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June 24 (Reuters) – Dutch financial services group ING (ING.AS) raised $175 million by selling its entire 3.1 percent stake in India’s Kotak Mahindra Bank (KTKM.BO), two sources with direct knowledge of the deal said on Thursday.
Financials
The sale of 10.8 million shares, or 3.1 percent of the total equity, was done at 750 rupees a share, the sources told Reuters. ($1=46.3 rupees) (Reporting by Sumeet Chatterjee and Tony Munroe)
(Reuters) – The Flemish separatist N-VA was on course for victory in the Belgian parliamentary election on Sunday.
World
Economists have said that Belgium can ill afford drawn-out coalition talks given its high level of debt.
The following are comments by economists and political analysts.
ETIENNE DE CALLATAY, ECONOMIST AT BANK DEGROOF
“It would surprise me if bond spreads increase on Monday. It’s the confirmation of what we expected. But it could mean that they continue to rise a bit in relation to other European countries.
“The coalition will take a long time. It will take a long time to get an agreement.
“In Belgium it will be difficult to take austerity measures for several months which would mean that we could fall behind other countries in regard to structural reform.”
PHILIPPE LEDENT, ING ECONOMIST
“If the N-VA continues to be extremist in its position, then the game will be very different for other parties. Then it will take much more time to find a majority.
“The most important thing is not which majority we will have. The biggest thing is the question of time, how long do we have to wait before we have a new majority. This is the most important element.
“For the economic situation, it is important to have a new government as soon as possible.
“In this context, I would say finding a new government which is very important for the economy, will depend clearly on N-VA’s attitude.
“I will not characterize the situation as blocked.
“N-VA could have a constructive attitude. We could also have N-VA wanting to stay on its extreme situation, this could lead to a difficult situation for the Belgian economy.
“The most important element is find a majority as soon as possible.
“After September, the reaction of the financial markets would lead to difficult consequences for the Belgian economy.
“I think in the short run, I’m not sure (financial markets’) reaction will be too important. Everybody knew the N-VA would be the biggest party in Flanders, that it would be the biggest winner in the elections.”
“In the medium-term, when negotiations start, if it becomes clear that N-VA stays on its extremist position, then the impact can be more important.”
(Reporting by Ben Deighton and Foo Yun Chee)
June 1 (Reuters) – The dollar rose to a 15-month high versus a currency basket on Tuesday, fuelled by rising risk aversion stemming from geopolitical concerns, together with debt problems in the euro zone.
Currencies | Global Markets
The dollar .DXY rose around 1 percent on the day to 87.473, its highest level since March 2009.
“Geopolitical concerns in the Middle East and Korea are to the fore, supporting the dollar, as well as debt problems in the euro zone,” said Tom Levinson, fx strategist at ING.
Los Angeles, April 26 (ANI): Lindsay Lohan has reportedly been barred from Los Angeles club Trousdale after tossing a glass at ex Samantha Ronson”s head.
According to sources, Ronson was sitting with her pals when the ‘Mean Girls’ star suddenly threw her drink – including the glass – at her.
“Samantha was DJ-ing and went to sit with her friends when Lindsay stormed over and threw a glass at her head. Glass flew everywhere, and Samantha looked really shaken up. The club owner asked Lindsay to leave and was overheard saying she”ll never come back,” the New York Post quoted a source as saying.
Ronson was not hurt in the incident and continued to party with her friends.
Following the episode, she wrote on her Twitter page: “Just got a glass thrown at my head . . . Hmmm — wonder who did it.” (ANI)
Washington, April 24(ANI): Most students can’t live without social media links like laptop, cell phones, a new study has found.
In a new study titled, ‘24 Hours: Unplugged,’ from the International Center for Media and the Public Agenda (ICMPA) at the University of Maryland, 200 students at the College Park campus were asked to avoid all media for one day.
They were asked to write about their experience the next day.
The 200 students wrote more than 110,000 words, which is about the same number of words as a 400-page novel.
The project director Susan D. Moeller, a journalism professor at the University of Maryland, said: “We were surprised by how many students admitted that they were ”incredibly addicted” to media.
