Bugatti To Set A World Land Speed Record

The Bugatti Veyron wretched on to the scene in 2005, its 8-litre W16 engine delivering 736kW, or knocking on the door of 1000bhp. But that wasn't enough for Bugatti. Even then it was scheduling an engine with more power. Now, five years down the track, it wants to round off the Veyron's limited production run of 300 variants with something unique.

The last 40 Veyron examples to be built will run with the reworked W16 that Bugatti used to set a world land speed record for a production car of 434km/h, or 268mph. The engine in the carefully revised Super Sports Veyron produces 883kW, or 1184bhp. The first five of the final 40 will wear the same black and orange colour plan as the world record car.

The Veyron Super Sport is efficiently the final iteration of the Veyron. The engine uses larger turbos and bigger intercoolers to push power to 883kW. Torque increases from 1234Nm to 1482Nm.

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Live Tiger Cub Rescued From Luggage

The 31-year-old Thai national, whose identity has not been exposed by Thai authorities, was planned to board a Mahan Air flight to Iran. But when she was seen fraught with a large bag at check-in, airport officials decided to x-ray her luggage.

The x-rays discovered the tranquilized tiger cub among stuffed-tiger toys, according to a statement released by TRAFFIC, a wildlife trade monitoring network. Officials are investigating whether the cub was wild caught or captive-bred, as well as where the woman planned to bring the tiger.

All Asian tigers are scheduled as endangered or worse by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), mostly due to the illegal trade in tiger parts.

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JetBlue Airplane Caught Fire In California Airport

Fifteen people suffered minor injuries when a Jet Blue airplane made a hard land at Sacramento International Airport in Northern California on Thursday, authorities said.

The landing forced the emigration of 87 passengers and five crew members via inflatable slides, Airport spokeswoman Gina Swankie said.

The passengers were then loaded on buses and waited on the runway to go to a terminal, Swankie said.

"A Jet Blue spokesman told me that the flight reported a matter with the brakes," Swankie said. "The crew elected to evacuate the aircraft in an abundance of caution."
The flight blew two tires as it was landing, said Swankie.

The tires caught fire, Swankie said, but he could not corroborate reports that a fire was also reported on the plane. Flight 262, which was from Long Beach, Southern California, was planned to arrive at 12:37 p.m.

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New World Record Likely To Be Created At World Bog Championships

A NEW WORLD record time is thought to have been set at this year’s World Bog Snorkelling Championships in Powys.

Dan Morgan, from Brecon, completed the event at Llanwrtyd Wells in 1 minute 30.06 seconds, beating last year’s record of 1 min 38.15 seconds. The official time will be established by organisers later today.

Up to 140 people from across the world were opposing at the annual event, where contestants have to avoid conventional swimming strokes to get through the 60 yard trenches, using only flippers to push through the mud and water.

Hundreds of people visited the site at 1pm to cheer on the contestants, who took part in a number of diverse categories, from juniors and men and women, to fancy dress. Organizers said they predicted that a new record might be set after the bogs were cleared of remains for the first time in a decade.

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Indonesian Volcano Erupts Again For Second Time

Mount Sinabung on the Indonesian island of Sumatra on Monday erupted for a second time, forcing more than 20,000 people to stay in evacuation centres, officials said. The Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Centre said Sinabung’s second eruption occurred at 6:30 am (2330 GMT Sunday), belching a editorial of smoke up to 2,000 metres into the sky.

The 2,451-metre-high volcano erupted for the first time in more than four centuries early Sunday, prompting the migration of thousands of residents from its slopes. Sunday’s eruption came only hours after the local government permitted residents to return to their homes, assuring them that the volcano was not dangerous.

The Sinabung volcano, located about 1,300 kilometres north-west of Jakarta, has been seen heating up since late Thursday, causing people living on the slopes to run away. The number of refugees had reached 21,054 people by Sunday morning, said Jhonson Tarigan, a Karo district public relations official. “The number is probable to increase if the situation gets worse,” Jhonson said.

Vulcanologists upgraded Sinabung’s danger status to the top level minutes before Sunday’s eruption, and revised its position from a dormant to an active volcano. “Previously, there was no important activity at the Mount Sinabung volcano, so the monitoring did not take priority since the 1600s,” Surono, the head of the directorate who like many Indonesians uses only one name, said on Sunday.

He recommended the residents stay at the evacuation centres until further notice. Besides ordering the evacuations, experts also warned residents to wear face masks alongside the volcano’s ash and told people living along rivers to watch out for possible lava-induced floods. Indonesia has the maximum density of volcanoes in the world with about 500 in the “Belt of Fire” in the 5,000-kilometre-long archipelago nation. Nearly 130 are active and 68 are scheduled as dangerous.

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Boom In China Wheat Market After Australian Deregulation

China, the world's largest grain producer, has shown an amplified interest in Australian wheat. In the nine months to the end of June, Australian wheat exports to China were triple the sales made in the prior financial year (2008-09).

Commodity analyst Malcolm Bartholomaeus says deregulation of wheat exports has played a main role. "Under the old arrangements, it would emerge that AWB used to deal with either just one government-backed industry or a very minute number of entities," he says.

"So now I think a larger number of mills can come straight into the Australian market and buy what they need in any smaller bulk parcels or in the container market."

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LG Launches The World’s Thinnest 3D OLED TV

Today at the IFA exhibition in Berlin, LG has debuted the world’s thinnest OLED (organic light emitting diode) TV, measuring just 2.9mm, according to Crave Asia. The thin OLED sets have been around while the 2007 introduction of the Sony XEL-1, but the LG model has the added advantage of 3D playback.

There is a catch though. No official price has been given so far for the set, but it will likely be expensive. Jaw droppingly luxurious. The Chaebol 15-inch EL9500 OLED is on sale currently in the U.S. For $2,500.

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Crop Threatening Oriental Fruit Flies Found In Pinellas

The discovery of two tiny fruit flies in Safety Harbor has sparked a big reaction from state agriculture officials. That's because two Oriental fruit flies were found in an ensnare in Safety Harbor.

The find is significant because officials call the Oriental fruit fly "one of the most solemn of the world's fruit fly pests." They say it attacks more than 100 dissimilar fruits, including citrus, apples, guava, mango, tomatoes and peppers.

The Florida Department of Agriculture has launched a trapping program in an 81 square mile area nearby where the fruit flies were found. Officials there say if pesticides are essential, they alert the public beforehand as to when and where they will be applied. Investiagtors are currently looking into how the two flies got into Florida.

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Superbugs Kills Babies In A Leading Hospital

University College Hospital has one of the UK’s most excellent neonatal units, but, currently is under the attack by superbugs. Because of the superbug increase in the neonatal unit, at least three newborn infants have died and 12 babies are reported to be infected.

The babies were three months old and were undergoing treatment in the contemporary intensive care unit of the hospital. According to the minutes of the meeting at the hospital held on August 10, the number of babies infected with gram-negative bacteria has amplified the risk level and the hospital is on a ‘heightened level of concern’.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) in association with the hospital authorities is looking into the entire matter. A Spokesperson of HPA said that HPA is monitoring the situation and providing essential information on infection control and possible antibiotic treatments.

Doctors say that the majority of the superbugs are resistant to all antibiotics and the resistance level are increasing day-by-day. Some medical experts consider that in the coming days these bugs will be difficult to get rid of and will cause a ‘medical apocalypse’. The neonatal unit is undergoing a ‘deep clean’ presently and the hospital officials have stopped taking more cases.

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2010 Aston Martin DBS - Volante

The 2010 Aston Martin DBS coupe and DBS Volante convertible are evolutions of the DB9 sportscar, with distinct bodywork and even more of a racing heritage. The Volante's bruising V-12 engine is a 6.0-liter V-12 that exhales 510 horsepower and twists out 420 pound-feet of torque, which gets shuttled to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic with paddle shifters. With either, Aston Martin says the Volante dashes to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds and charges to a 191-mph top speed.

