THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT !!!

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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).

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Premier League - Liverpool ownership deal rumbles on

Thu, 14 Oct 18:15:00 2010

Liverpool's ownership battle rumbled on as the High Court ruled against Tom Hicks and George Gillett, only for the American pair to demand the club's chairman be jailed for contempt of court.

A High Court ruling on Wednesday had set up Liverpool to be sold for £300 million to New England Sports Ventures, before Gillett and Hicks obtained a temporary block in a Texas district court.

In response, lawyers for chief creditor Royal Bank of Scotland went back before the judge in London and he granted an injunction to restrain the Dallas court ruling, saying the case had no connection to Texas.

Undaunted, Hicks and Gillett returned to the Dallas court, filing for contempt and demanded that chairman Martin Broughton and other defendants be filed and jailed.

That case was adjourned and will resume on Friday - three hours before the High Court's deadline for the American duo to comply with their ruling.

Amid the trans-Atlantic legal wrangling, rival Singaporean bidder Peter Lim announced he was pulling out of his £320m offer.

The latest, and most extraordinary, day in the saga of which American businessmen own a football club in the north west of England began with lawyers for RBS - who are attempting to secure the repayment of £240m in loans - returning to the High Court.

In front of the same Judge, Mr Justice Floyd, who ruled in their favour on Wednesday, they sought an injunction to stop the club's American owners continuing with their US legal action.

"It is an abuse of process, unconscionable and an affront to justice... a plain attempt to frustrate and impede the proceedings," the Press Association reported Richard Snowden QC, for the bank, as saying.

"Plainly it is a bid to frustrate this court in the exercise of its jurisdiction."

Snowden added that Hicks and Gillett's claim that they were victims of an "epic swindle" and "grand conspiracy" over the club's sale were "wild and scurrilous" assertions with no evidence to support them.

The Judge found in the bank's favour, saying that his ruling was not aimed at the Dallas court but at Hicks and Gillett and gave the duo until Friday to comply with his orders.

"The owners' behaviour conclusively demonstrates just how incorrigible they are," he said. "They are absolutely determined to stop this transaction in its tracks and they have no lawful justification for behaving in this way."

While all this was happening Lim, frustrated and angry that his bid had been ignored, withdrew his £320m offer.

"It has become clear to me that the board is intent on selling the club to NESV to the exclusion of all other parties, regardless of the merits of their bids," the Singapore businessman said in a statement.

If RBS and the Liverpool board thought that their High Court victory and the strong words of the judge would force Hicks and Gillett to cave in, they soon found otherwise as the duo, who on Wednesday claimed overt £1 billion in damages, immediately filed a motion for contempt."

The motion asked for the "incarceration of defendants until they cure themselves of contempt and fine the defendants for their actions" and requested a daily fine of $50,000 be imposed until the contempt of court was ended.

The case was adjourned and will reconvene on Friday, just as Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson holds his regular news conference to preview the weekend's match.

On Sunday Liverpool face city rivals Everton but for once the cherished derby will be relegated to "any other business" on an agenda dominated by the billionaires' battle for ownership.

Reuters

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Tom and George's Epic Fail

Thu Oct 14 08:40AM

After seeing the Montenegrin media whoop and holler in the Wembley press box on Tuesday night, it's nice to know that international football is still fun for some people.

But Early Doors for one can't wait until the Premier League action resumes this weekend.

Not because the latest round of domestic fixtures brings with it Bolton v Stoke - although that is one fixture Danny Murphy will no doubt follow with interest - but because by 3pm on Saturday the issue of Liverpool ownership should be resolved.

No more cosy fireside chats with Uncle Tom or watching George flash the Benjamins like he's 50 Cent. No more shambolic fan protests or star-studded, worthy YouTube rants. And definitely no more tiresome legal wranglings. Right?

Ah, well, about that... it seems that the Yank version of The Krankies are determined to stretch ED's memory of its AS Level law studies (which consisted of little more than being handed a Ladybird book entitled 'My First Litigation') to the limit.

Things all looked to be moving along so nicely yesterday after chairman Martin Broughton and directors Christian Purslow and Ian Ayre emerged victorious from the High Court on to The Strand in London.

Broughton was keen to get back to work on a sale as soon as possible, though he stops short of confirming who that deal would be with. John Henry arrived in the UK to wrap up the deal claiming NESV had a "binding agreement" with the club amid interest from other, higher-bidding parties. Steven Gerrard was just happy to talk about something else other than England.

But last night it emerged that Tom Hicks and George Gillett have obtained a temporary injunction from a Texan court in their continuing efforts to block the sale of the club to New England Sports Ventures, which they describe as an "epic swindle".

Not only that, but they have snuck in a claim for $1.6 billion (£1.13bn) into the bargain. This whole affair is now officially a billion-dollar mess, and a headline writer's dream.

Mind you, seeing as they were ordered to pay all court costs by Mr Justice 'Pretty Boy' Floyd when they lost their High Court case against major creditors Royal Bank of Scotland yesterday, who can blame them?

Already scrambling to avoid taking a personal hit of more than £70 million each, the pair will do their utmost to escape any further damage. After all, they are both successful businessmen, and they are within their rights to try and limit the damage caused by a venture that has gone bad.

They may find their late bid to stop the "epic swindle" will end, just like their tenure at Anfield, in an epic fail - but you can see their motivation.

With the repayment deadline imposed by RBS expiring tomorrow, it is tempting to see the current owners' actions as a bitter attempt to bring down the club by way of vengeance, but the logic of that just doesn't add up.

Hicks and Gillett seem aghast that these evil men from the bank would seek to barge in and steal the club from them. Surely they must have realised that was a possibility when they kept on borrowing just to keep it in their hands?

If you keep using a multi-million pound business as collateral to the point where the bank brings in its own man as chairman, with the clear objective of selling the club, you can't be surprised when you're not the main beneficiary of any deal that is agreed.

It will be interesting to find out, as hopefully we will, if any of these supposed larger offers were real, and why they were refused in favour of NESV's.

After all, what do RBS have to gain from seeing their debtors all right once they have reclaimed their money? It is, after all, a bank. A bank that wants its debt paid in full. Why should they care what happens to those who borrow money from them, as long as it secures the best possible chance of seeing a return on its investment?

Why would a High Court judge rule that Hicks and Gillett had no right to sack the board if it were not the case?

And, most bafflingly of all, when did a bank and its representatives become the good guys? This is the best PR the industry has had in years. Just a shame that it has come in the same week as Wall Street II has hit our screens.

We will soon find out just how much water the Texan restraining order holds in Britain. Liverpool fans will be hoping they find out before end of business tomorrow, otherwise the three points the team desperately needs from Sunday's derby trip to Everton will be the least of their worries.

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Premier League - Bitter Liverpool battle returns to Texas court

Fri, 15 Oct 06:33:00 2010

The fierce battle surrounding the ownership of Premier League club Liverpool returns to the unlikely setting of a Dallas county court on Friday in what could be a decisive day in the trans-Atlantic legal stand-off.

The finances of one of England's finest soccer clubs have became a very American matter with the current and prospective owners hailing from North American sports backgrounds.

Liverpool, five-times European champions, are co-owned by Americans Tom Hicks and George Gillett but the club's board want to sell the team to New England Sports Ventures, the owners of Major League Baseball's Boston Red Sox.

Hicks and Gillett believe the sale, agreed by independent directors on the club board, for £300 million to NESV, undervalues the club - one of England's most famous sports teams and a global brand.

Billionaire Hicks previously owned a Major League Baseball team, the Texas Rangers, and still owns the Dallas Stars NHL franchise, while Gillett owns NHL's Montreal Canadiens.

The 160th District Court in Dallas on Wednesday imposed a temporary restraining order on Liverpool's chairman, Martin Broughton, the Royal Bank of Scotland, which is the club's major creditor, and NESV which is owned by John Henry.

On Thursday, a high court judge in London responded by granting an injunction to restrain the Dallas court ruling, saying the case had no connection to Texas.

