not aware of what you are talking about and besides, I am not in Ibadan right now. Meanwhile, I will find out the correct situation and get back to you as soon as possible. Thanks".

Madonna Splashes The Cash, Buys An Apartment For Daughter For Birthday

Madonna has bought her daughter an apartment in New York for her 16th birthday.
Lourdes Leon celebrated the landmark coming of age birthday on 14 October - while her pop superstar mother was in the middle of her MDNA tour - and Madonna decided the property would be the perfect gift for her daughter to show her how much she trusts her.
A source told the Daily Star newspaper: "Lourdes was thrilled. She wants it done up to her taste and then it'll be decided who shares with her and when she moves in."
The apartment is located a few blocks from her family home on the Upper East side of Manhattan and also near the Kabbalah Centre - which Madonna and Lourdes are regular visitors to.
The fee the Girl Gone Bad singer paid for the property is undisclosed but it is "in a secure block with a lot of security and access to a swimming pool and gym".
The expensive gift comes shortly after it was reported the pair's relationship had become strained in recent months, with Lourdes rebelling against Madonna, 54, and threatening to move in with her father Carlos Leon.
Earlier this month, Madonna talked about her relationship with her children - Lourdes, Rocco, 12, her son with ex-husband Guy Ritchie, and adopted kids Mercy James, six, and David Banda, seven - and her passion for her career, and hinted her eldest daughter wouldn't be living at home for much longer.
She said: "My children are my first priority and because they are older I can't take them with me on the road everywhere.
"I really feel I would be an irresponsible parent if I didn't stop my tour and spent time with them. My daughter is going to be leaving home soon."

Fashola Plan To Ban Us Completely, He Hate Us – Okada Union Leader

The Chairman of the All Auto bike Commercial Owners and Workers Association of Nigeria (ANACOWA), Aliyu Wamba, on Tuesday said the restriction of commercial motorcycles, popularly called Okada from some routes in Lagos is a ploy by the State government to out rightly ban that means of transportation.
Speaking as a guest on Channels Television's morning programme, Sunrise, Mr Wamba said one of the state government requirements for any okada plying designated route is that the motorcycle engine capacity must not be below 200cc.
"If they use the word 'ban', it would sound very ugly to the hearing of the masses, the truth is that they have ban okada in Lagos" Mr Wamba said.
When corrected by a host of the programme that the state government only prohibited okada riders from plying 475 routes, the union leader requested permission to elaborate a salient point in the new traffic law.
He said: "there is another clause that says if your motorcycle is below 200cc, you are prohibited from the other routes in Lagos. So which other routes can okadas ply?"
Mr Wamba said all the engine capacity of all the motorcycles in Lagos is below 200cc.
The union leader said the government is taking the steps to ban commercial motorcycles in Lagos because "they hate okada riders".
The government however insisted that the new law is to bring sanity on the road.
The law prohibits okada riders from carrying pregnant women, school-children or women with children. It also prohibits the riders from carrying more than one passenger and from riding against traffic or riding on the kerb, median or road set- backs.
Furthermore the commercial motorcyclists are prohibited from plying major roads in Lagos including Herbert Macaulay Way, Nurudeen Olowopopo Road, Agidingbi Road, Adeola Odeku, Ajose Adeogun, Allen Avenue, Opebi, Isaac John, Mobolaji Johnson Way, Oduduwa Way, among others.
What do you think about the ban on okada in Lagos? Add your comments below.

Tapping The Blessing: Rihanna Send Adele Cheeky Baby Gifts

Adele has been sent a baby gift from Rihanna.
The Skyfall singer gave birth to a son earlier this month and since his arrival, her generous famous friends have bombarded her and her partner Simon Konecki with presents.
Rihanna mailed two babygros to the new mum, which were emblazoned with the comedy slogans, "My mum is a rock star", and, "Just done nine months inside".
But the R&B superstar didn't just treat Adele's little boy, she also sent the musician a set of sexy lingerie with a note which read "You gotta stay sexy, yummy mummy. Enjoy yourself. Congrats!!!"
A source told The Sun newspaper: "Rihanna loves Adele and she was one of the first people to congratulate her when she found out that she was pregnant. She thought seriously hard about what to get her as she wanted to make sure no one else would get the same thing.
"Adele laughed out loud when she saw the words on the babygros - she loves that sort of thing. She can't wait to show all of her friends."
Other celebrities to send gifts include Jessie J and actor Sid Owen, who also sent a huge bouquet of flowers to Adele.
It was recently reporter that Adele and Simon want close pal Sid - who shot to fame on British soap EastEnders - to be their son's godfather and are keen for him to be closely involved in the tot's life.

