Galaxy

21 Oct 2014

Ancelotti warned Liverpool fans not to boo Cristiano Ronaldo

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has warned Liverpool fans that it will not help their team's cause to boo Cristiano Ronaldo when the European champions visit Anfield for their Champions League clash on Wednesday.
Ronaldo, 29, spent six years at Liverpool's arch-rivals Manchester United earlier in his career, meaning the current holder of the Ballon d'Or is set for a barracking from the home fans when he faces them in their Group B encounter.
However, Ancelotti does not believe that his star forward's return to the home of his old foe -- a ground where he has never scored in five previous appearances -- will affect him.
When asked about it, Ancelotti told The Sun: "No, ha, ha, he won't be more motivated because it's Liverpool.
"Cristiano is always super-motivated. But if the atmosphere is hostile it motivates him more."

Oscar Pistorius sentenced to 5 years in prison in South African jail for killing his lover Reeva Steenkamp

Oscar Pistorius was dramatically jailed for five years today for killing his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp - but could spend as little as ten months behind bars.
The disgraced Paralympian wiped his eyes as he was handed a five-year prison term after the judge ruled that a non-custodial sentence would send the 'wrong message to the community'.
As he was led down to the cells, Miss Steenkamp's mother, June, smiled as she told of a sense of 'closure' after a seventh-month trial, but said it 'would not magic Reeva back.'
The model's ailing father, who suffered a stroke after his daughter's death, said he was 'very glad' the trial was over. A lawyer for the family said the sentence was 'welcome'.
The runner's sister Aimee briefly covered her head with a jacket and looked distressed. His family said he would not appeal the sentence.
The athlete was found guilty of culpable homicide, but was acquitted of murder after shooting Miss Steenkamp four times through a toilet cubicle door at his home last year. 
According to legal observers, Pistorius could spend only ten months in jail and, provided he poses no trouble to the prison authorities, could spend the remainder of his sentence under correctional supervision at home.
He is expected to be sent to a high-security wing at the gang-ridden Pretoria Central Prison, where one criminal kingpin has already threatened to 'take him out'.
According to the Act under which Pistorius was sentenced, he must spend at least one-sixth of his sentence before he can apply for leave to serve the rest under 'correctional supervision'.
The athlete appeared to have prepared himself to spend some time behind bars, while his uncle Arnold Pistorius, the head of the large family, said there would be no appeal against the sentence. 
National Prosecuting Authority, who have two weeks to decide whether to appeal against verdict or sentence, suggested they would be content to draw a line under the matter.
'We have stated that we were disappointed with the judgment but we take solace in fact that Pistorius will serve time in jail.' 
Judge Masipa began her summing up today by saying the decision on sentencing 'is mine - and mine alone'.
She told the court: 'Sentencing is about achieving the right balance. Sentencing is not a perfect exercise.'
She also said that prison would have 'no problems' catering for his disability if he was jailed, adding that a pregnant woman may be classified as vulnerable but would not necessarily avoid prison.
She also said it would be a 'sad day' for South Africa if there was a perception that it had one law for the rich and another for the poor.
She added: 'Nothing I do or say can reverse what happened to the deceased or her family.' 
Judge Masipa also sentenced Pistorius to three years in prison for unlawfully firing a gun in a restaurant in a separate incident weeks before Miss Steenkamp's death. 
She ordered that sentence to be wholly suspended.

20 Oct 2014

Spanish nurse who contacted ebola virus outside West Africa tests negative

The Spanish nurse who became the first person to contract Ebola outside West Africa has now tested negative for the virus, the Spanish government says,
The result suggests Teresa Romero, 44, is no longer infected - although a second test is required before she can be declared free of Ebola.
Ms Romero contracted the virus when treating two infected patients in a Madrid hospital earlier this month.
The Ebola outbreak has killed more than 4,500 people across West Africa.
Ms Romero tested positive for the virus on 6 October, after she treated two missionaries who had been repatriated from West Africa. The missionaries later died from the virus.
Ms Romero has said she might have become infected when she removed her protective suit. A doctor in Madrid said she might have touched her face with her gloves after treating one of the missionaries.
Ms Romero has been treated at Carlos III hospital in Madrid, and was reportedly given a human serum containing antibodies from Ebola survivors.
A government statement on Sunday said that a blood test appeared to show that the virus was no longer in her body.
She would be given a second test overnight, the statement said, adding that her health was "developing favourably".
Fifteen other people, including Ms Romero's husband, remain under observation in quarantine, but have not shown any symptoms so far, the hospital said.

