kueytoc

Mark ya Calendar & join the CELEBRATION folks ! Britain's Prince William to wed in April at Abbey AFP - Wednesday, November 24 LONDON (AFP) - – Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton are to marry on April 29 at Westminster Abbey, the historic London church where the funeral of his mother Diana was held in 1997, royal officials said Tuesday. Downing Street announced that there would be a special public holiday on the day, perhaps the biggest royal event in Britain since the ill-fated union of William's parents Prince Charles and Diana nearly three decades ago. "The venue has long associations with the royal family -- it is in many ways the royal family's church -- and of course with Prince William personally," said Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, private secretary to the prince. The imposing gothic abbey has been the British monarchy's coronation church for centuries. Queen Elizabeth II also married Prince Philip at the abbey in 1947. Related article: Britain's royal weddings of the past The date and venue were revealed just under a week after the second-in-line to the throne officially revealed his engagement, capping a romance that began at St Andrews University in Scotland nearly eight years earlier. In what the prince said was a way of giving a posthumous role to his mother who died in a car crash in Paris 13 years ago, he also revealed that he had given Kate his mother's diamond and sapphire engagement ring. The wedding has given Britain a boost as it battens down the economic hatches ahead of harsh budget cuts aimed at cutting the country's huge deficit, and with its armed forces mired in a tenth year of war in Afghanistan. Mindful of the economic circumstances, Lowther-Pinkerton said the costs of the wedding would be paid for by the royal family and Middleton's parents. "All parties involved in the wedding, not least Prince William and Miss Middleton, want to ensure that a balance is struck between an enjoyable day and the current economic situation," he said. "To that end the royal family and the Middleton family will pay for the wedding." The announcement has sparked calls for William and Kate to ascend directly to the throne -- leapfrogging his less popular father Prince Charles and his second wife Camilla a constitutionally problematic arrangement. Four newspaper polls at the weekend showed that a majority of Britons would like to see him become king when Queen Elizabeth II dies and thought that he would be a better monarch than the 62-year-old Charles. Related article: Public want William and Kate as next king and queen Amid an outpouring of national mourning in Britain after her death, Diana's funeral was held at Westminster Abbey, with pictures of William and his younger brother Harry sadly watching her coffin beamed around the world. The shadow of Diana, her famously unhappy marriage and her ceaseless pursuit by the media -- photographers were chasing her at the time of her death -- has hung over her son and his relationship with Kate from the beginning. William has reportedly taken steps to prepare his fiancee to deal with the glare of the media, as well as with the the formality of royal life which Kate at a press conference last week admitted were "quite daunting." Timeline: Prince William's romance with Kate Middleton The then-Lady Diana Spencer married William's father Prince Charles at St Paul's Cathedral in July 1981 in a ceremony that drew hundreds of thousands of people into the streets. But they divorced in 1996 amid admissions of adultery on both sides -- in Charles' case with Camilla. Public support for the wedding has, however, not extended into a desire for it to receive public funding, with a poll at the weekend found that 82 percent of people said the royals should cover the cost of the event.

Got BUY boh ??? Controversial pope book already selling fast AFP - Wednesday, November 24 VATICAN CITY (AFP) - – A new book in which Pope Benedict XVI talks candidly about issues including sexuality and child abuse hits bookshop shelves on Wednesday and is already selling fast, its publishers say. Extracts in which the 83-year-old German pope broke a Roman Catholic Church taboo and said condoms were acceptable in some cases have whetted the public appetite for "Light of the World", which is being published in 18 languages. "We've had over 12,000 pre-release orders over the last month and the numbers are about to jump pretty rapidly," said Neil McCaffrey from Ignatius Press, the US publishers of the book. "The sale numbers are rising fast as we speak: I've already had wholesalers on the phone demanding more copies because they've exhausted their supply." Booksellers are hoping the tome will have the same success as previous books by Benedict. In 2007 "Jesus of Nazareth", the first part of a biography of Christ, was an immediate bestseller both in Italy and abroad. After extracts of "Light of the World" were published at the weekend, interest surged when Benedict's comments that condom use may be justified in the case of male prostitutes were mistranslated in the Italian edition to specify female sex workers. Key quotes from Pope's new book The Vatican clarified Tuesday that condoms used in the fight to reduce the risk of HIV infection was valid for all sex workers. "It makes no difference whether the prostitute is male, female or transsexual: the message is to avoid posing a serious risk to the lives of others," Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said. Until now, the Vatican had prohibited the use of any form of contraception -- other than abstinence - even as a guard against sexually transmitted disease. Anti-AIDS campaigners welcomed what they saw as a U-turn by the pope on the use of condoms Sunday, saying it marked a historic break with the past which would save lives. "Light of the World" is based on 20 hours of interviews with German journalist Peter Seewald, the author, and explores the pontiff's views on sexuality, abuse, Islam and female ordination, among other issues. In the interviews, he also addresses the paedophile clergy scandals in Europe and the United States that have pitched the Church into its worst crisis in many years and have clouded his pontificate. The pope describes the scale of abuse by clergymen as an "unprecedented shock" for him and likens the crisis to "a volcano out of which suddenly a tremendous cloud of filth came, darkening and soiling everything." "It is necessary for the Church to be vigilant, to punish those who have sinned, and above all to exclude them from further access to children," he said. Hundreds of cases of abuse have been reported across Europe and the United States since he became pope in 2005. Benedict has apologised, met with victims and approved stricter rules for dealing with predator priests. He is also asked during the interviews whether he would consider resigning as pope. "Yes," he responds, saying that this could happen when "a pope clearly realises that he is no longer physically, psychologically, and spiritually capable of handling the duties of his office." Benedict's comments on the child sex scandal were criticised by an association of victims, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP). The pope admits "that maybe he should have launched a global investigation into clergy sex crimes back in 2002. Hes right. But he didnt then and he isnt now," said Washington-based SNAP member Mark Serrano in a statement Tuesday. "Neither the pope nor his interviewer addresses widely circulated charges that the pope, while serving as the Archbishop of Munich and later as a Vatican cardinal, himself mishandled cases of pedophile priests. "Benedicts moral authority will continue to be seriously compromised until he finds the courage to address his own personal involvement -- in Munich and in Rome -- in concealing horrific child sex crimes," he said. Seewald, the author, is a former communist who became Catholic after meeting Benedict when he was known as cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and with whom he produced two earlier volumes of interviews. The latest interviews took place in July.

