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Katie Melua loves swimming with the sharks
London, Oct 24 ANI: Aussie singer Katie Melua loves to take part in extreme sports. The 24-year-old singer took a brake from her European tour, and chose to spend time swimming with sharks. "It was non-stop craziness - including two days of diving," British tabloid The Sun quoted her as saying. "The first day was in an aquarium and the second day was in the sea with dangerous sharks off South Africa. "That was cool," she added. Melua recently released her new album The Katie Melua Collection, which also marked the conclusion of her song-writing partnership with mentor Mike Batt. However, he will continue as her manager and label boss. Melua has also started planning her fourth album of original tracks. "Mike is such a huge figure in my work, in some ways I think he will be irreplaceable, but he has to be replaced by something or someone," she said. "I definitely need a new producer but in terms of writing I'm going to try to do it on my own. Co-writing only works if you meet someone who really inspires you," she added. ANI
2008-10-24 08:00:00
DVD: Lou Reed's Berlin à¾¬A
Schnabel follows The Diving-Bell and the Butterfly with a multimedia concert...
2008-10-24 02:00:00
Slump attack
Turbulent skies and a nose-diving sensex make all industries jittery
2008-10-19 04:28:19
Gulf markets crash after two days of resurgence
ECO16Economy/InternationalGulf markets crash after two days of resurgenceBy Aroonim BhuyanDubai, Oct 15 IANS Gulf markets again fell Wednesday after rallying for two days over renewed fears of the global financial crisis.Except in Saudi Arabia, where the Tadawul index ended marginally up, most markets in the region started the day in the red. While some managed to recover part of the negative ground, others fell further.The key Dubai Financial Market DFM, which saw two of its biggest one-day gains in the last couple of days, posted the biggest loss, diving 7.44 percent from Tuesday’s close to end at 3,427.87 points.Among the biggest losers were real estate major Emaar properties, which lost 9.88 percent of its share value and Arabtec, which fell 9.93 percent.Low-cost carrier Air Arabia also fell 9.79 percent.The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange ADX also slumped 2.13 percent, with its key index closing at 3,525.82.Only the Tadawul All-Share Index, the largest in the region, closed marginally higher at 6,863.15, up 0.5 percent.Banks and financial stocks gained in the day’s trading.The Kuwait Stock Exchange KSE, which had failed to replicate the last two days’ upward trend in the other Gulf markers, also stayed in the red, closing at 11,719.70, down 0.64 percent from Tuesday’s close.Another major loser was Qatar’s Doha Securities Market, which fell 3.32 percent to close at 8,098.96.The Bahrain Stock Exchange also fell 1.05 percent while Oman’s Muscat Securities Market fell 0.35 percent.As in other markets, the Gulf bourses also rallied for two days after a week of mayhem opening Oct 5, after the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays, triggered by the global credit crunch.Monetary authorities in the region announced a series of steps to restore investor confidence and shore up the banking sector.The central banks of the United Arab Emirates UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia announced interest rates and assurances of liquidity.The UAE pumped in $19 billion in the last month into the country’s banking sector along with a guarantee that bank deposits would last three months.These measures seemed to have had some effect as the markets rallied Monday and Tuesday.But all hopes were dashed in Wednesday’s trading.--Indo-Asian New Serviceab/sj/vm411 Words*15102019
2008-10-15 12:07:10
Curry meal plot spiced up British bank bailout Lead
INT63International/Lifestyle/Society/EconomyCurry meal plot spiced up British bank bailout LeadBy Dipankar De SarkarLondon, Oct 9 IANS British finance minister Alistair Darling and his team steeled themselves with a meal of spicy Indian dishes as they prepared for difficult night-long negotiations on the unprecedented half-a-trillion pound economic rescue package.The meal Tuesday night was ordered from Gandhi’s, a south London restaurant that is popular with government ministers.Darling and around 30 of his key staff ordered the Indian takeaway at around 9.30 p.m Wednesday while finalising the details of the 500 billion pound government package that is aimed at getting cash flowing through the British economy in the middle of a global credit crunch.Darling himself is said to have asked for tandoori chicken, but the order also included rice, karahi lamb, vegetable curry and aloo gobi - at a cost of 245 pounds. But as staff at Gandhi’s delivered the 32 meals to Darling’s office, a group of senior bankers, seated in another room, were fed only tea and biscuits, the British media reported Thursday.Night-long negotiations followed the curry meal as some of the bankers reportedly resisted the government offer, which is expected to lead to banks imposing strict limits on executive pays and bonuses. Among Darling’s three key advisers on the night was Shriti Vadera, the Indian-born minister for economic competitiveness and small business - a close ally of Prime Minister Gordon Brown.The government appeared to have won the day - and the first announcements were made on television and radio at around 6 a.m.The role of the Indian curry in the rescue package negotiations has already been enshrined in the finance ministry and British media, who have dubbed it the Balti Bailout. Gandhi’s, which opened in 