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Darth Vader costume up for auction Thu 28 Oct 9:35 AM A rare Darth Vader costume is expected to sell up to £230,000 when it goes up for auction next month. The iconic costume , believed to have been used in 1980's 'Empire Strikes Back', will go under the hammer at London's Christie's on November 25 - with a percentage of the proceeds being donated to Cancer Research UK. It's the first time the complete costume will be offered at auction, and was originally bought by an American collector seven years ago. Lightsaber not included unfortunately! A spokesperson for the auction house said, "Darth Vader is defined by his costume, which has made him one of the most recognised characters from the history of film. "The global appeal of the Star Wars films, and the interest that the series has attracted from a number of generations, is perhaps unprecedented in the world of cinema." Several actors have contributed to making Darth Vader one of the greatest screen villains. But in 'Empire Strikes Back' - former Green Cross Code man David Prowse filled the suit, while James Earl Jones supplied the voice. The film provided arguably the most memorable moment in the series - Vader telling the film's hero, "I am your father".

GEELY scores no stars in crash test A four-door family saloon made in China has been subjected to a series of crash tests and scored a horrifying ZERO stars for adult occupant protection. The model in question is the Geely CK 1 1.3 but is not sold in the UK. The result was part of a first series of tests by newly formed Latin NCAP (New Car Assessment Programmes), the first ever independent crash testing programme for Latin American and the Caribbean. Nine cars were tested initially, following guidelines laid down by the other global NCAP organisations, including Euro NCAP. Geely's saloon was the only car tested to achieve a terrifying zero-star rating. Latin NCAP summarised the findings: "Protection for the driver poor for most body regions. Significant collapse of the body shell during test." The photographs clearly show how badly damaged the car is during the crash tests and how much intrusion there is into the passenger space. Three of the tested cars achieved an equally poor one-star result. None of these models were fitted with airbags, as it's possible to buy them without in some markets. None of the nine cars tested are sold in the UK in the same format. Geely is likely to improve on this result considerably over the coming years, as it now owns Volvo Cars, which has an enviable reputation for safety. Below is a full list of the results: Geely CK 1 1.3 (No airbags) 0/5 Fiat Palio ELX 1.4 (No airbags) 1/5 VW Gol Trend 1.6 (No airbags) 1/5 Peugeot 207 Compact 5p 1.4 (No airbags) 1/5 Peugeot 207 Compact 5p 1.4 (With airbags) 2/5 Fiat Palio ELX 1.4 (With airbags) 3/5 VW Gol Trend 1.6 (With airbags) 3/5 Chevrolet Meriva GL Plus (With airbags) 3/5 Toyota Corolla XEI (With airbags) 4/5 Shane O' Donoghue

Any Takers ??? Fish House Girls has new twist on aquarium maintenance Posted on October 28th, 2010 by Ryan Gripp Fish House Girls is an aquarium maintenance service. Their goal is to sign up clients so that they can use their staff to clean your aquarium and keep you stocked with the latest corals and fish. However, unlike other aquarium maintenance companies, Fish House Girls use models to clean your tank. Yes thats right models. The company is based in Van Nuys, California and serves the surrounding areas. The girls have been trained to service your aquarium just like you would expect from any aquarium maintenance company except they will take requests for different outfits. The company describes the girls as fun, flirty girls who will keep your aquarium in tip-top shape. The sad part is they only serve the California market and it might be a big hit with this male dominated industry. You can contact them directly to schedule an appointment with one of the girls (such as the one pictured).

7 SEXY SKINNY Dips Mon Oct 25 0:35am By Cynthia Rosenfeld Seven spots in Asia where clothing is just a chore While plunge pools pervade in Asia, very few allow us to disrobe entirely without embarrassing exposure. Here are seven of the most private, most luxurious places to ditch the bathing suit for maximum skinny dip satisfaction. 1. Phuket Pavilions, Thailand Roll straight from bed into the wet spot, a deep 40 x 13 foot infinity pool outside each Andaman Sea-facing villa at Phuket Pavilions where the motto “no tan lines, no interruptions” means exactly that for couples yearning for none other than each other. Stealthy staff live up to that promise, delivering service without a sound. That includes poolside massages where silently giggling female therapists know to leave guests to create their own happy endings. Raid the maxi-bar stocked with Veuve Clicquot and Hagen Daaz ice cream. US$629 per night; thepavilionsresorts.com/phuket-home 2. River House, Sri Lanka Forget breakfast in bed. Wake each other up in the Menik Suite’s east-facing plunge pool as the sun rises over the coconut palms dappled across Sri Lanka’s River House. Raise each other’s body heat well above the water temperature then slip back inside to climb atop the pillow strewn four-poster bed. One dominates each of five antique-filled rooms at this inland retreat on the Madhu River, three hours’ drive south of Colombo’s international airport. The ancient Greeks didn’t call this island Serendib, Garden of Eden for nothing. From November to March, play Adam and Eve around this seven-acre slice of tropical paradise, luring one another upstairs and back into the buff. US$373-485 per night; www.anilana.com 3. Banyan Tree Lijiang, China High Naxi tiled walls encourage undressing with abandonment inside the pool villas at Banyan Tree Lijiang some 7,900 feet above sea level. Outside of May to August when seasonal fields of rhododendrons reach full bloom, expect to raise a few goose bumps while streaking into these pools that are heated but not too hot for a good frolic. Come up together for air in the shadow of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, the climax of this Himalayan panorama. US$618 per night; banyantree.com/en/lijiang/overview 4. Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan With every rattle of a palm frond, it is hard not to wonder what other creatures are taking pleasure in this dense bamboo jungle. That and the occasional screams of rafters thrusting along the otherwise Sacred Ayung River are the only sounds to intrude upon the privacy of each villa at Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan. All 42 thatched maxi-huts come with an outdoor shower that overlooks the river valley and a plunge pool that releases itself endlessly into the jungle’s ###### abyss. Nudists notwithstanding, no one need fear overexposure. Farmers on the other bank are nearly naked themselves and too far away to make out the state of play. US$680-850 per night; Fourseasons.com 5. Trisara, Thailand Size matters at Trisara on Phuket’s northwest shore where all 39 villas are well endowed for maximum pleasure. When the urge arises, all glass French doors open onto a longer than average, 10-meter cerulean plunge that appears to drip into the Andaman Sea, seen at its best from December to March. No swimsuits or cover ups required, thanks to a profusion of jungle foliage expertly tended by 30 Thai gardeners that turn each of these outdoor playpens into secret sanctuaries. Scattered about are piles of towels to dry each other off before interlacing still damp limbs on the roomy double sun bed. Between diving in and winding down, get your hands wet and sticky by feeding each other from the villa’s daily replenishment of aphrodisiac chocolate truffles and luscious Thai mangoes. US$600-1,230 per night; trisara.com 6. Taj Exotica Maldives Artificial pools would be a ridiculous addition to the swimsuit and bikini-dropping gorgeousness of the Maldives. The couple’s treatment in the Alepa Suite at the end of a private jetty is as the name of this Taj property suggests; exotic. Before exposing delicate skin to sun, guests at Taj Exotica can build up to swimming in the buff with four different hot and cold experience showers, and seaside sun beds with Maldivian herbal mud-loving therapists plying their trade. After being slathered in mud and loosened up on cocktails and exotic fruit snacks, its time to grab the pretty gal or studly guy, drop the pretense and swim with the lion fish and wrasse (don’t worry gents, your better bits won’t be a main target of the local wildlife.) US$800 per night; tajhotels.com 7. Soneva Gili, Maldives Had Robinson set sail with Mrs. Crusoe in tow, he might have gotten lucky and washed up at Soneva Gili in the Maldives. Balanced on stilts above a shallow lagoon, the Robinson Crusoe Residences are the seven most photogenic over-water villas ever to take the character's name. With the closest neighbor at least 1,000 feet away and no sign of the butler unless requested, couples are left entirely alone. Splash around the Indian Ocean or even snorkel naked among damsels and Oriental Sweet Lips. US$1,593 per night; sixsenses.com

