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Apple shows off iPad-inspired Mac laptop On Thursday 21 October 2010, 6:32 SGT By Gabriel Madway CUPERTINO, California (Reuters) - Apple Inc CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the thinnest, lightest Mac laptop yet, fusing features from its popular iPhone and iPad with its traditional line of personal computers. Apple, whose computers have taken market share from PCs based on Microsoft Corp's Windows, will bring a version of its mobile applications store to the Mac, aiming to replicate its success and spur development of new programs. Loading up Macs with iPad features may help Apple stave off investors' fears that sales will begin bleeding over to the tablet, which has stirred up astonishing demand. The new MacBook Air -- introduced on Wednesday with Jobs' signature "one last thing" set-up -- is designed to reproduce the versatility of popular devices such as the iPhone and iPad, and will incorporate FaceTime video chats, which Apple is bringing to all its Macs. Utilizing flash storage like the iPad rather than hard drives like conventional computers, it can power up almost instantly from standby mode and store data twice as quickly as a standard hard drive. But it sacrifices processing power compared with Apple's other laptops. "We asked ourselves what would happen if a MacBook and an iPad hooked up? Well, this is the result," Jobs said at a media event in Cupertino, California, calling the Air the "future of notebooks." It starts at $999 for an 11.6-inch model, weighs as little as 2.3 pounds (1 kg), and measures 0.11 inches at its thinnest to 0.68 inches at the rear. "They're basically merging the product lines; they're simplifying it," said Kaufman Bros analyst Shaw Wu. "They're taking the strengths out of what they've learned on the iPhone and iPad and bringing that technology over to the Mac side. It makes a lot of sense." LIONS AND CANNIBALS While plenty of attention is lavished on the iPhone and iPad, the Mac has been critical to the company's success over past years. Apple sold $22 billion worth of Macs in fiscal 2010, comprising one-third of its revenue. Shipments rose more than 30 percent and far outpaced the overall market. Investors have wondered whether the iPad, a 10-inch touchscreen tablet that began selling in April from $499, would cannibalize sales of the Mac -- as it has done for low-end, Windows-based laptops known as netbooks. Gartner analyst Mike McGuire does not expect much cannibalization between iPad and Macs because of the gulf in price tags. He said the Air will try to bridge Apple's newer and older product lines. "It's that missing link between the tablet future and the existing notebook," he said. Jobs also showed off a new version of Mac operating software, which the company will release next summer. Nicknamed "Lion," it includes an improved "iLife" multimedia suite and incorporates FaceTime video chat, which the company recently launched on the iPhone. FaceTime will allow for video calls between iPhones, iPod touches and Macs. Over 19 million Apple devices are already equipped with FaceTime, Jobs said. It released a test version of FaceTime for the Mac on Wednesday. The App Store for the Mac will go live within 90 days, and developers will be able to start submitting apps next month. They will get 70 percent of the revenue from sales. The original App Store debuted in 2008 and helped spur sales of the iPhone by providing a wealth of fun, useful or merely diverting programs for sale, at the touch of a button. It houses more than 250,000 apps and has generated over 7 billion downloads. In addition, more than 30,000 apps have been specifically made for the iPad. In the third calendar quarter, Apple became the No. 3 personal computer maker in the United States with a 10.6 percent market share, according to IDC. It holds roughly 20 percent of the U.S. consumer market. But Apple's global market share is less than 5 percent, and the company is aiming to increase sales outside its U.S. stronghold. The Mac user base overall now stands at nearly 50 million. Apple shares rose 0.3 percent to close at $310.53 on Nasdaq. (Reporting by Gabriel Madway and Edwin Chan; Editing by Robert MacMillan and Richard Chang)

Gays adopt wait and see approach on US military ban AFP - Thursday, October 21 NEW YORK (AFP) - A judge has unlocked the door for gays wanting to openly join the US military, but many are adopting a wait and see approach because they fear the decision is not set in stone and could be reversed. District Judge Virginia Phillips of California on October 12 ordered American commanders around the world to stop enforcing a 17-year military policy that requires gay troops to keep quiet about their sexuality or face expulsion. But what could have been a watershed moment for gays serving in the US armed forces has instead been overshadowed by interminable legal wrangling as President Barack Obama's administration fights the decision. The irony is that Obama and his government are fierce advocates of scrapping the ban, they would just prefer it to be done by Congress and after a Pentagon review of the implications has been completed by the year-end. The Pentagon announced on Tuesday that it was accepting openly gay recruits for the first time in the country's history, but it also warned that the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" rules could be reinstated by the courts. Consequently, gays are not exactly flocking to enlist. "During this interim period of uncertainty, service members must not come out and recruits should use caution if choosing to sign up," said Servicemembers Legal Defense Network executive director Aubrey Sarvis, a US Army veteran. "The bottom line: if you come out now, it can be used against you in the future by the Pentagon," Sarvis added in a statement. Some activists, though, have taken the plunge, including Army Lieutenant Dan Choi, an Iraq war veteran who came out on cable television program in March 2009 and is considered a poster child for the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." The 29-year-old graduate of the prestigious West Point military academy, who was discharged earlier this year for being gay, made a public event of his re-enlistment on Tuesday in New York. Choi first tried to enlist at a US Marines recruiting station in midtown Manhattan, but after being told he was too old, filled out papers to re-enlist in the army. "We're still in a war, and soldiers are needed," Choi said. "I have a newfound faith in our government that at least one branch is on the side of the Constitution, is on the side of the people." The Justice Department on Wednesday urged an appeals court in San Francisco to immediately suspend Phillips's repeal and "maintain the status quo." In its court filings, the Justice Department laid out the argument that more time was needed to provide forces, especially combat troops, with "proper training and guidance" with respect to the policy change. Opponents of the ban argue that it violates the rights of gay service members and has harmed national security by forcing out some 14,000 qualified troops. Advocates, including the outgoing head of the US Marine Corps, say it ensures "unit cohesion" and that changing the law during wartime could prove disruptive. If the ban is lifted for good, the American military would be following the example of other US allies, including Britain and Israel, which have reported no serious problems since allowing gays to serve openly in uniform. Polls have shown a majority of Americans support ending the ban, but Republican lawmakers, including former presidential candidate John McCain, opposed the most recent attempt to change the rule. Gay rights groups had urged Washington not to further appeal the ruling, fearing endless delays if the president tries to go down the congressional route. Democrats in the Senate failed to get to the necessary votes to overturn the policy in September, after the House of Representatives had approved measures to change it in May. Aaron Belkin of the Palm Center, a California think-tank, didn't blame Obama for seeking a more failsafe legislative solution through Congress that suits his generals more, but said it was unclear what would happen if it fails. "If he drops the appeal, DADT will be dead and we will enter the 21st century with the rest of the civilized world," Belkin told AFP.

