LOS ANGELES: The green slime flowed so much that even US first lady Michelle Obama could not escape it at the Kids' Choice Awards on Saturday where singers Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift came away big winners.
The program is an annual stop for Hollywood stars who are popular among teenage and young viewers watching the Nickelodeon cable TV network, and this 25th anniversary was no exception.
Hosted by "Men in Black" movie star Will Smith, the awards featured performances by Katy Perry and British boy band One Direction, who performed their hit "What Makes You Beautiful" from the album "Up All Night."
But as always, the green slime was the biggest star at the show where Bieber won favorite male singer in fan voting.
On stage, Bieber took the orange blimp trophy from Smith, then the show's host had a surprise for the 18-year-old pop star. Bieber was also voted by fans as the celebrity they most wanted to see get slimed, and the green goo flowed from the rafters and water cannons aimed at the stage.
There was so much goo splashing around in the finale that it splattered on the face of a surprised first lady.
Obama was on hand at the popular show to give the "big help" blimp trophy to country star Swift.
The honor, bestowed on Obama two years earlier for her work with kids fitness and health, goes to a celebrity who has devoted time and energy to charitable causes. Swift was singled out for her work to stop bullying and for providing aid to tornado victims in the southern United States.
Swift "rocketed to the top of the music industry, but still keeps her feet on the ground," Obama said about the 22-year-old country singer, calling her "someone who is going to keep making sparks fly for all of us in the years ahead."
Other winners included made-for-TV band Big Time Rush, named favorite music group.
Selena Gomez, 19, was named favorite female singer for her work with pop band The Scene, as well as favorite TV actress in the "Wizards of Waverly Place," which ended its run on the Disney Channel earlier this year.
"Twilight" stars Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner both grabbed orange blimps. Stewart, 21, was named favorite movie actress. Lautner, 20, earned the title best "butt kicker" for his role as werewolf Jacob Black in the vampire romance flicks.
Favorite movie actor was Adam Sandler, 45, known for goofy comedies such as his recent "Jack and Jill."
Nickelodeon's "Victorious" was named top TV show. (Reuters)
AHORE: Power shortfall has shot up to 6000MW, causing massive increase in loadshedding in the country, Geo News reported.
According to sources, PEPCO needed 35000 tonnes of furnace oil per day but presently it did not receive the required quantity of fuel as well as funds.
Meanwhile, power distribution companies including LESCO have started loadshedding in industrial zones as well. Notification of six-hour power loadshedding has been issued for even for the independent feeder in the industrial zone.
PEPCO sources informed that loadshedding is being carried out in Lahore every other hour.
The total country-wide demand of power stands at 14,000 mega watts.
MOSCOW: A Russian passenger plane with 43 people on board crashed in Siberia on Monday, killing at least 16 people while 12 survivors were rescued, an emergency
official said.
The ATR 72, a twin-engine, turbo-prop plane, crashed some 30-35 km (18-22 miles) from the western Siberian city of Tyumen, Emergency Situations Ministry spokeswoman Irina Andrianova said.
She told 12 people were rescued and 16 bodies had been found at the crash site. According to preliminary information, there were 39 passengers and four crew on board. (Reuters)
LONDON: A menu for the last luncheon served to first class passengers on the doomed Titanic sold for 76,000 pounds ($122,000, 91,000 euros) at a British auction on Sunday.
The menu, dated April 14, 1912 -- the night the biggest, most ambitious ship of the age hit an iceberg in the North Atlantic and sank, killing 1,514 people -- was the star lot in an auction of Titanic memorabilia.
A Britain-based collector bought the menu, which had been on the table of American banker Washington Dodge, at the Henry Aldridge and Son saleroom in Devizes, southwest England.
The dishes on offer to the ship's wealthiest passengers included chicken a la Maryland -- otherwise known as fried chicken with creamy gravy -- and eggs Argenteuil, a plate of poached eggs with asparagus.
"The menu carries the all-important date of April 14 and gives the reader a fascinating insight into the culinary life of Titanic's elite passengers," said auctioneer Andrew Aldridge.
Other dishes on the menu, which included over 40 options in total over several courses, included galatine of chicken and grilled mutton chops.
Dodge's wife Ruth had slipped the paper into her handbag after lunch, unaware that she would be carrying it onto a lifeboat that evening.
The couple and their son Washington Junior survived the tragedy, and the menu had stayed in the family ever since. (AFP)
BOAO, CHINA: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Sunday that US drone attacks violated the sovereignty of Pakistan and had created a negative impact.
During an interview to China Radio International, Gilani stressed that drone attacks had created misunderstandings between the Pakistani people and the US.
The prime minister also spoke of Pak-US relations, stating that these would be decided through the recommendations of parialment and would be based on mutual respect and interest.
Gilani said that the government had united the religious and political parties against terrorism and extremism.
APP Adds: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has expressed the hope that the Asian countries would enhance cooperation and expand their partnerships to achieve the goal of shared progress and prosperity.
