Hair needs extra love in winter

With just a little bit of extra tenderness, your hair with be shiny and soft all through the dry, cold winter. PHOTO: FILE

LONDON: Like your skin, even your tresses need some extra tender care and love in the winter season. It’s wise to concentrate on keeping your roots clean and choosing the right products, suggests an expert.

Raghu Reddy, a hair loss specialist at the Private Clinic of Harley Street, gives out some hair tips for healthy hair during winter, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

Here are some suggestions:

Take extra care of your roots: Avoid putting products like conditioner, wax or gel directly onto the roots of your hair. This will clog the pores and hair follicles, making it difficult for hair to grow as it normally would.

Choose products wisely: In winter, go for a gentle shampoo to keep some moisture intact in your hair. Use a deeper conditioner to protect the hair and prevent damage from extreme weather or central heating.

Indulge in protein-rich diet: Embark on a protein high diet that can keep hair shiny and strong. Eat meat, fish and eggs.

Go natural: Several women wish to avoid frizzy hair in the winter months, and they prefer to dry their hair before venturing out in to the cold. Try to keep the use of straighteners and hair driers to a minimum, as intense heat can be bad for hair.

Stay away from straightening and curling as they may make the hair brittle and prone to breakage, contributing to the overall weakening of each individual hair. Also, avoid using hair dyes regularly as well.

No heat please: A hot water bath can bring much relief in the winter, but this can be detrimental to your hair. Always wash your hair with lukewarm or cool water, rather than very hot water.

Be gentle: Avoid brushing your hair rigorously to stay away from unwanted breakage. Try not to scratch the scalp too, as this can cause the scalp to become dry and to flake.

Keep calm: Don’t let the stress of the festive season get to you. Sustained periods of stress can lead to a change in hormonal balances, which can pave the way for hair thinning or patterned baldness.

Visitors from Pakistan must prove they are vaccinated for polio: India

Pakistani travellers will have to carry vaccination records while travelling to India. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE

ISLAMABAD: India announced a mandatory proof of vaccination against polio from January 30 next year for both adults and children travelling from Pakistan to India, Press Trust of India (PTI) reported. The new measure will also apply to Indian nationals travelling to and from countries where polio is endemic. 

“The step is being taken to safeguard India’s polio-free status attained after sustained efforts and investment,” a statement from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad stated.

“It is applicable to all travellers from all countries where polio disease is endemic or where cases of polio are reported,” it said.

With this measure in place, Pakistani travellers will have to carry their vaccination records while travelling to India, or face being turned back from their port of entry.

Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria are the only three countries where polio remains endemic.

According to the Indian High Commission’s statement, travelers need to take the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) at least six weeks before their departure to India but not more than a year before the trip.

In October this year, an outbreak of polio reported among young children in northeast Syriawas said to be “probably originating in Pakistan” the World Health Organization (WHO) said. The organization pointed out that this spread of the virus poses a threat to millions of children across the Middle East.

“We know a polio virus from Pakistan was found in the sewage of Cairo in December. The same virus was found in Israel in April, also in the West Bank and Gaza. It… is putting the whole Middle East at risk quite frankly,” Bruce Aylward, WHO assistant director-general for polio, emergencies and country collaboration had said.

Pakistan is one of only three countries in the world where the highly infectious disease which cripples limbs remains endemic.

“Last year there were a total of 58 cases, but 62 fresh victims of polio have already been reported in 2013,” a senior government official, who works with international donors working to eradicate polio said in a report last month.

Opposition from militant groups has hampered efforts to vaccinate children against polio in Pakistan and officials said violence was part of the reason for the increase in cases.

Why AC Milan should be looking at Frank de Boer as a replacement for Allegri

The Dutchman has worked wonders since taking charge of Ajax in 2010 and could revolutionise the Rossoneri, should the Italians decide to part company with their current coach

COMMENT
By Mark Doyle

It was previously thought that Massimiliano Allegri had done a fine job in qualifying AC Milan for this season’s Champions League, given the coach had had to deal with a dreadful start to the 2012-13 Serie A campaign precipitated by the summer sale of his two best players, Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. However, it emerged on Sunday night that the credit for the Rossoneri’s remarkable turnaround lay elsewhere. 

"Last season, after a disastrous first half of the campaign," club owner Silvio Berlusconi explained, "I took a closer interest in Milan - and we snatched third place. I think that the team needs more of my help again today.”

Allegri must be as offended as he is fearful. Milan are indeed struggling once more, with Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Livorno having left them ninth in the table, a staggering 22 points behind leaders Juventus, and 14 adrift of third-placed Napoli. 

The one saving grace has been their relatively respectable European form, with Milan only needing a point from Wednesday’s clash with Ajax at San Siro to progress to the knockout stage of the Champions League.