The judge gave Hicks and Gillett until 16:00 (UK time) on Friday to comply with his orders and, with the case in Dallas due to start at 13:00, that leaves little time for the matter to be resolved before the deadline.

In Dallas, the two parties were in front of Judge Jim Jordan to argue over whether the restraining order should stay in place and to deal with a contempt of court motion from the Hicks team.

That motion called for the jailing and fining of Liverpool chairman Broughton and the other defendants for ignoring the order and heading back to the High Court.

On Friday, the judge will have to decide whether or not to maintain or dissolve the restraining order on the sale.

It may seem odd that a court in Dallas has any role in the affairs of a football club from north-west England and for a district court in Texas to be able to contradict the High Court in London but the issue of jurisdiction is complex.

"They don't have to stop. A U.S. court only has to listen to a court above it," said Stephen Lubben, a law professor at Seton Hall University School of Law in Newark, New Jersey.

"There is no obligation for the Texas court to follow the British court but when you have a pre-existing British case involving a British company I think the right thing to do is for the Texas court to back down," Lubben said.

Hicks and Gillett are hugely unpopular with Liverpool fans due to the club's debt problems and Friday is also deadline day for the refinancing of the debt they have piled on the club.

Should the debt repayment not be made, Liverpool risk being taken over by RBS who could conduct the sale themselves.

That might result in the holding company of the club being briefly put into administration which carries a nine-point deduction penalty according to Premier League rules.

Reuters

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Booze cheaper than water in New Zealand: study

AFP - Friday, October 15

WELLINGTON (AFP) - – Alcohol has become cheaper than bottled water in New Zealand, a study showed Friday, with researchers warning there could be major implications for public health.

Otago University researchers found wine cost as little as 62 cents (47 US) per standard drink, compared to 67 cents for 250ml of bottled water and 43 cents for the equivalent amount of milk.

The study, published in the New Zealand Medical Journal, also found the relative price of alcohol had plummeted over the past decade as average wages increased.

"Our analysis suggests alcohol is now probably the cheapest recreational drug in New Zealand and has become increasingly affordable, at the same time as concern about binge drinking culture has grown," associate professor Nick Wilson said.

"International scientific evidence strongly indicates that cheap alcohol is a factor in promoting binge drinking by young people, and in increasing the overall size of the health and social harm from alcohol misuse."

He said heavy discounting at supermarkets and liquor stores was exacerbating the problem, making alcohol more readily available.

A grape glut in New Zealand has driven down the price of wine in recent years as winemakers seek to offload excess stock.

Wilson and co-researcher Fiona Gunasekara said cheap alcohol was taking a toll on New Zealanders' health and placing a burden on the publicly-funded health system.

They argued the government should adopt the same policies that helped curb tobacco consumption -- raising taxes and controlling marketing and sponsorship activities, as well as limiting the opening hours of retailers.

The researchers also called for a minimum price per unit of alcohol, particularly in cask wine and alcopops.

"These policies will have little impact on moderate drinkers and will help curb the down-side of New Zealands binge drinking culture," they said.

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'We played well,' says downcast Liverpool manager

AFP - 41 minutes ago

LIVERPOOL (AFP) - – Beleaguered Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson claimed his team had performed well in their 2-0 defeat at Everton in Sundays Merseyside derby and looked to the future with muted optimism.

The league table made less happy viewing for Liverpool, of course, as the loss left them rooted in the bottom three of the Premier League with just six points from their first eight games.

However, with new American owners under the leadership of John W. Henry, now in command at Anfield, Hodgson has some cause to look forward to the remainder of what has so far been an instantly forgettable season, although the manager did concede he had been unable to deliver a dream start to his new employers.

"Of course I feel that disappointment," he said. "This would have been an ideal opportunity to really turn things around on the back of a positive response to our new owners, the way that news has been received. To get a result would have been utopia but I can only analyse the performance.

"There is no point attempting to analyse dreams. The dream was we would come here on the back of new owners and win the game. We had to play the game to do that and, in my opinion, we played that game as well as we have played a game this season."

Spanish striker Fernando Torres, the club's talisman in good times, appears to lack confidence and sharpness at present although Hodgson was unwilling to accept that any more of his players were in such a state.

"Youre talking about one player," said Hogdson. "Fernando is going through a bad time, his confidence is low, he needs a goal, so if you are talking about him, I would have to agree.

"But I wouldnt say it of too many more. People are playing under pressure, thats the bottom line when you have six points from eight games, and every game we dont win, the pressure builds up even more.

"That will affect confidence in the long run but I have to say I thought it was a sterling performance that the players gave in the second half."

Hodgson is expected to meet with his new owner early this week to discuss short-term plans and, more pressingly, the January transfer window.

"We think there are still a lot of things that need sorting out at the club off the field," said Hodgson.

"And at the level outside the football field I am sure they will help there, when they come and look around. They will find ways and means of aiding us in that area.

"The January transfer window is still two and a half months away and there is a lot of football to be played before then. We have the squad of players we have and, hopefully, they will work and win some games."

Opposite number David Moyes won his first Merseyside derby in four years at the end of a week in which he watched events off the field shrouding Liverpools ownership and sale with curiosity.

Despite never having huge amounts of money to invest in his playing staff, Moyes declared himself more than happy to be working for owner and chairman Bill Kenwright.

"It isn't all about money," said Moyes. "If we all wanted football to be about money then maybe we wouldnt enjoy it as much. Were not all going to be able to have it.

"Am I jealous? Yes. But I wouldnt swap my chairman for anyone, from America or Saudi Arabia or anywhere else. My chairman is a supporter; he backs his manager; he is behind me and supported me which is really important for any manager."

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Fabregas returns for Arsenal Champions League tie

AFP - 34 minutes ago

LONDON (AFP) - – Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas could make his comeback from injury after being named in the Gunners squad for their crucial Champions League tie with Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger confirmed the return of the Spanish midfielder, who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since last month, at a press conference here Monday.

Winger Theo Walcott, who injured an ankle on England duty last month, has also been named in the squad along with striker Nicklas Bendtner, who had been nursing a groin strain.

Wenger however said he was unsure whether Fabregas would start.

"Cesc has prepared well. He had a little setback, but got over the hurdle and is ready to play at full fitness, but whether I start him or not, I do not know yet," Wenger said.

"It will be whether I take a gamble or not, because he has been out for a long time.

"But physically he is ready and fit - and wanting to play. You know his influence on our team, he is our leader, our passer, he has a good level of assists and a good goalscoring record.

"Ideally you want him in the team."

A victory for the Gunners at the Emirates will leave Wenger's team three points clear at the top of Group H, which they currently lead on goal difference from Shakhtar after both sides won their opening two matches.

"It is a key game because it gives us an opportunity to basically think we have qualified," Wenger said.

"In this group until now you had 12 points at stake - six went to Shakhtar, six went to Arsenal. That means what is at stake is the qualifying and also the top of the group, which is why it is a very important game.

Wenger meanwhile declined to comment on the saga embroiling Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, who is the subject of intense speculation about his future at Old Trafford.

"What I make of it is that I have enough problems here not to be involved in that," Wenger told reporters. "We are not in a transfer period at all.

"We are in front of a big Champions League game and for us it is very important to focus on that.

"Then again, any little incident at Manchester United or Arsenal becomes a big story, but it doesn't mean that there is something real behind the story.

"Maybe yes, maybe no - but I don't know enough to be involved in that."

Wenger, however, said any departure of Rooney would not necessarily change the complexion of the Premier League title race.

"Chelsea won the championship last year. Rooney was at Manchester United and that didn't stop Chelsea from winning the championship," he said.

"What is important is that you perform well.

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Torres suffering crisis of confidence, says Hodgson

Reuters - Monday, October 18

LONDON - Liverpool have welcomed new owners to Anfield but until they find the Fernando Torres of old, England's most successful club are likely to continue to struggle on the pitch.

The Spain striker has scored once in 10 appearances this season, a statistic that goes some way to explaining why Liverpool are second from bottom of the Premier League after losing 2-0 at Merseyside rivals Everton Sunday.

