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Review: 'Modern Warfare 2' marred by weak story By LOU KESTEN, Associated Press Writer – Tue Nov 10, 1:56 pm ET "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2," almost certain to be the year's best-selling video game, has also become its most notorious. That's because of a prerelease leak showing a terrorist raid on an airport — exactly the sort of thing that's guaranteed to rile up anti-violence watchdogs and generate free publicity. Now that I've played "Modern Warfare 2" (Activision, for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, $59.99), I can report that the airport massacre is absolutely essential to its story. The rationale behind your character's participation in the assault, however, is idiotic: You're really a good guy who has infiltrated the terrorist cell. So fire away. The remainder of "MW2" deals with the repercussions from the terrorist attack, which causes escalating global tensions to explode into all-out war. Tanks rumble through the Virginia suburbs, helicopters circle the Washington Monument and millions die — all because of an awesomely ill-conceived plan to get intel on a terrorist. I'm not giving anything away that you haven't already seen in Activision's TV ads. The sight of D.C. in flames is spectacular, and it's a terrific setting for virtual combat. "MW2" is filled with such mind-blowing set pieces, from the slums of Rio de Janeiro to the snowy mountains of Russia. It's in getting from one set piece to the next that developer Infinity Ward stumbles. The overarching story concerns a special forces team's efforts to bring down Vladimir Makarov, the terrorist mastermind who engineered the airport attack. But it's easy to lose sight of that goal when the White House is under siege. Granted, the plot isn't that much more ridiculous than a typical season of "24." In comparison with some other video games — say, "Metal Gear Solid 4" — the "MW2" script is almost elegant. And most players won't give much thought to the story, given the frenetic, headlong action. The controls are tight, giving you an intuitive feel for even the most exotic weapons. Combat varies nicely between levels: Sometimes you need to be sneaky, sometimes you need to be destructive, and sometimes you just need to run like hell. Occasionally it's difficult to figure out what your goal is, but such confusion isn't entirely out of place in the fog of combat. The solo campaign is short — about eight hours — and "Modern Warfare" veterans will race through it to get to the multiplayer offerings. The major innovation is a collection of 23 cooperative, two-player missions, which can be completed online or with a friend on the same couch. It also has a full complement of competitive modes, with enough new maps, weapons and gameplay tweaks to keep franchise fans fighting for months. If you're into online combat, "MW2" is a must-buy. I just wish Infinity Ward had taken the time to write a more coherent story for the single-player adventure. Three stars out of four. On the Net: "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2": http://modernwarfare2.infinityward.com

What are U waiting for ??? "Modern Warfare 2" blows away launch records AFP - Friday, November 13 SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - – "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2" blasted past 300 million dollars in sales on its opening day, the videogame's publisher said Thursday, blowing away even Hollywood films to become the highest-grossing entertainment launch ever. "MW2" sold 4.7 million copies and racked up 310 million dollars in sales in the United States and Britain alone when the eagerly anticipated title from Infinity Ward studio made its worldwide debut Tuesday, according to Activision. The videogame bested Batman superhero film "The Dark Knight," which holds the record for the top opening weekend ever by taking in 158.4 million dollars in July 2008. "The Call of Duty franchise has become a cultural phenomenon showing the power of videogames as an entertainment medium," said Activision chief executive Mike Griffith. "The shattering of these entertainment records is a testament to the compelling, cinematic and uniquely engaging experience that the 'Call of Duty' brand delivers." "MW2" is the sixth title in a "Call of Duty" franchise that has won a devoted following since the first version was released in 2003. Activision believes "MW2" will be such a hit that the California-based company will see record operating margins. Pre-orders for the 60-dollar videogame were the highest in the firm's history. "If you only buy a single game this Hanukkah or Christmas, this is the title to beat," said Scott Steinberg of videogame and gadget website Digital Trends. "It's designed to be as much of a breathlessly cinematic experience as simple run-n-gun outing." Multiplayer options allow people to share consoles linked to the Internet to play together as characters in the videogame as an alternative to going solo. Reviewers have praised "MW2" for its game play and vivid graphics. "Fire it up on a new LCD or plasma HDTV, and it's all but guaranteed to make the neighbors' jaws drop," Steinberg said. The game is rated for people aged 17 or older and "MW2" has stirred a bit of controversy for depicting realistically brutal terrorist encounters. Activision's Infinity Ward studio in California created the videogame, with versions tailored to Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's PlayStation 3, and personal computers. "Everyone on the team is laser focused on making the most gripping experience we've ever created," said Infinity Ward chief executive Vince Zampella. "No detail is too small and every finishing touch imaginable is underway to make 'Modern Warfare 2' our best ever." "MW2" picks up in the wake of its predecessor, which reportedly sold 12 million copies. Players join a global military task force taking on ultranationalist Russian terrorists to save the world. Settings include Russia, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, and Brazil. The "Call of Duty" franchise boasts overall sales of about 28 million units. The "MW2" launch in Britain saw tanks and soldiers descend on London's Leicester Square, the first game launch in the square normally home to red-carpet film premieres. US and British shops opened at midnight to sell the first-person shooter game. The console version of "Modern Warfare 2" costs around 54 pounds (90 dollars, 60 euros) in Britain, while the PC product retails for around 35 pounds. Analysts expect "MW2" to breathe new life into a videogame industry that has seen sales figures this year hobbled by dismal economic conditions and a dearth of hot releases. "Based on everything I'm hearing so far, it's nothing but good news for the industry," NPD Group analyst Anita Frazier told AFP. "The combined launch of MW2 and New Super Mario Bros. Wii should mean that November is a great month for the industry."

