Britons drinking less beer as recession bites

Many pubs across Britain have closed their operation and the usual buzz surrounding them is missing as recession-hit people choose not to take to the pint to relax.

Besides job losses and economic crisis, beer lovers are also grappling with the 2 per cent rise in alcohol duty announced by Chancellor Alistair Darling last week.New figures released by the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) show that beer sales in the UK have plummeted by more than 8 per cent in a year, underlining the ongoing pressure on the ailing drinks and hospitality industry in the grip of recession.

The BBPA said fall in sales in the first quarter of 2009 was the highest first-quarter fall since 1997. The breakdown of sales across all outlets showed poor results, with many consumers opting to drink more cheaply at home. Supermarket and off-licence beer sales also dipped by 11 per cent.

The BBPA is the UK's leading organisation representing the brewing and pub sector. Its members account for 98 per cent of the beer brewed in the UK and own nearly two-thirds of Britain's 56,000 pubs. The organisation has led a campaign to try and persuade the government not to raise duty on alcohol further.

Buy a house, get wife, dowry free

"Planning to buy a house? Can we tempt you with the offer of a young bride - and a dowry as well?"

That's the bizarre sales pitch of a Beijing-based property developer who is struggling to combat a severe market slump in China that has seen home sales and prices plunge.

The company, Jin Tai Cheng, is luring potential buyers at its upmarket 'Ecological Bay' villa project with an invitation to date its salesgirls, whose photographs and vital statistics are put up on the company website. If the speed-dating service leads to marriage before May 30, the company will even offer a 'dowry' in the form of a 60,000 yuan (about $8,000) discount on the villa. The 'package deal', however, comes with a caveat: The couple should not divorce within a year!

The desperate sales pitch, evidently made in tie-up with a marriage broking service, is merely the latest manifestation of the grim outlook for China's real estate market.
"Many potential buyers are postponing plans to buy because of the uncertain economic outlook," says Li Jingguo, director of research at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), a leading government thinktank.

CASS professor Cao Jianhai says average urban residential property prices will likely fall 40-50% over the next two years.

The Chinese government has unveiled a 4 trillion yuan ($585 billion) stimulus package, but the real estate market has shown no sign of a recovery so far, notes Ren Zhiqiang, president of the Huayuan group.

But China's developers seem to have taken it upon themselves to stimulate the market by commodifying women and offering them as part of a 'free wife and dowry' package deal.

Drinking while pregnant 'weakens mothers bond with child'

Moms-to-be, here's another reason why you should stop drinking -- Downing alcoholic beverages, even in a small quantity, while pregnant can weaken a mother's bond with her child, says a new study.

Researchers at the Aberdeen's Robert Gordon University have based their findings after looking at 130 first-time moms with varying levels of alcohol intake.

After the births, the researchers looked at issues including delivery type, length of hospital stay, pregnancy and labour complications, maternal attachment and post-natal
drinking habits.

Subsequently, all the mothers were asked a series of questions after giving birth to determine the level of their attachment to their child.

It was found that the women who drank during pregnancy had significantly lower levels of bonding than non-drinkers. And, even mothers who drank no more than once a month, the study found, had to spend an extra day recovering in hospital. Dr Katrina Forbes-McKay, one of the researchers, was quoted by 'The Daily Telegraph' as saying: "This research confirms that drinking even small amounts during pregnancy has
negative outcomes for women.

"Alcohol use during pregnancy not only lengthens the mother's stay in hospital, but can be directly associated with lower levels of mother-child bonding."

She also stressed that the level of affection between a mother who drank during pregnancy and her child was not low, but lower than that of a mother who did not drink at all during pregnancy.

'Viagra rival'

Well, popping the common erectile dysfunction pill before sex could soon be a passe. Scientists have come up with what they claim is a new generation of more effective anti-impotency drugs which can be rubbed into skin.

An international team has successfully tested the new technique -- which involves tiny objects called nanoparticles -- on laboratory rodents and believe it could also be used to help humans.

