50 Cent's manager is found dead in apparent suicide

Music manager Chris Lighty, who helped the careers of stars like 50 Cent and Mariah Carey, has been found dead at his flat in New York.

Police say the shooting appears to be a suicide and that there were no signs of forced entry.

Rest peacefully Chris Lighty, my prayers go out to family and loved ones! Dear God please have mercy

         Rihanna

The 44-year-old had been going through a divorce and had been having financial and other personal problems.
Stars including Rihanna, Nicki Minaj and Diddy have been paying tribute to the hip hop businessman on Twitter.
Rihanna posted: "Rest peacefully Chris Lighty, my prayers go out to family and loved ones! Dear God please have mercy."
Nicki Minaj said: "Another tragic & inconceivable loss for the culture. #RIPChrisLighty."
Diddy wrote: "In shock," while Mary J. Blige said: "U never know what can send a person over the edge or make them want 2 keep living. take it easy on people."
'Greatly missed' 50 Cent issued a statement through his publicist saying that he was saddened by the loss.
"Chris has been an important part of my business and personal growth for a decade," he said.
Chris Lighty was behind 50 Cent as well as Diddy and Mariah Carey "He was a good friend and adviser who helped me develop as an artist and businessman.
"My prayers are with his family. He will be greatly missed."
Police say no suicide note was found at Chris Lighty's home in the Bronx but a 9mm handgun had been recovered.
His body was found on Thursday morning (30 August).
Chris Lighty, who had two children, had been a part of the hip hop scene for decades.
During his career he worked with stars like LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliott and Fat Joe and initially worked for Rush Management, Russell Simmons' first company before he founded rap record label Def Jam.
He set up his own management company, Violator, in the late 1990s.
In a 2007 interview for Associated Press (AP), Chris Lighty talked about how his stars could make money outside music.
He said: "As music sales go down because kids are stealing it off the internet and trading it and MP3 sales continue to rise, you can't rely on just the income that you would make off being an artist."

Daniel Sturridge: Liverpool make loan move for Chelsea forward

By Ben Smith BBC Sport

Liverpool have launched a bid take Daniel Sturridge on loan from Chelsea.

Negotiations began between the clubs began late on Thursday night, just hours after Liverpool allowed Andy Carroll to join West Ham on loan.
Chelsea are understood to be open to allowing the 22-year-old England player to leave on loan, but Tottenham are also interested.
 
Liverpool's Charlie Adam is expected to join Stoke for £5m on Friday, having undergone a medical.
Jay Spearing will also leave Anfield to join Bolton on a six-month loan deal, having undergone a medical at the Reebok Stadium.
The future of Sturridge may depend on Chelsea's pursuit of Bayer Leverkusen's Germany forward Andre Schurrle.
The Germany international is valued at £20m, with Chelsea offering £16m. Sturridge is currently with the European champions in Monaco for Friday evening's European Super Cup against Atletico Madrid.

Rafael van der Vaart: Tottenham midfielder set for Hamburg move

Tottenham midfielder Rafael van der Vaart is travelling to former club Hamburg to undergo a medical.

The 29-year-old's agent, Robert Geerlings, has confirmed the Netherlands international is on his way to the German club.
 
A fee of around £10.5m is reported to have been agreed between the two clubs.
Van der Vaart has spent the last two seasons at Tottenham after joining from Real Madrid on transfer deadline day 2010.
He scored 15 times in 36 appearances during his first season and then racked up 13 goals the following campaign.
A move to Hamburg would see him return to the club he spent three years at from 2005, making over 90 appearances and scoring 39 goals.

Pentagon may sue author of Bin Laden book No Easy Day

 

A surge in orders for the book has sent it to the top of the bestseller lists

The Pentagon says it may sue a former US special forces member who has written a first-hand account of the May 2011 raid that killed Osama Bin Laden.

The Department of Defense's top lawyer has informed the former Navy Seal that he has violated agreements not to divulge military secrets.
He signed two non-disclosure forms with the Navy in 2007, the Pentagon said.
The book, No Easy Day, which was written under the pseudonym Mark Owen, is due to be released next week.
It was not reviewed ahead of publication by the Pentagon, CIA or the White House - and officials had warned that criminal charges could result from the improper disclosure of secret information.
'Material breach' The Pentagon's general counsel, Jeh Johnson, wrote to the author on Thursday that his non-disclosure forms had obliged him to "never divulge" classified information.
The letter said: "In the judgment of the Department of Defense, you are in material breach and violation of the non-disclosure agreements you signed."
The Pentagon is considering "all remedies legally available to us", the letter added.
It was reported this week that No Easy Day contradicts the official story of the raid.
The book says Bin Laden was shot dead as soon as he looked out of his bedroom as Seals rushed up the stairs, according to the Associated Press news agency, which has seen an advance copy.
But US officials have stated he was shot only after he had ducked back into the bedroom, prompting fears he might be grabbing a weapon.
The book also reveals that the commandos were not big fans of US President Barack Obama, even though they applauded his decision to launch the operation.

Roman Abramovich wins court battle against Berezovsky

 

Mr Berezovsky (left) and Mr Abramovich both have homes in London

Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich has won his legal battle against exiled Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky.

Mr Berezovsky, 65, claimed to have been a business partner of Mr Abramovich, 45, and accused him of a breach of trust and breach of contract.
He said he was intimidated into selling shares in Russian oil giant Sibneft for a "fraction of their true worth" and claimed some £3bn ($4.7bn) in damages.
But the London Commercial Court judge Mrs Justice Gloster ruled against him.
In her ruling Mrs Justice Gloster said she found Mr Abramovich "to be a truthful, and on the whole reliable, witness".
She said she dismissed Mr Berezovsky's claims in relation to Sibneft and RusAl "in their entirety".
'Political godfather' Mr Berezovsky, who had also claimed Mr Abramovich broke a promise in a deal involving a Russian aluminium company, was in court but there was no sign of Mr Abramovich.
Mr Abramovich said Mr Berezovsky was paid millions of pounds for his services as a "political godfather" but was not a business partner.

BATTLE OF THE OLIGARCHS TRIAL

• Mr Abramovich objected about the hearing taking place in the UK, claiming it was "essentially Russian claims arising out of a uniquely Russian story".
• The trial used new technology, called MagnumCloud, which gave the judge and lawyers secure access to documents from computers in the courtroom.
• The Queen spent several minutes in the courtroom where the case was heard during a visit in December when she chatted to Mrs Justice Gloster.

The court heard Mr Berezovsky "fled Russia, never to return" in 2000, after falling out with then president Vladimir Putin.

Both men have homes in London, with Mr Abramovich owning a property in Knightsbridge as well as a 400-acre estate in Fyning, West Sussex.
On his arrival in court on Friday Mr Berezovsky, who now faces a huge legal bill, told reporters: "I believe in the system."
During the three-month trial, which is thought to have cost millions of pounds in legal costs, the court heard details of the lifestyles of Russia's super-rich oligarchs.

The pair, pictured in Moscow in 2000, later fell out after Mr Berezovsky fled Russia

Mr Berezovsky claimed Mr Abramovich was a "gangster" while Mr Abramovich responded by saying there were times when Mr Berezovsky was "something of a megalomaniac".
The hearing was told Mr Abramovich bought a businessman a plane to say thank you after one deal.
Mr Berezovsky told the court he was born in Moscow, studied mechanics and mathematics and worked as a designer for Russian state car maker AvtoVAZ in the 1970s, before going into business in the 1980s.
Dr Evil text In the 1990s, following the collapse of communism, Mr Berezovsky embarked on a political career and Mr Abramovich's lawyers claimed he was a "power broker" and a "highly controversial figure".
The hearing was told Mr Berezovsky's expenses - including "palaces in France", "private aircraft", "valuable paintings" and "jewellery for his girlfriend" - were paid for by Mr Abramovich.
The two oligarchs first met in 1994, when Mr Abramovich was a 28-year-old oil trader who dreamed of creating a "vertically-integrated" oil company.
Mr Abramovich's lawyers said Mr Berezovsky saw the idea as "offering the opportunity for great wealth".
Mr Abramovich told the court he left school at 16 and served in the Red Army before beginning his business career by selling plastic toys.
He said he had "never aspired to be a public figure" and, in a written statement, listed the acquisition of Chelsea in 2003 under "political and charitable" activities.
Accusations and counter-accusations were hurled during the trial.
One of Mr Abramovich's business partners said Mr Berezovsky had threatened a former employee in a text message signed Dr Evil.
Mr Berezovsky denied it and claimed Mr Abramovich was "ruthless" but "good at getting people to like him".

