THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT !!!

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Miss World CEO slams S’pore pageant standards

By Angela Lim – January 28th, 2011

The global organiser of the Miss World pageants is shocked at the poor standards of how the beauty contest was being run in Singapore.

“I was shocked to hear that the representation of the Miss World brand has been diluted to such a degree here that I don’t recognise it anymore,” Ms Julia Morley, the British chairperson and CEO of Miss World Limited told The New Paper.

“The girls are being paraded in bikinis and the show has become more for a showgirl club type image. The show’s judging panel must think of who will make a good ambassador for Singapore, not who has the biggest… you know,” she added.

Ms Morley, who has owned the Miss World brand for the last 40 years, also claims people have e-mailed to inform her that Singapore’s pageant winners have not been active in charity work, amongst other complaints.

To give the Singapore beauty contest an image overhaul, Ms Morley has dropped the local licensee of Miss World, ERM World Marketing (ERM), as the pageant’s Singapore organiser.

Instead, starting this year, Mr Raymund Ooi of Limelite Productions will take over the reins from ERM’s managing director Mr Alex Liu, who has been organising the pageant for the last seven years.

Explaining her decision, Ms Morley said of ERM’s Mr Liu, “It’s a different show that he’s running and he’s not running with us (the Miss World brand) in mind.” She added that ERM was also involved in many other pageants which did not fit the brand’s ideal of the organiser managing only the Miss World pageant.

ERM said it does a string of events including Manhunt International, Miss Bikini International, Miss All Nations, Miss Tourism Queen International (Chinese Version), Miss Tourism Queen International (English Version) and Miss Global Beauty Queen.

But is her decision to appoint a new licensee also a response to the Ris Low fiasco in 2009?

Surprisingly, Ms Morley said she had not heard of the scandal involving the former beauty queen’s credit card fraud convictions and infamous problems with the English language.

When told of the ex-beauty queen’s sudden rise to fame (or infamy) in the last two years, no doubt encouraged by her ”boomz rad biginis” and “leopard preens”, Ms Morley expressed sympathy.

“It’s a shame that she’s been put through this. If she’s a poor, ignorant girl, then you (the licensee) should help these girls. She shouldn’t have been put in a position to represent Singapore yet. We want to help young women, not degrade them,” she said.

Previous local winners of the Miss World pageants include 2008 winner Faraliza Tan, 2006 winner Colleen Francesca and 1988 winner Teo Ser Lee.

Despite having never met Low, Ms Morley said the other Miss Singapore World contestants over the past years were “very pleasant young women”.

“You can’t dislike them because they are only represented by the help that they have been given,” she said.

Ms Tracy Lee, an events consultant at ERM, echoed that it was a business decision — and not the Ris Low incident — to discontinue as licensee for Miss Singapore World.

She explained that the licensee fees are “high into five figures” and the sponsorship obtained does not justify the pageant expenses. During the 2009 contest which Ms Low won, questions arose also about the judging criteria.

Defending ERM’s management of the Miss World pageant over the last few years, Ms Lee said. “This is a beauty contest where the girls must have a good figure and complexion, so if they do not parade in swimwear, what do they wear?”

“And just because we do not publicise our charity work does not mean the girls have not done their part of charity work,” she added.

Ms Lee said that the contestants had raised more than S$120,000 for the victims of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake.

“If you want the contest to be glamourous and be a huge production, there must be financial support from either government agencies, TV station or the private sector each year to finance the event, which we do not always get.” she explained.

She added, “So with what little funds which we raised each year, ERM has done the best it can with the limited resources to produce the Miss Singapore World pageant.”

So what qualities should the ideal Miss World Singapore possess?

According to Ms Morley, she must first be someone who likes and understands Singapore and has the confidence to promote charity work and her home country overseas. In addition, she must be intelligent and have a good heart.

“If she hasn’t got money, that’s not her fault, so we are here to help her and groom her. She must learn how to dress, walk, speak well and even do things like holding a microphone properly,” she said.

“I want Singaporeans to go,’This is our girl and we’ll all get behind her as a country’,” she added.

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Red undies all the rage this Chinese New Year

ANN - Friday, January 28

George Town (The Star/ANN) - Red and purple undergarments are popular among people of the Malaysian state of Penang this Chinese New Year.

But do not expect to see images of the rabbit printed on them.

Instead, the trend is for lace and gold embroidered underwear.

Many Chinese believe wearing red and purple on Chinese New Year would bring them good luck.

Roadside trader Anny Lim, 50, said she has seen more demand for the coloured undergarments that she imports from Thailand.

"I brought in 100 sets three times and sales have been very good.

"People also like purple, thanks to a beverage television commercial promoting purple as the extreme red," she quipped.

People are also buying red bras with a tube design that covers their cleavage but is still visible when wearing a low-cut blouse.

At Sunshine Square in Bayan Baru, lingerie department buyer Tan Siew Tuan, 36, said red undergarments, with lace and gold embroidery, are hot items.

"People believe wearing red undergarments at the stroke of midnight to usher the Chinese New Year, coupled with red pyjamas, will bring them good luck and prosperity," she said.

Even the men are snapping up red underwear for the new year.

Sunshine's business processing department head Nicholas Ong said people wear the colour after listening to feng shui masters.

Sales executive Lim Hui Zhen, 42, said she would always buy red undergarments to bring ong (prosperity in Hokkien).

Feng shui master Lee Cheng Hoe said he did not think wearing red for good luck is true in terms of feng shui.

"It is just a belief among the Chinese community.

"We tend to confuse belief with culture, custom and religion," he said.

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Charlie Sheen rushed to hospital after 'wild' party

AFP - Friday, January 28

LOS ANGELES (AFP) – Troubled US actor Charlie Sheen was rushed to hospital with severe abdominal pains, his spokesman said after a reported "wild" party at his home outside Los Angeles.

The TMZ celebrity website said the 45-year-old actor - nickname "Good Time Charlie" - had suffered a hiatal hernia and quoted neighbors saying they heard loud partying, which had gone on for 36 hours, until early in the morning.

"He was having severe abdominal pains and went to the hospital," his spokesman told AFP, after TMZ reported that he was stretchered into an ambulance at 7:00 am (1500 GMT) on Thursday and taken to the Cedars-Sinai hospital.

Asked about the hernia report, spokesman Stan Rosenfield added: "He has had a history of having this type of hernia, and the person who made the 911 call said he had severe stomach pains and said it was from a hernia condition."

TMZ, which earlier said the star was in "serious" condition, said a 911 call was made at 6:35 am, and that two young women were seen leaving at the same time while Sheen was taken out with a towel partially covering his face.

It later said Sheen was in the emergency room, sleeping, but quoted a hospital source as saying: "It's serious."

His actor father Martin Sheen and mother Janet Templeton were at the hospital, TMZ said.

Neighbors of the star, who lives north of LA, reported hearing women singing Red Hot Chili Peppers songs loudly into the early hours, TMZ said, reporting that he was believed to have been having a "wild" party with five women.

The star of sitcoms "Two and a Half Men" and "Spin City" filed for divorce from his wife of two years in November, days after being taken to hospital following a reported drunken incident in New York.

People and other entertainment magazines said the star, one of the best-paid TV actors, was hospitalized after causing serious damage to his room at the Plaza Hotel, where police found him drunk, naked and in the company of a woman.

Last August Sheen pleaded guilty to an assault charge arising from a violent Christmas Day altercation with his wife while vacationing at Aspen, Colorado, but avoided jail under a deal with prosecutors.

Sheen had several run-ins with the law in the 1990s in cases related to drugs, domestic violence and prostitution.

He has also been accused of assaulting his ex-wife actress Denise Richards, a former James Bond girl.

Sheen -- whose nicknames also include "The Machine" and "Chuckles" -- was born Carlos Irwin Estevez in New York on September 3, 1965. His father was just breaking into the acting business on Broadway at the time.

