Manchester United close to signing Valdes

Manchester United are on the brink of signing former Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes on a free transfer.

Valdes, 32, has impressed manager Louis van Gaal enough in a 10-week spell training with United to earn an 18-month contract at Old Trafford.

He will provide cover for United's first-choice goalkeeper David de Gea, who has been ever-present this season, even if his arrival may prompt speculation that Real Madrid will move for the 23-year-old.

Valdes moved to England in October when Van Gaal gave him the chance to continue his rehabilitation from a cruciate ligament injury at Carrington.

He was invited with a view to becoming a signing, assuming he could prove his form and fitness, and has now satisfied Van Gaal, who first managed him at Barcelona.

Valdes had already announced his intention to leave the Camp Nou when his contract expired. He made 535 appearances for Barcelona, winning La Liga six times and the Champions League three times.

He will become Van Gaal's seventh signing, after Ander Herrera, Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo, Angel Di Maria, Daley Blind and Radamel Falcao, and his first of the January transfer window.

His move could also bring an end to the Old Trafford career of Anders Lindegaard, who has been De Gea's deputy.

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Miley Cyrus Posts bizarre Selfie with Bloody Nose on Instagram

Miley Cyrus got a bloody nose, and the first thing she did was taking a bizarre selfie and posting it on Instagram. Cyrus, who wore a turquoise hoodie in the picture, captioned it, "ew." In the shot, blood was still dripping from her nose and on one of her fingers which probably tried to stop the bleeding.

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Lionel Messi worth more than Cristiano Ronaldo- Study

Barcelona's Lionel Messi is the most valuable player in the world, well ahead of Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, according to a study by the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) Football Observatory.

The study used an algorithm based on 1,500 fee-paying club transfers since 2009 to determine that Messi's current transfer value is 220 million euros, while Ronaldo trails far behind at an estimated 133 million euros.

Messi, 27, has been increasingly linked with an exit from Barcelona, with both Manchester City and Chelsea reportedly interested in signing the four-time Ballon d'Or winner.

The Argentina captain endured a frustrating 2014 as Barcelona lost the Copa del Rey final and were beaten to the Liga title by Atletico Madrid, before Messi finished the World Cup with a runners-up medal after losing the final to Germany.

By contrast, Ronaldo, 29, lifted the Champions League trophy with Real Madrid and ended the year with over 60 goals in La Liga, with many observers backing him as the heavy favourite to lift the 2014 Ballon d'Or -- FIFA's top individual award which the Real Madrid forward will contest with Messi and Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

Chelsea have three representatives in the study's top 10, with Eden Hazard (99 million euros) third in the list, Diego Costa (84 million euros) fourth, and Francesc Fabregas (62 million) eighth.

Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba is reportedly worth 72 million euros after leaving Manchester United for nothing in 2012, while CIES believes Raheem Sterling would set Real Madrid back some 63 million euros should they decide to target the Liverpool forward.

There are six Premier League players in the top 10 overall, with Manchester City talisman Sergio Aguero (65 million euros) sixth and Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez (61 million euros) ninth.

Gareth Bale is valued at just 60 million euros by CIES after signing for Real Madrid for around 100 million euros in the summer of 2013, although Los Blancos have the most representatives in the top 100, with 11 players.

The variables included in CIES' econometric model refer to player performances (matches, goals, dribbles, etc.), their characteristics (age, position, contract duration, etc.), as well as competition level and results achieved by both their clubs and national teams.

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Sony's CEO 'Kazuo Hirai' speaks publicly for the first time following Cyber Attack

Sony's CEO Kazuo Hirai spoke up for the first time following massive hacking which targeted Sony Pictures Entertainment in late November. Prior to unveiling the company's latest gadgets at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Monday, January 5, Hirai addressed the incident and thanked people who showed support to "The Interview", a comedy starring Seth Rogen and James Franco which is believed to be the one which prompted the hack.

"Both Sony Pictures Entertainment former employees and certainly current employees were unfortunately the victims of one of the most malicious cyber-attacks we have known in recent history," he said, as reported by Variety. "I am very proud of all employees and all the partners we've worked with as well who stood up against the extortionate effort of these criminals."