US vows 'unshakeable' support for S.Korea after attack AFP - 11 minutes ago WASHINGTON (AFP) - – US President Barack Obama described North Korea as a pressing threat and pledged "unshakeable" support for South Korea after the communist state rained a deadly artillery barrage on a border island. Washington and Seoul agreed to "coordinate" any response to North Korea after Tuesday's attack, which killed two South Korean marines and sent panicked civilians fleeing the flashpoint Yellow Sea island of Yeonpyeong. In an interview with ABCNews, Obama would not speculate on military actions that the United States may take in response to the artillery deluge, which has incited global condemnation and depressed financial markets around the world. But the "outraged" president was quoted as saying: "We want to make sure all the parties in the region recognize that this is a serious and ongoing threat that has to be dealt with." South Korea, after decrying an "inhumane atrocity" against defenceless civilians, said Wednesday that it was suspending promised flood aid to North Korea, and has already called off talks on reuniting families split by war. Obama was briefed by top security and military aides on the nuclear-armed Stalinist state's assault on the island, one of the worst border incidents since the 1950-1953 Korean war. History: Clashes between North and South Korea "The president reiterated the unshakeable support of the United States for our ally, the Republic of Korea, and discussed ways to advance peace and security on the Korean peninsula going forward," a White House statement said. Analysis: N.Korean attack related to succession But both the United States, which has 28,500 troops in South Korea, and Seoul appeared bent on what officials called a "measured" response in tackling the latest spasm of tensions with North Korea. "We're going to work with China, we're going to work with all our six-party partners on a response," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said, referring to an international group tackling North Korea's nuclear program. The firing came after North Korea's disclosure of an apparently operational uranium enrichment plant -- a second potential way of building a nuclear bomb -- which is causing serious alarm for the United States and its allies. It also comes as North Korea prepares for an eventual dynastic succession from Kim Jong-Il to his youngest son, Kim Jong-Un. The expected transfer is fueling speculation about the opaque regime's military and nuclear intentions. Scene: Islanders tell of terror as N.Korean shells land Japan and Russia, both members of the six-nation group, have slammed North Korea's artillery raid. Stephen Bosworth, a US nuclear envoy visiting Beijing on Wednesday, demanded that North Korea cease its "provocative" actions and urged "all members of the international community to condemn" Pyongyang. China -- North Korea's sole major ally and economic prop -- has expressed "concern" over the shelling but has not publicly criticized North Korea. The US-led United Nations Command, which monitors the uneasy 1953 armistice, called for general-level talks with North Korea to "de-escalate the situation." South Korea's military went on top alert Tuesday, its troops fired back with cannon and the government convened in an underground war room after North Korea fired up to 50 artillery shells onto Yeonpyeong. North Korea's supreme command, however, accused South Korea of firing first and vowed "merciless military attacks with no hesitation if the South Korean enemy dares to invade our sea territory by 0.001 mm". Analysis: N.Korea wages war in search of peace pact "We ran for our lives. Both my shoes were pulled off my feet and I had to ride the boat barefoot," Han Mi-Soon, 52, said after fleeing to mainland South Korea aboard a ferry along with hundreds of other civilians. Yeonpyeong lies just south of the border declared by UN forces after the war, but north of the sea border declared by Pyongyang. The Yellow Sea border was the scene of deadly naval clashes in 1999, 2002 and last November. Tensions have been acute since the sinking of a South Korean warship in March, which Seoul says was the result of a North Korean torpedo attack. Pyongyang has rejected the charge.

Chelsea youngsters brighten gloom for Carlo Ancelotti Reuters - Wednesday, November 24 By Mike Collett LONDON - Chelsea put aside uncertainty over their immediate future with a performance that boded well for the longer term as their young players inspired a 2-1 comeback win over MSK Zilina in the Champions League on Tuesday. An equaliser from 21-year-old Daniel Sturridge and assured displays from 17-year-old midfielder Josh McEachran, 19-year-old defender Jeffrey Bruma and 20-year-old defender Patrick van Aanholt in the second half helped Chelsea to victory after going behind in the 19th minute. Florent Malouda scored a late winner to leave Chelsea with a maximum 15 points from their five matches, and guaranteed first place in Group F, followed by Olympique Marseille . Zilina are bottom with no points. Zilina went ahead through Babatounde Bello and held that lead until six minutes into the second half when Sturridge equalised with a close range effort in Chelsea's 100th match in Europe's elite club competition. The London side then dominated the second half before finally getting the goal they deserved through Malouda's tap-in four minutes from time. The result lifted some of the gloom over Stamford Bridge following the recent, controversial departure of popular assistant coach Ray Wilkins and three defeats in their last four Premier League matches which have sparked rumours over the future of coach Carlo Ancelotti. He, however, was calm and composed after a win against surprisingly stubborn opponents, who lost by a record home Champions League score of 7-0 in their last group match against Olympique Marseille. Ancelotti made six changes to the side that lost to Birmingham City on Saturday and was without injured or rested senior players like John Terry, Frank Lampard, Michael Essien and Alex, and gave some of his younger players a chance. "We did not play well in the first half but we were very good in the second half and I was very pleased with the young players generally," Ancelotti told reporters. "It was important to win and move on. We have now had 60 shots at goal in our last two games but only scored twice. We have been unlucky not to score more but the young players have had some good experience tonight and showed the quality they can bring to the team." He singled out McEachran, a slightly-built creative England Under-17 midfielder who has been with Chelsea since he was eight, for his second-half performance. "He was good defensively today but can play the ball long or short without a problem," he said. "He has to grow, he has to improve -- but he is ready to play." SURPRISE GOAL Chelsea hardly looked ready for anything much in the opening half but it was still a surprise when they fell behind when Bello, a 21-year-old Nigerian-born Benin international exchanged passes advancing up the field with Robert Jez before firing wide of goalkeeper Peter Cech's stand-in Ross Turnbull. That was Zilina's first goal in the competition since their 4-1 home loss to Chelsea in September, and they continued to worry the English champions. The home side gradually began to assert themselves with Sturridge prevented from an equaliser before halftime only by a superb save from Martin Dubravka. At the start of the second half, Ancelotti replaced the only youngster to disappoint -- 19-year-old Gael Kakuta -- with Salomon Kalou and with two wingers stretching the Zilina defence, his side began to dominate. Didier Drogba and Van Aanholt hit the post before Malouda scored when Zilina's defensive frailties were exposed. "I thought we had done enough for as point and we are obviously disappointed to lose right at the end," said Zilina boss Pavel Hapal, whose team are in danger of ending this group stage with the worst record since the Champions League began. "Chelsea though had more chances in the second half, and we could have conceded a lot more, so it's good, if we had to lose, we only lost 2-1."

Time to get real Wayne Fri Nov 19 11:42AM By Jim White There is every chance that England's most elusive over-paid non-performing footballer might actually be seen in action at some point this weekend. And no, we're not talking about another abortive return for poor old Owen Hargreaves. Apparently someone called Wayne Rooney might deign to play some part in Manchester United's game against Wigan tomorrow. About time, you might say, given that, thanks to his new humungo contract, he has banked something approaching £1 million since he last managed to lace his boots for competitive action. Speaking in Doha this week as part of his well-remunerated support for Qatar's 2022 World Cup bid, Sir Alex Ferguson suggested that Rooney should be cut a little slack by the fans. The player was guilty of nothing more than making a mistake during his recent contract shenanigans, the manager insisted, a mistake he quickly rectified. What's more, Ferguson added, that mistake was merely listening to his agent. It is a point of view. Though you wonder how insensitive a footballer must be not to see the clear and obvious dangers inherent in the course his agent advised. Playing like a drain, Rooney was seen to be demanding an enormous hike in his already massive wages at precisely the moment many of those whose affiliation pays his salary were facing the possibility of hardship as the government announced its austerity programme. Not only was his timing shocking, but in his negotiations, he managed to exploit his colleagues and the fans, whose legitimate fears about the future of their club he hijacked to mask his own greed. You would have to be pretty blinkered not to spot it was hardly the most tactful of negotiating positions his agent was promoting. Of course, it could be argued that it worked brilliantly and he emerged with a much more substantial contract at the end of it. Well, financially that may be true. But the other contract, the unwritten one between him and the followers of his team, has been tarnished, perhaps beyond repair. At United's game with Stoke recently, hardcore red fans were heard in the under-stand bars chanting about the player whose very name they had previously worshipped "once a greedy bastard, always a greedy bastard". And I paraphrase wildly to protect sensitive dispositions. The fact is, Rooney has an awful lot of work to do to repair the damage his contractual dispute wrought. A few goals, a couple of man-of-the-match performances, some sweat on the shirt, is the minimum start. More important than that is a rediscovery of his focus. The noises coming from Manchester for the past year had been of a player beginning to be blinded by the money, the fame, the adoration. His nocturnal behaviour might be something best left to him and his wife to discuss, but he was hardly discreet. The tales had been spinning round town a long time before they were confirmed by the newspapers. Giving it the swanky alpha male might be tolerated when the goals are banging in, but when he looked a painful parody of what he once was, patience was less easily won. Now, the moment he actually returns to the team, it will be tested to the edge of its resistance. The official line from Carrington insists the player is up for the challenge. He has returned from his trip to Nikeworld fit and raring to go, so the spin goes. There was talk of half a stone being lost. Which makes you wonder how United's own conditioning staff had not noticed there was excess in need of being shed. The question that haunts him, however, is not to do with his body mass index. It is to do with his head. Seemingly that was all over the place in the latter part of last and the early bit of this season. The claim was that it was a combination of contract and marital worries that was scrambling his concentration. Well, if he wants to return to the position of reverence he was once afforded in the Old Trafford stands, he needs to have restored his mental equilibrium. What counts now is not the noughts on the end of his pay cheque, it is the goals in United's for column. The work, Wayne, starts here.