How can Tiger Airways compete with us? By Ewen Boey October 21st, 2010 A senior AirAsia executive has dismissed Singapore-based budget airline Tiger Airways ability to compete with its Malaysian-based counterpart. Speaking to Yahoo! Singapore, AirAsias Regional Head for Commercials, Kathleen Tan, says her airline does not even consider Tiger Airways to be their biggest rival. Tiger isnt our biggest rival. How can they compete with such a small fleet (19 planes), compared to ours (103 planes)? Tan, whos in her 40s, said during a phone interview. She also challenged the low-cost carrier that is partly owned by Singapore Airlines to respond to a recent marketing ad blitz that saw AirAsia take out full-page advertisements on two national newspapers with a tagline that screamed: If Tigers were meant to fly, they would be born with wings. The advertisements included the drawing of a Tiger cub in tears. In a reference to Tigers recent flight cancellations in August and early October, AirAsia also stated in the ad that they are guaranteed to fly everyday. Explaining the idea behind the ad, Tan said: We took this opportunity to come up with something fun and cheeky with clever and innovative marketing. We did not intend to be hostile, . Does she think it went overboard? It is a norm to have AirAsia and Tiger Airways take each other on. In this case, we decided to take advantage of Tigers operational slip-up and regain some market share, she said. Marketing has no boundaries. If you want to be shy, you will not get business. If Tiger Airways think that they have good marketers, let them take us on! The latest episode marks another step in the increasingly bitter rivalry between the two low-cost carriers. Last week, AirAsia chief Tony Fernandes labelled Tiger Airways senior management as a bunch of white guys trying to run an airline, reported the Bangkok Post . The Malaysian business mogul was expressing his belief that Tigers upcoming venture with Thai Airways (Thai Tiger Airways) was doomed to fail because it did not have a management that understood Thai customs and cultures. Were Asians, not a bunch of white guys running the airlines, Fernandes was quoted as saying. Tiger Airways is headed by a Briton Tony Davis. Tan, though, defended her Air Asia boss and said to take his recent quotes with a pinch of salt. All I can say is that Ive worked with Tony Fernandes for 16 years and the last thing he would be is a racist, she said. Meanwhile, Tiger Airways, has shot back with its own media iniative. In a media statement released on Wednesday a day after Tiger Airways announced it had won the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviations Low Cost Airline of the Year award its CEO, Mr Davis, declared that Tiger aims to be among the top three airlines globally. He added that Tiger, which is partly-owned by Singapore Airlines, had achieved record passenger numbers and growth in excess of 43 per cent this year. Mr Davis, in an apparent reply to the recent war of words, added, Its no wonder some of our competitors are getting so rattled. What do you think do you view the ongoing teet-for-tat battle between the two rival airlines as clever marketing or just simply childish?

Premier League - Rooney: I'm leaving to win trophies Wed, 20 Oct 17:41:00 2010 Wayne Rooney has cited Manchester United's lack of ambition as the reason why he wants to leave the club. Rooney has released a statement in response to Sir Alex Ferguson's comments on Tuesday, with the striker reiterating his desire to leave Old Trafford in pursuit of silverware. "I met with David Gill last week and he did not give me any of the assurances I was seeking about the future squad," Rooney said in the statement. "I then told him that I would not be signing a new contract." Rooney admitted he was surprised by the extended revelations provided by Ferguson, and sought to explain his reasons for wanting to depart the club. The striker said he remains an admirer of the United boss, but is disillusioned by the future direction of the club. "I was interested to hear what Sir Alex had to say yesterday and surprised by some of it," he said. "It is absolutely true, as he said, that my agent and I have had a number of meetings with the club about a new contract. During those meetings in August I asked for assurances about the continued ability of the club to attract the top players in the world. "I have never had anything but complete respect for MUFC. 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? "For me its 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. "Despite recent difficulties, 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. "For Manchester United's sake I wish he could go on forever because he's a one off and a genius." Eurosport

Why Rooney really wants out Wed Oct 20 12:52PM Well no one saw that coming. When the football hacks gathered yesterday for Sir Alex Ferguson's Champions League press conference they expected the brush off. Any inquiry about Wayne Rooney they imagined would be dismissed with a curt sneer, an angry glare and the inevitable ban from future contact with the manager. Instead they got a six-minute confessional. Fergie, calm, dignified, polite, explained with unprecedented openness precisely what was going on in Wayne's world. At times bewildered, at times disappointed, he bore the air of a father fundamentally let down by an errant offspring. It was a command performance of epic dimension. And like most great shows, it was beautifully deceptive. Ferguson does not do anything by chance. And his pitch-perfect seizure of the moral high ground yesterday was played out across all the newspaper headlines this morning exactly as he would have wished. Until now, we were not sure who was to blame for the pain with Wayne. Had Ferguson gambled once too often and jeopardised his legacy at United by confronting the fulcrum of his team? Surely a student of psychology as astute as he should be able to extract the best from such a talent without alienating him to the point of departure? Were the Glazers to blame for being too tight to meet his financial demands? Well, now we knew, it was none of the above: it was all the fault of Rooney and his shady advisers. Treachery was the common word in the headlines. And greed. And ungratefulness. This is, however, thanks to Ferguson's candour, another way of looking at it. We now know Rooney wanted away as early as August 14, long before his exposure as an enthusiast for the services offered by world's oldest profession. Maybe, it is plausible to suggest, what happened then is that Rooney - far brighter than common misconception gives him credit - took a look round what was going on at Carrington and saw only the writing on the wall. No big signings had come in. Mesut Ozil and Rafael van der Vaart had gone elsewhere. The only newcomers into a squad in dire need of surgery he could see were Chris Smalling and Javier Hernandez. Plus Bebe, for God's sake. If you want to know what worried Rooney, it is all here on paper. In the Champions League final of 2008, the red front six was Rooney, Ronaldo, Tevez, Hargreaves, Scholes and Carrick. Tonight against Bursaspor, the front six is probably going to be Berbatov, Hernandez, Nani, Fletcher, Park and Carrick. Anyone who suggests that is a mark of progress is clearly bonkers. From his position on the inside, Rooney saw what was happening: United, their financial priorities entirely focussed on paying off debt, were no longer able to compete at the top. Simple as that. Even to utter the phrase Ronaldo, Rooney and Tevez is to send a shiver of discomfort down the spine of any United fan. This should have been the core of their team for years to come, a trio to be mentioned in the same breath as Law, Best and Charlton. By January, all three will have gone. To lose one might be considered unlucky, two careless, but three is a woeful dereliction of duty. And it is not hard to see how it happened. Sure Rooney is greedy. Sure his advisers give new definition to the term unscrupulous. But the critique inherent in his actions is clear: in today's game where loyalty has absolutely no traction, what holds a player to his club is its ambition. Rooney saw United's had dissipated in face of the priorities of feeding the debt. He didn't want to carry an ailing, diminishing side for the next five years. He wanted to win all that is going. And clearly he felt that he wouldn't do that at United. So he kissed the badge goodbye, a very modern morality tale. And boy how he will be missed in the stands at Old Trafford. Without the white Pele what is there left to support? Apart from someone else's growing pile of debt, that is.

Rooney should not move across town, say Man City fans Wed, 20 Oct 17:47:00 2010 Wayne Rooney wants to leave Manchester United but fans of big-spending rivals Manchester City are unlikely to lay down the welcome mat for the England striker at Eastlands. City, thanks to their mega-rich owners, are one of few clubs in the world with deep enough resources to buy Rooney, or afford his wages. City coach Roberto Mancini said he has had no contact with United about bringing their unsettled forward across to the blue half of the city and many fans are hoping it stays that way. "We don't need to spend anymore, we need this team to settle," Jacqui Grant, who was shopping in central Manchester wearing a City sweatshirt, told Reuters on Wednesday. The world's richest club have spent more than 300 million pounds ($471.7 million) building a team since being taken over two years ago, bringing in the likes of forwards Emmanuel Adebayor, David Silva and ex-United striker Carlos Tevez. "Rooney shouldn't come to City, we got away with it with Tevez, but this could cause a lot of trouble, a lot of unrest in the city of Manchester," added Grant. "I don't like him as a guy, he can't play at the moment, he had a bad World Cup, he's not going to help us." Her 16-year-old daughter Beth is a United fan and even she did not want Rooney to stay at Old Trafford after a poor start to the season. "He's rubbish, nobody wants him. He should play in the reserves after saying he wants to leave. I won't be cheering him if he wears the shirt for the first team," she said. "What's the point in buying an out of form player with personal problems for what will probably end up being a record transfer fee?" said office worker Paul Davis. "We don't want him and we don't need him." After a miserable World Cup as well as allegations about his private life splashed across the newspapers week after week, Rooney's stock has fallen although his class is not in question after a 34-goal season last year. "He's not as good a player as last season. He thought he was bigger than the club and that doesn't work here," said Pedro, a United fan who declined to give his second name as he walked past Old Trafford heading for a few pre-match drinks before Wednesday's Champions League match against Bursaspor. "He has played himself into a transfer that he wanted -- he's been putting in some dreadful performances this year. "Alex Ferguson is right not to let him get away with it. It all goes a way to explaining our start to the season." Amid all the talk of Rooney heading for the Old Trafford exit, there were a few fans who think it will not come to that. "I don't think he will leave," said Samuele Omiecceoli, who had flown from his home in Italy to watch Wednesday's game. "He will stay at United because many times there have been offers from big clubs like Real Madrid and he hasn't gone."

