Price, Reid Spent Wedding Night in Strip Club

Price, Reid Spent Wedding Night in Strip Club

Katie Price and Alex Reid spent their wedding night at the world’s biggest strip club.

They shunned a romantic evening in their hotel room to go with pals to the Sapphire Gentlemen’s club in Las Vegas. The couple spent more than four hours in a $1,000-an -hour private room called the skybox, reported thesun.co.uk.

The wedding took place Tuesday in a 20-minute ceremony at the Wynn hotel. They are staying in a Planet Hollywood suite complete with a pole dancing pole.

“Katie requested the suite with a stripper’s pole”, told hotel source.

“Their decision to marry has not been made with a pre-conceived commercial plan or media deal in place, and their reason for getting married is purely down to their love for each other,” a spokesperson of Katie clarified.

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Euro Hits 7-Month Low Against Dollar

Euro Hits 7-Month Low Against Dollar

The European single currency tumbled to the lowest point since June on Thursday amid stubborn worries about Greece as the country tries to put its strained finances in order, analysts said.

The euro sank to 1.3827 dollars, a level last seen on June 22, 2009.

In later trade, the single currency stood at 1.3839 dollars compared with 1.3884 dollars late on Wednesday in New York.

The dollar fell to 90.83 yen from 90.99 late Wednesday.

Markets were awaiting interest rate decisions due Thursday from the European Central Bank (ECB) and the Bank of England (BoE).

The ECB meeting was set to be dominated by concerns over debt-ridden Greece and other countries with high public deficits that have pushed the eurozone into its worst-ever crisis.

Eurozone states should be ready to help fellow member Greece with the difficult austerity measures it is taking, the head of the International Monetary Fund said on Thursday.

The measures Greece plans to curb its public deficit and debt “are very difficult”, IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn told RTL Radio.

“The problem is difficult for the eurozone too but I think even so, the eurozone cannot afford not to help Greece in some form or another,” he said.

On Tuesday, Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou ordered a public salary freeze, a higher retirement age and a hike in petrol prices, supplementing a crisis plan unveiled last month to reassure the financial markets.

The EU approved the plans on Wednesday but also put Greece under close monitoring to ensure that it fully implements the tough medicine in the face of widespread popular opposition.

In London on Thursday, the euro was changing hands at 1.3839 dollars against 1.3884 dollars late on Wednesday, at 125.70 yen (126.38), 0.8738 pounds (0.8738) and 1.4702 Swiss francs (1.4713).

The dollar stood at 90.83 yen (90.99) and 1.0624 Swiss francs (1.0590).

The pound was at 1.5835 dollars (1.5892).

On the London Bullion Market, the price of gold fell to 1,103.95 dollars an ounce from 1,115.25 dollars an ounce late on Wednesday.

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MPs to Meet Zardari for Cricket Reshuffle

MPs to Meet Zardari for Cricket Reshuffle

A parliamentary sports committee will meet Pakistan President Asif Zardari to recommend changes in the national cricket set-up which lawmakers believe has failed, an official said Thursday.

The parliamentary committee has grilled the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over its alleged poor management and the national team’s dismal performance on tour in Australia.

Pakistan lost the three-Test series 3-0 and five-match one-day series 5-0, a whitewash which prompted the committee and fans to demand the sacking of coach Intikhab Alam and PCB top officials, including chairman Ijaz Butt.

Committee head Jamshed Dasti told reporters that members of the committee will soon meet Zardari, patron of the PCB.

“We have already recommended the patron to sack Butt, who has failed to deliver, and sack coach Intikhab Alam, PCB chief operating officer Wasim Bari and bring some new people. Now we will request action,” Dasti said.

The committee also recommended that PCB accounts be frozen to stop alleged financial irregularities.

Former PCB chief selector Iqbal Qasim, who resigned over the poor performance in Australia, criticised a lack of team discipline.

“There is lack of discipline among the team players,” Qasim told the committee. “All players were free to issue statements and (each) said whatever he liked during the Australia tour.

“There should be some discipline in the team and all those who violated the rules must be punished,” Qasim, who refused to rescind his resignation, told a two-day committee hearing.

Butt has vowed to fight on, refusing to resign.

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Donald Eyes England Bowling Coach Job

Donald Eyes England Bowling Coach Job

Former South Africa paceman Allan Donald has said he would welcome the chance to return to the role of England fast bowling coach following the departure of Ottis Gibson.

The England and Wales Cricket Board are looking for a replacement for Gibson, who resigned Tuesday to become the new head coach of the West Indies.

