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In Memoriam of my sweetie ROSEA

Indonesian Star jailed for SEX-Tape Scandal By IRWAN FIRDAUS,Associated Press - Tuesday, February 1 BANDUNG, Indonesia One of Indonesia's best-known pop stars was sentenced Monday to 3 1/2 years behind bars after sex tapes with his celebrity girlfriends found their way to the Internet, riveting and dividing this predominantly Muslim nation. Liberals said the embarrassment suffered by Nazril "Ariel" Irham _ who insists the videos were not intended for public viewing _ was punishment enough. But hard-liners were outraged, saying the singer was contributing to the country's moral decline. Hundreds charged the gates of the courthouse in the city of Bandung after the verdict was read out, yelling "Too light! Too light," as he sped off in an armored police car. Ariel, lead singer of the country's most popular band, Peterpan, was the first celebrity to be charged under Indonesia's strict anti-pornography law, which came into effect in 2008 despite strong opposition from the public and members of government. It is seen by many as vaguely worded and as carrying overly harsh penalties. Ariel insists the tapes were stolen from his house and posted online without his knowledge, but presiding Judge Singgih Budi Prakoso said the pop star did nothing to prevent their widespread distribution. He sentenced him to 3 1/2 years in jail _ well short of the maximum 12 years _ and slapped him with a $25,000 fine. "As a public figure, the defendant should be aware that fans might imitate his behavior," Prakoso said, adding that the frontman for Peterpan _ which is also popular in neighboring Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei _ did not show remorse. His supporters were devastated. "He's just a victim," said Roslawati, 30, as tears streamed from his eyes. "He didn't post that video." Indonesia, a secular country of 237 million people, has more Muslims than any other country in the world. Though most are moderate, a small extremist fringe has become more vocal in recent years. They have pushed through controversial laws _ including the anti-p.o.r.n bill _ and been known to attack anything perceived as blasphemous, from transvestites and bars to "deviant" religious sects. More than 500 demonstrators turned out Monday, some pelting the police vehicle carrying Ariel to the court with rotten eggs and tomatoes. Others held placards criticizing the star. When the verdict was read out, they rushed and rattled the gates of the courthouse and briefly scuffled with the singer's supporters. Police fired warning shots to break up the fight. "More years for Ariel!" shouted Kurnia Maryati, a 33-year-old mother of three who was wearing an Islamic headscarf. The videos were made public in June. The first six-minute clip purportedly showed Ariel in bed with his girlfriend, Luna Maya, a top model and actress who joined him at the court Monday. She broke down in tears when the ruling was read out. The second clip showed him with a former girlfriend, also a well-liked model and television presenter, Cut Tari. The clips were spread on Facebook and YouTube and distributed by mobile phone rapidly, prompting the government to try to impose a so-far unsuccessful online filter for p.o.r.n. It is not yet clear if the women in the videos will also be punished. But the man who admitted to posting the tapes on the Internet was sentenced Monday in a separate trial to two years in jail.

Bond film composer John Barry dies aged 77 5 hours 7 mins ago By AFP, Alice Ritchie British film composer John Barry, who wrote the music for a string of Bond films and won five Oscars for movies including "Out of Africa", has died at the age of 77, his family said Monday. He passed away on Sunday in New York, reportedly from a heart attack. Barry was best known for his work on the James Bond films -- he scored 11 films including "Goldfinger" and "You Only Live Twice" -- and his atmospheric scores are credited with giving 007 much of his smooth persona. "I think James Bond would have been far less cool without John Barry holding his hand," said David Arnold, his successor as the 007 score composer, who described Barry's death as a "profound loss". Although Barry did not compose the distinctive Bond theme tune -- that was the work of Monty Norman -- he provided the arrangement that made it famous. However, the adventures of 007 represented only a handful of the more than 100 films Barry worked on during a career spanning three decades, which earned him an OBE (Order of the British Empire) in 1999. He won Oscars for "Out of Africa", "Dances With Wolves" and "The Lion in Winter", and two for "Born Free", for best song and best music score. He also earned a Grammy Award for "Midnight Cowboy" (1969). "It is with great sadness that the family of composer John Barry announce his passing on the 30th of January 2011 in New York," a family statement said. "Mr. Barry is survived by his wife of 33 years, Laurie, and his four children and five grandchildren. Funeral arrangements will be strictly private and a memorial service will be held later this year in the UK." Barry grew up in the northern English city of York, but left Britain in the mid-1970s and set up home in Oyster Bay, New York, although friends remarked that he never lost his Yorkshire accent. Born John Barry Prendergast in 1933, Barry was surrounded by movies and music through his cinema-owning father and classical pianist mother. He lived for a time in Chelsea, at the heart of the swinging Sixties scene in London, reportedly renting out his spare room for a few months to the then unknown Michael Caine. It was there that he met sex siren Jane Birkin, the second of his four wives. His big break came when he worked on the 1962 Bond film "Dr. No", although he was not credited for his contribution. Thereafter his scores -- mixing big band music, guitar riffs, strings and the beats of his jazz heroes Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington -- became integral to the image of the British spy. In an interview with Time Magazine in 1999, Barry described how he sought to use his music to help the low-profile George Lazenby when he took over the role from Sean Connery in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service". "I was trying to impose on Lazenby the suaveness, the humour, and I really overdid the score," he said. Fellow British composer Arnold, who wrote the music for "Tomorrow Never Dies" among other Bond movies, praised Barry's "extraordinary melodies". "That was John's gift -- not only his way with harmony but the fact that he could state within a five- or ten-second phase everything you need to know about a movie," the composer told BBC radio. He added: "The music that he wrote transcends the movies that it was written for and became part of popular culture." Barry first achieved success playing trumpet and singing with the John Barry Seven, a pop group, and went on to play a key role in the success of one of the first major British pop stars of the early 1960s, Adam Faith. Later, he returned to pop, working with Duran Duran and A-Ha in the 1980s. Barry also had a long and fruitful partnership with the lyricist Don Black, who paid tribute Monday to his old friend. "The thing about John that I will always remember was he never changed," Black said, adding: "There was no trace of America about him, he brought York to New York." Barry's son-in-law, Simon Jack, remembered him to the BBC as a "wickedly funny man" whose "passion, genius and sense of humour will be terribly missed by his family and friends".

