Gunners grab cup glory

Arsene Wenger's side were stunned by Hull, who scored twice inside the opening eight minutes, first through a reaction flick from James Chester before Curtis Davies cooly slotted home from a tight angle.

Santi Cazorla reduced the deficit soon after with a long-range free kick with Laurent Koscielny equalising 19 minutes from time before Ramsey claimed the cup in the closing moments.

Fabianski kept his regular cup berth between the posts, despite doubts over his future with the Emirates Stadium club, while Chester recovered from a hamstring injury in time to step into a new-look Hull back line.

Chester's inclusion proved to be an inspired decision from manager Steve Bruce as the defender stunned Arsenal fans into silence by breaking the deadlock in the fourth minute.

A low 20-yard strike by Huddlestone fizzed towards Chester's feet, and his touch in the centre of the penalty area was enough to send the ball beyond an outstretched Fabianski, finding its way in off the left-hand upright.

In the absence of cup-tied forward pairing Shane Long and Nikica Jelavic, it was Hull's defenders running riot in the opening stages.

Fabianski leapt to his left to keep out an Alex Bruce header, before fellow centre-back Davies rifled home from a tight angle, though question marks were raised over the positioning of the free-kick that led to the goal.

Another Alex Bruce header from a corner threatened to make it a defensive hat-trick for the underdogs, but Kieran Gibbs came to Arsenal's rescue on the goalline.

There was no let-up in the action, and Arsenal were right back in the tie in the 18th minute.

Cazorla curled a 25-yard free-kick into the top right-hand corner of the net - Hull keeper Allan McGregor wrong-footed by the Spaniard's stunning strike.

There was a nervous edge to the match after the break, and Giroud felt he should have been awarded a penalty in the 58th minute after having his shoulder held by Huddlestone.

Further penalty shouts followed as Jake Livermore appeared to handle from a Yaya Sanogo header and Cazorla was felled by Davies, but referee Lee Probert was unmoved by the appeals.

After looking the more likely to find the net in the second period, Arsenal finally pulled level, Koscielny turning the ball in from close range in the aftermath of a contentious corner.

An unmarked Gibbs should have sealed the trophy for Arsenal in the 79th minute, but the full-back blazed over from close range when it appeared easier to score, and McGregor got down well to deny Giroud from 18 yards three minutes later.

Substitute Sanogo sent a strike whistling wide of the left-hand post before the end of 90 minutes, and Giroud rattled the crossbar in the opening stages of the additional period.

The match looked to be heading for penalties as the tempo of the game dropped, but Ramsey popped up to end nine years of hurt for Arsenal and Wenger, though Fabianski's late charge off the line had many a heart in mouth as Sone Aluko's effort drifted agonisingly across the face of goal.

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Atletico Madrid- Spanish champions

Atletico Madrid ground out a 1-1 draw at the Nou Camp to claim their first Primera Division title since 1996.
It was not always pretty, but Diego Godin's headed equaliser early in the second half was enough to deny Barca in a tense title decider.
The hosts had taken the lead with a stunning strike from Alexis Sanchez but it was a rare sight of goal for the hosts, with Lionel Messi cutting a frustrated figure and Atletico's defence standing firm.
Gerardo Martino sprung a surprise in his team selection with Barca's most decorated player Xavi Hernandez left out as Cesc Fabregas and Sergio Busquets started alongside Andres Iniesta, while Pedro Rodriguez was preferred to record signing Neymar.
Atletico started with former Barca man David Villa alongside Diego Costa, with Raul Garcia among the substitutes.
Tension was high from the start with Atleti making a bright start and Gerard Pique earning an early yellow card for fouling Koke.
Barca were having most of the ball but could not find a way to test Thibaut Courtois while Atletico's breaks looked dangerous as Jose Pinto was hesitant in goal.
Atletico's hopes suffered a huge blow in the 14th minute when Costa pulled up with a recurrence of his hamstring injury, leaving the pitch in tears with his chances of playing in the Champions League final in the balance.
It got even worse moments after when Arda Turan followed him off after taking a blow from Fabregas, and the wind was in Barca sails as Pedro headed a good chance over.
Alexis' wonder-strike put them ahead in the 34th minute, with the Chilean rifling a shot into the roof of the net from an acute angle before Courtois had a chance to move.
Atletico were in danger of losing their cool in the moments after as Godin and Tiago collected yellow cards in quick succession but they hung on until half-time without suffering further damage.
Diego Simeone worked some kind of magic in the dressing room and his side started the second half on fire, with Villa striking the post 45 seconds after the restart before Godin headed them level in the 48th minute, rising highest to power a header into the bottom corner of the goal.
Injuries then began to strike at Barca, with Busquets forced off. Alex Song was the man to replace him as Xavi remained on his seat, and a second substitution soon after saw Neymar replace the ineffective Pedro.
Messi hammered the ball into the roof of the net in the 64th minute but from a clearly offside position.
The Argentinian had another chance from a free-kick soon after following a wild swipe from Filipe Luis but blasted it into the wall.
Xavi came on to replace Fabregas with 12 minutes to go as Barca went into all-out attack mode, and Courtois palmed over a powerful Alexis strike as the game moved into the final 10 minutes.
Pinto did not seem to know much about his 83rd minute save from an Atletico corner but Barca survived, and the breathless action continued as Pique was demanding a penalty in vain after being eased over by Godin.
The tension levels rose but Barca could not find a way past the dogged Atletico defence, who huffed and puffed but never lost their heads as they played the ball out of trouble to frustrate their hosts.
Pinto raced up for a stoppage-time corner, but Atletico pumped the ball clear and seconds later their celebrations could begin.
Barcelona's fans stuck around to applaud, a fitting end to a pulsating title race.

