cnn--2019-01-28--US and Taliban agree in principle to framework for peace deal US envoy says

US and Taliban agree in principle to framework for peace deal, US envoy says

(CNN) Officials from the United States and the Taliban have agreed in principle to a peace framework that could eventually bring Afghanistan's long-running war to an end, the US Special Representative for Afghanistan said Monday.  In comments given to the New York Times and confirmed to CNN by the US Embassy in Kabul, Zalmay Khalilzad said the framework for peace would see the insurgent group vow to prevent the country from being used as a hub for terrorism in return for a US military withdrawal.  "We have a draft of the framework that has to be fleshed out before it becomes an agreement," Khalilzad told the Times on Monday . "The Taliban have committed, to our satisfaction, to do what is necessary that would prevent Afghanistan from ever becoming a platform for international terrorist groups or individuals."  The peace negotiations in Doha, Qatar had previously been described on Saturday by Khalilzad as "more productive than they have been in the past," signaling the first significant shift in the geopolitical stalemate in years. But he added that "nothing is agreed until everything is agreed."  The sides are working on a ceasefire that would lead to a sequenced agreement for dialogue, initially between US and the Taliban and then between the Taliban and Afghan government, a source with knowledge of the talks told CNN last week.  An Afghan source close to the negotiations told CNN on Monday that while a ceasefire and US withdrawal were both discussed, neither side came to final conclusions.  The source said the Taliban will not agree to a ceasefire without the US committing to a full troop withdrawal, but the Americans want any withdrawal to be conditional on the ceasefire holding. The Taliban are skeptical that the US will actually pull out if the ceasefire holds.  The source added that the US wouldn't announce any plans for a troop withdrawal without the Taliban entering into discussions with the Afghan government. Khalilzad will stay in a Kabul for more talks with the Afghan government Monday, and there are discussions that Khalilzad may go back to Afghanistan in early February ahead of the next round of talks later that month.  On Saturday, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the Doha talks "saw progress" on vital issues but added that "until the issue of withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan is agreed upon, progress in other issues is impossible."  Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani called the six-day meeting a "significant step in the history of peace and reconciliation" on Twitter and urged regional and international players to "unify and coordinate efforts and support #Doha in its endeavor to facilitate successful negotiations."  The US has about 14,000 troops in the country, most of which are present as part of a larger NATO-led mission to train, advise and assist Afghan forces.  The conflict, known as America's longest war, has spanned over 17 years, cost more than 2,400 American lives, billions of US dollars and has stretched into its third US presidential administration.  Ghani said the country recognized the work US soldiers have undertaken in the country but "the job that we started together needs to move."  "We need to get a stable Afghanistan as an entity that can ensure security of America and Europe and others on the one hand, but more fundamentally our own democratic rights and institutions and our right to live in peace and harmony," Ghani told CNN's Fareed Zakaria.


rferl--2019-09-07--Freed Prisoners Arrive In Ukraine Russia In Swap Hailed As First Step Toward Ending War

Freed Prisoners Arrive In Ukraine, Russia In Swap Hailed As 'First Step' Toward Ending War

KYIV/MOSCOW -- Russia and Ukraine have exchanged a total of 70 prisoners in a move praised by the West as an opportunity to improve tense relations between Kyiv and Moscow.  The September 7 exchange marks a seemingly rare breakthrough that observers say could pave the way for fresh talks on ending a five-year war between Ukrainian government forces and Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.  President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and a jubilant afternoon crowd greeted the 35 freed Ukrainians on the tarmac at Boryspil International Airport.  They included Oleh Sentsov, an outspoken filmmaker convicted by Russian on dubious terrorism charges after its invasion of Crimea, and the 24 Ukrainian sailors captured last year by Russia near the Kerch Strait.  Standing next to the plane, Zelenskiy called it a "first step" toward ending the conflict and "the first chapter" in new relations with Russia.  In Moscow, the 35 freed individuals included RIA Novosti journalist Kirill Vyshinsky and Ukrainian national Volodymyr Tsemakh, a "person of interest" to international investigations into the Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 shoot-down that killed 298 people in 2014.  Tsemakh's release was seen as particularly sensitive because of that investigation and his command role in an air-defense unit of Russia-backed separatists at the time of the MH17 disaster.  Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok said after the exchange on September 7 that the Netherlands had asked Ukraine "several times and at the very highest level" not to hand Tsemakh over to Russia, according to AFP. He "regretted" the decision, he added.  Forty members of the European Parliament this week had urged Ukraine not to include him in any exchange, calling him a "key suspect."  The Ukrainian president said Tsemakh had been handed over after his questioning for several hours by a team from the Dutch-led Joint Investigation Team (JIT) that has already indicted four individuals for their alleged roles in the MH17 tragedy over separatist-held territory of eastern Ukraine.  U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed the prisoner exchange, saying it was "very good news."  "Russia and Ukraine just swapped large numbers of prisoners. Very good news, perhaps a first giant step to peace. Congratulations to both countries!" Trump said on Twitter.  Kurt Volker, the U.S. special peace envoy to Ukraine, expressed hope the prisoner swap could spur talks on ending the conflict in eastern Ukraine, where more than 13,000 people have died in fighting between Russia-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces since April 2014.  "Very pleased to see Ukrainian sailors coming home and Ukraine-Russia prisoner exchange! Hope it builds momentum for further prisoner exchanges, renewed ceasefire, and progress toward full Minsk implementation," Volker said on Twitter.  German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the prisoner exchange was a "hopeful sign."  "I am happy for the Ukrainian sailors and Oleh Sentsov, who are now finally able to return home," Merkel said, according to a statement tweeted by her spokesman, Steffen Seibert.  EU foreign-policy chief Federica Mogherini welcomed the release and called on both sides to "build on this momentum."      France said the swap showed improved trust and will on both sides to resume dialogue.      "Populations can now hope for an end to the five-year conflict, which continues to make dozens of victims each month," Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in a statement.  PHOTO GALLERY: Joy And Tears As Freed Prisoners Arrive In Kyiv, Moscow (click to expand)  After the planes had landed, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova cited both "provocations" and other obstacles to the swap.  "Despite both the provocations and the objective difficulties, the process finally took place. It is a very important step. It is necessary to maintain this determination to resolve issues rather than exacerbate them as much as possible. The political will and the systemic hard work yield results," she said.  Word emerged this morning that Ukraine and Russia had begun the handover of prisoners after months of intense negotiations at the highest levels.  Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested earlier this week that the sides were on the brink of agreement, while Zelenskiy was urging patience.  Late on September 7, Putin and Zelenskiy made a positive assessment of the swap during a phone conversation and agreed on further contacts, the Kremlin said in a statement.  The exchange is the first major prisoner swap between the two countries since 2017.  Negotiations on an exchange were renewed following Zelenskiy's election -- won in part on pledges to end the war and get Ukrainian prisoners home from Russia -- and inauguration in May.  The 43-year-old Sentsov delighted in being home after five years in Russian custody, saying, "I thank all the people who have fought for us."  Sentsov's family was seen outside the Kyiv offices of the Ukrainian parliamentary representative for human rights, Lyudmila Denisova, before they were transported to Boryspil Airport on September 7.  The European Parliament awarded its prestigious Sakharov Prize in support of human rights to Sentsov in 2018.  European Parliament President David Sassoli welcomed the Crimean-born filmmaker's release on September 7 "with relief and profound joy" and saluted him as "a man of courage and determination, who resisted injustice with dignity and stood up for democracy, the rule of law, and human rights." In the same statement, he said he looked forward to meeting him and handing him the Sakharov Prize in person.  The prisoner exchange could help build trust and confidence between Moscow and Kyiv and possibly provide impetus for negotiations and improved relations between the neighbors as the conflict grinds on in eastern Ukraine and Russia maintains its occupation of Crimea, annexed from Ukraine in 2014.  "One can say now that the most important thing has been achieved -- the dialogue of the two presidents, Ukrainian and Russian, took place and effectively ended a stalemate in relation to the issue, which had remained pending for 20 months," Nina Karpachova, a former commissioner for human rights for the Ukrainian parliament, was quoted by Interfax-Ukraine as saying.  "We have the pardon as a result of this dialogue. Ukrainian President Zelenskiy pardoned 16 people, including three women."  "Hell has ended; everyone is alive and that is the main thing," Vyacheslav Zinchenko, 30, one of the released sailors, said.  The Ukrainian sailors had been held in Moscow since their capture, along with their ship, after Russian Coast Guard forces fired on them as they tried to sail through the Kerch Strait that connects the Sea of Azov with the Black Sea.  Russia took effective control of the strait after its illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, threatening to block off Ukrainian ports from access to the Black Sea.  The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in May ordered Russia to release the sailors.  At Moscow's Vnukovo Airport, the released prisoners remained on the plane for about 15 minutes for unknown reasons. When they came off, many toting baggage, a bus drove them to a medical facility for examination.      One of those to deplane in Moscow was Kirill Vyshinsky, the head of Russian state news agency RIA Novosti's office in Ukraine. He had been jailed since 2018 on treason charges.      Vyshinksy thanked Harlem Desir, the media-freedom representative for the Organization for Security and Cooperation In Europe, for calling for his release.      Russia said it would release a full list of its citizens freed by Ukraine later on September 7.