Playing backup to the massively powerful drivetrain are big carbon-ceramic brakes and a lighter-weight body with a hood, decklid and front fenders made from carbon fiber. Driving feel is adjustable, with dash-mounted buttons for Sport or normal modes. Sport quickens the reflexes of the automatic, the shocks, steering and throttle, while the normal mode promises a more relaxed, GT-style ride.

Instead of a weight-gaining folding hardtop like the Ferrari California, Aston's fitted a lightweight fabric roof that stacks and folds in only 14 seconds, at speeds of up to 30 mph. When it's stowed, the top hides underneath a hard tonneau cover that gives the Volante a distinct look from the coupe.

The Volante is technically speaking, a 2+2, but the back seat and its leather-trimmed seats are admittedly made for "younger persons or extra luggage," Aston reminds. Our sister site MotorAuthority has driven the DBS Volante; we've based our rating here on those driving impressions.

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2010 Lexus SC 430 - Review Summary

The 2010 Lexus SC 430 retractable hardtop roadster sports a bulbous body with a power folding hardtop, a big V-8, and a six-speed automatic transmission, and returns for the model year with just a handful of minor changes. It's a surprising return, since the aging sporty convertible has essentially been replaced in the Lexus lineup by the smaller, less expensive Lexus IS 250 C and 350 C convertibles.

A 4.3-liter, 288-horsepower V-8 powers the SC 430. It's mated to a six-speed sequential shift automatic transmission with Shift Logic Control. The SC is impressively fast, and the transmission delivers crisp, instinctive shifts. Fuel economy is a decent 16/23 mpg. Handling is fine, but interior space is cramped. Refinement levels are high--and this year, the SC 430 gets a revised navigation system and an updated Mark Levinson sound system with Bluetooth, XM satellite radio, and USB connectivity.

At the end of its life cycle, the SC 430 still gets our recommendation for its folding hardtop, its luxurious cabin, and its effortlessly smooth powertrain. The bathtub styling leaves it wanting, though, and the seats sit too deeply for our comfort. Rear-seat and trunk space are minuscule, too. For nearly the same price, the 2010 Jaguar XK is a clear favorite of TheCarConnection's editors.

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2010 Mazda MAZDA3 - Review Summary

The completely restyled 2010 Mazda Mazda3 definitely makes a statement, and while most reviews read by TheCarConnection.com love the new look, a couple of reviewers aren't yet sold on the Mazda3 2010's reworked sheetmetal.

The 2010 Mazda3 is an affordable compact from Mazda that is available as a "four-door sedan and four-door hatchback (a so-called five-door)," according to USA Today. The 2010 Mazda3 boasts a completely new look compared to its predecessor, but Car and Driver says that the "various Mazda traits make the sedan immediately recognizable as a Mazda3." Anyone looking at the new Mazda3 2010 will immediately notice what AutoWeek calls the "stronger lines" on the latest Mazda3, as well as the "distinctive character lines that tie together the high rear deck and the front fascia." Cars.com reviewers report that they "really like the new shape of the front end, especially the flares on the front fenders," and they appreciate that "the 2010 Mazda3 looks radically different while still being recognizable as a Mazda." USA Today reviewers are much harsher on the new 2010 Mazda Mazda3, though, sniping that "whatever formula Mazda used to jazz up its compact Mazda3 sedan for 2010 certainly included two squirts of ugly," including the "open-mouth grille, like a fish, [that] makes the front look so heavy you expect the car to tip on its snout."

Although there is some dissent regarding the new exterior of the 2010 Mazda Mazda3, the interior draws high praise in nearly every review read by TheCarConnection.com. Cars.com remarks that the 2010 Mazda3's cabin "looks to maintain its classy feel with a sloped center stack and a new scalloped gauge cluster that flows over the center stack and, on higher trim levels, also houses an integrated navigation screen." Jalopnik loves how the "dash sweeps dramatically from its center to the cabin's sidewalls," while also noting that "the slant of the instrument panel optimizes operating efficiency while providing an attractive focal point." The only major criticism of the interior styling of the 2010 Mazda3 regards the Multi-Information Display, which Automobile Magazine says "displays information in white and in a dramatically different font and size than the main, red display—it looks so out of place that it might as well be from another car."

Conclusion
The restyled 2010 Mazda Mazda3 wins more than a few fans with its cutting-edge (and attention-getting) interior and exterior styling.

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2010 Lexus RX 350 - Review Summary

The 2010 Lexus RX 350 represents the next generation of the RX Lexus lineup, but the styling hasn't changed too drastically. Reviews read by TheCarConnection.com show that the exterior of the 2010 Lexus RX 350 still carves the same conservative, middle-of-the-road profile that Lexus is known for. Some reviewers aren't very impressed; Jalopnik says that Lexus "managed to take a boring but tidy SUV and crank the snooze up to 11." Others, however, appreciate the broad appeal of the Lexus RX 350.

The latest Lexus design language, which they have christened "L-finesse," works well on the Lexus RX 350, according to Cars.com. "L-finesse models have a clean, uncluttered look that's accented by sharp, angular design elements, such as the headlights," assesses Cars.com, and "the design theme doesn't diminish the RX's distinctive appearance." Edmunds finds the changes to be quite subtle, claiming that "to the untrained eye, it appears to be exactly the same midsize luxury crossover SUV as the 2009 Lexus RX 350," and while the "front and rear fascias are slightly different, and the wheels are larger...the basic silhouette is intact." Autoblog reviewers chime in by noting that the "sharp creases and broad shoulders [of the 2010 Lexus RX 350] give the RX a more hunkered-down appearance while still remaining innocuous."

The interior of the 2010 RX Lexus RX lineup gets a more significant makeover, boasting new styling elements throughout the cabin. Cars.com notes that the interior, "unlike the exterior, makes a bigger break from the previous RX in terms of its design" and is "offered in solid or two-tone color schemes," while the "dashboard has sweeping lines and makes wide use of soft-touch materials." Autoblog states that the interior of the Lexus RX 350 gets "a completely revised instrument panel, center stack and navigation system," while Road & Track mentions the addition of "an 8-inch navigation screen" as optional equipment. Car and Driver declares that the interior, though different, stays "conservative yet pleasing to the eye—parchment with brown walnut, or gray tones with charcoal maple."

Conclusion
The styling of the 2010 Lexus RX 350 doesn't stand out, but that might be a positive to those looking for practical luxury.

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2011 Hyundai Sonata - - 2.0T Turbo - Hybrid

The Basics

It’s true in cars as it’s true in politics—to rise above the clutter, you need to make a dramatic statement. While Hyundai won’t be telling anyone it can “see Russia from its house!” anytime soon, it’s given its mainstream, mid-size Sonata a refreshing new look and a new mission.

The goal: to dislodge some Nissan Altima and Ford Fusion buyers (along with shoppers considering the Camry, Malibu and Accord) and bring them into the Hyundai fold.

So, how’s the hopey-changey thing working out for the big Hyundai four-door? Very well, thanks. Sales are the best ever, and it’s largely a matter of the right look, matching up with the right features and the right fuel-economy number on the sticker. The Sonata’s ditched formality for fab new lines, inside and out. It’s skipping the V-6 route and instead fitting the car with a four-cylinder that rates up to 35 mpg—a little lower if it’s fitted with a turbocharger, considerably more if it’s teamed with Hyundai’s new hybrid technology. In any version it meets our performance expectations; both the Hybrid and 2.0T versions thrill us beyond the norms, for their own distinct reasons.