Charlie took an interest in acting at a young age, winning a small part in a TV movie at the age of nine. In 1977 he was in in the Philippines when his dad suffered a near-fatal heart attack on the set of "Apocalypse Now."

He went to school in Santa Monica with Rob Lowe and Sean Penn, and while passionate about acting and baseball he was not good in the classroom and was expelled, according to his biography on the IMDb movie industry website.

His big break came in 1986 when he starred in Oliver Stone's Oscar-winning "Platoon," and the director cast him again in "Wall Street" the next year, alongside his father.

He subsequently fell out with Stone, but continued with a string of hits including "Young Guns" in 1988 and "Hot Shots!" in 1991. However by the mid-1990s his professional and personal life began to go off the rails.

In 1995, while testifying at the trial of Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss, he admitted to spending nearly $50,000 on 27 of Fleiss' $2,500-a-night prostitutes.

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Dr Mahathir: MM Lee does not respect religion

By Angela Lim – January 31st, 2011

Malaysia’s former premier Mahathir Mohamad has publicly denounced Singapore Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew for his remarks on Muslims in his recently published book, “Lee Kuan Yew: Hard Truths To Keep Singapore Going”.

Dr Mahathir accused Mr Lee of not being respectful of religion and blamed him for Singapore and Malaysia’s separation in 1965. The elder statesman of Malaysian politics also accused Mr Lee for recent remarks linking Singapore Muslims’ beliefs and racial integration in the island-nation.

“I’m not surprised by his statement because to him religion is not important,” Dr Mahathir told Malaysian paper, Utusan Malaysia’s Sunday edition, Mingguan Malaysia.

“For him, the end justifies the means, so if he wants racial integration in Singapore, he won’t let Islam stand in the way of his goals. That is Kuan Yew. He totally does not respect religion and the sensitivities of other races.”

Dr Mahathir’s criticisms have added to the firestorm of debate within the Muslim community in Singapore and Malaysia, which first started when MM Lee said Muslims were “distinct” and “separate” and that they don’t do enough to integrate with the rest of society, such as having meals together.

Malay-language dailies in Malaysia including Utusan and Berita Harian, have lashed out at Mr Lee through various articles and commentaries, saying Mr Lee was trying to sow discord among the two neighbouring countries.

They also add that Mr Lee should learn more about Islam before making statements about Muslims. Dr Mahathir also claimed that Malays in Singapore had no choice but to compromise their beliefs.

“They are afraid of the Government,” he said. “I also feel that the Malays are careful when they speak up because they are worried they would be victimised. That is the attitude of the Malays in Singapore.”

In the interview, Dr Mahathir also fired back that while Malaysia ensured equal opportunities for all races, Singapore’s Malays were “weak” and marginalised.

He also blamed Mr Lee for breaking a promise not to contest in east Malaysia in the 1964 elections, saying it was his actions that led to the separation of Singapore from Malaysia.

Dr Mahathir added that other countries might have responded to such a situation “using force”, but Malaysia’s then Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, “chose to separate Singapore and give independence to the country”.

“That’s why it is not true when Singapore accuses us of having malice towards them,” he said.

In Singapore, Mr Lee’s comments have also sparked outrage from various Muslim groups, including the local association of Muslim scholars, PERDAUS and Jamiyah, a member of the Inter-Religious Organisation.

Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has since tried to distance his father’s comments from the government and said, ”My own perspective on how things are in Singapore is not quite the same as MM Lee’s,” adding that his own view is shared by the Government.

During a community event on Sunday, PM Lee also paid tribute to the way the Muslim community in Singapore “has made great efforts to integrate with the other communities and with Singapore society to join the mainstream.”

MM Lee’s comments on Muslims draw criticism

By Ewen Boey – January 26th, 2011

Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew has drawn criticism from several Malaysian leaders after saying that Singapore’s progress on integration has been affected by the tendency of Muslims in the region to be “distinct and separate”.

His remarks were published in a new book, titled Hard Truths To Keep Singapore Going. New agency AFP was first to break the news about the comments, which were then picked up on Sunday by several Malaysian and Indonesian newspapers and news websites.

Malaysian leaders insisted that his views were wrong, while Indonesia had a divided response, judging by comments posted on the online site of the English-language newspaper Jakarta Globe.

Some of the comments agreed with Mr Lee’s views, while others felt that he should have been more sensitive towards the Muslims.

In the book, Mr Lee made the comments when asked to assess the progress of multiracialism in Singapore.

“I have to speak candidly to be of value, but I do not want to offend the Muslim community,” said MM Lee.

“I think we were progressing very nicely until the surge of Islam came, and if you asked me for my observations, the other communities have easier integration — friends, intermarriages and so on, Indians with Chinese, Chinese with Indians — than Muslims. That’s the result of the surge from the Arab states,” said the former Prime Minister of Singapore.

“I would say today, we can integrate all religions and races except Islam. I think the Muslims socially do not cause any trouble, but they are distinct and separate,” he added.

Mr Lee went on to share on his experience of working with politicians of his generation, and how they were able to integrate well with each other, including sitting down to eat.

He also said, “But now, you go to schools with Malay and Chinese, there’s a halal and non-halal segment and so, too, the universities. And they tend to sit separately so as not to be contaminated. All that becomes a social divide.”

He added that this becomes a “veil” among peoples. When quizzed on what Muslims can do to integrate better, he replied, “Be less strict on Islamic observances and say ‘Okay, I’ll eat with you.’”

Malay-language newspaper Utusan Malaysia also featured responses from three officials.

De facto Religious Affairs Minister Jamil Khir Baharom said he hoped that Malaysians would not agree with Mr Lee’s views that linked Islam to blocking racial integration and national development.

“I am worried such views will spread into Malaysian society, which has many types of ideas,” he said, adding that followers of Islam were taught to be moderate.

Malaysian Islamic Development Department director-general Wan Mohamad Sheikh Abdul Aziz said that Mr Lee should learn from his son, and current Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, who is closer to Singapore Muslims.

He also added that MM Lee’s mindset is still stuck in the 1960s, which was a period of prejudices and suspicions against Muslims.

Right-wing Malay rights group Perkasa slammed Mr Lee, saying he seemed to be raising sensitive issues without bothering about Muslim sensitivities, just like the non-Muslim opposition leaders in Malaysia.

Perkasa secretary-general Syed Hassan Syed Ali added, “Perkasa does not consider Kuan Yew as being less able to respect other religions, but instead, consider him as a very senile old man.”

Parti Islam SeMalaysia Youth chief Nasrudin Hassan said Mr Lee’s comments made him sound like a “racist militant fighter”.

One of the comments on the Jakarta Globe report said, “It is not wise to zoom into the religion or belief that these Malays hold. Asking them to be less strict (with) their religion is seen as a dubious idea which may create hatred.”

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Malaysian student gang-raped in London, seven Russians arrested

By Ewen Boey – January 31st, 2011

An 18-year-old Malaysian student has reportedly been gang-raped by several Russian men, including an intelligence officer for the Moscow Police.

British tabloid The Sun, which first carried the story last Thursday, reported that the girl had attended a party at the prestigious Bellerbys College in Greenwich, South London, where she is studying.

Quoting sources, the report claimed the girl was drugged and filmed while seven Russian men assaulted her. One of the men has been identified as intelligence officer Oleg Vladimirvich Ivanov, 23, who has been charged with the offence.

The incident was said to have happened early two Sundays ago during the party attended by English language students of the college. The report also stated that police confiscated iPhones, which contained alarming footage of the victim being gang-raped.

Ivanov and three others identified as Gregory Andreev Melnikov, 22, Norayr Davtyan, 25, and Arnen Simonay, 26, were charged at the Woolwich Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday and Wednesday.

All four claimed trial and have been remanded.

They will appear at Woolwich Crown Court on Tuesday.

Two other suspects were allowed bail while another was released without charges.

The tabloid report stated that the men claimed to be students, but reliable sources were quoted as saying that Ivanov, who had only been in Britain for a week before the alleged gang-rape, worked in the Intelligence Section of the Moscow Police.

A friend realised something was amiss after the victim staggered into her room.