Louis Van Gaal saw the stupidity in Setting United on a three-month target

Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal admits he was "stupid" to invite people to analyse his reign after three months.
When the Dutchman took charge at Old Trafford in July he suggested his impact could not be truly measured until he was at least three months into the job.
Van Gaal still believes in the point he was trying to make -- that it will take time to impose his philosophy -- but now the initial period is up he feels he is having to answer questions he feels unnecessary.
The 63-year-old said at a news conference: "I have said it was very stupid to say three months because then you (media) are only talking about three months.
"It is always the performance that counts, but the performance always goes up and down. Then we rise. When that date is, or what that match is, depends."
United made an indifferent start under Van Gaal but, with 150 million pounds spent on new players over the summer, he is moulding a new team.
He expects the process to take time but he is confident, from experience, that everything will come good.

Kim Kardashian shares a message against bullying on her Instagram

Kim Kardashian took to Instagram on Sunday, October 19 to speak out against bullying. She re-posted a picture of statement about bullying along with caption, "You think you know but sometimes you just don't #IHateBullying #MeanCommentsIsBullyingToo."

The statement in the picture cited many examples of bullying, which read, "The 'gay boy' you punched in the hall today. Committed suicide a few minutes ago. That girl you called a slut in the class today. She's a virgin. The boy you called lame. He has to work every night to support his family. That girl you pushed down the other day. She's already being abused at home."

The statement continued, "That girl you called fat. She's starving herself. The old man you made fun of cause of the ugly scars. He fought for our country. The boy you made fun of for crying. His mother is dying. You think you freaking know them. Guess what? You don't! Re-post if you are against bullying. I bet of you won't, but re-post this if you're that with a heart."

Besides figthing against bullying, Kim also fought against racism. Earlier this year after giving birth to daughter North West, the "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" star penned an open letter reflecting on racism. At that time, she took to Twitter to post, "On my mind," along with a link to her website.

"To be honest, before I had North, I never really gave racism or discrimination a lot of thought," she wrote, "I've read and personally experienced some incidents that have sickened me and made me take notice. I realize that racism and discrimination are still alive, and just as hateful and deadly as they ever have been."

Kim added, "I feel a responsibility as a mother, a public figure, a human being, to do what I can to make sure that not only my child, but all children, don't have to grow up in a world where they are judged by the color of their skin, or their gender, or their sexual orientation."

Jose Mourinho declare Chelsea ready for title challenge after 2-1 win over Crystal Palace

Winning in the absence of Diego Costa proved Jose Mourinho's belief that Chelsea are collectively stronger and ready for a Barclays Premier League title challenge this term.
Mourinho believes his side would be champions elect in any other championship than the competitive Premier League, which the Blues top by five points with seven wins in an unbeaten eight-game opening to the campaign.
The latest success was a 2-1 win at Crystal Palace when Costa, scorer of nine goals in his first seven Premier League appearances, was absent due to his persistent hamstring problem.
"There is a general feeling that our team improved because of Diego and [Cesc] Fabregas," Mourinho said.
"And it's right and it's true and it's fair to say that. But, at the same time, this team had a big improvement.
"It was good for the group, as a group, to have an important victory without one player that 'til this moment has scored so many goals and given us so many points."