FACTBOX-Soccer-Top 10 British Transfer Fees Mon, 31 Jan 23:35:00 2011 The top 10 British transfer fees after Fernando Torres broke the record in his move from Liverpool to Chelsea on Monday. Player Clubs (year of move) Cost Fernando Torres Liverpool to Chelsea (2011) 50 million pounds ($80.21m) ++ Andy Carroll Newcastle United to Liverpool (2011) 35m ($56.14m) ++ Robinho Real Madrid to Manchester City (2008) 32.5m ($52.13m) Andrei Shevchenko AC Milan to Chelsea (2006) 30.8m ($49.41m) Dimitar Berbatov Tottenham Hotspur to Manchester United (2008) 30.75m ($49.33m) Rio Ferdinand Leeds United to Manchester United (2002) 29.1m ($46.68m) Juan Sebastian Veron Lazio to Manchester United (2001) 28.1m ($45.08m) Wayne Rooney Everton to Manchester United (2004) 27m ($43.31m) Michael Essien Olympique Lyon to Chelsea (2005) 24.4m ($39.14m) Didier Drogba Olympique Marseille to Chelsea (2004) 24m ($38.50m) * U.S. dollar conversion rate as of Jan. 31, 2011 not actual time of transfer ++ Fee as reported in media at time of transfer

FACTBOX-Soccer-Fernando Torres factbox Mon, 31 Jan 23:38:00 2011 Factbox on striker Fernando Torres, who moved to Chelsea on Monday. * Born March 20, 1984 in Madrid. * A lifelong Atletico Madrid fan, Torres joined the club at the age of 11. He made his first-team debut as a 17-year-old in May 2001 when the club were in the Spanish second division. * In only his second appearance he produced a virtuoso match-winning performance against Albacete that brought the house down at the Vicente Calderon. * Known as "El Nino" (The Kid) he was made club captain aged 19 and was the team's leading figure on and off the pitch. He was likened to a Spanish David Beckham for his constant changes of hairstyle, appearances in promotional campaigns and even a video with a well-known Spanish pop group. * Torres was the top scorer for Atletico for his last five seasons in the Spanish capital, his best campaign coming in 2003-04 when he totalled 19 goals. He scored 75 La Liga goals. * He was top scorer and named player of the tournament when Spain won the European Under-16 Championship in 2001. He repeated the feat when they won the European Under-19 Championship the following year. * He earned his first senior cap for Spain in a 3-0 friendly win against Portugal in September 2003 at the age of 19 and scored his first goal in a friendly against Italy in April 2004. * Moved to Liverpool in July 2007 in a 24.3 million-pound deal. * Scored the only goal of the 2008 European Championship final to beat Germany and played in the 2010 World Cup final, another 1-0 Spain win. Has registered 26 goals in 82 appearances. * Scored 65 Premier League goals for the Anfield club in 102 matches before leaving on Jan. 31, 2011, for Premier League rivals Chelsea.

Premier League - Chelsea spend £75m on Torres and Luiz Tue, 01 Feb 00:29:00 2011 Fernando Torres sealed his record-breaking move to Chelsea and David Luiz completed a mega-money deadline-day switch to Stamford Bridge as the Blues splashed out an incredible £75million on the pair. Torres and Luiz both beat the 11pm cut-off to join the Barclays Premier League champions. Striker Torres arrived for a reported £50million from Liverpool, smashing the transfer record between British clubs, while Benfica finally allowed defender Luiz to move on in a £25million-plus deal. After signing a five-and-a-half-year contract at Stamford Bridge, Spain striker Torres told his new club's official website: "I am very happy with my transfer to Chelsea and I am looking forward very much to helping my new team-mates this season and for many years to come. "Having played against Chelsea many times since coming to England, and in some very big games I will never forget, I know there are many great players here and I will work hard to win a place in the team. "I hope I can score some important goals for the supporters to enjoy this season." Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck said: "This is a very significant day for Chelsea, capturing one of the best players in the world with his peak years ahead of him. "We have long admired the talents of a player who is a proven goalscorer in English football and Fernando's arrival is a sign of our continuing high ambitious. I hope every Chelsea fan is as excited as I am with this news." Brazil centre back Luiz joins from Benfica for a fee of 25 million euros and Chelsea's Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic will move to Benfica as part of the deal. Luiz, 23, had a contract with Benfica that ran until 2015 and is seen as one of the most promising defenders in Europe. He arrived in Lisbon from Brazil in 2007 and was a key member of the Benfica side that last season clinched the Portuguese Premier League title for the first time in five years, missing only one of 30 league matches. His performances earned him a debut call-up to the Brazil squad for a friendly against the United States in August. He also played against Iran and Ukraine in October and is in the squad for the February 9 friendly in France. Meanwhile Bolton manager Owen Coyle strengthened his attacking options by signing Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge on loan until the end of the season. Sturridge goes straight into the squad to face Wolves on Wednesday after seeing his first-team opportunities limited at Stamford Bridge. Coyle is delighted to have the 21-year-old on board after missing out in his pursuit of Arsenal's Carlos Vela, who opted to join West Brom. He said: "I am really pleased to have Daniel with us. "He is a terrific young talent and one of the most exciting strikers in the country. We are all looking forward to working with him."

Chelsea sign Benfica defender David Luiz Mon, 31 Jan 23:46:00 2011 * Brazil defender Luiz moves to Chelsea for 25 million euros * Serbian midfielder Matic moves to Benfica as part of deal Chelsea have signed Brazil centre back David Luiz from Benfica for a fee of 25 million euros ($34.2 million), the Portuguese champions confirmed on Monday. "Benfica informs it has reached a deal with the Premier League's Chelsea Football Club Limited, to sell David Luiz on a permanent basis for 25 million euros," Benfica said in a statement. Chelsea's Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic will move to Benfica as part of the deal, the Portuguese club added. Luiz, 23, had a contract with Benfica that ran until 2015 and is seen as one of the most promising defenders in Europe. He arrived in Lisbon from Brazil in 2007 and was a key member of the Benfica side that last season clinched the Portuguese Premier League title for the first time in five years, missing only one of 30 league matches. His performances earned him a debut call-up to the Brazil squad for a friendly against the United States in August. He also played against Iran and Ukraine in October and is in the squad for the Feb. 9 friendly in France.

Premier League - Blackpool sign quartet, keep Adam Tue, 01 Feb 00:27:00 2011 Blackpool signed four players on transfer deadline day and retained the services of captain Charlie Adam who saw possible moves to Liverpool and Tottenham fall through. Midfielder Andy Reid joined from Sunderland for an undisclosed fee and the Seasiders completed the loan signings of experienced striker James Beattie from Rangers, Belarus international Sergei Kornilenko and Southampton winger Jason Puncheon. Meanwhile Adam vowed to give his all to the Blackpool cause over the remaining months of the season. The 25-year-old Scotland midfielder had looked set for a switch to Anfield but the clubs could not agree on a fee. Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp said the London club had met Blackpool's asking price just before the transfer window closed but the paperwork could not be processed in time. Adam told Sky Sports News: "It's been a crazy day. "I'm still a Blackpool player and I want the Blackpool fans to know I'm totally committed to playing the best I can for the club and I will do my best to help us achieve the highest possible league finish." Reid, the 28-year-old Republic of Ireland international, made 70 appearances for the Black Cats since his £4million switch from Charlton in January 2008. However, he became surplus to requirements under Steve Bruce and followed Paulo da Silva and David Healy out of the Stadium of Light. "I think he will be perfect for us and it won't take me long to get him going," said manager Ian Holloway. "He's gone for £12million (in cumulative transfer fees) in the past so that's not a bad take for us I believe." Beattie has endured a frustrating time at Ibrox since moving from Stoke in August, making just 10 appearances, and Kornilenko joins for the rest of the season from Zenit St Petersburg. Kornilenko, who has recently had loan spells with Tom Tomsk and Rubin Kazan, will add to Holloway's strike options while Puncheon enjoyed a successful loan spell at The Den earlier this season and Millwall wanted him back this month but they were not been able to agree a fee with Saints. PA Sport