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Saudi farmers reason for kissing camels

MERS is very scary. This week, while avoiding the term global health emergency, the World Health Organization announced that the deadly viral infection was both serious and urgent. So far, there have been 571 confirmed cases of MERS; 171 of those people died from the disease.
There's one place, however, where the mood about MERS isn't scaring everyone. It's also the place where the infection was first reported in 2012 and where almost 500 recorded cases have been found so far: Saudi Arabia.
And the skepticism about the virus has taken a strange turn in Saudi Arabia, where people have begun kissing camels in response to MERS.

“Do sneeze in my face,” the farmer says in above video clip, according to a translation from Gulf News. “They claim camels carry the coronavirus," he continues in the video, which has been watched over 11,000 times.
On Twitter, photographs of men kissing and stroking their camels have been accompanied with comments disparaging MERS:

 

It seems a strange protest, but there's something behind it. Earlier this week, the Saudi government began a campaign to stop people from eating raw camel meat and liver or drinking unpasteurized camel milk. Experts argue that Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS' full name) or traces of it have been found in a large proportion of the camels tested in Saudi Arabia, and antibodies from the virus have even been found in camel populations in Spain's Canary Islands, thousands of miles away. Camels may not be the main source of MERS (many experts point the finger at bats), but they certainly seem like one big possibility.
For some in Saudi Arabia, avoiding camels is not such an easy task. One study from 2008 found that there were almost 900,000 camels in Saudi Arabia alone, with almost 15 million across other Arab states. The animals are a source of income for a large number of people, and popular too. "Camels in the kingdom are like dairy cows, beef cows, racehorses, pulling horses, beloved Labradors, and living daily reminders of holy scripture, all in one," Cynthia Gorney wrote for the National Geographic this week, noting that camels are featured honorably in the Koran.
Partly due to this fondness for camels, and partly due to a perceived lack of transparency from the Saudi government about MERS, a lot of people aren't totally convinced by the warnings about camels. Reuters reported from a Saudi camel market on Sunday and noted that only one person was wearing a mask as recommended. Some farmers are pointing out they have worked with camels for decades with no ill health.
Whether it's transmitted via camel or not, MERS is still a worrying situation for Saudi Arabia. It's a coronavirus like SARS, which is believed to have infected 8,273 people and led to 775 deaths in 2002-2003, and while its hard to say for sure at present, MERS may well be deadlier than its predecessor. Given that millions of Muslims are expected to travel to Mecca this October for Hajj, even officials in Saudi Arabia are beginning to wonder if the country is doing enough.

- washingtonpost

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Robin van Van Persie expected to be Louis van Gaal's captain at United- skysports

Van Gaal led Netherlands' final training session before their friendly with Ecuador on Saturday, with the timescale on his highly-anticipated move to United no clearer.
The 62-year-old named van Persie as the permanent captain of the Dutch side 11 months ago and Kamperman expects the former Arsenal striker to succeed Inter Milan-bound Nemanja Vidic as United skipper.
"Yeah I think so because they do have a good relationship," Kamperman told Sky Sports News when asked if he thought van Persie would captain United next season.
"At the beginning when van Gaal took over as the head coach of the Dutch national team they had to find their position a little bit. But after that it went really well and van Persie was very positive about him.
"When van Persie was over here (in Holland) last month because of his injury they talked a lot about the World Cup and the way they like to play in Brazil. So yes he does have a very good relationship with him."
The Dutch squad have two days off after the Ecuador game before they fly to Portugal for a week-long training camp as they step up their World Cup preparations.
It is thought that van Gaal could travel to Manchester in that time to finalise his appointment as David Moyes' successor.
Initial reports at the beginning of the week suggested a deal would be done before that but Kamperman insisted nothing should be read into the delay.
"I don't know exactly of course (when a deal will be completed) but I think some details are still being arranged," he said. "I think he has an agreement but (talks are ongoing) about the staff and new players.
"It might take a couple of hours or a couple of days but it will be a done deal."

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Adamawa villagers killed 70 Boko Haram men searching for food

As the community war against boko haram continues Members of a vigilante group in Madagali, a town in Adamawa State, have killed more than 70 Boko Haram members and and handed over seven captured militants to the police.
The vigilantes acted after they were tipped off by a local food vendor that the militants were coming to get food before heading out for a major operation to raid villages in the area, usually carried out at night.
The vigilant group mobilized, laid ambush and waited patiently for the militants, a source in the village disclosed. The source added that as soon as the Islamist insurgents numbering more than 100 showed up in the village to pick up their favorite meals, the vigilantes attacked them, killing most of them in a hail of bullets.
Today's attack is the second time this week that local vigilantes would defeat the rampaging militants. The first time was two days ago when well-armed vigilantes in Kalabalge, Borno State, ambushed a squad of Boko Haram militants.
Nigerians resident in many remote areas of the Northeast seem to have decided that the best way to repel incessant attacks by murderous gangs of Boko Haram insurgents was to take matters into their own hands.
A vigilante member involved in today's ambush told our local correspondent that Nigerian soldiers appear unable or unwilling to wage an effective war against the insurgents. "They (soldiers) seem to be helpless and to fear the Boko Haram warriors who terrorize us here. But we are not afraid. They are men like us. And we are tired of folding up our hands and allowing them to kill us, to kill our wives and to kill our children."

