Tope Aina

Boko Haram leader has said that he will release the captured girls in return for militant prisoners being freed

2014-05-12T08:45:00.003-07:00

BREAKING NEWS: Boko Haram release chilling videos of missing Nigerian schoolgirls and reveal they have all been forced to convert to Islam and will only be released if Islamist prisoners are freed

Some of the schoolgirls captured by extremist group Boko Haram on April 14 have been paraded on video
More than 200 girls were abducted by the Islamist militants from a village in the north-east of Nigeria
Boko Haram leader has said that he will release the captured girls in return for militant prisoners being freed
The Nigerian government has reportedly rejected this offer and has two army divisions hunting for the seized girls
Governor of state where they were seized - Borno - claims to know where they are
Kashim Shettima said he'd received reports of sightings of the girls and had passed this information to the military
Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, calls for negotiations with the terrorist group, which he says is 'merciless'

Some of the schoolgirls kidnapped by Islamic militant group Boko Haram have been paraded on video.

The terror group said many of them had been converted to Islam while being held and all those on the footage are wearing headscarfs.

The group's leader said that it will release them in exchange for militant prisoners being freed.

Chilling: The schoolgirls were paraded on video by Boko Haram

Captured: The video shows the girls wearing the full-length hijab and praying in an undisclosed rural location

Missing schoolgirl footage reveals they have converted to Islam

Extremist group Boko Haram seized 276 girls who were taking exams at a school in Borno's north-eastern village of Chibok on April 14

The flamboyant leader of the terror group addresses the camera, offering Nigerian authorities a deal

Abubakar Shekau said that the girls would never be released unless there is an exchange with prisoners

The girls recite Islamic prayers during the clip as they sit in a group in a wooded area

Ordeal: This girl, who was made to speak to the camera, appeared fearful

The Nigerian government has reportedly rejected this offer and has two army divisions hunting for the seized girls.

Some girls on the 17-minute-long video, which was obtained by news agency AFP, spoke to camera, and looked extremely nervous.

The girls recite Islamic prayers during the clip as they sit in a group in a wooded area.

After the girls appear the Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, wearing military fatigues and holding an AK-47, addresses the camera. He appears confident and at one point laughs.

'All I am saying is that if you want us to release the girls that we have kidnapped, those who have not accepted Islam will be treated as the Prophet (Mohammed) treated infidels and they will stay with us,' he said, according to a translation of his words originally spoken in a Nigerian language.

'We will not release them while you detain our brothers,' he said, before naming a series of cities in Nigeria. It was not clear whether he was in the same location as the girls.

The video came through channels that have provided previous messages from Shekau, who speaks in the video in the Hausa language of northern Nigeria.

An unidentified armed man (right) films the captured schoolgirls, possibly being held somewhere in north-eastern Nigeria

Militant: The leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, vows to sell the hundreds of schoolgirls kidnapped in northern Nigeria for as little as £7 during a video message

The video, which shows around 130 of the girls, was aired after the governor of the Nigerian state from where they were kidnapped said that he knew where some of them are being held.

Kashim Shettima, the Governor of Borno, said that he’d received reports of sightings of the girls and had passed on this information to the military.

Extremist group Boko Haram seized 276 girls who were taking exams at a school in Borno's north-eastern village of Chibok on April 14. Some managed to escape, but around 200 remain missing.

Mr Shettima told the BBC: ‘We've got reports of them being sighted in some locations – which we have conveyed to the relevant military authorities, for them to cross-check, verify and get additional information on the accurate location of the daughters.’

His comments came as the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, called for negotiations with the terrorist group over the fate of the missing girls.

The Archbishop, who has acted as a hostage negotiator in Nigeria on behalf of the Church in the past, said the girls were at ‘colossal’ risk.

‘They are in the hands of a very disparate group which is extremely irrational and difficult to deal with – and utterly merciless,’ he told BBC Radio Four’s The World This Weekend programme.

A map showing the recent Boko Haram attacks in Nigeria over the past month

Borno state Governor Kashim Shettima said that he'd received reports of sightings of schoolgirls kidnapped by extremist group Boko Haram

The Archbishop said he had negotiated in the past with a predecessor group of Boko Haram and suggested it might be ‘possible’ to strike a deal – although he warned it was ‘questionable’ who was in charge of the group.

He added: ‘You have a very, very difficult inner core (of Boko Haram) and I think negotiations there are extremely complicated, though it needs to be tried.

'And then it goes out and out in different layers of commitment and understanding and involvement. There needs to be active negotiation and contact with all those different layers.’

The Archbishop leads the Anglican communion worldwide, which has about 18 million members in Nigeria, making it the second largest Christian church.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister David Cameron has joined a Twitter campaign aimed at encouraging the return of the schoolgirls.

The PM followed Michelle Obama and celebrities including Cara Delevingne by holding up a sign saying #Bring Back Our Girls as he appeared on the Andrew Marr show on Sunday morning.

Mr Cameron said the government would do ‘what we can’ to rescue more than 200 girls abducted by Islamist militants Boko Haram.

But he indicated military action was not imminent, saying Britain cannot just ‘pile in and do whatever we’d like’.

Mr Cameron said he had spoken to Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan to offer assistance and confirmed counter-terrorism and intelligence experts are on the ground with the Americans.

‘We stand ready to do anything more that the Nigerians would want,’ he said.

But he also pointed out the practical difficulties of any rescue operation. ‘It’s immensely complicated because they are probably in this deep area of jungle that is three times the size of Wales,’ he said.

The Twitter campaign yesterday drew support from the Pope, who wrote on the site: ‘Let us all join in prayer for the immediate release of the schoolgirls kidnapped in Nigeria. #BringBackOurGirls.’

TV presenter Piers Morgan tweeted: 'This is so disgusting. Get in there, save these poor girls, and capture that smirking barbarian. #BringBackOurGirls'.

Meanwhile, Christiane Amanpour, a reporter with CNN, asked the PM to join the campaign as she sat with him on the sofa.

She praised the campaign which she said was ‘really getting to the people in Nigeria’ but said she worried its bubble might burst with nothing concrete having been done.

There are fears that the schoolgirls have been split up into different groups, taken across the border into neighbouring countries and may be sold on as sex slaves.

Yesterday, amid further kidnappings and a bomb attack on a bridge, one teenage girl who escaped from the group said the kidnapping was ‘too terrifying for words.’

Science student Sarah Lawan, 19, described how the girls were taken from their school before dawn and forced into a truck. When they got down she and a friend ran off.

Abubakar Shekau, the leader of Boko Haram said last week he would sell the remaining captives as slaves for as little as £7. Boko Haram has killed more than 1,500 people this year as it steps up its campaign of violence. The name of the groups means ‘Western education is forbidden’.

Anne Hathaway rouses 'Bring Back Our Girls' rally in Los Angeles

Watch video

Mrs Obama said she and the President were ‘outraged and heartbroken’ over the abduction. ‘In these girls, Barack and I see our own daughters,’ she said, referring to Malia, 15, and Sasha, 12.

‘We see their hopes, their dreams and we can only imagine the anguish their parents are feeling right now.’

Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan is under intense pressure to act, as he faces a growing threat from militants.

Demonstration: Women protest outside Nigeria's parliament in Abuja, trying to prompt officials to bring back the schoolgirls abducted by Islamist militants, Boko Haram

Anger: Another woman holds a placard at a demonstration in Lagos, Nigeria, pleading for the return of the kidnapped children

Last week the Mail revealed British special forces were on standby to help rescue the girls.That was despite resistance among senior military personnel to putting boots on the ground.

Meanwhile, brutalized residents of a border town repeatedly attacked by Boko Haram, say they are moving across the border to Cameroon because they cannot trust Nigeria's government and military to protect them.

Gamboru has been targeted by the militants in four attacks in the past year. But the fury and destruction wrought by last Monday's attack was unprecedented - more than 1,000 shops, dozens of homes and 314 trucks and cars bombed and burned out, said the chairman of the local Gamboru-Ngala government, Bukar Mustapha.

Who are Boko Haram? Insight into the Nigerian terror group

Boko Haram was founded in 2002 by Mohammed Yusuf – but it didn’t gain worldwide notoriety until it began a violent insurgency in earnest in 2009.

Ultimately, the group wants Nigeria to become an Islamic state.

Since mid-2009 it has killed thousands and has destabilised swathes of the northeast of Nigeria, as well as neighbours Cameroon and Niger.

Its name means ‘Western education is forbidden’ – and it’s the country’s school system that in the main fuels its anger.

Women sit at Gamboru central market in northeastern Nigeria on Monday, burnt by suspected Boko Haram insurgents during the May 5 attack

But the group has murdered people –including Muslims - for merely speaking out against it.

Yusuf established an Islamic school and mosque, which proved popular with many poor Muslim families.

He was killed by Nigerian security forces in 2009, but rather than weaken the group, it re-emerged with increased ferocity under the leadership of Abubakar Shekau.

It has bombed churches, barracks and even the UN headquarters and ruthlessly gunned down those who criticise it, typically using gunmen on the back of motorbikes.

President Goodluck Jonathan became so alarmed at the chaos the group was spreading that in 2013 he declared a state of emergency in the areas where it was most active – Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.

The Nigerian military has been fairly ineffective against the heavily armed group.

A lack of investment in training, failure to maintain equipment and dwindling cooperation with Western forces has damaged Nigeria's armed services, while in Boko Haram they face an increasingly well-armed, determined foe.

The militants know the military's limitations. A police source said a fighter jet flew over the market town of Gamburu last Monday as a group of gunmen killed at least 125, but the killers didn't flinch, knowing they could not be targeted while scattered in a densely populated area.

‘In a typical unit, Boko Haram has between 300 and 500 fighters. It's not a guerrilla force that you can fight half heartedly,’ said Jacob Zenn, a Boko Haram expert at U.S. counter-terrorism institution CTC Sentinel. ‘It's snowballing. It's getting more weapons, more recruits, their power is increasing every day.’

On February 12 dozens of fighters loyal to Boko Haram attacked a remote military outpost in the Gwoza hills.

A security source with knowledge of the assault said they came in Hilux tracks with mounted machine guns and showered the camp with gunfire.

Boko Haram's fighters had little cover and were easily picked off - 50 of them died against nine Nigerian troops - but they still managed to make off with the base's entire armoury stockpile of 200 mortar bombs, 50 rocket-propelled grenades and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, the source said.

Their ability to dart over the border into Cameroon, whose own security forces have shown little appetite for taking them on, gives the militants an added advantage.
Ethnic and religious divisions within the military have also bred some collusion with Boko Haram, sources say.

Can a hashtag offer any help to abducted girls?

Parents of the kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls are hoping for a miracle. So far, all they have is a hashtag.

More than three weeks after Islamic extremists abducted the girls, world outrage is galvanizing Twitter and other social-media networks. But observers question whether the burst of online interest will last and whether it can ever elevate the case from a trending topic to a mandate for action.

‘People are finally taking it seriously,’ said Fayokemi Ogunmola a Nigerian-born sophomore at the University of Rochester who leads her campus Pan-African Students Association. Ongumola had followed the story since it broke April 15 but only recently saw more interest among classmates using the #BringBackOurGirls hashtag and wearing head wraps or the green and white of the Nigerian flag.

9 Circus Performers Injured in Fall in Rhode Island

2014-05-05T05:03:00.000-07:00

I love circus, but it's scary when it fails.

Watch Video: http://youtu.be/L05lRvSBAxY

A support frame collapsed during a hair-hanging stunt at a U.S. circus performance Sunday, sending eight acrobats falling to the ground. Nine performers were seriously injured, including a dancer below, while others suffered less serious injuries.

The accident was reported about 45 minutes into the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus' Legends show in Rhode Island.
Stephen Payne, a spokesman for Feld Entertainment, the parent company of Ringling Bros., said the accident happened during an act in which eight performers hang "like a human chandelier" using their hair.
He said the metal-frame apparatus came free from its metal truss. The eight women fell up to 12 metres, landing on a dancer on the ground.

