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Monday, March 31, 2014

7 Smart Ways to Not Lose Yourself in a Relationship

often said that two people become “one” when they are in a relationship, but this phrase or concept is often misunderstood by many people. The idea behind this is that you become one team. And, a team consists of different people with different personalities and strengths that work towards some common goals. If you lose yourself in a relationship, and begin to conform to your partner’s expectations and demands, your team can become weak. So, here are some ways you can maintain your individual identity, and keep your relationship strong and healthy always. 1. Change but don’t lose Small changes are healthy for a relationship, and are encouraged all the time. If you will feel that you will be happy and content with the changes you make in yourself, or the promises that you make to your partner for your relationship, then it is fine. But, it does not mean changing your entire personality. Not being able to recognise yourself in a few years, or as soon as a few months in the relationship, can be damaging for you and your bond. Making your partner happy is one thing, but doing everything to please him or her is not a good idea. 2. Just a part, not the whole Having common interests, activities, friends, thought process and even habits is fine, as long as it all comes naturally. But when it becomes forced, it destroys your individuality and your relationship. So, make your partner a part of your world, but don’t make them your world! Whether it is hanging out with friends, playing sports, working on some ‘artsy’ projects, or your career, keep doing those things that always make you happy, and more importantly, make you who you are. Don’t lose yourself in the depths of the relationship and love. 3. Don’t forget “me” ften, couples try to merge their partner into their interests all the time, dragging them everywhere they go and for everything they do. At times it is fine, as it helps you to bond with each other. But, if you don’t like what your partner does, then you will just be “pretending”. And, one thing we all know is that pretence is never good for any relationship. You don’t have to take up each and every interest that your partner has, to make them happy and pleased. 4. “They” need you too Keep family and old friends close, and make new friends. Don’t forget your “own world”– the world that existed before they came into your life. You must keep this world close to you as well, because your partner is not going to be around you at all times, and you don’t want to feel alone, incomplete, and bored without them. These are the people, apart from your partner, who have and will always be around you to make your life easier. They too deserve your individual time and attention. 5. Don’t lose “I” in “We” When you are not with him, try not to mention him in every conversation you have with someone, and avoid texting him when you are with your friends or family. Not only is it annoying for others, it is also about being obsessive for your own good. All this might seem fine at the start of a new relationship, but not in the long run. Addressing yourself as “we” is okay when relevant, but don’t forget that there is an “I” in you as well. 6. Stand up for I Too many arguments and fights may not be good for the relationship. Yet, letting go of your opinions, or suppressing your true feelings every time is not good! If it is not important, you can give it up and you need not create an issue. But if you really feel strongly about something, and if it upsets you, you must stand up for yourself, and tell your partner that you are not okay about it. 7. Love yourself unconditionally Don’t forget that they fell in love with the person you were before you were in the relationship. They were drawn to the “you” that existed without “him/her”. So, don’t ever let that person go, or you might just end up losing your partner’s interest, or worse, your partner as well. Falling in love is great. But keep some love for yourself as well. Both you and your partner have individual lives, along with your life together. Balance has always been the key to any kind of success, and the same applies here.
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16-Yr-Old Girl Give Birth To A Baby With One Eye On Her Forehead

The baby was born to a 16-year-old girl in the nation’s Eastern Cape and she died a day later at the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital. The baby also had no nose and the one eye was set in the middle while the remaining area was covered with skin. According to reports: The birth of yet another deformed infant to a 16-year-old mom from the Eastern Cape has raised serious concerns. The Eastern Cape Health Department is now calling for research into why so many babies were being born with deformities in the province. Eastern Cape spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo told the South Africa news agency that some 50 deformed babies have been born in the region in the past two years and there is no “documented cause” for the growing trend. Describing the baby girl born on Saturday at the Dr Malizo Mpehle district hospital in Tsolo, near Mthatha, Kupelo said: “She was born with a small man-hood on the forehead and one eye on the forehead.” “She was born with no nose and where there are supposed to be eyes there was nothing, just skin covered over the area.” Earlier this month, a pair of conjoined twins were born also at the Dr Malizo Mpehle district hospital in Tsolo, SAPA reported, adding that they were the fifth set of conjoined twins to be born in the region in the past year and half. Other deformities witnessed in the area include babies with their hearts and brains exposed, as well as babies born with multiple penises and legs. Doctors in the area remain “in the dark” as to the root cause of the growing number of deformed babies, Kupelo said and has asked specialists and researchers to help determine the cause. He also hopes to bring in more pediatrics specialists. In most cases, babies born with deformities die, but “where necessary we attempt procedures but unfortunately the majority die,” Kupelo said .
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NFF throws Golden Eaglets screening open