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Beyonce, Solange and Jay-Z's Released Statement Over Family Feud

Beyonce Knowles, her husband Jay-Z and sister Solange Knowles have released a statement to address the family feud which became a public consumption after a video of it leaked. The three of them had resolved the problem and insisted whatever caused it was a private matter.

"As a result of the public release of the elevator security footage from Monday, May 5th, there has been a great deal of speculation about what triggered the unfortunate incident," the trio said in a statement to The Associated Press Thursday, May 15. "But the most important thing is that our family has worked through it."

"Jay and Solange each assume their share of responsibility for what has occurred. They both acknowledge their role in this private matter that has played out in the public. They both have apologized to each other and we have moved forward as a united family."

They continued, "The reports of Solange being intoxicated or displaying erratic behavior throughout that evening are simply false. At the end of the day families have problems and we're no different. We love each other and above all we are family. We've put this behind us and hope everyone else will do the same."

The leaked surveillance video showed Solange attacking her brother-in-law in an elevator after attending a Met Gala after-party at the Standard Hotel, New York on May 5. The hotel employee who leaked the video was fired "for breaching the security policies of the hotel and recording the confidential CCTV video released by TMZ," the hotel confirmed on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, it remains a speculation of what triggered the fight. The biggest rumor out there said it had something to do with designer Rachel Roy. Solange was unhappy that Roy got "too close" to Jay-Z at the party that she confronted her. "Rachel is a little too close to Jay Z," a source told NY Daily News. "Solange doesn't like it, and Beyonce doesn't like it."

Roy did not back down and it quickly turned into a spat. Jay-Z told Solange that she was "out of line" for mouthing off to Roy. The three of them left the hotel but Jay-Z said he wanted to go to Rihanna's after-party where Solange assumed Roy would be as well. That was enough to set off Solange's alarm.

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Glass Shoe- 'Cinderella' First Teaser Trailer Shows Nothing But Shoe

Kenneth Branagh's "Cinderella" released its first teaser trailer which disappointingly did not reveal much about the live-action movie. Over a minute long, the video kicked off with a close-up look at glistening crystal which turned out to be the titular character's iconic glass shoe.

It basically gave away nothing because the CGI shoe was already displayed as the centerpiece of the film's poster. More was expected because the film carried a lot of heavyweight in its cast list including Cate Blanchett, Stellan Skarsgard and Helena Bonham Carter. Furthermore, the script was provided by "The Devil Wears Prada" scribe Aline Brosh McKenna and "About A Boy" writer Chris Weitz, meaning there's a curiosity on how they would tackle the classic.

"Cinderella" follows the fortunes of young Ella (Lily James) whose merchant father remarries following the tragic death of her mother. Keen to support her loving father, Ella welcomes her new stepmother Lady Tremaine (Blanchett) and her daughters Anastasia (Holliday Grainger) and Drisella (Sophie McShera) into the family home. But, when Ella's father suddenly and unexpectedly passes away, she finds herself at the mercy of a jealous and cruel new family.

"Cinderella" will open on March 13, 2015.

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Report: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West to Get Married in Florence

A new report regarding Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's upcoming wedding has emerged. Entertainment Tonight reported on Thursday, May 15 that the couple would get married in Florence, Italy instead of France as previously reported.

According to sources close to the famous couple, the reality star and her rapper fiance would hold a pre-wedding dinner in Paris before flying the guests to Florence for the actual nuptials. The couple's alleged wedding invitation which was revealed earlier this month mentions that a pre-wedding dinner will take place on May 23 in Paris, but it does not mention the wedding location.

A source told Us Weekly that Florence was one of the wedding weekend locations. Another source, meanwhile, explained, "Kim and Kanye have told all guests different info. No one knows all of the details."

Earlier this year, the "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" star told Ryan Seacrest that she and West wanted to get married in a small wedding. She then shared to Vogue that her wedding would be attended by 200 family members and close friends.

Kardashian was most recently seen attending the 2014 NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment Upfronts at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City with her sister Khloe Kardashian on Thursday afternoon. The mother of one sported a figure-hugging black piece with plunging neckline while her younger sister opted for a similar outfit.