Premier League - Rooney: What the managers say Wed, 20 Oct 09:51:00 2010 Who is interested in buying England striker Wayne Rooney after he told Manchester United he wants to leave Old Trafford? Responses from top managers: Jose Mourinho, Real Madrid: "He belongs to Manchester United. He belongs to Old Trafford. If at the end of the day Manchester United decide he wants to leave, give me a call. I like him, I like Sir Alex. I think the best thing for him is to stay there for life. He will stay at Old Trafford for sure." Pep Guardiola, Barcelona: "He is one of the greatest players in the world as there are very few players with his qualities. He's a player I admire very much." Roberto Mancini, Manchester City: "Rooney is a great player but I think he'll stay at United. He's an important player for United. He is a United player. It's not correct to speak about that situation. I have respect for him, for (Alex) Ferguson, for United. I want to speak only about my players. It's not my problem. I'm City manager. I have a lot of problems with my players. It's important for me to focus on tomorrow's game. He is a strong player like (Fernando) Torres, like (Lionel) Messi, like Carlos Tevez, like (Mario) Balotelli. This is my opinion." Arsene Wenger, Arsenal: "Has somebody opened the transfer window? We are not in the transfer market at the moment and we are not interested in buying anybody. We have plenty of players. It's a story I'm happy to read in the newspapers but I'm happy to keep out of it. That means we are not buying anybody, we have enough strikers." Harry Redknapp, Tottenham Hotspur: "I'm going to speak to my chairman to see if we can get Rooney to Tottenham but I doubt very much whether that will happen. These things need to come out into the open sometimes. The game belongs to the people and the people should know what happens more in football." Carlo Ancelotti, Chelsea: "I probably will have to answer this question a lot in the future so I want to make it clear now. I don't want other coaches talking about my players and I have a lot of respect for Manchester United and their manager Alex Ferguson that prevents me from discussing Rooney's situation." Reuters

Not so soonzzz rascal. End of an era for United Wed Oct 20 09:03AM This feels like the end. The end of Manchester United's mastery of English football. Wayne Rooney is only one player, but his desire to leave the club is laden with far greater significance. These things creep up on you. There was no precise moment at which Liverpool's era of dominance was declared over. But one morning they woke up and it was five years since they had won the league. Then 10. Soon it will be 20. Arsenal's Invincibles did not stage a farewell gig, but slowly drifted away. Suddenly you looked at the team sheet and there was no Henry, no Pires, no Vieira. In fact, none of the players who starred in that magnificent side. And no silverware on the sideboard. Look, we all know about how Ferguson cut ties with Paul Ince, David Beckham, Jaap Stam, Roy Keane and Ruud van Nistelrooy, and emerged triumphant into an even more trophy-filled future. But this time it feels different. Rooney is far and away United's best player. Or at least an in-form Rooney is. After him, who are United's most influential players? Ryan Giggs (36), Paul Scholes (35), Edwin van der Sar (39) and Rio Ferdinand (31). (Incidentally, by some freak of the calendar, all four players have their birthday in the next six weeks.) Whether or not Rooney goes, they have some serious rebuilding to do. Lose their talisman, and they will be without a world class player they simply do not have the clout to replace. They might get £50 million for Rooney, but what use is that when you cannot spend it? Let us not forget United swear blind they still have the £80m from the Cristiano Ronaldo sale to splash out when the right player comes along. That money remains untouched - which means we can only conclude none of their prospective big-name targets wants to join them, or their clubs are charging a prohibitive fee. United were criticised for not getting in the game when Mesut Ozil became available. But when Real Madrid registered their interest, was he really going to go anywhere else? There is cash in the bank. The unpalatable truth for fans is that if United had the wherewithal to sign Kaka, Ribery or Sneijder they would already have done so. So what is left? Well, they might get Karim Benzema, a wayward youth with a bad attitude and prostitute-related personal issues. Sounds familiar... That is why United must put their anger and sense of betrayal to one side and try to thrash out a deal with Rooney. He might have been presented as treacherous and unprofessional, but he only needs to put pen to paper and all will be forgiven, if not forgotten. Anyone surprised by Fergie's lack of righteous fury in yesterday's statement to the press hasn't been paying attention. He can be ruthless, no doubt. But only when it suits him. Ince was axed to make way for Paul Scholes, and Beckham for Cristiano Ronaldo. Both upgrades. There was no replacement for Stam beyond an ancient Laurent Blanc, and the consequence was a disastrous season. Ferguson learned his lesson, and the following summer bought Ferdinand. Keane and Van Nistelrooy were both past their peak, and had become disruptive. Theirs was no great loss. Much less well documented have been the occasions when Ferguson has opted for reconciliation. After the triumphant 1998/99 treble-winning season, Keane ('Players are pieces of meat, that's how I look at it') openly considered a lucrative move to Juventus or Bayern Munich. Fergie broke the bank - and the club's wage structure - by handing his captain a massive £52,000-a-week contract. Although United exacted a small measure of revenge by blaming Keano for the hike in season ticket prices. And what about when Ferdinand returned from his eight-month suspension for missing a drugs test armed with demands for a massive £120,000-a-week contract? A messy dispute played out, Ferdinand was booed, but Fergie - chastened perhaps by the Blanc shambles - acquiesced and settled for a £100,000-a-week deal which means he is still the club's highest-paid player. 2000 Keane and 2005 Ferdinand were too important to let go. And it is hard to argue that 2010 Rooney - the one who scored 18 goals in 14 games before that fateful ankle tweak in Munich - is not more important than both. And how about Cristiano Ronaldo, whose interminable flirting with Real Madrid became a colossal distraction? Fergie did not cut his star man adrift. Instead he cut a deal in 2008 that ensured Ronaldo got the move he wanted and United got the right price, plus another year's service into the bargain. Even though their player wanted out, United stayed in front of the problem, kept him happy enough and reached an outcome that worked for all parties. That is obviously not the case this time. Rooney's announcement has come out of the blue. Or rather, it came out of the blue in August - incidentally, five days before Rooney's representative told the Daily Telegraph's Paul Kelso talk of a move to City was "complete bollocks". Rooney's motive has not yet been properly established, which may be the most depressing thing of all for United. Maybe he doesn't need a motive. Gareth Barry and James Milner didn't need motives to leave Aston Villa for Manchester City. Maybe Rooney and his advisors have simply looked at the next five years and asked themselves which team offers the greatest potential for earning money and winning trophies. Maybe United have rejoined the ranks of normal clubs. They remain a money-making machine, but their crippling debt and payments relating to a bond issue turned a £100m profit into an £80m loss this year. And if they stop winning things, they will stop making money. And if they stop making money, how will they spend enough to win anything? Manchester United are at risk of spiralling down a vortex that could end their unprecedented run of glory. Ferguson may never fully knock Liverpool off "their f***ing perch", as the two clubs remain level on 18 league titles each. It may be decades before somebody breaks the tie.