18 Oct 2014

Jose Mourinho set to sign new Chelsea contract


Jose Mourinho has told the Daily Telegraph he would not hesitate to commit his long-term future to Chelsea were he offered a new contract.
Mourinho returned to Stamford Bridge in June 2013 on a four-year deal and led the club to third in the 2013-14 campaign.
The Blues have made a strong start to the new season, sitting unbeaten at the top of the table after seven games, and former Real Madrid boss Mourinho has said he sees his long-term future in West London.
"I [would] sign tomorrow," he said. "That's what I want. I want to stay in Chelsea and English football because I think I won the right. Unfortunately, Chelsea's not my club. I depend on the club and I depend on the results."
"Last year, I was feeling that we could [win the league] but we were not ready to cope with that pressure," he said. "We couldn't cope with certain moments of the game.
"This season we improve footballistically, with Diego and [Cesc] Fabregas, no doubt. We were lucky to have in the market available for us exactly the style of player we need. But what people maybe don't realise is that the maturity of our team changed a lot.
"I think Man City have everything. I think they have lots of talent and lots of physicality. They have more options than everyone else. They have 'replicas' for every position [but] they don't have young players in the development phase.
"You tell me -- if we keep this team, and they keep that team: in five years' time who is going to be better? I say immediately -- us, because in five years I'm going to have [Eden] Hazard, Oscar, Willian, [Cesar] Azpilicueta, [Kurt] Zouma, in the best moment of their careers, and the fantastic players I have now at 28, 29. A fantastic team with lots of solutions."

Colombia DJ with black tattooed eyeballs, piercings and horn implants


Meet the terrifying Devil Man of Colombia who proudly sports black tattooed eyeballs, multiple horn implants and more piercings than a sewing machine convention on steroids.
Caim Mortis is one guy who won't need to get dressed up to go trick or treating this Halloween - but whether you'd want him banging on your front door asking for sweets is another matter entirely.
 The 42-year-old has spent 11 years modifying his body including having his eyeballs tattooed completely black, horn-like dermal implants put into his forehead and forearms and a horn piercing.

As a result of his menacing body overhaul Caim's devout Catholic family rejected him and he moved from Colombia to Mexico where people are more accepting.
Caim said: 'When people first see me their normal reaction is to be shocked or amazed.
'The first thing they ask me is "does it hurt?" or "who did this to you?"
'One of the key motivations for my own body modifications has been to be unique and different compared to others in the world.

'Body modification culture has been around for ages, it is not just a fashion or a temporary fad although people presume it is.'
Like Caim, lots of people want to stand out from the crowd, and he helps them in his jobs as a tattoo artists and body painter.
Fittingly, he is launching his new career as a DJ this Halloween and is touring with another DJ, Gisella, who will play the part of an 'Angel' to his devil on stage.
Caim said: 'I have always been heavily into music, especially Latin styles, EDM and world fusion and I have been training as a DJ for many months.
'I am excited to bring this unique concept and theme and people will definitely enjoy our show.'