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Bale:Ronaldo a role model

Cristiano Ronaldo has been a valuable role model for Gareth Bale during his first season at Real Madrid following an 86-million-pound world-record move from Tottenham, Bale said in a BT Sport interview.
The media in Spain and England suggested a rivalry may develop between Bale and Ronaldo when the Welshman replaced the Portuguese superstar as the most expensive player in the world last summer.
Yet Bale has insisted that Ronaldo has been one of the most welcoming members of the Real Madrid squad, as he has relished playing alongside a player he has previously said was one of his heroes.
"Since the first step that I made into Real Madrid he's been absolutely amazing with me," Bale said about Ronaldo.
"He's given me advice on and off the pitch, with football matters and not, and he's given me advice where to live and stuff like that.
"He is such a nice guy, so helpful, always wants the best for the team and obviously people write things about him, but people who actually know him know exactly what he is like and he's a great man and a great footballer as well."
Bale went on to reveal his close friendship with former Tottenham teammate Luka Modric has been crucial to his settling in process in the Spanish capital, with the Croatian emerging as the Welshman's closest confident in the Real Madrid dressing room.
"We were there for five years together at Tottenham and we actually got on really well there as well, so having him here obviously was a massive plus for me," Bale said of Modric.
"I obviously spoke to him about it, when he came to Madrid he didn't really know anybody so it was quite difficult for him in his first year, but having him here this year has made me settle in so much quicker.
"Just being able to go in to the group and knowing someone, hanging around with them rather than feeling I am stuck on my own so it's been a great help on and off the pitch and obviously I'm thankful for that.
"I spoke with him about various things and obviously a few of the other players as well that obviously advised me where to live and I had a look around everywhere and decided to live where I am now and I am very happy where I'm living, very happy here in Madrid at the moment and hopefully I can be here for a long time."
Bale is confident of shaking off his niggling injuries in time to take part in the Champions League final against Atletico Madrid in Lisbon later this month, with his respect for Diego Simeone's side evident in these comments.
"We know how well they've played this season and we know what we're capable of, so I think as long as we execute our game plan on the day then hopefully we win," stated the Welshman.
"I think we have a lot of confidence going into the game and something we're looking forward to. Obviously it would be a dream if we lift the trophy."
Bale went on to reflect on his stunning winning goal in the Copa Del Rey final against Barcelona last month, as he suggested it was the high point of his flourishing career.
"I'd probably say so far it's the highlight that sticks out for me, scoring the winning goal," he said. "I just remember seeing I think Fabio [Coentrao] had the ball in the left back slot and I think there was a player in front of him and I had a bit of space in front of me.
"I knew there was a player right in front of me as well and after that it was kind of open pitch so as soon as I got the ball I knew I had to just knock it past him and I fancied myself in a one-to-one race against him.
"[Bartra] tried to get me off the pitch by a few metres but I knew if I got around him no matter what I'd be kind of slow on goal, and bearing down on goal I had to take my time.
"I was looking for Karim [Benzema] to try and square it to him, but I think [Javier] Mascherano kind of blocked the way, and I've seen the keepers legs open and I just tapped it through him and that was that."

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Justin Bieber Sued by Paparazzo for Alleged Restaurant Scuffle

Justin Bieber is facing a new lawsuit in connection to an alleged scuffle with a paparazzo in January. As reported by TMZ, a photographer named Manuel Munoz claims that he was locked in a subway restaurant and was beaten by the Canadian singer's bodyguard shortly before Bieber was arrested for DUI.

The incident started when Munoz was taking pictures of Bieber when he was leaving SET Nightclub in Miami. The 20-year-old star's bodyguard Dwayne Patterson apparently did not like him taking photos and chased him to a subway nearby, locking him in a restaurant's restroom. Patterson reportedly wanted Munoz to delete the photos. He allegedly kicked and hit Munoz as he tried to remove the memory card.

Munoz's camera reportedly was damaged following the incident. The photographer is suing the entertainer and his bodyguard for unspecified damages.

A police report, however, gave a bit different account on the incident. According to the report, Munoz only said that Patterson tripped him, causing "small scratch in his left knee." The paparazzo also said that he asked Bieber $10,000 in exchange for the photos, but the bodyguard wouldn't give him more than $5,000.

An attorney for Bieber has commented on the lawsuit. Calling it "another shakedown for money," Howard Weitzman adds, "The paparazzo admits that Justin was not present at the alleged 'assault.' The paparazzo told the police he had only scratched his knee when he was allegedly tripped, but now claims he was beat up. There are no damages."

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Sudanese woman gets death sentence for marrying a Christian man

Pregnant 27 year old Sudanese woman, Mariam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag has been sentenced to death by hanging by a Sudanese court for apostasy, (that is, renouncing ones faith or religion) after marrying a Christian man

Mariam, whose father is Muslim but raised orthodox Christian by her mother, was earlier sentenced to death by hanging on Sunday May 11th but was given till today May 15th to have a rethink and convert back to Islam before the verdict would be enforced. However during a court appearance today, Mariam maintained that she's a Christian and there's no going back. 

"We gave you three days to recant but you insist on not returning to Islam. I sentence you to be hanged to death." Judge Abbas Mohammed Al-Khalifa told the woman in court today, AFP reports

Khalifa also sentenced Ishag to 100 lashes for "adultery".

“I am a Christian and I never committed apostasy,” she said in court.

Defending the judgement of the Sudanese judge, Ahmed Bilal Osman, Sudan's information Minister, said such judgement is not only delivered in Sudan but also in other Islamic countries

"It's not only Sudan. In Saudi Arabia, in all the Muslim countries, it is not allowed at all for a Muslim to change his/her religion." he told AFP

The death sentence will reportedly be carried out after Ibrahim gives birth.