Premier League - Papers: What ya gonna Roo? Wed, 20 Oct 09:30:00 2010 It's a predictable Roo-fest in today's papers as the British press wonder what the next step is for Manchester United - and Sir Alex Ferguson - following the inevitable exit of Wayne Rooney. You don’t have to be interested in football to know that - off the back of a rotten World Cup - the out-of-form, half-fit Rooney has asked to leave Old Trafford. Following Fergie’s agreement to an exit provided there was "no nonsense from the lad" there has indeed been nonsense, with Rooney on the pitch in name only and publicly questioning his manager off it, leading the wily old Scot to explain that he asked to quit the club as early as August 14. The left-wing Daily Mirror tabloid has gone so far as to make it the front-page lead, which is strange given a double Tory whammy of sweeping budget cuts and a hospitalised Maggie Thatcher. "Roo Greedy Fool", it yelps, adding that the England striker has "no Roospect" as he engineers an £80 million transfer. The Daily Star speculates that the split could lead a "shattered and emotional" Sir Alex to quit management after realising that the gaffer is no longer number one - even at Old Trafford. An "out of control" Roo thinks he’s "above the law" and has "betrayed" United, according to Star columnist Brian Woolnough. He "owes them an explanation" after provoking an "irretrievable split". All the above griping skirts over the fact that exactly the same thing happened when Rooney left Everton for United a few years back. Karma has a funny way of nipping away at you, and if Rooney does indeed buy his contract out for £5m using the Webster-Arrest clause then United will have been well and truly bitten. So, what next? First off, who to sell him to? Pretty much every rag has trotted out the usual suspects of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Internazionale and (gulp) Manchester City as, frankly, only they can afford them, although realistically Inter cannot compete because they lack the sugar daddy of City or Chelsea, or the tax-breaks given to foreign players in Spain. We can discount Harry Redknapp’s cheeky coveting of the player, while whispers of Liverpool’s new owners preparing a headline-grabbing coup are nothing short of ridiculous given their footballing predicament. The Star claims that Rooney has already decided where he wants to go - City - while the Daily Mail reckons Chelsea will loosen the purse-strings once more with Roman Abramovich ready to make him the world’s highest-paid player. The concern that he may switch to United’s bitter city rivals is raised by the Daily Express too, which claims they will give him £250,000 a week (a quarter of a million!!) over five years. The Mirror sagely points out that, while the Eastlands club may be able to double or triple his wages, his strength as a brand and therefore his overall earning power will be damaged, meaning he will make less overall - a posh-sounding sponsorship guru called Rupert said so. If indeed it’s all about cash, he would best be served by a move to Barcelona or Real Madrid, because foreign executives (including footballers) pay half the income tax they would in the UK or indeed anywhere else in the civilised world. This means that Madrid, for example, would only need to offer him £150,000 a week to match City’s £230-250k, and that’s without the bumper image and sponsorship cuts he will get at the world’s biggest club (sorry United). The Sun agrees in part, pointing out that Jose Mourinho’s claim that Rooney would stay at United was tempered by a cheeky aside to call him if things don’t work out. The same paper’s famed United 'insider' also claims that "we'll do everything possible to stop (a sale to City)", adding that - despite having the likes of David Villa and Lionel Messi at the club - Barcelona could be in for Rooney after Pep Guardiola hailed him as "one of the greatest players in the world". They seem to forget though that Barca are in a similar cashflow position to United, and are in the process of suing the former board over financial mismanagement. Oops. The Mail also reckons that Fergie is keen to drive the transfer to Madrid or Barca so as to prevent a Premier League rival exploiting his loss. Their resident sage, the ever-wise Martin Samuel, fires a warning shot to Rooney about joining City. "Sol Campbell was not out and about in North London at the time he exchanged Tottenham Hotspur for Arsenal. He could disappear to a part of the city where nobody cared what colour his shirt was. Manchester-based players, like those in Liverpool and Glasgow, do not have this option." Our conclusion? A head-to-head between City and Madrid, with Madrid offered a discount to shoo City away while Garry and the Arabs throw in a private security team as part of their deal. Secondly, who would replace him? Assuming United get the £70m+ mooted by most papers, whoever the heck Fergie wants. A factor favouring a Madrid move is that they have additional collateral - top players - that would sweeten a transfer (Mail). United have always liked bench-warming France striker Karim Benzema, while Gonzalo Higuain would be the man who makes way for Rooney in the first XI. They could also ask for Kaka, with Ferguson keen for some creativity in a midfield over-reliant on the flagging legs of Paul Scholes. The thing is though that United far prefer signing relative unknowns for smaller fees and developing them into big stars, getting value prospects and coaching them into greats. And with £70m (minus the £10m commission paid to Everton) they could create a whole new generation at the club. That’s enough of Rooney for now. As if further evidence was needed that City’s owners like to burn money, Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson could be headed for Eastlands in a £15m deal (Mirror). United also want the England U21 winger, and will offer the permanent signing of on-loan striker Danny Welbeck or even out-of-favour midfielder Michael Carrick, which seems unlikely.

Rooney facing toughest decision of career Reuters - Thursday, October 21 By Martyn Herman LONDON - From the moment he curled in a sensational winner for Everton against Arsenal five days before his 17th birthday in 2002, Wayne Rooney's life changed forever. Desperate for another match-winner in the mould of Paul Gascoigne, fans and pundits alike immediately hailed him as the future of English football, and over the next few years in which he moved to Manchester United he did not disappoint. Unlike the carefully manicured image of David Beckham, Rooney was raw and wild at times and played football as if he was still on the streets with his pals in Merseyside. Eight years on, after the worst period of his career on and off the pitch, Rooney appears to be disenchanted with the game and has reached a self-inflicted crossroads. His next decision will be the most important of his life. Tuesday's extraordinary news conference by shell-shocked Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson in which the Scot spoke candidly about Rooney's desire to quit Old Trafford sent shockwaves around the footballing world. Rumours of huge wage demands immediately pointed the 24-year-old's likely future towards United's mega-rich rivals Manchester City -- a move that were it to happen would turn him into a pariah in the red half of town. "If he thought he already lived in a goldfish bowl then that would be nothing compared to if he went to City," Sammy McIlroy, who played for both club, told the BBC Wednesday. "It's an unbelievable situation. Carlos Tevez has done the same thing and at the moment has done very well. "But to go just across the water with the fans at United loving him, he could be in for a rough ride." Tevez made the move from United to City in 2009 but was largely forgiven by United fans, who realised the Argentine's hand had been forced by the Old Trafford money-men. If Rooney were to defect, he would have no such sympathy and any flirtation with who Ferguson once described as the "noisy neighbours" down the road would make the next few months almost impossible for him at Old Trafford. ROONEY'S CALL City manager Roberto Mancini insisted there had been no contact with Rooney Wednesday but the speculation will multiply before the January transfer window unless the player either pledges himself to United or spells out his wishes. Ferguson cleverly left the ball firmly in Rooney's court on Tuesday and the striker will have to make his intentions clear, sooner rather than later. Paul Ince, another former United midfielder who discovered that you cross Ferguson at your peril, believes Rooney was not interested in the 200,000 pounds per week pay packet City could offer and may just be fatigued at carrying the hopes of his country and his club on his shoulders. "I think there is more to it than money," Ince, who left United to join Inter Milan and later played for Liverpool, told BBC Radio. "It's never been about money with Wayne, it's been about his hunger for the game. "We as a nation put a lot of pressure on Wayne Rooney leading up to the World Cup. "We forget he's only 24 and that is a lot of pressure to take. Maybe he feels the best thing to do would be to go another country and start another life. "I for one went to Inter Milan and it was the best thing I ever did to be away from everyone and concentrate on my family and my football." "He's having a tough period at the moment but he's still a great player and he's not even reached his peak yet."

Rooney's 'treachery' laid bare by Ferguson: press AFP - Thursday, October 21 LONDON (AFP) - – Manchester United star Wayne Rooney has been left looking like the villain of the piece and will be hated by the club's fans after the revelation that he wants to quit, Britain's press said Wednesday. Manager Sir Alex Ferguson on Tuesday confirmed the 24-year-old striker wanted to leave Old Trafford, laying bare the full details of the saga in an extraordinary press conference that stunned commentators. Ferguson's clear distress and feelings of betrayal dealt a heavy blow to Rooney's reputation as a superstar who put loyalty to his club above money, they said. "Roo's let Utd down," said the Sun newspaper's headline, while the Mirror's simply read: "Betrayal." "The Manchester United boss threw Wayne Rooney to the lions," said the Sun. "By leaving the impression Rooney is a mercenary who will go wherever the big bucks are, he's buried a myth the striker has cultivated -- he'd play for United for nothing." The Guardian added that Ferguson's speech "nailed several myths and cast Rooney as a mercenary with no regard for United's health." Fans would already be incensed by Rooney's desire to leave Old Trafford -- and this would be made considerably worse by speculation that he could be snapped up by the club's cross-town rivals, said the press. "Rooney will be villified by Reds fans, not just because he wants to quit Old Trafford but as he is prepared to consider a move to Manchester City," said the Sun. Ferguson's performance itself -- at a press conference ahead of United's Champions League match with Turkish side Bursaspor Wednesday -- left many commentators open-mouthed. His speech was "one of the most compelling pieces of football theatre that we have ever seen," said the Mirror, while the Daily Mail thought it "mesmerising." There was much sympathy for Ferguson himself, who had said he was unable to provide an explanation for the player's desire to move after six successful years at the club. "He spoke like a father who had been betrayed by his favourite son," said the Mirror. "It was as if Roo had desecrated all that United stood for," it added.

