New York, December 10 : Madonna, who has been speculated to be in a relationship with Alex Rodriguez, is hunting for a new house to be close to her alleged beau, according to sources.

The Queen of Pop, who split with director hubby Guy Ritchie in November, is reportedly eyeing places that are within easy reach to one another.

"Before his divorce, Alex was searching for houses on the upper East Side and Madonna offered to help him," the New York Daily News quoted him as saying.

Singapore - The link between income and trade is stronger between Asia and the West than between North America and Europe, according to a study by the Economist Intelligence Unit which was released in Singapore Wednesday.

A 1 per cent increase in combined income between an Asian country and a Western country would deliver a 1.36 per cent increase in trade, said the study, which the research company did for international couriers DHL.

Trade between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the West would rise 1.35 per cent for every one per cent increase in combined income, compared to trading relations between two Western countries, where a 1 per cent increase in combined income delivers a 1.14 per cent increase in trade.

Washington, Dec 10 : In an effort to combine the properties of plastics and metals, scientists have developed a composite material, which not only conducts electricity like metals but is also light and inexpensive like plastics.

The plastic-metal hybrids will be used in the very places where plastic components are equipped with printed circuit boards, for instance in cars or aircraft.

Till date, it was only possible via the roundabout route of punching and bending metal sheets in an elaborate process in order to integrate them in a component.

London, December 10 : Cancer stricken Jade Goody is ready to say ‘bye-bye to her hair’ after returning from a three-week pause to painful radio and chemotherapy treatments.

The reality TV star said she would soon be returning to the therapy that along with destroying cells, specifically those of micro-organisms or cancer, also leads to hair fall.

Melbourne, Dec 10 : Filmmaker Baz Luhrmann is set to receive a further blow, for some showbiz pundits are predicting that his much-criticised epic ‘Australia’ will not make any money.

The flick will never be a commercial success in America based on its second-week takings of 7 million dollars, according to influential US showbiz bible Variety.

In total, the film has grossed just a squeak over 30 million dollars – a long way off the 130 million dollars it cost to make.

According to Variety deputy editor Anne Thompson, ‘Australia’ cannot "make it" based on several factors, including its star Nicole Kidman.

Wellington, Dec 10 : Kiwis laid off in the current recession have been offered a new job – testing a sex toy for international condom manufacturer Durex.

Kiwis can apply by visiting www. durextester. co. nz. Applications for this dream job are open until 21 January 2009 and applicants, who must be aged 16 or over, should explain why they are suitable for the job, reports the NZPA.

It does not pay but successful applicants for the 100 ‘sexexcutive’ jobs at Durex will receive a free vibrating sex toy, worth about 25 dollars, to trial.