kueytoc

Premier League - England back Rooney over injury Thu, 14 Oct 19:34:00 2010 England physio Gary Lewin has appeared to back Wayne Rooney’s claims that he was fit all along, despite Sir Alex Ferguson telling press he has been suffering with an ankle injury. Manchester United boss Ferguson said that Rooney’s problem that would take "two to three weeks to heal", ruling him out of the goalless draw with Sunderland on October 2, but he reported for England duty the following week and played in the Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro on October 12. Rooney, who has been in poor form since initially injuring his ankle during the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich last season, said he had been training well for two months and was merely short of form - a claim apparently backed up by Lewin. "We are in communication with the clubs every day so we knew what was going on with Wayne," Lewin told talkSport. "I can only speak about the seven days he was with England and he trained every day and was fit for the game. "'He had not played for Manchester United for two weeks before and what happened at United is between them and him. But when he arrived with us he was fit and available to play. "Manchester United knew with the two weeks he had off and the treatment they were giving him that by the time he came to us he would be ready to train. And they were quite open with us about that.'" Rooney - who has only scored once in open play for club and country since the World Cup started - has suffered personal problems as well as a dip in form this season. Ferguson has repeatedly claimed his private issues had nothing to do with decisions to leave him out of the Sunderland game and the 2-2 draw with Everton in September. The contradictory statements have led to speculation surrounding a possible exit for Rooney, who has been linked with Real Madrid and whose contract expires at the end of next season. It has been rumoured that Rooney is considering leaving England due to the attention placed by the media on players’ private lives, while United’s heavy debt would prevent them giving him a pay hike to match wages available in Madrid. Eurosport

Premier League - Macheda: Rooney is a bit vulgar Thu, 07 Oct 11:49:00 2010 Federico Macheda may be in line for a tricky return to Old Trafford after an indiscreet comment to Italian journalists about beleaguered Manchester United team mate Wayne Rooney. England forward Rooney, criticised in the past for swearing and spitting, was electric last season but struggled at the World Cup and has been in poor form this term while allegations about his private life have filled the tabloids. "Rooney is a really great person, he always gives me advice, but he's a bit working class and vulgar," Macheda told Thursday's Gazzetta dello Sport while in Italy with the U21 team. Roman Macheda, who himself hails from the inner city like Liverpool-born Rooney, is happy learning from the striker at United and dismissed speculation he might join former side Lazio on loan to gain more first team opportunities. "I want to improve in Manchester, when I'm more mature I'll be able to make choices. The rumours about Lazio please me but I don't think I will go," the 19-year-old said. However, Italy U21 goalkeeper Vito Mannone is getting itchy feet in England after failing to break through again at Arsenal this season despite Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski struggling at times. "It hurts to not play especially when the other two are not doing great," Mannone said. "I'll see, here the situation at Arsenal is not normal, I'd do six months on loan to play. Milan has been a dream since I was a kid." Reuters

Pop legend Cliff Richard still rocking at 70 AFP - Friday, October 15 LONDON (AFP) - – Cliff Richard, Britain's most enduringly popular singer, took a break from a series of concerts to celebrate his 70th birthday Thursday. Richard, who has sold more than 250 million records in a 52-year career, was taking a day off from his run of shows at London's Royal Albert Hall. "For the 70th, even when it comes to a birthday party, I'm not going to have a big party on the day. I'm going to have a quiet night," he told ITV television. He said his family were coming over "and we're going to have an Indian curry." The singer was born Harry Webb in Lucknow, northern India, on October 14 1940. Cliff Richard and The Shadows were a landmark act in early British rock and roll, with Richard being dubbed England's answer to Elvis Presley. Indeed, he and Presley are the only acts to make the British singles charts in every decade. He has also been nicknamed the Peter Pan of Pop for his enduring youthful looks and appeal. A committed Christian who shunned the sex, drugs and alcohol lifestyle, in 1995 he became the first rock star to be knighted. Outside Britain, he retains a following in Australasia, southeast Asia and Japan, South Africa, Canada and northern Europe. His hits include "Move It" (1958), "Living Doll" (1959), "The Young Ones" (1962), "Summer Holiday" (1963), "Congratulations" (1968), "Devil Woman (1976), "We Don't Talk Anymore" (1979), "Mistletoe and Wine" (1988) and "Saviour's Day" (1990).

Adam Lambert 'morally unfit' to sing in Malaysia AFP - Wednesday, October 13 KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - – US glam rocker Adam Lambert is "morally unfit" to perform in Malaysia and poses a threat to young people, the opposition Islamic party said Wednesday, vowing to protest his performance. Lambert, who shot to fame in the American Idol contest, is openly gay and has created controversy with his performances, including at the American Music Awards where he simulated a sex act on stage and kissed a male keyboard player. Malaysian authorities have given the green light to Lambert's show on Thursday in the capital Kuala Lumpur, part of his Glam Nation tour, despite objections from the conservative Pan-Malaysia Islamic Party (PAS). "Lambert is morally unfit. His gay lifestyle will harm our society. He is of bad, bad character and poses a danger to young Malaysians," said PAS youth chief Nasrudin Hassan. "We want the government to cancel the permit. The country is battling a serious problem of moral decay. We are experiencing rising social violence and crime," he told AFP. Nasrudin said party members will protest outside the stadium where Lambert is due to perform, and will distribute leaflets discouraging people from attending the show. "We will use a soft approach to protest against his performance. He has admitted he is gay. We feel his lifestyle will influence and destroy the young generation. We will not use violence to stop the concert," he said. Homosexuality is a criminal offence in mostly Muslim-Malaysia, with penalties of up to 20 years imprisonment. Lambert has agreed to demands from the authorities to tone down his performance here.

Pregnant Singapore Girls to get ex-gratia payment but is it enough? By Alicia Wong – October 14th, 2010 Two months’ basic pay. That’s what pregnant Singapore Girls, regardless of nationality, will now get as ex-gratia payment in place of maternity benefits when they resign. In an announcement made by Singapore Airlines (SIA) yesterday, eligible crew also have the option to appeal for a reimbursement of the government-paid portion of maternity leave. The voluntary payment of two months’ salary by the airline was decided following staff feedback and discussions with its union, Singapore Airlines Staff Union (Siasu), an SIA spokesperson told Yahoo! Singapore. She added that the national carrier had been discussing the issue of an ex-gratia payment for “some time” before recent media reports raised the question if SIA’s policy for stewardesses to quit flying once they are pregnant was fair. The new measure, which took effect last Friday, also applies to cabin crew flying on SilkAir, SIA’s subsidiary, as well, according to media reports. While some commended the move as a step forward, others felt SIA’s gesture did not go far enough. A senior stewardess who declined to be named told Yahoo! Singapore the payment “is not much”. “Allowances make up the bulk of our salary,” she stated, pointing out a junior stewardess takes home a basic monthly pay of some $1,300, while a senior stewardess gets a few hundred more. With allowances, their monthly pay gets bumped up to about $4,000, if not more, she noted, hoping SIA would consider increasing the payment. Some 15 to 20 of SIA’s 4,200 female crew are understood to fall pregnant each month. After giving birth, eligible crew can now also appeal to the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) through its Government-Paid Maternity Leave Scheme, which allows all working mothers to receive eight weeks’ salary for their first and second child (up to $20,000) and the full 16 weeks for their third and subsequent child (up to $40,000). According to Today newspaper, SIA cabin crew do not automatically qualify for Government-paid maternity leave as they must terminate their contracts after the first trimester of pregnancy. A MCYS spokesperson told the newspaper that each appeal will be assessed “based on its merit”. The debate was sparked by an report in The Straits Times last month, which said SIA would be introducing a new scheme for pregnant SIA crew: Singapore citizens would receive four months’ pay, while permanent residents and foreigners would get two months’ pay, as ex-gratia — or gesture of goodwill — payment. SIA was also in the news recently for its decision to hire Thai stewardesses.