Premier League - Carroll joins Suarez at Liverpool Tue, 01 Feb 00:12:00 2011 Liverpool have completed the signing of Newcastle United striker Andy Carroll. Liverpool paid £35 million to bring the 22-year-old England international to Anfield. "Andy Carroll has tonight completed his transfer from Newcastle United to Liverpool FC and signed a five-and-a half-year-deal that will keep him at Anfield until 2016," Liverpool said in a statement on their website. Carroll's move to Liverpool, who have also signed Uruguay's Luis Suarez from Ajax as new manager Kenny Dalglish re-models his squad, paved the way for Fernando Torres to complete his switch to Chelsea. Spain's Torres joined the west London club for a fee that could reach £50 million. The powerful Carroll, born in the Newcastle heartland of Gateshead, made his first-team debut in 2006 and has developed into one of the Premier League's most feared frontmen, netting 11 times in the league this season. His muscular game, touch and finishing ability earned him a call-up to Fabio Capello's England squad in November when he made his international debut against France. Carroll's departure is a huge blow to Newcastle and their fans who have given the pony-tailed "No.9" cult hero status after his 19 goals last season helped Newcastle regain their place in the Premier League. Uruguay forward Suarez completed his move to the five-times European champions from Ajax Amsterdam earlier on Monday for a fee of "up to" 26.5 million euros. "Luis Suarez has today completed his transfer from Ajax to Liverpool FC and signed a five-and-a-half-year-deal that will keep him at Anfield until 2016," a statement said. "The deal was subject to the completion of a medical, which the player has now passed." Suarez, 24, the current Dutch Footballer of the Year, will take the number seven shirt worn by some of Liverpool's most revered players including Kevin Keegan and current manager Dalglish. Suarez signed for Ajax in 2007 for 7.5 million euros. But Charlie Adam saw his possible move to Liverpool fall through. The 25-year-old Scotland midfielder and Blackpool captain had looked set for a switch to Anfield but the clubs could not agree on a fee. Coventry starlet Conor Thomas did complete a surprising loan move to Liverpool until the end of the season, which includes a view to a permanent move. Thomas, 17, was the hottest young prospect on the books at the Ricoh Arena and has represented England at Under-17 level. But his development has been relatively low key, with no suggestion of interest from England's top clubs and his move comes as a bolt out of the blue. The central midfielder only made his full Sky Blues debut in Saturday's 3-2 FA Cup defeat to Birmingham, just weeks after his first-team bow as a substitute in the third-round victory over Crystal Palace. He will be based with Liverpool's reserves at their Academy. Out-of-favour defender Paul Konchesky has joined Nottingham Forest on a three-month loan deal just five months after arriving at Anfield. The 30-year-old was signed on transfer deadline day in August by Roy Hodgson but struggled to win over fans and has been unable to shake off his association with the former Reds boss and the club's poor start to the season. Konchesky has featured just once - as an unused substitute - in Kenny Dalglish's squad for the five matches he has been in charge with right-back Glen Johnson preferred on the left. But Derby`s deal to sign Liverpool defender Daniel Ayala has been put on hold. The 20-year-old Spaniard is still recovering from a hamstring injury and will continue his rehabilitation with his parent club. Nigel Clough still hopes to bring him to the club on an emergency loan next month.

Chelsea upbeat despite further heavy losses Mon, 31 Jan 18:58:59 2011 Chelsea have announced a total loss of £70.9million for the financial year ending June 30, 2010. The Blues revealed their operating loss had reduced from £72.3million to £68.6million as they bid to fall in line with UEFA's new Financial Fair Play Rules. Transfer fees were the main contributor to the loss, with the club declaring a positive cash flow of £3.8million, the first time such an outcome had been achieved in the Roman Abramovich era. Last year had seen a net outflow of £16.9million. Group turnover was up £2.5million to £205.8million. Chief executive Ron Gourlay said: "The reduction in operating losses and increased sales in 2009-10 shows that we are moving in the right direction, especially when viewed against the difficult macroeconomic environment. The club is in a strong position to meet the challenges of UEFA Financial Fair Play initiatives which will be relevant to the financial statements to be released in early 2013. Chairman Bruce Buck added: "That the club was cash generative in the year when we recorded a historic FAPL and FA Cup double is a great encouragement and demonstrates significant progress as regards our financial results."

Premier League - Konchesky joins Forest on loan Mon, 31 Jan 10:25:00 2011 Liverpool full-back Paul Konchesky has joined Championship side Nottingham Forest on loan for the rest of the season. Konchesky has endured a troubled time at Anfield since he was signed by former Reds manager Roy Hodgson from Fulham last August. The 29-year-old had made 18 appearances for Liverpool, but has been unable to win over the club's supporters. He has not made an appearance since Kenny Dalglish replaced Hodgson as manager earlier this month and had been linked with a return to Fulham. Dalglish also confirmed that defender Daniel Ayala had not joined Championship side Derby County on loan. Meanwhile, Coventry starlet Conor Thomas has completed a surprising loan move to Liverpool until the end of the season, which includes a view to a permanent move. Thomas, 17, was the hottest young prospect on the books at the Ricoh Arena and has represented England at U17 level. But his development has been relatively low key, with no suggestion of interest from England's top clubs and his move comes as a bolt out of the blue. The central midfielder only made his full Sky Blues debut in Saturday's 3-2 FA Cup defeat to Birmingham, just weeks after his first-team bow as a substitute in the third-round victory over Crystal Palace. He will be based with Liverpool's reserves at their Academy. PA Sport

SICKENING !!! 47-year-old man jailed three years for INCEST By Ion Danker January 31st, 2011 A man was jailed for three years on Monday for having consensual SEX with his own daughter. The 47-year-old plumber admitted to committing the offence in their flat in April 2008 while the daughter, now 23, was also charged with incest but she was given a discharge not amounting to an acquittal on September 7 last year. Both parties cannot be named to protect the womans identity. The court heard that the man started bringing his then 19-year-old daughter along when he went drinking with his friends at coffeeshops in 2006. They then became close and this later developed into a sexual relationship. According to Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Leong Wing Tuck, the pair returned home after a beer drinking session one night in April 2008. While the accused was lying in bed, a small argument broke out between them when she showed little interest in talking to him as she was busy checking her e-mails on the laptop computer at the edge of the bed. The daughter apologised, and he asked for a hug before they had sex. However, it is believed that the pair had a heated argument a week later over the issue of her furthering her studies. She then sent a text message to her close friend, asking her to call the police, who arrested him. DPP Leong also told the court that the charge against the daughter will be revived. Those convicted of incest can be jailed up to five years.