Cause of accident unknown
All the performers have been doing "some variation of this act for some time," Payne said. The current incarnation of the act began in January, he said.
Circus Accident
Performers hang during an aerial hair-hanging stunt at the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus, Friday, in Providence, R.I. A platform collapsed during the stunt at the 11 a.m. performance Sunday. (Frank Caprio/The Associated Press)
Providence Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare said officials and inspectors haven't yet determined what caused the accident. He said none of the injuries appears to be life-threatening.
Roman Garcia, general manager of the Legends show, asked people to pray for the performers.
"Everybody's doing fine, everybody's at the hospital, everybody's conscious, everybody's doing pretty well," he said less than two hours after the accident.
Rhode Island Hospital in Providence admitted 11 patients with varying injuries, including one in critical condition, spokeswoman Jill Reuter said.
'Larger-than-life act'
The hair-hanging stunt is described on the circus' website as a "larger-than-life act" featuring eight female performers.
"These `hairialists' perform a combination of choreography and cut-ups including spinning, hanging from hoops, and rolling down wrapped silks, all while being suspended 10.6 metres in the air by their hair alone," the website says. "In this hair-raising act, audiences will even see the weight of three girls held aloft by the locks of only one of these tangled beauties."
Video taken by audience members showed a curtain coming down, and several performers hanging around 25 feet (7.6 meters) in the air from an apparatus suspended from above. Seconds later, as they began to perform, the women fell and the metal apparatus landed on them.
Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus injury
An injured female performer is lifted onto a stretcher after a platform collapsed during an aerial hair-hanging stunt at the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus, Sunday. (Bob Breidenbach/Providence Journal, Associated Press)
"It just went crashing down," said audience member Sydney Bragg, 14. "Everyone was freaking out. We heard this huge clatter and then we just heard the girls scream."
She said spotlights were on the performers at the time, but all the lights went out after the fall.
Rosa Viveiros said she saw that the acrobats had fallen on top of at least one other performer on the ground, a man who stood up with his face bloodied. The acrobats remained still and did not get up, she said.
"We thought it was part of the circus," said her husband, Joe.
A Ringling Bros. aerial performer was killed in 2004 in Minnesota when she was twirling 30 feet in the air on long chiffon scarves and the material gave way.

Arsenal vs Chelsea Ladies

2014-05-05T02:06:00.001-07:00

Arsenal vs Chelsea Ladies: Players' wives and girlfriends show off at Stamford Bridge and the Emirates as Blues and Gunners play final home games of the season

The wives and girlfriends of Chelsea and Arsenal's star men were out in force on Sunday as the two London clubs played their final home games of the season.

Following the Blues' 0-0 draw with Norwich, a number of Chelsea 'WAGs' watched on from the sidelines as Chelsea players did a lap of the Stamford Bridge pitch to show the fans their appreciation for the support they've given this season.

Frank Lampard's fiancee Christine Bleakley took pictures on her mobile before the midfielder strolled over and handed her a par of his boots to hold.

Here come the girls: Chelsea players' wives and girlfriends attended the club's final home game of the season

Watching on: Frank Lampard's fiancee Christine Bleakley takes a photo following Chelsea's draw with Norwich

On the sidelines: Lampard hands Bleakley his boots to hold ahead of Chelsea's parade lap on Sunday

Chelsea regular: Bleakley also attended teh Blues' Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid on Wednesday

Support: The Arsenal players' 'WAGS' line-up after the final whistle at the Emirates

Meanwhile, up in north London a few hours earlier, Bacary Sagna's wife Ludivine and Laurent Koscielny's wife Claire were at the Emirates to support Arsenal against West Brom along with a whole host of the players' wives and girlfriends.

The girls snapped several pictures as they got behind their loved ones for the final home game of Arsenal's season.

Jack Wilshere, Thomas Vermaelen, Lukasz Fabianski, Tomas Rosicky, Santi Cazorla, Mikel Arteta, Sagna, Olvier Giroud and Koscielny were all in attendance as the Gunners eased to a 1-0 victory against the Baggies.

The 'Arsenal ladies' seemed very relaxed as they enjoyed themselves in front of the camera. Maybe because they're fellas were already guaranteed Champions League football for next season before the game had even kicked off...

Out to support: Bacary Sagna's wife Ludivine and Laurent Koscielny's wife Claire were at the Emirates on Sunday

Gooners: The Arsenal ladies enjoying a brief break from watching the football to take a picture with European football secured for next season, the girls attentions will now surely be turning to this summer's World Cup, with both Sagna and Koscielny likely to make the trip to Brazil with France.

Les Bleus open their campaign against Honduras in Porto Alegre on Sunday 15 June, before facing Switzerland and France in their other Group E games.

No doubting, then, that the girls will be hoping to make as big a splash off the pitch in Brazil as their husbands will on it.

Snapped: Ludivini Kadri, the wife of Arsenal's Bacary Sagna

Wag: Kadri is an emerging force in the world of footballer's wive.

A NIGERIAN WOMAN GAVE BIRTH JUST 26WEEKS INTO PREGNANCY WHILE ON BRITISH AIRWAYS FLIGHT...

2014-05-02T10:48:00.000-07:00

Born to fly: British Airways plane forced to make an emergency landing after a woman gave birth at 36,000ft just 26 weeks into pregnancy

A woman went into labour at only 26 weeks pregnant while on a BA flight
The plane landed on the island of Palma de Mallorca so the woman and newborn could receive medical attention
They both remain in hospital but are said to be stable
Once the emergency was dealt with the flight continued to its destination, arriving only thirty minutes late

A plane flying from Nigeria to London had to make an emergency landing on a Spanish island when a woman gave birth in business class.

Ujunwa Eneh Ozeh, who turned 31 today, went into labour at 36,000 feet while flying from her home town of Abuja, Nigeria's capital, to London Heathrow, despite only being 26 weeks pregnant.

The pilot of the British Airways flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Palme de Mallorce, in the Balearic Islands, where the mother and baby, who has been called Michael, were rushed to the island's Son Espases hospital.

Ujunwa Ozeh was on a British Airways flight when she went into labour at only 26 weeks pregnant

The Boeing 777 was flying from Abuja, Nigeria, to London Heathrow but had to make an emergency landing in Palma de Mallorca

An example of a flatbed in a BA flight's Club Class section, where Mrs Ozeh gave birth

While Mrs Ozeh will be discharged on Monday, Michael is currently in the intensive care unit and will remain in hospital until August, around his original due date, so he can develop properly.

Mrs Ozeh said: 'I don't have any other option than to stay here on the island. My baby needs me to just hang in there for him until it is safe for him to come home with me.'

The mother-of-two was travelling with her one-year-old daughter Nnedinma and was planning to catch a connecting flight from London to Washington, USA, where she was taking the little girl for vacation.

Nnedinma was born in the United States but Mrs Ozeh is insistent she was not retuning the country to have Micheal.

She said: 'I was going for the summer, Michael was not due until August, there is no way I would be able to stay in the United States until August. I had a return ticket to Nigeria booked for May 28, so I intended to stay for a few weeks and then go home.'

When her water broke, fellow passengers alerted the cabin crew who put out a call for doctors over the intercom. A female doctor, currently unidentified, was onboard and able to oversee the birth with the help of flight crew, who are trained in birthing procedures.

When her water broke, the housewife at first refused to believe she had gone into labour so early. The cabin crew called on an unknown female doctor, who was also a passenger on the plane, to carry out the delivery on a flatbed in the Boeing 777's business class section.

BRITISH CITIZENSHIP?

It used to be the case that a baby born on board a British ship or aircraft would automatically get British citizenship.

This was based on a UN directive aimed at minimising the number of people in the world without a registered state.

However, the British Nationality Act 1981, stated that any such baby, born after January 1, 1983, would not be granted British citizenship unless at least one parent already held it.

Mrs Ozeh said: 'I just wasn't thinking that I could be in labour, I couldn't imagine it. When the doctor told me that the baby was coming I went into total shock, I can't really remember, I wasn't able to think clearly.'

Once the plane had touched down, mother and baby were raced to hospital where they are said to be stable.

Mrs Ozeh said: 'I am fine and healthy and the doctor said that Michael is doing pretty well, that it's looking good and he is trying to survive.'

Her husband, Kaycee Ozeh, is an estate agent in Nigeria and is now scurrying to get a visa so he can travel to be with his wife and children. Mrs Ozeh said she had never thought the baby would come so early, or would not have attempted travelling.

Ujunwa Ozeh and baby Michael was rushed to hospital after the plane landed on the island of Palma de Mallorca, pictured. Michael is currently in the ICU and will be kept in hospital until August

She said: 'Right now, he doesn't have a Spanish visa but I need him to come here. I don't know what I'm going to do when I get out of the hospital, I'm completely in the dark. I need my husband because I don't know the next step to take.'

Under BA regulations, pregnant woman can fly on their planes until the end of their 36th week, or 32nd week if carrying more than one baby.

Once the emergency was dealt with, the plane continued on to the UK, arriving only thirty minutes late.

A spokesman for British Airways said: 'Our cabin crew, who are trained in birthing procedures, assisted with the delivery of a baby on board our flight from Abuja.

'The Captain diverted the aircraft to Palma so that mum and baby could be taken to hospital.

'We are in touch and will continue to provide any support and help we can.

'We wish the mother and her little one all the very best.'

JOSE MOURINHO HITS BACK AT CHELSEA PLAYER FOR CRITICIZING HIS TACTICS

2014-05-02T06:49:00.000-07:00

Eden Hazard 'not ready to sacrifice himself 100 per cent' for his team, slams Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho has hit back at Eden Hazard for criticising his tactics by claiming the Chelsea winger is 'not 100 per cent ready' to sacrifice himself for the team.

The Chelsea boss began his Friday afternoon press conference by defending the Belgian's quotes, claiming Hazard's words about Mourinho's defensive displays has been 'transformed', but Mourinho finished by saying he wasn't happy with the winger.

Mourinho said: 'I listened to the interview. The words are different than some media was bringing. His words were transformed.

Jibe: Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho believes Eden Hazard isn't ready to sacrifice himself for the team

Down and out: Hazard (left) had been quoted saying Chelsea 'aren't set up to play football'

Twisted: Mourinho also believed that Hazard's words about tactics had been 'transformed' by the media

Outwitted: Jose Mourinho has now guided a team to a Champions League semi-final - and lost - for the last four seasons

'He wasn't being critical. Normally you get comments from players like him that can't resolve a problem like we had in the first goal.

'In the first leg Willian played on the left and Cole was completely protected.

'Eden is the kind of player who is not so mentally ready to look to his left back.

'If you look at Athletico's first goal, you will see where the mistake is.

'The perfect team at this level can't make this sort if mistake. Eden is not 100 percent ready to sacrifice himself for the team. I'm not happy about that.'

Speaking after Chelsea's 3-1 defeat against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, Hazard told beIN SPORTS: 'Chelsea aren't set up to play football. Chelsea are set up to counter-attack.'

On his own: Hazard was frustrated by Atletico's defence on Wednesday night

Crushed: Chelsea skipper John Terry was visibly upset after the final whistle against Atletico

That's how you do it: Mourinho claimed Willian (centre) protected Ashley Cole well in the first leg against Atletico

The defiant 50-year-old also agreed with defender David Luiz, who claimed that Chelsea's season won't have been a bad one if the Blues fail to win the Premier League.

Mourinho added: 'I've been in the club longer than David. I arrived in 2004 he arrived after.

'I don't think it's a bad season, I think it's been a transitional season. If you compare to last season we've taken big steps.'

Barcelona Star Transforms Racist Banana Taunt Into Empowering Anti-Racism Moment

2014-04-29T09:23:00.000-07:00

Sergio Aguero and Neymar amongst Dani Alves' supporters after banana-throwing incident during Barcelona win

Barcelona defender Dani Alves has received support from Premier League players including Sergio Aguero, David Luiz, Oscar, Willian, Nacer Chadli and Moussa Dembele following his reaction to a banana being thrown in his direction by a Villarreal supporter during a La Liga game on Sunday.

The Brazil international picked up the banana and took a bite before playing a key role as Barca fought back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 to keep their hopes of retaining the Primera Division alive.