Waste of Time !!! Lacklustre England held by minnows Montenegro AFP - Wednesday, October 13 LONDON (AFP) - – England's Euro 2012 qualifying campaign suffered an embarrassing setback here Tuesday as they were held to a lacklustre 0-0 draw by football minnows Montenegro. In a result that is certain to see renewed calls for England coach Fabio Capello to be replaced, Montenegro dug in to earn a precious point and remain top of Group G with 10 points from four games. England, forced to field a third choice strikeforce comprising Wayne Rooney and Peter Crouch following injuries to Jermain Defoe and Darren Bent, paid the price for failing to turn possession into goalscoring opportunities. England's players were also furious with German referee Manuel Grafe, who waved away appeals for what looked like a certain handball on 77 minutes when Milan Jovanovic clearly controlled with his arm in the box. Montenegro, who only began playing international football in 2007, celebrated wildly at the final whistle with a small pocket of fans at Wembley as boos rang out around the stadium. Yet England could have few complaints after a toothless display that leaves them with little margin for error if they are now to win the group and qualify automatically for the 2012 finals. Capello would not comment on the referee's decision regarding the penalty, though, he was bemused at the small amount of time added on given the number of times the Montenegro physio was on the pitch. "They are not an easy team to play as they defend really well," said Capello. "However, we created five chances and they had just one shot which hit the bar. They are a difficult team to beat." England captain Rio Ferdinand said that it was an opportunity missed. "These are the sort of games we should be winning. Maybe we tried too hard but we were solid from back to front. We can take a few positives from it." But Ferdinand was incensed by Grafe's failure to award a penalty. "He might as well have caught the ball, put it under his shirt and run home with it. But you've got to get on with it," Ferdinand said. Montenegro coach Zlatko Kranjcar meanwhile could not hide his delight at securing a famous result. "I think everybody here will agree that we put on a great display and a good performance," Kranjcar said. "We had a plan to avoid defeat and we made the plan perfectly." Kranjcar insisted England remain the favourites to grab the sole automatic qualifying spot from the group, even though they must travel to Montenegro for their final qualifying game in October next year. "This is a result that exceeds all our expectations -- three wins and a draw without conceding a goal is proof we can achieve our goal of reaching the playoffs," Kranjcar said. "England is still the clear favourite for the group." England had earlier dominated the opening exchanges but for all their wealth of possession were unable to threaten Mladen Bozovic in the Montenegro goal, who barely had to make a save in the first half. Manchester winger Adam Johnson always looked the likeliest player to fashion an opening for England, repeatedly beating fullback Jovanovic with ease only for the final ball to let him down. At the other end, England goalkeeper Joe Hart was a virtual spectator for the first 45 minutes, hardly touching the ball as a toothless Montenegrin attack missing Mirko Vucinic failed to trouble the home defence. The second period followed the same pattern as the first, England starting brightly but unable to make their possession count. Montenegro meanwhile were increasingly willing to incur the wrath of referee Grafe, Stefan Savic and Marko Basa both being booked in quick succession for fouls on Ashley Cole and Ashley Young. The niggling tactics proved too much for Rooney, who also saw yellow for a petulant trip on Elsad Zverotic. Rooney, struggling to impose himself on proceedings, should have done better on 59 minutes when played in by Steven Gerrard, only to see his low shot saved by Bozovic, who gathered before Crouch could reach the rebound. An ill-tempered passage of play then saw Gareth Barry booked for a rugged aerial challenge on substitute Mladen Kascelan, who received a yellow of his own shortly afterwards for upending Young. Capello's decision to replace the ineffectual Crouch with Bolton Wanderers veteran Kevin Davies almost paid immediate dividends when the striker managed to hold up a sweeping Glen Johnson pass. But when the ball fell kindly to Rooney, the out-of-sorts Manchester United striker could only blast his shot straight at Bozovic as a golden chance went begging for Capello's men. After England saw their penalty appeals rejected for Jovanovic's apparent handball, they launched a furious late challenge. Barry went close as the clock ticked down but Montenegro held on.

Guide to Decapod Crustaceans of the South Pacific is a FREE download Throw your claws up for Joseph Poupin and Matthieu Juncker, two French crustacean researchers who have not only completed an awesome guide to the decapod crustaceans of the South Pacific, but they’ve also made it available as a free downloadable PDF. If that weren’t enough, the free guide to decapod crustaceans is available in both French and English. The Crustacean Guide by Poupin and Juncker isn’t going to replace Kuiter and Debelius World Atlas of Marine Fauna but it weighs and costs a lot less. The decapod crustacean guide is also different in that it goes through all the ten-legged crustaceans based on the different habitats where they can be found; from the land crabs, to the beaches, lagoons and the reefs, the authors of Decapod Crustacean Guide do a great job of not just introducing a ton of species, many of which we have never seen, but you can see the continuum of body shapes which has allowed these creatures to live in different habitats.

Choosing the right HDB flat for you By PropertyGuru – October 12th, 2010 Most young families in Singapore buy an HDB flat as their first property as it is more affordable versus private housing, and government subsidies are available for their purchase and financing. More than 80 percent of Singaporeans live in HDB flats, and more than 90 percent of them own the home they live in. To buy an HDB flat, you need to meet a number of eligibility requirements, including the possession of a Singapore citizenship or Permanent Residence. Also note that you will be restricted by certain conditions after you purchase them, including a Minimum Occupation Period of 5 years before you can sell it, buy private property, or rent the entire apartment out (please visit www.hdb.gov.sg for more information). Once you have checked that you are eligible and decided that buying an HDB flat is your best option, the right HDB flat for you will depend on your: 1) budget 2) desired location 3) gross monthly household income 4) timing needs and 5) the size/number of bedrooms you require. In general, resale flats are more expensive than new flats in the same location, plus you have to top up the Cash Over Valuation (the median COV was $30,000 in the second quarter of 2010). But if your gross monthly household income is greater than $10,000, then you have to buy a resale flat. Also, if you need a place to live in urgently and are not able to wait the 3 to 4 years a new flat typically takes to get constructed under the Build To Order (BTO) scheme, you will have to buy a resale flat. Otherwise, you can look at buying a new flat. Income eligibility to buy new HDB flats If you decide to buy a new flat, the type of flat you can buy is also affected by your gross monthly household income (the sum of the income your family makes). If your gross monthly household income does not exceed $2,000, you are eligible to buy a new 2-room flat. 2-room flats are usually under 500 sq ft and contain a master bedroom, kitchen, living area and storeroom. They are meant for lower income households. They are the private housing equivalent of a one-bedroom apartment. If your gross household income does not exceed $3,000, you are eligible to buy a new 3-room flat in a non-mature estate. The floor area of new 3-room flats range from 646 to 700 sq ft, and they come with one master bedroom, one common bedroom, a kitchen, living area, common bathroom and storeroom. They are the private housing equivalent of a two-bedroom apartment. If your gross household income is between $3,000-$8,000, you can look at 4-room, 5-room and executive flats. 4-room flats are typically under 1,000 sq ft in size, and have a master bedroom, two common bedrooms, a kitchen, living area and storeroom. They are the private housing equivalent of a three-bedroom apartment. 5-room flats are around 1,200 sq ft, and have a master bedroom, two common bedrooms, kitchen, a separate living and dining area, and storeroom. They are meant to provide a larger living space for extended families of 4-5 members. They are the private housing equivalent of a larger three-bedroom apartment. Executive flats are typically around 1,400 sq ft in size, and have a master bedroom, two common bedrooms, a kitchen, separate living and dining area, storeroom, and space for a study room. Some executive flats come with a balcony as well. They are the private housing equivalent of a 3+1 or four-bedroom apartment. If your gross household exceeds $8,000 but is less than $10,000, you can look at Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS) flats and Executive Condominiums. Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS) flats are built by private developers who have to bid for the land, design and construct the flats. They usually come with minimal finishings and look more like private housing, but without the facilities. The HDB provides housing loan and conveyancing services to eligible buyers. Executive Condominiums are a hybrid between public and private housing. They were introduced by the HDB to cater to young graduate and professional Singaporeans who wanted higher quality housing but could not afford private property. They are built by private developers and have condominium facilities. But they also have restrictions such as the Mininum Occupation Period of 5 years before they can be sold, and from years 6 to 10, can only be sold to buyers who meet HDB’s eligibility requirements. From the 11th year, all restrictions are lifted and they can be bought and sold freely, even by foreigners. There are a lot of options, eligibility criteria and restrictions, so hopefully this article has made the choices available to you much clearer!

