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Champions League - Heinze regrets bitter United exit Tue, 22 Feb 18:19:00 2011 Marseille defender Gabriel Heinze regrets the acrimonious manner of his departure from Manchester United. The Argentina full-back spent three years at Old Trafford, during which time he won a Premier League and became a crowd favourite amongst the Red Devils faithful for his no-nonsense tackling. In 2007, Heinze demanded to join Liverpool, something totally unpalatable to Sir Alex Ferguson, and eventually joined Real Madrid instead. Heinze said: "I regret it a lot, especially the last three months. I am a strong person and so is Alex Ferguson. I took the decision I did and I regret it, especially for the fans and I hope it has not tarnished me with them." He added: "I don't really want to talk about what happened four years ago, maybe some day I will tell the whole story. "But I knew the risks and was aware of what being at a club like Liverpool would mean." Heinze has met Ferguson just once since, a brief encounter in Qatar when Argentina met Brazil in a friendly. "I was really happy to see him," said Heinze. "When I was at Manchester United, Ferguson impressed me a lot. He gave me a winning culture. "I had three wonderful years there. It is a great club and it is not so very different now from four years ago. "It is the same coach. He is the one who sends the message that it is always to win. The players may change but the philosophy stays the same."

Beautiful scaping mate.

World markets tumble, OIL Spikes on Libya unrest AFP - 2 hours 17 minutes ago LONDON (AFP) – Global markets dived Tuesday as sentiment was rocked by violent unrest in Libya and soaring oil prices, while the safe-haven US dollar gained ground against rival currencies. "The revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt are continuing to spread across the region. It seems to be Libya's turn now. These developments cause a high degree of uncertainty," said Commerzbank analyst Ulrich Leuchtmann. Financial markets were also rattled by news of a deadly earthquake in New Zealand and a ratings downgrade for Japan, dealers said. London's FTSE 100 index of top shares tumbled 1.19 percent to 5,943.21 points in late morning deals, the Paris CAC 40 plunged 1.62 percent to 4,031.28 and Frankfurt's DAX 30 retreated 0.47 percent to 7,286.98 points. Oil prices surged past $108 as Libyan output was hit by violent protests and concerns grew over spreading unrest in the strategic crude-producing Middle East and North Africa area. Facts: Libya, Africa's fourth largest oil producer Brent North Sea crude for delivery in April spiked to $108.57 per barrel, hitting the highest level since September 4, 2008. And in foreign exchange trade, the European single currency sank to $1.3559, compared with $1.3678 late on Monday, when US financial markets were closed for the Presidents' Day public holiday. "A trio of events have battered risky assets during the European session," said research director Kathleen Brooks at trading website Forex.com. "Firstly, the ongoing people's uprising in Libya and the escalation of violence and casualties is weighing on the oil price; secondly the New Zealand earthquake; and lastly news that Moody's had revised lower its outlook on Japanese sovereign debt to negative from stable." Libya denounced charges it was massacring protesters as lies Tuesday as Moamer Kadhafi broke cover over the challenge to his four-decade rule after a raft of diplomatic and military defections. With the Middle East turmoil pushing oil prices ever higher, rulers of the Gulf state of Bahrain were confronted by fresh mass protests and governments made plans to evacuate citizens from hotspots across the Arab world. Both the UN Security Council and Arab League were to meet to discuss the bloody crackdown by Libyan authorities that prompted the UN's rights chief to warn that crimes against humanity may have been committed. "The ongoing tensions in the Middle East and North Africa region, in particular in Libya, are pushing the oil price higher and weighing on equity market sentiment," said VTB Capital economist Neil MacKinnon. Asian stocks also nosedived on Tuesday, with Tokyo down 1.78 percent and Hong Kong losing 2.11 percent, as the political crisis in Libya worsened, with reports of escalating violence against pro-democracy demonstrators. Tokyo was also hit after ratings agency Moody's said it had lowered its outlook on Japan's sovereign debt to "negative" due to concerns the state would not be able to bring it under control. The agency said the government's policies may not be strong enough to contain the industrialised world's biggest debt. Moody's previously held a "stable" outlook on the nation's "Aa2" rating, the third highest on a scale of 19, and analysts said the outlook change would likely lead to a downgrade. It follows rival agency Standard & Poor's decision to cut Japan's rating for the first time since 2002. Wellington's stock market meanwhile suffered a sell-off, falling 0.69 percent after a powerful earthquake killed at least 65 people in New Zealand's second city, Christchurch. The 6.3-magnitude quake buckled roads and rained glass and rubble on streets packed with lunchtime shoppers.

Get ready to pay more $$$ soonzzz !!! Oil soars past $105 on Libya violence AFP - Tuesday, February 22 LONDON (AFP) - – Brent oil prices soared above $105 per barrel on Monday, striking a fresh two-year peak as deadly violence in Libya fuelled concerns over spreading unrest in the Middle East and north Africa region. Brent North Sea crude for delivery in April surged to $105.15 per barrel, the highest level since late September 2008, before pulling back slightly to $105.02, up $2.50 from Friday's closing level. New York's main contract, light sweet crude for March, known as West Texas Intermediate, jumped to $90.52. It later stood at $90.35, up by a hefty $4.15 from Friday. Angry Libyan protesters ransacked the state broadcaster and set government buildings ablaze on Monday, as the son of leader Moamer Kadhafi warned the country faces civil war and "rivers of blood". With gunfire crackling in the streets of Tripoli, and Human Rights Watch putting the death toll at 233 since Thursday, Saif al-Islam Kadhafi vaguely promised reforms as he condemned the revolt as a foreign plot. Moamer Kadhafi, 68, the longest-serving leader in the Arab world, remained out of sight. "Brent crude oil hit a new high above $105 a barrel, following news of the strike at a Libyan oil field today, and the fear of oil field disruption looms large," said analyst Rebecca Seabury at UK energy consultancy Inenco. OPEC member Libya is Africa's fourth largest oil producer after Nigeria, Algeria and Angola, boasting production of 1.8 million barrels per day and estimated reserves of 42 billion barrels. Facts: Libya, Africa's fourth largest oil producer Libya exports most of its oil to European countries, including Italy, Germany, Spain and France. "Violence in Libya is the main driver of the price rise," added Commerzbank analyst Carsten Fritsch. "An influential tribal leader has threatened to cease oil shipments to the West within 24 hours if the violence against protesters does not end." The market had breached $104 last week on escalating tensions in the key oil-supplying Middle East and North Africa area, following the ousting of presidents in Egypt and Tunisia. Elsewhere on Monday, Bahrain's Sunni Muslim ruling family came under increased pressure to open in-depth negotiations with the Shiite-led opposition as protesters erected more tents on the capital's Pearl Square. Experts warned that oil prices could rocket to record levels beyond $147 per barrel -- if the unrest spreads to Saudi Arabia "The market will be most concerned over the protests spilling into Saudi Arabia. So far we have only seen low key, small scale protests there," added Seabury. "However, as Saudi Arabia is the world's largest oil exporter, if the situation escalates this could take oil prices ... higher than the $147 a barrel we saw in 2008." On Tuesday, the International Energy Forum will meet in Saudi Arabia as the geopolitical tensions and economic recovery drive prices back to levels last seen before the 2008 global financial crisis. The IEF groups the world's top oil producing and consuming nations.

