[Most Recent Entries] [Calendar View] [Friends View]
Saturday, January 3rd, 2015
| Time | Event |
| 3:01p | This man is the first person to walk the entire length of the River Nile  For most of us, a casual stroll on a lazy afternoon is the extent to which well engage with walking as an activity. But be prepared to be put to shame by a former Army officer- who has become the first person to walk the entire 4,250 mile length of the River Nile. Levison Wood, 32, from Staffordshire braved war torn regions, crocodiles and extreme temperatures in his quest to walk the entirety of the worlds longest river. His journey- which stretched from the rivers source in Rwanda, to the shores of the Mediterranean in Egypt, went through six east African countries and was filmed for a Channel 4 documentary, which will be shown tomorrow night at 9PM. His journey began in December 2013 and finished in September last year.  Despite facing dangerous war zones and encountering tragedy on his journey, he told the Telegraph that he finished his journey feeling extremely hopeful. He said: People were desperately trying to get themselves out of poverty. I also saw how incredibly hospitable they were to a man walking through Africa. ‘We had this terrible tragedy along the way. It really brought home the reality of the risks involved in undertaking a journey like that.’  Matthew Power, an American travel journalist, died of heat exhaustion in Uganda in March, after joining the epic hike for a week. Despite previously seeing action in Afghanistan, Mr Wood has also spoken of his fear when he was caught in the crossfire of a militia in South Sudan. He said: It was a pretty hairy moment. Its one thing dealing with that sort of thing when you are in the Army, but another when you are there without back up.  Before reaching the end of his epic odyssey, it had been estimated that Mr Wood- who managed 20 miles every day, had walked 7 million steps. MORE: 100-year-old woman gets photoshopped to look like her 20-year-old self again MORE: Funeral for the family who died in the Glasgow bin lorry crash  |
| 3:05p | Celebrity Big Brother 2015 EXCLUSIVE: Rylan Clark promises very very strong line-up  Celebrity Big Brother 2015 is just four sleeps away and as we prepare to settle down for a solid month of our favourite Channel 5 show, Rylan Clark has assured Big Bro fans that they won’t be disappointed. ‘We’ve got a very very strong line-up,’ he told Metro.co.uk in an exclusive interview. And while the likes of Stephen Belafonte, Perez Hilton and Danniella Westbrook all rumoured to be heading into the house on Wednesday night, Rylan was giving nothing away. ‘We’ve pretty much got everyone but a contestant is never confirmed until they walk through the doors because anything can happen up until the day they go in. And although Big Brother talent scout Ros Phillips has steered clear of reality stars this series, the BBBOTS host says one may have slipped through the net. ‘We’re trying to steer away from reality stars but there may be ONE. Maybe not one that’s very well-known, it’s not your usual line-up!’ he teased. Celebrity Big Brother returns on Wednesday at 9pm on Channel 5, followed by Celebrity Big Brothers Bit On The Side. MORE: Is this the Celebrity Big Brother 2015 line up? All the rumours so far&
 |
| 3:33p | Homework is pointless, according to an educational expert  In news that most schoolchildren will tell you theyve always known, nearly all homework has been labelled completely pointless by a leading educational expert. Tom Bennett, director of the ResearchEd conference has said that a new regime, implemented by schools inspectorate Ofsted, would see schoolchildren being forced to undertake back-breaking tasks with limited education value. He has also accused schools of setting pointless homework tasks in order to meet educational targets, something which encourages the pickpocketing of family life. Mr Bennett, who teaches at a school in Essex, wrote in the Times Educational Supplement: I have no problem with setting challenging homework but I do disagree with the pickpocketing of family life to serve the requirements of a schools homework timetable. This may seem harmless but we must never forget that time is one resource you dont get back. He also spoke of real-life homework tasks such as Imagine how Jesus felt on the cross and draw it, and design your own ideal bedroom, as being evidence of pointless tasks. Although British children might agree with Mr Bennetts plans, they should perhaps spare a thought for pupils in Shanghai, China, who receive 14 hours of homework every week, it was revealed last month. In comparison, UK pupils receive only 5 hours per week. MORE: Schoolboy performs in nativity play dressed as Soviet dictator because he mixed up Josephs  |
| 4:18p | Victor Wanyama showed Arsenal exactly what they need in January transfer window  Arsenal were outclassed at Saint Mary’s on New Year’s Day. Whilst defensive errors cost them dearly, the Gunners were outplayed in midfield. Arsene Wenger lined up with Calum Chambers and Francis Coquelin in Arsenal’s midfield. Chambers, for the first time in his senior career was asked to play in the position and looked out of his depth. Whilst Coquelin was a lot better, he was recently on loan at Charlton – showing the lack of quality Arsenal have in that area. Even with Southampton missing Morgan Schneiderlin through suspension, they still had Victor Wanyama in the midfield whilst Arsenal have no player of that ilk in their entire squad. Wanyama made a couple of mistimed tackles, but on the whole he out powered and out played the entire Arsenal midfield. His presence was enough to restrict the on-form duo of Alexis Sanchez and Santi Cazorla from creating much at all. He showed Arsene Wenger exactly what they are missing in midfield. In contrast the Southampton midfield were allowed too much space and time on the ball. Although the two goals were self inflicted, the Gunners were opened up on numerous other occasions and were lucky not to concede more.  