sottnet--2019-09-01--Saudi-led coalition airstrike levels Yemen center holding 185 prisoners of war

he believed more than 100 people were killed.  Houthi officials accuse Saudi-UAE-coalition of carrying out air raids that hit detention centre in Dhamar.Dozens of people have been killed when a Saudi-UAE-led military coalition battling the Houthi rebel movement bombed a prison in western Yemen , according to the rebels.Yusuf al-Hadri, a spokesman for the Houthis' ministry of health, said at least 60 people were killed in Sunday's air raids which hit a complex used as a detention centre north of Dhamar cityFifty people were wounded, he told the rebel-run Al Masirah TV, adding thatat the Dhamar Community College.Nazem Saleh was among those held at the facility.he told The Associated Press news agency."They were targeting the jail, I really don't know the strike numbers ... We were 100 persons on the ground level and around 150 on the upper level," he said while on a stretcher in a local hospital.Reuters news agency quoted Franz Rauchenstein,"There are three buildings hit and the building where the detainees were located, most of them or the majority has been killed," said Rauchenstein, who visited the prison complex and hospitals in the attack's aftermath."The prisoners in that facility were prisoners that we had visited in relation to the conflict."Earlier, Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam had said in a Twitter post that the toll was 50 people killed and more than 100 wounded.In a statement carried on Saudi state television, the coalition said it had launched air raids on Houthi military targets in Dhamar and destroyed a site storing drones and missiles., said it had taken measures to protect civilians in Dhamar and the assault complied with international law.Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a Houthi spokesman, told Al Jazeera"The fate of many prisoners is not known," Abdul Qader al-Murtaza, the head of Houthi's national committee for prisoner affairs, told Al Masirah TV, with rescue teams unable to reach the area because of continued shelling., he added.The ICRC, in a Twitter post, said it has sent a team "carrying both urgent medical supplies that can treat up to 100 critically wounded persons and 200 body bags" to Dhamar.Residents told Reutersone resident said. "Afterwards ambulance sirens could be heard until dawn."The Saudi-led coalition intervened in Yemen in March 2015 against the Houthis after they swept Hadi from power in the capital, Sanaa, and most of the north.in an attempt to reverse their gains.In recent months, the rebel group has stepped up cross-border missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia The air raids in Dhamar come after the coalition has been distracted in recent weeks by a battle for control of the south, which has pitted Hadi's Saudi-backed forces and southern separatists who have been trained and equipped by the UAE against each other.The war in Yemen, currently in its fifth year,


tass--2019-04-30--Prisoners-of-war exchange helps establish trust in conflict areas Russias top diplomat

Prisoners-of-war exchange helps establish trust in conflict areas — Russia’s top diplomat

MOSCOW, April 30. /TASS/. Russia stands for exchanging prisoners-of-war (POWs) under the ‘all for all’ formula for establishing trust in conflict areas, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a news conference on Tuesday.  "In all situations, we always stand for the all-embracing humanitarian solution of such situations, the exchange of remains, the exchange of prisoners-of-war, persons held in custody, using the ‘all-for-all’ principle," the Russian foreign minister stressed.  "And we believe that this will contribute to establishing the atmosphere of trust in conflict areas, be it the Middle East or Nagorno-Karabakh or south- east Ukraine," Lavrov said.  This principle is also stipulated in the Minsk accords on settling the conflict in Ukraine, Russia’s top diplomat said. "We continue actively supporting the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, which stand for its full implementation without any exemptions," Lavrov pointed out.  "Unfortunately, the current Ukrainian authorities are trying in every possible way to depart from this principle," Russia’s top diplomat said.  In other media


theindependent--2019-12-29--Ukraine swaps prisoners with pro-Russian separatists in attempt to end war

Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine have swapped scores of prisoners in an attempt to bring the five-year-long conflict to an end.  The exchange took place at a checkpoint near the industrial town of Horlivka in the Donetsk region.  Ukrainian men and women dressed in civilian clothing got off a bus after being brought to the rendezvous point by separatist forces and were herded into a nearby tent.  According to figures from officials of the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s republics — the two separatist governments in the rebel area — Ukraine turned over 124 people and the separatists freed 76.  The office of Ukraine’s president confirmed 76 former pro-government detainees had returned home. “[They] are safe in Ukraine-controlled territory,” it said.  Although the confidence will help build confidence between the two sides – who are negotiating how to implement a 2014 peace deal – key disagreements exist and full normalisation remains remote.  “Today’s prisoner exchange in #Donbass will bring relief to the persons involved and their families, but it will not bring the [peace] settlement any closer,” Dmitri Trenin, head of the Moscow Carnegie Center and a former colonel in the Russian army, wrote on social media.  “The... terms remain anathema in Kiev, and this won’t change. The conflict is much more likely to become frozen than resolved.”  Kiev’s forces have been battling separatists in the Donbass region since 2014, in a conflict that has claimed more than 13,000 lives.  Relations between Ukraine and Russia collapsed following Moscow’s annexation of the Crimean peninsula in 2014, and its subsequent support for separatists in eastern Ukraine.  The last major prisoner swap between separatist rebels and Ukrainian forces took place in December 2017, with 233 rebels exchanged for 73 Ukrainians.  Hopes for an end to the fighting have increased since the election of Volodymyr Zelenskiy as president, who has been more amenable to negotiations with Russia on ending the war.  But prospects for peace remain tentative, with questions over allowing local elections to give rebel regions more autonomy and about Ukraine regaining control of its border with Russia in rebel-held areas.


theseattletimes--2019-12-07--AP PHOTOS: Ukraine war prisoners struggle to rebuild lives

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — For Anna Sergeyeva, rebuilding her life after surviving a week of captivity and torture in Ukraine was often more of a struggle.  She was snatched from her apartment in May 2014, when the conflict between Russia-backed rebels and Ukrainian forces in eastern Ukraine had just erupted. The city where she lived, Donetsk, was controlled by the rebels. They found a Ukrainian flag at her home and detained her for being a Ukraine supporter.  For a week, Sergeyeva’s kidnappers beat her and stabbed her, threatened her with rape and murder. She thought she would die in captivity, when all of a sudden her captors let her go. “If you come back, we will shoot you,” they said.  Haunted by memories of torture and pain, Sergeyeva had to flee from the only life she knew and start anew — with no place to live, no job and no support from the government.  “The hardest part was when the euphoria (about being released) wore off. When it dawns on you that you have no place to return to, you don’t want to do anything at all,” Sergeyeva said in an interview earlier this year. “In many ways, life after captivity is a much bigger challenge than life in captivity.”  Sergeyeva’s situation is hardly an isolated case. In the five years that eastern Ukraine has been embroiled in bloodshed, between 3,000 and 10,000 people, according to different estimates, survived unlawful detentions and captivity.  Almost half of them were civilians. Armed groups from both sides of the conflict held them in underground dungeons and often used them to extort ransom from or somehow leverage the other side. Hundreds of people still remain locked up.  Civilians who went through captivity say that there is effectively no support system for them — once released, they are on their own with their injuries, psychological traumas and financial hardships. Occasionally, Ukrainian authorities offer survivors help with health care and financial support, but aside from standard social benefits for those who served in the military, there aren’t any state programs to help former captives.  For many, helping other former captives is often a way to advance their own recovery. They form support groups, nongovernmental organizations and raise money for other survivors.  “After captivity everyone who went through this hell became my family,” Anatoly Polyakov, a Russian national who survived 288 days in captivity, said in an interview last year. Soon after he was released, he founded Ukrainian Association of Prisoners of War and dedicated his life to helping former captives.  “I consider it my duty to do everything in my power for these people not to feel discriminated against in their own country,” said Polyakov, who has been living in Ukraine since 2013.  Shu set out in August to take portraits of some of the former captives in an effort to shed light on their situation. She eventually became friends with the people she photographed — getting them to open up required Shu to open up to them in turn.  “To do this work, you should be open, sincere and warmhearted,” Shu said.


channel4uk--2019-06-24--From prisoner of war in Iraq to a new life in Sweden

Last month, I received a letter from a Swedish woman. She had seen an old news film shot in 1980, in which I had reported from the frontline of the Iran/Iraq war. She said my team had filmed a man, who then had been a young Iranian soldier languishing in an Iraqi prisoner of war camp, but who today, 40 years on, is her husband and the father of their two children. So we decided to visit him in Stockholm. How had a man who had suffered 13 years as a POW in Iraq somehow found his way to life and love in Sweden?


sottnet--2019-12-29--Ukraine and Donbass conduct planned 'all for all' prisoner exchange in move to end war

Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine began exchanging scores of prisoners Sunday in a move aimed at ending their 5-year-long war.The move was part of an agreement brokered earlier this month at a summit of the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France.The total number of people freed was not immediately known, though authorities said earlier that 142 were expected to be involved in the exchange — 55 released by the rebels and 87 by Ukraine.Those to be released by Ukraine, Ukrainian news site Hromadske quoted their lawyer, Igor Varfolomeyev, as saying.Ludmila Denisova, human rights envoy for the Ukrainian parliament, said the first group released by the rebels included Ukrainian soldiers.The last major prisoner swap between separatist rebels and Ukrainian forces took place in December 2017, with 233 rebels exchanged for 73 Ukrainians.The conflict in eastern Ukraine has killed more than 14,000 people since 2014. It began about two months after Ukraine's Russia-friendly president fled the country amid massive protests in Kyiv. Russia's annexation of the Crimean Peninsula soon followed.Hopes for ending the fighting have risen since the spring election of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who has been more amenable to negotiations with Russia on ending the war.But prospects for peace are still troubled by questions over allowing local elections that would ensure the rebel regions more autonomy and about Ukraine regaining control of its border with Russia in the rebel areas.