Ancelotti explains Emenalo role Sat, 20 Nov 07:58:06 2010 Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has revealed he had no input in Michael Emenalo's promotion to assistant first-team coach, and he does not want the Nigerian to actually work with the team. Revealing some of the tensions at the club in the wake of Ray Wilkins' shock departure last week, Ancelotti made clear that both decisions were made over his head, leaving him uneasy. "I am not here to explain how I feel at the moment, because it is not the right moment," he said in the Daily Telegraph. "I'm professional, I will continue to work. I want to stay focused on my team." He added: "The club made this decision (to promote Emenalo) after the decision on Ray. But nothing has changed, for me. Emenalo has been working with me before. "He started when I came here last year. He was the opposition scout and was supporting me. He's not been involved in the training, and won't be, because (first-team coach) Paul Clement has been and will remain doing that. "But nothing changes. It was not my decision, but he is working with me for a year and a half anyway." In announcing Emenalo's promotion, a Chelsea statement had said Emenalo "will continue to oversee the first team scouting operation as he makes the transition to coaching" as he needed to gain additional qualifications. But Ancelotti's comments suggest he does not want any such transition to take place. When pressed on the matter, Ancelotti reiterated: "He won't be involved in the training sessions." However, Emenalo will sit on the bench for matches, starting on Saturday at Birmingham City.

Premier League - From U12s girls coach to Chelsea assistant Tue, 23 Nov 12:53:00 2010 New Chelsea's assistant manager Michael Emenalo's previous coaching job was as the trainer of an U12 girls team in America. The Nigerian was promoted to the number two spot at Stamford Bridge after the controversial dismissal of Ray Wilkins, who has since launched a claim of unfair dismissal against the English champions. Emenalo was originally brought to Chelsea in 2007 as chief scout by then manager Avram Grant and was signed from the Tucson Soccer Academy in Arizona where he was in charge of the '96 girls side (equivalent of U12s). His only other previous coaching experience was a year as a volunteer coach at Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg. Charlie Kendrick, a colleague of Emenalo in Tucson, admits his academy was lucky to have Emenalo coaching their 11-year-old girls. "As soon as we heard people of their experience at such high levels were around, we took the opportunity to have them work with our kids. We could not miss that chance," he told the Daily Telegraph. "We do not really have a soccer culture in America. So maybe people at the time did not realise how lucky they were to have someone of his calibre working with their children. "Maybe now they see that he has got such a big job, they will. Those of us who worked with him are all rooting for him. If anyone deserves success, it's Michael." As a player Emenalo had spells in the United States, Belgium, Germany, and a brief time with Notts County in England before finishing his career with Maccabi Tel Aviv of Israel who were managed by Grant at the time. The 45-year-old was also a member of the Nigerian squad at the 1994 World Cup in the USA. Wilkins meanwhile, began his career at Chelsea and made 179 appearances before joining Manchester United in 1979. He also had spells with Milan and Rangers and won 84 caps for England.

Premier League - Ancelotti: I'm not leaving Chelsea Mon, 22 Nov 13:46:00 2010 Carlo Ancelotti insists he remains in charge of Chelsea and has denied he ever considered his position as coach over the weekend. The Blues have hit a rough patch in the league, with three defeats in four matches seeing Manchester United catch them at the top of the table. And Monday's papers carried widespread rumours that the 51-year-old was on the verge of quitting, claiming that he had been upset by the handling of Ray Wilkins's exit from the club, and adding that Ancelotti had spoken to the League Managers' Association about his position. But the Italian has rubbished any suggestion that he had offered his resignation, and has now claimed that he wants to stay with the club until the end of his current deal - and beyond. "I don't know if it's enough to clarify my position to close these rumours and speculation," said Ancelotti. "These rumours are totally untrue. I don't know why they came out. I didn't speak with the LMA. "They called me (on Sunday night) when I was at home, quiet, to find out what was happening. "These rumours are totally untrue. I have my contract until 2012, here, in this club. I've said a lot of times that I'd like to stay here. "I love not just this club, but these players. I have a lot of confidence in these players, in this squad, so there's no reason to change my ideas. "I don't know if this is enough to speak about all this. I think that when the team don't reach the right results, obviously the coach is under pressure. "Obviously I am under pressure because I'd like Chelsea to win every game, but just this. I am focused on my job to make us play better than we are at this moment. Just this. "There was (on Sunday night) an LMA dinner with the coaches and they wanted to know about these rumours. I said to them that this is totally untrue. I read in the papers that I called them. That's untrue. I didn't call anybody. "My position in the club is very clear. I am the coach and I have to train my players to maintain the team, the club, at the best level. Now, this moment is not so good on the pitch and we have to do better there. "Obviously I understand very well because I had a lot of occasions like this in my career. The coach is in trouble when the team doesn't produce results, but this is my life. I like my life. "I'm not disappointed about this. I'm disappointed because Chelsea have lost three in four games, and this is not good: for me, the players, the club, for my job. We want to do better there." PA Sport

Premier League - Paper Round: Ancelotti to quit Chelsea Mon, 22 Nov 08:51:00 2010 Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is set to quit his job as manager of Chelsea, according to reports in Monday's newspapers. "Carlos on the brink", screams the Daily Express, reporting that the Italian is outraged at both his general lack of control and his annoyance at how his assistant Ray Wilkins was shown the door. The handling of the severance package for former England midfielder Wilkins has apparently only made things worse. The Express adds that Ancelotti has consulted the League Managers' Association for advice over what to do if he quits, with several bookmakers already having suspended betting on the 51-year-old to be the next Premier League manager to leave his job. The broadsheets are all over the story as well, with the Guardian reporting that the club have "rubbished" rumours that Ancelotti could quit - though the Daily Telegraph claim that Roman Abramovich's close relationship with new Blues assistant Michael Emenalo has "fatally undermined" Ancelotti's authority at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea are apparently not the only London club with friction emanating from the assistant manager's job: The Sun reports that there is a "growing rift" at West Ham between Avram Grant's number two Zeljko Petrovic and the playing staff. Apparently the coach's "training methods and 'arrogant' personality' are at the heart of the problem, with an 'insider' claiming that, "to a man the players don't like him," but adding that the problems at Upton Park run much deeper. "The place is unhappy from top to bottom," the source added. "Petrovic is just one of the problems in the mix of things." Not much transfer gossip this morning, though the Daily Mirror claims Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier is trying to sign David Wheater from Middlesbrough this January for £1.2 million - the bargain-basement price being on account of Wheater's contract running out at the end of the season. And finally, England's 2018 World Cup bid team look set to "do a Fergie" and refuse all cooperation with the BBC, according to the Daily Mail. The men responsible for bringing the football tournament back to these shores are furious at the Beeb for their plans to air a Panorama episode looking into the cash-for-votes scandal that has rocked FIFA - and they will vote with their feet by refusing to give media opportunities (including a one-to-one interview with bid ambassador David Beckham) to the national broadcaster. Paper Round knows as well as anybody how much guff and nonsense makes it into the British media under the banner of sports news. But in this situation the media is performing perhaps its most useful function - that of unearthing corruption in the corridors of power - and it seems shameful that anybody should try to block or punish honest reporting. Eurosport