Fifty Shades of Grey: Are children able to buy it?

Fifty Shades of Grey's success highlights the lack of age restriction on selling erotic fiction. Why are books freely available to children when other media are highly policed?

Teenagers sneaking into 18-certificate movies featuring sex or violence - by pretending to be older than they are - has long been a rite of passage. Their efforts are attempts to avoid a long-established regulatory framework.
But for the same teenager to go into their local bookshop and buy Anais Nin's short stories, Brett Easton Ellis's American Psycho or Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita - all of which involve either explicit sex or violence - is perfectly legal.
The huge commercial success of Fifty Shades of Grey has brought erotic fiction into shops and supermarkets like never before. Last weekend eight of the top 10 on the Sunday Times bestseller list were erotic fiction.
Unlike television - with its nine o'clock watershed - and the age classification of films and video games, and even the labelling of explicit lyrics on music, there is no age restriction on buying books in the UK.

And yet there is apparently little in the way of moral panic about children getting hold of Fifty Shades, a paean to sadomasochism. Children's author GP Taylor has been something of a lone voice, arguing that EL James's novel would leave children "with a view of sex which is warped".

A trip to Daunt's, the venerable bookshop in London's Marylebone, offers a good example of the apparent double standard afforded to literature.

On a shelf behind the counter, nestling next to the latest John Banville novel, is the cellophane-wrapped Shades trilogy.

It's not on the top shelf. Nor is there any sticker warning of "adult content". So does the bookshop have a policy on selling Fifty Shades to children?
Ben Paynter, the bespectacled well-spoken bookseller on duty, says they would be "mad" not to promote Fifty Shades in this way - it's probably their top seller. But he would have qualms about children getting their hands on it.
"I haven't seen any children buying it. I've sold it to girls in their mid teens, probably about 15 or 16. With children up to the age of 13 you have more of a responsibility. And their parents might come back at you." In short, he would sell the book to teenagers but not younger children.
Waterstones has issued guidance to staff on its intranet. "In the event a child tried to buy it, our booksellers would refuse to sell it," a spokesman says. But the age at which it becomes acceptable is not spelled out and readers are unlikely to be asked for ID.

Psychologist's view

"Broadcasting explicit depictions of sex leaves little to the imagination. Such portrayals are 'in your face' and once a child has been exposed to them, the experience cannot be taken back," says Barrie Gunter, professor of mass communication at the University of Leicester.
"Books are different. Texts require us as readers to conjure up our own images of the events and people described. This means we are protected by our imaginations. Children's imaginations - because of their limited life experiences - accord them even more protection.
"With books that are about sex, there may be concerns about the embarrassment factor. They might prompt kids to ask mum and dad awkward questions about sex. But there is much less reason to be concerned about the harm factor because the younger the child the less they are likely to relate to adult themes."

In contrast, the Foyles chain has no age policy on the sale of its books, a spokesman says. Tesco, which stocks bestsellers, refuses to comment on Fifty Shades of Grey.

Books are subject to UK laws, such as the Obscene Publications Acts and the Protection of Children Act 1978. And there are laws governing incitement to hatred on racial, religious and sexual orientation grounds.
In 1960 Penguin was prosecuted under the 1959 Obscene Publications Act for publishing the unexpurgated version of DH Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover. The publisher won in what was a landmark ruling for freedom of expression.
But today it is hard to imagine a book's publication being fought over in the Old Bailey. It's not just the law. Culturally, books are seen as benign in contrast to more invasive media like film, video games and the internet.
"There's a difference to being presented with sexually explicit images and imagining what you're reading," says the children's literary critic Amanda Craig. "So in that sense it's more of an elite pursuit."
The anomaly has been highlighted by the success of Fifty Shades but goes wider. Booksellers may have an age policy on this individual bestseller but it is still possible for a curious child to walk into a bookshop and leave with a stack of violent or sex-heavy novels, with no questions asked.

"Perhaps these books should be labelled with 'not as racy as it sounds'”

          Former children's laureate Michael Rosen

Sven Hassel's war novels, Last Exit to Brooklyn, A Clockwork Orange, anything by James Herbert, Nancy Friday's The Secret Garden, Platform by Michel Houellebecq, Trainspotting, and The Story of O would raise eyebrows among many parents.

Adult books are not badged to warn children or their parents.
It is irrational, says Sam Leith, Evening Standard columnist and former literary editor of the Daily Telegraph. "There is a sort of implicit class assumption that you censor the mass media like films, that the weak-minded lower orders might have their minds twisted."
Children stumbling across "dirty books" on a dusty bookcase, because of the more middle class association, is seen as okay.
"I don't think you should censor books but there is this strange anomaly - it's common sense that films can deprave and corrupt, and that books can't."
Like a lot of "commonsense" ideas, it's totally wrong, Leith argues.

Books which have caused a stir

• Lady Chatterley's Lover by DH Lawrence (1928) - Obscene Publications Act used in 1960 against Penguin Books for publishing unexpurgated version. Penguin not guilty, ban lifted.
• Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller (1934) - Publication in 1961 in United States led to obscenity trials, but US Supreme Court declared the book not obscene in 1964.
• Last Exit to Brooklyn by Hubert Selby Jr (1964) - subject of successful private prosecution for obscenity in Britain in 1967, brought by Tory MP Sir Cyril Black. Ruling overturned a year later.

When the novel began in the 18th Century, there was a moral panic that women's imaginations would be "enflamed", says former children's laureate Michael Rosen.

But more recently a view has taken hold that words are good and pictures bad. In the 1940s and 50s the equivalent panic was over Marvel comics endangering British youth with their violent pictures. And yet literature has been given a fairly easy ride.
"I suspect it's because people think words are quite difficult. And that children who read a book are somehow incorruptible," Rosen says.
In one sense defenders of books are right, Rosen acknowledges. Children who pick up a copy of Lady Chatterley's Lover or even Fifty Shades of Grey will have to turn a lot of pages concerned with suggestion and reflection before they get to the action. "It's all in the fluttering. Perhaps these books should be labelled with 'not as racy as it sounds'."
Craig, who has teenage children, says any book seems pretty gentle these days compared with what's available elsewhere. She wouldn't leave Fifty Shades of Grey around the house. "I have read that pile of tosh. There are not many rude words. What's alarming is the conflation of sex and violence."
And yet it is nothing in impact compared to what every teenager can get on the their mobile phone, she argues.
"When you know anything about online porn, you know it's something you cannot control. It's quite astonishing what gets passed around on an iPhone. That is so much more immediate and so much more worrying."
   
By Tom de Castella  
BBC News Magazine

Black CNN camerawoman Racially Abused At Republican National Convention

The black CNN camerawoman who had nuts thrown at her at the Republican National Convention said she's "not surprised" by the incident.
"This is Florida, and I'm from the Deep South," Alabama native Patricia Carroll told journalist Richard Prince of the Maynard Institute. "You come to places like this, you can count the black people on your hand. They see us doing things they don't think I should do."
Carroll, 34, was doing her job inside the Tampa Bay Times Forum on Tuesday when two RNC attendees threw nuts at her and said: "This is how we feed animals." They were immediately removed from the forum and were later ejected from the convention, according to media reports.
Carroll said CNN has supported her throughout. And she told Prince that this "could happen to me at the Democratic convention or standing on the street corner. Racism is a global issue."
This should be a wake-up call, she said.
"People were living in euphoria for a while," she told Prince. "People think we've gone further than we have."