Alamak !...can use $$$ to buy super-exotic fishes mah. S’porean loses S$100 million at casinos By Angela Lim – October 13th, 2010 A Singaporean businessman has set the gaming world abuzz with news that he recently lost a staggering S$100 million at the two casinos Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) and Marina Bay Sands (MBS). According to Today newspaper, the tycoon is on the Forbes list of the 40 richest people in Singapore. He is not the only one who’s been losing big — another tycoon from the timber-rich East Malaysian state of Sabah also reportedly lost about S$50 million around the same time. Together, the duo’s combined losses of S$150 million have set tongues wagging, even among the local high-rollers’ circle. And lest you think that they are hurting badly from the losses, a high roller who is a regular at both local casinos told the same newspaper, “These guys can well afford the losses.” Unlike Henry Quek, the local businessman who lost S$26 million at RWS back in June and tried to sue the casino for giving him too much credit, both men have accepted their losses without much fuss. Quek, who is the managing director of seafood distrbutor, Far Ocean Sea Products, has also reportedly settled his outstanding debts with RWS. Gaming analysts told The Straits Times that high rollers generally bet at least tens of thousands of dollars a hand. Also known as “whales”, they usually play baccarat or blackjack at the casinos’ exclusive private rooms. Industry insiders and other players say it is not uncommon to see bets of more than S$300,000 a hand. Some famous “whales” who lost big time at the tables include Mr Terrance Watanabe, the American owner of a party favours import business, who lost S$165 million during a year-long gambling binge in Las Vegas in 2007. The late Australian media mogul Kerry Packer, also lost S$26 million in MGM Mirage in Las Vegas during a weekend in July 2000. A general rule in the industry is that 20 per cent of the players contribute 80 per cent of the revenue. That means that the fortunes of a few high-rollers at the table can literally make or break the casino’s earnings estimates for that quarter, or even the whole year. For example, in Mr Packer’s case, analysts raised the estimates for MGM Mirage’s third-quarter earnings for that year.

It was a children’s party and not a wild party: Hady Mirza By Ion Danker – October 12th, 2010 2006 Singapore Idol Hady Mirza has apologised for the mess created after throwing a poolside party at his Mimosa Park condominium in Yio Chu Kang. In a statement released to the media, the 30-year-old singer explained that he and his family hosted a birthday celebration for his 4-year old nephew and 1-year niece which was attended by relatives, friends and numerous young children at the poolside of the condominium. Hady, who is currently filming a travelogue program in Thailand said: “In accordance to the regulations of the management committee, we had to vacate the premises by 11pm. As it was dark, my family and I tried to do what we could to clean up the premises.” “It was only after a few days later when we received a letter from the condominium management committee that we realised the children had thrown things into the pool and toilet.” He said that a letter of apology was immediately sent to the condominium committee by his mother, Madam Mardiana Ahmad and added, “It was a children’s party and certainly not a wild party.” “I sincerely apologise for any inconveniences caused to the management and residents of the condominium and will take full responsibility for what is required to restore the affected facilities.” His apology came after it was reported that the condominium management council had banned Hady and his family from using its facilities due to the incident. According to a Today report, there were used paper plates and uneaten food thrown into the pool, while the toilets were also choked and damaged. The extensive damage took cleaners six hours to clean up the mess to appease residents who wanted to use the facilities. Chairman of the condominium’s management council, Leonard Lee, told the same paper that it was not the first time Hady and his family of five – who have been living in a rented four-bedroom apartment in the condo for the last three years – have broken the rules. “The family’s visitors have, on occasion, parked their cars illegally, despite repeated reminders not to do so. As a result, the wheels of their cars have been clamped on a number of occasions,” said Mr Lee. As a result of the latest mess, the family was given a letter by the chairman, informing them that their S$500 tenant deposit had been forfeited due to the incident, and were banned from using the shared facilities including the pool, gym and squash court, for six months. In his letter to the family, Mr Lee said the episode “has caused severe inconvenience to our residents and other users” and, as a result, “additional expenses” had to be incurred to restore the premises. He added: “We are holding you responsible for all costs … we shall be forfeiting your tenant deposit which will be used towards the partial cost of the cleaning operations.” It was reported that Mr Lee did not mention how much “all costs” amounted to but added the council reserved the right to recover any other costs “that may have incurred as a result of your irresponsible behaviour”.

Sigh !...no chance to own one cos' it may 'makan' moi juicy & fat Trachys.

