THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT !!!

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La Liga - Ronaldo set for billionaire status

Eurosport - Mon, 19 Oct 11:08:00 2009

Real Madrid midfielder Cristiano Ronaldo is set to become football's first billionaire, earning an incredible £16,000 a minute.

The former Manchester United ace is to be offered a staggering £1.5 million a game to take part in a series of friendlies in the Middle East, according to a report in the Daily Star.

That would see the current world footballer of the year take over from David Beckham as the planet's richest player and send him on his way to becoming the game's first billionaire.

Real are considering a tour of the Middle East with oil barons are prepared to shell out megabucks to lure the Spanish club - and main attraction Ronaldo - to Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

Real will be offered £3m per game for the tour during Spain's annual winter break, with that amount to be split 50-50 with Ronaldo to ensure the Portuguese is included in the trip.

A source told the Daily Star: "Real Madrid are the team of the moment and Ronaldo is the player everyone wants to see.

"He is the key to the deal. These wealthy businessmen are willing to break the bank to get him to play at their local stadium. Money really isn't an obstacle for these people.

"Real can virtually name their price if they include Ronaldo in the squad."

Ronaldo, bought by Real for £80m in the summer, already earns £12m a year at the Bernabeu, while pocketing a small fortune from a number of endorsement deals and his three clothing boutiques.

Eurosport

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MDA still studying how best to regulate pay—TV market

Channel NewsAsia - Tuesday, October 20

SINGAPORE: The Media Development Authority is still studying how best to regulate the pay—TV market. For now, it will not intervene in the exclusive sale of football broadcasting rights.

The issue was raised in Parliament on Monday, with MPs concerned that competition between service providers StarHub and SingTel would lead to consumers losing out.

Free market competition in the pay—TV market has so far led to a wider choice of programmes for consumers.

But the sale of exclusive English Premier League broadcasting rights to SingTel has prompted MPs to ask whether the government should step in. They were concerned that consumers would end up paying more.

Acting Minister for Information, Communication and the Arts, Lui Tuck Yew, said: "Hypothetically, we can tell whoever it is — service providers — that you can only charge subscribers a certain amount. And so they would bid accordingly.

"But bear in mind, that the content owner is not obligated to sell us this. And so the content owner may very well say that, ’I will not sell to Singapore’. And we will be at the greater loss, particularly for the consumers who say they are prepared to pay the price for the package."

Mr Lui added that it is too early to tell if the pay—TV market is too small to sustain competition and he said the situation is different from the free—to—air market which tried to introduce competition a few years ago.

He said: "In the case of SPH’s MediaWorks and MediaCorp, they decided that the free—to—air television market was not large enough to sustain both players, and hence made a commercial decision to consolidate. For the pay TV market, the competition landscape is still evolving."

The Media Development Authority is concerned about the growing number of exclusive arrangements between content owners and service providers which could deter newcomers.

Previously when StarHub Cable Vision was the only provider, Mr Lui said there were only about 64 channels locked into these exclusive contract arrangements. Now, that has more than doubled, to 131 channels.

Mr Lui said these barriers to entry go against the government’s aim of encouraging more service providers to enter the market when the Next Generation Broadband Network gets off the ground.

Replying to MPs, Mr Lui said that regulation will not come easy. Authorities have to bear in mind international rules on commercial agreements for the broadcast of sports and these have to be balanced against the interests of both the market and consumers.

CNA/vm

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SingTel charges just S$23 for all EPL games on mio TV

Channel NewsAsia - Sunday, October 11

SINGAPORE: SingTel unveiled on Saturday football fans need to pay just S$23 to watch the Barclays English Premier League (EPL) on mio TV starting next year.

The telco on October 1 announced it had won the rights to the popular EPL for three years, starting from the 2010 season, after out—bidding rivals StarHub.

Fans had earlier expressed reservations it could cost more to switch from the current provider to SingTel.

However, the company has slashed the price by some 60 per cent from the current S$53 charged by StarHub.

StarHub’s S$53 charge comprises S$24 for a basic package, S$25 for the sports package and S$4 for rental of the set—top box.

To catch EPL on mio TV, subscribers will only pay S$23, which covers all 380 Premier League Games, and comes inclusive of a set—top box and without the need for a basic plan.

Subscribers who sign up for a year will get the UEFA Champions League for free.

