David Beckham launches boys clothing for H+M

David Beckham has launched his own boys clothing collection for HM. 
The former soccer star is adding childrenswear to his design repertoire, with the new bodywear range featuring vests, Henley tops, long-johns and shirts

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The collection, which goes on sale on January 30, reflects the relaxed style of David's vintage sportswear-inspired adult bodywear range and his own sons, Brooklyn,14, Romeo,11, and Cruz, eight - are likely to wear the clothing. 

The father-of-four, who also has two-year-old daughter Harper with his wife Victoria, will launch his spring/summer 2014 underwear campaign for HM on February 2 via a short film broadcast during the US Super Bowl.

It shows him scaling a rooftop in London after being locked out of a photo shoot. 
Flaunting his toned physique, the 38-year-old star is seen wearing just his underwear and is forced to undertake some impressive stunts until he reaches safety. 
The project was directed by 'Only God Forgives' filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn, who found it easy working with David. 
Nicholas said: 'I loved working with David for his new campaign. He is a natural in front of the camera, and was fearless when performing his own stunts. 
'The campaign is funny, smart and spectacular, and shows the many different sides of David's personality.'

Lenovo tackles personal cloud storage with Beacon

Among a slew of new products and announcements at CES, Lenovo made an interesting mark with the reveal of Beacon, the company’s first personal cloud storage device.

The device is targeted to the home user who needs to access their media library on the go. Users can access and upload files to Beacon using their smartphone or tablet, and a custom Lenovo app allows them to stream their content to compatible TVs. Users can also configure their smartphones to automatically upload photos to Beacon as they are captured, making for a seamless digital backup of their library.

Beacon also features two USB 3.0 ports and a one-touch button for instantly copying content from USB storage devices directly on to Beacon. The company announced that Beacon will support capacity of up to 6TB, and will be powered by an Intel Atom dual-core processor.

The Lenovo Beacon personal cloud storage device will be available beginning in April with models starting at $199 – availability in the Middle East will be announced soon.

Why isn’t he responding? 3 rules for texting men

By Taylor Meadows

During the year the world was supposed to end (AKA 2012), I learned some valuable information about the SMS relationships between males and females.

I made some awkward mistakes when texting ex-boyfriends and had some equally uncomfortable snafus with guys that I thought I fancied. All of which left me embarrassed, listening to Whitney Houston’s How Will I Know.

I was constantly looking at my phone and analyzing each and every text that I sent and each text that the guy would send back, which would inevitably be “cool,” “you too,” or “nice.”

What?

I just sent you a paragraph of information along with a sweet Emojicon, and all you can say is “nice” two days later?

After consulting with some of the fabulous men in my life about this phenomenon, I developed 3 simple rules to follow when texting any guy (gay or straight).

In the words of Scissor Sisters, “Lock the doors, lower the blinds, turn on the smoke machine and put on your heels,” because, ladies, I am about to give you some text tactics that will blow your mind.

1. Do not text in paragraph form. As women, we love to talk like we are the modern day Bronte sisters. We want a guy to think that we are deep creatures with words that can make mountain tops glitter. I honestly don’t know how women use Twitter, because summing up a thought in 140 characters or less can be a challenge. Well, we need to learn to text like we tweet. When we text a guy paragraphs of fluff, we give too much information about ourselves. They don’t want to know the flavor and texture of the pop tart we consumed that morning or the happenings of our day in full detail. (Don’t act like you aren’t guilty of texting like that!) A guy once told me that when we text a ton of information, guys categorize us. We are no longer mysterious, so they move on. Learn to text like a guy with one-word answers and watch what happens. Save your lengthy paragraphs for your princess journals.

2. Maintain a confident, not over-eager mindset when responding to a text from a new suitor. Do not jump at the chance to set a world record in textual response. Instead, maintain intrigue. He doesn’t need to know that your eyeballs and fingertips are glued to your phone. I can’t speak for all women, but I know that at times I act before I take a second to process and breathe. I actually tried this rule and it worked. I received a response from a guy one day while I was working. I was able to respond right away, but I left it sitting for a few hours. When I checked my phone again, I had two more texts from him. Next time you want to set that world record just say out loud, “I’ll text you back at my earliest convenience.