Inside, there’s more usable room than ever, and it’s finished in an agreeable way, though we’d love to see softer seats and a little less gloss black plastic. The steering could use some more refinement in feel, too. It works great in sweeping turns, but wanders a touch on some highway surfaces. While they’re at it, Hyundai needs to buckle down on interior noise. On asphalt roads, the Sonata’s low rolling resistance tires generate lots of noise, overpowering even the good mid-level speakers.

You’ll probably overlook those minor flaws given the Sonata’s extremely smart pricing. All this space, frugality and good looks can be had for less than $20,000—and comes with USB, Bluetooth, and satellite radio. The turbo version adds more than 80 horsepower, but only raises the price to about $25,000 base. The Hybrid will earn around 39-40 mpg in highway driving—with a base price of about $26,000, not much more than the much smaller Honda Civic Hybrid.
Styling
8 out of 10 Hyundai joins Ford and Nissan in crafting a compelling look for its mainstream sedan. See details and best of the Web
Performance
8 out of 10 Ride quality and fuel economy are strengths, but the Sonata's steering could be smoother. See details and best of the Web
Quality
8 out of 10 Ample interior room meets comfy cloth seats, with noticeable plastics kept out of touch. See details and best of the Web
Safety
10 out of 10 The Sonata tops the IIHS ratings; NHTSA scores are coming soon. See details and best of the Web
Features
9 out of 10 Entertainment options rival those in the Fusion, but most are bundled into expensive packages. See details and best of the Web
We like


* Zoomy new styling
* Fuel-conscious in all forms
* Well-damped ride
* Big standard features list
* Huge value for the dollar

Get a free price quote
We dislike
* Inconsistent steering feel
* Seats feel rather firm
* Cabin gets noisy at higher speeds
* If you have to have a V-6, you’re out of luck

Check other choices
Key Takeaway
The 2011 Hyundai Sonata takes some smart styling and performance risks to raise its profile.

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2010 Ford F-150 - Review Summary

Few would argue that the latest generation of Ford’s venerable F-150 pickup is understated, and with the introduction of the edgy new Ford F-150 SVT Raptor high-performance off-road edition, the truck lineup is more pronounced than ever.

The 2010 Ford F-150 is Ford’s signature pickup truck, a workplace mainstay that has been among the best-selling vehicles in the country for decades. One of the keys to the F-150’s staying power is its incredible versatility and diversity of body styles—Cars.com writes that, “for 2010, it comes in 10 trim levels” comprised of “three cab styles: regular, extended and crew cab.” The potential combinations are “mind-boggling,” according to Edmunds, and virtually guarantee that there is a 2010 Ford F-150 to meet your needs. Compared to the previous generation, Kelley Blue Book writes that this F-150 is “much huskier, with an imposing front end, strong shoulders and a deep, deep pickup box.” The various trims are primarily distinguished by their grille treatment, which Cars.com says begins “with a simple one on the base XL and topping out with mesh grille inserts for the highest trim level.”

The 2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor is significantly more distinct, however, and Jalopnik reports that “the agile, performance truck was designed to give the impression it is always on the move.” The Raptor is nearly seven inches wider than a standard F-150, and reviews read by TheCarConnection.com love the aggressive styling modifications, which include a grille with the word “FORD” carved into it and numerous SVT badges.

Beginning several years ago, Ford made a major investment in its interiors, and the results have been impressive. With the new F-150, Ford has continued its interior styling improvements, and Kelley Blue Book calls the latest cabin “both attractive and functional.” Consumer Guide adds that the “gauges are easy to read,” although the “audio and climate controls are mounted high, just out of easy reach.” Compared to most other Ford vehicles, Cars.com writes that “the interior includes enlarged buttons” which are easy to manipulate even with large work gloves on. Differences on the SVT Raptor are minimal, with Car and Driver finding that the “inside is a mostly standard F-150 cabin, which is a pretty pleasant place to start.”

Conclusion
The 2010 Ford F-150 lineup looks tougher than ever, with bold styling that stands out regardless of the surroundings.

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2010 Kia Soul - Review Summary

Just when you thought funky imports like the Scion lineup, the Nissan Versa, and the Honda Fit couldn't get any stranger, Kia comes along with the 2010 Kia Soul to renew your faith in the ability of the big Asian automakers to churn out an endless array of quirky vehicles. Unlike some of the aforementioned vehicles that received lukewarm receptions, the new Soul Kia seems to strike all the right chords in reviews read by TheCarConnection.com.

The new Kia 2010 Soul is a fun take on the now-popular "urban wagon" theme. The Soul is available in four trim levels, according to Automobile Magazine, which lists the options as "a base edition, the punctuated Soul+ and Soul!, and the top-drawer Soul Sport." While unusual, those punctuated Soul suffixes are worth getting used to, as TheCarConnection.com's editors note that only 5 percent of 2010 Kia Soul models will be in the base trim.

Reviewers simply love the new 2010 Kia Soul, which Automobile Magazine calls "a kimchi-flavored take on the xB and, without question, the wackiest thing to come out of Korea since M*A*S*H." Autoblog reports that, "for a small car, this thing has gobs of character," but they note "most people will probably find the [Kia 2010] Soul either irrepressibly cool or simply fail to 'get' its style altogether." Motor Trend adds that the Kia Soul "is cute and instantly likeable and comes in eleven colors (eight at launch) with names like Alien and Dune." In terms of specific styling elements, Cars.com says the Kia Soul sports "a rounded front end that's reminiscent of a Mini Cooper" and features "short front and rear overhangs and a fairly raked windshield."

Despite the obvious attention that Kia paid to the exterior design of the 2010 Kia Soul, reviewers are pleased to note the interior isn't simply an afterthought. Autoblog highlights the plethora of "funky shapes, patterns, and retina-flambeeing colored plastics" inside, but they add, "like a skate punk that hides a straight-A report card from his mates, there's a practicality streak inside the Soul." Other automotive experts agree. Edmunds points out that the "ergonomic layout within the Soul's cabin is sensible, with all the major controls logically arranged and within easy reach of the driver." Motor Trend is impressed with the Soul Kia's interior as well, finding it "a lot more appealing than a traditional economy car's," and despite the various flamboyant elements, they feel it is "less out-there than the xB's."

Conclusion
Granted, the styling of the 2010 Kia Soul is not for everyone, but don't be surprised to see a lot of thumbs-ups flashed your way if you happen to be driving one.

READ MORE - 2010 Kia Soul - Review Summary

UK industrial output sees surprise fall in April

UK industrial output fell unexpectedly in April, but economists have said the figures should not be a cause for concern. Output fell by 0.4% compared with March, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said, whereas a rise of 0.4% had been forecast.

It was the first fall in monthly production since January. Experts said the drop should be seen as a correction after a particularly strong jump in output in March of 2%. Over the year, output is still rising, as levels were 2.1% higher than in April 2009.

Overall trend

Manufacturing output also fell by 0.4% on the month, but was up 3.4% year-on-year. "The volatile monthly movements in these figures are somewhat at odds with more positive survey indicators though they conceal a solid year-on-year increase in output," said Lee Hopley, chief economist at the EEF manufacturers' organisation.

Malcolm Barr at JP Morgan said: "I think it is fair to say, relative to people's expectations going into the report, the decline in headline production and manufacturing output is probably a little bit of a surprise and a bit of a disappointment. "However I don't think it really does a lot to damage the perception that the trend is towards ongoing increases in industrial output."

READ MORE - UK industrial output sees surprise fall in April

China's inflation rate rises but economic output slows

The inflation rate in China has surpassed the government's 3% target, creating a policy dilemma for Beijing. The annual rate of consumer price inflation rose to 3.1% in May, the National Bureau of Statistics said. More importantly, producer price inflation - the cost of goods at the factory gate - hit 7.1%.