StarHub proposes discussion with SingTel on one common set—up box Channel NewsAsia - Friday, November 13 SINGAPORE: StarHub said on Thursday that "what could have been proposed three years ago has no relevance," in response to comments made by SingTel Singapore’s chief Allen Lew. At a results briefing on Wednesday, Mr Lew said the offer by StarHub to carry the SingTel Barclays Premier League on its network comes "three years too late". StarHub counter—argued that there were also a number of things in the telco space that the competitor could have done over the past ten years, which would have made the playing field more level. StarHub said a more fruitful discussion would be to focus on what can be done for consumers going forward, such as having the convenience of one set top box. StarHub said, going forward, it will support a universal set—top box solution that would be operator agnostic and connected to the new national broadband infrastructure. This is also aligned with consumers’ interest. The telco said the only reason why SingTel would not accept its proposal is that SingTel would like to have its set top box as the preferred box in homes. Meanwhile, StarHub said it approached SingTel formally on Wednesday, about its offer to carry SingTel’s British Premier League channel and ESS channels on the StarHub TV network. It said its proposal provides an option for consumers. CNA/sc StarHub submits single set—top box proposal to SingTel Channel NewsAsia - Thursday, November 12 SINGAPORE: There may be good news for football fans in Singapore who do not want to get an additional cable TV set—top box. StarHub sent in its proposal to SingTel on Wednesday to carry its mio TV sports content on StarHub’s cable network. StarHub said that if SingTel accepts its proposal, the single box solution can be ready for tests within two months of starting the technical work. If the proposal is accepted, football fans can pay SingTel for its sports content but watch the matches via a StarHub set—top box. SingTel won the bid to carry the English Premier League for three seasons, starting next year, on its SingTel mio TV after outbidding rival StarHub. CNA/sc

Sorry seems to be the last word... MOH alerts hospitals after two women given wrong dosage of cancer drugs Channel NewsAsia - Friday, November 13 SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Health has alerted all hospitals to take immediate measures to ensure safety in the use of infusion pumps when administering drugs. This follows a pharmaceutical error at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital — where two cancer patients are now under observation, with one potentially in grave danger. Mrs L K Ng, aged 51, and Mrs Yip Poh Hung, aged 44, were given chemotherapy drugs via an infusion pump — but settings on the pumps were inaccurate, despite two pharmacists checking to ensure accuracy before the infusion pumps were given to the women. The ministry said it will share the findings and risk reduction strategies with other hospitals after KK Hospital completes its detailed root cause analysis. If things go wrong, Mrs Yip Poh Hung’s organs could be damaged seriously. She is being given an antidote — Vistonuridine — specially flown in from the US. Although stable at the moment, she still needs to be observed carefully. She had consumed five days worth of cancer drugs in just five hours. The hospital said the antidote being given to the patient is safe to use, even though the drug has not been approved for general use in Singapore. The drug has not even been approved by the FDA in the US. But the hospital is citing a recent study to vouch for its safety. "They have tested this drug and out of the 17 patients, all actually recovered well. So that is why it is important to have this particular drug for our patient here," said Associate Professor Tan Kok Hian, director, Clinical Quality, KK Women’s & Children’s Hospital. The hospital said her chances of full recovery are "very high". Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority (HSA), which gave the last minute green light for the special use of the antidote in this instance, said: "Our regulatory framework has a system in place that allows HSA to consider special concession for clinicians to use unregistered medicinal products under exceptional medical circumstances, when there is no registered alternative available in Singapore. "This is to ensure that patients are not denied access to critical treatments in the case of unmet medical needs." The HSA added that there have been past approvals granted in life or death situations where no alternative is available in Singapore. Meanwhile, the pharmacists in question have been assigned "light duties", while they assist in investigations. Hospital officials said they have apologised to the patients and their families. The hospital is also waiving current medical fees for the next cycle of chemotherapy treatment. As for further compensation, the hospital said the issue has not surfaced. As a safeguard, the hospital has now decided to use only one type of infusion pump, so that the rate and calibration will be clearer and chances of error will be further diminished. "We have a variety of pumps — the default rate is set at one rate and another pump is set at another rate. So sometimes if you are using the different pumps you should know the default rate and to set it accordingly. Unfortunately, it is very rare, there was an error and it wasn’t recognised," said Prof Tan. "KK is also sorry about this incident and we take full responsibility for this error and we would also like to say sorry to the patients and their families who are involved," added Prof Tan. Some patients, the hospital said, were concerned about their own medication after learning about the incident. However, doctors said the patients’ fears were assuaged and they were informed that the chances of such errors are extremely rare. The hospital said investigations are ongoing. CNA/sc

Outrage at photo of Naked Woman in China prostitute bust AFP - Wednesday, November 4 BEIJING (AFP) - – A photo showing a plainclothes policeman pulling a naked woman by the hair during a prostitution bust in central China has caused outrage on the Internet, where it has been widely circulated. The photo was one of a series taken by local media covering a police raid on prostitution and gambling dens in Zhengzhou, capital of Henan province, said the official China Daily, which also published the controversial picture. "Police in the mainland grab a person's hair in the process of law enforcement, and forcefully take naked photos by violent means," one online user said Wednesday on popular web portal Chinaren. "This is a criminal offence -- much more serious than prostitution!" A video clip of the raid, also widely available online, shows the plainclothes policeman bash down a door in what appears to be an upscale massage parlour. "How many have you had tonight?" the policeman says to a naked woman sitting down on the floor -- an alleged prostitute -- as a client, also naked, crouches near her. The hair-pulling incident only appears in the still photo, not the video. A spokeswoman at the Zhengzhou police bureau, who refused to be named, told AFP an investigation into the case was ongoing, but refused to provide any further details. China has the world's largest online population of at least 338 million users, and as traditional media remains tightly controlled, the Internet has become a platform for ordinary people to vent their frustrations. In one well-known example, a 21-year-old waitress in central China walked free from a trial in June despite stabbing to death an official who demanded sex after the case sparked nationwide Internet outrage about government sleaze. A poll published on a news website affiliated with China's Supreme People's Procuratorate revealed that 57 percent opposed the publication of the latest picture because "prostitutes also have basic human rights". Another 35 percent also opposed the method but blamed the media, not the police, for publicising the pictures, according to the survey, which had attracted nearly 870 respondents Wednesday.

