Liverpool prepared to sell Luis Suárez for club-record £50m-plus

Liverpool will consider selling Luis Suárez but only for a club-record fee of more than £50m. Their leading striker is intent on ending a turbulent two-and-a-half-year career in English football.

Suárez declared on Friday that he wants to leave Liverpool when giving a third interview in two days expressing disillusionment with life in England. He had previously encouraged interest from Real Madrid by stating it would be hard to reject the Spanish club, then suggested it is time for a "change of environment" before taking matters further and announcing his desire to quit the Premier League.

That prompted an emphatic response from Liverpool, who have been unable to rein in the 26-year-old while he is on international duty in his native Uruguay but are determined not to be coerced into a deal with Madrid or any other club. A Liverpool spokesperson said: "Luis Suárez is not for sale. Neither Luis or his representatives have communicated these feelings directly to Liverpool football club. The club remains supportive of Luis and expect him to honour his contract. We will not be making any further comment at this stage."

Suárez will have to submit a written transfer request to challenge Liverpool's position but the club's stance is unlikely to change until they receive an offer greater than the £50m banked from Chelsea for Fernando Torres.

Liverpool are obliged to inform Suárez of any club prepared to activate a clause, believed to be in excess of £40m, that was included in the new four-year contract he signed last August. The clause will trigger negotiations should he wish to speak to that club, but not an automatic sale, and Liverpool would enter any talks insisting the Uruguay international is a better, fitter player than Torres was in January 2011.

Brendan Rodgers, the Liverpool manager, conceded last week that Suárez does have his price but his view on the player's future has not changed in light of recent comments. He said then: "They [Fenway Sports Group, the club's owner] have been absolutely unequivocal in their resolve in terms of wanting to keep him. Listen, every player has their price but there's certainly no pressure for the club to sell him. We're trying to build that bit of quality, so he's not for sale."

Suárez has repeatedly claimed his reason for wanting to leave is not financial or the lure of Champions League football, with Liverpool failing to qualify for Europe next season, but his treatment by the press in England. Ahead of Uruguay's friendly against France in Montevideo on 4 June he said: "It is a difficult moment for me. My coach and my colleagues know that they [the media] didn't treat me well. Because of the paparazzi I could not go in my garden, I could not go to the supermarket. My reason for leaving is not the money. It's my family and image. I don't feel comfortable here any more."

Suárez was a target for photographers after he bit the Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic in April, an act that resulted in a 10-match ban from the FA and, he has now confirmed, prompted him to reconsider his future. "The straw that broke the camel's back was my mistake," he said of his second suspension for biting an opponent. The first was with Ajax in 2010.

The striker claims he has not agreed a deal with Real but Liverpool had feared he would push for a move despite their steadfast support over the Patrice Evra racism controversy and the Ivanovic issue. Those two incidents alone have landed Suárez with suspensions totalling 18 matches but the player claims it is the press who have sullied his image.

José Reina's future, meanwhile, is uncertain after Víctor Valdés announced he could see out the final year of his Barcelona contract, having been expected to leave. Reina is in line to replace Valdés at Barcelona for a fee of around £10m and Liverpool have been considering alternatives.

Read More

José Mourinho cheered and jeered as he bows out at Real Madrid

José Mourinho polarises opinion and, true to form, the seemingly Chelsea-bound coach was cheered and jeered in equal measure as he concluded three years in charge of Real Madrid with a 4-2 home win against Osasuna.

Played out before a two-thirds full Bernabéu stadium with Madrid second in La Liga, well adrift of the champions Barcelona, it was not the finale the 50-year-old Mourinho might have envisaged. Despite having three years remaining on his contract, Mourinho agreed to depart by "mutual consent", the divorce evidently suiting both parties.

After falling out with the Spanish media, not to mention certain key players, Mourinho has talked longingly about England as a place where he "is loved" and the agreement with his former employers at Chelsea appears virtually done and dusted.