Said Allen Lew, chief executive officer of SingTel: "We have a total sports package that will be sold at S$25, again unbundled and that S$25 would include the Barclay’s Premier League, ESPN, Star Sports and ESS News, which is a new 24—hour (sports) news channel."

SingTel said it is rolling out the pricing now because of media feedback, and it plans to monetise its huge investment with innovative content on various platforms.

Pricing for multi—media channels will be announced later.

SingTel also said pricing for non—household users such as pubs and hotels will also be competitive.

The telco said technology will also be enhanced to make the connection in homes more user—friendly and seamless with two set—top boxes.

This will be done by bringing in audio—visual experts to fine—tune the system.

SingTel is confident the lower pricing will attract existing pay—TV customers, and even those who currently do not use such services.

SingTel said it was under no pressure from the authorities to come up with its current pricing strategy.

However, the prices will be maintained for only one season until May 2011, after which they will be reviewed.

The company added that all households will be able to receive the channel by July next year.

CNA/yb

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How to Be a MILLIONAIRE ???

Retire With S$1 Million – even if you haven’t started to save

By Stephanie Thng, Funds Supermart

Start saving early and it could make a world of difference to your retirement plans. Time is your best friend as you will find in this story. Here, we assume five individuals at different stages of their life, from those earning at entry-level, to those close to retirement age. All aim to achieve a monthly income of S$2,500 during their retirement years from age 62 to 82. We also taken into account that the inflation rate stands at 3% per annum, meaning that the general cost of goods and services rises by that amount each year.

Further, we assume that whatever the investors save during their pre-retirement days will earn 8% annually. After they hit the age of 62, we assume that the return on their savings drops to 4% per annum as they take less risk in their investments. This simple illustration does not take into account your other financial needs, such as whether you have planned for your insurance needs (life or term insurance, mortgage insurance, health and hospitalization plans).

If You're 25

Savings: S$0

Monthly Salary: S$2,500

Rate of Increase in Wages: 3% p.a.

Number of Months in Bonus: 2 months

Housing Loan: Not Required

What You Need to Save per Month for the next 37 years: S$158.30

Planning for your retirement when you are 25 years old may seem a bit far-fetched. But the benefits of starting early cannot be underestimated. Assuming that a person starts working at 25 with a salary of S$2,500, you would need to save S$158.30 per month to ensure that your retirement income can stand at S$2,500 per month during your retirement days, which we assume will run from the age of 62 all the way to 82. Even with no savings to start with, having a regular savings plan (RSP) may be a good way to start planning. An RSP would ensure that you have the discipline to force yourself to invest – there is little room for excuses! Very often, we may be tempted to use up our savings for a travel trip or to purchase that dream car. And even for those who believe in the merits of investing, they may not have the discipline of investing regularly because they feel it is not the "right" time to invest. This could be especially true when markets are going through a bull run and some may feel that it is too expensive to go into markets. An RSP is a disciplined way to ensure that you will invest no matter markets are up, down or sideways.

If You're 35

Scenario 1

Savings: S$0

Monthly Salary: S$6,000

Rate of Increase in Wages: 3% p.a.

Number of Months in Bonus: 2 months

Housing Loan: S$800 per month over 30 years

What You Need to Save per Month for the next 27 years: S$666.57

Scenario 2

Savings: S$40,000 (earning 1% p.a.)

Monthly Salary: S$6,000

Rate of Increase in Wages: 3% p.a.

Number of Months in Bonus: 2 months

Housing Loan: S$800 per month over 30 years

What You Need to Save per Month for the next 27 years: S$620.73

At the age of 35, the monthly salary is assumed to have risen to S$6,000. But being able to afford an expensive lifestyle has meant that there are no savings in the bank account, and now you have a housing loan to deal with. While things do not look very bright, it is not too late. Save S$666.57 per month and you could ensure that you have S$2,500 every month during your retirement days.

If You're 45

Scenario 1

Savings: S$0

Monthly Salary: S$8,000

Rate of Increase in Wages: 3% p.a.

Number of Months in Bonus: 2 months

Housing Loan: S$800 per month over 20 years

What You Need to Save per Month for the next 17 years: S$1692.34

Scenerio 2

Savings: S$40,000 (earning 1% p.a.)

Monthly Salary: S$8,000

Rate of Increase in Wages: 3% p.a.

