Diversity not improving says Aziz Ansari

Indian-American comedian Aziz Ansari says that films still do not feature enough diversity. "When people ask me, 'Do you think the diversity stuff is getting better?' I'm like, 'No'." he said. "There's a poster right outside our writer's room, it's one of those Nicholas Sparks books where it's just two white people just staring at each other. There have been 20 of those movies – not once is it a black woman staring into a guy's eyes. You know, everyone has romance in their lives. It's strange that every time, it's two white people falling in love." – IANS

Salman Khan’s girlfriend in no hurry to marry

Following rumours of her plans to marry actor Salman Khan, Iulia Vântur – who is said to be dating the actor – says she has no immediate plans to settle down. The Romanian TV presenter took to Instagram and Twitter to address the rumours. She wrote: "Dear friends, I didn't feel the need to react to any rumours. But now I think I should state clearly that I was never married and I am in no hurry to wear my wedding dress. God bless us all." Rumours have swirled that Vantur and Khan have been dating each other for some time, and they appeared together at actress Preity Zinta's wedding reception this month. Khan previously dated Bollywood stars Katrina Kaif, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Sangeeta Bijlani and Somy Ali. – IANS

Megadeth’s former drummer Nick Menza dies

Nick Menza, a former drummer with heavy-metal band Megadeth, has died at the age of 51 after collapsing on stage at a Los Angeles club. It happened while he was performing with his band OHM at the Baked Potato club in Studio City, where he lived, said family spokesman J Marshall Craig, who is also Menza's biographer. The band were performing the third song of their first set late on Saturday when Menza collapsed, Craig said. Audience members and friends tried to resuscitate him, but he died in an ambulance on the way to hospital after 25 minutes of resuscitation attempts. "Despite his excellent health and extremely active, sober lifestyle, a heart attack is his suspected, though not confirmed, cause of death," Craig said. A post-mortem will be performed, he added. Menza was the longest-serving drummer for Megadeth, from 1989 to 1998, when the band was considered to be at its height, Craig said. He recorded drums and toured on the albums Rust in Peace, Countdown to Extinction, Youthanasia and Cryptic Writings. During a 1998 tour, he discovered a tumour on his knee and was forced to leave for surgery. Megadeth hired a replacement and Menza was not asked back, the website said. – Reuters

The best is yet to come, says Randeep Hooda

Actor Randeep Hooda, who is receiving rave reviews for his role in the film Sarbjit, feels that the defining role of his career has evaded him so far. Directed by Omung Kumar, his current movie is based on the real-life story of Sarabjit Singh, an Indian villager convicted of spying and terrorism who languished in a Pakistani jail while his sister tried to secure his release. "Of course, [playing Sarabjit on screen] has been my most Herculean task," he said. "I am glad people are appreciating it but as an artiste, I would say that my best role is yet to come." Best-known for his character roles, Randeep said he enjoys the run-up to a movie more than its completion. "I like the process of preparation and rehearsal more than executing and watching it. That is the real life experience, the rest is just execution," he said. .– IANS

Shah Rukh Khan mourns the passage of time

Shah Rukh Khan was in a reminiscent mood as he posted photo collages of his children on social media to mark his daughter Suhana’s 16th birthday and his 18-year-old son Aryan’s school graduation. The 50-year-old star shared the images on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram with the caption: “Today the only negative is that my kids have grown up...now to wait till they start believing in fairy tales again.” This year, the actor, who also has a third child, Abram, said that none of his children had shown an interest in entering the world of showbiz. “None of them have jumped on the bandwagon and said that they want to start acting,” he said. “They come to my sets to understand what filmmaking is about because it’s time for them to get interested. If they get interested, then good, but if they don’t, that’s even better.” – IANS

Four reasons global stock markets are falling right now

There are many factors worrying investors right now and triggering a rush out of stock markets. Here are four of the biggest:

1. Rising US interest rates

The US Federal Reserve has increased interest rates three times this year in a bid to prevent its buoyant economy from overheating. They now stand at between 2 and 2.25 per cent and markets are pencilling in three more rises next year.

Kim Catechis, manager of the Legg Mason Martin Currie Global Emerging Markets Fund, says US inflation is rising and the Fed will continue to raise rates in 2019. “With inflationary pressures growing, an increasing number of corporates are guiding profitability expectations downwards for 2018 and 2019, citing the negative impact of rising costs.”

At the same time as rates are rising, central bankers in the US and Europe have been ending quantitative easing, bringing the era of cheap money to an end.

2. Stronger dollar

High US rates have driven up the value of the dollar and bond yields, and this is putting pressure on emerging market countries that took advantage of low interest rates to run up trillions in dollar-denominated debt. They have also suffered capital outflows as international investors have switched to the US, driving markets lower. Omar Negyal, portfolio manager of the JP Morgan Global Emerging Markets Income Trust, says this looks like a buying opportunity. “Despite short-term volatility we remain positive about long-term prospects and profitability for emerging markets.”

3. Global trade war

Ritu Vohora, investment director at fund manager M&G, says markets fear that US President Donald Trump’s spat with China will escalate into a full-blown global trade war, with both sides suffering. “The US economy is robust enough to absorb higher input costs now, but this may not be the case as tariffs escalate. However, with a host of factors hitting investor sentiment, this is becoming a stock picker’s market.”

4. Eurozone uncertainty

Europe faces two challenges right now in the shape of Brexit and the new populist government in eurozone member Italy.

Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG, which has offices in Dubai, says the stand-off between between Rome and Brussels threatens to become much more serious. "As with Brexit, neither side appears willing to step back from the edge, threatening more trouble down the line.”

The European economy may also be slowing, Mr Beauchamp warns. “A four-year low in eurozone manufacturing confidence highlights the fact that producers see a bumpy road ahead, with US-EU trade talks remaining a major question-mark for exporters.”