DUBAI HOTEL PARTY

PARTYING like there's no tomorrow, the wealthy and glamorous gathered in Dubai for a credit crunch-defying, £20 million celebration of the opening of the world's most expensive hotel.
More than 2,000 guests attended, among them Robert de Niro, Michael Jordan and Charlize Theron, to hear Kylie Minogue perform a medley of her hits for which she received £1.5 million, or £33,333 a minute.
Kylie sang 10 songs as guests ate lobster, salmon, sushi, lamb, chicken and salads.
Her performance was followed by a £7 million fireworks display, said to be so spectacular it was visible from space.
Even Sol Kerzner, the South African businessman behind the £1 billion Atlantis Hotel and resort on the man-made Palm Island appeared faintly embarrassed at the sheer excess - and cost - of last night's party.
"If I had to do it all over again, I might do it recognising the fact that we're living through a bit of a tough economic environment," said Mr Kerzner.
He added: "We don't know how long it's going to take for the economy around the world to take off again. The economy is such that it is going to be challenging right here.
"You just cannot raise any finance. But I am trying to avoid being badly affected