Arsenal 2-2 Hull- Danny Welbeck to the rescue

Danny Welbeck netted a stoppage-time equaliser as injury-hit Arsenal fought back to draw 2-2 against Hull at Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners, with a makeshift defence and missing Mesut Ozil because of a knee injury, had taken an early lead through Alexis Sanchez.
However, Hull hit back with a controversial equaliser from Mohamed Diame, as Arsenal claimed a foul in the build-up, and then took the lead right after the start of the second half through Abel Hernandez, who had only been playing after an injury to Nikica Jelavic in the warm-up.
Arsenal, who lost Jack Wilshere to what could prove to be another ankle problem, pressed to get back into the match, but looked to have been frustrated before Welbeck slotted home in the first of six minutes of added time, and almost snatched it at the death through Kieran Gibbs, who was denied by stand-in Hull goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic.
The hosts had little option but to move Nacho Monreal into an emergency centre-half and give Hector Bellerin his Premier League debut at right-back, such is the selection problems for manager Arsene Wenger.
It was, though, a bright start by the Gunners.
Welbeck collected a ball up to the edge of the Hull penalty area and held off James Chester before rifling in an angled drive, which Steve Harper beat away and then was quick to block the follow-up from Sanchez.
Even better was to come from the Hull goalkeeper, though, as Harper acrobatically tipped over a curling 20-yard effort from Santi Cazorla at full stretch with one hand.
However, he could do little to prevent Arsenal sweeping into the lead on 13 minutes with finish of the highest quality from Sanchez.
The Chile forward, signed from Barcelona for B£30million in the summer, collected the ball on the right, and darted into the Hull penalty area before cutting back in side to drill a low shot across the goalkeeper into the far corner.
After Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's shot was blocked by Curtis Davies as the Arsenal players appealed for handball, Hull were level on 17 minutes.
Diame, one of several signings by Steve Bruce during the summer transfer window, picked the ball up some 25 yards out and barged past Monreal.
Mathieu Flamini then looked to have been pulled back by the midfielder, but referee Roger East allowed play to continue, with Diame clipping the ball over Wojciech Szczesny - much to the dismay of the Arsenal players and bench.
Arsenal looked to regain the initiative, having been in complete control before the controversial equaliser.
Hull dropped plenty of men behind the ball and proved difficult to break down in the final third.
There was a delay just before half-time when Harper needed treatment after collecting a pass-back and looked to have injured his shoulder or neck. Veteran Swiss keeper Jakupovic came on.
Hull snatched the lead right at the start of the second half.
Tom Huddlestone got clear on the right and floated a ball into the Arsenal penalty area, where Hernandez easily got in front of Per Mertesacker to power a header past Szczesny.
Once again Hull sat back, inviting Arsenal pressure, but the hosts continued to lack any spark in the final third.
With 26 minutes left, Hernandez was replaced by Gaston Ramirez, while Arsenal sent on Aaron Ramsey, out for several weeks with a hamstring injury.
Wilshere then hobbled off after looking to have jarred his ankle in a tackle with Ramirez, which earned him a yellow card. Costa Rica forward Joel Campbell came on.
Hull defender Michael Dawson went down in a heap at an Arsenal corner, but was able to continue only to then be forced off after blocking a goal-bound effort from Sanchez, who then saw a looping header tipped over by Jakupovic.
Just after the fourth official showed six minutes of added time, the Chile international skipped to the edge of the Hull area before slipping in Welbeck, who guided the ball into the far corner to equalise.
Arsenal poured forwards in search of a dramatic winner, with Jakupovic spilling a low shot from Cazorla and then blocked Gibb's late run at the far post as Hull held out.

Game of Thrones' Season 5: Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje to Play Original Character

 "Game of Thrones" is adding another cast member for upcoming season 5. According to a scoop from The Hollywood Reporter, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje ("Lost", "Thor: The Dark World") has been tapped to portray a new character named Malko.

Details of his role are still kept under wraps. It is not originated from George R.R. Martin's books but is specially created for the TV show. Rumor suggests it may be based on a character named Moqorro from the books. He's a red priest who serves the Lord of Light.

"Game of Thrones" season 5 is currently in production for a 2015 premiere. The show has been filming at the historic Alcazar Palace in Seville since last week and will next move to Osuna. Jonathan Pryce, Alexander Siddig, and Nell Tiger Free join the cast to play the High Sparrow, Doran Martell and Myrcella Baratheon respectively.

"Making the first season, we set a rule: No prophecies, dreams, or flashbacks," one of the producers recently said. "We already failed the first two, and this season we broke the third. So yes, this season will finally have flashbacks."