tass--2019-12-29--Prisoner swap seen as Kiev’s first step towards implementing its commitments - DPR

DONETSK, December 29. /TASS/. Sunday’s exchange of detainees in Donbass was Kiev’s first step towards the implementation of the Minsk agreements, Foreign Minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and DPR’s chief negotiator at the Contact Group Natalia Nikonorova said on Sunday.  "It was just the first step in Ukraine’s implementation of its commitments. Under the document agreed during the videoconference on December 23, the exchange will be considered completed only when Kiev implements certain provisions. Thus, Ukraine must provide all the documents asserting the completion of all procedures needed for the relief from criminal punishment of all persons subject to exchange," as follows from her statement released by the Donetsk News Agency.  "We are thankful to the leaders of the Minsk accords guarantor nations and the mediators in the negotiating process in the person of Russia and the OSCE for their serious contribution to the agreement of the terms and preparations for the exchange. It is impossible to overestimate the importance of this gleeful fact that the released persons will rejoin their families for the New Year holidays," Nikonorova stressed.  Kiev and the Donbass republics exchanged prisoners earlier on Sunday. The swap was carried put near the Mayorskoye checkpoint. According to preliminary data, Ukraine released 124 people and the Donbass republics handed over to Kiev 76 people.


theguardianuk--2019-07-04--UKs biggest second world war prisoner camp unearthed in Yorkshire

UK's biggest second world war prisoner camp unearthed in Yorkshire

The forgotten history of what was once Britain’s biggest prisoner of war camp has been unearthed by archaeologists in the South Yorkshire countryside.  At its peak in the second world war, Lodge Moor camp near Sheffield held more than 11,000 mostly German captives.  Its extraordinary stories have been overlooked for more than 60 years as its moss-covered remains were shrouded in thick woodland.  Research by archaeology students shows the camp was used to hold the most fanatical of prisoners during the second world war, many of whom were from Germany, Italy and the Ukraine.  Analysing camp records, witness statements and surveying the prison’s weathered remains for the first time, the University of Sheffield students found the camp held more than 11,000 people at its peak in 1944.  But it was during the first world war that the prison, formally known as Prisoner of War Camp 17, held its most infamous inmate. Admiral Karl Dönitz was the captain of several German U-boats who was captured by Allied forces when his vessel, U-boat 68, was forced to surface in October 1918.  The admiral spent about six weeks at the Sheffield camp, according to the research, before feigning mental illness to avoid being treated as a war criminal. Dönitz was released back to Germany, where he rose to become commander of Hitler’s U-boats and head of the German navy, before going on to succeed Hitler as president of the German Reich.  Lodge Moor was one of about 1,500 prisoner of war camps in Britain during the second world war but its significance, in terms of its huge size and type of prisoner, was not widely known.  Only partial remains exist of the site, now a popular dog-walking spot about five miles west of Sheffield on the edge of the Peak District.  Its history is occasionally discussed by local residents on internet forums but this research, by the University of Sheffield and the Sheffield Lakeland Landscape Partnership, is thought to be the first study of its kind of Lodge Moor.  At the beginning of the second world war, the camp was occupied mostly by Italian prisoners, who were put to work on local farms and appeared to enjoy good relations with their Yorkshire neighbours, who would share with them their limited supplies of tea.  However, quality of life in the camp deteriorated sharply with the sudden influx of German prisoners.  Rob Johnson, one of the archaeology students who surveyed the site, said: “The prisoners were fed food out of galvanised dustbins, had to stand outside in the mud, rain and cold for several hours a day during roll call, and since it was so overpopulated as a transit camp, they were squashed into tents or the barracks with little personal space.”  The study unearthed investigations into conditions at the camp by the International Committee for the Red Cross, which, in 1944, described it as “insufficient/uninhabitable” with half of the captives in huts and the other half in tents. The researchers found witness testimony suggesting there were more than 70 prisoners per barrack, more than double the official number of 30.  In common with other prisoner of war camps in Britain, Lodge Moor saw its share of drama. On 20 December 1944 a group of German prisoners managed to escape the site – but were captured in nearby Rotherham just 24 hours later.  Another escape plan ended in grisly fashion. One prisoner, Gerhardt Rettig, was chased around the Nissen huts by hundreds of inmates and beaten to a pulp after being suspected of tipping off Allied guards about a planned break-out in March 1945. Rettig later died in prison and his alleged killers were put on trial in London later that year. Two men, Armin Keuhne, 18, and Emil Schmittendorf, 31, were found guilty of his murder and executed by hanging at Pentonville prison in November 1945.  The students involved in the study said they hoped their findings would be used to preserve and restore the site and the surrounding woodland. Georgina Goodison, an archaeology student involved in the project, said: “It was a big eye opener for me, as I didn’t realise that Lodge Moor camp even exists. The woodland hides it well. It hides the secrets of all the thousands of men who were housed there merely decades ago.”

Josh Halliday North of England correspondent


thesun--2019-08-29--Legendary prisoner of war Jack Reynolds pictured giving two finger salute to WWII captors dies at

‘Legendary’ prisoner of war Jack Reynolds pictured giving two finger salute to WWII captors dies at 97

LEGENDARY war hero Jack Reynolds, who was famously photographed giving the two finger salute to his World War Two captors, has died aged 97.  The lieutenant's act of defiance towards the Germans became one of the most iconic images the Battle of Arnhem.  Lt Reynolds and his men were overrun by Germans several days after 10,000 British airborne troops landed behind the enemy lines in Holland in September 1944.  As he was taken as a prisoner of war, Lt Reynolds spotted a German cameraman filming the captured Brits.  Lt Reynolds, who lied about his age to join the army, then flicked the V-sign out of anger and frustration.  He said: "I was so angry at the loss of fine young men and the carnage. Down the road I saw a German chap with a camera and a huge grin on his face and I thought what a b*****d and gave him the opposite 'V' sign'.  "It was an act of defiance but a momentary lapse of military discipline, which given the circumstance seemed totally justifiable!"  Lt Reynolds spent the rest of the war in a PoW camp in Brunswick, Germany.  The camp was freed in April 1945 by US forces and he returned home.  He met and married Eulalie Willcocks - the younger sister of his commanding officer Captain AH Willcocks, who he was in the camp with.  The couple lived in Pulborough, West Sussex until he died - Eulalie died 13 years ago.  It is understood Lt Reynolds died in his sleep in West Sussex on August 22.  Lt Reynolds was born on Chichester and joined the army aged 17 to follow in the footsteps of his older brother Arthur.  He joined the Sussex Yeomanry and trained as a signaller, and was sent off to South Wales for more training instead of France when his real age was discovered.  Lt Reynolds later joined the Royal Artillery and was posted to Dover to man a 12-pound gun aimed at German E-Boats in the English Channel.  He then joined the 1st Airborne Division and took part in the invasion of Sicily in July 1943 - which he was awarded the Military Cross for his heroic efforts.  On September 17, 1944, Lt Reynolds was part of the first wave of glider borne troops in the Battle of Arnhem.  He was sent out on the back of motorbike to carry out reconnaissance, but was confronted by German snipers that disabled his vehicle.  He carried on by food and saw German infantry and Panzer tanks, before he retreated and reported back to battalion HQ.  The next day the troops marched towards Oosterbeek, near Arnhem, and came under heavy talk fire.  Lt Reynolds continued on alone to find out the strength of the opposition, but he was cut off and spent several days behind enemy lines.  By the time he made it back to battalion HQ it was taken over by Germans and the men were forced to surrender.  Historian Steve Penticost interviewed Lt Reynolds for the book 'Military Voices; West Sussex Veterans in the 20th Century.'  He said: "Men like Jack Reynolds seemed to have an indomitable spirit and rarely showed any signs of frailty.  "People today talk about World War Two veterans being heroes but Jack didn't have any truck with that - he was just doing what he had to.  "He went to just one Arnhem reunion and that was the first one.  "He felt they had let down the people of Arnhem terribly because they suffered reprisals at the hands of the Nazis for helping the British.  "He felt partly responsible and couldn't face those people.  "Some years after the war a German newspaper contacted him out of the blue and sent him this framed photograph of him giving the V-sign.  "It was an iconic image of Arnhem and one that he was very proud of because it summed up exactly what men like him felt, even though it wasn't the conduct you'd expect of an officer.  "When I visited him he had this photo hung up on the wall of his lounge."  We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368. You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.


birminghammail--2019-01-03--Met Office issues cold weather alert for Birmingham amid heavy snow and severe icy conditions fore

Met Office issues cold weather alert for Birmingham amid 'heavy snow and severe icy conditions' forecast

