The following are a selection of the other World Press Photo winners.
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Saturday, 15 February 2014
Winners of the 2014 World Press Photo Contest
The following are a selection of the other World Press Photo winners.
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Fulham replace Meulensteen with Magath
Rene Meulensteen has been replaced as Fulham manager by former Bayern Munich coach Felix Magath.
The Dutchman, who succeeded the sacked Martin Jol in December, told BBC Sport that he had been fired but he remains under contract at Fulham.
Meulensteen, who won four of 17 games in charge, told BBC Sport: "They have hit the panic button on emotion and fear - but hey ho, that's football."
He was not mentioned in a club statement (external) announcing Magath's arrival.
Fulham chairman Shahid Khan said: "With 12 matches remaining, we certainly can no longer post empty results. Action was required."
Magath, 60, has signed an 18-month contract at Fulham, who are bottom of the Premier League. He has won the Bundesliga three times as a manager, most recently with Wolfsburg in 2009, and is the first German to manage in the Premier League.
In a statement on his Facebook page, (external) he said: "This amazing club, steeped in tradition, and its owner Shahid Khan have totally convinced me and given me the managerial responsibility.
"I would like to thank the club and the owner for this faith."
Meulensteen coached at Old Trafford for 12 years under former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson and had 16 days in charge of Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala last August.
He guided Fulham to a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford on Sunday but the Cottagers were beaten by a last-minute penalty as they lost 3-2 to Liverpool in midweek.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live, Meulensteen said: "I knew the owners were freaking out a little bit that there was the possibility of the club going down.
"The way forward that we have discussed with the club was about longevity and in this case it is clearly an act of fear.
"I have not had a lot of time and people who came to the Manchester United and Liverpool games could see what I was trying to put in place.
"I couldn't care less what they put in the statement, to be honest."
Meulensteen won three Premier League games and one FA Cup tie while in charge at Craven Cottage, losing 10 times. On transfer deadline day he signed five players, including Greece international striker Konstantinos Mitroglou from Olympiakos for about £11m and Tottenham midfielder Lewis Holtby on loan.
German Magath has been out of work since leaving Wolfsburg in 2012 but won the double twice with Bayern, adding a third Bundesliga title with Wolfsburg in 2009.
That Wolfsburg side featured Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko and current Fulham pair Ashkan Dejagah and Sascha Riether.
Khan added: "Felix is an accomplished manager with multiple honours in the Bundesliga and a hunger to replicate his success with Fulham in the Premier League.
"I'm especially impressed with the reputation Felix has for coming into clubs at difficult times, often late in the season, and lifting them to their potential and beyond.
"Felix knows that is precisely the task awaiting him at Fulham, and he made it abundantly clear that he wants and is ready for the opportunity.
"Our club has shown promise in recent matches, but the fact is we have not won a league match since 1 January. Given our form, we can no longer merely hope that our fortunes will finally turn."
Magath is likely to meet the backroom staff, including Alan Curbishley and Ray Wilkins, to discuss a way forward on Sunday.
Fulham, whose next game is at 17th-placed West Brom on Saturday 22 February, said that an announcement on their backroom staff will be made in the near future.
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Wenger a 'specialist in failure'
The Chelsea boss was responding to the Arsenal manager's claim that other Premier League bosses are playing down their title chances because they "fear to fail".
Chelsea hold a one-point lead over the Gunners at the top of the table.
Mourinho said: "If he is right and I am afraid of failure it is because I didn't fail many times. Eight years without silverware, that's failure.
"
Under Wenger, Arsenal have not won a trophy since the 2005 FA Cup.
"He's a specialist in failure," continued Mourinho. "If I do that in Chelsea, eight years, I leave and don't come back."
The Portuguese manager, who won the Premier League twice in his first spell as Chelsea manager between 2004 and 2007, has won league titles in four countries, as well as the Champions League with Porto and Inter Milan.