Singapore swing: Playing for wealth crown Saturday 2 October 2010, 22:12 SGT By Raju Gopalakrishnan SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Along a sun-splashed cobblestone street in central Singapore, coatless bankers with loosened ties quaff imported beers in a neighbourhood of gaily painted shophouses called Duxton Hill. The scene is almost European. And for long-time residents of this Southeast Asian city-state at the crossroads of some of the world's busiest shipping lanes, a bit bemusing. Just a couple of years ago late-night revelers used to tumble out of ill-lit pubs and grimy, illicit brothels on Duxton Hill. The transformation is a microcosm of the reinventions Singapore has undergone to keep an island with almost no resources and roughly the size of New York City competitive in a neighbourhood of fast-growing emerging markets. Boutique funds, advisory firms and brokerages are putting down roots in a revamped Duxton Hill, where opium and gambling dens run by Chinese triad gangs flourished last century. Singapore has attracted hundreds of such firms in the past decade, lured by its light-touch registration requirements and relatively benign regulatory climate, even as Switzerland, the world's leading wealth manager, gets tougher on bank secrecy. "Our vision of this place is the Singapore version of London's West End," said Ed Peter, 47, a Swiss-born fund manager who has been buying up shophouses in Duxton Hill. The neighbourhood, in truth, bears little resemblance to London's theatre district, but it's also a far cry from its shady past. "It's going upmarket. It's cool. It's funky," said Peter, speaking effusively at his office in a three-storey building which housed an Elvis impersonator bar just two years ago. "You've got half the financial community here." Next door, the raunchy Aristocats pub closed shop a few months ago, providing space for Daun Consulting, a private equity adviser, to expand from its upper-level offices. Peter, Deutsche Bank 's head of asset management for Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa before setting up his own firm in Singapore, manages about $650 million. The squeaky clean city of 5.1 million, nicknamed the "nanny state" for its propensity for micromanagement, is fast emerging as one of the world's hottest destinations for wealth -- and the wealthy, who now have casinos and theme parks for play, and seaside mansions and penthouses to stay. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), the central bank, estimated overall assets under management in the city totalled a record S$1.2 trillion ($900 billion) at end-2009 -- the most in Asia and up about 40 percent from a year ago. The Boston Consulting Group estimates private banks alone in Singapore manage about $500 billion in assets. The numbers are dwarfed by the estimated $2 trillion in private wealth managed in Switzerland, but the growth in Singapore is startling, wealth managers say. "In the last 10-12 years I've seen Singapore really take a leadership role in changing the landscape of the wealth management industry," says Deepak Sharma, chairman of Citi Private Bank. "The regulatory environment in Singapore is one of the finest. It has one of the best standards in the world, but at the same time, it is consultative. It engages the industry." GO EAST YOUNG MAN The big players, including Swiss giants UBS AG and Credit Suisse who have a global stranglehold on private wealth management, are among those looking East. UBS, usually chary about its plans, says it will hire 400 new staffers in the Asia-Pacific region in the next few years. Credit Suisse said net new assets from clients in Asia climbed to 11.5 billion Swiss francs ($11.78 billion) in 2009 from 8.4 billion in 2008. In the first six months of this year, net new assets came in at 7.1 billion Swiss francs. Morgan Stanley plans to double its Asia headcount in wealth management over the next three years, largely focusing on the top end of the market. JPMorgan Chase & Co plans to triple its private banking assets in Asia over the next five years and plans to increase its headcount in the region by 40 percent over the current 400, a company spokesman in New York said this week. "I believe Singapore will be the true private banking hub," said Massimo Hilber, managing partner at private Swiss bank Marcuard who, like Peter, has an office on Duxton Hill. "All the big players are here, and the smaller players like us. You have to be here." Why Singapore? First, assets held by Asia-Pacific's high net worth individuals -- people owning more than $1 million excluding home, collectibles and durables -- surged 31 percent in 2009 to $9.7 trillion, overtaking Europe, according to CapGemini/Merrill Lynch. Second, high net-worth individuals seeking high-return investments are turning to emerging markets. Accordingly, portfolios of such individuals included 22 percent in Asia-Pacific investments in 2009, up from 19 percent in 2008, and will soon overtake Europe, the CapGemini study says. Many of these changes are focused on Singapore, which is at the crossroads of new wealth being created in China, India and Indonesia, some of the fastest growing economies in the world. Singapore, which has the world's highest concentration of millionaires, is poised to grow its own economy 13-15 percent this year, possibly the fastest rate in the world. Hong Kong is Asia's other big financial centre, but tends to focus on investment banking and deal-making in China rather than in the management of private wealth, bankers say. " Hong Kong probably makes great business sense from an investment banker perspective, but I don't think it has invested as much in itself in creating a place for families to live," says Nick Pollard, Asia chief executive of private banker RBS Coutts. "What Singapore has done very well is that it has almost created a whole infrastructure, not just a place to work, but also a place to live, a place to educate your children, a place to have great fun." FINE CITY Stuffy. Staid. A "fine city" where every minor transgression attracts a fine. Where the sale of chewing gum is banned, and caning is prescribed for offences such as vandalism. That was, and in some cases still is, Singapore. But about five years ago, the government launched a concerted effort to change the image. Two casinos sprang up this year at a cost of about $11 billion in a city where gambling had been banned. It's the only country in the world where the Formula One Grand Prix is held at night. Singapore impeccably conducted its third F1 race on Sept. 26, with Fernando Alonso winning on a balmy tropical night, driving his Ferrari through 61 laps around the city's business district. Top music acts including Mariah Carey , Sean Kingston , Chris Daughtry and Adam Lambert performed at different areas around the circuit. Some of the jet-setting crowd partied after the race at a newly opened rooftop bar at the $5.3 billion Marina Bay Sands casino resort, built by Las Vegas Sands on reclaimed land around the mouth of the Singapore River. Sentosa island, just offshore Singapore, is being redeveloped as a home for the seriously wealthy, with golf clubs, a sailing marina and sea-facing bungalows priced at $20 million and more. Genting Singapore's Resorts World casino and Universal Studios theme park opened in February, raking in S$503.5 million ($369.9 million) in the first three months. "Rebranding Singapore as a global city and tourism hub fits in very well with its natural advantage, which is its strategic location in the centre of Southeast Asia and good transportation links," said Kit Wei Zheng, a Citigroup economist. The aim is simple. Make the city more attractive for high-end foreign talent and wealth. Turn tourism into a money spinner. Focus on services as manufacturing shifts to lower-cost countries in the region. And make it easy for foreigners to work. It is the latest incarnation of a city that emerged from British colonial rule in the 1960s as a gritty port town. Founding father Lee Kuan Yew and his People's Action Party -- dressed in trademark white shirts and pants -- set out to scrub the city clean of corruption in all its manifestations. By the 1970s, the port had become one of the world's busiest and was soon complemented by the opening of top-ranked Changi international airport. By the 1980s, Singapore was a regional manufacturing hub, particularly for electronics. Then it reinvented itself as a financial hub, and by the 1990s was one of the world's leading centres for foreign exchange trading. A decade algo, the PAP patriarchs began building an education and bio-tech hub. NUMBER 10 The common denominator for each Singapore incarnation has been to make it easy to do business. Be the fastest shipper, the most proficient manufacturer, the state with the least red tape. For the Singapore financial industry, that comes from what they call "Number 10". That's 10 Shenton Way, not Downing Street but the address represents an institution similarly powerful -- the headquarters of MAS, the central bank. "The regulatory environment is fair as opposed to arbitrary, random and difficult," says Peter, the fund manager. "The rule of law is incredibly important. This is probably the best-managed country on the planet. It's managed in a pro-active business-friendly way." Funds with less than 30 institutional investors can set up shop without a license from MAS. While MAS is set to introduce tighter rules next year, Singapore remains one of the easiest jurisdictions for funds to begin operations. But as regulation is tightened in Europe and the United States following the 2008 financial crisis, and Switzerland responds to concerns about its bank secrecy laws, Singapore, too, has come under the spotlight. In November, Singapore was taken off the OECD "grey list" of nations not implementing international disclosure standards, but has yet to sign a tax treaty with the United States. "The business model for private bankers is going to change -- they can no longer tell customers just to put their money in Singapore and they will make sure no one ever knows about it," said Edmund Leow, principal at law firm Baker & McKenzie, Wong & Leow. "Instead, bankers are already marketing themselves as providing the best advice on how to legitimately minimise the amount of money their customers have to pay in tax. "This is a global trend. I think Singapore is doing what most other countries are doing and shouldn't be disadvantaged compared with other wealth management centres." RISKS OF REINVENTIONS Singapore's seismic reinventions were possible because the government nipped any political opposition in the bud and voters who have seen their per capita incomes grow seven-fold over the years were not inclined to grumble much. But as Singapore undergoes its latest manifestation as a "global city", with an ever-mounting proportion of foreign residents crowding the roads and competing for space and jobs, the government is having to soothe escalating criticism from the "heartland", the sprawl of government housing blocks in te interior of the island where much of the citizenry lives. Take, for example, Pipit Road, where a public housing compound is set amid factories and warehouses. People there live in tiny one-room apartments and are among the least well-off in Singapore. Elderly residents shuffle along through corridors to the open area at the ground level, many with vacant stares. "Look at my life. Do you think I have the time?", said Seet Siew Buay, a 49-year-old woman when asked if she had seen the casino resorts or heard of the F1 race. "I have to look after them," she said pointing to a 26-year-old son with learning and speech disabilities and an unemployed common-law husband. They subsist on the S$300 given to the son each month in welfare, and Wong's savings from his days as a carpenter. Singapore households earn an average income of S$7,440 a month, according to government statistics, but the bottom 20 percent earn only S$1,274. There is some anger in the Pipit Road housing block at what is seen as the headlong rush to attract foreign investment and wealth. "The bloody government will get the money," said a middle-aged man, who called himself Jack. "We will get nothing. But somehow we still vote for them." Having a super-rich pool of foreigners in the city poses the risk of accentuating social tensions. Already, housing prices are rising faster than in the rest of the region. Porsches, Jaguars and Ferraris flash by in the streets. The number of international schools in the city catering mostly to foreigners has risen five-fold in the last decade or so. The number of overseas workers -- mostly for menial and blue collar jobs -- has also risen rapidly to around 1.8 million, a figure that also includes foreigners who have become permanent residents. That means one in three people in Singapore is a foreigner, one of the highest such proportions in the world outside the Middle East. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong addressed those rising concerns in his Aug. 9 National Day speech saying that without an inflow of workers to make up for "the shortage of workers and the "shortfall of babies in our population", the economy and society would stagnate. "I understand Singaporeans' concerns about taking in so many foreign workers and immigrants. Some of us wonder: Will it change the ethos of our society? Will it mean more competition for us at work, or for our children in schools? Will the new arrivals strike roots here? Can they adjust to us, and we to them? These are valid concerns which we must address." One way to ensure some trickle-down effect from Singapore's rapid growth is on public spending. The government plans to spend $44 billion alone in the next decade on extending the commuter rail network to cope with a population projected to grow another 25 percent in the next few years following a 25 percent increase the past decade. "There is a certain degree of discontent, but it is not brewing over and spilling out into unrest," said Gerald Giam, an executive councillor of the opposition Workers Party. "It is something we need to keep a watch on." Over at Duxton Hill, it's getting to evening and executives are winding their way home, some hailing a cab, one or two clambering onto bicycles. It's still a ribald place around the edges. Some of the old bars still operate. In a few corners, one can almost imagine Jack Flowers, the protagonist of Paul Theroux's novel "St. Jack" about Singapore in the 1960s, rifling his deck of porno cards in a seedy shophouse doorway and asking a tourist: "Can I get you anything? Anything at all you need?" For Peter, the fund manager, Singapore has what he needs. "This place works," he says, strolling down the cobbled street on Duxton Hill. "Take a look at the airport. In how many countries in the world do you find your luggage on the carousel when you come out? In Geneva, you wait 25 minutes. In the US of A, you worry, will your bags show up?" Peter, who worked in private banking in Europe and Hong Kong before setting up in Singapore in 2005, is also involved in a chain of wine shops in Singapore, and vineyards in Australia. On Singapore's social tensions, he becomes reflective and says: "It's a new risk that's worth watching. Is it a big risk? No." Then reverting to his natural ebullience, he says: "This place has the potential to be Monaco and Luxembourg, and Geneva or even London." (Additional reporting by Rachel Armstrong, Saeed Azhar, Eveline Danubrata, Charmian Kok, Kevin Lim and Yaw Yan Chong in SINGAPORE, Lisa Jucca in ZURICH; Editing by Bill Tarrant)

