Prince William to Marry Kate Middleton Next Year

Prince William is to marry long-term girlfriend Kate Middleton next year, Clarence House has announced.

A brief statement released by Clarence House said: "The Prince of Wales is delighted to announce the engagement of Prince William to Miss Catherine Middleton. The wedding will take place in the spring or summer of 2011, in London. Further details about the wedding day will be announced in due course. Prince William has informed the Queen and other close members of his family. Prince William has also sought the permission of Miss Middleton's father."


William and Kate revealed they will wed next year after the Prince proposed on a romantic holiday in Kenya last month. The Prince said he had been working up the courage to ask Kate for her hand in marriage before they went away.

He said: "I'd been planning it for a while but as any guy out there will know it takes a certain amount of motivation to get yourself going. I was planning it and then it just felt really right out in Africa. It was beautiful at the time. I had done a little bit of planning to show my romantic side."


Wearing the blue sapphire and diamond engagement ring that the prince's father gave to Princess Diana in 1981, Middleton said:"It's quite a daunting prospect but hopefully I'll take it in my stride, and William's a great teacher so hopefully he'll be able to help me along the way. I'm really looking forward to spending my time with William."


Prince William said the ring "was very special to me" as was his bride-to-be. Giving it to her was "my way of making sure my mother didn't miss out on today".

Vettel Becomes Youngest F1 Champion

Sebastian Vettel won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to steal the Drivers World Championship from Fernando Alonso by four points.

The Red Bull driver becomes the youngest ever F1 Champion at 23 years and 135 days with Lewis Hamilton now demoted to second youngest at 23 years and 307 days.


'I’m a bit speechless, to be honest, I don’t know what I’m supposed to say at this moment. An incredibly tough season physically and mentally but we always kept believing in the team and the car and I kept believing in myself.


Today was a special day all around. This morning I got up and just tried to be calm and avoid contact with people. As you say, we’ve only led this championship once, but when it matters. I’m speechless, as I said, the car was phenomenal. The start was close with Lewis and we then had a bit of graining, but car stabilised from then.


It was good that Lewis got up behind Kubica and got held up, so I could make a gap but, yeah, to be honest I didn’t know anything unless I crossed the chequered flag.(Race Engineer) Rocky was always trying to give me some advise, I was thinking, ‘Why is this guy so nervous? We must be in a bloody good position!’After crossing the line Rocky said, ‘It’s looking good but we have to wait’ and then he came on screaming that we’d won the World Championship.


I have to thank all of the mechanics, all of the engineers…sorry, I’m making this a bit long!…all the guys in Milton Keynes are pushing like hell enjoying this moment and back in Austria, all the guys who have been supporting me from the beginning. It’s unbelievable; I can only say things to all the people from karting in Kerpen and my hometown Heppenheim. I don’t know how many times we’ve had a different leader in this championship. Ferrari were there, McLaren came back, Lewis was leading the championship, Lewis had a retirement in Hungary, myself in Australia and Korea and I think all of us had to go though ups and downs. A tough season mentally, but sometimes you just need to be able to ignore what people are saying and get things done. I’m very proud.'


Vettel's status as F1's youngest champion is the latest in a line of such accolades he has acquired. Having made his debut as reserve driver for BMW Sauber at the 2006 Turkish Grand Prix, be became the youngest driver to score a championship point the following year at Indianapolis. Joining Toro Rosso, Vettel then became the youngest driver to win a grand prix in Italy in 2008 before joining Red Bull.

Wayne Rooney Signs Five-Year Contract To Stay At Manchester United

Wayne Rooney performed a spectacular U-turn and signed a new five-year contract to stay at Manchester United until 2015 ending speculation of a move away from Old Trafford.

After refusing to sign a new contract to stay at Manchester Untited on Tuesday, Rooney sentionally done a U-turn after extended talks with the hierarchy at United including the owners (Glazer family) and Chief-Executive David Gill on Thursday.

A delighted Sir Alex Ferguson told United's official website:"It’s been a difficult week, but the intensity of the coverage is what we expect at Manchester United. I said to the boy that the door is always open and I’m delighted Wayne has agreed to stay.

“Sometimes, when you’re in a club, it can be hard to realise just how big it is and it takes something like the events of the last few days to make you understand. I think Wayne now understands what a great club Manchester United is.