This is not the first time Mourinho has criticised Wenger, the Blues boss having described the Frenchman as a "voyeur" in 2005 after his rival questioned Chelsea's transfer policy.
"He likes to watch other people," said Mourinho in October 2005. "There are some guys who, when they are at home, have a big telescope to see what happens in other families.
"He speaks, speaks, speaks about Chelsea."
Former England striker and Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker said Mourinho had gone "over the top" with his latest remarks.
"Mourinho is out of order and wrong with Wenger comments," Lineker wrote on Twitter. (external)
"He's won trophies galore all over the world, playing delightful football.
"Yes, Wenger hasn't won anything for a number of years, but he hasn't, until very recently, had the budget of others. Club is in great shape."
Ex-Manchester United and England defender Gary Neville also entered the debate on social media. (external)
"Getting to the business end!" he wrote on Twitter. "Jose lobbing grenades out! Anyone going to take him on?"
Chelsea, preparing for Saturday's FA Cup fifth-round tie against Manchester City, host Arsenal on 22 March in a match likely to have a significant bearing on the title fight.
Mourinho has previously said his side are not contenders, describing the Blues as a "little horse" in the Premier League race.
Brendan Rodgers, manager of fourth-placed Liverpool, continued that analogy on Thursday by saying his side "may be the chihuahuas that run in between the legs of the horses" as they look to make a late challenge.
Wenger insisted the title was "Chelsea's to lose" but said Arsenal would "give everything" to win it.
"Many teams are in it and it will be very tight until the end," said the Frenchman, who became Gunners boss in 1996. "We will absolutely give everything and if we don't do I will take responsibility for it."
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Sir Tom Finney dies at age of 91
Finney made more than 400 league appearances for Preston North End between 1946 and 1960 and won 76 caps for England.
He scored 30 goals for England, placing him joint sixth on the all-time list with Alan Shearer and Nat Lofthouse.
A Preston statement said: (external) "Sir Tom was the greatest player to ever play for Preston North End and one of the all time greats for England."
Preston are due to play Leyton Orient in League One on Saturday at Deepdale.
The statement added: "Preston North End have been informed of the extremely sad news of the passing of Sir Tom Finney.
"The thoughts of everyone at the club, and those connected with it, are with his family at this time."
The Football Association tweeted: (external) "The FA is saddened to hear of the passing of Sir Tom Finney, one of England's all-time greatest players."
Manchester United manager David Moyes knew Finney well during his time playing for, and then managing Preston between 1993 and 2002, owning a framed picture of the former England international at his home.
Speaking before Finney's death, Moyes said: "Sir Tom was a great help in the early stages of my management career.
"He had an incredible passion for the game and someone I have great admiration for. There is no doubt he is one of the greatest players but to me he is also a great man."
BBC chief football correspondent Mike Ingham told BBC Radio 5 live: "He was a slight figure but incredibly brave. Former Preston team-mate and Liverpool manager Bill Shankly considered him to be the greatest player to ever play the game.
"That's all you need to know."
Born in Preston, in the street next to the club's Deepdale stadium, Finney was nicknamed the Preston Plumber after completing an apprenticeship with his family's plumbing business.
He was linked with a move to Italian side Palermo in 1952, but Preston chairman Nat Buck quashed the deal, saying: "If tha' doesn't play for us, tha' doesn't play for anybody."
He twice won the footballer of the year title, in 1953-54 and 1956-57, and was twice a runner-up in the league with North End, as well as playing in the 1954 FA Cup final defeat to West Brom.
In all, he scored 187 league goals for the club but in 1961, a year after he retired, they were relegated from the top flight and have not returned since.
Finney maintained his links with Preston, serving as the club's president. The stadium is located on Sir Tom Finney Way, a statue stands outside the ground, while inside, a stand was renamed in his honour in 1995.
He was knighted in 1998.
Internationally, he played in the infamous 1-0 defeat by the United States at the 1950 World Cup and went on to represent England at both the 1954 and 1958 tournaments.