Malaysian student gang-raped in London, seven Russians arrested By Ewen Boey – January 31st, 2011 An 18-year-old Malaysian student has reportedly been gang-raped by several Russian men, including an intelligence officer for the Moscow Police. British tabloid The Sun, which first carried the story last Thursday, reported that the girl had attended a party at the prestigious Bellerbys College in Greenwich, South London, where she is studying. Quoting sources, the report claimed the girl was drugged and filmed while seven Russian men assaulted her. One of the men has been identified as intelligence officer Oleg Vladimirvich Ivanov, 23, who has been charged with the offence. The incident was said to have happened early two Sundays ago during the party attended by English language students of the college. The report also stated that police confiscated iPhones, which contained alarming footage of the victim being gang-raped. Ivanov and three others identified as Gregory Andreev Melnikov, 22, Norayr Davtyan, 25, and Arnen Simonay, 26, were charged at the Woolwich Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday and Wednesday. All four claimed trial and have been remanded. They will appear at Woolwich Crown Court on Tuesday. Two other suspects were allowed bail while another was released without charges. The tabloid report stated that the men claimed to be students, but reliable sources were quoted as saying that Ivanov, who had only been in Britain for a week before the alleged gang-rape, worked in the Intelligence Section of the Moscow Police. A friend realised something was amiss after the victim staggered into her room. “She is distraught. She is very young and it is believed she was given a drug before being defiled,” the report quoted a source as saying. When contacted by Malaysian newspaper The Star, two students of the college were reserved in their comments. “What we know so far is what everyone has read in the newspaper (The Sun). We refuse to talk about the case as we are not allowed to. Please contact our college officials if you want a comment,” said one of them. The college officials could not be reached for comment.

Dr Mahathir: MM Lee does not respect religion By Angela Lim – January 31st, 2011 Malaysia’s former premier Mahathir Mohamad has publicly denounced Singapore Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew for his remarks on Muslims in his recently published book, “Lee Kuan Yew: Hard Truths To Keep Singapore Going”. Dr Mahathir accused Mr Lee of not being respectful of religion and blamed him for Singapore and Malaysia’s separation in 1965. The elder statesman of Malaysian politics also accused Mr Lee for recent remarks linking Singapore Muslims’ beliefs and racial integration in the island-nation. “I’m not surprised by his statement because to him religion is not important,” Dr Mahathir told Malaysian paper, Utusan Malaysia’s Sunday edition, Mingguan Malaysia. “For him, the end justifies the means, so if he wants racial integration in Singapore, he won’t let Islam stand in the way of his goals. That is Kuan Yew. He totally does not respect religion and the sensitivities of other races.” Dr Mahathir’s criticisms have added to the firestorm of debate within the Muslim community in Singapore and Malaysia, which first started when MM Lee said Muslims were “distinct” and “separate” and that they don’t do enough to integrate with the rest of society, such as having meals together. Malay-language dailies in Malaysia including Utusan and Berita Harian, have lashed out at Mr Lee through various articles and commentaries, saying Mr Lee was trying to sow discord among the two neighbouring countries. They also add that Mr Lee should learn more about Islam before making statements about Muslims. Dr Mahathir also claimed that Malays in Singapore had no choice but to compromise their beliefs. “They are afraid of the Government,” he said. “I also feel that the Malays are careful when they speak up because they are worried they would be victimised. That is the attitude of the Malays in Singapore.” In the interview, Dr Mahathir also fired back that while Malaysia ensured equal opportunities for all races, Singapore’s Malays were “weak” and marginalised. He also blamed Mr Lee for breaking a promise not to contest in east Malaysia in the 1964 elections, saying it was his actions that led to the separation of Singapore from Malaysia. Dr Mahathir added that other countries might have responded to such a situation “using force”, but Malaysia’s then Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, “chose to separate Singapore and give independence to the country”. “That’s why it is not true when Singapore accuses us of having malice towards them,” he said. In Singapore, Mr Lee’s comments have also sparked outrage from various Muslim groups, including the local association of Muslim scholars, PERDAUS and Jamiyah, a member of the Inter-Religious Organisation. Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has since tried to distance his father’s comments from the government and said, ”My own perspective on how things are in Singapore is not quite the same as MM Lee’s,” adding that his own view is shared by the Government. During a community event on Sunday, PM Lee also paid tribute to the way the Muslim community in Singapore “has made great efforts to integrate with the other communities and with Singapore society to join the mainstream.” MM Lee’s comments on Muslims draw criticism By Ewen Boey – January 26th, 2011 Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew has drawn criticism from several Malaysian leaders after saying that Singapore’s progress on integration has been affected by the tendency of Muslims in the region to be “distinct and separate”. His remarks were published in a new book, titled Hard Truths To Keep Singapore Going. New agency AFP was first to break the news about the comments, which were then picked up on Sunday by several Malaysian and Indonesian newspapers and news websites. Malaysian leaders insisted that his views were wrong, while Indonesia had a divided response, judging by comments posted on the online site of the English-language newspaper Jakarta Globe. Some of the comments agreed with Mr Lee’s views, while others felt that he should have been more sensitive towards the Muslims. In the book, Mr Lee made the comments when asked to assess the progress of multiracialism in Singapore. “I have to speak candidly to be of value, but I do not want to offend the Muslim community,” said MM Lee. “I think we were progressing very nicely until the surge of Islam came, and if you asked me for my observations, the other communities have easier integration — friends, intermarriages and so on, Indians with Chinese, Chinese with Indians — than Muslims. That’s the result of the surge from the Arab states,” said the former Prime Minister of Singapore. “I would say today, we can integrate all religions and races except Islam. I think the Muslims socially do not cause any trouble, but they are distinct and separate,” he added. Mr Lee went on to share on his experience of working with politicians of his generation, and how they were able to integrate well with each other, including sitting down to eat. He also said, “But now, you go to schools with Malay and Chinese, there’s a halal and non-halal segment and so, too, the universities. And they tend to sit separately so as not to be contaminated. All that becomes a social divide.” He added that this becomes a “veil” among peoples. When quizzed on what Muslims can do to integrate better, he replied, “Be less strict on Islamic observances and say ‘Okay, I’ll eat with you.’” Malay-language newspaper Utusan Malaysia also featured responses from three officials. De facto Religious Affairs Minister Jamil Khir Baharom said he hoped that Malaysians would not agree with Mr Lee’s views that linked Islam to blocking racial integration and national development. “I am worried such views will spread into Malaysian society, which has many types of ideas,” he said, adding that followers of Islam were taught to be moderate. Malaysian Islamic Development Department director-general Wan Mohamad Sheikh Abdul Aziz said that Mr Lee should learn from his son, and current Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, who is closer to Singapore Muslims. He also added that MM Lee’s mindset is still stuck in the 1960s, which was a period of prejudices and suspicions against Muslims. Right-wing Malay rights group Perkasa slammed Mr Lee, saying he seemed to be raising sensitive issues without bothering about Muslim sensitivities, just like the non-Muslim opposition leaders in Malaysia. Perkasa secretary-general Syed Hassan Syed Ali added, “Perkasa does not consider Kuan Yew as being less able to respect other religions, but instead, consider him as a very senile old man.” Parti Islam SeMalaysia Youth chief Nasrudin Hassan said Mr Lee’s comments made him sound like a “racist militant fighter”. One of the comments on the Jakarta Globe report said, “It is not wise to zoom into the religion or belief that these Malays hold. Asking them to be less strict (with) their religion is seen as a dubious idea which may create hatred.”