“I’m pleased he has accepted the challenge to guide the younger players and establish himself as one of United’s great players. It shows character and belief in what we stand for.

“I’m sure everyone involved with the Club will now get behind Wayne and show him the support he needs to produce the performances we know he is capable of.”

After signing his new five-year contract to stay at United Rooney said:"I’m delighted to sign another deal at United. In the last couple of days, I’ve talked to the Manager and the owners and they’ve convinced me this is where I belong. I said on Wednesday the Manager’s a genius and it’s his belief and support that have convinced me to stay.

I’m signing a new deal in the absolute belief that the management, coaching staff, board and owners are totally committed to making sure United maintains its proud winning history – which is the reason I joined the Club in the first place.

I’m sure the fans over the last week have felt let down by what they’ve read and seen. But my position was from concern over the future. The fans have been brilliant with me since I arrived and it’s up to me through my performances to win them over again.”

This week at Manchester United Football Club can be described exactly how Ferguson described winning the treble in 1999, Football - Bloody Hell!

A Very Chile 2010

A massive earthquake with a magnitude of 8.8 had hit Chile in February affecting about two million people. Four months later at the World Cup the Chile National Team were critically acclaimed as being one of the most attractive footballing teams to watch at the tournament. Now four months after the World Cup, Chile were back in the news after 33 miners in Chile were rescued after spending 69 days in a San Jose mine.

The miners are not saying much so far about what it was really like after the cave-in that left them huddled together in a humid cavern. Some of them are talking about saving their stories for a book about those 69 hellish days. Publishing experts say a book by the miners could be quite profitable.

When the mine caved in, the men were thought to have died in yet another of Latin America's litany of mining accidents. Rescuers found them two and a half weeks later with a bore hole the width of a grapefruit.

That tiny hole became an umbilical cord used to pass down hydration gels, water and food to keep them alive. A bigger shaft was later bored to bring them up.

The miners were hauled out one by one on Wednesday in a metal capsule little wider than a man's shoulders and dubbed "Phoenix" after the mythical bird that rose from the ashes.

Chile President Sebastian Pinera said he thought Chile was "more united and stronger than ever", and "more valued" worldwide.

The San Jose mine may now be turned into some sort of Museum and the capsule which helped moved the miners from the mine to the surface is reportdly valued at $1m. Whatever happens in the future, 2010 will be a year that Chile will never forget.

Ed Miliband Impresses In His PMQs Debut

It was Ed Miliband's first prime minister's questions, and he wasn't bad at all. This clearly came as a surprise to many of his backbenchers, who've been chuntering on for weeks about union members foisting on them a lefty.

It all began politely enough, with Cameron offering good wishes and hoping, sarcastically, that Miliband would have "many, many years" in the job.

Then we were off. Cameron pointed out that £1bn was being raised from the 15% of higher-rate taxpayers. What was unfair about that?

"I may be new to this game," said Miliband, "but I think that I ask the questions and he gives the answers." He had a Cameron quote: before the election he had declared himself against means-testing child benefit.

"I agree with the prime minister," said Miliband. "Why doesn't he?"

That last one left the PM momentarily silenced, shaking his head with amused interest in the way his new opponent approached PMQs. He had the last word, as is traditional, and deployed his prepared line about Ed, like his former master, being all tactics and political positioning: “it’s not Red, it’s Brown”.

This is merely the first outing. What matters is that Ed Miliband acquited himself by remaining calm and showing that he can cut it at this level. On that basis he succeeded on his PMQs debut, but this is just the beginning of the battle between Miliband and Cameron.

Gan Turismo 5 Delayed Again

Gran Turismo 5 has been delayed once more as Sony announced that it will miss its November release date.


"We sincerely apologize to GT fans for the delay," explained the official US Playstation blog, "however, creator Kazunori Yamauchi and the team at Polyphony Digital want to make certain they are creating the perfect racing experience, and we are confident that this ambitious game will exceed expectations when it launches."


Gran Turismo 5 was suppose to be released on November 2nd in the USA and November 5th in the UK. Sony has since confirmed that the delay is global, with its European outlet saying it hopes to reveal a new date before the end of October.


The long awaited racing game was set to be released in 2009 but when in 2008 Polyphony Digital said "GT5 is still about a year away". However with games such as Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2, Assassins Creed II and Uncharted 2 Among Thieves released at the end of 2009 the game was delayed till the spring of 2010. However it was announced in 2010 that the racing game ould be released in November rather than during the spring as games such as Heavy Rain, God of War 3 and Red Dead Redemption were released.


