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Mourinho bemoans missed Real chances AFP - Monday, August 30 MADRID (AFP) - – Jose Mourinho admitted he was disappointed to begin his Real Madrid career with a 0-0 draw at Real Mallorca citing poor finishing as the reason for his team's failure. Mourinho was typically calm in his first post-match press conference acknowledging Real were far from their best but emphasising that positives could be taken from the performance. "One positive is that from a defensive point of view we didn't have any problems," explained Mourinho. "Another positive is the enormous number of chances we created in the second half. The negative is obviously the result. "It is important to defend well and score when you are not at your best and we are far from our best. We didn't play well but we did enough to win. "We had five or six chances but didn't take any of them and I am disappointed about that. We were solid defensively and if we had scored we would have taken the three points." Argentine international Gonzalo Higuain was the main culprit Sunday missing three golden opportunities but Mourinho refused to point the finger. "I am not a coach to criticise an individual for missing a chance or making a defensive mistake," said the former Chelsea manager. An international break means Mourinho next game is in a fortnight when Real host Osasuna in front of the demanding Santiago Bernabeu crowd. Real trail champions Barcelona, 3-0 winners at Racing Santander on Sunday, by two points putting more pressure on Mourinho's first home match and the coach is irked that his players will now go away on international duty. "We need time to work on things but we don't have much time at the moment," bemoaned Mourinho. "There is nothing we can do about it." Captain Iker Casillas said Real had been unfortunate not to take the spoils in Mallorca. "There are things to improve but aside from the result I like what I see from the team," said Casillas. "We tried to score and had good chances as well as being strong defensively. The ball just didn't want to go in tonight." Midfielder Xabi Alonso admitted the draw was disappointing and said it was important that Real didn't get too worried about what rivals Barcelona, who won 3-0 at Racing Santander, are doing. "We can't get obsessed with Barcelona," said Alonso. "We just have to focus on ourselves. "It is two points dropped because we had to win and we had more chances. We just have to improve for the next match against Osasuna."

International Football - Capello rues Beckham snub Reuters - Sun, 29 Aug 01:04:00 2010 England coach Fabio Capello regrets the way he announced the end of David Beckham's international career but insists that he still has a good relationship with the former captain; who would make a top manager one day. He also said Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes, 35, had confirmed he did not want to play for England again despite media speculation he could come out of his seven-year international retirement. In addition, Capello dampened the idea Everton's Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta might play for England in the near future. The Italian said he could have better handled the announcement he was bringing down the international curtain for 35-year-old Beckham after 115 appearances, a record for an England outfield player. Capello revealed his decision in a television interview aired on the night England met Hungary in a friendly at Wembley on Aug. 11 - before he had told Beckham himself. "I regretted it immediately," the coach told a media briefing ahead of his team's opening Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Switzerland next month. "(My assistant) Franco (Baldini) spoke to him two hours after the interview and then I spoke directly with David on the telephone and I explained what really happened. "Our relationship is really good. I spoke with David because he was part of the staff at the World Cup in June. I usually don't speak on the phone with the players, in my career I have never done this." Capello said he was convinced he was right to end Beckham's England career and stuck by his decision to focus on younger players ahead of Euro 2012. "I think the future is for the young players. The door is always open for all the players but now I am thinking about the younger ones who need to play more games to get more experience," said the Italian. Beckham, who has had spells with Real Madrid and AC Milan, has spurned Capello's invitation to play one more "farewell game" in the friendly against France at Wembley in November and has also said he has no intention of becoming a manager once his playing days are over. However, the England coach thinks the Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder would be good in the role. "He has a lot of experience. He knows different styles of play in Spain, Italy and United States and has learnt a lot of different things," said Capello. "I think he can be a good manager, it's a difficult job but he is intelligent." Capello also said Beckham's former United team mate Scholes had told him he was too old to play for England again. The coach considered Scholes for his World Cup squad but the midfielder turned him down. Capello said Baldini talked to Scholes again last Wednesday, explaining: "We spoke to him and he said he felt he is too old to play for United in the Premier League and the Champions League - and the international team." The coach added he would not entertain calling up Arteta who could qualify to play for England under FIFA's eligibility rules having lived in the country for more than five years. "I like to think about the players I can select," said Capello. "When we can select him I can speak about him." The one thing that puzzled Capello was how he was now perceived in England after the team's dismal showing in the World Cup where they were eliminated in the last 16. Asked how he felt about being ridiculed in the newspapers he said: "About this, it's better I don't speak. It's some people, some journalists. "But I have had abuse before. During my last season (coaching) Real Madrid it was a tough time, it was more or less the same but at the end I won and that changes everything. "If you win one game you are the best, if you lose one game then you are really a bad man. But I don't understand why if before I was so good, afterwards I am so bad," added Capello. Reuters

