KKR shares look undervalued – Barron’s

July 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

July 25 (Reuters) – Some value-attuned hedge-fund managers are dissecting KKR’s business in a way that makes it look undervalued, Barron’s reported in its July 26 edition.

The long-anticipated U.S. stock debut of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co (KKR.N) had proved a disappointment in mid-July as investors shied away from the private equity firm that made its name with the leveraged buyout of RJR Nabisco in 1988. [ID:nN15209250]

KKR debuted at $10.50, and has traded lower from there, in part due to some apparent technical selling by investors unable to exit the stock when it was listed in Europe, the paper said. It closed Friday at $9.50.

The newspaper also urged investors to try valuing potential future performance fees on the $27 billion of deals housed in the company’s private-equity funds and those of deals not yet done and funds not yet raised. (Reporting by Dhanya Skariachan; Editing by Diane Craft)

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Strasburg gets victory as Nationals dump Indians

June 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment

(Reuters) – Stephen Strasburg followed his dazzling Major League Baseball debut with another steady performance to lead the Washington Nationals to a 9-4 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Sunday.

Sports

The 21-year-old power pitcher struck out eight batters and allowed two hits in 5-1/3 innings for his second win despite fighting control on the mound and walking five batters.

Strasburg, the most anticipated prospect in years, allowed just one run but was relieved in the sixth inning after walking consecutive batters to load the bases.

The Nationals gave Strasburg plenty of run support in the sixth as a two-run double from Ivan Rodriguez and a two-run triple by Ian Desmond gave Washington a 6-1 lead.

Strasburg delivered one of the best MLB debuts of all-time on Tuesday when he struck out 14 Pittsburgh batters and allowed just four hits, no walks and struck out the final seven batters he faced before being taken out of the game.

(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Frank Pingue)

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Hakuho marks 14th title with perfect record, SUM

May 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

TOKYO (AP) Grand champion Hakuho defeated Mongolian compatriot Harumafuji on Sunday to finish the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament with a perfect record from 15 bouts. Hakuho, who wrapped up his 14th Emperor’s Cup on Friday, got a grip of Harumafuji’s belt and lifted his opponent out to stay undefeated on the final day of the 15-day meet at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan.

Hakuho is the sole grand champion competing in sumo after the retirement of Mongolian Asashoryu in February. Veteran Kaio defeated fellow ozeki Kotooshu of Bulgaria to improve to 9-6 and pick up his 1,000th career win.

Only former grand champion Chiyonofuji has more wins with 1,045. Estonian Baruto, making his debut at the second-highest rank of ozeki, lost to Kotomitsuki on Sunday to finish with a 10-5 record.

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Antonio Banderas makes debut as pro snapper

May 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, May 14 (ANI): Antonio Banderas is now trying to make his mark as a professional photographer – the Spanish actor recently unveiled a collection of his photos in New York.

Banderas, 49, has been snapping pics for years, but he decided to go public with his photos only after the suggestion was made during discussions for the promotion of his new men”s fragrance, The Secret.

Bosses at perfume house PUIG convinced Banderas to go public with his photos, which show varying aspects of Spanish culture and emphasise women”s powers of seduction.

And finally Banderas launched the Secrets on Black collection at Instituto Cervantes in Manhattan earlier this week, reports the Daily Express.

The proceeds from the sale of the snaps, which are currently up for grabs, will benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, a cause Banderas has been championing for the last five years.

The travelling Secrets on Black exhibition will be displayed in galleries across the globe throughout 2010. (ANI)

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Ex-Neighbours star Valance lacks confidence to perform on West End stage

May 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, May 13 (ANI): A West End debut still eludes former Neighbours actress Holly Valance – because of her stage fright.

“I would never start on the West End,” the Telegraph quoted Valance, as saying.

She added: “I think you need to earn your stripes and start small.