1983, has served members of successive British governments, but is a particular favourite of finance ministers - regardless of party affiliations. Former finance ministers who have tucked into a meal of spicy Indian curry before diving into the world of drab figures have included John Major Tory Party and Gordon Brown Labour, both of whom went on to become prime ministers of Britain.There is also Kenneth Clarke, the heavyweight Tory finance minister who never made it as party leader despite having strong support among a section of the party.The London Times once reported, “Mr Kenneth Clarke cheered himself by heading currywards, he took his mob to Kennington Road Gandhi’s.” The restaurant’s website gives a long list of celebrity clients, including leading politicians John Reid, Jack Straw, Paddy Ashdown and Anne Widdecombe, and celebrities such as TV chat show hosts Richard and Judy.Gandhi’s is also a restaurant where politicians scheme and plot, say newspaper reviews. It was named as one of Britain’s top 100 restaurants in 2005 and figured in a list of London’s top 15 restaurants in 2006.--Indo-Asian News Servicedds/sk/jg509 Words*09101721
2008-10-09 07:01:06
Curry meal strategy spiced up British bank bailout
INT45International/Lifestyle/Society/EconomyCurry meal strategy spiced up British bank bailoutBy Dipankar De Sarkar London, Oct 9 IANS British Finance Minister Alistair Darling and his team steeled themselves with a meal of spicy Indian dishes as they prepared for difficult night-long negotiations on the unprecedented half-a-trillion pound economic rescue package announced Wednesday. The meal was ordered from Gandhi's, a south London restaurant that is popular with ministers - and Darling himself went for tandoori chicken. Darling and around 30 of his key staff ordered the Indian takeaway at around 9.30 p.m Wednesday while finalising the details of the 500 billion pound $860 billion government package that is aimed at getting cash flowing through the British economy in the middle of a global credit crunch. But as staff at Gandhi's delivered the 32 meals to Darling's office, a group of senior bankers, seated in another room, were fed only tea and biscuits, the British media reported Thursday. Night-long negotiations followed the curry meal as some of the bankers reportedly resisted the government offer, which is expected to lead to banks imposing strict limits on executive pays and bonuses. The government appeared to have won the day - and the first announcements were made on television and radio at around 6 a.m. The role of the Indian curry in the rescue package negotiations has already been enshrined in the finance ministry and British media, who have dubbed it the Balti Bailout. Gandhi's, which opened in 1983, has served members of successive British governments, but is a particular favourite of finance ministers - regardless of party affiliations. Former finance ministers who have tucked into a meal of spicy Indian curry before diving into the world of drab figures have included John Major Tory Party and Gordon Brown Labour, both of whom went on to become prime ministers of Britain. There is also Kenneth Clarke, the heavyweight Tory finance minister who never made it as party leader despite having strong support among a section of the party. The London Times once reported: “Mr Kenneth Clarke cheered himself by heading currywards, he took his mob to Kennington Road Gandhi's.” The restaurant's website gives a long list of celebrity clients, including leading politicians John Reid, Jack Straw, Paddy Ashdown and Anne Widdecombe, and celebrities such as TV chat show hosts Richard and Judy. Gandhi's is also a restaurant where politicians scheme and plot, say newspaper reviews. It was named as one of Britain's top 100 restaurants in 2005 and figured in a list of London's top 15 restaurants in 2006. --Indo-Asian News Servicedds/sh/jg469 Words*09101330
2008-10-09 04:00:00
Australia entices tourists to 'Come Walkabout'
INT63International/Tourism/BusinessAustralia entices tourists to 'Come Walkabout'By Neena BhandariSydney, Oct 8 IANS Australia is enticing international tourists to come and lose themselves in the remarkable landscape, unique culture and warmth of its people through a global tourism campaign launched Wednesday that leverages on an outback movie starring Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman.The Australian $50 million US$32 million campaign, which will run in cinema, on television, print and online, across 22 countries, including India, puts the spotlight on the outback and indigenous Aboriginal culture."We want the growing Indian middle class to go beyond Sydney-Melbourne-Gold Coast and experience the real outback Australia and its indigenous culture," Tourism Australia managing director Geoff Buckley told IANS Wednesday.In sharp contrast to the controversial and quirky "So Where the Bloody Hell Are you" campaign, the new advertisements show two young couples stressed, overworked and disconnected with themselves and their partner/spouse and how they are able to reconnect with themselves and their loved ones as they enjoy the romance, adventure and the transforming nature of the Australian land. The campaign invites potential travellers to come 'Walkabout' in Australia. "To find yourself sometimes you need to lose yourself. In Australia they call this going walkabout," the advertisements say, showing tourists diving over the Great Barrier Reef, up close on a beach with kangaroos or ballooning over the capital Canberra.'Walkabout' is a rite of passage when Australia's indigenous Aborigines wander in the outback bush. As Tourism Australia's executive