Premier League - Wilkins takes legal advice Sat, 20 Nov 09:26:00 2010 Ray Wilkins has claimed he was the victim of "undoubtedly unfair dismissal" from Chelsea and is taking legal advice in an attempt to reach "an amicable solution". Wilkins abruptly left his role of first-team coach with the Premier League champions last week after being told his contract would not be renewed. The questions over what happened behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge will now only intensify as Wilkins spoke for the first time since his departure from the club. "I am very disappointed that the board decided that I had no further contribution to make at Chelsea Football Club which has played such a huge part in my life," said Wilkins in the statement released by the League Managers Association. "Since rejoining the club, I am extremely proud to have assisted in Chelsea's recent successes. "I enjoyed a fantastic relationship with the staff, players and the supporters and I now wish them all the very best for the future. "The LMA's legal advisors are assisting me in obtaining answers to a number of questions arising from my undoubtedly unfair dismissal, and all efforts are being made to reach an amicable solution. "I therefore will be making no further comment at this stage." Wilkins, 54, began his playing career at Chelsea when he made his league debut in 1973, before he went on to play for Manchester United, Milan and Rangers, also winning 84 England caps. He returned to the club's coaching staff in 2008 under former manager Luiz Felipe Scolari, and worked as assistant to Dutchman Guus Hiddink during his short reign, continuing that role when Ancelotti became manager. Wilkins helped lead Chelsea to last season's Premier League and FA Cup double in partnership with the Italian. Eurosport / PA Sport

Former ACS (I) principal found guilty of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ By Alicia Wong – November 23rd, 2010 Former Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) principal Dr Ong Teck Chin has been found to have behaved inappropriately towards a male teacher, an investigation panel at the school revealed. In a statement released on Monday, the ACS board of governors and ACS (I) board of management said Dr Ong “has conducted himself in an inappropriate manner and his conduct has fallen short of the standards expected of a principal”. While it did not elaborate on the inappropriate behaviour, the two-paragraph statement said, “Dr Ong deeply regrets his actions and has apologised”, reported The Straits Times (ST). Dr Ong’s behaviour first came to light last month, when the male teacher, Mark Richie Tan, made a complaint to the school’s board. Dr Ong, 61, resigned around the same time, citing health problems. His last day will be next Tuesday, ahead of his intended six months notice, after a mutual agreement with the school. The yet-to-be appointed principal will step in from January. Last September, Mr Tan was promoted after a new position, director in principal’s office, was created for him. Mr Tan said Dr Ong had behaved inappropriately when the two were sharing a hotel room during an overseas trip to recruit foreign students. The pair used to travel frequently on such trips. The biology teacher claimed to have requested to return to teaching repeatedly but was turned down. He later resigned and lodged a complaint with the board of governors. He has since retracted his resignation and is now back teaching at ACS (I). The findings received mixed responses. Parent Daniel Ong, 52, told ST he still believes in Dr Ong: “I have no qualms, no doubts about him at all.” But another parent, who declined to be named, said she was “glad the board has come out with its findings and is not trying to shield Dr Ong”. “How could such behaviour have gone on for so long and no one complained? I hope the board will select the next principal carefully,” she urged.

FEATURE: Quick money lures young Indonesian girls into prostitution ANN - 10 minutes ago Jakarta (The Jakarta Post/ANN) - She is only 17 years old, but the amount of money she earns in a month is much more than most of her peers. Cindy (not her real name) said she could make 30 million rupiah (US$3,300) a month. But Cindy is not a singer who had a breakthrough in a television talent show. She is a high-end prostitute who has only been in the business for a year. "I initially got into the business because I needed to repay my father's money he had given me. I used the money for drugs instead of paying his car installments," Cindy told The Jakarta Post in her rented room in a crowded neighborhood in West Jakarta. "I was confused and I thought that by becoming a prostitute I could get money quickly," Cindy said. Cindy's first client was a general manager at a large company in her hometown of Lampung, she said. But what she thought would be a one-time act to pay off her debt turned into a full-time job. She does not expect to quit the trade anytime soon. Cindy said she charged 2 million rupiah (US$224) per client per trick, a significant amount for her regular clients who range from businessmen to political big-wigs. One of her clients was a government minister, she said. If you think poverty is what drove Cindy to prostitution, think again. Cindy had a middle-class upbringing. Her father is a contractor and two of her uncles are high-ranking police officers - one is a top official at the National Police. Her grandfather runs one of the biggest hotels in her hometown, she said. "My grandfather is also the patron of most of the police officers," she said. Cindy said it was her grandfather's clout that saved her when she landed in hot water. "My father is a drug user. He frequently has trouble with the police, but my grandfather or my uncles have always been there for him," she said. With such a troubled past, Cindy thought prostitution was the best way to rebel against her father. In spite of her good income, Cindy said she did not know where all the money went. She is always strapped for cash by the end of the month. "I don't know where all the money goes, but maybe that's because I use it for drugs to use with my friends," she said. Cindy said she also gave money to her mother, who has a strained relationship with her father. Sagita (not her real name), another high-end prostitute, lives in the same boarding house as Cindy. Sagita has been in the business for eight years, and said she charges her clients between 3 and 4 million rupiah per trick. Sagita doesn't have a history like Cindy's. Now 28 years old, she said she used to work in marketing at a karaoke bar in Surabaya, East Java. "Then I saw that a female escort had an easier time. I decided to leave my position and apply to be an escort," Sagita said. She enjoys being a prostitute as she gets easy money to pay for her lavish lifestyle, she said. She never does drugs, she added. "Sometimes I think this is a filthy job, but the money is good," Sagita said. She makes an average of 15 million rupiah a month. Sagita said her clients included some of the country's powerful politicians. "I once went out with a legislator from an Islamist party. While we were at it, he said he needed to pray. It felt weird to have him praying by my side," Sagita said. For both Cindy and Sagita, they rely on word-of-mouth to advertise their services. "I usually give a 10 percent commission for each transaction if friends or former clients get me new clients," Sagita said. University of Indonesia sociologist Imam Prasodjo said prostitutes like Cindy and Sagita, who come from middle-class backgrounds, were looking to fulfill more than just their basic needs. "Some people need to meet more than just basic needs to be satisfied. For those people, going to expensive restaurants and having new clothes is important. So they look for other ways to meet those needs," he said.

