England News

Friday, 30 August 2013

Facebook strips away a bit more of your privacy – but won't say why - Register

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Facebook is slurping mobile phone numbers from its users without explaining why, it has emerged.

In an upcoming overhaul to the social network's data use policy, Facebook said it had made a number of updates about the information it receives about individuals using the free content ad network.

It includes simplifying the language it uses to explain what information it receives from users whenever they are using or "running" Facebook. It said it was also clarifying that some of that information reveals details about the device itself such as an IP address, operating system or – surprisingly – a mobile phone number.

The Register has asked Facebook to clarify this point as it's not clear from the revised policy wording if a mobile number is scooped up without an individual's knowledge or as a result of it being previously submitted by that person to access some of the company's services. Importantly, Facebookers are not required to cough up their mobile phone number upon registering with the service. At time of writing, Facebook was yet to respond with comment.

The Nasdaq-listed company announced yesterday that it once again planned to rejigger its user policies, in part in response to a $20m US legal settlement.

Facebook has agreed to explain how it uses a name, profile picture, content and information in connection with ads after it got into hot water over its Sponsored Stories function, which – without prior consent – served adverts to Facebookers featuring the faces and names of people who had "Liked" a particular product.

The Mark Zuckerberg-run outfit now states that it will no longer take responsibility for how those ads are served, because users will have agreed to that usage upon signing up to the network. Existing users will also be expected to simply comply with the new terms, or else ditch Facebook in protest against how their data is being re-purposed:

Our goal is to deliver advertising and other commercial or sponsored content that is valuable to our users and advertisers. In order to help us do that, you agree to the following:

You give us permission to use your name, profile picture, content, and information in connection with commercial, sponsored, or related content (such as a brand you like) served or enhanced by us.

This means, for example, that you permit a business or other entity to pay us to display your name and/or profile picture with your content or information, without any compensation to you. If you have selected a specific audience for your content or information, we will respect your choice when we use it.

If you are under the age of eighteen (18), or under any other applicable age of majority, you represent that at least one of your parents or legal guardians has also agreed to the terms of this section (and the use of your name, profile picture, content, and information) on your behalf.

We do not give your content or information to advertisers without your consent.

You understand that we may not always identify paid services and communications as such.

Facebook also made it clear that the company can use photo recognition software to correctly identify people on the network. It said:

We are able to suggest that your friend tag you in a picture by scanning and comparing your friend's pictures to information we've put together from your profile pictures and the other photos in which you've been tagged.

Facebook added that individuals can control that tagging function by finding the adequate setting (in this case: "Timeline and Tagging") to turn photo recognition off.

It is also having to tell people that when they're casually browsing the free content ad network on mobile devices, they are paying operators for any data they use "including sponsored or commercial content".

And, for the few among us who still believe the conceit that Facebook is first and foremost about connecting people across the globe, the company stated that there were "special provisions applicable to users outside the United States".

It continued:

We made [it] clear that you are not allowed to use Facebook if you are prohibited from receiving products or services from the United States.

The network is, of course, jammed with ads. So presumably a country such as Cuba, for example, will no longer be granted access to Facebook given that the US has maintained an economic embargo against the South American country since 1960.

After all, Facebook can't make ad bucks from Cubans who cannot access goods and services offered by US corporations.

The policy changes will be applied by the end of next week and come less than a year since Facebook last tweaked its "privacy" settings. ®

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Liverpool have not made an offer for Will Hughes, says Derby County manager ... - Telegraph.co.uk

"If somebody comes in through the front door and makes an official inquiry or bid, we will have to react to it. But we are not in a situation where we have to do anything, which is lovely."

When asked about the £6 million figure reported on Wednesday, Clough laughed and then said: "Nobody knows what we want or what the fee is going to be because we have not got a specific valuation in mind.

"Would it be more than £6 million? Yes, I think it is fair to say that. We just think it is going to be a very, very substantial figure to tempt him away."

Hughes has long been regarded as one of the brightest emerging talents in English football. He made his Championship debut for Derby at the age of 16 and was a regular in the side last season, making 38 appearances, including 36 starts. He would have played more games but for a groin injury that kept him out for two months.