Euro 2012 qual. - Mourinho mocks Capello PA Sport - Wed, 25 Aug 08:36:00 2010 Jose Mourinho has claimed England will never win while under-fire boss Fabio Capello is in charge. Capello awoke to another wave of criticism in the tabloids, with the Sun branding him a "donkey" for leaving Jack Wilshere and Andy Carroll out of the squad for the Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Switzerland. Real Madrid boss Mourinho has added his voice to the onslaught. "The problem is the manager," Mourinho said in the Daily Mirror. "Capello will not work for England." Capello is one of Mourinho's numerous predecessors at Real Madrid, a club the Portuguese coach says still remembers his managerial flaws. "He has a one-track relationship with players," he said. "Ask anyone here at Real Madrid. He can't change. You cannot go around just shouting at players. They need to feel special. "It is clear. Capello will not work for England. He does not know the players. They are frightened of him and they can't play for him. "For me, it is a mess for England. Players need clear tactics. They cannot be confused about what they have to do. It is the manager's fault. And it is a big shame." Capello is not the only manager to take a hit from Mourinho, as he also laid into his successor at Internazionale, Rafael Benitez, saying he left Liverpool further from challenging for the title than ever. "It is very difficult for Roy (Hodgson) to do it with Liverpool as, over the last few years, they have been getting worse, worse and worse," Mourinho said in the Daily Telegraph. "The Liverpool of 2004 was better than the Liverpool of 2005, 2005 was better than 2006 and 2006 better than 2007. "And they arrive at a situation now where, but for Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard, Pepe Reina, Fernando Torres, if his head is there, it is very difficult for Roy to make Liverpool champions. "He needs time and it's not easy because I don't think they went in the right direction." Arsene Wenger also took the brunt of some stiff criticism from Mourinho, the Arsenal manager coming under fire for his 'youth team' mantra. "Year after year it looks like, but no, it looks like, but no. Always the same type of comment 'It's a young team', 'It will be next season, it will be next season'. "Fantastic for Arsene that he signed a new contract. I remember when we played them in a Carling Cup semi-final when they played the 'team of young boys'. "The 'team of young boys' is not the team of young boys now, they are a team of 25, 26, 27 year olds. "So (Cesc) Fabregas, (Theo) Walcott, (Gael) Clichy, (Alex) Song and (Bacary) Sagna are not kids, they are a team old enough to win things. "But they will do it. I think it will again be Manchester United, Chelsea and, of course, Man City, because they have a great squad." Eurosport / PA Sport

Marcus Chin is a daddy at 57! Xin.sg - Wednesday, August 25 Fifty-seven-year-old local comedian Marcus Chin finally got his wish as his girlfriend Eileen Cheah gave birth to a 2.99kg baby girl two days ago (Aug 18). Marcus stayed with Eileen throughout the entire process and even personally cut the baby's umbilical cord. The moment he saw his baby girl Elise, Marcus was moved to tears. "At my age I should be a grandfather already, yet now I'm a father! At least this is better than having no chance at all!" Eileen went into labour on the 17th and was admitted into a hospital in Malaysia with Marcus and family by her side. After hours in labour pain, baby Elise was finally out. Eileen revealed that she insisted on not having anaesthesia to get a taste of what it feels like to be a mother. "It really hurt a lot and I had to scream; I almost wanted to give up!" Marcus revealed that he named Elise as such because Eileen's name also begins with the letter 'E'. Elise's Chinese name will be decided by a fengshui master at a later date. Marcus is also hoping for a second child. "I hope this daughter can bring along a brother for me. But even if the second child is a daughter it's ok for us; we just want two children." Eileen will be discharged from the hospital today and she will be staying at her own place in Kuala Lumpur to recuperate before moving to their marital home in Johor Bahru.