“I don”t have the confidence to [perform in the West End] and I need to start small and work my way up like everyone else.” (ANI)

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Great Khali to oversee wrestling stadium coming up in HP

May 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Shimla, May 8 (ANI): The US based Daleep Singh Rana a.k.a The Great Khali, who originally hails from Himachal Pradesh is going to establish a wrestling stadium in his home-state.

Khali told mediapersons at Paonta Sahib that he would like the wrestling stadium to be situated in his home district of Sirmour.

He said that that Himachal Cricket Association president and M P Anurag Thakur from Hamirpur parliamentary constituency had discussed the setting up a wrestling stadium in Himachal so that the state’s wrestlers could learn WWE wrestling techniques.

Khali expressed his consent for the same, he said that Thakur had promised that land would be provided for this venture.

On the subject of returning to India permanently, Khali maintained that he was at the peak of physical fitness and wants to continue wrestling for the next 6-7 years.

Khali is a well known face in the US having worked for Hollywood movies, he will make his Hindi movie debut with “Khushi” slated for release on May 14, mynews.com reports.

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Sting’s wife offers bidders tantric sex stories recited by him

May 7, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New York, May 7 (ANI): In a bid to excite auction bidders, Trudie Styler cheekily offered to get her husband, Sting, to talk about their storied tantric sex sessions.

For a long time, rumours are floating that the couple have been indulging in epic sex sessions in which they use yoga to achieve prolonged states of ecstasy.

So, while auctioning off backstage passes to Sting”s debut at the Metropolitan Opera on July 13, Styler offered the deal to bidders at the Rainforest Action Network”s 25th-anniversary benefit at Poisson Rouge

“You”ll get to meet Sting backstage, and he”ll talk to you about tantric sex,” the New York Post quoted her as saying,

A pair of tickets went for a mind-blowing 13,000 dollars. (ANI)

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Time travel possible, says Stephen Hawking

May 3, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Melbourne, May 03 (ANI): Astrophysicist Stephen Hawking thinks that time travel is possible.

In the past he has steered clear of the topic in public lest he be considered a crank but Hawking told the Daily Mail that now he is less worried about that possibility.

Preparing for the debut of his Discovery documentary, Stephen Hawking”s Universe, which screens next week, Hawking said he believed humans could travel millions of years into the future and repopulate their devastated planet.

“Time travel was once considered scientific heresy, and I used to avoid talking about it for fear of being labelled a crank,” News.com.au. quoted him as saying in the docu.

“These days I”m not so cautious,” he added.

Manchester University professor Brian Cox told The Times that Hawking”s theory had already found some basis in experiments carried out by the Large Hadron Collider in Geneva.

Hawking also says we can only travel forward in time.

Moving backwards is impossible, Hawking says, because it “violates a fundamental rule that cause comes before effect”. (ANI)

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Brynne “Flash Gordon” Edelsten poised to ‘showing off’ at her first Logie Awards

April 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Melbourne, Apr 28 (ANI): Brynne Edelsten of ‘Flash Gordon’ fame has promised to stand out on the red carpet when she makes her Logies debut on Sunday.

The curvy blonde – whose dare-to-bare fashion sense and unique black-tie style has made her a publicity magnet in the past year – has vowed not to tone it down.

And Edelsten – wife of headline-making tycoon Geoffrey – is having a gown especially created for her appearance.

“I am looking for something fun, a little bit crazy, a little bit different, but definitely with some glamour in it,” News.com.au quoted Edelsten as saying.

“Anything I wear I will be showing it off as best I can.

“I love a red carpet because it is a chance to wear something you would not wear anywhere else.

“It is one of the few times you can get really creative,” she added. (ANI)

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Injured Real striker Raul to miss rest of season

April 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Real Madrid striker Raul damaged ankle ligaments in Saturday’s 2-1 La Liga win at Real Zaragoza and will miss the remainder of the season, the club said on their website on Monday (www.realmadrid.com).