Change JOBS and expect Higher PAY By Alicia Wong – February 22nd, 2011 Thinking of changing your job soon? Don’t be afraid to ask for as much as 15 percent more pay. According to international recruitment consultancy Robert Walters, those who change their jobs this year should expect a 10 to 15 percent increase in pay. And if you have a niche skill set, you could get as much as 25 percent more. The consultancy launched its annual Global Salary Survey 2011 on Tuesday, wherein it outlined countries’ market conditions and salary levels. The survey analysed Robert Walters’ permanent, interim and contract placements across countries and industries. In Singapore, for example, a senior engineer, assistant manager or manager in the engineering industry earned between $65,000 to $130,000 per annum last year. This year, he is expected to earn between $70,000 to $135,000 per annum. Managing director for Singapore and Malaysia Andrea Ross said that the Singapore market struggled to retain top employees given the abundance of job opportunities last year. It will likely be the case this year too, she said. “Companies do have to remain competitive. They cannot assume their brand name is going to attract good talent onboard. They have to be paying benefits and offering training and development,” she said. As Singapore’s economy boomed in 2010, salary increases for those who switched jobs ranged were between 15 and 20 percent last year, said Ms Ross. The Singapore economy grew by 14.5 percent last year. The government expects the economy to grow by between 4 and 6 percent this year. The financial services sector saw the biggest growth last year and is expected to continue with strong hiring this year, said Ms Ross. If you are interested in rewnewable energy or aviation, this may be a good year for you too. The consultancy predicted growth in the aviation and aerospace sector, as the Seletar Aerospace Park is expected to be completed in the first half of this year. There have also been more renewable energy projects focusing particularly on solar, water and wind types of energy implemented within Asia Pacific, noted the consultancy. Robert Walters manager Andree Mangels said that companies developing green technologies view Singapore as a hub from which they can do business within the region. For instance, Renewable Energy Corporation (REC) recently opened one of the world’s largest integrated solar production facilities in Tuas. It has 1,500 staff and is still on the look out for others to join the company. “Demand for such talent (in renewable energy) is very high in Singapore, much higher than what Singapore can offer,” said Mr Mangels. These companies will pay as much as 30 percent more than others, he said. But for those wanting to enter the semi-conductor industry, the outlook is not as positive. They are taking longer to recover from the financial crisis and hiring was not as bouyant last year, said Ms Ross. She expects hiring for this sector to be slow this year, too. Other sectors where recruitment was strong last year include the hospitality, fast moving consumer goods, pharmaceutical, healthcare, and oil and gas sectors. Regionally, greater demand for revenue-generating roles in financial services in Hong Kong and a surge in recruitment in Malaysia due to the implementation of a number of government-initiated are expected. Salary increases are forecast to be about 10 percent across various industries and roles in China, while top-tier candidates could get a 15 to 30 percent pay raise. Interested in finding out if you are paid fairly? Robert Walters also launched its Salary Survey iPhone application, which allows you to check how much you should be earning in your current role.

PHEW ! UPDATE 2-Soccer-Crawley fairytale ends in 1-0 defeat at United By Mike Collett | Reuters – Sat, Feb 19, 2011 4:39 PM EST * First half Brown goal the difference for United * Crawley almost save tie in stoppage time * They deserved a draw, says Ferguson LONDON, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Crawley Town came close to achieving one of the most memorable FA Cup results for years before losing 1-0 to Manchester United in a surprisingly even fifth-round tie at Old Trafford on Saturday. Although Wes Brown's 28th minute header ended their dream of becoming the first non-League side for 97 years to reach the last eight, Crawley left behind a performance that would not have disgraced teams much higher up the ladder. Crawley, whose main claim to fame is being the nearest town to Gatwick Airport, almost equalised in stoppage time at the end of the match when Richard Brodie's looping header hit the top of United goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard's crossbar. A goal then would have been just reward for the way the non-League outfit from Sussex battled against the Premier League leaders and 11-times record FA Cup winners in front of almost 75,000 fans at United's 'Theatre of Dreams'. About nine thousand of those supporters were from Crawley, whose average home attendance is 1,800 but who won themselves a lot more admirers with their battling performance. "It didn't matter what the scoreline was today, it was their day -- there's no question about that," United manager Alex Ferguson told MUTV. "They deserved a draw, really, on the second half, with the effort they put in, the commitment. "Sometimes you get the breaks in the cup and you struggle through one round. We've done that in the past and it was another example today." Forward Sergio Torres typified Crawley's approach with a hard-running game and left with a clump of Old Trafford grass in his sock as a memento of the night. They gained in confidence after being overawed at the start and could have equalised when David Hunt volleyed wide after 72 minutes when the ball fell on his less accurate left foot. They also dominated for a long spell in the second half and maintained pressure on United's goal with the post-match statistics revealing they enjoyed 53 percent of possession. RARE CHANCE A measure of Crawley's resistance was that Ferguson, who described them before kickoff as "the best non-League side for quite a while", brought on Wayne Rooney at halftime. Ferguson, who went to watch Crawley play in midweek, made nine changes from the side that beat Manchester City in the Premier League at Old Trafford last week. But many of the players given a rare chance to start fluffed their lines and were outrun and outfought by the visitors who could well gain promotion from the Conference (fifth division) to League Two of the Football League at the end of the season. "They made it very difficult for us and we were second to every ball," said Ferguson. "It's disappointing. But we had some players who maybe don't understand what FA Cup football is like. Maybe for them it's the biggest lesson." Rooney, and his illustrious team mates, were all outshone for once, with the England striker having little impact against a rugged back line of defenders. Apart from a shot just before the end, he never looked like scoring. Crawley captain Pablo Mills, named Man of the Match, told ITV: "I thought we could have made their keeper work a bit more. "The lads put a great shift in. If you have to go out, this is probably the best place. But we have lost to one of the best teams in the world so we can't complain. It has been a week we will never forget." Striker Matt Tubbs, who went close himself with an overhead kick after 74 minutes, added: "Perhaps we gave them a little bit too much respect in the first half." Regarding Brodie's header that hit the bar, he said: "It was just unlucky, on another day they can drop in and we've got an equaliser." Crawley were applauded off the pitch by fans of both teams at the end with the home side's signature tune 'Glory Glory Man United' sounding rather hollow in the circumstances. (Editing by Ken Ferris)

