Rand, bonds, stocks steady

South Africa's rand and government bonds were steady in early Monday trade, with dealers expecting the currency to consolidate in the mid-6.90s ahead of key data later in the week.

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South Africa's rand and government bonds were steady in early Monday trade, with dealers expecting the currency to consolidate in the mid-6.90s ahead of key data later in the week.

Gross domestic product numbers for the first quarter are due out on Tuesday at 11:30 SA time, shortly after money supply and credit data at 08:30 SA time, which will be watched for pointers to the interest rate outlook.

Analysts polled by Reuters see GDP growth slowing slightly to 4.2 percent on an annualised and seasonally adjusted basis from 4.4 percent in Q4 2010. Money supply and credit demand are seen nudging higher.

The rand was holding steady against the dollar on Monday after closing firmer during Friday's local trade.

At 08:52 SA time it was trading at 6.93 against the dollar, not far off Friday's New York close of 6.94.

Dealers said before the week's data the rand would be vulnerable to euro/dollar moves as the eurozone's sovereign debt crisis leads to dollar safe-haven buying.

However, the United States and Britain are on holiday this session and trade is expected to be slow.

“Later in the week, we expect rand participants to look to Greece,” Standard Bank said in a research note.

“If Greece fails to secure another tranche of its bailout package over the coming weeks, the euro could come under renewed selling pressure against the dollar and thereby cause the rand to weaken beyond 7.0/dollar.”

Government bonds were flat-to-weak on the longer-dated 15-year bond.

The yield on the 2015 bond was steady at 7.48 percent while that on the 2026 paper added one basis point to 8.485 percent.

The Johannesburg stock market opened flat after a four day winning streak last week. - Reuters

Source: http://www.iol.co.za/rand-bonds-stocks-steady-1.1075553

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Pakistan launches probe into Osama raid

Pakistan's prime minister ordered an independent commission to probe the killing of Osama bin Laden by US elite forces

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Pakistan's prime minister Tuesday ordered an independent commission to investigate the Abbottabad operation in which elite US forces killed Osama bin Laden on May 2, the premier's media office said.

“Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has constituted a commission to investigate the Abbotabad incident,” a statement said, referring to the garrison town north of Islamabad where the al-Qaeda leader had been hiding.

A five member commission will be headed by Justice Javed Iqbal, a senior judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, it added.

Pakistan's parliament earlier this month urged the government to appoint an independent group to probe the raid that killed bin Laden, aimed at ensuring that such an incident in not repeated.

Lawmakers also threatened to withdraw logistical cooperation for US troops based in Afghanistan and condemned CIA-operated drone strikes in the wake of the helicopter-borne assault by US Navy SEALs that led to bin Laden's death. -

Sapa-AFP

Source: http://www.iol.co.za/pakistan-launches-probe-into-osama-raid-1.1076558?cache=0%3Fimage%3D16%3Fcache%3D0%3Fimage%3D16%3Fcache%3D0%3Fimage%3D16%3Fcache%3D0%3Fimage%3D16%3Fot%3Dinmsa.ArticlePrintPageLayout.ot%2F7.120%3Freport%3D19.112764.1300946287%3Fot%3Dinmsa.ArticlePrintPageLayout.ot%3Fimage%3D0%3Fimage%3D2%3Fimage%3D15%2F7.6139%3Fot%3Dinmsa.AjaxPageLayout.ot

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Hun to stay at SuperSport

Coach Gavin Hunt has confirmed he will be stay at SuperSport United, after recent speculation that he may be joining Sundowns.

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Coach Gavin Hunt, in a statement to the media on Tuesday, confirmed he will be remaining with SuperSport United, after recent speculation that he may be joining Mamelodi Sundowns.

“In recent days, there has been widespread media speculation regarding my future with Supersport United and more specifically linking me with a possible move to Mamelodi Sundowns,” said Hunt.

“I wish to confirm that I was indeed approached by Mamelodi Sundowns during the course of last week and that I was, with the knowledge of Supersport United, engaged in negotiations with them.

“I have subsequently advised Supersport United of my intention to remain with the club,” he said.

Hunt added that he was fully committed to working towards achieving further milestones with the club and looked forward to being part of their bright future. – Sapa

Source: http://www.iol.co.za/hun-to-stay-at-supersport-1.1076513

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Share of �35,000 will help parents struggling to cope with death of a child

PARENTS struggling to cope with the death of a child are among those who will be helped by a �35,000 giveaway.

The Compassionate Friends is just one out of 300 community groups guaranteed a share of the prize fund in the Post's Cash For Your Community Campaign.

The more tokens a group collects, the bigger its pay-out will be.

The Compassionate Friends is an organisation which helps and befriends parents whose child has died.

Pat and Jerry Morris, of the Notts branch of the group, say they are making every effort to collect tokens.

As well as asking members of the group to save coupons, members of St Andrew's With Castle Gate United Reformed Church and customers at In Trim, in Radford Road, are also collecting on their behalf.

"If we are successful it is our intention to spend the money distributing our leaflets to all funeral directors and others who may bring the attention of those who have suffered this grievous loss to the existence of our group," they said. "We can then hopefully help them rebuild their lives through reaching out to them."

As well as helping parents, the Compassionate Friends also helps grandparents and siblings affected by the death of a child.

As well as regular meetings, the group also organises fundraising activities, provides formal training to volunteers and works to raise public awareness about child death.

Readers can collect coupons for the Compassionate Friends every day until Friday, June 17. Remember to look out for double, triple and even quadruple coupon days.

For more information about the Compassionate Friends visit www.tcf.org.uk.

Staff at the Post are on hand for groups who would like help and ideas on how to collect as many tokens as possible, Contact cashforyourcommunity@nottinghampostgroup.co.uk.

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'Muscle' in house raid locked up

A BURGLAR who was used as "muscle" on a job has been jailed for 18 months.

Leon Lawrence was involved in a burglary at a ground-floor flat in Tennyson Street, Radford, on December 7, with two other people.

A garden fence was used to break a window and a flat-screen television ripped from the wall in the property, Nottingham Crown Court heard.

Neighbours contacted police when they saw someone fleeing from the garden.

They then discovered the tenant's flat-screen television abandoned. It was recovered by police and analysts discovered Lawrence's fingerprints.

He was arrested and a small amount of cannabis was recovered from his bedside table.

Lawrence, 34, of Mapperley Road, Mapperley, pleaded guilty to burglary and possessing cannabis.

Caroline Bradley, prosecuting, said: "He said he was involved with two others, who he did not name. He was 'the muscle' for the job."

Judge Andrew Hamilton said prison was the only place for him. "You have an appalling record for dwelling-house burglary."

The court heard in mitigation that Lawrence had made an attempt to change his life and had got a job.

Source: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/32715/f/503354/s/157a2a05/l/0L0Sthisisnottingham0O0Cnews0CMuscle0Ehouse0Eraid0Elocked0Carticle0E360A88140Edetail0Carticle0Bhtml/story01.htm

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Ladies FA Cup medal goes under the hammer

FOOTBALL fans are being given the chance to bid for a piece of sporting history – a medal from the year Stoke lifted the FA Cup.

Long before Tony Pulis's lads got to Wembley, an invincible team called Stoke Ladies FC scooped the trophy. The year was 1922 and the score was 3-1.

Now, one of the medals awarded after that historic English Ladies' FA Challenge Cup match is to go under the hammer at Bonhams, in Chester, tomorrow.