Spore billionaire Peter Lim ups Liverpool bid to £360m By yahoosingapore October 12th, 2010 Singaporean billionaire Peter Lim has increased his offer to buy over troubled English football giants Liverpool to £360m (S$750m) . The new proposal, which tops that of rival bidder New England Sports Ventures (NESV) by £60m, is made up entirely of cash. It also includes £40m for purchase of new players. It will also remove the entire acquisition debt of £200m taken on by the existing owners, Americans George Gillett and Tom Hicks, that has cast uncertainty over the clubs future. In a short statement released to the media, Lim said, I respect and admire Liverpool Football Club, which is steeped in tradition and history. I am committed to rebuild the Club so that it can soon regain its position at the pinnacle of English and European football, where it truly belongs. This is why I have stepped forward with this offer. The 57-year-old self-made billionaire, who ironically is known to be a die-hard Manchester United fan, say hes keen to see the struggling Reds succeed again. The club needs to strengthen its existing squad. As part of this offer, I will be injecting £40m in cash into the Club for Roy Hodgson to bring in new players during the upcoming transfer window. Liverpool needs to start winning again!, he said. He also left no doubt as to the seriousness of his offer to buy out the Anfield club, whose prized player assets include Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres. My offer provides a firm financial platform from which the club can rebuild. Given the manner in which the sale process has been handled, I feel Martin (Broughton) and the Board owe it to me, to the Club, and to the supporters, to consider my offer, he concluded. He did not make any mention of Manchester United or the rival bid by American consortium NESV, who are funded by American billionaire John Henry. Football fans in Singapore, however, have reacted in equal doses of surprise and puzzlement. Lim, whos known to be a huge football fan, is ranked the eighth-richest Singaporean with an estimated wealth of S$2 billion by Forbes. But what rankles many Reds fans is that hes also known to be a die-hard fan of English arch-rival club, Manchester United. Lim has exclusive rights to own and operate a chain of Red Devils-themed restaurants and bars in Asia. Singapore-listed fashion retailer FJ Benjamin, in which Lim is the second-largest shareholder, also previously operated the Manchester United Theatre of Dreams store at Orchard Parade Hotel. Manager Desmond Tan, 34, who has been supporting Liverpool for over 20 years, said,How can someone with ties to Manchester United want Liverpool to do well? Its seriously conflicting. If he even wants to be taken seriously, he needs to give up his Man U ties first. But what if Lim, who is known to be a shrewd investor, has the resources to turn the debt-saddled Anfield giants around? Tan replied, Will you let your wife sleep with one rich businessman like in the show Indecent Proposal just so that you can stay afloat? I cannot accept it. If the deal goes through, I will still support the Reds, but I will not be supporting anything he does. Why cant he buy Manchester United instead? Dont they have debts too? Another Liverpool fan, Amir Syarifuddin, 36, said Lim deserved a chance. If he is a businessman, then the success of the club will always come first ,so he will do everything to see the club succeed, said the engineer, whos been a Reds fan for over 15 years. Polytechnic lecturer, Edwin Lim, whos a die-hard Red Devil, offered a different perspective. It just goes to show Peter Lim is a football fan, first and foremost, and then an English Premier League fan. I hope Liverpool fans can finally stop saying that we Man U fans do not care about Liverpool at all. We know that if Liverpool didnt exist, we wouldnt have gotten to where we are today, he said. Another football fan, Gabriel Wong, 25, who doesnt support either Liverpool or Man United, said, From a neutral standpoint, Peter Lims bid may seem more attractive because, at least, hes willing to stake his personal fortune in the club. For all you know, accepting the US bid might lead to a similar situation with George Gillett and Tom Hicks later on. US BILLIONAIRE JOHN HENRY V SINGAPORES PETER LIM The buyout talks involving Liverpool are rapidly turning into a complex tug-of-war between American billionaire John Henry and Singapores very own Peter Lim. Lim was reportedly told by text message last week that Liverpool chairman Martin Broughton had rejected his offer in favour of a rival bid from New England Sports Ventures (NESV), which is funded by US billionaire John Henry. NESV, which also owns US Major League Baseball side, the Boston Red Sox, has now signed a binding agreement but current club co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr. are trying to block the sale because they say it undervalues the club. The Royal Bank of Scotland, which holds the bulk of Liverpools debt, has since obtained an interim injunction preventing the co-owners from firing board members chairman Broughton, commercial director Ian Ayre and managing director Christian Purslow for accepting the sale. The case goes to court on Tuesday. If the court rules in favour of the Americans, then the sale of Liverpool to NESV will fall through which may provide Lim with an avenue to once again pursue his interest of the Merseyside club. The BBC has quoted sources close to Lim that said he was in fact the clubs preferred bidder in the closing stages of the talks. Lim reportedly was so confident he would win the contest he was discussing with Broughton about how to announce his takeover only to be texted at the last minute that Liverpool had gone with NESVs rival bid of £300m. He never had a chance to negotiate directly with Royal Bank (of Scotland). He was expecting to do so, after agreeing the takeover with the board, said the source close to Mr Lim. Lim reportedly still does not know why Mr Broughton went with NESV, especially considering that his more attractive bid would be funded entirely from his own cash resources with no borrowing involved. However, ESPN Soccernet has since reported that NESV would not allow Lim to muscle his way into the deal despite his improved offer. The son of a fishmonger, Lim made his fortune as a stock broker and became a private investor in 1996. He keeps a relatively low profile and is media-shy but his key stock holdings include stakes in Wilmar International, the worlds largest palm oil firm, and regional education provider Informatics, which he turned around after the firm had fallen on hard times. Earlier this month, he invested about US$100 million in Global Logistic Properties, a giant provider of warehouse facilities in China and Japan that is majority owned by Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC. People who know Lim said his interest in Liverpool stemmed from his love of soccer, and he recently donated S$10 million ($7.65 million) to the Singapore Olympics Foundation for scholarships for promising young athletes from poor families.