New Kim Kardashian Sex Tape Up For Sale

Kim Kardashian is said to be horrified after a second sex tape starring her has gone on sale for £19m.
The X-rated footage allegedly features the 32-year-old reality TV star and her ex-boyfriend Ray J engaged in erotic acts which are even raunchier than their first home video which leaked in 2007 and eventually released as a DVD entitled Kim Kardashian: Superstar.
A source told the Daily Star newspaper: "It's definitely Kim in the video. And it's even raunchier than her last one. There are all kinds of eye-popping moments."
Kim is said to be terrified the latest sex tape will appear online and cause problems in her relationship with 35-year-old rapper Kanye West.
The source added: "Kim fears this will damage her relationship with Kanye West."
The TV beauty narrowly avoided an embarrassing encounter with R&B singer Ray J, 31, last month when she sneaked out of Prime 112 restaurant in Miami to ensure she missed him.
A source explained: "Kim and Kris Jenner posed for pictures in front of the restaurant to allow Kourtney and son Mason to sneak out the side entrance unnoticed.
"And just by a few moments, Kim missed Ray J, who was seen entering the restaurant to meet a large group of friends including boxer Floyd Mayweather."
Kanye was involved in his own sex tape scandal in September when a 20-minute recording surfaced featuring him and a girl who looks just like Kim.

Wayne Rooney Nominated For 2012 Ballon d'Or

Wayne Rooney is the only British player to be nominated for the 2012 Ballon d'Or.
His Manchester United team-mate, Robin Van Persie, is on the list along with Manchester City trio Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure and Mario Balotelli.
2011 winner, Lionel Messi, is also included for the award which will be awarded at a ceremony in Zurich on 7 January 2013.

Player nominees: Sergio Aguero (Argentina), Xabi Alonso (Spain), Mario Balotelli (Italy), Karim Benzema (France), Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Sergio Busquets (Spain), Iker Casillas (Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast), Radamel Falcao (Colombia), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden), Andres Iniesta (Spain), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Manuel Neuer (Germany), Neymar (Brazil), Mesut Ozil (Germany), Gerard Pique (Spain), Andrea Pirlo (Italy), Sergio Ramos (Spain), Wayne Rooney (England), Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast), Robin van Persie (Holland), Xavi (Spain).

Ashley Cole's mum: Cheryl Cole wanted Ashley Cole back

Cheryl Cole's at the centre of a new row - with Ashley Cole's mum Sue.
Her former mother- in-law is 'absolutely livid' after Cheryl opened up about her son in her new book and is urging Ashley to write a second autobiography in order to 'set the record straight'.
Sources say Sue, 52 - who used to be close to Cheryl - has even been ranting to friends that the singer still wanted to get back with Ashley until recently.
'Sue's been telling everyone Cheryl's book "is all bollocks!"'.
In fact, Sue's suggested to Ashley, 31, that it could be a good idea for him to write a follow-up to his 2006 autobiography My Defence.
It has been revealed that Sue's most upset because she's convinced Cheryl, 19, wanted Ashley back until 'very recently'.
Cheryl admitted in an interview last week that she'd found it hard to move on: 'It takes a while after you've been with someone as long as I was not to feel like you're cheating on them.'
A pal of Cheryl's insisted: 'It was hard, but she wouldn't have gone back.'
When Now approached Sue, she said she had 'no comment'.