The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF in an effort to ensure that as many talents in Nigeria get a crack at making the new Golden eaglets team has formally thrown the screening exercise open and requested players within the age limits to take their chance by attending the on-going screening holding at the NFF/FIFA Goal Project Site in Abuja. According to a release signed by the team’s media officer, Morakinyo Abodunrin, all interested players are to report from Tuesday but would be responsible for their personal upkeep since they were not initially invited by the coaching crew when the exercise took off last Thursday. He noted that since the coach, Emmanuel Amuneke said the team is still work in progress hence the need to further extend the dragnet to other budding talents: “Everything is well on course but we are not yet satisfied with what we have seen so far. You don’t need a whole day or week to test the capability of a player and it is important we have a look at what others can do,” reasoned the former African Footballer of the Year. As at press time, hundreds of players have already passed through the exercise but officials maintained that there is the need to have a pool of players in store in case of any eventuality. Apart from documentary proof of their births, selected players would be subjected to the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Test before they can be eligible to feature in the upcoming African qualifiers. The continental soccer-ruling body, CAF, has already drawn the Golden Eaglets bye into the second Round of the 2015 CAN Under-17 Championship to be held in Niger. The Nigerian youngsters would meet the winner of the First Round decider between Burundi and Congo DR between July and August.
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Former Israel PM convicted of bribery

A Tel Aviv court on Monday found former premier Ehud Olmert guilty of bribery linked to a Jerusalem property development, in one of the worst corruption scandals in Israeli history. At a lengthy hearing in Tel Aviv District Court presided over by Judge David Rosen, Olmert was convicted on two counts of bribery, making him the first former premier to be convicted of the offence. The trial, which included 16 defendants and took place over two years, was linked to the construction of the massive Holyland residential complex when Olmert served as the city’s mayor. In 2010, Olmert was named the key suspect in the so-called Holyland affair on suspicion that he received hundreds of thousands of shekels for helping developers get the construction project past various legal and planning obstacles. The towering construction project, which dominates the city’s skyline, is seen as a major blot on the landscape and widely reviled as a symbol of high-level corruption. “We’re talking about corrupt and filthy practices,” Judge Rosen said in the 700-page verdict which branded Olmert as a liar. Olmert reportedly sat expressionless throughout the verdict as the judge spoke at length of a “corrupt political system which has decayed over the years… and in which hundreds of thousands of shekels were transferred to elected officials”. According to the verdict, excerpts of which were seen by AFP, Olmert personally received bribes to the tune of 560,000 shekels ($160,000/116,000 euros at the current exchange rate), most of which was given to his brother Yossi by a middleman who later turned state’s witness. “The state ‘s witness bought (Olmert’s) ‘services’ at a price of 500,000 shekels which was transferred to him through his brother,” it said of the main sum, saying the transfer involved eight post-dated cheques of between 50,000 and 80,000 shekels. Rosen also said the 68-year-old had lied to the court in a bid to “blacken the name” of the state’s witness in a verdict which found 13 of the 16 defendants guilty. Olmert’s spokesman Jacob Galanti vowed to appeal, the Haaretz news website reported. There has been no date set for the sentencing, although the court has ordered deliberations to begin on April 28 in a process which is likely to last several weeks, legal sources said. Liat Ben Ari, one of the prosecuting lawyers, said it was “still too early” to say whether they would ask for the maximum sentence of seven years. “Usually the punishment for bribery is prison. Obviously, we have to look at all the circumstances and the full verdict in order to reach a decision,” she told public radio. Commentators said it was possible Olmert could face a jail term. “You are talking about a man who has already been convicted of corruption in a previous case at Jerusalem District Court,” said Moshe HaNegbi, legal commentator for public radio. “I don’t see a situation, under these circumstances, where the prosecution does not ask for several years’ jail time.”
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China Plans For Global Network Of Surveillance Satellites After Fruitless Search For Missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370