Gerrard: Liverpool close to title challenge

By ESPN staff
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has hit back at Sven Goran Eriksson's suggestion that he needs to leave the club in order to win the Premier League.

PA PhotosSteven Gerrard: Liverpool stalwart

Eriksson, who managed Gerrard during his spell as England boss, was quoted on Tuesday saying, "I don't begrudge a good guy like Steven winning the Premier League. But maybe he needs to change clubs if he wants to win that title."
However, Gerrard insists Liverpool are closing on being a title-challenging club, having reached the final of both the League and FA Cup last season. However, they have taken just one point from their first two league matches of this campaign, following Sunday's 2-2 draw with Manchester City.
"Hopefully before I hang my boots up I can realise the dream of winning it - but I'm also realistic as well," Gerrard said on Sky Sports News.
"I don't think we're miles away. Of course we have to be realistic, we finished eighth in the league last year but we got to two major cup finals which shows we can compete with anyone on our day.
"If we find a better level of consistency we can find ourselves higher up the table than last year."
Brendan Rodgers has backed Gerrard's view, saying: "I think Steven, over the years, has had a number of chances to leave here, and he's always felt that this was a club where he could still win it. He's still got a number of years left in his career and we hope we will fight for it.
"We understand how difficult it's going to be, but I think he'll still feel that the dream is here. I don't think he needs to move anywhere."
Liverpool started their league season with a 3-0 defeat at West Brom, although there was more encouragement for Rodgers and Gerrard in the performance that brought a 2-2 draw against champions Manchester City last Sunday.
Rodgers added: "This is a club which will go through difficult moments. But his dream is to win the Premier League with Liverpool, and I - along with everyone else at the club - will fight for our lives to try to make that possible.
"He's an iconic figure for this football club. His status - everything he's gained in the game - has been through Liverpool Football Club. He's won every major honour you could possibly win at this club. And obviously there's one missing that he will want to fight for the rest of his career to win here.
"Thankfully with Steven, he's realistic as well. He knows the reality. He's not misguided. Sven obviously had his reasons for saying what he said. But I'm delighted with Steven's contribution. He's been brilliant since I've been here.
"I've seen in from the outside, but from working with him, as a man and as a player, he's a wonderful role model for everyone here. So let's see if we can fight to win it ourselves, and hope that he can stay here and be a real ambassador for the club."

Adam must leave Liverpool to play

By Mike Whalley

Charlie Adam has been warned by his manager that he may have to leave Liverpool if he wants regular first-team football.

PA PhotosCharlie Adam had been planning to stay at Anfield this season

Brendan Rodgers has indicated to Adam that he will only be a squad player at Anfield this season. Adam was not involved on Sunday as Liverpool drew 2-2 with Premier League champions Manchester City, and is understood to have acknowledged that he needs to move on.
The 26-year-old, who arrived from Blackpool last summer, has been linked with Everton and Fulham, although it is not thought either club could match his salary at Anfield.
Rodgers said: "I've been open and up front with all our players. I think you saw on Sunday that our spirit is very strong in the group.
"But the reality is that players want to play. Everyone knows where they stand at the moment, and over the next few days, one or two of them might have decisions to make - in terms of whether they want to be a squad player or whether they want to play regular football somewhere else.
"Charlie's a very good player. He'll be a pivotal part of the Scottish national team going forward. He's a terrific player, with a good left foot and he will score goals. And I'm sure he'll do very well for Scotland."

Allen desperate to repay Rodgers

By Mike Whalley

Joe Allen has vowed to repay Brendan Rodgers' faith in him by helping Liverpool to success.

EmpicsAllen: feels he owes Rodgers

Allen, 22, has made an impressive start to his Anfield career since following manager Rodgers from Swansea.
Signing for £15 million just before the start of the season, he was a stand-out player on his home debut as Liverpool drew 2-2 with Manchester City on Sunday.
He has hailed Rodgers' influence on his career, and wants to return the favour by ensuring the manager drags Liverpool back towards the top four after last season's eighth-place finish under Kenny Dalglish.
"He certainly has been a key figure in my career so far," Allen told the Liverpool Echo. "He's a brilliant coach and person, someone who you are desperate to please.
"When someone gives you responsibility and shows faith in you, like he did with me, it makes you desperate to pay it back.
"Although I'd been in and around the squad in previous years at Swansea, Brendan helped me progress my game. And a lot of the other lads in my age bracket felt the same way.
"From the moment he walked through the doors at Swansea, there was a feeling that he was going to take the club on to the next level. And he did.
"I've spoken to the lads here and the feeling I get is that they are looking forward to working underneath him. I think a lot of players will enjoy his training methods and his approach towards everything."

Liverpool's Lucas out 2-3 months

By ESPN.com news services

Liverpool midfielder Lucas has been ruled out for two to three months with a thigh injury, manager Brendan Rodgers said Wednesday.
The Brazil international suffered the injury in the opening minutes of Sunday's Barclays Premier League draw with Manchester City at Anfield.

“ "He is a very courageous guy and very focused. His aim is to get back as quick as he possibly can".
” -- Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, on Lucas

It is a fresh blow for the 25-year-old, who had won his place back in the side after missing most of last season following knee surgery.
"It is very unfortunate. He has worked ever so hard to come back and he has been an outstanding player for me and person off the field as well," Rodgers said. "The indications are two to three months. It is quite a unique injury at the top of his right thigh."
Rodgers, however, is confident after seeing Lucas' response to last year's troubles that he can return to action quickly.
"He's a quick healer so I would hope we would have him back quicker than that, but we won't be rushing him," Rodgers said. "He is a very courageous guy and very focused. His aim is to get back as quick as he possibly can."
Rodgers said Lucas would see a specialist later Wednesday, the results of which will determine whether the midfielder needs surgery or can return after rehabilitation.
Lucas posted a message on Twitter on Wednesday after Rodgers' announcement.
He wrote: "No words to describe my feelings at the moment. It has been hard to be positive but I am sure better days will come. YNWA."
Lucas' injury could allow an opportunity for new loan signing Nuri Sahin, brought in on a one-year deal from Real Madrid, to make his debut against Arsenal this weekend.
The Turkey international is ineligible for the Europa League qualifying round playoff second leg against Hearts.
Information from Press Association was used in this report.

Andy Carroll: Liverpool striker keen to stay at Anfield and fight for place

By Ben Smith BBC Sport

Andy Carroll wants to stay at Anfield and fight for his place despite Liverpool's attempts to move him on before the transfer window closes.

Manager Brendan Rodgers has tried to persuade the striker to accept his time at the club is over as he attempts to raise funds for new signings.
 

Andy Carroll career stats

• Newcastle (2006-11): 91 games, 33 goals
• Preston (loan Aug 2007-08): 12 appearances, 1 goal
• Liverpool (2011-present): 57 appearances, 11 goals
• England (2010-present): 7 appearances, 2 goals

But Carroll remains committed to Liverpool, having already turned down one proposed move to West Ham.

Newcastle's offer to take Carroll on a season-long loan remains on the table.
Liverpool must raise funds in order to step up their interest in Fulham forward Clint Dempsey, while Arsenal's Theo Walcott also remains a target.
With Charlie Adam attracting interest from Stoke City and Fenerbahce, and Jay Spearing likely to leave on loan to either Bolton or Wolves, Liverpool may be able to free up the funds to make an offer for Dempsey in the next 24 hours.
But unless a fresh injection of investment is made available to Rodgers, he must convince Carroll that a move away from Anfield represents the best step for his career.