Condo management bans Hady Mirza and family By Ion Danker – October 12th, 2010 The management council of Mimosa Park condominium in Yio Chu Kang has banned 2006 Singapore Idol Hady Mirza and his family from using its facilities. His crime: Failing to clear up the mess created after throwing a poolside party. According to Today, there were used paper plates and uneaten food thrown into the pool, while the toilets were also choked and damaged. The extensive damage took cleaners six hours to clean up the mess to appease residents who wanted to use the facilities. Chairman of the condominium’s management council, Leonard Lee, told the same paper that it was not the first time Hady and his family of five – who have been living in a rented four-bedroom apartment in the condo for the last three years – have broken the rules. “The family’s visitors have, on occasion, parked their cars illegally, despite repeated reminders not to do so. As a result, the wheels of their cars have been clamped on a number of occasions,” said Mr Lee. As a result of the latest mess, the family was given a letter by the chairman, informing them that their S$500 tenant deposit had been forfeited due to the incident, and were banned from using the shared facilities including the pool, gym and squash court, for six months. In his letter to the family, Mr Lee said the episode “has caused severe inconvenience to our residents and other users” and, as a result, “additional expenses” had to be incurred to restore the premises. He added: “We are holding you responsible for all costs … we shall be forfeiting your tenant deposit which will be used towards the partial cost of the cleaning operations.” It was reported that Mr Lee did not mention how much “all costs” amounted to but added the council reserved the right to recover any other costs “that may have incurred as a result of your irresponsible behaviour”. When contacted by Today, 30-year-old Hady declined to comment on the matter, saying “it’s personal”. However, it said that his mother, Madam Mardiana Ahmad, has sent a letter of apology to the management council.

Hong Kong Goldfish Market: Shops for threatened species threatened Sun Sep 26 22:18pm By Sharon Wong Fish, pythons and albino turtles are for sale at Goldfish Market, but government plans may shut it down The nickname "Goldfish Market" doesn't do the area justice. Spanning the length of Tung Choi Street, from the intersections at Nullah Street to Mongkok Street, this shopping district is like the Florida Everglades boiled down to several hundred meters of pet stores. Everything from albino turtles to tarantulas are on sale at what is one of Hong Kong's oldest and most beloved markets. "I don't know any of the shop-owners here, but even if I'm not planning on buying anything I still come here after work every day to walk around. You can call it a habit or just something to keep myself going," says Poon, who lives near Goldfish Market. While it costs to visit Ocean Park, it's free to walk around Goldfish Market, and Poon can get the same thrill from seeing exotic creatures. He can also learn the names, biological traits, features and how to take care of the creatures, if you ask nicely. But not all shop owners are enthusiastic about offering free zoology lessons. “We want customers, not tourists,’’ says Ah Sing, one of the staff working at the Great Barrier Reef Aquarium. Many proprietors feel aggrieved by the government's HK$100 million plan to revitalize a big chunk of the Mongkok district including the Goldfish Market. "Ever since the government came out with this big proposal to improve the area, landlords here have been raising rents like crazy. Mine was jacked up by 25 percent and he’s already the saner one compared to the others. One of my neighbors who sells seaweed has had his rent doubled. How can you expect us to survive?" says Great Barrier Reef Aquarium owner Tsui. As with any family business, the pet store is more than work for Tsui -- she raised two kids with the store and Goldfish Market has become her life. "People here just work hard. It’s not uncommon to see them working 13, 14 hours on a normal day," says Tsui. "We survived the financial tsunami when business was down more than 20 percent. It now looks like we may not survive these government policies." "The government wants to revitalize the area for tourists. But what are the chances of a tourist buying a fish and bringing it home? If you shut down the driveway for cars how can our customers move their goods home? Maybe this government just has too much free time. They've already destroyed the Bird Market. Now they're doing the same to Sneaker Street. It's only a matter of time before they get to us." While many shop owners can’t stand the high rent and are contemplating moving out, others see it as an opportunity of a lifetime. John has been operating Myth Aquarium for nearly half a year and is confident that things can only get better with the economy recovering. "Our products come straight from Malaysia and it certainly helps that I happen to be in the importing business myself. There’s no need to worry about competition as long as you’re selling quality products," he says. Asked to recount his biggest sale so far: "There was this customer who bought about 30 angel fish each priced at a few thousand dollars." Despite such bullishness, John admits rents account for the biggest share of his operating cost and business would be much easier had it gone back to a more reasonable level. Great Barrier Reef Aquarium (大堡礁水族) G/F, 207 Tung Choi Street, Mongkok, Kowloon, tel +852 2787 3568 Myth Aquarium(神話水族) G/F, 196 Tung Choi Street, Mongkok, Kowloon, tel +852 2380 0065 Urban Jungle (城市森林爬蟲專門店) The Loft, 148 Tung Choi Street, Mongkok, Kowloon, tel +852 2380 7803 Lake Tung Ting (洞庭湖水族) Shop 8-9, 3-13 Nullah Road, Mongkok, Kowloon