Number of Months in Bonus: 2 months

Housing Loan: S$800 per month over 20 years

What You Need to Save per Month for the next 17 years: S$1582.63

At the age of 45, things will get tougher if no plans have been made yet for retirement. After all, the time horizon till the retirement age of 62 is less than 20 years. Assuming that there are no savings in the savings account, you would need to save S$1692.34 per month. And even with savings of S$40,000, you would still need to save S$1,582.63 per month.

If You're 55

Scenario 1

Savings: S$0

Monthly Salary: S$10,000

Rate of Increase in Wages: 3% p.a.

Number of Months in Bonus: 2 months

What You Need to Save per Month for the next 7 years: S$5319.54

Scenario 2

Savings: S$40,000 (earning 1% p.a.)

Monthly Salary: S$10,000

Rate of Increase in Wages: 3% p.a.

Number of Months in Bonus: 2 months

What You Need to Save per Month for the next 7 years: S$4937.02

The lesson is to start early. The later you drag your retirement planning, the higher the cost. You would need to save over S$5,000 per month (over half your salary) from the age of 55 to 62 to ensure that you have S$2,500 per month during your retirement days.

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Distrust stops students from seeking help

Channel NewsAsia - Thursday, October 15

SINGAPORE: On Monday, a Primary 5 boy revealed to a school counsellor that he had not only picked up smoking, but also sniffed glue on two occasions.

"I felt I needed to tell the authorities, especially (regarding) the glue sniffing," said the counsellor, who spoke to MediaCorp on condition of anonymity.

The boy however protested this, saying he had offered the information in confidence. "This becomes tricky," said the retired teacher, who took up her role as school counsellor after 40 years of teaching. "Because of confidentiality, I could not divulge."

Worries about privacy weigh on the minds of students who appear to have little confidence in school counselling, according to a study conducted on 578 students from six secondary schools.

The study, supported by the National Youth Council through its Youth Research Fund, was published in the latest edition of its publication YouthSCOPE.

The students completed written surveys, and subsequent 15—minute presentations to try to boost their confidence in the counselling process failed.

Among the responses from students: "Counsellors are helping the school to dig out information" and information is passed onto teachers. One female student even remarked five times that "all this talk about confidentiality is all lies".

"This poses a difficult problem for the school counsellors. Simply selling the idea of counselling and promising confidentiality is not going to be the answer," said lead researcher Ms Elizabeth Lau Xinyin.

The Ministry of Education (MOE) introduced in 2005 full—time school counsellors; previously, teachers took on this task on top of their classroom duties. An MOE spokesperson told MediaCorp that the deployment of one full—time counsellor per school was completed last year, with some schools having more depending on need.

"As such, it is too early to measure the effectiveness of the scheme. However, schools have indicated that they find their school counsellors a valuable support to teachers and students, in working with parents and connecting with the appropriate community resources to meet the needs of the students," she said.

’THEY THINK YOU’RE A MENTAL CASE’

But from the students’ point of view, there is a stigma attached.

A 15—year—old sought help after falling out with her friends but was ridiculed after being seen entering the counselling room. "They think you are a mental case and start passing rumours around," she said.

Lum Yi Shang, 16, who is appearing for her O—level exams this year, relies on family and friends for support. Asked if she would ever approach school counsellors, she said: "I don’t even know them."

One avenue that more youths are turning to, however, are helplines.

The Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) hotline received almost twice the number of calls last year than a year ago. Relationship, social and psychological problems were the top three concerns for those aged between 10 and 19.

"Callers have control as they can end calls anytime. They don’t have to reveal their identities and feel more secure talking to a stranger," said SOS deputy director Tan Yoke Yin.

The Singapore Children’s Society, which runs the Tinkle Friend Helpline for primary school children, received 4,662 calls last year, the most in four years.

Boredom and school—related issues such as exam stress, poor performance and too much homework, are common complaints.

MOE TO MONITOR SCHEME

While students may perceive school counselling negatively, school counsellors say more are nonetheless stepping forward to seek help. And their problems are more complicated — not just friendship or peer issues, like in the past, but also relationship issues with teachers and family.

MOE says it will monitor the progress of the school counsellor scheme and make improvements where needed.

And while the counsellors do their best to win students’ trust, it is clear that specific conditions do warrant that confidentiality rules be broken — such as where there is a serious threat to harm someone, or serious thoughts about suicide or inflicting self—hurt.