"I have to say freedom of speech, freedom of expression - those are important lifelines of Sony and our entertainment business, and today as you all know, 'The Interview' is available through multiple online venues and through satellite, telecom and cable partners as well as 580 independent theaters alone in the U.S.," he added. "I want to take this opportunity to thank all of the partners who made this possible, the members of the media who supported our launch, but most importantly the people who have come out to see the movie."

"The Interview", which focuses on two TV journalists who are sent to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un by the CIA, was pulled from theaters before being released digitally and in select theaters. President Obama's administration has ordered sanctions against North Korea which is believed to be the one behind the attack.

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Rihanna Track 'World Peace' Leaks Online

A new song by Rihanna has surfaced online. The track called "World Peace" was presumably recorded by the Bajan beauty for her highly-anticipated new album, which she has been referring to as "R8".

There's still no official word from RiRi regarding the legitimacy of the leak. However, the vocals featured on it do sound similar to hers. "We'll dance in the rain in spite of all the pain," she sings the club-friendly track. "What the world really needs is to feel love again."

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Michael Jackson's Son 'Prince' is working on his music with Justin Bieber

It looks like Prince Jackson will be following in his father's footsteps. According to a new report by Page Six, the 17-year-old son of the late King of Pop Michael Jackson has been working on his music with new pal Justin Bieber.

A Jackson family source told the site that Jackson and Bieber "really dig one another" and that their "major recording album" was in the works. No other details regarding the project have been revealed, but the source added that professional boxer Floyd Mayweather, Jr. had been supporting the project.

In addition to making music, Jackson and Bieber who live in the same Calabasas, California community have reportedly been hanging out together a lot. The source said that Jackson often copied the troubled superstar's lifestyle and even made Mayweather Jr. his mentor.

With a $66,000 monthly allowance he receives from his father's estate, Jackson rarely stays at home with grandmother Katherine. He has been hitting Hollywood clubs, dating several different girls and disregarding his guardians. He also loves spending his time window shopping for luxurious items. "He's looking at high-end cars like a Mercedes Maybach, a Rolls-Royce and Range Rovers and he's buying expensive jewelry," the source added.

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Kim Kardashian looks almost unrecognizable on cover of Love magazine's newest issue

Kim Kardashian graces the cover of , and she looks almost unrecognizable. Wearing a midriff-baring outfit with some fur, the "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" star rocks bleached eyebrows and wavy hair.
"Katie Grand @kegrand dressed me in all vintage and custom Prada for our Love shoot! Can't wait for these pics," the mother of one tweeted. "Working w @stevenkleinstudio was so crazy! We shot for 3 days straight at a motel in LA. One night til 4am." Kim continued hyping up the new issue that is due on newsstand in February, "Can't wait for u to see 30+ page spread with Steven Klein for Love Magazine."

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Madonna slammed for photoshopping Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela's Image to promote her album

Madonna sparked outrage on social media with a series of photoshopped images of some black leaders she Instagrammed on Friday, January 2 to promote her new album, "Rebel Heart". Many people got angry and branded the singer disrespectful after she posted pictures of Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela with the now-signature black cords from her album's artwork across their faces.

"This #rebelheart had a dream!" she captioned the black-and-white photo of King. "This #rebelheart fought for freedom!" she wrote alongside the photo of Mandela. She also posted a similarly-altered image of Bob Marley and said, "This #rebelheart sang about ONE LOVE!"

 Critics took to Twitter to voice their opinion on Madonna's controversial way to promote her music. "To lessen Mandela's and Dr. King's achievements as far as making their faces involuntarily a part of a marketing campaign for some irrelevant pop music is just a huge perception disorder," wrote a fan. Another added, "Let me just unfollow Madonna on Instagram bc of her borderline offensive Martin Luther King 'Rebel Heart' posts."
Madge was aware that the photos would anger people and she had already prepared herself for the backlash. Previously on Thursday, she shared a message on Instagram that read, "Dear haters, I have so much more for you to be mad at ... be patient!" 

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Jennifer Lopez Officially Changes Her Name after split from Marc Anthony

Jennifer Lopez has officially changed her name after previously carrying her former husband Marc Anthony's surname. Lopez changed her name to Jennifer Muniz when she got married to Anthony, whose real name is Marco Muniz, in 2004. The "On the Floor" hitmaker got her name back on December 31 according to court documents obtained by TMZ.