It belonged to Lilian Bridgett, later known as Lilian Caton, who played right half and was the youngest member of the squad.

Her nine-carat gold medal, along with several black and white photos of the team line-up and a Sentinel cutting, are expected to fetch up to �500.

Stoke Ladies played Doncaster that summer's day 89 years ago and the match was at Cobridge Stadium, Port Vale's former ground.

Lilian, from Stoke, was a mere 15-years old-at the time and would go on to live past 100.

But the story behind the club proved just as fascinating as its greatest victory. For it was founded by Lilian's father, Len Bridgett, and four of his seven daughters played football.

Len, a fish dealer and one-time Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent, was a Stoke City director and became president of the English Ladies' Football Association.

Yet Stoke Ladies actually owed its existence to family rivalry. Len's brother Arthur, who played for England, had seven sons and started a team called Bridgetts United.

Determined not to be outdone, Len formed the female team, who would play home matches at the fabled Victoria Ground.

In an interview with The Sentinel in 1994, Lilian recalled the days of her short-lived football career.

She said: "We had to train very hard and were helped to keep in trim by a masseur. Dad was very strict on discipline, but that was probably why we were such a good team."

Lilian's team mates included Daisy Bates, a prolific goal-scorer who later married Stoke City goalkeeper Bob Dixon. And then there was star player Dot Derricot, who scored 13 goals in a single match.

After winning the FA Cup, the club went on a tour of Spain, where the girls beat a French side in Barcelona.

But women's football began to fizzle out after the FA backed a rule, which stopped league clubs from staging women's matches. Stoke Ladies folded in 1923 after five years of being unbeaten on the pitch.

Lilian's cousin Peter Bridgett, who is now in his 60s and lives in Ashley, was surprised to hear of the medal coming up for auction. He is keen to put in a bid for it.

"I've already got some of the other medals from when they went on tour," he said.

"I used to visit Lily after she went up to live in Blackpool. She would tell me about getting to play football in front of the big crowds and the marvellous times they had. They would play in front of 40,000. It's incredible."

Tyne and Wear-based historian Patrick Brennan, an expert on women's football, said: "Stoke Ladies were very go-ahead in their day. They were fighting for the right to play the game.

"There will certainly be interest in the medal. I would be very surprised if it didn't fetch more than �500."

Lilian's medal, which includes an enamel design of a female footballer, is lot number 501.

Also on www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk: Latest discount vouchers

MOT only �20 with 67-point annual service - First Call Auto Centre

Limited stocks of GHD straighteners at cut-prices - Keido Hair & Beauty Ltd

Transatlantic cruise only �699pp - Sunclub International

Doner meat and chips with a can just �3.50 - Captain Kooks

�20 cashback and special rates for convicted drivers! - Insure365

Want to offer readers a discount voucher? Claim your listing on our business directory

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Paradise Cinema Releases Icelandic Film Program

B�� Parad�s (?Cinema Paradise?), an independent movie theater on Hverfisgata in central Reykjav�k, will screen a broad selection of Icelandic feature films and documentaries with English subtitles this summer from May to September.

Source: http://icelandreview.com/icelandreview/daily_news?cat_id=29314&ew_0_a_id=378379

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The Royal Family Hosts Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg

Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria-Teresa of Luxembourg are touring both Oslo and Trondheim with King Harald and Queen Sonja on their State Visit to Norway on May 30.

Source: http://www.norwaypost.no/news/the-royal-family-hosts-grand-duke-and-grand-duchess-of-luxembourg-25263.html

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Offenders who escape prison

ONLY one in three prolific offenders sentenced last year were jailed, figures have showed.

Tens of thousands of criminals with 15 or more previous convictions came before the courts, but one in five were given a community sentence, one in 10 a suspended sentence and one in three were jailed.

Of all those charged with an indictable offence for more serious crimes, one in 20 escaped with a caution.

Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke has promised a "rehabilitation revolution" with a series of programmes to stop repeat offenders from re-offending, halt the revolving door of crime and divert criminals with mental health, alcohol or drug problems into treatment.

The plans, which will see "extremely serious changes" to sentencing, will see less use of jail sentences as the Government aims to cut the near-record prison population of more than 85,000.

Short-term sentences of less than 12 months are expected to survive, but fewer will be handed down as they are kept mainly for serious first-time offenders or when other options have been exhausted.

Mr Clarke has said it is a national scandal that nearly half of all offenders re-offend within a year of being released from jail.

Three in four criminals offend again within nine years of being let out and 40% commit another offence within 12 months.

Re-offending rates are "unacceptably high" and "underline the urgent need for steps to counter it", said Mr Clarke.

A total of 101,050 prolific offenders – those with 15 or more convictions or cautions – were charged with an indictable offence, of which 4,340 were cautioned.

Of the remaining 96,710 sentenced – almost double the 54,242 sentenced in 2000 – less than 35,000 were jailed immediately.

The figures were released by the Ministry of Justice,

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Loew?s ?lucky sweater? goes to museum

A blue cashmere sweater worn by Germany coach Joachim Loew during his side's run to third place at the 2010 World Cup has won a spot in the German football federation's museum.

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Berlin – A blue cashmere sweater worn by Germany coach Joachim Loew during his side's run to third place at the 2010 World Cup has won a spot in the German football federation's museum.

Loew had worn the tight sweater in group wins over Australia and Ghana in South Africa as well as their spectacular knockout round victories over England and Argentina.

His players had urged him at the time not to wash the sweater and keep wearing it during their fine run after he had briefly opted for a cardigan in their group stage defeat to Serbia.

Assistant coach Hansi Flick also sported a blue top in some of the matches.

The garment's luck seemed to run out when Germany were beaten in the semifinal by eventual winners Spain.

“This is a great idea,” Loew said in a statement. “This sweater is an unforgettable reminder of the World Cup in South Africa and the amazing time millions of fans, our players and coaches had.”

The sweater will be on permanent loan from a private company and will be exhibited at the DFB football museum in Dortmund from 2014 onwards. – Reuters

Source: http://www.iol.co.za/loew-s-lucky-sweater-goes-to-museum-1.1075813

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?Gaddafi?s rule coming to an end?

Varna, Bulgaria - Muammar Gaddafi's rule is in its final stages, top Nato officials said on Monday, and the alliance might consider sending a small force into Libya once he leaves power.

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Varna, Bulgaria - Muammar Gaddafi's rule is in its final stages, top Nato officials said on Monday, and the alliance might consider sending a small force into Libya once he leaves power.

Nato powers are ratcheting up their intervention in Libya to try to break a deadlock that has seen Gaddafi hold on to power despite weeks of air strikes and a rebel uprising.

“Gaddafi's reign of terror is coming to an end. He is increasingly isolated at home and abroad. Even those closest to him are departing, defecting or deserting,” Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told a Nato forum in Varna.

Nato warplanes have intensified their air strikes on Tripoli and have repeatedly hit Gaddafi's Bab al-Aziziyah compound in the centre of the city.

“We will keep up the pressure until all attacks and threats of attacks against civilians have stopped, until the regime has withdrawn its forces and mercenaries to bases and barracks,” said Rasmussen.

Rebels now control the east of the country, around their main stronghold in Benghazi, and pockets in the West.

But the conflict has reached stalemate on ground, with the rebels unable to advance toward Tripoli and Nato powers - wary of getting sucked into new conflicts after their experience in Iraq and Afghanistan - refusing to put troops on ground.