But industrial output slowed, leaving the Chinese authorities with the tough decision as to whether they should raise currently low interest rates. Output from the country's millions of factories and workshops rose 16.5% in May from a year earlier, down from a growth rate of 17.8% in April.Urban fixed investment - a measure of construction of houses and factories - also slowed in May, while bank lending fell 17% versus the previous month.

A spokesman for the statistics bureau admitted that the pressure on inflation was "rather big", but said prices would be controlled. Higher food and housing prices were mainly to blame for the acceleration in inflation.

'Bubble' economy

The high inflation figures raise two concerns, according to Michael Pettis, finance professor at Peking University's Guanghua School of Management. "The first, well-noted concern is whether we are on a rising inflation path," he told the BBC, explaining that the jump in producer prices may feed into higher consumer prices later. What is talked about less is that real interest rates are going down," he added. The "real" interest rate is the difference between the actual interest rate and the inflation rate.

CHINESE DATA IN FULL

Change vs same period in 2009:

	May	April
Consumer prices	+3.1%	+2.8%
Producer prices	+7.1%	+5.9%
Industrial output	+16.5%	+17.8%
Retail sales	+18.7%	+18.5%

	Year to May	Year to April
Urban fixed investment	+25.9%	+26.1%

Inflation is on the rise, but deposit rates and lending rates are being held artificially low by the Chinese authorities. This means that Chinese households find the value of their savings eroded by inflation, while speculators and state-owned companies are able to borrow extremely cheaply.

Mr Pettis estimates that low interest rates in China transfer 5%-10% of GDP from households to borrowers each year. He also thinks that cheap borrowing is creating a bubble economy, with borrowers making bad investment decisions and creating overcapacity.

"We have a bubble in real estate. We have a bubble in infrastructure. We have a bubble in manufacturing capacity," he said. "Even Chinese art prices are the highest since Japan in the 1990s." But Beijing will be keen to move very slowly on interest rates, for fear that a sharp rise in rates could burst the bubble and plunge the economy into recession.

Yuan pressure

The latest figures have been released as China comes under renewed pressure from the US to revalue its currency, the yuan. The yuan has been pegged to the US dollar since 2008. US politicians say that China keeps its currency artificially cheap, and this gives it an unfair trade advantage. Trade data released on Thursday showed that Chinese exports in May had jumped by nearly 50% from a year ago, while the US trade deficit widened further in April.

US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner told a congressional committee on Thursday that distortions caused by China's currency stance were "an impediment to the global rebalancing we need". Meanwhile, Congress is preparing a bill that will impose targeted trade sanctions on China in retaliation for its yuan policy.

Trade question

"If the US gets tougher on China, it will be a green light for everyone else to adopt beggar-thy-neighbour policies," says Mr Pettis. He says that trade relations are being brought to a head much more quickly than expected by events in Europe. With the EU now committed to cutting budget deficits, and the euro falling rapidly, Europe is set to start running a big trade surplus in the coming months.

But if Europe and China both want to run big trade surpluses, that begs the question of who will run the necessary trade deficit and buy their exports. The noises coming from the US suggest that Washington is no longer willing to play the role of "consumer of last resort" that it did during the last boom.

"Europe is forcing a rapid adjustment in global [trade] imbalances," says Mr Pettis. "China needs its adjustment to go slow. But the question is does the US have the political willingness for this any more?"

READ MORE - China's inflation rate rises but economic output slows

US consumer data for May give mixed signals for economy

A surprise drop in US retail sales in May was followed by a jump in June consumer confidence. Sales were down 1.2% compared with April - the first drop in eight months. Economists had expected a 0.4% rise. But a consumer confidence index rose to 75.5 in June versus an expected 74.5.

The two data releases came in quick succession, and puzzled stock markets, which fell on the sales data, then bounced right back after the consumer report was announced. The Dow Jones Index had opened 0.8% down, and European markets giving up gains from a morning rally, after the retail sales data were announced by the Commerce Department. But shortly after New York trading opened, Reuters and the University of Michigan produced their latest consumer confidence report, showing the highest level since 2008.

Recovery fears
Despite the monthly fall in retail sales in the Commerce Department data, total sales in May were still 6.9% higher than the recession lows of a year ago. However they remain well down on pre-recession levels. Car and gasoline sales led the monthly falls, down 1.7% and 3.3% respectively, although the lower value of gasoline sales was largely explained by lower fuel prices.

Consumer spending contributes 70% of demand in the US economy, making it a key driver of growth. The news comes in the wake of weak US jobs data for May released last Friday. Markets fear that with US households still heavily indebted, the recovery in consumer spending may prove to be anaemic.

READ MORE - US consumer data for May give mixed signals for economy

Japan PM Naoto Kan warns of 'collapse' under debt pile

Japan is at "risk of collapse" under its huge debt mountain, the country's new prime minister has said. Naoto Kan, in his first major speech since taking over, said Japan needed a financial restructuring to avert a Greece-style crisis. "Our country's outstanding public debt is huge... our public finances have become the worst of any developed country," he said.

After years of borrowing, Japan's debt is twice its gross domestic product. "It is difficult to continue our fiscal policies by heavily relying on the issuance of government bonds," said Mr Kan, Japan's former finance minister. "Like the confusion in the eurozone triggered by Greece, there is a risk of collapse if we leave the increase of the public debt untouched and then lose the trust of the bond markets," he said.

No Greece
Despite the prime minister's hair-raising words, markets did not bat an eyelid, with the Japanese yen, the Nikkei stock market index and Japanese government bonds unmoved. "Fiscal austerity measures are long overdue," said Chris Scicluna, deputy head of economics at Daiwa Capital Markets in London. He forecasts that the government's budget deficit will be 8% of GDP this year, a number that Mr Kan has promised to reduce to zero by the end of the decade.

However, Mr Scicluna said the government does not face any immediate fiscal crisis, unlike some European countries, and probably will not start tackling its budget deficit for at least another year or two. Unlike Greece or Spain, Japan is a net lender to the rest of the world, to the tune of 2.5% of its GDP last year.

Cheap borrowing
The Japanese government is effectively the only borrower in Japan, and raises all of the money it needs from the savings of its own citizens. Some 95% of the government's debts are held by Japanese investors, and the government can currently borrow for 30 years at a mere 2% interest rate. But Mr Scicluna says Japan does have serious medium-term problems related to its ageing population.

As more and more Japanese citizens retire in the next few years, they are likely to start selling their government bonds to pay for their retirements. This means that Japan will need to start borrowing from the rest of the world, and the government may have a hard time convincing foreign lenders to let it borrow at such a low interest rate.

Tax reform
Mr Kan did not detail the fiscal changes he may impose to revive Japan's economy after years to stagnation. But in the past Mr Kan has advocated increasing Japan's sales tax, a move that would be unpopular. He said: "It is unavoidable to launch a full reform of the tax system. If we maintain the current level of issuance of new bonds, outstanding debt will surpass 200% of GDP in a few years.

"It's been 20 years since the collapse of the bubble economy in the early 1990s. Because the Japanese economy had been in the doldrums, people have lost the trust they had and fear the uncertainty of the future," he said.

Who will spend?
The Japanese austerity plans may not be welcome elsewhere in the world. Over the weekend, US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner called on surplus countries - like Japan, Germany and China - to do more to increase spending. Yet Germany has announced plans to cut its budget deficit by 3% of GDP over the next four years, while China's trade surplus has grown even further, according to data for May. With Japan also now looking to wield the fiscal axe, some may wonder who is actually going to spend money in the world economy.

READ MORE - Japan PM Naoto Kan warns of 'collapse' under debt pile

UK business confidence sees 'record drop'

Business confidence among UK firms has seen its biggest drop since 1995 due to the government's rhetoric on spending cuts, a survey suggests. The Business Trends survey from accountants BDO fell to 97 in May from 103.3 the previous month - the largest drop since the survey began.