The 32-year-old, who made his Real debut at Zaragoza in October 1994, has hardly featured this season but came off the bench to score the opening goal on Saturday after replacing the injured Rafael van der Vaart.

A scan of his right ankle showed the injury would keep him out for at least four weeks, meaning he will be unavailable for the club’s remaining four La Liga matches as second-placed Real bid to close the one-point gap to leaders Barcelona.

Raul’s strike on Saturday was his 228th league goal and lifted him above Alfredo di Stefano on Real’s list of all-time top scorers, six behind number one Hugo Sanchez with 234. (Reporting by Iain Rogers, editing by Justin Palmer; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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Pak to use rookie fast bowler Irfan as ‘surprise weapon’: Afridi

April 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Karachi, Apr 19(ANI): Pakistani skipper Shahid Afridi is looking forward to ‘unleashing’ rookie fast bowler Mohammad Irfan as a ‘surprise weapon’ in the Twenty20 World Cup to held in the Caribbean, starting April 30.

Afridi believes that the 6ft. 8inch Irfan has the potential to shine on the international stage.

“I’ve faced him. He is really good. We can actually use him as a surprise package against our rival teams in the Twenty20 World Cup. He is pretty fast, but it’s his height that can really trouble a lot of batsmen,” The News quoted Afridi, as saying.

“He extracts good bounce. We are hoping that he overcomes the few hurdles which are still there and is with us in the West Indies,” he added.

The 30-year-old also spoke highly of fast bowler Mohammad Sami, who is set to make his Twenty20 Internationals debut.

“Sami is looking good. He has shown his strength and commitment in the camp and is bubbling with energy. I’m expecting him to do well in the World Cup,” Afridi said.

Irfan and Sami have replaced injured fast bowler Umar Gul and all-rounder Yasir Arafat, who have been ruled out of the tournament due to injuries.

Afridi also voiced the uncertainty looming over their inclusion in the touring party.

“Their selection in the team is still subject to approval from the PCB chairman. We don’t know whether we will get permission from the International Cricket Council (ICC) to take part in the Twenty20 World Cup because we have selected him from out of the 30-man preliminary squad,” he said. (ANI)

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Pak to use rookie fast bowler Irfan as ‘surprise weapon’: Afridi

April 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Karachi, Apr 19(ANI): Pakistani skipper Shahid Afridi is looking forward to ‘unleashing’ rookie fast bowler Mohammad Irfan as a ‘surprise weapon’ in the Twenty20 World Cup to held in the Caribbean, starting April 30.

Afridi believes that the 6ft. 8inch Irfan has the potential to shine on the international stage.

“I’ve faced him. He is really good. We can actually use him as a surprise package against our rival teams in the Twenty20 World Cup. He is pretty fast, but it’s his height that can really trouble a lot of batsmen,” The News quoted Afridi, as saying.

“He extracts good bounce. We are hoping that he overcomes the few hurdles which are still there and is with us in the West Indies,” he added.

The 30-year-old also spoke highly of fast bowler Mohammad Sami, who is set to make his Twenty20 Internationals debut.

“Sami is looking good. He has shown his strength and commitment in the camp and is bubbling with energy. I’m expecting him to do well in the World Cup,” Afridi said.

Irfan and Sami have replaced injured fast bowler Umar Gul and all-rounder Yasir Arafat, who have been ruled out of the tournament due to injuries.

Afridi also voiced the uncertainty looming over their inclusion in the touring party.

“Their selection in the team is still subject to approval from the PCB chairman. We don’t know whether we will get permission from the International Cricket Council (ICC) to take part in the Twenty20 World Cup because we have selected him from out of the 30-man preliminary squad,” he said. (ANI)

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Green takes away hole-in-one memory

April 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

A hole-in-one provided a late highlight in an otherwise disappointing Masters debut for Australian Nathan Green.

