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An Amazing Machine

October 29, 2009 by ·

bmw_Known for creating vehicles that are luxurious, fast, and can handle very well, that’s what BMW has all about on their bmw x3. This vehicle features straight cut synchronic gears that create a “whine” sound according to speed. These gears also allow direct up and down shifting for easy manipulation. Overall, this car is an amazing machine with an amazing sound and performance that can be heard from. Cranking out 1000 horsepower, a true monster, that can’t even keep traction in fifth gear. More than 500 foot pounds of torque keep the low end power plentiful as the turbo builds boost. Six high pressure fuel injectors plus racing fuel keep this beast from detonating itself to shreds.

Nevertheless, with all of the foregoing features – though most quality vehicles are targeted towards hardcore sports car enthusiasts, the bmw x3 is designed for everyone that can afford it and buying from someone that you trust is something that manufacturer’s endorsement is important. Towards this point, everybody is enjoined to get in touch only with the certified authorized distributors of the products on the internet as there are several unauthorized internet retailers out there, who cannot guarantee the satisfaction and warranty service issues that you’ll possibly sought for.

Filed Under: Business, Cars/Vehicles, Economy ·

Dubai Debt Move, Words May Fail To Assure Investors

October 28, 2009 by ·

dubai debt move_Dubai’s move to repay and restructure some of its $80 billion debt and words of confidence from policymakers may not be enough to convince skeptical investors that the emirate could pay its bond obligations. Successful debt restructuring is essential to prevent the debt-laden Dubai – already bailed out by the federal government once – from defaulting and cutting off overseas financing channels for the emirate whose 6-year oil boom burst last year, causing a big crash in the property market.

Property developer Nakheel, part of state-owned conglomerate Dubai World, has repaid a $1.2 billion securitized bond a month ahead of its maturity date, according to two bankers familiar with the deal.

The Dubai government is also  launching bond roadshows in Europe, Asia and at home from this week in a move seen to test investor appetite for fresh financing. Dubai International Capital, a subsidiary of Dubai ruler’s investment vehicle, has launched syndication of a $550 million loan.

While these developments signal a step in the right direction, the fate of Nakheel’s $3.5 billion Islamic bond due in December and Dubai’s upcoming $10 billion support bond as well as even more maturing debt next year are the main remaining issues for investors.

“Restructuring will take quite a while. All hinges on how far markets will recover. There is a lot of debt maturing in 2010 and that will be a challenge for Dubai,” said Eckart Woertz, program manager of economics at Gulf Research Center. “They need to find refinancing and try to keep cash generating industries. They will try to reprioritize; where assets and companies are underwater you need to try to cut back or they might think about exit strategies.”

Hit by the credit crisis and liquidity crunch, developers in Dubai cancelled or postponed multi-billion-dollar construction projects with property prices halving since last year.

Dubai’s benchmark index rose 1.4 percent Monday, helped by optimism for Nakheel’s debt restructuring, while prices of its $3.5 billion sukuk maturing on December 14 rose to 106 from a low of 103 late last week.

The cost of insuring Dubai’s sovereign bond against default, measured by credit default swaps, stood at around 297 basis points , having risen to 943 bps in February.

“They are drumming up interest again. It means people will get to see firsthand and ask questions about what’s happening. It puts Dubai into communication with the market they want to tap in the future and opens the door to look at the books and the numbers irrespective of the outcome,” said Haissam Arabi, CEO of Gulfmena Alternative Investments, a regional hedge fund. “[But] We still want to see where the [next] $10 billion will be subscribed to and the future debt maturing in 2010.”

Policymakers are also sending brighter signals. Dubai’s Finance Ministry delayed the final $5.5 billion cash injection out of its $19.1 billion rescue facility as banks do not need it, according to a newspaper report.

The deputy UAE central bank governor said last week that its upcoming $10 billion bond should interest private investors, adding that Dubai has weathered the worst of the crisis.

The UAE’s central bank took up the first tranche of the $20 billion bond issue in February and Nakheel, which developed Dubai’s palm-shaped islands – has said it received the fund.

“They cannot and do not want to rely solely on Abu Dhabi for their refinance needs. Its pockets are deep but every pocket has a bottom,” Woertz said. “It’s very important to keep credibility and access to international capital markets, so I would expect that bonds and traded debt instruments are all fully and timely paid to send the right signal to the markets. Debts owed to banks might be something different, here negotiations about rescheduling may well happen behind closed doors.”

Earlier this month, Sheikh Ahmad bin Saeed al-Maktoum, a member of Dubai’s financial crisis committee, said Dubai would be able to service government debt.

“The sector is working hard to digest the developer distress, but liquidity is still a very scarce commodity,” Chet Riley, equity strategist at Nomura, said in a note to clients. By Natsuko Waki and John Irish, Daily Star Lebanon.

Filed Under: Foreign News, Foreign Policy, Places ·

Saving The Sumatran Rhino

October 27, 2009 by ·

saving the sumatran rhino_Year Four pupils here were introduced to the endangered Sumatran Rhino at a WWF Malaysia talk recently. The children, as well as their headmaster and teachers, were all ears at the talk held at SJK (C) Chung Ching in Tanah Putih.

“Honda Malaysia together with WWF Malaysia have started a project to save the Sumatran rhino and this joint effort is a five-year commitment,” said WWF Malaysia spokesman Daisy Poh. “The company has pledged RM5mil to enable WWF Malaysia to take its Sumatran rhino conservation efforts to the next level.

“The project also aims to educate and raise public awareness on the endangered species. “It is important for young minds to be aware of what is happening in the world, about the extinction threat to Sumatran rhinos and other animals in Malaysia,” she added.