BDO said economic growth forecasts for this year and next now need to be revised down sharply. The new Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR) will publish its forecasts later. The OBR was formed in May 2010 to make an independent assessment of the public finances and the economy.

BDO's survey is compiled by the Centre for Economics and Business Research and covers 11,000 companies from a range of industries. Despite the fall in confidence, it also found that order book growth was strong in May.

Slower growth
"The government has understandably been keen to emphasise the extent of the sacrifices that we all will need to make as public borrowing it brought under control," said Peter Hemington, partner with the firm. "But there is a significant risk that the rhetoric has begun to impact on business confidence, and fears of the economic impact of spending cuts may be causing businesses to rein back on growth plans."

The accountancy firm forecasts that economic growth will remain below an annualised 1% in the final three month of this year. The annualised rate takes growth over a three-month period and works out what it would be if it continued over a full year. Government forecasts for growth in 2011 should now be between 1.5% and 2.5%, well below the 3% to 3.5% that the previous government estimated, the firm said.

"Freefalling business confidence paves the way for downwards growth revision," it concluded. Many economists also believe that the previous chancellor, Alistair Darling, was too optimistic in his growth forecasts. However, recent government pronouncements on the need to make drastic cuts, BDO says, could lead to even lower growth.

Emergency budget
Last week, Prime Minister David Cameron warned that dealing with the deficit would be "unavoidably tough" and affect "our whole way of life". Chancellor George Osborne has identified £6.2bn of savings and outlined cuts to quangos, spending on consultancy and big IT projects, and a civil service recruitment freeze.

More detail on the cuts will be announced next Tuesday in an emergency budget. The UK, along with other European economies, is looking to cut sharply its budget deficit, which grew sharply after government intervention during the financial crisis. Countries with high deficits, most notably Greece, have to pay higher rates of interest to borrow from international investors to service their debt, which serves only to compound the problem.

READ MORE - UK business confidence sees 'record drop'

Japan manufacturers 'more upbeat'

Optimism among big Japanese manufacturers has grown in the past three months, a study said. The results suggested large manufacturers had shaken off fears of the euro debt crisis and the strengthening yen, according to analysts. However the outlook for the Japanese economy remains uncertain.

Last week Japan's new prime minister said the country was at "risk of collapse" under its huge debts. Naoto Kan, in his first major speech since taking over, said Japan needed a financial restructuring to avert a Greece-style crisis. Later this week, Japan's central bank is expected to announce a new loan scheme aimed at redirecting money to industries with growth potential.

Asia demand
The business survey index (BSI) of sentiment at large producers rose to 10 in the April-to-June period, from 4.3 in the previous quarter, a joint survey by the Ministry of Finance and the Cabinet Office's Economic and Social Research Institute showed. The index measures the percentage of firms that expect the business environment to improve from the previous quarter, minus the percentage that expect it to worsen.

Firms also raised their capital expenditure plans, which observers said was a sign that corporations were showing greater appetite to spend. "Sentiment is gradually improving both for underlying conditions and the outlook," said Takeshi Minami, chief economist for the Norinchukin Research Institute.

"The euro's decline triggered by the Greek debt crisis doesn't seem to have had much impact, at least for now." Strong demand from Asia has meant that, so far at least, demand for Japanese exports has recovered despite weakness in other markets such as Europe and the US.

READ MORE - Japan manufacturers 'more upbeat'

India inflation rate rises to two year high

Indian inflation has risen to a two-year-high, raising the possibility of interest rate rises. The wholesale price index rose to 10.16% in May, the highest since 2008. Rising food and fuel costs have pushed the rate well above forecasts, which were nearer 9%. The government says prices will come down soon.

The rise in the inflation rate comes after India recorded its fastest growth in manufacturing in at least 15 years in April. Unlike most countries, India calculates inflation on the wholesale price of a basket of 435 basic goods, which means actual prices paid by the consumer are much higher.

READ MORE - India inflation rate rises to two year high

Germany's Merkel wary of French EU vision

The French and German leaders are meeting in Berlin to try to narrow their differences over economic policy ahead of an EU summit on Thursday. Chancellor Angela Merkel was initially expected to meet French President Nicolas Sarkozy last week. The delay fuelled speculation about a big rift.

Correspondents say France is keen to launch regular summits of eurozone leaders, but Germany is wary of that. Germany wants EU countries that pile up debts to face sanctions. EU leaders are anxious to avoid having to rescue another member state, following the emergency bail-out for debt-laden Greece. There are continuing fears that the Greek crisis could undermine other heavily indebted eurozone countries. Governments across the EU face the challenge of imposing unpopular spending cuts while not stifling growth.

Budget co-ordination
On Thursday the President of the European Council, Herman van Rompuy, will brief EU leaders on the work of an EU task force on economic governance, which he is chairing. In Berlin last week he said that Mrs Merkel "shares the principal directions to strengthen budgetary discipline through the [EU] Stability Pact and to reduce the divergences in competitiveness between the member states".

He appeared to distance himself from the French idea of having a new "secretariat" to co-ordinate economic policy in the 16-nation eurozone. "We do not need new institutions to meet our goals. We need more effectiveness," Mr Van Rompuy said, stressing the need for "preventive action to avoid countries accumulating excessive deficits". "We will be tougher in correcting deficits with more rules-based and semi-automatic sanctions."

Data transparency
In an interview on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde said "we must play by the rules and the rules have to be changed". The UK and some other member states are sceptical about an EU plan to subject national budgets to EU "peer review" before they are debated by national parliaments.

Ms Lagarde played down such differences on Monday. She said there was a need to "share and agree on macro-economic data and forecasts - I don't see that as a major obstacle". Mrs Merkel and Mr Sarkozy have jointly urged the European Commission to speed up measures to tighten financial regulation. They called for an EU-wide ban on naked short-selling - a type of high-risk trading - and tight controls on credit default swaps.

However the Commission appears to have rejected that demand in a draft od new laws presented on Monday, Reuters reported. A new EU strategy for jobs and growth - called the 2020 strategy - will also be discussed at the EU summit in Brussels.

READ MORE - Germany's Merkel wary of French EU vision

Oil price jumps on recovery hopes

The price of oil has jumped sharply to above $75 a barrel as rising stock markets helped to boost confidence in the global economic recovery. US light crude rose by more than $2, or 3%, a barrel, to $75.90, before slipping slightly. Brent was up $1.8 a barrel to $76.13, before falling back. Strong eurozone industrial production figures helped to push stocks higher in Europe and, initially, in the US.

But US stocks fell back after Moody's rating agency downgraded Greek debt. This caused the oil price to lose some of its earlier gains. The eurozone data also helped push the euro up 2 cents against the dollar, to $1.2252. Against the pound, it was slightly stronger at 83.108 pence.

'Price rebound'

Eurozone industrial production rose by 0.8% in April, official figures showed, a much stronger rise than had been expected. This helped to push leading French shares up almost 2%, German shares up more than 1% and UK shares up 0.7%. In morning trading, leading US shares also rose by 1%, before slipping after Moody's, one of the three main international credit rating agencies, downgraded Greek government debt.

They ended the day down 20 points, or 0.2%, at 10,191. Analysts said the oil price could keep rising as supply falls in the coming months. This is in part due to seasonal demand and in part due to measures introduced in the US in response to the recent BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, they said. "With the US drilling ban likely to hit supplies from the third quarter onwards and demand expected to rise seasonally between now and August, we feel that seasonality and fundamentals are moving towards a price rebound," said Lawrence Eagles at JP Morgan.

READ MORE - Oil price jumps on recovery hopes

Greek government bonds downgraded by Moody's

Greek government bonds have been downgraded four notches to "junk" status by Moody's credit rating agency. The agency said there was still "considerable uncertainty" surrounding the impact of measures introduced to cut the country's high budget deficit. Greece is looking to slash its deficit from 14% of GDP to 3% by 2014.

