Baines key figure as Hodgson casts off shackles

London (AFP) - Leighton Baines repaid Roy Hodgson's decision to throw caution to the wind with a pivotal performance as England swept to the World Cup on an unexpected wave of optimism on Tuesday.

Everton defender Baines provided the assist as Manchester United star Wayne Rooney got the vital, nerve-settling opening goal in a 2-0 win over Poland at Wembley that booked England's place in Brazil next year.

It was a superbly constructed goal that perfectly epitomised the upbeat mood suddenly energising England as their road to Rio reached a conclusion that was hard to imagine only a few weeks ago.

Just last month, England manager Hodgson was being chastised for his team's negative tactics and dour approach in a 0-0 draw against Ukraine in Kiev that left their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup on a knife-edge.

The criticism struck a nerve with the usually placid Hodgson, who took a verbal swipe at Gary Lineker in response to the former England striker's claim that the performance in Ukraine "awful".

But fast forward five weeks and the transformation since that dispiriting evening in Eastern Europe has been remarkable.

In the space of five days, England have produced the two most entertaining performances of Hodgson's reign under the most intense pressure and buccaneering left-back Baines has been key to the revival.

After adopting a safety-first approach for much of his reign since succeeding Fabio Capello just before Euro 2012, Hodgson finally cast off his shackles against Montenegro on Friday and was rewarded with a 4-1 victory that put England on the brink of the finals with one match to play.

Tottenham winger Andros Townsend's man of the match display on his debut earned all the headlines that night, but equally significant was the way England's four-man forward line pressed the visitors back with help from the full-backs, who often linked up as auxiliary attackers.

Both Baines and right-back Kyle Walker joined in the attacks whenever possible in a way that Hodgson never would have allowed in the early days of his reign.

With Walker suspended against Poland, it was left to Baines to prove the extra width in the decisive clash against Poland and he rose to the challenge.

An efficient defensive display, highlighted by his astute reading of the game, kept Polish dangerman Jakub Blaszczykowski subdued for long periods, but Baines' biggest impact came in the 41st minute when he surged onto Michael Carrick's pass and whipped over a teasing cross that Rooney met with a glancing header past Wojciech Szczesny.

Time and again Baines was a thorn in Poland's side and it was hard to recall he was only playing due to the rib injury that left Chelsea's Ashley Cole on the sidelines.

But for all Cole's undoubted talents, he no longer plays with the vibrancy that Baines bring to the table.

Hodgson will have noticed that England were hardly undone by Cole's absence and a strong case can be made that Baines has proved he merits the starting left-back spot when the World Cup gets under way.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/baines-key-figure-hodgson-casts-off-shackles-212827816--sow.html
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Jude Law's Son Makes Acting Debut in Experimental Short Film

LONDON –­ Avant-garde U.K. director Ben Charles Edwards' short film Dotty could signal the beginning of a fresh British acting dynasty. The film stars nine-year-old Rudy Law, son of Jude Law and ex-wife Sadie Frost.

Frost and Law junior star alongside each other in Edwards' take on a classic American children's fantasy. Co-written with Dominic Wells, Dotty details the story of a lonely child who stumbles across an old caravan while wandering across the Nevada desert and meets the eccentric old woman of the story's title.

PHOTOS: Hollywood Dynasties: Top 14 Movies Featuring Stars and Their Kids

The short is due to premiere ahead of Dom Hemmingway, the British crime thriller starring Jude Law, at a screening in London on Oct. 20. It will then stream via Ben Charles Edwards site from November 2013.

Shot on location in Nevada, the film is a true family affair, produced by Frost's own banner, Blonde to Black Pictures. She produced the film with Emma Comley ­and Edwards, with Andrew Green as executive producer.

Edwards said Frost "was teaching Rudy a lot whilst we were on set," describing the filmmaking process as "just charming."

"It was beautiful moments to witness, watching a mum and a son work like that," he added.

Edwards also told THR that Jude Law gave input on the film.

"So it really was a family effort, because the suggestions that Jude made to the edit hugely strengthened the project by helping with the structure -- adding shots, taking them away. Jude really got the balance right."

Frost described the title character as fun. "I love playing characters that are very different from me, where I can completely transform myself. So Dotty is a kooky, eccentric old lady -- I love the way she dances." 

Dotty marks Edwards' eighth outing behind the camera. He has also collaborated with artists and talent such as Russian conceptual artist Andrey Bartenev (for a photography exhibit at the Russian Museum of Modern Art), Zandra Rhodes, artist Piers Atkinson, musician and DJ Boy George and the fashion world¹s Giles Deacon at Vogue Italia.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/thr/international/~3/CPKKB6i6saw/story01.htm
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U.S. Air Force fires general overseeing nuclear missiles

By Phil Stewart and David Alexander

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The two-star general overseeing the U.S. arsenal of intercontinental missiles was fired on Friday for personal misbehavior, the Air Force said, adding the matter was not tied to the readiness or security of America's nuclear missiles.

The removal of Major General Michael Carey from his job as commander of the 20th Air Force was the latest in a string of recent high-profile firings of top U.S. generals.