Bangkok's 'bodysnatchers' beat traffic to save lives AFP - Tuesday, November 10 BANGKOK (AFP) - – The car jumps another red light at breakneck speed as Paitoon Kaewkieu, one of Bangkok's so-called "bodysnatchers", dodges through the city's notorious traffic to the scene of yet another accident. The 28-year-old is a volunteer for the Ruamkatanyu Foundation, one of several private groups that help Bangkok's rudimentary ambulance services by either ferrying injured people to hospital or taking the dead for autopsy. "You learn through experience," grins Paitoon, who has no licence or training for emergency driving, as the speedometer hits a terrifying 160 kilometres an hour (100 miles per hour). This is how he and his girlfriend, who accompanies him in the car, spend every other evening until about 3.00am, after finishing their day jobs. "I just like the feeling I'm helping people -- and I also enjoy the adrenaline rush," adds Paitoon. Groups like Ruamkatanyu say they are financed entirely by donations, with many people in predominantly Buddhist Thailand believing that giving money to rescue services will bring them good karma. The volunteers do the work in their free time. They have received a basic, two-day medical training course but it is down to them to buy their green uniforms, walkie-talkies and flashing lights for their cars. For people like Noppadol Srithongkham, who is a paid supervisor to the volunteers at the Ruamkatanyu Foundation, the job has become something of an macabre obsession. "You can see this one's skin had already turned green," Noppadol says as he flicks through a stack of photographs showing some of the thousands of dead bodies he has picked up during his time. "Working with corpses is easy for me," he says. "I don't think it's strange. It's my job and I do it the best I can." Some pictures show suicides. Others are of murder victims, with blood pouring from gunshot wounds to the face. But most are of people who perished in accidents on the city's streets. "A passing motorcyclist was staring at one accident, he turned and didn't realise that the pick-up truck in front was braking and crashed right into it. He was killed outright," Noppadol says. "I told the autopsy doctor, 'Doctor, Doctor! Don't go anywhere; there's another case on the other side of the road,'" he chuckles to himself. "What are Thai people like?" But there's also a darker side to the service that has contributed to the unflattering nickname given to the volunteers. With rival hospitals competing for trade, one volunteer says it's possible to pick up backhanders. "We can get between 500 and 1,000 Baht (14 and 28 dollars) from the hospitals for each injured person," Sagachai Supakrerakoon says. "It depends on the case. Hospitals pay different amounts." Stories of volunteers from the two main rival foundations fighting over the injured to get their cut used to be common. But then Thai authorities stepped in to end the sometimes literal tug-of-war over bodies. They divided the city into two: one night Ruamkatanyu covers the north while its rival Poh Teck Tung covers the south. The next night they swap over, allowing both organisations the chance to cover the city's hotspots. The volunteers like Paitoon and Noppadol wait on threadbare mats in a deserted car park off one of Bangkok's main highways. "There go our customers," remarks one volunteer drily as a green traffic light unleashes a swarm of motorbikes. Soon, the call they've been waiting for comes over the radio: an accident nearby with dead and injured. Everyone leaps to their feet, runs to their cars and they're away, tailgating the foundation's official ambulances. Paitoon and his girlfriend jump out of the car at the scene of the accident. A crumpled car blocks the road and a smashed taxi has spun off into a ditch -- but this time they're too late. "No one was seriously hurt and there were no dead like we heard on the radio," he says. "There were only minor injuries -- and another volunteer team took two people to hospital."

Wellness Village spa closure: Who’ll foot those credit card bills now? Channel NewsAsia - Thursday, November 12 SINGAPORE: Who foots the bill for credit card payments — the bank or cardholders — when a service provider makes a sudden disappearance? The question is being asked after the shutdown of spa operator Wellness Village, which was reported in TODAY on Tuesday. One customer was told by a former employee that the spa was still selling packages, some as costly as $10,000, up to the weekend before it closed down. The four—year—old spa is also believed to have up to 7,000 customers and they are wondering about their credit card liability. "I’m still paying off my instalment plan I paid with my credit card," said a customer who only wanted to be identified as Ms Tan. "Now that this has happened, will the bank take some liability?" When contacted, the Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS) said the credit—issuing bank has already paid for the customers’ purchases and the amount needs to be settled. ABS said customers should take their grievances to the spa owner. Credit card holders can choose to pay in full or by instalments at some establishments. "Regardless, the bank has a contractual obligation to pay the merchant in full once the charge slip is signed," UOB regional and Singapore head for cards and payment products Gan Ai Im also told MediaCorp. "The card member, on the other hand, is obliged to make full settlement of all charges incurred on the card to the bank." Wellness Village customers can call their card—issuing banks, however, to investigate or dispute the charges. Said Citi Singapore vice—president of corporate affairs Caren Lee: "We understand the concerns of the customers and empathise with them in this situation." "To support the investigation, the customer will need to provide supporting documents, including the purchase agreement with the merchant." Consumers Association of Singapore executive director Seah Seng Choon said it has received 138 complaints from former customers since the spa’s closure made headlines. He said the "first thing the consumer needs to do is to file a claim against the business at the Small Claims Tribunal" to obtain an order demanding the business pays whatever amount is awarded. This applies to firms that are still "live", such as Wellness Village, as indicated by checks with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority. If the amount is not settled, the consumer can make a writ of seizure or other legal action, said Mr Seah. But that could cost more than the amount some customers would forfeit. Lawyer Doris Chia from David Lim & Partners pointed to another alternative: For customers to "band together" and wind up the company. An official receiver will then look into the accounts and affairs of the company to see if money can be clawed back. Consumers can also file a police complaint. "If directors of the company continued to trade or accept more payments for packages even though they know there was no chance the company will be able to honour the packages, this ... may render the directors personally liable," said Ms Chia. TODAY/so