News about the name change surfaced on the heels of an HBO documentary "Jennifer Lopez: Dance Again" in which she broke down in tears when she recalled their split. "I remember being on the set and being in my dressing room and not feeling like I could get up in the morning and there's just no pain like that," she said.

"There's no pain or failure like going through a divorce. That hope, that dream, that fairytale, with that first time that dream gets blown to pieces, you feel like you're going to die. You feel like you failed. You feel like no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't make it work," the singer continued. 

Lopez and Anthony decided to call it quits in 2010. They share two children together, Emme and Max. Anthony got married to Shannon De Lima in November.

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Breaking News: US has imposed new sanctions on North Korea in response to cyber-attack against Sony Pictures Entertainment

The US has imposed new sanctions on North Korea in response to a cyber-attack against Sony Pictures Entertainment.

The White House said President Barack Obama signed an executive order on Friday sanctioning three North Korean organisations and 10 individuals.
The White House said the move was a response to North Korea's "provocative, destabilising, and repressive actions".
US sanctions are already in place over North Korea's nuclear programme.
But Friday's actions are the first time the US has moved to punish Pyongyang for cyber-attacks.
The FBI previously said it believed North Korea was behind the Sony hack.
The entertainment giant was embarrassed after a group calling itself Guardians of Peace leaked data from Sony computers, exposing emails and personal details.
The group later threatened cinema chains planning to screen Sony's satirical North Korea comedy, The Interview. Oblique references to the 9/11 terror attacks prompted cancellation of the film's nationwide release.
"We take seriously North Korea's attack that aimed to create destructive financial effects on a US company and to threaten artists and other individuals with the goal of restricting their right to free expression," the White House said in a statement.
Among those named in the sanctions are three government entities:

• The Reconnaissance General Bureau, North Korea's primary intelligence organisation
• North Korea's primary arms dealer
• Korea Tangun Trading Corporation, which supports North Korea's defence research.

It is unclear how those entities were related to the cyber-attack.

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AirAsia flight QZ8501 mishap: more bodies found at sea

More bodies have been recovered from the Java Sea, five days after AirAsia flight QZ8501 crashed, bringing the total found so far to 30, Indonesian rescue officials say.

The Airbus A320 disappeared with 162 people on board while flying from Surabaya in Indonesia to Singapore.

Operations to recover victims continue but no survivors have been found.

Specialist equipment has arrived to aid the search for the plane itself and its "black box" flight recorders.

However officials said it could not be used on Friday because of high waves, Reuters reported.

The plane is almost certainly at the bottom of the relatively shallow Java Sea.

The cause of the crash is not known yet.

'Strapped in seats'

Some 20 more bodies were found on Friday, as a massive search operation in the presumed crash area continued.

Some were reported to be still strapped into their seats.

The aircraft's fuselage has still not been located, and it is thought most of the passengers could be inside.

"Waves were between three and four metres today, making it difficult to load bodies onto ships and [move them] between ships," the head of Indonesia's search and rescue agency said.

Bambang Soelistyo told reporters in Jakarta that some vessels would search through the night. "Tonight we are sending tug boats which should make the [body] transfers easier."

He estimated the fuselage was at a depth of about 25-30m (80-100ft).

In a statement, AirAsia confirmed only that 22 bodies had been found, adding: "Our thoughts and prayers remain with the families and friends of our passengers and colleagues on board QZ8501."

The bodies recovered from the sea are being taken to Surabaya in numbered coffins.

Four people have been identified so far: Hayati Lutfiah Hamid; Grayson Herbert Linaksita; Kevin Alexander Sutjipto; and Khairunisa Haidar Fauzi.

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Selena Gomez receives backlash after Instagram picture that infuriated Muslims during visit to Abu Dhabi mosque

Selena Gomez was so heavily criticized for posting pictures of herself flashing her ankle inside Abu Dhabi's Grand Mosque on Instagram that she appears to have deleted the evidence altogether.

A second picture, showing Gomez and fellow musicians Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid, Cody Simpson and Shay Mitchell smiling and striking poses has also been lambasted but remained on her Instagram Thursday.

Mosque visiting rules strictly ban all 'intimate behavior' including holding hands and kissing, and states that all skirts must be ankle-length.

Commenting on the picture, Alaa Almitwally said: 'Disrecpectful! It's a religion place not a place to have fun in, so disappointed.'