AP Interview: Malaysia GAY man gets Threats By SEAN YOONG - Associated Press | AP Tue, Dec 21, 2010 3:06 AM EST A Muslim gay man in Malaysia says he fears for his safety after speaking about his sexuality in an Internet video that attracted online death threats and accusations by religious authorities that he is insulting Islam. Azwan Ismail told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Tuesday he was taking safety precautions following fierce criticism in this conservative, Muslim-majority country over his clip, which has been viewed more than 140,000 times on YouTube in just six days. The segment, titled "I'm Gay, I'm OK," features the 32-year-old engineer encouraging other gay Malaysians to be confident in themselves. It is part of a series of interviews posted online by gay rights activists since last week, but Azwan has attracted heavy attention because he is the only one from Malaysia's ethnic Malay Muslim majority so far. "I don't know what to expect next," Azwan said Tuesday in his first comments to the media after his nearly three-minute clip was posted Dec. 15. Other gay Malaysians featured in the "Independent Sexuality" video campaign so far are mainly ethnic Chinese non-Muslims, who generally face less of a public stigma about homosexuality. Azwan said he has tried to avoid going out alone or lingering at public places after a few of the 3,000 people who commented on his video issued death threats and many others rebuked him. He has also made his personal details more private on social media websites. Although Azwan's face appears clearly in the video, he declined to be photographed for the AP interview. Malaysia's Cabinet minister for Islamic affairs, Jamil Khir Baharom, voiced concerns over the weekend that gay activists were trying to promote homosexuality. He said officials might take "appropriate action to prevent this from spreading because it would hurt Islam's image." Harussani Zakaria, one of Malaysia's top Islamic clerics, reportedly said Azwan should have not made such an open declaration that "derided his own dignity and Islam in general." In the clip, Azwan said it was tough being gay in Malaysia because "religious and cultural factors have defined our lives, telling us who we can be and who we can't." Azwan did not break any obvious laws by talking in the video, but he said his lawyer friend was checking whether other legal action could be taken against him. Sodomy is punishable by 20 years in prison, though the law is only occasionally enforced. Some states impose fines or jail terms for gay-related actions such as cross-dressing in public. The video series is inspired by the similar "It Gets Better Project" started in the United States in October in response to a string of gay youth suicides. Several more Malay Muslims are expected to speak in upcoming clips, which are meant to tell young gay Malaysians not to despair about their future. "My intention was not to insult Islam," Azwan told the AP. "I just wanted to represent gay Malays in this project. I hope these videos will help to create a more open society and more discussion." Azwan, who has a boyfriend, said he started confiding in others about his sexuality five years ago. He added that he has not broached the subject with his parents, but his brother asked him about it after news of the video surfaced.

Everton end Chelsea's dreams of FA Cup treble Reuters - 34 minutes ago By Mike Collett LONDON - Everton skipper Phil Neville scored the decisive spotkick to give his side a 4-3 penalty shootout win over holders Chelsea after their FA Cup fourth-round replay ended in a 1-1 draw after extra time at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Neville fired past Petr Cech after Ashley Cole had blasted his penalty high and wide as Everton completed a remarkable fightback and ended Chelsea's dreams of becoming the first club for 125 years to win the FA Cup three times in succession. After the teams fought to a goalless stalemate in 90 minutes of end-to-end soccer, Chelsea took the lead in the last minute of the first period of extra time when Frank Lampard scored with a low volley from eight metres out. That appeared to be enough to see Chelsea through, but with a minute of extra time remaining Leighton Baines equalised with a left-footed free kick to force the match into a shootout. Everton trailed 2-0 on penalties after Lampard and Didier Drogba scored from their spotkicks and Baines, who minutes earlier had saved the tie, saw Cech save his penalty. Phil Jagielka scored to pull Everton back to 2-1, before Chelsea's Nicolas Anelka, taking virtually no run up, had his spotkick saved by Everton keeper Tim Howard and Mikel Arteta scored to make it 2-2. Michael Essien and Johnny Heitinga scored to make it 3-3 before Cole missed and Neville scored to give Everton their stunning victory and end Chelsea's hopes of emulating Blackburn Rovers, the last team to win the FA Cup three years in a row in 1884, 1885 and 1886. Lampard, who scored when Chelsea beat Everton 2-1 in the 2009 FA Cup final, lashed in from close range after 104 minutes after Everton failed to clear a cross from substitute Anelka that bounced off Drogba's chest and fell sweetly for the Chelsea midfielder. Everton thought they had won the match in the last minute of normal time when Cech could only parry a long-range shot from Baines into Marouanne Fellaini's path. Although Fellaini swept the ball home, he was marginally offside in the build-up. Everton dominated the match for long periods, although Chelsea created more scoring chances, and saved the match with barely a minute to play when Baines perfectly placed his free kick high and wide of the despairing Cech. Three FA Cup fifth-round ties were going ahead later on Saturday with Premier League Birmingham City facing League One Sheffield Wednesday, Stoke City playing League One leaders Brighton and Manchester United meeting minor League Crawley Town at Old Trafford.