Two dead as N.Korea fires artillery on South AFP - 29 minutes ago SEOUL (AFP) - North Korea fired dozens of artillery shells onto a South Korean island on Tuesday, killing two people, setting homes ablaze and triggering an exchange of fire as the South's military went on top alert. In what appeared to be one of the most serious border incidents since the 1950-53 war, South Korean troops fired back with cannon, the government convened in an underground war room and "multiple" air force jets scrambled. North Korea's official media, however, accused South Korea of firing first. The firing came after North Korea's disclosure of an apparently operational uranium enrichment plant -- a second potential way of building a nuclear bomb -- which is causing serious alarm for the United States and its allies. It also comes as North Korea prepares for an eventual dynastic succession from Kim Jong-Il to his youngest son, Kim Jong-Un. The expected transfer is fuelling speculation about the regime's military and nuclear intentions. The White House said it "strongly condemns" the artillery attack on the South Korean border island of Yeonpyeong, and said it was "firmly committed to the defence" of its staunch military ally Seoul. Some 50 shells landed on Yeonpyeong near the tense Yellow Sea border, damaging dozens of houses and sending plumes of thick smoke into the air, YTN television reported. Two South Korean marines -- part of a contingent based permanently on the frontline island -- were killed, the military said. Five marines were seriously hurt in the artillery barrage and 10 suffered minor injuries, while three civilians were also hurt. "A Class-A military alert issued for battle situations was imposed immediately after shelling began," a military spokesman told AFP. Sporadic firing by each side continued for over an hour before dying out, the military said. The shelling began at 2:34 pm (0534 GMT) after the North sent several messages protesting about South Korean naval, air force and army training exercises being staged close to the border, a presidential spokesman said. "Flashes along with a thunderous sound were seen here and there across our villages and up to 10 houses were engulfed in flames," said Woo Soo-Woo, 62, a guesthouse owner on the island. Scene: Islanders tell of terror as N.Korean shells land The shooting started bushfires at several places in the hills, he told AFP by phone after fleeing the island by ferry for the mainland port of Incheon. Yeonpyeong lies just south of the border declared by UN forces after the war, but north of the sea border declared by Pyongyang. The Yellow Sea border was the scene of deadly naval clashes in 1999, 2002 and last November. History: Clashes between North and South Korea Tensions have been acute since the sinking of a South Korean warship in March, which Seoul says was the result of a North Korean torpedo attack. Pyongyang has rejected the charge. South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak convened an emergency meeting of ministers and national security advisers in an underground war room, a presidential spokesman said. Lee urged the officials "to prevent further escalation", but his office also warned that South Korea would "sternly retaliate" for any further provocations. Inter-Korean talks scheduled for Thursday, aimed at arranging further reunions of families separated by the war, have been delayed indefinitely, Seoul's unification ministry said. "This is an intentional provocation to heighten cross-border tensions," Dongguk University professor Kim Yong-Hyun told AFP. "The North made a series of gestures but there has been no response from South Korea and the United States. It is now using its brinkmanship aimed at forcing Seoul and Washington to take action and agree to dialogue." Kim said the North would try to use the clash to promote solidarity among its people during the leadership succession. "It is also sending a strong message to the United States and the international community that the peninsula urgently needs a peace regime." US special envoy Stephen Bosworth was headed to China Tuesday to seek its help in curbing North Korea's new nuclear project, revealed to US experts who described a sophisticated programme to enrich uranium. China, North Korea's sole major ally and economic prop, expressed concern over the cross-border firing, and appealed for stalled six-party nuclear talks to resume. Reaction: China concern over Korean shelling Russia also warned against an escalation of tensions on the divided peninsula, while Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan ordered his ministers to prepare for "any unexpected event".

North Korea shells South in fiercest attack in decades Reuters - 41 minutes ago By Jeremy Laurence and Yoo Choonsik SEOUL - North Korea on Tuesday fired dozens of artillery shells at a South Korean island, killing two soldiers and setting dozens of houses ablaze, in one of the heaviest attacks on its neighbour since the Korean War ended in 1953. The attack comes as the reclusive state has been pressing regional powers to return to negotiations about its nuclear weapons programme and follows revelations at the weekend it is fast developing another source of material to make atomic bombs. It also follows moves by iron leader Kim Jong-il to make his youngest son heir apparent to the family dynasty. For decades, the Korean leadership has played a carefully calibrated game of provocations to win concessions from the international community and impress his own military. The risk is that the leadership transition has upset this balance and that events spin out of control. South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, who has pursued a hard line with the reclusive North since taking office nearly three years ago, said a response had to be firm following the attack on Yeonpyeong island, just 120 km west of Seoul. The two Koreas are still technically at war -- the Korean War ended only with a truce -- and tension rose sharply early this year after Seoul accused the North of torpedoing one of its navy vessels, killing 46 sailors. "Houses and mountains are on fire and people are evacuating. You can't see very well because of plumes of smoke," a witness on the island told YTN Television before the shelling ended after about an hour. China, the impoverished North's only powerful ally, was careful to avoid taking sides, calling on both Koreas to "do more to contribute to peace." "China hopes that the relevant parties will do more to contribute to peace and stability in the region ... it is imperative now to resume the six-party talks," a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Hong Lei, told reporters. Those talks on North Korea's nuclear weapons programme -- involving the two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia and the United States -- have long been on ice. However, the reclusive North has more recently been pushing to resume the talks, which previously it has used to win massive aid in return for promises to end its weapons programme. AT LEAST 200 SHELLS YTN said at least 200 North Korean shells hit Yeonpyeong, which lies off the west coast of the divided peninsula near a disputed maritime border. Most landed on a military base there. South Korea's military said two soldiers were killed in the attack, 17 were wounded and three civilians were also hurt. South Korean military returned the fire and sent a jet fighter to the area. YTN showed pictures of plumes of smoke pouring from the island and quoted a witness as saying fires were burning out of control. WON TUMBLES News of the exchange of fire sent the won tumbling in offshore markets with the 1-month won down about four percent in NDF trading. U.S. 10-year Treasury futures rose and the Japanese yen fell. It also rattled global markets, already unsettled by Ireland's debt problems and worries about riskier markets. The South Korean central bank is holding an emergency meeting to assess the possible market impact of the shelling. The attack comes just as a U.S. envoy is in Beijing on a tour of the region and is expected to ask China to use its influence to help tame North Korea. Washington has branded the North a danger to the region and expressed concern Pyongyang would sell nuclear weapons technology to other states. It has said it was ready to return to talks but wants to see more commitment to denuclearisation by the North beforehand. The White House condemned the attack, telling the North to halt its "belligerent action" and saying it was committed to defend the South. It has about 28,000 troops in South Korea, their combined forces facing an estimated one million North Korean soldiers who make up one of the world's biggest standing armies. "UNBELIEVABLE" "It's unbelievable," said Zhu Feng, professor of international relations at Peking University. "Today's news proves that North Korea, under unprovoked conditions, shot these South Korean islands. It's reckless provocation. They want to make a big bang and force the negotiations back into their favour. It's the oldest trick." The North depends heavily on China for economic and diplomatic support and its leader, Kim Jong-il, has visited China twice this year, in part to gain backing for the anointment of his son as heir. Those ties have become a sore-point with Washington after reports that North Korea appears to have made big steps towards enriching uranium, possibly using technology that passed through or even originated in China. China has urged returning to the nuclear disarmament negotiations but has also fended off calls from the U.S. and its regional allies to use its vital food and energy aid to North Korea as a lever.

Prepare for 'WAR OF THE WORLDS' soonzzz ! UPDATE: 1 S. Korean soldier killed as N. Korea fires artillery near western border ANN - 2 hours 20 minutes ago Seoul (The Korea Herald/ANN) - North Korea fired dozens of coastal artillery shells, some of which fell on the South's Yeonpyaong Island near the tense western inter-Korean border, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Tuesday. "The North fired dozens of artillery rounds from its Gaemeori western coastal artillery base at 14:34 p.m. In response to the military provocations, we fired back dozens of rounds with K9 self-propelled howitzers," JCS spokesman Col. Lee Bung-woo told reporters. In the artillery firing, one soldier was killed and four marine solider were seriously injured. The military was trying to evacuate civilians on the island near the border. Several civilians were reported to have suffered injuries. The firing came as the South was carrying out a live-fire exercise in waters off the Bangnyeong Island and the Yeonpyeong Island as part of the annual nine-day Hoguk Exercise, aimed at enhancing inter-operability and defense capabilities against North Korea. Regarding the Hoguk Exercise, the North sent a faxed message to the South in the morning, saying it would not "just sit back" while the South is carrying out the live-fire exercise, according to JCS officials. "Our military has begun operating the crisis management system and strengthened a readiness posture in all military branches. We are fully and firmly prepared to respond to additional North Korean provocations," Lee said. The JSC called on the North to immediately stop acts that ratchet up military tension on the peninsula and inter-Korean confrontations. "We will strongly respond to any further provocations from the North," the spokesman said. The presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae said it was looking into whether the North fired the artillery in reaction to the South Korean navy's 'Hoguk Exercise' near the island. "North Korea wired a complaint this morning asking whether (the exercise) was an attack against the North," President Lee Myung-bak's spokesperson Kim Hee-jung said during a press briefing. Lee held emergency meetings of his top aides and security related ministers in the afternoon. The volley of artillery came as tensions have run high between the two Koreas following the March 26 sinking of the corvette Cheonan, which Seoul holds Pyongyang responsible for. The Seoul-led multinational investigation team concluded in May that a North Korean midget submarine torpedoed the 1,200-ton corvette, killing 46 sailors. Pyongyang has persistently denied its involvement. In August, the North fired some 130 coastal artillery shells into waters near the western inter-Korean maritime border. Some 10 coastal artillery shells landed in waters about 1-2 kilometers south of the Northern Limit Line off Bangnyeong Island. The volley of the artillery fire came after the South Korean military finished its five-day maritime maneuvers in the West Sea, which were designed to enhance its defense capabilities against North Korean provocations. The artillery firing came as a surprise as North Korea experts here largely anticipated that the communist state would seek to improve ties with its southern neighbor as it has been striving to solidify its second hereditary power succession. The North has recently made it public that its leader Kim Jong-il's youngest son Jung-un is being groomed to succeed his ailing father. Jung-un has recently been made a four-star general and appointed as vice chairman of the ruling Worker's Party's Central Military Commission.

