LOS ANGELES, May 15 (Reuters Life!) - Canadian country star Shania Twain has separated from her husband of 14 years, reclusive record producer Robert John "Mutt" Lange, People magazine reported on Thursday.
It quoted a spokesman as saying, "This is a private matter and there will be no further comment at this time." Twain, 42, and Lange, who is in his late 50s, have a a 6-year-old son named Eja.
The marriage between the sexy singer and the secretive Svengali famed for his work with such metal acts as AC/DC and Def Leppard, was an unlikely -- but highly lucrative -- partnership.
Lange produced Twain's three blockbuster albums, which have each sold more than 10 million copies in the United States. The glossy efforts, complemented by steamy video clips, crushed the barrier separating country and pop.
Like many men, Lange was entranced by one of Twain's videos, the first of many in which she showed off her famed belly button. He called her persistently, and they agreed to collaborate professionally. Six months after they eventually met, they married in December 1993.
Unlike many superstar producers, Lange has not given an interview in decades and is rarely photographed. He did not even appear in the official wedding photo Twain distributed to the media.
But his fingerprints were all over Twain's huge trilogy of albums, 1995's "The Woman in Me," 1997's "Come on Over," and 2002's "Up!" More arena rock than traditional country, the albums were packed with catchy hooks and lyrics celebrating female empowerment.
The couple avoided the spotlight by dividing their time between a chateau near Geneva and a luxury farmhouse in New Zealand. (Reporting by Dean Goodman, editing by Steve Gorman) ((dean.goodman@reuters.com; +1 213 380 2014)) Keywords: PEOPLE TWAIN
WELLINGTON, May 16 (Reuters) - Following are some of the lead stories from New Zealand metropolitan newspapers on Friday.
Stories may be taken from either the paper or Internet editions of the papers.
Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
DOMINION POST(www.stuff.co.nz)
Former immigration head welcomes inquiry: Besieged former immigration boss Mary Anne Thompson is promising to co-operate with inquiries into her background as questions are asked about the stringency of SIS checks on staff employed in sensitive positions. - - - -
Food pricing power lies with supermarkets: Farmers deny they are running a "spin" campaign to divert consumers from blaming them for feeling the pain of soaring food prices. - - - -
Dollar on brink of big fall - Bagrie: ANZ chief economist Cameron Bagrie had mixed news for fishermen, painting a downcast picture of the economy at the seafood industry's annual conference.
- - - -
NEW ZEALAND HERALD (www.nzherald.co.nz)
Bollard's dilemma in weakening economy: Yesterday's weaker than expected retail sales numbers will have done nothing to make Reserve Bank governor Alan Bollard's dilemma - about when to start easing rates - any easier.
- - - -
Food firms serve fewer unhealthy ads for kids: Food manufacturers have sharply reduced their television advertising of unhealthy foods during the "children's" viewing times, in anticipation of a new voluntary code coming into effect in July.
- - - -
Retail sales drop as purse strings tighten: Consumers have been keeping their wallets in their pockets as mounting petrol, food and mortgage costs crowd out spending on other things.
- - - - ((Wellington newsroom tel +64 4 471 4234, fax +64 4 473 6212 wellington.newsroom@reuters.com)) Keywords: NEWZEALAND PRESS
This diary is updated daily and new items or amendments
are marked with an asterisk.
NOTE: Statistics NZ data 10:45 a.m. (2245 GMT).
For NZ data forecasts, double click on [NZ/POLL]
For main NZ economic indicators, double click on [NZ/STAT]
===============================================================
May 16 - Producers price index, first quarter
- Capital goods price index, first quarter
===============================================================
May 19 - BNZ-Business NZ performance of services index,
April
May 20 - External migration, April
- Infratil Ltd <IFT.NZ> annual result
- NZ government Treasury bills tender, results 1 p.m.
(0100 GMT)
May 21 - Electronic card transactions, April
- Credit card billings, 3 p.m. (0300 GMT)
- Fisher & Paykel Healthcare <FPH.NZ> annual result
May 22 - Rakon Ltd <RAK.NZ> annual result
- Ryman Healthcare Ltd <RYM.NZ> annual result
- Austral Pacific Energy Ltd <APX.NZ> special and
annual meetings
- NZ government annual budget, 2 p.m. (0200 GMT)
- National Bank of NZ regional trends survey
May 23 - Renaissance Corp Ltd <RNS.NZ> annual meeting
- Property For Industry Ltd <PFI.NZ> annual meeting
May 26 - Overseas merchandise trade, April
May 27 - CDL Investments NZ Ltd <CDL.NZ> annual meeting
- Millenium & Copthorne Hotels NZ Ltd <MCK.NZ> annual
meeting
- NZ government Treasury bills tender, results 1 p.m.