Grenade explodes in Bangkok, rattles nerves 3 hours 29 mins ago A grenade exploded in central Bangkok, seriously wounding a security guard, police said on Friday, the third such incident in a month during a state of emergency across Thailand's capital. The explosions threaten to undermine attempts to revive Thailand's huge tourism industry three months after the country's worst political violence in modern history in which 91 people were killed in clashes between troops and red-shirted anti-government protesters. The grenade was tossed into the headquarters of Thai duty-free giant King Power Group late on Thursday, on the same street where a grenade exploded on July 30, seriously wounding a garbage collector. "It could be an attempt to stir chaos in the area," Metropolitan Police Chief Santan Chayanond told reporters. Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban told reporters the incident showed Bangkok, where there is still emergency rule, remained volatile. "I cannot identify who was responsible at this point but it's a group who want to see chaos in the city and wouldn't give up." Emergency rule bans political gatherings of more than five people and gives the government powers to impose curfew and censor media and detain suspects without charge for 30 days. Anti-government protest leader and parliamentarian Jatuporn Prompan said his group was not responsible for the explosion, which took place near Victory Monument, a transportation hub usually choked with traffic and surrounded by hospitals, military compounds and nightclubs. "They cannot blame us for all ills in the city. There are a lot of people who are upset about one thing or another, with someone or another. We have nothing to gain from this sort of incident," Jatuporn told Reuters. It was the third unexplained incident of its kind in the capital since July 25, when a bomb hidden at a bus stop outside a supermarket killed one man and wounded nine. (Reporting by Ambika Ahuja and Pracha Hariraksapitak; Editing by Jason Szep)

Girl-band star escapes jail over HIV infection Yesterday, 06:17 pm By Reuters Hakan Erdem A German pop singer who confessed to knowingly exposing two men to the risk of HIV after finding out she had the virus herself was convicted by a court Thursday of grievous bodily harm. Skip related content Nadja Benaissa, 28, from German girl-band No Angels was given a two-year suspended sentence. She could have faced up to 10 years in jail. Prosecutors had sought a lenient sentence because Benaissa had confessed and expressed remorse. "I made a huge mistake," Benaissa told the Darmstadt court in western Germany at the end of the trial Wednesday, adding she had kept it all a secret because she was afraid of what would happen if the public learned she had been HIV-positive. "I was a coward," she said. "I'm sorry from the bottom of my heart. I wish I could turn back the clock and make it all not happen." Benaissa was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm in one instance for infecting a 34-year-old talent agent, and attempted grievous bodily harm for another occasion when she had unprotected sex with another man between 2000 and 2004. She was also required to perform 300 hours of community service and submit to regular counselling sessions. Benaissa's lawyer Oliver Wallasch said the trial had been a stressful experience for the singer but that she had no complaints about the punishment meted out. "I think on the part of the defence and that of my client one can be satisfied with the verdict," he told reporters. AIDS awareness group Deutsche AIDS-Hilfe (DAH), which had hoped for an acquittal, was unhappy with the decision, arguing that people infected with HIV now risked further stigma and would not be encouraged to come clean about the virus. "I think this is the wrong verdict. This will do serious damage to HIV prevention," DAH spokesman Carsten Schatz said. Benaissa said she had been aware she was HIV-positive since a routine blood test taken during her pregnancy in 1999, when she was 17. The talent agent later contracted full-blown AIDS, while the other man was not infected with HIV. Both state prosecutor Peter Liesenfeld and Benaissa's defence attorney had sought a suspended sentence. Liesenfeld told reporters the fact she had made a full confession and expressed regret were the main reasons for the leniency. Born in Frankfurt to a German mother and a Moroccan father, Benaissa and four others formed No Angels in 2000 after taking part in a television casting show. The band became of the most successful girl-groups in Germany with hits such as "Daylight in Your Eyes" that were popular across Europe. Benaissa, who has also worked as an actress in Germany, was initially arrested on the charge in April last year and spent 10 days in detention. Prosecutors' publication of her medical condition sparked criticism that she had been unfairly treated. (Writing by Erik Kirschbaum and Dave Graham; Editing by Steve Addison)