The Met Office has issued a cold weather alert for Birmingham and the Midlands as the region faces teeth-chattering frosts.  According to the agency, there is a sixty per cent chance of severe cold weather until January 5.  The alert runs from today, January 3, and could bring with it icy conditions and heavy snow.  This weather could increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services.  The Met Office forecasts it becoming cold generally from mid-week, but less cold conditions expected to spread to northern and eastern parts of England over the coming weekend.  However, cold weather criteria may still be met in some central, southern, and southwestern areas over the weekend where any freezing fog patches are slow to clear.  This may require the alert level being raised in these areas later this week.  An update will be issued when the alert level changes in any region.  The Cold weather health watch comprises four levels of response based on cold weather thresholds.  The thresholds have been developed to trigger an alert when severe cold weather is likely to significantly affect people's health.  The alerts take account of temperature along with other winter weather threats such as ice and snow.  A Cold weather health watch system operates in England from the 1 November to 31 March every year, in association with Public Health England.  The Met Office predicts most places are likely to stay dry but rather cloudy through next week.  The cloudiest and mildest weather is likely to be in the northwest, where it will be cloudy enough for some drizzle over the hills, and sometimes rather windy.  In the south, winds will stay light and there is a greater chance of sunny spells, but also a greater likelihood of overnight frost and fog.  here fog does form, it may be slow to clear during the day.  By the end of the week a change to wetter and windier weather is likely, particularly in the north.  There is a risk of snow on hills in the north, and perhaps to lower levels at times too. In the south, night frost and fog will become less likely.  From January 17 to January 31, the agency adds: "Most of the UK is likely to start this period with predominantly wet and windy weather, and a chance of heavy rain and gales at times, especially in the north.  "Hill snow is also possible, as well as snow to lower levels at times in the north.  "In the south though, the weather is likely to be on the mild side  " Towards the end of January, however, there is an increased likelihood of a change to much colder weather generally, bringing an enhanced risk of frost, fog and snow.  "This cold spell is by no means certain though, and in any case, some milder, wet and windy interludes are likely during this period."  After a chilly start, it will stay cold through today. There will be sunny spells, especially in the west, and the wind will stay light. Maximum temperature 3 °C.  Temperatures will soon tumble tonight under the clearest skies. Frost is likely, with a risk of some dense freezing fog patches. Minimum temperature -5 °C.  Any freezing fog may be slow to clear on Friday. Otherwise it will be a cold and largely sunny day, with light winds. Maximum temperature 3 °C.  There will be sunny spells and patchy cloud this weekend, with perhaps some spots of rain on Sunday and Monday. It will also become less cold, with patchier overnight frost.


birminghammail--2019-01-21--Hour by hour weather forecast for Birmingham with city braced for -3C freeze as Met Office issues wa

Hour by hour weather forecast for Birmingham with city braced for -3C freeze as Met Office issues warning

Birmingham faces temperatures which feel as cold as MINUS three degrees tomorrow, it has emerged.  The Met Office has issued a weather warning for the city as the agency warns over ice.  Meteorologists are expecting traffic and travel chaos and have issued a yellow alert for ice across the city and Midlands.  The region will be affected by the alert from midnight tonight until midday Tuesday.  Birmingham is not the only city affected by the warning, either, with the agency issuing an ice alert for almost all of the UK.  But in the city, it will feel teeth-chatteringly cold, as Arctic winds spark plunging temperatures.  The mercury will drop to around freezing but, worryingly, will feel even colder.  Ice will become a major threat to drivers, pedestrians and cyclists starting Monday night as temperatures drop following rainfall, and wintry showers move into some areas.  Public Health England's cold weather alert is at level three - one stage below "national emergency".  Ice will form on some surfaces overnight into Tuesday morning across much of the UK, the agency warns.  Heavy rain will arrive from the west, with some hill snow.  Clearing eastwards overnight, with many areas becoming dry, but wintry showers are likely in the north.  After a frosty and icy start, there will be sunny spells.  Showers in the west will move eastwards though, with sleet and hill snow possible, and it will feel cold.  Some injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces are expected, the Met Office warns.  Brummies should also be warned of ice on some roads, pavements and cycle paths.  Some roads and railways will be affected with longer journey times by road, bus and train services.  Chief Meteorologist Steve Willington said: “The cold weather will continue to bring a risk of snow showers, icy conditions and widespread overnight frosts during the first part of the week.  “Though parts of England and Wales will see low cloud giving way to sunny spells on Monday, elsewhere, strong winds, heavy rain and hill snow will move into north-western areas.  "Wintry showers of rain, sleet, hail and snow will then follow from Tuesday."  Public Health England's cold weather alert is at level three ("severe weather action") - its second-highest level - in the North West and North East, and level two or one for the rest of England.  Dr Emer O’Connell said: “Experience shows us that every winter thousands of people are seriously affected and even die from illnesses linked to the cold.  "Protecting yourself from the cold may seem like common sense but many people do not manage to keep themselves warm.  “If you know someone at risk, someone over 65, anyone with dementia or a heart and lung condition, or a young child, check up on them and see if there’s anything you can do to help.  "All of us should be heating our homes to at least 18C, keeping up to date with weather forecasts and planning our days around them - simple steps can really help protect against the cold.”


birminghammail--2019-01-30--This is exactly when the Met Office is forecasting snow in Birmingham as weather warning extended

The Met Office has issued an updated yellow weather warning for snow and ice on Thursday and Friday.  The forecaster is now warning of more snow and ice between 1pm on Thursday and 9pm on Friday across much of England and Wales.  Rail, road and air travel could be disrupted by the wintry weather, the Met Office said.  Temperatures will plunge to -14C - making it the coldest night of winter so far - before heavy snow sweeps in from the west on Thursday afternoon.  Snow is expected to fall through the day on Thursday and into Friday morning, with further wintry showers likely at the weekend.  The Met Office warned: "Areas of rain and snow are expected to move into the UK from the southwest from Thursday and through Friday.  "Any single period of rain and snow is not expected to last more than 6 to 9 hours but some snow accumulations are likely with 1-3 cm likely in places within the warning area and the potential for 5-10 cm, perhaps particularly over Wales and southwest England.  "Snow amounts will vary markedly across England and Wales with many places seeing very little accumulating snow.  "With cold air in place along with areas of rain and snow icy stretches are likely to form."  In Birmingham, under often clear skies temperatures will fall sharply to give a very cold night on Wednesday evening.  Some icy stretches will develop, as well as some patchy freezing fog.  Cloudier and windier in the afternoon, with outbreaks of sleet and possibly some disruptive snow spreading in from the south by evening.  Cold on Friday with outbreaks of sleet and snow clearing to leave a dry afternoon.  On Thursday, a few snow showers are forecast by The Weather Channel in Birmingham from 3pm.  Snow showers will give way to persistent, albeit light, flurries of snow from 6pm.  Snowfall is then expected through until 8am on Friday morning.  We have compiled the hour by hour weather forecasts below.  Accumulations of 1-3cm are possible and ice is likely to form on untreated surfaces.  Snow and ice were causing major problems in northern and western parts of the UK on Wednesday.  Manchester and Liverpool airports closed their runways for hours, resulting in cancellations and delays for thousands of passengers.  More than 100 schools in England and Scotland were shut, giving thousands of children a snow day.  Mr Burkill said: "It's what happens on Thursday that has the potential to be more disruptive.  "It does have the potential to bring some very significant snow. We have already got a warning out in force for it.  "It's currently just a yellow warning, but it's not out of the question that will be ramped up nearer the time.  "It's looking like it will be a spell of persistent snow."  The year's record low of minus 10.8 C (12.6F) recorded in Braemar, Aberdeenshire, on January 18 is also likely to be beaten, most probably in the north of Scotland, but parts of England could also see negative double figures, Mr Burkill said.  Benton, in Oxfordshire, and Santon Downham, Suffolk, are among parts of England which could be coldest, and temperatures across southern areas are forecast to dip to around minus 8 C (17.6F).  "It's worth bearing in mind there will be some disruption, particularly to travel. If you're heading out on the roads, be aware your journey will take a lot longer than normal," Mr Burkill added.  "There's an ice risk which is going to cause some problems so even if there is no snow it could be icy on the roads and pavement which people need to be aware of."


birminghammail--2019-02-16--Weather forecast for Birmingham over February half term day by day