Police on the hunt for Singapore’s ‘Heartbeat Molester’ By Faris – October 20th, 2010 The hunt is on for a serial molester who has preyed on more than 20 girls for the last eleven years. Believed to be in his 30s, the 1.7m tall Chinese man has been dubbed the “Heartbeat Molester” for his ”signature” ploy when he would ask the would-be victims to feel his heartbeat. Often seen wearing sunglasses, police said the man usually targets young girls between 8 to 12 years old on their way home from school on weekdays between 12.30pm and 4.30pm. This year, it’s alleged that three molest cases in the north-eastern part of Singapore have been linked to the man. According to The New Paper, it happened between the months of August and October, in the Sengkang, Hougang and Punggol area. The most recent case happened 10 days ago when a nine-year-old girl was molested at Anchorvale in Sengkang. His tactic sees him approach his lone victim at void decks or lift lobbies, pretending to ask for direction to a non-existent flat with a made-up unit number. Conversing in either English or Mandarin, he would then ask his victim to lead the way and then bring her to a secluded staircase landing to commit the offence. In some cases, he would pretend to need a rest and place the victim’s hand on his chest, saying he has a weak heart. He would sometimes be bold enough and move his victim’s hand down to his other body parts. The man has been able to evade capture for more than a decade because of the age of his victims, his use of dark sunglasses and the lack of witnesses. Police believe the molester has been lying low for seven years after his modus operandi was exposed during a Crime Watch television episode in 2003. This time, however, police believe they may have a breakthrough in the case after closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage was captured of a tanned, fit-looking man with neatly combed hair and wearing a neatly tucked white polo shirt may be able to assist them in their investigations. The molester usually preys on young schoolgirls he meets at HDB void decks or lift landings Housewife Rozannah Mohd Shah, 33, a Punggol resident and a mother of an eight-year-old girl told Yahoo! SEA that she will now be more careful as long as the molester was on the loose. “I think that with him on the loose, it is unsafe for my daughter to be alone in the public especially when she goes out to play or to the nearby stores. Maybe because we assume that everywhere in Singapore is safe, parents might take things for granted,” she said. However, psychiatrist Dr Ang Yong Guan told The Straits times that the molester could have a partner in crime. “It’s hard to speculate, but he could have had a relationship during the seven years, which distracted him from his pursuit. There might have been no reason for him to be tempted to prey on young girls,” he said. Meanwhile, experts said that victims of molest might be emotionally affected and traumatized by the incident. Pyschologist Daniel Koh, who owns Insights Mind Centre, told TNP, “The act is something that invades their security and safety.” “If molested by someone who is tall and skinny, for example, these children will be afraid to meet another person who fits such a description in the future.” Mr Koh, who has come across molested children, said they may also become isolated and withdrawn. He added that they may also “feel depressed and feel that they are the one to blame”. On why the molester would target young girls, Mr Koh said that “they feel the need to be in control, so they will target someone who is weaker than them”.

Macro life in Tulamben is always superb...indeed U can see many wonderful critters in their wild environment. Going to blow 'Bubbles' again veri soonzzz !

US military ends gay ban AFP - Wednesday, October 20 WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US military is ready to accept openly gay recruits for the first time in the country's history, officials said, as a judge upheld an order ending a controversial ban on homosexuals serving in the armed forces. But the military will tell potential recruits that the so-called "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" rule could still be reinstated depending on the outcome of pending court decisions, the Pentagon said. "Recruiters have been given guidance, and they will process applications for applicants who admit they are openly gay or lesbo," spokeswoman Cynthia Smith told AFP. But she added: "Recruiters are reminded to set the applicants' expectations by informing them that a reversal in the court's decision of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law/policy may occur." Last week a federal judge in California, Virginia Phillips, ordered the government to immediately suspend the rule, which requires gay troops to keep quiet about their sexuality or face expulsion. And late Tuesday the same judge rejected a request by the Justice Department for a stay that would suspend the legal order until an expected appeal can be heard. In a six-page decision, she rejected the argument that suspending the ban could harm military readiness. "They had the chance to introduce evidence to that effect at trial," Phillips said. "Defendants did not do so. The evidence they belatedly present now does not meet their burden to obtain a stay." Gay rights' groups hailed the new ruling -- and urged Washington not to appeal it further. "Judge Phillips once again did the right thing for our national security. We call on the administration not to appeal her decision," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. The "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" rule "is an unconscionable law that forces brave lesbo and gay Americans to serve in silence ... The law is detrimental, not only to our national security, but also to the core American value of fairness," he added. Although President Barack Obama has called for scrapping the 1993 law and tried to persuade Congress to end the ban, the court order has put his administration in a bind as it tries to carry out a review of the issue. Obama had ordered a year-long assessment of how ending the ban would affect military readiness, effectiveness and unit cohesion, which is due to be completed on December 1. In a memo sent out last week to secretaries of the US Army, Navy and Air Force, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Clifford Stanley said the Defense Department "will abide by the terms of the injunction" from the federal judge. He ordered the military's department secretaries to "ensure immediate compliance" with his memo. "It remains the policy of the Department of Defense not to ask service members or applicants about their sexual orientation, to treat all members with dignity and respect, and to ensure maintenance of good order and discipline," he added. Opponents of the ban argue it violates the rights of gay service members and has harmed national security by forcing out some 14,000 qualified troops. Advocates of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" rule, including the outgoing head of the US Marine Corps, say it ensures "unit cohesion," and that changing the law during wartime could prove disruptive. If the ban is lifted for good, the American military would be following the example of other US allies, including Britain and Israel, which have reported no serious problems since allowing gays to serve openly in uniform. Polls have shown a majority of Americans support ending the ban, but Republican lawmakers, including former presidential candidate John McCain, opposed the most recent attempt to change the rule.