Former England and Blackpool defender Jimmy Armfield told BBC Sport he was a "great footballer and a great man. A fantastic player. He had the ability to play right across the forward line - left wing or right wing - centre forward as well."
Fellow England legend Sir Stanley Matthews, who died in 2000, once said of Finney: "To dictate the pace and course of a game, a player has to be blessed with awesome qualities.
"Those who have accomplished it on a regular basis can be counted on the fingers of one hand - Pele, Maradona, Best, Di Stefano, and Tom Finney."
Speaking in 2012, England's record goalscorer Sir Bobby Charlton called Finney's contribution to football "immeasurable".
Charlton told BBC Sport: "I used to look at him and think, this is fantastic.
"Watching him, you knew full well that the full-backs had had it. He was just too good for them. Occasionally I had the pleasure to play with him and it was the greatest pleasure anyone could ever give me.
"He passed to me on my England debut and I had never been so proud.
"I have so many happy memories of watching him play. His contribution to football is immeasurable."
Football League chairman Greg Clarke paid tribute to Finney, saying: "He was quite possibly the finest player to have ever played in the Football League and was a true gentleman.
"He was also the epitome of the one-club man with few people ever having contributed as much to a single team, their city or our competition."
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Friday, 14 February 2014
Catholic archbishop attacks welfare reform
The leader of the Catholic Church in England and Wales has labelled the government's social reform a "disgrace" for leaving people facing "destitution".
Cardinal-designate Vincent Nichols said the "basic safety net" for the poorest families has been "torn apart".
The Archbishop of Westminster claimed there was now a "real dramatic crisis".
The government responded by saying welfare reforms will "transform the lives" of the poorest families.
Speaking to the Telegraph, Archbishop Nichols, the most senior Roman Catholic cleric in England and Wales, said the welfare state was becoming "more punitive".
"I think what's happening is two things", he said.
"One is that the basic safety net, that was there to guarantee that people would not be left in hunger or in destitution has actually been torn apart. It no longer exists, and that is a real real dramatic crisis.
"And the second is that, in this context, the administration of social assistance - I am told - has become more and more punitive."
'Meet basic needs'
"So, if applicants don't get it right then they have to wait and they have to wait for 10 days, for two weeks - with nothing, with nothing. And that's why the role of food banks has become so crucial for so many people in Britain today.
"And for a country of our affluence that quite frankly is a disgrace."
The attack comes just days before Archbishop Nichols will be one of 19 new cardinals from around the world who will be appointed by Pope Francis at the Vatican.
A spokesman for the Department of Work and Pensions replied by saying the previous benefits system was "trapping" the very people it was designed to help.
"Our welfare reforms will transform the lives of some of the poorest families in our communities with universal credit making three million households better off and lifting hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty", the spokesman said.
"It's wrong to talk of removing a safety net when we're spending £94bn a year on working age benefits and the welfare system supports millions of people who are on low incomes or unemployed so they can meet their basic needs."
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Tribute To A Lost Friend Read Derenle Edun's Tribute To Late Goldie Harvey
A year ago Nigerian music star, Goldie passed on at a tender age. Her best friend and confidant – Denrele Edun was with her up to her last moments when she breathed her last. Yesterday, at the first anniversary of her passing, he shares his tribute with us all.
READ
"A friend who dies………it's something of you who dies.
Trying to figure out what to write today has been one of the most draining and difficult things I've ever had to do and what I realized is that these mechanisms of my body, mind and language are too ill-equipped to portray with justice the gravity of the loss that I feel.
Goldie Harvey was my soul mate. Everything about Goldie was unique. Everything about Goldie was complex. She wasn't only beautiful, she was so captivatingly beautiful in and out that no eye could avoid her, and once she had hooked you with her charming innocence, you were blown away by a beauty that was at once shy and confident, sultry and innocent, inviting and biting and as such, I always described her as a Siren of Sorts!
