Bharti in talks over Zain understanding funding: SBI

MUMBAI Wed Feb 24, 2010 2:03am EST Related News Kuwait"s Zain to focus on Gulf, Middle EastTue, Feb 23 2010Bharti lines up $9 billion in loans for Zain AfricaSun, Feb 21 2010Bharti lines up $9 bln loans for Zain Africa-paperSun, Feb 21 2010Zain, Bharti to sign letter of intent soon: reportSun, Feb 21 2010India"s Bharti may sell shares to SingTel-reportThu, Feb 18 2010 Stocks & &

MUMBAI (Reuters) - State Bank of India (SBI.BO), India"s largest lender, is in talks with Bharti Airtel (BRTI.BO) over the telecoms firm"s funding to acquire the African assets of Kuwaiti firm Zain (ZAIN.KW), SBI"s chairman said on Wednesday.

Deals

SBI Chairman O.P. Bhatt was speaking on the sidelines of a banking technology summit.

(Reporting by Sumeet Chatterjee; Editing by Surojit Gupta)

Deals

Harry Potter functions his sorcery in a new Orlando thesis play ground

For most of us Britons, Orlando is so linked to theme parks it probably came as a surprise to discover that real people actually make it their home. If the Tiger Woods affair had any plus points, at least it helped put the area on the map as an interesting place to live.

While 2009 turned out not to be much of a year for the Tiger, it wasalso hardly a vintage time for Orlando"s theme parks. In the aftermathof the credit crunch, it was inevitable that business would suffer,particularly the vital US domestic business.

But the parks have, appropriately enough, long been on something ofa rollercoaster themselves - years of plenty interrupted by theoccasional tourist famine. And while last year may have been tough,they console themselves with the traditional comfort - good times arejust around the corner.

A New Broom: Universal hopes The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will leave visitors spellbound

Previous upturns have been built on extensive investment in newrides and attractions and it is significant that the past few yearshave seen the Orlando theme parks resting on their laurels.

If there is one overriding feeling at the moment, it is theconviction that the place is in need of some fresh showbiz stardust.And if you were looking to put a little magic back into the Floridatheme park business, who better to turn to than a wizard? More...Orlando: Not just for kidsOrlando"s alternative attractionsFlorida: Where relaxation is the key

Harry Potter may have finished his literary career since J.K.Rowling"s completion of the seventh and final volume, but this springhe will begin a new life with the opening at the Universal OrlandoResort of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

From the front archwayof Hogsmeade to the "immensity" of Hogwarts castle, the park willfeature assorted Potteresque delights, starting with "the arrival ofthe Hogwarts Express into Hogsmeade station" and including Zonko"s jokeshop and the Hog"s Head pub (with "traditional British fare and drinksincluding Butterbeer and pumpkin juice" - which most of us Britishenjoy at our local on a daily basis).

At the heart of the new attraction will be the traditional themepark delights of highspeed rollercoasters and plenty of places to eat,drink and shop. "It is yet another way that fans will be able toexperience and enjoy Harry Potter for years to come," says DianeNelson, of Warner Premiere, presumably with her fingers very tightlycrossed .

Flying high: The Flight of the Hippogriff ride will simulate Harry"s ride on Hagrid"s giant, affectionate pet

Such is the competition in Orlando between Universal and Walt DisneyWorld that it was inevitable Disney would look for ways to raise itsgame to match the rival opening.

At the end of last year, Disney"s Jay Rasulo detailed plans for future lands, attractions and adventures that "will be delighting Disney guests for years to come". Among the announcements was the confirmation of an all-new, 3-D version of the Star Tours attraction that will be launched at Disney"s Hollywood Studios in 2011.

Based on the blockbuster films, the attraction will include new elements that will take visitors to many familiar places in the Star Wars galaxy.

Rasulo also outlined plans for the largest expansion in the history of Magic Kingdom, vastly increasing the size of Fantasyland by 2013.

This will allow guests, for example, to visit their favourite Disney princess in her castle; to share a dance with Cinderella; celebrate Sleeping Beauty"s birthday with the Good Fairies; or join Belle in the Beast"s castle library.

Back to school: Hogwarts will be ready to accept a new generation of wizards

The Dumbo ride will be enhanced to allow people to fly with the bigeared elephant high above new circus grounds, twice the size of the existing attraction, with a new interactive three-ring tent.

There will also be a journey under the sea with Ariel, the Little Mermaid, in her own attraction, and a chance to meet Tinker Bell and her friends in the magical world of Pixie Hollow.