3. Do NOT text an ex. Period. This should be the Golden Rule of texting. Do not text an ex-boyfriend unless you are realistically mature enough to be confident in the knowledge that they are so far removed from your life. You can’t rekindle a dead romance with a text or two…or three. Trust me: you’ll end up eating a roll of cookie dough just as you ex’s ego continues to soar. And definitely do not (EVER) text after you have had a few martinis. You are stronger than you think. Go ye therefore and stick to that mindset!

Words are powerful, so don’t always give them away in a text message. Save them. Write a poem or a novel. Don’t waste them in a text to a guy who will read it and ignore its value.

Now, I will figure out how to tackle this new, foreign concept of talking on the phone.

US, India reach deal to end feud over arrested diplomat

The United States and India ended a month-long feud over a diplomat who was arrested, strip-searched and charged with visa fraud in New York with a deal allowing the envoy to fly home Friday.

The row began on December 12 when Indian consulate official Devyani Khobragade was arrested on suspicion of filing false documents to obtain a visa for her domestic servant and then underpaying her.

Her arrest outside her children's school and treatment in custody, where the mother-of-two said she was subjected to a cavity search, outraged India which claimed she benefited from diplomatic immunity.

US prosecutors disputed this, leading New Delhi to request Washington to grant her a G1 visa given to diplomats at India's UN mission which is also in New York.

"Devyani given G1 visa by USA according her full diplomatic immunity. India transfers her back. She is now flying home," Indian foreign ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said in a tweet that confirmed the deal.

Just hours earlier, prosecutors had filed charges in a New York court that accused Khobragade of forcing the maid to work 100-hour weeks, even when sick, and confiscating her passport.

The maid herself, Sangeeta Richard, issued a statement thanking rights groups and US officials for support.

"I would like to tell other domestic workers who are suffering as I did -- you have rights and do not let anyone exploit you," she said, according to a statement reported by the Indian media.

The deal ends the row, but the two countries, which had embraced each other as strategic partners, must now count the cost of weeks of feisty exchanges which have left resentment on both sides.

India has removed extra security barriers at the US embassy in New Delhi, demanded contract details for domestic staff employed by American diplomats and even stopped the mission importing duty-free alcohol.

On Wednesday, it ordered an embassy leisure centre popular with American expatriates in the capital to stop admitting non-diplomatic members, while scheduled visits by US officials to India have been cancelled.

The United States through presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama has invested heavily in improving ties with India which it views as a key ally in its "pivot" to Asia, designed to check Chinese influence.

India has benefited from US backing to gain access to foreign nuclear energy technology and Washington has become an important arms supplier and key market for India's software and IT services exports.

"Both the governments now have the challenge to pick up the pieces and bring the partnership back on the rails," India's former foreign secretary Lalit Mansingh told AFP.

The spat exposed a gulf in perceptions and values between the two countries.

Khobragade, a wealthy 39-year-old from a low-caste background, was seen at home as the victim of heavy-handed policing and her treatment a humiliation of India by the world's superpower.

Domestic servants are routine for the middle classes in India where few employees have contracts, many are abused, and none make even a small fraction of the US minimum wage.

"We are proud Indians. We may be a poor country but we don't compromise the sovereignty of the country," Khobragade's defiant father, Uttam, told a press conference on Friday.

"We as a family would not like to touch the soil of a country that treats a human being in such a way," he added, saying that Khobragade's children and American husband would follow her to India.

But in the United States, there was little public sympathy for Khobragade, who prosecutors say was exploiting an employee with pay as little as $1.22 an hour after bringing her to New York under false pretences.

In New York on Thursday, Preet Bharara, the US attorney for the southern district of the city, informed a judge that a grand jury had filed two counts of visa fraud and making false statements against Khobragade.

In the indictment, the grand jury said Khobragade had obtained a visa for her maid by promising to pay her $4,500 a month, but then made a second secret contract with a salary of just 30,000 rupees ($573) a month.

This would be double the wages the maid would probably earn in New Delhi, but is substantially lower than the minimum wage in the US.

The indictment also accused Khobragade of forcing the servant to work nearly seven days a week without holidays or time off for illness.

A statement from the Indian foreign ministry on Thursday read: "At the time of her departure to India, counsellor Khobragade reiterated her innocence of charges filed against her."

US Secretary of State John Kerry has voiced regret over Khobragade's treatment, but did not apologise.