Hong Kong Goldfish Market: Shops for threatened species threatened Sun Sep 26 22:18pm By Sharon Wong Fish, pythons and albino turtles are for sale at Goldfish Market, but government plans may shut it down The nickname "Goldfish Market" doesn't do the area justice. Spanning the length of Tung Choi Street, from the intersections at Nullah Street to Mongkok Street, this shopping district is like the Florida Everglades boiled down to several hundred meters of pet stores. Everything from albino turtles to tarantulas are on sale at what is one of Hong Kong's oldest and most beloved markets. "I don't know any of the shop-owners here, but even if I'm not planning on buying anything I still come here after work every day to walk around. You can call it a habit or just something to keep myself going," says Poon, who lives near Goldfish Market. While it costs to visit Ocean Park, it's free to walk around Goldfish Market, and Poon can get the same thrill from seeing exotic creatures. He can also learn the names, biological traits, features and how to take care of the creatures, if you ask nicely. But not all shop owners are enthusiastic about offering free zoology lessons. “We want customers, not tourists,’’ says Ah Sing, one of the staff working at the Great Barrier Reef Aquarium. Many proprietors feel aggrieved by the government's HK$100 million plan to revitalize a big chunk of the Mongkok district including the Goldfish Market. "Ever since the government came out with this big proposal to improve the area, landlords here have been raising rents like crazy. Mine was jacked up by 25 percent and he’s already the saner one compared to the others. One of my neighbors who sells seaweed has had his rent doubled. How can you expect us to survive?" says Great Barrier Reef Aquarium owner Tsui. As with any family business, the pet store is more than work for Tsui -- she raised two kids with the store and Goldfish Market has become her life. "People here just work hard. It’s not uncommon to see them working 13, 14 hours on a normal day," says Tsui. "We survived the financial tsunami when business was down more than 20 percent. It now looks like we may not survive these government policies." "The government wants to revitalize the area for tourists. But what are the chances of a tourist buying a fish and bringing it home? If you shut down the driveway for cars how can our customers move their goods home? Maybe this government just has too much free time. They've already destroyed the Bird Market. Now they're doing the same to Sneaker Street. It's only a matter of time before they get to us." While many shop owners can’t stand the high rent and are contemplating moving out, others see it as an opportunity of a lifetime. John has been operating Myth Aquarium for nearly half a year and is confident that things can only get better with the economy recovering. "Our products come straight from Malaysia and it certainly helps that I happen to be in the importing business myself. There’s no need to worry about competition as long as you’re selling quality products," he says. Asked to recount his biggest sale so far: "There was this customer who bought about 30 angel fish each priced at a few thousand dollars." Despite such bullishness, John admits rents account for the biggest share of his operating cost and business would be much easier had it gone back to a more reasonable level. Great Barrier Reef Aquarium (大堡礁水族) G/F, 207 Tung Choi Street, Mongkok, Kowloon, tel +852 2787 3568 Myth Aquarium(神話水族) G/F, 196 Tung Choi Street, Mongkok, Kowloon, tel +852 2380 0065 Urban Jungle (城市森林爬蟲專門店) The Loft, 148 Tung Choi Street, Mongkok, Kowloon, tel +852 2380 7803 Lake Tung Ting (洞庭湖水族) Shop 8-9, 3-13 Nullah Road, Mongkok, Kowloon

Mandela letters show jail heartbreak: report AFP - 1 hour 21 minutes ago LONDON (AFP) - – Letters penned in jail by Nelson Mandela, South Africa's first black president, reveal his anguish at being separated from his family, according to a British newspaper serialisation on Sunday. The anti-apartheid icon wrote that he felt "soaked in gall" by being powerless to help his then-wife Winnie and his children when he was in prison from 1962 to 1990, in the letters printed in The Sunday Times. The writings gathered in the collection "Conversations with Myself", which is being published in Britain on Tuesday, also tell of the Nobel Peace laureate's heartache at learning of the death of his son. "I feel I have been soaked in gall, every part of me, my flesh, bloodstream, bone and soul, so bitter am I to be completely powerless to help you in the rough and fierce ordeals you are going through," he wrote to Winnie Mandela in August 1970. In October 1976 he wrote: "My main problem since I left home is my sleeping withou you next to me and my waking up without you close to me, the passing of the day without my having seen you." When Winnie was also jailed for a time in 1969, he wrote to his daughters Zeni and Zindi, then aged nine and 10 that "now she and Daddy are away in jail." "It may be months or even years before you see her again. For long you may live like orphans without your own home and parents, without the natural love, affection and protection Mummy used to give you." But his relations with Winnie were sometimes stormy. In a letter to a friend in 1987, he says that after writing to Winnie to say that their daughters had grown up well: "My beloved wife was furious... she reminded me: 'I, not you, brought up these children whom you now prefer to me.' I was simply stunned." A poignant letter to a friend records his reaction after Thembi, the elder of two sons from his first mariage, died in a car crash at the age of 24 in 1969. He was not allowed to attend the funeral. "When I was first advised of my son's death I was shaken from top to bottom," he said, adding that he had experienced similar heartache when he lost a nine-month-old baby girl several years earlier. Mandela, now 92, was jailed by the country's white minority government for resisting apartheid rule. On his release in 1990, he led negotiations with apartheid rulers, a process that culminated in his election as the country's first black president in 1994. He stepped down as president in 1999, after serving one term in office.

I got sick and tired of performing By Ewen Boey October 9th, 2010 There are more important things in life than being a performer so says BRIT Award-winning English artiste, Rick Astley. With the world at his feet, the hit singer-songwriter of the 80s abruptly quit the music industry in 1993 at the tender age of 27 after selling approximately 40 million records worldwide. Speaking to Yahoo! Singapore ahead of the Retrolicious 80s concert at Fort Canning Park, the likeable singer of all-time karaoke favourites such as Never Gonna Give You Up and Together Forever said he just got tired of living out of a suitcase. I just got sick of it all to be honest. I got sick of the travelling more than anything, and I just felt that I really wanted to be able to be with my family, the youthful-looking 44-year-old explained. I have a daughter whos now 18, and she was about a year old when I quit, and I just felt I needed to be at home for her, said Astley, whos married to wife Lene Bausager, a film producer. However, he admitted he could not stay away from his passion for music forever, which explains why hes back on tour. With his daughter now grown up and living her own life, Astley feels that now is the right time for him to make a comeback since the spotlight is ironically no longer on him. I actually enjoy what I do now more than when I was famous. Im more relaxed about it and I enjoy the concerts a lot more because Im generally more confident about myself, he said. Also, I dont really feel the pressure I did then to have great hair, he added in jest. Although he is thankful for the megahit Never Gonna Give You Up that catapulted him to fame early in his music career, he now says its given him the reputation of being a one-dimensional synth-pop singer thats hard to shake off. Im very lucky to have that song but sometimes when I want to do something a little more rock or jazz-influenced, I still get people hanging that hat over me from my synth-pop days. Being away from the scene for so many years, Astley believe the music and recording landscape of today is very much different from that of the late 80s and early 90s. The Internet has taken all the old rules and thrown it out of the window. Back in my day when we recorded an album, it went on vinyl, cassette and on CD. The whole thing now, of being able to listen to anything you want to, or watch any video just by clicking, is a totally different set of rules. He also believes that with the popularity of music reality shows like American Idol, talented amateur singers have an ready-made platform to be fast-tracked to success. I think shows like American Idol are massive. But I think there are some people who probably wouldnt have made it in the conventional way for whatever reason, he said. Take for example Leona Lewis who won The X-Factor. It might not have suited her personality the old school way, but it doesnt take away the fact that shes got a great voice. Its just a sign of the times that those shows are popular, the former MTV Europe Music Awards winner adds. A big fan of current rock bands like The Killers and Kings of Leon, its obvious the singer has a deep passion for drumming. I play drums in a little band so I like those two bands a lot. Theyre, in the true sense of the word, proper bands. It actually feels like they get in a room and they make that music. You feel the earth a little bit in what they do. He also confesses to being a huge fan of red-hot US pop star Katy Perry, whose string of hits includes California Gurls, I Kissed A Girl and Hot n Cold. I like her quite a bit. I think shes pretty cool and has a great sense of humour in what she does, said Astley. So what about a duet with Katy sometime? Yeah, baby! he shot back immediately with that cheeky grin and glint in his eyes.