Following the game Alves was backed by team-mate Neymar who posted a picture of himself with a banana alongside the hashtag 'We are all monkeys', while his girlfriend Thaissa Carvalho also took a photo of herself among a group of friends eating bananas.

Dani Alves EATS a banana thrown by fans

Countrymen: Chelsea's Brazilian stars Oscar, David Luiz and Willian had their say on the incident

Protest: Neymar (left) and Alves' girlfriend (right) posted pictures of themselves with bananas after the match

Full support: Sergio Aguero and Marta show their solidarity for Alves by eating bananas

Campaign: Television presenter Marilo Montero also joined in the backing for Alves

Spontaneous: Montero produced a banana on television in support of Alves

Getting stuck in: Tottenham's Mousa Dembele and Nacer Chadli in the Tottenham canteen

From Russia with love: Zenit St. Petersburg's Hulk was another to join in the fight

We're all the same: Philippe Coutinho and Luis Suarez show their support for Alves with the banana protest

Tired of bigotry: Arsenal full back Bacary Sagna relaxes with a banana in support of Alves

Taking a bite out of it: Fernandinho and his son posted this picture

On Monday the backing for Alves continued with a Spanish television presenter eating a banana and proclaiming 'I'm also a monkey'.

And Manchester City striker Aguero posted a picture on Twitter alongside five-time FIFA World Player of the Year Marta saying 'No to racism. We are all equal'.

Chelsea trio Oscar, David Luiz and Willian posted a short video on Luiz's Instagram account including the hashtag 'zero discrimination'.

Later, Tottenham duo Mousa Dembele and Nacer Chadli and Brazil international Hulk also posted pictures as they joined the campaign alongside others who used social media to speak out against the incident.

Barcelona released a statement condemning the incident and urged other clubs to continue fighting in order to eradicate racism from football.

'FC Barcelona would like to underline the civil, cultural, social and sporting importance of two messages which UEFA remind us of before every game: Respect and No to Racism.

Midfield maestro: Manchester City star Yaya Toure shows his support for Alves on Twitter

Heayweight: Boxing world champion Wladimir Klitschko wrote a message on his banana

Luiz, Oscar and Willian show support for Brazil team-mate Dani...

Backing: Italian premier Matteo Renzi (left) and the Italian national team coach Cesare Prandelli share a banana in solidarity for Dani Alves

Together: Prandelli (right) is the latest sporting personality to show his support for Alves

'FC Barcelona wishes to express its complete support and solidarity with our first team player Dani Alves, following the insults he was subject to from a section of the crowd at El Madrigal on Sunday during the game against Villarreal. FC Barcelona accepts that the perpetrators of these insults are in no way connected to Villarreal and we value very positively the support the club offered to our player.

'The club’s immediate condemnation of the incidents is a step in the right direction to firstly isolate and then eradicate completely from the sporting arena this kind of behaviour.

'FC Barcelona reiterates its support for UEFA’s message of Respect and No to Racism and urges all clubs to continue fighting against the blight on the game which any kind of aggression against a sportsperson on the basis of their race represents.'

Alves made light of the incident following the game, saying 'I don't know who threw the banana but I want to thank him. It gave me the energy to put two more crosses in for our goals.'

He later added: 'We have suffered this in Spain for some time. You have to take it with a dose of humour. We aren't going to change things easily. If you don't give it importance, they don't achieve their objective.'

Alves has often been subjected to racist taunts and called fighting racism 'a lost war' in January 2013, after segments of Real Madrid's fans abused him with monkey chants during a match.

Spotted: Alves notices the banana that has been thrown on to the pitch

Disposal: Alves clears the pitch as he prepares to take a corner for Barcelona

Feeling peckish: The Brazil international decides to tuck in to the banana

Break in play: Alves later credited the banana with giving him the energy to help Barca beat Villarreal

PREGNANT WOMAN SHOT IN THE BELLY...

2014-04-28T05:09:00.000-07:00

Shocking moment pregnant woman was shot in the belly over Facebook post – killing her unborn baby

The unidentified pregnant victim went to suspect Virginia Wyche's home to confront her about an argument they had over Facebook
The argument became physical, at which point Wyche allegedly shot the victim in the stomach
Sadly, the victim's baby did not survive
A pregnant Florida woman has lost her baby after she was shot in the stomach earlier this week, allegedly by a woman with whom she'd been feuding on Facebook.

Police were called the scene - in the 9100 block of Castle Boulevard in Jacksonville - about noon Wednesday after there was a report of an argument and a shooting.

Video after the shooting by neighbor Christopher Cash shows the victim slumped in a chair as neighbors rush to help her. It also shows the suspect, 35-year-old Virginia Wyche, being taken into custody.

Victim: The unidentified pregnant victim slumped into a chair after she was shot in the stomach. Her baby didn't survive

Suspect: Virginia Wyche and the victim had a disagreement over Facebook, which led to a fight during which Wyche allegedly shot the victim in the stomach

The unidentified victim was taken to a local hospital and survived. Her unborn baby was pronounced dead

'They were arguing out front, something about Facebook. I walked out and just heard a pop,' Cash told WTEV.

Witnesses say the two women got into an argument on Facebook Tuesday night. On Wednesday, the victim went to Wyche's house to confront her about the disagreement.

Tragic: It's unclear what prompted the disagreement between Wyche (pictured) and the pregnant victim

Crime scene: The pregnant victim went to Wythe's home (pictured) to confront her about the Facebook argument

The argument turned physical, and that's when Wyche allegedly shot the pregnant victim.

'I know the victim was definitely shot in the abdomen. That's the one gun shot that I know of. That's why the consideration and concern for the unborn child's health,' Jacksonville Sgt. Michael Paul told News4Jax.com before it was learned that the baby had died.

The suspect's mother, Lillian Jordan, told the station she is as confused as everyone else about what led up to the shooting at her home.

'My son called me and I was very disturbed about this because this is not the way I was raised, and they (were) not raised like this,' Jordan told reporters. 'Somebody had to provoke my child ... to do what she (did). I don't know if she was trying to defend herself, or if they (were) trying to jump on my child, I can't say.'

Wyche was booked into jail on one count of murder and one count of attempted murder.

Investigators say they will continue to look into whether the suspect shot the victim in self-defense.

David Moyes SACKED! Ryan Giggs installed as interim manager

2014-04-22T03:11:00.000-07:00

David Moyes SACKED! Chief Woodward delivers news to failed Man United boss in early morning Carrington meeting with Ryan Giggs to take charge until end of season

Moyes thanked Carrington staff after learning his fate
Chief executive Ed Woodward delivered news to Moyes face-to-face
Club thanks Moyes for 'hard work, honesty and integrity'
Glazer family lost patience after dismal season at home and abroad
Final straw came in Sunday's miserable 2-0 defeat at old club Everton
United are seventh in Premier League, 13 points off fourth place
Holland coach Van Gaal lined up as replacement
l polls

David Moyes has been sacked by Manchester United with immediate effect.

Chief executive Ed Woodward arrived at Carrington at 8am on Tuesday morning to inform the Scot face-to-face of the news.

Moyes had already been informed of his fate and thanked club staff at the training complex in anticipation of his departure. The players were not present at the time.

A tweet on the club's official Twitter account read: 'BREAKING: Manchester United announces that David Moyes has left the club. The club would like to place on record its thanks for the hard work, honesty and integrity he brought to the role.'

Ryan Giggs will take temporary charge for the rest of the season as interim manager.

It emerged on Monday that United's owners, the Glazer family, had lost patience with Moyes after a dismal season that has seen the reigning Barclays Premier League champions slump to seventh in the table.

The final straw was Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Everton, their 11th in the Barclays Premier League this season, and a result that left the title holders 13 points off the Champions League places.

End of the line: David Moyes has been sacked by Manchester United with immediate effect

Saying goodbye: United's owners, the Glazer family, lost patience with Moyes after a string of bad results

Confirmation: Manchester United released a short statement on Twitter

Arrival: Ryan Giggs, who will take temporary charge until the end of the season, arrives at Carrington on Tuesday morning

Early morning meeting: United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward delivered the news face-to-face on Tuesday morning

Searching for inspiration: Moyes has found it impossible to maintain the high standards set by predecessor Sir Alex Ferguson

Bright beginnings: Moyes started work at Old Trafford on July 1 last summer, having been announced as Ferguson's replacement in May

VIDEO COMPILATION of Moyes' despondent post-loss pressers

DAVID MOYES AT UNITED

Played 51
Won 27
Drawn 9
Lost 15
Win percentage 52.94

United are confident of landing Holland coach Louis van Gaal as his replacement once they have tied up details of the manager's severance package.

The Barclays Premier League champions have already made contact with the Dutchman and he wants to join United after the World Cup.

Moyes has been sacked having not even completed one year of a six-year contract and will receive a hefty compensation package.

The Scot, on a day off on Monday, is understood to have been hurt and angry after learning of his fate on newspaper websites.

Meet the new boss: Moyes gets to work on his first morning as United manager at the club's Carrington training complex

Backing: Supporters on the Stretford End commissioned a banner proclaiming Moyes as the 'Chosen One'

Good start: Moyes lifts the Community Shield after United beat Wigan 2-0 at Wembley back in August. It was his only piece of silverware with the club

Winning start: United won 4-1 at Swansea City on the opening day of the season, getting their title defence off to the perfect start

Warm reception: Moyes is introduced to the Old Trafford crowd prior to his first home game against Chelsea

UNITED'S REMAINING MATCHES

April 26 Norwich City (H)
May 3 Sunderland (H)
May 6 Hull City (H)
May 11 Southampton (A)

Despite the expensive signings of Marouane Fellaini last summer and Juan Mata in January, United have failed to keep pace with their rivals and mount any kind of title challenge.

Moyes, who moved from Everton last summer to replace Sir Alex Ferguson, has also overseen failure in the cup competitions.

United were eliminated by Swansea City in the third round of the FA Cup, by Sunderland in the semi-finals of the Capital One Cup and by Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Taking all competitions into account, United have won 27 of 51 matches during the Moyes tenure, drawing nine and losing 15.

Watch the moment the 'Moyes Out' banner flew above Old Trafford

Taste of defeat: Moyes suffered his first league loss at Anfield as a Daniel Sturridge goal gave Liverpool a 1-0 win on September 1

Down to work: Moyes leads a training session at Carrington ahead of his first Champions League match with United back in September

Euro stars: United beat Bayer Leverkusen 4-2 at Old Trafford in their opening Champions League fixture of the season

Nightmare: The scale of Moyes's task at Old Trafford became apparent in the 4-1 defeat at rivals Manchester City on September 24

Bad to worse: Moyes can't believe his misfortune as United are beaten at home by West Bromwich on September 28

Pressure mounted further on the embattled manager following a lacklustre showing at Goodison Park, in which United transfer target Leighton Baines and Kevin Mirallas scored the goals.

Moyes bizarrely claimed that his team had played well after they lost 2-0 at Everton despite one of the most lame performances of his reign.

Many United fans saw the performance as a tipping point and the increasing number who were calling for him to go have got their wish.

Afterwards, Moyes — who was taunted by a man dressed as the Grim Reaper in the crowd — claimed he was happy with the display.

He said: ‘We played well in the first half but conceded two on the counter-attack. We didn’t deserve to be 2-0 down. We had good control of the game and possession of the ball. We didn’t defend well for the goals, though. That was right rotten.’

Hilarious '#MOYESIN #MOYESOUT' rap battle by Dan Bull

Masterstroke: Moyes did persuade star striker Wayne Rooney to turn down the overtures of Chelsea and sign a new contract

Revenge: United knocked Liverpool out of the Capital One Cup at the third round stage, offering swift retribution for the Anfield loss

Passion play: Moyes celebrates Javier Hernandez's goal as United beat Stoke City 3-2 at Old Trafford

Low point: Moyes sits and considers his options as United lose 1-0 to his former club Everton on December 4

Moyes’s verdict raised eyebrows in the Sky Sports studio.

