US President Barack Obama is set to announce that Osama bin Laden is dead, according to US media reports. The White House said Obama would make a late-night statement (US time) but did not announce the topic that he would discuss. Officials said the statement could come as early as 10:50pm EDT (14.50pm, NZ time).
It is highly unusual that the president would make a late-night statement with not even a hint about what he would discuss. CNN reported that Obama was expected to say the US had bin Laden's body. It said bin Laden had been killed by the US in a mansion outside Islamabad, Pakistan's capital. DNA tests are believed to have confirmed bin Laden's death, although it was not immediately clear how he had been killed. Crowds gathered outside the White House before Obama's announcement, cheering and singing the national anthem. The Saudi-born leader of al Qaeda had been hunted since a series of attacks on western targets including the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York and Washington that levelled the twin towers of the World Trade Centre and hit the Pentagon.......... In BREAKING Asian news the Cambodian football team has gone down 3-2 to the fighting Marauders in a windy nail biter. Down 2-0 after 45 it took second half strikes from three originals to seal the deal and take the three points on offer. It was a hard fought win and should serve the team well ahead of its epic clash next weekend against the Tuskan Raiders. When pressed for a comment about his thoughts on the outcome Jose Mourinho said "Who this I'm speaking to and how you get my phone number". While warm and sunny in town it was a brisk northerly, a large patch of grass and two goal posts which met the Marauders when they arrived at Naenae college. The opposition eventually turned up and marked out the narrowest pitch the Marauders have played on so far and the first field lacking in any real markings. With the captain believing there would be 12 people in attendance it was a nervous Fred who first asked where the 12th person was and how important a sub would be. It turned out Josh M had sent Adam a text while he was away. With the toss won I decided we would play into the wind and finish with a floury if required. Taking the field for the opener and the forced line up and handshake with the somewhat vertically challenged opposition were: Josh A John Davey Nick Hansen (fresh from his pre-season conditioning somewhere else) John Cam Adam's Inn Dribble Fold Adam F Mark Mallory (the sole spectator/WAG) The first 10 minutes or so were fairly even with the ball being worked well upfield by the Marauders with some quick passes through the middle, to the side and back. Turnovers were more problematic with the clearing kicks sailing downfield towards our goal. Nick and David in the middle did a good job of getting to the bombs on the full although had many an unlucky bounce which their smaller faster attackers latched onto. They had a few reasonable shooting opportunities early on but their efforts were well off target and left Josh untroubled. At the other end Fold came oh so close to knocking one in after stretching out and getting onto a fast through ball at the back post from me. He tells the story that he should have scored, but in any case it was a great effort to even get to the ball. There were a few other opportunities but nothing that came as close as Fold's effort. Much to Adam's amazement I got a solid header off a long corner but it flew high. Dribble was all over the midfield and put together a number of great passes to take the ball forward. Cambodia were first on the score sheet after working the ball down the right, bringing it back into the middle and slotting home through some very casual defence 0-1. What seemed like moments later it was 0-2 when a corner deflected off one of our players and passed to the feet of their sole attacker somehow missing the 5 defenders in the way. Very unlucky and heads dropped a little. Fred came close at the other end with a speculative shot from distance and Adam W pushed one slightly wide. Adam F caused some comedy when blatantly two handed shoving their shorter defender out of the way when running to the ball. Fred also gets a mention for some absolutely terrible foul throws (I lost count at 7). Feeling for his fellow wide defender John also got pinged for a foul throw. The second half saw more commitment and hunger from the Marauders as they attacked the loose ball and went harder into the 50/50 challenges. Fred and Cam worked the ball well down the left with some sublime crosses not quite finding shots of equal quality. A side heal from Adam F from close in front went wide and Adam W had a few which were marginally high and wide. Finally the Marauders got on the board with a well taken free kick from Adam W finding the left upper corner. 1-2 Interesting tactics from the Cambodian keeper who set up his wall and then stood behind it leaving a good chunk of the goal open. On the right side John and Fold got some good passes together and Fold took the defence on a number of times and got through the first two or three tackles. Nothing directly came from these but he was soon presented with a good shooting opportunity inside the box on his right foot. Hitting it early his shot went high and right much to his disappointment. Sensing 1 goal may not be enough Cambodia continued to use their speed to bring the ball up the side and into the middle. A few committed challenges from John and Nick slowed progress or turned the ball over and Davey was regularly clearing the ball with his head. Taking that concept forward a Dribble corner sailed over the first wave of jumpers and Davey headed it back across the face of the goal past the keeper, over their defender and into the net 2-2 and the team was lifting. Nick was next to create a chance when he took the ball forward and just kept going. For no apparent reason the last two defenders parted leaving a great opportunity from a few meters inside the box. Unaware of his proximity to the goal and deaf to the calls to shoot he passed right to John who has flying up from the back. It wasn't to be and the ball went out for a goal kick. Adam W came close to a second with a right footed effort from inside the box (from a Cam cross) which went agonisingly close to the left post. Pushing forward the blue and yellow were opened up a few times at the back but the shots were rushed and missed. Their one shot which was on target was hit high and was looping towards our goal, but Fred jumped high and managed to head it upwards and away from our net. With time winding down Adam drew a foul 5 meters outside and wide of the left corner of the box when tripping over the ball and defender. Dribble ran front post and and I stayed my ground and got a foot to the Adam's strike which went low and hard and wasn't picked up by their defender. Thankfully it was a good strike and rocketed past the keeper into the net from a few meters out. 3-2 We dominated the remaining few minuted and created a few more half chances but could not add to the score sheet. A well deserved win for the Marauders and hard fought start to the season. A very important game beckons next weekend so lets back up and get some back over the Raiders. Fines: Fred - foul throws having finally sorted the release he was also penalised for lifting his foot early) John - 1 foul throw Mark - a well considered but very late report Fold - for going into a cup final like state of automatism after one of his shots went wide - walk it off son you create so many chances that they will start going in. Mark The Marauders Football Club Wellington New Zealand