For the 10—year—old smoker and his school counsellor, they have devised a plan that just may work — the boy will first cut down on his cigarettes, then kick the habit and stay clear of glue—sniffing. "If he continues to endanger his health, I will tell (on him)," said the counsellor.

TODAY

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'Monster Shark' Chomps Into Great White

4 hours 45 mins ago

© Sky News 2009

A giant shark that could be up to 20ft long has sent shockwaves across Australian beaches after a great white was nearly bitten in half.

A stunning picture shows a 10ft predator thrashing about with two massive chunks missing on either side of its body, off the Queensland coast.

Experts said its rival may be 20ft (about six metres) long, judging by the size of the huge bites.

The great white was savaged after it got snared on a drum line - a baited hook attached to a buoy - near North Stradbroke Island, east of Brisbane.

The wounded creature was still alive when a crew hauled it onto a boat, close to Deadman's Beach.

"It certainly opened up my eyes. I mean the shark that was caught is a substantial shark in itself," Queensland Fisheries' Jeff Krause told Australia's Daily Telegraph.

Swimmers have been warned to stay out of the water near the island.

The attack also worried many at a nearby tourist Mecca - Surfers Paradise, south of Brisbane.

Surfer Ashton Smith, 19, of the Gold Coast, told the Courier Mail: "I've heard about the big one lurking. Every surfer is always cautious over here."

Drum lines and shark nets are used to defend swimmers from sea predators, but they have been criticised for occasionally trapping migrating whales.

Fisheries minister Tim Mulherin told the Mail that the capture of the bitten shark - and the indication of a larger one feeding in the area - bolstered the decision to keep defences in place.

He added there were no special plans to hunt the attacking shark but contractors had reset the drum lines.

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Salary Secrets Your Employer Doesn't Want You to Know

by Maria Hanson, LiveCareer

In down economic times, companies seem to have carte blanche to limit salaries and make low-ball offers. But that shouldn't be the case.

Below are the top salary secrets your employer doesn't want you to know. With this information in hand, you'll be in a better position to get the pay you deserve.

Employers don't always offer a fair salary.

Some employers think they're being fair, but they're not up-to-date with the latest salary information. Others may try to pay less than the market value because they're financially strapped. That's why it's important that you know exactly how much money you should be making. A free salary report can help you calculate how much you should be earning in any job.

You can negotiate your salary in a tight job market.

In a recession, many people would rather take a pay cut than lose their jobs. Raises are hard to come by and new hires may feel they have less negotiating power. But that doesn't mean it's impossible to bump up your salary; it's just a little more challenging.

According to a recent survey from the Society for Human Resource Management, 80 percent of HR professionals say employers are willing to negotiate salaries. So, if you're looking for a raise at your current job, come armed with your marketplace worth and make your case. And, if you've been offered a job that pays less than you like, don't be afraid to name your realistic asking price. Keep in mind that, if you got the offer, you're clearly the best candidate for the job -- even in this highly competitive job market.

New hires sometimes earn more than long-term employees.

When there's a strong job market, organizations need to do whatever they can to attract top candidates. This often means that starting salaries may be higher for newbies than they are for long-term employees. Given the current economic conditions, that's less the norm these days, but it still happens in certain industries. If you suspect that a new hire with similar responsibilities is making more than you are, use current salary data to approach your manager with the request to bring your salary up to par.

Your performance doesn't decide your pay.

While your performance is one important factor in the salary equation, your pay is also a reflection of many other factors, including:

* The job market -- lower pay is more acceptable in tighter job markets.

* Location -- generally the higher the cost of living, the higher your salary.

* Years of service -- in many cases, the longer you've been with a company, the higher your pay.

* Organization size -- large organizations tend to pay more than small ones.

* Education level -- in most cases, the more education you have, the higher your pay. Take a free education test to find out how going back to school can help you earn more.

If you're a valued employee who isn't making the money you deserve, you do have options. Know your value and make your case with the help of your free salary report. And know too, that many employers -- particularly larger employers -- have a little more in the "raise kitty" than they let on.

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Transsexual Miss World contest aims to boost awareness

AFP - Monday, November 2

PATTAYA, Thailand (AFP) - – Shimmering in a tight gold evening gown, a Japanese television host wept and called for greater tolerance as she was crowned the world's most beautiful transsexual at a pageant in Thailand.