“She is distraught. She is very young and it is believed she was given a drug before being defiled,” the report quoted a source as saying.

When contacted by Malaysian newspaper The Star, two students of the college were reserved in their comments.

“What we know so far is what everyone has read in the newspaper (The Sun). We refuse to talk about the case as we are not allowed to. Please contact our college officials if you want a comment,” said one of them.

The college officials could not be reached for comment.

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SICKENING !!!

47-year-old man jailed three years for INCEST

By Ion Danker January 31st, 2011

A man was jailed for three years on Monday for having consensual SEX with his own daughter.

The 47-year-old plumber admitted to committing the offence in their flat in April 2008 while the daughter, now 23, was also charged with incest but she was given a discharge not amounting to an acquittal on September 7 last year.

Both parties cannot be named to protect the womans identity.

The court heard that the man started bringing his then 19-year-old daughter along when he went drinking with his friends at coffeeshops in 2006. They then became close and this later developed into a sexual relationship.

According to Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Leong Wing Tuck, the pair returned home after a beer drinking session one night in April 2008. While the accused was lying in bed, a small argument broke out between them when she showed little interest in talking to him as she was busy checking her e-mails on the laptop computer at the edge of the bed.

The daughter apologised, and he asked for a hug before they had sex. However, it is believed that the pair had a heated argument a week later over the issue of her furthering her studies.

She then sent a text message to her close friend, asking her to call the police, who arrested him.

DPP Leong also told the court that the charge against the daughter will be revived. Those convicted of incest can be jailed up to five years.

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Premier League - Konchesky joins Forest on loan

Mon, 31 Jan 10:25:00 2011

Liverpool full-back Paul Konchesky has joined Championship side Nottingham Forest on loan for the rest of the season.

Konchesky has endured a troubled time at Anfield since he was signed by former Reds manager Roy Hodgson from Fulham last August.

The 29-year-old had made 18 appearances for Liverpool, but has been unable to win over the club's supporters.

He has not made an appearance since Kenny Dalglish replaced Hodgson as manager earlier this month and had been linked with a return to Fulham.

Dalglish also confirmed that defender Daniel Ayala had not joined Championship side Derby County on loan.

Meanwhile, Coventry starlet Conor Thomas has completed a surprising loan move to Liverpool until the end of the season, which includes a view to a permanent move.

Thomas, 17, was the hottest young prospect on the books at the Ricoh Arena and has represented England at U17 level.

But his development has been relatively low key, with no suggestion of interest from England's top clubs and his move comes as a bolt out of the blue.

The central midfielder only made his full Sky Blues debut in Saturday's 3-2 FA Cup defeat to Birmingham, just weeks after his first-team bow as a substitute in the third-round victory over Crystal Palace.

He will be based with Liverpool's reserves at their Academy.

PA Sport

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Chelsea upbeat despite further heavy losses

Mon, 31 Jan 18:58:59 2011

Chelsea have announced a total loss of £70.9million for the financial year ending June 30, 2010.

The Blues revealed their operating loss had reduced from £72.3million to £68.6million as they bid to fall in line with UEFA's new Financial Fair Play Rules.

Transfer fees were the main contributor to the loss, with the club declaring a positive cash flow of £3.8million, the first time such an outcome had been achieved in the Roman Abramovich era.

Last year had seen a net outflow of £16.9million. Group turnover was up £2.5million to £205.8million.

Chief executive Ron Gourlay said: "The reduction in operating losses and increased sales in 2009-10 shows that we are moving in the right direction, especially when viewed against the difficult macroeconomic environment. The club is in a strong position to meet the challenges of UEFA Financial Fair Play initiatives which will be relevant to the financial statements to be released in early 2013.

Chairman Bruce Buck added: "That the club was cash generative in the year when we recorded a historic FAPL and FA Cup double is a great encouragement and demonstrates significant progress as regards our financial results."

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Premier League - Carroll joins Suarez at Liverpool

Tue, 01 Feb 00:12:00 2011

Liverpool have completed the signing of Newcastle United striker Andy Carroll.

Liverpool paid £35 million to bring the 22-year-old England international to Anfield.

"Andy Carroll has tonight completed his transfer from Newcastle United to Liverpool FC and signed a five-and-a half-year-deal that will keep him at Anfield until 2016," Liverpool said in a statement on their website.

Carroll's move to Liverpool, who have also signed Uruguay's Luis Suarez from Ajax as new manager Kenny Dalglish re-models his squad, paved the way for Fernando Torres to complete his switch to Chelsea.

Spain's Torres joined the west London club for a fee that could reach £50 million.

The powerful Carroll, born in the Newcastle heartland of Gateshead, made his first-team debut in 2006 and has developed into one of the Premier League's most feared frontmen, netting 11 times in the league this season.

His muscular game, touch and finishing ability earned him a call-up to Fabio Capello's England squad in November when he made his international debut against France.

Carroll's departure is a huge blow to Newcastle and their fans who have given the pony-tailed "No.9" cult hero status after his 19 goals last season helped Newcastle regain their place in the Premier League.

Uruguay forward Suarez completed his move to the five-times European champions from Ajax Amsterdam earlier on Monday for a fee of "up to" 26.5 million euros.

"Luis Suarez has today completed his transfer from Ajax to Liverpool FC and signed a five-and-a-half-year-deal that will keep him at Anfield until 2016," a statement said.

"The deal was subject to the completion of a medical, which the player has now passed."

Suarez, 24, the current Dutch Footballer of the Year, will take the number seven shirt worn by some of Liverpool's most revered players including Kevin Keegan and current manager Dalglish.

Suarez signed for Ajax in 2007 for 7.5 million euros.

But Charlie Adam saw his possible move to Liverpool fall through. The 25-year-old Scotland midfielder and Blackpool captain had looked set for a switch to Anfield but the clubs could not agree on a fee.

Coventry starlet Conor Thomas did complete a surprising loan move to Liverpool until the end of the season, which includes a view to a permanent move.

Thomas, 17, was the hottest young prospect on the books at the Ricoh Arena and has represented England at Under-17 level.

But his development has been relatively low key, with no suggestion of interest from England's top clubs and his move comes as a bolt out of the blue.

The central midfielder only made his full Sky Blues debut in Saturday's 3-2 FA Cup defeat to Birmingham, just weeks after his first-team bow as a substitute in the third-round victory over Crystal Palace.

He will be based with Liverpool's reserves at their Academy.

Out-of-favour defender Paul Konchesky has joined Nottingham Forest on a three-month loan deal just five months after arriving at Anfield.

The 30-year-old was signed on transfer deadline day in August by Roy Hodgson but struggled to win over fans and has been unable to shake off his association with the former Reds boss and the club's poor start to the season.

Konchesky has featured just once - as an unused substitute - in Kenny Dalglish's squad for the five matches he has been in charge with right-back Glen Johnson preferred on the left.

But Derby`s deal to sign Liverpool defender Daniel Ayala has been put on hold.

The 20-year-old Spaniard is still recovering from a hamstring injury and will continue his rehabilitation with his parent club. Nigel Clough still hopes to bring him to the club on an emergency loan next month.

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Premier League - Blackpool sign quartet, keep Adam

Tue, 01 Feb 00:27:00 2011

Blackpool signed four players on transfer deadline day and retained the services of captain Charlie Adam who saw possible moves to Liverpool and Tottenham fall through.

Midfielder Andy Reid joined from Sunderland for an undisclosed fee and the Seasiders completed the loan signings of experienced striker James Beattie from Rangers, Belarus international Sergei Kornilenko and Southampton winger Jason Puncheon.

Meanwhile Adam vowed to give his all to the Blackpool cause over the remaining months of the season.

The 25-year-old Scotland midfielder had looked set for a switch to Anfield but the clubs could not agree on a fee.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp said the London club had met Blackpool's asking price just before the transfer window closed but the paperwork could not be processed in time.

Adam told Sky Sports News: "It's been a crazy day.

