Brandao appeals against head-butting ban, says lawyer |
- Brandao appeals against head-butting ban, says lawyer
- Kenya detains two Iranians on suspicion of planning attacks
- Pellegrini takes aim at ‘perfect’ Chelsea
- Paris installs glass panels in a test to end love locks
- Second South Korean found dead after Mexico hurricane
| Brandao appeals against head-butting ban, says lawyer Posted: 19 Sep 2014 05:53 PM PDT
"The sanction appears to be disproportionate," Olivier Martin told sports daily L'Equipe's website. "The player, whose career can be threatened by this decision, has decided to appeal." It was the second time in two seasons the former Olympique de Marseille player has been suspended for foul play. Brandao also received a three-match ban last season for elbowing another PSG player, Yohan Cabaye. Security camera footage broadcast on French television after this season's game, and replayed repeatedly, showed Brandao standing near the middle of the corridor outside the changing rooms at the Parc des Princes after the Corsicans' 2-0 defeat by the Ligue 1 champions. Facing the camera as Thiago Motta strides into view, Brandao, who was replaced during the game after picking up a yellow card, calmly takes two steps forward before leaning in to make contact with the Italy international's face. He then turns and runs away with Thiago Motta in pursuit. Separate footage on Canal+ television showed blood pouring from Thiago Motta's nose. A medical report from PSG said the midfielder's nose was broken. Bastia said at the time of the 34-year-old's head-butt that they "condemn without ambiguity" the player's actions but also "deplore the behaviour of certain players who never stop insulting and provoking their opponents". Nasser al-Khelaifi, PSG president, said that Brandao should be banned for life. French league rules allowed for a maximum ban of two years. — Reuters  |
| Kenya detains two Iranians on suspicion of planning attacks Posted: 19 Sep 2014 05:46 PM PDT
Kenyan security agencies have been on alert following several gun and grenade attacks and the killing of 67 people in an attack by Islamist gunment on Nairobi's Westgate shopping mall last September. Mwenda Njoka, spokesman for the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government, said the two Iranians had passports identifying them as Israeli nationals and had tried to enter Kenya through its main airport on Thursday. "The Iranians are suspected to be terrorists, either coming here as their final destination or in transit to another destination. The matter is being handled by the anti-terror police and Interpol," Njoka told Reuters. The two were taken to court but did not enter a plea pending further investigations by the National Intelligence Service and the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU), he said. It was not immediately clear if they would face charges. Nearly a year after the Nairobi shopping mall attack, police say they have tightened security at entry points to the country. Kenya's tourism industry has been hit hard by the attacks. Some Western nations have warned their citizens against travelling to parts of Kenya, including its coastal resorts, prompting mass cancellations. Kenya last week swore in Major-General Philip Kameru as its new intelligence chief. He is tasked with tackling the rising threat from Somali Islamist militants al Shabaab, who are thought to be bent on retaliation after US missiles killed their leader Ahmed Godane. Including the Westgate shopping mall attack last September, there have been 65 reported terrorist incidents across Kenya in the last 12 months, resulting in 261 deaths and 486 wounded, according to global risk consultancy Maplecroft. Two Iranian men were sentenced to life in prison by a Kenyan court in May last year for planning to carry out bombings in Nairobi and other cities. They have appealed their sentence. The two were found guilty of planning attacks and possessing 15 kg (33 lb) of explosives. Kenyan investigators said at the time it was unclear whether they had ties to al Qaeda-linked militants in Somalia or were part of another network. — Reuters |
| Pellegrini takes aim at ‘perfect’ Chelsea Posted: 19 Sep 2014 05:41 PM PDT
City haven't won since overwhelming Liverpool, last season's runners-up, 3-1 on August Bank Holiday Monday with what looked at the time a benchmark performance. Since then, they have lost at home to Stoke, drawn at Arsenal and lost to a last-minute goal at Bayern Munich in the Champions League in midweek. Another defeat at the Etihad Stadium tomorrow would allow Chelsea to extend their advantage over the champions to eight points. But Pellegrini prefers to look at the other side of the equation as he tries to get the better of old foe Jose Mourinho, who masterminded a classic 1-0 win at City in February as part of a double over the champions last season. "They (Chelsea) have started very well. They are playing very well also," Pellegrini said yesterday. "I think that we didn't start badly, although maybe the game we lost here against Stoke was an unusual game. "I think we were unlucky in the last two games, against Bayern in the way we lost with that goal and against Arsenal we deserved to win the three points but things happen," the Chilean added. "We hope we recover here playing at home and get three points on Sunday. "I always try to think of positives so I hope we are not going to lose and we not going to go eight points behind Chelsea. "We must win our next game at home and with that we will be two points behind the