Haruna Ai, 37, beat off stiff competition from 20 other glamorous contestants at the Miss International Queen 2009 who came to the Thai beach resort of Pattaya from as far as Brazil and the United States.

"I am very, very, very happy," a tearful Ai told AFP minutes after the previous title holder carefully placed a faux-diamond tiara on her head.

"I want contests like this to show everyone that they should love each other and live freely. The way of life in Japan is more traditional and transsexuals cannot live freely, but in Thailand they can do what they want," she said.

The contest, which was called off last year because of political turmoil in Thailand, is taken just as seriously as more traditional pageants in a nation famed for its sexual tolerance.

Millions of Thais watched live on television late Saturday as the statuesque beauties -- all of them born men -- strutted their stuff at Tiffany's Show Pattaya, billed as the world's largest transsexual cabaret.

The first round saw them in kitschy national dress, with a US contestant resplendent in a feathered native American costume and a British entrant donning a Beefeater outfit with black satin leggings and Busby hat.

The lights then sank low as the contestants paraded elegant evening gowns and later modelled pink swimsuits, while giant fluorescent kites soared over the stage.

Japan's Ai won 10,000 dollars, a year's stay at a Pattaya hotel and a 500-dollar surgical voucher after judges picked her over runners-up Karngsadal Wongdusadeekul from Thailand and Daniela Marques of Brazil.

While the audience may have whooped and cheered raucously, contestants and organisers said there was a serious side to the pageant -- boosting public awareness of transgender issues.

"An event like this for us is something I can only hope for in the United States," said US contestant Sunny Dee-Lite, 32, a party promoter from New York City who won the best evening gown gong.

Many participants had stories of discrimination.

Maggie Gao, from China, earlier this year won Miss World Shenzhen, a women's beauty pageant in the southern Chinese city -- but it then emerged that she was a man and the organisers withdrew her title.

"So I am very glad that Miss International Queen has given me the chance to take part," the 27-year-old ballet dancer from Shanghai told AFP backstage before the contest.

Camilia Dzelma, 22, from Singapore, said her Muslim family had accepted her as she is and called for more transgender beauty pageants.

"I am here to open up things and show the world that I am not a freak," said Dzelma, a children's dance instructor at a government-run school.

"These competitions reduce discrimination. My family is Muslim but they do not care about what my identity is as long as they know that I am happy. My mum just called me and wished me good luck," she said.

Thailand's laws have failed to keep up with the country's tolerant reputation.

Transsexuals in Thailand complain that they are legally discriminated against because they cannot change their gender on their ID cards, while new rules on waiting periods have been imposed for sex-change operations.

"In Thailand, after they operate they are physically a woman but legally a man. In the US and Britain and other countries they can change their passport so they are a woman," said Alisa Phanthusak, one of the contest organisers.

Thai contestant Sorawee Nattee, who won the domestic version of the pageant in May, said that she had been drafted for military service despite having had a sex-change.

"But when I went to the drafting centre looking like this, like a girl, with b00bs, they told me to go away," the 21-year-old said.

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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.

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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.

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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.

[kueytoc]

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.

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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.

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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

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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."

[kueytoc]

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.

[kueytoc]

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

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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

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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."

[kueytoc]

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

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Britons among the "ugliest people", dating site says

Reuters - Thursday, November 12

LONDON - Britons are among the ugliest people in the world, according to a dating website that says it only allows "beautiful people" to join.

Fewer than one in eight British men and just three in 20 women who have applied to BeautifulPeople.com have been accepted, an emailed statement from the website showed.

Existing members of the "elite dating site" rate how attractive potential members are over a 48 hour period, after applicants upload a recent photo and personal profile.

Swedish men have proved the most successful, with 65 percent being accepted, while Norwegian women are considered the most beautiful with 76 percent accepted, the website said.

The way that BeautifulPeople.com accepts new members is simple. A potential member applies with a photo and a brief profile. Over 48 hours, existing members of the opposite sex vote whether or not to admit them, the site said.

Options are: "Yes definitely," "Hmm yes, O.K," "Hmm no, not really" and "No definitely not."

The site was founded in 2002 in Denmark and went live across the globe last month. Since then, the site has rejected nearly 1.8 million people from 190 countries, admitting just 360,000 new members.