(0100 GMT)
- RBNZ survey of expectations, 3 p.m. (0300 GMT)
May 28 - Sanford Ltd <SAN.NZ> half year result
May 29 - NZ government bond tender, results 1 p.m. (0100 GMT)
- RBNZ foreign currency assets and liabilities,
3 p.m. (0300 GMT)
- NZ household claims, 3 p.m. (0300 GMT)
- Tower Ltd <TWR.NZ> half year result
- National Bank of NZ business outlook, 3 p.m.
(0300 GMT)
- Fisher & Paykel Appliances Ltd <FPA.NZ> annual
result
May 30 - Building consents, April
- Mainfreight Ltd <MFT.NZ> annual result
June 2 - Queen's Birthday public holiday
Jun 3 - NZ government Treasury bills tender, results 1 p.m.
(0100 GMT)
Jun 4 - ANZ commodity price index, 3 p.m. (0300 GMT)
Jun 5 - Reserve Bank of New Zealand Monetary Policy
Statement, 9 a.m. (2100 GMT)
Jun 5 - Wholesale trade survey, March quarter
Jun 9 - Value of building works, March quarter
- Quotable Value house price index
Jun 10 - NZ government Treasury bills tender, results 1 p.m.
(0100 GMT)
Jun 11 - Overseas trade indices (price and volumes), March
quarter
Jun 12 - Accommodation survey, April
- Food price index, May
- NZ government bond tender, results 1 p.m. (0100 GMT)
- BNZ-Business NZ performance of manufacturing index,
May
Jun 13 - Retail trade survey, April
Jun 16 - Economic survey of manufacturing, March quarter
- Offshore holdings of NZ govt securities, May,
3 p.m. (0300 GMT)
Jun 17 - NZ government Treasury bills tender, results 1 p.m.
(0100 GMT)
Jun 18 - Turners & Growers Ltd <TUR.NZ> annual meeting
Jun 19 - Electronic card transactions, May
- Restaurant Brands Ltd <RBD.NZ> annual meeting
Jun 20 - External migration, May
Jun 23 - Credit card billings, 3 p.m. (0300 GMT)
- Eastern Hi Fi Group Ltd <EFH.NZ> annual meeting
- CER Group Ltd <CER.NZ> annual meeting
Jun 24 - NZ government Treasury bills tender, results 1 p.m.
(0100 GMT)
Jun 26 - Balance of payments, March quarter
- NZ government bond tender, results 1 p.m. (0100 GMT)
Jun 27 - Gross domestic product, March quarter
- Overseas merchandise trade, May
- RBNZ foreign currency assets and liabilities,
3 p.m. (0300 GMT)
- NZ household claims, 3 p.m. (0300 GMT)
Jun 30 - Building consents, May
- National Bank of NZ business outlook, 3 p.m.
(0300 GMT)
---------------------------------------------------------------
Reuters Terminal subscribers can also access the following
diaries:
- Reserve Bank of NZ <RBNZINDEX>
- Diary of top economic events [NZ-DIARY]
---------------------------------------------------------------
Sources: Statistics NZ, NZ Stock Exchange, NZ govt sources,
event hosts.
((Wellington newsroom +64 4 471 4234, fax +64 4 473 6212
wellington.newsroom reuters.com))
Keywords: NEWZEALAND DIARY
By John Mehaffey
LONDON, May 15 (Reuters) - Brendon McCullum transported the special skills of limited overs cricket to the spiritual home of the game on Thursday in a bitter-sweet day for the New Zealand wicketkeeper.
McCullum rescued New Zealand's first innings on the opening day of the first test against England at Lord's with a run-a-ball 97, taking the visitors from a precarious 104 for five to a comparatively respectable 208 for six.
A boundary short of his first test century against England he then missed a straight ball from Money Panesar and was bowled.
While Panesar and the England team celebrated without restraint, McCullum stood for a minute with his head bowed before walking slowly back to the pavilion.
Four years ago he fell four short of a century at Lord's batting at number three.
"If we had been bowled out for 150 there was only one team that could have won this game," McCullum told a news conference.
"England are on top but for us it's not a bad day either. It was pretty bitter-sweet, I'm proud but a touch disappointed.
"Last time I got very nervous through the nineties. I have spend the last four years thinking about it.
"This time I felt quite comfortable, I just thought remain aggressive, I just missed a straight one."