THE DUTCH VIEW ON DE BOER

"De Boer stands for the style of play that made Ajax a huge club in the 1970s and mid-90s: lots of possession, high pressing and always trying to dominate the game. It doesn't matter if the opponent is Barcelona or RKC Waalwijk, De Boer doesn't change his approach. "If he has a flaw, it's that he sometimes expects his players to be as talented as he was. That's why assistant coach Hennie Spijkerman has an important role to play. "He's the better man-manager so De Boer effectively has that aspect of coaching covered as well. De Boer has also used Dennis Bergkamp, Wim Jonk and Marc Overmars cleverly. Together, they have changed not only the first team, but the youth academy. "Just like in his playing career, though, De Boer wants to achieve as much as possible. In Amsterdam, though, he's already at his peak and he knows that he can't win the Champions League with Ajax. A move to a bigger club is inevitable and a club like Arsenal or Barcelona would suit him best because these teams play the way he wants. "The fact that he's a disciple of Cruyff really gives him the advantage in terms of the Blaugrana, even though Johan and the Barca board aren't on speaking terms at present." Floris Koekenbier | Goal Netherlands

However, defeat at home to the Dutch champions would surely result in the sack for Allegri, particularly now that Berlusconi has decided to take a more active role in the running of the club.

Remember, the ex-Italian Prime Minister wanted rid of the former Cagliari boss last summer, having had his heart set on bringing former Rossoneri midfielder Clarence Seedorf back to Milanello as coach.

Berlusconi was ultimately persuaded to persist with Allegri for one more year by CEO Adriano Galliani but there will be no stay of execution for this dead man walking should Milan bow out of Europe.

Pippo Inzaghi, who is now in charge of thePrimavera, is in the running to be the next coach of Milan but Seedorf remains a firm favourite of Berlusconi’s. However, whenever the Milan supremo does finally decide upon a change of leadership, he would be better advised to turn to another Dutchman, the one who will be in the opposition dugout at San Siro on Wednesday night.

Frank de Boer has done an incredible job since being promoted from within the Ajax youth ranks to the senior side in 2010. The former Netherlands international has led the Amsterdam outfit to three successive titles, but it is not his trophy haul that marks him out as the ideal candidate for the San Siro hotseat. There are a number of other far more compelling reasons.

Firstly, there is the fact that De Boer took charge of Ajax at a time of bitter internal warfare, with the club’s supervisory board ultimately resigning over a court ruling that upheld Johan Cruyff's case against the appointment of Louis van Gaal as CEO.

These were two men who De Boer idolised; two men that have heavily influenced his coaching philosophy. Yet he handled the situation with the kind of class, composure and perception he exhibited during his playing days.

"It's a real shame that they don't seem to get along," the former centre-half mused. "They have much more in common than they think. They both really love Ajax, enjoy attacking football ... but are pretty stubborn." 

Marco van Basten was just one of those impressed by the way in which De Boer managed put all the politicking to one side and lead Ajax to the title that season, having found the internal divisions too much too handle during his return to Amsterdam in a coaching capacity in 2008. 

"There are many people at Ajax who try to interfere with all sorts of things, but Frank remains very quiet," the legendary Netherlands striker explained. "For me, the power of Ajax is Frank de Boer.”

Having honed his skills of diplomacy in Amsterdam, De Boer would therefore hardly be intimidated by the current power struggle raging at San Siro between Berlusconi’s daughter, Barbara, and Adriano Galliani.

Furthermore, De Boer would have little trouble in dealing with Milan's newfound prudency in the transfer market. The aforementioned sales of Thiago Silva and Ibrahimovic were essential in terms of balancing the books at Milanello and, while they remain a major player in the Italian market, they simply can no longer compete with Europe's elite. 

However, one could argue that De Boer would not only handle such parsimony, but embrace it. Ahead of last year's Champions League win over the Abu Dhabi-backed Manchester City, De Boer stated: "We don't have their kind of money so we have to be creative. I like our style better because buying players is a lot easier.”

Given his background in Ajax's fabled youth academy, De Boer would also fit in perfectly with Milan’s aforementioned desire to rejuvenate their squad, while at the same time addressing their recent overreliance on prima donnas - like Ibrahimovic and, currently, Mario Balotelli - just as he immediately did at the Amsterdam ArenA with Mounir El Hamdaoui.

“Football is a team sport, not an individual sport,” he reasons. “[Ajax’s] strength is that we are not dependent on one person."

Likewise, De Boer's strength is that he is not dependent upon one point of view. Not only does he surround himself with talented ex-team-mates for whom he has the utmost respect, he has also drawn on the teachings of both Van Gaal and Cruyff to create arguably the perfect coaching model for Ajax.

Could it work at Milan? It would be difficult, but there is clearly no-one better qualified than De Boer to make it happen. To put it simply, he is the best man for the job.