Premier League - Bebe can't make reserve team Eurosport - Wed, 25 Aug 12:32:00 2010 Sir Alex Ferguson's new £7m signing Bebe has made so little an impact in training at Manchester United he was not even considered for a reserve team match. Having failed to impress at the club's Carrington base, the new £7 million summer signing was omitted from the reserves' line-up against neighbours Manchester City on Tuesday. The 20-year-old, whose signing for United was hailed as a fairytale two weeks ago, was a virtual unknown before Ferguson took a punt on him. Ferguson later admitted he had not even seen Bebe play - nor watched a video of him - but was still willing to take a chance on him after the recommendations of United scouts and his former assistant at Old Trafford Carlos Queiroz. A deal was pushed through quickly with clubs such as Real Madrid and Benfica also circling with intent, and Ferguson later claimed that "sometimes you just have to go with instinct". But it appears the Portuguese forward is taking longer to settle in Manchester than expected, with his touch and control reportedly way off the standards United demand, leading reserve team boss Ole Gunnar Solksjaer to overlook him for the match in Hyde. Bebe's rise to prominence has been nothing short of spectacular. An undistinguished spell at Portuguese third tier club Estrala da Amadora was followed by a free transfer to Guimaraes before United picked him up for £7.4m. While Bebe was absent from Solksjaer's squad of 16, the match saw the return of midfielder Anderson, who has not played since damaging his cruciate ligament six months ago. Gary Neville, Wes Brown and Michael Carrick also featured in the 3-1 win Ewen Fields hitting one Federico Macheda grabbing a brace.

Unchecked migration would see Singapore swell, Haiti halve AFP - Saturday, August 21 WASHINGTON (AFP) - – The populations of Singapore, New Zealand and Saudi Arabia would triple if everyone who wants to move there were allowed to, a poll released Friday by Gallup shows. At the opposite end of the scale, Sierra Leone, Haiti and Zimbabwe would see their populations more than halved if migrants were allowed to leave at will, the poll found. Gallup researchers interviewed nearly 350,000 adults in 148 countries between 2007 and 2010 to calculate each country's potential net migration score -- the number of adults who would like to leave a country minus the number who would like to move in, seen as a proportion of the total adult population. They found that Singapore's population of 4.8 million would increase by 219 percent, New Zealand's population of four million would rise by 184 percent and Saudi Arabia's population of 26 million would soar by 176 percent if everyone who wants to come in and wants to leave, could. Switzerland made it onto the list, which was first compiled in 2009, for the first time this year. Some 800,000 of Switzerland's six million citizens said they would like to permanently leave the country, while some 10 million foreigners said they would move there if they had the chance. The hefty influx of migrants to Switzerland versus the scant outflow from the Alpine country would mean its population would more than double, according to the Gallup poll. The preferred destination of most would-be migrants is still the United States, although the already large US population -- 300 million inhabitants -- means that the impact is less acutely felt, Gallup said. The United States is number 14 on the net migration list. If everyone could come into the United States that wanted to, and all those who wished to leave did, the US population would rise by around 60 percent. At rock-bottom is Sierra Leone, the west African country that is still struggling to recover from a 10-year civil war that ended in early 2002. If everyone who wanted to leave Sierra Leone could, and anyone who wanted to move there did, the country's population would plunge by 56 percent. Haiti would lose 51 percent of its population, Zimbabwe would lose 47 percent, Nigeria and Ethiopia would each lose 46 percent and Liberia's population would fall by 45 percent.