A question-and-answer session was held at the end of the talk which had fired up the pupils’ curiousity and imagination. Poh said that poaching, logging and deforestation to make way for agricultural cultivation contributed to the rapid decline in the population of Sumatran rhinos. “The Sumatran rhino is the nation’s most endangered species,” she said.

Honda Malaysia is the first corporation to sponsor a long-term project to save the Sumatran rhino. It is estimated that only 300 Sumatran rhinos are left in the world today. The pupils also watched a slide show on common and uncommon wildlife and endangered species.

Also highlighted in the slide show were the problems of pollution and activities that were damaging to the environment. The pupils were then given goodie bags supporting the “no more plastic” campaign. The bags contained a drawing block, stickers and note pads related to the rhino-rescue project. “I want to save the animals from bad people. Animals are like us and have feelings too,” said Goh Kah Lon, 10.

Tan Yee Jou, 10, had this to say: “Peo­ple, please try to reuse and recycle and save Earth before it is too late.” She added that she would share the new information with her siblings and parents.

Thai student Yorakit, 10, said: “I have never seen a rhino before, but the talk today has made me eager to save the species.” By Dona Ann Sophia, The Star.

Filed Under: Environment, Wildlife ·

Smooth & Successful Move

October 26, 2009 by ·

moving trucks_Moving from one place to the other is really a daunting task, especially if it involves bulk of storage unit. It can probably put the whole family under huge stress, as well as diminishing work productivity and attracting exorbitant costs. Thus, when selecting a reputable service provider of moving trucks, practical reason, common sense, and good judgment frequently don’t stand a chance against the overwhelming power of the almighty dollar – especially in today’s economy. So, if ever possible – be magnanimous enough in choosing relocation consultants and see to it that they have the capability and expertise to do the job and in minimizing stress, coordinating a smooth and successful move.

Filed Under: Business, Economy ·

No Bites, Just Praise As Tyson, Holyfield Meet

October 26, 2009 by ·

boxing champs_Mutual praise and admiration dominated during a face-to-face meeting Friday between former world champion boxers Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield on a live episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”

On June 28, 1997, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Tyson was disqualified after biting off part of Holyfield’s right ear during their WBA heavyweight title fight.

A respectful Tyson shook hands with his former rival several times during their encounter Friday — which he said was his first chance to speak at length with Holyfield since the ear chomp that made worldwide headlines.

Tyson told Winfrey earlier that an initial apology after the incident was insincere. But when she asked what he wanted to say to Holyfield, Tyson stopped short of apologizing again. He instead poured on the praise.

“This is a beautiful guy,” he said, holding Holyfield’s arm affectionately for several seconds. “I just want you to know it’s just been a pleasure … being acquainted with you.”

Asked by Winfrey if he was still missing part of his ear, Holyfield pointed to it and said, “Just a little bit.”

Holyfield also had a confession of sorts to make: He himself has bitten others, during childhood roughhousing with his siblings as a way to get out of headlocks.

“You talk about biting,” he said. “I’m the person that bit every brother in my family.”

Holyfield said one reason he wanted to appear with Tyson on television was to demonstrate to youth caught up in violence that reconciliation is always possible.

“We can come together,” he said. “We know you can come together.” Asbury Park Press

Filed Under: Boxing, Foreign News, Sports ·

Shared Gaming Experience

October 26, 2009 by ·

online games_For over a period of years, the most natural choice for an online gaming destination, online gambling is a favorite hang-out for new players and those who are seeking a welcome change from the usual ordinary. It offers more than 80 games and a highly competitive 300% sign up bonus that uses award-winning software, featuring the high level of security and reliability which players have come to rely on. And being updated daily, it provides the latest gaming news, web site reviews and special bonuses for the viewers. Players will also find up-to-date bonus deals and other helpful information that will help players get the most playing entertainment value for their money.

Playing the all new, multi-player wheel of wealth slot machine is a unique game of its kind to appear on the internet. Online players chat while spinning online slots and participate in a shared bonus round. Occupying the same game space, players see each other’s results in real time, making this a truly shared gaming experience. Further, at online slots, they cover everything that a new player or even veteran player needs to know about internet gambling and they have a fairly open promotion policy which offers some very appealing deposit bonuses, though the way the support system has been set up seems insufficiently low-tech.

In a nutshell, players visiting the website won’t probably find a lot of information about the games offered or any detailed guides to getting started. Outside of deposit options and tournament schedules, there’s not a lot of information about the games and software being offered. What it does offer is a solid stable of online games that players have grown to love over the years. It is one of the world’s best, with 24/7 live support via email, live chat, or toll-free phone calls from anywhere in the world. And because of such, they pride themselves on having the most relevant material available to players and the most updated gambling site on the internet.

Filed Under: Business, Economy ·

‘By 2015, One In 8 Women Will Have Breast Cancer’

October 26, 2009 by ·

by 2025, one in 8 women_“It is estimated that one out of every 22 women in India has breast cancer. And by 2015, one out of every eight females will have chances of developing breast cancer,” said Dr Gurpreet Singh, Professor of Surgery, PGIMER, Chandigarh.

Chandigarh Breast Cancer Trust (CBCT) organised a daylong campaign against the common misconceptions about this most common form of cancer ailing the women. People visiting Fun Republic, Manimajra, were made aware of the importance of early diagnosis of breast cancer.

Across the world, October is celebrated as the Breast Cancer Awareness Month better known as Pink October. During the awareness drive, people were made aware about the symptoms of the disease. Kamaljit Walia, Founder and Secretary, CBCT, who was assisted by J Saupins, President, said, “Breast cancer is a disease that is rapidly increasing in the urban India. The CBCT aims to help the needy patients financially, emotionally, socially and to create awareness.”

The survivors of breast cancer were also especially called to remove fear and encourage women for early detection of this kind of cancer. Indian Express.

Filed Under: Disease, Health ·