Don't generalise players - Owen Wed, 27 Oct 12:32:57 2010 Manchester United striker Michael Owen believes professional footballers are increasingly at risk of being viewed unfavourably by the public. The past few months have seen English football overwhelmed by a slew of negative headlines regarding the behaviour of some high earners in the Barclays Premier League. The enormous salaries commanded by players has also provoked the ire of the media and fans, with some commanding weekly wages in excess of £200,000 a week. But Owen insists the sweeping generalisations are unfair on many professionals and he told BBC Radio 5 Live: "People like to judge footballers as a whole but I think that's pretty unfair." Against the backdrop of the government's recent spending review, footballers have become an easy target for critics, with some quick to brand them as being out of touch with the rest of society. Owen added: "Everyone's different. I've met some footballers that are absolutely fantastic people, are always visiting sick kids, they do things for charities, but they don't ask for any press coverage. "They just go about it because they want to do it. Some don't, but that's not to say they're bad people. I think it's dangerous if you generalise and say 'all footballers are this, all footballers are that'. "We're all individuals, we all do our different things, and the common thing is we all go out on a Saturday afternoon and play on the football pitch. But apart from that every footballer's different." Owen also revealed he has suffered a setback in his recovery from injury. The striker was due to return for Tuesday night's Carling Cup fixture with Wolves at Old Trafford, but a hamstring tear is set to sideline him for a few more weeks. He said: "I had a tight groin quite a while ago and then I trained for a week in preparing for the game (against Wolves), but had a setback in training with a different muscle injury, so unfortunately that ruled me out and is going to rule me out for a few weeks as well."

Carling Cup - Hernandez United's hero again Tue, 26 Oct 22:05:00 2010 Javier Hernandez came off the bench to score a 90th-minute winner and give Manchester United a 3-2 win over Wolves in the fourth round of the Carling Cup at Old Trafford. All the action came in a thrilling second-half in which Bebe and Park Ji-Sung twice put United into the lead only to be pegged back by almost instant replies from George Elokobi and Kevin Foley. With the clock ticking down and extra-time looming, substitute Hernandez, who score twice at Stoke at the weekend, stole the headlines once again with a classy run and fine finish and this time Wolves had no answer. The result moves United into the quarter-finals of a competition that they have won three times in the last five years, though it was harsh on a Wolves side that showed not just admirable spirit, but no little lack of talent, with the jinking runs of Matt Jarvis in particular catching the eye. Michael Owen's anticipated return from injury failed to materialise, so much of the pre-match interest centred around Portuguese striker Bebe, who was handed his first start for United since his £7.4m move in the summer. He proved one of the liveliest, most-impressive performers in a first half that was admittedly badly lacking in inspiration and quality. Neither goalkeeper was genuinely tested, though Federico Macheda's 20th minute toe-poke through a defender's legs did at least warm the palms of Wayne Hennessey. Perseverance and strong running from Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Steven Fletcher earned Wolves a succession of free-kicks around the area, though poor delivery let the hosts off the hook every time. As if to make up for a yawn-inducing first half, the game exploded into life after the break, with both sides suddenly finding the way in behind each other's defences. First Macheda curled a shot inches past the far post, before Darron Gibson struck a fierce free-kick from all of 35 yards that Hennessey could only gather at the second attempt. Ebanks-Blake then drove a shot straight at Jonny Evans when left unmarked in the area, before United opened the scoring on the following attack through Bebe. The Portuguese winger once again forced his way past Elokobi on the right, before seeing his shot deflect over the stranded Hennessey. Foley raced back to head clear, though the assistant referee signalled that the ball had already crossed the line. The lead lasted just three minutes however, as United's defence were twice caught napping. First Fabio da Silva managed to get his leg in the way of a Stephen Hunt drive after the Irishman was left totally free in front of goal, though there was no let off from the resultant corner, when Elokobi rose unchallenged to head home David Jones's corner. With both defences all at sea, Hunt had another chance to get himself on the scoresheet after being expertly teed-up by Jarvis, though he could only skim his shot off the top of the bar, before Macheda blazed over on the half-volley from Bebe's cross moments later at the other end. Park put the home side back into the lead, with a fine left-foot finish. The Korean was fortunate to see his pass to Macheda rebound back into his own path after a strong run at the Wolves defence, though his finish from just inside the area left Hennessey rooted to the spot. Once again Wolves wasted no time in fighting back. Ebanks-Blake and Fletcher combined well to spread the ball to Foley on the right hand side of the area, and though the Irishman was forced to check his run, he turned expertly before finishing low past young United keeper Ben Amos. Sir Alex Ferguson responded by throwing on Hernandez in place of Bebe, and the Mexican's impact on the game was instant, and almost decisive. He threaded a wonderfully measured through-ball into the path of the marauding Gabriel Obertan on the right, only for the Frenchman's shot to be well-blocked by Hennessey. With the clock ticking down, Hernandez made the difference for his side once again. He latched onto a measured pass from Michael Carrick and ran straight at the Wolves defence, drew a challenge from Steven Mouyokolo, before shifting the ball onto his left foot and beating Hennessey with a cool chipped finish. Michael FitzGerald / Eurosport

