US Army: Ex-POW Bergdahl now in outpatient care |
- US Army: Ex-POW Bergdahl now in outpatient care
- Scolari fumes over ‘choosing opponents’ comments
- AFP Video: Impressionist and Modern Art sale at Sotheby’s London
- Impressionist and Modern Art sale at Sotheby’s London (VIDEO)
- ‘Looted’ Nigerian art returned to traditional ruler
- NYT Video: The 2014 Buick Regal Turbo
| US Army: Ex-POW Bergdahl now in outpatient care Posted: 22 Jun 2014 05:50 PM PDT
Bergdahl spent nearly five years in captivity at the hands of Taliban-linked Haqqani insurgents after he went missing from his post in eastern Afghanistan near the Pakistani border. He was released on May 31 as part of a controversial swap with the Taliban and had been receiving treatment and counseling at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, since his return to the United States on June 13. "Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl's medical status has changed from inpatient care at Brooke Army Medical Center to continued reintegration and medical care as an outpatient on Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston," a US Army statement said. "His reintegration process continues with exposure to more people and a gradual increase of social interactions." The brief statement said Bergdahl was continuing to receive psychological counseling "to ensure he progresses to the point where he can return to duty." The Army did not provide details on Bergdahl's whereabouts, saying it was refraining from sharing specifics about his location "in order to safeguard the reintegration process." Days after his return to the United States, the Army said it had launched an investigation into why Bergdahl went missing and was later captured. The probe was announced amid persistent speculation that Bergdahl deserted his post in late June 2009, with some soldiers in his unit alleging he walked away alone. Bergdahl has yet to speak to the news media about his ordeal. ― AFP  |
| Scolari fumes over ‘choosing opponents’ comments Posted: 22 Jun 2014 05:47 PM PDT
Brazil face Cameroon in Group A tomorrow (4am Malaysia time) needing a point to reach the last 16 where they will face either the Netherlands or Chile, who have already qualified from Group B. The Netherlands and Chile is slotted to meet earlier (midnight Malaysia time) to decide who finishes first and second, giving Brazil the theoretical advantage of knowing who they would meet if they come top or runners-up. "Some people expressed a view that we were going to choose who we were going to play. Those sorts of comments are either stupid or ill-intentioned, I repeat stupid or ill-intentioned," said Scolari, raising his finger. "We have to play to qualify, not pick and choose our opponents. It was FIFA who chose the kickoff time," the man known as Felipao (Big Phil) told a news conference. Scolari's comments appeared to be aimed at Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal who earlier on Sunday had complained because his side were playing before Brazil in Monday's schedule. TALKING NONSENSE When the matter was raised again by another reporter, Scolari said: "You are putting emphasis on somebody who is talking nonsense." The Group A winners play the Group B runners-up on Sunday, while the second-placed team in Group A meet the Group B winners next Monday. Brazil and Mexico have four points in Group A while Croatia have three and Cameroon, who are already eliminated, have none.
Earlier, Van Gaal railed against world soccer's governing body FIFA and suggested the scheduling of the games disadvantaged the Netherlands. "FIFA plays these tricks. It's not a good thing of course. It's not fair play," said the Dutchman. "We're going to focus on a victory tomorrow against Chile, and I don't think that will be affected by the fact that Brazil will be playing after us. I'm just assuming that they will do their sporting duty." — Reuters |
| AFP Video: Impressionist and Modern Art sale at Sotheby’s London Posted: 22 Jun 2014 05:45 PM PDT Duration: 00:32, Published 23 Jun 2014 Sotheby's auction house has revealed its Impressionist and Modern Art sales list, which includes many works not seen in public for decades. The works will go on sale today (June 23). ― AFP-Relaxnews |
| Impressionist and Modern Art sale at Sotheby’s London (VIDEO) Posted: 22 Jun 2014 05:41 PM PDT LONDON, June 23 ― Sotheby's auction house has revealed its Impressionist and Modern Art sales list, which includes many works not seen in public for decades. The works will go on sale today (June 23). ― AFP-Relaxnews
|
| ‘Looted’ Nigerian art returned to traditional ruler Posted: 22 Jun 2014 05:40 PM PDT
For more than a century, the artefacts from the "Benin Bronzes" collection had been in the family of retired medical consultant Mark Walker, whose grandfather was involved in a 1897 British raid in which they were taken. But on Friday, the statues — depicting a fabled ibis bird and the traditional monarch's bell — were given back to the Oba (King) of Benin, Uku Akpolokpolo Erediauwa I, at a ceremony attended by royal officials and local dignitaries. Walker said he decided to return the statues to Nigeria in September last year after learning of their history, in part from his grandfather's diary from the time, which described the treasures as "loot." "That gave me the idea that perhaps they should go to the place where they will be appreciated for ever," he told AFP in Benin City, 240 kilometres east of Lagos. "I'm very proud to be part of this because it is clearly seen as an historic occasion. "I had no idea it would be regarded with such importance and it is very gratifying to me to have been able to play some small part in the history of the restoration of the bronzes because I think more will come back." The tale of the precious artefacts is one of intrique and tragedy. It began when nine British officers were killed while on a trade mission to Erediauwa's grandfather, ruler of the then independent kingdom of Benin. The British reaction was fierce. Walker's grandfather was part of a British military deployment to the kingdom to avenge the deaths of the officers. The overwhelming show of strength left several thousand local people dead and the city set ablaze, while the oba was forced into exile. The royal palace was looted, resulting in the removal of hundreds of artworks, including the Benin Bronzes, which showed highly decorative images of the oba and his courtiers from centuries earlier. Most of the ornate bronzes — in fact melted down and refashioned brass from bracelets and other objects offered by Portuguese traders in the 15th Century — have been at the British Museum in London ever since. They include a 19th Century depiction of the head of the oba, who has divine status for the Edo people, and 16th Century plaques taken from the walls of the royal palace, showing court life. 'Symbolic gesture' Nigeria has previously requested the return of the Benin Bronzes but without success. The Oba's brother, the Enogie of Obazuwa, Prince Edun Akenzua, described Walker's actions as a "friendly gesture" that would "contribute positively to healing the bruise etched on the psyche of Benin people since 1897." He also called for the return of the other items in the British Museum and galleries around the world. "We appeal to other descendants of soldiers who fought in Benin and who still keep these objects in their homes to emulate Dr Walker's friendly gesture and return the objects in their possession," he added. Steve Dunstone, of the Richard Lander Society, agreed that Walker's gesture was important and hoped it would prompt a rethink over repatriating other "stolen" treasures from Britain's colonial past. Most famously, Britain has come under sustained pressure to return the Elgin Marbles, also known as the Parthenon Marbles, to Greece, as well as the 105-carat Koh-i-Noor diamond to India, but has repeatedly resisted. "Very few people know about the story (of the Benin Bronzes)... It was an injustice that happened that needs to be corrected," said Dunstone, whose Lander group is named after the explorer who travelled to the source of the Niger river and promotes educational and cultural links between Nigeria and Britain. "I'm sure Mark Walker, with this symbolic gesture, will just start opening the door for other people to release the story and I hope to persuade them to return their bronzes," he added. — AFP |
| NYT Video: The 2014 Buick Regal Turbo Posted: 22 Jun 2014 05:33 PM PDT Duration: 04:38, Published 23 Jun 2014 The old slogan "Wouldn't you really rather have a Buick" means something again. The 2014 Buick Regal Turbo has European engineering, athletic handling and a cutting edge technology. ― New York Times |
| You are subscribed to email updates from The Malay Mail Online | All To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