China is considering a plan to cover the entire world with a network of surveillance satellites. If it went ahead the plan could see more than 50 observation satellites in orbit within two years, The South China Morning Post reported. This would put the country’s satellite surveillance capabilities on a par, or greater than, the US. The paper said support for the massive upscale was fuelled by China’s frustration over the search for the missing Malaysia Airlines flight 370. After a three-week search satellites have been unable to locate for certain debris from the disappeared plane, which was carrying mainly Chinese passengers on a scheduled flight to Beijing. “If we had a global monitoring network today, we wouldn’t be searching in the dark. We would have a much greater chance to find the plane and trace it to its final position,” Professor Chi Tianhe, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, told the paper. There are currently about 1000 satellites in orbit above the planet, though most are only for communications. Of these around 150 are for observation, remote-sensing and spying, according to statistics from the US-based Union of Concerned Scientists.
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11m children will be affected by permanent effect of malnutrition by 2025 – NGO

An estimated 11.7 million children will be affected by stunting (permanent effect of malnutrition) on the mental and physical development of a child by 2025. The information is contained in a statement signed by Jasmine Whitbread, Chief Executive Officer of Save the Children International, and made available in Abuja. “In Africa, two in five children are affected by stunting, the permanent effect of malnutrition, on the mental and physical development of a child. “An estimated 11.7 million more will be affected by 2025 at current rates. That is millions of children whose physical, emotional, and intellectual development is at risk,” the statement said. It stated that stunting could lead to fatal health complications that burdened national healthcare systems as it reduced productivity and stopped many children from finishing their education annually. The statement noted that adults, who were malnourished as children, typically earned at least 20 per cent less on average than those who were not. It added that what any parent wanted for their child was to be given the chance to reach their potential. “But this is also a global economic disaster, addressing stunting is not only crucial for each of these children but makes firm economic sense,” the statement stated. It noted that economically, Nigeria was one of the world’s fastest growing economies with an economy expected to grow by seven per cent in the next year. “Globally, an estimated two to three per cent of national income in a country is lost every year due to malnutrition. Stunting is not only affects health and education but also undermines economic growth, it quoted. The statement explained that if leaders should scale up nutritional interventions by 10 billion Dollars to 12 billion Dollars a year, it would save two million lives globally. It stated that “the sustained development of Africa’s economies is dependent on the potential of Africa’s citizens. “A whole generation of leaders, teachers and business owners is at risk without a commitment to addressing child stunting and malnutrition quickly and effectively.” It noted that there were proven, cost-effective ways to reduce malnutrition that led to child stunting. It listed the cost effective measures as direct interventions to nutrition, protecting vulnerable families from poverty and ensuring that the right food were available. “Currently, the direct cost of child malnutrition is estimated to be between 20 and 30 billion Dollars a year. “With the cooperation of national governments and international partners this is not only possible but must be done,” it said.
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Army arrests 18 suspected Fulani Herdsmen with arms