Back-Side gonna be PAIN-PAIN soonz !!! SAF captain turned loan-shark runner sentenced to jail, caning By Faris – February 19th, 2011 An army captain was sentenced to 2 years’ jail and twelve strokes of the cane for working as a loan-shark runner to repay his debts. Kheng Kok Keong, 34, had pleaded guilty on Monday to four charges of harassment for vandalizing the homes of alleged debtors. Seventeen other charges were taken into consideration by the judge in sentencing. The father of two children revealed that his first visit to the casino at Resorts World Sentosa last year had got him hooked. As such, he made repeated visits. In the next few months, he went on to lose a small fortune exceeding “five figures”. “I went to the casino to check out the place out of curiosity but things started (to get out of control) from there and I just couldn’t stop,” he told The Straits Times on Thursday. After losing $30,000 at roulette, he turned to unlicensed moneylenders. When he could not repay the loans, he was roped in by a creditor — known only as Ah Seng — to harass other debtors. His jail term was backdated to Oct 16. He had been held in remand after he was arrested at Block 103, Commonwealth Crescent. That night, he had vandalised an eighth-floor unit. He was caught by his victim when he returned to retrieve a pack of cigarettes he had left behind. By then, he had been on the “job” for four months. From last June, he had vandalised homes by splashing paint on doors, injecting glue into padlocks and keyholes, and scrawling messages on walls. Before his run-in with the law, Kheng was working as a logistics officer in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), drawing a monthly salary of $5,000. In his 14 years with the army, he had also served as a peacekeeper in Timor Leste. He was sacked after he was charged. According to court documents, he vandalised 21 flats in September and October last year, mainly in Clementi, Commonwealth Crescent, Redhill and Toa Payoh. Whenever he received an assignment, he would leave his Yishun Avenue 6 flat with his gear of black paint, black permanent marker, superglue and ski mask which he wore to obscure his face. “Since I borrowed money, and they offered me this option, I just did it,” he said of his decision to be a loan-shark runner. “I wasn’t scared, I just thought that was the only way to repay the amount.” He earned $2,000 each month for his efforts, all of which went towards paying off his debts. Before he turned to Ah Seng, he had borrowed smaller sums from friends. But each time, he would go back to the casino hoping to recoup what he had lost. That was how his losses snowballed, he said. After his arrest, his creditors besieged his flat and threw black paint on the gates, as he had done to his victims. To avoid the harassment, his wife returned to her native Taiwan, taking along their children aged five and seven. Asked if he regretted his actions, Kheng fell silent. “I have lost contact with her,” he said of his wife. His parents, who were not at the sentencing, had also become estranged from him. They heard about Kheng’s sentence through his lawyer G. Dinagaran who said, “They said they feel very depressed about the whole situation.” Those convicted of harassment can be jailed for up to five years and fined between $5,000 and $50,000 on each charge. If property is damaged, they will be given three to six strokes of the cane.

Nice POCCI frag dude.

Sexy anyone ???

You can do MAGIC...!!! China magic fish trick sparks outrage AFP News Thu, Feb 17, 2011 6:55 AM EST A Chinese magician has sparked outrage from animal rights groups with a trick in which he gets goldfish to swim in sync, prompting China's state broadcaster to cancel an encore performance Thursday. However, a separate regional broadcaster said magician Fu Yandong would perform the controversial trick again on Thursday night -- and reveal its secret so as to silence his critics. Fu dazzled audiences two weeks ago with the trick and had planned a repeat performance Thursday on a Lunar New Year holiday show on China Central Television (CCTV). A CCTV spokeswoman told AFP he would not perform on the show, declining to give further details. Animal rights activists cried foul over the stunt, saying Fu had likely fed the fish magnets -- or implanted them in the fish -- so they could be dragged around their tank from underneath. They said the trick amounted to animal cruelty. Fu's agent Liang Ming also was quoted by the China Daily saying he would not perform the trick. The CCTV gala marks the end of the Lantern Festival, which signifies the conclusion of China's roughly two-week Lunar New Year holiday, the nation's biggest and most important festival. Fu had been billed as one of the highlights of the Lantern Festival show. Hundreds of millions of viewers watched Fu perform the trick two weeks earlier on CCTV's Spring Festival Gala, China's most watched programme of the year. The trick -- which can be seen online at -- involves six fish in a shallow tank on a covered table, who swim in formation at Fu's command. Fu has so far refused to reveal the secret. "My fish," he wrote on his microblog, are "living happily". But his assurances have failed to quell the controversy. In an open letter on Monday, 53 Chinese non-governmental organisations urged TV stations not to broadcast Fu's act in the future, and demanded the trick not be repeated during CCTV's Lantern Festival special. The groups expressed fears the trick could lead to animals being tortured if viewers tried to copy it. "Fu Yandong, based on the tradition of secrecy in the world of magic, refuses to reveal what lies under his trick. So the public remains unclear whether the fishes' safety is assured," the letter said. But regional broadcaster Hunan Television, which has booked Fu to perform live for its own Lantern Festival special, said on its website Thursday he would perform the trick on the show and reveal the secret. ...

1,900 Hondas in S’pore affected by Global Recall By Kai Fong – February 18th, 2011 Close to 1,900 Honda vehicles sold by Kah Motor are affected by the global recall announced on Thursday, said the official distributor of Honda cars in Singapore. According to Channel NewsAsia, the figure does not include vehicles sold by parallel importers. The three models affected are Jazz, City and Freed, which were manufactured in the last two years. Kah Motor said it would start writing to owners immediately. Notification will be given once the car replacements arrive. It added that the replacement of car parts would take about three hours. The Japanese automaker said on Thursday it was recalling nearly 700,000 vehicles worldwide due to defective parts that could stall the engine and cause problems restarting in certain models. The latest action comes after the car giant was forced to call back about 1.35 million vehicles in December to repair a headlight defect. It is the latest in a series of recalls to hit Japan’s auto industry. Honda said defective spring parts had been found in its Freed compact minivan, Fit compact car and City sedan that could deteriorate over time, resulting in abnormal sounds and in the worst case lead to stalling. Fortunately, no accidents associated with the defect have been reported.