But Moody's said that the outlook on Greece's rating is now stable, and that it would likely remain unchanged over the next 12 to 18 months. Despite the downgrade from A3 to Ba1, the agency said the risk of Greece defaulting on its debt was low. In April, Standard & Poor's, one the three main international credit rating agencies alongside Moody's and Fitch, also downgraded Greek government debt to junk status.

Auditors' inspection

Earlier, international auditors began sifting through Greece's finances to assess progress on its draconian austerity measures. The auditors will spend a week assessing progress, talking to government ministers, officials and independent experts in the country. The European Union (EU) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) experts were sent to Greece under the terms of an aid package to save Greece from defaulting on its debts.

Last month, the EU, IMF and European Central Bank pledged 110bn euros ($134bn; £91bn) to help avert financial collapse in Greece. The money was conditional on Greece making substantial cuts to its deficit. On Monday, Greek finance minister George Papaconstantinou said that the recovery plan was already ahead of schedule.

According to official figures, the deficit for January to May was 8.9bn euros compared with 14.6bn euros over the same period in 2009. Under the first phase of its recovery plan, Greece must get the deficit down to 8.1% by the end of this year. Last week, ECB president Jean-Claude Trichet praised the progress Greece had made towards reducing the deficit. Meanwhile, the Bank of Italy said on Monday that the country's public debt reached a record 1.8 trillion euros in April.

Sovereign debt worry

Last year, Italy's public debt - the sum of all borrowing - reached 115.8% of GDP, and is predicted to rise to 118.4% this year. Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has announced an austerity package designed to bring the deficit down from the current 5.3% to 2.7% by 2012. The announcement underlines how sovereign debt worries have spread well beyond Greece to other European countries.

Also on Monday, the government in heavily indebted Spain was in talks with opposition parties to try to win support for radical changes to the employment laws. Spain, with a jobless rate approaching 20%, faces a wave of strikes. Last month, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's government narrowly avoided a crisis when the legislature passed a 15bn-euro deficit reduction programme by just one vote.

READ MORE - Greek government bonds downgraded by Moody's

Fiscal watchdog downgrades UK growth forecast

The new independent fiscal watchdog has downgraded the economic growth projections for the UK economy. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) predicts the economy will expand 2.6% in 2011, down from the 3% to 3.5% estimate given in Labour's last Budget. The lower figure will likely increase the impetus of the coalition government to cut public spending, as lower growth means fewer tax revenues.

Yet the OBR also says the deficit and debt will not be as bad as forecast. It predicts that the UK's public deficit will fall, down to 10.5% of GDP in the 2010-11 financial year, from the 11.1% estimated by Labour. For overall net government debt - the sum of all borrowing - the OBR estimates this will decline to 62.2% of GDP in 2010-11 from the previous estimate of 63.6%.

Former Labour Chancellor Alistair Darling said the OBR figures "show that borrowing will be less than I forecast, so the government doesn't have the excuse to raise VAT, which it is planning". George Osborne: "Economic situation is worse than we thought". He added that if the government cuts public spending too aggressively it could send the UK into a double-dip recession.

However, the OBR says the structural deficit - the part of the deficit that is not automatically reduced by economic growth - will widen from Labour's prediction of 7.3% of GDP in 2010-11 to 8%. This is the most difficult part of the deficit to tackle, and Chancellor George Osborne said the OBR figures "couldn't be clearer". "It's damning evidence that the mess the previous Government left behind is even bigger than we thought," he said.

The chancellor told the House of Commons that his government had "inherited one of the largest budget deficits in the world and a larger structural deficit than we thought. "We can only speculate as to why the government published rosy forecasts for a trampoline recovery weeks before the general election," he said.

'No permanent damage'

Mr Osborne is due to unveil an emergency Budget on Tuesday of next week, and has pledged to cut public spending to reduce the deficit. The OBR will issue a new set of figures at the Budget, taking into account the coalition government's new tax and spending plans.

Despite downgrading the growth figures, OBR chairman Sir Alan Budd said he did not think the recession had caused "permanent damage" to the economy. He added that the changes to the forecasts were "all within the normal range of uncertainty".

BORROWING FORECASTS (% OF GDP)
YEAR	MARCH BUDGET	OFFICE OF BUDGET RESPONSIBILITY
2010/11	11.1	10.5
2011/12	8.5	8.3
2012/13	6.8	6.6
2013/14	5.2	5.0
2014/15	4.0	3.9
Source: OBR

'Death spiral'

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said that the government must act now to cut public debt, or risk losing its ability to protect people in need. He argued that cutting spending is the "progressive" option which will allow the coalition to bring down the deficit in a way that delivers fairness. "We are going to see through the deficit reduction that is an absolute prerequisite for turning Britain's fortunes around," he said.

Sir Alan Budd: 'There is a recovery'

However, one senior economist, David Blanchflower, a former member of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee, shared Mr Darling's concerns about the risk of a double-dip recession. He told the BBC's Today programme that cutting public spending could risk sending the UK economy into a "death spiral". "I think the danger is a phrase that Ben Bernanke used, it is called the death spiral," he said.

Mr Blanchflower's fear is that a big cut in public spending will hurt the private sector. "There is no evidence that the government is going to create private demand, this could push us back into double-dip recession," he said.

'Huge problem'

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) was set up by the Conservatives last December, when they were still in opposition. It is responsible for providing an independent assessment of the state of the public finances.

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) gave the first OBR figures a cautious welcome. "The new forecasts are more realistic than those in the March budget, but the growth expectations are still overly optimistic," said BCC chief economist David Kern. "For the world economy, the expectation that growth will return fairly rapidly to the levels seen before the recession is too rosy - especially given the current eurozone problems and worrying signs that the US recovery may be stalling."

Prime Minister David Cameron warned last week the OBR figures would "show the scale of the problem we are in today". He added that dealing with the deficit - which totalled £156bn in the last financial year - would affect "our whole way of life".

READ MORE - Fiscal watchdog downgrades UK growth forecast

Harry Potter star Grint says new film was 'quite scary'

Harry Potter actor Rupert Grint has admitted that he found the idea of working on another movie set "scary" after working on the blockbuster series for so long. The 21-year-old was talking ahead of the release of new comedy Wild Target, which he stars in with Bill Nighy and Emily Blunt.

He told Newsbeat: "It was quite an intimidating prospect to be on another set really, away from a crew that I'd grown up with. "To be out of that bubble was quite scary." As for the Harry Potter films: "We're kind of approaching the end now. We're going to have to face the real world.

"It's quite a weird thought. I never imagined what it would feel like to finish." Rupert's co-star Daniel Radcliffe, who plays Harry Potter in the wizard movies, admitted on Sunday (13 June) that he was also finding the end of filming emotional.

'Crying a lot'

He said: "It was pretty devastating to be honest. It was really, really sad. "Me, Rupert and Emma were all just... and most of the crew, you know, crying quite a lot."

Daniel admitted on Sunday that the cast cried at the end of filming

You'd think that after all those years playing Ron Weasley, Rupert might at least have been able to gather up a couple of souvenirs from the set, but he admits he's never been that successful. He said: "I took the golden egg that was in the fourth film - a dragon egg. Apparently it was worth a few thousand dollars. "I put it in a pillowcase, it was with James Oliver, it was a joint effort. But they tracked it down and got it off us. "A wand I think would be nice to keep. They don't really like things going away from the set."

Famous fans

With the end of filming fast approaching Rupert says there are plans for a massive party for the 2,000-odd people involved with the movies. And as the hugely successful franchise drew to a close, loads of famous faces managed to wing tours of the set - including Sarah Jessica Parker, Kate Winslet, and even US President Barack Obama's wife Michelle.