Now Polyphony Digital have delayed the game hopefully for the last time as during November games such as Call of Duty Black Ops and Assassins Creed Brotherhood will be released. December sees no big games released which gives Polyphony Digital no competition and with Christmas around the corner Gran Turismo 5 would make a very good present for gamers around the world.

Paul Scholes: A role model on and off the football pitch

On the football pitch Paul Scholes is as his manager said "A master of his trade" and off the football pitch he is the quiet family man who as Arsene Wenger said " Is not one who runs after the media to be in the papers. I respect that a lot."

Eric Harrison, the former Man Utd youth team manager said: "The first time I saw him as a 14-year old he took my breath away." Ever since his debut as a teenager in a league cup game against Port Vale where he scored both goals in a 2-1 victory Scholes has never looked back. Now in his 17th season at Man Utd the former England midfielder has won nine league titles, three FA Cups, two League Cups and two Champions League trophies.


Scholes has never won any individual honours but has gained many admirers across europe for what he produces on the football pitch.


Italian World Cup winning manager Marcelo Lippi: "Paul Scholes would have been one of my first choices for putting together a great team."

France manager Laurent Blanc: "I tell anyone who asks me - Scholes is the best English player."

Former Holland international Edger Davids: "I'm not the best, Paul Scholes is."

Arsenal Captain Cesc Fabregas: "He is the one whose level I aspire to. He is the best in the Premier League."

Former France international Patrick Vieira: "The player in the Premiership I admire most? Easy - Scholes

Former teammate David Beckham: "He's always one of those people others talk about. Even at Real Madrid the players always say to me 'what's he like?' They respect him as a footballer and to have that respect from some of those players is great."


Off the pitch the Man Utd midfielder has a lifestyle that is not that of a percieved stereotypical footballer. He described his ideal day as "Train in the morning, pick up the kids from school, play with them, have tea, get them to bed and then watch a bit of TV." Most top footballers would have to go and fufill sponsorship duties by be in adverts but not Scholes who when asked about not having any sponsorship deals said: "Maybe I'm not good looking enough".


When he does finally retire Scholes will become a coach at Man Utd where he will probably help coach the youngsters at the club. Who better for youngsters to learn from than a man who is rodel model for young footballers all around the world and who the great Zinedine Zidane described saying " My toughest opponent? Scholes of Manchester. He is the complete midfielder. Scholes is undoubtedly the best midfielder of his generation." Zidane should know since he played in the same generation as Paul Scholes.

Welcome To The Golden Age of Spanish Sport

The German Grand Prix winner, Tour De France winner, World Cup Final goalscorer and Wimbledon tennis champion, what do they all have in common? They are Spanish and they are Winners.


The Spainsh football team won the World Cup for the first time in their history after Andreas Iniesta scored the only goal of the final in extra time. Spain were given the tag of being 'perennial underachievers' however after winning the World Cup to add to their European Championship success in 2008 that tag has dissapeared and has now been given to England.


Rafael Nadal the tennis player began this golden age when at the age of 19 he won the French Open grand slam and has since won four more along with one Australian Open and two Wimbledon's along with an Olympic gold medal in mens singles tennis at Beijing. After winning his second Wimbledon title this year Nadal became the World No.1 ranked tennis player.


In the same year Nadal won his first French Open another Spainard became a world champion in Formula One. Fernando Alonso became world champion in 2005 driving for the Renault F1 team making him the youngest drivers champion in the history of Formula One at 24 years and 58 days. Alonso then became a double world champion as he defended his drivers championship the following year.


After the success of Fernando Alonso in Formula One came another Spainard who brought success on two wheels rather then four. Alberto Contador the road bicycle racer won the Tour de France in 2007 for the first time. He was unable to defend his crown the following year when another Spainard, Carlos Sastre won. However Contador came back and won it again in 2009 and again this year.


Even in Basketball Spain can say they have a champion. Pau Gasol is a Spanish basketball player playing in the USA for the Los Angeles Lakers who have won back-to-back NBA Championships in 2009 and this year.


With Spain producing all these successful sportsmen it makes you wonder when the success will stop coming. With these sportsmen still around there will still be success coming in the direction of Spain for quite a few more years yet.