Many had concerns over Wanyama’s technical ability when he was at Celtic, but he has developed these attributes during his short time at Southampton. On several occasions against Arsenal, the Kenyan combined power and skill to make the Arsenal midfield look like amateurs and ease the pressure on the Saints defence. The Gunners lack any kind of commanding presence in midfield and that has been their downfall on several occasions already this season. Arsenal need not one but two players in their squad that will add a physical bite to their midfield. Coquelin has shown he is capable of doing a decent job there as a squad player but nothing more. In my opinion we should release both Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini at the end of the season. Then either now or in the summer we need to sign an established defensive midfielder and a young player of a similar ilk who can act as his understudy whilst he develops. MORE: Sami Khedira and Mats Hummels are two of five Germans Arsenal could sign in January transfer window MORE: Arsenal need to sign Chelsea legend Petr Cech in January transfer window  |
| 4:19p | EastEnders: If this Who killed Lucy Beale? plot doesnt end with a jaw-dropping finale, Im never  If the Who killed Lucy Beale? storyline doesnt end with a jaw-droppingly spectacular finale, Im never watching EastEnders again. Id never been a devout EastEnders fan; I watched Tiffany meet her untimely end, Janine push Barry off a cliff, Phil Mitchell get shot (the first time) and I knew there was a pretty horrid baby swap not so long ago. Basically, I was aware of the long-running characters and some of the bigger plots but, on the whole, my knowledge of Walford and its inhabitants was relatively limited – until the Lucy Beale murder case came along… Id heard it was going to be a massive plot line so I decided to get involved. I didnt even recognise Lucy, who was still alive and well when I first tuned in, but she seemed a pretty disposable character and I was perfectly OK with her demise back in April 2014. MORE: EastEnders DC Emma Summerhayes has finally cracked the Lucy Beale murder case  But then came Adam Woodyatts compelling grieving-father act. Ian’s grief-stricken scenes, coupled with Peters acute handsomeness and some stellar performances from multiple members of the Branning and Mitchell families and the welcome addition of the Carters, Ive gradually become emotionally invested in this unlucky lot. Fast forward to the present day and that dastardly murderer has been on the loose for far, far too long. And now poor DC Emma Summerhayes has popped her clogs, Im losing interest. Fast. I cant believe we have to wait another SIX weeks before those final 14 suspects are whittled down and the killer is finally revealed. And if theres not some huge, gritty, shocking twist Im going to deeply regret investing all that time and concentration on this never-ending plot and all of its ten million, billion participants. MORE: EastEnders: And the 14 Lucy Beale murder suspects are&  |
| 4:38p | Jose Mourinho laments refereeing decisions once again but Eden Hazard provided a shining light for C  As anticipated following Jose Mourinho’s claim of a campaign against Chelsea, there was controversy when they travelled to White Hart Lane on New Year’s Day and got beaten 5-3. The manager believed that the Blues were denied a crucial decision yet again as Phil Dowd waved away appeals after the ball struck the arm of Jan Vertonghen. Also, later on in the match Eden Hazard was brought down on a break so there is an argument for a potential red if contact was made. I don’t think there was any arguments about Tottenham’s penalty as it was stupid of Gary Cahill to extend his leg in the path of Harry Kane, who would have been going slightly away from goal had he come away with the ball and may have taken a heavy touch to do so. The England defender has been poor this month and his mistakes have cost Chelsea. Following his comments after the Southampton match, Mourinho may have hoped to put pressure on the next referee, so Dowd was probably the worst of the ones that could have come up for him. As a referee, he is generally poor at keeping up with play due to his physical condition and is confrontational. Dowd certainly was not going to be bullied into making pro Chelsea decisions due to media pressure. As it was, it was a poor day for the west London club who were beaten by a side that just wanted it more and took advantage of the breaks when they came. This defeat will hurt Chelsea as they have now surrendered the advantage they have over Manchester City previously.  Many of the players ought to be hanging their heads in shame after that effort, or lack of, but there was a few positives in there. Eden Hazard stood out to me, as he often does, but this was a game that he took by the scruff of the neck and take responsibility for. The Belgian showed character by chasing down lost causes, making the most of the opportunities he had and giving the Tottenham defence a headache. He very nearly brought Chelsea back into it on his own and could have done had the defence pulled their finger out. Hazard has always demonstrated supreme talent but perhaps not always the sort of effort in all areas of the field he’s shown this season. We always knew this side would be tested at some point this season and they’ll have to brush themselves off and use the anger and frustration that’s accumulated over the festive period towards something positive. MORE: What was really to blame for Chelsea and Jose Mourinhos horror show at Tottenham Hotspur? MORE: Is Jose Mourinho right about there being an anti-Chelsea agenda?  |
| << Previous Day |
2015/01/03 [Calendar] |
Next Day >> |