"I would say Britain is stumbling because they don't spend as much time polishing up their appearance and they are letting themselves down on physical fitness," Beautiful People managing director Greg Hodge said. "Next to Brazilian and Scandinavian beauties, British people just aren't as toned or glamorous."

Only the male Russian and Polish applicants fared worse than British men, although Russian women had a 44 percent acceptance rate. Polish women did not appear in the table.

German applicants were slated for offering up unflattering photographs, which may have hindered their acceptance rates at 15 percent for men and 13 percent for women, the lowest rate in their category.

"German men and women aren't faring well, but they are submitting stern images, they need to soften up," Hodge said.

[kueytoc]

Ticket prices for Universal Studios theme park start from S$32

Channel NewsAsia - Thursday, November 19

SINGAPORE: Visitors are one step closer to visiting Southeast Asia’s first and only Universal Studios theme park opening at Sentosa’s Resorts World, now that ticket prices have been revealed.

Sale of tickets should not be too far on the horizon, with Resorts World Sentosa announcing on Wednesday its one—day, two—day and express pass ticket prices that range from S$32 to S$118 to access all attractions.

"We have pegged ticket prices for Universal Studios Singapore at an incredible value compared to major theme parks worldwide," said Shirly Chen, Vice President (Sales Development), Resorts World Sentosa.

The Universal Studios’ one—day pass on a weekday will cost S$66 for an adult and S$48 for a child, with seniors enjoying a special rate of S$32. The pass will cost S$72, S$52 and S$36 respectively for visits on weekends and public holidays.

And if you want to avoid the long queues, you can buy an express pass costing between S$30 and S$68 — on top of an admission pass.

The price is also attractive for tickets to visit the theme park over two consecutive days, with the highest tag being S$118 for an adult two—day pass.

"As Singapore’s IR, a place for every Singaporean, it is also our aim to reach out to everyone, not forgetting grandmas and grandpas," said Chen.

Resorts World Sentosa will open early next year, with four hotels, a casino and a host of shopping, dining and entertainment offerings, along with the Universal Studios Singapore theme park.

Ticket sales and room reservations will be launched at a later date, in conjunction with exclusive packages for a charity auction.

Universal Studios Singapore will feature 24 attractions, including the world’s biggest single collection of DreamWorks Animation attractions such as the world’s first Far Far Away Castle from the world of Shrek, Madagascar theme park ride and the world’s tallest dueling roller coaster.

CNA/sf

[kueytoc]

Singapore first in Asia to have 2 new procedures for myopia correction

Channel NewsAsia - 1 hour 33 minutes ago

SINGAPORE: Singapore has become the first city in Asia to introduce two new techniques of myopia correction, with one technique promising to help those with myopia of over 1,000 degrees.

With the new procedures, people with myopia can now say goodbye to glasses.

One such example is 23—year—old eye patient Lum Kheng Loon, who had 400 degrees of myopia in both eyes.

He underwent a new lasik surgery introduced in Singapore two months ago, and can now go without glasses.

Lum said: "Before the surgery, I was a bit nervous, but during the surgery, everything was painless."

This new surgery — the "No Touch All Laser EpiLASIK" — is minimally invasive, using laser to remove the cornea’s skin (epithelium). Laser is again used on the cornea to correct the eyesight.

The procedure costs S$3,000 and so far, 14 people have undergone the procedure, with 12 attaining perfect vision.

Doctors say the procedure is suitable for those with thin corneas, those with small, deep set eyes, or those leading active lifestyles.

Another procedure called the "Phakic Intro—Ocular Lenses" — also a first in Asia — is for those with myopia of above 600 degrees.

"I would strongly recommend it, this kind of implants for people with degrees of a range of 1,000 degrees and above," said Dr Julian Theng, a medical doctor with Eagle Eye Centre. "(It’s quite comfortable, and) it offers excellent visual quality even better than lasik procedure. And it’s very easily done — the procedure is short and simple — and easily reversible."

The procedure costs S$3,200 per eye.

The centre has also introduced new chromogen lenses which helps colour blind patients better distinguish colours.

CNA/yb

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MICA looks at feasibility of universal set—top box

Channel NewsAsia - Monday, November 23

SINGAPORE: While the rules will not change overnight, cable television subscribers grousing about the hassle of having two set—top boxes to get their football fix may be assured to know the Government is looking at the feasibility of a universal set—top box.