“But we noticed that what they wrote at length about was how they hated losing their personal connections. Going without media meant, in their world, going without their friends and family.
“The students did complain about how boring it was go anywhere and do anything without being plugged into music on their MP3 players. And many commented that it was almost impossible to avoid the TVs on in the background at all times in their friends” rooms.
“But what they spoke about in the strongest terms was how their lack of access to text messaging, phone calling, instant messaging, email and Facebook, meant that they couldn”t connect with friends who lived close by, much less those far away.”
One student gave the feedback: “Texting and IM-ing my friends gives me a constant feeling of comfort. When I did not have those two luxuries, I felt quite alone and secluded from my life.
“Although I go to a school with thousands of students, the fact that I was not able to communicate with anyone via technology was almost unbearable.” (ANI)
LONDON, April 14 (Reuters) – Germany and Italy sold a total of almost 12 billion euros of government bonds on Wednesday with both auctions finding solid demand in a market still edgy about details of euro zone aid deal for debt-stricken Greece.
Germany issued 5.74 billion euros of five-year bonds while Italy, the yardstick for euro zone peripheral sovreigns, raised almost 6 billion euro with the sale of five- and 15-year paper. [ID:nTAR001523] [ID:nTAR001767]
The auctions had been seen as a test of market sentiment as the euro zone’s core issuer Germany and Italy both tapped investors for similar duration debt.
“There’s still some demand for core issues despite that Greece has performed well after the plan, but still, I do think that markets realise volatility is still high at the moment in euro zone spreads,” said Wilson Chin, a strategist at ING in Amsterdam.
Portugal is also set to come to market later in the session as it looks to raise up to two billion euros.
(Reporting by William James)
London, March 23 (ANI): Cheryl Cole’s brother Andrew Tweedy has revealed that the singer was planning to become a mother before her husband/soccer star Ashley’s affairs were exposed.
The Girls Aloud lead’s sibling suggested she should divorce the England footballer, as he had run out of “get out of jail free cards”.
“I am absolutely devastated for Cheryl. It was such a shock because everything appeared to be hunky dory,” the Daily Star quoted Andrew, 29, as stating.
He added: “We come from a big family and Cheryl has got the maternal instinct.
“It was common knowledge that they were thinking about it and trying to organise how to sort things out with their careers to get around it. What’s happened has hit her really hard.”
Tweedy, a recovering alcoholic who has been in prison in the past, said the Chelsea star wanted to attend counselling sessions to save his marriage but Cheryl refused.
He said: “He’s obviously trying to worm his way back in but she’s not having any of it, he has done it too many times now.
“She has already given him chances but I don’t think he’s got any more get out of jail free cards left.”
Also, he branded Ashley “arrogant” for complaining about Arsenal’s 55,000 pounds-a-week offer, after he demanded 60,000 pounds.
Tweedy ended: “Cheryl knows the value of money but f***ing hell, some people are lucky to get 55 pound a week. She should’ve put a rocket up his arse about that.” (ANI)
Melbourne, Mar 19 (ANI): Lady Gaga”s Australian tour has left many parents chaperoning their kids to ask why the concert did not carry a classification to warn them of the racy routines the singer put on.
Gaga”s Australian tour kicked off this week, using elements of bulimia, binge drinking and expletives as props.
In her Monster Ball show, Gaga takes the audience into a gothic Wizard Of Oz land, where a video of a model making herself vomit onto Gaga is shown on a film loop.
“This is a place where you can be free. A place where all the freaks are outside and I locked the f—ing door,” News.com.au quoted Gaga as having said during her show.
Linda Fitzsimmons took her nine-year-old daughter Jessica to the debut show on March 17 and said that she was “shocked and surprised” by it.
“I couldn”t believe it. (Jessica) likes her songs and I”m OK with her listening to them. There”s no swearing in them and she”s too young to understand the hidden meaning,” she said.
“But if I tried to take her to an MA 15+ movie someone would stop me at the counter. Why not with concerts?” she asked.
Promoter Michael Coppel said it is almost impossible to classify a concert and the responsibility lies with the parent.
“It”s hard to rate a show. What someone might see as risque differs from person to person,” he said.
