Beckham Sues Hooker for £5 Million

David Beckham is taking legal action against a US magazine that published allegations about his private life.

In a statement, his representatives said the claims were "completely untrue and totally ridiculous, as the magazine was clearly told before publication".

"Sadly we live in a world where a magazine can print lies and believe they can get away with it."

The statement follows a story in the US weekly In Touch relating to an alleged liaison in New York in August 2007.

Last year, Beckham accepted libel damages from the Daily Star newspaper after it claimed he had made advances towards a model.

The former Manchester United star has been married to former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham since 1999.

Owning a dog could reduce Childhood Obesity

Owning a dog could help to lower the risk of childhood obesity, according to researchers.

A study of children in 78 inner-city primary schools in England found children in homes with dogs were more active than those without.

Researchers from St George's, University of London, were carrying out a study on child heart health.

They found that children in dog-owning families took part in more physical exercise and were less sedentary.

The study measured levels of activity, such as the number of steps walked and time spent in light or moderate to vigorous physical activity, using a sample of more than 2,000 nine and 10-year-old children.

About one in 10 of these families, in London, Birmingham and Leicester, lived in a household with a dog.

It found a consistent picture for both boys and girls, on weekdays and weekends, that children in dog-owning families had a higher level of physical activity.

This could mean that children were accompanying their parents when walking the dog or playing with the dog at home, rather than playing on the computer or watching television.

This increased activity could mean a significant difference for children's long-term health, says Dr Owen, reducing the risk of obesity or diabetes.

Montana woman fights bear with Courgette

A woman from the US state of Montana has fought off a 200lb (91kg) black bear with a courgette from her garden.

The bear attacked one of the woman's dogs on the back porch of her home late on Wednesday evening, Missoula County Sheriff's Lt Rich Maricelli said.

When the woman tried to stop the attack, the bear bit into her leg.

The woman, whom police have not named, grabbed the closest object (a courgette from her garden) and threw it at the bear, causing it to flee.

Mr Maricelli told the Associated Press news agency that the woman, who lives about 15 miles (24km) from the town of Missoula, had not sought medical attention.

Authorities were still attempting to track down the bear on Thursday.

England Hockey Team to delay move into Delhi village

The England men's hockey team are to set up base in a Delhi holding camp and delay moving into the problem-hit Commonwealth Games athletes' village.

Photos taken in the last two days have exposed the poor conditions of the accommodation in the village, with the event set to start on 3 October.

Team captain Barry Middleton told reporters: "It doesn't matter to us. We knew things were going on in the village.

"We've heard it'll be ready and I think we'll be in the village in a few days."

The hockey team are set to fly out to the Indian city on Thursday.

The images, taken in the last two days and obtained by BBC Sport, showed dirty bathrooms, animal footprints on beds, exposed wiring and flooding outside the buildings at the athletes' village.

But Lalit Bhanot, the secretary general of the Delhi organising committee, is confident the accommodation will meet the requirements.

"The government along with the organising committee have made all efforts to get the place up to the standard that is desirable," said Bhanot, who on Tuesday had referred to western standards of hygiene as being different to India's.

"Everything is fine. We have seen the work that has gone on in the past few days and you will see that the standard will be brought to the desired level."

Organisers of the Games also received a boost when the Scotland and Wales teams declared they were pleased with the assurances provided to them after they also raised concerns about their accommodation.

Team Scotland's Jon Doig said: "Subject to assurances we will confirm our team will travel on Saturday."

Wales chief Anne Ellis added: "We're satisfied that everything is ready.

"A week ago it was like a building site, although most of it was cosmetic work, there were serious problems with plumbing and electricity.

"But that wasn't in the village. The food zone has been ready for some time, the international zone has been up and running and our tower block, which we went into last week with our advance party, has been turned round and is now comfortable for our athletes."

The assurances include accommodation maintenance, plus proof that all structural safety certificates for both the village and the venues are in place, backed with full insurance cover through the Delhi 2010 organising committee.

Along with Scotland, the Wales and Northern Ireland teams will also fly their athletes out as scheduled.

England is sending over 500 athletes to Delhi, although the next batch are not due to travel until the weekend.

Chris Moyles rants about Pay On-Air

Radio One breakfast show DJ, Chris Moyles, attacked BBC bosses on his Wednesday live show, saying he had not been paid since July.

He spent the first half of his show complaining about the bosses and accused them of "huge lack of respect" despite asking them to fix his pay issue.

Moyles, one of Radio One's longest-serving breakfast hosts, told listeners he was very, very angry for being put into this position," adding that he had considered skipping work as the corporation could not be bothered" to pay him.

He questioned why the BBC was not treating other broadcasters such as Terry Wogan or Chris Evans the same way.

As Moyles continued with his complaints instead of playing records, listeners began sending in messages complaining against him. The presenter simultaneously slammed the listeners who texted such messages.

So far Chris’s agent and Radio 1’s spokesmen have refused to comment.

