London

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is set to quit the Premiership champions at the end of the season, according to reports on Friday. The frustrated Blues boss is reported to have told a close friend that he will leave Stamford Bridge in May, the media reported.

The British press lauded David Beckham’s United States mega deal on Friday as a shrewd financial move for a footballer whose top playing days are behind him, although some lamented that greed was behind the move. Many papers cited the figure of about -million per week which Beckham will reportedly earn under the deal.

British surgeons have condemned a plastic surgery lottery that offers winners money for face lifts, breast enlargements and tummy tucks. London-based Europa International is running what is thought to be the world’s first lottery for cosmetic surgery.

Drinking tea can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke but only if milk is not added to the brew, German scientists said on Tuesday. Research has shown that tea improves blood flow and the ability of the arteries to relax but researchers at the Charite Hospital at the University of Berlin in Mitte found milk eliminates the protective effect against cardiovascular disease.

The judge overseeing official inquiries into the deaths of Princess Diana and her lover Dodi al-Fayed in 1997 ruled on Monday that royal officials would not sit on any jury considering how they died. Because Diana was part of the royal family when she died, any jury, according to convention, would usually be made up of members of the royal household.

A former World War II fort in the North Sea, which was settled 40 years ago and declared a state with its own self-proclaimed royal family, is up for sale, the <i>Times</i> said on Monday. The tiny Principality of Sealand, which began life as Roughs Tower in 1941, is a 550 square metre steel platform perched on two concrete towers 11km off the coast of Harwich, eastern England.

Chelsea’s Ghana international Michael Essien was on Friday named the BBC’s African Footballer of the year, carrying off the title with a massive 66% of the vote. The 24-year-old midfielder was named ahead of Mohammed Aboutrika, of Egyptian club side El Ahly, while Essien’s colleague at the English champions, Didier Drogba, of Côte d’Ivoire, came third.

The United Kingdom’s Serious Fraud Office is investigating ”substantial payments” made by BAE Systems to a senior South African Defence Ministry official who had influence over the controversial arms-deal contract won by the arms company to supply planes at nearly twice the price of a rival bidder, the Guardian reported at the weekend.

England’s Rugby World Cup hero Jonny Wilkinson was surprised at being named in his country’s Six Nations training squad but warned his latest injury would likely rule him out of immediate selection. Wilkinson also predicted that England would thrive under new captain Phil Vickery and said recalled utility back Jason Robinson still had much to offer.

United States television talk-show queen Oprah Winfrey admitted on Wednesday that she nearly gave up her -million school project in South Africa after people at first failed to understand her vision for it. She opened the school on Tuesday at a star-studded ceremony featuring former president Nelson Mandela.

Frank Lampard has insisted Chelsea are still in the hunt for a third straight English Premier League title despite a disappointing sequence of results over the Christmas and New Year period that has left the Blues six points behind leaders Manchester United.

Chelsea missed the chance to close to within four points of leaders Manchester United as they were held to a goalless draw on Tuesday at Aston Villa. Frank Lampard missed a golden chance in injury time to give the champions a victory, and Villa held on for a point — their second draw with Chelsea this season. The result leaves Chelsea six points off the pace.

The British press on Friday were fearful of the first Ashes whitewash in 85 years after England crashed to defeat in the fourth Test in Melbourne, with one newspaper saying ”only a miracle” could save the tourists from suffering a clean sweep.

Tony Blair’s office tried to deflect criticism of his holiday at the United States mansion of pop star Robin Gibb on Thursday, saying the British prime minister had paid for the stay. Opposition Conservatives and newspapers savaged Blair over his year-end break at the Bee Gees star’s luxurious Florida home, demanding to know whether it was costing British taxpayers money or if it was a ”freebie”.

British Airways (BA) said on Wednesday poor markings at Miami airport were to blame for a safety scare involving a jumbo jet carrying British Prime Minister Tony Blair. The Boeing 747, carrying 343 passengers and crew, was not damaged when it missed an exit on the runway on arrival from London on Tuesday, prompting police cars and emergency vehicles to rush to the scene.

England captain John Terry may need surgery on his injured back, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said on Tuesday. ”The medical department have said surgery might be a possibility,” Mourinho said. ”I don’t know how long he will be out for — three days, three weeks or three months, I don’t know.”