The Classification Review Board said it was not their area to comment on.
A spokesperson for board chief Donald McDonald referred the Daily Telegraph”s inquiries to the Attorney General”s office, which was unable to respond.
Family First Senator Steve Fielding similarly refused to weigh in on the debate.
Coppel said he doubted that Australian tours would ever carry classifications, because most promoters do not see the show before they book it. (ANI)
New York, Sep 18 (ANI): “Mean Girls” star Lindsay Lohan threw a diva tantrum at the Hammerstein Ballroom, after she decided she did not like the seating arrangements.
Lohan, 23, who is currently unemployed, began removing the seating cards or throwing them on the floor at the G-Star runway show on September 15.
“Lindsay decided she wasn’t happy with the seating arrangements,” the New York Post quoted a source as saying.
“She began taking the seating cards for celebrities like Juliette Lewis and Christian Siriano and moving them or throwing them on the floor,” the source said.
When event producers approached her for throwing Taylor Momsen’s place card to the floor, she told them to stay away.
“She said, ‘don’t [bleep]ing touch me,’ and rolled her eyes and continued moving the place cards,” the source added. (ANI)
London, September 7 (ANI): Jailed rape suspect Jack Tweed has reportedly claimed his innocence, while he awaits trial.
Jade Goody’s widower has been put behind bars after a 19-year-old clubber claimed that Tweed raped her as his pal joined in.
The 22-year-old is said to have attacked the girl at a party at his home after inviting the teenager and two of her female friends back to his rented house from a London nightspot in the early hours.
Tweed, who has apparently confessed he had been with the girl at the centre of the claim, purportedly made a tearful phone call to his pal from Pentonville prison in London, insisting he is innocent.
“His friend asked him if he was OK. Jack said, ‘No, I’m f***ing not. I’m in Pentonville jail and I can’t believe that I am here. It’s all a nightmare,” the Mirror quoted a source as saying.
Tweed apparently added to the friend: “I can’t believe a girl has made an allegation like that against me and I have ended up here. I am totally innocent and that will be shown in time.”
He also reportedly said: “This is all so ridiculous…I have done nothing. I was with the girl, but no way did I rape her. When the police came to the house I could not believe it. I feel drained and really low. I haven’t slept since I was arrested.”
Tweed would be remanded in custody until September 21. (ANI)
London, Aug 31 (ANI): American rock band Kings of Leon reportedly swore at fans during their headline performance at the Reading Festival in the UK.
The band not only failed to click with the audience but also struggled with problems in the sound equipment and windy conditions.
Lead singer Caleb Followill started the rant when he hissed out at the bored fans, reports the Daily Star.
He asked fans: “I thought this was supposed to be the loudest crowd in the world?” before pleading with fans to “help us do this” as they launched into their hit Sex On Fire.
However, unable to elicit any reaction from the audience Caled lost his cool.
He raged: “We know you’re sick of Kings of Leon. We’re f***ing sick of Kings of Leon too. But we get up here every night and I thank God for everything I’ve had.
“So for all those who don’t give a f**k about us, I understand. But we’ve worked hard to be here. We’re the goddamn Kings of Leon, so f**k you.”
Caleb and brother Jared then smashed their guitars into the floor, threw the remains into the crowd and walked off the stage gesturing angrily. (ANI)
Videocon bags franchise for World Series of Boxing
New Delhi, July 8 (IANS) Videocon Industries Ltd. has bought the franchise rights for India in the high-profile World Series of Boxing (WSB), starting in September.
The electronic major has decided that Delhi will be India’s host city. It will also be among the 12 teams from Asia, Europe and America in the WSB, the ambitious professional series of International Boxing Association (AIBA) on the lines of cricket’s Indian Premier League. The 12 teams will fight it out on home and away basis.
AIBA President and WSB Chairman Ching-Kuo Wu said the franchise will popularise Indian boxing and cash in on the sudden surge of interest in the sport.
“There is a tremendous potential for boxing in India and a huge support base for nurturing talent. It is our pleasure to welcome India as one of the 12 franchisees for the WSB.