The teenager has started the Rams' three league matches this season and played for England Under-21s against Scotland last week and impressed once again.

(Edited by Evan Fanning)

Arsenal transfer policy labelled "ridiculous" by former captain Tony Adams - Mirror.co.uk

Arsenal legend Tony Adams has branded Arsene Wenger's £40million bid for Luis Suarez "ridiculous" – and admitted he fears the worst in Sunday's North London derby.

Adams poured scorn on a futile stakeout for big-money signings at the Emirates before the transfer window closes on Monday.

While arch-rivals and neighbours Spurs have spent £109m on an expensive summer refit, the Gunners' only major recruit so far has been to re-sign French utility warhorse Mathieu Flamini.

And ahead of this weekend's partisan tiff along the Seven Sisters Road, Adams claimed Wenger was shopping at the wrong end of the pitch by trying to sign Liverpool striker Suarez – because shoring up the defence should be his priority.

Dear old Tone – at 46, it is now 11 years since he made the last of his 504 appearances for Arsenal, where he choreographed the offside trap like a dance routine on Top of the Pops.

But after a penalty shoot-out with fellow north London legends Ian Wright, Ledley King and Les Ferdinand in Trafalgar Square to launch Vodafone's 4G network, the former England captain took Le Professeur to task.

Adams said: "It's not Arsene's style to pay top dollar and gamble huge sums of money on a single player, but my main criticism of him is that I would do things differently.

"This team is so gung-ho, and they are so open, that the balance is not right. They are too susceptible to the counter-attack and they never look like keeping a clean sheet.

"It's so scary, I sit there holding my breath every week. So to try and shell out £40m on Suarez or Wayne Rooney would be money badly spent on yet another player who can open doors in the attacking third while the back door remains wide open.

"I thought it was a ridiculous bid for Suarez – I would never have gone there in a million years. You have got the baggage as well, but I'm not even talking about the baggage.

"Arsenal have not got a problem scoring goals, because Giroud scored 17 last season, they have got the pace of Theo, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Wilshere, Ramsey. They can score from all over the pitch.

"They need someone to lock it up when it breaks down, and I would be scouring Europe for the next Gilberto.

"I must have been the only person in the country doing somersaults watching Manchester United and Chelsea keeping clean sheets the other night – two fantastic, organised, solid sides giving nothing away.

"That wasn't a boring game for me, because I was wishing Arsenal could do that more often."

Like a man who knows he is not about to land a job on the Emirates coaching staff any time soon, Adams – currently a consultant to Azerbaijan club FC Gabala – has become increasingly vocal in his criticism of Wenger's methods.

And with the clock ticking over into a ninth season without Arsenal winning a trophy, Adams fears the balance of power in north London may be about to shift.

He added: "There's not going to be a lot in it on Sunday.

"Tottenham have spent a lot of money, they have got better and Arsenal have not been challenging for trophies while too many big players have walked out of the door, which has been galling for the supporters.

"Tottenham have come back to Arsenal in recent years and north London derbies have certainly changed a lot since my first one, when Stewart Robson kicked Glenn Hoddle all over the pitch and we could have a good fight.

"I'm also critical of Arsene for selling Robin van Persie.

"Once you have got that type of player, you should give him the world to keep him. But Robin chose to join a club who are challenging for the title every year where Arsenal are now challenging to finish in the top four.

"I admire Arsene for sticking to his principles, but somewhere along the line you have to win trophies as well. It's easy to criticise from this side of the fence, but Arsene didn't do enough to keep Van Persie."

Vodafone kicks off 4G network in London with a choice of Sky Sports TV or Spotify Premium before launching in 12 more cities later in 2013. www.vodafone.co.uk/4G.

Women's Super League: Arsenal beat Chelsea to close gap at top - BBC Sport

Arsenal moved to within two points of Women's Super League leaders Liverpool with a hard-fought 1-0 win at Chelsea.

Striker Danielle Carter's seventh goal of the campaign gave the Gunners a victory that keeps them in contention for a third successive WSL title.

Sue Smith gave bottom team Doncaster Belles their first win of the season, a 1-0 triumph against second-bottom Lincoln, who had a penalty saved.