Meanwhile another user, Ayisha Elturk, said: 'If their intent was to learn about Islam they wouldn't be posing like they were standing outside and amusement park.

'I like Selena Gomez but to have her do something like this makes me no longer a fan.'

However, not everyone was critical of the pictures, with user Lemouza adding: 'They're not disrespectful. Hundreds of thousand of people visit Sheikh Zayed's mosque in Abu Dhabi.

'It's a place of worship, yes I know, but God never forbade the entry of other religions into any mosque. So please respect the fact that they actually want to get to know Islam and its beauty.'

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Michael Owen posts very suggestive tweet at wife

Michael Owen has prompted astonishment after tweeting a suggestive photograph of one of his dogs lying beside another’s genitals.

The shocking picture, which the former England footballer posted to his three million followers on Tuesday evening, was accompanied with the caption: ‘I wonder if Mrs O will be so kind tonight’.

Father-of-four Owen, 35, was referring to his wife Louise, 34, then posted a further photograph on Twitter of her sticking two fingers up to the camera, saying: ‘Oh well, it was worth asking.’

The original tweet by Owen of his dogs, believed to be called Belle and Ronnie, has been retweeted 8,000 times since it was posted on Tuesday - and attracted bemusement on Twitter.

Comedian James McNicholas said: 'The timeline of @themichaelowen this evening has made feel unwell.' And telecoms expert Dan Beasley said: 'Looks like Michael Owen had a banter injection.'

Meanwhile, referring to his goal against Manchester City in 2009, a user posting under the name of 'United Religion' said: ‘That tweet and the City goal are the two greatest things you've ever done.’

Owen, who is now a football pundit for BT Sport and lives with his family in a multi-million pound mansion in North Wales, has attracted derision in the past for having a ‘boring’ broadcasting style.

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Rihanna shows off her sexy body in strapless bathing suit in the Caribbean island of St. Barts

On Thursday, Rihanna showed off her enviable figure while on holiday with close friends in the Caribbean island of St. Barts. 

The 26-year-old barefaced beauty donned a strapless purple and white striped bikini underneath her oversized black hoodie jacket.

Rihanna appeared to be makeup-free and let her long tresses down naturally around her shoulders.

She added a bit of glam with three silver necklaces and designer pair of sunglasses.

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Kim Kardashian clears some issues... failed second child attempt.. marriage on the rocks

Kim Kardashian set the record straight on the rumor that she tried but failed to have a second child and another report that her marriage to Kanye West is on the rocks. "No I'm not pregnant," she tweeted. "Kanye & I are not having marriage problems. Were literally obsessed with each other!"

"Hope everyone has a safe & Happy New Year! Cheers 2 less negativity & NO mean comments on social media. Positivity in the new year! STOPBULLYING," she earlier said. "lets clear up some rumors before the new year... I'm bored looking online and seriously don't know where they come up with this stuff!"

The mother of one later wrote, "The Wests are cooking, watching movies and just relaxing tonight. Best way to ring in the new year! Hope you all are safe and having fun! xo."

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Anfield Legend: Steven Gerrard set to leave Liverpool at end of season

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the season.

Gerrard, 34, became free to sign a pre-contract agreement with an overseas team on Thursday and is believed to be wanted by clubs in the United States.

The former England skipper, who made his Liverpool debut in 1998, will not move to another English club.
Liverpool offered midfielder Gerrard a new deal in November and will make a statement on his future on Friday.
LA Galaxy president Chris Klein declined to comment on suggestions his club want to sign Gerrard.

Jamie Carragher, Gerrard's former Liverpool and England team-mate, tweeted: "Sad day for Liverpool and English football. I think it's the right decision, all things considered."
Match of the Day presenter and former England captain Gary Lineker tweeted:  "One of the finest players to have graced the Premier League. A top, top player."
Gerrard, born in the Merseyside village of Whiston, joined Liverpool's academy when he was nine years old, making his first-team debut as a substitute against Blackburn Rovers in November 1998.

He replaced Sami Hyypia as club captain in October 2003 and led the club to the Champions League title in 2005, scoring his side's first goal as they came from three down to draw 3-3 against AC Milan and then win on penalties.

Gerrard also won the Uefa Cup, two FA Cups, three League Cups, one Community Shield and two Uefa Super Cups.