An international team has successfully tested the new technique -- which involves tiny objects called nanoparticles -- on laboratory rodents and believe it could also be used to help humans, The Daily Telegraph reported

According to scientists, under the new therapy, nanoparticles that release the anti-erectile chemical nitric oxide are rubbed on the problem area, and absorbed directly into the skin.

In fact, of the seven rats treated by the team, led by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, five showed signs of arousal.

"This is a very interesting concept which has potential to impact treatment of many conditions including erectile dysfunction if it can be translated from the animal lab to clinical practice," said Ira D Sharlip of the AUA.

However, according to the scientists, the new treatment would likely have fewer side effects than the common pill, which is taken orally and been shown to cause headaches and facial flushing.

I am scared of my wife: Bon Jovi

Rockstar Jon Bon Jovi has credited the fear of his wife in keeping his 20-year-old marriage intact.

Married to his childhood sweetheart from high school Dorothea Hurley, Bon Jovi said that their relation is alive and going strong because he is scared of his wife, Contactmusic reported.

The 'It's my life' hitmaker explained the secret to their happiness, and said, "Let's get that right here, right now. I'm afraid of my wife." adding, "Trust me, she is the best. I am very happy."

While most wedding vows in the celeb-world go haywire after a point of time, the Bon Jovi couple is still on a high and will celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary on Wednesday.

No fear factor for Indian cricket

Gone are the days when India would be afraid of going on tour to Australia or the West Indies for fear of on-field humiliation. Things are different now. Now the home teams are wary of the confident Indians. India U-19's successful trip Down Under, where they won 3-2 in the five-match series, proved that Gen Y do not fear any team and know what they are capable of, feels coach Chandrakant Pandit.

"The youngsters nowadays are pretty confident of themselves and know how to handle the pressure. There was a time when players would be wary of touring countries like Australia and the West Indies where pacers dominate. Now the mindset has changed and I could sense that before taking off," the former India wicketkeeper told DNA.

"The boys were excited to play there and the confidence was evident in the style of cricket they played. We dominated the first two games," he said. Pandit, however, admitted that over-confidence was the reason behind the two losses. "They were very aggressive in their approach from the start and got carried away a little... some over-ambitious shot selection did us in. We got a convincing start and could have swept the series. Adaptability is the key and it will only come with experience," he said.

So what is it that gives the boys so much confidence?

"The youngsters get good exposure these days. They get good facilities and get to play on different surfaces. Also they get to see a Tendulkar, Sehwag, Dhoni or a Yuvraj bat 10 times in a month which gives them confidence. The game has changed completely due to the three formats. The teams now play fast in Test matches too and set big targets." Pandit is known for his experiments in the domestic circuit and he did that in Australia too by shuffling the batting order.

"I wanted them to play in tough situations. They will get mature after more match experiences. I think the BCCI should organise at least two tours a year," he said.
The director of coaching, MCA Indoor Cricket Academy, said there are some impressive players who could make it big in the future. "I think junior cricket is shaping up well. I was impressed by some of the players' talent and dedication. Avi Barot has good technique and can be a good longer version player. Mandeep Singh and Mayank Agarwal are aggressive. Skipper Ashok Menaria is good and is a very good fielder."

Pandit feels that some of the players are good enough to play in the U-19 World Cup to be held next year. "There are 7-8 players who are good enough."

Mumbai will house the 2011 World Cup

Mumbai will house the 2011 World Cup secretariat and India will host 29 of the 49 matches after the event's Central Organising Committee reallocated the games on Tuesday following the ICC decision to drop Pakistan as a co-host of the tournament.

Accordingly, the opening match of the 10th edition of the quadrennial tournament would be held as scheduled in Bangladesh on February 19, 2011, while the final would be held in India.

The opening ceremony of cricket's showpiece event would also be held in Bangladesh on February 18.