McCullum battled hard and had a share of luck in his first 50 runs. James Anderson was the pick of the England attack with three wickets but the ball moved around for all the bowlers after Michael Vaughan had won the toss and asked the Kiwis to bat.
UGLY INNINGS
"It was extremely tough batting conditions. You could be happy with playing an ugly innnings for a period of time," McCullum added.
"Runs on the board was going to be the most significant aspect. At 100 for five it was teetering and in real danger of being rock and roll."
After reaching his ninth test half-century, NcCullum began to take charge, moving down the pitch in a manner he has introduced to one-day cricket where he bats at opener.
"We have got plans for him but it's disconcerting," Anderson confessed.
McCullum said his good form in one-day cricket helped in what he called "the pinnacle of the game".
He was also self-deprecating about a magnificent six over extra-cover off the distinctly quick Stuart Broad.
"I think it was the only one I hit in the middle. It was quite nice," he said.
McCullum said the Kiwis, with Jacob Oram and captain Daniel Vettori at the crease, were still targeting around 300 or 350.
"That would be a fantastic effort after losing the toss on that wicket with the overhead conditions the way they were," he said. "That's the goal, if we do that we will head into our bowling with a lot of confidence." (Editing by Alan Baldwin) ((john.mehaffey@reuters.com; +442075427933; Reuters Messaging: john.mehaffey.reuters.com@reuters.net; For the latest Reuters Premier League and international football news see: http://football.uk.reuters.com/))
Please double click on the newslink below:
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Keywords: CRICKET ZEALAND/MCCULLUM
By John Mehaffey
LONDON, May 15 (Reuters) - New Zealand wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum perished in the nineties for the second Lord's test in a row on Thursday after reviving his team's fortunes on the opening day of the first test against England.
McCullum batted with increasing authority to reach 97 from as many balls, adding 99 with Jacob Oram (23 not out) for the sixth wicket, after New Zealand had been reduced to 104 for five.
When bad light stopped play early after the first session had been lost to rain, New Zealand had taken their score to a more competitive 208 for six.
McCullum was only one boundary from his third test century and his first against England when he was unexpectedly bowled by Monty Panesar. Four years ago, batting at number three after the order had been reshuffled, he scored 96 in the Kiwis' second innings at the same venue.
An explosive one-day cricketer and acrobatic wicketkeeper, McCullum fully justified his promotion from seven to five following another feeble performance by the inexperienced top order.
He rode his luck after a series of airy waves outside the off-stump to reach his ninth test half-century from 65 balls with eight boundaries while Oram played the anchor role at the other end.
McCullum unveiled his best stroke of the day with an imperious cover-drive for four off Ryan Sidebottom before smacking the England left-arm paceman to long-off for another boundary and whipping Stuart Broad to the mid-wicket boundary.
He struck a four and six off Panesar before lofting Stuart Broad for a another six over long-off. Left-arm spinner Panesar, who had had several lbw shouts turned down, took his revenge when an attempted drive deviated off McCullum's pads on to the stumps.
ANDERSON STRIKES
Michael Vaughan, eager to expose the inexperienced New Zealand top order, opted to field after winning the toss.
His decision was vindicated in James Anderson's opening over when Aaron Redmond was dismissed without scoring, guiding a full-pitched delivery at comfortable height and pace to Alastair Cook at third slip.
His five-ball duck in his debut test contrasted starkly with his father Rodney's 107 and 56 in his solitary test.
Jamie How (7) also fell to Anderson, edging a full delivery to wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose and Ross Taylor slashed a frenetic 19 from 20 deliveries before skying a rash hook off Broad to Paul Collingwood at second slip.
Taylor also did his best to gift England another wicket when he set off for an impossible single. James Marshall had given up all hope of making the striker's end but received a let-off when Anderson missed a shy at the stumps.
Marshall, who had been caught behind off an Anderson no-ball, grafted his way to 24 from 104 minutes, before he too proved fallible outside the off-stump, edging Broad to Andrew Strauss at first slip.
Daniel Flynn, New Zealand's other debutant, was bowled leg-stump by Anderson for nine.
Anderson was the most successful of the bowlers with three for 42. Sidebottom, England's top bowler over the past year, struggled with his line and finished with none for 50.
(Editing by Alan Baldwin)
((john.mehaffey@reuters.com; +442075427933; Reuters Messaging: john.mehaffey.reuters.com@reuters.net; For the latest Reuters Premier League and international football news see: http://football.uk.reuters.com/))
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Keywords: CRICKET ZEALAND/
Next: UPDATE 2-Cricket-McCullum falls three short of century