Discontent has been simmering since SingTel wrested English Premier League broadcast rights from StarHub last month.

Football fans will have to get SingTel’s mio TV set—top box in order to tune in to the EPL next season, after the telco rejected StarHub chief executive Terry Clontz’s idea of carrying SingTel’s EPL content for free.

Acting Minister for Information, Communication and the Arts Lui Tuck Yew offered a glimmer of hope yesterday when he said: "By the third quarter of next year, we should be far, far clearer as to what the possibility is of (a common set—top box that is also under the Next Generation Interactive Multimedia, Applications and Services programme).

"But even before that, the suggestion by Terry Clontz to carry the EPL that is won by SingTel on StarHub is something that is worth looking into."

Adding that "you can be sure we are looking at it on a more broad—based level", Mr Lui was of the view that cross—streaming — if it happens at all — should not apply only to specific content, or to a single telco.

"We ought to do so for all programmes because there really shouldn’t be anything that is so special about soccer," said Mr Lui, who was addressing a question from the audience at his Aljunied—Hougang division ministerial visit yesterday.

Dimming hopes of a quick fix, however, he added that the Government recognises the "sanctity of commercial transactions", and would give enough notice before the rules change.

When contacted, StarHub’s head of corporate communications and investor relations Jeannie Ong said: "As we have stated, we do believe the best direction for Singapore is a universal set—top device connected to the new national broadband network ...

"If the Government chooses that path, we would be pleased to work with the Government to address any short term measures needed to make the transition as smooth as possible."

Meanwhile, SingTel’s reply did not differ from its original stance. "We note the comments raised by the Minister. SingTel has always been focused on customer convenience and choice.

In fact, when we decided to enter the pay TV market in 2007 and offer Singaporeans a real choice, we had to invest in and develop our own pay TV network.

Given the investment in SingTel’s mio TV and the features and functionality that it provides, we will use our own network to deliver our pay TV content and services to our customers," a spokesperson said.

TODAY/sc

[iskay]

Facebook photo costs IBM employee insurance

By FM Monteverde

Created 24/11/2009 - 9:10am

By Computerworld Hong Kong staff | Nov 24, 2009

A Quebec-based IBM employee who's on long term sick leave was quoted in media reports as saying that she lost her long-term disability benefits because of photos she posted on Facebook.

According to a report by Canadian Press on Sunday, the Quebec woman, Nathalie Blanchard said an insurance agent told her that the long-term disability cheques were terminated after photos of her Facebook grabbed Manulife's attention.

The report said the woman, 29, has been on leave since Valentine's Day 2008 from her job at IBM in Bromont, Quebec because of severe depression.

"We would not deny or terminate a valid claim solely based on information published on websites such as Facebook," Manulife was quoted as saying in a statement.

Blanchard was quoted as saying that she doesn't regret the photos posted and it was poor form for the insurance company to diagnose her depression as being cured using the photographs.

The report quotes her as saying that she has no issue with the photos allegedly used against her, including those showing her at a Chippendales bar show, at her birthday party, and on a beach holiday.

"I'm not going to put pictures of myself crying on Facebook," Blanchard was quoted as saying in the reprot.

Her lawyer, Tom Lavin, was quoted as saying in the report that a civil suit was filed in Quebec Superior Court on Friday and the next court date is Dec 8.

According to the report, Lavin said Manulife's actions are totally inappropriate and is seeking $275,000 for his client.

Why privacy plays a part in social network’s fiscal future

By ComputerWorld Hong Kong Staff | May 4, 2009

As social networks like Facebook and LinkedIn strive to formulate sustainable business models built upon advertising or the selling of premium services, the biggest hurdle they face might rest within their users’ increased awareness of online privacy.

The common assumption that social networking users don’t care about privacy is misguided. The majority of people who use social networks (nearly 60 percent or more) have already modified their privacy settings, according to two separate research studies. Furthermore, privacy experts warn that an unfortunate (but perhaps inevitable) security breach that exposes user data over social networks in the coming years could cause a privacy tipping point in which users push back in a more substantive and widespread way.

“Privacy will become more important when the information is used for more nefarious reasons, like for stealing your identity,†says Larry Ponemon, president of the Ponemon Institute, a privacy research firm.