WAH !!!...got PANDA to see lo China's Hu arrives in Singapore with panda offer Reuters - Thursday, November 12 SINGAPORE, Nov 11 - China will give Singapore two giant pandas to mark 20 years of friendly ties between the two countries, Chinese President Hu Jintao said on Wednesday. Hu arrived in Singapore on Wednesday for an annual summit of Asia-Pacific leaders, after visiting Malaysia where he made the first official visit of a Chinese leader in 15 years and signed several agreements on trade and investment. After reviewing an honour guard upon arrival, Hu met Singapore President S.R. Nathan and the city-state's founding father, Minister Mentor Lee Kwan Yew. Lee recently caused a ruffle among Chinese netizens when he called for the United States to remain engaged in Asia as a balance to China. The gift of pandas, a popular attraction at zoos around the world, is often used by China as a diplomatic tool. China earlier this year gave two pandas -- Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan, whose names said together mean reunification -- to Taiwan, which it regards as a renegade province, as a sign of warming relations. The pandas, a male and a female, will arrive in the second half of 2011 and be housed at Singapore's new River Safari, according to Wildlife Reserves Singapore, the country's zoo operator. China to loan two pandas to Singapore for 10—year period Channel NewsAsia - Thursday, November 12 SINGAPORE : China will also be loaning two baby pandas to Singapore for a 10—year period, as part of a collaboration between the China Wildlife Conservation Association and Wildlife Reserves Singapore to mark the 20th anniversary of Sino—Singapore relations. According to Wildlife Reserves, Singapore will be the 7th country to get these animals on loan — after the US, Japan, Austria, Australia, Spain and Thailand. There are only 1,600 pandas in the world, of which 268 are in captivity, with only 30 of these outside China. But Singaporeans won’t get to see these bears soon. They will arrive in the second half of 2011, but they will have to be quarantined for a month, and there will be a further 5 months of acclimatisation. The baby pandas will be housed in the zoo’s new attraction, the River Safari, and visitors will probably get their first glimpse of them in the first quarter of 2012. The pandas will be located in a special area to be constructed — a 1,600 sq—metre climate—controlled enclosure that is fully air—conditioned with temperature set between 18 and 22 degrees Celsius and humidity controlled at 50—60 per cent all year round. Ambient conditions will be adjusted to simulate the 4 seasons similar to their natural habitat. Since the pandas’ diet consists mainly of bamboo — they consume some 20 kg a day — the zoo will be planting 8,000 sq metres of bamboo plantation to cater for this. Property firm CapitaLand will be adopting the pandas with what it called a significant donation over the 10—year period. This is not the first time Singaporeans will see pandas here. The city—state had a pair on loan for 100 days in 1990. CNA /ls

A Brief History of Lethal Injection By KATE PICKERT Kate Pickert – Tue Nov 10, 9:50 am ET The state of Virginia is scheduled to execute John Allen Muhammad via lethal injection on Nov. 10. Muhammad, known as the "DC sniper," was sentenced to death for the murder of Dean Harold Meyers, one of 10 victims gunned down during a three-week rampage around the capital in 2002. If executed, Muhammad will be the highest-profile inmate to die by lethal injection since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in April 2008 that the state of Kentucky was not violating a statute prohibiting "cruel and unusual punishment" by executing prisoners using the controversial method. The ruling effectively allowed (See the top 10 crime stories of 2008.) The first proposal for injected drugs as a form of capital punishment came in the late 19th century, when a New York commission on capital punishment included the suggestion that it might prove a more humane death than hanging. According to Robert M. Bohm, a professor at the University of Central Florida who has written extensively on capital punishment, the proposal was rejected over concerns it would lead the public to associate the hypodermic needle - only recently introduced as an important medical tool - with death. During World War II, lethal injection was part of the Nazis' chilling arsenal of methods for disposing of sick, weak and disabled prisoners, along with the gas chamber and firing squad. After the war, death by lethal injection faded again from view; it was proposed in the U.K. in the 1950s, but rejected by the Royal Commission on Capital Punishment due to objections from the medical community. Then, in 1977, an Oklahoma medical examiner named Jay Chapman proposed that death row inmates be executed using three drugs administered in a specific sequence: a barbiturate (to anesthetize inmates), pancuronium bromide (to paralyze inmates and stop their breathing), and lastly potassium chloride (which stops the heart). A simpler, barbiturate-only procedure was rejected on the grounds that the public would not support a killing method for humans modeled after that used for animals, according to Ty Alper, a lawyer who represents death row inmates and is associate director of the Death Penalty Clinic at the University of California at Berkeley School of Law. Despite the fact that Chapman had scant experience with pharmacology - his expertise was in forensic pathology - the proposal was well received. Lethal injection gave executioners another option besides electrocution, which could set inmates on fire and cause extreme pain; in addition, prisoners who were paralyzed would not writhe around or cry out as they died, which made watching executions easier for witnesses. Chapman's proposal was approved by the Oklahoma state legislature the same year and quickly adopted by other states. Texas was the first to use the procedure in 1982, executing 40 year-old Charles Brooks for murdering Fort Worth mechanic David Gregory. In the years since, lethal injection has become the standard method in the U.S., although other types of executions could still be carried out in some states. Prisoners in some jurisdictions can choose their method of execution, and the vast majority opt for lethal injection. In all, 936 out of the 1,107 U.S. prisoners executed since 1977 have died by the method, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. Just five U.S. inmates have been executed any other way since 2000 - all by the electric chair - although other options are still on the books in some states, including the firing squad in Utah, hanging in Washington and the gas chamber in Arizona. All told, two U.S. prisoners have died by firing squad since 1977, three by hanging and 11 by the gas chamber. The basic method for killing someone by lethal injection in the U.S. is fairly consistent. The inmate is strapped to a gurney, covered with a sheet, and intravenous lines are connected to both arms. After last rites and an opportunity for any final words, the drugs are typically administered by a prison employee or medical professional either in another room or behind a curtain. (The ethical implications for medical professionals participating in executions are a matter of much debate: most of the country's leading medical organizations, including the American Medical Association, American Nurses Association and American Society of Anesthesiologists oppose their members' involvement.) After a cardiac monitor indicates an inmate's heart has definitively stopped, the inmate is declared dead. Outside the U.S., according to Amnesty International, lethal injection executions have been carried out in China, Thailand, Guatemala, and the Philippines, although the latter two countries recently outlawed capital punishment. (Taiwan technically permits lethal injection executions, but has never killed anyone with this method.) China, which executes more people than any other nation by far, is phasing out death by gunshot in favor of lethal injection; the government provides mobile execution vans that travel to smaller cities and towns without permanent death chambers. While that morbid procession wouldn't fly in Virginia, the state clearly considers lethal injection the most humane option. When prisoners - like Muhammad - decline to specify whether they want to be executed by electrocution or lethal injection, Virginia gives them the latter by default.