Tiger's ex breaks her silence on sex scandal AFP - Thursday, August 26 WASHINGTON (AFP) - Tiger Woods's ex-wife has broken her silence on the sex scandal that ended their marriage, saying the extent of his philandering had made her feel "stupid" and she had been through "hell." Elin Nordegren told People magazine that stress from the lurid tabloid scandal caused her insomnia and weight loss, and that in the days before her divorce was finalized she began to lose her hair. "I've been through hell," Nordegren, a 30-year-old Swedish former model, told the celebrity news weekly in an article posted Wednesday on its website and which will hit newsstands later this week. Woods wed Nordegren in October 2004 in Barbados and they have a three-year-old daughter Sam and a 19-month-old son Charlie. The divorce was finalized at a 10-minute court hearing Monday in Florida. Woods, whose affairs with multiple mistresses destroyed his iconic image, took full blame on Wednesday in his first public comments since the divorce at course near New York where he starts a US PGA playoff event on Thursday. "My actions certainly led us to this decision," Woods said. "I made a lot of errors in my life. That's something I'm going to have to live with." Asked if he felt relief now that the divorce was complete, Woods said, "I don't think that's the word. I think it's more sadness." Nordegren told People she initially felt "shock and disbelief" at learning Woods had cheated on her. Later, as a string of women, including a porno star, a cocktail waitress and a Las Vegas club manager claimed affairs with her husband she began to question herself. "I felt stupid as more things were revealed. How could I not have known anything?" she said. "The word betrayal isn't strong enough. I felt like my whole world had fallen apart." A reporter for the magazine interviewed Nordegren for 19 hours over four days, scoring her first published reaction to the sordid sex scandal that broke last November and made headlines around the world. Nordegren said she and Woods had tried to reconcile but she ultimately decided it was hopeless because she had lost her trust in him. She said she had been truly devoted to Woods and had hoped for a happily-ever-after life together with him. "I loved him. We had so much fun," she said, "and I felt safe with him." Asked to react to her grief and feeling like the divorce was a death, Woods said, "I certainly understand she is sad and I feel the same way." "I wish her the best in everything. It's a sad time in our lives. We're looking forward in our lives and how we can bring up our kids the best way we can. That's the most important thing." Woods's spectacular fall from grace began on November 27 last year when he crashed his car into a fire hydrant near his Orlando home. The incident touched off shocking revelations about a string of extra-marital affairs that led to his admission of adultery and subsequent decision to put his golf career on hold while he tried to rescue his marriage. The sex scandal became fodder for tabloid newspapers and television comedians amid speculation that Woods crashed his car after being walloped by a golf club-wielding Nordegren, after she learned about his affairs. Nordegren told People some of the jokes were "pretty hysterical," but insisted there was never any violence in their relationship and she had simply been trying to get Woods out of the locked car. "The speculation that I would have used a golf club to hit him is truly ridiculous," she said. Woods, 34, was treated for sex addiction at a clinic in Mississippi in a bid to save his marriage before making his return at the Masters in April, but he has not won all season and his game has been in ruins since the scandal broke. "It's a sad time," Woods said. "As far as my game and practicing, that has been secondary." Nordegren said she is close to completing her bachelor's degree in psychology and that despite her husband's betrayal, "I also feel stronger than I ever have. I have confidence in my beliefs, my decisions and myself." Woods and Nordegren issued a joint statement Monday acknowledging that they had ended their marriage, wishing each other the best and promising to work together for their children's happiness. Asked about future prospects for romance, Nordegren said: "It's going to be just me and the kids for a little while, but I believe in love, because I've seen it. I've been there." She also told People that she has not watched a second of golf since the split and that her interview with the magazine would be her first and last as she tries to remain a private person. "My immediate plan is for the kids and me to continue to adjust to our new situation," she said. "I am going to keep taking classes, but my main focus is to try to give myself time to heal."

New Van Halen album and tour due in 2011 Sunday, August 8 10:36 am Rockers Van Halen are back in the studio with original frontman David Lee Roth and will release their first studio album in more than two decades next year. The group completed its reunion tour with Roth in 2008 and many fans expected them to follow up the road success with a new record, but there was no word on any upcoming projects. However, the band recently renewed its deal with publishers Warner/Chappell and guitarist Eddie Van Halen and his drummer brother Alex have revealed they are working on new material. They stated, "(Van Halen) is currently in the studio recording an album with Roth that is due for release in 2011." And the band will promote the forthcoming disc by hitting the road once again, reports Billboard.com. The website claims the rockers' manager and Live Nation promotions executive Irving Azoff mentioned a Van Halen 2011 tour during a discussion about concert earnings on Thursday. The group's previous studio album, Van Halen III, was released in 1998 and featured Gary Cherone on vocals. Roth last appeared with his Van Halen pals on their best-selling 1983 release, titled 1984.