general manager marketing Nick Baker explained, "The term 'walkabout' is a uniquely Australian way of describing what holidays should be - a time of release, joy, discovery and reconnection with our loved ones and our real selves."The Australian travel industry has been battling the global financial meltdown, limited capacity on international flights and people becoming more conscious of leaving their carbon footprint on the planet."Australia's tourism industry is currently facing a difficult period. This campaign will remind people why holidays are important; and that an Australian holiday will give them an experience that will change them and their lives," Australia's Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson said in statement.There has been a 4.7 percent decline in overseas visitors during 2007-2008 and Australia hopes to revive its A$65 billion US$43 billion tourism industry with this campaign."With traditional markets such as Japan in decline, and the UK and US economies in recession, we need to focus on markets such as China and India," Tourism and Transport Forum managing director Christopher Brown told reporters.Asia is forecast to be the fastest growing outbound travel region in the next decade, and Australia is hoping it will help turn the tide of plummeting holidaymakers. Indian visitors to Australia are expected to increase from 95,000 in 2007 to 440,000 in 2017, an average annual growth of 16.5 percent.Tourism Australia is hoping that when acclaimed Australian film director, screenwriter, and producer Baz Luhrmann's much anticipated epic film "Australia" has its theatrical release in 70 countries Nov 26, it will lure more international visitors to its shore.Will this campaign succeed in luring holidaymakers to this extraordinary continent, like the "Incredible India" and "100% Pure New Zealand" campaigns Time will tell.--Indo-Asian News Servicenb/am/dg563 Words*08101643
2008-10-08 07:00:00
WASHINGTON
BUS1Business/EconomyAs US markets slide, Neel Kashkari named to oversee bailout planBy Arun KumarWashington, Oct 7 IANS An Indian American Neel Kashkari was appointed to oversee the $700 billion US financial rescue plan as stocks plunged more than 6 percent with the Dow Jones index diving to its lowest level in almost five years.The US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson Monday named key aide Kashkari, 35, a former executive at Goldman Sachs, to manage the Troubled Assets Relief Programme and the newly created Office of Financial Stability.The move came as the Dow Jones industrial average fell 711.01 points, or 6.89 percent, to 9,614.37. It is the first time since November 2003 that the Dow has traded below 9,700.Kashkari,currently the assistant Treasury secretary for International Economics and Development joined the Department in July 2006 and worked on several of its initiatives in response to the housing crisis - including the formation of the mortgage industry alliance Hope Now.Kashkari, who as one of Paulson's close advisers on the crisis helped draft the legislation for purchasing and managing up to $700 billion in troubled assets, will manage the centrepiece of the rescue plan.The Department Monday also released its guidelines for how it would hire firms to manage asset purchases. Asset managers and other private-sector agents involved in running it may be hired "through other than full and open competition", it said in a statement. The interim guidelines also address conflicts of interests for contractors who are hired for the programme.The President's Working Group on Financial Markets, which includes Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, said it would move "with substantial force on a number of fronts" to implement the expanded authorities granted to the government when Congress passed the emergency rescue package last Friday.President Bush's top economic advisers also vowed to work with their counterparts around the world to restore confidence and stability to financial markets roiled by tight credit and worries about a global economic slowdown.In a fresh effort to loosen dangerous credit clogs, the Federal Reserve said it will significantly expand its loan programme to squeezed banks, increasing one programme to as much as $900 billion by the end of this year.The Fed also said it will begin paying interest on commercial banks' reserves, another way to expand the Fed's resources to battle the worst credit crisis in decades.The statement from the president's working group laid out a number of initiatives that the Treasury, the Fed and other government regulators including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. would be undertaking."The diversity of institutions and markets under stress, and the magnitude and complexity of the adjustment under way, requires that the tools available to policymakers, regulators and supervisors be used in forceful and coordinated ways across regulatory and supervisory agencies in the United States and throughout the world," it said in its statement.--Indo-Asian News Serviceak/snb507 Words*07100153
2008-10-07 03:00:00
Congress heads to weekend with no bailout Reuters
Reuters - The biggest bank failure in U.S. history and nose diving banking stocks added pressure on the U.S. Congress to agree to a è½œ billion financial rescue plan to breathe life back into credit markets.
2008-09-26 22:45:09
CORRECTED: Congress bickers over bailout Reuters
Reuters - The biggest bank failure in U.S. history and nose diving banking stocks added pressure on the U.S. Congress to agree to a è½œ billion financial rescue plan to breath life back into credit markets.
2008-09-26 18:04:04