“ I don't think we are in a position to have £35m players as third-choice strikers”

           Brendan Rodgers

There remains a slight possibility that West Ham may revive their interest in the 23-year-old by making an improved offer, but it is understood the club may need to sell a player first to free up cash.

While Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has admitted he would welcome the addition of Carroll, the clubs have not discussed the matter since Liverpool dismissed Newcastle's initial offer out of hand.
Carroll will play no part in the Europa League play-off round, second leg against Hearts on Thursday night.
"The reality is, financially, we need to repair, so the players being linked for the money mentioned, I don't have the ability to sign in this window," Rodgers said.
"I respect players and I'm precise with my information so they know where they stand. We all come into the profession knowing what the job is. Ultimately, it comes down to what your objective is as a player.
"I can only be straight. I've made it clear I have a 1 to 11, cover players and development players. Some of the development players may become starters. If you fit outside that, I will tell you. Then it's up to the player. Does the player want to play football?
"You don't need to be a rocket scientist to see Andy has been a cover player for us and has been excellent in terms of his attitude and acceptance of where he is at, but as a football club, I don't think we are in a position to have £35m players as third-choice strikers, or wingers who are on £5m-£6m a year. This is the challenge I have."

Liverpool eager to offload duo

By Mike Whalley
Liverpool are ready to sell Andy Carroll to West Ham United and Charlie Adam to Stoke in a bid to finance one last push to sign Arsenal forward Theo Walcott.

PA PhotosAndy Carroll and Charlie Adam: For sale?

West Ham have indicated they are still interested in a last-minute deal for Carroll, even though he has made it clear he does not want to leave Anfield.
The two clubs, though, have agreed a £20 million package should the England striker be convinced to change his mind.
That deal would see West Ham take Carroll on a season-long loan initially, paying his £80,000-a-week wages in full, and then sign him permanently for £17 million if they avoid relegation.
The 23-year-old has been told by manager Brendan Rodgers that he will only be a squad player if he stays at Anfield.
Rodgers has given the same message to midfielder Adam, with Stoke understood to have made a bid of around £4 million on Wednesday.
Liverpool's tight financial constraints mean that Rodgers has to sell before he can buy.
"I don't think we are in a position to have £35 million players as third choice strikers," Rodgers said in reference to Carroll's situation.
"It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that Andy has been a cover player for us in the opening two games."
Walcott had looked likely to leave Arsenal after rejecting a new contract with only a year to run on his current deal but the forward has since held private discussions with manager Arsene Wenger over his future.
The England international is now in a position to remain at Emirates Stadium, but Liverpool, who have asked to be kept informed of Walcott's potential availability, are still considering a late bid.
Asked if the club could afford to buy without selling first, Rodgers said: "No. Not at this stage. Obviously, I have seen a lot of the links and it is great that those players would want to come here.
"But the reality is that we are not in a position to do those sorts of deals."

Dimitar Berbatov: Fulham favourites says Juventus chief

Dimitar Berbatov has been linked with a move to Fulham after a deal with Italian club Fiorentina fell through.

Juventus also want to sign the Manchester United striker but director general Giuseppe Marotta revealed the interest from the London club.
He said: "There was a proposal by Fulham. We made our own, then the player said he preferred to stay in England for family reasons."
Fulham refused to comment on the situation when contacted by BBC Sport.
Fiorentina say they had agreed a deal with United and had already paid the first instalment of the transfer fee for the former Bulgaria international, who joined the Red Devils from Tottenham in a £30.75m move in 2008.
A club statement criticised the 31-year-old for failing to arrive in Florence after they paid for his flight to finalise the move.
"He's not worthy of our city, our shirt and the values it represents," it said.
 

Berbatov in England

• May 2006: Joins Tottenham from German side Bayer Leverkusen in a £10.9m deal
• May 2007: Scores 23 goals in debut season at White Hart Lane
• May 2008: Matches the tally during the following campaign as Spurs win League Cup
• July 2008: Spurs complain to Premier League over Manchester United's pursuit of the Bulgarian
• September 2008: United finally clinch his signature in a £30.75m deal on the final day of the summer transfer window
• May 2009: Scores nine top-flight goals as the Red Devils win the Premier League title
• May 2011: Wins Golden Boot after scoring 20 goals to help United win title

Fiorentina, looking to rebuild after a disappointing 13th-place finish in Serie A last season, said they had reached a verbal agreement with the player over the terms of his contract.

They claim United granted written permission for Berbatov to travel to Florence for a medical and sign the contract.
"The player embarked in the company of his agent and with tickets paid by Fiorentina on a direct flight to Florence," the statement added. "But the player never arrived in Florence.
"[This was] owing to the reckless and arrogant actions of other clubs which have nothing to do with the values of decency, fair play and ethics of the sport and which go beyond the limits of fairness.
"As for the player, notwithstanding his characteristics and technical merit, at this point we are happy that he did not come to Fiorentina."
Berbatov's agent was unavailable for immediate comment when contacted by BBC Sport.
Marotta has defended Juventus against Fiorentina's accusations.
"We have acted with the maximum fairness and transparency with regard to the market dynamics," Marotta told Sky Italia.
"I reject the allegations from Fiorentina. We entered into the business over Berbatov when we heard that he had refused Fiorentina."
In July, Berbatov conceded it would be "better for everyone" that he leaves Old Trafford after starting just five Premier League matches last season.
He has seen his chances of earning more regular first-team football diminish further with the arrival this summer of £24m striker Robin van Persie from Arsenal.

Egypt condemns 'oppressive' Syria sparking walkout

Egypt's president has told a summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (Nam) that the Syrian uprising is a "revolution against an oppressive regime".

Mohammed Mursi, making the first visit to Iran by an Egyptian leader since 1979, said the movement had an "ethical duty" to support the uprising.
His comments prompted a walkout by the Syrian delegation, reports said.
The Nam summit, which represents 120 countries, will also discuss human rights and nuclear disarmament.
Mr Mursi used his speech to tell delegates: "Our solidarity with the struggle of the Syrian people against an oppressive regime that has lost its legitimacy is an ethical duty as it is a political and strategic necessity."

 
Syrian delegates walked out of the summit as Mr Mursi began speaking about Syria, reports said

Non-Aligned Movement

• Formed in 1961, originally an alliance of newly independent Afro-Asian states
• Currently 120 members, comprising nations ostensibly unaligned with the major world powers
• Aims to represent the political, economic and cultural interests of the developing world

"We all have to announce our full solidarity with the struggle of those seeking freedom and justice in Syria, and translate this sympathy into a clear political vision that supports a peaceful transition to a democratic system of rule that reflects the demands of the Syrian people for freedom."

"Egypt is ready to work with all to stop the bloodshed," he said.
His description of the uprising differs from Iran, which is one of the few remaining allies of embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and has been accused by the US of training militia in Syria to reinforce Mr Assad's forces.
The Syrian government says it is fighting to protect its people against terrorists and its delegation walked out as Mr Mursi began to speak about the conflict.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who is at the summit, met Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday and urged them to "really reach out to the Syrian leadership and impress on them the really urgent need to stop the violence", his spokesman said.
But the website of Ayatollah Khamenei said the Supreme Leader told Mr Ban in their meeting that the solution to the crisis was halting the trafficking of weapons to Syrian rebel fighters.
He said it was "natural" for there to be weapons in the hands of the Syrian government, because it was conducting an official military like any other country.