Victory put the Belles one point behind Lincoln with a game in hand.

Women's Super League table

	Pld	Won	Pts


Liverpool	10	8	24
Arsenal	9	7	22
Bristol	8	6	18
Birmingham	9	3	12
Chelsea	11	3	10
Everton	8	2	8
Lincoln	10	1	6
Doncaster	9	1	5

Chelsea 0-1 Arsenal

In a bright start by Arsenal, captain Steph Houghton forced Chelsea goalkeeper Marie Hourihan into a fine save from an 11th-minute header.

The Gunners went ahead in the 29th minute, playmaker Kim Little and right-winger Ellen White combining to set up Carter to score from close range.

White and right-back Alex Scott both went close with cross-shots as the visitors looked to increase their lead.

And three minutes before the break Hourihan had to save from left-winger Rachel Yankey after the keeper's intended clearance was blocked by Carter.

White should have increased Arsenal's lead on the hour, but with only Hourihan to beat, the England player lobbed straight into the keeper's arms.

Little was denied a clincher when Hourihan brilliantly saved the Scotland international's 78th-minute drive.

Carter then flashed a 15-yard shot over the bar as the Gunners continued to press for a second goal.

And in stoppage time midfielder Jordan Nobbs missed a close-range chance to wrap up victory.

But Arsenal finished as deserving winners to keep their title chase on course and leave Chelsea fifth in the table.

Doncaster Belles 1-0 Lincoln

Striker Millie Bright almost gave the Belles a perfect start with a third-minute header that flashed just wide.

But Lincoln went closest to a first-half goal, striker Aileen Whelan having a 27th-minute header cleared off the line by defender Ashleigh Mills.

Smith broke the deadlock six minutes after the break, curling the ball home after Bright had forced Lincoln's England captain Casey Stoney to concede possession.

Lincoln squandered a great 69th-minute chance to equalise as midfielder Remi Allen had a penalty saved by Nicola Davies following a Dani Cox foul on Whelan.

And despite late pressure by the visitors, Donny held on to claim a long-awaited victory and a clean sheet after conceding 15 goals in their previous two matches.

Champions League: Arsenal's draw underlines need to spend - BBC Sport

If Arsenal's deadline-beating transfer activity is once again going to be unflatteringly compared to a trolley dash, there is every chance the wheels picked up speed after the Champions League group-stage draw in Monaco.

While Jose Mourinho may have silently celebrated how the overblown ceremony treated Chelsea, and Manchester United and Manchester City were handed groups that are hazardous but manageable, Arsenal were given the toughest test of all the Premier League's elite.

As Arsenal's supporters await the promised full-scale escalation of their work in the markets - the free-transfer return of Mathieu Flamini will hardly set pulses racing - concerns will only have increased by their standing alongside last season's runners-up Borussia Dortmund, Marseille and Rafael Benitez's Napoli in Group F.

Champions League group draw

Group A: Manchester United, Shakhtar Donetsk, Bayer Leverkusen, Real Sociedad
Group B: Real Madrid, Juventus, Galatasaray, FC Copenhagen
Group C: Benfica, Paris St-Germain, Olympiakos, Anderlecht
Group D: Bayern Munich, CSKA Moscow, Manchester City, Viktoria Plzen
Group E: Chelsea, Schalke, FC Basel, Steaua Bucharest
Group F: Arsenal, Marseille, Borussia Dortmund, Napoli
Group G: Porto, Atletico Madrid, Zenit St Petersburg, Austria Vienna
Group H: Barcelona, AC Milan, Ajax, Celtic
First matches to be played on 17-18 September

Mourinho looks to have been handed firm foundations as he starts the quest to claim the trophy that eluded him at Chelsea - and they won without him in 2012. They were drawn to play Basel and Steaua Bucharest, who they beat on the way to winning last season's Europa League, and Schalke.

The full extent of new Manchester United manager David Moyes's Champions League experience is two legs of a losing qualifier with Everton against Villarreal in 2005. United and Moyes have not been handed an easy group in Shakhtar Donetsk, Bayer Leverkusen and Real Sociedad.

