United States

Russell Crowe in talks to do a musical

Russell Crowe in talks to do a musicalWashington, Mar 31 : Russell Crowe could soon be showcasing his musical talents, for the actor is in talks to do a film where he might be required to hit the high notes.

The `Gladiator' star has revealed that he''s currently looking at a script for a new musical in which he may have to belt out a tune, just like fellow Aussie stars, Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman.

Scientists achieve breakthrough in global warming plant production

Scientists achieve breakthrough in global warming plant productionWashington, March 31 : Researchers at the universities of Leicester and Oxford in the UK have identified a single gene responsible for controlling plant growth responses to elevated temperature, a breakthrough that could potentially have an enormous impact on crop production as global warming increases.

Medvedev: US, Russia must clear "toxic assets" from relations

Medvedev: US, Russia must clear "toxic assets" from relations Moscow - Russia and the United States need to clear "toxic assets" souring their relations and work together on key global issues, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Tuesday in an article in the Washington Post.

Neither country can afford to tolerate "drift and indifference" to perpetuate their ties, the Kremlin leaders said.

Simon Cowell finds TV workload ‘exhausting’

Simon Cowell finds TV workload ‘exhausting’Washington, Mar 31 : Simon Cowell is planning to cut down on his reality shows, as he has started to find his gruelling work schedules "too exhausting".

The `American Idol' boss works for months, and sometimes years, on the show.

He often flies off and on to UK for his other TV projects `The X Factor' and `Britain's Got Talent'.

The TV star also runs a record label and production company, apart from judging his TV shows.

Halle Berry wants to become mum again

Halle Berry wants to become mum againWashington, Mar 31 : Halle Berry has said that she is open to having more kids, but she doesn't want to follow in the footsteps of octuplets'' mom Nadya Suleman.

Appearing on the Ellen DeGeneres show, the `Monster's Ball' actress confessed to wanting another child, but warned that she was not up for double digits.

"I hope I don''t have like 14 more," People magazine quoted her as saying.

The Oscar-winning actress is mother to one-year-old Nahla Ariela.

World Bank slashes global forecasts: 1.7-per-cent contraction

World Bank slashes global forecasts: 1.7-per-cent contraction Washington - In one of the most dire global forecasts yet, the World Bank on Tuesday predicted that the global economy will shrink 1.7 per cent this year as trade collapses and the banking crisis strikes even the world's poorest countries.

The World Bank more than halved its growth forecast for the developing world to 2.1 per cent - compared to 5.8 per cent recorded in 2008 - and predicted a mild global recovery to 2.3-per-cent growth next year.

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