US Admiral Samuel Locklear, commander of the Joint Operations Command at Naples conducting the Libya campaign, declined to comment whether Nato would expand its operation with forces on ground.

But he suggested that a small force may be needed once Gaddafi's regime collapses to help the transition to democracy after his 41 years in power.

He told the Varna forum: “I would anticipate that there might be a need at some point to unfold a small force ... a small number of people there to help them in some way.”

“It could be the United Nations, it could the European Union, I guess for a short period of time it could be Nato,” he added without elaborating.

Locklear said Nato was not carrying out plans on deploying such a force, but was discussing it because the alliance may be forced to act quickly to avoid a possible vacuum of power.

“I think, given where we come in this operation that it would be, may be in the best interest as they try to put a government together to provide them some stability and some support while they do that,” Locklear said.

Britain said on Sunday it was adding “bunker-busting” bombs to the weapons its warplanes are using over Libya to send the Libyan leader the message that it was time for him to step down. - Reuters

Source: http://www.iol.co.za/gaddafi-s-rule-coming-to-an-end-1.1075819

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Zuma enters fray in Libya

The SA leader arrived in Tripoli for talks as a Nato chief declared that Gaddafi's "reign of terror" was near its end

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South Africa President Jacob Zuma arrived in Tripoli on Monday for talks on ending the Libyan conflict as Nato chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Muammar Gaddafi's “reign of terror” was near its end.

Zuma was greeted at the airport by Gaddafi's prime minister, Baghdadi al-Mahmudi, shortly after Libyan state media said Nato-led air strikes on the town of Zliten, west of the rebel-held city of Misrata, killed 11 people.

The South African presidency said Zuma is seeking an immediate ceasefire, to boost humanitarian aid and bring about the reforms needed to eliminate the cause of the conflict which erupted amid anti-regime protests in mid-February.

But it rejected as “misleading” reports the talks would focus on an exit strategy for Gaddafi, saying the visit is part of African Union efforts to end the conflict between his forces and rebels fighting to oust him.

Libyan state television said Zuma was going to discuss the implementation of the AU “roadmap” for peace, as it reported Nato-led raids on the Nafusa mountains in the far west and the town of Bani Walid, near Misrata.

State news agency JANA said that Nato-led planes had hit “civilian and military sites in the Wadi Kaam area of Zliten.” “There were 11 people martyred and a number of wounded,” the news agency said.

At a meeting of Nato's parliamentary assembly in Bulgaria, the Nato chief insisted: “Gaddafi's reign of terror is coming to an end.

“He is increasingly isolated at home and abroad. Even those closest to him are departing, defecting or deserting. ... It is time for Gaddafi to go as well,” Rasmussen said.

The Nato chief was upbeat about the results of Nato's military intervention to enforce a UN-backed no-fly zone over the north African country.

“Our operation in Libya, Operation Unified Protector, is achieving its objectives and we are preventing Gaddafi from achieving his,” Rasmussen said.

“In just two months we have made significant progress. We have seriously degraded Gaddafi's ability to kill his own people.”

In the rebels' eastern stronghold of Benghazi, Mustafa Abdul Jalil, who heads their provisional government, welcomed a call by G8 world powers for Gaddafi to stand down.

“The position taken by the G8 is reflective of the will of the international community as well as the demands and aspirations of the Libyan people,” Jalil said.

G8 leaders from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States called on Friday for Gaddafi to step down after more than 40 years in the face of pro-democracy protests turned full-fledged armed revolt.

Russia at the same time finally joined explicit calls for Gaddafi to go.

The Libyan regime responded by saying any initiative to resolve the crisis would have to go through the African Union.

“The G8 is an economic summit. We are not concerned by its decisions,” said Tripoli's deputy foreign minister, Khaled Kaaim.

“We are an African country. Any initiative outside the AU framework will be rejected,” he said, confirming Zuma's visit on Monday.

The rebels reiterated they would accept no settlement that did not entail Gaddafi's departure from power.

“We witness how Colonel Gaddafi presents initiatives to fool the world and create the illusion that he is in search of peace,” Abdul Jalil said.

“It is with this in mind that we would like to reconfirm that the basis of any consideration for the resolution of the Libyan crisis is the removal of the main reason for this crisis, Colonel Gaddafi.”

In a statement on the eve of the visit, Zuma's ruling African National Congress slammed the Nato bombing of Libya.

“We also join the continent and all peace loving people of the world in condemning the continuing aerial bombardments of Libya by Western forces,” it said after a two-day meeting of its executive council.

In Geneva, UN rights chief Navi Pillay condemned the brutality of crackdowns on protesters in Libya and Syria, saying the actions were shocking in their disregard for human rights.

“The brutality and magnitude of measures taken by the governments in Libya and now Syria have been particularly shocking in their outright disregard for basic human rights,” Pillay told the UN Human Rights Council.

Two French lawyers said they planned to initiate legal proceedings against French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Monday for crimes against humanity over the Nato-led military campaign in Libya.

A Libyan justice ministry official Ibrahim Boukhzam told reporters in Tripoli that Jacques Verges and Roland Dumas had offered to represent families he said were victims of the Nato bombing campaign.

In its latest operational update, Nato said Monday it struck command and control nodes in Tripoli and the eastern oil town of Brega, and ammunition storage facilities in Gaddafi's hometown of Sirte and Misrata. -

Sapa-AFP

Source: http://www.iol.co.za/zuma-enters-fray-in-libya-1.1075892?cache=0%3Fpage%3D10%3Fpage%3D9%3Fimage%3D1%2F7.120%3Freport%3D19.123634.1302171494%3Fcache%3D0%3Fpage%3D10%3Fpage%3D9%3Fimage%3D1%2F7.120%3Freport%3D19.123634.1302171494%3Fcache%3D0%3Fpage%3D10%3Fpage%3D9%3Fimage%3D1%2F7.120%3Freport%3D19.123634.1302171494%3Fcache%3D0%3Fpage%3D10%3Fpage%3D9%3Fimage%3D1%2F7.120%3Freport%3D19.123634.1302171494

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Loew?s ?lucky sweater? goes to museum

A blue cashmere sweater worn by Germany coach Joachim Loew during his side's run to third place at the 2010 World Cup has won a spot in the German football federation's museum.

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Berlin – A blue cashmere sweater worn by Germany coach Joachim Loew during his side's run to third place at the 2010 World Cup has won a spot in the German football federation's museum.

Loew had worn the tight sweater in group wins over Australia and Ghana in South Africa as well as their spectacular knockout round victories over England and Argentina.

His players had urged him at the time not to wash the sweater and keep wearing it during their fine run after he had briefly opted for a cardigan in their group stage defeat to Serbia.

Assistant coach Hansi Flick also sported a blue top in some of the matches.

The garment's luck seemed to run out when Germany were beaten in the semifinal by eventual winners Spain.

“This is a great idea,” Loew said in a statement. “This sweater is an unforgettable reminder of the World Cup in South Africa and the amazing time millions of fans, our players and coaches had.”