‘That’s the worst I’ve seen from them over 90 minutes,’ said pundit and Sportsmail columnist Jamie Carragher.

‘Nobody seems to know what’s going on, on the pitch or in the dugout. You can’t see what the plan is. When I played it was total dominance from Manchester United. I’m looking at this team and wondering why they didn’t play like that when I was playing.’

Moyes was even criticised on the club's in-house TV channel when pundit David May said he was 'out of his depth' before being hushed up by the presenter.

Row: Moyes grabs the ball from Hatem Ben Arfa as Alan Pardew looks on during December's 1-0 home loss to Newcastle United

Race is on: Moyes runs along the touchline to retrieve the ball during United's New Year's Day loss to Tottenham

Protest: Moyes runs on to the pitch to appeal after a blatant handball is not given in the Tottenham match

No luck: Moyes rues a missed chance as United slipped to a 2-1 defeat to Sunderland in the first leg of their Capital One Cup semi-final

Out: With coach Phil Neville after United were knocked out of the Capital One Cup on penalties by Sunderland

January sales: Moyes bought Juan Mata from Chelsea for £37m in a bid to revive the flagging season

Nadir: United produced their most miserable performance of the season as they were beaten 2-0 by Olympiacos in the first leg of their last 16 Champions League tie

The great turnaround: But a Robin van Persie hat-trick gave United a 3-0 win at Old Trafford and took them through to a last eight encounter with Bayern Munich

Anger: A fan remonstrates with Moyes during the 3-0 home defeat by Manchester City

Guarded: Stewards protect the 'Chosen one' banner on the Stretford End at the end of the City defeat

Stunt: Disgruntled United fans paid for this plane to fly over the ground during a home match with Aston Villa. The plane's appearance was roundly booed by United fans in the ground

TIMELINE OF MOYES'S TENURE AT OLD TRAFFORD

September 1 - United suffer first defeat under Moyes as Daniel Sturridge gives Liverpool victory at Anfield. Wayne Rooney misses the game with a nasty head wound after being kicked in the head accidentally by Phil Jones in training.
September 22 - Hammered 4-1 at Manchester City. This time Robin van Persie is absent with a thigh injury.
September 28 - United lose 2-1 at home to West Brom, ending the Baggies' 35-year wait for an Old Trafford triumph.
October 19 - Concede last-minute Adam Lallana equaliser against Southampton at Old Trafford.
December 4 - Bryan Oviedo scores four minutes from time as Moyes' former club Everton end their 21-year wait for an away win over United.
December 6 - Rio Ferdinand criticises Moyes' policy of leaving it late to pick his teams, claiming on BT Sport: "It turns you into a madman."
December 7 - Yohan Cabaye gets the only goal as Newcastle win at Old Trafford for the first time since 1972.
December 10 - Van Persie suffers thigh injury taking a corner against Shakhtar Donetsk, and is ruled out for seven weeks.
January 1 - Rooney plays in the defeat by Tottenham but is then ruled out for four weeks with a groin injury.
January 5 - Swansea win at Old Trafford for the first time as Wilfried Bony's late goal sends United out of the FA Cup at the third-round stage for only the second time in 30 years.
January 7 - Defeat in Capital One Cup semi-final first leg at Sunderland means a third straight loss for the first time since May 2001.
January 19 - Skipper Nemanja Vidic is sent off as United crash to defeat at Chelsea.
January 22 - United beat Sunderland 2-1 in the Capital One Cup semi-final return leg thanks to Javier Hernandez's last-gasp effort in extra-time but come off worst in an awful penalty shoot-out, with only Darren Fletcher scoring from their five kicks.
February 1 - Stoke end their long wait for a win against United. Charlie Adam's double gives them their first since 1984.
February 7 - Vidic confirms he will leave at the end of the season.
February 9 - United come from behind to lead bottom side Fulham at Old Trafford, but Darren Bent's stoppage-time equaliser settles a 2-2 draw to deny the hosts all three points. Moyes describes the result as being "as bad as it gets".
February 25 - It proves gruesome in Greece for United in the Champions League last 16 as a poor performance sees the Red Devils beaten 2-0 by Olympiacos in Piraeus.
March 16 - Another day United will want to forget in a hurry as two Steven Gerrard penalties and a Luis Suarez strike earns Liverpool a crushing 3-0 win at Old Trafford. It could have been even worse for Moyes' men as Gerrard also hit the post with another penalty.
March 25 - United lose 3-0 to bitter rivals for the second consecutive home league game as a brace from Edin Dzeko and a late strike from Yaya Toure hands Manchester City a derby double over their city rivals. The result ensured United were guaranteed to end the season with their lowest points total in Premier League history.
April 9 - Despite an encouraging 1-1 draw in the first leg and taking the lead through Patrice Evra, the Red Devils go down 3-1 to defending champions Bayern Munich in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final at the Allianz Arena.
April 20 - Moyes' return to Goodison Park is turned into a nightmare as a Leighton Baines penalty and a goal from Kevin Mirallas hand Everton a 2-0 win, a result which means United cannot qualify for the Champions League.
April 22 - Moyes is sacked by United.

Good display: United produced their best performance of the season in the 1-1 home draw with Bayern Munich

Beyond them: But Bayern came from behind in the second leg in Munich to win 3-1 and knock United out of the Champions League

Waving goodbye: The final straw was United's 2-0 loss at Goodison Park on Sunday

... Murderer was due to have chair kicked away by victim's mother but...

2014-04-17T07:47:00.000-07:00

Last-minute reprieve: Incredible moment an Iranian killer is spared execution by his victim's parents while he had the noose round his neck

Murderer was due to have chair kicked away by victim's mother and father
But mother instead slaps him around the face and chooses to forgive him
Convict's jubilant mother rushes over and embraces the grieving woman
She had change of heart after her dead son appeared to her in a dream

As he prepares to take his last breath, this is the incredible moment a murderer is spared the gallows just seconds before he is due to be hanged after a dramatic reprieve from the victim's mother.

Blindfolded and with the noose tight around his neck, the Iranian killer was due to have the scaffold chair kicked away from under him by the dead man's parents.

But as these compelling pictures show, the mother instead walks up to him, slaps him around the face and chooses to forgive him in an extraordinary act of clemency.

The parents then remove the noose to the joy of the convict's mother who runs over and embraces the grieving woman who let her son walk free.

Seconds from execution: An Iranian killer is slapped around the face by the victim's mother as he prepares to be hanged... but in an extraordinary act of clemency she chooses to let him walk free

Act of mercy: The victim's parents take the noose off the convict's neck after sparing his life, however, under Iranian law, the family does not have any say in the killer's jail sentence

The killer, known as Balala, was sentenced to death for stabbing his victim during a street fight years ago

The Iranian man was due to have the chair that he was standing on kicked away from under him by the dead man's parents

The victim's father, Abdolghani Hosseinzadeh, revealed his wife had a change of heart after her dead son appeared to her in a dream.

He said: 'Three days ago, my wife saw my elder son in a dream telling her that they are in a good place and for her not to retaliate.

'This calmed my wife and we decided to think more until the day of the execution.'

The father said her actions were even more remarkable because they had already lost a son in a motorbike crash at the age of 11, according to the Guardian which cited the semi-official state news agency Isna.

The killer, known as Balal, was sentenced to death for stabbing 18-year-old Abdollah Hosseinzadeh Jnr, during a street fight in the Iranian town of Royan seven years ago.

The victim's mother (pictured) had a change of heart after her dead son appeared to her in a dram

United by grief and joy: The convict's mother embraces the sobbing woman whose teenager was stabbed to death by her son after her incredible act of forgiveness

IRAN EXECUTES HUNDREDS A YEAR

Iran was one of the main drivers of a 15 per cent rise in executions around the globe last year, according to Amnesty International.

Figures released by the organisation suggested at least 369 people were put to death, while, in February, it said nearly 100 had already been carried out this year.

But Mr Hosseinzadeh Snr believes Balal did not mean to kill his son.

He said: 'Abdollah was offended and kicked him, but at this time the murderer took a kitch knife out of his socks.

'Balal didn't know how to handle a knife. He was naive.'

In a literal application of the sharia law of retribution, known as qisas, the victim's family are allowed to take part in the execution.

They also have a say in sparing the death sentence, but not the jail term.

The crowds watch on as the drama unfolds - Iran was one of the main drivers of executions around the globe last year, according to Amnesty International

THE POWER BEHIND TENNIS..

2014-04-17T06:23:00.000-07:00

Serena Williams shows no one can compete with her out of this world curves in a tiny bikini

No wonder she is proud.

The same week Serena Williams told the world that she has learned to love her 'curves,' the tennis ace has made sure everyone can see exactly what she is talking about.

The 32-year-old put her muscular but shapely physique on full display in Miami, Florida, on Wednesday.

No missing her: Serena Williams showed her impressive curves off in Miami, Florida, on Wednesday

The sports star splish splashed her way through a fun day at the beach with friends.

Looking like she was having a blast, the player and a girlfriend alternated between soaking up the sun on beach chairs and sipping on drinks in the small waves.

For her fun day in the sun, the Olympian was definitely not hiding away her shapely derriere.

Beach day: Looking like she was having a blast, the player and a girlfriend alternated between soaking up the sun on beach chairs and sipping on drinks in the small waves

Physique pride: For her fun day in the sun, the Olympian was definitely not hiding away her shapely derriere

Instead Serena donned a black and patterned bikini, which she pulled up over her hips, drawing attention to her rear end that would even give Kim Kardashian a run for her money.

Purposely clashing with her bottoms, the tennis ace wore a metallic blue underwire halter top that valiantly fought to contain her more than ample chest.

While happy to frolic in the shallows, Serena obviously had no plans to actually go for a full swim as she left her long auburn locks out but with a black scarf tied around them like a large headband.

Watch out Kim! Serena donned a black and patterned bikini, which she pulled up over her hips, drawing attention to her rear end that would even give Kim Kardashian a run for her money

Mixing it up: Purposely clashing with her bottoms, the tennis ace wore a metallic blue underwire halter top that valiantly fought to contain her more than ample chest

The star also refused to ditch her silver jewelry, which included a heart shaped pendant, a watch, a pair of big elliptical earrings and a belly chain.

The player wore a full face of makeup too and sheltered her eyes from the sun's rays with a pair of black square glasses.

Serena's friend also made sure to show off her impressive curves wearing a neon yellow retro-inspired one piece.

Ready for her close up: The player wore a full face of makeup and sheltered her eyes from the sun's rays with a pair of black square glasses

Splish splash: The 32-year-old frolicked in the small waves

Twins! Serena's friend also made sure to show off her impressive curves wearing a neon yellow retro-inspired one piece

The two ladies are obviously very good friends as they did not stop smiling throughout their beach session.

Enjoying what appeared to be a frozen margarita in the water, the ladies even posed up for a picture with Serena's fan.

While many women try to hide their curves, Serena said this week in Fitness magazine that while it has taken time, she loves her shape.

Just dipping: Serena obviously had no plans to actually go for a full swim as she left her long auburn locks out but with a black scarf tied around them like a large headband

Body love: While many women try to hide their curves, Serena said this week in Fitness magazine that while it has taken time, she loves her shape

Beach besties: The two ladies are obviously very good friends as they did not stop smiling throughout the day

She told the May issue of the magazine: 'When I was young I thought I should be built more like an athlete - long and lean - not with a womanly figure.'

But with her fans' support and admiration realized she was perfect the way she was.

'People my age started coming up to me and saying, "I love you because of the way you look." That was really motivating.

Happy hour: The pair cooled off with an iced drink which appeared to a frozen margarita

Bling, bling: The two friends wore plenty of jewelry to the beach

'So I learned to be proud of my curves and embrace my large boobs.

'It’s all about loving who you are and realizing that you’re beautiful.'

Considering she is currently the reigning French Open, US Open and Olympic ladies singles champion, you would think tennis is completely consuming, but the star says she enjoys other sports too - especially dance.

Say cheese: The ladies even posed up for a picture with Serena's fan

Mixing it up: The ace likes to combine dance with her tennis and fitness routine

'For me it’s so important to mix it up, I ran, and then I biked,' she told Fitness. 'Then I did elliptical … I tried yoga.