"I'm still a Blackpool player and I want the Blackpool fans to know I'm totally committed to playing the best I can for the club and I will do my best to help us achieve the highest possible league finish."

Reid, the 28-year-old Republic of Ireland international, made 70 appearances for the Black Cats since his £4million switch from Charlton in January 2008.

However, he became surplus to requirements under Steve Bruce and followed Paulo da Silva and David Healy out of the Stadium of Light.

"I think he will be perfect for us and it won't take me long to get him going," said manager Ian Holloway.

"He's gone for £12million (in cumulative transfer fees) in the past so that's not a bad take for us I believe."

Beattie has endured a frustrating time at Ibrox since moving from Stoke in August, making just 10 appearances, and Kornilenko joins for the rest of the season from Zenit St Petersburg.

Kornilenko, who has recently had loan spells with Tom Tomsk and Rubin Kazan, will add to Holloway's strike options while Puncheon enjoyed a successful loan spell at The Den earlier this season and Millwall wanted him back this month but they were not been able to agree a fee with Saints.

PA Sport

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Chelsea sign Benfica defender David Luiz

Mon, 31 Jan 23:46:00 2011

* Brazil defender Luiz moves to Chelsea for 25 million euros

* Serbian midfielder Matic moves to Benfica as part of deal

Chelsea have signed Brazil centre back David Luiz from Benfica for a fee of 25 million euros ($34.2 million), the Portuguese champions confirmed on Monday.

"Benfica informs it has reached a deal with the Premier League's Chelsea Football Club Limited, to sell David Luiz on a permanent basis for 25 million euros," Benfica said in a statement.

Chelsea's Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic will move to Benfica as part of the deal, the Portuguese club added.

Luiz, 23, had a contract with Benfica that ran until 2015 and is seen as one of the most promising defenders in Europe.

He arrived in Lisbon from Brazil in 2007 and was a key member of the Benfica side that last season clinched the Portuguese Premier League title for the first time in five years, missing only one of 30 league matches.

His performances earned him a debut call-up to the Brazil squad for a friendly against the United States in August. He also played against Iran and Ukraine in October and is in the squad for the Feb. 9 friendly in France.

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Premier League - Chelsea spend £75m on Torres and Luiz

Tue, 01 Feb 00:29:00 2011

Fernando Torres sealed his record-breaking move to Chelsea and David Luiz completed a mega-money deadline-day switch to Stamford Bridge as the Blues splashed out an incredible £75million on the pair.

Torres and Luiz both beat the 11pm cut-off to join the Barclays Premier League champions.

Striker Torres arrived for a reported £50million from Liverpool, smashing the transfer record between British clubs, while Benfica finally allowed defender Luiz to move on in a £25million-plus deal.

After signing a five-and-a-half-year contract at Stamford Bridge, Spain striker Torres told his new club's official website: "I am very happy with my transfer to Chelsea and I am looking forward very much to helping my new team-mates this season and for many years to come.

"Having played against Chelsea many times since coming to England, and in some very big games I will never forget, I know there are many great players here and I will work hard to win a place in the team.

"I hope I can score some important goals for the supporters to enjoy this season."

Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck said: "This is a very significant day for Chelsea, capturing one of the best players in the world with his peak years ahead of him.

"We have long admired the talents of a player who is a proven goalscorer in English football and Fernando's arrival is a sign of our continuing high ambitious. I hope every Chelsea fan is as excited as I am with this news."

Brazil centre back Luiz joins from Benfica for a fee of 25 million euros and Chelsea's Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic will move to Benfica as part of the deal.

Luiz, 23, had a contract with Benfica that ran until 2015 and is seen as one of the most promising defenders in Europe.

He arrived in Lisbon from Brazil in 2007 and was a key member of the Benfica side that last season clinched the Portuguese Premier League title for the first time in five years, missing only one of 30 league matches.

His performances earned him a debut call-up to the Brazil squad for a friendly against the United States in August. He also played against Iran and Ukraine in October and is in the squad for the February 9 friendly in France.

Meanwhile Bolton manager Owen Coyle strengthened his attacking options by signing Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge on loan until the end of the season.

Sturridge goes straight into the squad to face Wolves on Wednesday after seeing his first-team opportunities limited at Stamford Bridge.

Coyle is delighted to have the 21-year-old on board after missing out in his pursuit of Arsenal's Carlos Vela, who opted to join West Brom.

He said: "I am really pleased to have Daniel with us.

"He is a terrific young talent and one of the most exciting strikers in the country. We are all looking forward to working with him."

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FACTBOX-Soccer-Fernando Torres factbox

Mon, 31 Jan 23:38:00 2011

Factbox on striker Fernando Torres, who moved to Chelsea on Monday.

* Born March 20, 1984 in Madrid.

* A lifelong Atletico Madrid fan, Torres joined the club at the age of 11. He made his first-team debut as a 17-year-old in May 2001 when the club were in the Spanish second division.

* In only his second appearance he produced a virtuoso match-winning performance against Albacete that brought the house down at the Vicente Calderon.

* Known as "El Nino" (The Kid) he was made club captain aged 19 and was the team's leading figure on and off the pitch. He was likened to a Spanish David Beckham for his constant changes of hairstyle, appearances in promotional campaigns and even a video with a well-known Spanish pop group.

* Torres was the top scorer for Atletico for his last five seasons in the Spanish capital, his best campaign coming in 2003-04 when he totalled 19 goals. He scored 75 La Liga goals.

* He was top scorer and named player of the tournament when Spain won the European Under-16 Championship in 2001. He repeated the feat when they won the European Under-19 Championship the following year.

* He earned his first senior cap for Spain in a 3-0 friendly win against Portugal in September 2003 at the age of 19 and scored his first goal in a friendly against Italy in April 2004.

* Moved to Liverpool in July 2007 in a 24.3 million-pound deal.

* Scored the only goal of the 2008 European Championship final to beat Germany and played in the 2010 World Cup final, another 1-0 Spain win. Has registered 26 goals in 82 appearances.

* Scored 65 Premier League goals for the Anfield club in 102 matches before leaving on Jan. 31, 2011, for Premier League rivals Chelsea.

[kueytoc]

FACTBOX-Soccer-Top 10 British Transfer Fees

Mon, 31 Jan 23:35:00 2011

The top 10 British transfer fees after Fernando Torres broke the record in his move from Liverpool to Chelsea on Monday.

Player Clubs (year of move) Cost Fernando Torres Liverpool to Chelsea (2011) 50 million pounds ($80.21m)

++ Andy Carroll Newcastle United to Liverpool (2011) 35m ($56.14m)

++ Robinho Real Madrid to Manchester City (2008) 32.5m ($52.13m)

Andrei Shevchenko AC Milan to Chelsea (2006) 30.8m ($49.41m)

Dimitar Berbatov Tottenham Hotspur to Manchester United (2008) 30.75m ($49.33m)

Rio Ferdinand Leeds United to Manchester United (2002) 29.1m ($46.68m)

Juan Sebastian Veron Lazio to Manchester United (2001) 28.1m ($45.08m)

Wayne Rooney Everton to Manchester United (2004) 27m ($43.31m)

Michael Essien Olympique Lyon to Chelsea (2005) 24.4m ($39.14m)

Didier Drogba Olympique Marseille to Chelsea (2004) 24m ($38.50m)

* U.S. dollar conversion rate as of Jan. 31, 2011 not actual time of transfer

++ Fee as reported in media at time of transfer

[kueytoc]

Bond film composer John Barry dies aged 77

5 hours 7 mins ago

By AFP, Alice Ritchie

British film composer John Barry, who wrote the music for a string of Bond films and won five Oscars for movies including "Out of Africa", has died at the age of 77, his family said Monday.

He passed away on Sunday in New York, reportedly from a heart attack.

Barry was best known for his work on the James Bond films -- he scored 11 films including "Goldfinger" and "You Only Live Twice" -- and his atmospheric scores are credited with giving 007 much of his smooth persona.