Rupert Grint with Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson when it all began

Rupert said: "She was great. It was one of her daughter's birthdays and they did this big kind of ceremony and we had loads of cupcakes. "It was quite a surreal day." Kaiser Chiefs are also huge fans of the film - especially Ricky - and they earnt themselves background parts in the last film.

"At the beginning they were really excited. I think they were there for like four days in the end. "They were literally just in the back standing by some lifts in the Ministry of Magic. They got over it pretty quickly - it wore off," Rupert said. With Wild Target already under his belt, Rupert might want to chill out and enjoy some of the small fortune he's earnt.

A recent list rated him as the fourth richest actor under 30 living in the UK, which he described as "cool", even though he says he's never been really extravagant. He added: "I'm never really that aware of money because I've never really been that involved with it because my Dad's always dealt with it." So what's next for Rupert, apart from trying to master the banjo and the accordion?

He said: "It'll be nice to have to a bit of free time as well - a bit of freedom because it has been constant working since I was 10. "So it'll be nice to just stop and chill out a bit." Wild Target is released in UK cinemas on 18 June, while Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I is out in the UK on 19 November.

READ MORE - Harry Potter star Grint says new film was 'quite scary'

Amedeo Modigliani sculpture sells for 43.2m euros

A sculpted limestone head by Amedeo Modigliani has sold for 43.2m euros (£35.8m) at Christie's auction house in Paris - a record for the artist. The piece, created between 1910 and 1912 and depicting an elongated face with almond-shaped eyes, was bought by an anonymous telephone bidder.

The Italian artist switched from sculpture to painting later in his life, partly because of ill health. The sale was also a record for art sold at auction in France, Christie's said. The 65cm head was first shown at the Salon d'Automne exhibition in Paris in 1912.

READ MORE - Amedeo Modigliani sculpture sells for 43.2m euros

Rare Rabindranath Tagore paintings sold in the UK

A collection of rare paintings by the Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore has sold for more than £1.5m ($2.2m) at an auction in Britain. The collection has been described by Sotheby's auctioneers as "arguably the most important group of works by Tagore ever to appear at an auction". The 12 paintings by Tagore were sold by the Dartington Hall Trust charity.

So far the buyers of the pictures - certain to attract huge interest in India - have not been identified. A Sotheby's spokesman said all the pictures sold for well above the asking price.

'Once-in-a-generation opportunity'

It follows the £2.4m ($3.5m) sale on Friday at Christie's auctioneers of a painting by top Indian artist Syed Haider Raza, which set a record for a modern Indian work.

Tagore composed the Indian and Bangladeshi national anthems

Tagore, often referred to as Bengal's Shakespeare, is the only Indian to win the Nobel literature prize. He wrote poems and short stories and composed both the Indian and Bangladeshi national anthems. He died in 1941. "The rarity and distinguished provenance of the 12 Tagore paintings - in addition to the fact that they have never appeared on the open market before - made their auction debut a once-in-a-generation opportunity for collectors in the field," a Sotheby's statement said.

"Together, the group unquestionably ranks as one of the most important collections of works by the much-loved Indian artist ever to come to the market." Born in Calcutta in 1861, Tagore was perhaps the most important literary figure of Bengali literature and was also the first non-European to win the Nobel literature prize.

Huge archive

Portrait of a Woman sold for over £313,000 ($461,000) at Sotheby's

The Dartington Hall charity - set up to advance innovative ideas and programmes in education, social reform and rural regeneration in the 1920s - has strong ties to Tagore. The estate in the south-west English county of Devon was purchased by Leonard Elmhirst. He was a close friend of Tagore and travelled to India to work as his private secretary.

Over the years, the Dartington Hall Trust amassed an extensive collection of works of art. Officials say it is not clear how the 12 Tagore paintings arrived at Dartington, but it is probable that they were a gift from Tagore to his great friend and companion.

Tagore visited Dartington on a number of occasions. The trust also holds a huge archive of his photographs, letters and other items. "We have a successful track record of selling works by Tagore and in fact set an auction record for a work by him when his Death Scene sold for £120,000 in May 2008," said Sotheby's. "However, works by Tagore are relatively rare to the auction market."

READ MORE - Rare Rabindranath Tagore paintings sold in the UK

Killers man unveils 'lonely' debut

The Killers Brandon Flowers is to release his debut solo album

The Killers singer Brandon Flowers has said his first solo album started out as a new Killers album and that making it was a "lonely" process. Flamingo, recorded over the past year, will be released in the autumn, after the first single Crossfire comes out in September. Flowers has enlisted the help of a string of collaborators including Stuart Price, Brendan O'Brien and Jenny Lewis for his first release. Speaking to Radio 1's Zane Lowe, Flowers said: "This started out that way - it just became something else when I realised I wasn't ready to take a very long break and a couple of the guys were. "

Solo debut

He added: "It was weird. Without union and the Killers and that way of doing things and friendship. I had fun making the record but that brotherhood didn't exist. At times it was a little bit lonely. "It wasn't born out of a need to do something different or to get attention or anything else - it was really to make music." However, he confirmed that this solo album did not spell the end for the Mr Brightside band, confirming they're already organising a date to head back to the studio.

"The guys have heard it and they understand why I'm doing it. I'm already talking to them about when we're going to get into the studio again. "Ronnie (Vannucci) actually plays drums on this record. "I'm excited. I'm a little bit nervous about it all. In the most part I'm really happy with it." The Killers' most recent album Day & Age was released in 2008.

READ MORE - Killers man unveils 'lonely' debut

Superdrug pulls Katie Price perfume

Reality TV star Katie Price's perfume has been pulled from Superdrug's shelves because of "ethical" reasons. It follows a report in The Observer newspaper claiming Indian workers making the bottles were paid less than the minimum wage. A spokeswoman for the high street shop said that because of their "robust ethical trading policy" it had been decided to remove the fragrances.

Price's spokesperson said production has now been moved to the UK. Sunday's Observer claimed that workers at a factory in India are paid 26p an hour to make perfume bottles for Price's Stunning and Besotted fragrances. A Superdrug spokeswoman said: "As a business, we have a robust ethical trading policy so that our customers can be confident that they are buying products that are made in an ethical way. "Therefore, we have taken the decision to remove Katie Price's fragrances from our shelves at this time while we conduct an investigation."

In a statement, Price's spokesperson said: "Following a press report about the production of Katie Price's perfume bottles by the Pragati Glass Company, we can confirm that this factory in India is no longer used as a source of component. "The production of the bottle, its packaging, filling and finishing has been moved from India to the UK and France.

"We would like to reiterate as always that all products manufactured for Katie Price, or third parties working on behalf of Katie Price, have a checking policy that ensures health, safety and ethical trading guidelines are met and in most cases are exceeded. "We are investigating if and how this has occurred in these circumstances." Price - otherwise known as Jordan - has a number of branded products including a line of bedding, a series of books and an equestrian clothing range.

READ MORE - Superdrug pulls Katie Price perfume

BBC receives 545 vuvuzela complaints over World Cup

The BBC has received 545 complaints about the sound of vuvuzela horns during its World Cup coverage. The corporation is considering showing coverage that cuts out the noise of vuvuzelas on its red button service. On Monday, World Cup organisers ruled out a stadium ban on the plastic horns, which can reach 130 decibels, following complaints from players and fans.

Experts say it is impossible to cut out the horns without affecting commentary and crowd noise. The BBC says it has already "taken steps to minimise the noise". "If the vuvuzela continues to impact on audience enjoyment, we will look at what other options we can take to reduce the volume further," a spokeswoman said.

The BBC is considering cutting out some of the vuvuzela noise on the red button service but says a final decision has yet to be made. On Monday, Trevor Cox, president of the Institute of Acoustics, told the BBC News website's Magazine that vuvuzelas were tuned to a similar frequency to speech tones.