He won 114 England caps, having made his international debut in 2000, captaining his country for the first time in 2008 and leading them at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, as well as at Euro 2012.
The midfielder retired from international football after England exited the 2014 World Cup in Brazil at the group stage.

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HAPPY NEW YEAR 2015

You are a dreamer, and you are an achiever.
May you dream and achieve bigger feats, with every passing year.
All the best for the new year.

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Forbes 2014: Emma Stone Tops List of Best Actors for the Buck

Emma Stone had a big accomplishment this year. The actress who made her Broadway debut with "Cabaret" tops Forbes' list of Best Actors for the Buck in 2014. According to Forbes, the star of "The Amazing Spider-Man" star returned an average of $61.45 for every dollar she was paid for her works this year.

Next on the list is Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. He earned the second spot on the list after returning an estimated $31.10 for every $1 paid. The third spot on the list is taken by Chris Hemsworth. The "Thor" star reportedly returned $30.70 for every $1 paid.

The fourth and fifth place on the list are taken by Vin Diesel and Jennifer Lawrence. The actor who voiced Groot in "Guardians of the Galaxy" returned an estimated $26.40 for every $1 paid, while the Katniss Everdeen of "The Hunger Games" returned $27.60 for every $1 paid.

The rest of the list is taken by actors like Kristen Stewart, George Clooney and Christian Bale. Stewart paid back $24.90 for every $1 she received. Clooney's role as stranded astronaut in "Gravity" helped him earn the position. He returned an estimated $24.50 for every $1 paid, while the star of "Exodus: Gods and Kings" returned $20.33 for every $1 paid. Mark Wahlberg and Russell Crowe are also featured on the list which was compiled using Forbes' Celebrity 100 list and data regarding the actors' three latest major releases.

Forbes' list of Best Actors for the Buck:

1. Emma Stone
2. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson
3. Chris Hemsworth
4. Vin Diesel
5. Jennifer Lawrence
6. Kristen Stewart
7. George Clooney
8. Russell Crowe
9. Mark Wahlberg
10. Christian Bale

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There's no bad blood between me and Lady GaGa- Madonna

Madonna reiterates that there's no bad blood between her and Lady GaGa. After her manager Guy Oseary shot down rumors that the diva dissed GaGa and called her "a copycat" on a leaked song called "Two Steps Behind", Madge herself took to Instagram to set the record straight.

"There are those who want to shut me up but they cannot! We still live in a world that discriminates against women. [They] are people that are so hateful," the "Like a Virgin" hitmaker wrote and went on accusing media of trying to create feuds that don't exist. 

"They want to create feuds between strong women that do not exist! I do not wish ill will towards any other female artist and I never have!" she continued. "The world is big enough for all of us! I will fight for my rights as an artist, a human and a woman till the end of my days! Because I am a #rebelheart."

She also expressed her anger over the leak of her music, "I walk in the footsteps of giants and I will not apologize or defend my unpublished, unfinished, STOLEN work. If you don't like who i am or what I have to say then why are you reading this? #unapologeticb***h. P.S. Do not post hateful words about other people on my page either. If you are my fan speak no evil! #livingforlove."

The song "Two Step Behind", which features lines like "You're a copycat, get back," first leaked over the summer. People later speculated that the track was about GaGa. The feud rumors re-emerged recently, when a fan asked Oseary if Madonna still hated GaGa in a Q&A session on Twitter.

"She has NO ill will towards gaga. It's nonsense. She was listening to the Tony Bennett duet album last week and appreciating it," he replied.

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Paul Walker's father filed a lawsuit against Roger Rodas' Estate for $1.8 Million

Paul Walker's father has filed a lawsuit against the estate of Roger Rodas, Walker's friend who was driving in a November 2013 car accident that caused both of their deaths. Paul William Walker III, acting as executor of the late actor's estate, is seeking $1.8 million from Rodas' family.

In the legal documents, Walker's dad claims that Rodas' estate is in possession of "numerous automobiles and other motor vehicles that are either wholly or partially owned" by his son. Walker III is demanding that the vehicles be returned and/or Walker's "proportionate share of any sales proceeds derived from the sale of such vehicles" be handed over.

Walker and Rodas, who were close friends and business partners, died in the tragic car crash last year. They co-owned the performance and racing shop Always Evolving in Valencia, California.

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