A STYLE ALL HIS OWN

　　

　　Former Murrieta Valley star Fowler drawing attention for his game and fashion

　　It's probably too soon to determine whether Rickie Fowler, the former Murrieta Valley High golf star, will be better known for his bold game or bold fashion.

　　For the moment -- he has a pair of second-place finishes, five top-10s and 11 made cuts in his rookie season on the PGA Tour -- it's a close call as to what's made the bigger impression.

　　The clothes, which come in shades such as of poinsettia red, Neptune green and what we'll call Oklahoma State Orange, clearly are much more up for debate.

　　Here's a sampling from one thread of comments following a blog about Fowler's style entitled: "Rickie Fowler is burning my retinas."

　　Michael-ex-Navy: "... Nice-looking boy but someone needs to dress him."

　　Roadhouse: "... (if) there is one thing I absolutely hate about this younger crowd that is in golf now, it is the pathetic excuse for clothing that they wear on the course. Since when did the golf course become a fashion show?"

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　　AP photo

　　Cyclist: "I'm really surprised by these comments. I think he's doing more for the game and reaching new and younger players than anyone since Tiger."

　　Obviously, the point of wearing an all-caution orange outfit on Sundays is to stand out and be noticed, by the young and not-so-young crowds alike.

　　"I like to be leader of the pack," Fowler said last week by phone from Pennsylvania, where he was preparing to play the AT&T National. "And I want to be the best role model I can, whether it's by wearing classy clothes or acting right."

　　That's just what Puma had in mind.

　　The company provides Fowler -- who's heard it all, including the suggestion that he wear a green hat with his all-orange Sunday wear so that he might "look like a carrot" -- with all the classy on-course clothing.

　　That extends from the fitted shirts to the can't-miss belts and flat-billed caps he's been rocking lately. Puma also let him get in on designing the multi-colored shoes that have been drawing raves from his fellow touring pros of late.

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　　There's even a partition on puma.com reserved, ala a video store's "Employees Picks," for "Rickie Fowler's Favorites."

　　"He's perfect for us," Bob Philion, global head of golf at Puma, said earlier this season. "Obviously Rickie is a great player, he has the credentials to back that up. And when you add to that his personal sense of style and unique background, boy, it's a perfect match for our sports lifestyle position."

　　It's been well-documented that Fowler, 21, didn't grow up with the country club lifestyle. He was a dirt biker who developed his affinity for golf all on his own, who cultivated his skills at a local driving range, who steered clear of video, spending his time instead focused on the age-old practice of hitting buckets of balls.

　　Fowler wears his hair longish and has a natural Southern California swagger that's anything but preppy.

　　He typically plays quickly, aggressively and often incredibly well.

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　　Even without the bedazzling clothing, he'd stand out.

　　But those outfits!

　　Everyone, it seems, has an opinion. That includes members of the local golf community who've known about Rickie Fowler for years.

　　Temecula's Alex Forss, 18: "They're inventive. He's not afraid to stand out; I admire that a lot."

　　San Bernardino's Gene Webster Jr., 21: "From a young person's standpoint, I like to dress a little flashy too. When I get some money, I'm gonna dress like that."

　　Beaumont's Brandon Hillpot, 26: "If I was as cool as that guy, I'd dress like that. And you can quote me."

　　Riverside's Jason Taylor, 40: "No comment."

　　Fashion expert Sharon Haver was surprised by Fowler's look.

　　Surprised and pleased.

　　"Golf is a (old) fashion sport," said Haver, the editor and founder of focusonstyle.com. "Golf clothes are ugly. They just are. The shirts are always baggy, so even if you have a young golfer, they always look like a retired guy on the way to the early-bird special.

　　"But looking at his stuff, I think it's really great. Look how cool he looks. He looks like an athlete, like a tennis player. Tennis players get this sexy image, and golfers usually get this retiree image, so this is great.

　　"The golf circuit needs young blood. He's got the Justin Bieber haircut going on, he's definitely cute, and he has an obvious sense of style to him. I think the sport really needs a poster boy like him right now."

　　Fowler is happy to play the part.

　　"It's always cool to be a trend-setter," Fowler said. "And I couldn't care less what the haters say."

　　Reach Mirjam Swanson

US expands sanctions against Iran

　　Iran says its nuclear programme is aimed solely at peaceful energy use The United States is expanding its sanctions against Iran because of concerns about its nuclear ambitions.

　　Washington said the individuals and institutions targeted were helping Iran to develop its nuclear programme.

　　This is the first step in implementing sanctions adopted by the UN Security Council last week.

　　Those blacklisted include Iran's Post Bank, Defence Minister Ahmad Vahidi and the air force and missile command of the Revolutionary Guard Corps.

　　Western powers accuse Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons - a charge Iran strongly denies.

　　Front companies targeted

　　The US sanctions prohibit any American business or individual from trading with those named on the blacklist. The sanctions also freeze any assets they may have under US jurisdiction.