February half-term has arrived for countless Brummies, with schools breaking up across the city and parents having to fill their diaries.  Mums and dads will be shepherding their children around all week, trying to keep them busy and entertained and stop them climbing the walls.  But, with Birmingham's weather not being ENTIRELY reliable, we thought we'd round up the weather forecast for you day by day.  This daily forecast comes following reports the UK could be braced for a -2C snow bomb - but don't worry, the Met Office say it won't impact Birmingham.  This weekend, parts of the country are set to experience temperature highs of 15C, as the mercury climbs to an unseasonably warm level.  But forecasters reckon a blanket of white stuff will follow the Spanish plume, with some meteorologists expecting snow THIS WEEK in Britain.  In Birmingham, you don't have to worry about any of that - but you won't see much sunshine, sadly.  Recently, Britain has clocked up the warmest Valentine's Day in more than 20 years.  February 14 saw a maximum of 16.1C (61F) recorded in the Welsh town of Bala, Gwynedd.  But what does the weather have in store for Birmingham this week? Let's take a look.  A northerly flow of air will make a brief return to the UK as low pressure cells passing to the north will bring plenty of cloud and rain to northern Britain.  Showers could be heavy at times in the north, but southern and eastern regions should escape the worst of any rain.  Monday will be cloudy, with temperature highs of 11C and a low of 3C.  Bright spells and some showers are expected.  Temperatures will reach 7C at 9am, before nudging north to 9C between 12noon and 6pm.  The cloud cover will remain into the evening, where you can expect lows of 3C.  Dry and bright with lighter winds on Tuesday.  It will remain cloudy, with temperatures reaching 4C at 9am before reaching 9C later in the day.  Temperatures will continue to be subdued a little on Tuesday with winds veering northwesterly and ‘feels-like’ values of just 5-7C, according to The Weather Channel.  More settled and mild conditions should take charge for the remainder of the week.  Pressure should start to build again in the south resulting in milder weather returning but it could still be unsettled in parts of the north.  Breezy with a spell of rain on Wednesday, drier later.  Despite some reports of a risk of snow, there is no indication of a return to the wintry weather that gripped the UK last month.  Temperatures will not, however, immediately shoot up and could actually fall back slightly in the early part of next week.  Many places will stay dry with sunny spells on Thursday and Friday.  The far west and northwest is likely to be cloudier and breezier, with some rain and drizzle.  Temperatures will widely be above the seasonal average, but sometimes they will be tempered in the north and west by the wind.


birminghammail--2019-04-03--HOURS of rain hail and storms forecast for Birmingham on Thursday in dramatic weather blast

HOURS of rain, hail and storms forecast for Birmingham on Thursday in dramatic weather blast

HOURS of rainfall has been forecast for Birmingham tomorrow - Thursday, April 4 - as the country faces a volatile cocktail of weather.  A severe weather warning for snow has been issued in Wales as wintry conditions continue to affect much of the UK.  The Met Office has put out a yellow alert for snow on high ground above 300 metres overnight and into Thursday morning.  In Birmingham, a mix of hail, sleet and thunderstorms is expected, with the Met Office predicting HOURS of downpours.  On Wednesday night, the Met Office forecasts: "Scattered locally heavy showers at first this evening will soon ease with most places becoming dry with clear spells during the small hours.  "A cold night with one or two fog patches possible by morning.  "The showers could be heavy and mixed with hail, and may give some more prolonged spells of rain in the west later.  Forecasters are warning that some roads and railways are likely to be affected, with longer journey times for travellers.  The warning, which covers much of southern and central Wales, is currently in place from 4am to 11am on Thursday.  Rain, sleet and snow are expected to affect driving conditions on Thursday morning, particularly in Wales and the West Midlands.  A chilly Wednesday night is predicted, with temperatures set to drop just above or below zero degrees in several parts of the country.  The Met Office said frost and ice will form and advised people to take care on icy stretches of road.  Hill snow, hail and sleet have hit many parts of the country this week as spring got off to a wintry start.  Forecasters previously said a deep area of low pressure is centred over the UK, bringing with it the potential to drive showers and produce long spells of wet and changeable weather.  A "sudden microburst" of hail and snow caused a 24-car motorway pile-up, Lancashire Police said early on Wednesday morning.  The M55 was closed in both directions but no-one was seriously injured, the force said.  The current outlook for Thursday is a day of sunshine and showers for most areas, with some places staying dry.  Showers will be most frequent in the South West, with a longer spell of rain in northern Scotland.  Friday could see rain in the west and far north, with conditions being brighter elsewhere.  The weekend will feature drizzle in the east, with brighter spells in other parts of the country and conditions becoming warmer away from the east coast.


birminghammail--2019-11-07--Weather misery for Spanish sunseekers with snow forecast to fall in holiday hotspots

Holidaymakers hoping for some winter sun and an escape from the wet and windy conditions forecast to batter the UK could be in for a shock.  Sunseekers aiming to soak up the rays and enjoy pre-festive warmth in Spain will be disappointed with snow forecast in some holiday hotspots.  According to the Spanish Met Agency (AEMET), the country is about to get it's first cold snap of the winter when a chill sinks down from the UK, bring heavy rain, hail and a covering of the white stuff.  Weather alerts are in place for 17 Spanish provinces with falls of up to 10cm expected in northern and central areas and 4cm further south.  There is also a risk of snow on higher ground in Majorca, which is still on yellow alert following torrential rain and winds gusting up to 110kms an hour and there more misery to come with a risk of snow above 1,200m on Friday and Saturday, according to local reports.  More unsettled weather will spread across the whole country from the beginning of next week, "bringing snow and icy temperatures to all areas for a few days".  The local Met Agency has forecast snow above 400m in the Pyrenees and in Cantabria as well as storms and gale-force winds in the Canary Islands.


channel4uk--2019-01-30--Forecasters warn freezing weather could affect transport and power supplies

With temperatures plummeting again tonight, forecasters have warned that the freezing weather conditions across large parts of the country could block roads, disrupt trains and flights and knock out power supplies, while more than a hundred schools across England and Wales were shut too.


eveningstandard--2019-01-02--UK weather forecast Health warning issued as temperatures plunge across UK amid cold snap

UK weather forecast: Health warning issued as temperatures plunge across UK amid cold snap

Londoners were told to “dig out the gloves” as they faced a bitterly cold return to work after the festive break.  After a mild spell over the holiday period, forecasters warned that temperatures in the capital this week will peak at a chilly 7C during the day and plunge as low as 2C overnight — with the chance of low fog patches increasing by Friday.  The UK is experiencing what is known as “sudden stratospheric warming” — a jump in temperatures that leads to colder winter conditions.  The Met Office with Public Health England (PHE) has issued a level-2 "alert and readiness" cold weather alert across northern and central parts of England into the weekend.  The Met Office tweeted: “Dig out the gloves if you’re up early, it’s getting much colder overnight.”  It is the same phenomenon that led to the heavy snowfalls of early 2018. The Met Office today said it could have an impact on London weather towards the middle of the month.  Forecaster Helen Roberts said: “It is feeling much colder this week than before, and towards the middle of the month it will make conditions much more changeable.  “While it is technically possible that Beast from the East-style heavy snowfall will return, we just don’t know yet whether it will happen.”  A high pressure anchored over the UK has created still conditions and prevented rain coming across the country, leading to the cold weather.  Overnight in the UK temperatures dropped as low as -6C.  Grahame Madge from the Met Office said foggy conditions will “remain a challenge” over the next few days.  He said the colder conditions being felt are on par with previous years with maximum daytime temperatures set to peak around 6 degrees over the next few days.


eveningstandard--2019-01-04--UK weather forecast Brits set for chilly conditions to continue in first weekend of 2019

UK weather forecast: Brits set for chilly conditions to continue in first weekend of 2019

Brits are set for the recent chilly weather to continue in the first weekend of 2019.  The Met Office said the high pressure that caused temperatures to plummet during the week will continue overnight into Saturday morning.  But conditions won’t be quite as bitterly cold as they were during the week. Forecasters, meanwhile, are expecting dry and cloudy weather across the UK.  Meteorologist John West told the Standard: “We have been experiencing the effects of high pressure over the past couple of days and that will be very much in place as we go into the weekend.  “It has been quite dry, cloudy and rather cold – and that will be the case across the UK through Saturday and Sunday.  “But in terms of temperatures, things will be a little less cold into the weekend.  “Some north-west parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland will see rain and drizzle, but there will be plenty of dry weather for much of England and Wales."  For London and the south-east, Mr West added there is a chance of overnight frost in some areas.  He said: “It will be very cloudy and quite a cold start on Saturday for London and the south-east. There may even be a few bits of frost in places like west London.  “Temperatures are not going to be amazing at all, at about 5C. It’s going to be dry – but a chilly one.  “On Sunday, the clouds will remain, though it looks like the temperatures will creep up to about 9C or 10C.”  This week’s cold snap saw emergency homeless shelters open across the capital as temperatures plummeted below zero.  Severe weather shelters will be available through the weekend.  Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said more than 700 spaces at shelters funded by City Hall and London councils will be available, in addition to more than 600 spaces in shelters run by faith and community groups.


eveningstandard--2019-01-12--UK weather forecast Snow set to hit parts of the country with temperatures predicted to plunge

UK weather forecast: Snow set to hit parts of the country with temperatures predicted to plunge

Snow is set to hit parts of the UK this week with temperatures predicted to plunge, becoming “wintery.”  The Met Office has warned that it is likely that there will be snow in northern Scotland later on in the week.  Marco Petagna meteorologist at the Met Office, told the Standard: “It will be breezy, colder with snow on the hills towards the north.”  Many people across the country should expect a cloudy and mild Saturday and Sunday, with highs of 8C or 9C.  In London and the south east, Saturday will be dry and breezy while Sunday will be windy with temperatures reaching 11C.  Moving further into the week, winds are expected to pick up with “spells of rain pushing in from the south east.  The Met Office says by the end of the month, temperatures are expected to drop and conditions will become more “wintery.”  Forecasters warned earlier this week that the same weather patterns which sparked the Beast from the East - and brought freezing temperatures and heavy snow last winter - could return this year.  The Met Office said sudden stratospheric warming had appeared around Christmas, when there was a sharp increase in the temperature over a couple of days.  When this happens in the Arctic it can lead to a rush of cold air blowing eastwards across Europe a few weeks later, bringing much cooler temperatures to the continent.  The Met Office said this is what caused the Beast from the East early last year - an icy blast of freezing Siberian winds which brought freezing temperatures and heavy snow to much of the UK.