Thomas Ong was forced to marry a Turkish woman while filming Diminishing Horizons Xin.sg - Wednesday, November 11 As a newbie travel host, local artiste, Thomas Ong had much to learn from the filming of his upcoming travel programme, Diminishing Horizons. Apart from making long treks to faraway places, the host even committed a few errors due to the differences in cultures. The camera crew's first encounter was when they visited the Beehive houses in Harran, Turkey. After the actor drank a cup of water delivered by a 17-year-old Turkish beauty, he unwittingly sealed a marriage agreement with the lady. If Thomas were to back out of the marriage agreement, he had to pay her a token of 50 camels as alimony. "He [The girl's father] said that I had to exchange my freedom for 50 camels. That was considered as the alimony and divorce fees." The 17-year-old's father eventually decided to let Thomas off the hook after he understood that the actor was filming a programme. Apart from his brief encounter with his "prospective" bride, the filming crew bumped into a motorcycle driven by a father with two children sitting on it in Mali, West Africa. They did not wear any safety helmets and were sent to the hospital to treatment for their injuries. The entourage's tour guide informed them that the Western African government originally made it compulsory for all motorists to wear helmets. However, their legislations were met with protests from the country's females as they explained that they had to use their tresses to attract the men and their husbands. The government decided to heed the people's words and allowed them to ride without their safety helmets. Thomas was perplexed at the women's fixation and love for their long hair, "In itself, life is so precious, and they actually feel that their hair is more precious!" Traipsing from one corner of the world to another, Thomas shared, "Their toilets are a hole - how do you use it? Their water is yellow and normally the water I use to wash my face is even cleaner than that. Do I use their yellow water to wash my face? Before using it I struggled a little. This makes me feel very fortunate. After I returned, I won't waste water, I am more appreciative now." Produced by WAWA Pictures, Diminishing Horizons will be broadcasted on Ch U every Wedesday starting from Nov 11 at 8pm onwards.

Joe Jackson launches bid for share of son's estate Sunday November 08, 2009 12:31 AM Michael Jackson's father Joseph has launched a court bid for a share of the King of Pop's estate. Jackson Sr. enjoyed a fraught relationship with the superstar during his lifetime and was excluded from his will, following Michael's death in June. Five months on, the patriarch has mounted a legal challenge, and filed papers in Los Angeles County Court claiming there's "no justification" for his exclusion and that he is "entitled to his own independent family allowance". Joseph wants a judge to grant him help covering his £9,640 monthly expenses. He has recruited business manager Leonard Rowe, who claims to have been a consultant for Michael, to help his cause. In the legal papers Rowe alleges Michael gave his parents a £37,500 monthly allowance, which they split. Joseph claims the estate can afford to help him out, because it has "earned more than £62.5 million dollars in the first seven weeks following Michael Jackson's death" and is "well able to afford a family allowance for Joe Jackson." Ironically, Rowe is suing the Jackson estate for flights and business meetings he set up while working as the King of Pop's advisor earlier this year.

Beijing Games CONDOMS to hit China auction block 10 hours 47 mins ago A Chinese collector of Olympic memorabilia will put some of his mementos on the auction block later this month, including a batch of 5,000 condoms given to competitors at the 2008 Beijing Games. The items -- labelled with the Olympic movement's "faster, higher, stronger" motto -- are left-overs from the 100,000 condoms distributed for free to athletes at the Beijing Olympic Village, the state China Daily said Thursday. The entire lot of 5,000 must be purchased by one buyer at the "Exceptional Auction of China Sport Collection" on November 29, with the bidding to begin at 5,000 yuan (730 dollars), or one yuan per condom. "Although anyone married should be interested for their practical use, some people will be too shy to bid for the condoms," the paper quoted auctioneer Guo Lei as saying. Other items up for sale include a torch autographed by Brazilian football legend Pele and a medicine case from the 1936 Games.

AH BENG...has a no of decent-sized SOLAR WRASSEYS hot studs to light up ya LIFE ! Also saw several minature 1-2 inch cute sizes of FROGGIES of different colors & patterns.