Premier League - Homesick Tevez 'wants to leave' Wed, 27 Oct 09:02:00 2010 Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz claims that Carlos Tevez is so homesick that he wants to leave Eastlands and return to Argentina. The Guardian, Daily Mirror and Daily Star all run big headlines with the shocking news, which comes from a Spanish radio interview with Tevez's Paraguayan team-mate. "Your heart goes out to his family," Santa Cruz said when asked about Tevez. "He wants to be among his people, who are in Argentina. "His siblings and his daughters are also there. When you feel that your homeland is calling you back, you could end up giving up everything to return." Santa Cruz also goes on to confirm that he too is hankering for an exit, admitting that he is desperate to leave in January after making just 20 appearances since joining the side in the summer of 2009. "Competition for places is great and I'm working every day to try and convince the coach - but I'm still not getting picked," explained the £17.5 million striker. "I'm not getting the playing time to convince anybody and my priority is to leave in the January transfer market." If the Daily Mail is to be believed, that wish could be granted in the form of a bid from Fulham boss Mark Hughes, the man who brought Santa Cruz to City, and indeed to English football in the first place while he was at Blackburn. And spookily enough Blackburn is in the news this morning due to the impending takeover by an Indian company that has made billions in poultry farming, with The Sun's pun editor having run riot on the piece. "It's a Chicken Tikka-way," runs the story's strapline, going on to add, "Indian Chicken firm Ventry's reckon Blackburn are a golden nugget... the firm have hatched a plan to buy the Ewood Park club in late November, provided there are no late fowl-ups." In the latest Rooneygate news, the Daily Star and The Sun both run the same front page picture of Coleen Rooney in a bikini (more pictures inside!), albeit accompanying very different stories. The Sun's piece claims that Wayne Rooney "was never going to leave United", something which he apparently told a fan who accosted him during his holiday in Dubai, and which adds grist to the mill for the paper's sustained campaign to besmirch Rooney's agent Paul Stretford. The Daily Star takes a different view: "Coleen's £10k ###### job" runs the headline, with the piece going on to speculate that Roo has placated his missus by sending her under the knife. "At least one Rooney has dazzling form up front!" the paper added of what it described as "a new pair of bumper ######." Not much transfer gossip around today, but Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti is planning a bid for Shakhtar Donetsk and Croatia full-back Darijo Srna, according to the Daily Mirror, while the same paper reports that Manchester City are tracking Sporting Lisbon defender Daniel Carrico. Meanwhile, the Daily Mail reports comments from Standard Liege midfielder Steven Defour discussing rumoured interest from Liverpool and Manchester City, with Defour keen to keep playing well so that, "there is a better chance of me leaving." Finally, The Sun has a bit of fun this morning with yesterday's news that no English players were on the shortlist for the FIFA Ballon d'Or, the newly-merged world player of the year award (combining the original Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards). After running through the details of the miserable year experienced by shortlist regulars such as Wayne Rooney and John Terry, the paper adds a cheeky sidebar piece entitled "How could they miss these three?"... before ladling on the sarcasm with their nominations for blunder keeper Rob Green, goal-shy striker Emile Heskey and perennially-injured Owen Hargreaves. Eurosport

Indian firm Venky's plan Blackburn takeover AFP - Wednesday, October 27 LONDON (AFP) - – Blackburn Rovers are in takeover talks with Indian company Venky's and hope to complete a sale next month, the Premier League side confirmed Tuesday. Blackburn chairman John Williams said in a statement on the club's website that a series of meetings between officials from Rovers and Venky's had already taken place as well as an "extensive" due diligence process. "Both parties are hopeful that the transaction will be completed in November," Williams confirmed. Venky's chairperson Anuradha Desai said in the statement the company was looking forward to becoming the first Indian owners of a Premier League team. "We expect to be the first Indian company to acquire a Premier League team and we are particularly delighted that the team is Blackburn Rovers, with whom we believe we have many shared values and ambitions," Desai said. Venky's is established as Asia's largest poultry group and has an annual turnover of 1 billion pounds, last year recording a profit of 118 million pounds, according to reports in England. The company is one of a number of firms which have gone through the process of due diligence and inspected Blackburn's accounts. The Jack Walker Trust put Rovers up for sale two years ago in the hope of attracting buyers willing to invest in the club, but Venky's is the first company to have satisfied club chiefs about their intentions. Rovers have been scouring the globe for a potential buyer for several months and manager Sam Allardyce last week said he was looking forward to the prospect of new investment into the team. "The club has been for sale for some time and new investment would be most welcome," Allardyce said. "Investment is needed at every football club and investment here has dried up somewhat because of the club being up for sale. "We have a strong base at Rovers, a very good club which is run and managed very professionally indeed. Blackburn Rovers has a strong history and it could have a bright future given the right sort of investment." Established in 1875, Blackburn were one of the founding members of the Football League. They were also the last club from outside the established big four of Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool to win the Premier League, lifting the title in 1995. They are currently lying just above the relegation zone in 17th place. India may not be a top footballing nation, but its vast population and commercial potential makes it one of the biggest untapped markets for the sport. Last year, Manchester United approached the Sahara group for a shirt sponsorship deal when the club's four-year 100 million dollar deal with AIG drew to a close. Sahara, which sponsors the Indian cricket team, is a group with interests from financial services to real estate. The deal did not work out. Sahara, headed by Subrata Roy, and Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani were later reported to be bidding to buy Liverpool before both pulled out. Before Venky's came on the scene, little-known Indian entrepreneur Ahasan Ali Syed had also bid for Blackburn. The Premier League is followed with keen interest in India where matches are beamed live.

Singapore is least corrupt country in the world: survey By Ewen Boey – October 27th, 2010 Singapore, along with Denmark and New Zealand, tops a list of countries with the least corruption in the world, according to a global survey by Transparency International (TI). TI, which is a corruption watchdog organisation based in Berlin, Germany, publishes the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) annually. It said in a statement, “The surveys and assessments used to compile the index include questions relating to bribery of public officials, kickbacks in public procurement, embezzlement of public funds and questions that probe the strength and effectiveness of public sector anti-corruption efforts.” The higher their score attained by a country, the lower its corruption; and conversely, the countries with the lower scores are the most corrupt. Denmark, New Zealand and Singapore achieved scores of 9.3 out of a possible 10. The city-state moved up two places from its ranking last year, when it finished third. Singapore finished 4th in 2007 and 2008. Of Singapore’s consistent finishes near the top of the list, TI’s head of private sector programmes Francois Valerian told The Straits Times, “Singapore is perceived as a state which has made legislative efforts and enforcement of laws and regulations to fight and curb corruption in the public sector, administration and governmental spheres.” Ms Juanita Riano, who oversees the ranking, clarified that getting a high ranking in the index “doesn’t mean that a country is corruption-free.” The other countries in the top 10 are: Finland and Sweden, 9.2; Canada, 8.9; Netherlands, 8.8; Australia and Switzerland, 8.7; and Norway, 8.6. Japan came in at 17th with a score of 7.8, whereas the United Kingdom and United States came in 20th (7.6) and 22nd (7.1) respectively. At the other end of the 178-country list, Somalia scored 1.1, finishing below Afghanistan and Myanmar (1.4) and Iraq (1.5). TI noted in its report that corruption is a big problem in the world and is affecting both developed and developing countries alike.