Ashley Cole's mum: Cheryl Cole wanted Ashley Cole back

Cheryl Cole's at the centre of a new row - with Ashley Cole's mum Sue.
Her former mother- in-law is 'absolutely livid' after Cheryl opened up about her son in her new book and is urging Ashley to write a second autobiography in order to 'set the record straight'.
Sources say Sue, 52 - who used to be close to Cheryl - has even been ranting to friends that the singer still wanted to get back with Ashley until recently.
'Sue's been telling everyone Cheryl's book "is all bollocks!"'.
In fact, Sue's suggested to Ashley, 31, that it could be a good idea for him to write a follow-up to his 2006 autobiography My Defence.
It has been revealed that Sue's most upset because she's convinced Cheryl, 19, wanted Ashley back until 'very recently'.
Cheryl admitted in an interview last week that she'd found it hard to move on: 'It takes a while after you've been with someone as long as I was not to feel like you're cheating on them.'
A pal of Cheryl's insisted: 'It was hard, but she wouldn't have gone back.'
When Now approached Sue, she said she had 'no comment'.

News: Eminem Announces New Album For 2013

Eminem has teased a possible new LP to be released in 2013.
The rapper alluded to the release of his
eighth solo album by placing an Eminem baseball cap on his online store.
The hat was made in honour of his home baseball team, The Detroit Tigers, ahead of their World Series match against the San Francisco Giants.
On the headgear, the words 'World Champion' are written with a backwards E in the same style as the team's logo. Alongside this are seven years, representing the seven release dates of Slim Shady's previous album releases.
Dates included 1996, representing his Infinite album, 1998, representing The Slim Shady LP, the year 2000, when The Marshall Mathers album was released, and 2002, for The Eminem Show.
However, it's the addition of 2013 that's set tongues wagging, prompting rumours that it could be the release year of his next LP.
Most stars just take to Twitter to spread their news, but Eminem's gone one step further and put it on an accessory. It's too bad his baseball team didn't win in the end, but at least it's one way to get some free advertising for them.
Are we excited about the possible new release? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Lance Armstrong Loses Key To City, Has Poster Vandalized

He has been stripped of his seven Tour de France titles - and now Lance Armstrong will lose his key to the City of Adelaide.
In an unprecedented move, Adelaide City Council tonight voted to withdraw the honour for the disgraced cyclist, less than a year after it decided to award him the key.
Details of the meeting were first revealed on adelaidenow today. The council voted 6-1 to strip Armstrong of the honour, with Tony Williamson dissenting.
Armstrong is the first of 33 recipients of the key to lose the honour.
Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood last week told The Advertiser Armstrong would retain the key as he had raised the profile of the Tour Down Under and cancer research.
It is believed the council will remove Armstrong's name from its honour board rather than physically retrieve the key.
The move comes after a vandal splattered red paint on the poster of Armstrong above the Nike shop in Rundle Mall.
The cancer survivor was awarded a key to the city after his three appearances in the Tour Down Under.
It is the latest in a string of incidents involving recipients of the key to the city.
City ratepayers last year partially covered the cost of Mr Yarwood's trip to the US because councillors expected him to deliver the key to Armstrong in Texas.
However, Armstrong was in Mexico when Mr Yarwood visited Texas.
The council later posted the key to him.
Fellow key recipient Cher this year attempted to sell her key to the city on eBay.
The city council is considering establishing a panel that would be charged with overseeing who is awarded the honour.
Two weeks ago, the US Anti-Doping Agency released a massive evidence file that said Armstrong was the leader in a long-running conspiracy to use banned drugs and blood transfusions to boost performance.

Capital One Cup Fourth Round Team News: Arsenal To Ring Changes

Leeds United v Southampton (all kick-offs 7.45pm)

Leeds will assess the condition of three of their key players. Captain Lee Peltier and midfielders Rodolph Austin (both ankle) and Michael Tonge (shoulder) only just made the weekend loss to Birmingham, and the trio will be checked to see if they can face Saints. Manager Neil Warnock has options if they do not make it, with veteran enforcer Michael Brown, full-back Aidy White and winger Luke Varney all standing by. Striker Andy Gray is also an option to Warnock should he decide to rest the out-of-form Luciano Becchio, but on-loan forward Ryan Hall is cup-tied. Reserve goalkeeper
Jamie Ashdown was given a chance against Everton in the previous round, as well as facing Oxford in the one before that, but Paddy Kenny is likely to start. Striker Ross McCormack remains on the sidelines with an ankle injury but is closing in on a return, potentially within the next fortnight.