"I think James Bond would have been far less cool without John Barry holding his hand," said David Arnold, his successor as the 007 score composer, who described Barry's death as a "profound loss".

Although Barry did not compose the distinctive Bond theme tune -- that was the work of Monty Norman -- he provided the arrangement that made it famous.

However, the adventures of 007 represented only a handful of the more than 100 films Barry worked on during a career spanning three decades, which earned him an OBE (Order of the British Empire) in 1999.

He won Oscars for "Out of Africa", "Dances With Wolves" and "The Lion in Winter", and two for "Born Free", for best song and best music score. He also earned a Grammy Award for "Midnight Cowboy" (1969).

"It is with great sadness that the family of composer John Barry announce his passing on the 30th of January 2011 in New York," a family statement said.

"Mr. Barry is survived by his wife of 33 years, Laurie, and his four children and five grandchildren. Funeral arrangements will be strictly private and a memorial service will be held later this year in the UK."

Barry grew up in the northern English city of York, but left Britain in the mid-1970s and set up home in Oyster Bay, New York, although friends remarked that he never lost his Yorkshire accent.

Born John Barry Prendergast in 1933, Barry was surrounded by movies and music through his cinema-owning father and classical pianist mother.

He lived for a time in Chelsea, at the heart of the swinging Sixties scene in London, reportedly renting out his spare room for a few months to the then unknown Michael Caine.

It was there that he met sex siren Jane Birkin, the second of his four wives.

His big break came when he worked on the 1962 Bond film "Dr. No", although he was not credited for his contribution.

Thereafter his scores -- mixing big band music, guitar riffs, strings and the beats of his jazz heroes Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington -- became integral to the image of the British spy.

In an interview with Time Magazine in 1999, Barry described how he sought to use his music to help the low-profile George Lazenby when he took over the role from Sean Connery in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service".

"I was trying to impose on Lazenby the suaveness, the humour, and I really overdid the score," he said.

Fellow British composer Arnold, who wrote the music for "Tomorrow Never Dies" among other Bond movies, praised Barry's "extraordinary melodies".

"That was John's gift -- not only his way with harmony but the fact that he could state within a five- or ten-second phase everything you need to know about a movie," the composer told BBC radio.

He added: "The music that he wrote transcends the movies that it was written for and became part of popular culture."

Barry first achieved success playing trumpet and singing with the John Barry Seven, a pop group, and went on to play a key role in the success of one of the first major British pop stars of the early 1960s, Adam Faith.

Later, he returned to pop, working with Duran Duran and A-Ha in the 1980s.

Barry also had a long and fruitful partnership with the lyricist Don Black, who paid tribute Monday to his old friend.

"The thing about John that I will always remember was he never changed," Black said, adding: "There was no trace of America about him, he brought York to New York."

Barry's son-in-law, Simon Jack, remembered him to the BBC as a "wickedly funny man" whose "passion, genius and sense of humour will be terribly missed by his family and friends".

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Indonesian Star jailed for SEX-Tape Scandal

By IRWAN FIRDAUS,Associated Press - Tuesday, February 1

BANDUNG, Indonesia One of Indonesia's best-known pop stars was sentenced Monday to 3 1/2 years behind bars after sex tapes with his celebrity girlfriends found their way to the Internet, riveting and dividing this predominantly Muslim nation.

Liberals said the embarrassment suffered by Nazril "Ariel" Irham _ who insists the videos were not intended for public viewing _ was punishment enough. But hard-liners were outraged, saying the singer was contributing to the country's moral decline.

Hundreds charged the gates of the courthouse in the city of Bandung after the verdict was read out, yelling "Too light! Too light," as he sped off in an armored police car.

Ariel, lead singer of the country's most popular band, Peterpan, was the first celebrity to be charged under Indonesia's strict anti-pornography law, which came into effect in 2008 despite strong opposition from the public and members of government.

It is seen by many as vaguely worded and as carrying overly harsh penalties.

Ariel insists the tapes were stolen from his house and posted online without his knowledge, but presiding Judge Singgih Budi Prakoso said the pop star did nothing to prevent their widespread distribution.

He sentenced him to 3 1/2 years in jail _ well short of the maximum 12 years _ and slapped him with a $25,000 fine.

"As a public figure, the defendant should be aware that fans might imitate his behavior," Prakoso said, adding that the frontman for Peterpan _ which is also popular in neighboring Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei _ did not show remorse.

His supporters were devastated.

"He's just a victim," said Roslawati, 30, as tears streamed from his eyes. "He didn't post that video."

Indonesia, a secular country of 237 million people, has more Muslims than any other country in the world. Though most are moderate, a small extremist fringe has become more vocal in recent years.

They have pushed through controversial laws _ including the anti-p.o.r.n bill _ and been known to attack anything perceived as blasphemous, from transvestites and bars to "deviant" religious sects.

More than 500 demonstrators turned out Monday, some pelting the police vehicle carrying Ariel to the court with rotten eggs and tomatoes. Others held placards criticizing the star.

When the verdict was read out, they rushed and rattled the gates of the courthouse and briefly scuffled with the singer's supporters. Police fired warning shots to break up the fight.

"More years for Ariel!" shouted Kurnia Maryati, a 33-year-old mother of three who was wearing an Islamic headscarf.

The videos were made public in June.

The first six-minute clip purportedly showed Ariel in bed with his girlfriend, Luna Maya, a top model and actress who joined him at the court Monday. She broke down in tears when the ruling was read out.

The second clip showed him with a former girlfriend, also a well-liked model and television presenter, Cut Tari.

The clips were spread on Facebook and YouTube and distributed by mobile phone rapidly, prompting the government to try to impose a so-far unsuccessful online filter for p.o.r.n.

It is not yet clear if the women in the videos will also be punished.

But the man who admitted to posting the tapes on the Internet was sentenced Monday in a separate trial to two years in jail.

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Drink driving ad receives flak for being ‘too obvious’

By Faris – February 1st, 2011

A public education message against drink driving by the Traffic Police and the Singapore Road Safety Council (SRSC) has received flak over its advertisement, with some saying the public service message defeats its own purpose.

The message, styled as the obituary of a teenager who was a victim of drink driving, ran with his picture and the words “Dearly missed by a loving wife, children, and grandchildren that he will never have. Denied of a future of hopes and dreams that he will never realize”.

But under this was a “disclaimer” — that the teen is a fictitious character.

Those in the business of advertising and communications said the advertisement, which ran in The Straits Times and The New Paper on Monday, deflated its own power with the disclaimer.

Mr Gan Boon Guan, the chief operating officer of global marketing services group Carat Media Services, told ST, “It creates an effect and then takes it away.”

The industry veteran with more than 20 years experience added that the disclaimer defeated the purpose, because the drama created is lost, and the message becomes almost a joke.

Advertising veteran and part-time advertising lecturer Melina Chua echoed those views saying, “When I realised it was an ad, the house of cards fell down for me. The gravity of the message was lost.”

Mr Low Cheh Chuan, managing partner of Salt Creatives, which created the ad for the Traffic Police, said the creative concept set out to show the reality of the consequences of drink driving.

“It’s not about one life. It’s about robbing the person of the chance to be a husband, a father, a grandfather.”

Defending the use of the disclaimer, he said it was necessary in the name of responsible advertising, and insisted that it did not compromise the effect of the ad.

“It’s still very real. The ad has done its work and got the reader’s attention… If a lot of people go away thinking that it is a real obituary, it creates a lot of hassle.”

The teen in the ad is an 18-year-old whose features were digitally altered “a fair bit” with his consent, and that of his parents. The “obituary” is just a teaser, said Mr Low. Today, there will be another ad that portrays the teenager as a father and a grandfather.

The SRSC who is also a partner in the ad campaign, said it supported the “bold and creative” approach that conveys the anti-drink driving message, “We want a clear message that drives home the drastic consequences of drink driving.”

Advertising lecturer Tim Clark from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) said “deception” was a dangerous tactic to use in advertising. But it was acceptable for public service messages, because “in this context, the disclaimer doesn’t change the fact that real people do die this way”.

