Thin White Line

clipped from news.bbc.co.uk Argentines use 'free-kick' spray The Argentine Football Association is to introduce an aerosol spray to stop defenders creeping closer to the ball during a free-kick. From next year, referees will use the spray in first division matches. Referees will mark a temporary white line 9.15 metres (10 yards) from the ball, which defenders cannot cross. The spray will disappear 30 seconds later. Pablo Silva, who invented the spray, got the idea when he failed to score with a free-kick at an amateur match. "In the 88th minute, we were losing 1-0 and won a free-kick on the edge of the area. When I took the kick, the wall was three metres away," he told Reuters earlier this year. "The referee didn't book anyone and didn't do anything," he said. "We lost the game, and driving home later, with a mixture of anger and bitterness, I thought that we must invent something to stop this."

Woolies-Beginnining of the END

Sad-especially for the staff!

clipped from news.bbc.co.uk Woolworths closure sale to start Bargain hunters are expected to flock to Woolworths branches later as a store closure sale starts at all its 815 outlets across the country. In what looks like the beginning of the end for the retailer, its administrator Deloitte has said that some shops could close for good by the end of the year. Bargain hunters are expected to flock to Woolworths Deloitte is also due to consult with Woolworths' 30,000 staff over the possibility of redundancies. Talks over the sale of the leaseholds of individual stores are continuing. It is thought that Sainsbury's, Asda, Tesco, the Co-op and discount chain Poundland are still interested in picking up some of the retailer's prime sites.

Difficult couple of TESTS

As KP says:nothing to lose,but they MUST try to regain some confidence!

clipped from news.bbc.co.uk Pietersen demands England focus Captain Kevin Pietersen insists England will not hide behind the turmoil of the Mumbai terror attacks when the Test series with India begins on Thursday. The tour was in serious doubt after the attacks in November but England were applauded for deciding to return. "You could say we can't lose in this situation, but that's also a negative way of looking at things and finding excuses - I don't want any," he said. "We need to make sure that our primary focus is to try and win this series." The spirit in the England camp remains good, but before the one-day series was prematurely abandoned they had lost all five matches and were widely expected to have gone on to lose 7-0 for the first time. Their preparations for the Test matches have been unusual, practising first in Abu Dhabi before heading to India, where they have been afforded unprecedented levels of security for a cricket match.

Baby P

So SAD

clipped from news.bbc.co.uk Baby P official fired without pay The head of children's services at the council at the centre of the Baby P controversy has been fired without pay. Haringey Council said Sharon Shoesmith, who had defended her department over the death of the 17-month-old baby, had been dismissed with immediate effect. The boy, who was on the council's "at-risk" register, died in 2007 with major injuries, including a broken back. His mother admitted causing or allowing his death. Her boyfriend and Jason Owen were convicted of the same offence. In a brief statement, Haringey Council said Ms Shoesmith would not be receiving any compensation or pay in lieu of notice. "The decision was taken today by a panel of councillors," the statement said.

India Tests

Not much chance of winning,but at LEAST they are there!

clipped from news.bbc.co.uk By Jonathan Agnew BBC cricket correspondent The decision to return to India is quite a result for the England & Wales Cricket Board. Together with the Professional Cricketers' Association, whose input cannot be understated, the administrators have put back on track a tour that seemed beyond salvation only a few days ago. England will receive a reception fit for heroes when they touch down in Chennai, which should help to ease the nagging doubts The players voted with one voice, underlining the team's solidarity and the deep respect the cricketers have for one another. But there will still be a great deal of tension over the next fortnight. The security will be both suffocating and, for Westerners, bewildering. The players will be confined to their fortress of a hotel, conveyed to and from the ground in a siren-wailing convoy and surrounded wherever they go by commandos bristling with weapons. England are hopelessly underprepared and have not played a Test match for four months.

Tough Decision

They had stayed in the Hotel where the killings occured,so a brave decision!

clipped from news.bbc.co.uk England squad lands back in India The England cricket team have arrived in Chennai ahead of the two-Test series against India which starts on Thursday. England flew home from India after the 26 November terror attacks in Mumbai. Flintoff is ready to play after initial reservations about touring They have since been training in Abu Dhabi and agreed to resume their interrupted tour after receiving assurances over their safety. The senior players have received praise for their "brave" decision to return, but Andrew Flintoff insisted it was a decision taken by the whole team. The one-day series between the two nations was cut short as a result of the terror attacks in Mumbai on 26 November. The England squad initially flew home before heading for Abu Dhabi, where they spent three days practising at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium while they waited for the results of safety reports.

Tough Girl

She must have nerves of steel-I've seen what it is like in there(as an entertainer).

clipped from news.bbc.co.uk Running a prison is one of the toughest jobs going. Traditionally governors have worked up through the ranks, but now graduates are fast-tracked into senior roles to broaden the profile of the Prison Service. Aged 26, and standing not much more than five feet tall, Isabel Taylor defies the stereotype of the distinctly male prison governor. Isabel Taylor, now a junior governor It's a job she has wanted since she was 11, and in 2005 she joined the Prison Service's intensive development scheme, a fast-track course for would-be governors. She is now a junior governor at Her Majesty's Prison Leeds, a Category B men's prison, as deputy head of offender management.