Torres is by no means the team's only problem, but Liverpool are sorely missing his assured finishing and ability to create goals out of nothing.

He scored 22 times for the team last season but, after suffering injury problems returned only in time to play a bit-part in Spain's World Cup triumph.

"He got battered in the World Cup for his performances for Spain and I think mentally he's a little bit low and he needs a goal or two to get his confidence back," Hodgson told Sky Sports.

"Certainly I had no qualms about his performance . The chance at the end, if that had gone in, maybe that's the catalyst he needs to take him over the edge and get him playing at his very best.

"Fernando is going through a bad time, his confidence is low, he needs a goal, so if you are talking about him, I would have to agree."

It contrasts sharply with previous seasons. In 2008-09, Liverpool finished second to Manchester United and Torres scored 14 times in the league.

Liverpool's new owners, John W Henry and Tom Werner of New England Sports Ventures, were at Goodison Park for the derby defeat and it might not be long before Hodgson is asking them to release funds for players.

"The January transfer window is still two and a half months away and there is a lot of football to be played before then," Hodgson told reporters.

"We have the squad of players we have and, hopefully, they will work and win some games."

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China wants looted Summer Palace relics returned

AFP - 1 hour 11 minutes ago

BEIJING (AFP) - – China has renewed a call for the return of relics looted from the Old Summer Palace in Beijing 150 years ago -- an act seen as a cause of national humiliation at the hands of Western armies.

The Yuanmingyuan, a summer resort garden for the emperors of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), was pillaged by a joint British and French military expedition during the second Opium War on October 18-19, 1860.

Cultural officials have urged private collectors in China to forgo profits from the antiquities trade and return the looted relics, the China Daily reported Tuesday.

The Yuanmingyuan park authority has also called on museums to return such items, and for a boycott on auctions featuring relics, the Global Times added.

A petition has been started in support of the effort, and martial arts film star Jackie Chan will act as a celebrity spokesman for the cause, it said.

A statue of French literary giant Victor Hugo was also erected on the Yuanmingyuan grounds in commemoration of his strident opposition to the looting and burning undertaken by the joint military force.

"At least 1.5 million relics from the Yuanmingyuan have either been looted or otherwise lost over the years," the China Daily quoted Chen Mingjie, head of the Yuanmingyuan park administration, as saying.

Xinhua news agency, citing the UN cultural body UNESCO, said some 1.64 million Chinese relics are housed in more than 200 museums in 47 countries, some of which are believed to have been looted from the Yuanmingyuan.

In recent years, cultural relic experts from China have sought to categorise and bring back looted Chinese antiquities, but their efforts have been waylaid by legal and historical obstacles, the China Daily said.

In February 2009, two bronze fountainheads looted from the palace that belonged to late French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Berge were auctioned at Christie's for about 20 million dollars each.

The sale enraged Beijing, which accused the house of regularly selling smuggled Chinese relics. The mystery Chinese bidder later said he would not pay and the items were returned to Berge.

The approximately 100 years that followed the sacking of the Yuanmingyuan represented some of China's darkest days, the English-language Global Times, the sister paper of the Communist mouthpiece People's Daily, said in an editorial.

But "the fall of China has been reversed... what happened 150 years ago to the Yuanmingyuan will not be repeated in China with its strong military."

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Tom Bosley of "Happy Days" dies at 83

Reuters - 2 hours 40 minutes ago

LOS ANGELES - Actor Tom Bosley, whose career spanned five decades and included his role as the father of a typical American family on popular 1970s TV comedy "Happy Days," has died after a long battle with lung cancer, age 83.

The actor died at his home just outside Palm Springs, California on Tuesday, his family said in a statement.

Bosley's everyday manner and looks helped him forge a career in Hollywood as a character actor and guest star in a number of popular 1960s television shows such as "Route 66," "Dr. Kildare," "Marcus Welby, M.D." and "Bonanza."

But it was on the long-running "Happy Days" that he enjoyed his biggest success, playing the father of the show's central character Richie Cunningham, who was a teenager growing up in the 1950s.

"Happy Days" ran from 1974 to 1984 and was a smash hit series that made Henry Winkler a major Hollywood star and sparked the adult success of Ron Howard, who played Richie and would later go on to a career as a film director.

Winkler told a local Los Angeles radio station that the cast and crew were "a family" and that Bosley was "one of the dads on set."

"I spoke to him just a few weeks ago, and he seemed to be getting his strength back and doing really well," Winkler said.

Howard called him "a great father and husband, and a wonderful artist led by example, and made us all laugh while he was doing it."

When the show ended, Bosley returned to character work on TV with roles in numerous popular series such as "The Love Boat" and "Murder, She Wrote." He continued working well into the 2000s with parts in series such as "That '70s Show."

Bosley was born in October, 1927, in Chicago and he served in the U.S. Navy during World War Two. He began his career on stage following the war and worked in theater for more than a decade before moving to television.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia Carr, a daughter from his first marriage and her children.

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Songwriters today "pretty awful," says Elton John

Reuters - Tuesday, October 19

LONDON - British singer Elton John described today's songwriters as "pretty awful," pop music as uninspiring and talent shows like "American Idol" as boring in an interview published on Tuesday.

The 63-year-old singer of "Your Song" and "Candle in the Wind," one of the most successful pop artists of all time, added that the instant fame which talent shows can bring was not the way to become a genuine star.

"It's important they write their own songs, so they're not at the mercy of anyone," John, whose real name is Reginald Dwight, told Britain's Radio Times magazine.

"Songwriters today are pretty awful, which is why everything sounds the same. Contemporary pop isn't very inspiring."

He said he was a fan of young female pop acts Lily Allen, Amy Winehouse and Lady Gaga, before adding:

"I'm not a fan of talent shows. I probably wouldn't have lasted if I'd gone on one. I was asked to judge 'American Idol'. I couldn't do it because I won't slag anyone off.

"Also I don't want to be on television. It's become boring, arse-paralysingly brain crippling."

He said "X Factor" judge and music producer Simon Cowell had discovered some talented acts through his TV shows, "but the only way to sustain a career is to pay your dues in small ... clubs.

"I was in a band at 17, became a songwriter with Bernie Taupin and wasn't successful until we'd had six years of hard graft and disappointment, as well as great times.

"TV vaults you to superstardom and then you have to back it up, which is hard. Leona Lewis and Alexandra Burke are at the mercy of the next song they can get.

" Susan Boyle was an endearing phenomenon, but I fear she might not understand the rigors of showbusiness."

John is releasing a new album this week, "The Union," a collaboration with his musical hero Leon Russell, and plays the BBC Electric Proms in London on October 28.

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Fewer Long Weekends in 2011

Wed, Apr 21, 2010

AsiaOne, The Straits Times

SINGAPOREANS will get fewer long weekends next year.

Five out of the 11 public holidays will fall on a Friday or a Sunday next year, according to the schedule of public holidays in 2011 released by the Ministry of Manpower on Wednesday.

Singaporeans enjoy seven long weekends last year and this year. Next year, they will only get five.

The dates for the 11 specified public holidays for 2011 are as follows:

New Year's Day 1 January 2011 Saturday

Chinese New Year 3 and 4 February 2011 Thursday, Friday

Good Friday 22 April 2011 Friday

Labour Day 1 May 2011 Sunday*

Vesak Day 17 May 2011 Tuesday

National Day 9 August 2011 Tuesday

Hari Raya Puasa 30 August 2011 Tuesday

Deepavali 26 October 2011 Wednesday

Hari Raya Haji 22 April 2011 Friday

Christmas Day 25 December 2011 Sunday*

* The following Monday will be a public holiday

The date for Deepavali scheduled on 26 October 2011 needs to be confirmed and checked against the Indian Almanac when it is available. Should there be a change in date, the Ministry of Manpower will issue a media release to announce the change.

The list of public holidays for 2011 is available on the Ministry of Manpower's website at http://www.mom.gov.sg.