Before Saturday's game he issued a brief farewell statement on Madrid's website, reflecting on three always turbulent and sometimes triumphant years in charge.

"I wish all of Real Madrid's supporters much happiness in the future," Mourinho said. "I want to thank many fans for their support, and I respect the criticism of others. I repeat, happiness to all, and above all, good health. Hala [Forward] Madrid!"

After the win against Osasuna – in which Cristiano Ronaldo's absence due to a supposed "back strain" prompted fevered speculation that Manchester United's former favourite son could be poised for a Premier League return – Mourinho stepped forward from the technical area, arms aloft, before waving to the fans and disappearing down the tunnel one last time.

Earlier he had waited until the last possible moment ahead of the kick-off before emerging and quickly settling into the dugout. Almost immediately, he ventured out of his seat and was instantly engulfed by photographers. Security staff were required to usher them away.

The reception from home fans embraced assorted "political" positions, including Madrid's ultras, who brandished signs emblazoned with messages such as "Thanks for everything, Mou" and chanted his name. Another segment of supporters whistled in protest, largely upset with the manager's treatment of certain players, the team's lack of major titles this season and the Portuguese's claims that he is not "loved" in Spain.

After securing the Copa del Rey in his first season and the La Liga title in his second, Mourinho and Madrid parted following a third campaign that saw only the Spanish Supercup added to the trophy cabinet. As if bowing out at the semi-final stage of the Champions League for a third consecutive year under the former Porto, Chelsea and Internazionale coach was not bad enough, Madrid trailed Barcelona from the start of the season and lost the Copa del Rey final to fierce rivals Atlético Madrid.

In a damning indictment arguably more damaging than the less than glorious trophy haul, Mourinho has been heavily criticised by supporters and journalists alike for his persistent benching of Iker Casillas, Madrid's goalkeeper and captain.

In recent months he has fallen out with other players, including Pepe, but other Madrid players made clear their desire to wish Mourinho well for the future. "Many thanks for everything. It has been a pleasure," the defender Alvaro Arbeloa tweeted.

If his Madrid exit was rather less glorious than hoped for, at least he signed off with a win. Gonzalo Higuaín, captaining a side missing a number of regulars, opened the scoring with Real's 100th goal of the season.

Next Michael Essien, on loan from Stamford Bridge, headed in a corner and sprinted across to dedicate the goal to Mourinho, who brought him to Real following the injury problems which undermined his Chelsea career.

Osasuna, also with nothing left to play for, reduced the deficit courtesy of a raking, low shot from Roberto Torres. Alvaro Cejudo then headed an equaliser.

No matter. Superlative skill on Mesut Ozil's part set up Karim Benzema for Madrid's third goal before José Callejón completed the scoring in the 87th minute.

As is his wont, Mourinho exited, stage left, a winner.

Read More

Not-Too-Sweet Wok-Popped Coconut Kettle Corn

I’m usually not a big fan of sweet kettle corn, but I wanted to make a moderately sweet version because some people love it and it is nice to be able to offer a sweet snack for the holidays. I realized after testing this recipe that I do like kettle corn if it isn’t too sweet. The trick to not burning the sugar when you make kettle corn is to add the sugar off the heat at the end of popping. The wok will be hot enough to caramelize it. 

2 tablespoons coconut oil 

6 tablespoons popcorn 

2 tablespoons raw brown sugar 

Kosher salt to taste 

1. Place the coconut oil in a 14-inch lidded wok over medium heat. When the coconut oil melts add a few kernels of popcorn and cover. When you hear a kernel pop, quickly lift the lid and pour in all of the popcorn. Cover, turn the heat to medium-low, and cook, shaking the wok constantly, until you no longer hear the kernels popping against the lid. Turn off the heat, uncover and add the sugar and salt. Cover again and shake the wok vigorously for 30 seconds to a minute. Transfer the popcorn to a bowl, and if there is any caramelized sugar on the bottom of the wok scrape it out. Stir or toss the popcorn to distribute the caramelized bits throughout, and serve.