'I started dancing because I couldn’t train when I was sick. We started making up moves, and it was fun. Now I run for 10 minutes and then I dance.'

As one of tennis' greats, Serena has always been very fit but two serious health issues - both her own and her sister's - has changed the way she trains and eats.

Healthy eating: A health scare in 2011 set the star on a path to a better diet, which includes eating raw foods

Early in 2011 Serena was hospitalised with a blood clot in her lungs and her sister Venus suffers from an auto immune condition known as Sjögren’s syndrome.

'[Following her illness] it was the first time that tennis was the last thing on my mind. I didn’t even think, ''I gotta practice because I’ve got to beat this girl'' … At one point, I was just thinking, ''Will I be OK?''

'I realized that I’m really fortunate to be alive and to be playing, and that it’s not the end of the world if I don’t win... It was the first time I’ve ever had so much fun on the court. Now I know I don’t have to play again if I don’t want to. I play because I love it.'

More relaxed: The 32-year-old champ says she now plays tennis not because she has to, but because she loves to

Getting better has meant eating better - especially around her sister.

'It all started because I didn’t want to bring bad food into the house.

'I live with my sister, Venus, who has Sjögren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disease. Before her problems I ate a lot of junk I also found out three years ago that I’m allergic to wheat, so I’m trying to eat a clean diet of natural, raw foods.'

Shape support: The star said positive comments from her fans made her realise her shape was perfect the way it was

Yikes: Serena's seriously hot body was something to be admired as she tied up her hair

And she's off: The star threw on a white dress, grabbed her shoes and tottered off the beach with her friends

Masked Al Qaeda fighter who was described as 'Arsenal football player........

2014-04-17T01:28:00.000-07:00

Revealed: Masked Al Qaeda fighter who was described as 'Arsenal football player' is believed to be Portuguese citizen who may have attended coaching sessions at the club

Extremist appeared in video claiming to be a former Arsenal player
It has now emerged he may be a Portuguese national, sources say
Arsenal say they have no record of him as a full-time player
Rumours had been circulating online that player was Lassana Diarra
Diarra's lawyer denied the gossip 'in the most categoric fashion'

A masked Al Qaeda terrorist described as a former Arsenal player in an online video has been identified, it was claimed today.

The man, who appeared in the film using a false name, has been identified as a Portuguese citizen, sources have disclosed.

It is believed he had been living in Leyton, east London, but it is unclear whether he had trials with Arsenal or any association with the club.

In a video posted on an extremist website on Saturday a man claimed to be a former Arsenal footballer now fighting in Syria

Sources told The Guardian they do not believe he was a full-time player but he may have attended coaching sessions when potential players are assessed.

A spokesman for the club said: 'We do not recognise the individual from the published clips and we don't have any record of this man representing the club at any level.'

False rumours had spread that he was former Premiership football star Lassana Diarra, 29, who played for a number of big name English clubs including Arsenal, Chelsea and Portsmouth.

As a result, Mr Diarra was forced to deny claims that he had become an Islamic warrior fighting in Syria, saying he had never set foot in the war-torn country.

'Former Arsenal footballer' joins extremist fighters in Syria

Former Arsenal, Chelsea and Portsmouth player Lassana Diara (right) was forced to deny rumours circulating on Twitter that he is a jihadist fighting in Syria

A lawyer for the French national said he has never even set foot in Syria and currently plays football in Russia

The footage, which appeared two weeks ago and is apparently shot in Syria, shows the man calling on Muslims in the West to travel to the war-torn region and fight with radical militants.

The man, whose face is hidden by a balaclava and is seen clutching an AK47 rifle, is identified as Abu Isa al-Andalus.

According to FiSyria.com, the site that posted the video, the man moved to London from his native country to play for Arsenal after growing up alongside a world-famous footballer.

The man's face is covered during the video, in which he clutches an AK47 assault rifle

A spokesman for Arsenal say they have no record of a past player with his name

It claims the man was radicalised in the capital two years ago before 'leaving everything' to join the Al Qaeda-affiliated Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

He later adds: 'We have conquered many cities and we are now implementing the Sharia. We have areas where the kaffirs (non-Muslims) are paying us the tax.

'If we stay in the kaffir countries we have to pay (taxes) to them. Do you want to be humiliated by this? Think about it.

'If you have family in these (Western) countries it's a must for you to put your children in the kaffir schools. "Who is going to teach your children?" It's going to maybe be a gay, maybe a drug dealer, maybe a paedophile.

'It's very important for you to protect your children. Allah says they are the worst of creatures.'

The Russian-based website does not confirm the man's previous identity on the page, which shows two videos each roughly four-minutes long.

MEET ICE-T's WIFE

2014-04-16T09:01:00.000-07:00

Racy in lace! Coco Austin leaves nothing to the imagination as she poses in VERY tight see-through black dress

She may be the wife of Ice-T and a reality star, but Coco Austin is perhaps best known for her bootylicious body and penchant for leaving little to the imagination.

And she did not disappoint with her latest photoshoot share, treating her social media followers to racy snaps of her fitness model body beneath a see-through lace dress.

The 35-year-old appeared to be entirely nude beneath the tight black number, which she delivered to over a million followers on Tuesday.

Coco showed off her famously curvaceous and surgically enhanced figure in the clingy number, which covered her arms but ended at her upper thighs.

The lace fabric and after-effects were skillfully hidden any specifics beneath, but the shapely angles made the necessities clear.

Her lips, eyes and cheeks were heavily decorated with glamorous makeup and her lengthy blonde tresses were pinned back and fell around her shoulders.

Her neck was decorated in crystal bling to match the chandeliers as she struck a sultry pose, before lying down and showing off her well known behind in a side shot.

Coco has recently been living in New York City, preparing for appearances in an off-Broadway burlesque show alongside dance troupe The Vanity Vixens.

She recently gushed about the show in a Q & A with her Facebook fans – saying she prefers it to performing in Las Vegas.

'No, I wouldn't do Vegas again. It was just too hard being away from Ice and having the dogs and not knowing what to do with the dogs and just kind of bouncing around,' Coco said.

'That's why this new burlesque show in New York, I'm so into it because I don't have to leave to go anywhere. It's like heaven. It's something I really love to do and I really loved doing peep show and being able to dance every single night—that's my passion.'

Her favourite angle: The pretty 35-year-old fitness model and wife of Ice-T does take any opportunity to show off her famed behind

Coco admitted she is a big homebody.

'Honestly this is going to sound so strange but I love cleaning my house,' she said. 'I look at our week and say maybe that's the day I can spend all day at home and not do much and just clean and do my laundry. I'm a homebody. I like to spend time at home and not do anything. I love being at home.'

She also revealed that she and Ice-T are working on a new secret TV project in conjunction with Ryan Seacrest, since the cancellation of the Ice Loves Coco reality series that ended its two-year run on E! in February.

Ice-T discussed the ending of the reality series: 'We stopped the reality show because after a certain amount of time it loops and people get you.

'You've done everything you do and then you do it over again. After some time you start doing things you normally wouldn't do - like let's put Ice on a horse. That's when it gets corny.'

Going strong: Coco Austin has been married to rapper Ice-T since 2001 and they're pictured together here at the ESPN Super Bowl Party in NYC in January

IS IT A PHONE?

2014-04-15T09:36:00.001-07:00

Is it a phone? The hilarious reactions of baffled children presented with a Sony Walkman cassette player

The Sony Walkman cassette player was first introduced in 1979
It stop being produced in 2010 and now there are dozens of more high-tech products in the Walkman family

Children's perplexed reactions to a Sony Walkman have been caught on camera, with the majority frustrated at operating clunky buttons over a touch screen.

Los Angeles-based filmmakers Benny and Rafi Fine asked volunteers aged six to 13 to guess what the bulky device was, with suggestions including a 'walkie-talkie' or 'boombox'.

'What is this?' one nine-year-old girl quizzed as she investigated the Eighties-era cassette player, while another exclaimed 'I'm not going to give up, I'm a survivor,' as she determinedly tried to figure out how it worked.

Scroll down for video

A walkie talkie? The perplexed reactions from today's youth as they see Sony Walkman for the first time have been captured in a new YouTube video

After being told that it is used for playing music, a YouTube video shows each child being handed a cassette tape.

'I never seen this.' nine-year-old Kacey exclaims, while Krischelle, also nine, says 'oooo' in intrigue.

The next problem they encounter is how to insert the plastic audio case.

Some give up after spending several minutes prodding an poking the Walkman but others successfully discover that the front opens up.

Baffled: Los Angeles-based filmmakers Benny and Rafi Fine asked volunteers aged six to 13 to try and figure out how the bulky device worked

Historical artifact: Along with the Walkman, many of the children had never seen a cassette tape either

'I feel like I'm Indiana Jones or something,' 12-year-old Elle rejoices as she solves the mystery.

After the children have inserted the cassettes they are then confused why they can't hear any music.

'Ah this is a rip-off because you want to listen but you can't because you don't have any headphones,' seven-year-old Evan says.

So they can listen to their mix tapes, the young volunteers are given vintage headphones with foam pad ear covers.

'Ah my grandpa has these,' Jayka, 11, notes.

Still learning! Poor Maxim didn't figure out how to use the volume scroll before plugging in his foam pad earphones - like most of his peers he was confused by the number of different buttons on the device

Finally all of the children are seen smiling after getting the Walkman to work.

Asked if they prefer the technology of today for music or the past, the majority say that they would opt for their iPhone or iPads any day.

'I feel so lazy saying this but you actually have to do stuff,' Elle says.

Others are dismayed by the fact you can only play one tape at a time and also about the device's hefty size. The Sony Walkman, when it was first introduced in 1979, weighed 14oz compared to an iPhone 5 which weighs about 4oz.

End of an era: Sony produced the cassette tape-playing Walkman until 2010 and now there are dozens of more high-tech products in the Walkman family

However, Maxim, aged seven, says the Walkman might have some cost and time-saving benefits.

'It actually wouldn't take so long because on the iPad you have to go into the internet find Pandora, you have to click that thing, you have to make it play . . . and the iPad is $700.

To date the YouTube film has been watched almost three million times since it was uploaded on April 13.

Many older viewers have said it's 'depressing' how old the children's reactions make them feel.

'I got my first Walkman back in 1997, I was soooo hyped!' one commenter reminisced.

Sony produced the cassette tape-playing Walkman until 2010 and now there are dozens of more high-tech products in the Walkman family

BOMB BLAST IN NYANYA, ABUJA.

2014-04-14T08:54:00.000-07:00

More than 70 dead and at least 124 injured in huge bus stop blast in Nigerian capital with Islamic terrorist group Boko Haram suspected

The blast ripped through the crowded bus station in Abuja this morning, with witness describing scenes of carnage
Attack linked to al-Qaeda followers, Boko Haram, who are trying to carve out an Islamic state in north east Nigeria
Police confirm 71 dead and at least 124 wounded in the terror attack, the first in the capital for two years
The country's president, Goodluck Jonathan, has visited the scene and insisted: 'We will get over it'

Police in Nigeria say the bombing of a bus station in the country's capital, Abuja, has killed 71 people and wounded at least 124.

Witnesses described a horrific blood-strewn scene after a huge blast in the busy bus terminal about 10 miles from the city centre destroyed 16 coaches and 24 minibuses this morning.

Islamist militant group Boko Haram are suspected of carrying out what is the first attack in the Nigerian capital for two years.

Rescue workers collect the bodies of victims after a blast rocked a bus station in Abuja, Nigeria this morning

President Jonathan and his Service Chiefs just visited victims of the Nyanya Motor Park bombing at the Asokoro General Hospital in Abuja.

The bomb went off when the bus station, roughly 10 miles from the capital, was crowded with workers starting their morning commute

Mimi Daniels, who works in Abuja, said: 'I was waiting to get on a bus when I heard a deafening explosion then saw smoke.

People were running around in panic.'

Another witness, Kingsley Ajimobi, added: 'More than two buses carrying workers were cut up by the blast. I saw many people in the bus dead, and many were injured.'