In an interview to China Radio International, in Boao, Hainan province, the Prime Minister said the Asian countries should use platforms like Boao Forum for in-depth cooperation.
About the theme of the current session of the Boao Forum for Asia -"Asia in a Changing World: towards a healthy and sustainable development," Gilani said, the world is going through change and it
faced an economic crisis which affected many countries.
He said despite difficult economic conditions, the performance of the Asian countries was impressive.
The countries in the Asian region can learn from the experiences of each other, he added.
"I believe we can overcome obstacles and stay on the path of healthy and sustainable development," he remarked.
The Prime Minister said the Asian countries can expand and deepen cooperation in the fields of energy, culture, science, technology and education.
Gilani stressed that the Pakistani government always attached great importance to the Boao Forum and President Zardari also participated in it.
Gilani hoped that during the activities of the Boao Forum, the Asian leaders would sit together and seek common development strategy.
He said he was glad to come to Boao and interact with international leaders, outstanding entrepreneurs and media personnel.
Talking about Pakistan-China friendship, Gilani said Pakistan is very grateful for assistance of China in its economic development and has welcomed Chinese enterprises for investment in Pakistan.
When asked about the most important initiatives currently undertaken by Pakistan in the development of national economy, Gilani said Pakistan is rich in resources, however, it needs to fully take advantage of its resources to make progress in line with its own development strategies.
Gilani said many Chinese enterprises come to invest in Pakistan and a lot of Chinese people are working in joint ventures in his country.
He said safety of Chinese personnel in Pakistan is the responsibility of the government and Pakistan will do all it can for the safety of Chinese personnel.
He said China is also facing heavy responsibility to counter terror, but even then it is providing assistance to others to overcome challenges.
He said today the greatest challenge facing Pakistan is the fight against terrorism and the Pakistani nation is united to face the this challenge.
The Prime Minister said the most important achievement of the government is that it united all the Pakistanis in the fight against
terrorism. (Geo News/APP)
SINGAPORE: Oil was higher in Asian trade Monday after figures showing a rise in manufacturing activity in China, the world's largest energy user, analysts said.
New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate crude for delivery in May, gained 33 cents to $103.35 per barrel while Brent North Sea crude for May settlement was up 44 cents at $123.32.
Official data released Sunday showed China's manufacturing activity rose to the highest level in a year in March, energising oil prices, analysts said.
"China's manufacturing data helped edge up oil prices with hopes of strengthening demand (from the world's second biggest economy), said Justin Harper, market strategist at IG Markets Singapore.
The China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing said Sunday the official purchasing managers index (PMI) rose to 53.1 from 51 in February, helped by an increase in new orders.
It marked the fourth consecutive month of expansion for manufacturing activity. A reading above 50 indicates expansion, while a reading below 50 suggests contraction.
Tensions between the West and major crude producer Iran continue to lend support to oil prices as investors fret over possible supply disruptions from the Islamic republic.
The two sides are at odds over Iran's nuclear programme which Tehran has said is for civilian purposes but the United States and its allies believe the country is working towards nuclear weapons capability.
Iran has previously threatened to shut the strategic Strait of Hormuz - a conduit for a fifth of global oil supply - if it is hit by further sanctions from the West. (AFP)
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ISLAMABAD: Chairman of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Distribution Association, Irfan Khokher Saturday said that the LPG prices have reduced by Rs22/kilogram in the last two days, Geo News reported
He said, "Distributors have decreased the LPG prices by Rs22 per kilogram
throughout the country owing to a bearish trend in the international markets."
The new price has been set at Rs110/kilogram taking effect from April 3, 2012.
On the other hand, according to chairman of FPCCI Standing Committee on LPG and Pattern in Chief of All Pakistan LPG Distributors Association (APLDA) Abdul Hadi Khan, the international price has plunged by $ 202 to $ 993 per ton for April 2012, slashing its import price by Rs 18,400 to Rs 122,000 per ton.
He said Saudi Armco Contract Price (CP) has dropped due to fall in prices of butane by $ 185 per ton while propane is up by $ 240 per
ton.
Hadi pointed out that due to fall in international price, the domestic price of LPG will be decreased by Rs 18 per kilo, 11.8 kilo cylinder by Rs 212 and 45.4 kg cylinder by Rs 835.
He stressed upon local producers to reduce their price in the country on April 3, 2012, in accordance with the drop in international prices so that the falling sales of LPG are stabilized.
Hadi said that LPG prices have declined after a long time and this decrease should be passed on to local consumers who have abandoned the use of LPG due to extraordinary high prices.
He underlined the need for an increase in local production, which has shrank to 900 to 1100 ton per day in the last one year. Local oil refineries should also reduce their shut downs to meet local demand
for LPG, he noted.
He observed that LPG use in automotive sector has been slashed by 60 percent due to uncontrolled price jacks by local producers.
Similarly, more than 1000 LPG outlets have been closed down due to
price hike.
Hadi argued that local LPG production is de-linked with international price, yet local producers are increasing prices in accordance with Aramco prices. He noted that LPG business is rendered unattractive in the country due to very high prices.