The sweater will be on permanent loan from a private company and will be exhibited at the DFB football museum in Dortmund from 2014 onwards. – Reuters

Source: http://www.iol.co.za/loew-s-lucky-sweater-goes-to-museum-1.1075813?cache=0%3Fpage%3D10%3Fpage%3D9%3Fimage%3D1%2F7.120%3Freport%3D19.123634.1302171494%3Fcache%3D0%3Fpage%3D10%3Fpage%3D9%3Fimage%3D1%2F7.120%3Freport%3D19.123634.1302171494%3Fcache%3D0%3Fpage%3D10%3Fpage%3D9%3Fimage%3D1%2F7.120%3Freport%3D19.123634.1302171494%3Fcache%3D0%3Fpage%3D10%3Fpage%3D9%3Fimage%3D1%2F7.120%3Freport%3D19.123634.1302171494

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Serero named Player of the Year

Thulani Serero and Siyabonga Nomvethe were the big winners at the PSL Awards at Gold Reef City this weekend.

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Johannesburg - Ajax Cape Town's Thulani Serero won the Player of the Year award at the PSL Awards at Gold Reef City on Sunday night.

The 21-year-old striker's awards included Footballer of the Year Award, the Premiership Player of the Season, Premiership Players’ Player of the Season as well as the Red Hot Young Player of the Season awards.

The other main awards saw Moroka Swallows’ Siyabonga Nomvethe grabbing the MTN8 Player of the Tournament Award, Knowledge Musona taking the Telkom Knockout Player of the tournament, while Andile Jali was crowned the Nedbank Cup Player of the Tournament.

Outgoing PSL CEO Kjetil Siem bid farewell to South African football.

“The League has done extremely well in the season following the World Cup and the players have certainly raised the bar and the standard of play. We need to build on this and grow the PSL into a more competitive league on the field and a stronger brand off it,” said Siem. - Sapa

LIST OF WINNERS

PSL Footballer of the Year - Thulani Serero - R250 000

NFD Inland Stream Top Goal Scorer - Rodney Ramagalela - R25 000

NFD Coastal Stream Top Goal Scorer - Atusaye Nyondo - R25 000

Referee of the Season - Daniel Bennett - R50 000

Assistant Referee of the Season - Zakhele Siwela - R40 000

Absa Premiership Player of the Season - Thulani Serero - R150 000

Absa Premiership Coach of the Season - Ruud Krol - R75 000

Absa Premiership Players Player of the Season - Thulani Serero - R150 000

Absa Premiership Red Hot Young Player - Thulani Serero - R150 000

Absa-lutely awesome goal of the season - Tlou Segolela - R50 000

Absa Premiership goalkeeper of the Season - Patrick Tignyemb - R50 000

Absa Premiership Top Goal Scorer - Knowledge Musona - R25 000

Telkom Knockout Player of the Tournament - Knowledge Musona - R200 000

MTN8 Player of the Tournament - Siyabonga Nomvethe - R150 000

Nedbank Cup Player of the Tournament - Andile Jali - R100 000

Nedbank Cup Young Player of the Tournament - Tlou Segolela - R25 000

Chairman's Award - Lucky Lekgwathi - R100 000

Source: http://www.iol.co.za/serero-named-player-of-the-year-1.1075465?cache=0%3Fpage%3D5%3Fcache%3D0%3Fpage%3D5%3Fimage%3D9%3Fimage%3D18%3Fpage%3D9%3Fpage%3D2%3FpageNumber%3D2

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Mubarak has no assets overseas - lawyer

Toppled Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak has about $1-million to his name - and his lawyer says the money stems from savings accrued over 62 years.

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Cairo - The wealth of toppled Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak is no more than $1-million and he has no assets overseas, his lawyer said on Sunday.

Farid el-Deeb also told CNN in an interview that Mubarak denied charges of graft and killing protesters during the uprising that ousted him in February.

“He was very sad and sorry because he did not imagine such accusations,” Deeb said.

“His entire fortune amounts to around six million Egyptian pounds which he saved from working for 62 years. He does not own anything else in Egypt or outside of Egypt.

“He does not own a single dollar abroad.”

Deeb said Mubarak needed help to go to the bathroom in the hospital in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh where he is detained.

“The president has serious heart problems,” Deeb said. “He does not watch TV or anything else. They ban him from doing so to avoid more psychological pain.”

“He speaks very little and suppresses a lot of his feelings.”

Mubarak was ordered last week to stand trial for killing protesters and for corruption and wasting public funds.

More than 840 people were killed during 18 days of protests that toppled Mubarak. Twenty-six policemen were also killed. - Reuters

Source: http://www.iol.co.za/mubarak-has-no-assets-overseas-lawyer-1.1075447

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Pirates clinch Nedbank Cup, treble

Orlando Pirates won the 2011 Nedbank Cup at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday, coming from behind to beat Black Leopards 3-1.

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Orlando Pirates won the 2011 Nedbank Cup at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday afternoon, coming from behind to beat Black Leopards 3-1 thanks to goals from Isaac Chansa and Thulasizwe Mbuyane.

It is the Buccaneers’ first triumph in South Africa’s FA Cup since 1996 and sees them complete a treble of trophies, having also won the league and top eight cup in the 2010/11 season. They are the first team to achieve this feat in the PSL era (1996/97 onwards).

As for Leopards, they followed in the recent footsteps of Mpumalanga Black Aces (2008) and University of Pretoria (2009) as First Division teams who lost in the Nedbank Cup final against top flight opposition.

Pirates started the stronger of the two teams and dominated possession in the first 20 minutes. However, the only clear cut chance they created in the first half came from a mistake by Leopards defender Simphiwe Vezi, who handed Bongani Ndulula a close range opportunity that was well saved by goalkeeper Azwindini Maphaha.

After that missed opportunity for the Buccaneers, Leopards seemed to grow in confidence and looked fairly threatening whenever they broke forward on the counter attack. Robert Ng’ambi was particularly difficult for Pirates to deal with; the Lidoda Duvha skipper combined well with the likes of Mongezi Bobe and Khethokwakhe Masuku, operating effectively between the midfield and lone striker Rodney Ramagalela.

Midfielder Raymond Monama also proved a handful and he created the best chance of the first 45 minutes by gliding past two challenges before unselfishly feeding Ng’ambi, but the Leopards no.10 was unable to beat Senzo Meyiwa with a low, left-footed shot.

For Pirates, Tlou Segolela saw a lot of the ball and seemed to have the beating of Leopards right-back Moses Kwena. However, like his teammates, the flying winger looked short of the incisiveness needed to break down a stubborn Lidoda Duvha backline.

Nine minutes after the interval, Leopards stunned their top flight opponents by taking the lead. Midfielder Mongezi Bobe shot at goal from a free kick just outside the penalty area; the ball took a couple of deflections, the last off centre-back Rooi Mahamutsa, and found its way into the back of the net.

The goal stunned Pirates into life and they began to overrun Leopards’ midfield, who seemed to have exhausted themselves after their first half efforts. An equaliser seemed inevitable and it arrived in the 72nd minute, with Isaac Chansa sweeping the ball home after good set-up play by Thulasizwe Mbuyane.

Just three minutes later the turnaround was complete, as Mbuyane put Pirates ahead for the first time. The attacker headed home from close range, reacting quickest to a looping Andile Jali cross that rebounded off the top of the far post after a misjudgment from the unfortunate Maphaha.

Mbuyane added a beautifully-taken goal to make it 3-1 in the 89th minute, thought not before Leopards’ day went from bad to worse when Kwena was shown a straight red card for dissent toward referee Harry Lekitlane.