Southampton's Tadanari Lee could return to action as manager Nigel Adkins rotates his squad. Japan international Lee is set to feature against the Championship outfit after sustaining an arm injury last month, while Frazer Richardson could also be involved against his former club after a thigh injury. Richard Chaplow, Jos Hooiveld and James Ward-Prowse were unused substitutes in Sunday's 2-1 defeat to Tottenham and may start, while Jack Cork is close to full fitness after a knee injury.

Reading v Arsenal

Reading boss Brian McDermott is deciding whether to recall Danny Guthrie after controversially axing the midfielder at the weekend. McDermott denied reports of a bust-up with the former Newcastle player, who was left out of the squad for Saturday's 3-3 Premier League draw with Fulham. Reading have no fresh injury concerns for the game, Jem Karacan still sidelined with a knee injury that could keep him out until early December.

Arsenal will make a host of changes. Boss Arsene Wenger will field his second string as he continues to use the competition to expose his younger players to first-team action. Midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain missed the 1-0 victory over QPR because of a hip injury and is absent again, though Laurent Koscielny, Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud could feature. Andrei Arshavin is expected to start, but Emmanuel Frimpong will lead a collection of young players that includes Serge Gnabry, Thomas Eisfield and Ignasi Miquel.

Sunderland v Middlesbrough

Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill looks set to ring the changes. The Black Cats were again uninspiring in a 0-0 draw at Stoke on Saturday and playmaker Stephane Sessegnon could earn an immediate recall after being dropped for the clash in the Potteries. Phil Bardsley could also make his first start of the season at right-back, freeing up Craig Gardner to move into a more accustomed midfield role.

Middlesbrough boss Tony Mowbray will run the rule over Jonathan Woodgate and Marvin Emnes. Merouane Zemmama is back in training having recovered from a hamstring problem and he is expected to be in the squad. There are no movements on any of Boro's other injured contingent, with Luke Williams (hip), Kevin Thomson (calf), Rhys Williams (ankle), Lukas Jutkiewicz, Muzzy Carayol and Curtis Main (all knee) still occupying the treatment room.

Swindon Town v Aston Villa

Swindon look set to be without playmaker John Bostock. The Tottenham loanee, who shone in the Robins' 4-0 victory at Stevenage on Saturday, looks likely to miss the next few weeks after hobbling off with a groin injury. But Swindon boss Paolo Di Canio's options could be boosted by a return to the substitutes bench for striker Andy Williams, who has been out for more than three weeks with a calf injury. Nathan Thompson could also be available after recovering from an ankle problem, while fellow defender Troy Archibald-Henville is fit after having been sick in the build up to kick-off at Stevenage.

Aston Villa left-back Joe Bennett will be suspended at the County Ground. Bennett will have to serve a one-game ban for his sending-off for two bookable offences in Saturday's 1-1 home draw with Norwich in the Premier League. Striker Darren Bent and keeper Shay Given will be in contention to return to the starting line-up against Paolo Di Canio's side but winger Charles N'Zogbia is facing a spell on the sidelines with knee ligament damage suffered in training last week.

Wigan Athletic v Bradford City

Wigan are set to be without winger Ryo Miyaichi. The Japan international missed Saturday's victory over West Ham with a groin problem and is still struggling while fellow winger Albert Crusat (knee) and defender Antolin Alcaraz (groin) are also sidelined. Manager Roberto Martinez is expected to make several changes to his side, with strikers Callum McManaman and Mauro Boselli, who has already scored three goals in the competition this season, likely to come in.

Bradford boss Phil Parkinson will not take any unnecessary risks with captain Gary Jones.The midfielder returned from a five-week injury lay-off at the weekend in a defeat by Burton after a spell on the sidelines with a back problem. Parkinson was forced to turn to his skipper much earlier than intended due to Ricky Ravenhill's dismissal and completed just under an hour. But despite the club having two big cup games in a week - with an FA Cup trip to Northampton also looming at the weekend - and with injuries and suspensions robbing Parkinson of a number of his first-team players, the manager will keep a close eye on the 35-year-old ahead of the tie.