 

Earlier, Mr Ban made frank remarks about Iran's human rights record during his visit

Mr Mursi's visit is the first by an Egyptian leader since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, when Iran cut ties with President Anwar Sadat's administration over its signing of a peace treaty with Israel.
Mr Ban's acceptance of Tehran's invitation has been described by the US State Department as "strange".
But the South Korean has not shied from drawing attention to the Islamic Republic's human rights record.
In a press conference, seated next to the speaker of Iran's parliament and one of the country's most powerful politicians, he told reporters that he had "serious concerns" about human rights in Iran.
'Overt dictatorship' Nuclear disarmament is also on the agenda of the talks and in his speech to delegates on Thursday, Ayatollah Khamenei said that, contrary to the view held in the West, Iran "is never seeking nuclear weapons".
He said such weapons were "a major and unforgivable sin", but that Iran would "never give up the right to peaceful nuclear energy".
He said sanctions imposed on Iran because of its nuclear programme "not only do not and will not paralyse us, but have made our steps steadier and elevated our resolve and boosted our confidence in our assessments".
The ayatollah also criticised the "illogical" structure of the United Nations Security Council, saying it enabled the US to impose its "bullying manner" on the world, Reuters reports.
"The UN Security Council has an irrational, unjust and utterly undemocratic structure, and this is an overt dictatorship," he said, while denying that UN-imposed sanctions had had any effect on Iran.

China to buy 50 Airbus planes for $3.5bn

 

 China and Germany signed trade deals in aviation energy, environment, health and maritime co-operation

China has signed a deal to buy 50 planes worth $3.5bn (£2.2bn) from Europe's Airbus.

The agreement is part of a slew of trade deals signed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the start of a two-day visit to China.
An agreement on Airbus plane assembly in China was also signed, according to the Xinhua news agency.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said on Thursday his country would continue to invest in the EU.
Emissions row This is the first significant deal in China for Airbus, whose parent company is EADS, since a dispute between the country and the European Union over the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).
Effective from 1 January this year, the ETS charges airlines for the carbon they emit.
China and other countries say the system is not fair, as it charges airlines for the full journey, not just over European airspace.
Following this in March, EADS chief executive Louis Gallois said Airbus was facing "retaliation measures" by China.
According to him, China had blocked firms from buying planes made by Airbus. Beijing did not comment on the allegation.
Merkel visit Ms Merkel is in China for the second time this year, as she tries to improve relations and drum up business for European companies.
She is being accompanied by several ministers, as well as top German executives.
Bilateral trade between Germany and China totalled about $180bn dollars last year. That is nearly double what it was five years ago.
On Thursday, the two countries signed 10 further agreements, in the sectors of communication, energy, health and maritime co-operation, among others, Xinhua said.

Ronaldo rallies Real to Supercopa win

By ESPN.com news services

Super Cup

Madrid claim title

Gab Marcotti, Robbie Mustoe and Steve Nicol break down Real Madrid s victory over Barcelona to claim the Spanish Super Cup title. Tune in to ESPN News at 2am ET/11pm PT to watch the full show.

Real Madrid secured its first Spanish Supercopa since 2008 on away goals after a narrow win over archrival Barcelona in Wednesday night's second leg at the Bernabeu.
The hosts had failed to win in their last seven home meetings with Barcelona but went about ending that record early on with goals in the first 20 minutes from Gonzalo Higuain and Cristiano Ronaldo.

 Hunter: Bernabeu Barn Burner

Real Madrid defeated a 10-man Barcelona 2-1 in a thrilling tie to win the Super Cup (4-4 on aggregate) on away goals, writes Graham Hunter from Madrid. Blog

The visitors were then reduced to 10 men as Adriano was shown a straight red card for denying Ronaldo a clear goalscoring opportunity, but they regained their composure and were brought back into the game by a stunning free-kick from Lionel Messi just before halftime.
"The first half belonged to us and generally the whole game did," Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas said. "We came in on a bad run and the fans were doubting us a bit, but there are days when you have good luck and days when you have bad."
Chances continued to come at both ends after the break but Real failed to make its man advantage count and was nearly made to pay as Messi shot just inches wide deep into stoppage time.
The game provided coach Jose Mourinho with the last piece of silverware missing from his Spanish trophy cabinet. The Portuguese coach's 20th title means he has won every trophy available in the four leagues where he's coached -- Spain, England, Italy and Portugal.
Real had failed to win any of its previous three games this season but did not seem like a team lacking in confidence as it stormed out of the gates early on.
Higuain should have opened the scoring on seven minutes when his low effort across Victor Valdes' net was well-blocked by the keeper, but the Argentinian was gifted his goal only two minutes later by national-team compatriot Javier Mascherano as the Barca defender misjudged a long ball forward from Pepe and allowed Higuain to run through and this time finish low beyond Valdes.

no_source / DANI POZO/AFP/GettyImagesCristiano Ronaldo celebrates his goal past Barcelona goalie Victor Valdes that gave Real the edge in a 2-1 Supercopa-clinching triumph.

And it was two just nine minutes later as Ronaldo pounced on an error this time by Gerard Pique. The Portuguese brilliantly back-flicked the ball into his path and, despite a poor second touch, his powerful shot rebounded in off Valdes' body.
The chances continued to come for Real as Valdes again denied Higuain from a narrow angle before Pepe had a header controversially ruled out for a push on Mascherano.
Part of Barca's disorganization at the back possibly could be put down to a late change in the starting lineup as the injured Dani Alves had to be replaced by Jordi Alba with Adriano moving to right back, and the Brazilian's torrid evening only lasted 27 minutes as he hauled down Ronaldo when he seemed set to break free on Valdes once more.
"I wouldn't say we started badly," Vilanova said. "Madrid weren't running over us; they played two balls in behind that surprised us, although it is true that Higuain already had another chance. Madrid took their chances but I want to take the positives."
After another unsettling five-minute period for the Catalans, new coach Tito Vilanova eventually introduced Martin Montoya for Alexis Sanchez and a return to four at the back seemed to offer the visitors some comfort as they began to make an impression on the game.
Montoya was inches away from converting a vicious low cross from Andres Iniesta before Messi did eventually halve the deficit moments before the break with an incredible swerving free kick from 30 yards.
Ronaldo nearly responded with a long-range effort himself that flew just past and Angel Di Maria also shot narrowly wide as Madrid ended the half threatening a third.
However, at the start of the second period, it was Barca's tiki-taka that began to dictate play as the pace of the game dropped markedly.
Pedro very nearly scored a carbon copy of his goal in the first leg as Mascherano's perfectly weighted pass saw him through on goal but his prodded finish did not have enough power to get through Casillas' legs and the Spain captain collected at the second attempt.
Sami Khedira then nearly restored Real's two-goal cushion but was denied by another fine Valdes save at the end of a brilliant run.
Barca remained dangerous, though, and another brilliant piece of play from Messi released Alba through on goal, but he just overran the ball as he rounded Casillas and was eventually crowded out.
Higuain should have given Real breathing space with 11 minutes remaining but he hit the outside of the post with only Valdes to beat and that miss nearly cost his side as Barca came desperately close to equalizing in stoppage time.
Firstly, Montoya was denied by a solid save from Casillas before Messi seemed destined to hand Barca the cup as he found space on his favored left side just outside the area but the ball slipped just wide and Real clung on for its Supercopa title in four years.

Secret Service Detail Leaves Gun Unattended on Romney's Charter Flight

By Emily Friedman | ABC OTUS News 

TAMPA - A member of Mitt Romney's Secret Service detail was removed today from a campaign trip after she accidentally left her firearm unattended in the candidate's charter plane bathroom.

The agent in question left a gun unattended in the bathroom of the plane during a flight between Tampa and Indiana. The gun was found by a reporter on board who immediately informed the agent, who then went back into the bathroom and retrieved the weapon.

Ed Donovan, a spokesman for the United States Secret Service, told ABC News that officials are "aware of the incident."

"We take the care and custody of our equipment - especially firearms - very seriously," he said. "We will deal with this matter internally and in an appropriate manner."

The Romney campaign referred all questions regarding the incident to the Secret Service.

The gun was left in the bathroom primarily used by media in the back of the plane. Romney and his staff sit in the front several rows of the plane and the candidate uses the forward bathroom.

It was not immediately clear if the gun was loaded or on a safety lock, but the agent was on active duty at the time of the incident.

Following a campaign event in Indiana, the agent in question never re-boarded the flight back to Tampa.