Robben tells Bayern to take 'first step' over contract extension

The Netherlands international, who hopes to be back in action this month, will be a free agent next year, but is keen to sign a new a deal with the reigning European champions

Arjen Robben has called on Bayern Munich to take the "first step" over a possible contract extension.

The Netherlands international, who has a year and a half left to run on his current deal, is keen to commit his future to the Bavarians but says that the onus is on his employers to kick off the negotiation process.

"If the club wants me to stay I would love to hear that," Robben told ANP. "At this moment, it's not in my hands.

"The club will have to take the first step if they want to renew my contract. I'm sure they know my qualities and I know what the club is worth to me."

For the moment, though, Robben is just concentrating on recovering from a knee injury in time to feature in Bayern's first game back after the winter break, against Borussia Monchengladbach on January 24.

"It's not nice that I can only train and not play matches," the 29-year-old winger lamented. "I think I still need a few more days to recover. I can come back when the season restarts; I still have two weeks for that."

Robben was in sensational form before the injury he suffered against Augsburg at the start of December, having netted 13 goals in 19 games in all competitions. 

Higuain would welcome 'warrior' Mascherano at Napoli

The Barcelona man has been linked with a possible switch to the San Paolo to join former boss Rafa Benitez and his compatriot believes fans would be thrilled with the move

Gonzalo Higuain says he would love to see Argentina team-mate Javier Mascherano join him at Napoli in January.

The Barcelona star has been linked with a move to Serie A, with coach Rafael Benitez - who mangaged him at Liverpool - reported to be keen on bringing him to San Paolo.

Higuain describes Mascherano as a "warrior" and believes his international colleague would be a fantastic addition to the squad if his club can secure his services.

"We know it is hard to move in January but the director (Bigon) is doing everything possible," the ex-Real Madrid frontman told Radio Kiss Kiss. 

"Hopefully someone will come. We are doing well, but we could be helped to be better.

"The fans would like to see a warrior like Mascherano arrive. Benitez knows him well from Liverpool. We will see."

Ahead of Sunday's game away to fifth-placed Verona, Higuain discussed his side's chances of competing at the top of Serie A and insists he has not given up hope of challenging Juventus for the title.

The striker added: "Verona will be a tough game. They are having a great league season, but we are going there to try and impose our game on them and win. 

"First we will try to overcome Roma in the table and then we can decide if we can look towards Juventus. Anything can happen in football - there are still many points at stake.

"This is only the first year of a new cycle at the club. We will grow slowly, but we know we are doing good things."

Real Madrid rule out Di Maria sale - for now at least

The Spanish side have closed their investigation into the forward's groin-grabbing gesture and will keep faith in the Argentine for the remainder of the current campaign

Real Madrid have ruled out selling Angel Di Maria in January after closing their investigation into the Argentine's alleged groin-grabbing gesture in the 3-0 win over Celta Vigo on Monday.

Madrid were willing to cash in on Di Maria in the summer, but the player impressed incoming coach Carlo Ancelotti and Mesut Ozil was surprisingly sold instead to raise money for the world-record transfer of Gareth Bale.

However, the winger's body language in December highlighted his frustration at being on the bench and things came to a head on Monday as the 25-year-old was booed by Madrid fans at the Santiago Bernabeu and appeared to respond by grabbing his groin as he left the pitch to be replaced by Bale.

The former Benfica man later denied any gesture, but was forced by Madrid to make an official apology and the club opened an investigation into his behaviour.

"There was nothing aimed at the crowd or the coach, as people were saying," Di Maria said. "It was a normal movement for any man, especially when you are running. It's something you do often on the pitch, it was something natural.

"If anyone was offended by what I did, then I ask for forgiveness, but it wasn't aimed at anybody."

And after an internal investigaion, Madrid arrived at the same conclusion.

"It cannot be deemed that Di Maria was responsible for any gestures or for a lack of respect towards the crowd and, therefore, he did not commit any type offence worthy of a sanction," a club statement read on Thursday, adding: "The club's management committee has therefore decided to close the case."

Ancelotti said on Wednesday: "We have to believe Di Maria. Even if anyone thinks it was an ugly gesture, he has apologised. So, the matter ends here."

Despite bringing their investigation to an end, Madrid will continue to monitor the winger's behaviour and although the Italian coach remains a fan, the Argentine could find himself surplus to requirements in the summer if Bale and youngster Jese continue to impress.

Di Maria started on the bench for Madrid's Copa del Rey clash at home to Osasuna on Thursday.