Civil servant Ben Nwachukw said: 'I can't count the number of people that died. They took them in open vehicles. People were running and there was confusion.'

The blast ripped a four-foot deep hole in the ground and destroyed more than 30 vehicles, causing secondary explosions as fuel tanks went up in smoke.

Victims families and witnesses were left devastated after the attack, the first in Nigeria's capital for two years

Bodies had to be piled onto the backs of trucks as emergency services struggled to deal with the number of casualties

Witnesses stand around victims of the explosion. The number of dead has been estimated at 71 but the death toll could still rise

There was no immediate claim of responsibility but suspicion is likely to fall on Islamist militant group Boko Haram, which has waged an increasingly bloody insurgency in the country's North East.

Suspected militants killed at least 60 people in an attack on a village late last week and eight people were killed in another recent attack at a teacher training college.

Visiting the scene, President Goodluck Jonathan denounced 'the activities of those who are trying to move our country backwards'.

'We will get over it... The issue of Boko Haram is temporary' he said, and called on Nigerians to be more vigilant in the face of terrorist activity.

Boko Haram, which means 'Western education is sinful', is modelled on the Taliban movement in Afghanistan and has forged ties with al-Qaeda.

The group want to carve an Islamic state out of Nigeria and have concentrated their onslaught in the North East in the past year. The last time terrorists struck in Abuja was in April 2012, when suicide bombers targeted the offices of newspaper This Day.

Police look through the debris after officials confirmed 71 had been killed in the explosion and around 124 injured

Witnesses said the explosion sparked scenes of chaos in the busy bus station, with two buses hit directly by the blast and waiting passengers showered in debris

RIHANNA IN SERIOUS PHOTO SHOOT FOR A FRENCH MAGAZINE

2014-04-11T05:51:00.002-07:00

At her most risqué! Rihanna exposes her naked derriere as she gets down on all fours for racy photo shoot

Rihanna loves to get naked and exposes her fabulous body all the time in Instagrams.

The sexy singer cranked up the heat by showing off her beautiful - and totally bare - booty in all its glory during a steamy photo shoot on a balcony in West Hollywood on Wednesday.

Rihanna - who apparently was posing for a French magazine - was wearing only a skimpy white, short-cropped top and no bikini bottoms.

Bottoms up: Rihanna got half-naked for a steamy photo shoot on a residential balcony in West Hollywood, California on Wednesday

The 26-year-old Barbadian beauty arrived on the set wearing a black robe but shrugged it off once she reached her mark on the balcony of a house perched high on a hill amidst palm trees.

Then, wearing just that top and no bottoms, Rihanna crouched down on hands and knees and raised her rump high in the air, her feet still clad in white trainers.

An assistant poured water down her back to give her skin a silky sheen as Rihanna waited, poised in her position.

She's smouldering: The 26-year-old Barbadian beauty was wearing just a short white top with gaping neckline and no bikini bottoms

Poised: Rihanna wasn't shy about getting down on knees and elbows for her racy photo session

Wet and wild: An assistant doused the wavy-haired singer with water to give her skin a sexy sheen

Inspiration: Another photo shoot helper held up a magazine for Rihanna for see and get inspired

Another photo shoot staffer held a magazine picture up for Rihanna to see, perhaps as an inspiration.

Rihanna didn't seem to need any help getting in the mood, as she appeared to be enjoying every minute of it.

The paler outlines of her skin where her bikini briefs should have been were a contrast to the rest of her skin tone and her long, waving hair cascaded around her shoulders in a sexy way.

More please: Rihanna waited patiently in position as her helpful crew member spritzed her upper back as well

This can get even higher: Rihanna showed how limber she really is by raising her rump a few inches higher

Golden goddess: Rihanna looked out to the horizon as the camera continued to snap away

Face down, derriere up: The singer didn't seem tired at all and kept up the act like a pro

Rihanna turned her head to look over her shoulders through the glass wall of the balcony, a smouldering expression on her face.

The entertainer wore make-up in natural hues while her lips showed no trace of colour at all.

Her nails were long with pale French tips and assorted rings decorated her fingers.

All work, a little play: Rihanna likes to get naked a lot in Instagrams so this job must not have been too difficult

Setting the scene: The photo shoot took place on a glass-enclosed balcony at a residence high up in the hills overlooking Los Angeles

Look at me: Rihanna rested her face in her hands as she gave the photographer another one of her glamourous expressions

Wrap it up: Towards the end of the long and exhausting shoot Rihanna was handed her black robe

During breaks in the shoot, Rihanna rested by sitting on her haunches and as crew walked past her seemingly oblivious to her half-naked state.

It was a warm spring day and Rihanna was obviously grateful for any breezes that happened to blow her way.

Once the long and exhausting shoot was done, the assistant held up Rihanna's black robe and she slipped back into the garment.

Bare essentials: Rihanna displayed her fair booty while an assistant handed her a pair of red bikini bottoms

Comfortable in her skin: The Diamonds singer showed more of her pert derriere as crew mingled around her

Later that day, Rihanna put on a blue and black-striped outfit to watch the Los Angeles Clippers take on the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Her boyfriend Drake was also at the game and the two musicians were seen sharing a hug once the game was over.

Ooh la la: Rihanna's photo shoot was apparently for a French magazine

Photo play: Rihanna was photographed in the afternoon when the light was golden

WOMEN WHO CONQUER BREAST CANCER.

2014-04-11T05:27:00.002-07:00

We're not survivors - we're warriors: Women who have beaten breast cancer pose nude in powerful photos revealing their enduring strength

Breast cancer survivors have revealed their strength and beauty in a powerful new photo series that sees them posing nude, bravely baring their mastectomy scars.

Shot by photographer Isis Charise, the striking images in Grace reveal the raw resilience of these woman as they emulate figures of antiquity like Athena and Venus.

'It is my hope that these images create a doorway that leads to further acceptance of the post mastectomy body,' she explained. 'Not only for women who live with the challenge of breast cancer, but also for their partners, families and caregivers.'

Powerful: In photographer Isis Charise's striking Grace series, breast cancer survivors bare their mastectomy scars while striking goddess-inspired poses, revealing their beauty and raw resilience

Inspiration: 'I considered that if I photographed my subjects with a classical context in mind, that it would create a window for both the subject and the viewer to access a place of acceptance and beauty,' she said

In one of the photos called the Empress, an elderly woman basks in the sunlight outdoors with a scarf placed strategically across her lap.

Another, which is named Birth of Venus, sees a woman standing on a stone bench with one leg crossed in front of the other and her hands crossed on her chest, mimicking the pose from the Botticelli painting.

'Venus was the goddess of beauty,' the photographer explains on her Facebook page. 'And a person could view the mastectomy experience as a rebirth.'

'It is my hope that these images create a doorway that leads to further acceptance of the post mastectomy body'

Ms Charise told MailOnline that she chose to have her models pose like goddesses and mythical figures to highlight their similarities.

'The Venus Di Milo came to mind,' she said. 'I had always pondered the fact that one of the objects in the world that we consider to represent ultimate beauty had no arms, and yet we still view her as the pinnacle of beauty.

Goddess: In a photo named Birth of Venus, a woman stands on a stone bench with one leg in front of the other and her hands crossed on her chest, mimicking the pose from the Botticelli painting

Bold and beautiful: Pallas Athena, a reference to the Greek goddess of courage, strength and warfare

'Also the Nike of Samothrace, delicate and even more beautiful in her brokenness,' she added.

'I considered that if I photographed my subjects within this classical context in mind, that it would create a window for both the subject and the viewer to access a place of acceptance and beauty.'

She adds on her website that these 'dismembered artifacts have survived the trauma of history and are still valued as objects of beauty within our culture.'

In a photo she has named Eponina, a breast cancer survivor lies down in the fetal position, a grey blanket underneath her in a circular shape, forming a halo.

The power of two: A mother and daughter who both survived breast cancer pose together in a heartwarming photo called Mater et Filia

Alive: This woman's photo is called Sekmet after the Egyptian warrior goddess who also represents healing

Another image sees a woman bravely exposing the scars on her breasts as she holds the plaster of a woman's chest.

Ms Charise - who has worked for years as a professional boudoir and pin-up photographer - was inspired to create her Grace series after a man called and asked if she'd do a shoot for his wife.

Venus was the goddess of beauty, anda person could view the mastectomy experience as a rebirth'

'The day of the shoot a gorgeous and vivacious woman turned up to the shoot determined to remain clothed through the shoot,' recalled Ms Charise.

'I had no qualms with that. A boudoir shoot is about expressing a sensual side of yourself, not necessarily being naked.

'After some time into the shoot she confessed to me that she was a 12-year breast cancer survivor and that she was ashamed of one of her breasts which is why she wanted to keep it covered.'

Origins: Ms Charise was inspired to create Grace after a 'cathartic moment' in which a breast cancer survivor unveiled her scars during a photo shoot, thereby letting go of her shame

Athena: 'Not only did this beautiful woman have to fight for her life, but she had to fight to convince her doctors that no reconstruction was the right option for her,' Ms Charise wrote on Facebook

As the shoot went on, the woman continued to cover her scarred breast until she finally decided to let go of her shame.

'There she was laying on the couch in all of her glory when suddenly she threw off her clothes and said "F*** it! I'm doing this for myself!' explained Ms Charise.

'In that moment I witnessed a woman who had carried 12 years of shame surrounding her body let go and accept herself, scarred breast and all as she was.

Enchanting: This photo takes its inspiration from Rhiannon, a magical creature in Welsh mythology

Family photo: The Three Graces features three sisters who were all diagnosed with breast cancer within six months of each other. Their mother also struggled with the disease when they were teens

Empowering: Ms Charise's ongoing project has received much positive feedback, and she's currently raising money through NYFA to photograph more women with the help of donations

'It was an incredibly powerful and cathartic moment for both of us.'

Ms Charise's ongoing project has received much positive feedback, and she's currently raising money through NYFA to photograph more women with the help of donations.

'You certainly are doing a great job,' one person commented on her website. 'I bow to these wonderful women that have come forward and been photographed, their bravery and beauty is something incredible. 'They are very special women.'

THEO WALCOTT IS A FATHER...

2014-04-11T04:55:00.000-07:00

Footballer Theo Walcott and wife Melanie Slade announce birth of baby boy Finley

Melanie Slade has given birth to her first child on Thursday morning, with her footballer husband Theo Walcott sharing the news via his Facebook account.

The 24-year-old wrote: 'So over the moon to announce the birth of our baby boy Finley born this morning.... It's amazing to be mummy & daddy! Love him so much x'

The England football player married Mel, his childhood sweetheart, in June last year at Castello di Vincigliata, near Florence in Italy.

Big news: Footballer Theo Walcott and Melanie Slade announced the birth of their first child Finley via Facebook on Thursday

Walcott had the castle location tattooed on his arm as a romantic reminder of their special day and they announced that they were to become parents in December.

The couple said in a statement at the time: 'We are both very excited at such happy news just a few months after getting married. We are really looking forward to becoming parents.'

Walcott will definitely not be in Brazil for the 2014 World Cup, which kicks off on June 12, as he suffered a ligament injury against Tottenham Hotspur in January and will be out for six months to recover.

Bumping along nicely: A heavily pregnant Melanie was spotted visiting a DIY shop on April 4

He has already said the baby will help take his mind off the long rehabilitation process. He is hoping to be fit for the start of next season.

Theo and Melanie tied the knot following nine years of dating after meeting at the WestQuay shopping centre in Southampton - when he was playing for the seaside town's youth team.

Melanie admitted that her wedding was an emotional day. She said: 'That moment when I saw Theo waiting for me at the altar was so overwhelming.

Happy dad: Arsenal's England winger will no doubt be thrilled to be a father for the first time

'Your emotions are all over the place - you're so excited and euphoric because you're marrying this person who you love so much, but there are some nerves there too because it's such a big step.'

Slade was billed as 'the new Coleen McLoughlin' by the media when Theo was selected by Sven-Göran Eriksson for the England squad in 2006.