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Carles Puyol bid Barcelona farewell

Carles Puyol says he has no intention of looking for another club this summer when he leaves Barcelona having been unable to recover from the serious knee problems which have troubled him for over two seasons now.
At an emotional event at the Camp Nou on Thursday Puyol confirmed that he was leaving the Camp Nou club after 15 years, but had not yet made up his mind on the next step in his career.
The 36-year-old told reporters that having been unable to feature much in Barcelona's campaign this term, and having announced in March that he would be leaving the club, he did not feel he would be able to contribute elsewhere in the future.
"The idea now is to recover," Puyol said. "This year I have played so few games, I have felt bad, unable to help the team when they needed me. So it would be difficult to play somewhere else.
"I will try and sort out knee problems, not to play, but to have a full life, be able to run, play Padel. At the moment I cannot do that."
Puyol explained that he had extensively tried to find a solution to the issues with his knee, but it had not been possible to recover -- and he would not ask for a dramatic send-off by playing in Saturday's title decider against Atletico Madrid.
"I am not going to play [on Saturday]," he continued. "I have spoken with the coaches. We are fighting for the title, I am not 100 percent, not even for bench. As I said some months ago the knee problems have not gone.
"I have tried everything, but my stage as a Barca player will end on June 30. I will not give in; I will keep trying, now without the pressure of having to play."
During a heartfelt address, the former Spain international said he did not see himself as a future blaugrana coach, but did not rule out returning to the club in some capacity in the future.
"I have won a lot of trophies, but most important is the human part of this club," Puyol said. "I have lived the dream of many children for 19 years. The most important now is to prepare for what I want to do.
"I do not think that being a coach is what I'd like most. Maybe some other area of club, but I have not decided anything yet."
Puyol denied that his exit -- and that of long-serving goalkeeper Victor Valdes -- marked the end of an era for the Camp Nou club.
"This is the end for me, and for Victor, but not for them," he continued. "The other players are still young, with lots of quality. For sure they will keep winning."

The event was attended by Barca's current squad, previously exiled club legend Johan Cruyff, as well as past presidents including Joan Laporta and Jose Luis Nunez -- but ex-chief Sandro Rosell was reportedly unable to make it due to other commitments.
Louis van Gaal, Patrick Kluivert, Demetrio Albertini, Luis Enrique, Pep Guardiola, Eric Abidal, Gerardo Martino and veteran physio Angel Mur also appeared in a video screening.

Xavi Hernandez, next in line to take over as club captain if he stays on for the 2014-15 season, spoke of Puyol's career from the podium.
"All us players thank you for everything -- your courage, sacrifice, generosity," Xavi said. "You were always giving advice, help... You're the best professional I have ever shared a dressing room with, by far -- both before we were winning trophies and during our successful times."

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Samir Nasri considering playing international football

Samir Nasri has threatened to quit international football after being overlooked for a second successive World Cup by France.
The Manchester City playmaker was controversially left out of coach Didier Deschamps' 23-man squad for this summer's tournament in Brazil, and was not even among the seven potential replacements.
The 26-year-old had been expecting the snub but claims it is still difficult to take, coming after a superb season in which he helped City win the Premier League and Capital One Cup.
Deschamps has said Nasri is not a certain starter in his side and does not want a player who "has made it clear that he is not happy when he is a substitute."
Nasri, who was also left out for the 2010 World Cup by Raymond Domenech, told Sky Sports News: "It's a little bit hard to accept. I need to take some time now to think about the national team because it's been twice now that they take away a World Cup from me.
"You can go around and ask any player if they're happy to be on the bench, nobody's going to say yes. I need to think a little bit during the holiday, what will be my future in the national team, because missing two World Cups is really hard for a player."
Nasri is currently with the City squad on their post-season tour of Abu Dhabi. With no international commitments, he may well now play in Thursday's friendly against Al Ain. Manager Manuel Pellegrini had previously said that players involved in the World Cup would not feature.

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Hugh Jackman Clarifies His Wolverine Retirement Plan

Despite his previous statement that he would not stick around for much longer as Wolverine in "X-Men" franchise, it seems that Hugh Jackman is not ready to hang up his adamantium claws just yet. "I think I might have overplayed my hand a little bit by saying I'm almost sure that the next one will be my last," he admitted to The Associated Press during a visit to China for "X-Men: Days of Future Past" promo tour.

"Right now I don't [want to let it go], and as long as it keeps going this direction I probably won't (smiles)," he told Collider in a separate press junket. "But I've made that promise to you, it's not something I will stick around at and stay at if I feel it's dropping off or if I don't feel that urge to go and do it, because I know there's 10 million actors out there who would kill themselves to play the part. They should, it's a great part."

"I'm enjoying this more than ever, and you and I have talked about this a lot, I think the scripts from what Jim [Mangold] pulled off with 'The Wolverine' to what Simon Kinberg and Bryan [Singer] have pulled off with [Days of Future Past], the scripts are getting better and better. For me there has to be something new and some new direction, I suppose, for the character to go; not only for me, but for the audiences. And I feel that that's been happening."