birminghammail--2019-01-31--The footballers trending on transfer deadline day include this Aston Villa man

After a month’s worth of hype around who could go where, the deadline is now just hours away as the January transfer window is set to close at 11pm tonight.  Some big deals have already happened with Gonzalo Higuain coming to the Premier League for the first time as he joined Chelsea from Juventus for the rest of the season, while Arsenal finally got their man as Denis Suarez joined the Gunners on loan from Barcelona.  But as every deadline day fan knows, it’s not over until that window slams shut and all the paperwork is in.  While the window is open, there are still deals to be done and people around the UK have been searching to learn more about those deals.  Let’s take a look at the ten players who are trending highest on Google for the January transfer window’s final day.  Arsenal confirmed the arrival of Suarez earlier today but fans are still hoping that a deal can be struck for Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Christopher Nkunku.  But things aren’t looking great for the Gunners’ hopes of signing the 21-year-old midfielder with The Mirror reporting that the two clubs cannot agree on the fee Arsenal should pay to take Nkunku on loan.  Aston Villa have wrapped up a deal to take Bournemouth defender Tyrone Mings on loan for the rest of the season and his status as the second highest trending player on Google suggests he was highly sought after.  The Championship side confirmed the move on Thursday, with The Mirror reporting that Villa have inserted a clause in the deal to allow them to match any offers the Cherries receive for Mings this summer.  It is a little surprising to see Alvaro Morata so high up on this list considering the fact the Spanish striker has already made his move for this transfer window.  On Monday, Morata joined Atletico Madrid on an 18-month loan deal, taking him back to the club at which he started his youth career.  Perhaps the biggest deal that has yet to be done this month is for Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Adrien Rabiot.  The 23-year-old is out of contract at the end of this season with reports claiming that PSG are ready to offload him now rather than lose him for nothing in the summer.  Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona have all been linked with a move for the Frenchman but with the 11pm deadline fast approaching, time is running out.  The last few years have seen a massive increase in the amount of Belgian players at the top level of football and Anthony Limbombe could be the latest to make the step up to the Premier League.  The 24-year-old Nantes forward has been linked with a move to Newcastle United and the fact he was omitted from the French side’s squad for Wednesday night’s clash with St-Etienne has only added fuel to the fire.  The official line is that Limbombe was nursing an ankle injury but it remains a possibility that he will be the latest signing in a frantic end to the window for Newcastle.  It’s not all about big Premier League signings for British fans, as Sam Surridge could be the second man in the trending top five to be headed to the Football League.  The Bournemouth forward is wanted by Sunderland and Plymouth Argyle as he has impressed during his loan with Oldham Athletic in League Two this season.  Unfortunately for those interested in his services, Plymouth Live report that Surridge will remain at Bournemouth as he has become a part of Eddie Howe’s first team plans.  With six teams said to be interested in a move for Charlie Austin before today’s 11pm deadline, it’s no wonder that the Southampton striker is so high up on the list of trending footballers.  Crystal Palace, Cardiff City, Wolves, Aston Villa, Stoke City and Blackburn have all been linked with a move for Austin today, according to football.london.  He may have already played twice for his new club but Gonzalo Higuain’s loan move to Chelsea is still attracting attention from fans around the UK.  The Argentine has joined the Blues on loan for the rest of the season and could make the move permanent if he impresses over the next few months.  One man who is almost certain to stay put before the transfer window closes later today is Brazilian winger Neymar.  But the Paris Saint-Germain talisman could still have an impact on the transfer market before the day is done after it was confirmed that he will be out for the next 10 weeks.  The injury has left PSG scrambling with reports linking them with loan moves for Chelsea’s Willian and out-of-favour Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil.  Of all the names on this list, Joao Felix’s is probably the one you are least likely to recognise but the 19-year-old has attracted the attention of some Premier League big guns.  The Mirror report that Manchester United and Chelsea are ready to rival Liverpool in the race for his signature after sending scouts to watch Benfica’s 5-1 win over Boavista.  Felix, for whom Liverpool apparently submitted a £61m bid earlier this season, scored once and added two assists as he ran riot for the Portuguese giants.


birminghammail--2019-05-30--How good is Aston Villa transfer target Neal Maupay - we asked Football Manager

How good is Aston Villa transfer target Neal Maupay? - we asked Football Manager

Aston Villa clinched promotion to the Premier League on Monday, beating Derby County 2-1 in the Championship playoff final at Wembley.  Now, with Villa planning for a Premier League campaign next season, it's highly likely that they'll be busy in this summer's transfer window.  The likes of Tom Carroll, Tammy Abraham, Axel Tuanzebe, Tyrone Mings, Kortney Hause and Anwar El Ghazi are all due to leave the club later this month, with their season long loan deals due to end, so it's imperative that the club replace them adequately.  The latest name to be linked with a move to Villa Park is Brentford striker Neal Maupay, who enjoyed a brilliant 2018/19 campaign, scoring 25 goals in 43 appearances for the Bees.  But, how good is Maupay?  And, what are his best attributes?  We used the highly respected Football Manager 2019 database to find out.  Top Attributes (out of 20): Aggression (17), bravery (17), work rate (16), determination (15), balance (15), finishing (14), first touch (14), technique (14), flair (14), movement (14).  The Frenchman's Football Manager 2019 profile suggests that he is an extremely aggressive forward, with high aggression, bravery, work rate and determination.  Maupay is a player who you would love to have on your team, but hate to play against.  The 22-year-old has strong technical attributes, including high finishing, first touch, technique and movement, which make him a very dangerous striker in and around the opposition's box. It's not hard to see why he scored 25 goals last season.  His current ability on Football Manager 2019 is 128 out of 200, to put that into context, that makes him almost as good as Villa loanee Abraham (133).  However, his potential ability of 141 out of 200 means that he could far exceed Abraham's ability and could even become better than any current Villa player, including captain Jack Grealish (138) overall.  And, because Maupay is still just 22 years old, you wouldn't bet against him reaching his full potential.  Football Manager 2019 suggests that Maupay would be a great replacement for the outgoing Abraham, albeit they are slightly different players, but the Frenchman would be no less effective.


birminghammail--2019-07-26--How good is Wolves transfer target Jesus Vallejo We asked Football Manager

How good is Wolves transfer target Jesus Vallejo? We asked Football Manager

After a very impressive 2018/19 season, with Wolves finishing in seventh place in the Premier League, many expected Nuno Espirito Santo's side to strengthen significantly this summer, in order to challenge even further up the table.  However, with little over two weeks until the summer transfer window slams shut, their only signings so far are the permanent captures of 2018/19 loan stars Raul Jimenez and Leander Dendoncker.  The likes of Ivan Cavaleiro, Kortney Hause, Helder Costa and Jack Ruddy have all left too, so new arrivals are expected.  Recent reports have linked Wanderers with the signing of Real Madrid defender Jesus Vallejo, who could reportedly join on loan for the 2019/20 season.  So, just how good is Vallejo?  And, what are his best attributes?  We used the highly respected Football Manager 2019 database to find out.  According to Football Manager 2019, Vallejo is a very talented defender, who is already performing at a high level despite his young age.  His defensive attributes are impressive, with high values for important attributes such as tackling, marking, positioning, anticipation, concentration and bravery.  For all your latest Wolves news, opinion, analysis and transfer gossip, click here  The Spaniard is also extremely comfortable on the ball, with strong passing, technique, vision, first touch, decisions and composure, which allow him to get involved in the build-up play from deep positions. But, he's not particularly quick, with average acceleration and pace at best.  Despite his age, Vallejo has high leadership and determination attributes, which suggests that he's a captain in waiting.  The Real Madrid defender has been given a current ability rating of 131 out of 200 on Football Manager 2019, to put that into context, that's around the same level of ability as the likes of Conor Coady (131), Leander Dendoncker (135) and Romain Saiss (127).  However, Vallejo's potential is exceptional, rated at 160 out of 200, which would make him better than the likes of Raphael Varane (159), John Stones (158), Laurent Koscielny (156) and Jose Gimenez (158).  Why do we use the Football Manager database? The Football Manager database currently contains data on more than 800,000 individuals and 45,000 active clubs, with data sourced from their international on the ground scouting network which numbers roughly 1,000 people, among their ranks are some who are involved in football in professional capacities, including scouts and coaches. In addition to the information on players, clubs and backroom staff, the Football Manager database also contains a wealth of information on many other aspects of the professional game, including data on competitions, cups, team and individual awards, weather, finances, officials and more. The database also incorporates a wealth of nation-specific details such as currency, tax rates, national team records, histories in major tournaments and so on. All of this information combines to create an accurate representation of 'real world' football within Football Manager. Football Manager use a query-based system of checks and balances designed to ensure that there are no statistical outliers within any particular club, division, league or country. In addition, each annual iteration of Football Manager has built-in algorithms which check for outliers and data discrepancies. Data accuracy is further ensured by input from contributors who are active within the professional game (players, agents etc.) who provide regular feedback. Sports Interactive (SI) is the world’s leading developer of football management simulations through the best-selling Football Manager series. Created by football fans, for football fans, and available on computer, smartphone and tablet, Football Manager tops the charts in almost every country where football is played. SI has ongoing relationships with some of the biggest names in professional football, including the Bundesliga, the League Managers Association, The EFL and many other leagues and national associations.  Overall, despite being just 22 years old, Vallejo is good enough to slot straight into the Wolves first team, according to Football Manager 2019.  And, if he can get regular football under his belt over the next few years, he has the potential to become one of the best defenders in world football.