If broadcasters tuned out it would dampen the commentators' voices, he said. "It would sound really horrible to notch these out - if one coincides with the vowel sound e, you won't be able to hear the -es in the commentary. It would sound unnatural," he said.

READ MORE - BBC receives 545 vuvuzela complaints over World Cup

Robbie Earle sacked over World Cup tickets

ITV World Cup pundit Robbie Earle has been sacked by the broadcaster after tickets for his family and friends were passed on to a third party. ITV said a "substantial number" of tickets for the Denmark v Holland match on Monday had been passed on, breaching Fifa rules. It has been claimed a block of tickets were used by a Dutch company for an "ambush marketing effort".

In a statement Earle said: "I didn't think I was doing anything wrong." He added: "I hope when people hear the full story they will see me in a different light. I have absolutely no connection with any marketing ambush agency and have not profited in any way from these tickets." ITV's full statement said: "Following claims by FIFA that official 2010 World Cup tickets may have been used for ambush marketing, ITV has reviewed its entire ticket allocation for the tournament," the TV network said in a statement.

"Immediate investigations indicated that a block of ITV tickets would appear to have been used for unauthorised purposes during the Holland v Denmark match. "Further enquiries have revealed that a substantial number of tickets allocated to Robbie Earle for family and friends have been passed to a third party in breach of FIFA rules. "As a result, Robbie Earle's contract with ITV has been terminated with immediate effect." The announcement comes after officials ejected 36 women who were wearing orange mini-dresses during Holland's game against Denmark.

The women were accused of "ambush marketing" for a brand of beer. Members of the group, accused of promoting a brand that is not one of the tournament's official sponsors, were found with tickets understood to have been part of Earle's allocation. The tickets' terms and conditions stipulate they must not be passed on or sold to anyone else. Earle, 45, an ambassador for England's 2018 World Cup bid, played for Wimbledon and Port Vale as well as for Jamaica in the 1998 World Cup.

READ MORE - Robbie Earle sacked over World Cup tickets

Chris Dercon becomes Tate Modern head

Belgian Chris Dercon has been appointed head of London's Tate Modern art gallery, replacing Vincente Todoli who has held the post for seven years. The 52-year-old, who has run Munich's Haus der Kunst since 2003, said the job is "an incredibly inspiring challenge". Dercon, who has held numerous art directorships over 20 years, added he was "thrilled" to become part of the team behind the successful museum.

He is due to take up his post in the spring of next year. Tate director Nicholas Serota said: "Chris Dercon has made some outstanding exhibitions in Munich and has demonstrated a commitment to showing art from across the world. "We are delighted that he has agreed to lead the team that is taking Tate Modern into its second decade."

Dercon worked during the 1980s as a freelance arts and culture journalist. In his career as an arts director, he has curated a number of major exhibitions, including one by Turner Prize-winner Anish Kapoor.

READ MORE - Chris Dercon becomes Tate Modern head

Speculators betting on movie success

Box office hits could provide money-making opportunities to speculators

Market traders who usually speculate on the price of oil or the value of the pound have found something new to bet on - movie releases. Following US regulatory approval, a new exchange is to begin offering traders the chance to bet on the success of the latest cinematic productions. Investors will enter into contracts betting on how much money a given film will make in its opening weekend.

But film studios and cinema owners have condemned the idea. They argue that letting investors bet on whether or not their films are successful could be open to manipulation. Rival studios could even bet against films in an attempt to sabotage them, some industry figures have argued.

'Popcorn predictions'
But the Commodity Futures Trading Commission has rejected those concerns, saying that box office earnings meet the law's definition of a commodity - meaning that futures contracts can be opened on them.

The Trend Exchange, operated by Veriana Networks, plans to start offering box office futures from August, though the industry is lobbying the US Congress to ban them. "Takers", a film about a bank-robber starring Matt Dillon that opens in the US on 20 August, is due to be the first release to be speculated on. Democratic commissioner Bart Chilton warned that "popcorn prediction markets would serve no national public interest".

But investors have defended the plans, pointing out that they could give finance companies a way of reducing the risk of investing in films. Investors will be able to guard against making a big loss at the box office by betting some money against their film. The move also signals increasing investor interest in the film industry, with global box office receipts reaching a record $30bn (£20bn) last year.

READ MORE - Speculators betting on movie success

Michael Jackson's doctor free to practise

The doctor accused of giving Michael Jackson a lethal dose of anaesthetic will be allowed to work in California as he awaits trial, a court has ruled. During a brief procedural hearing, a Los Angeles judge said he did not have the authority to ban Dr Conrad Murray. Members of the popstar's family were inside court to hear the ruling.

Dr Murray, 57, denies involuntary manslaughter of Jackson, who died last June. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for 23 August. California's attorney general had asked the judge to suspend the cardiologist in the run-up to the trial. But Dr Murray's lawyers argued that he needed to continue working to pay for his defence.

Dr Conrad Murray faces up to four years in jail if convicted

They said he had no intention of practising in California, but argued that a ban in that state would affect his working in Texas and Nevada. Judge Michael Pastor said the matter had already been ruled on by a previous judge, and he refused to allow the attorney general's application. "I do not have the ability to revisit a ruling by one of my colleagues," he said.

The doctor is alleged to have administered a lethal dose of Propofol and other drugs, which resulted in the popstar's death on 25 June. A condition of Dr Murray's bail is that he does not administer Propofol. If convicted, he faces up to four years in jail.

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Ryan Seacrest stalker jailed for maximum sentence

Seacrest took out a restraining order against Uzomah
A man who stalked American Idol host Ryan Seacrest has been sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to stay away from the star for 10 years. Chidi Uzomah, 26, who did not speak during the sentencing hearing, had previously pleaded no contest. He has been in jail since his June 2009 arrest after being stopped by security at cable network E! in Los Angeles, where Seacrest was recording a show.

Uzomah was already on probation for attacking one of Seacrest's bodyguards. He had pleaded guilty to assault, battery and carrying a knife after that incident at a charity event in Orange County last year. Mr Seacrest's lawyer Blair Berk said: "Ryan is extremely appreciative of the work of the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office in this matter."

Restraining orders filed last year by Mr Seacrest, claimed Uzomah who had been carrying a knife. Along with the prison sentence, Uzomah has been orderd to stay 500 yards away from Seacrest and his workplace for 10 years. Seacrest, 35, is a radio and television personality best known for hosting American Idol and E! News.

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Gary Coleman's cremation is delayed by judge

Coleman was living with Price at the time of his death

US actor Gary Coleman's remains are not to be cremated until after Wednesday so his ex-girlfriend has time to see his body, a US judge has ruled. The former Diff'rent Strokes star died of a brain haemorrhage last month after a fall at his home in Utah. His ex-wife Shannon Price and former girlfriend Anna Gray are in a dispute over control of his estate.

Ms Price divorced Coleman in 2008 but was named as his sole heir in 2007. Ms Gray was named in a 2005 will. Last week, Ms Price launched a legal bid to take control of Coleman's estate. She claims she is still his common-law wife and should be the one to make funeral arrangements. However, Ms Gray was named in Coleman's will dated 2005 and her lawyer Randy Kester said the couple knew each other for eight years.

On Monday, one of Coleman's friends and former managers, Dion Mial, withdrew his petition to be named as the special administrator of the actor's estate. Mr Mial was named in a 1999 will by Coleman, but Mial's lawyer said the will that names Ms Gray takes precedence because it is more recent. Meanwhile, Coleman's estranged parents, Sue and Willie Coleman, have said they will not seek permission to make their son's funeral arrangements.

The former child star successfully sued them in 1989 over misappropriation of his trust fund. Their lawyer Frederick Jackman said the couple did not ask the judge to let them see their son before he is cremated. "They want Gary to rest. That's all they want. I think they feel like if they came out here it would create 'activity', Their son is gone. They just want him left alone," Mr Jackman said.

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