Louis van Gaal believes Manchester United players understand his approach

Louis van Gaal believes Manchester United's players are finally starting to understand his philosophy and now have confidence in him.
At the start of his reign, former Netherlands coach Van Gaal asked to be judged after three months and, 90 days after arriving at Old Trafford, his side sit fourth in the Premier League.
However, he admitted that United needed to play better for the full 90 minutes after struggling in the final half an hour of their last three matches and is looking for them to defend better.
He told a news conference: "I think they do understand the philosophy -- but they have to perform that philosophy.
"We have to see if it is going at a higher level because I think we need more balance in the team... not only spectacular attacking football but shape as a team and that you can defend more easily and kill the game better.
"That is also a part of the philosophy but that is also because I am always choosing more creative attacking football players, so we are looking for that balance and we shall see if the time I have had was long enough.
"I have confidence in myself and in my players and I think that is very important, but much [more] important is that the players have confidence in the manager and his staff because I am not doing that alone, I am doing that with the staff."
Van Gaal said he believed United could have done better so far, adding: "When you see [the 2-1 win against] Everton, the last 30 minutes of [the 5-3 defeat to] Leicester, the last 30 minutes of [the 2-1 victory over] West Ham... the last 30 minutes. When you see the first 60 minutes, it is fantastic.
"You can say: 'OK, you are not fit enough,' but that I don't believe so it is other questions so that we are looking for.
"We are looking for that in training sessions but also evaluation sessions and images, and I hope we shall improve."

Ebola Racism exist in US




The American public's reaction to the Ebola virus outbreak that's killed over 4,000 people has moved from concern to outright xenophobia exist
Call it "Ebola racism." With the death of Liberian Thomas E.Duncan at a Dallas hospital last week and news that two nurses who treated him have contracted the deadly illness, increasingly paranoid Americans are treating immigrants and visitors from Ebola-ravaged countries like Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone like lepers.
In Washington, D.C., the Washington Post reports that public anxiety over Ebola has taken a toll on immigrants from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. More than 161,000 African immigrants live in the Washington region, including around 10,000 from Sierra Leone and 6,000 from Liberia, the Census Bureau reported this month.
"People, once they know you are Liberian — people assume you have the virus in your body, which is not the case," Alphonso Toweh, a man from Monrovia, told the Washington Post. He experienced this paranoia firsthand: 
Alphonso Toweh was riding a bus when a man sitting next to him politely asked where he was from.

"Liberia," said Toweh, a writer from Monrovia who is visiting the Washington area, home to the nation's second-largest population of African immigrants.

"At that point, the man went far from me," he said. "He did not want to come close to me. People, once they know you are Liberian — people assume you have the virus in your body, which is not the case."
Toweh isn't the only person from Washington D.C.'s burgeoning West African population who faces irrational discrimination from Americans. Toweh said some African immigrants he knows were asked to leave work out of fear they'd transmit the virus. 
In Pennsylvania, a 16-year-old high school soccer player from West Africa, Ibrahim Toumkara, was tormented with chants of "Ebola" by opposing players during a game.
"There were tears coming down his eyes," Edward Bachert, a Lehigh County police officer and Toumkara's legal guardian, told WPVI. "He was visibly shaken by this; that it got to that level on the field." The taunting  eventually led to a fight and the resignations of two rival coaches six days later. 
Furthermore, Navarro College in Corsicana has officially refused to accept international students from "countries with confirmed Ebola cases." 
Nigerian-American academic Idris Ayodeji Bello, 33, was alarmed when his colleague's brother-in-law was rejected on the basis of this policy, receiving a letter Bello that was then posted to Twitter:
 
Of course, it's not just in the U.S.: A tasteless entry in a "car costume" event by ENSOC, the Engineering Society of the University of Canterbury, mocked Ebola victims by decking out a student in head-to-toe blackface.
While 65% of Americans are concerned about a possible outbreak, they're expressing that concern in questionable and tasteless ways. Africa can beat Ebola though. Nigeria and Senegal have all but eradicated the spread of the virus in their borders. But that's not necessarily what you hear due to the media's crooked portrayal of Ebola. If the world is to overcome the Ebola crisis, it'll need less "us versus them" and more compassion, research and understanding.

Kim Kardashian on '2 Broke Girls' unveiled

Kim Kardashian will visit "2 Broke Girls" when the show returns with its fourth season later this month. The "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" star is set to make appearance in the season premiere and now sneak peeks at her guest stint have landed online.

In one of the photos, Kardashian in a white dress is seen stopping by Max and Caroline's cupcake shop and the two roommates/business partners are in awe of the celebrity visitor. The wife of Kanye West poses with lead stars Beth Behrs and Kat Dennings in the other image, which is a behind-the-scenes picture.