Donald was immediately identified as a possible candidate, having spent four months in the role in 2007 before pulling out for family reasons.

“It is an environment I really enjoyed being in, working with elite cricketers,” the 43-year-old said. “I’d be silly to not consider the position. I will obviously think it over but it is a great challenge for any coach.

“If I did make contact with the ECB at some stage I’m sure that I would be throwing my name in the hat, absolutely.

“In 2007 my little boy went through a very tough time and I had to abort that. It would have been very foolish of me to go touring around the world when he was struggling at school and having health problems.

“At the moment everything is fine and I think I am just about ready to get back into it full time.”

Former England seamers Darren Gough, Phil DeFreitas and Steve Watkin are also seen as possible candidates, as is ex-South Africa captain Shaun Pollock.

Donald believes Gibson has left a strong legacy to whoever takes over from him.

“You can see Ottis has been working very hard. He has got a lot of discipline and toughness amongst these guys,” he said. “(James) Anderson has become a quality bowler, so has (Stuart) Broad.

“But not only the bowling unit, the team itself is becoming a solid one. I think there is no doubt they are destined for some big stuff to come.”

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Bomb Blast Near Pakistani Girls’ School kills Three US Soldiers

Bomb Blast Near Pakistani Girls’ School kills Three US Soldiers

A bomb blast near a girls’ school in northwestern Pakistan has killed three American soldiers involved in a low-profile joint US-British programme to train the country’s paramilitary Frontier Corps.

Two more US military personnel were wounded in the attack in Lower Dir, near the Afghan border, which also killed a Pakistani paramilitary soldier and at least three children, according to American and Pakistani officials.

They were the first US military casualties in Pakistan since 2008, when two American military personnel were among those killed in a massive bomb attack on the Marriott hotel in Islamabad.

They were also believed to be the first killed by the Taleban and its allies in Pakistan’s tribal areas, where US operations are mostly conducted by the CIA using unmanned drones and agents on the ground.

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the main Pakistani Taleban faction, claimed responsibility for the attack, alleging that the dead Americans belonged to the security company Blackwater Worldwide.

“We have warned we will take revenge and today we have avenged the deaths of innocent people,” said Azam Tariq, a TTP spokesman.

But the US embassy said that the American casualties were military trainers who had been attending an inauguration ceremony at a girls’ school, which had recently been renovated with US aid.

“The United States condemns this vicious terrorist bombing,” it added. “The United States and Pakistan are partners in fighting terrorism — and our people are working together to build schools.”

It said that the Americans were “US military personnel in Pakistan to conduct training at the invitation of the Pakistan Frontier Corps”.

Major General Athar Abbas, the Pakistani army spokesman, also confirmed that the dead included three US military trainers attached to the Frontier Corps, as well as one FC soldier, and three children.

The 60,000-strong Frontier Corps was founded by the British in 1907 to control the North West Frontier, and is still recruited from among the local tribes and tasked with patrolling the Afghan border.

The US began training it as part of a joint programme with Britain designed to improve security on the border, and reduce dependence on the Pakistani army, which is pre-occupied with India, its traditional enemy.

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Celebs Tweet on SRK-Shiv Sena Divide

Celebs Tweet on SRK-Shiv Sena Divide

Twitter world is in frenzy with celebs tweeting their views frantically about the brewing storm. Tension is growing over the release of SRK’s new movie My Name is Khan since he has been caught in the controversy with the Shiv Sena. “We can’t release the film and put our audience under threat unless the matter is resolved,” said a senior executive of a national multiplex chain on condition of anonymity.

Responding to such news, Vir Sanghvi tweets “SRK is the first movie star to stand up to Shiv Sena even when his film is releasing. Wish Bollywood had more like him.”

Others like Barkha Dutt are voicing concerns over the growing authority of Shiv Sena over our democracy as she tweets: “if our democracy cant keep @iamsrk safe from small time goons we as well be a mobocracy. Shiv Sena needs to be stopped. Now!”

Director Madhur Bhandrakar tweets: “A politician divides mankind into two classes: tools & enemies…”

The controversy seems to be gathering heat as opinions are voiced back and forth with some saying it’s a tactic to promote the movie. Pritish Nandy tweets “The Shiv Sena has its own agenda. @iamsrk has his own. Trust me, both will benefit from this confrontation.”

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Taylor Swift, Beyonce Grab Grammys, But Jackson kids Steal Show

Taylor Swift, Beyonce Grab Grammys, But Jackson kids Steal Show

The most memorable moment of the 52nd annual Grammy Awards on Sunday may be the onstage appearance of Michael Jackson’s two eldest children to accept their father’s lifetime achievement award.