"The Central Organising Committee, which continues to have Sharad Pawar heading it, has reallocated the matches by which India would host 29 games across eight venues, Sri Lanka 12 games across three and Bangladesh eight at two venues," ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat said here.

"Bangladesh would play host to two quarter finals while one quarter final each would be held by India and Sri Lanka who will also split the two semi finals equally. The final would be held in India (in March, 2011)," Lorgat said.

The reallocation of matches was necessitated by the ICC's decision to take away co-hosting rights from Pakistan due to security concerns. Pakistan was slated to host 14 ties, including a semifinal, while Lahore was named the home of the secretariat.

"The Central Organising Committee was also reorganised and will continue to be headed by Sharad Pawar with representatives from the three World Cup hosting countries and a representative of the ICC," Lorgat said.

The World Cup Organising Committee also relocated the Secretariat from Lahore to the BCCI's headquarters in Mumbai, besides appointing BCCI chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty as the Event managing director.

"Prof Shetty will be the Event managing director while I S Bindra, the special adviser to the ICC, would be a key person in the management of the World Cup. The secretariat will be in Mumbai in the offices of the BCCI", the ICC CEO said.

There would also be a venue inspection group to oversee the preparation for the mega event in which BCCI secretary N Srinivasan and Shetty, along with Bangladesh's Mahbubul Anam, are members, Lorgat said.

Lorgat assured that the security concerns of the various members of the ICC and the players would be addressed with the formation of a special committee, headed by BCCI president Shashank Manohar, to oversee the security details.

"The security arrangements are very important and a special committee with Mr Shashank Manohar at its helm would put together security plans for the successful conduct of the World Cup in 2011", the ICC official said.

"It will be an ongoing process till World Cup 2011, and we will do our best to convince players and other countries in addressing security issues," Lorgat said.

He also said that the ICC has not received any communication, in writing or otherwise, from the Pakistan Cricket Board about their team not wanting to play any World Cup tie in India.

"We have nothing on the table. We would cross the bridge when we reach it. I don't think Pakistan would object (to playing matches in India)," he maintained.

Lorgat did not read much into the decision of the Indian Premier League not to have members of the ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit overseeing its running of matches.

"It's the BCCI's prerogative whether to ask for ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit's assistance or not in the IPL," he said.

The meeting was attended by Pawar (chairman), Bindra, Manohar, Srinivasan and MP Pandove (all from BCCI), Lt Gen Sina Ibn Jamali, Mahbubul Anam and Shafiqur Rahnan (all from Bangladesh Cricket Board), DS De Silva, Nishantha Ranatunga, Sujeewa Rajapakse and Duleep Mendis (all from Sri Lanka Cricket Board) and Lorgat.

British air stewardess sacked for refusing to wear an Islamic robe

A British air stewardess was sacked for refusing to fly to Saudi Arabia after she was ordered to wear a traditional Islamic robe and walk behind male colleagues.

Lisa Ashton, who worked for BMI, was told that she was expected to wear in public in Saudi Arabia the abaya, a long black robe that leaves only the face uncovered.

She was also told that she should walk behind male colleagues irrespective of their rank, in order to conform with the social codes of the conservative country, The Telegraph reports.shton was instructed to consider the abaya as part of her uniform when flying to Saudi Arabia, but she informed her managers that she considered the requirement discriminatory, and was worried that Saudi Arabia was not safe to travel to because of the danger of terrorist attacks.

"It's not the law that you have to walk behind men in Saudi Arabia, or that you have to wear an abaya, and I'm not going to be treated as a second-class citizen," Ashton said.

"It's outrageous. I'm a proud Englishwoman and I don't want these restrictions placed on myself," she added.

Ashton, 37, had been working for the airline for nine years when they began their service to Saudi Arabia in 2005.

She was earning 15,000 pounds a year and flying to India, the Caribbean and the United States from her base in Manchester, but was horrified to read details of the regulations for staff orking on the new route.