Newcastle’s Green was planning to hit a seven-iron from 161 metres at the par-three 16th, but he switched to a six-iron after watching fellow competitor Chad Campbell come up a little short at Augusta National.

Green landed his shot above the pin, which was in its traditional final round position bottom left, and used the slope perfectly as gravity did the rest.

“It’s all luck,” said the modest Green, who nonetheless admitted it had been a huge thrill.

“To do it on this stage in front of a good crowd at the Masters is something you’ll take with you forever.”

It was the 12th hole-in-one at the 16th hole at the Masters and Green said it was his fifth in competition, but not quite as memorable as the ace he made in the 2001 Australian Masters, which earned him $500,000, bankrolling an overseas career that eventually led to the lucrative US PGA Tour.

By comparison, he will receive some crystal for the hole-in-one along with American Ryan Moore who also achieved the feat at the same hole.

Despite the ace, Green could only card 75 to finish at 14-over-par 302.

He blamed poor driving and poor putting for his mediocre total.

“Hopefully I can get back here and give it a better shake next time,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter how big the event is, if you’re playing bad it’s not much fun.”

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Brumbies re-sign talented playmakers

April 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The Brumbies have re-signed rising stars Matt Toomua and Christian Lealiifano on two-year deals in a boost to the Canberra-based Super 14 franchise.

Wallabies tourist Toomua, 20, and Lealiifano, 22, have proven themselves to be among the best young inside backs in Australia and were targeted by Super 15 expansion team Melbourne Rebels.

Toomua will start at five-eighth, inside Matt Giteau, in Saturday night’s round-nine clash with the Cheetahs, his 18th Super 14 appearance since making his debut in 2008.

Lealiifano started the season at inside centre but a knee injury has ruled him out of the rest of the 2010 competition.

“It’s a great result to have two of the country’s leading young talent returning to the side for the next two years,” Brumbies coach Andy Friend said on Friday.

“There’s no question they’ve both benefited from playing and training alongside someone like Matt Giteau, and in time Christian and Matt will form a very dangerous 10/12 combination for the Brumbies.”

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Former All Black MacDonald retires

April 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Former All Black Leon MacDonald has announced he is retiring from rugby union after receiving one head knock too many.

The 32-year-old utility back, who made his mark at full-back, has not played since suffering a bad blow to the head in a match for his Japanese club Kintetsu in the middle of last year.

“I didn’t expect to go as far as I did in the game and I managed to squeeze every little bit of what I had out of my body on and off the field,” MacDonald told the Marlborough Express newspaper.

“I wasn’t the most talented rugby player to ever play but I definitely always wanted to leave everything out on the field and that’s probably one of the things I could say I did.”

MacDonald played 56 Tests over eight years for the All Blacks, making his debut in 2000 against Scotland.

His fearless commitment in defence and attack led to a string of injuries over the years but he was still the third most capped All Blacks full-back behind Mils Muliaina with 86 appearances and Christian Cullen (58).

His decision to go to Japan for a second stint last year brought his All Black career to an end.

MacDonald has taken up an assistant coaching role with New Zealand provincial team the Tasman Makos.

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Surrey takes a gamble on Symonds

April 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Surrey cricket manager Chris Adams believes signing controversial Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds for the English county’s Twenty20 campaign is a risk worth taking.

Symonds, who boasts a Twenty20 strike rate of 156.79 and batting average of 37.43, joined the club on Wednesday and is set to make his debut against Gloucestershire at The Oval on June 8.

Adams said a phone call about two months ago convinced him Symonds could be the key to bolstering Surrey’s side in the shortest form of the game.

“I guess I’m attracted to the broken souls. If we can provide an environment for him and a place for him to come back and almost repair and reinvent himself then again it’s a win-win,” Adams told BBC radio.

“We’ll get the best out of him and he’ll get the best out of us.”

Disciplinary issues cost Symonds his place on a tour of England last year and ultimately his Australian contract.

