News Bytes

Elton John sings for Hillary Clinton
Singer Elton John is planning a concert at Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan called "Elton and Hillary - Only One Night." Elton John wants to support Hillary Clinton with this memorable evening, because, he believes in her political work, he says. And he likes to be in New York anyway. He already celebrated his 60th birthday there, combined with his 60th concert in Madison Square Garden. Concert tickets will be available for approx. $125 (€80). The proceeds will be donated to Clinton's campaign.

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New Governor in New York
New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, whose political career ended with a sex scandal, will be replaced by his deputy, David Paterson. Paterson will not only be the first African-American head of the Empire State - he will also be the first blind US governor ever. US Democrat Paterson, 53, doesn't let physical handicaps get in the way. Despite the fact that he's blind, he studied history - not just anywhere, but at Ivy League school Columbia University. He participated in the New York Marathon. He spoke at a Democratic National Convention. He became Lieutenant Governor of New York. And on Monday, Paterson will add another item to his list of achievements - even if this wasn't something he actively pursued. He will become the successor of Governor Eliot Spitzer, who had to resign due to a prostitution scandal. He will not only be the first blind governor in the history of the US, he will also be the first African-American head of the Empire State. "So I have had this desire my whole life to prove people wrong," the usually rather media-shy politician told the NYT in an interview four years ago, "to show them I could do things they didn't think I could do."

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VISA - greatest Initial Public Offering in US history
Visa - the greatest credit card network in the US - is making stock exchange history. Despite the fact that Wall Street is having the worst time due to the credit crunch, it sold its shares at top prices. The proceeds of the IPO will be worth at least $18 billion - a new US record. You would think that an international financial crisis is not the best time for a credit card network to be planning an IPO. However, VISA convinced people otherwise. The company sold 406 million shares for $44 a piece, said an employee of one of the underwriting banks. That's a much better price than analysts had expected, they had counted on $27-$42.

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77-year old woman says Tampa owes her $22 million
In 1861, the time of the Civil War, the city of Tampa in the US borrowed 229 Dollars and 58 cents from Thomas Pugh Kennedy Biddle. They issued him a promissory note. No one ever reclaimed that money from the city. Now, Joan Kennedy Biddle wants the money back that her great-grandfather gave to the city. With interest. The total sum with an interest rate of 8 percent amounts to $21,999,701.41. The 77-year old woman now wants to sue the city for $22 million. The city's attorney David Smith said he didn't consider the claim valid, because it was barred by limitation. Biddle, however, points out that there was no statute of limitations in 1861.