FA Cup - United scrape win at Southampton Sat, 29 Jan 19:12:00 2011 Manchester United came from behind to avoid an embarrassing FA Cup fourth round exit, beating a spirited Southampton side 2-1 at St Mary's. Sir Alex Ferguson's men looked destined to go out to League One opposition for the second straight year when Richard Chaplow gave Southampton the lead just before half-time. But a much-improved second half performance saw goals from Michael Owen and Javier Hernandez take United into the last 16. United lost to third-tier Leeds United in last season's third round, when Jermaine Beckford scored the only goal at Old Trafford, and a risky team selection by Ferguson meant they sailed close to the wind on the South coast. United made eight changes from the team that won 3-2 at Blackpool on Tuesday. Just as ominously - seven of the outfield starters were also in the side that lost 4-0 to West Ham in the Carling Cup, including the entire back four. The first 45 minutes were uneventful, but it was clear that Southampton were a match for United. The highly-rated Alex Chamberlain made some positive, pacy runs in midfield, Dan Harding got forward repeatedly from the left-back position and Rickie Lambert went close with some powerful shots. On the United side, a three-man forward line of Michael Owen, Gabriel Obertan and Javier Hernandez left the midfield exposed. Gibson was out of his depth. His venomous shooting cannot obscure the reality that he does not look a top class player. Owen was peripheral in the first half but came as close to scoring as any United player in the first half, accidentally hitting the post with a shanked cross. Anders Lindegaard made his debut following a £3.5 million move from Aalesund, just days after Edwin van der Sar announced he will retire at the end of the season. It was the perfect opportunity for the Dane to state his case as Van der Sar's long-term successor, and he looked solid enough and could do nothing about Chaplow's goal in the last minute of the first-half. The midfielder chested the ball down on a diagonal run inside from the right, and lashed the ball into the top-right corner - a superb goal. A Ferguson rocket at half-time, combined with a midfield reshuffle, turned the game around. Ryan Giggs and Nani replaced Gibson and Anderson, giving United width and creativity. Owen's equaliser came on 65 minutes following a cross from the otherwise disappointing Obertan. The ball appeared to come off a Southampton hand, but Owen did not wait for the referee's whistle, heading the ball into the far corner. Fifteen from minutes from time, the comeback was complete. Owen intercepted a loose Ryan Dickson pass and found Giggs, who in turn played a through ball to Hernandez. The Mexican's first touch was not great, but his second had just enough power to roll in off the post despite a touch from goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski. Southampton were physically finished, and the match petered out thereafter; United kept the ball for minutes at a time allowing no possibility of a late Southampton flurry. Alex Chick / Eurosport

PHEW !!! Hernandez saves United blushes as Saints downed AFP - Sunday, January 30 LONDON (AFP) Javier Hernandez saved Manchester United's blushes as the Premier League leaders came from behind to defeat Southampton 2-1 and advance to the last 16 of the FA Cup on Saturday. Hernandez slid home a 75th-minute winner after a Michael Owen header for an under-strength United had cancelled out a stunning strike from Richard Chaplow which had given League One side Southampton the lead just before half-time. United manager Sir Alex Ferguson fielded a virtual second string side at St Mary's, with Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Dimitar Berbatov and Nani all left on the substitutes bench. For long periods of the first half it looked as if Ferguson's selectorial gamble would backfire as Southampton seized control of the game before taking a deserved lead through Chaplow. But with Ferguson ringing the changes at half-time, United hit back and proved too strong for the Saints, who are pushing for promotion from League One, the third tier of English football. "They played well, they are flying high in their division, and always in FA Cups no matter what standard you're playing against it's always tough in the first 45 minutes," relieved goalscorer Owen told ITV. "Against lower league teams it's difficult for the first hour but you tend to get on top after that." In earlier matches Saturday, Chelsea maintained their bid for a third consecutive FA Cup after snatching a 1-1 draw with Everton while non-league Crawley advanced to with a 1-0 win over Torquay. A goal from Salomon Kalou on 75 minutes earned Chelsea a draw at Goodison Park after the Toffees had taken a deserved lead through a 62nd-minute headed effort from Louis Saha. "It was a difficult match because Everton put a lot of strong pressure on us all the time," Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti told ESPN. "We showed good spirit. The second half we didn't play well but the spirit was good." Crawley meanwhile became only the sixth non-league side to reach the fifth round after Matthew Tubbs scored on 39 minutes to down the Gulls in a stormy encounter at Plainmoor. Crawley, who had knocked out Swindon and Derby in earlier rounds, missed two second-half penalties as both sides finished with 10 men. "We expected to come here and win. We said it and we have done it," said jubilant Crawley boss Steve Evans. "We are just proud to get where we are and now we are in the fifth round we would like the draw to be kind to us. If it is, then fantastic, but whoever we get in the fifth round, we will go and try and win like we did today." Lowly League One side Leyton Orient were the first team to reach the last 16 with a 2-1 upset away at Championship outfit Swansea, before Aston Villa downed Blackburn 3-1 in an all-Premier League tie. Villa's goals included the first for the club from French veteran Robert Pires, who earned praise from manager Gerard Houllier afterwards. "He has still got the touch and the eye for the pass and he brings some fluency to the game with his technique," Houllier said. "I was pleased by the reaction of the bench when he scored. That is something very telling. The whole bench went up and were very happy and proud for him. He is a popular fellow." Birmingham staged a dramatic fightback against midlands rivals Coventry to advance, recovering from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at St Andrews thanks to goals from David Bentley, Stuart Parnaby and Kevin Phillips. Burnley defeated Burton Albion 3-1 while Championship side Watford were stunned 1-0 at Vicarage Road by Brighton from League One. League Two Stevenage, conquerors of Newcastle in the previous round, saw their hopes of an extended cup run extinguished by Reading, who grabbed a 2-1 win courtesy of an 87th-minute strike from Shane Long. In the day's other meeting between two Premier League clubs, Bolton drew 0-0 with Wigan at the Reebok Stadium. Three-time FA Cup winners Sheffield Wednesday advanced to the fifth round after recovering from a goal down to beat Hereford 4-1. On Sunday Manchester City face an away tie against Notts County while Fulham entertain Tottenham at Craven Cottage. Arsenal play Huddersfield at the Emirates and West Ham take on Nottingham Forest at Upton Park, while Wolves face Stoke.