More than a million Atlantic sharks killed yearly AFP - Tuesday, November 23 PARIS (AFP) - – At least 1.3 million sharks, many listed as endangered, were harvested from the Atlantic in 2008 by industrial-scale fisheries unhampered by catch or size limits, according to a tally released Monday. The actual figure may be several fold higher due to under-reporting, said the study, released by advocacy group Oceana on the sidelines of a meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). Convening in Paris through November 27, the 48-member ICCAT is charged with ensuring that commercial fisheries are sustainable. It has the authority to set catch quotas and restrictions. While the global spotlight has been trained on the plight of Atlantic bluefin tuna, many species of high-value sharks are in even more dire straits, say marine biologists. "Sharks are virtually unmanaged at the international level," said Elizabeth Griffin Wilson of Oceana. "ICCAT has a responsibility to protect our oceans' top predators." Under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, "highly migratory" sharks must be managed by international bodies. Of the 21 species found in the Atlantic, three-quarters are classified as threatened with extinction. North Atlantic populations of the oceanic white tip, for example, have declined by 70 percent, and hammerheads by more than 99 percent, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Other species -- including the porbeagle, common thresher and shortfin mako -- have also been overexploited, and may be teetering on the brink of viability. Many are fished for their fins -- prized as a delicacy in Chinese cuisine -- and then tossed, dead or dying, back into the sea once the choice morsels have been sliced off. The practice is prohibited, but loopholes in the regulation have allowed the ban to be widely ignored. Oceana and several conservation groups, backed by some governments, have called upon ICCAT to set catch quotas and other protective measures for these and other vulnerable sharks. The United States has proposed requiring that all sharks be brought back to shore whole, which would boost enforcement of the finning ban and help scientists measure population levels. Japan -- which quashed a drive earlier this year to protect four threatened shark species under the UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) -- is now urging ICCAT to prohibit fishing one of them, the oceanic white tip. The initiative "is an example showing our commitment for conservation of shark resources," the head of the Japanese delegation said in an opening statement. Sharks have reigned at the top of the ocean food chain for hundreds of millions of years. But the consummate predators are especially vulnerable to industrial-scale overfishing because they mature slowly and produce few offspring. "The classic fisheries management approach of 'fishing down' a given population to its so-called maximum sustainable yield, and then assuming it can recover, does not work for sharks," said Matt Rand, a shark expert at the Washington-based Pew Environment Group. Tens of millions of the open-water hunters are extracted from global seas every year. Regional studies have shown that when shark populations crash the impact cascades down through the food chain, often in unpredictable and deleterious ways.

Mas Selamat stayed in brother’s flat to evade arrest By Ion Danker – November 22nd, 2010 Mas Selamat Kastari, who escaped the massive island-wide manhunt for two days after his escape from the Whitley Road Detention Centre (WRDC), hid in his brother’s home in Tampines for a night on Feb 29, 2008, before escaping to Malaysia. Two days after he escaped from WRDC, Mas Selamat took shelter at various public places, including forested areas before going to his brother Asmom’s flat to hide and get help from his niece, Nur Aini bte Asmom, whom he thought was home alone. He had thought that his brother and his wife were staying in their Johor house, while Asmom’s son, Mahadir, was overseas. Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam, said in a Ministerial statement in Parliament, “Mas Selamat believed that it would be safe for him at Asmom’s house as only Nur Aini would be there and that she would render assistance to him.” Asmom, his wife Aisah and daughter Nui Aini were jailed between three and 18 months for harbouring the terrorist after his escape. His niece, Nur Aini was sentenced to 18 months in jail, his brother, Asmom was given 12 months while his sister-in-law Aisah, three months’ jail. They were arrested and charged last Wednesday, on November 10. Mas Selamat’s nephew, Mahadir, who had a lesser role in the matter, has been served a stern warning in lieu of prosecution. Mr Shanmugam added that Nur Aini had persuaded her mother to allow Mas Selamat to enter the flat. Her mother had reservations about allowing Mas Selamat into the flat because his fugitive status had gone public and she knew that it was wrong to help him. Nur Aini allowed him to use her bedroom, provided him food and water, and also helped him to destroy the clothes he wore to the flat, which included his WRDC-issued attire. On 1 Mar 2008, before Mas Selamat left the flat, Nur Aini applied make-up on Mas Selamat and secured a tudung (headscarf) over his head so that he could disguise himself as a woman to evade detection and recapture. She also handed to him a map of Singapore that showed part of Malaysia. Asmom gave him S$100 and RM100 to facilitate his escape from Singapore to Malaysia. He also gave Mas Selamat some traditional medicine which the latter kept in his backpack while Aisah gave him an EZ-link card and hair-net which he wore as part of his disguise, and some paracetamol. Mr Shanmugam said the three had knowingly harboured Mas Selamat, an escaped prisoner of the State, whom they knew was the subject of a massive manhunt. They deliberately withheld information when they were interviewed by the authorities on March 3, 2008. It was only in October this year, after being confronted with the facts, that they admitted to what had happened. Mr Shanmugam added that Asmom and his family’s decision to harbour Mas Selamat and provide him with material support that enabled him to escape to Malaysia was very wrong, illegal, and had grave security implications. As to how Mas Selamat made his way to Asmom’s flat and how he subsequently made his way to Malaysia, Mr Shanmugam said the account given by Mas Selamat is still subject to verification. Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, said he was very disappointed that Mas Selamat was aided by his family members after he escaped from WRDC. In a statement, Dr Yaacob, who is Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, said harbouring criminals is a very serious offence — more so when it involved a wanted fugitive who was a threat to the whole country — at a time when everyone was deeply concerned and actively looking out for him. “I am disappointed because we know that Singaporeans from all backgrounds have come together since 2002 — the Malay/Muslim community very prominently — to keep the lid on the danger of terrorism.” He added that the good work must continue at all levels to build understanding and confidence, and enhance safety and security for Singapore to emerge stronger from this episode as a society. Mas Selamat is a hardened and dangerous terrorist, who has been involved in various plots by the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) to mount terrorist attacks in Singapore since the 1990s. He is operationally trained and has undergone training not once but twice in Al-Qaeda camps in Afghanistan. Mas Selamat was caught in Johor on April 1, 2009 and held in a Malaysian prison until he was handed over to Singapore on Sept 24, 2010. Yahoo! Fit-to-Post user Stella Jane commented, “The police should have first searched the relatives’ houses. Now, they are just playing the blame-game, which is rather childish. Though prominently the Malay-Muslim society has a bigger part to play… it’s a little bit hard to turn away family.”