Black Leopards (0) 1 (Mahamutsa og 54’)

Orlando Pirates (0) 3 (Chansa 72’, Mbuyane 75’ 89’)

Leopards: (4-2-3-1) Maphaha; Kwena, Vezi, Mabusela, Tshabalala; Mabunda (Manaka 79’), Monama (Lungu 88’); Bobe, Ng’ambi, Masuku (Maake 82’); Ramagalela

Pirates: (4-2-3-1) Meyiwa; Jele, Johannes, Mahamutsa, Lekgwathi; Jali, Manyisa; Mbuyane, Chansa, Segolela (Ngobei 88’); Ndulula (Mayambela 62’) – BackpageTxt

Source: http://www.iol.co.za/pirates-clinch-nedbank-cup-treble-1.1075300?cache=0%3Fpage%3D4%3Fpage%3D9%3Fimage%3D4%3Fimage%3D4%3Fot%3Dinmsa.ArticlePrintPageLayout.ot%3Fot%3Dinmsa.ArticlePrintPageLayout.ot%2F7.6218%3Fot%3Dinmsa.AjaxPageLayout.ot

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Getting ready for the Miss Nottingham finals

IT'S hard to believe that Fran McVeigh lacked confidence as a schoolgirl.

The 20-year-old speaks so fast and enthusiastically that it's a struggle to keep up with her manic schedule.

Fran, who grew up in Keyworth before moving to Underwood with parents Sharon and Tim, will take her place in the line-up of 15 girls at the Miss Nottingham finals at Eastwood Hall tomorrow .

For Fran, it couldn't come at a busier time, falling in the middle of her second-year exams for a philosophy and politics degree at Durham University.

"I'm here for Miss Nottingham and then I'm going back to Durham for an exam the next day," she said.

"I would rather it be like that. You have to challenge yourself or you'd get bored.

"I want to show that no matter what you challenge yourself with, it can be done with focus and determination."

To prove the point. Fran is gearing up for a series of feats that will test her physically and mentally.

One of the toughest is to run the equivalent of a marathon around Notts County's pitch. The club's chairman is sponsoring her Miss Nottingham campaign and, as part of the Magpies' 150th anniversary celebrations, she aims to run 122 laps for charity.

"I've never done running.

"My friends and family think it's absolutely hilarious. I do karate, so I have the fitness – it's the mentality," said Fran, who in her spare time has been helping to present County's Magpie Player, which can be seen on the club's website.

"I have been doing that since Christmas and it's going really well. I get to go out into the community and meet different people. They made me go to all these football games. Now I can understand why people are so loyal to a football club."

Next year, Fran and co-presenter Adam Harston are planning a charity trek to Turin under their own steam to swap a signed Notts County shirt for a Juventus one.

But her most immediate challenge after Miss Nottingham is the Great Notts Bike Ride. She aims to cycle 19 miles on June 19.

Fran, who took her GCSEs at South Wolds School, in Keyworth, said: "At school, I wasn't a very confident person. I was really quiet and studious. I didn't really talk to anyone. I did my work and went home."

When not at school, she devoted herself to training for the world karate championships, which she won in 2007.

When she turned 16, her mum suggested modelling to boost her confidence and Fran put a portfolio together.

Since signing with an agency, she has modelled wedding gowns for Debenham's bridal catwalk show, worked with Venture Photography and been involved in catwalk shows at university.

A photographer at one photo shoot suggested she try beauty pageants and she entered Miss Nottingham Galaxy, winning the final in February.

"Other girls had come out of Miss England and they knew what to do. It was genuinely insane but you meet some really nice friends," said Fran, who went on to audition for Miss Nottingham along with more than 100 other girls in the Easter holidays.

This week, she returned to Becket School, in West Bridgford, where she sat her A-levels, to talk to pupils about self-esteem and reaching high.

For the first time, Miss Nottingham has teamed up with New College Nottingham. The 15 finalists will showcase fashion designs from students.

The winner will represent Nottingham in the Miss England finals, alongside Miss Mansfield and Sherwood Forest, Chelsea Emma Edgington. The reigning Miss Nottingham, Jessica Linley, went on to win the title last year and represented the country in Miss World in China.

Tickets for the show cost �20 for adults and �12 for children on the door, or call 0116 2245695 You can text vote for your favourite contestant. See http://www.missengland.info/regionals/nottingham

Source: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/32715/f/503354/s/155a455d/l/0L0Sthisisnottingham0O0Cnews0CGetting0Eready0EMiss0ENottingham0Efinals0Carticle0E360A46220Edetail0Carticle0Bhtml/story01.htm

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Suspected Islamists in Nigerian attacks

Gunmen believed to be members of a radical Islamist sect attacked a police barracks.

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Kano, Nigeria - Gunmen believed to be members of a radical Islamist sect attacked a police barracks and a bank in north Nigeria Friday.

Borno State police commissioner Mohammed Jinjiri Abubakar said of the incident in Damboa, about 100km south of the state capital Maiduguri: “There was an attack today on a police barracks and a bank by gunmen believed to be members of the Boko Haram sect.

“They robbed the bank and used explosives on a police barracks,” he said.

The police chief could immediately not say if anyone was injured or killed.

“We still don't have details on casualities. I am on my way to ascertain the situation and extent of damage from the attacks,” he said.

Police have blamed the sect for a series of bomb attacks and shootings in Maiduguri in recent months.

Most of the attacks have targeted military and police personnel, community and religious leaders, and politicians.

Boko Haram, which means “western education is sin” in a local dialect, launched a short-lived uprising in parts of the north in 2009 in a doomed bid to establish an Islamic state.

The attempt was crushed in a brutal military crackdown that saw hundreds of people, including many sect members, killed and its headquarters and mosque destroyed in Maiduguri, where most of the violence has occurred.

The sect has since staged a low-level insurgency and has been blamed for recent raids on churches and a prison. - Sapa-AFP

Source: http://www.iol.co.za/suspected-islamists-in-nigerian-attacks-1.1075173?cache=0%3Fpage%3D5%3Fcache%3D0%3Fpage%3D5%3Fimage%3D23%3Fpage%3D5%3Fpage%3D4%3Fpage%3D8%3Fimage%3D12%3Fpage%3D2%2F7.6217%3Fot%3Dinmsa.AjaxPageLayout.ot

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Birds Abandon Nests in Ash-Stricken Area

A snipe which made a nest on the grounds of the playschool in Kirkjubaejarklaustur has not been seen since last weekend and the four eggs in its nest are covered in ash. However, ornithologist Gudmundur A. Gudmundsson said the snipe might try laying eggs again.

Source: http://icelandreview.com/icelandreview/daily_news?cat_id=29314&ew_0_a_id=378334

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Best year of Joe's life ends in tragedy

HUNDREDS of mourners have paid their last respects to avid Stoke City fan Joe Johnson.

The popular sportsman was carried from the church on his final journey yesterday to the sound of Delilah in a coffin festooned with red and white floral tributes and wreaths in his team's colours.

And earlier friends and family wept as the 1972 Potters anthem We'll Be With You echoed around St Edward's church, in Joe's home village of Cheddleton, which was packed with former school pals and team mates.

Both were songs Joe had sang as he watched his team play in the FA Cup Final at Wembley less than 48 hours before the car crash that claimed his life.

Among the mourners was Stoke City right back Ryan Shotton.

Mourners were told that 20-year-old Joe had been enjoying the best year of his life with the trip to Wembley and with tickets for the V Festival.