Controversy grows over SGX’s takeover bid for ASX By Elena Torrijos – October 27th, 2010 The Singapore Exchange’s S$10.7 billion takeover bid for Australia’s ASX Limited faces a difficult road ahead amid political backlash in Australia and shareholder reservations over the deal. For the transaction to push through, the Australian parliament, currently controlled by a coalition led by the ruling Labour party, would need to lift the 15 percent ownership cap on the ASX bourse. The Australian Treasury could grant a waiver, but the Business Times reports that this could be stymied if any party demands a vote. Bob Brown of the Greens Party, a key Labour ally, said he was not supportive of the deal given Singapore’s human rights record and the city-state’s execution of an Australian drug smuggler in 2005. “This is a state that tramples all over freedom of speech, democracy, the rights of oppositions, the ability for public discourse,” he was quoted in a report by the Associated Press. A few other lawmakers also indicated they were inclined to oppose the takeover. Aside from regulatory approvals, the merger of the two exchanges will also be subject to shareholders’ approvals. But, already, one SGX shareholder has expressed a negative view over the issue. Under the deal, SGX will issue new shares and pay ASX shareholders a combination of A$22 or S$28.04 in cash and 3.472 new ordinary SGX shares for each existing ASX ordinary share or equivalent to A$48 per share. Atsushi Saito, chief executive of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE), was quoted by the Financial Times as saying that the transaction could result in a loss for the Japanese exchange, which is SGX’s second largest shareholder with a 4.9 percent stake. He told the UK paper that if the deal were to push through it would not be “a good story” for Tokyo. Some analysts said the planned acquisition looked expensive. Gabriel Yap, executive chairman of investment firm GCP Global, said the price of A$48 per share “is too high” as it represents 25 times price-to-earnings ratio while the estimated cost synergies and savings at 20% is higher than that achieved in other mergers and takeovers of other exchanges before. From the point of view of ASX shareholders, “Christmas has come early,” said Yap. The SGX-ASX deal aims to create the fifth-largest exchange in the world with a market capitalisation of more than US$12.3 billion and to capitalise on opportunities for growth in Asia-Pacific.The press statement on the proposed merger enumerates other benefits.

Paul, world-famous 'psychic' octopus, dies in Germany AFP - 1 hour 21 minutes ago BERLIN (AFP) - – Paul the octopus, who shot to fame during this year's football World Cup for his flawless record in predicting game results, has died peacefully in his sleep, his German aquarium said Tuesday. "Management and staff at the Oberhausen Sea Life Centre were devastated to discover that oracle octopus Paul, who achieved global renown during the recent World Cup, had passed away overnight," the aquarium said in a statement. "He appears to have passed away peacefully during the night, of natural causes," said Sea Life manager Stefan Porwoll. "His success made him almost a bigger story than the World Cup itself... We had all naturally grown very fond of him and he will be sorely missed." Paul beat the odds during the World Cup by correctly forecasting all eight games he was asked to predict, including Spain's 1-0 win over the Netherlands in the final. For the prediction, two boxes were lowered into the salty soothsayer's tank, each containing a mussel and the flags of the two opposing teams. Watched by a crowd of reporters, Paul would head to one box, wrench open the lid and gobble the tasty morsel, with the box he plumped for being deemed the likely winner. His astonishing ability made him a global media phenomenon. His later predictions were carried live on rolling news channels in Germany. Within an hour of his death, more than 150 messages of condolence were posted on Paul's "official" Facebook page. "Paul, we will never forget you. We love you," wrote one. "There will never be an octopus as cool as you again," wrote another. Paul himself "wrote" from beyond the grave: "It seems, my time has come, finally. Take care everybody. Hugs and don't forget me." The eight-legged oracle became a media superstar for his skills, but he naturally fell out with fans whose teams he failed to tip. He was slammed in the British press for treason after tipping Germany to beat his "home country" which they duly did, 4-1. He then fell offside with bitter German fans who threatened to turn him into sushi after he correctly predicted a semi-final defeat for the Mannschaft against Spain. Stung by Paul's "treachery", some sections of the 350,000-strong crowd watching the game on giant screens in Berlin sang anti-octopus songs. The honour of Paul's mother was also called into question in the stands, and Paul's home aquarium received death-threat emails saying "we want Paul for the pan." No less an authority than Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luiz Rodriguez Zapatero called for octopus bodyguards. And Spanish Industry Minister Miguel Sebastian called for the creature to be given an "immediate" free transfer to Spain to "ensure his protection." But Paul's fans need not despair too much at his death. The aquarium has already been grooming a successor, to be named Paul like his mentor. Paul's body is now in cold storage while the aquarium decides "how best to mark his passing." "We may decide to give Paul his own small burial plot within our grounds and erect a modest permanent shrine," said Porwoll. "While this may seem a curious thing to do for a sea creature, Paul achieved such popularity during his short life that it may be deemed the most appropriate course of action."

R.I.P. Paul the ‘psychic’ octopus By Ewen Boey – October 26th, 2010 Paul the octopus who shot to fame during the 2010 World Cup has reportedly died, said his aquarium in Germany. The “psychic” octopus captured the imagination of many for famously getting all of his predictions correct during the tournament. “Management and staff at the Oberhausen Sea Life Centre were devastated to discover that oracle octopus Paul, who achieved global renown during the recent World Cup, had passed away overnight,” the aquarium said in a sombre statement.

Australian lawmakers attack Singapore ASX takeover Australian political parties undermine Singapore exchange's $8.3 billion takeover bid for ASX Rod Mcguirk, Associated Press, On Tuesday 26 October 2010, 11:12 SGT CANBERRA, Australia (AP) -- Key lawmakers on Tuesday signaled they might scuttle the Singapore Exchange's $8.3 billion cash and shares takeover offer for the operator of the Australian bourse. Opposition Liberal Party treasury spokesman Joe Hockey raised concerns that the takeover, announced Monday, was not in Australia's national interest while Greens Party leader Bob Brown said he was swayed against the deal by Singapore's human rights record. The two parties command a majority in the Senate where they could block the deal which has yet to be approved by a range of regulators. The takeover of Australian Securities Exchange Ltd., the monopoly stock market operator known as ASX, by a company part owned by the Singapore government would create the world's fifth-largest stock exchange company by market value. Brown said he was concerned by Singapore's human rights record and by the island state's execution of an Australian drug smuggler in 2005 despite Australian government pleas for his life. "We should tell them nothing doing," Brown told reporters at Parliament House of the deal. "This is a state that tramples all over freedom of speech, democracy, the rights of oppositions, the ability for public discourse," he said. Hockey said Singapore competed with Australia for jobs in the financial sector and the government needed to explain how Australia would benefit from a combined stock exchange company headquartered in Singapore. "We've got to consider carefully, when a monopoly in the Australian market is being bought out by an overseas interest, whether that is in our interest," Hockey said. Prime Minister Julia Gillard said it would be "highly inappropriate" for the government to comment on the takeover, which has yet to be examined by the government's Foreign Investment Review Board, to judge whether it would be in Australia's interests. "I believe questions of foreign investment should be looked at through proper processes," Gillard told reporters. "We should be guided by Australia's national interest and our prosperity." Treasurer Wayne Swan would make the final decision, after receiving the board's advice, on whether the takeover should be allowed. But the parliament could block the necessary regulatory changes. The ASX is set to lose its monopoly on operating a stock market in Australia in 2011 and an affiliate of Chi-X Europe is planning to set up a trading system once the monopoly is abolished. Singapore, meanwhile, has long lagged behind Hong Kong and Tokyo as a regional financial center. The exchange operating company formed from the takeover of ASX would have a market value of $12.3 billion and be responsible for some 2,700 listed companies.