“We welcome Videocon for their participation and are confident that WSB will bring about a paradigm shift and signal a new era in world boxing,” Wu said in a statement.
Pradeep Dhoot, president of Videocon, said that WSB will help Indian boxing attain global standards.
“We are excited and enthusiastic about our association with WSB. Through this partnership we would want to take Indian boxing to world standards,” he said.
“Our commitment to boxing is long term and we will invest in promoting the sport by developing facilities like boxing rings across India at grass-root level,” he added.
According to WSB rules, each franchise would cough up $5 million for 10 years.
Like IPL, the franchisee owners will generate revenue by selling sponsorship rights, merchandise and tickets besides getting a share of WSB central revenue from the media rights.
WSB will be the stepping stone for amateur boxers to become professionals without losing the eligibility to play in Olympics or World Championships.
It is also an attempt to cut the mushrooming promoter-based professional boxing leagues.
Each franchisee will have a team of at least 10 boxers, including three overseas participants.
Indian Boxing Federation secretary general P.K. Muralidharan Raja said the federation will work closely with the franchisee to get the best boxers in the team.
“It is a great news for Indian boxing. It will not only help to market the sport, but also improve its standard in the country. After the success of our boxers in the Olympics and other international events, this is the right step towards becoming a major power,” Raja said.
“We have to take a minimum of three foreign boxers in the team. All the teams will be eyeing the world’s best from Cuba and Russia. There will be bidding process for the foreign boxers during the World Championships in Milan (September) and we will have to formulate a strategy to see that we get the right players,” Raja told IANS.
WSB will crown both individual boxers and city-based teams as world champions.
Boxers will be seen in action without head guards and vests and compete in five bouts of three minutes each in the 10-point scoring system, much like professional boxing.
WSB will be held in five weight categories – bantam, light, middle, light heavy and heavy.
New Delhi, July 6 (IANS) A six-member Indian boxing team left for Russia Monday to participate in the Magomed-Salam Umakhanov Memorial Boxing Championship starting Tuesday.
The team comprises Amandeep Singh (48 kg) and Kuldeep Singh (75) from Punjab, Akshay Kumar (57) from Delhi, Jai Singh Patil (69) and Manpreet Singh (91) from the Services, and Jasveer Singh (81) from the Railways.
In addition to these six boxers, chief coach Shiv Singh, coach Ramanand, referee and judge R. Rajendran have accompanied the team.
Washington, June 27 (ANI): The Indian ‘Big Brother’ inhabitant Sree Dasari was scared out of his wits when other housemates played a terrifying prank on him in the night.
‘Big Brother’ contestant Karly hid underneath Sree’s bed in an attempt to scare the naive student.
Sree, 25, was chatting with Rodrigo in the lounge room when lesbian Lisa and glamour model Karly huddled in the bedroom, as they had plotted a trick to scare him.
Karly removed the drawer from Sree’s bed and crawled underneath and lay waiting, while Lisa, 41, switched off the lights and told all other housemates to act as if they were sleeping.
Later, Sree fumbled his way through the dark room towards his bed, and just when he got there, Karly, 21, jumped out and grabbed his hand.
Sree started jumping and screaming profanities, but he quickly saw the funny side of the joke, and started giggling uncontrollably.
“Oh s**t. Feel my heart! It’s beating so fast! F***ing hell,” Contactmusic quoted him as saying. (ANI)
Washington, June 23 (ANI): Musician John Mayer has claimed that singer Pink had kneed him in the genitals outside a luxury Hollywood hotel last year.
The ‘Gravity’ singer posted a cryptic message on his Twitter account, claiming that Pink attacked him outside a luxury Hollywood hotel.
“Last year P!nk kneed me in the nuts outside Chateau Marmont. I was p***ing blood for days. Did I make a scene? (sic)” Contactmusic quoted Mayer as saying.
Pink had called Mayer her “most-hated celebrity” after they met at a party in the Hollywood Hills last year in October.
She said: “I got into an argument with him. I don’t believe him as much as he believes him. He said something along the lines of, ‘I only sh*g really stupid women.’