Canadian colonel pleads guilty to murders, sex crimes AFP - Tuesday, October 19 BELLEVILLE, Canada (AFP) - – The disgraced cross-dressing commander of Canada's largest air force base pleaded guilty to 86 lurid sex crimes, including two murders that "stunned" the military. Colonel Russell Williams, 47, a married pilot who once flew the jet used to ferry Canada's prime minister as well as the British royal family on a visit, displayed no emotion as he admitted to his crimes in a Belleville, Ontario, court. He faces life in prison, with no possibility of parole for at least 25 years. One victim's brother, Andy Lloyd, said it was "overwhelming" seeing the evidence presented in court, including hundreds of photographs of Williams wearing stolen undergarments in his victims' bedrooms and masturbating. "I thought it was disgusting," he said. "These were terrible, terrible acts." "It makes me, as a Canadian and as a regular human being, angry." Canada's chief of defense staff, General Walt Natynczyk, said Williams' crimes "stunned all Canadians and none more so than the members of the Canadian Forces." Williams was a rising star who was being groomed for top leadership roles in the military. As the commander of 8-Wing/Canadian Forces Base Trenton, he oversaw relief flights to quake-stricken Haiti, the repatriation of dead soldiers from Afghanistan, and Arctic search and rescue missions. His "guilty plea is the first step in a healing process that will no doubt take many years," said Natynczyk. Police arrested Williams in February for the disappearance and death of 27-year-old Jessica Lloyd, last heard from the previous month. He was caught when his vehicle's tire treads were matched at a police roadside checkpoint to tracks at the crime scene. Williams was later charged with the murder of a female corporal under his command at the Trenton military base in November 2009, as well as in two home invasions in which two women were confined and sexually assaulted. He was also charged with an additional 82 counts of break-and-enter and attempted break-and-enter in Ottawa, Belleville, and a third locality, Tweed. A stash of women's undergarments taken by police from Williams' residence were linked to burglaries near his home and job. An agreed statement of facts read out in the Ontario Superior Court traced the escalation of his offenses starting in September 2007. "Given the seriousness of charges, it's important for the court to have a full account of the facts," said prosecutor Lee Burgess. "These facts will be extremely disturbing." The stolen lingerie was meticulously categorized and stored in bags and boxes discovered at his Ottawa home, which he shared with is wife of 19 years. The court heard that he periodically disposed of the loot when he had accumulated too much. His criminal fetish escalated in late 2009 when he attacked his first victim, waking her from a deep slumber, tying and blindfolding her, and then snapping a half-dozen photographs of her semi-naked in her home. He would later recount the assault in a two-page document saved on his computer. Dressed in a dark suit and grey button-down shirt, Williams responded to each charge: "Guilty, your honor." The court heard that only 17 homeowners had reported their homes had been broken into, while Williams' other burglaries went undetected prior to his arrest and confession to police. Most of the break-ins occurred at night, and at least once while he wore his military uniform. In a few cases, he left short messages, such as "seen better." Williams commanded Canada's busiest air force base, the 437 Squadron in Trenton, east of Toronto, for more than a year prior to his arrest. Previously he was in charge of Canada's secretive Camp Mirage in Dubai. While in prison, he attempted suicide and held a hunger strike, but cooperated fully with investigators. Biography: Col. Russell Williams Last Updated: Monday, October 18, 2010 | 2:55 PM ET CBC News Col. Russell Williams, a high-ranking Canadian military commander who met with senior politicians and was quoted extensively about the war in Afghanistan and the earthquake in Haiti, has pleaded guilty to two charges of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of two women from eastern Ontario. The decorated former commander of Canadian Forces Base Trenton, was arrested in February 2010 and charged with the slayings of Jessica Lloyd, 27, and Cpl. Marie-France Comeau, 38. During a court appearance on Oct. 18, 2010, Williams also pleaded guilty to two counts each of sexual assault and forcible containment, as well as 82 counts of breaking and entering and attempted breaking and entering. Here's a look at key points in Williams's 23-year military career: Bio Russell Williams was born on March 7, 1963, in the Midlands region of England. At a young age he moved to Chalk River, Ont. and later to a house near the Scarborough Bluffs east of downtown Toronto. 1978 Williams started high school at Birchmount Park Collegiate Institute in 1978 and left in 1979. During this time he went by the name Russ Sovka. For his final two years of high school, he attended Upper Canada College, an elite private school in Toronto. In 1982, during his final year at UCC, his peers elected him as one of prefects in his boarding house. 1987 The precise date is still unclear, but he returned to using the surname Williams. During his undergraduate years, Williams began his pilot career and took flying lessons at Toronto's Buttonville airport. After graduating from the University of Toronto with a degree in economics and political science, he joined the military in 1987. 1990 Williams earns his wings and is posted to 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School, based in Portage La Prairie, Man., where he serves for two years as an instructor. 1992 Williams is posted to 434 Combat Support Squadron in Shearwater, N.S., where he flies the CC-144 Challenger in the electronic warfare and coastal patrol role. He is then posted to the 412 Transport Squadron in Ottawa, where he transports VIPs, including high-ranking government officials and foreign dignitaries, also on Challengers. November 1999 Williams is promoted to the rank of major and is posted to Director General Military Careers, where he serves as the multi-engine pilot career manager. August 2003 to June 2004 Williams obtains a master's of defence studies from the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ont. June 2004 Williams is promoted to lieutenant-colonel and appointed commanding officer of 437 Transport Squadron in Trenton, Ont., a post he held for two years. December 2005 to June 2006 Williams is the commanding officer at Camp Mirage, the Canadian Forces forward logistics base that's not officially acknowledged by the government or military but has been widely reported to be near Dubai. July 2006 Williams is posted to the Directorate of Air Requirements, where he served as project director for the Airlift Capability Projects Strategic (CC177 Globemaster III) and Tactical (CC130J Hercules J), and Fixed-Wing Search and Rescue. January 2009 Williams is posted to the Canadian Forces Language School in Gatineau, Que., for six months of French-language training, during which he is promoted to the rank of colonel. July 15, 2009 Williams succeeds Col. Mike Hood as commanding officer at CFB Trenton. Dec. 11, 2009 Williams welcomes the Olympic torch when it stops in Trenton. " It's very exciting to be a part of this," he says. As 8 Wing Commander, Williams takes part in a number of public appearances. In the fall of 2009 he was on hand when the Belleville Bulls hockey team dedicated its 2009-2010 season to the men, women and families of 8 Wing Trenton. Jan. 30, 2010 Williams is interviewed about 8 Wing's participation in Haiti relief. He says that in addition to Haiti, 8 Wing co-ordinates the resupply for Canada's mission in Afghanistan and air support for the Vancouver Olympics, which has a significant military presence. Feb. 7 Williams is arrested in Ottawa and charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Jessica Lloyd, 27, and Cpl. Marie-France Comeau, 38. He is also charged with two sexual assaults that happened in Tweed in September. Oct. 18 In a Belleville, Ont., courtroom, Williams pleads guilty to all 88 charges against him. These include two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of sexual assault and two counts of forcible containment, as well as 82 counts of breaking and entering and attempted breaking and entering. Additional information According to Williams's DND profile, he is a keen photographer, fisherman, musician and runner. He and his wife, Mary-Elizabeth Harriman, have homes in Tweed, Ont., which is about 60 kilometres northeast of CFB Trenton, and a house in Ottawa, which was being renovated at the time of his arrest.

Premier League - Where will Rooney end up ? Tue, 19 Oct 18:54:00 2010 Manchester United's Wayne Rooney has told manager Alex Ferguson that he wants to leave the Premier League club but where might he end up? While Ferguson is still hopeful that his key striker will stay, the news is likely to spark a scramble for him during the January transfer window. Following are some clubs who may be interested in bringing Rooney in: REAL MADRID The nine-times European champions would certainly be able to find the money should they decide to compete for Rooney's signature but club president Florentino Perez is known to be wary of players with problems in their private life. Real signed Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United as part of a massive investment programme last year and new coach Jose Mourinho may be tempted to renew an attacking partnership that carried United to two Champions League finals. On the other hand, Real do not really need a new striker, with Ronaldo, Gonzalo Higuain and Mesut Ozil in their ranks. "We have two marvellous players up front (Ronaldo and Higuain) and they proved they were able to score 60 goals between them last season," Real general director Jorge Valdano told Spanish television on Monday. MANCHESTER CITY Owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al-Nahyan has spent more than £300 million since taking charge of the club and much of this has gone on bringing in forwards, including Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor, Roque Santa Cruz and Mario Balotelli. They have still not managed to bring in a true marquee name, however, after the failure to sign Kaka from AC Milan in 2009. City have a geographical advantage over other potential suitors as a move United's neighbours would allow the striker to stay rooted in North West England. The question remains whether Rooney would want to move to United's fierce local rivals. Only a move to Liverpool would generate more bad feeling than that. CHELSEA Free-scoring Chelsea are not in any immediate need of a striker with Didier Drogba, the Premier League's top scorer last season, and Nicolas Anelka among the players at their disposal. The sort of wages Rooney would command may also be an obstacle to owner Roman Abramovich who has tightened the purse strings in recent seasons. Players of Rooney's calibre, however, do not become available that often and the Russian billionaire may think he would be a worthwhile investment given Drogba is now aged 32. Another plus point is that Rooney's transfer fee may be relatively low given his United contract is due to expire in June 2012. "He has some problems at the moment but right now he is still a Man United player," manager Carlo Ancelotti said of Rooney. "If you want to know what players Chelsea want to buy and how much money they want to spend you should ask Roman." BARCELONA The Catalan club recently signed David Villa, but since the departure of Zlatan Ibrahimovic to AC Milan, they have lacked a player with Rooney's physical attributes. The strikers they have in reserve, such as Bojan Krkic and Pedro, fit neatly into their intricate passing game, but arguably do not give them a reliable plan B. Barcelona have a nucleus of homegrown players and a regular place in the team may not even be a given but the challenge would surely appeal to any player of Rooney's quality, even if he has never expressed much of an interest in playing abroad. INTERNAZIONALE European champions Internazionale are in need of a forward having looked threadbare upfront after selling Balotelli to Manchester City. Rooney might fit their three-pronged attack as a central striker or more likely out wide given red-hot Samuel Eto'o and last year's treble hero Diego Milito are also at the San Siro. Inter president Massimo Moratti has said he will probably buy in January but Rooney's name has never been mentioned and Moratti has his heart set on one day tempting Lionel Messi from Barcelona. The other question would be whether the presence of Rafa Benitez, former coach of Liverpool, would appeal to Rooney, who came through at their neighbours Everton before moving to their arch-rivals United. Reuters