DEEPAVALI DATE FOR 2010

The Ministry would like to inform that there is no change to the Deepavali date this year and it remains on 5 November 2010, as previously announced.

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Microsoft touts games for Xbox 360 motion controller

AFP - Wednesday, October 20

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - – Microsoft unveiled an array of Xbox 360 videogames tailored for play using the movement-sensing Kinect controller set to debut in November.

Kinect games set for release next month range from exercise and sports titles to "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," which lets people play as the fictional young wizard battling the forces of "Lord Voldemort."

A "Kinectimals" videogame tailored for children lets players befriend and train wild on-screen animals with words and gestures.

Studios with titles ready for the Kinect launch include Ubisoft, Electronic Arts, MTV Games/Harmonix, Microsoft Games, and Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment.

Microsoft's new gesture-sensing system for the Xbox 360 console will go on sale in the United States on November 4.

Kinect uses a 3-D camera and motion recognition software to let people play videogames using natural body movements and voice commands instead of hand-held controllers.

Microsoft said "Kinect for Xbox 360" that will sell for 149.99 dollars will include the Kinect Sensor and the videogame "Kinect Adventures," which features a river raft ride through an obstacle course.

The Kinect Sensor will work with the 42 million Xbox 360s already sold worldwide.

Microsoft also announced that a four-gigabyte Xbox 360 console will include the Kinect Sensor and "Kinect Adventures" and sell for 299 dollars.

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Are million dollar HDB flats going to be the norm ?

By PropertyGuru October 19th, 2010

It was reported in the media in early October that a 1,668 square foot HUDC unit at Block 315 in Bishan along Shunfu Road was sold for $1.1 million, or around $659 per square foot.

It was also reported that the flat was valued at $900,000, so the buyer paid a Cash Over Valuation (COV) of $200,000, and that he did so because the unit was on a high floor and located conveniently just outside the city. There was also talk about the en bloc potential of the estate, similar to Amberville, to explain the unusually high price paid.

I took a look at the HDB website and it appears there is another unit of exactly the same size but on a lower floor in Block 319 that was also sold for $1.1 million recently. Whatever the reasons the buyers paid such a high price for it, for many Singaporeans their thoughts must be: Are million dollar HDB flats going to be the norm in the future?

These million dollar units are not your typical HDB flats.

Firstly these are HUDC flats, which were built under an already phased out special scheme the government started in the 1970s to satisfy the sandwiched class who could not afford private properties but aspired to larger homes and nicer estates some were even gated to give residents more exclusivity. From 1995 these estates could be privatised, thus giving rise to the talk about en bloc potential.

Secondly, at almost 1,700 square feet, these units are very large. So the relatively high per square foot price of $659 is compounded by the large flat size to give you a high absolute value of $1.1 million. New HDB flats being built now mostly only go as large as 1,200 to 1,400 square feet, so these older but larger HUDC and Executive flats also benefit from the scarcity factor.

Thirdly, these particular units are located in a prime location in Bishan near the Circle Line MRT. Bishan is a hot area with high HDB prices, and in the months of September and October, the prices of resale transactions for Executive flats ranged from $648,000 to $860,000. Contrast this with a less popular area like Woodlands where the same type of flats during the same period transacted in the range of $430,000 to $616,000.

So no, I do not think million dollar HDB flats are going to be the norm unless per square foot prices in the hot HDB estates start to approach the $700 to $800 per square foot levels, which is when we will start to see many more of these transactions. For now, these two transactions are one-offs (although similar units in those estates could also transact above a million dollars).

But whether we see many more of these million dollar HDB transactions or not, these stories are making many Singaporeans increasingly anxious that housing prices are rising too quickly and moving out of their grasp. Indeed, from the first quarter of 2007 to the third quarter (flash estimate) of 2010, the HDB resale price index has risen by 60 percent, a pace which many consider too quick.

In response, on August 30, the government announced a suite of measures to drive out investors from the HDB resale market and stabilise prices. And on October 18, HDB announced further tweaks to the resale procedure for HDB flats, including enhancing the Resale Checklist for sellers and introducing a 7-day cooling-off period between the submission of the Resale Checklist and granting of the Option To Purchase.

Whether these will work to contain the rapid price increase remains to be seen, but in the near term, we can expect transaction volumes to decline, with many buyers taking a wait-and-see attitude.

Mr. Propwise is the founder of Singapore property blog www.propwise.sg, which aims to help people make better real estate buying, selling, renting and investing decisions.

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Canadian colonel pleads guilty to murders, sex crimes

AFP - Tuesday, October 19

BELLEVILLE, Canada (AFP) - – The disgraced cross-dressing commander of Canada's largest air force base pleaded guilty to 86 lurid sex crimes, including two murders that "stunned" the military.

Colonel Russell Williams, 47, a married pilot who once flew the jet used to ferry Canada's prime minister as well as the British royal family on a visit, displayed no emotion as he admitted to his crimes in a Belleville, Ontario, court.

He faces life in prison, with no possibility of parole for at least 25 years.

One victim's brother, Andy Lloyd, said it was "overwhelming" seeing the evidence presented in court, including hundreds of photographs of Williams wearing stolen undergarments in his victims' bedrooms and masturbating.

"I thought it was disgusting," he said. "These were terrible, terrible acts."

"It makes me, as a Canadian and as a regular human being, angry."

Canada's chief of defense staff, General Walt Natynczyk, said Williams' crimes "stunned all Canadians and none more so than the members of the Canadian Forces."

Williams was a rising star who was being groomed for top leadership roles in the military.

As the commander of 8-Wing/Canadian Forces Base Trenton, he oversaw relief flights to quake-stricken Haiti, the repatriation of dead soldiers from Afghanistan, and Arctic search and rescue missions.

His "guilty plea is the first step in a healing process that will no doubt take many years," said Natynczyk.

Police arrested Williams in February for the disappearance and death of 27-year-old Jessica Lloyd, last heard from the previous month. He was caught when his vehicle's tire treads were matched at a police roadside checkpoint to tracks at the crime scene.

Williams was later charged with the murder of a female corporal under his command at the Trenton military base in November 2009, as well as in two home invasions in which two women were confined and sexually assaulted.

He was also charged with an additional 82 counts of break-and-enter and attempted break-and-enter in Ottawa, Belleville, and a third locality, Tweed.

A stash of women's undergarments taken by police from Williams' residence were linked to burglaries near his home and job.

An agreed statement of facts read out in the Ontario Superior Court traced the escalation of his offenses starting in September 2007.

"Given the seriousness of charges, it's important for the court to have a full account of the facts," said prosecutor Lee Burgess. "These facts will be extremely disturbing."

The stolen lingerie was meticulously categorized and stored in bags and boxes discovered at his Ottawa home, which he shared with is wife of 19 years. The court heard that he periodically disposed of the loot when he had accumulated too much.

His criminal fetish escalated in late 2009 when he attacked his first victim, waking her from a deep slumber, tying and blindfolding her, and then snapping a half-dozen photographs of her semi-naked in her home.

He would later recount the assault in a two-page document saved on his computer.

Dressed in a dark suit and grey button-down shirt, Williams responded to each charge: "Guilty, your honor."

The court heard that only 17 homeowners had reported their homes had been broken into, while Williams' other burglaries went undetected prior to his arrest and confession to police.

Most of the break-ins occurred at night, and at least once while he wore his military uniform. In a few cases, he left short messages, such as "seen better."

Williams commanded Canada's busiest air force base, the 437 Squadron in Trenton, east of Toronto, for more than a year prior to his arrest. Previously he was in charge of Canada's secretive Camp Mirage in Dubai.

While in prison, he attempted suicide and held a hunger strike, but cooperated fully with investigators.

Biography: Col. Russell Williams

Last Updated: Monday, October 18, 2010 | 2:55 PM ET

CBC News

Col. Russell Williams, a high-ranking Canadian military commander who met with senior politicians and was quoted extensively about the war in Afghanistan and the earthquake in Haiti, has pleaded guilty to two charges of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of two women from eastern Ontario.