I used to tell my friends, "Wait until you meet my personal person Goldie, you go love am die." And I was never proven wrong. We have all been in love with Goldie Harvey.
When I met her, I was blown away by the bizarre and beautiful world that was wrapped up in this tiny whimsical creature.
It was sometime in early 2006; I got a call from a certain Bimpe who wanted to shoot two musical videos in a row. (At that time, I had featured in D'banj's "Why Me" and was already crowned with the invisible sash of "Most-Sought-After-Video-Vixen" as every artiste believed a cameo appearance from me would not only boost the ratings of the vid but also garner enough airplay from the station I used to work with).
I thought to myself, "Another feature? Na wa!".
In usual artistic fashion, I kept posting this "Bimpe" until I got another call from a Damilola (who happened to be Bimpe/Goldie's PA at that time) asking for a meeting. Why not? So right after work, I decided to stop by at this person's residence somewhere on Etim Inyang street in V/I.
Lo and behold, every female artiste who was a friend of mine was in the building!! Never one to say no to a party, I thanked Baba GOD for making my toothpick legs waka well. I also ran into Seyi Brown (we used to model for the House of KeseJabari in my hey days) and it looked like the house party was in full swing.
"Where is Bimpe ooo??" I kept screaming. And there she was, sprawled on the couch and looking a little pale.
"HA, wetin happen?" I asked and she motioned for me to sit next to her. Headache, she gestured. Amidst the chaos and chattering all around the house, she poured me a glass of white wine (which later became our favourite drink) but I declined.
Drink joor", she whispered.
"Sorry, I don't drink or smoke".
"Just a glass. See it's the one I've been drinking from"
"I'll rather watch you drink" and then she gave up on me.
"So you asked to see me?" (Me no like to dey waste time. I was eyeing the pastries in the corner of the living room).
"Oh, I'm shooting a new music video. Track is titled "Spin Me", DJ Tee is directing and I would like you to make a cameo. You were amazing in "Why Me" and Abeg I need your Rockstar self to sell my market in this video. So what would you charge me?"
I thought for a minute. "Can I listen to the song first?".
Then she took out her phone and typed 50k and showed me. Omo mehn, I was shocked! 50k gees at that point was good cool cash. Heck, I was earning 65k per month at work and it was strenuous work Monday to Sunday.
But there was something vulnerable about this girl and without thinking, I blurted out "You know what? Don't worry about the cash. I will do it. When and where is the shoot plus what are you wearing so I can match up with you?".
Now it was her turn to look shocked. She sat up sharply despite her heavy migraine and looked me in the eye. "You are kidding me. Denrele be serious jo".
I stood up and said, "Get Damilola to call me with details of the shoot. My madness is good to go. I'm hungry, I wan chop cake." And so I waltzed round the room, mingled with my people, foil-papered serious take away, grabbed some promo CDs and left. I went back to the office (I used to sleep at the office then), listened to the song over and over and fell asleep on my desk
The day of the Video shoot; I was late as usual, Goldie was freaking out, DJ Tee was being DJ Tee and I had to play a right handed guitar for the opening sequence. Despite my left handedness, I pulled through but not without bruising my fingers badly. I was bleeding all over the place. Goldie was so worried, she tore out the netting under her dress and tied my fingers so the bleeding could stop. Needless to say, the shoot was a success and I made a new best friend!
Fast Forward to 2010 and I became Goldie Harvey's alter ego in all her videos!!
Never in my wildest dreams did I ever expect for her to leave so soon- her wonderful voice only a phone call away, her smile that would light up a room in seconds, and her warm heart that could melt a glacier.
She was a jewel that shone across oceans into the hearts of so many.
She was an adventurer, ready to hop on a plane in a heartbeat and experience life to the fullest.
She was a gifted artiste who could weave a song that left you breathless and laughing out loud.
She was a friend who offered encouragement when you needed it most.
She was my long lost sister who opened up a whole new family for me that time and distance will not deny.