International Football - PSV beat Feyenoord 10-0 Sun, 24 Oct 15:38:00 2010 Dutch leaders PSV Eindhoven inflicted the heaviest ever defeat on former European champions Feyenoord with a 10-0 drubbing at the Philips stadium. Brazilian Jonathan Reis hit a hat-trick with Ibrahim Afellay, Ola Toivonen, Jeremain Lens (2), Balazs Dzsudzsak (2) and Orlando Engelaar joining in the rout. Feyenoord, traditionally one of the 'big three' clubs in the country and European Cup winners in 1970, were reduced to 10 men on 34 minutes when midfielder Kelvin Leerdam was sent off. Their previous worst defeat was an 8-2 loss to Ajax on Sept. 18, 1983. "This really hurts, suffering a defeat like this and it was very emotional in the dressing room afterwards," Feyenoord coach Mario Been said. "It is hard to realise what happened," added left back Tim de Cler. "After the first goal and the red card everyone just played their own match and we totally collapsed." PSV remain top of the table with 24 points after 10 matches, two more then Twente Enschede who beat visitors AD Den Haag 3-2. Feyenoord are 16th in the 18-team league with eight points. Ajax slipped to third with 21 points after a 2-2 draw at Excelsior Rotterdam, who took a 2-0 lead after Ajax's Vurnon Anita was sent off. Second-half goals from Mounir El Hamdaoui and Jan Vertonghen salvaged a point for Ajax Reuters

Singaporeans hit hard by haze By Ewen Boey – October 22nd, 2010 Doctors and medical clinics can expect to make a roaring trade this weekend, as Singaporeans come down with a litany of health-related issues brought on by the haze. Sneezing, coughing, throat and eye inflammation and increased asthma attacks are all on the rise as people struggle to cope about their daily lives in the midst of the bad air quality. On Thursday, the Pollutants Standards Index (PSI) entered the ”unhealthy” range of 101-200, hitting a four-year high of 108. The National Environment Agency has now advised those with respiratory and heart problems to reduce physical and outdoor activities for the time being. They also issued a health advisory that even healthy people can experience coughing and sneezing. Another health advisory by medical group, International SOS, says that haze-related health implications include, eye and nasal irritation, coughs, headache, nausea and vomiting. It also cautioned the haze may have a greater impact on children, pregnant women and elderly people. Schools are monitoring the haze situation closely and are ready to cancel all outdoor activities if the PSI remains in the unhealthy range. Already, The Straits Times reported that Ngee Ann Secondary School students cancelled a plan to visit to Changi Beach on Friday. Instead, they are spending their day in the Newater plant in Bedok and the air force museum in Paya Lebar, which are both indoors. Ngee Ann’s principal Adrian Lim told the paper, “The safety of students is most important when we plan activities. And reading that the haze situation has become more severe, we took the decision to change our plans so students can still benefit from our post-exam programmes,” he added. Koh Yong Chiah, principal of River Valley High also declared that lessons will be moved into the air-conditioned classrooms to avoid prolonged exposure to the haze. In the Singapore Sports School, training for outdoor sports like sailing and and swimming will be cancelled as long as the PSI level remains as unhealthy. Sports events such as S-League games this weekend have also been called off because of the haze. The Etoile FC versus Young Lions match at the Queenstown stadium and the Balestier Khalsa v Geylang United game at Toa Payoh stadium were scrapped on Thursday. The New Paper also reported that fewer anglers were seen at popular fishing sites sich as MacRitchie Reservoir, Bishan Park and West Coast Park. Runners due to take part in a mass 10-kilometre run organised by Nike this Sunday are also thinking of staying home even though the official race day guide says the event will only be cancelled if the PSI level hits the “very unhealthy” range of more than 200. Robin Low, 30, a graphic designer says, “The run should just be cancelled if the PSI is anywhere above 150. It was 108 yesterday and it was already quite suffocating. I might give the run a miss if the reading is above 100.” Digital strategist Daphne Chui, 23, agrees, “If it gets too bad I may opt not to run, I don’t want to be running in conditions that are detrimental to my health.” Yahoo! Fit-To-Post user Annie said the smoke from forest fires in Sumatra is hitting her hard. “Asthma patients like me suffer quite a fair bit due to breathing issues, blocked nose and light-headedness. I hope the authorities can extend help and stop all forest burning… I take pity on the construction workers who spend most of their time in the open,” she said. The issue has also become a major talking point on Twitter (#haze). 3rdeye_blind (@3rdeye_blind) tweeted,”Eyebags swollen like a pair of dumplings, tear glands choked thanks to the haze from Sumatra.” Another user called MichaeHolic (@MichaeHOLIC) wrote, “Dear Mr. Haze. I hate you. You gave me sore throat, phlegm, cough and a runny nose. I can’t sleep. I can’t breathe… I hate you.” ===================================================================== The International SOS Medical Advisories recommends that people in Singapore should take these measures to reduce their exposure to the air pollution: •Minimize time outdoors. •Consider wearing a mask while outdoors. N95 respirators are recommended. People with underlying health problems should consult their doctor before using a mask. •Reduce physical exertion. •Keep windows and doors closed. •Use an air conditioner (in ‘recirculate’ mode) or an air purifier if available. In addition: •Carry all medication needed on a routine or situational basis, such as inhalers. •Use saline eye drops regularly to minimize irritation. •Consult your medical practitioner if you experience symptoms. For hourly updates of the PSI level, you can visit the Singapore Weather Information Portal of the Meteorological Services Division.

We cant fight the haze alone: Indonesias Foreign Minister By Ion Danker October 22nd, 2010 Indonesias Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa has said that fighting the haze could not be done by Indonesia alone and stressed that it was a transnational problem, requiring the cooperation from countries in the region. Mr Natalegawa was speaking on the current haze situation, after Singapore and Malaysia pressed Jakarta to take action on the haze. What I want to emphasise is that the haze is a classic example of a challenge that is transboundary in nature and that cannot be solved simply by one country, he said. Countries in the region should be working hand-in-hand in addressing this particular problem or challenge. According to The Straits Times, his ministry holds regular media briefings on Fridays. However, he often does not attend the sessions but turned up yesterday to talk about an Asean summit in Hanoi next week. He also spoke about his conversation with Singapores Foreign Minister George Yeo over the telephone after Mr Yeo called him on Friday morning to express concern about the worsening haze situation, and offer Singapores assistance to help put out some of the fires in Sumatra. During the course of that general conversation, we exchanged views about developments with respect to the haze that is affecting some countries in the region. Naturally, Minister George Yeo expressed his governments concern, he said. He said that he had mentioned to Mr Yeo that besides Singapore, Indonesians in the Riau province were also affected by the haze. Mr Natalegawa went on to explain that this years haze should be seen as an exception to the norm, noting that Indonesia had not had land fires of the current scale in the last three or four years and the countrys efforts to stamp out land clearance by burning, some of which supported by foreign countries, had worked. According to the same paper, he had compared the current haze situation to recent wildfires in Russia where acrid smog engulfed Moscow in August, in his conversation with Mr Yeo. If we look at the case of Moscow, even in a metropolitan area like this it is difficult to control the fires, what more in such a vast place like Indonesia, said Mr Natalegawa. A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said that in Mr Yeos phone call to Mr Natalegawa, he informed him that the PSI went over 100 on Thursday and cases of respiratory problems including asthma had increased significantly. MFA added that both ministers agreed that bilateral cooperation had helped reduce the haze problem in the last three years and could help ameliorate the current situation despite the dry weather. The phone call was the second made in two days, after Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Yaacob Ibrahim called his Indonesian counterpart Gusti Hatta on Thursday, after the air quality in Singapore was reported to hit the unhealthy range. According to the National Environment Agency (NEA), the haze situation has worsened since Wednesday. The three-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) hit a high of 108 on Thursday evening, which is considered unhealthy. NEA added that the haze situation is expected to persist as the prevailing winds will continue to blow smoke haze from Sumatra to Singapore.