Charlie Sheen rushed to hospital after 'wild' party AFP - Friday, January 28 LOS ANGELES (AFP) – Troubled US actor Charlie Sheen was rushed to hospital with severe abdominal pains, his spokesman said after a reported "wild" party at his home outside Los Angeles. The TMZ celebrity website said the 45-year-old actor - nickname "Good Time Charlie" - had suffered a hiatal hernia and quoted neighbors saying they heard loud partying, which had gone on for 36 hours, until early in the morning. "He was having severe abdominal pains and went to the hospital," his spokesman told AFP, after TMZ reported that he was stretchered into an ambulance at 7:00 am (1500 GMT) on Thursday and taken to the Cedars-Sinai hospital. Asked about the hernia report, spokesman Stan Rosenfield added: "He has had a history of having this type of hernia, and the person who made the 911 call said he had severe stomach pains and said it was from a hernia condition." TMZ, which earlier said the star was in "serious" condition, said a 911 call was made at 6:35 am, and that two young women were seen leaving at the same time while Sheen was taken out with a towel partially covering his face. It later said Sheen was in the emergency room, sleeping, but quoted a hospital source as saying: "It's serious." His actor father Martin Sheen and mother Janet Templeton were at the hospital, TMZ said. Neighbors of the star, who lives north of LA, reported hearing women singing Red Hot Chili Peppers songs loudly into the early hours, TMZ said, reporting that he was believed to have been having a "wild" party with five women. The star of sitcoms "Two and a Half Men" and "Spin City" filed for divorce from his wife of two years in November, days after being taken to hospital following a reported drunken incident in New York. People and other entertainment magazines said the star, one of the best-paid TV actors, was hospitalized after causing serious damage to his room at the Plaza Hotel, where police found him drunk, naked and in the company of a woman. Last August Sheen pleaded guilty to an assault charge arising from a violent Christmas Day altercation with his wife while vacationing at Aspen, Colorado, but avoided jail under a deal with prosecutors. Sheen had several run-ins with the law in the 1990s in cases related to drugs, domestic violence and prostitution. He has also been accused of assaulting his ex-wife actress Denise Richards, a former James Bond girl. Sheen -- whose nicknames also include "The Machine" and "Chuckles" -- was born Carlos Irwin Estevez in New York on September 3, 1965. His father was just breaking into the acting business on Broadway at the time. Charlie took an interest in acting at a young age, winning a small part in a TV movie at the age of nine. In 1977 he was in in the Philippines when his dad suffered a near-fatal heart attack on the set of "Apocalypse Now." He went to school in Santa Monica with Rob Lowe and Sean Penn, and while passionate about acting and baseball he was not good in the classroom and was expelled, according to his biography on the IMDb movie industry website. His big break came in 1986 when he starred in Oliver Stone's Oscar-winning "Platoon," and the director cast him again in "Wall Street" the next year, alongside his father. He subsequently fell out with Stone, but continued with a string of hits including "Young Guns" in 1988 and "Hot Shots!" in 1991. However by the mid-1990s his professional and personal life began to go off the rails. In 1995, while testifying at the trial of Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss, he admitted to spending nearly $50,000 on 27 of Fleiss' $2,500-a-night prostitutes.

Red undies all the rage this Chinese New Year ANN - Friday, January 28 George Town (The Star/ANN) - Red and purple undergarments are popular among people of the Malaysian state of Penang this Chinese New Year. But do not expect to see images of the rabbit printed on them. Instead, the trend is for lace and gold embroidered underwear. Many Chinese believe wearing red and purple on Chinese New Year would bring them good luck. Roadside trader Anny Lim, 50, said she has seen more demand for the coloured undergarments that she imports from Thailand. "I brought in 100 sets three times and sales have been very good. "People also like purple, thanks to a beverage television commercial promoting purple as the extreme red," she quipped. People are also buying red bras with a tube design that covers their cleavage but is still visible when wearing a low-cut blouse. At Sunshine Square in Bayan Baru, lingerie department buyer Tan Siew Tuan, 36, said red undergarments, with lace and gold embroidery, are hot items. "People believe wearing red undergarments at the stroke of midnight to usher the Chinese New Year, coupled with red pyjamas, will bring them good luck and prosperity," she said. Even the men are snapping up red underwear for the new year. Sunshine's business processing department head Nicholas Ong said people wear the colour after listening to feng shui masters. Sales executive Lim Hui Zhen, 42, said she would always buy red undergarments to bring ong (prosperity in Hokkien). Feng shui master Lee Cheng Hoe said he did not think wearing red for good luck is true in terms of feng shui. "It is just a belief among the Chinese community. "We tend to confuse belief with culture, custom and religion," he said.

WOW !...Niceeezzz mate.

Miss World CEO slams S’pore pageant standards By Angela Lim – January 28th, 2011 The global organiser of the Miss World pageants is shocked at the poor standards of how the beauty contest was being run in Singapore. “I was shocked to hear that the representation of the Miss World brand has been diluted to such a degree here that I don’t recognise it anymore,” Ms Julia Morley, the British chairperson and CEO of Miss World Limited told The New Paper. “The girls are being paraded in bikinis and the show has become more for a showgirl club type image. The show’s judging panel must think of who will make a good ambassador for Singapore, not who has the biggest… you know,” she added. Ms Morley, who has owned the Miss World brand for the last 40 years, also claims people have e-mailed to inform her that Singapore’s pageant winners have not been active in charity work, amongst other complaints. To give the Singapore beauty contest an image overhaul, Ms Morley has dropped the local licensee of Miss World, ERM World Marketing (ERM), as the pageant’s Singapore organiser. Instead, starting this year, Mr Raymund Ooi of Limelite Productions will take over the reins from ERM’s managing director Mr Alex Liu, who has been organising the pageant for the last seven years. Explaining her decision, Ms Morley said of ERM’s Mr Liu, “It’s a different show that he’s running and he’s not running with us (the Miss World brand) in mind.” She added that ERM was also involved in many other pageants which did not fit the brand’s ideal of the organiser managing only the Miss World pageant. ERM said it does a string of events including Manhunt International, Miss Bikini International, Miss All Nations, Miss Tourism Queen International (Chinese Version), Miss Tourism Queen International (English Version) and Miss Global Beauty Queen. But is her decision to appoint a new licensee also a response to the Ris Low fiasco in 2009? Surprisingly, Ms Morley said she had not heard of the scandal involving the former beauty queen’s credit card fraud convictions and infamous problems with the English language. When told of the ex-beauty queen’s sudden rise to fame (or infamy) in the last two years, no doubt encouraged by her ”boomz rad biginis” and “leopard preens”, Ms Morley expressed sympathy. “It’s a shame that she’s been put through this. If she’s a poor, ignorant girl, then you (the licensee) should help these girls. She shouldn’t have been put in a position to represent Singapore yet. We want to help young women, not degrade them,” she said. Previous local winners of the Miss World pageants include 2008 winner Faraliza Tan, 2006 winner Colleen Francesca and 1988 winner Teo Ser Lee. Despite having never met Low, Ms Morley said the other Miss Singapore World contestants over the past years were “very pleasant young women”. “You can’t dislike them because they are only represented by the help that they have been given,” she said. Ms Tracy Lee, an events consultant at ERM, echoed that it was a business decision — and not the Ris Low incident — to discontinue as licensee for Miss Singapore World. She explained that the licensee fees are “high into five figures” and the sponsorship obtained does not justify the pageant expenses. During the 2009 contest which Ms Low won, questions arose also about the judging criteria. Defending ERM’s management of the Miss World pageant over the last few years, Ms Lee said. “This is a beauty contest where the girls must have a good figure and complexion, so if they do not parade in swimwear, what do they wear?” “And just because we do not publicise our charity work does not mean the girls have not done their part of charity work,” she added. Ms Lee said that the contestants had raised more than S$120,000 for the victims of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. “If you want the contest to be glamourous and be a huge production, there must be financial support from either government agencies, TV station or the private sector each year to finance the event, which we do not always get.” she explained. She added, “So with what little funds which we raised each year, ERM has done the best it can with the limited resources to produce the Miss Singapore World pageant.” So what qualities should the ideal Miss World Singapore possess? According to Ms Morley, she must first be someone who likes and understands Singapore and has the confidence to promote charity work and her home country overseas. In addition, she must be intelligent and have a good heart. “If she hasn’t got money, that’s not her fault, so we are here to help her and groom her. She must learn how to dress, walk, speak well and even do things like holding a microphone properly,” she said. “I want Singaporeans to go,’This is our girl and we’ll all get behind her as a country’,” she added.