“To all his songs, his message was simple, love,” 12-year-old Prince Michael said. “We will continue to spread his message and help the world.”

With a voice that sounded more mature than his age, he then thanked “God for watching over us these last seven months and our grandma and grandpa for their love and support.”

Paris, 11, then spoke: “Daddy was supposed to be here. Daddy was going to perform last year. Thank you. We love you Daddy.”

Prince Michael and Paris, along with several cousins, wore black suits with red stripes on their pants, and red armbands.

The children appeared after a rousing performance of Michael Jackson’s “Earth Song,” with a recording of Jackson accompanied by live performances from Celine Dion, Usher, Carrie Underwood, Smokey Robinson and Jennifer Hudson.

Grammy producers used the head-to-head competition between Beyonce and Taylor Swift to lure viewers to stay tuned through the three-and-a-half hour telecast.

List: Major Grammy winners

Swift got the biggest Grammy of the night, album of the year, for “Fearless.”

“I just hope that you know how much this means to me,” she said in her acceptance speech. “Our families are freaking out in their living rooms.”

Swift also won best country album. She won four Grammys overall.

Beyonce won a pair of Grammys over Swift, including for best female pop vocal performance.

Beyonce carried home six Grammys, including one in the major category of song of the year. That honor, a songwriters’ award, was given to Beyonce for co-writing “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It).”

For the best female pop honor, won for “Halo,” the nervous singer thanked her family, “including my husband — I love you.” Beyonce is married to hip-hop star Jay-Z.

Gallery: Red-carpet arrivals

Alternative rock band Kings of Leon upset favorites Beyonce and Swift to win the record of the year Grammy for “Use Somebody.”

The win gave the Kings of Leon three Grammys out of four nominations this year, all thanks to last year’s “Only by the Night” album. The same album gave them three nominations last year, one of which they won.

“Use Somebody” lost out earlier in the show to Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” for song of the year.

“The best thing about winning Grammys is really it’s the first time our family gets to see the success we’re having,” Kings lead singer Caleb Followill said backstage. “We’re getting my mom wasted.”

What do you think about the Grammys?

Other triple Grammy winners were The Black Eyed Peas and Jay-Z.

Winners also included Stephen Colbert, the Zac Brown Band and Green Day.

The Zac Brown Band won best new artist. Lady Gaga, considered by many to be this year’s biggest breakout act, was ruled ineligible because she had a song released and nominated last year.

Behind-the-scenes: Our Marquee blog

Stephen Colbert won best comedy album for “A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!” Rap/sung collaboration went to Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West.

Green Day won best rock album.

“Now I’m going to do shots with Kings of Leon,” Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong said.

Lady Gaga, whose performance opened the show, won two Grammys presented in the pre-telecast. Her single “Poker Face” beat out songs by the Black Eyed Peas, Madonna and Britney Spears in the best dance recording category. Her CD “The Fame” also won a Grammy for best electronic/dance.

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Afridi Booked Under Article 2.2.9 of ICC Code

Afridi Booked Under Article 2.2.9 of ICC Code

Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi, who was slapped two Twenty20 International ban for ball tampering in the final ODI against Australia here, was booked under article 2.2.9 of ICC Code of Conduct and the match referee imposed him the maximum penalty for his offence.

Afridi, who led the visiting side in place of regular skipper Mohammad Yousuf, will miss Pakistan’s next two Twenty20 Internationals against the same opponents on February 5 in Melbourne and against England in Dubai on February 19.

“Shahid was charged with an article 2.2.9 offence of the ICC Code of Conduct which relates to ‘changing the condition of the ball in breach of Law 42.3 of the Laws of Cricket’. He has received two suspension points after breaching the Code. Two suspension points in the code means a ban of a Test, two ODIs or two T20Is,” ICC said in a statement.

The charge was laid by on-field umpires Asoka de Silva of ICC Elite Panel of Umpires and Paul Reiffel of International Panel, third umpire Rod Tucker and fourth umpire Mick Martell.

The incident that led to the charge being laid took place when the Pakistan captain was observed in the act of changing the condition of the ball during Australia’s innings without the permission of the on-field umpires.

ICC Elite Panel Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle said, “I imposed maximum penalty under the code and reminded Shahid of his responsibilities as a national captain which is to ensure the match is played according to laws of the game and in the spirit it is intended to be played. Shahid, when pleading guilty, apologised and regretted his actions.”

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