And when he finally leaves, he would like to follow Jerry Seinfeld's footsteps. "I was always really inspired by Jerry Seinfeld, how he left that show at its height on his own terms," he explained. "I think that's a really smart way to do it. It'd be great to leave people wanting more, rather than the other way around. It'd also be great to make the decision rather than getting that phone call, 'Now listen Hugh, I know you thought you were going to [keep going], and thank you so much for all you've done, but...' I think it would be much better to be making that decision together."

When the day comes for him to depart, he would love to see Wolverine getting rebooted rather than just recasting a new actor to inherit the role. "I just presume, in a way, that if it happens they will reboot. I don't know why I thought that. I think you could replace him because he's older, but it would be interesting - because I was 30 when I got the role, it'd be interesting to follow that character from 20, or even 18, because we haven't seen it. So that's just what I assumed it would be."

Jackman is expected to reprise his role as the clawed mutant in "X-Men: Apocalypse" which is slated for May 27, 2016. He will next return for "The Wolverine 3". Both movies are likely to get filmed back to back, but nothing has officially been set in stone.

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Eden Hazard aiming for Ballon d'Or

Chelsea player of the season Eden Hazard wants to take the advice of manager Jose Mourinho and move his career onto another level next season.
Mourinho has suggested the Belgian midfielder has the potential to be among the top players in the world, with his performances this season winning him persistently glowing public reviews from his manager.
After Hazard was crowned as the Blues star turn for the 2013-14 season, he told the club's website that he is not satisfied with his or the team's performances after a season that ended without a trophy.
"I know I have to do better, in training and on the pitch," stated Hazard, who is set to play in his first World Cup finals this summer. "If I can score more I will score more and next season I hope I will be better.
"I want to be the best, I hope one day I can win the Ballon d'Or, maybe not now but if I work every day and take pleasure from my game then why not?
"The Champions League and the World Cup are the best competitions in the world. For a young player like me it's good to play for a club who can reach the semifinal or the final because that's why I play football, for the big games.
"In the English Premier League you play Liverpool, Man City, Arsenal and Man United every week and it's very good, but I came here for trophies.
"This season was good for me, but not collectively because we didn't win anything, and last season we won the Europa League," he explains.
"Individually it's been good because I was able to play in almost every game, be on the pitch and do what I enjoy doing most, which is to play football."
Hazard suggested Chelsea's near misses in a host of competitions should inspired them to reach greater heights next season, as he summed up the mood in the Blues camp after they came up short in their hunt for silverware.
"This season was an 'almost' season," he added. "Almost in the Champions League final, almost champions in the Premier League. I hope next season it will better and we can go to the next level."

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Pope Francis made a rather fantastic and out-of-the blue proclamation

On Monday, Pope Francis preach about the spirit of acceptance and inclusion, the pontiff announced that he would be open to welcoming any extraterrestrial life to Christ. 
"If, for example, tomorrow an expedition of Martians came, and some of them came to us, here... Martians, right? Green, with that long nose and big ears, just like children paint them... And one says, 'But I want to be baptized!' What would happen?" he said.
Wait, what? This is not the first time that the Vatican has brought up welcoming extraterrestrials to the fold. Back in 2010, one of Pope Benedict XVI's astronomers said he would baptize any willing aliens. "Any entity — no matter how many tentacles it has — has a soul," said Guy Consolmagno.
But there's a reason behind the proclamation. While Pope Francis was talking about a hypothetical situation, he was really illustrating the importance of opening the Church's doors to more people (a common theme for Francis so far). During the same homily, the pope also described the resistance St. Peter met when he allowed non-Jews to become Christian.
"Peter in that first diocese — the first diocese was Antioch — makes this decision: 'Who am I to admit impediments?' A nice word for bishops, for priests and for Christians. Who are we to close doors?" he said.
It's also important to note that the pope has been matching his words with action. He has already proposed allowing children of unmarried parents to get baptized, even though the Church considers such living arrangements to be sinful.
But there's still a long way to go. While accepting alien souls into the arms of Jesus Christ is a nice thought, there's a lot Francis and the Church can do to better integrate its current members. The pope has previously stated that he wants women to have higher official roles in the Vatican bureaucracy, but there is still no word on ordaining women as deacons or ministers who can assist at Mass or perform baptisms.
The same goes for LGBT representation in the Church. Last year, when asked about the prospect of openly gay people serving in the clergy, Pope Francis famously said, "If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?" While that statement was met with great approval, little has been done to turn this into practice.
Still, Pope Francis' public stance on these issues is a marked progression from his more conservative predecessor. And while he has remained firm on certain issues, such as abortion, he has used his year-long tenure to criticize ideology, rail against capitalism and support the evaluation of civil unions.
Hopefully, in the coming years, the pope will be able to implement the measures he's already promised, especially before the aliens arrive and he has to add even more members to the congregation.

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As Facebook Chief Execuive 'Mark Zuckerberg' Turns 30, His 10 Best Quotes as CEO

In Silicon Valley years, Facebook co-founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg is over the hill. Yesterday is his 30th birthday.
In honor of Zuckerberg's big day and to mark Facebook's decade-long existence, we've compiled 10 of the tech entrepreneur's most interesting quotes over the years.
Here they are, in no particular order. Enjoy.