Manchester City's name has been associated with the Champions League's short straw in their abysmal adventures in the competition so far. They may feel slightly better after Thursday's draw, although once more qualification will not be easy. They face holders Bayern Munich, CSKA Moscow and the Czechs Viktoria Plzen.

It is, however, Arsenal's draw that raised most eyebrows and there are real dangers as they try to get through the first group stage for the 14th year in succession.

Dortmund, under the charismatic guidance of Jurgen Klopp, are now one of European football's superpowers and determined to take the next step after losing to Bayern in last season's final, while Benitez - an old adversary of Arsene Wenger - will again confront Arsenal.

Benitez made much of his reputation with his mastery of European competition, winning the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005 and reaching the final two years later - as well as beating Arsenal in their 2008 quarter-final. And of course he left Chelsea the Europa League to remember him by following his turbulent, but ultimately successful, spell in charge last season.

He also has at his disposal striker Gonzalo Higuain, who for so long seemed destined to arrive at the Emirates before Arsenal turned their attentions to a doomed pursuit of Liverpool's Luis Suarez. Gunners fans will hope Higuain does not make Arsenal pay for failing to conclude the deal.

Opening fixtures to be played on 17-18 September

Group A: Manchester United v Bayer Leverkusen, Real Sociedad v Shakhtar Donetsk
Group B: Galatasaray v Real Madrid, FC Copenhagen v Juventus
Group C: Benfica v Anderlecht, Olympiakos v Paris St-Germain
Group D: Bayern Munich v CSKA Moscow, Viktoria Plzen v Manchester City
Group E: Schalke v Steaua Bucharest, Chelsea v FC Basel
Group F: Marseille v Arsenal, Napoli v Borussia Dortmund,
Group G: Austria Vienna v Porto, Atletico Madrid v Zenit St Petersburg,
Group H: AC Milan v Celtic, Barcelona v Ajax

Full fixture list on Uefa website

Wenger has been searching in vain all summer for the players who will end his barren spell. New faces were needed simply to improve Premier League performances so urgency must now surely increase given the names they face in the Champions League.

At Manchester United, Moyes is effectively learning on the job in the Champions League and they will come up against a familiar figure in Bayer Leverkusen's coach, the former Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia.

His side have won their opening three Bundesliga games this season and have the highly rated Lars Bender, who was reportedly the target of an £18m bid from Arsenal.

The superb Donbass Arena will provide a magnificent setting when United play Shakhtar and while the Ukrainians may have lost Willian and Fernandinho in recent times, they have spent big to plug the gaps.

Real Sociedad may be regarded as dark horses but they were highly impressive in disposing of Lyon 4-0 on aggregate over two legs in the qualifying stage.

And so to Manchester City.

They may have had tough luck with the draws since they first made acquaintance with the Champions League, but a desperate winless exit last season against Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Ajax means former Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini must show the sort of pedigree in the competition that was part of the argument that persuaded the club to appoint him.

How they performed last season

Arsenal: Lost on away goals to Bayern Munich in round of 16

Celtic: Lost 5-0 to Juventus in round of 16

Chelsea: Finished third in group, going on to win Europa League

Manchester City: Finished fourth in group

Manchester United: Lost 3-2 to Real Madrid in round of 16

It is no easy task this season with Pep Guardiola in charge of the holders Bayern, but City may feel there is something for them as they prepare to try to make their way into the knockout phase at last.

CSKA Moscow did the double in Russia last season but the newly strengthened City will have confidence against them and Viktoria Plzen, who beat Maribor to reach the group stage.

Mourinho will exercise due caution at Chelsea but reality suggests they will surely have no problem qualifying from their group - which is more than can be said for Celtic.

But one look at last season's Champions League informs those preparing to dismiss Celtic, even in a group containing Barcelona, beaten last season on a night that will live forever in Celtic Park's memory, AC Milan and Ajax.

Celtic Park can do strange things on European nights, to Celtic and their opponents. The temptation is to write them off but, as many of us who made that mistake in last season's Champions League found out, it is to be resisted.

Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City should all get through - but Arsenal now have just days to beef up their squad for tough nights ahead after getting on the wrong end of the Champions League draw.

Liverpool close on shock switch for Given (and will move for Sakho if they ... - Daily Mail

By Dominic King

PUBLISHED: 16:30 EST, 29 August 2013 | UPDATED: 18:15 EST, 29 August 2013

Liverpool are closing in on a surprise deal to make Shay Given their No 2 goalkeeper.

Given had been linked with a move to Doncaster earlier this summer but that switch failed to materialise and he has remained at Aston Villa, even though he has been told by Paul Lambert he has no future at the club.

However, Brendan Rodgers is aiming to bring in experienced back-up for Simon Mignolet, whom he brought into replace Pepe Reina in June, and has identified Given as being an ideal. Should talks go smoothly, a deal could be completed before the weekend.

Liverpool bound? Shay Given could arrive to provide back up for Simon Mignolet

Liverpool are aiming to be busy before the window closes and bolstering their defence is imperative, after Kolo Toure sustained a groin injury during the League Cup win over Notts County on Tuesday night.

They have resumed discussions with Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday over a 7million move for Tiago Ilori, who has been on Liverpool's wanted list all summer.

Mamadou Sakho of Paris St Germain remains a more expensive alternative if terms for Ilori cannot be agreed, even though the French champions want to retain Sakho and Roma are also keen.

Options: Liverpool could move for Mamadou Sakho (right) if they miss out on Tiago Ilori (left)

The comments below have not been moderated.

I wouldn't mind having Given as a backup and watching him in the cups if it also meant selling Brad Jones and getting his wages off/allowing him to move on somewhere he may play. I like Jones as a guy and he's made some awesome contributions in the last couple seasons, but he's not world class and if Mignolet were to get injured I wouldn't trust him as our number 1. - Taylor Russo== I would trust him a lot more than Given, he is way past it, saying that I doubt there's any truth in this story.

- daveinvietnam , nha trang., 30/8/2013 06:27

If this is true Liverpool are scraping the barrel.

- Gary , Manchester, United Kingdom, 30/8/2013 05:25

Liverpool are giving off every signal that they are happy to be a mid table team and so are attracting mid table talent = so sad to see a great club in such decline

- Brazilian99 , Maidstone, 30/8/2013 05:23

Does Liverpool and Given know about this ?

- jimthehappywanderer , leicester, 30/8/2013 05:17

- Taylor Russo , New York, United States, 30/8/2013 03:45

Our transfer business started very well with early signings of Kolo Toure, Aspas, Alberto and Mignolet. Then for two months we failed on every other targets with the exception of a loan signing of Cissokho. Getting Given who is 37 and being Villa's 3rd keeper is embarrassing. During the last couple of months we have lost many players with some out on loan. This was after Rodgers saying the squad is good and he was then looking to add some first team players. We got a loan 2nd choice LB and a Villa reject.

- Zreds , Manama, Bahrain, 30/8/2013 03:17

Waste of money but whatever. CB is a priority and we should sign both Ilori & Sakho & a winger... Probably just get Ilori and I suspect that'll be it.

- NewfieRed , Newf, Canada, 30/8/2013 03:07

Given should have gone to Liverpool instead of Man City....... ever since then his career has hit a downslide, and now, he would make a great back up keeper, with experience, so for free..........its a great option...............And Sakho would be a far better option than Illari, simply for having more experience and pace

- Damian , Elsewhere, Afghanistan, 30/8/2013 02:51

Great news, I thought we were going to be stuck with a 3rd choice keeper sitting on 60000 a week for the remaining 3 years of his contract.

- Jimmy Mullet , Birmingham, United Kingdom, 30/8/2013 02:49

So long as we don't give him the 80k wages I heard he was earning at Villa, go for it. I hope we get Sakho as well, if we do our defense will be sorted for the next few seasons

- LogieBear , Auckland, New Zealand, 30/8/2013 02:35

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

The Mad Hatter! Lady Gaga steps out in London in office executive-meets ... - Daily Mail

By Emily Sheridan

PUBLISHED: 14:33 EST, 28 August 2013 | UPDATED: 14:26 EST, 29 August 2013

Lady Gaga has been channelling a seaside theme in recent days.