eveningstandard--2019-01-02--Transfer news rumours LIVE Arsenal Man Utd Liverpool Chelsea Tottenham todayaposs latest f

Transfer news, rumours LIVE: Arsenal, Man Utd, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham – today's latest football gossip

Sarri unsure if Chelsea board will allow him to sign a striker  Maurizio Sarri admitted Chelsea have a problem scoring goals but he doesn't know if the club board will sanction any signings during the January transfer window.    Chelsea laboured to a goalless draw at home to Southampton on Wednesday night in a game in which the hosts dominated but failed to convert their goalscoring chances.    Sarri played the misfiring Alvaro Morata up front in the absence of injured Olivier Giroud, who Sarri confirmed will not be able to train for another 10 days as he recovers from an ankle injury, while Chelsea's injury concerns deepened when Willian was forced off in the first half with a knock.  But on a day in which Chelsea announced the £58m capture of Christian Pulisic from Borussia Dortmund - a deal which will see the winger join in the summer - Sarri said he is in the dark about funds to bolster his struggling side.    When asked if he was frustrated during Chelsea's 0-0 draw, Sarri replied: "Nothing, I think. I tried to do my job. On the bench I tried to do my job.    "I think we played a very good match for 80 metres of the pitch, then we were in trouble in the last 20 metres. We created goal opportunities, not too much, but it's not easy to create a lot of goal opportunities in this type of match, because they were very low.    "Of course if you're able to score the first goal you're able to create a lot of opportunities, because you can find spaces. We have to try to solve the problem of the last 15, 20 metres.    "In the last matches we were in full control of the match, everywhere against every team. For us it's not easy at this moment to score the first goal. We have to solve this problem."    When then asked if he would try and solve this issue by buying a forward in January, Sarri replied: "I don't know. I don't know because I'm not in charge of the market.    "I have to think to my responsibility. I have to try to improve my players, my team, my offensive phase, or better my offensive phase in the last 20 metres. Now we have to improve in the last 20 metres.    "The club knows my position, my opinion. It's up to the board."    Chelsea currently have five forwards out on loan, one of which is Michy Batshuayi at Valencia.    But Sarri suggested he won't be bringing the Belgian back, adding: "The club knows very well my opinion. I think we need something different for characteristics."    When then asked about Pulisic, Sarri said: "I don't know. I said before I'm not in charge of the market, so for me it's very difficult to speak about the market or the deal of Pulisic. The board knows very well my opinion.    "I think Willian's injury is not really very serious. The report of the doctor today is not serious, also for Pedro. I think Pedro in one week will be able to have training with team-mates.    "Of course, in this match it was really very difficult for me because Pedro, Giroud, [Callum Hudson-]Odoi was out. After 35 minutes was out Willian. On the bench I had only one offensive player, but [Ruben] Loftus-Cheek  has back trouble.    "For me it was really very difficult to try to change the match in the last 30 minutes. I put on the pitch [Cesc] Fabregas, but only because in that moment of the match we moved the ball not like in the first half.    "I wanted another technical player to improve moving the ball. At the moment we're in trouble with the offensive players."

Richard Parry, JOE KRISHNAN, Tom Doyle, ALEX YOUNG


theblaze--2019-08-29--College football player transfers to be near mom after her brain tumor and the NCAA punishes him

College football player transfers to be near mom after her brain tumor — and the NCAA punishes him


thedailycaller--2019-01-18--What Does Jalen Hurts Transferring To Oklahoma Mean For College Football

What Does Jalen Hurts Transferring To Oklahoma Mean For College Football?

Former Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts transferring to Oklahoma is going to have a massive impact on the world of college football.  The Sooners just lost Kyler Murray to the NFL draft or the MLB, and Austin Kendall is also out the door. Obviously, that means Oklahoma was going to be in the market for a new QB in order to stay at the top. Enter Jalen Hurts.  The impact Hurts has on college football for the Sooners next season is very simple. It immediately makes Oklahoma a national title contender. The Sooners will once again be expected to dominate the Big 12 with him under center. (RELATED: Jalen Hurts Transfers To Oklahoma)  That feeling must be nice for fans of the program.  Can Jalen throw the ball like Murray or Baker Mayfield could when they suited up for Oklahoma? No, but he is a stronger runner than both of them.  Mayfield and Murray both absolutely dominated for Oklahoma. I’m not sure you can expect the exact same results from Hurts, but they don’t need the same results.  The former Crimson Tide quarterback just needs to be solid and the Sooners are going to dominate.  Fans of Oklahoma around the world should be very happy right now because Hurts will likely tear it up, and Oklahoma should shred the vast majority of their opponents with the electric QB under center.


theguardianuk--2019-03-22--Football transfer rumours Joao Felix to Manchester City for 120m

Football transfer rumours: João Félix to Manchester City for €120m?

**Manchester City** are in pole position to sign Benfica’s 19-year-old midfield prodigy **João Félix** – but he’ll come at a cost. According to the Sun, they can expect to pay the player’s €120m release clause in full if they beat Manchester United, **Real Madrid** and **Juventus** to the young whippet’s signature. Txiki Begiristain, City’s director of football, “is believed to have held initial talks over a deal with the Portuguese club’s hierarchy,” they report, and is trying to convince them to accept a lower up- front sum “by adding performance-based bonuses to their offer”.  The Evening Standard says Felix is not the only Benfica teenager City want to sign, with the English club competing with United (again) and **Barcelona** for 16-year-old **Ronaldo Camara** , “one of the most sought-after prospects in world football”. Other than the midfield, they report of Pep Guardiola that “ **a top quality left back** is now among his priorities”, alongside “ **another centre back** ”, while the Spaniard “is also considering **adding to his attack** ”. So, to summarise, he doesn’t need a new goalkeeper.  It’s no surprise that **Manchester United** can’t afford Félix, since they are ready to pay £65m for the Mill’s old friend **Harry Maguire**. “Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has urged United to sign Maguire so he can build his defence around the 26-year-old,” says the Express. “It has emerged Maguire is open to a switch to United and has let it be known a deal can be done.” **Ander Herrera** , meanwhile, could be off to **Paris St-Germain** on a free.  “Everyone wants **Dybala** ,” declares _Tuttosport_ , who believe that “the impact of Real Madrid’s summer revolution will be felt throughout Europe” and could end with Juventus’s Argentinian starlet leaving Turin. “So many clubs like him – besides Inter he has admirers in Spain and England – but first he has to wait for Real’s first move and hope that he joins the domino run of attackers,” they write. Tuttosport predicts that one of **Neymar** and **Kylian Mbappé** will leave Paris St-Germain this summer, bound for the Bernabéu; PSG will then replace whoever departs with **Antoine Griezmann** , forcing **Atlético Madrid** to move for Paulo Dybala (unless someone else has first), whose place at Juve might by then have been taken by Federico Chiesa. As for what Fiorentina might do then, frankly your guess is as good as ours.  Real, as frequently publicised, also want **Eden Hazard** , but according to Sky should a move for Chelsea’s Frenchman falter they will target instead West Ham’s **Felipe Anderson** “in a deal likely to be worth around £65m”, or almost exactly double the fee the Hammers paid for him last summer.  The choice facing **Chelsea** as they select a new manager to replace the underwhelming Maurizio Sarri has come down to logic v sentiment, with the two camps represented by **Nuno Espirito Santo** and **Frank Lampard**. “There is a growing feeling the Italian is not a natural fit for the club,” deduces the Sun of Sarri. “Nuno has been gaining growing support within the Blues board … but Lamps would be the fans’ choice.”  According to Bild **Liverpool** are, like every club in the Bundesliga with deep enough pockets, interested in **Callum Hudson-Odoi**. But don’t get too excited: the Liverpool Echo says the club’s summer plans are relatively modest and that they certainly “won’t be shelling out anywhere near the eye-watering amounts of the past two transfer windows”. Meanwhile in news of former Liverpool players, the Spanish newspaper Sport says that **Philippe Coutinho** could be sold by Barcelona this summer for €100m.  Meanwhile across town, **Everton** “could pounce” for **Salomón Rondón** if Newcastle fail to snap up their on-loan striker this summer, says the Star. In a story that features the word “could” a lot and makes only the slightest pretence of insider knowledge – “Starsport understands Everton are interested too” – they announce that “Everton boss Marco Silva is short of options in attack and Rondón could fit the bill”.


theindependent--2019-01-14--Transfer news Yaya Toure admits he wants to make Premier League return on Monday Night Football

Transfer news: Yaya Toure admits he wants to make Premier League return on Monday Night Football