So many people wanted to say their finals farewells at the historic church that it was relayed on loudspeakers to mourners outside.

Joe, known as Chops, who lived in Sneyd Close, Cheddleton, played cricket for Leek Moorlands CC and football for Elmo's, a Leek and District Sunday League team.

The former Westwood College student, who worked as a quality inspector at JCB's World Headquarters at Rocester, died after his car struck a tree near the JCB factory on Monday, May 16.

The service opened with prayers and the song Run by Snow Patrol.

Mourners were led by his father Steve, mother Dianne and brother James.

His uncle, John Phipps, paid tribute to Joe, who he described as a 'Dennis The Menace' type of character.

He said Joe had been a perfect and angelic child when he was born, but had frequently got into scrapes.

Mr Phipps said: "His life may have been cruelly torn from him at the age of 20, but he crammed a lot into those years.

"He had a very happy childhood.

"He went to Leek show as a lad of 15 and whereas most lads of that age come back with a coconut, he came back with a cockerel.

"It was not all mischief, he played for Cheddleton Warriors Lads 'n' Dads, CSOB and recently Elmo's.

"He also loved watching sport, especially Stoke City Football Club.

"Standing in the Boothen End, he not only sang at matches, he got everyone else singing too, often raising the roof in the Boothen End with his rendition of Delilah and other not so politically correct chants.

"He had a great skill for making friends and 2011 was turning into the best year of Joe's young life.

"As well as seeing Stoke reach the FA Cup Final, he was also working in a job he loved at JCB, which funded this year's tickets for the V Festival and a holiday."

Joe had also spent many happy hours on his grandfather's farm, where his family are planning to scatter his ashes.

His team mates from Elmo's are dedicating a bench in his memory at Birchall Playing Fields.

They are also having Joe's team shirt framed and mounted in Elmo's, with some phographs of him and a signed Stoke City shirt.

It was his first season with the club having played for Leek CSOB under-18s in goal and as a left winger.

Source: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/32715/f/503368/s/155a6cef/l/0L0Sthisisstaffordshire0O0Cnews0CBest0Eyear0EJoe0Es0Elife0Eends0Etragedy0Carticle0E360A46460Edetail0Carticle0Bhtml/story01.htm

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800 jobs created or saved by scheme to draw companies to the city

MORE than 800 jobs have been created or safeguarded in Stoke-on-Trent over the last nine months thanks to an inward investment service.

Make It Stoke-on-Trent was set up last August with the aim of attracting firms to relocate to the city, by raising its profile as a good place to do business.

So far 290 jobs have been created by companies moving to Stoke-on-Trent, while a further 590 have been saved due to expanding businesses being persuaded to stay in the area.

The �800,000 scheme, which is set to run until 2015, has been funded through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

Councillors and business leaders today hailed Make It Stoke-on-Trent a success.

Bryan Carnes, chief executive of North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce, said the scheme was playing a vital role in regenerating the city.

He said: "The number of new jobs we need to balance the North Staffordshire economy far outweighs anything we can generate internally, which is why we need inward investment.

"But we are competing with other parts of the country, and other parts of the world.

"North Staffordshire is an attractive place for people to invest as it has good transport links, expansive land available and a very willing workforce. However, there are lots of other places that have those same things.

"Therefore we have to get on people's radar. Things like the Enterprise Zone and Stoke City doing well in the Premiership help raise the profile of the city, but we also need the Make It Stoke-on-Trent team so we can capitalise on those opportunities."

Mr Carnes said the chamber of commerce was looking to work more closely with Make It Stoke-on-Trent in the future.

Councillor Mark Meredith, cabinet member for economic development at the city council, pictured, said: "The Make It Stoke-on-Trent investment development team is providing a red carpet service for potential investors to the area.

"North Staffordshire has a lot to offer and with the current regeneration such as the city's new bus station, the redevelopment of a �350 million regional shopping centre and the first phases of an extensive business district, it is important that we are able to attract and support investment.

"The ERDF funds will provide an added resource to promote the area on a wider scale helping to reach international audiences."

The scheme has received �415,000 in funding from the ERDF, administered through Advantage West Midlands, with a similar amount being provided by Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

This money will pay for staff costs, marketing and a website, and will allow the service to target businesses and raise awareness of the city nationally and internationally.

Make It Stoke-on-Trent helped industrial engineering group Aerotherm and its 50 employees relocate from Longton to Tunstall in March.

The move helped the company both expand and diversify into three divisions.

Chris Bramhall, group marketing manager at Aerotherm, said: "In Longton we had reached the absolute limit in terms of storage space. But we still wanted to stay in North Staffordshire, as it is such a good location.

"Since moving to Scotia Road we have taken on five new employees and we will be looking to hire a further five."

To find out more about the inward investment service, contact Make It Stoke-on-Trent on 01782 234747.

Source: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/32715/f/503368/s/155a2c4b/l/0L0Sthisisstaffordshire0O0Cnews0CNew0Ejobs0EMake0Emoney0Espent0Carticle0E360A61760Edetail0Carticle0Bhtml/story01.htm

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Lost German Traveler Found North of Vatnaj�kull

A German tourist who had been reported missing but later contacted the emergency services was found by the crew of the Coast Guard helicopter TF-Gn� yesterday. He was located 14 kilometers southwest of Fj�rdungsalda in the highlands to the north of Vatnaj�kull.

Source: http://icelandreview.com/icelandreview/daily_news?cat_id=29314&ew_0_a_id=378303

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Residents give thumbs up to development for safety, good views and new friends

Maggie Fitton, aged 74, said: "I am on the top floor and I have a lovely view. I can see The Britannia and Stoke station. It looks like Blackpool illuminations at night. I used to live in a terrace in Campbell Road and the maintenance was too much for me."

Margaret Knight, aged 73, said: "Everything about this place is great, I have trouble with my knee but the lifts are ideal and I feel completely safe here. The car park is well lit and I have lots of friends. We come to the restaurant for Sunday roast every week."

April Heath, aged 59, who works as a carer, said: "I moved in here because I'm thinking of my future after I retire.

"If my husband or I need care in the future it can be accommodated here and it won't be a struggle."

Lillian Dulson, aged 61, said: "I was having difficulties getting up and down the stairs in my council house.

"This is much better because I've got the company of people my age rather than all the young ones on a council estate."

Source: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/32715/f/503368/s/155a2c55/l/0L0Sthisisstaffordshire0O0Cnews0CResidents0Ethumbs0Edevelopment0Esafety0Egood0Eviews0Enew0Efriends0Carticle0E360A60A920Edetail0Carticle0Bhtml/story01.htm

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Shopping around for legal advice? Study will help shape the future

Jane Ching, of Nottingham Trent University, is part of a group which will study the future of the legal profession.

HAVE you had an accident in the last three years that wasn't your fault?

If you watch daytime TV you'll be familiar with commercials offering to help you obtain compensation. If you look at the small print, you'll see some of these organisations are firms of solicitors, but not all are.

There have always been some choices in who you get your legal advice from.

If you have a problem with your landlord, do you go to the Citizens' Advice Bureau, a solicitor or a charity specialising in housing?

If you have to appear in court you can represent yourself or hire a solicitor, legal executive or barrister.

Each will charge different rates and you may be able to expect those who offer legal advice or representation to have insurance to protect them (and you) if they make a mistake.