Impressive !!! Slew of Budget Goodie$ unveiled By Angela Lim – February 18th, 2011 Singaporeans will receive a total of S$6.6 billion of benefits in the 2011 Singapore Budget announced by Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Friday. $3.2 billion Grow and Share Package: The average Singaporean household will receive S$3,500 from this year’s Budget. This will come from the S$3.2 billion to be spent on the “Grow and Share Package” and S$3.4 billion in longer-term Social Investments for households this year. All adult Singaporeans will also receive Growth Dividends to share the fruits of last year’s exceptional economic growth. The majority of Singaporeans – 80% – will get $600 to $800 each. CPF rate revision: The Government will raise the employer contribution rate to CPF accounts by another 0.5 percentage points, from 15.5% to 16%, which will restore the total contribution rate to 36%. The additional 0.5% will go into the Special Account. The Government will also revise the CPF salary ceiling from $4,500 to $5,000 per month to keep pace with income growth in recent years. This will align the salary ceiling back to the 80th percentile income, and help middle-income Singaporeans. Radio and TV licence fees removed permanently: The annual licence fee of S$110 for televisions and S$27 for vehicle radios will be removed with immediate effect. Those who have not paid this year’s fees will not have to make the payment, while a refund will be given to those who have already paid. Mr Tharman said that’s because the fees are losing their relevance. He said televisions are no longer limited to middle and higher-income groups, with 99 per cent of lower-income households owning them today. Tax cuts: Singaporeans will receive a personal income tax rebate of 20% for individual resident taxpayers for YA 2011. The rebate will be capped at $2,000. Taxes will be reduced significantly for middle and upper-middle income families. Marginal tax rates will be reduced for first S$120,000 of chargeable income. Levy increase for foreign workers: The Government will also introduce more levy increases on foreign workers for all sectors this year. Most of the additional measures will be phased in at six-monthly intervals, starting only from 1 January 2012, and extending till 1 July 2013, one year beyond the previous schedule. S$10 billion home upgrading: $10 billion will be spent to upgrade homes and rejuvenate estates over the next 10 years. This is a major effort to preserve the value of HDB flats and will go towards the Home Improvement Programme (HIP), Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP) and Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP), it will invest up to $55,000 per flat. Low-income groups will also receive additional housing subsidies to better afford their homes. The Government will set aside S$175 million each year for the new Special CPF Housing Grant to help the bottom 50% Singapore households own their homes. 5.21pm – Mr Shanmugaratnam wraps up by stressing that despite the challenges of social mobility as society matures, Singapore will only continue to succeed if Singaporeans strengthen family ties, hold aspirations for a better life, believe that they can get there by working hard and preserve a strong sense of community. This would allow society to stay dynamic and achieve next transformation as a nation. 5.18pm – The Estimated Budget Position for Singapore in FY2011 is a surplus of S$0.1 billion. 5.16pm – The average Singaporean household will receive S$3,500 from this year’s Budget. 5.12pm - To help households cope with rising costs, Mr Shanmugaratnam announces plans to top-up U-Save and S&CC rebates. This will cost the Government S$200 million. 5.10pm – NSmen and NSFs including those below 21 years of age will be given an additional S$100 of Growth Dividends. This will benefit about 2.5 million Singaporeans and cost the Government S$1.5 billion this year. Singaporeans can look forward to receiving their Growth Dividends and CPF top-ups by 1st May 2011. 5.09pm - All adult Singaporeans will receive Growth Dividends to share the fruits of last year’s exceptional economic growth. The majority of Singaporeans – 80% – will get $600 to $800 each. 5.07pm – Mr Shanmugaratnam announces that the Government will significantly increase spending on arts and culture. Over the next five years, the average annual programme spending will be about $365 million, an increase of more than 50% over the current level. 5.06pm - The Government will spend $10 billion to upgrade homes and rejuvenate estates over the next 10 years. This is a major effort to preserve the value of our HDB flats. Under the Home Improvement Programme (HIP), Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP) and Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP), it will invest up to $55,000 per flat. 5.04pm – Low-income groups will get additional housing subsidies to better afford their homes. The Government will set aside S$175 million each year for the new Special CPF Housing Grant to help the bottom 50% Singapore households own their homes. 4.59pm - The Government will top-up the CPF Medisave Accounts of Singaporeans aged 45 and above this year. Those aged 45 to 49 will receive up to $300, while those aged 50 to 59 will get a top-up of up to $400. Older Singaporeans will receive more, with those 80 and above getting up to $700. The Medisave top-ups will benefit approximately 1.3 million Singaporeans, and will cost the Government $500 million. 4.56pm – To build up Singapore’s long-term care sector for the elderly, Mr Shanmugaratnam will top up the Eldercare Fund by $700 million to reach its previous target size of $2.5 billion. He will also put $1 billion into a new Community Silver Trust, to provide one-to-one matching for donations to VWOs that provide long- term care to Singaporeans. 4.49pm - Mr Shanmugaratnam will increase funds dedicated to needy students by topping up each primary and secondary school student’s Edusave account by $130. The Government has also committed an additional $100 million in Edusave grants to schools. Currently, a child from a low-income family who starts off in childcare and proceeds through to a polytechnic diploma, already pays only 3% of the cost of his education. With the enhancements we are making today, he will pay just 1% of the cost of his education. 4.47pm – The Government will introduce a new Child Development Credit scheme for all Singaporean children aged six and below. The Credits will be provided from time to time, when there are surpluses to share with Singaporeans. The Child Development Credit can be used to pay for their children’s preschool, childcare, and medical expenses. 80% of families with young children will receive $400 per child. The other 20% who are better off will receive S$300. 4.45pm – TV and radio license fees will be removed permanently. The Government will do away with the $110 annual licence fee for televisions, with effect from January 2011. The $27 annual fee for vehicle radios will also be removed. 4.43pm - Singaporeans will receive a personal income tax rebate of 20% for individual resident taxpayers for YA 2011. The rebate will be capped at $2,000. 4.41pm - Taxes will be reduced significantly for middle and upper-middle income families. Marginal tax rates will be reduced for first S$120,000 of chargeable income. 4.38pm – Mr Shanmugaratnam stresses the Government’s focus on helping low-income groups through education, employment and home ownership. He said lower-income houses received more transfers than taxes paid last year. New measures will add up to a total of S$6.6 billion of benefits. These include S$3.2 billion in the ’Grow and Share Package’ and S$3.4 billion in longer-term Social Investments for households this year. 4.31pm – The Green Vehicle Rebate Scheme will be extended for another year till 31 December 2012. 4.23pm – The Government will top up S$1 billion top-up for the National Research Fund this year. S$2.5 billion will also be set aside over the next five years under the Economic Development Assistance Scheme. 4.15pm – The Government will introduce further levy increases on foreign workers for all sectors this year. Most of the additional measures will be phased in at six-monthly intervals, starting only from 1 January 2012, and extending till 1 July 2013, one year beyond the previous schedule. This will give companies time to prepare for the changes. Levies will be higher in the Services and Construction sectors, where the scope for productivity improvements is greatest. 4.12pm – With the outlook for continued growth in 2011, Mr Shanmugaratnam will raise the employer contribution rate by another 0.5 percentage points, from 15.5% to 16%, which will restore the total contribution rate to 36%. The additional 0.5% will go into the Special Account. The Government will revise the CPF Salary Ceiling from $4,500 to $5,000 per month to keep pace with income growth in recent years. This will align the salary ceiling back to the 80th percentile income, and help middle-income Singaporeans. To give employers sufficient time to adjust, both these changes will only take effect in September this year. 4.08pm – To enhance support for business restructuring and skills upgrading, the government will be doubling investment in the National Productivity Fund. Mr Shanmugaratnam will top up the NPF with another $1 billion this year. This will bring the total fund size to the target of $2 billion. Mr Shanmugaratnam will also make a $500 million top-up to the Lifelong Learning Endowment Fund (LLEF), thus increasing the fund size to $3.6 billion. 3.56pm – Mr Shanmugaratnam says Singapore’s local workforce will expand slowly in the next 10 years. We also should not become ever more dependent on foreign labour. We must therefore restructure our economy and raise skills in every job, so that productivity becomes the key driver of growth. 3.50pm - To raise Singaporeans’ incomes over the next decade, Mr Shanmugaratnam stresses Singaporeans must first sustain our economic growth. The vast majority of Singaporean households, including both the median and the lower-income households, have seen significant improvement in real incomes in the last five years, and consequently for the decade as a whole. 3.40pm - Singapore’s strong growth last year has yielded an improved fiscal position for FY2010. The better growth is estimated to account for about 80% of the increase in revenues over what we projected a year ago. The property market was also much stronger, resulting in further increases in stamp duties and other revenues. The Government had originally estimated an Overall Budget Deficit of $3.0 billion or about 1.0% of GDP for FY2010. Given the much improved economic performance, we now expect the overall budget to be close to a balanced position, with a small deficit of $0.3 billion or 0.1% of GDP. 3.37pm - Mr Shanmugaratnam said Singapore’s economy is expected to grow more slowly this year as the nation is well past the rebound from the crisis. Growth in the emerging economies, which accounts for two-thirds of global growth, is expected to remain strong. However, these economies are also seeing a build-up of inflationary pressures. Food and other commodity prices have climbed sharply, because supply has been affected by harsh weather conditions while demand continues to grow in China and elsewhere. He stresses inflation as a key concern for everyone this year, and especially for low-income families. CPI inflation was 4.6% year-on-year in December 2010. He said Singaporeans can expect inflation to be around 3% to 4% this year, higher in the first half before moderating later in the year. 3.30pm – Mr Shanmugaratnam says Singapore’s economy has done exceptionally well in the past year. After two weak years in 2008 and 2009, when growth was close to zero, our GDP grew by a record 14.5% in 2010. Unemployment is down to the levels seen in early 2008, before the crisis. He said Singapore’s stronger recovery was partly good fortune, as global trade and confidence in Asia turned around. But it also reflected the way the nation was well-prepared.