In the episode, a producer of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" asks Max and Caroline for permission to film the show at the window of their cupcake shop. "They need a big bump, and providence sort of smiles on them when they find out that 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians' is doing a segment in Williamsburg, and that they may make an appearance at their shop," executive producer Michael Patrick King previously said.

He added, "The girls know what that kind of exposure would mean to them. And it turns out there is a bit of a cherry on the ice cream, or the cupcake, because Kim does appear at their window."

17 Oct 2014

Ebola: African Premier League players who are returning from International matches to be checked for Ebola

Premier League clubs are screening African football players who have returned from international matches for Ebola, amid the Ebola crisis on the continent.
Cheick Tiote, Papiss Cisse and Wilfried Bony are among the players who will be checked for the virus, after competing in African Nations Cup qualifiers.
It comes as health officials announce that airport screening for the killer disease, which was put in place at Heathrow earlier this week, will be extended to Manchester and Birmingham.
Although no players have travelled back to the UK from the worst-affected parts of West Africa, the potential spread of the killer disease is being 'closely considered' by various club medics.
Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew said the club had a 'strategy' in place to closely monitor cup hopefuls Tiote and Cisse, who returned to Tyneside after representing the Ivory Coast and Senegal respectively.
Wilfried Bony, who plays for Swansea, will also be put through tests after returning from playing with the Ivory Coast, his club confirmed.
But Manchester City FC  said the club would 'not be engaging publicly in any discussion' about Yaya Touré and Ebola for patient confidentiality reasons.
A spokesman did confirm the Ivory Coast captain was back at the training ground yesterday.
Speaking about his two players, Pardew said: 'We'd be naive not to have concerns. We have a strategy for when they return and making sure they and their families are taken care of.
'They're essential to us and our doctor has looked into the problems that might arise and also protection for them and to make sure we do our very best to help them.' 
Midfielder Tiote has been in DR Congo with the Ivory Coast, while Cisse was with Senegal in Dakar this week. Neither country has an outbreak.
Pardew continued: 'The two boys who travelled to Africa are not back yet but reports are that they're both well.
'Of course it's a worry when you've got players such a long way away, you're just looking at your phone hoping no messages come thorough that are negative. We've been lucky this time around.' 
A spokesman for Swansea insisted the checks being given to Bony were no different to those given to all players returning from international games.
But he said the club was 'well aware' of the Ebola situation.  
He said: 'Out of our players, it is only Bony that has returned from Africa. The club is well aware of the situation, but the doctors are quite relaxed about it.  
'He will go through normal fitness checks and medical tests which any player returning from an international game would go through.'
A football source said yesterday that the Premier League was not 'particularly concerned' about any risk of the deadly virus being brought back.

A Pakistani Christian woman is sentenced to death by hanging for 'blasphemous' comments about prophet Mohammed

A Pakistani Christian woman has been sentenced to hang after she was accused of making 'blasphemous' comments about the prophet Mohammed during an argument. 
While working as a berry picker in 2009, 46-year-old Asia Bibi got into a dispute with a group of Muslim women who objected to her drinking their water because as a Christian she was considered 'unclean'.
Hours after the incident one of the women reported mother-of-five Ms Bibi to a local cleric, claiming she had made disparaging remarks about the prophet Mohammed during the row.
As a result of the allegations, a furious mob arrived at Ms Bibi's home and savagely beat her and members of her family. 
She was later arrested, charged with blasphemy and eventually sentenced to death - with her entire family forced to go into hiding after receiving threats on their lives.
This week, despite international outrage and hundreds of thousands of people signing a petition for her release, Ms Bibi lost an appeal to have her sentence overturned, meaning she now faces death by hanging.
Daughters
 The shocking case hit global headlines after two prominent politicians who tried to help Ms Bibi were assassinated, one by his own bodyguard.
Lawyers showered the killer with rose petals when he appeared in court and the judge who convicted him of murder had to flee the country. 
Ms Bibi's lawyer, Naeem Shakir, said her accusers have contradicted themselves many times since first raising their complaint.
Two witnesses allegedly involved in the incident did not appear in court, he said. 
A Muslim prayer leader did appear, saying he did not witness the original altercation, but that Ms Bibi had confessed to the supposed crime in front of him.
Speaking of Ms Bibi's failed appeal against her death sentence, Mr Shakir said: 'I was expecting the opposite decision. We will file an appeal to the Supreme Court of Pakistan in a few days.'
But Gulam Mustafa, the lawyer for the complainant, said the court's decision was correct.
'Asia's lawyer tried to prove that the case was registered on a personal enmity but he failed to prove that,' he said.
Protest for her release