S’pore workers can expect 3% salary rise next year: survey Channel NewsAsia - Thursday, November 5 SINGAPORE: Employees in Singapore can expect salary increases of three per cent next year. That’s up from this year’s two per cent, said outplacement firm, ECA International. Its latest Salary Trends Survey said within the region, salary increases remain highest in China, India, Indonesia and Vietnam. Pay increases will be lowest in Japan. ECA International’s Regional Director for Asia, Lee Quane, said Singapore’s forecast increase, like Hong Kong and Taiwan’s, are lower than the regional average. This is due to the fact that these are developed economies with low inflation rates. The survey found that salary increases within the region are predicted to average at five per cent in 2010, almost twice as high as this year. Mr Quane said these forecasts are an indicator that companies operating within the region are much more confident about economic conditions than a year ago. They suggest that many employers are actively making up for the fact that employees typically experienced little or no salary increase this year. — 938LIVE/vm

Malaysia prince wins defamation suit against wife By SEAN YOONG, Associated Press Writer - Thursday, November 5 KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – A Malaysian prince won a defamation suit Thursday against his teenage wife who accused him of sexual and physical abuse after she fled back home to Indonesia. The High Court ruled in favor of Tengku Fakhry Ismail Petra, a prince in Malaysia's northern Kelantan state, because his wife had no lawyers to represent her, said the prince's lawyer, Mohamad Haaziq Pillay. The prince had sought 105 million ringgit ($30 million) from Manohara Odelia Pinot and her mother for making false allegations against him, but the court would decide later how much they should pay him, Mohamad Haaziq said. The prince's lawyer said they would look into what legal measures can be taken later to obtain payment from Pinot. However, he stressed that Tengku Fakhry was more concerned about simply clearing his name. "My client feels vindicated," Mohamad Haaziq told The Associated Press. "They made him look like a monster, they tarnished his reputation internationally, but it has all been lies. This was their opportunity to come back to prove their case against him, but they failed to do so." Pinot's lawyer in Jakarta could not immediately be reached for comment. Malaysian lawyers hired by Pinot in the defamation case quit in September, saying she had not cooperated with them, gave them no clear instructions and refused to return to Malaysia for discussions. The High Court then said it would automatically rule in favor of the prince if Pinot failed to appoint new lawyers. Pinot, a well-known socialite in neighboring Indonesia, married the prince last year after she turned 16. She left him in what she claimed was a dramatic escape from a hotel in May while accompanying the royal family on a trip to Singapore. She and her mother subsequently told the media that Fakhry, 31, had held her captive and treated her as a sex slave. She also made graphic allegations of physical torture during their marriage. Tengku Fakhry filed a demand in the Islamic Shariah Court in July calling on Pinot to return to him and fulfill her responsibilities as his wife. The court is expected to hear the case within weeks, and Tengku Fakhry's lawyer indicated he would launch divorce proceedings if Pinot refuses his demand. Associated Press Writer Irwan Firdaus in Jakarta contributed to this report.

WOW !...nice sleek AT

MALES sure have...all depends on which GEAR U use, ie. SPORT mode or CRUISE mode.

No WONDER ya 'GIGGLE$' can be heard miles away from the Great Ocean Road !