Orlando has much more to offer than Disney or Universal Studios. Interestingly, a glance at the top-rated Orlando attractions listed by TripAdvisor shows that its reviewers are more enthusiastic about less mainstream places. The top-rated attraction, for example, is SeaWorld"s Discovery Cove, followed by La Nouba, the Cirque du Soleil show based at Downtown Disney. In third place is The Outta Control Magic Comedy Dinner Show on International Drive.

You can also opt to enjoy the Orlando experience in more style and elegance following the opening of some luxury hotels in the city.

The Ritz-Carlton (001 407 206 2400, www.ritzcarlton.com) at Grande Lakes, Orlando, for example, features fine furniture, art and exotic cuisine, including private dining in the spa pool area.

With rates starting at about 250 a night, it is well worth paying the extra to stay in the peace and quiet of the Ritz-Carlton to have somewhere that offers the traditional charms of a holiday resort.

Travel facts

Seven nights in Orlando with Virgin Holidays, including scheduled flights with Virgin Atlantic from Gatwick direct to Orlando, accommodation at the Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal, Orlando, on a room only basis with basic car hire and 2-Park Universal Bonus ticket, starts from 1,275 for adults and 490 for children. Prices are based on departures between April 11 and June 30. www.virginholidays.co.uk, 0844 557 3875.

... or you could bypass the rides and head straight to the Gulf

What has Florida got to offer tourists? Apart from Orlando and the theme parks ... and Miami Beach... and the Keys ... and the Cape Canaveral Space Coast ... oh, and the Everglades with its alligators and wildlife refuges.

It might be hard to overlook Florida as a destination, given its famous list of attractions, yet many are guilty of neglecting some of its more appealing places.

The Gulf Coast resorts such as Marco Island, Naples, Fort Myers, Sanibel and Captiva Islands and Tampa appear on many itineraries merely as an afterthought to a week in Orlando - seven nights there and seven on the Gulf. Wear yourself out in Disney World and then recover on the beach.

Holiday snaps: There"s more to Florida than theme park rides

For many, however, the revelation of this type of break is not the thrills of Orlando but the old-world charm of the Gulf.

Sarasota, for example, is a chic, sophisticated city bristling with cultural attractions and packed with boutiques, award-winning restaurants and cafes.

The downtown areas of many American cities have become places to avoid, yet downtown Sarasota is a delight, boasting dozens of historic buildings such as the Kress Building, the Roth Cigar Factory, the American National Bank and the Sarasota Opera House.

But what makes the area so special is that it offers plenty of attractively priced accommodation, particularly in the summer, which has traditionally been low season.

Combined with cheap car hire and low-cost flights to Orlando - 90 minutes away by car - this is a smart option for this summer.

Business big shot: Jerry Buhlmann of Aegis Group

Alexi Mostrous & , : {}

The inner appointment of Jerry Buhlmann to the tip pursuit at Aegis is unsurprising. The 50-year-old was formerly head of Aegis Media, the selling companys media-buying division, that contributes 80 per cent of Aegiss revenue. His appointment reinforces the companys concentration on smoothness in a formidable trade environment.

As arch executive, the father of five will not shift the organisation from the belligerent up. This is not ITV, where outward bosses are parachuted in to exercise vital reviews. John Napier, Aegiss chairman, yesterday described the companys plan as both regressive and acquisitive.

Mr Buhlmanns appointment comes at a time when Aegis is entertainment momentum. In the formula for 2009, reported yesterday, pre-tax increase at the organisation fell some-more than a entertain to 91.2 million, but Mr Napier expected a lapse to medium single-digit expansion this year.

Mr Buhlmann, who takes up his appointment in May, will additionally have entrance to a 170 million partnership fight chest, after a automobile down payment was launched yesterday.

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A man with commercial operation in his red blood he pulled out of a place at university to turn a trainee media customer at Young & Rubicam he will conclude the event to take Aegis in to rising markets such as the Far East, or those where it is under-represented, such as the US.

The association customarily spends about 100 million on acquisitions each year though the figure in 2009, among the mercantile gloom, was only twelve million and has already lavished 60 million this year on deals in the UK and China. Mr Buhlmann will outlay the subsequent 10 months spending the income hold behind last year.

For a man whose prime word is you cant get people to follow you if youre not creation it transparent that youre going somewhere, he will suffer shopping companies that will expostulate Aegis forward. New acquisitions are expected to be plural rather than singular to one specific deal, the association pronounced yesterday.