Hodgson says Liverpool not dead yet AFP - Saturday, October 23 LIVERPOOL (AFP) - – Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has hit back at critics who claim his club is in crisis by insisting the Reds aren't dead yet. Hodgson's side are stuck in the Premier League relegation zone after their worst start to a season since 1953 and could be bottom of the table by the time they kick off against Blackburn on Sunday depending on other results. Speculation is growing that New England Sports Ventures, who completed their takeover of the club a week ago, may opt to sack Hodgson if he doesn't reverse Liverpool's fortunes quickly. But the former Fulham manager, who has already seen his side suffer dispiriting losses to Northampton, Blackpool and Everton this season, is convinced Thursday's goalless draw against Napoli in the Europa League proved they are back on the right track. "We showed we are far from dead as a club by going to Naples and doing well as we have in other Europa League games," he said. "We did it in a very tough atmosphere because Napoli is a very tough place to come and play at any time - it doesn't matter whether you are Inter Milan, Juventus or Liverpool. "I know we are going through a very bad passage at the moment and things have not gone our way for a variety of reasons. "We are down at the bottom and desperately want to get away from there. "But the new owners have done a lot for the club, they've given the club a lift and they did that before the Everton game (which Liverpool lost last Sunday). "There was a certain buoyancy and a feelgood feeling and we can start to rebuild, put things right and get ourselves on a good footing once again. "Of course Sunday is the ideal opportunity to do this."

Buoyant Mourinho hopes for more Bernabeu applause AFP - Saturday, October 23 MADRID (AFP) - – It is all smiles at Real Madrid these days with Jose Mourinho's team topping the Spanish first division and their Champions League group after going the first ten games of the season unbeaten. Real have plundered 10 goals in their last two league matches on their way to reaching the league summit and host Racing Santander at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday buoyed by an impressive 2-0 Champions League win over AC Milan on Tuesday. Real are currently a point ahead of Villarreal, Barcelona and Valencia and the hard-to-please Madrid fans appear impressed by Mourinho's work, applauding the team off at the Bernabeu following Wednesday's 2-0 victory over AC Milan. "I really enjoyed the applause for the team as they deserved it," said Mourinho. "It says that the Bernabeu don't just appreciate the magic but also the hard work and that is something that pleases my team and me." Mourinho admitted this week he would welcome Manchester United's want-away striker Wayne Rooney at the club but they don't seem short of firepower at the moment and are the league's top-scorers. Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo has scored five goals in his last three matches in all competitions and the world's most expensive player has an incredible strike rate since joining Real, netting 39 goals in his 45 games for the club. Champions Barcelona laboured to a 2-0 Champions League home win over FC Copenhagen on Wednesday and are in the unfamiliar position of chasing Real having led from the front for the past two seasons. Barcelona are at bottom side Real Zaragoza on Saturday looking for a fourth successive away triumph against a team that have yet to win this season. Barca have been dominating teams but failing to kill the opposition off and Spain World Cup star David Villa is having a hard time of it, netting just twice in the league this season following his 40-million-euro move from Valencia. "Goals are the responsibility of everyone and we all have to help out," said Barcelona captain Carles Puyol. "We are relaxed about Villa as he is one of the best strikers in the world and we don't have any doubts about him." After facing former employer Valencia last Saturday, Villa comes up against another of his old clubs in Real Zaragoza, where he spent two successful seasons scoring 32 league goals in 73 games. Valencia saw their unbeaten league start come to an end with a 2-1 loss at Barcelona last weekend and hope to get back to winning ways with victory at home to Real Mallorca on Saturday. Valencia, who drew 1-1 with Rangers on Wednesday in their Champions League match, sit a point behind Real with an identical record to Barcelona. Villarreal are above the duo on goal difference after a stellar start but have a testing home match against Atletico Madrid on Sunday. Atletico are down in fifth, three points off the trio of second-placed teams, and will be out for revenge having lost home and away to Villarreal last season. Uruguayan international defender Diego Godin will hope to force his way into the Atletico starting line-up against his old club Villarreal, who sold him for eight million euros in the summer. In other matches, Sevilla host Athletic Bilbao on Sunday as both teams look to iron out their inconsistent form. Sevilla are a point above Bilbao in seventh and unbeaten at home but need to turn draws into wins at the Ramon Sanchez Pijuan. Elsewhere, second from bottom Deportivo La Coruna travel to promoted Real Sociedad on Monday in search of their first win of the season.

Wenger surprised Rooney remained at United AFP - Saturday, October 23 LONDON (AFP) - – Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits he was surprised to hear that Wayne Rooney had agreed a new contract with Manchester United. Rooney made a shock u-turn on Friday as he agreed the five-year deal just days after making it clear he wanted to leave United due to what he saw as the club's lack of ambition. When United manager Sir Alex Ferguson went public with the club's dispute with Rooney, Wenger though the England striker was likely to be sold when the transfer window re-opened in January. "Once the club came out and said that they couldn't find an agreement it was a message that they wanted to sell," Wenger said. "Certainly Rooney has got the guarantees he wanted - you can translate that like you want, but that's it." Wenger insisted that, unlike the rest of the football world, he was never fascinated by the saga. "It was just a story that for me, from the start to the end, was of no interest to me. When I saw the headlines I just turned the page," Wenger said. "I was never really interested in that story because what happened with Wayne Rooney happens to every club, every year - plenty of times. "Just because he has a different name it was certainly a story, but it is a super-classical story which happens in every club, every week, so I could never understand what was really special in this case." Chelsea had been linked with a move for Rooney when news of his discontent first broke, but Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti claimed he never expected the player to leave United. "I'm not surprised," Ancelotti said. "Manchester United are happy to keep a fantastic player. I think that Rooney did a fantastic job for Manchester United and, in the future, I think he will do the same." Meanwhile, former United midfielder Lou Macari believes Rooney will have to work hard to rebuild relationships with his team-mates. "I'm shocked," Macari told Sky Sports News. "His statement was undermining the players, was undermining the manager. "Saying that the manager's got no ambition and the clubs got no ambition and all that. You're pointing the finger at everyone at Manchester United, not just the owners in America. "So there's a bit of rebuilding to be done. I think supporters hold the key to how well Wayne does in the future, whether they're going to forgive him and accept him back."