Soldiers from the One Division of the Nigerian Army in Kaduna have arrested about 18 suspected Fulani herdsmen and recovered several arms including AK47 rifles from them. The suspects were arrested in Laduga village, a Fulani settlement in Kachia Local Government Area in the southern part of Kaduna State. The army stormed the village in the early hours of Sunday following a tip-off on an alleged plan by the suspected Fulani herdsmen to attack some villages in Kachia and Kaura Local Government Areas. The troops were said to have condoned the village for a search, leading to the successful arrest of the 18 suspects with several arms. The spokesman of the One Division, Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Col. Usman Abdul confirmed the incident in a telephone interview with Channels Television. “The raid was carried out at about 4:00am on Sunday in a cordon and search operation aimed at saving the natives from being attacked by the herdsmen. “Investigation is still ongoing to ascertain how the suspects got their guns and other ammunitions, with a view to prosecuting them according to the law,” he said. The foiled attack is coming barely two weeks after suspected Fulani gunmen attacked three villages in Kaura Local Government Area of the state, killing at least 100 people. They also destroyed many houses and farmlands. (ChannelsTV)
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Nigerians Ask FG To Build Schools In Saudi Arabia

Nigerians living in Saudi Arabia Monday urged the Federal Government to establish primary and secondary schools to cater for Nigerian citizens in the Arab nation. Sambo was in Saudi Arabia as the head of a top level Federal Government delegation to the award ceremony of Sheikh Dr. Ahmed Lemu, winner of the King Faisal International Prize for Service to Islam for the year 2014. This was disclosed in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by Vice President Namadi Sambo’s Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Malam Umar Sani. According to the statement, President of the Nigerian Professional Workers in Saudi Arabia and the Chairman of the Nigerians resident in Saudi Arabia, Shamsudden Fagbo and Bashir Suleiman respectively, made the request when Sambo met with Nigerian community in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. “They noted that such efforts have been done by other African countries like Ghana and Mali and called on the Federal Government to replicate such laudable initiative. “Both leaders further enjoined the use of Nigerian curriculum when such schools have been established and to ensure that examination bodies in Nigeria conduct examinations in those schools,” the statement said. The statement reported that the Vice President, after acquainting them of the developmental strides in all sectors of the Nigerian economy, promised to convey their request to government. Sambo, who urged them to always be good ambassadors of Nigeria, assured them of the readiness of the government to partner with them in bringing development to the country. [Vanguard]
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Policeman Kills Baby, Batters Wife In Edo

A Policeman, allegedly killed his 19-month-old baby after battering his wife in Benin, according to reports. The incident occurred at a flat in Sam Enobakhare Crescent, off St. Saviour Road, Benin at the weekend. According to his wife, last Tuesday they were at home when her husband’s countenance suddenly changed and when she tried to find out why, he pounced on her. Contacted, Dr. Jolly Nosakhare Iguma, the Chief Medical Director of Jonos Medical Clinic where the baby was taken to, said a mother and her daughter brought in a dead baby a few days ago. “On close examination the baby was pale, yellowish, with tooth bite injuries on his face. “Since the baby is not old enough to fight with any person, I wondered who bit the baby. However, if he was brought in early enough, the baby would have been transfused with blood. He may have died of jaundice.” When newsmen visited the residence weekend, it was deserted as neighbors claimed not to have seen any of its occupants in the past few days. Contacted, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Foluso Adebanjo said he is yet to be briefed, but promised to comment on the issue later. [Vanguard]
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Damn! $450,000 Lamborghini Aventador wrecked in crash

A Lamborghini Aventador speed car worth about $450,000 was wrecked in a three-car smash on one of London’s most expensive streets, Sloane Street in Knightsbridge, yesterday afternoon. The Lamborghini was involved in the crash with a BMW and a Mazda 5. The matte black super car collidedwith the Mazda, then hit a stationary BMW, badly damaging the front of the car.
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Four Killed As Explosion Rocks Kenya’s Nairobi