Mr Buhlmann will goal to pull a line underneath 2009, when there were a little unsettling changes. Robert Lerwill left as arch senior manager towards the finish of 2008 and for the total of last year the post went unfilled. Four of the 6 non-executive directors were transposed and rumours of a probable takeover were not dispelled. Havas, the French selling group, still owns a twenty-nine per cent stake.

Mr Napier attempted to diffuse such conjecture yesterday, observant that there had been no talks about the merger. He added: Its one of those love affairs that take place in the newspapers. I havent even had my palm hold yet.

Overall income for the group, that owns Carat, a media business, and Synovate, a investigate company, fell 9.7 per cent. Operating increase forsaken fifteen per cent to 170 million. Margins remained decent but Mr Buhlmann knows that there is work to be done, quite in America where the organisation is underperforming.

Mr Buhlmann set up his own media business, BBJ, in 1989 and sole it to Aegis ten years later, prior to operative his approach up by the groups ranks.

He is a song fan and his prime organisation is Dr Feelgood, the rope that led a stroke and sadness rebirth in the 1970s. It might be means to suggest the new Aegis trainer a little tips on arriving acquisitions: one of the songs and a prime of Mr Buhlmanns is As Long As the Price is Right.

hair wig

Its a joy to have the choice

Frances Gibb & , : {}

Nicky Dalladay leans brazen from the lounge to take the occasional sip of squish from a straw, utilizing usually her mouth. It is the usually evident pointer of her serious mixed sclerosis, that in new years has cramped her to a wheelchair.

She is attended by her father turn the clock. The disappointment explodes in bouts of rage and swearing, since my hold up is not my own any some-more it has been stolen from me, she says.

Mrs Dalladay, 47, and her husband, David, 61, of Loughton, Essex, have been together for twenty-eight years. Once, their lives were hugely active: they both had City jobs and desired pledge dramatics, singing and dancing, hockey and travel. Now their days are unerring by her illness.

A standard day is: Dave gets me out of bed, on to the glide-about chair to the bathroom, helps me go to the toilet and deals with each aspect of that, washes me, dresses me, afterwards behind on the chair, afterwards in to the stairlift ... the slight is unconstrained and burdensome prior to weve even proposed the day, Mrs Dallaway says.

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Her father adds: It can take dual hours. If her physique doesnt instruct to move, theres zero you can do about it.

When the seizure worsened about five years ago, he took early early retirement and she gave up her job. She says that the decrease in her health has done her think about the future. I am of offset mind and means to verbalise and to confirm what I want. So we have discussed it. Dave found it formidable at first. Its not essentially creation a preference to die; but I hold I am entitled to lead a cool hold up and similarly to a cool death.

The new discipline from the Director of Public Prosecutions were a good comfort. They would magnify lives since people will not have to action prematurely, meaningful that they can be helped.

I dont have a genocide wish, Mrs Dalladay says. I only instruct the right to a cool death, when I instruct that to happen.

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Army takes carry out as looters raid cities ravaged by earthquake

Hannah Strange & , : {}

The armed forces took carry out of immeasurable swaths of Chile yesterday as rescue workers struggled to assistance survivors opposed polite turmoil, a cracked infrastructure and unchanging aftershocks.

Ten thousand infantry fanned out opposite Concepción and Maule, the regions plunged in to disharmony by the earthquakes on Saturday, commanding a night curfew and utilizing teargas to sunder looters.

Chiles second-largest city of Concepción, with a race of 600,000, resembled a conflict section as looting and spoliation widespread and armoured crew carriers patrolled the streets.

The assist bid suffered a blow last night when a small aircraft carrying a rescue group to Concepción crashed, murdering all 6 people on board.

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The administrator of the region, Jaime Tohá, pronounced that 55 people were arrested on Sunday night for violating the curfew after looters raided roughly each marketplace in the city. Some residents rifled by deserted supermarkets for simple reserve whilst others took value of the predicament to rob banks and dull stores of oppulance goods.

The Deputy Interior Minister, Patricio Rosende, pronounced that an additional 105 people were arrested yesterday for looting and alternative crimes, and that one chairman had been shot passed during the night. Shots were fired. Police took carry out of the area, he said, but giving details. Last night the roof tiles of a supermarket in Concepción collapsed when looters set glow to it after military attempted to sunder them.

