London, January 6 : A new study has revealed that water-cooler gossip can prove very helpful in testing business ideas.

The researchers behind the study are of the opinion that the informal channels that such chat provides could prove the perfect environment to sound out ideas.

They even reveal how once a Sydney-based recruitment agency''s managing director, who could not afford to award all staff a pay rise but was worried that only doing so for some could adversely affect morale, opted to start a rumour by telling a trusted lieutenant that he was planning to award some people pay rises in return for their taking on more responsibility.

Kuala Lumpur - A Malaysian court has charged a Singaporean national for allegedly murdering his 7-year-old Thai stepson last month, a news report said Tuesday.

London, Jan 6 : The BBC has denied new Doctor Who Matt Smith had any knowledge about the betting that took place over the identity of the 11th Doctor.

A wager had been waged on Smith, 26, at odds of up to 80-1, and when he landed the role unexpectedly, he was dragged into a betting scandal after bookies, who stood to lose tens of thousands of pounds, said the wagers had been placed after the BBC told the new Doctor he had gotten the role.

Most of the bets were placed in Northamptonshire, the county Smith grew up in, but a BBC spokeswoman has denied that he or anyone he knew was involved in the betting.

Washington, Jan 6 : Aussie actor Hugh Jackman has revealed that he sticks to a very strict diet of protein and vegetables, and exercises six times a week to keep his body in shape.

Jackman, 40, who was voted People magazine''s Sexiest Man Alive in November last year, follows the routine religiously, allowing himself only little treats.

"I get up at 4am and eat egg whites, then every three hours after that. I have a combination of protein or steamed vegetables and brown rice. Then after midday, no rice or carbohydrates. It''s just vegetables and meat or fish," Contactmusic quoted him as saying.

London, Jan 6 : The band Mongrel has revealed that they have plans of making a second album, and that it will be with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

Sydney, Jan. 6 : South Africa have wasted little time in attending to injured captain Graeme Smith.

Smith has flown to Melbourne to receive treatment on his broken left hand and undergo an autologous blood injection on his right elbow.

The Proteas are desperate for Smith to regain full fitness in time for Australia''s forthcoming Test tour and have attempted to expedite the healing process by having him treated immediately.

Barely 18 hours after Mitchell Johnson struck him a series-ending blow to the hand, Smith was on a plane to Melbourne for an appointment with local surgeon Greg Hoy to have the fracture attended to.