But imagine for a moment being able to get legal advice from the same place that you do your shopping or banking. Very soon it could be a reality.

In October, the Legal Services Act 2007 comes into full force, allowing not only competition between the existing legal professions, but new entrants into the market.

Legal education used to be fairly simple: you did a law degree (or another degree plus a conversion course), followed by a professional qualification course, and then an apprenticeship and, after about six years, you emerged as a solicitor or a barrister.

If you went straight into a law firm from school, you might take legal executive qualifications.

Now, and particularly after October, it isn't going to be that simple. We might, as I said earlier, go to the supermarket for our routine legal work instead of to a solicitor or an advice centre.

All this is confusing for the consumer, but even more confusing for potential students, thinking about the jobs that might be available at the end of their courses.

Consequently, regulatory bodies for the legal professions have constituted a consultation panel to look at future demand for and changes to legal services and the education and training that will be needed.

We are due to report in late 2012. It's going to be a hard task, but a worthwhile one.

Source: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/32715/f/503354/s/155a4569/l/0L0Sthisisnottingham0O0Cnews0CShopping0Elegal0Eadvice0EStudy0Ehelp0Eshape0Efuture0Carticle0E360A470A90Edetail0Carticle0Bhtml/story01.htm

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Guardiola: Guardian of Barca?s dream teams

It was 19 years ago that Pep Guardiola first made his name with Barcelona at Wembley, and he returns there to carve his name in history books once again.

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London – When Pep Guardiola settles into his seat in the final moments before kick-off in the Champions League final at Wembley, the Barcelona manager may find it hard to stop his mind drifting back to a night at the same venue 19 years earlier when his club's European dreams came true at last.

Guardiola is rightly feted for his role as the guiding light for a group of players widely regarded as the among the best of their era.

But he first made his name two decades ago as a tenacious midfielder whose tough-tackling and astute reading of the game allowed him to become a key component of Barcelona's first golden generation.

Barca's then coach Johan Cruyff had assembled a team true to his purist principles and the likes of Michael Laudrup, Hristo Stoichkov and Ronald Koeman played with such style that they were christened 'the dream team'.

On 20 May 1992, their fantasy football reaped the ultimate reward on the same Wembley stage to which Guardiola returns to face Manchester United on Saturday.

The English national stadium remains hallowed ground for Barcelona after Koeman clinched their first European Cup by blasting a superb free-kick past Sampdoria goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca with just nine minutes remaining in extra-time.

It was a cathartic moment for Barcelona as they emerged from the long shadow cast by Real Madrid, who often taunted the Catalans for their failure to emulate their bitter rivals' success in Europe's elite competition.

No-one took more joy from the triumph than Guardiola. A Barca fan from his childhood in Santpedo, just an hour's drive from the Catalan capital, he had been nurtured through the youth team and served as a ball boy before Cruyff spotted his potential.

Guardiola may not have been the headline act in that side but he learned the lessons of Cruyff's commitment to stylish success.

By the time Guardiola returned to the Nou Camp as youth coach, Cruyff was retired but he remained a keen Barca fan and could see his former player had become a guardian of the Dutch 'total football' ethos he brought to the club in the 1990s.

He recommended to president Joan Laporta that Guardiola be installed as Barca manager in 2008 and the appointment proved an inspired move.

Guardiola infused the team with a fluid passing and pressing game that tormented opponents and in his first year they won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and beat Manchester United 2-0 in the Champions League final.

Two more league titles have followed and, aided by the development of Argentine forward Lionel Messi from gifted prodigy to the genius of his generation, Guardiola has created Barca's second dream team.

Humble as ever, he has no doubt where the credit for success should be directed.

“All the coaches I had in my career were important but Cruyff was the most important of all,” Guardiola said.

“He was without equal on training and tactics and he helped me to understand the million details that decide why some matches are lost and some matches are won.”

If Barca can emulate that 2009 final win against United this weekend, they will be ranked alongside legendary European champions like Real Madrid, Ajax, AC Milan, Liverpool and Bayern Munich.

With history in their hands, Guardiola wants his team to seize the moment.

“In 1992 we thought that we would never play a European Cup final again. I want my players to feel the same. We cannot waste this opportunity,” he said.

Guardiola's old teammate Koeman can compare both great Barca eras from a more neutral perspective and he is convinced Messi and co are ready to join the immortals.

“This Barcelona team is more complete than ours,” Koeman said. “We played fantastic football for periods, but we could not maintain the high level every week, every month for a whole year.

“This Barcelona team can do that. They never drop their standards, which is amazing.” – Sapa-AFP

Source: http://www.iol.co.za/guardiola-guardian-of-barca-s-dream-teams-1.1074992

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Barcelona too good for United

A Lionel Messi Barcelona delivered a soccer masterclass to overwhelm Manchester United in the Champions League final.

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London – Barcelona, inspired by the peerless Lionel Messi, delivered a soccer masterclass to overwhelm Manchester United 3-1 in the Champions League final and lift the European Cup for the fourth time on Saturday.

Messi was at his inspirational best all night at Wembley as the champions of Spain left the champions of England looking like desperate also-rans in the face of their relentless intricate passing and deadly movement.

United somehow reached halftime level at 1-1 after Wayne Rooney cancelled out Pedro's opening goal but Barcelona continued their dominance after the break.

A superb Messi goal and a precise 18-metre curler by David Villa, underlined the Spanish side's dominance over the team they also beat in the 2009 final.

After a short-lived United flurry at the start, Barca were soon in control as they probed constantly in and around the United box.

Although the English side kept them at bay with a series of last-ditch tackles they were eventually undone in the 27th minute when Xavi cleverly delayed a pass to open space for Pedro to calmly tuck the ball beyond Edwin van der Sar.

United looked almost out of their depth but showed why they have reached three finals in the last four seasons by conjuring a well-made equaliser after 34 minutes.

Rooney played a one-two with Michael Carrick then another with Ryan Giggs before sweeping the ball high into the net.

Messi was millimetres away from a second goal after another high-speed give and go with Villa but somehow United reached halftime on level terms.

The parity on the scoreboard was short-lived though as Barca immediately regained control and, after more near misses, duly went ahead in the 54th minute.

United's defenders made the fatal error of standing off Messi on the edge of the box and the Argentine maestro took full advantage driving the ball in low for the 53rd and most important goal of his remarkable season.

It was Messi who set up the third too as he surged into the box and, though the ball was half-cleared, it went straight to Villa who killed it instantly before curling a superb 18-metre shot into the top corner. – Reuters

Source: http://www.iol.co.za/barcelona-too-good-for-united-1.1075326

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Ugandans bring suit over deaths in childbirth

“My mother would not have died if the nurses had attended her and if the clinic had had more money.”

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Kampala - Relatives of two woman who died in childbirth launched a landmark lawsuit against the Ugandan government Friday to highlight the failure to provide adequate maternal healthcare.

Hundreds of activists and family members gathered at Uganda's constitutional court in Kampala for the start of proceedings that campaigners say could force the government to ramp up spending on the issue.

“I would like to ask our government to put enough money into the ealth facilities so that our mothers stop dying,” said Godfrey Kisiga, whose mother Sylvia Nalubowa died in childbirth in 2009.

Kisiga, 25, said his mother died after medical workers asked for bribes and then refused to treat her.

“My mother would not have died if the nurses had attended her and if the clinic had had more money,” Kisiga said.

At least 16 women in Uganda die each day in childbirth, according to UN statistics.