Just two days ago, the deputy commander of U.S. Strategic Command, which oversees America's nuclear arsenal and space operations, was relieved of his post during an investigation into gambling issues. Last week, two Marine generals were fired for failing to properly defend a base in Afghanistan from a deadly 2012 Taliban attack.

The Air Force did not disclose what exactly Carey did wrong but provided a laundry list of things he wasn't being accused of, including sexual misconduct, adultery or drug use.

The investigation didn't relate to operational matters or readiness and there was no indication of criminal activity, although the investigation is not over, it said.

"There was misbehavior such that (his superior) decided that it didn't exemplify the trust and responsibilities required of a commander who was responsible for these nuclear forces," said Brigadier General Les Kodlick, an Air Force spokesman.

"The nuclear deterrence mission is one of great focus and discipline. Personal behavior is vital to that, especially from a commander."

Headquartered at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming, the 20th Air Force is responsible for the nation's three intercontinental ballistic missile wings.

The Air Force's management of those missiles has come under intense scrutiny in recent months. Some 19 missile crew members at 91st Missile Wing at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota were decertified after a poor showing in a March inspection.

In August, the 341st Missile wing at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana got a failing grade in its inspection, which cited "tactical-level errors during one of several exercises.

Still, the Air Force denied the inspections had anything to do with Carey's removal. Carey remains in the Air Force as the investigation continues but will be reassigned, Kodlick said.

"20th AF continues to execute its mission of around-the-clock nuclear deterrence in a safe, secure and effective manner," Lieutenant General James Kowalski, commander of the Air Force Global Strike Command, said in a statement.

"It's unfortunate that I've had to relieve an officer who's had an otherwise distinctive career spanning 35 years of commendable service."

The Air Force has sought to tighten controls over its nuclear weapons after a 2008 incident in which a B-52 bomber accidentally transported nuclear armed missiles across the country.

That led to the ouster of then-Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne and General T. Michael Moseley, the top uniformed officer in the Air Force.

(Reporting by Phil Stewart and David Alexander; Editing by Doina Chiacu)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/u-major-general-overseeing-nuclear-missiles-fired-official-160212138.html
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China able to achieve major economic targets this year: Premier

BEIJING (Reuters) - China has the basic foundations to meet its major economic targets this year and the upward trend of the economy will continue, Premier Li Keqiang was quoted as saying in remarks published on Tuesday.

Li made the comments in a media conference during an official visit to Vietnam. They were reported by the official Xinhua news agency.

The Chinese government has set an annual target of 7.5 percent growth for its gross domestic product in 2013.

Li was also quoted as saying the country has the necessary means to control consumer inflation at a level around 3.5 percent for this year, the official goal.

(Reporting by Aileen Wang and Jonathan Standing)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/china-able-achieve-major-economic-targets-premier-101512787--business.html
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Today is a great day to give some money to Wendy Davis’ campaign (Offthekuff)

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They're talking? Really? Republicans, Obama have 'productive' meeting on debt, shutdown

There was no agreement reached on Thursday night by top House Republicans and President Barack Obama to raise the nation's debt ceiling or to reopen the government — but there was progress: They're talking.

For the first time in the partisan stalemate that has crippled Washington, the two sides emerged from the White House confab saying they might be able to work something out.

The responses from both sides reflected a marked shift in tone between Republicans and Democrats, the first since the federal government shut down on Oct. 1.

Each side emerged from the meeting to say they would continue negotiations.

"It was clarifying to both sides as to where we are," Republican House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said when he returned to the Capitol Building on Thursday. "The takeaway from the meeting was, our teams are going to be talking further tonight. We'll have more discussion. ... The president said he would go and consult with the administration folks, and hopefully we can see a way forward after that."

Cantor added that the talks were "very useful" but would not elaborate. Republican House Speaker John Boehner was silent when he entered the Capitol before disappearing into his office, but a senior leadership aide said it was " productive."

A White House statement released after the meeting did not indicate that the GOP proposal had been rejected or accepted, but it said the president "looks forward to making continued progress" with Republicans.

"The President had a good meeting with members of the House Republican Leadership," the White House noted.

"After a discussion about potential paths forward, no specific determination was made," the statement said.

House Republicans are proposing a plan to raise the federal borrowing limit for six weeks, which would be passed before Oct. 17, the date the Treasury Department says is the final day the government can make payments on all its debts. The proposal, however, would not reopen the federal government, which Democrats want as part of the deal. The government has been shut down since Oct. 1.

The offer of a short-term debt ceiling increase would provide more time to continue the debate over the government shutdown, which Boehner reiterated in a floor speech on Wednesday would include a demand to delay parts of the 2010 federal health care law.

Without a solution to the ongoing government shutdown, possibilities for serious negotiations are limited. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said on Thursday that until House Republicans agreed to reopen the government without any strings attached, broad negotiations over the budget were "not going to happen."

Senate Republicans are planning to hold a similar meeting with Obama on Friday morning.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/new-gop-offer--temporarily-aise-the-debt-limit--then-negotiate-over-shutdown-154918931.html
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