　　"We will continue to target Iran's support for terrorist organisations, we will continue to focus on Iran's Revolutionary Guard, and we will continue to expose Iran's efforts to evade international sanctions," US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner told a White House news briefing.

　　Also on the list is a front company for the national shipping line, which is run by the Revolutionary Guards.

　　The Treasury has designated 27 new ships and has updated entries for 71 others whose names had been changed.

　　The designation of Post Bank brings to 16 the total number of Iranian banks under sanctions. The US Treasury says Post Bank is a front for Bank Sepah, which was designated in 2007 for providing financial services to the Iranian missile industry.

　　EU sanctions

　　Last week, Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad dismissed the UN sanctions as "a used handkerchief" fit for the dustbin.

　　The European Union, which has been working closely with Washington, will decide on its own sanctions at a summit on Thursday.

　　The EU's proposed sanctions go further than the UN, targeting the oil and gas industry.

　　EU countries such as Germany and Italy have become important trading partners for Iran, but the EU is becoming increasingly concerned that Iran may be pursuing nuclear weapons.

 

Afghanistan's President Karzai set for Japan talks

　　Karzai will hear Japanese concerns about corruption Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai is beginning a visit to Japan, one of his country's biggest donors.

　　He's seeking support to create jobs to try to persuade Taliban fighters to lay down their arms.

　　But he is likely to face tough questions over governance and corruption.

　　The issue is likely to dominate the meeting between Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai and Japan's Prime Minister Naoto Kan.

　　Japan last year pledged $5bn in aid for Afghanistan over five years, but on condition the money would not be lost to corruption.

　　A spokesman for Japan's Foreign Ministry said governance in Afghanistan should be improved, and money from Japanese taxpayers' pockets spent effectively.

　　Japan has never deployed troops to Afghanistan, but its Maritime Self-Defence Force did operate in the Indian Ocean providing fuel and water to international forces.

　　The mission was ended after the new centre-left Government came to power in Japan last year saying it wanted to offer more civilian aid instead.

　　Japanese money has been used to build roads, a new airport terminal in Kabul, and to pay the wages of the Afghan police force.

　　During his trip President Karzai is expected to ask for support for his plan to lure Taliban fighters from the battlefield with jobs and economic opportunities.

 

Seattle police to review training after girl punched

 

The incident was captured on camera

Seattle police are to review training procedures after video of an officer punching a teenage girl circulated widely on US television and online.

The officer struck the 17-year-old after she tried to intervene while he was scuffling with another teenage girl he had seen jaywalking, officials said.

The Seattle police union defended the officer, saying he was working alone amid a crowd and feared for his safety.

The girls, who were arrested, were not harmed in the incident, police said.

In the video, shot on Monday, the officer is shown struggling with a girl in black who police said had tried to leave the scene when he confronted her about jaywalking.

A girl in a pink top intervenes, apparently trying to free the other girl. The footage then shows the police officer punching her as onlookers watch.

The officer, Ian Walsh, has been transferred temporarily to the department's training unit, Seattle police said.

Police officials said the review of training procedures was not meant as a criticism of the officer's actions but would examine whether training could be improved.

Seattle police officers' guild president Richard O'Neill said officers were wary of crowds that could turn violent.

"This officer, if you see on the video, was surrounded by an ever-growing group," he said. "This could have been a tragedy."

A Seattle police spokesman said that use of force was within an individual officer's discretion.

Deadly flash floods hit southern France

 

Heavy rains have caused havoc in France

At least 19 people have been killed by flash floods in south-eastern France, officials say.

Several others have been reported missing after torrential rain hit the mountains above the Cote D'Azur region on Tuesday.

A number of towns in the department of Var were affected, with hundreds of homes flooded.

Meteo France, the national weather service, said up to 40cm (15.7in) of rain had fallen since Tuesday.

Meterologists say the floods are the worst in the region since 1827.

About 2,000 rescue workers have been drafted into affected regions around Draguignan - the worst-hit area - near the Mediterranean coast to help those trapped in their vehicles or houses.

'Devastated'

Water levels were said to be falling slightly in Draguignan on Wednesday, though the rain was continuing in nearby Roquebrune and Frejus.

Meteo France has warned of further storms on Wednesday night.

"We have never seen so much rain in the month of June," Patrick Galois of Meteo France told the AFP news agency.

At least 1,000 people had to leave their homes and spend the night in schools or other temporary shelters, and some 175,000 houses were estimated to have been left without electricity.

Some reportedly sought shelter on the roofs of their homes, while helicopters were brought in to rescue people.

Rescue teams had to moved 436 inmates from a prison in Draguignan after two floors flooded.

The force of the water swept empty cars and other vehicles down streets in Draguignan.

"This morning, we woke up to find a town centre that was devastated, extremely battered with overturned cars floating in the streets, collapsed roads and gutted houses," said Corinne Orzechowski, the official leading the emergency operation.

