Officers of the Order of the British Empire

David Beckham to retire from professional soccer

Agencia EFEMay 16, 2013 14:02

London, May 16 (EFE).- Soccer icon and global celebrity David Beckham announced Thursday that he will retire at the end of the current season. The 38-year-old former English international will play his final two matches for Paris Saint-Germain, which is set to win the French first division. Beckham has been donating his PSG salary to charity. "I'm thankful to PSG for giving me the opportunity to continue but I feel now is the right time to finish my career, playing at the highest level," Beckham said in a statement.

Football: Reaction to David Beckham's retirement

Agence France-PresseMay 16, 2013 13:45

David Beckham announced his retirement from professional football on Thursday, after a memorable career in which he won league titles in four different countries and played at three World Cups. Here, AFP Sports looks at how the world has reacted to news of his retirement, which will come into effect after Paris Saint-Germain's final game of the season at Lorient on May 26: "Best wishes as David Beckham retires. His magical free-kicks for MUFC and England will live long in the memory of all football fans." - British Prime Minister David Cameron

Football: David Beckham to retire - spokesperson

Agence France-PresseMay 16, 2013 12:01

David Beckham is to retire from professional football at the end of the season, his representative announced on Thursday. The 38-year-old midfielder has played for Manchester United, Real Madrid, Los Angeles Galaxy and AC Milan, as well as winning 115 caps for England, and recently won the French Ligue 1 championship with Paris Saint-Germain. "I'm thankful to PSG for giving me the opportunity to continue but I feel now is the right time to finish my career, playing at the highest level," he said, in comments reported by the BBC.

Monty decides to compete in U.S. full-time, as a senior

Thomson ReutersMay 11, 2013 17:34

By Mark Lamport-Stokes (Reuters) - Britain's former world number two Colin Montgomerie repeatedly resisted the lure of the PGA Tour during his prime but now says he intends to compete full-time in the United States on the Champions Tour for players aged over 50. The Scotsman, who won a record eight order of merit titles on the European Tour between 1993 and 2005, will be eligible for the senior circuit after his 50th birthday on June 23.

Patient Westwood believes in golfing success after 40

Thomson ReutersMay 10, 2013 21:20

By Larry Fine PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida (Reuters) - Lee Westwood believes patience is a virtue, and the former world number one who turned 40 last month believes the best years of his golfing career could be yet to come. The Englishman put his faith into practice at this week's Players Championship, biding his time before a late surge in the first round and a six-under 66 in Friday's second round that put him within two shots of the lead.

Ryder Cup heroes reunited on home soil for first time

Thomson ReutersApril 22, 2013 13:46

LONDON (Reuters) - Europe's triumphant Ryder Cup team will be reunited on home soil for the first time when all 12 players and captain Jose Maria Olazabal compete in next month's PGA Championship at Wentworth. "It will be great to have the team back together," world number two Rory McIlroy said in a news release on Monday. "It was such a special Ryder Cup, one that will have a special place in history, and I don't think anyone associated with that team will ever get tired of celebrating it."

U.S. conductor becomes first woman to lead Proms finale

Thomson ReutersApril 18, 2013 11:30

By Shadia Nasralla LONDON (Reuters) - American conductor Marin Alsop is to become the first woman in 118 years to lead the Last Night of the Proms, the grand finale of Britain's leading classical music festival which includes a punk band and gospel choirs in its line-up. Details of the 2013 BBC Proms were unveiled on Thursday, with the festival involving 92 concerts over two months to appeal to a wide audience with chamber music, TV theme tunes, gospel choirs and punk veterans The Stranglers set to perform.

Scandal-hit BBC appoints ex-Times editor as news chief

Thomson ReutersApril 16, 2013 09:31

By Sarah Young LONDON (Reuters) - The BBC named former Times editor James Harding, who was forced to apologise to a media ethics inquiry last year, as its head of news on Tuesday at a time when the publicly-funded broadcaster tackles one of the biggest crises in its 90-year history. Among Harding's tasks will be to restore trust in the globally respected British Broadcasting Corporation, hit by a series of scandals involving the late presenter Jimmy Savile who was discovered to have been a serial sex offender.

Chef Simon Rogan abandons plans for London restaurant

Thomson ReutersApril 16, 2013 05:45

By Laurence Fletcher CARTMEL, ENGLAND (Reuters) - Simon Rogan, one of the UK's top chefs, has abandoned long-awaited plans to open a permanent restaurant in London, for fear his two Michelin-starred L'Enclume restaurant could suffer. Rogan, who has regularly appeared on TV and who is well known for "foraging" ingredients from the surrounding countryside, told Reuters he abandoned plans for a London outlet after a recent restaurant opening in Manchester "almost killed" him.

Golf: Hamstring injury forces Clarke out of Masters

Agence France-PresseApril 8, 2013 14:02

Darren Clarke, the 2011 British Open champion from Northern Ireland, announced he was withdrawing from the Masters on Monday after suffering a pulled hamstring while on vacation in the Bahamas. Clarke missed last week's US PGA Texas Open because of the injury, suffered more than a week ago on the island of Abaco. He is continuing treatment in the Bahamas and has decided on a timetable for his return to competitive golf.