Tropical Storm Isaac Continues to Dump Rain on Louisiana

Tropical Storm Isaac Continues to Dump Rain on Louisiana (ABC News)

• 

As slow-moving tropical storm Isaac moved away from New Orleans, some surrounding areas of Louisiana will see almost two feet of rain by the end of the week causing more dangerous floods.

The rising waters from rain and flooding has already left locals scrambling up to attics and onto roofs. The main parishes that are an area of concern are those that sit around Lake Pontchartrain. With another four to seven inches of rain expected, many officials are worried about the rising waters.

Officials in LaPlace, La., about 25 miles northwest of New Orleans , in St. John the Baptist Parish said the situation is dire. Parish President Layton Ricks told ABC News late Wednesday night, "I'm afraid the tide is really going to catch some of us off guard tonight."

More than 200 people have been rescued from flooded homes in LaPlace and they believe hundreds more are stranded in the midst of the worst flooding the city has seen in 40 years. Housing developments, like the River Forest subdivision where dozens of families were rescued on Wednesday, are under five feet of water. The Louisiana National Guard said they will be out in force Thursday across the St. John the Baptist Parish, assisting in rescue efforts.

"It's our own little Katrina," said Tania Trege, wife of St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff Mike Trege, describing the situation in Laplace, La.
As of 2 a.m. ET, Isaac was 10 miles, south-southwest of Baton Rouge, La., moving northwest at 5 mph. Tropical storms winds extend outward up to 175 miles. Isaac's maximum sustained winds are at 50 mph, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami.
A tropical storm warning was still in effect from Cameron, La., to the Mississippi-Alabama state border, according to the Hurricane Center.
New Orleans International Airport official reported 10 inches of rain as of 3 a.m. Thursday with more expected to fall. An unofficial rainfall total of 22.5 inches was reported in Arabi, La., near the city's 9th Ward on Wednesday. An official report from Audubon Park in New Orleans listed 17 inches of rainfall.
Livingston Parish officials told ABC News that they felt the worst of Isaac at 10 p.m. Wednesday, and expect flooding in the low-lying parts of the parish. Rescue efforts were underway and officials said this will be the first overnight of many water rescues in the area.

Rescue operations are still underway in Plaquemines Parish at this hour. More than 100 people in the parish have been rescued so far. A levee in Plaquemines Parish will be intentionally breached at some point Thursday to relieve pressure on it. That area has been under mandatory evacuation.

One person has been reported dead, according to The Associated Press, compared with 1,800 deaths from Katrina in Louisiana and Mississippi. And police reported few problems with looting.
More than 725,000 homes and businesses throughout Louisiana are without power as of 2 a.m.

President Barack Obama declared federal emergencies in Louisiana and Mississippi late Wednesday, according to a statement from the White House. The disaster declarations free up federal aid for affected areas.

Of Louisiana's 64 parishes, 58 are under states of emergency this morning.

Forecasters expected Isaac to move inland over the next several days, dumping rain on drought-stricken states across the nation's midsection before finally breaking up over the weekend. The storm was expected to weaken to a tropical depression Thursday, according to the Hurricane Center.

Five to 10-foot storm surges were expected in Mississippi and southeastern Louisiana, with seven to 14 inches of rainfall, and some areas could see 25 inches, the center said.

ABC News' Max Golembo and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Gambia executions: Senegal leader Macky Sall's anger

 

President Macky Sall (L) has accused The Gambia of failing to act in a neighbourly spirit

Senegal's government has summoned the Gambian ambassador to protest against the execution of two of its nationals.

President Macky Sall said he would expel the ambassador if he did not attend a meeting on Wednesday.
Two Senegalese men were among nine prisoners executed in The Gambia on Sunday on the orders of President Yahya Jammeh.
He ignored pleas from the African Union (AU) to halt the executions - the first in The Gambia in 27 years.
Mr Sall said he was dismayed and surprised that the executions took place without Senegal being informed through diplomatic channels.
The Gambia had shown "disregard" for the Senegalese government and had failed to act in a "neighbourly spirit", he added.
"I have asked the prime minister to summon The Gambian ambassador so as to inform him of the Senegalese position and of our regret at this unacceptable attitude," Mr Sall said.
Woman executed
Earlier, The Gambia's Interior Ministry said the prisoners were shot dead by firing squad on Sunday.
Mr Jammeh has vowed to kill all 47 death-row inmates by mid-September.
"By the middle of next month, all the death sentences would have been carried out to the letter; there is no way my government will allow 99% of the population to be held to ransom by criminals," President Jammeh said in a speech, which was broadcast on national television on 19 August, marking the Muslim festival of Eid.
It was not clear what crimes each of the nine prisoners were executed for.
Amnesty International and the European Union's foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, have urged The Gambia to stop the executions immediately.
Many of The Gambia's death row inmates are former officials and top military officers who have been detained for treason since 1994, when Mr Jammeh took power in a coup.
One woman was among those executed, the Interior Ministry said, listing crimes such as murder, treason, arson, drug and human trafficking as being punishable by death.
The death penalty was abolished when former President Dawda Jawara led the country but reinstated in 1995 shortly after Mr Jammeh seized power.

China city party chief 'fled with money'

 

 A Chinese report says billions of dollars have been stolen by corrupt officials in recent years

A former top official of a city in northeast China has fled the country - reportedly with millions of dollars, Chinese reports say.

Wang Guoqiang, who was party secretary of Fengcheng city in Liaoning province, left for the United States in April with his wife, the People's Daily said.
Local officials said Mr Wang, who was being investigated for corruption, had been removed from his post, it said.
Several reports cited 200m yuan ($31.5m; £20m) as the amount taken.
The local officials did not elaborate on allegations that he had embezzled and transferred the funds to the US, where his family is believed to be.
But rumours surrounding the case, the latest in a series of corruption scandals, have been circulating online for some time.
According to the city's website, Mayor Ma Yanchuan took over as Fengcheng party secretary earlier this month.
Premier Wen Jiabao has repeatedly called corruption the biggest threat to Chinese Communist Party rule.
Corruption among officials remains a huge source of anger among China's population, says the BBC's Martin Patience in Beijing.
While the finances of the top leaders are off limits, many other senior officials have been brought down by scandals, says our correspondent.
'Not realistic'
An opinion piece published in the Global Times called on authorities in the province to reveal more information about the case so as to curb public speculation.
''Wang's flight is certainly a scandal. It would be good for the officials if such a scandal could be hidden, but that's hardly realistic,'' it said.
''Information disclosure in China has moved much further than in the late 1990s. No matter how bad the news is, it will reach the public sooner or later.''
A report released by China's central bank last year said more than $120bn (£74bn) had been stolen by corrupt officials who fled overseas, mainly to the US.
Between 16,000 and 18,000 officials and employees of state-owned companies left China with the funds from the mid-1990s up until 2008, the report said.

Hantavirus warning to 1,700 Yosemite campers

 

 The warning applies to visitors who stayed in the cabins at Curry Village from mid-June onward

Yosemite National Park is warning 1,700 visitors who stayed in some of its tent cabins this summer that they may have been exposed to a deadly virus.

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome has been blamed for the deaths of two campers who stayed at the Californian park.
The disease can be carried in the urine, saliva and faeces of infected deer mice, and symptoms can appear as late as six weeks after exposure.
Two other infected campers were expected to survive.
The first death was reported earlier this month, and one of the victims was identified as a 37-year-old man from the San Francisco Bay area.
Fever and dizziness There is no specific treatment for the hantavirus, which has a fatality rate of 30%.
The National Park Service, which runs Yosemite, extended the warning to visitors who stayed in the 408 canvas and wood cabins in Curry Village from mid-June onward.
They have been advised to be watch out for the symptoms of hantavirus, which include fever, aches, dizziness and chills.
"We are encouraging anyone who stayed in Curry Village since June to be aware of the symptoms of hantavirus and seek medical attention at the first sign of illness," a statement said.
Officials said they were working with contractors to clean and inspect the cabins.
"This is a serious public health issue and we want to be transparent, but at the same time we don't want people to alter their plans because we are taking the necessary precautions," said park spokesman Scott Gediman.
The park has seen two other cases of the hantavirus in a more remote area in 2000 and 2010, but this year's deaths were the first.