Last year, 22 people died and 182 people were injured in drink-driving accidents, a total of 204 casualties. The number of people arrested for drink driving was 2,931. There were 267 casualties in 2009 and 235 in 2008.

Said a police spokesman, “It is hoped that the emotive appeal of the advertisement will remind the public not to drink and drive.”

Businessman Muhammad Nazran Ahmad, 30, said the ad prompted him to think about the taboos of using a living person’s face in an obituary instead of making him reflect on drink driving.

“It was clever, but not necessarily effective,” he said.

[kueytoc]

Marina Bay Sands CEO steps down

By Ewen Boey – January 29th, 2011

After just 18 months at the helm, Marina Bay Sands (MBS) president and chief executive officer Thomas Arasi is resigning.

The American, who is in his 50s, addressed his staff over email on Friday, stating that he will step down next Tuesday, after only assuming his role in August 2009, Reuters reported.

He said, “I have decided to pause, take a breather and spend more time with my daughter and other family.”

A gaming analyst, who did not want to be named, said that one reason for Mr Arasi’s resignation could be due to the “pressure” from running the Las Vegas Sands-owned casino headed by billionaire businessman Sheldon Adelson.

An industry insider told The Straits Times, “Mr Adelson is known in the industry to be a strong character with very strong views. A lot of the business is decided by him in the US.”

MBS opened in April last year and, in its first full quarter ending September 30, raked in revenues of S$631 million and a pre-tax profit of S$315 million.

Its rival, Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) achieved a higher revenue, totalling S$732 million and pre-tax profits of S$346.5 million for the same quarter.

However, MBS registered a higher profit margin of 49.7 per cent compared to RWS’ 47 per cent over the same period.

Mr Arasi’s resignation is the second incident involving a senior executive in the last few months.

Senior vice-president of marketing Lucinda Semark resigned last October, with Mr Riad Shalaby, vice-president of marketing taking over her duties.

Gaming analysts say the string of departures is unusual.

Gaming consultant Michael Gore, who has worked in casinos in Malaysia and the Philippines, said, “It is rare for a casino to lose its top managers in its first year of opening because they are carefully selected and well-qualified candidates.”

Mr Arasi is a veteran in hospitality with decades of experience in hotel operations and real estate, and also holds a bachelor’s degree in hotel and restaurant management from Cornell University.

Since its opening, Mr Arasi has had to deal with a few mishaps, including an international law conference that went terribly wrong. Earlier this week, MBS made an about-turn on its decision to punish staff who do not turn up for work during Chinese New Year.

A 34-year-old dealer was shocked to find out about Mr Arasi’s sudden departure.

“I’ve always had a good impression of him. Whenever we run into him, instead of us greeting him, he greets us first.”

[kueytoc]

Local Liverpool fans furious over ‘turncoat’ Torres

By Ewen Boey – February 1st, 2011

Liverpool fans are furious over the shock departure of Fernando Torres to Chelsea for S$102 million (£50m).

The deal, which was completed minutes before the European football transfer window closed on the stroke of midnight on January 31st, sees the former Liverpool talisman leave the struggling Anfield giants on a five-and-a-half year deal to play for fierce rivals Chelsea.

24-year-old bank analyst Cheong Junmin, a long-time Liverpool fan, couldn’t mince his words.

“Its a dark day in EPL history. Remember what he said when he first joined Liverpool? That he’ll never play for another club? I feel betrayed.”

Torres had once revealed that he and his childhood friends were all Liverpool friends. Once in 2006, when he was the captain of Atletico Madrid, he even wore his captain’s armband with the inscription, “You’ll Never Walk Alone” on the inside.

Engineer, Kevin Chan, 32, another long-time Reds fanatic, was furious the star player was sold to a rival club in the Premier League.

“I’m very disappointed with Torres’ move. Yes, Liverpool gets the money from a player who’s already unhappy at the club, but to another rival big club in the same league?”

Yet another fan, manager Ryan Tang, 31, appeared resigned to the news but admitted Torres leaving could be best for both sides.

“For Torres, it’s no love lost, really. In Liverpool it’s like a family and we stick it through thick and thin. If you decide that you want more money and want to leave, then just go. It’s better that way,” he said.

Liverpool moved swiftly to fill the void left by Torres, and announced the shock capture of Newcastle striker, Andy Caroll, for a staggering S$71 million, a transfer record for a British player.

The 22-year-old English striker, who has been compared to a young Alan Shearer, was only last year still plying his trade in the Coca-Cola Championship.

Mr Tang, however, feels that the jury should not be out on Carroll just yet.

“I’m reserving my judgement on Carroll for now, though Liverpool has had a history of buying expensive British strikers. Give him time to prove himself.”

26-year-old advertising executive, Mark Chui, however, was not convinced of Carroll’s purchase.

“While I don’t like seeing Torres leave Liverpool, every player has their price. I’m actually more angry at the price we paid for Andy Carroll. How can somebody who was only playing in the Championship last year be worth more than David Villa?”

On micro-blogging platform Twitter, Liverpool fans were also lamenting the departure of their former hero and the arrival of a very expensive and unproven striker.

@fabreyas tweeted, “I think Nando rushed it. Should’ve waited til June. Then again he’s (probably) had enough of Woy’s (Roy Hodgson) reign and wants trophies badly.”

However, Reds fan said @egomy was happy to see the back of a player who did not want to play for the club any longer, “No player is bigger than Liverpool FC.”

@superrden posted on Carroll’s arrival, “Not worth that kinda money! Liverpool desperate.”

In contrast, Chelsea fans are delighted with the capture of the prolific Torres.

However, 25-year-old Blues fan Kenneth Teo, an undergrad, had some reservations about the way the deal was done.

“Torres deserves a better club than Pool. But he should have honoured his promise and his contract,” he said.

Kannan Tamilchelvan, 27, a shipping manager and also a Chelsea fan said, “Don’t think he’ll have an immediate impact. Chelsea must play 4-4-2 probably to accommodate him but I don’t think they’ve got the midfield players to play 4-4-2. Plus he can’t play in the Champion’s League.”

Football writer Ash Hashim — also known as Fútbolita – told Yahoo! Singapore that Torres’ departure was not unexpected, given that Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez was also on his way to Anfield.

“Torres and (Luis) Suarez both have the same agent. Usually, agents would prefer not to have their main clients – especially if they’re playing in the same position – to play for the same team in order to prevent a conflict of interest. So at the point when they made the move for Suarez, I think they were already prepared to let Torres go.”

[kueytoc]

China goes rabbit-crazy for Lunar New Year

AFP - Monday, January 31

BEIJING (AFP) - – In stews, as pets or adorning shop windows, rabbits are ubiquitous as millions of Chinese mark the Lunar New Year, hoping for a more tranquil time ahead as the old Year of the Tiger roars its last.

The nation's 1.3 billion inhabitants will welcome the Year of the Rabbit on the night of February 2-3 in a hugely important family event marked by feasts and a blaze of fireworks.

Occupying the fourth position in the Chinese zodiac, the rabbit is closely linked to the moon and symbolises happiness and good fortune.

Many -- including brokerages -- are banking on the calm and sensitive rabbit to usher in a calm 12 months after the tiger brought a spate of deadly natural disasters to China such as earthquakes and mudslides.

CLSA, a brokerage and investment group, predicted in its latest "Feng Shui Index" that the rabbit would have a positive influence on stock markets.

"A reputedly placid, personable and prescient white rabbit will wrest the reins from the decidedly unpleasant and erratic tiger that's been tossing and turning the markets over the past 12 months," it said.

The bunnies in a video cartoon that went viral recently on the Chinese Internet were anything but tranquil.

Their revolt against brutal tiger overlords -- a thinly veiled swipe at China's communist rulers -- was a huge hit before the video was yanked by online censors.

And while some attribute calming qualities to the rabbit, it may not be such a good year for the animal itself in China.