Flying Angel Ride 2010 (Isle of Wight)

On Sunday 3rd October 2010 I will be taking part in the Flying Angel Ride and will be attempting to cycle around a 40 mile circuit on the Isle of Wight to raise money for the Mission To Seafarers charity.

Loneliness, danger and separation from loved ones are just some of the problems seafarers face. Around the world, night and day, The Mission to Seafarers provides help and support to those in need. Through their global network of chaplains, staff and volunteers they reach out to seafarers by visiting them on their ships, offering them the hand of welcome and friendship, and caring for them in their hour of need.

They also run centres in over 100 ports which provide ‘a home away from home’. These are places where seafarers can contact their loved ones from whom they are separated for months on end, receive assistance with any problems they may be facing and get a break from their demanding way of life onboard ship.

I am aiming to raise £100 towards this worthwhile cause and would be grateful if you could give what you can to help me achieve this target.

http://www.justgiving.com/Jamie-Graham

Delhi Commonwealth Games could be Cancelled due to Health Risks

The Commonwealth Games Federation head has demanded the Indian government take immediate steps to improve conditions at the athletes' village in Delhi.

Team delegates have described the accommodation as filthy, unhygienic and unfit for human habitation.

But organisers of the event, which runs from 3 to 14 October, said they would provide an "excellent facility".

Scottish officials found their original accommodation to be "unsafe and unfit for human habitation" while England are "optimistic" they will compete, but say urgent work is needed before the Games begin on 3 October.

It is the latest setback to an event plagued by construction delays, allegations of corruption and a dengue fever outbreak in the Indian capital.

Building works have fallen well behind schedule in the build-up to the Games and Thursday's official opening of the village to 7000 athletes and officials now looms large.

Countries such as New Zealand, Scotland, Canada and Northern Ireland have demanded their teams be put up in hotels if their accommodation is not ready.
Sanjoy Majumder from BBC News Delhi said “This is the latest embarrassment for organisers of Delhi's Commonwealth Games.

The Games village is made up of several blocks of high-rise luxury flats for the athletes who are due to begin arriving on Friday were meant to be the event's showpiece.

The village itself has been built on the banks of the Yamuna River. Just outside it are pools of green, stagnant water left over from flooding after Delhi's worst monsoon in three decades.

It's a breeding ground for mosquitoes and has raised fears of disease. There have been nearly 100 cases of dengue fever over the past month. The organisers now certainly have their work cut out”.

There have even been claims by some Countries that the games should be cancelled due to the massive health risks to their countries athletes. If the games do proceed it maybe interesting to see if these problems end up hindering what could be a successful and enjoyable Commonwealth games.

Hayden Panettiere to play jailed murderer Amanda Knox

The story of US student Amanda Knox, who murdered her British housemate Meredith Kercher in 2007, is to be turned into a film.

Heroes actress Hayden Panettiere, 21, who rose to global fame as indestructible cheerleader Claire Bennett in the hit TV show Heroes is to play Knox, who was sentenced to 26 years in jail in December for murder and sexual violence.

Knox’s ex-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito was jailed for 25 years. But mystery still surrounds the events in Perugia, Italy.

The pair committed the killing with small-time drug dealer Rudy Guede, who was jailed for 16 years.
All three have maintained their innocence and have appealed against their convictions.

But judges who convicted Knox and Sollecito said the pair went to the house with Guede and took part in a sex attack that ended with Miss Kercher's throat being cut with a six-inch kitchen knife.

Knox and Sollecito then staged a fake break-in to make it look as though Miss Kercher was killed by an intruder, the judges concluded.
Knox's odd behaviour after the body was found also aroused suspicions. She was reported to have performed a cartwheel and done the splits while waiting to be questioned by police.

The film will be shown on US TV channel Lifetime next year.

Middlesbrough Ladies Tour North Korea

Middlesbrough Ladies have flown to North Korea which is the first time a British football team has visited the country.

Members of the squad hope the four-night stay will strengthen the town's long-standing relationship with the communist nation, which dates back 44 years.

They will play two friendly matches against whilst on tour will also hold training sessions with local school children during the trip to the capital, Pyongyang.

Links between the isolated Asian country and the north-eastern English town date back to the World Cup in 1966, when Middlesbrough hosted the country's three group games.

Surviving members of the 1966 squad, who returned to Britain to visit Middlesbrough in 2002, will meet the ladies' team during the tour.

It was arranged following an invitation by the British Embassy in Pyongyang, where the British Ambassador described the visit as "exciting and historical".

North Korea, which is a Communist country and has little contact with the outside world, although they did play in this year's World Cup in South Africa, but the side lost all three games in a tough group that also, included Brazil, Portugal and Ivory Coast.

It was only the country's second appearance in the tournament, after the Koreans caused one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history by beating Italy 1-0 to reach the quarter finals in 1966.

The scorer of the winning goal in that game, Pak Do Ik, will be among the former players receiving Middlesbrough Ladies.