The time Manchester United show they are among the Top Clubs in England- United Assistant Manager 'Ryan Giggs'

Manchester United assistant manager Ryan Giggs says the moment has arrived for Louis van Gaal's revamped team to confirm they are ready to mix it with the elite clubs in English football once again.
Radamel Falcao, Daley Blind and Angel di Maria are among the star names added to the United squad since Van Gaal's arrival at the club and Giggs hopes their presence will transform the team's fortunes against the Premier League big-hitters.
United have yet to face a side that finished in the top four of last season's title race, but games against league leaders Chelsea and champions Manchester City will be on their agenda following this weekend's trip to face West Bromwich Albion.
"These are the games you want to be involved in and play in and they will be a test," Giggs told the club's official website.
"Chelsea have probably been the standout team so far, with City just behind them and we want to be up there testing ourselves against those teams. We feel that we do belong up there but we perhaps haven't shown it consistently this season.
"We've shown glimpses over the last few weeks and hopefully we'll have a lot of players coming back for those games. The form has slowly begun to get better and better and we want to hit form going into those matches."

Fighting Ebola: Texas Hospital Releases Video of Ebola-Stricken Nurse

Dallas nurse and Ebola patient Nina Pham departed Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital for the National Institute of Health's Clinical Center in Maryland on Thursday. Before she left, Pham, 26, was visited by her treating physician, Dr. Gary Weinstein, who recorded his conversation with her. 
Weinstein praised Pham and her fellow nurses for their heroic efforts working to treat Thomas Eric Duncan, the Liberian man who was initially admitted to the hospital with Ebola. Pham was in incredibly high spirits and looked healthy, despite the severity of her illness. Her condition was upgraded to "good" on Tuesday.

"Don't cry, don't cry!" Dr. Weinstein says, as Pham tears up. "We're really proud of you."

"Come to Maryland, everybody!" jokes Pham, wiping away tears.
"Party, Party in Maryland," laughs Weinstein.
Pham, 26, was diagnosed with the virus on Sunday. The other nurse who contracted Ebola in Dallas, Amber Vinson, was flown on Wednesday to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. The Emory and NIH units are two of the four facilities in the United States that are specially equipped to handle Ebola.

Pham has been hailed as a hero for her work with Duncan. "We have heroes that are willing to make sacrifices when no one else will," colleague Jennifer Joseph told the Independent. "Because I know for a fact that she would take care of him again."

The nurse's attitude throughout this entire experience has certainly been heroic. She told supporters on Tuesday she was "doing well" while also thanking everyone "for their kind wishes and prayers." That Pham can maintain her cheery outlook and energy while the rest of the country is flipping out over the disease is inspiring. The rest of the country could learn a lesson in bravery from her: In the face of sheer chaos, keep calm and keep smiling.

16 Oct 2014

21 days quarantine period for Ebola patients is not long enough as deadly virus could still remain in the body- Scientists