The decorated former commander of Canadian Forces Base Trenton, was arrested in February 2010 and charged with the slayings of Jessica Lloyd, 27, and Cpl. Marie-France Comeau, 38.

During a court appearance on Oct. 18, 2010, Williams also pleaded guilty to two counts each of sexual assault and forcible containment, as well as 82 counts of breaking and entering and attempted breaking and entering.

Here's a look at key points in Williams's 23-year military career:

Bio

Russell Williams was born on March 7, 1963, in the Midlands region of England. At a young age he moved to Chalk River, Ont. and later to a house near the Scarborough Bluffs east of downtown Toronto.

1978

Williams started high school at Birchmount Park Collegiate Institute in 1978 and left in 1979. During this time he went by the name Russ Sovka. For his final two years of high school, he attended Upper Canada College, an elite private school in Toronto. In 1982, during his final year at UCC, his peers elected him as one of prefects in his boarding house.

1987

The precise date is still unclear, but he returned to using the surname Williams. During his undergraduate years, Williams began his pilot career and took flying lessons at Toronto's Buttonville airport. After graduating from the University of Toronto with a degree in economics and political science, he joined the military in 1987.

1990

Williams earns his wings and is posted to 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School, based in Portage La Prairie, Man., where he serves for two years as an instructor.

1992

Williams is posted to 434 Combat Support Squadron in Shearwater, N.S., where he flies the CC-144 Challenger in the electronic warfare and coastal patrol role.

He is then posted to the 412 Transport Squadron in Ottawa, where he transports VIPs, including high-ranking government officials and foreign dignitaries, also on Challengers.

November 1999

Williams is promoted to the rank of major and is posted to Director General Military Careers, where he serves as the multi-engine pilot career manager.

August 2003 to June 2004

Williams obtains a master's of defence studies from the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ont.

June 2004

Williams is promoted to lieutenant-colonel and appointed commanding officer of 437 Transport Squadron in Trenton, Ont., a post he held for two years.

December 2005 to June 2006

Williams is the commanding officer at Camp Mirage, the Canadian Forces forward logistics base that's not officially acknowledged by the government or military but has been widely reported to be near Dubai.

July 2006

Williams is posted to the Directorate of Air Requirements, where he served as project director for the Airlift Capability Projects Strategic (CC177 Globemaster III) and Tactical (CC130J Hercules J), and Fixed-Wing Search and Rescue.

January 2009

Williams is posted to the Canadian Forces Language School in Gatineau, Que., for six months of French-language training, during which he is promoted to the rank of colonel.

July 15, 2009

Williams succeeds Col. Mike Hood as commanding officer at CFB Trenton.

Dec. 11, 2009

Williams welcomes the Olympic torch when it stops in Trenton. " It's very exciting to be a part of this," he says.

As 8 Wing Commander, Williams takes part in a number of public appearances. In the fall of 2009 he was on hand when the Belleville Bulls hockey team dedicated its 2009-2010 season to the men, women and families of 8 Wing Trenton.

Jan. 30, 2010

Williams is interviewed about 8 Wing's participation in Haiti relief. He says that in addition to Haiti, 8 Wing co-ordinates the resupply for Canada's mission in Afghanistan and air support for the Vancouver Olympics, which has a significant military presence.

Feb. 7

Williams is arrested in Ottawa and charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Jessica Lloyd, 27, and Cpl. Marie-France Comeau, 38.

He is also charged with two sexual assaults that happened in Tweed in September.

Oct. 18

In a Belleville, Ont., courtroom, Williams pleads guilty to all 88 charges against him. These include two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of sexual assault and two counts of forcible containment, as well as 82 counts of breaking and entering and attempted breaking and entering.

Additional information

According to Williams's DND profile, he is a keen photographer, fisherman, musician and runner. He and his wife, Mary-Elizabeth Harriman, have homes in Tweed, Ont., which is about 60 kilometres northeast of CFB Trenton, and a house in Ottawa, which was being renovated at the time of his arrest.

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US military ends gay ban

AFP - Wednesday, October 20

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US military is ready to accept openly gay recruits for the first time in the country's history, officials said, as a judge upheld an order ending a controversial ban on homosexuals serving in the armed forces.

But the military will tell potential recruits that the so-called "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" rule could still be reinstated depending on the outcome of pending court decisions, the Pentagon said.

"Recruiters have been given guidance, and they will process applications for applicants who admit they are openly gay or lesbo," spokeswoman Cynthia Smith told AFP.

But she added: "Recruiters are reminded to set the applicants' expectations by informing them that a reversal in the court's decision of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law/policy may occur."

Last week a federal judge in California, Virginia Phillips, ordered the government to immediately suspend the rule, which requires gay troops to keep quiet about their sexuality or face expulsion.

And late Tuesday the same judge rejected a request by the Justice Department for a stay that would suspend the legal order until an expected appeal can be heard.

In a six-page decision, she rejected the argument that suspending the ban could harm military readiness.

"They had the chance to introduce evidence to that effect at trial," Phillips said. "Defendants did not do so. The evidence they belatedly present now does not meet their burden to obtain a stay."

Gay rights' groups hailed the new ruling -- and urged Washington not to appeal it further.

"Judge Phillips once again did the right thing for our national security. We call on the administration not to appeal her decision," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese.

The "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" rule "is an unconscionable law that forces brave lesbo and gay Americans to serve in silence ... The law is detrimental, not only to our national security, but also to the core American value of fairness," he added.

Although President Barack Obama has called for scrapping the 1993 law and tried to persuade Congress to end the ban, the court order has put his administration in a bind as it tries to carry out a review of the issue.

Obama had ordered a year-long assessment of how ending the ban would affect military readiness, effectiveness and unit cohesion, which is due to be completed on December 1.

In a memo sent out last week to secretaries of the US Army, Navy and Air Force, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Clifford Stanley said the Defense Department "will abide by the terms of the injunction" from the federal judge.

He ordered the military's department secretaries to "ensure immediate compliance" with his memo.

"It remains the policy of the Department of Defense not to ask service members or applicants about their sexual orientation, to treat all members with dignity and respect, and to ensure maintenance of good order and discipline," he added.

Opponents of the ban argue it violates the rights of gay service members and has harmed national security by forcing out some 14,000 qualified troops.

Advocates of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" rule, including the outgoing head of the US Marine Corps, say it ensures "unit cohesion," and that changing the law during wartime could prove disruptive.

If the ban is lifted for good, the American military would be following the example of other US allies, including Britain and Israel, which have reported no serious problems since allowing gays to serve openly in uniform.

Polls have shown a majority of Americans support ending the ban, but Republican lawmakers, including former presidential candidate John McCain, opposed the most recent attempt to change the rule.

[kueytoc]

Police on the hunt for Singapore’s ‘Heartbeat Molester’

By Faris – October 20th, 2010

The hunt is on for a serial molester who has preyed on more than 20 girls for the last eleven years.

Believed to be in his 30s, the 1.7m tall Chinese man has been dubbed the “Heartbeat Molester” for his ”signature” ploy when he would ask the would-be victims to feel his heartbeat.

Often seen wearing sunglasses, police said the man usually targets young girls between 8 to 12 years old on their way home from school on weekdays between 12.30pm and 4.30pm.

This year, it’s alleged that three molest cases in the north-eastern part of Singapore have been linked to the man.

According to The New Paper, it happened between the months of August and October, in the Sengkang, Hougang and Punggol area.

The most recent case happened 10 days ago when a nine-year-old girl was molested at Anchorvale in Sengkang.

His tactic sees him approach his lone victim at void decks or lift lobbies, pretending to ask for direction to a non-existent flat with a made-up unit number.

Conversing in either English or Mandarin, he would then ask his victim to lead the way and then bring her to a secluded staircase landing to commit the offence.

In some cases, he would pretend to need a rest and place the victim’s hand on his chest, saying he has a weak heart. He would sometimes be bold enough and move his victim’s hand down to his other body parts.

The man has been able to evade capture for more than a decade because of the age of his victims, his use of dark sunglasses and the lack of witnesses.