Ferguson says real United will show up at Chelsea Reuters - 2 hours 23 minutes ago By Martyn Herman LONDON - Manchester United sit just two points behind Chelsea in the table but as they prepare to visit Stamford Bridge on Sunday there is a sense that something is not quite right with the Premier League champions. Last month's 2-0 defeat at Liverpool was a sobering experience for Alex Ferguson and was concrete proof the loss of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid and Carlos Tevez to Manchester City has severely diminished his team as an attacking force. There are also worries at the back with Rio Ferdinand clearly off the pace as he struggles with a back injury and Nemanja Vidic, who was sent off against Liverpool, jittery. While defeat at Stamford Bridge would not be catastrophic, Ferguson knows that a repeat of the Anfield debacle at Chelsea could put Carlo Ancelotti's team in the driving seat in the title race as winter looms. "It's always a hard game at Chelsea, but we'll deal with it better than we did at Anfield, I'm sure of that," Ferguson told Inside United magazine on Wednesday. "They're shaping up to be the main challengers. It seems they'll be the ones to get in front of." United lacked fluency in their last Premier League game, a 2-0 home win against Blackburn Rovers, while against CSKA Moscow in the Champions League at Old Trafford on Tuesday their defence, minus Ferdinand and Vidic, was a shambles. Two goals in the last five minutes inspired by substitute Wayne Rooney earned United a 3-3 draw to secure their place in the knockout round but it was a performance that offered plenty of encouragement to Chelsea. Ancelotti's favoured midfield diamond is beginning to shine, giving the Blues both security at the back and potency up front where Didier Drogba looks back to his best after two goals in the 2-2 draw at Atletico Madrid on his return from a UEFA ban. "Their consistency, compared to last season, has probably been a bit better under Ancelotti," Ferguson said. "He's brought in the system he used at AC Milan of the diamond in the middle of the pitch. It's hard to break down when you get into their third, because they've got bodies compacted into the central area of the pitch. "Ancelotti's got the two strikers, and that is a major change compared to Scolari and Ranieri." While United struggle to fire on all cylinders, Drogba said Chelsea have a great chance to put some early distance between themselves and their biggest rivals. "It's really important for us to beat United at home," Drogba said. "The match against Atletico was far from a good performance -- I think we were thinking about Sunday's game." United could well be without Ferdinand against Chelsea while Gary Neville is suspended but Vidic and Ryan Giggs, both of whom missed the CSKA game are likely to return. Fast-improving Arsenal can creep above United on Saturday if they win at Wolverhampton Wanderers. Fourth-placed Manchester City take on Burnley hoping to end a sequence of four consecutive league draws while Liverpool, who conceded a late equaliser in their disappointing 1-1 Champions League draw at Olympique Lyon, try to revive their flagging season at home to Birmingham City on Monday. Fletcher sets sights on psychological edge over Chelsea AFP - Thursday, November 5 MANCHESTER (AFP) - – Darren Fletcher believes Manchester United can claim an important psychological edge over Chelsea with a win in Sunday's showdown between the Premier League's top two. But the Scotland midfielder, who returned to action in Tuesday's 3-3 draw with CSKA Moscow after a month out with an ankle injury, insists the title race will remain wide open, regardless of the outcome at Stamford Bridge, where United have not won in seven years. "Sunday is a massive game. Games against Chelsea always are," Fletcher said. "It is not going to be make-or-break who wins the league by any means, although it is an important benchmark. "Maybe psychologically it might have an effect. But Chelsea are a top-class side and we will respect them." Fletcher will expect to start at Chelsea given the importance the United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, attaches to his defensive qualities, which were badly missed as United went down to a 2-0 defeat at Liverpool last month. Even once-sceptical fans have come to recognise what Fletcher brings to the United mix although he insists he is not getting carried away with his growing reputation as a player for the big occasion. "I take the compliments with a pinch of salt," he said. "I enjoy these matches as much as anyone and I put pressure on myself to perform more than anyone does. "The challenge of playing against the top-class players that Chelsea have is one I look forward to and I will be doing my best to win the match. But I am not going to make-or-break games like this." Fletcher admitted that his latest lay-off had taken its toll on his match sharpness. "It is nice to get back into the team and get 90 minutes under my belt because I have not played for a while," he said. "I felt fine, which was the most important thing, although I was not 100 percent with my touch and awareness on the pitch. But the game will help and, if selected, I should feel the benefit on Sunday." United left-back Patrice Evra meanwhile is determined to steer clear of controversy as he seeks to claim bragging rights over Chelsea strike duo, Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba, two of his best friends in football. Evra was banned for four matches after a post-match altercation with a Chelsea groundsman in April 2008 and still feels that he was treated harshly over an incident he insists he did not provoke. "It is unfortunate that when I play against Chelsea, something always seems to happen," the France defender said. "First it was the ground-staff, then last year I had a bit of an argument with Michael Ballack. This year I have to make sure nothing happens because we need to get a result." Evra regards Chelsea as the main threat to United's hopes of claiming a fourth consecutive Premier League title, particularly now that Drogba and Anelka are proving they can play together. "I am not scared of them but I respect them and they are the most dangerous rivals," he said. "I said it last year and the year before and I think it this season as well. "Both Drogba and Anelka are good friends of mine. And I know they are both great players. "All the defenders need to focus because keeping a clean sheet will be the key to winning this game. "We need to be strong because Drogba and Anelka are two big strikers. They are both so quick and strong, although I do feel we have enough quality to do our jobs." Tuesday's Champions League clash, in which United had to recover from a 3-1 deficit to claim a draw with a stoppage-time equalisier, underlined the defensive shakiness that has characterised the champions' performances this season, and Evra admits an improvement is required. "If you concede three goals at home, you can hardly say it has been a good performance from the defenders," he reflected. "We did well to come back, as we did against Manchester City. But we need to make sure we don't concede three goals on Sunday because then it won't be easy to get back."

LINEATUS shipment comes quite frequent...& unless moi naughty fertile pair can produce some virile offsprings from their ever flamboyant mating rituals...I hope I could pass some invincible frys to U mate.

WOW !...are U a forensic scientist ? How long have U keep the LINEATUS mate ?

Eh...wat happen to ya LINEATUS ?

Mixed emotions for Sir Alex 03/11/2009 23:09, Report by Gemma Thompson Sir Alex Ferguson felt contrasting emotions after United's dramatic draw with CSKA Moscow which booked the Reds a spot in last 16 of the Champions League. United came from 3-1 down to rescue a point thanks to a Paul Scholes header and an injury-time own goal from Georgi Schennikov. While delighted with his team's powers of recovery, he was less impressed by the Reds' defensive play. "We were absolutely fantastic in terms of our desire to win the match and were unlucky at times in the game," he told MUTV. "Their goalkeeper made some fantastic saves, we hit the post and missed a lot of other chances. And we also had a stonewall penalty turned down. "But we didn't make it easy for ourselves and it became an uphill fight. That's maybe not a bad thing though because it's a reminder that when you leave yourself open in European football it can be very dangerous. "Their first two goals were soft goals to lose and the third was unbelievable - a free header at the back post on a set-piece. That's the first goal we've lost on a set-piece for a year; it's a good reminder for us about how we need to defend those situations, especially as we'll face a lot of set-pieces on Sunday at Chelsea." It wasn't just United's defensive play which irked the manager, it was referee Olegario Benquerenca's staggering decision to book Darren Fletcher for diving when the Scot had clearly been tripped by Aleksei Berezutski in the area in the second half. "I can't believe the decision. It's one of the worst I've seen in my lifetime," admitted a bemused Sir Alex. "And there's not a thing we can do about it unfortunately. "You can maybe understand it [the fact you can't appeal yellow cards] in domestic football because it would clog up the system if everyone appealed bookings. But the situation in Europe is different - three bookings could mean you end up missing a Champions League final for example, just as Darren did last season when he was very unfortunate yet again. And the booking tonight could lead to him missing a really important game this season. "It's something that UEFA should look at and the referee should be open about it. He's made a bad mistake - we all make mistakes in games and he should be big enough to say he's made a mistake and forget the booking." Wes: Let's keep it tight 03/11/2009 23:42, Report by Gemma Thompson Wes Brown admits United will need to make a dramatic improvement defensively for Sunday's trip to Chelsea after being caught out three times at the back by CSKA Moscow. Both Alan Dzagoev and Milos Krasic were given time and space to manoeuvre their way towards United's goal for the Russians' opening two strikes, while Vasili Berezutski was afforded a free header from a set-piece for their third. "We've definitely got to play better at Stamford Bridge and keep it tight at the back," admitted Brown in an interview with MUTV. "Some people thought it would be an easy game for us at home, but CSKA proved what a good side they are. "It was very frustrating to go 3-1 down. We didn't play particularly well in the first half - they kept the ball well, scored early and generally made things hard for us. But in the second half we managed to put some pressure on them, the crowd got behind us and we were lucky to get the draw. "Qualification was the most important thing. It would have been nice to get the win, but now we've qualified we can concentrate on the league." The Reds will indeed now spend the next few days fine-tuning their game plan for what Brown believes will United's "toughest match of the season so far" at Stamford Bridge. "Chelsea are playing very well at the moment," declared the defender. "They're a strong side, well organised and they're scoring a lot of goals. We're going to have to go there and play really well if we're to come away with any points."