Rooney signs new deal in shock U-turn By yahoosingapore – October 22nd, 2010 Agence France Presse LONDON (AFP) – – Wayne Rooney performed a shock u-turn Friday by signing a new five-year contract with Manchester United just days after appearing to be on his way out of Old Trafford. Rooney had rocked United on Wednesday by revealing that he wanted to leave the Premier League club because they no longer had enough ambition to compete for major honours. However United reopened talks with Rooney’s agent and announced on Friday that the player had made an astonishing u-turn and opted to commit his long-term future to the club. A statement on the club’s website said: “Wayne Rooney has agreed a new five-year contract to stay at Manchester United until at least June 2015. “The agreement follows intensive discussions between the Club and the player’s representatives and means that by the end of his contract Wayne will have been a Manchester United player for 11 years.” United manager Sir Alex Ferguson had already revealed earlier in the week that contract talks with Rooney had broken down in August and it seemed certain the former Everton star would be sold. Ferguson said Friday he was delighted with Rooney’s decision: “It’s been a difficult week, but the intensity of the coverage is what we expect at Manchester United. “I said to the boy that the door is always open and I’m delighted Wayne has agreed to stay. “Sometimes, when you’re in a club, it can be hard to realise just how big it is and it takes something like the events of the last few days to make you understand. “I think Wayne now understands what a great club Manchester United is.” Rooney had been increasingly linked with a move to arch local rivals Manchester City, prompting an angry reaction from fans. One group protested at his house on Thursday and had to be moved on by police.

United Patrol Rooney's Home After Protests 2 hours 14 mins ago © Sky News 2010 Manchester United have sent a security team to patrol Wayne Rooney's house through the night after police were forced to break up a fans' protest outside his home. private guards told Sky News officers will also make regular checks, hours after a crowd of up to 30 people had been cleared from the property. Rooney called in police to deal with the group which had gathered in front of the electric gates entrance to his home in the village of Prestbury, Cheshire. A Cheshire Police spokesperson said the supporters, who are angered at the striker's attempts to quit the club, "dispersed peacefully" with no offences committed. Ten private security officers have since been sent by United and, though quiet, lights remained on in the property's large front garden shortly before midnight. It comes barely hours after the club urged fans to be patient as they thrash out the future of the want-away striker. That advice clearly fell on deaf ears among a minority of the support. Fans had expected some form of resolution after discussions between manager Sir Alex Ferguson, chief executive David Gill and Rooney's agent. Sir Alex had spoken of his desire to "put (the matter) to bed", but the only statement issued from Old Trafford confirmed "no developments of note to report" after the talks. After a frantic day of comings and goings, United's admission only added to the confusion. "We are aware that there is intense public and media interest on the club at the moment, but there are no developments of note to report today," the statement said. "I can confirm a number of meetings have taken place today, including with the player's representative. "The outcome of those meetings will become clear in the near future. In the meantime, fans are asked to be patient." Rooney has confirmed he will not be extending his contract at Old Trafford despite an offer to make him the highest-paid player in United's history. He has reportedly been offered a new £150,000-a-week deal but turned it down, saying the club lacks ambition in the transfer market. Ferguson has said he would like to keep the 24-year-old but a move to mega-rich Manchester City, Chelsea, Real Madrid or Barcelona now seems likely. Rooney's decision to quit Old Trafford follows a disappointing World Cup and lurid revelations about his private life. His team-mates have said they will miss him - but will cope with his loss as they have with others in the past. "There's been a few instances of big players leaving Manchester United but Manchester United goes on," said midfielder Darren Fletcher. "It's the biggest club in the world. So you have to keep going and respond. The fans don't let you settle for anything other than winning." Rooney has been a huge hit since joining United six years ago from Everton for £27m. He has won international acclaim as well as numerous trophies and is the current PFA and football writers' Player of the Year.

Angry Fans Hold Protest At Rooney's House 3 hours 38 mins ago © Sky News 2010 Wayne Rooney has been forced to call police after up to 30 fans gathered outside his house to protest his attempt to quit Manchester United. Rooney contacted officers after the crowd gathered at his home in the village of Prestbury, Cheshire. Police attended and sent the group on their way. A Cheshire Police spokesperson said the protesters "dispersed peacefully" and confirmed no offences had been committed. The unrest came barely hours after United asked fans to be patient as they thrash out the future of the want-away striker. An announcement was expected after talks between manager Sir Alex Ferguson, chief executive David Gill and the player's agent. But the Old Trafford club has said there are "no developments of note to report". On Tuesday Ferguson told reporters he wanted to "put the matter to bed" as soon as possible. Instead, after a frantic day of comings and goings, United released a statement which only added to the confusion. "We are aware that there is intense public and media interest on the club at the moment, but there are no developments of note to report today," the statement said. "I can confirm a number of meetings have taken place today, including with the player's representative. "The outcome of those meetings will become clear in the near future. In the meantime, fans are asked to be patient." Rooney has confirmed he will not be extending his contract at Old Trafford despite an offer to make him the highest-paid player in United's history. He has reportedly been offered a new £150,000-a-week deal but turned it down, saying the club lacks ambition in the transfer market. Ferguson has said he would like to keep the 24-year-old but a move to mega-rich Manchester City, Chelsea, Real Madrid or Barcelona now seems likely. Rooney's decision to quit Old Trafford follows a disappointing World Cup and lurid revelations about his private life. His team-mates have said they will miss him - but will cope with his loss as they have with others in the past. "There's been a few instances of big players leaving Manchester United but Manchester United goes on," said midfielder Darren Fletcher. "It's the biggest club in the world. So you have to keep going and respond. The fans don't let you settle for anything other than winning." Rooney has been a huge hit since joining United six years ago from Everton for £27m. He has won international acclaim as well as numerous trophies and is the current PFA and football writers' Player of the Year.

Man Utd prepare crisis meeting over Rooney 'saga' AFP - Thursday, October 21 MANCHESTER, United Kingdom (AFP) - Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was preparing for a crisis meeting with club officials on Thursday, seeking a swift end to the saga of Wayne Rooney's departure. Ferguson was due to meet United chief executive David Gill at 10:00 am (0900 GMT), one day after superstar Rooney confirmed his intention to quit the English football giants. On Wednesday, Rooney, 24, said he was leaving because he believed the club was no longer able to match his ambition by being able to compete in the transfer market for the world's best players. Rooney's comments effectively slammed shut any chance of the striker being able to settle his differences with club after Ferguson said on Tuesday the door was still open to a solution. A furious Ferguson reacted by telling reporters following United's 1-0 Champions League victory Bursaspor that the club had called a meeting in order to "put the issue to bed." "We don't want it to carry on. We don't want it to become a saga. We've got the team to consider," Ferguson said. "That's going to be the end of it tomorrow (Thursday). We'll carry on and dismiss everything else. We'll put it to bed tomorrow." Ferguson said Gill had spoken to United's American owners, the Glazer family, ahead of the meeting. "David (Gill) has spoken to the owners tonight, which is important," Ferguson said. "And what is really important is for us to put this to bed." Ferguson did not speculate on what course of action he may take but it now seems likely that Rooney has played his last game in a United shirt and that the club will seek to sell him as soon as the January transfer window opens. Rooney, the figurehead of the United team and one of the world's most talented footballers, had stunned his employers by breaking off negotiations over a new contract and informing them he wished to leave. With only 18 months left to run on his current 90,000-pounds-per week deal, United are now likely to offload Rooney as quickly as possible before his value, around 50 million pounds, begins to depreciate. Rooney would be able to leave United for free if he saw out the remainder of his contract. Most reports have said that Manchester United's hated local rivals, Manchester City, are the favourites to sign Rooney. City, owned by Abu Dhabi billionaire Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, would comfortably be able to pay both the 50 million pound transfer fee and Rooney's salary demands, expected to be more than 200,000 pounds ber week. Ferguson also warned Rooney that any move to a new club was unlikely to be an improvement on United, where he has already accumulated eight major trophies in the six years since he signed from Everton as a teenager in 2004. "Sometimes you look in a field and you see a cow and you think its a better cow than the one youve got in your own field," Ferguson remarked. "And it never really works out that way. Its probably the same cow or not as good as your own cow. Some players like to think that it's better somewhere else. It never really works."

