Washington  - US consumer confidence slid to a new low in February as the world's largest economy continues to battle recession, a private research group said Tuesday.

The New York-based Conference Board said its index of consumer confidence fell to 25.0 in February from 37.4 in January.

The survey of 5,000 households found that the majority of respondents (51.1 per cent) believe business conditions are bad, up from 47.9 per cent last month. About 48 per cent of respondents said jobs were hard to get, up from 41 per cent in January.

Washington, Feb. 24: A new survey has revealed that US First Lady Michelle Obama holds overwhelmingly positive views among Americans with 49 percent considering her favorable and just five percent viewing her unfavorably.

The latest CBS News/New York Times poll found out that one out of every two American favours Michelle, while 44 percent are undecided or don't know enough about the first lady to hold an opinion, the CBS news reports.

Washington, Feb 24: Pussycat Dolls have recorded their own version of `Jai Ho', an Oscar-winning song from `Slumdog Millionaire'.

Super-producer Ron Fair produced the lead vocals for Pussycat Dolls frontwoman Nicole Scherzinger, whose voice blends with that of Oscar winning composer A. R. Rahman, reports People magazine.

`Slumdog Millionaire', which tracks the journey of an 18-year-old boy from rags-to-riches, has won eight Oscars out of the 10 categories it was nominated for.

Washington, Feb 24: Alaska Governor Sarah Palin believes that media intentionally tried to destroy her image during her vice presidential run.

In an interview with conservative filmmaker John Ziegler for his new film out this week, Palin said that she believes the media made a decision that `we're going to seek and we're going to destroy this candidacy of Sarah Palin's because of what it is that she represents.'

Washington, Feb 24 : Sir Anthony Hopkins has confessed his love for `American Idol', insisting that he wants to turn the reality show into a movie and star as the show''s sharp-tongued British judge Simon Cowell.

The `Hannibal' star has admitted that he and his family are huge fans of the singing contest, and he would like the opportunity to play Cowell on the big screen.

"We watch American Idol. We are American Idol addicts," Contactmusic quoted him, as telling MTV. com.

"Simon (is my favourite) because he''s so brutally honest. There''s no political correctness with him. He says it as it is," he added.

Cowell''s fellow judge, producer Randy Jackson, has already given the idea the thumbs up.