Former Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has his sights set on a return to the Premier League.  The 35-year-old, who spent eight extremely successful seasons at City, left the club at the end of last season to join Greek side Olympiacos.  But things did not work out for the three-time Premier League winner at his new club. He made just two league appearances and started just a single game in his three months at the club, before his contract was terminated by mutual consent.  Toure however has no intentions to retire and has admitted he wants to make a comeback with a Premier League club.  “This is definitely not the end, I want to continue to play,” Toure said on Monday Night Football ahead of Manchester City’s match against Wolves.  “I went to Olympiacos and I quit because I was not so happy, the mentality was very different. It was a bad choice.  “Maybe it was an emotional choice because I started there and wanted to give something back to the fans.  “I'm well known in the world and wanted to give something back, but when I got there it was not what I was expecting.”  Toure added that he would like to return to England and envisions himself playing for another seven seasons.  "You never know, maybe the Premier League,” Toure said when asked where he wants to play next. “If it is possible I want to play one or two more years, we will see.  “With the new competition and the new mentality of the guys coming up I think a player could go on to 42 years old, but we will see.”  Keep up to date with all the latest transfer news, rumours and done deals throughout the January window


theindependent--2019-05-28--West Ham transfer news Declan Rice talks down summer exit but long-term sights set on Champions Lea

West Ham transfer news: Declan Rice talks down summer exit but long-term sights set on Champions League football

Declan Rice has talked down the prospect of leaving West Ham this summer but admitted that his long-term sights are set firmly on Champions League football.  The 20-year-old emerged as one of West Ham’s standout players across the course of last season, and was rewarded for his efforts with a new five-year contract in December.  Despite this, champions Manchester City have been linked to the youngster as they look to further strengthen their midfield in the summer transfer window.  But speaking from St George’s Park ahead of England’s Nations League semi-final with the Netherlands, Rice insisted he remains fully focused on playing for West Ham.  “Everything is good,” he said. “I know that there’s speculation but during the season last year I just signed a new five-year contract with West Ham. So my focus is fully on playing for West Ham.  “I’ve got a great connection with the fans; the fans love me and I love them and that’s the way it is at the moment. I’m not thinking about anything else, for sure.”  Nonetheless, Rice revealed his desire to one day play Champions League football, pointing to the example of Frenkie de Jong, a fellow young, defensive midfielder who has risen from relative obscurity to the top of the game.  “When you start out in football you always want to play at the top,” he added. “You want to play in the Champions League. If you were in football and you didn’t want to do that there’d be no point playing.  “But the likes of De Jong like you said, he got his move to Barcelona and it’s fully deserved. He’s a top top player and I think you’ve seen that in the Champions League. It would be great to come up against him in the Nations League.”  For now, Rice has the more pressing matter of England’s Nations League showdown with the Netherlands on 9 June.  The midfielder, who earlier this year switched his international allegiances from the Republic of Ireland to England, believes victory in Portugal would place Gareth Southgate’s men in “good stead” for the European Championships next summer, as well as the 2022 World Cup beyond that.  “I think it’s massive,” he said. “It’s really important. We’ve got ourselves into the semi-final. We’ve got a massive chance now to create history.  “With the squad Gareth has put together, with the players that we have, for sure we’ve got to be looking at the Nations League and winning it. It would stand us in good stead for the future and the Euros next year and the World Cup after that.”


theindependent--2019-09-10--Arsenal transfer news Henrikh Mkhitaryan admits he aposwas not fitting English football wellapos

Arsenal transfer news: Henrikh Mkhitaryan admits he 'was not fitting English football well'

Henrikh Mkhitaryan insists he is focused on a new challenge at Roma after admitting he “was not fitting in so well in English football”.  Arsenal loaned out the Armenian on deadline day, despite Mkhitaryan featuring in the north London derby only 24 hours prior, with Unai Emery not considering him a valuable member of the first team squad.  Mkhitaryan had struggled for form at both Arsenal and previous club Manchester United, and had fallen behind new signing Nicolas Pepe and the returning Reiss Nelson in the pecking order at the Emirates.  The Armenia international indicated that his playing role in England could be the reason behind his downturn in form following impressive spells with Shakhtar Donetsk and Borussia Dortmund.  Speaking to the media, Mkhitaryan was candid about his playing history.  “With the national team I play behind the striker, so I have more freedom to move wherever I want, to drop back, to take the ball,” he said.  “But at Arsenal and Manchester United my role was different, I was more responsible for helping to build the play and perhaps that is why I scored fewer goals. But I am trying to do my best to score and assist because that is what I get pleasure from.”  Mkhitaryan was naturally very positive about playing for his new club Roma, who struggled last year in Serie A, finishing sixth and failing to qualify for the Champions League.  “I knew I was not going to play a lot [at Arsenal] – maybe I would sit on the bench, like I did the last three games before the international break,” he said.  “I chose Roma because it was a great opportunity for me. I got a call from my agent and I wanted to come because it was a great opportunity for me.  “I don’t think it is a step back because it is a big club, a great club and everyone knows about it.  “I want to do my best for the club. I am not afraid of pressure. If you are a big player for a big team you are always under pressure and people will be watching your every step.  “I didn’t even have a discussion with my agent about money, I just came here to enjoy my football and to achieve our goals.”


21stcenturywire--2019-04-12--Sudanese President al-Bashir Ousted in Military Coup Two-Year Transition Planned

Sudanese President al-Bashir Ousted in Military Coup, Two-Year Transition Planned

On April 11th, the Sudanese military announced that (now former) Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir was ousted and detained.  Protesters were happy to hear that the 30-year-rule of Bashir had come to an end, but their happiness was short-lived.     Defense Minister, General, Awad Mohammad Ahmed Ibn Auf announced that a two-year Military Council would be formed the lead the country.  The transitional constitution of 2005, after South Sudan separated itself would be suspended.  He announced a state of emergency over the next three months and a curfew for the next month which prohibits citizens from being outside between 10 PM and 4 AM.  He also announced the closure of the airspace and crossings for 24 hours, in addition to resolving the institution of the presidency and the Council of Ministers and the Parliament and the Council of State and State governments and their legislative councils and assigning the governors to carry out tasks and assigning the undersecretaries of ministries to run the work.  The military’s statement assured that all courts and embassies would continue working, affirming the Military Council ‘s commitment to preserve public life without exclusion.  General Ibn Auf said that the higher security committee and the Armed Forces and its other components have assumed full responsibility for changing the entire system for a transitional period of two years, in which the Armed Forces will be the main and a limited representation of the components of that committee.  Once again, mass portests were used as a pretext for a coup that would perpetuate the current regime, but with a new leader. General Ibn Auf, like former President al-Bashir, had been accused of perpetrating war crimes in Sudan’s western region of Darfur. He is also a confidant of al-Bashir. On February 24th, Ibn Auf was sworn in as first vice president.


bbc--2019-01-07--Gabon coup Is Africa seeing fewer military takeover attempts

Gabon coup: Is Africa seeing fewer military takeover attempts?

The coup attempt in Gabon is the first there since the 1960s.  On Monday morning, a small group of junior military soldiers tried to take charge to "restore democracy".  The government has said the plot has been defeated and the situation is "under control".  President Ali Bongo is currently receiving medical treatment in Morocco after having a stroke. His family have ruled Gabon since 1967.  But is the continent shaking off its reputation for coups?  Since the 1950s, there've been a total of 204 coups d'état - successful or otherwise - in Africa, according to a dataset compiled by two US political scientists, Jonathan Powell and Clayton Thyne, who are based at the University of Central Florida and the University of Kentucky respectively.  Their definition of a coup is that they are illegal and overt attempts by the military or other civilian officials inside the state to unseat sitting leaders.  However, the definition of coup is often contested and in the past, military leaders have denied they're conducting them.  Take, for example, Zimbabwe in 2017. The military mounted a takeover to put an end to Robert Mugabe's 37-year rule. At the time, a top military official, Maj Gen Sibusiso Moyo, went on television to deny flatly that it was a military takeover.  "Coup leaders almost invariably deny their action was a coup in an effort to appear legitimate," says Powell.  Powell and Thyne regard a successful coup as one that lasts longer than seven days.  In Africa, there have been 104 failed coups and 100 successful ones.  Sudan has had the most coups, with 14. Burkina Faso has had the most successful ones at seven.  Africa has certainly had a high number of military takeovers, but this particular way of forcing change is declining.  Between 1960-1999, there were between 39 and 42 coups every decade. Since then there's been a drop-off. In the 2000s there were 22 coups, and in the current decade the number stands at 16.  Powell says this is not surprising given the instability African countries experienced after independence.  "African countries have had the conditions common for coups, like poverty and poor economic performance.  "When a country has one coup, that's often a harbinger of more coups," says Powell.  And historically in African countries, the militaries have generally played a more active role in transitions of power and domestic issues and security.  Globally, the total number of coups stands at 475.  So Africa has experienced more coups than anywhere else.  Next is South America which has had 95 attempted coups, 40 of which were successful.  However, in the past two decades there has been a decrease in South American coups. The last coup was in Venezuela in 2002 against President Hugo Chavez, which failed.  Powell says the end of Cold War dynamics which saw the US and Soviet Union meddle in Latin American affairs as well as the willingness of the international community to sanction countries which have coups, like Haiti in 1994, has led to the decline of military takeovers.  Asia has also had a decline in coups.