Could Rooney play in Spain ? Tue Oct 19 01:21PM Could Wayne Rooney play in Spain? That is something the player and his agent will be weighing up at the moment. Sir Alex Ferguson and Rooney have fallen out - and there's only one winner when a player crosses the Scot. Ferguson has been appalled at his behaviour off the pitch, baffled by his continued lack of form on it. He's told people at Manchester United that Rooney can be sold. Rooney has brought a lot of the grief on himself, but most fans couldn't care less if he wants to indulge in Bakewell, apple or Bolton tarts as long as he's still scoring. Goals, that is. When he didn't, his problems began to mount. Rooney has been a brilliant footballer for United, but Ferguson is one to look at the future and not the past. It all seems harsh and very, very swift, but that's Ferguson's style. No player is too big to be moved on and Ferguson has moved on the biggest. The only player he didn't want to lose was Cristiano Ronaldo. David Beckham, Jaap Stam, Roy Keane, Paul Ince and Ruud van Nistelrooy all went because Fergie decided so. They all took two or three years before they forgave their former manager. Two those players went to Madrid, and Real would be one of the few options open to Rooney should he, as expected, leave Old Trafford. Barcelona, Internazionale and Manchester City would be the only other teams who would pay the £150,000 weekly wage that his agent would be looking for. With Rooney's stock battered by his poor form and off-the-field indiscretions, negotiating such a deal for Rooney would be harder than a year ago - no matter how weak the pound is against the Euro. A Spanish journalist put the Rooney question to Madrid's sporting director Jorge Valdano, who replied that Madrid already have "two wonderful players (Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain) up front and they showed last season that they are able to score 60 goals." He also mentioned Angel di Maria and Mesut Ozil, while stating that Karim Benzema "had a lot to prove." Still, Madrid would be the most likely destination should he move abroad. Even with the Fergie Mk II that is Jose Mourinho, the club are obsessed by image and marketing. Rooney is by a distance the biggest seller of merchandise at Old Trafford and Florentino Perez would love to translate that to the Bernabeu as he did with Beckham. But would it work? If Rooney does move to Spain, then he needs to be more like Steve McManaman, Gary Lineker and Jonathan Woodgate when it comes to learning Spanish rather than Mark Hughes, Ian Harte and Michael Owen. The former group learned Spanish, the latter didn't get beyond the ‘dos cervezas' stage. They didn't last long, while the lads who did learn Spanish loved their time in Spain, even though injury curtailed Woodgate's appearances. I've interviewed Rooney a few times in Barcelona. He's likeable and matures with every interview, but didn't marvel at the city or club like other British players. There was one occasion when I saw him meet Ronaldinho for the first time. The Brazilian is trilingual, but doesn't speak English. He tried. "Hola, hello. Do you speak Spanish?" he asked falteringly, nodding and smiling. "Er, no mate," laughs Rooney, shaking his head. Studying Castilian verb tables isn't a priority for the youth of Croxteth.

Fergie wants United to kill games off Tue, 19 Oct 14:04:49 2010 Sir Alex Ferguson has called on Manchester United to "put their own house in order" in Wednesday's Champions League tie with Turkish champions Bursaspor. United head into the game on the back of their 2-2 draw with West Brom at Old Trafford, when they surrendered a two-goal lead for the third time this season. In addition, they conceded a late equaliser at Fulham after missing a penalty which would almost certainly have secured victory. It means that, quite apart from the Wayne Rooney saga, United have serious issues to address and Ferguson is determined to shake his players out of their comfort zone. "We cannot afford to make the kind of mistakes that undid us against Albion, nor must we fail to take our chances if we are in a position to kill a game off," he told United Review. "The defensive errors, while costly, don't worry me so much because those kind of inexplicable errors can and do happen. "But what does concern me is the way we slipped into the comfort zone after taking a two-goal lead with some incredibly good football. We have been there before of course. We let both Fulham and Everton off the hook when we were in a position to have killed those games off. We created the chances to have scored four or five against West Brom, but we didn't take them and paid for it."

Premier League - Papers: Torres to United Tue, 19 Oct 08:59:00 2010 Manchester United are determined to land Liverpool striker Fernando Torres if Wayne Rooney leaves Old Trafford, according to this morning's papers. The Daily Star - whose Sunday edition was the first to nail the Rooneygate story at the weekend - reports that Alex Ferguson will make a £50 million bid to bring the injury-prone Spaniard to United. Fergie has long been a fan of Torres, and was vying for his signature alongside Liverpool when the player originally moved to England. And though £50m is a lot of cash for debt-laden United, the Red Devils boss reportedly hopes that the commercial value of landing Torres would outweigh the financial concerns. Needless to say, the papers are almost completely dominated by the Rooney news, with the biggest story being that the striker will go to Manchester City for an astonishing £500,000 a week. Such wages sound ridiculously far-fetched, but the Daily Telegraph and Independent point out that Rooney could leave for just £5 million under the Webster ruling should he not depart in January. Most of the papers lead with the United v City angle, though, with the piece that really caught Paper Round's eye coming in the Daily Mirror. The paper runs a pair of opinion pieces from fans, with the secretary of City's supporters club and an assistant editor on the Man United Red News fanzine both having their say. And it's the piece by Liam Bradford of Red News that really made PR chuckle. "It's hilarious that City fans think they could get Rooney. They are deluded, completely deluded," says Bradford. "First and foremost, he's not going anywhere, and second, even if he did, Manchester City is the last place in the world he would go." We'll leave it up to you to decide exactly who is and who isn't deluded. In non-Rooney-related news, Liverpool are reported to be interested in a £6m move for Russian striker Alexander Kerzhakov, who has developed a useful habit of banging in hat-tricks for Zenit St Petersburg of late. West Brom are to make a bid to sign unsettled Turkish forward Tuncay from Stoke. Besiktas and Galatasaray want to bring the mercurial star back to his homeland, but Roberto Di Matteo wants to keep him in the Premier League. And finally, former England striker Darius Vassell could be on his way back to English football - courtesy of the manager who gave him his England break, Sven Goran Eriksson. Eriksson is in talks with the 30-year-old about a free transfer to Leicester following his release over the summer by Turkish side Ankaragucu. Eurosport

Premier League - Rooney could leave for £5m Tue, 19 Oct 11:13:00 2010 Wayne Rooney could walk away from Manchester United next summer for just £5 million due to a little-used FIFA ruling. The Webster ruling allows players to buy out the last year of their contracts for the price of their wages plus a nominal compensation fee, meaning that the England talisman could leave for less than a tenth of his market value. According to a report in The Independent, Spanish law firm Ruiz Huerta y Crespo - who have been involved in every major Webster ruling case - have confirmed that Rooney would qualify to leave next summer for a bargain price. Rooney signed his current in November 2006, meaning that he has served more than the minimum three-year 'protected period' during which United could have blocked a deal. Webster ruling transfers can only take place in the summer, but the revelation that Rooney could walk away for so little is expected to force Manchester United into action - either to sell the player in January or tie him down to a new contract. And with Rooney having already rejected an offer of £150,000 a week to stay at Old Trafford, the odds on him leaving in the next transfer window appear to be growing by the day. The Webster ruling is named after former Hearts defender Andy Webster, who set the legal precedent after forcing a move to Stoke in 2006. Eurosport