Saw the outrageous Pseudojuloides mesostigma before at Aquamarin & moi hands were not quick enuff then.

Gattuso escapes UEFA assault charge over Jordan incident Thu, 17 Feb 12:22:00 2011 AC Milan captain Gennaro Gattuso has escaped an assault charge for his headbutt on Tottenham Hotspur assistant coach Joe Jordan, UEFA said on Thursday. A spokesman said the 33-year-old midfielder had been charged with the lesser offence of gross unsporting conduct which, according to UEFA's disciplinary code, carries a "suspension for one competition match or for a specified period". Gattuso will find out the extent of his punishment on Monday. The charge of assault carries a minimum three-match ban and European soccer's governing body also has a provision for serious assault which would carry a minimum five-match suspension. Gattuso has apologised for what he called "inexcusable" behaviour. The former Italy international grabbed Jordan by the throat and pushed him out by the touchline during the Champions League last-16 first leg at the San Siro which Tottenham won 1-0 on Tuesday. Gattuso also headbutted the Spurs assistant coach after the final whistle before being pulled away by team mates. The Milan player has already been banned from the second leg after picking up a yellow card in Tuesday's match. Former Scotland striker Jordan, with his trademark missing teeth during his playing days, won a reputation as a hard man in spells with Leeds United, Manchester United and AC Milan.

Gattuso gets Galliani Support Thu, 17 Feb 17:52:40 2011 AC Milan managing director Adriano Galliani claims the headbutting incident which saw AC Milan vice-captain Gennaro Gattuso charged with gross unsporting misconduct has been blown out of proportion. Gattuso headbutted Tottenham coach Joe Jordan after the two sides' Champions League last-16 first leg on Tuesday. UEFA have announced their control and disciplinary body will discuss the case against the 33-year-old Italian next Monday. Galliani believes there has been too much focus on the incident, saying: "What he did was an unpleasant episode that was not good, but he was heavily provoked. Of course you should not react like that but do not condemn everything." He added: "Gattuso has played 104 games in Europe and has been sent off once, in 2003 after a clash with (Zlatan) Ibrahimovic, who is now his team-mate. "In 25 years, since (Silvio) Berlusconi became president of the company, Milan's conduct has been exemplary." Galliani added: "We are not thinking of stripping the vice-captaincy from Gattuso." Gattuso's caution in the San Siro match - awarded for a rash challenge on Steven Pienaar after which the Italian repeatedly hit the turf in anger - ensures he will be suspended for the return leg at White Hart Lane on March 9. That ban is set to be extended when UEFA's control and disciplinary body meet on Monday to discuss the case. UEFA rules stipulate a minimum three-match ban for assault, although the governing body have the power to dole out lengthier suspensions in exceptional cases. Galliani added: "We will produce our defence tomorrow and ask for Gattuso's behaviour over 104 games to be taken into account, then we'll see what to do after the ruling."

Serie A - Gattuso facing lengthy BAN Wed, 16 Feb 14:44:00 2011 Milan captain Gennaro Gattuso could miss the rest of the European season after UEFA launched an investigation into his attack on Tottenham's assistant manager Joe Jordan. Milan's 1-0 home defeat to Spurs in the first leg of their last 16 tie, which began with a whimper as Massimiliano Allegri fielded a defensive team, ended with an explosion of frustration from the midfield enforcer as he grabbed Jordan by the throat and tried to headbutt him following a fiery exchange of words. UEFA will meet on Monday to decide Gattuso's punishment. The former Rangers star has admitted that he is at fault and has said that he is prepared to accept any punishment for the attack, which took place after the final whistle. "I was nervous. We were both speaking Scottish, something that I learned when I played in his home city of Glasgow, but I can't tell you what we said," said Gattuso, who is married to a Scottish woman. "I lost control. There is no excuse for what I did. I take my responsibilities for that. "I didn't want to argue with players and I did it with him, but I was wrong to do what I have done. I will have to await what they decide." Two years ago Didier Drogba was banned for three European matches with a suspended ban for a fourth match after he hounded a referee following a Champions League defeat by Barcelona. But with Gattuso having physically attacked Jordan his ban is expected to be longer. Given that he is already suspended for the return clash at White Hart Lane thanks to a yellow card on Tuesday night, the Milan skipper is unlikely to play any further part in this season's Champions League since even a four-match European ban would rule him out until the final. Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp branded Gattuso "crazy" following the fiery midfielder's bust-up with his number two. "I don't know why it all got so silly," Redknapp said. "Gattuso had a flare-up with Joe Jordan. I don't know why. He obviously hasn't done his homework. He could have picked a fight with someone other than Joe. "He put his head into Joe's face for some reason. It was crazy. He lost his head during the game." The match was also marred by a "horrendous" tackle by Rossoneri midfielder Mathieu Flamini that left Vedran Corluka on crutches. Flamini launched a two-footed lunge in the second half of the bad-tempered encounter to end the Croatian defender's participation on the night. The former Arsenal man escaped with just a booking, but Redknapp did not see it the same way as French referee Stephane Lannoy. "The tackle from Flamini was a horrendous tackle," Redknapp said. "It was a sending off. He was two or three feet off the floor with two feet. It was a leg-breaking tackle. "He will have an x-ray tomorrow - I don't think he has broken it but he could have done easily." The game was settled by Peter Crouch's 80th-minute winner and Redknapp was keen not to allow the double controversy overshadow what was an assured performance from his team, and one which puts them on the brink of the quarter-finals in just their first Champions League campaign. "It was a great night, a fantastic performance," said Redknapp. "We set out how we wanted to play and the players responded and couldn't have done any more. "They did exactly what we asked of them tonight. We got a great result, exactly what we deserved." He added: "We've done half the job. We know they're dangerous. We have the advantage but it's half-time. "It's still all to play for. It'll be an interesting second leg."