'Naked' airport scanners may be 'dangerous' AFP - Saturday, November 13 WASHINGTON (AFP) - – Some US scientists warned the full-body, graphic-image X-ray scanners now being used to screen passengers and airline crews at airports around the country may be unsafe. "They say the risk is minimal, but statistically someone is going to get skin cancer from these X-rays," Dr Michael Love, who runs an X-ray lab at the department of biophysics and biophysical chemistry at Johns Hopkins University school of medicine, told AFP. "No exposure to X-ray is considered beneficial. We know X-rays are hazardous but we have a situation at the airports where people are so eager to fly that they will risk their lives in this manner," he said. The possible health dangers posed by the scanners add to passengers' and airline crews' concerns about the devices, which have been dubbed "naked" scanners because of the graphic image they give of a person's body, genitalia and all. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) began rolling out full-body scanners at US airports in 2007, but stepped up deployment of the devices this year when stimulus funding made it possible to buy another 450 of the advanced imaging technology scanners. Some 315 "naked" scanners are currently in use at 65 US airports, according to the TSA. Passengers and airline crew members, including pilots, are randomly selected to pass through the scanners. They have the option of refusing, but will then be subjected to what the TSA calls an "enhanced" manual search by an agent. "People are not reacting well to these pat-downs," said a travel industry official, who asked not to be named. Government officials have said that the scanners have been tested and meet safety standards. But Captain David Bates, president of the Allied Pilots Association, which represents pilots at American Airlines, urged members to avoid the full-body scanner. "No pilot at American Airlines should subject themselves to the needless privacy invasion and potential health risks caused by the body scanner," he said in a letter this month, which was obtained by AFP. "Politely decline exposure and request alternative screening," even if "the enhanced pat-down is a demeaning experience," he said. A group of scientists at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) raised concerns about the "potential serious health risks" from the scanners in a letter sent to the White House Office of Science and Technology in April. Biochemist John Sedat and his colleagues said in the letter that most of the energy from the scanners is delivered to the skin and underlying tissue. "While the dose would be safe if it were distributed throughout the volume of the entire body, the dose to the skin may be dangerously high," they wrote. The scientists say the X-rays could pose a risk to everyone from travelers over the age of 65 to pregnant women and their unborn babies, to HIV-positive travelers, cancer patients and men. "Men's sexual organs are exposed to the X-rays. The skin is very thin there," Love explained. The Office of Science and Technology responded this week to the scientists' letter, saying the scanners have been "tested extensively" by US government agencies and were found to meet safety standards. But Sedat told AFP Friday: "We still don't know the beam intensity or other details of their classified system."

Why ERP rates were increased: Transport Minister By Ion Danker November 23rd, 2010 Transport Minister Raymond Lim says the reason for increased charges at 23 Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) gantries is due to traffic speeds on the relevant roads falling below the optimal range after a regular review. According to The Straits Times, Mr Lim replied to questions from MPs Cynthia Phua (Jalan Besar GRC) and Irene Ng (Tampines GRC) in Parliament and said that ERP rates are adjusted up or down, when needed, to ensure traffic speeds are maintained within the optimal speed ranges of 45 to 65 kph for expressways and 20 to 30 kph for other roads. They are calibrated to allow the optimal number of vehicles on the roads while ensuring that traffic flow does not degenerate into start-stop situations, said Mr Lim. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) reviews the ERP rates on a quarterly basis in February, May, August and November and during the June and December school holidays. Mr Lim went on to explain that in the recent fourth quarter review where ERP rates were raised for some half hour timeslots, LTA had carried out traffic speed measurements of the relevant roads over a 2-week period in October. The data found that traffic speeds had fallen below the optimal range. He added that since they started monitoring these speeds six years ago, the authorities have been able to keep at least 95 per cent of Singapores road network within the optimal range during the morning peak hours. The regular reviews of ERP rates provide a self-adjusting mechanism, based on prevailing traffic conditions, to ensure that ERP continues to be effective in maintaining smooth traffic flow on our roads, he said. When asked by Madam Cynthia Phua if the review should reflect the higher traffic due to population growth, Mr Lim said this is not prudent as the optimal speed ranges are determined based on the physical capacity of the roads. Allowing a lower speed threshold because of an increase in our population would simply lead to poorer service levels on roads and more widespread congestion, as the physical capacity of the roads remain unchanged.

’1,000 foreigners invested S$1.5 billion to be S’pore PRs’ By yahoosingapore – November 23rd, 2010 Call it the price to pay for wanting to live in Singapore. Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang has revealed that some 1,000 foreign investors have invested over $1.5 billion under the Global Investor Programme (GIP) to become permanent residents of the city-state. These investors come mostly from North-East Asia and South-East Asia and they have either poured money into an approved investment fund or directly in a business in Singapore. Close to 100 have invested directly in businesses ranging from engineering, R&D, shipping, asset management and services and trading, thereby creating some 1,500 jobs. Minister Lim was replying to a question from West Coast GRC MP Ho Geok Choo in Parliament on Monday. The GIP is aimed at attracting wealthy businessmen to set up business or invest in Singapore and to settle on the island. Mr Lim said from Jan 1, a minimum investment of $2.5 million is required to qualify for the GIP.

UPDATE 1-Asian central banks warn of risks from capital surge On Wednesday 27 October 2010, 14:05 SGT By Saeed Azhar * Asia faces growing risks from inflows - Singapore c.bank * Says inflation pressures could lead to disorderly reversal * India - managing volatile fx rates involves a cost * S.Korea says policy can ease worries over flow impact SINGAPORE, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Singapore's central bank said on Wednesday that Asia was facing higher risks from a surge of capital inflows, a tide that could reverse in a disorderly fashion if inflationary pressures were not contained. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) issued the warning in its latest macroeconomic review, echoing concerns expressed by policymakers in many emerging economies over hot money inflows that are pushing up regional currencies, stocks and other assets such as property. The Bank of Korea's chief said on Wednesday that taxes on foreign bond investors may be re-considered, while India's central bank said managing exchange rates in the face of volatile flows contained a cost. Many emerging economies are concerned that the rush of speculative inflows in recent months could create potentially destabilising asset bubbles, making policymaking more difficult. The surge of money into such economies, which is being partially fueled by a weakening U.S. dollar, is also pushing up many regional currencies, denting their export competitiveness and threatening to stifle their economic recoveries. "An upsurge in inflationary pressures that leads to a disorderly reversal of flows could occur if regional economies are not able to intermediate these flows efficiently," the MAS said. For a list of recent measures taken by other government around the world to control the impact of hot money inflows. The World Bank warned last week that capital flows posed a rise to East Asian economies and said authorities needed to be careful not to repeat the mistakes of the Asian financial crisis more than a decade ago. Analysts agreed. "If you draw in large amounts of capital there is a risk that hot money could flow out," said Leong Wai Ho at Barclays Capital. "But whether that warrants putting up walls to block hot money coming in, the jury is still out on that." He said in Singapore's case, the MAS' recent move to allow exchange rate appreciation was relieving some of the pressure from rising flows, while other macroeconomic and prudential policies were tackling asset inflation. DBS bank said in a research report on Tuesday that Asia's foreign exchange reserves have been growing at a rate of $2.3 billion a day since April 2009, faster than at any time in history. David Carbon, head of economic and currency research at the bank, said currency appreciation and capital controls would be among the ways Asia could tackle these inflows. "Will it all end in tears? That seems unlikely," Carbon noted. "If Asia's policymakers have any fault, it is that they are too afraid of revisiting the 1990s." SINGAPORE CLOSELY WATCHING MARKETS Singapore's central bank said banks, companies and households are in a healthy position in Asia, but it was closely monitoring credit and asset markets. MAS also said the risks of another round of financial contagion arising from sovereign defaults and a sharper-than-expected economic downturn in the developed economies had ebbed somewhat. The MAS -- which tightened monetary policy further this month by widening the trading band for the Singapore dollar -- said inflation in the city-state would remain high until the first half of 2011 before moderating. Singapore's economy will hit a slow patch in the immediate quarters ahead due to a fragile global economy before recovering in 2011 on strong Asian growth prospects, as well as continued expansion in financial services and tourism, the MAS said. Despite the impending slowdown, the economy will grow at by 13 percent to 15 percent in 2010, the fastest annual growth ever, and would expand at a more sustainable pace in 2011, it said. The services sector could account for two-third of gross domestic product in 2011, up from 50 percent this year, fueled by the opening of two casino-complexes. (Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan & Kim Coghill)