But Adams has been impressed by the 34-year-old’s form with defending Indian Premier League champions Deccan Chargers.

“He enjoys certain aspects of a decent lifestyle but it comes down to performance on the field. That’s the thing I’m most interested in,” Adams said.

“If he joins us and continues to perform like he has in India recently then we’ll be delighted.”

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Pearson, Coetzee make literary award shortlist

April 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New South Wales Premier Kristina Keneally has announced the shortlist of writers vying for this year’s Premier’s Literary Awards.

A total of 46 writers are competing across six categories for a total prize pool of over $300,000.

Among those nominated are Indigenous leader Noel Pearson and Nobel laureate J M Coetzee as well as script writers Jane Campion and Warwick Thornton.

Kathy Charles’ book “Hollywood Ending” has been shortlisted for two of the six categories.

She says the nomination has given her the confidence to pursue her dream of a writing career.

“When you’re a debut novelist you’re bright and shiny and sexy and people think there’s so much potential,” she said.

“But keeping that momentum going and actually creating a career out of writing is very different to just getting a novel published.

“So I think this kind of nomination will allow me to actually get the right doors open, to continue writing, which is what I would like to do.”

The winners will be announced next month during the Sydney Writer’s Festival.

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Pakistani cricketer caught cheating

April 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment

International Pakistani cricketer Nasir Jamshed has been released on bail a day after being caught cheating during a school examination, a court official said.

Jamshed, 20, became the latest Pakistani cricketer to earn a bad name off field when he was caught cheating in a ninth grade English exam in the eastern city of Lahore on Monday.

“The civil court has released Jamshed on bail of rupees 20,000 ($485) and on a surety that he will not repeat the offence,” the official said.

Jamshed is considered one of Pakistan’s most promising cricketers after he excelled at a junior level before making his one-day debut against Zimbabwe in 2008. He then lost form and was axed from the team last year.

In all, Jamshed played 12 one-day internationals for Pakistan, the last of which was against Sri Lanka in 2009.

Last month, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) banned and fined seven top cricketers over lack of discipline during tours of Australia, New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates between November-February.

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Explosive debut already behind Barlow

April 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Fremantle coach Mark Harvey says Dockers rookie Michael Barlow will not feel the pressure heading into the team’s round two clash with Essendon at Docklands.

Barlow had 33 possessions and kicked two goals in his first game after being elevated from the rookie list in round one.

Harvey says there has not been too much talk about his performance at the club.

“He’s mature enough to be able to handle it, we haven’t said too much internally about it,” he said.

“I don’t think he was our best player but other people do and that’s their opinion.

“It’s just a real plus in our side that we can have a guy come in and do that in round one.”

Harvey says former Bomber Adam McPhee will be pushing for selection to take on his old team on Sunday.

McPhee has an ankle injury but Harvey says he could be fit in time for the clash with Essendon.

“Expect him to train tomorrow, and be available for selection,” he said.

“That’s the unknown quantity at the moment with his injury, but we expect him to train and push strongly.”

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Ashley Cole makes his post-split social debut

March 31, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, March 31 (ANI): It looks like Ashley Cole is trying to move on after being dumped by his wife, Cheryl.

The football star was out on the town for the first time since his sensational alleged sex-texting cheating scandal.

He made a ”post-split social debut” at his brother Matthew”s top-secret birthday party in Essex, over the weekend.

“All eyes were on Ashley when he was ushered through by two burly bouncers on the door. Everyone rushed to hug him,” the Mirror quoted a party guest as saying.

“Ashley said as long as he has his family nothing else matters. It was the first time he was really smiling. Ashley”s main priority is now getting fit and helping England win the World Cup. He stuck to soft drinks and orange juice while everyone else had champagne and beer at the top security venue.

“Everyone was patting him on the back and saying how worried they had been about him and how it was the happiest they had seen him. He looked relieved that things were finally moving on,” the guest added. (ANI)

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