Just six months after the Westgate Mall attack inNairobi, Kenya, explosions rocked the capital city on Monday killing at least five people and critically injured nine others, according to the national Disaster Operations Centre. The attack in Nairobi’s Eastleigh area, sometimes called “Little Mogadishu”, might have involved twin blasts, the country’s police commander Benson Kibui told Reuters news agency. An Associated Press reporter at the scene said at 7:30pm local time said there were two blasts about 200 metres apart. One of them caused the first floor walls of a restaurant to collapse and appeared to be caused by a device larger than a grenade. “Police are securing the area for emergency response services,” the disaster organisation said on its official Twitter account. Ambulances and private cars ferried the injured to hospital, a witness told Reuters. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. In the past, such attacks in the area that is popular with Somalis have been blamed on Somalia’s al-Shabab armed group. Monday’s blasts came a day after a man suspected of assembling a bomb was killed when it went off where he lived near Eastleigh, Kenyan newspapers reported. The Standard newspaper, which cited police and witnesses, said three men who lived with the victim fled in a car shortly after Sunday’s blast.
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Football | Champions League

Ryan Giggs @ Getty Images
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United not underdogs, says Giggs

31 March 2014, 17:36
Holders Bayern Munich are the favourites but Manchester United do not consider themselves to be underdogs for the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal at Old Trafford on Tuesday, according to Ryan Giggs.
The clash of two of Europe's biggest clubs will forever revive memories of their epic 1999 Champions League final in Barcelona when United scored twice in stoppage time to beat the German side 2-1.
Bayern won on their last trip to Manchester when they beat City 3-1 in a group match in October and a repeat of that scoreline would almost certainly set up Pep Guardiola's team to reach the last four.
But Giggs, who played in the final 15 years ago, remains confident of a United success against opponents who wrapped up the Bundesliga title last week.
"Obviously Bayern are a fantastic team," said Giggs, who will move to within one of Raul's record total of 142 Champions League appearance if he plays on Tuesday.
Now player-coach at Old Trafford, the 40-year-old Welshman told reporters: "They're the holders and Pep Guardiola's taken over and added a few new players and they're a very strong team.
"They're obviously favourites in most people's eyes but we're Manchester United at Old Trafford and we've seen so many good nights there, in Europe especially.
"So as players we don't see ourselves as underdogs, we see ourselves as Manchester United playing at home in the Champions League.
"We can't wait. These are the games that you want to be involved in as a player. We'll go out there and, yes it's going to be tough, but we're confident."
DIFFICULT SEASON
Although they have endured a difficult first season under David Moyes and are seventh in the Premier League, United have won all four home matches in the Champions League.
Guardiola, however, steered Barcelona to two Champions League final victories over United in 2009 and 2011 and while he has vast experience of this competition, Moyes is taking charge of a team at the quarterfinal stage for the first time.
Moyes echoed Giggs's optimism, although experienced left back Patrice Evra is suspended and will miss the chance to renew his rivalry with Bayern's Arjen Robben.
"We know that on our day we're as good a side as any but we have to show it more often," Moyes said.
"I've got great belief in the players and I've said that from day one - that hasn't changed.
"I get the feeling the players all want to play, I can tell that from their attitude in training. They all want to play in the big games, that's what the players here have wanted to do over the years."
Moyes will also be without the injured Robin van Persie while fullbacks Rafael and Alex Buttner are struggling to be fit. Defenders Rio Ferdinand, Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans all trained on Tuesday.
"We have defensive issues, undoubtedly," Moyes added.
"But I won't be giving out my team today, certainly not to Bayern or to you (the media), but we will have to make one or two changes."
United's form has been erratic recently with 3-0 home defeats by Liverpool and Manchester City mixed in with three-goal winning margins over West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa in the league and Olympiakos Piraeus in the Champions League.
United had their backs to the wall when they faced Olympiakos in the first knockout round two weeks ago going into the match 2-0 down from the first leg but Van Persie's hat-trick sent them through 3-2 on aggregate.
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Football | Barclays Premier League