WICKED $$$ !!! Premier League - Abramovich worth over £11BN Thu, 17 Feb 13:41:00 2011 Russian authorities have released details of the assets and wealth of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, estimated to be worth more than £11 billion. Russia's election commission released the details as required for next month's parliamentary election in the Eastern province of Chukotka, where Abramovich is in line to be a parliamentary deputy. Since the recent economic downturn, Abramovich's wealth is on the rise again as Forbes magazine estimates the oligarch to be Russia's fourth-richest man. But according to Abramovich's spokesman John Mann, the numbers may not show the full extent of his wealth. "It is the first time it (Abramovich's wealth) has been published in this format because of the new rules. "This shows the interest income on his bank deposits. It is not his full income." Abramovich's fortune is mostly held in companies including Millhouse Capital, Eucla Investments Limited, Primerod International Limited and Chelsea Limited, which owns the Premier League club. With much of his wealth tied into company investment, the figures released are a fraction of the 44-year-old's oil fortune. John Mann believes that these figures could put to bed rumours of Abramovich's tax status. "Perhaps the fact that the Russian properties are listed first will encourage reporters to stop falsely reporting that his principle home is London. "It will also stop people reporting on properties he has never owned." Abramovich's declaration of wealth will increase fascination into how he spends his money outside of lavish investments, such as smashing the British transfer fee record by purchasing former Liverpool striker Fernando Torres for £50 million. Apart from the extensive list of residences in several countries, Abramovich's taste in cars may seem less opulent than expected. The most luxurious of the vehicles declared is a Mercedes S500L, but a four-year-old Volkswagen Golf fills out his garage. "He's a sensible guy," said spokesman Mann about the modest collection. "I guess he doesn't want to give that image." Abramovich's more majestic purchases, such as his four super-yachts and collection of private jets and helicopters, were not disclosed in the report. The declaration is unlikely to interest the residents and voters from Chukotka, where the average income is estimated at £11,000 a year. But Abramovich's work while governor of Chukotka between 2000 and 2008 will not go unnoticed, as he spent a reported £2bn on public facilities as part of Putin's attempts to push oligarchs to give back their wealth to society. Campaigners for greater transparency in Russia, such as Elena Panfilova, head of Transparency International's Moscow bureau, have welcomed the declaration. "Even if there's a small sliver of light it's already easier to see. We have seen one piece (of his wealth), and hopefully more will appear." Some highlights of Abramovich's December 2010 declaration of wealth include: Properties Seven in Britain, two in the United States, three in France, four in Russia, and one in the Caribbean. Estimated total value of property: £300m Cars Seven, notably Mercedes S500L (2010), BMW 760Li (2010), VW Golf (2007). Estimated total value of car collection: £650,000 Cash and shares £71.78m across 22 separate bank accounts, £25.48m tied up in shares Ownership 100% of Chelsea Limited (football club estimated worth of £402.19 million), 100% of Lowndes Square Management Company Limited, 100% of Croe France Chateau de la Croe and Eucla Investments Limited, 25% of Primerod International Limited, 100% of Wotton Overseas Holdings Limited, and 100% of Camberley International Investments Limited.

DRAMA lah ! Premier League - Torres: I will repay Abramovich Mon, 14 Feb 07:53:00 2011 Chelsea striker Fernando Torres has vowed to repay Roman Abramovich's faith in him. The Blues owner set a new British transfer record when he paid £50 million to take Torres from Liverpool a fortnight ago. The Spaniard did not make any instant repayments as he disappointed on his debut against his former club, but he has now promised to vindicate the Russian's faith in him. "As a striker I'm asked for goals so I'll pay in goals. I still haven't seen Roman Abramovich," Torres told The Sun. "To put so much money down for me speaks of his dreams to keep on making history. "We want to repay him for this effort," he added. "I have to pay my debt on the pitch. It's beautiful he paid so much for me."

Letter from BORDERS CEO

ALAMAK !!! US bookstore chain BORDERS files for Bankruptcy AFP - Thursday, February 17 WASHINGTON (AFP) - – Borders, the second-largest US bookstore chain, filed for bankruptcy on Wednesday, the latest blow to an industry hard hit by competition from electronic readers and online booksellers. Borders said it planned to close around 30 percent of its over 640 stores in the United States as part of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, which protects the company from its creditors while it reorganizes. "Borders Group does not have the capital resources it needs to be a viable competitor and which are essential for it to move forward with its business strategy," Borders president Mike Edwards said in a statement. "To position Borders to remedy this condition, Borders Group, with the authorization of its board of directors, has filed a petition for reorganization relief under Chapter 11," Edwards said. Borders, which has a total of 6,100 full-time employees and 11,400 part-time employees, has lost millions of dollars in recent years as the book industry faces online competition and transitions from print to digital products. The Ann Arbor, Michigan-based company reported a net loss of 168.2 million dollars in the first 11 months of its latest fiscal year. In July, Borders launched an online electronic book store to challenge e-readers from Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble and Sony in the fast-growing market for digital books. But the move was seen as coming too late by many industry analysts. Edwards said Borders has received $505 million in financing commitments from GE Capital, Restructuring Finance. "This financing should enable Borders to meet its obligations going forward so that our stores continue to be competitive for customers in terms of goods, services and the shopping experience," he said. Edwards said the financing would give Borders "the time to reorganize in order to reposition itself to be a successful business for the long term." "We are confident that, with the protection afforded under Chapter 11 and with the support of employees, publishers, suppliers and creditors, and the reading public, a successful reorganization can be achieved enabling Borders to emerge from the process as a stronger and more vibrant book seller," he said. Borders is not the only traditional brick-and-mortar bookseller in trouble. Last year, the money-losing number one US bookstore group, Barnes & Noble, indicated it was in discussions on a sale or other strategic options. Billy Hulkower, senior technology analyst at the research firm Mintel, said recently that bookstores face a "trilogy of threats" -- online competition, e-books, and public libraries offering free books and digital content. Mike Shatzkin, head of the consultancy Idea Logical Co. and organizer of the Digital Book World conference held in New York, said in a recent interview with AFP that the industry was going through "disruptive change." E-book sales have more than doubled in each of the last three years, Shatzkin said, and he expects the market for traditional booksellers to decline from 72 percent of sales to about 25 percent of sales in coming years. The Association of American Publishers said Wednesday that US publishers' book sales increased 3.6 percent last year over 2009 to $11.67 billion with e-book sales growing 164.4 percent to $441.3 million.