Police believe the molester has been lying low for seven years after his modus operandi was exposed during a Crime Watch television episode in 2003.

This time, however, police believe they may have a breakthrough in the case after closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage was captured of a tanned, fit-looking man with neatly combed hair and wearing a neatly tucked white polo shirt may be able to assist them in their investigations.

The molester usually preys on young schoolgirls he meets at HDB void decks or lift landings

Housewife Rozannah Mohd Shah, 33, a Punggol resident and a mother of an eight-year-old girl told Yahoo! SEA that she will now be more careful as long as the molester was on the loose.

“I think that with him on the loose, it is unsafe for my daughter to be alone in the public especially when she goes out to play or to the nearby stores. Maybe because we assume that everywhere in Singapore is safe, parents might take things for granted,” she said.

However, psychiatrist Dr Ang Yong Guan told The Straits times that the molester could have a partner in crime.

“It’s hard to speculate, but he could have had a relationship during the seven years, which distracted him from his pursuit. There might have been no reason for him to be tempted to prey on young girls,” he said.

Meanwhile, experts said that victims of molest might be emotionally affected and traumatized by the incident.

Pyschologist Daniel Koh, who owns Insights Mind Centre, told TNP, “The act is something that invades their security and safety.”

“If molested by someone who is tall and skinny, for example, these children will be afraid to meet another person who fits such a description in the future.”

Mr Koh, who has come across molested children, said they may also become isolated and withdrawn. He added that they may also “feel depressed and feel that they are the one to blame”.

On why the molester would target young girls, Mr Koh said that “they feel the need to be in control, so they will target someone who is weaker than them”.

[kueytoc]

How can Tiger Airways compete with us?

By Ewen Boey October 21st, 2010

A senior AirAsia executive has dismissed Singapore-based budget airline Tiger Airways ability to compete with its Malaysian-based counterpart.

Speaking to Yahoo! Singapore, AirAsias Regional Head for Commercials, Kathleen Tan, says her airline does not even consider Tiger Airways to be their biggest rival.

Tiger isnt our biggest rival. How can they compete with such a small fleet (19 planes), compared to ours (103 planes)? Tan, whos in her 40s, said during a phone interview.

She also challenged the low-cost carrier that is partly owned by Singapore Airlines to respond to a recent marketing ad blitz that saw AirAsia take out full-page advertisements on two national newspapers with a tagline that screamed: If Tigers were meant to fly, they would be born with wings.

The advertisements included the drawing of a Tiger cub in tears.

In a reference to Tigers recent flight cancellations in August and early October, AirAsia also stated in the ad that they are guaranteed to fly everyday.

Explaining the idea behind the ad, Tan said: We took this opportunity to come up with something fun and cheeky with clever and innovative marketing. We did not intend to be hostile, .

Does she think it went overboard?

It is a norm to have AirAsia and Tiger Airways take each other on. In this case, we decided to take advantage of Tigers operational slip-up and regain some market share, she said.

Marketing has no boundaries. If you want to be shy, you will not get business. If Tiger Airways think that they have good marketers, let them take us on!

The latest episode marks another step in the increasingly bitter rivalry between the two low-cost carriers.

Last week, AirAsia chief Tony Fernandes labelled Tiger Airways senior management as a bunch of white guys trying to run an airline, reported the Bangkok Post .

The Malaysian business mogul was expressing his belief that Tigers upcoming venture with Thai Airways (Thai Tiger Airways) was doomed to fail because it did not have a management that understood Thai customs and cultures.

Were Asians, not a bunch of white guys running the airlines, Fernandes was quoted as saying.

Tiger Airways is headed by a Briton Tony Davis.

Tan, though, defended her Air Asia boss and said to take his recent quotes with a pinch of salt.

All I can say is that Ive worked with Tony Fernandes for 16 years and the last thing he would be is a racist, she said.

Meanwhile, Tiger Airways, has shot back with its own media iniative.

In a media statement released on Wednesday a day after Tiger Airways announced it had won the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviations Low Cost Airline of the Year award its CEO, Mr Davis, declared that Tiger aims to be among the top three airlines globally.

He added that Tiger, which is partly-owned by Singapore Airlines, had achieved record passenger numbers and growth in excess of 43 per cent this year.

Mr Davis, in an apparent reply to the recent war of words, added, Its no wonder some of our competitors are getting so rattled.

What do you think do you view the ongoing teet-for-tat battle between the two rival airlines as clever marketing or just simply childish?

[kueytoc]

Gays adopt wait and see approach on US military ban

AFP - Thursday, October 21

NEW YORK (AFP) - A judge has unlocked the door for gays wanting to openly join the US military, but many are adopting a wait and see approach because they fear the decision is not set in stone and could be reversed.

District Judge Virginia Phillips of California on October 12 ordered American commanders around the world to stop enforcing a 17-year military policy that requires gay troops to keep quiet about their sexuality or face expulsion.

But what could have been a watershed moment for gays serving in the US armed forces has instead been overshadowed by interminable legal wrangling as President Barack Obama's administration fights the decision.

The irony is that Obama and his government are fierce advocates of scrapping the ban, they would just prefer it to be done by Congress and after a Pentagon review of the implications has been completed by the year-end.

The Pentagon announced on Tuesday that it was accepting openly gay recruits for the first time in the country's history, but it also warned that the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" rules could be reinstated by the courts.

Consequently, gays are not exactly flocking to enlist.

"During this interim period of uncertainty, service members must not come out and recruits should use caution if choosing to sign up," said Servicemembers Legal Defense Network executive director Aubrey Sarvis, a US Army veteran.

"The bottom line: if you come out now, it can be used against you in the future by the Pentagon," Sarvis added in a statement.

Some activists, though, have taken the plunge, including Army Lieutenant Dan Choi, an Iraq war veteran who came out on cable television program in March 2009 and is considered a poster child for the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

The 29-year-old graduate of the prestigious West Point military academy, who was discharged earlier this year for being gay, made a public event of his re-enlistment on Tuesday in New York.

Choi first tried to enlist at a US Marines recruiting station in midtown Manhattan, but after being told he was too old, filled out papers to re-enlist in the army.

"We're still in a war, and soldiers are needed," Choi said. "I have a newfound faith in our government that at least one branch is on the side of the Constitution, is on the side of the people."

The Justice Department on Wednesday urged an appeals court in San Francisco to immediately suspend Phillips's repeal and "maintain the status quo."

In its court filings, the Justice Department laid out the argument that more time was needed to provide forces, especially combat troops, with "proper training and guidance" with respect to the policy change.

Opponents of the ban argue that it violates the rights of gay service members and has harmed national security by forcing out some 14,000 qualified troops.

Advocates, including the outgoing head of the US Marine Corps, say it ensures "unit cohesion" and that changing the law during wartime could prove disruptive.

If the ban is lifted for good, the American military would be following the example of other US allies, including Britain and Israel, which have reported no serious problems since allowing gays to serve openly in uniform.

Polls have shown a majority of Americans support ending the ban, but Republican lawmakers, including former presidential candidate John McCain, opposed the most recent attempt to change the rule.

Gay rights groups had urged Washington not to further appeal the ruling, fearing endless delays if the president tries to go down the congressional route.

Democrats in the Senate failed to get to the necessary votes to overturn the policy in September, after the House of Representatives had approved measures to change it in May.

Aaron Belkin of the Palm Center, a California think-tank, didn't blame Obama for seeking a more failsafe legislative solution through Congress that suits his generals more, but said it was unclear what would happen if it fails.

"If he drops the appeal, DADT will be dead and we will enter the 21st century with the rest of the civilized world," Belkin told AFP.

[kueytoc]

Apple shows off iPad-inspired Mac laptop

On Thursday 21 October 2010, 6:32 SGT

By Gabriel Madway

CUPERTINO, California (Reuters) - Apple Inc CEO Steve Jobs unveiled the thinnest, lightest Mac laptop yet, fusing features from its popular iPhone and iPad with its traditional line of personal computers.