The recommended 21-day quarantine period for the Ebola virus is not long enough to contain the spread of the disease, a new study has warned.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) advises the incubation period for the virus is between two and 21 days. 
It is thought that if someone who has been in contact with an Ebola victim but does not develop symptoms after that point, has not been infected.
But a study by scientists at Drexel University in Philadelphia has found there is a 12 per cent chance the deadly virus could lay dormant in a person's body for longer than the three-week period.
It means a significant proportion of the population in West Africa could be developing the disease outside of the key incubation period.
Biologist professor Charles Hass said when calculating the isolation period on the basis of past outbreaks, there is always a 'standard deviation for results' - a percentage by which they may vary - which has yet to be taken into account during this outbreak. 
Professor Hass, who has vast experience of analysing the risk of transmitting biological pathogens, said 'reconsideration is in order' as 21 days may not be sufficient to protect public health.  
He said: 'Twenty one days has been regarded as the appropriate quarantine period for holding individuals potentially exposed to Ebola Virus to reduce risk of contagion, but there does not appear to be a systemic discussion of the basis for this period.'
Data gathered by the WHO from earlier outbreaks in Zaire and Uganda reported an incubation period of between two and 21 days for the virus, meaning if the individual has not presented with symptoms after three weeks they are unlikely to be infected or contagious.
Professor Haas said he believes a broader look at risk factors should be considered as with any research of this nature there is a standard deviation in results.
In the case of Ebola's incubation period the range of results generated from Zaire and Uganda varied little, and this may have contributed to the WHO's certainty.
But looking more broadly at data from other Ebola outbreaks in Congo in 1995 and West Africa recently suggests there could be up to a 12 per cent chance that someone could be infected even after the 21-day quarantine.
Professor Haas, whose research is published in PLOS Currents, said: 'While the 21-day quarantine value, currently used, may have arisen from reasonable interpretation of early outbreak data, this work suggests reconsideration is in order and 21 days might not be sufficiently protective of public health.'
He said these quarantine periods must be determined by looking at the cost of enforcing the quarantine against the that of releasing exposed individuals.
Looking at the potential trade off between costs and benefits as the quarantine time is extended should guide public health officials in determining the appropriate action.
But, with more contagious and potentially deadly diseases the cost of making a mistake on the short side when determining a quarantine is extremely high.
Professor Haas, added: 'Clearly for pathogens that have a high degree of transmissibility and a high degree of severity, the quarantine time should be greater than for agents with lower transmissibility and severity.
'The purpose of this paper is not to estimate where the balancing point should be, but to suggest a method for determining the balancing point.'

Joan Rivers Died of Low Blood Oxygen- Medical Examiner

The New York City medical examiner says Joan Rivers died from low blood oxygen during a medical procedure.

The comedian, who was 81, died Sept. 4. She had been hospitalized since Aug. 28 when she went into cardiac arrest during a routine medical procedure at a doctor's office to check out voice changes and reflux.

Medical examiner spokeswoman Julie Bolcer said Thursday that the cause was brain damage due to lack of oxygen. It is classified as a therapeutic complication, meaning that the death resulted from a predictable complication of surgery.

The New York state health department is investigating the circumstances.

Her daughter Melissa Rivers said in a statement that the family continues to be saddened by the tragic loss.

Arsenal star 'Mesut Ozil' accused of cheating on girlfriend Mandy Capristo with Melanie Rickinger

 Arsenal star Mesut Ozil has been dragged into a public row with a fellow German footballer and accused of cheating on his pop star girlfriend Mandy Capristo.
Former Bayern Munich and Hertha Berlin player Christian Lell accused Ozil of 'muscling in' on his relationship with former girlfriend Melanie Rickinger.
In an interview with Bild, Lell somewhat ungraciously described his ex as a 'snake' and explained that she had exchanged intimate messages with Ozil on the messaging service WhatsApp.
'Mesut exploited his fame, and muscled in on our relationship,' said Lell. 'That isn't OK'.
Ozil himself has refused to comment on the situation. 
'We are not commenting on this. We will keep an eye on the situation, and take legal action if necessary,' said his agent Roland Eitel. 
Lell's ex-girlfriend Rickinger has said her former boyfriend is 'crazy'. She has not denied the accusations of an affair with Ozil, but did insist that Lell had accessed her messages without her permission.
'I deleted everything on my phone. He must have gone on himself and backed everything up,' she said. 'He's completely crazy.'
Capristo has also refused to comment. The singer lives with the Germany international in London, and is a judge on the X Factor-style reality show 'Germany's Search for a Superstar'.

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