Restaurants around the country are offering rabbit delicacies as part of their lavish New Year banquets, and animal rights group PETA has urged actress Gong Li to stop wearing rabbit fur.

People are also rushing to buy bunnies as pets, sparking concern among animal rights activists that the cuddly creatures could suffer from neglect or be abandoned once the novelty has worn off.

But for people like Zhao Jizhang, who sells tiny caged bunnies near an outdoor market in Beijing, this New Year is a boon.

"People are buying them thanks to the Year of the Rabbit," said Zhao, who charges 30 yuan ($4.60) per bunny, compared to 150 yuan in regular pet shops for larger specimens.

But one bunny costs even more -- the white Hotot, which has a black eye ring, leading some to call it the "panda rabbit", a marketing dream in a country where the giant pandas are a beloved national symbol.

Still, pet or no pet, people will put their hands together according to custom on New Year's Eve to wish their loved ones success and happiness. But this time, those in the know will lift their thumbs up to imitate rabbit ears.

This mimic is described as very "geili" -- a new expression that has gone viral on the web which literally translates as "to give power" and more loosely means "cool".

The Internet is driving the Chinese New Year spending frenzy, with thousands of online discounts offered for everything from alcohol to food and trips.

One popular destination is the ice and snow sculpture festival in the northeastern city of Harbin, dubbed the world's largest, where tourists can see giant rabbits in temperatures as low as -28 degrees Celsius (-18.4 Fahrenheit).

And on Apple's iTunes website, a variety of festive iPhone applications are available -- virtual firecrackers that go off when the phone is shaken, a kit to customise photos with rabbit ears, or horoscopes for the new lunar year.

Even China's postal system has jumped on the rabbit bandwagon, releasing a series of special stamps in early January that sold out in the space of just a few hours.

Stamps with rabbit illustrations released in 1987 and 1999, the last two years of the rabbit, go for up to 125 times more than their original value.

[kueytoc]

China 'Dungeon Rapist' sentenced to death

AFP - Tuesday, February 1

BEIJING (AFP) - – A court in central China has sentenced to death a 40-year-old man who kidnapped two teenage girls, beating and raping them for months while they were held in an underground cell, according to state media.

Zeng Qiangbao, who worked in a steel factory in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province, was convicted on Sunday of rape, illegal imprisonment, robbery and forcible seizure, the China Daily reported.

One girl, who was 16 when she was abducted, was held for nearly two years, while the other, 19 at the time, was imprisoned for 10 months, the report said.

"Zeng, who devastated the physical and psychological health of the girls and exerted an extremely negative influence on society, should be severely punished," the court said in its verdict.

Zeng has vowed to appeal against the death sentence and said he would ask for a psychiatric evaluation to determine whether he could be held responsible for his actions.

In September 2008, Zeng kidnapped the 16-year-old girl. He abducted the second in July 2009.

The pair were found in May 2010, naked except for shackles on their feet, in a secret dungeon Zeng had built under his home, after they smuggled out a plea for help with a map and the phone number of one of the girls' parents.

The girls had smuggled out such notes on many occasions, usually hidden in the rubbish of the instant noodles that they were fed by Zeng.

The home of the 19-year-old, surnamed Zhou, was just 200 metres (yards) from where she was held.

Zeng was also convicted of raping nine other women between July 2007 and May 2010.

The case recalled a number of other shocking tales of sex slavery and secret underground dungeons that have made headlines in recent years.

Austria's Josef Fritzl, who held his daughter Elisabeth as a sex slave in a cramped windowless dungeon for 24 years, was jailed for life on rape and murder charges in March 2009.

Also in Austria, Natascha Kampusch was kidnapped at the age of 10 and held captive in a tiny cellar for eight and a half years until she escaped in August 2006. She was severely beaten but has never confirmed any sexual abuse.

[kueytoc]

13-year-old BOY youngest to get AIDS through SEX

By Asia News Network (ANN), Kai Fong – February 2nd, 2011

TAIPEI – A 13 YEAR-OLD BOY has become the youngest person to become infected with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (Aids) through sexual intercourse, according to health officials.

It is suspected that the boy became infected while working part- time for a 50 year-old male, who lured him into sex with money, said Lin Ting, deputy director-general at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

The boy was visiting an adolescent centre when he tested positive for Aids, Mr Lin said, adding that the CDC had traced the source of transmission to the older man, whose test also came back positive.

Mr Lin noted that young boys were referred to as ‘Sky Food’, or delicious food falling from the sky, by adult homosexuals on the internet, who seek ways of enticing boys either with money or other incentives.

According to statistics compiled last year, the number of young people contracting the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has continued to rise in Taiwan. Compared to 2009, 13.3 per cent more cases were diagnosed among those aged between 15 and 24 years old, the deputy director-general said. As of today, there are 55 cases where victims are under 19 years old.

Mr Lin pointed out that sexual encounters and drug injections are the two major routes of infection.

With the HIV/Aids population in Taiwan standing at 20,057, and 65.9 per cent of those with the disease were infected by engaging in sexual practices and 32.2 per cent through intravenous drug use.

[kueytoc]

Silver lining behind MM Lee’s controversial comments

COMMENT By Faris Mokhtar – February 1st, 2011

Uncalled for, unfair and out of touch.

That’s how I would describe Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew’s controversial comments on the racial integration of the Malay-Muslim community in Singapore.

The 87-year-old founding father of modern Singapore had written in his latest book, Hard Truths To Keep Singapore Going, “I would say today, we can integrate all religions and races except Islam. I think the Muslims socially do not cause any trouble, but they are distinct and separate.”

He added, “Now, you go to schools with Malay and Chinese, there’s a halal and non-halal segment and so, too, the universities. And they tend to sit separately so as not to be contaminated. All that becomes a social divide.”

When asked what Muslims could do to integrate, he said, “Be less strict on Islamic observances and say, ‘Okay, I’ll eat with you’.”

What followed, understandably so was outrage among Malay-Muslim organisations such as PERDAUS and Jamiyah. Soon after, the government was in frantic “damage control” mode.

First, Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs Dr Yaacob Ibrahim and then, Prime Minister Lee were quick to distance themselves, and the government, from MM Lee’s frank “hard truth”.

Well I, for one, respectfully beg to differ from MM Lee. As a young Malay-Muslim born in the late 80s, I think his points are inaccurate and out of touch.

Public or government schools have and will continue to have halal and non-halal stalls. This is to ensure that the food meet the religious dietary requirements of Muslims students such as how vegetarian stalls mainly cater to students who are practicing Buddhists or Hindus.

But there is no such thing as segregated seating areas for both Muslim and non-Muslim students. Students buy their own food and sit wherever they choose.

Even in army camps, where the cookhouse is still separated into the “halal” and “non-halal” sections, nowhere is it said that Muslims are not able to have meals with the Chinese, or vice versa.

There is nothing in the Koran that forbids Muslims from sharing spaces with non-Muslims. In fact, they are encouraged to integrate with the society and such actions do not make one “unMuslim-like” in nature.

And it goes beyond just food. We, the young, are simply different in our ways and thinking.

I still enjoy the company of my friends — Chinese, Indian, Eurasians and Malays — in secondary schools and college. We still catch up regularly for movies, shopping and visit each other houses for casual get-togethers and parties.

When it comes to food, I order my ”halal” food and sit down and have my meal with them side-by-side. If we attend birthdays or house parties organised by non-Malay friends, I and my fellow Muslims will opt for soft drinks while the rest chooses alcoholic beverages.

The point is that, we do socialise and go for gatherings – who says we can’t? And those of my generation agree with me.

“I think his views are myopic and do not paint an accurate picture,” said 22-year old Faizal Shaharuddin, an undergraduate from NUS.

“When we serve national service in the army, you can see that everyone integrate well together. We sit and eat meals together and take good care of one another, regardless of race and religion.”

In fact, even some of my Muslim friends are even dating girls from other races. For instance, a close friend who is studying to be a teacher in NTU-NIE, has been dating a girl of Chinese-Philippine heritage for over a year.