Apple, whose computers have taken market share from PCs based on Microsoft Corp's Windows, will bring a version of its mobile applications store to the Mac, aiming to replicate its success and spur development of new programs.

Loading up Macs with iPad features may help Apple stave off investors' fears that sales will begin bleeding over to the tablet, which has stirred up astonishing demand.

The new MacBook Air -- introduced on Wednesday with Jobs' signature "one last thing" set-up -- is designed to reproduce the versatility of popular devices such as the iPhone and iPad, and will incorporate FaceTime video chats, which Apple is bringing to all its Macs.

Utilizing flash storage like the iPad rather than hard drives like conventional computers, it can power up almost instantly from standby mode and store data twice as quickly as a standard hard drive. But it sacrifices processing power compared with Apple's other laptops.

"We asked ourselves what would happen if a MacBook and an iPad hooked up? Well, this is the result," Jobs said at a media event in Cupertino, California, calling the Air the "future of notebooks."

It starts at $999 for an 11.6-inch model, weighs as little as 2.3 pounds (1 kg), and measures 0.11 inches at its thinnest to 0.68 inches at the rear.

"They're basically merging the product lines; they're simplifying it," said Kaufman Bros analyst Shaw Wu. "They're taking the strengths out of what they've learned on the iPhone and iPad and bringing that technology over to the Mac side. It makes a lot of sense."

LIONS AND CANNIBALS

While plenty of attention is lavished on the iPhone and iPad, the Mac has been critical to the company's success over past years. Apple sold $22 billion worth of Macs in fiscal 2010, comprising one-third of its revenue. Shipments rose more than 30 percent and far outpaced the overall market.

Investors have wondered whether the iPad, a 10-inch touchscreen tablet that began selling in April from $499, would cannibalize sales of the Mac -- as it has done for low-end, Windows-based laptops known as netbooks.

Gartner analyst Mike McGuire does not expect much cannibalization between iPad and Macs because of the gulf in price tags. He said the Air will try to bridge Apple's newer and older product lines.

"It's that missing link between the tablet future and the existing notebook," he said.

Jobs also showed off a new version of Mac operating software, which the company will release next summer. Nicknamed "Lion," it includes an improved "iLife" multimedia suite and incorporates FaceTime video chat, which the company recently launched on the iPhone.

FaceTime will allow for video calls between iPhones, iPod touches and Macs. Over 19 million Apple devices are already equipped with FaceTime, Jobs said. It released a test version of FaceTime for the Mac on Wednesday.

The App Store for the Mac will go live within 90 days, and developers will be able to start submitting apps next month. They will get 70 percent of the revenue from sales.

The original App Store debuted in 2008 and helped spur sales of the iPhone by providing a wealth of fun, useful or merely diverting programs for sale, at the touch of a button.

It houses more than 250,000 apps and has generated over 7 billion downloads. In addition, more than 30,000 apps have been specifically made for the iPad.

In the third calendar quarter, Apple became the No. 3 personal computer maker in the United States with a 10.6 percent market share, according to IDC. It holds roughly 20 percent of the U.S. consumer market.

But Apple's global market share is less than 5 percent, and the company is aiming to increase sales outside its U.S. stronghold. The Mac user base overall now stands at nearly 50 million.

Apple shares rose 0.3 percent to close at $310.53 on Nasdaq.

(Reporting by Gabriel Madway and Edwin Chan; Editing by Robert MacMillan and Richard Chang)

[kueytoc]

Buoyant Mourinho hopes for more Bernabeu applause

AFP - Saturday, October 23

MADRID (AFP) - – It is all smiles at Real Madrid these days with Jose Mourinho's team topping the Spanish first division and their Champions League group after going the first ten games of the season unbeaten.

Real have plundered 10 goals in their last two league matches on their way to reaching the league summit and host Racing Santander at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday buoyed by an impressive 2-0 Champions League win over AC Milan on Tuesday.

Real are currently a point ahead of Villarreal, Barcelona and Valencia and the hard-to-please Madrid fans appear impressed by Mourinho's work, applauding the team off at the Bernabeu following Wednesday's 2-0 victory over AC Milan.

"I really enjoyed the applause for the team as they deserved it," said Mourinho. "It says that the Bernabeu don't just appreciate the magic but also the hard work and that is something that pleases my team and me."

Mourinho admitted this week he would welcome Manchester United's want-away striker Wayne Rooney at the club but they don't seem short of firepower at the moment and are the league's top-scorers.

Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo has scored five goals in his last three matches in all competitions and the world's most expensive player has an incredible strike rate since joining Real, netting 39 goals in his 45 games for the club.

Champions Barcelona laboured to a 2-0 Champions League home win over FC Copenhagen on Wednesday and are in the unfamiliar position of chasing Real having led from the front for the past two seasons.

Barcelona are at bottom side Real Zaragoza on Saturday looking for a fourth successive away triumph against a team that have yet to win this season.

Barca have been dominating teams but failing to kill the opposition off and Spain World Cup star David Villa is having a hard time of it, netting just twice in the league this season following his 40-million-euro move from Valencia.

"Goals are the responsibility of everyone and we all have to help out," said Barcelona captain Carles Puyol. "We are relaxed about Villa as he is one of the best strikers in the world and we don't have any doubts about him."

After facing former employer Valencia last Saturday, Villa comes up against another of his old clubs in Real Zaragoza, where he spent two successful seasons scoring 32 league goals in 73 games.

Valencia saw their unbeaten league start come to an end with a 2-1 loss at Barcelona last weekend and hope to get back to winning ways with victory at home to Real Mallorca on Saturday.

Valencia, who drew 1-1 with Rangers on Wednesday in their Champions League match, sit a point behind Real with an identical record to Barcelona.

Villarreal are above the duo on goal difference after a stellar start but have a testing home match against Atletico Madrid on Sunday.

Atletico are down in fifth, three points off the trio of second-placed teams, and will be out for revenge having lost home and away to Villarreal last season.

Uruguayan international defender Diego Godin will hope to force his way into the Atletico starting line-up against his old club Villarreal, who sold him for eight million euros in the summer.

In other matches, Sevilla host Athletic Bilbao on Sunday as both teams look to iron out their inconsistent form.

Sevilla are a point above Bilbao in seventh and unbeaten at home but need to turn draws into wins at the Ramon Sanchez Pijuan.

Elsewhere, second from bottom Deportivo La Coruna travel to promoted Real Sociedad on Monday in search of their first win of the season.

[kueytoc]

Hodgson says Liverpool not dead yet

AFP - Saturday, October 23

LIVERPOOL (AFP) - – Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has hit back at critics who claim his club is in crisis by insisting the Reds aren't dead yet.

Hodgson's side are stuck in the Premier League relegation zone after their worst start to a season since 1953 and could be bottom of the table by the time they kick off against Blackburn on Sunday depending on other results.

Speculation is growing that New England Sports Ventures, who completed their takeover of the club a week ago, may opt to sack Hodgson if he doesn't reverse Liverpool's fortunes quickly.

But the former Fulham manager, who has already seen his side suffer dispiriting losses to Northampton, Blackpool and Everton this season, is convinced Thursday's goalless draw against Napoli in the Europa League proved they are back on the right track.

"We showed we are far from dead as a club by going to Naples and doing well as we have in other Europa League games," he said.

"We did it in a very tough atmosphere because Napoli is a very tough place to come and play at any time - it doesn't matter whether you are Inter Milan, Juventus or Liverpool.

"I know we are going through a very bad passage at the moment and things have not gone our way for a variety of reasons.

"We are down at the bottom and desperately want to get away from there.

"But the new owners have done a lot for the club, they've given the club a lift and they did that before the Everton game (which Liverpool lost last Sunday).

"There was a certain buoyancy and a feelgood feeling and we can start to rebuild, put things right and get ourselves on a good footing once again.

"Of course Sunday is the ideal opportunity to do this."