AWAS !...Dun PLAY-PLAY !!! Almost half a million UK sex infections last year 3 hours 23 mins ago Britain recorded almost half a million new cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) last year, with teenagers and those aged under 25, especially young women, particularly affected, figures showed on Wednesday. Health officials said the rise in STIs in young women was partly due to their reluctance to insist on using condoms. Overall, 482,696 new STIs were diagnosed in 2009, an increase of 12,000 cases from the previous year, and continuing an upward trend seen over the last decade, the Health Protection Agency said. Two-thirds of the new STIs in women were diagnosed in those aged 15 to 24, with more than half of new cases for men falling in the same age group. There were also high rates of STI diagnoses among gay men. "These latest figures show that poor sexual health is a serious problem among the UK's young adults and men who have sex with men," said Dr Gwenda Hughes, head of the HPA's STI section. "These figures also highlight the vulnerability of young women. Many studies have shown that young adults are more likely to have unsafe sex and they lack the skills and confidence to negotiate safe sex." In women, 73 percent of new cases of gonorrhoea and 66 percent of new genital wart cases were in those under 25, while 88 percent of female Chlamydia diagnoses were in this age bracket. The peak age for an STI in women is between 19 and 20, and 20 to 23 for men, the HPA said. Re-infection was also a problem with one in 10 of those aged 15-24 diagnosed with an STI becoming re-infected within a year. "The numbers we're seeing in teenagers are of particular concern as this suggests teenagers are repeatedly putting their own, as well as others', long term health at risk from STIs," Hughes said. Overall cases of Chlamydia were up by 7 percent, gonorrhoea diagnoses increased by 6 percent and genital herpes cases rose by 5 percent. Hughes said better testing accounted for some of the rises, but added they were also due to unsafe sexual behaviour. "It's staggering that almost half a million people each year are affected by preventable sexually transmitted infections," said Nick Partridge, chief executive of sexual health charity the Terrence Higgins Trust. "Until we improve sex education and give extra support to young people they will continue to take avoidable risks with their sex lives." (Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Steve Addison)

SeaWorld fined 75,000 USD over killer whale attack AFP - 23 minutes ago MIAMI (AFP) - A US government agency has fined SeaWorld 75,000 dollars for safety violations after the February 24 death of an animal trainer who was fatally attacked by a killer whale during a live show. The US Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration said SeaWorld, which owns several marine life entertainment parks in the United States, was being fined for three safety violations, including one classified as willful. Long-time trainer Dawn Brancheu, 40, was killed in February when Tilikum -- a five-tonne orca linked to two other human deaths since 1991 -- grabbed her by her ponytail and dragged her into the water at the end of a show at SeaWorld Orlando. "SeaWorld recognized the inherent risk of allowing trainers to interact with potentially dangerous animals," said Cindy Coe, OSHA's regional administrator. "Nonetheless, it required its employees to work within the pool walls, on ledges and on shelves where they were subject to dangerous behavior by the animals." OSHA said its investigation also "revealed that SeaWorld trainers had an extensive history of unexpected and potentially dangerous incidents involving killer whales at its various facilities, including its location in Orlando." "Despite this record, management failed to make meaningful changes to improve the safety of the work environment for its employees." Tilikum, a male whale, had been in captivity for 27 years at the time of the attack and is the largest whale on display at the Orlando SeaWorld. Days after the attacks, the firm said the whale would receive the same standards of care and would not be punished for the incident. New regulations for handling and caring for the whale were implemented and the facility reopened shortly afterwards.