Rooney's explanation puts heat on United owners Reuters - Thursday, October 21 MANCHESTER - Wayne Rooney turned the spotlight firmly on Manchester United's American owners on Wednesday when the striker blamed the club's lack of clout in the transfer market for his desire to quit Old Trafford. A day after manager Alex Ferguson's candid news conference revealed that the 24-year-old wanted to leave, Rooney issued a statement explaining his reasons. "I met David Gill last week and he did not give me any of the assurances I was seeking about the future squad," the England striker said. "I then told him I would not be signing a new contract. "For me it's all about winning trophies, as the club has always done under Sir Alex. Because of that I think the questions I was asking were justified." Ferguson responded to Rooney's statement by saying he would meet Gill on Thursday morning in a bid to avoid the whole issue dragging on. "David has spoken to the owners tonight which is important. What is really important is for us to put it to bed, we don't want it to become a saga," Ferguson told a news conference after United's 1-0 win over Bursaspor in the Champions League. Like the deposed Tom Hicks and George Gillett at Liverpool, the Glazer family are deeply unpopular among United's hardcore fans who blame the huge debts the Americans have amassed to buy the club for the steady stream of top players leaving. Cristiano Ronaldo was followed by Carlos Tevez and Ferguson's replacements have not been of the same calibre. FREE TRANSFER The only strikers the Scot has bought in the last couple of years are Michael Owen on a free transfer and the unproven Mexican Javier Hernandez. United have a gross debt of 522 million pounds and fans have mounted an ongoing protest against the Glazers, citing a lack of investment in the squad and rising ticket prices. A protest march is planned before United's home match against Tottenham Hotspur next week while the Manchester United Supporters Trust issued a statement after the Rooney bombshell was announced. "The contrast could hardly be starker between the owners at Manchester City who are pumping millions into their club while the Glazers are leaching huge amounts out of ours," their statement said. "People talk about players being greedy with multi-million pounds contracts but those figures pale into insignificance compared with the hundreds of millions the Glazers have extracted from Manchester United through their takeover." Rooney's statement was loaded with praise for Ferguson despite reports of a fall-out between the pair. "I know I will always owe Sir Alex Ferguson a huge debt. He is a great manager and mentor who has helped and supported me from the day he signed me from Everton when I was only 18," said the striker whose contract runs out in June 2012. "For Manchester United's sake I wish he could go on forever because he's a one-off and a genius." Rooney has scored only one goal for United this season, from the penalty spot, and his general form has been poor while allegations about his private life have filled the tabloid newspapers. He also suffered a below-par World Cup in South Africa in June. "I have never had anything but complete respect for MUFC," added Rooney in his statement. "How could I not have done given its fantastic history and especially the last six years in which I have been lucky to play a part?"

Please shut the door behind you, Wayne By Ewen Boey – October 21st, 2010 COMMENT Loyalty, or the lack of it, has a funny way of biting you back in the behind. Back in 2004, when Manchester United fans – me included – were celebrating the arrival of wonderkid Wayne Rooney, a Liverpool-supporter friend of mine made a remark that, at the time, seemed a little cryptic and tinged with jealousy. “He wore a T-shirt that said ‘Once a Blue, always a Blue’, and yet he still left Everton,” he said. Now, I have no choice but to bite the bullet and agree with him regarding Rooney’s back-stabbing ways. I’ve been a long-time admirer of the England striker and his passion for the game has been a constant inspiration to fans the world over. By no means an angel off the field, his hard-running, badge-kissing celebrations and play-till-you-drop spirit made him a fan favourite throughout his past six years at Old Trafford. But his reason for wanting to quit the club, pardon my French, stinks to high heaven. Rooney’s declaration that “for me, it’s all about winning trophies” and his waning confidence in “the continued ability of the club to attract top players” is complete hogwash. His bitterness is not something that developed overnight. After all, this is a player who just had the most prolific season of his career in the 2009/10 season. If he was feeling so disgruntled about the club’s inability to attract top players, he should have just issued a “come-and-get-me plea” in the summer, saving the team and its fans the ongoing emotional turmoil right in the middle of the season. The “ankle-gate” fiasco in which Rooney and his manager Sir Alex Ferguson both give contradicting accounts of the striker’s fitness in recent week? Mere smokescreen. My guess as to the real reason why Rooney wants to leave — he had a bad, bad bust-up with Sir Sir Alex Ferguson. Ask previous United players like Paul Ince, Jaap Stam, Ruud van Nistelrooy and David Beckham – cross “headmaster” Fergie once and you’re out the door. What caused the bust-up? Are you kidding me? His cussing, smoking, whoring, hard-drinking and philandering behind his pregnant wife — pick any one or even combination of factors. His rejection of the astronomical 150,000 (S$300,000) pound-a-week contract tabled before him at the start of the season could, just maybe, have been the final straw. I’m not the only one disgusted by the once-a-hero, now-a-zero Man United superstar. Make no mistake, I really like the player, but the man is another matter altogether. A sudden 180-degree turn in loyalty, an overflowing ego (even during a period of poor form), and greed that is becoming ever more apparent – Rooney’s questionable character is now clear for all to see. “United have always traditionally relied upon bringing through youth players as well as investing in exciting young talent,” said my friend and fellow Red Devil of 16 years, Gregory Loo. “Rooney and Ronaldo are products of that system and suggesting that the club hasn’t invested in big names is a hollow reason that spits in the face of those honoured traditions,” said the 26-year-old. Online producer and another Man United supported, Benjamin Tan, 26, also feels betrayed. “I feel betrayed. Of all the players, I thought Rooney played football for the pure love of the game, but right now, he isn’t any different from the next money-grabbing player who would jump ship for a greater fortune.” Another Man United fan Nicholas Lee, 24, an educator, said, “I just think that under Fergie’s management, no player is allowed to be bigger than the team, and he had it coming with his ego beginning to play a part in everything. I think that given his poor form, the manager didn’t see that it was right for him to play, but he probably saw it as treading his ego as he thinks he is better than the rest.” So what now? As much as I don’t wish to see our star player leave, the man has lost all credibility, and his situation has now become untenable. Regardless of what the truth is, Rooney must leave the club pronto. With a long line of clubs, from Barcelona and Real Madrid to Chelsea and Manchester City, there will be no shortage of suitors once the January transfer window opens. But as another Red Devil, civil servant Lim En En, 26, so eloquently puts it, there will be no turning back. “We’ll always warmly welcome back Beckham and even Ronaldo. But Rooney? Never. He messed up his own life and blamed the club for it. The fans won’t forget this.”