1. "Move fast and break things. Unless you are breaking stuff, you are not moving fast enough."
(Oct. 2009)

2. "If I were starting now I would do things very differently. I didn’t know anything. In Silicon Valley, you get this feeling that you have to be out here. But it’s not the only place to be. If I were starting now, I would have stayed in Boston. [Silicon Valley] is a little short-term focused and that bothers me." (Oct. 2011)
3. "I remember really vividly, you know, having pizza with my friends a day or two after -- I opened up the first version of Facebook at the time I thought, 'You know, someone needs to build a service like this for the world. But I just never thought that we'd be the ones to help do it. And I think a lot of what it comes down to is we just cared more." (Jan. 2014)
4. "The question isn't, 'What do we want to know about people?', It's, 'What do people want to tell about themselves?'" (Nov. 2011)
5. "The biggest risk is not taking any risk. In a world that's changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks." (Oct. 2011) 
6. "Building a mission and building a business go hand-in-hand. It is true that the primary thing that makes me excited about what we're doing is the mission, but I also think, from the very beginning, we've had this healthy understanding which is that we need to do both." (Sept. 2012)

7. "The Hacker Way is an approach to building that involves continuous improvement and iteration. Hackers believe that something can always be better, and that nothing is ever complete." (Feb. 2012)
8. “People can be really smart or have skills that are directly applicable, but if they don’t really believe in it, then they are not going to really work hard.” (Oct. 2005)
9. “I don’t want Facebook to be an American company. I don’t want it to be this company that just spreads American values all across the world. ...My view on this is that you want to be really culturally sensitive and understand the way that people actually think.” (June 2011)
10. "My goal was never to just create a company. A lot of people misinterpret that, as if I don't care about revenue or profit or any of those things. But what not being 'just' a company means to me is building something that actually makes a really big change in the world." (Feb. 2011)

- entrepreneur.com

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More Details On How Civilians Staved Off Boko Haram Attack, Killed Dozens

More details are coming in on how the Civilian-JTF, civilian vigilantes staved off a Boko Haram attack and possible abduction in Kalabalge local government, northeast Borno state, near the Cameroonian border.
If you missed  the first post click here.
The villagers who were prepared for the Boko Haram attack had dug out trenches for the purpose. The Rann village, located in the middle of a Boko Haram strong-hold, had been attacked by Boko Haram in the recent past. In that attack they had allegedly acquired two light-weight armored tanks and some AK47 rifles. They refused to turn in this ammunition to the government in an increasingly common response as more villages in the north are determined to take up arms to defend themselves in the current state of deadly insecurity.
The invading terrorists who launched an early Tuesday morning attack on Rann, Shuwa and neighboring villages, were met by a strong and determined villager resistance. Over 200 terrorists were killed. The full number of the dead is not yet known as the villagers ran in pursuit of the escaping and injured terrorists into the bushes to continue their extermination.
More than 35 Boko Haram terrorists were captured. One APC and more than four hilux trucks and several motorcycles were captured from the terrorists.
At the time of this report, about 20 villagers were said to have lost their lives in the fierce, brave battle.
Nigerians in the worst affected regions are seeking the formal right to bear arms and defend themselves. The Borno Civilian-JTF sent this request to Nigeria’s President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in a meeting with security agents this month. The ENDS civil activist group also sent a formal request for Executive Authorization of the people to bear arms, supported by the government to defend their territory and hunt and eliminate Boko Haram terrorists. The government is yet to officially respond to the open letter delivered to the State secretary on April 25^th, 2014.
In related news, there was Mutiny in the military today as soldiers reportedly attacked a General officer commanding (GOC) of the Nigerian army 7^th division, Major General Abubakar Mohammed, who was accused of sabotaging the military mission and not reporting to a particular mission he was requested to. He was said to have fled as he was fired upon when he came to his office at the Maimalari barracks. The soldiers went in pursuit of the commander, whose whereabouts are not known as at the time of this report.

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Ryan Giggs gets United assistant manager offer- ESPN

Ryan Giggs has been offered the job as Manchester United's assistant manager after having talks with Louis van Gaal on Wednesday.

The Netherlands manager is set to be announced as the successor to the sacked David Moyes and Giggs, who had been in interim charge for the final four games of the season, will be given the chance to be his right-hand man, the source said.

The 40-year-old was pictured outside the Hotel Oranje in Noordwijk, Holland, after meeting Van Gaal, who had a day away from the Netherlands' pre-World Cup training camp in Hoenderloo on Wednesday.

The 62-year-old former Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager emerged as the favourite to take over at Old Trafford after Moyes was dismissed on April 22.

He has been in discussions with United's executive vice-president Ed Woodward, who is overseeing the search for the club's second manager in as many seasons.

There has been a strong preference at board level for continuity on the coaching staff and Giggs is held in high esteem by the Old Trafford power-brokers.

His lack of experience meant he was not considered for the job, but Giggs is regarded as a potential future manager.

The 40-year-old, who was a player-coach under Moyes, is yet to decide whether to extend his career on the pitch and said it may depend on whether the next manager wants him to carry on.

He made his 963rd appearance for United as a substitute against Hull in their final home game.