Activists blame rampant corruption and a lack of trained staff for many of the deaths and say that while Uganda's population has boomed the health budget has remained stagnant in recent years.

“We need more health workers, we need more equipment and infrastructure, we need more investment ... but government is not even covering the minimum,” said Robinah Kaitiritimba, executive director of the National Health Consumers Organisation.

Nool Nakibuuka, a lawyer representing the families, said that they were hoping to prove that the government had failed in its constitutional obligations to provide expectant mothers with healthcare.

“We hope to get a court declaration saying that the government is violating the right to health and life... and therefore force them to increase budgets and spending,” Nakibuuka said.

Earlier this week Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni repeated government promises to bolster maternal healthcare in the country, after giving a struggling young mother of triplets $1200.

Museveni “has pledged ... to improve maternal health and to promote awareness in the rural areas for the need for mothers to always deliver in a medical facility to curb cases of maternal mortality,” the president's office said in a statement on Monday. - Sapa-AFP

Source: http://www.iol.co.za/ugandans-bring-suit-over-deaths-in-childbirth-1.1075232?cache=0%3Fcache%3D0%3Fimage%3D12%3Fimage%3D8%3Fimage%3D0

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Ministers:Jonathan mulls Saudi, Soviet models

Frequent change of ministers and their portfolios is detrimental to national development and service delivery and the current crop of ministers may be retained for many years in order to address this problem, President Goodluck Jonathan said in Abuja yesterday. He spoke approvingly of the Saudi Arabian and old Soviet practice where some ministers were in office for 30 to 40 years.

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Source: http://dailytrust.dailytrust.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=20067:ministersjonathan-mulls-saudi-soviet-models&catid=2:lead-stories&Itemid=8

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Lil Kim?s big on praise for Kenny

US superstar Lil Kim has been in SA for only 24 hours, but the voluptuous rapper is already planning to buy a house here.

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US superstar Lil Kim has been in SA for only 24 hours, but the voluptuous rapper is already planning to buy a house here.

She turned down opportunities to perform in Houston, the US and Puerto Rico so that she could make her way to South Africa.

And Kim is promising her South African fans the performance of a lifetime – she will be wearing the sexiest of sexy outfits on stage.

The rapper will be lighting up the African sky from Saturday night, joined by world famous producer Timbaland, Ciara, Phat Joe, and DJ Scratch for the first of four concerts starting in Harare, Zimbabwe.

The five were brought to South Africa by businessman Kenny Kunene and his partner Gayton McKenzie as part of the ZAR Fest.

The superstars will perform in Cape Town at the International Convention Centre on June 2 and Joburg’s CocaCola Dome on June 3 before ending their tour in Durban on June 4 at the Moses Mabhida stadium.

Kim said she could not wait to perform for her African fans.

“It’s going to be absolutely crazy,” she said in an exclusive interview with the Saturday Star on Friday night.

“I am saving my best performances for all the people in Africa. Whatever songs you want I will perform and only in my body suit,” laughed the rapper.

Kim said she was completely taken aback by how beautiful the country is.

“When I stepped out of the airport I felt like I was still in New York.

“This is my very first time in South Africa and I have to say it is absolutely amazing.

“The people I have met so far have been so nice and friendly to me and I already feel at home.”

“However, I didn’t expect South Africa to be so cold. I thought it would be a little warmer.”

Famous for songs such as Put Your Lighters Up and Black Friday, Kim said she loved South African music.

“I have heard a couple of artists who were wonderful and I plan on collaborating with a few of them. Hell, the country is so beautiful I even plan on shooting a music video here.”

She also said she was dying to meet Nelson Mandela.

“I have performed for his 46664 concert before but I never got to meet Mandela,” she said.

“I’m holding thumbs that I do get to meet him.

“We actually got something in common. We both have our birthdays in the same month and we are both Cancer (star signs),” said Kim.

She was full of praise for Kunene.

She said he was one of the coolest men she had ever met.

“As I got out the airport, there was Kenny waiting for me by his Lamborghini, looking all fly

“The man’s got style and lots of it,” Kim said.

Besides performing in South Africa, the 36-year-old also plans to do some charity work.

“I’ve always been involved with charities and I look forward to helping out wherever I can in South Africa. It’s a country that I hold very close to my heart,” she said.

“I am also looking forward to doing a lot of sight-seeing in the country with Kenny. It’s going to be so much fun,” she said.

Kim has urged all her South African fans to tweet their favourite songs while she’s in the country as she would like to perform what the fans love.

“I want to make my South African fans very happy and the best way to do that is to find out what they love most,” said Kim. - Saturday Star

Source: http://www.iol.co.za/lil-kim-s-big-on-praise-for-kenny-1.1075240

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Nurse came to aid of former Tory MP

NURSE Joanna Whittaker has been put forward for an Our Heroes award by a former Government minister.

She was nominated by ex-health minister Edwina Currie after the 41-year-old who works at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire sprang to her rescue in Liverpool.

The Tory politician had slipped on some steps in the city centre and fractured her ankle.

But Joanna interrupted her shopping trip to stabilise the limb and stayed with her for 20 minutes until paramedics arrived.

But during the emergency she also made sure her celebrity patient was shielded from strangers' prying eyes and passers-by who wanted to shake her hand.

Now four months later and with the ankle healed following two days in hospital, Edwina feels Joanna's actions make her the perfect candidate for the award which seeks to recognise health workers prepared to go the extra mile.

She said: "She could have simply walked past when I fell but instead she stopped and automatically came to the help of a stranger in trouble.

"She was kind but firm and taking control of the situation, she gave be so much reassurance. I am so grateful for what she did."

Although both bones the former MP broke have now mended, she still has some difficulties walking and describes her ankle as being like a barometer as it becomes painful in damp weather.

Mother-of-three Joanna from Sandbach has had plenty of experience nursing fractures as she has spent most of her six years at the Hartshill complex working in its A&E department.

She said: "I did know who it was, but you don't say, 'you're Edwina Currie, what have you done?'

"I'm a nurse and there was a lady in pain. I did what I was trained to do. She had a double fracture, so she was in a lot of pain.

"I kept her foot still, kept her calm by talking to her and I kept bystanders away until the ambulance arrived.

"It's irrelevant who it was, it was just a lady who had fallen and was in pain."

Joanna, who has been a nurse for 20 years, admits she has taken some ribbing from friends after treating Edwina.

She now works at the University of North Staffordshire Hospital's outpatients department, treating people suffering from infectious diseases in their own homes.

She said: "I love it. Patient satisfaction is fantastic.

"We are providing a service, working with infectious diseases. If you had an infection that requires antibiotics, but are well enough to be treated at home, we will come out and see you.

"We are saving hospital beds. Patient satisfaction is at 98 per cent, patients prefer to be treated at home, it is better for them, their families and the local economy. It's a fantastic service.

"We have treated over 400 patients in two years but it's not a matter of numbers. It's how many days we have saved in hospital. Typically, these patients would have had to stay in hospital for six weeks.

"The service has been going for two years and it was going to finish. We were on temporary contracts, but now we are on permanent ones and the service is going to remain."

Source: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/32715/f/503368/s/155a6cf2/l/0L0Sthisisstaffordshire0O0Cnews0CNurse0Ecame0Eaid0ETory0EMP0Carticle0E360A55210Edetail0Carticle0Bhtml/story01.htm

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