China :: Lifestyle

May 01, 2011 MUMBAI, May 1 Its 6:30am and the Inorbit shopping mall in Mumbai has already been open for an hour and a half. But its not shoppers who are using the deserted aisles and the empty car park outside. Every morning, groups of walkers and even the occasional runner descend on the 364,000 square feet (34,000 square metre) centre in the northern suburb of Malad to exercise before the rest of the city wakes up.The walk makes me feel energetic and sets me up for the day, said Ravi Wikar, whose daily constitutional takes him on a circular route past shuttered shops and up and down the switched-off escalators.I walk every morning from 6:30am and do about three kilometres on average, the 37-year-old businessman, dressed in a white baseball cap, white t-shirt, red tracksuit bottoms and running shoes, told AFP.The concept of using a closed shopping centre as a place to exercise doesnt seem strange to the 50 or so regular mall walkers of Malad, most of whom are senior citizens with ail...

Add to My Stories 'Very close': Pippa Middleton last month in the arms of her 30-year-old City broker boyfriend Alex Loudon It was the day Royal Maid of Honour Pippa Middleton dazzled the world in a dress that left very little to the imagination . . . but it emerged that she may have kept something secret after all. For it seems that Carole and Michaels second daughter is engaged in all but name to her City broker boyfriend Alex Loudon. The couple have stayed silent about the future of their relationship for fear of detracting attention from William and Kate. If rumours of an official announcement later this year are true, they will cause widespread disappointment, for it seems that in the wake of That Dress, Pippa could have her pick of suitors. The sensational fluid white column made by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen was an unusual choice both forits bridal colour and its curve-enhancing cling. Inan act of sisterly generosity, Kate must have sanctioned it in the fullknowl...

Add to My Stories William and Kate spent first night together at Buckingham Palace Couple will go on honeymoon later - but date and destination is a secret Newlyweds expected to spend weekend at Balmoral Newlyweds William and Kate will not go on honeymoon this weekend - and Prince William will be back at work on Monday. The couple, who flew out of Buckingham Palace this morning, will spend the weekend together at a private location in the UK. William will return to his job as a search and rescue helicopter pilot next week before the couple finally jet off on their overseas honeymoon at a later date. Newly-weds: Duke and Duchess of Cambridge walk hand in hand from Buckingham Palace as they prepare to board a helicopter to fly off on their honeymoon Royal honeymoon: Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, fly off from Buckingham Palace this morning After spending their first night as a married couple together at the Palace, they walked out of the Palace casually dress...

April 30, 2011 Aboudia sits with his work depicting the recent upheaval in Abidjan on April 19, 2011. Reuters picABIDJAN, April 30 While fighting raged on the streets outside his studio in Abidjan and stray bullets hissed through the air overhead, Ivorian artist Aboudia painted.Only when the walls of his studio shook from the concussions of nearby explosions did Aboudia, 26, seek shelter in a basement.I was so afraid while I was painting all these tableaus, he said, casting a glance over a collection of work created during the months of political upheaval in the West African nation since a disputed election last November.Some work was hard to finish, a lot of the paint is running, dripping. Its not intentional, but its like fear or sweat, or tears like my soul is crying, said Aboudia, whose full name is Abdoulaye Diarrasouba.His work over the past few months provides a haunting interpretation of the uncertainty and violence sweeping the country since incumbent Laurent Gbagbo refused...

Add to My Stories Saucers on foreheads. Polka dots. Too many tanned, Twiglet limbs. A metallic grey palette echoing the livery on the planes that performed the flypast. But on the whole the female guests at the Royal Wedding were a colourful, spectacular, reverential bunch. It was almost as if everyone wanted to do the couple justice. There was very little that shouted fashion, nothing too overtly showy if you discount Victoria Beckhams get-up. Unlike Dianas wedding, when the shoulder pads, short skirt suits and batwing sleeves worn by the guests looked out of date within a year, this is one wedding where we will not be cringeing when we look back. Fashion winners Winners: Carole Middleton (left) chose a pale blue Catherine Walker wool crepe coat-dress over a matching silk dress. Her Jane Corbett hat was dramatic, but we could still see her proud face. Very flattering. The Queen was so cheerful in a primrose dress and coat by Angela Kelly. Never mind the fashionistas: she has been c...

Add to My Stories The day might have belonged to the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, but the supporting cast were almost as gripping, and none of them more so than the members of what is fast becoming Britains most famous and fascinating family. Middleton-watchers were amply rewarded with a spectacle of nerves, tans, dignity, surprising outfits and sex appeal (yes, that refers to you, Miss Philippa Middleton!). Indeed, you could even say that the Westminster Abbey Show felt just as much Bucklebury (the Berkshire village where the Middletons live) as it did Buckingham Palace despite all the trumpeters and foreign dignitaries. Scroll down for video Stylish choice: Pippa Middleton's slinky white cowl-neck dress showed off her slender figure, while the cap sleeves kept it youthful. The back of the dress was studded with tiny silk-covered buttons Elegant: Pippa, pictured entering Westminster Abbey this morning with the bridesmaids and pageboys, echoed the bride's dress in ...