I don’t regret posing for Playboy: Debbie Gibson By Ion Danker – October 9th, 2010 American singer-songwriter Debbie Gibson says she has no regrets posing for U.S. men’s magazine Playboy five years ago. In an exclusive interview with Yahoo! Singapore, the 40-year-old star of 80s hits such as “Only In My Dreams”, ” Shake Your Love” and “Out of the Blue” said she finally relented and accepted the magazine’s offer because it “didn’t seem to be a big deal”. “They approached me when I was 18, then 21 and 25, and every time my response to them was a quick ‘no’ because it was nothing I was interested in doing at the time,” said the 40-year-old, who is in town to perform at the Retrolicious concert at Fort Canning Park on Saturday. Gibson, who has been dating a doctor for the past 2 years, added, “But when I was 28, I was starring in shows such as Gypsy Rose Lee and finished doing a Chicago production. These shows were about sexuality and I was very comfortable with it at that point in time and told them I would be interested to do something stylized.” But this time, it was Playboy who ”didn’t think it was right for their audience and I said forget it because I wanted to do things on my terms.” WHEN SHE SAID ‘YES’ It was only in 2005 that Gibson agreed to bare all for the March issue of Playboy. She said that her family had no objections to her decision. “They [Playboy] came back and said they were game with my idea and we made sure it was on my terms. The contract had every single thing outlined what I would and wouldn’t do so I thought why not, it’s a once in a lifetime thing that many women do. I had a great time doing it and never regretted doing it,” she revealed. Any objections from her family? “My mum manages me, so she had to be aware, she helped make the deal,” quipped Gibson. “There’s nothing strange about letting your grown up child do whatever they want so my whole family knew and what are we talking about, its Playboy and its considered tame compared to what’s out there. You’ve got to be more scared if you put your kids in front of the internet than Playboy,” she said. Gibson shot to fame after earning a place in the 1988 Guinness Book of World Records, for being the youngest female artist at the tender age of 16, to write, produce, and perform a No. 1 single on the Billboard charts with her song ‘Foolish Beat’, a record she holds till today. Some of Gibson’s other hit songs include “Only In My Dreams”, ” Shake Your Love” and “Out of the Blue”. Turning to her career since her heyday in the 80s, Gibson is now a theatre veteran after starring in Broadway productions such as Les Misérables, Beauty and the Beast, Chicago and The King and I. Looking back at her 24 year career in showbiz, Gibson says one of the reasons for her success was her commitment to being the best that she could be. ‘I WAS NEVER A PARTY PERSON’ “I was never a party person. If I was going to an awards show and the after party, I will be going there to work. I will make an appearance, see what I have to see and then I leave. That’s not where I want to hang out and spend my social time. I would rather spend the evening with four great friends, have an amazing dinner, hear myself and friends speak.” She also added that she was baffled by the cat-and-mouse media addiction celebrities are getting into these days, such as troubled starlet Lindsay Lohan, who has violated probation several times after being caught in 2007 for drunk driving and cocaine possession. “People at this point forget that Lindsay is an actress, it’s like she is forgotten. It’s a shame because she is really good and the antics start to upstage the talent,” she said, referring to Lohan, who recently checked herself into rehab for the fifth time in three years after failing a court-ordered drug test. Gibson offers her take on Lohan. “Step back and get some help and take care of yourself. The shame of it is I think her mum is not helping whereas I was very lucky to have people around me who cared, so it’s really sad. Where are those people in her life?” “I would say, don’t live in Hollywood, don’t live where there are paparazzi. Back when I started, I always retreated back to Long Island. I would go out, to LA and do the parties and then I would get as far away from those paparazzi and have a normal life. I would go to my local bowling alley, my friends will come visit and I would get occasional paparazzi but they weren’t going to get anything except for me bowling,” she said. Local fans would be glad to know that Gibson’s retirement from showbiz is nowhere on her radar. “I hope to carry on performing for as long as I can because I am enjoying every moment of this,” she said.

WAH !...got Lucky Draw Prize + Finger Food & Drinks + SPS Credits + 'Blue Movie LIVE'...wat more can U ask !

Fergie: Chelsea have had easy start Thu, 07 Oct 07:18:47 2010 Sir Alex Ferguson has begun the mind games with Chelsea this season by claiming that they have had such an easy start, they should have won every game. The Blues have romped to the top of the Barclays Premier League after winning all but one match so far this term, with their only setback a defeat at Manchester City, but United boss Ferguson, whose side slipped five points behind the champions after at the weekend following a goalless game at Sunderland, has suggested they should have a 100% record. Asked if the Red Devils could not afford to drop any more points, Ferguson said: "No, no, no. Every team is going to drop points - that's inevitable. If you look at Chelsea's start to the season, you'd have expected them to have won all those games, so the position they're in doesn't surprise me." He added: "Meanwhile, we've had tricky trips to Fulham and Everton then played Liverpool at home. Those are difficult matches. "Liverpool, Arsenal and ourselves have all played top sides early on. Chelsea's sterner tests are still to come." Ferguson accused his players of not being ruthless enough this season after watching them drop points in draws at Fulham, Everton and Bolton. Speaking to the club's official magazine, Inside United, Ferguson said: "This present team doesn't kill off sides as well as they should. "At Goodison, we had three or four chances at 3-1 to really put the game out of sight, but we were wasteful and ultimately paid the price. We threw away two goals in injury-time. That's unthinkable. "That killer instinct just isn't there at the moment and it's something we need to develop. "We haven't had a problem scoring goals. We got three against Liverpool, Everton and West Ham, two away at Fulham, three in the Community Shield; that suggests we don't have difficulty finding the net." Fergie unsurprised by Chelsea dominance Thu, 07 Oct 08:57:22 2010 Sir Alex Ferguson has begun the mind games with Chelsea this season by claiming that they have had such an easy start, they should have won every game. The Blues have romped to the top of the Barclays Premier League after winning all but one match so far this term, with their only setback a defeat at Manchester City. But United boss Ferguson, whose side slipped five points behind the champions at the weekend following a goalless game at Sunderland, has suggested they should have a 100% record. Asked if the Red Devils could not afford to drop any more points, Ferguson said: "No, no, no. Every team is going to drop points - that's inevitable. "If you look at Chelsea's start to the season, you'd have expected them to have won all those games, so the position they're in doesn't surprise me. "Meanwhile, we've had tricky trips to Fulham and Everton then played Liverpool at home. Those are difficult matches. Liverpool, Arsenal and ourselves have all played top sides early on. Chelsea's sterner tests are still to come."

Anglo-Chinese Junior College hit by video scandal By Faris October 8th, 2010 A video of two female Anglo-Chinese Junior College (ACJC) students having a steamie tryst in one of the schools toilets is creating a huge storm of debate. According to The Straits Times, the illicit encounter in a cubicle of the toilet near the school canteen was said to have taken place in September. The steamie video has since been circulated to several others in the college. The two first-year students, who reportedly did not know if and at what point they were being filmed, have since left the school. A second-year male student from the school, who declined to be named, told Yahoo! Singapore that he found out about the video last month. He said that it was not the first time the two girls involved were seen behaving intimately around the school grounds. Its not the first time the girls have engaged in such acts. It has happened on other occasions but unfortunately, this time the act was caught on video and it was leaked, he said. ACJC principal, Kelvyna Chan has declined to comment directly on the facts of the episode but disciplinary action has been taken on all those involved, including, stripping some of their positions in co-curricular activity groups.. She told ST, We would like to assure you that no one has been expelled from the school. From time to time, students are involved in actions which the school does not condone. With all matters pertaining to discipline, we include engagement with the parents and counseling for the students. The objective is always to learn from our mistakes, do better and be wiser. When asked whether ACJC helped the students secure places in another school, Mrs Chan declined to comment further. It is said that one of the girls has been admitted into another junior college and will resume her studies next year. The case comes hot on the heels of a similar episode in the US which led to an 18-year-old university student to commit suicide. Two weeks ago, Rutgers University student Tyler Clementi was secretly filmed by his room-mate having sex with another man in his dormitory room and when the online footage spread, Clementi jumped off a bridge to his death. The latest ACJC incident also shows how carefree the young are about the use of Internet. An ex-ACJC student who called herself Liying told Yahoo! that there is a need to educate the young on using the internet wisely. I think youths these days should be educated and informed, know where his or her boundaries lie, and the implications of uploading such content onto the Internet, said the 22-year-old. Psychologist Daniel Koh, of Insights Mind Centre, was also quoted on ST as saying that he found the ACJC case troubling because the encounter between the two girls happened at a public place and that fellow students secretly filmed the act.