Mafia 'godmother' jailed in China AFP - Wednesday, November 4 BEIJING (AFP) - – A court in China Tuesday sentenced the "godmother" of an organised crime gang to 18 years in jail after a sensational trial which gripped the nation with lurid tales of sex and corruption. The ruling by a municipal court in Chongqing was the latest in a series of trials stemming from a huge crackdown on the underworld in the southwestern city of more than 30 million. "Godmother" Xie Caiping, 46, allegedly ran 20 illegal gambling dens in hotels, nightclubs and tea houses, was involved in illegal drug activity, and bribed police to turn a blind eye to her crimes, earlier press reports said. Xie, who reportedly drove a Mercedes-Benz, owned several luxury villas and kept a stable of 16 young men to provide her with sexual services. Xie is the sister-in-law of the former head of Chongqing's judiciary, Wen Qiang, who is at the centre of the crackdown. She was also fined 1.02 million yuan (150,000 dollars), said the verdict, posted on the court's website. Twenty-one other suspects were sentenced along with Xie to jail terms ranging from one to 13 years, the court said. Luo Xuan, 29, who reportedly was Xie's lover, was sentenced to four-and-a-half-years in jail for his role in the syndicate, it said. The former vice director of a Chongqing public security precinct, Guo Sheng, and policeman Gan Yong were sentenced to 13 and 12 years in prison respectively for accepting bribes and offering Xie protection, it added. Last month, courts sentenced six people to death in the Chongqing organised crime trials. Xie's brother-in-law, Wen, served as a top Chongqing police official for 16 years before taking over the city's judiciary. He is the highest-ranking official ensnared in the crackdown that has led to the arrest of more than 1,500 suspects. Wen is accused of protecting an intricate web of businessmen, officials and mobsters. China sentences notorious gang 'godmother' By TINI TRAN, Associated Press Writer - Wednesday, November 4 BEIJING – Dubbed the "godmother" of the Chinese underworld, she was notorious for her toughness and a lavish lifestyle that reportedly included luxury villas and a stable of 16 young lovers. Her criminal reign ended Tuesday when Xie Caiping, 46, was sentenced to 18 years in prison for running illegal casinos and bribing government officials. Her trial was one of a series of gang prosecutions in the southwestern city of Chongqing that have featured lurid testimony about sex, corruption and the violent underworld. Xie is the only female gang boss to be tried as part of a monthslong crackdown on local gangs, known as "black societies," in the sprawling southwestern megacity of 30 million. The trials have exposed the tangled web of links between government officials and police officers who sought to provide cover for the crime syndicates. Besides her luxury homes, Xie reportedly enjoyed her own Mercedes-Benz and "retained 16 young men for personal entertainment," local media reported. On Tuesday, her driver Luo Xuan, 29, who was also her lover, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in jail for his role. Wearing an inmate-assigned vest of bright orange, the short-haired and plain-faced Xie was grim and emotionless as she was led out of the No. 5 Intermediate People's Court after the sentencing. Xie had been protected for years because she was the sister-in-law of the city's long-serving deputy police chief, Wen Qiang, who was detained for investigation by the ruling Communist Party in August. Wen, who is regarded as being at the heart of an extensive network of protection of local gangs for over a decade, will go on trial later in the month. Xie once absconded with a suitcase full of money after being tipped off by Wen before a police raid on one of her gambling dens, according to a local newspaper. Last year, she hired gang members to beat an undercover police officer unconscious, put him in a bag and dump him in the countryside. During the trial, Xie's profanity-laced testimony drew a rebuke from the judge. Victims who had been terrorized by the gangs waited patiently for Tuesday's sentencing. Xie was convicted of "organizing and leading a criminal organization, running gambling dens, illegal imprisonment, harboring people taking illegal narcotics and giving bribes to officials," the official Xinhua News Agency reported. She was also fined 1.02 million yuan (about $150,000). Chen Yanling, a Chongqing resident who says she was beaten by thugs after refusing a corrupt policeman's request to turn her teahouse into a casino, said she and other victims waited outside the court for the verdict. But they were angered by Xie's sentencing, with some people refusing to leave until police escorted them away. "We didn't believe our ears when we first heard it's just 18 years. How many crimes has she committed?" Chen said. The crackdown in Chongqing has netted some 1,500 suspects _ gangsters, prominent businessmen and 14 high-ranking officials. Six gang members in the city have already been sentenced to death for crimes including murder and blackmail. On Tuesday, 20 others, including officials who offered protection to gang members, were sentenced to between one and 13 years in prison, according to a notice on the Chongqing court Web site. The court notice said Xie's gang "severely broke the normal order of society," and illegally detained others and allowed loan sharking at the casinos. The casino took a cut of the profits won by gamblers, the notice said. It said casino bosses hired stand-ins to take the blame when there was a crackdown and paid bribes to judicial officials. Since September 2004, it said, Xie's gang had made 2 million yuan ($293,000) in illegal earnings by running more than 10 gambling dens.