800 and out for Murali

Muttiah Muralitharan retired from test cricket after taking 800 wickets for Sri Lanka with his last wicket coming from his final delivery in test cricket against India.


His figures are amazing having taken 800 wickets in 133 test matches which includes 5 wicket hauls on 67 occasioins and 10 wicket hauls on 22 occasions. Shane Warne, the former australian leg-spinner is second on the all time test wicket takers with 708 wickets in 145 test matches.


During his career Muralitharan has courted controversy about his bowling action and some even said that he was cheating and called him a 'chucker'. However it was proven using technology that there was nothing wrong with his bowling action and wickets kept on coming for the off-spinner.


As Murali bows out of test cricket he will be remembered as one of the nicest men in cricket who played the game with a smile on his face. A unique performer with a one-of-a-kind bowling action that will never be seen again. There will never be another Murali, because nobody bowls likes Murali.

Avatar sales prove 3D may not be the future

Avatar, the movie which broke box office records in 3D has also broken DVD and Blu-ray sales in 2D.
The 3D fantasy adventure movie directed by James Cameron broke became the most successful movie ever by collecting $2.7 billion worldwide beating Titanic which was also directed by James Cameron.

However when it was released in 2D on DVD and Blu-ray in North America it became the fastest selling home entertainment release of all time selling 6.7 million DVDs and Blu-rays in four days of which four million are DVDs and 2.7 million are Blu-rays. The sales brought in $130m beating the previous record holder in the USA and Canada which was The Dark Knight. Avatar has also broken the UK Blu-ray sales record by selling 222,824 copies on Monday 26th April which is more than the previous record holder The Dark Knight sold in its first week.

With the high number of sales of Avatar on DVD and Blu-ray in 2D this shows that 3D may not be the future in watching movies. Cameron however has confirmed that Avatar will be re-released in cinemas in 3D on August 27, 2010 which will include eight extra minutes of footage. We will have to wait and see whether these extra eight minutes of footage will bring back the 3D viewers or that 3D may not be the future of watching movies.

Lord Triesman quits as FA and England 2018 bid chairman

Lord Triesman is to stand down as chairman of the Football Association as well as the England 2018 World Cup bid.

Triesman confirmed he would be quitting in the wake of a damaging report in the Mail On Sunday. The newspaper article said he suggested Spain could drop its 2018 bid if rival bidder Russia helped bribe referees at this summer's World Cup. The England 2018 team has apologised to the Russian and Spanish FAs as it tries to rescue the World Cup bid with a Fifa decision due in December.

"I have decided to resign as chairman of the FA and the 2018 Bid board," Triesman said in a statement.

"A private conversation with someone whom I thought to be a friend was taped without my knowledge and passed to a national newspaper," he added, referring to former aide Melissa Jacobs, who met Triesman a fortnight ago.

"That same friend has also chosen to greatly exaggerate the extent of our friendship.

"In that conversation I commentated on speculation circulating about conspiracies around the world. Those comments were never intended to be taken seriously, as indeed is the case with many private conversations.

"Entrapment, especially by a friend, is an unpleasant experience both for my family and me but it leaves me with no alternative but to resign."

Triesman's resignation statement followed an FA board meeting that lasted over two hours. David Sheepshanks and Roger Burden have been named acting joint chairmen of the FA following Triesman's resignation.

Cameron and Clegg form Coalition goverment

The coalition goverment is the first time the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have had a power-sharing deal at Westminster and the first coalition in the UK since the Second World War.

David Cameron's arrival in Downing Street marks the end of 13 years of Labour rule. The Conservatives won the most seats in last week's general election, but not enough to secure an overall Commons majority, resulting in a hung Parliament. After days of talks with the Lib Dems - the UK's third biggest party - a deal was reached on Tuesday that resulted in Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown resigning.

In a joint press conference in the Downing Street garden, Mr Cameron said the coalition government could mark a "historic and seismic shift" in British politics. Both laughed off differences between the parties and animosity in the past - Mr Cameron apologising after a past description of Mr Clegg as a joke was brought up by a reporter.

After it became clear Labour could not reach an agreement with the Lib Dems that would have allowed them to remain in power, Gordon Brown tendered his resignation, saying it had been a privilege to serve "this country I love".

Gordon Brown resigns as UK prime minister

Gordon Brown has resigned as UK prime minister after three years. Mr Brown officially tendered his resignation to the Queen at Buckingham Palace, with Conservative leader David Cameron set to succeed him.