Tiger Woods and wife Elin divorce after sex scandal AFP - Tuesday, August 24 WASHINGTON (AFP) - Tiger Woods and Swedish model wife Elin Nordegren divorced Monday, their marriage succumbing to a blistering sex scandal that has left the world's top golfer struggling badly for form. Woods, 34, and Elin Nordegren, 30, issued an amicable joint statement, saying they were sad to be ending their six-year marriage, wishing each other the best and promising to work together for their children's happiness. "We are sad that our marriage is over and we wish each other the very best for the future," it said. "While we are no longer married, we are the parents of two wonderful children and their happiness has been, and will always be, of paramount importance to both of us." In Nordegren's petition for divorce, filed at the beginning of July, she claimed the marriage was "irretrievably broken" and asked for her maiden name to be restored. Both Woods and Nordegren attended Monday's execution of the divorce at a court in Panama City, Florida, where they agreed to joint custody of their three-year-old girl Sam and one-year-old boy Charlie. "Once we came to the decision that our marriage was at an end, the primary focus of our amicable discussions has been to ensure their future well-being," the joint statement said. "The weeks and months ahead will not be easy for them as we adjust to a new family situation, which is why our privacy must be a principal concern." Nordegren's lawyer, contacted by AFP, could provide no information about the terms of the divorce settlement, valued in media reports at anywhere between 100 million and 500 million dollars. Woods's spectacular fall from grace began on November 27 last year when he crashed his car near his Orlando home in bizarre circumstances. The incident touched off revelations about a massive sex scandal, leading to his admission of adultery and subsequent decision to put his golf career on hold while he tried to rescue his marriage. The string of affairs left Woods's picture-perfect image as the faithful husband in tatters and the billionaire golfer began to lose valuable marketing contracts. "It may not be possible to repair the damage I've done, but I want to do my best to try," Woods wrote on his website. "I am deeply aware of the disappointment and hurt that my infidelity has caused to so many people, most of all my wife and children." Later he apologized publicly to Nordegren for igniting the tabloid frenzy in which more than a dozen women claimed affairs. Woods, who said he had been "living a lie" and admitted to "doing some ugly things," received therapy at a sex addiction clinic before making a highly anticipated comeback at the US Masters in March. Returning at the August National -- a comfortable setting where he has captured four titles, his first in 1997 being the first major crown won by a black golfer -- Woods finished a respectable fourth. Since then, however, a string of performances ranging from mediocre to poor have seen many question whether the 14-time major winner is capable of recapturing the form that saw him dominate the game for a decade. Woods enters this week's opening event of the US PGA Tour season-ending playoffs without a win this year. Stripped of his invincible aura, Woods ranks only 108th in the points race and could at any moment lose his number one ranking. Without a good finish at The Barclays, starting on Thursday, it could be his final outing of the season, as only the top 100 qualify for the next event. Despite his woes, US Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin says Woods is high on his list of captain's picks for the biennial match against the best European golfers -- to be contested this October at the Celtic Manor in Wales.

Seat on roller coaster flew off: Universal Studios Singapore By Ion Danker – August 5th, 2010 The reason behind the five-month shut down of Universal Studios Singapore star attraction, the Battlestar Galactica is finally revealed. A metal bar holding a seat to the chassis of the ride had given way, due to the repeated stress of the high-speed motion, and this sent the seat flying to the ground. Resorts World Sentosa(RWS) spokesperson Krist Boo said in a Straits Times report that investigations had finally provided a ‘definitive’ answer why the accident occurred. Ride-maker Vekoma Rides, one of the world’s most established roller coaster companies added: ‘Higher than anticipated stress and vibration levels caused fatigue cracks to develop in a welded component on the ride’s seat-post support’. Additional safety measures will now be added to the ride with the use of a single seat post instead of a welded piece. This will eliminate the need for a relatively weaker joint at the welding to hold the seat and chassis together. Universal Studios also revealed that re-opening the rides will be a lengthy process as the cars will have to be redesigned. In an earlier report, Genting Group chairman and chief executive Lim Kok Thay said a “flaw in the design” of a car caused it to be grounded for more than four months. “The ride is under a major re-design. Not the track itself. It’s a flaw in the design of the car that would not perform to the standards that we wish for it to perform,” he said. He added that it was their policy to shut down the ride on “grounds of safety, not that there was any mishap or accident”, when signs showed it could have been unsafe after rigorous testing. Police suspended the roller coaster’s licence on March 25 due to a technical glitch found during a test run. According to Mr Lim, its closure has not affected visitorship to Resorts World Sentosa with crowds still heading to the theme park. Some people Yahoo! Singapore spoke to are waiting anxiously for the ride to re-open and hope things are sorted out quickly without compromising safety. “I was looking forward to taking my family there to ride it but it’s still not fixed,” said administrative officer Nur Diana, 28. Sales executive Andy Tan, 31, felt that the theme park should reduce entrance fees since the main attraction is not running. He said. “We are paying $72 for a weekend pass but can’t take the Battlestar Galactica. Don’t you think they should compensate visitors for this?” Another visitor, Jolene Chua, 34, prefers to wait patiently before the green light is given for the rides to operate again. “It’s better to be safe now than sorry later, so I would prefer them to take their time and make sure everything is fixed before re-opening the rides,” she said.

It's SHOWTIME mate !