[kueytoc]

We cant fight the haze alone: Indonesias Foreign Minister

By Ion Danker October 22nd, 2010

Indonesias Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa has said that fighting the haze could not be done by Indonesia alone and stressed that it was a transnational problem, requiring the cooperation from countries in the region.

Mr Natalegawa was speaking on the current haze situation, after Singapore and Malaysia pressed Jakarta to take action on the haze.

What I want to emphasise is that the haze is a classic example of a challenge that is transboundary in nature and that cannot be solved simply by one country, he said.

Countries in the region should be working hand-in-hand in addressing this particular problem or challenge.

According to The Straits Times, his ministry holds regular media briefings on Fridays. However, he often does not attend the sessions but turned up yesterday to talk about an Asean summit in Hanoi next week.

He also spoke about his conversation with Singapores Foreign Minister George Yeo over the telephone after Mr Yeo called him on Friday morning to express concern about the worsening haze situation, and offer Singapores assistance to help put out some of the fires in Sumatra.

During the course of that general conversation, we exchanged views about developments with respect to the haze that is affecting some countries in the region. Naturally, Minister George Yeo expressed his governments concern, he said.

He said that he had mentioned to Mr Yeo that besides Singapore, Indonesians in the Riau province were also affected by the haze.

Mr Natalegawa went on to explain that this years haze should be seen as an exception to the norm, noting that Indonesia had not had land fires of the current scale in the last three or four years and the countrys efforts to stamp out land clearance by burning, some of which supported by foreign countries, had worked.

According to the same paper, he had compared the current haze situation to recent wildfires in Russia where acrid smog engulfed Moscow in August, in his conversation with Mr Yeo.

If we look at the case of Moscow, even in a metropolitan area like this it is difficult to control the fires, what more in such a vast place like Indonesia, said Mr Natalegawa.

A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said that in Mr Yeos phone call to Mr Natalegawa, he informed him that the PSI went over 100 on Thursday and cases of respiratory problems including asthma had increased significantly.

MFA added that both ministers agreed that bilateral cooperation had helped reduce the haze problem in the last three years and could help ameliorate the current situation despite the dry weather.

The phone call was the second made in two days, after Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Yaacob Ibrahim called his Indonesian counterpart Gusti Hatta on Thursday, after the air quality in Singapore was reported to hit the unhealthy range.

According to the National Environment Agency (NEA), the haze situation has worsened since Wednesday. The three-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) hit a high of 108 on Thursday evening, which is considered unhealthy.

NEA added that the haze situation is expected to persist as the prevailing winds will continue to blow smoke haze from Sumatra to Singapore.

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Singaporeans hit hard by haze

By Ewen Boey – October 22nd, 2010

Doctors and medical clinics can expect to make a roaring trade this weekend, as Singaporeans come down with a litany of health-related issues brought on by the haze.

Sneezing, coughing, throat and eye inflammation and increased asthma attacks are all on the rise as people struggle to cope about their daily lives in the midst of the bad air quality.

On Thursday, the Pollutants Standards Index (PSI) entered the ”unhealthy” range of 101-200, hitting a four-year high of 108.

The National Environment Agency has now advised those with respiratory and heart problems to reduce physical and outdoor activities for the time being. They also issued a health advisory that even healthy people can experience coughing and sneezing.

Another health advisory by medical group, International SOS, says that haze-related health implications include, eye and nasal irritation, coughs, headache, nausea and vomiting. It also cautioned the haze may have a greater impact on children, pregnant women and elderly people.

Schools are monitoring the haze situation closely and are ready to cancel all outdoor activities if the PSI remains in the unhealthy range.

Already, The Straits Times reported that Ngee Ann Secondary School students cancelled a plan to visit to Changi Beach on Friday. Instead, they are spending their day in the Newater plant in Bedok and the air force museum in Paya Lebar, which are both indoors.

Ngee Ann’s principal Adrian Lim told the paper, “The safety of students is most important when we plan activities. And reading that the haze situation has become more severe, we took the decision to change our plans so students can still benefit from our post-exam programmes,” he added.

Koh Yong Chiah, principal of River Valley High also declared that lessons will be moved into the air-conditioned classrooms to avoid prolonged exposure to the haze.

In the Singapore Sports School, training for outdoor sports like sailing and and swimming will be cancelled as long as the PSI level remains as unhealthy.

Sports events such as S-League games this weekend have also been called off because of the haze. The Etoile FC versus Young Lions match at the Queenstown stadium and the Balestier Khalsa v Geylang United game at Toa Payoh stadium were scrapped on Thursday.

The New Paper also reported that fewer anglers were seen at popular fishing sites sich as MacRitchie Reservoir, Bishan Park and West Coast Park.

Runners due to take part in a mass 10-kilometre run organised by Nike this Sunday are also thinking of staying home even though the official race day guide says the event will only be cancelled if the PSI level hits the “very unhealthy” range of more than 200.

Robin Low, 30, a graphic designer says, “The run should just be cancelled if the PSI is anywhere above 150. It was 108 yesterday and it was already quite suffocating. I might give the run a miss if the reading is above 100.”

Digital strategist Daphne Chui, 23, agrees, “If it gets too bad I may opt not to run, I don’t want to be running in conditions that are detrimental to my health.”

Yahoo! Fit-To-Post user Annie said the smoke from forest fires in Sumatra is hitting her hard.

“Asthma patients like me suffer quite a fair bit due to breathing issues, blocked nose and light-headedness. I hope the authorities can extend help and stop all forest burning… I take pity on the construction workers who spend most of their time in the open,” she said.

The issue has also become a major talking point on Twitter (#haze).

3rdeye_blind (@3rdeye_blind) tweeted,”Eyebags swollen like a pair of dumplings, tear glands choked thanks to the haze from Sumatra.”

Another user called MichaeHolic (@MichaeHOLIC) wrote, “Dear Mr. Haze. I hate you. You gave me sore throat, phlegm, cough and a runny nose. I can’t sleep. I can’t breathe… I hate you.”

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The International SOS Medical Advisories recommends that people in Singapore should take these measures to reduce their exposure to the air pollution:

•Minimize time outdoors.

•Consider wearing a mask while outdoors. N95 respirators are recommended. People with underlying health problems should consult their doctor before using a mask.

•Reduce physical exertion.

•Keep windows and doors closed.

•Use an air conditioner (in ‘recirculate’ mode) or an air purifier if available.

In addition:

•Carry all medication needed on a routine or situational basis, such as inhalers.

•Use saline eye drops regularly to minimize irritation.

•Consult your medical practitioner if you experience symptoms.

For hourly updates of the PSI level, you can visit the Singapore Weather Information Portal of the Meteorological Services Division.

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International Football - PSV beat Feyenoord 10-0

Sun, 24 Oct 15:38:00 2010

Dutch leaders PSV Eindhoven inflicted the heaviest ever defeat on former European champions Feyenoord with a 10-0 drubbing at the Philips stadium.

Brazilian Jonathan Reis hit a hat-trick with Ibrahim Afellay, Ola Toivonen, Jeremain Lens (2), Balazs Dzsudzsak (2) and Orlando Engelaar joining in the rout.

Feyenoord, traditionally one of the 'big three' clubs in the country and European Cup winners in 1970, were reduced to 10 men on 34 minutes when midfielder Kelvin Leerdam was sent off.

Their previous worst defeat was an 8-2 loss to Ajax on Sept. 18, 1983.

"This really hurts, suffering a defeat like this and it was very emotional in the dressing room afterwards," Feyenoord coach Mario Been said.

"It is hard to realise what happened," added left back Tim de Cler. "After the first goal and the red card everyone just played their own match and we totally collapsed."

PSV remain top of the table with 24 points after 10 matches, two more then Twente Enschede who beat visitors AD Den Haag 3-2. Feyenoord are 16th in the 18-team league with eight points.

Ajax slipped to third with 21 points after a 2-2 draw at Excelsior Rotterdam, who took a 2-0 lead after Ajax's Vurnon Anita was sent off. Second-half goals from Mounir El Hamdaoui and Jan Vertonghen salvaged a point for Ajax

Reuters