Syria's Assad says military 'needs time to win battle'

President Assad: "The situation on the ground is better but we have not yet won"

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said the government needs more time to "win the battle" against rebel forces.

In an interview with pro-government al-Dunya TV, Mr Assad also dismissed as "unrealistic" the idea of creating humanitarian buffer zones within Syria.
Opposition activists say the army has launched offensives across the country to regain control of rebel-held areas.
Heavy shelling was reported on Tuesday in the capital, Damascus, Aleppo, and the north-western province of Idlib.
Mr Assad said the Syrian government was "fighting a battle both regionally and internationally".
"It definitely needs time to bring it to a decisive end. But I can sum it up in one sentence: we're heading forward," he told al-Dunya. "The situation on the ground is better now, but the conclusion is not there yet. That needs some time."
The security forces were "doing a heroic job in every sense", he added.
"Everyone is worried about their country - that is normal. But [the rebels] will not be able to spread fear, they never will," he said. "I say to Syrians: destiny is in your hands, and not in the hands of others."
The president mocked senior government and military officials who have defected in recent months, saying their departure amounted to a "self-cleansing of the government firstly, and the country generally".
Responding to rumours about his whereabouts since a July bombing in Damascus killed four senior officials, he revealed that he was being interviewed from the presidential palace in the capital.
'Safe zone' Mr Assad also addressed the proposal by Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu to set up a United Nations-sanctioned "safe zone" inside Syria to shelter refugees and help distribute humanitarian aid.
"Talk of buffer zones firstly is not on the table and secondly it is an unrealistic idea by hostile countries and the enemies of Syria," he said.

 

 Turkey says extra refugee camps will be ready next week but says it is rapidly running out of space

"Do we go back because of the ignorance of some Turkish officials or do we focus on our relationship with the Turkish people, especially those people who have stood by us during the crisis and were not swayed by the media and material propaganda?"
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius admitted on Wednesday that creating a buffer zone would be impossible without imposing a no-fly zone deploying ground forces.
"We are thinking about this. It is very complicated. We cannot do it without the agreement of the Turks and other countries," he told France Inter radio.
"But what we want is for things to move forward, to make Bashar fall as quickly as possible and at the same time find humanitarian solutions."
The UN refugee agency warned on Tuesday that as many as 200,000 refugees could flee to Turkey to escape fighting in Syria - almost double the number Turkey has said it can take.
The UNHCR said 5,000 refugees were now arriving at the Turkish border every day, compared to about 500 earlier this month. There are already more than 74,000 in Turkey, and 128,000 in other countries.
There are also thought to be more than 1.2 million internally displaced people in Syria, and 2.5 million in need of humanitarian assistance.

India court upholds Mumbai attacker Qasab death penalty

The BBC's Andrew North says the death sentence is used very rarely in India

India's Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence of Pakistani national Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab, the sole surviving gunman of the 2008 attacks on Mumbai.

The judges also rejected his claim that he had been denied a fair trial.
Qasab, 24, was convicted of murder and other crimes in May 2010. His first appeal was rejected by the Mumbai High Court in February 2011.
The November 2008 attacks claimed 166 lives. Nine gunmen were also killed.
"In view of the nature of the gravity of his crime and the fact that he participated in waging war against the country, we have no option but to uphold his death penalty," Supreme Court Justices Aftab Alam and CK Prasad ruled.
Legal experts say it could still be months or even years before Qasab's sentence can be carried out.
He has the right to appeal to the same two judges to review his case. If that fails he can take his appeal to other Supreme Court judges. His last hope lies with a plea for clemency to the president.
The BBC's Andrew North in Delhi says there will now be huge pressure for the death sentence to be carried out soon.
A spokesman for India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, said there should be "no delay" in executing Qasab.
"Those who wage war against the country and kill innocents deserve no mercy," he said.
'Complete victory' Prosecutor Gopal Subramaniam hailed the verdict as "a complete victory of the due processes of law".

 

 Qasab was found guilty of mass murder

"It was a case argued in a completely professional and dispassionate manner," Mr Subramaniam said.
Defence lawyer Raju Ramachandran told reporters outside the court that he had made his arguments and "the court considered them".
"I bow to the verdict," he added.
The trial court in Mumbai had found Qasab guilty on 3 May 2010 of murder, terrorist acts and waging war on India and sentenced him to death.
In his appeal to the Supreme Court, Qasab argued that the prosecution had "failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt" the charges against him.
He said he "may be guilty of killing people and carrying out a terrorist act but I am not guilty of waging war against the state".
The 60-hour siege of Mumbai began on 26 November 2008, targeting luxury hotels, the main railway station and a Jewish cultural centre.
Qasab and an accomplice carried out the assault on the station, killing 52 people.
India blamed Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba for the attacks.
After initial denials, Pakistan acknowledged that the assault had been partially planned on its territory and that Qasab was a Pakistani citizen.

Pirates seize Greek oil tanker off Togo

Pirates have seized a Greek-owned oil tanker and its 24 crew off the coast of Togo, a maritime group reports.

The attackers exchanged fire with a Togolese patrol boat but escaped on the tanker, the International Maritime Bureau says.
Piracy is said to be increasing in West Africa, with six ships seized in 2012.
Ships are usually held for several days and the cargo transferred to a waiting tanker, before the crew of the original ship is freed.
This is a different method to that used by Somali pirates, who demand a ransom for the ships they capture and often keep both vessels and crew for many months until they are paid.

No sex in Togo for a Week

 

Isabelle Ameganvi said holding the strike would ensure women's voices would be heard

Women in Togo have been urged to abstain from sex for a week from Monday to push their demand for reform.

The ban has been called by opposition coalition Let's Save Togo, made up of nine civil society groups and seven opposition parties and movements.
Opposition leader Isabelle Ameganvi said that sex could be a "weapon of the battle" to achieve political change.
The coalition wants President Faure Gnassingbe, whose family has held power for decades, to stand down.
"We have many means to oblige men to understand what women want in Togo," Ms Ameganvi, leader of the women's wing of the coalition, told the BBC.

She said she had been inspired by a similar strike by Liberian women in 2003, who used a sex strike to campaign for peace.
"If men refuse to hear our cries we will hold another demonstration that will be more powerful than a sex strike," she added.
'Like fasting'
Togo has been run by the same family for more than four decades.
President Faure Gnassingbe took power in 2005 following the death of his father, Gnassingbe Eyadema, who ruled Togo for 38 years. The president was re-elected in 2010.
The strike was announced at a rally on Saturday in Lome, attended by thousands of people.

The rally was held to protest against recent electoral reforms, which demonstrators say will make it easier for Mr Gnassingbe's party to win re-election in the parliamentary polls set for October.
Activists say that the strike will motivate men who are not involved in the political movement to pursue its goals, which include an end to the system allowing unlimited presidential terms.
Earlier this month, two anti-Gnassingbe protests were dispersed by police using tear gas and more than 100 people were arrested.
The sex strike was welcomed as a political tool by some women in Lome.
"It's a good thing for us women to observe this sex strike as long as our children are in jail now. I believe that by observing this, we will get them released," Abla Tamekloe told the Associated Press.
"For me, it's like fasting, and unless you fast, you will not get what you want from God."

Kenya cleric Rogo riots: Mombasa death toll rises

Najib Balala, MP for Mvita, Mombasa says the recent violence is a "new trend"

The death toll from violent protests in Kenya's second city, Mombasa, over the killing of a radical Muslim cleric has risen to four, police have said.