Horror tales from a former flight attendant By Kai Fong – January 27th, 2011 “Your senior would force you to smoke, drink and even sleep with them. If you didn’t comply, they would make your life hell.” “A colleague of mine was terrified because the head steward wouldn’t stop knocking on her hotel door in the middle of the night. When she didn’t respond, he taunted her in front of everyone the next morning. It got so bad that she cried every single day.” “She felt dirty every time she put on her uniform so she quit her job.” These are just some examples of the many traumatic experiences female flight attendants have suffered in their line of work. In a newly published book, a flight-attendant-turned-writer recounts her own air horror tales with a liberal dose of humour, even though things were far from funny back then. And the title doesn’t get any more appropriate — Madness Aboard! Welcome to Plane Insanity. “It (sexual harassment) was so prevalent that you can ask any stewardess who worked at the time and they will tell you the same stories,” says 40-year-old Yvonne Lee, who left the aviation industry in 1995 after six years. She tells Malaysian daily The Star of how a chief steward called “Joe Square Jaw” had attempted to make a move on her in the cargo hold. “I felt a strange erected pressure against the small of my back. If I remember correctly, it was the same kind of pressure I had felt when I was among the sardine-packed commuters on a bullet train in Tokyo,” wrote Lee. “Some Japanese pervert had jacked up against my butt. Then it quickly occurred to me that this was no bullet train but a deserted cargo hold where only one other person existed! Joe Square Jaw!” Insanity indeed. A UK report entitled ‘Sexual harassment culture shatters illusion of high life‘ shows that in a survey of 2,000 women who worked for a national airline, more than one in five said they had suffered sexual harassment from passengers. Apparently, male members of the crew pose an even greater threat. Almost half of the women said they had had to put up with offensive remarks or lewd behaviour by colleagues or superiors. And the easiest prey? “Rookie stewardesses,” as Lee calls it. “It was as if it was a time before modern civilisation and the stewardesses were viewed like cattle stock. Whether pilots, stewards or passengers, they ogled at a newbie like she was a walking piece of prime steak, a Chateaubriand with a chignon and in heels…. It was demeaning.” So why do flight attendants make such appealing targets for sexual harassment? The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) points the finger at advertising. “There’s not an airline out there that hasn’t at some time sought to exploit the notion that air travel includes being served by a physically attractive hostess,” states the ITF report. The Star gave the example of Singapore International Airlines (SIA)’s “Singapore Girls” — so famous that a reproduction of “the girl” became the first commercial icon to be placed in Madame Tussaud‘s waxworks museum in London in 1993. “Gorgeous air stewardesses…I think a majority of passengers have come to expect that,” agrees flight attendant Max Foo, 26. “In fact, I have friends who said they preferred Asian airlines compared to Western ones because the latter were full of old, matronly women.” Fussy much? Try the demanding male passengers, or those who had a little too much to drink, or both. “A male passenger touched my behind. I told him, you do that again and I will slap you,” says a stewardess in a report complied by the ITF. “I asked the other passengers to be my witness to his behaviour and, in the end, I had to slap him. Of course, sometimes you’re afraid you might lose your job.” Says senior flight attendant Annie Teo, 46, “It’s as if normal rules don’t apply when you’re 40,000ft (12,192m) in the air. This problem is further exacerbated during the layover period, when you’re in a foreign land with co-workers who are virtual strangers. There was a lot of hard partying going on.” These cases may not make newspaper headlines, but word gets around on who the top predators are, says Teo. “We have an unofficial list of our own,” she adds. “There’s a Top Five Captains List and a Top Five Supervisors List. We’re very cautious with those who make the list.” While Teo admits that things have somewhat improved since the implementation of more stringent laws governing sexual harassment at the workplace, the working conditions are still far from desired. “It’s still normal for a male captain or steward to refer to a stewardess as a ‘crew meal’, meaning that she’s an easy lay,” says Teo. “That’s the first thing they look out for in a flight — a stewardess that they can makan (“eat”) and pass on to their colleagues. They think it’s funny.” And the worst part? The same sexual predators who were around 10 years ago are still around today. “The supervisor who raped my friend is still working, even though he has amassed a string of cases over the years,” reveals Teo. “He even got promoted recently. I think it’s because he has strong ties with the human resources department.” There are reasons why such cases go unreported. “Usually, we’re advised to lodge a complaint in the office instead of taking matters to the police,” she says. “If the victim does this, however, the office would require both her and her perpetrator to be present for an investigation. What if the perpetrator isn’t penalised for his actions and decides to make her pay for what she’s done?” It seems that male flight attendants are not left out of the nasty game either. What makes it worse is that the airline companies do not take such matters seriously, says Max Foo. “I’ve lost count of how many times another male colleague had tried to grope or rub against me,” he says. “I was bemused at first, but now I’m just angry.” “In class, they teach the girls some basic precautionary measures they can use to avoid salacious advances but, when it comes to the men, we’re usually on our own. Management makes a big joke out of it (homosexuality).” “At the end of the day, we’re just normal human beings,” adds Foo. “Most of us just want to make a decent living and go back to our families.”

