Gerrard cool under siege before Switzerland match

Steven Gerrard admits being captain of England right now feels like a man under siege as he prepares to lead his team into a UEFA Euro 2012 qualifier against Switzerland here on Tuesday desperately trying to keep the focus on 

The match is potentially the pivotal fixture in Group G after England beat Bulgaria 4-0 in their opening game and could be the start of a post-World Cup revival for Fabio Capello's side that helps heal the still-smarting wounds of South Africa.

But instead of talking about qualification in the build-up to the crucial fixture both Gerrard and Capello have found themselves distracted by the private life of star striker Wayne Rooney.
The Manchester United man has been the subject of a tabloid newspaper expose that claims he cheated on wife Coleen by sleeping with a prostitute.
There has been no official response from the Rooney camp so far but the story refuses to go away and comes hot on the heels of John Terry's alleged affair with the girlfriend of former Chelsea team-mate Wayne Bridge - who subsequently refused to play again for England - and front page headlines about the sex life of left-back Ashley Cole, who has now been divorced from pop star wife Cheryl.
Add in court cases, super injunctions, gagging orders and WAGs (the wives and girlfriends) and it's easy to see why some critics feel the celebrity bubble and media circus surrounding England is the cause of so many of their problems.
Certainly it doesn't make answering questions in pre-match press conferences any easier, so no wonder Gerrard, who also had to deal with the boos of angry supporters following a disappointing World Cup, has a sense of being under siege.
"At times, it can be like that," he admitted.
"When you're wanting to spend time with your family and you're out and about, and you've got cameramen following you in your car and you are getting that kind of attention it can feel sometimes as if you are hard done by.
"But we're playing football at the top level, and you have to realise how important football is for people.
"Then you have to accept it. But it is frustrating sometimes when you are preparing for a big game and it seems as if people are only interested in that story at the time.
"For me, the important thing is we've got an important game tomorrow, a tough game, and it's a game the players and I want to win, and it's important we shift our focus on to that now."
Gerrard, in fact, has been England's most outstanding player in recent months despite the pressure heaped on his shoulders.
He scored the opening goal of their World Cup campaign in South Africa, scored twice to save England on their return to Wembley against Hungary and was outstanding in last week's 4-0 victory over Bulgaria.
And despite all the traumas he bristled when it was suggested he should be desperate to hand the captain's armband back to first choice Rio Ferdinand, who is currently injured.
"I've really loved leading the team out, every minute of it, even the games we've lost," he said.
"I've been proud to lead the team out. I've given everything I've got and, even when Rio's back as captain, I will continue to lead by example and try and do the best I can."

World's Shortest Man Is Just 70cm Tall

A Colombian who is just over 2ft tall has been officially recognised as the world's shortest living man by the Guinness World Records.  




Edward Nino Hernandez, measuring 27in (70cm), is slightly taller than a piece of carry-on luggage and weighs 22lb (10kg).


"He hasn't grown since he was two years old," his mother Noemi Hernandez said.


The previous titleholder was China's He Pingping, who was 1.5in (4cm) taller than the Colombian and died on March 13.


In a recent interview, 24-year-old Nino said about his height: "I feel happy because I'm unique," but added "it bothers me that people are (always) touching me and picking me up".


According to Ms Hernandez, doctors could not explain why her son is so small. "They never gave us a diagnosis," she said.


Nino comes from Bosa, a mostly poor district of southern Bogota, and loves to dance, dreams of owning a car and wants to see the world.


The record holder also said he has an 18-year-old girlfriend called Fanny, who is less than 5ft tall.


But Nino does have his problems - he suffers from cataracts in both of his eyes that blur his vision and require surgery.


His mother said: "He doesn't see well. He isn't able to read".


Nino also had to repeat several years of school before dropping out.


The world's shortest man has earned some cash dancing at department stores and is now acting in a film in which he plays a pint-sized drug thug.


But the Guinness World Records believe Nino's reign is not likely to last long.


Khagendra Thapa Magar from Nepal, the world's shortest teenager, measures about 22in (56cm) and turns 18 on October 14.

Pakistan flood survivors protest slow aid

AP – Angry flood survivors gesture as they block a highway demanding food, shelter and water in Sukkar, Pakistan, …

By ASHRAF KHAN, Associated Press Writer Ashraf Khan, Associated Press Writer – 2 hrs 37 mins ago

SUKKUR, Pakistan – Angry flood survivors in Pakistan blocked a highway to protest slow delivery of aid and heavy rain lashed makeshift housing Monday as a forecast of more flooding increased the urgency of the massive international relief effort.
Pakistan's worst floods in recorded history began more than two weeks ago in the mountainous northwest and have spread throughout the country. Some 20 million people and 62,000 square miles (160,000 square kilometers) of land — about one-fifth of the country — have been affected.
The scale of the disaster has raised concerns it could destabilize the country, which is pivotal to U.S. hopes of defeating al-Qaida and the Taliban.
Hundreds of victims blocked a major highway with stones and garbage near the hard-hit Sukkur area, complaining they were being treated like animals. Protester Kalu Mangiani said government officials only came to hand out food when media were present.
"They are throwing packets of food to us like we are dogs. They are making people fight for these packets," he said.
The U.N. children's agency warned 3.5 million children were at high risk of deadly waterborne disease such as diarrhea and cholera. It said it did not have enough funds to distribute clean water to victims, or give them medical care.
The Sindh irrigation minister, Jam Saifullah Dharejo, said the dam in Sukkur faced a major test of its strength as floodwaters coursed down the Indus River into Pakistan's highly populated agricultural heartland.
"The coming four to five days are still crucial," he said.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon flew over the flood-hit area Sunday and said he had never seen a disaster on such a scale. He urged the international community to speed up assistance.