For their part, executives at major social networking sites and their advertisers argue that a culture of greater openness on the Web will prevail. They also say increased user attention to privacy could actually be advantageous to their business: If people feel comfortable with who can see their Facebook profile, for instance, they are more likely to be honest with the information they contribute to the network, which helps in serving up relevant ads that people might click on.

“As people incorporate more openness into their lives, over time we can allow for that evolution with them,†says Chris Kelly, Facebook’s chief privacy officer. “There’s a greater authenticity to their interactions online if they know who they are signaling their interests and activities to.â€

Why privacy is gaining traction

with normal users

Social networking and online advertising experts like to analyze the fallout of the Beacon Advertising incident back in November 2007. This was the main idea behind Beacon: If a Facebook user bought an item from a third-party website participating in the Beacon ad program, that transaction would be published to their friends’ Facebook newsfeeds, the main content stream that runs down the center of their home pages. (For example, “Your friend John Smith just bought two tickets to the new Batman move from Fandango.com.â€)

Despite the fact that major news outlets published stories about privacy concerns and activist organizations like Moveon.org took Facebook public relations for a ride, the incident only garnered the attention of a loud and influential minority—and little more. After Beacon, Facebook did right by its users and rolled out the most comprehensive privacy settings in the industry, but the general consensus was that people wouldn’t use them.

“I don’t think [privacy] has been a widespread concern for advertisers,†says Hussein Fazal, CEO of Adparlor.com, which helps companies serve up on ads on top of social networks. “For now, there’s only a small percentage of people who really care about that stuff.â€

But it turns out some users have fiddled with those privacy settings, after all. In research conducted by the UNC School of Information and Library Science this past fall, more than 70 percent of 495 college students surveyed claimed to have altered their Facebook privacy settings in some way. Around half of the students also said they limited access to their profile to “friends only.â€

The research also indicates that their attention to privacy controls increases with their time on the service. During their first six months on Facebook, only 40 percent of students said they modified their privacy settings. After one year, that number jumped to nearly 80 percent.

As the social networking population ages, the attention to privacy holds steady. According to research by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, around 60 percent of adult users aged 25-34 have restricted access to their social networking profiles to “just friends.†A little less (58 percent) restrict access to specific content contained within their profiles.

Balancing privacy with

revenue potential

The issue of privacy will become murkier as social networks encounter greater pressure from investors to pursue new revenue opportunities—even if they infringe upon their users’ privacy. LinkedIn, the social network for professionals, took a funding round in October that included cash from SAP Ventures. The move caused industry followers to wonder if SAP, which makes business software for sales people to track and manage customers, could someday tie their applications into LinkedIn’s database. Such a decision, they say, could result in a Beacon-like backlash.

LinkedIn, which did not return several requests for comment for this article, hasn’t enacted such a strategy to date, but it does sell premium subscriptions to recruiters, giving them far-reaching access to the LinkedIn database of 36 million people that most users of the free service don’t enjoy.

For Facebook, the fact that users might set their privacy settings to a high level doesn’t have an immediate effect on the advertising its sells on its own site. Whether someone shares his status messages with 20 people or 200, Facebook can still see all that information either way to generate ads. Facebook can monetize the user by culling non-personally identifiable information.

“What we do is abstract profile information, and the information flows of the site, into keywords that advertisers can target their advertising against,†Kelly says. “But the advertisers don’t get a list of who matches those keywords, so it doesn’t really impinge upon the users’ privacy interests.â€

But experts say it’s undeniable that closed-off users would be bad for Facebook’s business because such users hinder network growth, which to date remains staggering for Facebook. “They align the service around openness and that overall network effect,†Stutzman says. “Openness drives traffic, and traffic brings attention to the ads, which is the lifeblood of the service financially.â€

For Facebook, the issue of privacy during the next few years extends beyond the boundaries of its own site. Facebook Connect represents the company’s next major technological iteration. Principally, Connect allows third-party websites to insert a digital badge on their sign-up pages using their Facebook name and password. As people take their Facebook identity with them around the Web, Kelly and his group will have to ensure that their privacy settings are maintained.

He says Connect achieves that task.

“It’s one of the key features of Connect and how Connect differs from most approaches of how to do single sign-on,†Kelly says. “That connection back to your Facebook privacy settings and the ultimate respect of those through that process on thousands of websites is an incredibly powerful advantage.â€

It’s also a powerful responsibility.