As the genocide fee rose to 723, President Bachelet warned that most people were still missing. She pronounced that the disaster was but together in Chiles history.

The Government faced accusations yesterday that the reply to the 8.8-magnitude trembler was inadequate. I feel deserted by the authorities, Eduardo Aundez, a Spanish professor, said. We hold the Government didnt take the required measures in time, and right away reserve of food and H2O are going to be most some-more complicated.

A array of clever aftershocks a little up to bulk 6.9 have driven thousands to rush their homes, environment up tents and temporary shelters.

Some complained of robberies as criminals raided wrecked homes and assaulted people sleeping on the streets. Others pronounced that looting was their usually approach of removing hold of food and healing supplies.

I have 4 babies, pronounced a lady who had bags of disposable nappies pressed underneath her vest.

Jacqueline Van Rysselberghe, the mayor of Concepción, warned opposite critical amicable tragedy in the city. We need food for the people. We are but supplies, and if we dont finalise that we are going to have critical security problems during the night, she said. We are at the finish of the month. There are no bonds in the households. But zero justifies looting, desolation and theft. We have seen people entrance out of supermarkets with plasma screens. If we dont finalise this complaint of food today, we could have a really confrontational situation.

Elsewhere, miss of communications has difficult rescue efforts. Some coastal towns to the north of Concepción were exceedingly damaged, initial by the trembler and afterwards by a tsunami. The Defence Minister, Francisco Vidal, concurred that the army done a inapplicable designation by not activating a tsunami notice once the trembler struck. Its the truth, nonetheless it hurts, he said, adding that pier captains in multiform coastal towns had saved most lives by arising their own alerts.

The World Health Organisation pronounced that it approaching the series of people well known to have died to climb as communications improved.

Deaths of dual servicemen move Afghanistan fee to 265

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Two servicemen died in Afghanistan yesterday. A infantryman from 4 Bn, The Rifles was shot passed on unit nearby Sangin, in Helmand province, and an RAF Regiment airman died after a explosion north of Kandahar airfield.

Both mens family groups have been informed.

Lieutentant-Colonel David Wakefield said: It is with low dolour I contingency surprise you that a infantryman from A Company 4 Rifles, portion as piece of the 3 Rifles Battle Group, was shot and killed this sunrise nearby Sangin in northern Helmand.

He was on a feet patrol, piece of ongoing operations to strengthen the people of Sangin from insurgents, when his unit was dismissed on. His bravery and his unselfish joining will be sorely longed for by us, his comrades. We will recollect him.

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The ultimate dual deaths take the series of British use crew killed in the dispute to 265.

The Ministry of Defence pronounced that 232 had been killed as a outcome of antagonistic action.

A serve 33 died possibly as a outcome of illness, non-combat injuries or accidents, nonetheless a little have nonetheless to be reserved an central means of death, a orator said.

Neither of the dual deaths voiced yesterday was related to Operation Moshtarak the corner UK, US and Afghan attack on mutinous strongholds.

Every small helps? Supermarkets indicted of "cynical manipulation" over 1p cuts Business The Guardian

Exit strategy: The majority small reductions have small disproportion to shoppers at the checkout but capacitate supermarkets to explain they are slicing the prices of thousands of products. Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP

The infancy of cost cuts in the supermarket cost wars in in in between Asda and Tesco in the run-up to Yuletide were usually 1p, a Guardian review can reveal. In contrast, the infancy of cost increases imposed by the dual sell giants during the same duration were some-more than 10p.

This new investigate of supermarket pricing process shows a "cynical strategy of the denunciation of value" according to eccentric consultant Professor John Bridgeman, who criticised the make use of of "price flexing".

Bridgeman, who as executive ubiquitous of the Office of Fair Trading from 1995 to 2000 conducted central inquiries in to the supermarket sector, pronounced the large series of 1p decreases, promoted by Tesco and Asda as thousands of cost cuts prior to the gratifying season, shop-worn the credit of any selling slogans they used.

"They are not in being slicing prices but flexing prices, creation them go up and down and destabilising the cost structure," Bridgeman said. "All they are you do is introducing so majority sensitivity no one can discuss it either prices are going up or down. It can usually be to consumers" wreckage and it does their picture no good."

Data taken from Asda"s website by third-party analysts indicates that it cut scarcely 800 prices in in in between sixteen and twenty-three December, with two-thirds of the cuts being usually 1p and 80% of the sum series being less than 10p. It additionally increasing some-more than 850 prices that week. In contrast, usually 6% of the rising prices went up by the same small increment of 1p; 53% of the rises were some-more than 10p.