Liverpool deny Torres request, agree Suarez deal Reuters - Saturday, January 29 LONDON - Liverpool have turned down a transfer request from Fernando Torres hours after Kenny Dalglish made his first major transfer impact in his second spell as manager by agreeing to sign Uruguay forward Luis Suarez. The club, who said on Friday they had agreed to buy Suarez from Ajax Amsterdam for 26.5 million euros , have made it clear they intend to keep Spain striker Torres. "Fernando is under long-term contract and the club expect him to honour the commitment he made to Liverpool FC and its supporters when he signed the agreement," the Merseysiders said on their website. On Thursday, Liverpool turned down what media reported was a British record fee of around 40 million pounds for the forward from Chelsea. Torres has struggled for form this season but has looked sharper since Dalglish took over from Roy Hodgson on an interim basis this month, helping to lift Liverpool up to seventh in the Premier League with back-to-back wins. If Liverpool can persuade Torres to stay they will end up with a potent strikeforce thanks to the addition of 24-year-old Suarez, who scored 111 goals in 159 Ajax appearances. 'BEAUTIFUL CLUB' Liverpool said on their website they had been granted permission by Ajax to discuss personal terms with Suarez and his representatives, adding the deal was subject to a medical. "I can understand Luis wanting to go to Liverpool, it's a beautiful club, but then it has to be satisfying for both parties," said Ajax coach Frank de Boer in a statement. Nicknamed 'El Pistolero' or 'The Gunfighter', Suarez has just finished serving a seven-match ban for biting PSV Eindhoven's Otman Bakkal on the shoulder in a league match in November. He was also at the centre of controversy at last year's World Cup when Uruguay went through to the semi-finals as he handled the ball on the goalline in the final minute of extra time against Ghana to prevent a winning goal by Dominic Adiyiah. Suarez was sent off but his team subsequently won a penalty shootout. The striker has scored seven league goals this season after notching 48 in all competitions last term to earn the Dutch Footballer of the Year award. Suarez was sent off on his Uruguay debut in February 2007 and has netted 16 goals in 38 international appearances. He is set to join Liverpool just as the 18-times English champions are showing signs of recovery after spending much of the season in the bottom half of the table. Since taking over the club in October, Liverpool's American owners have given little away in terms of what the budget for transfers might be or whether there are any long-term plans to keep Dalglish on beyond the end of the season.

Liverpool reject Torres Premiership transfer request AFP - Saturday, January 29 LONDON (AFP) – Liverpool have turned down a transfer request from Fernando Torres, the English Premier League club said Saturday, following an audacious bid from Chelsea for the Spanish international. "Fernando Torres tonight submitted a written transfer request, which has been rejected by Liverpool," Liverpool said in a statement on its website. "Fernando is under a long-term contract and the Club expects him to honour the commitment he made to Liverpool FC and its supporters when he signed the agreement." Striker Torres, 26, is under contract at Liverpool until 2013. However he is widely reported to have a buy-out clause in his deal which will allow him to leave if another team matches his 50-million-pound valuation. The clause was believed to have been inserted as a concession to Torres after Liverpool failed to qualify for the Champions League last season amid uncertainty over the club's ownership. Chelsea, who are believed to have tabled a similar bid for the player last summer, had been told that the Spanish international was not for sale, Liverpool said in a statement on its website on Friday. "Chelsea have made a bid for Fernando which has been turned down," a Liverpool spokesman said. "The player is not for sale." Newspaper reports earlier put Chelsea's bid at 35 million pounds. The fact that Torres would be eligible for Chelsea's Champions League campaign this season may persuade the English double-winners to increase their bid to the 50-million-pound mark. Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is expected to overhaul Chelsea's ageing squad, where a number of stalwarts such as Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and John Terry are nearing the end of their careers at Stamford Bridge. Blues manager Carlo Ancelotti declined to comment on Friday when asked about the club's bid for Torres. "I don't want to speak about this, you will have to ask the club. He is not my player and I have to have respect for Liverpool. I don't like to speak about this," said Ancelotti before praising Chelsea's activity in the January window. "I am happy because the club is doing a fantastic job in this transfer market. The club is trying to do everything to improve the squad." After a difficult start to the season, Torres appears to have been revitalised under new Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish, netting three goals in his last four appearances for the Reds. Liverpool meanwhile confirmed Friday they have agreed a deal with Dutch side Ajax to sign Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez. The English giants will pay a fee of up to 26.5 million euros (22.8 million pounds) subject to the player passing a medical and agreeing personal terms. Suarez's much-anticipated move to Merseyside had been held up after the two clubs had failed to reach agreement on a transfer fee. However 24-year-old Suarez had spoken enthusiastically about the prospect of a move to England, telling The Sunday Times in an interview last week that he believed he could emulate the success of Carlos Tevez in the Premier League. "(England) is a league that attracts me, a country where the football is really good," said Suarez, who notoriously committed a goal-line handball which saved Uruguay from elimination in the World Cup against Ghana last year. "Alongside the Spanish league it is the best in the world. In England you have a lot of clubs with aspirations to become champions and they are also very strong in the Champions League at the European level." Suarez has been a prolific scorer in the Dutch championship, scoring 111 goals in 159 matches since joining Ajax from Groningen in 2007. But controversy is never far away with the Uruguayan having just completed a seven-match ban for biting PSV Eindhoven's Otman Bakkal on the shoulder in a league match in November.

Liverpool agree Suarez deal with Ajax AFP - Saturday, January 29 LIVERPOOL (AFP) - – Liverpool confirmed Friday they have agreed a deal with Dutch side Ajax to sign Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez, just hours after they turned down an attempt by Chelsea to relieve them of Fernando Torres. The English giants will pay a fee of up to 26.5 million euros (22.8 million pounds) subject to the player passing a medical and agreeing personal terms. Suarez's much-anticipated move to Merseyside had been held up after the two clubs had failed to reach agreement on a transfer fee. However 24-year-old Suarez had spoken enthusiastically about the prospect of a move to England, telling the Sunday Times in an interview last week that he believed he could emulate the success of Carlos Tevez in the Premier League. "(England) is a league that attracts me, a country where the football is really good," said Suarez, who notoriously committed a goal-line handball which saved Uruguay from elimination in the World Cup against Ghana last year. "Alongside the Spanish league it is the best in the world. In England you have a lot of clubs with aspirations to become champions and they are also very strong in the Champions League at the European level. "I used to think that English football was not my style. But I saw Tevez play at Boca and Corinthians and I never imagined that he would play in the Premier League. "When I see the way that Tevez plays there I think I can be a big name in England. It's because of the energy, and the spirit they put into the game in England. Now, I think it's a kind of football that suits me." The deal comes on the same day that Liverpool turned down a bid of 35 million pounds from Chelsea for Spanish international striker Torres. The 26-year-old Torres had already pleaded with Liverpool to prove his long-term future lies at Anfield by bringing in better players to bolster a team which has looked reborn under Kenny Dalglish. Having scored just once in seven matches prior to the Scot's appointment as manager he has hit three in his last four games - and that would have been four in four had he not had a goal wrongly ruled out for offside in Wednesday's win over Fulham. Suarez has been a prolific scorer in the Dutch championship, scoring 111 goals in 159 matches since joining Ajax from Groningen in 2007. But controversy is never far away with the Uruguayan having just completed a seven-match ban for biting PSV Eindhoven's Otman Bakkal on the shoulder in a league match in November.