leader and that for me will be a very good start after playing Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea." Chasing perfection Midfielder Yaya Toure came in for criticism for his performance in Munich and also for the way he embraced Bayern coach Pep Guardiola, his former manager at Barcelona, at the end of the match. But Pellegrini insisted the Ivory Coast international was fully focused on his role at City. "Yaya always has commitment with the team and the squad and with his mates and he doesn't have any problems about that." City will again be without the injured pair of Fernando and Stevan Jovetic but former Chelsea favourite Frank Lampard will be included in the squad to face the club where he spent 13 years and was their highest ever goalscorer. Chelsea manager Mourinho believes there is still room for improvement from his side, despite their impressive start to the season. The midweek home draw with Schalke in the opening game of the Champions League group was a disappointment and while the opening five games have produced 16 goals for the Blues, but they have also shipped seven goals which indicates there are defensive weaknesses for the manager to address. "You try and improve in every aspect," Mourinho said. "The perfect situation is to score a lot of goals and not concede. We have to chase that perfection. "We are happy with what we're doing, but it's September. We have to try and improve all the time." While Mourinho acknowledged the meeting with City carries an extra significance, he warned against placing too much on the outcome of the match. "It's one more game, it's three more points," the Portuguese manager said. "We don't play against them. We play against 19 teams and, for the title, it's not just City. There are other teams in this race. It's not a situation of Chelsea or City, City or Chelsea. Other clubs have the same ambition." Diego Costa will start despite Mourinho admitting the striker is currently being managed carefully to protect a hamstring problem. — AFP |
| Paris installs glass panels in a test to end love locks Posted: 19 Sep 2014 05:35 PM PDT
This week the city replaced sections of mesh fencing on the city's iconic footbridge, Pont des Arts, with two shatter-resistant and anti-glare glass panes, reported No Love Locks, a group that has been campaigning for an end to the practice of affixing 'love locks' onto the bridge. The glass panes are treated with a special coating that prevents graffiti tagging. A third panel will also be installed. If the pilot proves successful, love birds will no longer be able to pledge their undying love for each other via lock and key, as all 110 sections of the bridge's metal fencing would be replaced. This summer, in an attempt to discourage this distinctly tourist behaviour, the mayor's office launched a campaign asking couples to take selfies of themselves on the bridge instead, and to post it onto Twitter and Instagram. "Our bridges can no longer withstand your gestures of love, set them free by declaring your love with #lovewithoutlocks," read the city's message. The practice — a recent phenomenon that spread around the world in the last decade — came to a head in Paris this year when a section of metal fencing about 2.4 m long (8 feet) collapsed under the weight of hundreds of padlocks, forcing authorities to close off the historic bridge for repairs. It's been estimated that the bridge groans under the collective weight of about 45 tonnes of padlocks. Critics, like the pair of American expats who launched the online petition No Love Locks, say the practice is an act of vandalism, while tourists believe it to be a harmless pledge of their love. — AFP-Relaxnews |
| Second South Korean found dead after Mexico hurricane Posted: 19 Sep 2014 05:27 PM PDT
Authorities also reported that two British citizens were missing, five days after Odile tore across the northwestern Baja California peninsula causing widespread damage to hotels and neighbourhoods. The 58-year-old South Korean mining executive's body was recovered one day after his colleague was found dead from drowning, prosecutors said in a statement. The two men were trying to drive a car across a stream when they were swept away by floods earlier this week. A German man died of a heart attack in a boat. Helicopters were deployed to search for a Scottish man and woman whose boat apparently sank, said state tourism secretary Ruben Reachi Lugo. "We are aware that two British nationals have been reported missing off the coast of Mexico," the British foreign office told AFP in a statement. "We are in touch with local authorities and are providing consular assistance to the families at this difficult time," it said without providing the missing people's names. The hurricane stranded 30,000 tourists in Los Cabos after roads and airports were damaged. An airlift has evacuated 18,000 of them since Tuesday amid looting in the municipality. The US State Department said it chartered four flights that ferried more than 500 US citizens out of Los Cabos in the past 24 hours while the embassy said most Americans had left. Another 41 Americans travelled in a US Air Force cargo plane that took them to Los Angeles, the Pentagon said, adding that it was not foreseeing more flights. While Odile has dissipated across the US border, Tropical Storm Polo churned off Mexico's southwest coast and was expected to pass south of Baja today, bringing more rain and swells to the peninsula, the US National Hurricane Center said. — AFP |
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