Yield: About 12 cups popcorn 

Advance preparation: This is good for a few hours but it will probably disappear more quickly than that.

Nutritional information per cup: 59 calories; 3 grams fat; 2 grams saturated fat; 0 grams polyunsaturated fat; 0 grams monounsaturated fat; 0 milligrams cholesterol; 8 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 1 milligram sodium (does not include salt to taste); 1 gram protein

Read More

Newtown shootings: Obama seeks 'complex' gun reform

US President Barack Obama has met senior officials to discuss how to respond to Friday's school shootings in Newtown, Connecticut, in which 20 children and six adults died.

The White House said curbing gun violence was a "complex" problem that required a comprehensive solution.

On Sunday Mr Obama told Newtown residents he would do everything in his power to prevent further tragedies.

The first two funerals of victims of the shooting were held on Monday.

Sandy Hook school pupils Noah Pozner and Jack Pinto, both aged six, were buried, and other victims' funerals will be held throughout the week.

The town has been removing Christmas decorations in mourning.

The Sandy Hook gunman was named as Adam Lanza, who took his own life at the end of a killing spree that began with him shooting dead his own mother.

'Action needed'
 
On Monday Mr Obama met Vice President Joe Biden, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Attorney General Eric Holder, and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to discuss proposals aimed at reducing gun violence.

Mr Biden will be put in charge of the initiative, the Washington Post said quoting unnamed sources close to the government.

Earlier, White House spokesman Jay Carney said tighter gun control laws were part of the answer to violence in the US.

"It's a complex problem that will require a complex solution," Mr Carney said. "No single piece of legislation, no single action will fully address the problem."

He added that the president supported reinstating an assault weapons ban that expired in 2004.

Correspondents say Democrats have been reluctant to pursue gun control legislation, but that there are signs that fear could be abating, with two pro-gun senators calling for changes.

Mark Warner and Joe Manchin, who have "A" ratings from the National Rifle Association (NRA), now say action is needed after the massacre.

West Virginia Senator Mr Manchin told US network MSNBC on Monday that it was time to "move beyond rhetoric".

Mr Manchin, a gun owner and frequent hunter, said: "I don't know anyone in the sporting or hunting arena that goes out with an assault rifle."

Virginia Senator Mark Warner said that the "status quo isn't acceptable" and called for "rational gun control".

Mr Warner said he had been approached repeatedly over the weekend as people began to seek answers and solutions.

California Senator Dianne Feinstein, a long-time advocate for gun regulations, said on Sunday she would introduce assault weapons ban legislation in the beginning of the next congressional session.

On Sunday President Barack Obama told residents at a vigil in Newtown the US must do more to protect its children.

"We can't tolerate this any more," Mr Obama said. "These tragedies must end and to end them we must change."

Read More

Karachi polio killings: Vaccination workers shot

Four female Pakistani polio vaccination workers have been shot dead in the country's largest city Karachi, police say.

The victims were reportedly working with a UN-backed programme to eradicate polio, which is endemic in Pakistan.

No group has said it carried out the shootings, but the Taliban have issued threats against the polio drive and are active in parts of Karachi.

The attacks took place in three separate locations in the city.

Meanwhile, a teenage girl was wounded in an attack when gunmen opened fire on a team of female health workers on the outskirts of Peshawar in the north-west.

Key polio battleground
 
Pakistani health officials said the latest three-day nationwide anti-polio drive - during which an estimated 5.2 million polio drops were to be administered - had been suspended in Karachi due to the attacks.

There has been opposition to such immunisation drives in parts of Pakistan, particularly after a fake CIA hepatitis vaccination campaign helped to locate Osama Bin Laden in 2011.

Militants have kidnapped and killed foreign NGO workers in the past in an attempt to halt the immunisation drives which they say are part of efforts to spy on them.

Along with Afghanistan and Nigeria, Pakistan is one of only three countries where polio is still endemic.