The world body has appealed for an initial $460 million to provide relief, of which about 60 percent has been given.
Britain's deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg accused some nations of failing to offer sufficient support.
"The response from some sections of the international community has been lamentable," Clegg said, without naming the countries he believed had failed to offer appropriate help.
Britain's government has so far provided 16.8 million pounds (US$26 million) in emergency aid in response to the floods, making it one of the largest foreign donors.
The European Union also announced it was considering forming a task force to better coordinate emergency aid in the future after French President Nicolas Sarkozy said the EU's euro 40 million ($51 million) in humanitarian aid was insufficient.
The latest flooding over the weekend hit a poor region on the border between Sindh and Baluchistan provinces.
Sher Khan Bazai, the top government official in Nasirabad district, said 25,000 families had been made homeless by waters 8 feet (2.5 meters) high in some places. About 4,000 small villages had been either cut off or washed out.
"Water is everywhere," he said.
Once the floods recede, billions more dollars will be needed for reconstruction and getting people back to work in the already-poor nation of 170 million people. The International Monetary Fund has warned the floods could dent economic growth and fuel inflation.
While local charities and international agencies have helped hundreds of thousands of people with food, water, shelter and medical treatment, the scale of the disaster has meant many millions have received little or no assistance.

Jetliner crashes on Colombian island; 1 killed

AP – A plane that crashed lays in pieces along the runaway at the airport on San Andres island in Colombia, …

24 mins ago

BOGOTA, Colombia – A Boeing 737 jetliner with 131 passengers aboard crashed as it prepared to land and broke into three pieces at a Colombian island in the Caribbean early Monday. The region's governor said it was a miracle that only one person died.
Colombian Air Force Col. David Barrero said officials were investigating reports the plane had been hit by lightning before crashing at 1:49 a.m. (3:49 a.m. EDT; 0649 GMT) on San Andres Island, a resort area of 78,000 people about 120 miles (190 kilometers) east of the Nicaraguan coast.
San Andres Gov. Pedro Gallardo said 125 passengers and six crew members had been aboard Aires Flight 8520, but the only person killed was Amar Fernandez de Barreto, 68.
"It was a miracle and we have to give thanks to God," that only one person died, said Gov. Pedro Gallardo.
Officials said 119 people were treated or checked at local clinics and five of them were seriously injured.
The state government said in an e-mail that passengers aboard the plane that left Bogota about midnight included eight U.S. citizens and four Brazilians. They were not identified.
Passengers said the pilot had announced an impending landing and all seemed normal as the plane descended through rain.

AP/Periodico El Isleno, Richard Garcia

But suddenly it hit short and then slid onto the runway on its belly as the fuselage fractured. It wound up on one end of the runway, crumpled and in pieces, as passengers scrambled or were helped to safety.
Firefighters quickly doused the beginnings of a fire on a wing, said police Gen. Orlando Paez.
Ninety-nine passengers were taken to the Amor de Patria Hospital on San Andres, said the hospital director, Dr. Robert Sanchez.
"It's incredible. For the dimension (of the accident), there should be more," he said.
Sanchez said an initial examination indicated that Fernandez de Barreto may have died of a heart attack.
Twenty other passengers were treated at another clinic, according to the national civil aviation agency.
Barrero, commander of the Caribbean Air Group, said by telephone from San Andres that "the skill of the pilot kept the plane from colliding with the airport."
He said the cause of the accident was uncertain. "You can't speculate. Lightning? A gust of wind? The investigation will say."
The airline, Aerovias de Integracion Regional SA, said in a Twitter posting that it has 20 planes, including 10 Boeing 737-100 planes.
It said it was "working and investigating with the aeronautical authorities to determine the causes of what happened."
Barrero said part of the 7,800-foot (2,380-meter) runway had been closed because parts of the plane were still scattered across it. But enough was usable that air ambulances would be able to land.
Paez said by telephone that a group of police officers who had been waiting at the airport for the plane to take them back to the Colombian mainland aided in rescuing the victims.

Two hearts combine as one!

Two hearts combine as one.
we hold one key thats bigger than the sun.
Lets hold hands and touch other soul, we one heart ready to be unfold
bring the spoon, I got the milk, you be my cereal, I be your bowl.
baby come sit next to me I will hold you like its cold; and if this heart happen to get cold
our love will live on like never get old.
your pain is my pain your tears fall like rain
one love, one heart, one diamond ring.
wherever you go I will always be with you; one dress
one kiss, I DO.
I can read your mind like a book, we both on the same page
like a fish we hook.
feel the wind, hear the ocean, you my one last lucky token
you keep your heart, I keep mine, baby thats past tense.
let our heart speak for itself doesn't that make sense.
this poem is about to be done; BABY WAIT, OUR HEARTS has officially combine as ONE.