“And I said, ‘I guess they would have to be.’ I don’t get him at all,” she added. (ANI)
London, May 21 (ANI): The hunky horseman, who has been romantically linked to Katie Price, says he is ready to talk to Peter Andre to help save their marriage.
Dressage coach Andrew Gould, 28 insists that there is “nothing going on” between him and the glamour model.
And said he was “f***ing sick” of being portrayed as “the other man” in the couple’s troubled marriage.
He said that he would happily meet Peter, 36, for a face-to-face to clear the misunderstandings.
“I don’t know what’s going on and I certainly wouldn’t sh*t on my own doorstep,” the Daily Star quoted Gould as saying.
“All this fuss is over one drink I had with Kate. I’ve had drinks with lots of my clients but because she is famous it is being turned into something it is not,” he added.
Gould said that his relationship with the Price a.k.a Jordan was purely “professional”.
“I’ve not got any comment to make on Kate and Peter’s marriage. It has nothing to do with me and if I said anything it would be disrespectful.
“It would be like me commenting on your relationship with your wife.
“I haven’t spoken to Peter. I have spoken to Kate, but that’s my duty to tell her how her horses are doing. I keep all my clients up to date on their horses. Kate is no different, that’s my duty of care.
“I think Kate needs to sit down and talk to Peter,” he added. (ANI)
London, May 13 (ANI): American actress Megan Fox’s language is apparently not as pretty as her, for the Transformers star reportedly uttered a series of foul words after she was told that she was too pretty for serious movie roles.
“It p***es me when people f***ing complain that I’m too beautiful to get a part,” the Sun quoted the 22-year-old as saying.
“That’s bulls***.
“And if I weren’t attractive I wouldn’t be working at all,” she said.
Fox was also asked whether it was worth isolating herself in order to escape the madness of Hollywood.
“Yeah, it’s worth it,” she said.
“Because if it was – if I wasn’t making that decision I wouldn’t, I would be f***ing, not literally f***ing away my career, but I’d be s***ting away my career,” she added. (ANI)
London, May 13 (ANI): Lady Gaga has pledged never to mime her words to recorded tunes on stage, insisting it defeats the purpose of a real artist.
The pop vixen said she would never resort to lip synching even if she was to perform heavy dance routines along with her songs.
“I would never even think about it (lip synching). The whole point to me is, if you’re gonna be number one, you better really be f***ing number one,” the Daily Star quoted her as saying.
“If you’re gonna be on top, you better be able to do all those things, because it’s a real privilege to be able to make music everyday, and I get away with a lot.
“Andy Warhol says art is what you can get away with, and I get away with a lot with my music and my clothes, and I work really hard so I could truly be a real artist for all my fans. That’s really f***ed up when you lip-synch?” she added. (ANI)
London, May 12 (ANI): Acclaimed chef Gordon Brown’s ‘Great British Nightmare’ show drew some flak after the F-word was used for a whopping 115 times in 40 minutes.
Viewers witnessed the most “aggressive” scene occur at 9.30pm, when a chef shouted the word “f***ing” 30 times in less than two minutes.
Many complaints were filed against the show because viewers found the use of foul language offensive.
“I can handle a swear word from Gordon but is it really necessary to have this in every other word from all involved? The show’s overuse of the word f*** is unreal,” t heDaily express quoted a viewer as complaining.
However, Channel 4 has said that Gordon only exposes the truth and delivers frank advice.
The channel also said that with just 5 days to turn around Silversmiths eatery in Sheffield, Gordon had no time for niceties or gentle persuasion.
The watchdog received 51 complaints, and said a number of regular viewers were shocked. (ANI)
London, May 12 (ANI): Oasis lead guitarist Noel Gallagher was pretty right in mentioning that his brother Lima Gallagher would “freak out” if he hears about his plans of recording a solo album, for the latter has actually blasted his plans.
Frontman Liam said that with everybody planning to record solo album, then there was no need of an united band.
“If everyone starts going off doing solo records then you might as well just split the band up, know what I mean,” the Sun quoted him as saying.
Liam did not hesitate to declare that the worst thing about ‘Oasis’ was being in the band with his brother.
“The worst part of life in Oasis was being in a band with your f***ing brother,” he said. (ANI)
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