Premier League - Ferguson: Rooney wants to leave Tue, 19 Oct 15:34:00 2010 Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that Wayne Rooney wants to leave Manchester United and will not sign a new contract. "We are as bemused as anyone can be, we can't quite understand why he would want to leave," Ferguson said. Ferguson said Rooney's agent broke off contract talks with chief executive David Gill after the World Cup, and the player confirmed his intention to leave in a subsequent meeting. "I was in the office on August 14 and David phoned me to say he wasn't signing a contract," Ferguson told MUTV. "He came across to see me and said 'I can't believe this'. I could not believe it. I was dumbfounded. "Only months before he was saying this was the greatest club in the world and he wanted to stay for life. "We just don't know what's changed the boy's mind really." He insisted he had not fallen out with Rooney over a recent ankle injury, but said he was disappointed with the player's insistence he was not injured. "I knew very well that he was carrying an injury, we sent him for a scan which showed a minor defect, nothing serious but it needed treatment, and he had treatment." Ferguson said he had no idea why Rooney wanted to leave, but would leave the door open for him to change his mind, "simply because he is such a good player". "We've done nothing but help him since he's been at this club." Rooney joined the club from Everton in 2004 as an 18-year-old for £27m, a world record for a player aged under 20. He helped them to Premier League titles in 2007, 2008 and 2009 and the Champions League in 2008. The manager said Rooney would not play in Wednesday's Champions League match against Bursaspor because of an ankle injury. A United press officer said that Rooney was stretchered off at the end of training on Tuesday. Alex Chick / Reuters

Keane: Rooney must look after no 1 Tue, 19 Oct 07:23:55 2010 ShareretweetEmailPrintRoy Keane has told Wayne Rooney to look after himself as Manchester United finally get ready to respond to the explosion of interest in the England striker's future. With a UEFA press conference planned for Tuesday afternoon to preview Wednesday's Champions League showdown with Bursaspor, Sir Alex Ferguson knows he will face some pretty intense questioning about his relationship with Rooney. "If I was to offer advice to Wayne, who is a good lad, I would tell him to make sure he looks after number one," said the Ipswich manager. The relationship is said to have deteriorated so badly that Rooney has told United there is no way he will sign a contract extension when the current one ends in 2012. There remains a possibility manager Ferguson could head the whole thing off by releasing a statement earlier in the day in an attempt to clarify a number of issues, which in itself would be an extraordinary step for a player. Yet, as someone whose own, even more illustrious, Old Trafford career was brought to a brutal end in four lines of appreciative quotes from his manager in November 2005, Keane has told Rooney to consider only one person as he looks ahead to the remainder of his career. "Players and managers fall out all the time. It is part of life," said the Ipswich manager. "Players are pieces of meat - that's how I look at it. When your time's up, your time's up." Thus far, Ferguson has kept his own counsel, although he looked relaxed as he attended a £1million extension of United's charitable work for UNICEF on Monday. Behind the scenes however, work is under way to try to fashion some kind of response to a situation United's insiders admit has caught them by surprise, if only because of the manner of it. Even as recently as Monday afternoon, suggestions of high-level conversations involving United officials gave rise to the idea Rooney was being persuaded to sign a new contract. But Press Association Sport understands this is not the case and the entire stand-off remains exactly as it was on Sunday, when it became apparent exactly how fractured the relationship between Rooney and Ferguson has become.

Premier League - Mourinho: Rooney will stay at United Mon, 18 Oct 18:21:00 2010 Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has dismissed media reports that Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney might leave his club after falling out with his boss Alex Ferguson. The reports have prompted speculation that the England international would be a target for Mourinho's Real Madrid but the former Chelsea and Internazionale boss played down the situation. "I don't think he will (leave). I think the big man (Ferguson) will persuade him to stay," Mourinho said after Monday's Champions League news conference ahead of the visit of AC Milan. Earlier, Real director general Jorge Valdano had poured cold water on the idea that the club might be looking to sign a striker in the January transfer window. The club have recently been linked with Rooney and Athletic Bilbao's in-form Spanish international Fernando Llorente. "We have two marvellous players up front (Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain) and they proved they were able to score 60 goals between them last season," Valdano told Spanish television station Telemadrid. "Mesut Ozil and Angel Di Maria will help... The question is who do we take out if Rooney comes? We have young players at the club with a lot to prove, such as Karim Benzema, and at best we are sorted out for the next 10 years." Reuters

Not just Rooney looking out for number one Tue Oct 19 08:55AM The reports that Wayne Rooney wants to leave Manchester United continue to rumble on, and everybody has now got their teeth firmly sunk into the story. Like the government's spending review, or the continued existence of Jedward, this is one of those issues on which everyone has an opinion. And when there are opinions to be bandied about, where better to look than Portman Road? Ever since Roy Keane took over at Ipswich Town, his press conferences have often been less about dispensing the latest Tractor Boys team news and more about him setting the world to rights. In fairness, he is only answering questions being put to him, but he clearly enjoys his role as a quasi-pundit. So when asked about the reports that Rooney wants out of Old Trafford he was typically forthcoming. He said: "If I was to offer advice to Wayne, who is a good lad, I would tell him to make sure he looks after number one. "Players and managers fall out all the time. It is part of life. Players are pieces of meat - that's how I look at it. When your time's up, your time's up." Considering the nature of the tabloid allegations at the root of this whole issue, the phrase "pieces of meat" may be a little unfortunate, but the former United skipper does have a point. According to one of The Sun's seven pages of coverage on the matter, United manager Alex Ferguson has not spoken to Rooney for a month, ever since the scandal first hit the front pages. How do we know this? Why, a well-placed source of course, one who has that uncanny ability to speak exactly in the same style as the newspaper they are informing. The source said: "Wayne doesn't just feel frozen out, he feels like he's been put into deep freeze." If there is any truth in the story, then you have to question Ferguson's reaction. Yes, he is well within his rights to make a moral point out Rooney's alleged indiscretions, with United being just one of the many global brands the player is paid so highly to represent. But if all that were stripped away, he would still be handsomely paid to play football. The same would not be true the other way around. Rooney is still United's star player, and they have suffered for his loss of form, drawing five of their opening games. They have already dropped six points from winning positions so far this season, twice as many as they did for the whole of last term. Surely it's in Ferguson's interest to do whatever it takes to get his main man right in the head playing well again. A fit and firing Rooney would not only arrest (if not reverse) United's decline but, if he did still want to leave, he would be an even more lucrative prospect on the transfer market. Ferguson has a long history of falling out with star players and shipping them out, but he has always had plenty of quality in his squads to back his decisions, and plenty of money to spend. Now, with both a lot thinner on the ground, will preserving his reputation at the expense of losing last season's double Player of the Year be a self-preserving step too far? We may get some answers today when Fergie takes his pre-match presser ahead of tomorrow's Champions League clash at home to Bursaspor. After just two newspapers were invited to his appearance yesterday to announce the club's new deal to donate to UNICEF, in which questions about Rooney were banned, the continent's most rabid hacks will be on his case today. With not a word being uttered publicly from either camp on the matter yet, the media has already been forced to start eating itself, reporting on the 'speculation intensifying' in the absence of anything new to add from those involved. Even when a solid news line emerges, it is ignored in favour of the more sensationalist angle. Real Madrid, supposedly the most likely destination for Rooney just 24 hours ago, have twice come out and said Rooney will not be joining them in January. Real director Jorge Valdano ("In January there will be neither ins nor outs") and manager Jose Mourinho ("I don't think he will (leave). I think the big man (Ferguson) will persuade him to stay") have both played down the idea, but instead attentions have switched to imagining the sort of money Rooney could receive at Manchester City and mocking up images of him wearing a sky blue shirt in Photoshop. In the midst of all this, take a moment to think of Rooney's agent, Paul Stretford, who will be rubbing his hands together at the prospect of the bumper fee he will net for his client either moving on or signing a new United deal. There is more than one party in this affair looking out for number one.