Singapore will not resort to capital controls-Finance Minister On Monday 22 November 2010, 17:30 SGT SINGAPORE, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Singapore will not resort to capital controls but stands ready to take extra measures to ensure financial stability and sustainable asset markets amid a rise in capital inflows to the region for higher returns, the finance minister said on Monday. Tharman Shanmugaratnam told parliament capital inflows to the city-state were "intermediated efficiently" through the domestic financial markets and banking system, saying the impact on asset prices had been contained by current policy tools. "We are not contemplating introducing capital controls, but will continue to rely on a range of policy tools to ensure that capital inflows do not threaten its financial stability or cause a property market bubble," Tharman said in a speech. Tharman was responding to questions by lawmakers on the impact of the U.S. Federal Reserve's $600 billion "quantitative easing" plan on Singapore's asset prices and inflation. Home prices in Asia have soared in recent months, fuelled by the region's rapid economic recovery and ultra-low interest rates. Singapore announced restrictions to cool its residential market on Aug. 30, which included a reduction in the amount those with existing mortgages could borrow to buy second properties and extending a stamp duty on those selling property within three years of purchase. Tharman said the measures had some "calming effect" on the property market and the government, while monitoring the situation closely, would take additional steps, "if necessary". Singapore widened the trading band for the Singapore dollar in October for the first time since just after the September 2001 attacks on the United States, underlining the depth of its concern about volatility in the global financial markets. On inflation, the government said inflation was expected to accelerate over the new few months, hitting 4 percent at the end of the year, given the spate of global weather-related supply disruptions and Singapore's tightening labour market. But the full year inflation in 2010 would stay within the official range of 2.5-3.0 percent and 2-3 percent in 2011, S. Iswaran, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry, said in parliament. Singapore's annual inflation in September was at 3.7 percent, the highest since January 2009. But the consumer price index (CPI) in the first nine months of 2010 rose by an average 2.4 percent over the same period a year ago. (Reporting by Nopporn Wong-Anan)

Japan's justice minister resigns over gaffe AFP - Monday, November 22 TOKYO (AFP) - – Japan's justice minister on Monday resigned after his quip that his job was easy sparked howls of outrage and threats of parliamentary stalling tactics from the conservative opposition. Centre-left Prime Minister Naoto Kan -- whose media poll ratings have dived into the mid 20-percent range -- accepted the resignation of the minister, Minoru Yanagida, who had been on the job for just two months. Yanagida, 56, sparked the storm when a week earlier he joked that "being justice minister is easy as I only have to remember two phrases, either of which I can use in parliament whenever I'm stuck for an answer". He then told his local supporters in Hiroshima prefecture what those two phrases were: "I refrain from commenting on individual cases" and "I am acting appropriately based on the law and evidence." The opposition conservative Liberal Democratic Party -- which was ousted last year after a half-century reign -- angrily lashed out at the remarks, saying they were insulting to the Diet legislature. Its lawmakers had planned a non-binding but embarrassing censure motion Monday and, more worryingly for the government, had planned to block new economic stimulus measures in the upper house, reports said. On Monday morning Yanagida offered his resignation to Kan, who accepted. Yanagida suggested at a press conference that he didn't have much of a choice, after Kan had told him that "we have to definitely pass the supplementary budget as soon as possible". "I knew that my careless remarks were an obstacle... so I expressed my willingness to resign after listening to the prime minister," Yanagida told a news conference after the meeting. Speaking about his gaffe, he said: "Frankly, I was off-guard. It is my fault that I made a careless, joking remark like that, and I believe I should offer my heartfelt apology." Yanagida became the first minister to step down since Kan reshuffled his cabinet in mid-September, shortly after his re-election as president of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan. Kan's right-hand man, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku, said he would perform the duties of justice minister for the time being. The incident is likely to fuel accusations of incompetence against the young DPJ government, which is already fending off criticism that it mishandled recent diplomatic rows with China and Russia. The latest poll issued Monday by the Mainichi Shimbun daily said public support for Kan's cabinet had plunged to a new low of 26 percent, down a steep 23 points from the previous survey in October. The cabinet's disapproval rating surged to 57 percent from 34 percent, according to the survey, which polled 1,591 households over the weekend. Asked about Yanagida's comments, 71 percent of voters said he should resign.

Bro...go for the ultimate TANG lah...a harem of ACHILLES will do wonders in ya SPS-infested tanky.

Liverpool back in their stride as Hammers nailed AFP - Sunday, November 21 LIVERPOOL, United Kingdom (AFP) – Glen Johnson, Dirk Kuyt and Maxi Rodriguez each scored first-half goals as Liverpool coasted to a comprehensive 3-0 victory over West Ham at Anfield on Saturday. Johnson prodded the hosts in front from a corner before Kuyt added a second from the spot after Danny Gabbidon was penalised for an obvious handball. Rodriguez headed in a third for Roy Hodgson's side to put the game well beyond the east Londoners, who have now won just once in 14 English Premier League matches this season and are rooted to the bottom of the table. The visitors have not won at Anfield since 1963 and supporters called for manager Avram Grant to be sacked as their team slipped to another miserable defeat. Liverpool, who saw a six-match unbeaten run ended with a 2-0 defeat at Stoke last weekend, will now go into next Sunday's trip to Tottenham with renewed confidence. Johnson marked his return to action with a quick response to the criticism he received from Hodgson last week. The England defender was picked out by a Kuyt pass and broke into the area, staying on his feet despite a strong challenge from Herita Ilunga and sending a cross to the far post that was headed to safety by Lars Jacobsen. The pressure from the hosts continued with David Ngog cutting in from the left and hitting a low shot that was turned away by goalkeeper Robert Green. Argentina winger Rodriguez then missed with a powerful long-range drive with Liverpool keen to make a purposeful start. Ngog continued to impress and withstood a foul from Gabbidon to slip a pass to Fernando Torres, whose shot flew wide of goal. West Ham were continually cut apart and when Kuyt rolled Ngog into space and the Frenchman crossed, Torres was only denied by a block from Radoslav Kovac. Then Green palmed over the bar from a drive from Raul Meireles. But from the corner that followed, Johnson controlled on his chest and then fired past Green with a low shot for his first goal of the season, 18 minutes in. Soon the advantage was doubled following more dreadful defending from West Ham. No-one even attempted to clear Netherlands forward Kuyts bobbling cross, which ran all the way through to Torres. The Spain striker attempted to lift the ball into the West Ham area only for Gabbidon to handle twice. Even though Kuyt's 27th-minute penalty was far from convincing, Green dived the wrong way to take Liverpool two goals in front. Carlton Cole finally threatened for the visitors, heading straight at goalkeeper Pepe Reina from a Luis Boa Morte cross. But soon Liverpool made it three after Green made a low save from Torres. West Ham failed to clear and Paul Konchesky's curling cross was glanced into the corner of the net by Rodriguez 38 minutes in. Mark Noble drilled wide from distance as the visitors attempted some sort of response. But Kovac pulled off another fine block from Ngog to keep the deficit at three goals. And then Torres failed to hit the target with another effort from just outside the area. Rodriguez then drove over the bar as the Reds continued to create openings whenever they tried. Reina had an anxious moment when he was forced to tip over his bar from Frederic Piquionne. Rodriguez just missed the far corner after breaking down the left and clipping an effort across goal and substitute Fabio Aurelio was also just off-target with a powerful shot from 25 yards.