Could Reina replace Van der Sar? Thu Jan 27 03:42PM The last time Manchester United lost a top goalkeeper, it sent them into a kind of existential crisis from which they did not escape until they signed Edwin van der Sar, six years too late, in 2005. The quest to find the New Schmeichel encompassed not-good-enoughs (Bosnich, Ricardo, Carroll), past-its (Van der Gouw, Goram), a not-ready-yet (Tim Howard), an unmitigated disaster (Taibi) and a ciggie-puffing misfit (Barthez). Then came Van der Sar, who ticked all the boxes, and proved totally unperturbed by Schmeichel's legacy - he was already 34 and a huge name in his own right. Each week, we select the five best saves for our Premier League video section, and I can hardly remember a single appearance this season from Van der Sar. It is all Robert Green, Ali Al-Habsi and Richard Kingson. It makes sense, since the goalkeepers who stand behind the worst defences will have the most shots to save. But it means the job of a keeper at a top club is very different than lower down. Shot-stopping pales into insignificance compared with concentration, communication, handling of crosses and command of the penalty box. That was the problem with Barthez who, though brilliant at reflex saves, was a bit small, a bit mad and a bit rubbish at English. Even at 40, Van der Sar is exceptional at all four of those key jobs. And now he is retiring from football. Having learned from the post-Schmeichel experience, Ferguson has tried to set up an order of succession. He signed Ben Foster at the same time as Van der Sar, and picked up Tomasz Kuszczak a year later. Kuszczak won their personal duel - Foster is now excelling at Birmingham, but never looked comfortable in a United shirt - but the Pole does not look anywhere near Van der Sar's class. Arsene Wenger would throw Kuszczak in, and tolerate his mistakes. It is what he has done with Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski - and it is probably the main reason Arsenal have not won a trophy since Jens Lehmann's departure. Ferguson is less tolerant of goalkeepers' errors, and rightly so. But, when things are going wrong, it can lead to fearful instability - witness Massimo Taibi's four-game reign of terror. He needs a top class keeper who needs no bedding-in period, who can come in and perform straight away. Of the players linked with Old Trafford, Igor Akinfeev looks terrific and David De Gea very good. But neither speaks English well, and neither has played in a league where goalkeepers are subjected to such an intense aerial bombardment. That is not so say either player would not be a success - just that there is a risk. Both players would cost a fortune, and United's present financial state means they cannot afford to break the bank on a failure. So, who should United go for? Jussi Jaaskelainen has always seemed to me a greatly under-rated keeper, while Howard might thrive at Old Trafford the second time around. But United surely want someone with a bit more about them. Someone with experience, someone who has played under intense pressure, someone who knows English football, someone of international quality. Step forward one Pepe Reina. The Liverpool goalkeeper is known to be restless, a situation unlikely to change with the Champions League places a distant dream. He is a great age (28, the same as Kuszczak), has been a pillar of consistency despite the club's tragic-comic decline, and he even lives in the right part of the country for United. He is a lively character who would likely be unfazed by the hostility of swapping one shade of red for a slightly different one. But would Liverpool sell? John W. Henry might have extracted the club from the crippling derby of the Hicks/Gillett era, but he is no benevolent billionaire. His background is in American sports, where players swap clubs all the time. Henry's Boston Red Sox lost centre fielder Johnny Damon to the hated Yankees a year after winning the World Series. It happens. US sports are all about value. If United make Liverpool an offer they cannot refuse, say, £20 million, which facilitates the purchase of multiple players, Reina could go. And if Reina can help United avoid the sort of tracksuit-bottom-wearing calamity that blighted the first half of the Noughties, he would be well worth the outlay. Liverpool fans might not like it. In fact, they definitely wouldn't like it. But it looks like a move that works in the interest of both clubs. I'm not saying it will happen, but it should do.

Bundesliga - Wolfsburg sack McClaren Mon, 07 Feb 16:34:00 2011 Former England manager Steve McClaren has been sacked by German giants Wolfsburg, ending a disappointing eight-month reign in charge of the former Bundesliga champions. "VfL have parted ways with Steve McClaren," the club said in a statement. "Pierre Littbarski is taking over." "We were not convinced any more that we could work with Steve McClaren in a solid way until the end of the season," Wolfsburg general manager Dieter Hoeness said. McClaren joined the Volkswagen-backed team in the summer, weeks after leading Dutch minnows FC Twente to a surprise Eredivisie title. He has only won five of 21 Bundesliga matches and a 1-0 defeat at Hannover appears to have been the last straw, coming four games after a vote of confidence for the former Middlesbrough manager. The club lies 12th in the 18-team Bundesliga, one point above the relegation play-off places. The 2009 champions' latest disappointment came after Brazil midfielder Diego defied team orders by taking a penalty, which he subsequently missed. The drama added to the belief that McClaren works better with younger, lesser-known players and that he struggles to man-manage top internationals. In addition to his unprecedented success with Twente, McClaren won the League Cup with Middlesbrough, who he then took to the UEFA Cup final, where they were beaten by Sevilla. But afterwards he struggled as England manager, failing to qualify for Euro 2008 and replaced by Fabio Capello soon afterwards. McClaren kept his job at Wolfsburg in January, despite coming under mounting pressure for poor results, with fans initially blaming the board for not adding enough top players to the squad in the summer. Recent weeks, however, saw fans protest against McClaren, with the poor run continuing despite January signings Patrick Helmes, Tuncay, Koo Ja-cheol and Yohandry Orozco compensating for the sale of Edin Dzeko to Manchester City. Eurosport