Marouane Fellaini @ Getty Images
Gerrard

Fellaini escapes action over 'spit' claims

31 March 2014, 18:10
Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini has "no case to answer" regarding allegations he spat at Manchester City fullback Pablo Zabaleta during last week's derby at Old Trafford, the Football Association said on Monday.
"We have reviewed all the available footage and decided he (Fellaini) has no case to answer," an FA spokesman told AFP on Monday.
Footage on the YouTube website emerged which appeared to indicate Fellaini spitting near to Zabaleta's head while the City defender lay on the floor following a clash between the pair.
The FA did have the option of banning Fellaini retrospectively if it had found him guilty of misconduct.
Earlier this month, the FA banned Hull's George Boyd for three matches after he spat at Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart.
Match referee Michael Oliver booked Fellaini moments before the alleged spit towards Zabaleta for an elbow on the Argentina fullback.
After title contenders City's 3-0 win over Premier League champions United, Zabaleta said Fellaini was lucky to stay on the pitch.
"I was elbowed by Fellaini. It was a red card," he said.
United manager David Moyes said last week he had discussed the incident with Fellaini and stressed the Belgium international was adamant he'd done nothing wrong.
"I've spoken with Marouane and he says it isn't the case," Moyes said.
"We will work with the FA if that is what we have to do. Marouane is adamant that at no time did he (spit at Zabaleta). I don't think it (the footage) is completely conclusive, from what I've seen," the Scot add
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russia partly withdraws from Ukraine border

Europe

Defence ministry announces one battalion pulling out from the region a day after US and Russia hold talks in Paris.

Last updated: 31 Mar 2014 16:20



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Reports say there are an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 Russia soldiers along Ukraine's eastern frontier [EPA]
Russia has pulled out a motorised infantry battalion from a region near Ukraine's eastern border, the Russian defence ministry said.
Monday's announcement pointed out that the battalion was heading back to its permanent base in Russia's Samara region after completing trainings, but did not make clear whether other Russian troops near the border would pull back.
Russia's President Vladimir Putin told Germany's Angela Merkel in a phone call on Monday that he had ordered a partial withdrawal of Russian army from the region, Merkel's spokesman said in a statement.
The move came after US Secretary of State John Kerry said - after talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Sunday - that progress on resolving the crisis over Ukraine depended on a troop pullback from the border.
Earlier on Monday Ukraine's defence ministry said there has been a gradual withdrawal of Russian troops from its border.
"In recent days, the Russian forces have been gradually withdrawing from the border," Oleksiy Dmytrashkivskiy, Ukraine's defence ministry spokesman, told AFP news agency.
US and EU officials estimated over the weekend that Russia's sudden military buildup along Ukraine's eastern frontier had reached between 30,000 and 40,000 soldiers.
Kiev's Centre for Military and Political Studies analyst Dmytro Tymchuk said on Monday that his sources had told him that Russia had only 10,000 soldiers remaining near the border by Monday morning.
The Ukrainian defence ministry official said Kiev had not been formally notified of the drawdown by Moscow and therefore did not know precisely why the troops were being moved.
"This could be linked to a regular rotation of soldiers," said Dmytrashkivskiy. "Or it may be linked to the Russian-US negotiations."
Crimea economic zone
In Crimea, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev announced on Monday that Moscow would declare the peninsula as a special economic zone with tax breaks to attract investors, according to Reuters news agency.
He made the announcement during his visit to the former Ukrainian region, flaunting his country's grip on the Black Sea peninsula following its annexation.
Crimean officials have said that the local economy is facing a shortfall and needs economic stimulus from Russia.
Medvedev promised to raise the level of salaries for municipal employees and pensions to average Russian levels and to modernise the region's hospitals, which he said were outdated.
"As a result of joining Russia, not one resident of Crimea, not one resident of Sevastopol should lose anything. They can only gain," Medvedev promised during the special cabinet meeting.
Local officials, including Crimean prime minister Sergei Aksyonov, were also present at the meeting that was aired live on Russian state television.
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When the dead come knocking


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Brock Lesnar fell for the old empty-casket trick last week and for all the bravado of The Beast Incarnate, “Eat-Sleep-Beat-the-Streak” is looking more and more like an impossibility. The Anomaly does have one thing on his side, though: When he gets in the ring with The Undertaker at WrestleMania, he’ll presumably let his fists do all the work for him. All he has to do is survive The Deadman’s “final message” this Monday. What does The Phenom have in store?
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50 deinite WrestleMania images;photos


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