The settlement is steady in understand taken from the Tesco website: in in in between sixteen and twenty-three Dec it cut about 930 prices, 70% of that were by usually 1p. It additionally increasing usually underneath 1,000 prices in the same period; in contrariety 7% of these rises were by the small increment of 1p, and some-more than 600 – or 60% – of the cost increases were by some-more than 10p.

Both supermarkets pronounced the infancy of cost increases in that duration can be explained by products that had been ignored entrance off promotion.

In Bridgeman"s view, the scale of cost becoming different and the relations distance of the cuts and rises is both treacherous and dubious to consumers. "The majority dangerous thing [for] foe in this zone is cost volatility," he said. "It confuses consumers, deters investors and has driven dilemma shops out of commercial operation since they don"t know what cost they have to contest on," he said.

Paul Dobson, a highbrow of retailing at Loughborough University who has been study supermarket prices over a five-year period, says the settlement the Guardian had identified prior to Yuletide matches the altogether pattern. Researchers at Loughborough and at Warwick University have found that, overall, cost cuts done by the big 4 UK supermarkets – Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury"s and Morrisons – lend towards to be small and cost rises larger.

His investigate has found the majority usual cost cut between the big 4 over five years is 1p. Such low cuts have small stroke at the checkout, but introducing them on large numbers of products enables the supermarkets to explain they are slicing thousands of prices. Over the five years, according to Dobson, these small cuts have been used to facade critical cost hikes on a not as big series of lines with a big net outcome on bills. "In the big inflationary duration of 2008, there were dual and a half times the numbers of cost cuts in the big 4 as cost rises, but in actuality prices altogether were rising really rapidly," he said.

Dobson pronounced his investigate shows that of the big 4 UK supermarkets, Tesco is the majority inclusive user of 1p cuts, and Asda the second majority prolific. He additionally pronounced Tesco changes the prices some-more than the alternative retailers.

Asda did not plea the Guardian total but pronounced the reason for the large series of 1p cuts was "straightforward". "We won"t be knocked about on price. So if a aspirant goes reduce than us on a allied product, even by usually a penny, we will regularly try and compare or kick that price," pronounced a spokesman. "Whichever approach you see at the numbers, Asda is the undisputed lowest cost supermarket – as exclusively accurate by mysupermarket.com."

Tesco additionally deserted Bridgeman"s understand of the stress of the series of small and large cost changes:

In a statement, the association said: "We do not try by artful means to get prices in this asocial way. The Guardian and Professor Bridgeman are utilizing understand we do not recognize and his finish that we are on purpose treacherous business is nonsense.

"This is a rival marketplace and prices are reduce this year than last year. Our business know us, emporium with us each week, certitude us and are not confused. Instead of perplexing to find product cost changes to fit a half-baked theory, Bridgeman and the Guardian should see at what has happened to the altogether cost of customers" baskets. As the stream head of the Office of Fair Trading pronounced last month, the zone is "highly competitive" and prices have "come down enormously"."

Coming cleanA bonus that "disguised a rise"

The climb and tumble in cost of a heading code of cleaner, CiF Antibacterial, provides a "perfect e.g. of cost sensitivity written to upset consumers", according to Professor John Bridgeman.

In Jun last year the CiF cleanser was being sole at £2.50 in both Asda and Tesco. In Aug it went on graduation quickly at Asda at £1 prior to returning to £2.60. Tesco forsaken the cost to £2 in Sep prior to putting it behind up to £2.50, and afterwards discounting it again in Nov to half cost at £1.25. By Dec Asda had put it up to £2.80 and higher, and the week prior to Yuletide Tesco increasing the cost to £2.80. By the finish of the year, both retailers had increasing the cost by what Bridgeman calls an "aggressive" 12% over the cost at the commencement at the summer. Discounts have sheltered a rise, he says.

Tesco deserted Professor Bridgeman"s understand of the stress of the series of small and large cost changes:

"We do not try by artful means to get prices in this asocial way. The Guardian and Professor Bridgeman are utilizing understand we do not recognize and his finish that we are on purpose treacherous business is nonsense."

Asda did not plea the Guardian total but pronounced the reason for the large series of 1p cuts was "straightforward". "We won"t be knocked about on price. So if a aspirant goes reduce than us on a allied product, even by usually a penny, we will regularly try and compare or kick that price."