However never one to stay in one style for long, the singer stepped out in a hybrid of mermaid meets office executive meets Mad Hatter in London on Wednesday.

After popping out for fish 'n' chips on Tuesday night in a bra, PVC and seashells in her hair, the 27-year-old wore another similar hairdo.

The Mad Hatter: Lady Gaga leaves her London hotel in a feathered hat and seashells in her hair on Wednesday evening

Ready for business: Gaga looked smart... ish, if you ignored her hair

She certainly looked ready for business in the grey Vivienne Westwood skirt suit and cream heels, which she teamed with a black handbag Margaret Thatcher would have been proud of.

Of course there was a cheeky nod to her more risqu style with a flash of her baby blue Elle Macpherson 'Dentelle' bra.

The New Yorker teamed her smart ensemble with a black feathered hat perched on the side of her head, with her long curly wig covered in seashells and starfishes.

Earlier that day, Gaga admitted she had been busy rehearsing for her upcoming iTunes Festival concert at the Roundhouse in Camden, North London.

Making an exit: The singer looked smart as she left her hotel for a evening out in the capital

Countdown is on: Lady Gaga is in London to perform at the iTunes Festival this weekend

She tweeted fans, aka her 'little monsters', giving them a dress code for the gig, which she has renamed Swinefest.

She wrote: 'I will be providing a list of acceptable attire for #SwineFest throughout the week. Item 1: Seashells. Item 2: Seahorses 3: Starfish.

'I would also suggestion 4. Paint colored dreadlocks for securing 'under the sea' Boticelli-Punk accessories. More fashion updates to come! X.'

Greeting her Little Monsters: Plenty of Gaga's fans were camped outside the hotel to greet her

To inspire her fans, she posted a short clip of Ariel from the Disney animation Little Mermaid looking distressed before swimming away.

She said: 'Rehearsing my routines! I really need to get my mic + cassette player duo back from my mom, that thing was the best. #neverfailedm.'

Getting her skate off: Lady Gaga signs a skateboard for one of her fans

Smile! Lady Gaga takes a self-portrait for one of her fans

On Tuesday night Gaga visited her favourite London chip shop, Seashell of Lisson Grove in Marylebone for a takeaway for her and her entourage.

She ordered haddock, chips and popcorn prawns - a dish exclusive to the popular restaurant's takeaway menu.

Lady Gaga plays the iTunes Festival on September 1. For more information about the festival, visit the iTunes website.

Not ready for her close-up: Gaga looks a bit stunned as a fan takes a selfie

The comments below have not been moderated.

Ya dumb people cant find anything to complain about gaga for and now that she dresses "Normal" like so many of you put it you STILL find things to criticize her about. Why don't all you negative haters just find something else to talk about and get a life. Because you must not have one to spend time picking out all the negatives....Shes showing that she has taste style and class so get over yourself already and let her shine...

- Angelique V , lubbock, United States, 29/8/2013 23:48

Quite Normal for her!

- Sugarbear , London, United Kingdom, 29/8/2013 22:40

A touch of Helena Bonham Carter going on there... Gaga could be in a Tim Burton movie.

- Tyler Durden , Bonham-Carter, Saint Helena, 29/8/2013 21:41

both the jacket and the skirt are ill fitting, too large for her.

- tetegrondona , buenos aires, 29/8/2013 20:38

something wrong with that women

- Jacqueline Appleyard , mellieha, Malta, 29/8/2013 19:36

I dunno why but I think she looks so lovely, and quirky. Like someone out of Alice in Wonderland.

- kornkob , UK, United Kingdom, 29/8/2013 19:25

she looks desireable, and a nice feather arrangement as well.

- Jonesl , San Francisco, United States, 29/8/2013 19:01

Nice feather ensemble.

- Jonesl , San Francisco, United States, 29/8/2013 18:44

Desperate!

- Sue , Central Scotland, United Kingdom, 29/8/2013 18:10

a normal outfit and then it's like she's been dragged across the beach on her head.

- Alex , Glasgow, United Kingdom, 29/8/2013 16:21