Condolences

The floods are believed to be the worst since 1827

The BBC's Hugh Schofield in Paris says that many of those who died were caught in their cars.

Rail and air services in the region were interrupted, and about 300 passengers travelling on a high-speed train between Nice and Lille had been trapped by the flood waters, the AFP news agency reported.

The railway line between Toulon and Frejus will be closed until Thursday morning.

President Nicolas Sarkozy offered condolences to the families of the victims, and pledged his support to rescue workers "mobilising non-stop to provide aid and find those still missing".

He plans to visit the area early next week.

Are you in the region? Have you been affected by the floods? You can send us your experiences using the form below.

 

World Cup 2010: Buffon World Cup future uncertain

　　

　　

　　Italy v Paraguay - Match highlights

　　Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has missed training for the second successive day amid fears that he may not play again in the 2010 World Cup.

　　The 32-year-old sat out Wednesday's session and tests on his injured back show a small herniated disc as well as a sciatic problem.

　　Italy team doctor Enrico Castellacci said the recovery would "not be brief".

　　Buffon was replaced by substitute Federico Marchetti at half-time in Monday's 1-1 draw against Paraguay.

　　Buffon initially said he hoped "to recover in two days" but the Azzurri may now have to defend their status as world champions without their experienced keeper.

　　

　　Buffon's Italy and Juventus team-mate Giorgio Chiellini admitted losing the world's most expensive keeper would be a huge blow.

　　"A good goalkeeper is just as valuable as a striker who scores a lot of goals," stated Chiellini.

　　"It's obvious how much he's worth to the team."

　　Buffon could do little to stop Paraguay taking the lead on a rain-drenched night in Cape Town, with Antolin Alcaraz making the most of some hesitant defending from captain Fabio Cannavaro and Daniele De Rossi to head home the opener.

　　But De Rossi made amends after the break when some dreadful goalkeeping from Paraguay's Justo Villar allowed the midfielder to nip in and equalise from a corner.

　　"During the warm-up Buffon felt a pain in his back and after the first half he couldn't continue," commented Italy coach Marcelo Lippi.

　　"It was a big blow. We lost a substitution that we could have used.

　　

　　Buffon is regarded as the one of the best goalkeepers in world football

　　Italy struggled to get going in what was their first World Cup match since winning the tournament in Germany in 2006.

　　The awful weather did not help their cause though, and Lippi, who masterminded the triumph in Berlin four years ago, insisted his team had made a satisfactory start to their title defence.

　　"Italy is right here. We're here tactically, physically, with our hearts, we're here full stop," Lippi added.

　　"I just regret that we did not get the points we deserved, but sometimes that's what happens, you get less than you deserve.

　　"The important thing is this was not a decisive game. What is important is that people now realise we are here and have got our act together."

　　"We deserved to win," De Rossi reflected. "We controlled the ball virtually the entire time, but it's not easy against these teams that dream simply of drawing with the world champions.

　　"And if you fall behind, it becomes even tougher."

　　

　　De Rossi equalises for Italy

World Cup 2010: Veron ruled out of Argentina game

　　

　　

　　Highlights - Argentina 1-0 Nigeria

　　Argentina midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron has been ruled out of Thursday's World Cup Group B game against South Korea because of a leg injury.

　　The former Manchester United player is being rested as a precaution after suffering a calf muscle strain.

　　Argentina coach Diego Maradona said he did not want to risk Veron aggravating the problem and ending his World Cup.

　　Maxi Rodriguez is set to deputise, in what is likely to be the only change from the side that beat Nigeria 1-0.

　　Maradona admitted it was a difficult decision to leave out Veron but said the 35-year-old playmaker could return for the final group game with Greece.

　　The coach told a press conference: "It was a difficult decision to leave Seba out, because he really wants to play and of course nobody wants to miss out on the World Cup, but we have to deal with the problem of risk.

　　

　　"We don't want the injury to get worse, we don't want Veron's World Cup to end. I need him.

　　"He understood perfectly well that it was the best for the team. We'll just let Veron rest and recover and we hope he can play against Greece.

　　"Although we may be losing a very important player I think Maxi Rodriguez is going to do a wonderful job."

　　South Korea top the group on goal difference after the first round of matches, following their 2-0 victory over Greece.

　　The tournament has yielded fewer goals than expected so far with Germany's 4-0 thrashing of Australia and Brazil's 2-1 win over North Korea the only games to feature three or more goals.

　　But Maradona is confident the level of excitement will improve.

　　"I'm having a wonderful time to tell the truth, to me a World Cup is something that's quite amazing," said Maradona.

　　"I'm not worried by the fact there aren't many goals, I'm sure there will be goals, I'm sure the players will see to that.

　　"Of course in the first matches you are more careful, perhaps more careful than you should be."

　　

　　Maverick Maradona's sideline exploits