However, Melanie never courted the press and kept a relatively low-profile compared to other WAGS and focused on her career as a sports physiotherapist.

Low profile: The couple rarely attend public events together but did attend the Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn premiere in London in 2011

RIRI NOT PREGNANT...

2014-04-09T07:20:00.000-07:00

No bump here! Rihanna dismisses pregnancy rumours by displaying her washboard abs in a bra top for reunion with boyfriend Drake

She found herself at the centre of reports that she was expecting her first child last week.

But Rihanna has dismissed the pregnancy claims in the best way she knows how - by displaying her washboard abs.

The 26-year-old singer proved once and for all that she is not with child by wearing a white bra top which drew attention to her enviably flat stomach as she enjoyed a night out at The Supper Club in Hollywood on Tuesday night.

Rihanna's evening also saw her reunited with boyfriend Drake, after more than a week apart.

No bump here! Rihanna dismissed pregnancy rumours once and for all as she displayed her washboard abs on a night out at The Supper Club in Hollywood on Tuesday night

Slimmer than ever: Rihanna's flat stomach was even clearer to see from the side

Dressed to impress to see her man, Rihanna teamed the bralet with a pair of low-slung and baggy studded jeans, a pink cropped boucle jacket and silver pointed heels.

Finishing off her look, Rihanna left her raven hair loose in tumbling curls, and clutched her mobile phone in her hand as she headed into the nightspot with friends.

According to reports, Rihanna and Drake were escorted out of the club separately and into their waiting cars shortly after closing time at the nightspot.

The pair's outing came after a source was quoted as telling website Hollywood Life: 'Rihanna’s not pregnant with anybody’s baby. showing her toned abs

Flat as a pancake: Rihanna opted for a tiny white bra top and low-slung jeans to show off her flat stomach

Mix and match: Rihanna teamed her outfit with a cropped, pink, boucle jacket and pointed metallic heels as she was reunited with boyfriend Drake after over a week apart

The Ultimate Warrior Dies; Wrestling Legend Was 54

2014-04-09T01:32:00.001-07:00

Pro-wrestling superstar The Ultimate Warrior dies at 54 after he collapses in front of hotel room

Few details are available at this time, but WWE confirmed The Ultimate Warrior's passing in a statement, saying of the man whose real name was James Hellwig:

"WWE is shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the passing of one of the most iconic WWE Superstars ever, The Ultimate Warrior."

The statement continues:

"Warrior began his WWE career in 1987 and quickly went on to become one of the biggest stars in WWE history. Warrior became WWE Champion at WrestleMania VI, defeating Hulk Hogan in an epic encounter. We are grateful that just days ago, Warrior had the opportunity to take his rightful place in the WWE Hall of Fame and was also able to appear at WrestleMania 30 and Monday Night Raw to address his legions of fans.

"WWE sends its sincere condolences to Warrior’s family, friends and fans. Warrior was 54 and is survived by his wife Dana and his two daughters."

The Ultimate Warrior had not wrestled professionally for many years, instead making headlines for a few bizarre video rants.

But he actually appeared this week on Monday Night Raw and his death has left many within the WWE universe in shock.

"RIP WARRIOR. only love,” Tweeted Hulk Hogan, while Triple H added:

"Saddened to announce the passing of the Ultimate Warrior. Icon and friend. My sympathy to his wife Dana and his daughters."

FRENCH LAW REQUIRES THEM TO SAY IN PARIS FOR 40DAYS BEFORE WEDDING

2014-04-08T09:36:00.000-07:00

Sacrebleu! Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's wedding plans grind to a halt as they discover French law requires 40 day residency before ceremony

They are expected to tie the knot in France on May 24 of this year but according to RadarOnline Kim Kardashian and Kanye West may have to reschedule.

The couple have reportedly discovered that French law requires at least one of them to remain in France for at least 40 days before the wedding.

A source told the website: ‘Kim and Kanye were unaware until recently that France required a residency requirement prior to the marriage. Kanye has an apartment in Paris, but he doesn’t live there full time.’

Not going to plan: Kim and Kanye have discovered that they will need a 40 day residency in France before getting married

The French Embassy in Washington D.C told Radar: ‘All marriages must be performed by a French civil authority before any religious ceremony takes place. The mayor can authorise the deputy mayor or a city councillor to perform the ceremony in the town in which one of the parties to be married has resided for at least 40 days preceding the marriage. These requirements cannot be waived.'

They will also only be able to have the religious ceremony after the civil one has taken place.

The news comes following reports that Kanye has postponed the Australian leg of his Yeezus tour, due to him being in ‘groomzilla mode’ and it being too close to their wedding day, despite him saying he had delayed it to finish work on his new studio album.

French lover: While Kanye does have a flat in Paris he doesn't live there full time

When the news was announced it led many to speculate on social media sites that the postponement could be more due to the fact he needed that time to help prepare for his wedding day.

‘Kanye West postponed tour cuz he’s a control freak and needs to stay and oversee the minutia of the wedding,' @TAndre6 said on Twitter.

While @oliviajc wrote: 'Everyone calm down about the Kanye shows being postponed. Y’all know this means the Royal Wedding is about to happen, a small price to pay.'

A source told Radar that Kanye had taken the reins and the plans have now gotten 'out of control'.

'It’s just insane. Kanye has basically billed it as breaking the boundaries of what to expect when it comes to a wedding. This will be the event of the year,' the source continued. 'Think fashion runway, stage show performance. Think avant grade. Think nothing like you’ve ever seen.'

[Kim] is still losing more every week,' a family insider told Us Weekly. 'She wants to look the best she possible can for her wedding photos.'

In other news Kanye revealed on Monday evening that his first shoe for Adidas will be released in June.

The collaboration with the sportswear brand marks the hitmaker's first shoe line since cutting ties with rival, Nike - who released the rapper's last limited edition footwear, the Air Yeezy Red Octobers, earlier this year following a row over royalties - and he promises to design "the best product" he can for fans.

Kanye explained in a passionate speech at the Adidas Global Brand Conference in Germany: 'Creativity is my oxygen, I have to create. And I don't care how crazy I look to anyone; as long as I can make the best product for all of you. So in June, we'll see the new Yeezis.'

According to Freshness Magazine, the Adidas version of Kanye's sneakers will be branded YEEZi and not Air Yeezy, in a bid to prevent any copyright issues from Nike.

Meanwhile, Kanye claims being given the opportunity to design clothing has been his biggest dream in addition to welcoming his first child, North West, and his upcoming nuptials to his fiancée Kim Kardashian this summer.

He gushed: 'I always wanted to have a family, have children, get married; that dream is about to be accomplished. To get to the point to be able to make your own shoe and have people react to it was such an amazing feeling that I could never let that go.'

A spokesperson for the couple have has been contacted for comment.

BABY WITH TWO HEADS DIED.

2014-04-08T09:16:00.001-07:00

Indian conjoined twins born with two heads and one body die at 20 days old - before their mother even got chance to meet them

Twins were born by C-section in northern India weighing 7lb 7oz
Had two heads, two necks, two spines and two separate oesophaguses
But they had only one heart and stomach and one lung each
Doctors say the twins had respiratory problems and died from heart failure
Their mother, Urmila, was very distressed and could not bear to meet them

The Indian conjoined twins born with one body and two heads have died after battling to survive for a remarkable 20 days.

The babies, born by C-section weighed 7lbs 7oz when they were born on March 13th.

They were born with one body, two heads, two necks, two spines and two separate oesophaguses and trachea. But they had only one heart and stomach and one lung each.

Tragic: The Indian conjoined twins born with one body and two heads have died after battling to survive for a remarkable 20 days

Conjoined: The twins were born with one body, two heads, two necks, two spines and two separate oesophaguses and trachea. But they had only one heart and stomach and one lung each

Tragically, their mother Urmila Sharma, 28, decided she could not bear to meet her babies at all before they died.

The twins' father, Subhash, 32, said: ‘The news did not come as a shock but we were still devastated.

'They were very special babies. Even though doctors had told us that they had minimal chances of survival, we hoped they’d live.

'I wanted to raise them and for our daughter to have sisters but God had a different plan. The fact they survived for 20 days was even a miracle.'

Dr Shikha Malik, who delivered the babies in Sonipat, northern India, said at first that while one baby was sleeping, one was - remarkably - crying.

After two days, the babies were transferred to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital in Delhi, and were under close observation in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Loss: Tragically, their mother Urmila Sharma, 28, decided she could not bear to meet her babies at all before they died. The twins' father, Subhash, 32, said: ¿The news did not come as a shock, but we were still devastated'

But Dr Minu Bajpai, paediatric surgeon in charge of the babies while they were at the hospital, explained: ‘In the end the baby's heart was too weak.

'They suffered respiratory problems from the moment they arrived with us, and they just seemed to deteriorate as each day passed. In the end it was their heart that gave up and they died of heart failure.’

Mrs Sharma, who already has a three-year-old daughter Shalini, chose to not meet her babies while they were alive.

Her husband said: 'I went to Delhi last week and brought my daughters’ bodies home on April 2. My wife is still trying to cope with the loss.

Weak: Doctors treating the twins say they suffered respiratory problems and died of heart failure

'She could not take them in her arms and cuddle them when they were alive. She had accepted their fate but being a mother, it’s still hard to accept their death.

'She’s very emotional and she’s crying inconsolably. She wanted her babies to live so much and now they’re gone she is very lost.’

He said that they’d both struggled to come to terms with their daughters’ extraordinary condition.

‘It was very painful for both my wife and I to see them battling with life. Now I feel they have been set free. I buried them myself, according to Hindu rituals, but my wife couldn’t face it.’

Now, the family will try and pick up the piece of the sadness of the last month.

Dr Shikha Malik, who delivered the twins, said: 'Although we suspected they wouldn¿t survive because of their medical complexities, we were still hoping we could save them'

He added: 'We can never forget our babies; they will always be in our hearts. But we hope that our next baby will be born normal.

'I will make sure that if my wife gets pregnant again, she gets proper medical assistance throughout the pregnancy so that we’re more prepared next time.'

Dr Malik added: 'Although we suspected they wouldn’t survive because of their medical complexities, we were still hoping we could save them.

I was shocked they had lasted longer than 24 hours never mind surviving for 20 days. I hope the parents can recover from this sadness and pick themselves up again.'

NO WORLD CUP PARTY FOR RONALDINHO IN BRAZIL.....

2014-03-27T09:23:00.001-07:00

The World Cup is just 73 days away and excitement is building.

It's probably one of the safest bets in sport to assume he celebrated in style. That's something that Ronaldinho has never lost - the ability to throw a damn good party.

It was his 34th birthday on Friday. And we trust that the man who courted controversy in the Brazilian off-season when an image of him standing in front of a harem of bikini-clad girls went viral, marked the occasion like only he knows how.

But images of him partying it up three months out from a World Cup on home soil that could have been the crowning moment for one of the game's magicians don't make for a happy picture. This could have and should have been his time.

Party: Former Brazil star Ronaldinho parties with some friends in the only way that he knows how

Ronaldinho rapping at Carnaval de Salvador

On form: Many had hoped that Ronaldinho would make Brazil's squad for the World Cup this summer

Ronaldinho misses one before scoring a lucky penalty

Is 34 too old for a World Cup in the modern game? It's probably worth asking three other 34-year-olds who will travel to Brazil with their country's hopes on their backs: Andrea Pirlo, Xavi and Steven Gerrard.

In those outrageous, breath-stealing years at Barcelona, Ronaldinho never relied on pace anyway. No one with his skill set could possibly rely on any one factor. The body and those feet would be more than able to light up the summer. It's the mind and the heart that are the problem.

There was to be no 34th birthday present forthcoming from the brains trust behind the Brazilian national team though. No gift-wrapped olive branch or second or third chance.

In fact, Luis Felipe Scolari's assistant Carlos Alberto Parreira pooped the party by picking this weekend as the opportune time to confirm that Ronaldinho will definitely not be part of their drive for glory.

He 'lacked dedication and consistency' in his national team career, said Parreira, unlikely to be invited to the 35th shindig you'd have to imagine.