Wenger: Signing Ozil made up for missing out on Higuain

The Gunners spent the early part of the summer trying to sign the Argentine striker before his move to Napoli but the French coach is satisfied with how things worked out

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes that the signing of Mesut Ozil has more than made up for the disappointment of missing out on Gonzalo Higuain.

The Frenchman spent the early part of the summer attempting to secure the services of 'El Pipita', who has scored 10 goals in 18 appearances for new club Napoli, but, after failing to meet Real Madrid's valuation of the Argentina international, eventually lured Ozil away from the Santiago Bernabeu instead.

The former Blancos team-mates will face-off on Wednesday in Italy, with both sides looking to progress to the last 16 at the expense of the other but, whatever the outcome, Wenger is adamant that he has no regrets over missing out on Higuain.

"Am I happy with the player I got in Ozil? Very much," he told reporters. "There were a lot of statements that were not true about Higuain. 

"He has joined [Rafa] Benitez. He is in good hands and shows he is a great striker [but] we have Olivier Giroud who shows as well that he is a great striker."

Despite recording four victories from their five games, Arsenal still have work to do in order to ensure qualification. 

However, the Premier League leaders need only to avoid defeat by a three-goal margin to progress and a point would ensure top spot in a group that also includes last year's runners-up, Borussia Dortmund.

Wenger added: "Our priorities are simple: First, qualify, if possible top [of the group]. For me, the first priority is to qualify. If we finish top, it is even better

Roy Keane slams Manchester United duo Ferdinand & Young

The club's treble-winning skipper was highly critical of the veteran centre-back and England winger during his old side's scrappy win over Shakhtar Donetsk at Old Trafford

Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane has accused Rio Ferdinand of playing like a novice and argues that the defender's performances should be of serious concern to coach David Moyes.

After consecutive home defeats in the Premier League, the Red Devils scraped past Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday in the Champions League thanks to a 62nd-minute Phil Jones goal - a victory which sealed top spot in A.

It was a far from convincing display, however, and Keane singled out veteran centre-back Ferdinand and the out-of-sorts Ashley Young as high-profile players guilty of letting down their under-fire boss.

"There has been no reaction from the United players from the disappointment of last week. They don't look like a team, just a collection of individuals running around," the former midfielder said on ITV during the half-time break at Old Trafford. 

"You can defend players for making mistakes but you cannot defend players for not tackling and not getting close to people.

"[United] had a couple of good chances through Ashley Young towards the end of the first half. He should certainly hit the target. I think it sums up his time at Man United: just not good enough.

"David Moyes took the heat off the players before the game by saying it is his responsibility but we are talking about experienced players. 

"Rio Ferdinand's decision-making, the chances he has taken, it is ridiculous. It [was] like his debut.

"As we said before the game, there are big question marks over the manager and the players. That, for Manchester United, is certainly not good enough."

The 42-year-old Keane seven Premier League titles and one Champions League during his United career, while he was also named PFA Player of the Year in 2000.

Bayern extend Boateng contract

The 25-year-old Roten defender has extended his deal with last season's treble-winners, keeping him at Allianz Arena until 2018

Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng has agreed a three-year contract extension with the European champions, declaring it an "honour" to have committed his future to the club.

The 25-year-old's new deal will keep him at Allianz Arena until 2018, and the Germany international says he couldn't be happier to be prolonging his stay with last season's treble winners.

"Bayern are one of the great clubs in world football," he told the club's official website.

"To play here is not only a job, it is an honour.

"I want to achieve a lot with our team in the years to come."

Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge also revealed his delight at the news, citing Boateng as a key player for Pep Guardiola's team.

"He is one of the major players at Bayern," he said.

"For this reason it was a natural fit that we have endeavoured to ensure a contract extension."

Boateng moved to the Bavarians in July 2011 after a short spell with Manchester City and played in his side's 3-2 Champions League defeat to his former club on Tuesday.

He has made 106 appearances for die Roten, and has won 36 caps for Germany since his debut in 2009.

Several clubs want Di Maria, says agent

The attacker's Argentine representative Eugenio Lopez has suggested there is bad blood with president Florentino Perez as the player continues to be linked with a move

Real Madrid attacker Angel Di Maria is a transfer target for several clubs, according to the player's Argentine agent.

The 25-year-old has been the subject of intense speculation in recent weeks with reports suggesting he is unhappy at the club, although Carlo Ancelotti made it clear he has no plans to allow the winger to leave Santiago Bernabeu.

However, Eugenio Lopez - the player's representative from his native Argentina - has now hinted at tension between Di Maria and president Florentio Perez, claiming there are several top sides waiting in the wings should he decide to quit the Spanish capital.

"Angel has a contract until 2018. Many clubs want him. There is a presidential matter, but I don't want to talk about it," he told radio program La Red.

Di Maria, who joined the club from Benfica in 2010, has four goals and seven assists in 19 appearances this season. 

Monaco coach Claudio Ranieri has previously voiced his admiration for the player, who signed a new contract with Madrid just last year.