When I think of what she accomplished, my heart soars with pride and I feel gratitude that yes, you can accomplish your dreams.
We openly shared our dreams and secrets- Goldie and I- and what I admired the most was her genuineness and style- taking risks, stepping out of her comfort zone, offering her advice and knowledge to total strangers in an effort to empower their hearts and lift their spirits.
Now she is free to work even more miracles from the other side.
I lift my heart to her in honor, and with joy, knowing that she is finally free. And if I experience just a tiny drop of the happiness she feels now, I will consider myself so fortunate to be alive.
So fortunate also to have mended fences when we clashed severely. Right after her "Jawo Jawo" video shoot, Goldie and I fell out heavily. We had finished shooting a couple of scenes at Zizi Cardow's showroom and I noticed a change in her behavior. Because I was heavily involved onset, I felt she was unappreciative.
On the other hand, she didn't find my humor appealing. She took some of my jokes in bad taste and then, we didn't speak to each other for three months! But there was a bond; I found myself marching to her house and we had a shouting match that lasted for close to four hours. Exhausted from the ordeal, we sat back and laughed our differences off.
I recall Ilami Precious (who had just won the NextMovieStar at that time) sitting quietly and observing us. After then, we grew even closer than ever!
People often speak of happiness in tragedy. The most important thing Goldie taught me was how to be a friend. She was a good friend to everyone she loved, even those who at times she found impossible to like.
She was friends to some simply because she felt that they needed her to be. Goldie would give you fuel money, buy you lunch, give you a place to stay if you had nowhere else to go, or even fight a fight that she couldn't win.
If I needed anything, Goldie would do everything she could to help me. She always knew when I was hungry or broke and always bought me the most amazing gifts. Just an hour before she passed on, she gave me a Hermes perfume she got for me in the States and told me, "When I was passing Hollywood Boulevard, this scent hit me and I thought of you immediately."
She always came home crying every time she heard someone say nasty stuff about her to other people or even print unprintable things about her. Comments on blogs and social media always got to her however dis-interested she tried to act but I could see through that facade. She even told me about a couple of Industry heavyweights that were getting to close for comfort but we always laughed that off. "You are hot stuff nah. Enjoy the attention"……I told her.
Best friends. Period.
Honestly, every life is like a book. Some are long. Some are short. And, I remind myself that a long book doesn't always mean that it's a good book. Some long books- and lives- are filled with pain, bitterness and sorrow. Maybe it's a long life that is void of love. Goldie was going to be one of those great, yet short books.
The kind that hits your heart with every page of every chapter. And just when it's getting really good, you find yourself on the last page. Desperately wanting more. And so incredibly moved by all that you've absorbed.
Well, it's been a great book Goldie.
Every word.
Every page.
Every story in every chapter.
RE: Life does go on and we should celebrate. Hopefully, we will all leave behind people that love us and have wonderful stories to share about us. How are YOU living your life??
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Terrible Tyrese And Ex Wife In Nasty Custody Battle
yrese and ex wife Norma fight over custody battle of daughter
Tyrese and Norma share custody of 6year old Shayla
Tyrese Gibson says his ex, Norma Gibson, needs to be locked up in jail for denying him access to their daughter. The singer has filed a legal document to that effect yesterday.
According to gossipe site TMZ, "cops came to Norma Gibson's home Tuesday night over Tyrese's right to take their 6-year-old daughter away for a visit. The cops reportedly talked to a very upset Tyrese and left. Tyrese lalso left but without his daughter."
Reports claim he's now filed a formal motion with the court to hold Norma in contempt for violating their custody order. In the legal document obtained yesterday, Tyrese quotes from the custody order, which seems pretty clear,
"[Tyrese] shall have custody of Shayla every Tuesday with pick-up from school, and if no school, pick-up from [Norma's] residence at 10:00 a.m."
What's most interesting is that the singer showed up Tuesday NIGHT and not at 10 AM as the same court order says. so why should his ex give out the kid again?
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