No thanks: Brazil head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has confirmed that Ronaldinho is not required this summer

Ronaldinho bamboozles defender with a ghost pass

Distracted: Ronaldinho's off-field activities have counted against him

A harsh judgement? For some, perhaps. But from this vantage, no. The confirmation that his international career is over leaves one of the most gifted players of all time, a man who put more beauty into the beautiful game than most, staring back at some damn ugly numbers.

Ronaldinho played in his last World Cup in Germany as a 26-year-old. His final total on the biggest stage reads 10 games, two goals, the last of which was that free-kick that sailed over David Seaman's head in 2002.

The weekend after a riveting Clasico, was Ronaldinho ever the same after he left Barcelona? Not even close. His disinterest at AC Milan in two-and-a-half seasons couldn't have been clearer.

There have been flashes back home - the unforgettable duel with Neymar when the elder genius put the upstart in his place and Flamengo beat Santos 5-4 on the back of his hat-trick.

Leading Atletico Mineiro to the Copa Libertadores was no small feat either. But it's not been the same, not close.

It is in his Brazil career that things couldn't be more stark. Consider this, Ronaldinho never scored another competitive international goal after leaving Barcelona. He only played another four competitive games - in six years.

So he'll be free to party it up with the rest of the world this summer. The only problem is the rest of the world would prefer to see him partying on the pitch. But it's not be. Ronaldinho...all out for 34.

TOPLESS FEMEN ACTIVISTS STORM SPANISH ANTI-ABORTION RALLY.(NSFW PHOTOS)

2014-03-26T09:25:00.001-07:00

Topless female activists, their faces smeared in black-and-white paint to look like skeletons, stormed a pro-life rally in Spain on Sunday.

Five members of women’s rights group Femen shouted out "Pro-life is genocide" at the crowd of thousands participating in the anti-abortion gathering in Madrid. Repeat offenders in the group were arrested by police for public indecency, The Local reports. The stunt was meant to voice disapproval of proposed legislation that would severely restrict access to abortions in the county.

The controversial anti-abortion bill, which would make abortion illegal except in the case of rape or when there is a grave health issue associated with the pregnancy,moved forward in Spain's parliament after a secret vote in early February, according to The Guardian. If it passes, the bill would be one of the most restrictive in all of Europe.

Although national polls show 70 to 80 percent of the country wants abortion to remain legal, Spain's conservative government is holding strong for the bill's passage.

“We are not talking about moral issues or electoral advantages, but instead the defense of fundamental rights,” Justice Minister Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon said in support of the bill at the ruling People's Party convention in February, per The Telegraph. He added, “You have my word that no screams or insults could provoke me to abandon my commitment to comply with [the People’s Party] platform to regulate the rights of women and the unborn.”

Femen's recent protest isn’t the group’s first against Spain's anti-abortion bill. In October, members appeared topless inside the parliament, shouting "abortion is sacred," according to The Associated Press.

WARNING: The images below are NSFW.

A Femen protestor shouting at the "Si a la Vida" ("Yes to Life") demonstration near the Puerta del Sol square March 23.

Police officers halt Femen's rally at the "Si a la Vida" rally in Madrid.

Jeremiah Adebolajo says his sibling Michael was victim of Islamophobia

2014-03-26T05:51:00.000-07:00

Outrage as brother of one of Lee Rigby's killers condemns judge for handing down full-life sentence after 'trial by public'

Jeremiah Adebolajo says his sibling Michael was victim of Islamophobia
Brother could be rehabilitated and judge gave public 'what they wanted'
Adebolajo was given a 'whole life' term - Michael Adebowale given 45 years
Public angry that BBC allowed man 'platform' to defend his family member.

The brother of one of Lee Rigby's killers said today that the decision to give his sibling a whole life prison sentence was Islamophobic.

Jeremiah Adebolajo believes Michael Adebolajo should not be forced to die behind bars and claims the judge in his Old Bailey trial caved in to 'pressure' after 'gave the public what they wanted'.

Last month Adebolajo, 29, was given a whole-life term, while Michael Adebowale, 22, was jailed for life with a minimum of 45 years.

Adebolajo was given the longest possible sentence because the judge believed he had no hope of rehabilitation, but his brother said today if released he would 'pose no danger to the public' and 'lead a very productive life were he to be released'.

Defence: Michael Adebolajo described himself as a 'soldier of Allah' and attempted to decapitate Drummer Rigby, but his brother Jeremiah, right, says his whole life sentence was Islamophobic

Brave life lost: Lee Rigby was walking innocently along a Woolwich road towards his barracks when he was run down and butchered

The British-born extremists mowed down Fusilier Rigby in a car before hacking him to death in the street in front of horrified onlookers near Woolwich Barracks in south-east London in May last year.

Accomplice: Michael Adebowale was jailed for life with a minimum of 45 years - meaning he could be back on the streets by the age of 67

They both claimed that they were ‘soldiers of Allah’ and were motivated by the plight of Muslims abroad to carry out the killing, and have shown no remorse.

Today Jeremiah Adebolajo, who like his brother is a Muslim convert, told the BBC Radio 5 Live today that his sibling was unfairly treated.

He pointed to the sentencing of Pavlo Lapshyn, who was jailed for 40 years for killing a man and planning to bomb three mosques to start a 'race war' in Britain.

'It seems strange to me that a man can be sentence to (whole) life for the death of one man and another can be sentenced to 40 years for the death of one and the attempted murder of many others,' he told Victoria Derbyshire.

'I wonder what the difference is here, aside from the guilty plea, aside from that I see that someone has died in both cases.

'It seems strange that Justice Sweeney can suggest there is no prospect of rehabilitation for my brother but there is for the Ukrainian man who openly stated he wanted to start a race war

'Yes (it is Islamophobic). Not only that I think it was trial by the public. There was a lot of public outrage, as could be understood. The death of a soldier in any country would provoke that, but I would suggest that Justice Sweeney was giving in to that pressure'.

During their sentencing last month violence broke out in the Old Bailey dock and the killers began hurling abuse at the judge and fighting with prison guards.

Anger: The BBC has received criticism for allowing his brother on the air in the first place

Fight: After sentencing began the two killers shouted at Mr Justice Sweeney in protest at his remarks and were pinned to the ground by several security guards and taken back to the cells

Taken away head first: Mr Justice Sweeney was forced to sentence the men in their absence after they were bundled out of the courtroom following their violent outburst

In extraordinary scenes, the two Muslim extremists yelled 'Allahu Akbar' and 'You (Britain) and America will never be safe' during their sentencing at the court in Central London.

Shocking: A blood-drenched Michael Adebolajo (pictured) told witnesses in a video his attack on Drummer Rigby was an act of revenge - 'an eye for an eye'

Justice Sweeney was forced to jail them while they banged on the ceilings of their cells below the courtroom.

The judge said the pair's behaviour was ‘sickening and pitiless’, and that Adebolajo had no hope of rehabilitation.

‘Your sickening and pitiless conduct was in stark contrast to the compassion and bravery shown by the various women at the scene who tended to Lee Rigby's body and challenged what you had done and said.’

Jeremiah Adebolajo also said his brother should not have been tried for murder.

'Lee Rigby was performing a public service. It would have been more fitting, I think, that my brother, a British citizen, be charged with treason for killing a soldier. It is the first time that a man has killed another man and been sentenced to a whole life tariff,' he said.

When asked if he should one day be released he said: 'I believe my brother would lead a very productive life were he to be released. Were he to be rehabilitated I think he would lead a productive life – I think it’s important not to forget that he has young children himself.'

Victoria Derbyshire also asked him if he had sympathy for Lee Rigby's family, but would only be drawn on his son Jack.

'I have a tremendous amount of sympathy towards the son of Lee Rigby who will grow up without a father, and I think my brother does too'.

Demand for justice: The bereft family of Lee Rigby wore t-shirts in his honour on the day his killers were sentence (Left to right) Stepfather Ian Rigby, his mother Lyn Rigby and sisters Sara McClure and Chelsea Rigby walked into the Old Bailey together

Moving: The only son of Lee Rigby, Jack, holds the hands of the loved-ones as he attended his father's funeral in July. His mother Rebecca told Justice Sweeney that he will grow up to see images of his father' horrific murder

Adebolajo is already appealing his conviction on technical legal grounds, using public funds to pay his legal fees.

His QC told the court that sentencing his client to life without parole would make him a 'martyr', while Adebowale's legal team said a whole-life term would be 'inhuman' for a man that age.

During their trial, Rigby's bereft family were forced to watch footage and hear gruesome accounts of the soldier being run down at 40mph and hacked to death in the street.

The jury, who were all offered counselling, took just 90 minutes to find the killers guilty of the fusilier’s murder, but not guilty of the attempted murder of police.

Before impact: This frame, taken from CCTV footage, shows a Vauxhall Tigra just about to crash into Lee Rigby as he crosses the road

Weapon: This battered car was used to crush the soldier against a sign in front. The streak of blood in front shows how they dragged his body into the street

Jeremiah Adebolajo concentrated on the case of Ukrainian white supremacist Pavlo Lapshyn, 25, who murdered a Muslim pensioner and bombed three mosques as he waged a one-man race war in Britain.

Just five days after arriving in the country last year he killed Mohammed Saleem by stabbing him three times from behind as the 82-year-old made his way home from evening prayers.

The ‘evil and calculating’ PhD student – who once posed with the British Ambassador when he was awarded the chance to work in Britain – also ordered bomb-making materials online as he plotted mass murder in a series of mosque attacks.

Guilty: Ukrainian born Pavlo Lapshyn admitted the murder of Mohammed Saleem, 82, who he stabbed as he walked home from a mosque, and also planting a series of bombs outside mosques

Horrifying: Nails recovered from the scene of one of three bombings planned by murderer Pavlo Lapshyn

Crazed: Pavlo Lapshyn catches a bus from Birmingham to Walsall calmly carrying a home made bomb in this green bag - incredible nobody was killed in the three bombings he planned

Lapshyn also admitted causing an explosion on July 12 near the Kanzal Iman mosque in Tipton, and engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts between April 24 and July 18 this year.

This included planting bombs near mosques in Walsall and Wolverhampton, researching locations to plant bombs and buying chemicals on the internet to make explosives.

...... after 6-0 Chelsea thrashing.

2014-03-25T07:25:00.000-07:00

At least someone's smiling! Ozil, Bendtner and Sagna enjoy themselves on night out just hours after 6-0 Chelsea thrashing.

After their humiliating hammering by Chelsea, you'd have been forgiven for thinking the Arsenal players had little to celebrate.

But they put that to the back of their minds by helping Mesut Ozil throw a party for his girlfriend's birthday.

Pictures emerged on Monday evening showing Ozil, Nicklas Bendtner and Bacary Sagna having a swell time on Saturday evening as Mandy Capristo turned 24.

Contrast: Ozil's girlfriend posted this picture on her Instagram page of Ozil, Bendtner and Sagna all smiles

Earlier on: Just hours earlier Arsenal were losing 6-0 at Stamford Bridge to Chelsea

Capristo posted the picture on Instagrab saying: 'Unforgettable evening #thegracegatsby', which was the theme of the party.

Ozil also posted the picture on his Facebook page, which received some criticism from Arsenal fans on the social networking site.

One comment said: 'Nice to see someone is having fun after we lost 6 nil . I would recommend whoever you pay to manage your social media takes a break for a while ! And if you do it yourself you need a better advisor !!!'

Celebrations: Capristo (second left) was out and about for her 24th birthday

Superstar: Capristo is famous in Germany after her days in a girlband and now as a solo artist

Ozil didn't play in the game at Stamford Bridge due to injury, while Bendtner was also out. Sagna played the full 90 minutes at Stamford Bridge.

Ozil is currently injured, but would have struggled to help the Gunners losing on Saturday, with Kieran Gibbs mistakenly sent off at 2-0 as Chelsea went on to secure their biggest win over Arsenal and their biggest with Jose Mourinho in charge.

Say cheese! Capristo poses for Ozil who seems happy to take the snaps in London in the summer