I luv the blue-patterned body which is gorgeous. Still trying to locate the ID. It's showtime for yet another piece of ya fantastic ZOA collection harvested this morning. This exotic piece is absolute stunning mate.

Welcome to the 'PLEASUREDOME' !!!

Is ya last ZOAs the one dat U bought from IWARNA when we met ?

Dog brutally beaten to death at void deck By Faris – August 20th, 2010 A dead body of a dog, with its face drenched in blood, was found in the void deck of Blk 267B Compassvale Link in Sengkang on Wednesday evening. The Straits Times reports that the dog, a Pomeranian, died after being beaten and repeatedly flung against the floor. A police spokesman confirmed the incident, saying that the police received a call around 7.40pm. About six policemen arrived soon after. Mr Toh, a 50-year-old hawker who works at a coffeeshop next to the void deck, said he witnessed the brutal beating and called the police. He told The New Paper in Mandarin, “The man was picking up the dog and throwing him onto the floor over and over again – for at least 10 times. It happened over 10 minutes.” “At first the dog cried out in pain. It was a pitiful sound, then after a while there was silence,” he added. Mr Toh said he was afraid to step in after the man “looked crazy”. “I wanted to stop the man, but he really seemed like he was crazy. So I rang the police instead because I hoped they would arrive in time to stop him – and save the dog,” he said. But it was too little too late as the dog died. The Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) picked up the dead dog after being notified by the police. Initial examinations revealed the dog died from intensive head injuries consistent with trauma. Another witness, Mr Leow, 34, a hawker who worked in the same coffeeshop as Mr Toh, told the same paper that the dog abuser acted strangely prior to the tragedy. He claimed that the man who appeared to be in his 30s or 40s, requested for a knife to which Mr Leow said “no”. The case has been referred to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) and investigations into the identity of the owner are ongoing. SPCA executive officer, Ms Deidre Moss said, “It is a tragedy of the highest order, it was a brutal end to a lovely dog.” She also added that there has been a rise in the number of reports of animals being abused. The SPCA receives between 70 and 80 reports a month, an increase from between 40 and 60 just two years ago. In early July, a video of a woman hitting a dog with a broom sparked outrage among Singapore netizens. Earlier this year, an odd-job labourer was also sentenced to 10 weeks’ jail for swinging a cat against the wall and killing it.

Cabin Crew...pl prepare for 'TAKE-OFF'...Vroom-Vroom !!!

Seems like U are having fun with ya slippery 'Hand Job'.

Saw 2 intense-red stripes SWALESI BASSLET at AH BENG among the lot today. Never come across such intense coloration before. Almost mistaken for the infamou$ CARAMBI. Basslets collectors...dun hesitate...just SWOOSH !!! Cute Possum Wrasseys also available.

Bro wat about a macro shot of the ZOAs U bought last week.

Singapore court extends jail term for Swiss vandal AFP - Wednesday, August 18 SINGAPORE (AFP) - – A Singapore court on Wednesday increased the prison term for a Swiss vandal from five to seven months after prosecutors appealed for a stiffer penalty for breaking into a high-security train depot. Oliver Fricker, a 32-year-old software consultant, will now serve four months for trespassing -- double the original sentence -- in addition to three months' jail and three strokes of a cane for vandalism. A judge at Singapore's Court of Appeal said the original trespass sentence was "manifestly inadequate" and a tougher penalty was needed to act as a deterrent to others. Fricker and a British friend who is still at large cut into a depot in May and spray-painted graffiti onto two train carriages. Arrested after a holiday with the other suspect in Hong Kong, Fricker pleaded guilty to taking part in the daring stunt and began serving his prison term on June 25. A clip of the vandalised trains leaving a station is still circulating on video-sharing site YouTube, with more than 163,000 views logged so far. Trespassing and vandalism are considered serious offences in the tightly governed city-state. Increasing the sentence, Judge VK Rajah deplored the stunt, which he said was "calculated to bring its authors instant international notoriety". "It was perversely intended to make and leave a sensational indelible mark on the general public's consciousness," Rajah said. Rajah said Fricker "should count himself fortunate that he has not received his just desserts in full". The judge said he would have been inclined to increase the Swiss man's jail term for vandalism had the prosecution appealed. A Swiss embassy representative was present at the hearing. "We observe the process and take note of the judgment," the diplomat said after the hearing.