On Wednesday, several reports said Giggs would be meeting Van Gaal over finalising their new management team, with Van Gaal set to speak with Giggs over his future at Old Trafford.

On Tuesday, Van Gaal refused to answer questions about United during a news conference to unveil the Netherlands side for the World Cup.

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Jay-Z and Beyonce Knowles Lead 2014 BET Awards Nominations

Jay-Z and Beyonce Knowles bag the most nods at this year's BET Awards, collecting four nominations each. Drake, Chris Brown, Pharrell Williams and Best New Artist nominee, August Alsina, follow the powerhouse couple's domination with three nominations apiece.

Jay-Z is up for Best Hip-Hop Artist, facing off Drake, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, and Future. He receives a double nod in Best Collaboration, one for his joint track with his wife and the other for his duet with Justin Timberlake. He is also nominated for Video of the Year, thanks to his work with his wife.

Queen Bey, meanwhile, is vying for Best Female R&B/Pop Artist along with Janelle Monae, Rihanna, Tamar Braxton, K. Michelle, and Jhene Aiko. She also gets a double nomination in Video of the Year category, one of which is for her solo work "Partition".

Chris Brown and Pharrell are pitted against each other in Best Male R&B/Pop Artist and Video of the Year. The other candidates in the former category are August Alsina, Justin Timberlake, and John Legend, and the other nominee in the latter is Drake.

"12 Years a Slave" is nominated for Best Movie. Its cast Lupita Nyong'o is among the nominees for Best Actress with Angela Bassett, Gabrielle Union, Kerry Washington, and Oprah Winfrey. Chiwetel Ejiofor, meanwhile, is up for Best Actor with Forest Whitaker, Idris Elba, Kevin Hart, and Michael B. Jordan.

The winners will be announced in a live show at Los Angeles' Nokia Theatre on Sunday, June 29 at 8 P.M. EST.

Best Female R&B/Pop Artist

• Beyonce Knowles
• Janelle Monae
• Jhene Aiko
• K. Michelle
• Rihanna
• Tamar Braxton

Best Male R&B/Pop Artist

• August Alsina
• Chris Brown
• John Legend
• Justin Timberlake
• Pharrell Williams

Best Group

• A$AP Mob
• Daft Punk
• Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
• TGT
• Young Money

Best Collaboration

• August Alsina ft. Trinidad Jame$ - "I Luv This"
• Beyonce Knowles ft. Jay-Z - "Drunk in Love"
• Drake ft. Majid Jordan - "Hold On (We're Going Home)"
• Jay-Z ft. Justin Timberlake - "Holy Grail"
• Robin Thicke ft. T.I. & Pharrell Williams - "Blurred Lines"
• YG ft. Jeezy & Rich Homie Quan - "My Hitta"

Best Male Hip Hop Artist

• Drake
• Future
• J. Cole
• Jay-Z
• Kendrick Lamar

Best Female Hip Hop Artist

• Angel Haze
• Charli Baltimore
• Eve
• Iggy Azalea
• Nicki Minaj

Video of the Year

• Beyonce Knowles - "Partition"
• Beyonce Knowles ft. Jay-Z - "Drunk in Love"
• Chris Brown - "Fine China"
• Drake - "Worst Behavior"
• Pharrell Williams - "Happy"

Video Director of the Year

• Benny Boom
• Chris Brown
• Colin Tiley
• Director X
• Hype Williams

Best New Artist

• Ariana Grande
• August Alsina
• Mack Wilds
• Rich Homie Quan
• Schoolboy Q

Best Gospel Artist

• Donnie McClurkin
• Erica Campbell
• Hezekiah Walker
• Tamela Mann
• Tye Tribbett

Best Actress

• Angela Bassett
• Gabrielle Union
• Kerry Washington
• Lupita Nyong'o
• Oprah Winfrey

Best Actor

• Chiwetel Ejiofor
• Forest Whitaker
• Idris Elba
• Kevin Hart
• Michael B. Jordan

YoungStars Award

• Gabrielle Douglas
• Jacob Latimore
• Jaden Smith
• KeKe Palmer
• Zendaya Coleman

Best Movie

• "12 Years a Slave"
• "The Best Man Holiday"
• "Fruitvale Station"
• "Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain"
• "Lee Daniels' The Butler"

Subway Sportswoman of the Year

• Brittney Griner
• Lolo Jones
• Serena Williams
• Skylar Diggins
• Venus Williams

Subway Sportsman of the Year

• Blake Griffin
• Carmelo Anthony
• Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
• Kevin Durant
• LeBron James

Centric Award

• Aloe Blacc - "The Man"
• Jennifer Hudson ft. T.I. - "I Can't Describe (The Way I Feel)"
• Jhene Aiko - "The Worst"
• LiV Warfield - "Why Do You Lie?"
• Wale ft. Sam Dew - "LoveHate Thing"

Best International Act: Africa

• Davido (Nigeria)
• Diamond Platnumz (Tannzania)
• Mafikizolo (South Africa)
• Sarkodie (Ghana)
• Tiwa Savage (Nigeria)
• Toofan (Togo)

Best International Act: UK

• Dizzee Rascal
• Ghetts
• Krept & Kona
• Rita Ora
• Tinie Tempah

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