I recognise that MM Lee’s views, and those of his generation, are shaped by their struggle for independence in post-war Malaya and the bitter separation from Malaysia. After all, in those days, where survival was paramount, Singaporeans were segregated.

And before houses were upgraded to high-rise flats and before HDB imposed the Ethnic Integration Policy, one can’t deny that where Singaporeans lived was once segregated along racial lines.

But it is not who we young Muslims are now.

Will the threat of the 1964 race riots or of inter-racial tensions tearing the fabric of Singapore society ever go away? No, and it never will.

But yet, at the same time, I don’t think it is an imminent danger.

The one good thing that has emerged from the hullabaloo over MM Lee’s remarks is that, while controversial, they have stirred fierce debate and discussion, which builds upon the framework of our current understanding and inter-connectedness.

They have also served to dispel skewed mindsets and ageing perceptions.

Most importantly though, MM Lee’s comments have forced me to put up a mirror to myself and those of my — and my elders’ — generation and reminded us again of the need to engage in discourse among Malay Muslims and those from other races and religions.

*The writer has been volunteering at weekly Meet-the-People-Sessions in PAP Marine Parade Branch for the past two years. He also volunteers at the National Kidney Foundation, where he visits dialysis patients and delivers groceries to them.

[kueytoc]

I want my Singapore show to be perfect: Janet Jackson

By Ion Danker – February 4th, 2011

Don’t be surprised if you bump into Janet Jackson walking along the shopping belts of Orchard Road over the next few days.

After 16 years, Janet Jackson is set to return to Singapore to kick off her Number Ones: Up Close and Personal World Tour 2011 on Feb 7.

The 44-year-old singer-actress – and now author – told Yahoo! Singapore in an e-mail interview that she wants to be at her best and is looking forward to performing for her fans in Singapore.

Her Singapore concert is one of the 35 cities on her tour itinerary. The cities were nominated and voted for by fans on Jackson’s website after she called for votes last year.

During the tour, she will perform her 35 number one hits and dedicate a song to each city. For Singapore, she will be dedicating Someone To Call My Lover from her 1997 album The Velvet Rope.

Here are excerpts from her interview.

When you were young, you initially didn’t want to be part of showbiz. Any regrets now that things have happened this way?

Yes, when I was a kid, I wanted to be a horse jockey or to go to Pepperdine University. That didn’t happen, but I have no regrets. I love my live and am very happy.

With modern music constantly evolving through the years, what is your best advice for longevity in the music industry?

I have been very fortunate to have longevity in this industry. It is hard to achieve. I would say pay attention to your gut instinct. If you listen to your gut, it will never lead you wrong. You should also stay true to who you are. I have always written about what is going on in my life. I create something that speaks to me and I hope that the fans like it and can relate to something that I am going through.

What do you love and hate about the music industry today as compared to the 80s and 90s?

I wish that I could have more privacy, but I recognize that it is part of the job. I love music from the 80′s, 90′s and today. There are so many creative people making music, like Gaga or Bruno Mars for instance. They are amazing.

Which artiste’s music do you listen to right now?

There are just too many to mention. It might be easier to ask me who I am not listening to. LOL. It really depends on my mood.

You’ve been acting quite a bit recently. Is this what you would be focusing on for the foreseeable future?

Acting has always been my first love. People forget that I started acting before singing. In fact, my dad told me that I needed to start singing. I was in Good Times where I played Penny. I am happy that I have been able to get back to it. I also love singing so I guess I will need to do both.

Is there anything you’d like to add to your career accomplishments other than acting or singing? Broadway, perhaps?

I still have so much that I want to do in my life and career. I have a friend that is in the music business and he went to Broadway. He said that it is a completely different discipline. I would like to experience that one day.

For your performances, can dancing be considered just as important, if not more important, than singing?

I don’t separate them. I think the most important thing is having fun and putting on a great show for my fans. I am so happy to finally be in Asia, I love it here. I can’t wait to get on stage and hope that you all like what we have created.

Which of your songs do you hold closest to your heart, and why?

I can’t give you just one. It changes all the time. Right now, I am really enjoying performing Control, Together Again and Discipline.

What can Singapore fans expect from your show?

My fans in Singapore can expect to see me up close and personal. That is why I chose to perform at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. I can’t wait to see all my fan’s faces. That is not something that I get to experience when I am in a stadium.

What do you like most about Singapore when you were last here? Fondest memories?

My fondest memories are of all the fans. The people in Singapore are amazing and so nice. I also remember that the city is so beautiful and clean. I love it in Asia and am so happy that my fans have helped me select Singapore as one of the cities we will visit.

What do you want to do in Singapore?

What do I want to do, or what will I get to do. LOL? I would love to spend time visiting the city, eating the amazing food around town, meeting people. I have friends that were born and raised in Singapore and I can’t wait for them to take me site seeing, if my schedule permits it. I hope that I will get to do a little of that. I will be spending a lot of time in the city getting ready for the show. I want everything to be perfect.

Is a brand new original album in the works?

Yes, I am planing on going into the studio later this year. I am not sure what it will be yet. I want to wait until I go into the studio and see what I am feeling at that time. Acting and creating music is so different from being on stage with the fans so for now, I am going to enjoy the love from my fans.

What do you do to get your creative juices flowing?

My music is very personal to me, so I will be looking at my life and what I am feeling… what I want to sing about. Then I will create something that I hope my fans will relate to and love as much as I do.

How have you changed from the time you started performing, up until now?

Have I changed… LOL… No, I would say that I have more self confidence now than when I was younger. I have been so fortunate to experience so many people and cultures. I think that those experiences make up who we are. It has been a long road, but I am happy with who I am today, I love my life.

If you could turn back time, what would you have done differently with your life/career?

I don’t think I would change anything. I have no regrets.

[kueytoc]

Gov’t to review Baby Bonus scheme

By Alicia Wong – February 5th, 2011

At a time when Singapore’s fertility rate has hit a historic low, the government will be reviewing a scheme that aims to encourage married couples to have more children.

This will be the third time the government is reviewing the Baby Bonus scheme. It was reviewed twice, in 2004 and 2008, after the scheme was introduced in 2001, reported Channel NewsAsia (CNA).

It was reported that the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports will be conducting a survey between April and June this year, targeting some 3,000 parents who have benefited from the Baby Bonus scheme. The survey seeks to find out how satisfied parents are with the way the scheme is implemented.

The Baby Bonus scheme provides a cash incentive for parents to help them defray the financial cost of raising children. Under this scheme, parents are given a cash gift of up to S$4,000 each for the first and second child, and S$6,000 each for the third and fourth child.

The government also gives a dollar-for-dollar match when parents contribute to their child’s Children Development Account. Parents can tap on the scheme when they register for their child’s birth at hospitals and the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority.

The Baby Bonus scheme’s lack of success can be seen when the government gave out some S$230 million in baby bonus payments in 2009, up from S$55 million in 2004, but the total fertility rate did not increase accordingly.

In 2010, the total fertility rate fell to 1.16. The replacement rate is at 2.1

Observers told CNA they welcomed the move but felt processes need to be further strengthened.

Research leader of the Asia Research Institute at the National University of Singapore Gavin Jones said, singles should also be asked if such a scheme makes a difference to their marriage and child bearing decisions. This would provide an understanding of the perceptions among the community who have not yet started having children.

Experts also told CNA a higher pay out may be needed, although this would only have a short term impact as the cost of living goes up.

Some suggested bolder measures, including making childcare free and legislating paternity leave.

Chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Community Development, Youth and Sports Seah Kian Peng highlighted the need for more innovative ideas on tackling the low birth rate. “Some may work, some may not work, but I think we should really venture out of the current schemes that we have talked about,” he said.

He suggested, “In housing…maybe for those who a second child, we give them a chance to upgrade, a priority to upgrade to a bigger flat.”

“We should look beyond current schemes, to see what else can be done, and really adopt a whole of a government approach, from accommodation, to housing to paternity, maternity leave and certainly the baby bonus scheme,” he told CNA.