They include a civilian and three policemen who had a grenade hurled at them.
Correspondents say there is now a heavy police presence in Mombasa after the two days of rioting over the murder of Aboud Rogo Mohammed by unknown gunmen.
He was accused by the US and UN of backing Islamist fighters in Somalia.
Foreign embassies, including those of the UK and France, have issued travel warnings for Mombasa, a popular tourist destination.
'Drive-by shooting'
Muslim youths were involved in running battles with police, burning shops and attacking churches as they vented their fury over Mr Rogo's killing.
"We have lost two more officers, they succumbed to injuries in the night," regional police chief Aggrey Adoli is quoted by the AFP news agency as saying.

 

Aboud Rogo Mohammed was shot in front of his family

On Tuesday, one officer was killed and more than a dozen wounded when a grenade was thrown into a police vehicle, while a civilian was killed on Monday.
The BBC's Kevin Mwachiro in Mombasa says the city is now calm but there are unconfirmed reports of clashes in the poor residential area of Majengo as police carry out door-to-door searches.
Mr Rogo was killed in a drive-by shooting in the mainly Muslim city.
Some of the rioters accused the authorities of being behind Mr Rogo's shooting, saying he had been the victim of a "targeted assassination".
However, police spokesman Charles Owino was quoted as saying that the Somali militant Islamist group al-Shabab killed the cleric in an attempt "to galvanise support among the youth".
Mr Rogo was on US and UN sanction lists for allegedly supporting the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Shabab group in neighbouring Somalia.
The UN Security Council imposed a travel ban and asset freeze on him in July, saying he had provided "financial, material, logistical or technical support to al-Shabab".
It accused him of being the "main ideological leader" of Kenya's al-Hijra group, also known as the Muslim Youth Centre, which is viewed as a close ally of al-Shabab.
He had "used the extremist group as a pathway for radicalisation and recruitment of principally Swahili-speaking Africans for carrying out violent militant activity in Somalia", the UN added.
In 2005, Mr Rogo was cleared on murder charges over the 2002 attack on a hotel where Israeli tourists were staying, which killed 12 people.

Ukraine court rejects Yulia Tymoshenko appeal

 

 Yulia Tymoshenko has not appeared in court recently, complaining of back pain

Ukraine's high court has rejected the appeal by jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko against her conviction for abuse of office.

Tymoshenko, currently in hospital, was jailed last October for seven years - a term confirmed by Wednesday's ruling.
She was convicted over a gas deal she signed with Russia's Vladimir Putin while in power in 2009. She says her trial was politically motivated.
The European Court of Human Rights has begun considering her case.
She was accused of betraying the national interest in 2010, after her arch-rival Viktor Yanukovych had defeated her in a presidential election. The deal with Russia that she negotiated was deemed to have saddled Ukraine with enormous costs.
Mr Yanukovych has forged closer ties with Russia, whereas Tymoshenko and former President Viktor Yushchenko sought to bring Ukraine closer to Nato and the EU.
With her distinctive plaited, blonde hair Tymoshenko was a key figure in Ukraine's 2004 Orange Revolution. Since then she has twice served as prime minister.
Many EU politicians have echoed her criticisms of the Ukrainian authorities and in June European leaders boycotted Euro 2012 football matches in Ukraine, to show their displeasure at her detention.
Tymoshenko argues that her detention was politically motivated and that there has been no judicial review. She also says the authorities neglected her medical needs and kept up round-the-clock surveillance after moving her to a hospital in the eastern city of Kharkiv.

Hurricane Isaac bears down on New Orleans, Louisiana

The BBC's Alistair Leithead reporting from New Orleans says there is a lot of debris flying about on the streets

Thousands of people have fled the US city of New Orleans as Hurricane Isaac makes its slow approach.

The hurricane will hit the Louisiana city exactly seven years after it was devastated by Hurricane Katrina, but it is a much less powerful storm.
The city has closed its new floodgates in a bid to protect it from the effects of high waters brought by sustained winds of up to 80mph (130km/h).
Isaac killed at least 24 people in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
It has also caused significant flooding and damage across the Caribbean and forced a day's delay to the start of the Republican party's congress in Tampa, Florida.
Isaac first touched down on land at Plaquemines Parish, on the coast south of New Orleans near the mouth of the Mississippi River, where there are reports that sea water has come over the top of a levee.

At the scene

Alastair Leithead BBC News, New Orleans

The wind has started to build up and the rain is lashing down in the French Quarter of New Orleans as the narrow, high-sided streets amplify the wind speed. Debris is starting to be tossed around on Canal Street, as roadworks are being pulled apart by the high winds and trees are shaken almost from their roots.
Some areas have lost power already. The streets have been cleared of all but the foolhardy - and the journalists with TV satellite trucks parked in the lee of buildings.
The timing of the storm has brought so much attention to this city devastated by Hurricane Katrina when it struck seven years ago.
I sat through the storm then in a hotel room and watched as 4x4s were pushed along roads with the force of the wind, wrought-iron staircases ripped off buildings and windows were blown out.
The wind speeds so far are just a third of those during Katrina but it's the volume of water falling and the storm surge being driven onshore which threaten homes - and those who have decided to sit out the storm.
Many people have chosen to stay - boarding up their doors and windows and settling in for a long night, hoping Hurricane Isaac will be kinder to their city.

The Category One hurricane then headed back out to sea, making a second landfall further west at Port Fourchon at about 02:00 (07:00 GMT) local time.

At 04:00 local time, it was 60 miles (95km) south of New Orleans, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC).
'I feel safe' Tens of thousands of people have been told to leave their homes in low-lying areas of Louisiana and Mississippi, though a mass evacuation has not been ordered. Storm warnings are also in place in parts of Florida, Texas and Alabama.
Officials say Isaac is likely to weaken before it reaches New Orleans.
"We don't expect a Katrina-like event, but remember there are things about a Category One storm that can kill you," said New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu.
Of particular concern are storm surges, with peaks of up to 3.7m (12ft) forecast in parts of Mississippi and southeastern Louisiana. Rainfalls of up to 50cm (20 inches) are forecast across wide areas, along with a high chance of isolated tornadoes along the coast.
The bowl-shaped city of New Orleans is particularly vulnerable to storms, with the centre of the city the furthest below sea-level.
But Mr Landrieu said that the 8m-high levee gate which now protects the areas of the city that were badly flooded in 2005 had been closed since Tuesday morning.
Many residents of New Orleans have chosen to secure their homes but stay put, saying they were not too concerned by Isaac.
"I feel safe," said Pamela Young from her home in the Lower Ninth Ward, a neighbourhood devastated by Katrina.

"Everybody's talking 'going, going', but the thing is, when you go, there's no telling what will happen. The storm isn't going to just hit here."
"If the wind isn't too rough, I can stay right here. If the water comes up, I can go upstairs."
Nazareth Joseph, who works at a hotel in French Quarter and was in the city during Katrina, said he had a busy week ahead so would stay where he was.
"We made it through Katrina; we can definitely make it through this. It's going to take a lot more to run me. I know how to survive," he told the Associated Press news agency.

Storm resources

Latest weather updates from National Hurricane Center
Red Cross searchable website for disaster shelters
List of area curfews from local broadcaster WWFL
Emergency alerts from the City of New Orleans
Evacuation map from the New Orleans Times-Picayune
New Orleans power outage map

By Tuesday night, more than 58,000 homes in New Orleans were reported to have lost power. Outages have also been reported across Louisiana and Mississippi, affecting more than 200,000 homes and business.

President Barack Obama has declared an emergency in Louisiana and Mississippi, allowing federal funds to be released to local authorities.
Speaking from the White House, he warned residents along the Gulf Coast to heed warnings, including those to evacuate, saying: "Now is not the time to dismiss official warnings. You need to take this seriously."
Shortly before Isaac reached hurricane status on Tuesday, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal said the emergency declaration fell short of the federal help he had asked for.