Pakistan is considered the key battleground in the global fight against the disease, which attacks the nervous system and can cause permanent paralysis within hours of infection.

Nearly 200 children were paralysed in the country in 2011 - the worst figures in 15 years. 

Earlier this year, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative warned that tackling the disease had entered "emergency mode" after "explosive" outbreaks in countries previously free of polio.

The World Health Organization said polio was at a tipping point, with experts fearing it could "come back with a vengeance" after large outbreaks in Africa and Tajikistan and China's first recorded cases for more than a decade.

Declaring polio a national emergency, the Pakistani government is targeting 33m children for vaccination with some 88,000 health workers delivering vaccination drops.

In Karachi, Pakistan's biggest city of 18 million people, Health Minister Saghir Ahmed said on Tuesday that the government had told 24,000 polio workers it was suspending the anti-polio drive in Sindh province.

Poliomyelitis has existed as long as human society, but became a major public health issue in late Victorian times with major epidemics in Europe and the United States. The disease, which causes spinal and respiratory paralysis, can kill and remains incurable but vaccines have assisted in its almost total eradication today.

Read More

Apple v Samsung: Judge rejects Apple plea for sales ban

A US judge has rejected Apple's plea to ban sales of Samsung's smartphones that violate its patents.

Apple had requested the ban after a jury ruled earlier this year that some Samsung products had infringed Apple's patents.

Samsung was also ordered to pay $1.05bn (£650m) in damages, a ruling the South Korean firm has since challenged.

However, the judge said there was not enough evidence that the infringed patents had hurt Apple's US sales.

"The phones at issue in this case contain a broad range of features, only a small fraction of which are covered by Apple's patents," District Judge Lucy Koh said.

"Though Apple does have some interest in retaining certain features as exclusive to Apple, it does not follow that entire products must be forever banned from the market because they incorporate, among their myriad features, a few narrow protected functions."

Losing steam?
 
Since winning $1.05bn damages in August this year, Apple has suffered setbacks in its various legal clashes with rivals.

Last month, Apple was asked to disclose the details of its patent-sharing deal with HTC to Samsung.

It has also lost an appeal against a UK ruling that Samsung had not infringed its design rights.

The US technology firm was also asked by a UK High Court to publish a statement on its website admitting that Samsung had not infringed its designs.

Meanwhile, sales bans sought by Apple against Samsung's Galaxy Nexus phone and Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet computer in the US were also lifted in October.

In November, a judge in the US dismissed a case brought by Apple alleging that Google's Motorola unit was seeking excessive royalty payments for patents.

"The momentum that Apple had gained in the wake of the big billion dollar judgement seems to be losing its steam," Manoj Menon, managing director at consulting firm Frost & Sullivan told the BBC.

"It appears that Apple will find it increasingly difficult to convince courts around the world that it has been hurt by alleged patent infringements."

Patent sharing
 
The smartphone market has seen tremendous growth over the past few years and Apple and Samsung have emerged as two of the biggest players in the sector.

The success of Apple's iPhone has been a key driver of its growth, while Samsung has reported record quarterly profits helped by the popularity of its Galaxy range of smartphones.

However, as their market share has increased, so has the intensity of their legal battles with each other.

The two firms have filed legal cases against each other in more than 10 countries, each accusing the other of violating its patents.

However, analysts said that it was time the two companies sat down together and agreed on an amicable solution to their tussles - a move that has also been suggested previously by a judge in the US.

Mr Menon of Frost & Sullivan said that as manufacturers look to develop even more advanced phones, they will eventually need to use technologies, the patents for which may not belong to them.

"What we are seeing is a convergence of different technologies into one device," he said.

He explained that for innovation to continue in the sector it was key that various companies agreed to licensing terms for their patents.

Last month, Apple agreed such a deal with Taiwanese phone-maker HTC as it signed a 10-year licence agreement that ended their legal battle over patents.

Read More