Speaking alongside his wife Sarah outside No 10 Downing Street, he said the job had been "a privilege" and wished his successor well. His decision comes as the Tories and Liberal Democrats are poised to agree a deal to form a government.

His resignation follows Thursday's general election in which no party won an overall majority but the Conservatives won the most seats and votes. Both Labour and the Tories have since been trying to persuade the Lib Dems to join them in a coalition government to run the country. Mr Brown had previously said he would resign as Labour leader, but stay on as prime minister until September, if Labour could agree a deal with the Lib Dems.

Deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman is to become Labour leader until a replacement is elected. Mr Brown succeeded Tony Blair as prime minister in June 2007 after spending ten years as chancellor of the exchequer.

There's no place like home for Beckham

No I am not talking about his home in LA but the home where he was loved by thousands and still is. Before Posh Spice came into Beckham's life his first love was football, it was Manchester United and the Theatre of Dreams. Old Trafford was where the former United player always dreamt of playing football and it was where he made all his dreams come true.

Having began his career at United coming through into the first team with the successful youth winning team which included Scholes, Butt and close friend Gary Neville he wanted to be a one club man and stay at United throughout the whole of his footballing career. After the World Cup in 1998 which saw the England international sent off against Argentina making hime public enemy No. 1 for fans across the country one group of fans always stayed behind him during the difficult times that followed an they were the Unitd fans at Old Trafford. That helped Beckham contribute to Manchester United winning the Treble but after that his life had changed forever.

The England international married Victoria and soon became England captain. His greatest moment came scoring that freekick against Greece at Old Trafford to send England to the 2002 World Cup. He went to World Cup after breaking his metatasal and recieved a welcome fit for a worldwide celebrity rather then a footballer. This then led to a strained relationship with club manager Sir Alex Ferguson which led to the famous flying boot incident where Fergusong kicked a boot at Beckham in the dressing room after an F.A Cup loss to Arsenal at Old Trafford.

This led to Beckham being sold to Real Madrid in the summer and being replaced in the team by Cristiano Ronaldo who was brought in the same summer and who recieved the famous No. 7 shirt vacated by Beckham. After Madrid where he won the league title under Fabio Capello, the current England manager he went to LA to play in the MLS for Los Angeles Galaxy where he was in a city suited to his celebrity status but not his footballing one.

He now returns home to Old Trafford with AC Milan to knock United out of the Champions League after losing the first leg 2-3 at the San Siro. Whether he starts or comes on as a substitue Beckham will get a big cheer because he has returned home where who he describes as his "father figure" will be (Sir Alex Ferguson) and where fans who loved him during his United career will be chanting his name but hoping for the only time at Old Trafford he is in the loosing team. After all at home you may be loved and your father can get angry at you at one time and punish you but at one point not everybody at home will like you to succeed and that time has come for David Beckham at his home called Old Trafford.

How John Terry went from Hero to Zero

John Terry the Chelsea captain has shown his true colours in the past month as a man who feels he is above anything.

The Chelsea defender was unsuccessful in getting a "super injunction" to keep the story of him having an affair with former Chelsea team mate and former best friend Wayne Bridge's ex-girlfriend Vannessa Perroncel who also happens to be the mother of Bridge's child a secret. Terry not only had an affair with Perroncel but also got her pregnent which lead to her getting an abortion and being paid off around £800,000 by Terry for not revealing the details of their affair.

Fabio Capello has since stripped Terry of the England captaincy and has confirmed that he will never captain England again as long as he is the England manager. Rio Ferdinand has since been promoted from vice-captain to the captain of the England team with Steven Gerrard promoted from third choice to vice-captain.

This sex scandal has led to Bridge removing himself from being selected for future England squads including the World Cup as he feels he can't play in the same team as the Chelsea skipper which is understandable.

Terry has shown his arrogance throughout by not even apoligising to the Man City left back. This is why Bridge refused to shake Terry's hand before the Chelsea v Man City game on Saturday, showing whatever friendship the two had has now finished.

The former England skipper is getting booed by all club fans except his own and he may even get booed by England fans against Egypt on Wednesday showing what England fans think about Terry the footballer who has or can ruin Englands chances of winning the World Cup and as a person who is seen as a selfish and arrogant man who cares about nobody but himself and doesn't take into account the consequences of his actions.