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Nepal PM says MRP printing being done in India for political reasons

April 5, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Kathmandu, Apr 5 (ANI): Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal on Monday said the government has awarded the contract to print Machine Readable Passports (MRPs) to India for political and diplomatic reasons.

The Kantipur quoted Nepal as saying that vital information would not be leaked as argued by lawmakers while printing the MRPs in the Indian security press.

He also mentioned that the government had failed to move ahead with a decision of the Parliamentary Public Account Committee (PAC) tender process due to time constraints.

The PAC had quizzed Nepal and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sujata Koirala over the government’s decision to award the contract to India in violation of the directives of the PAC.

Earlier, the PAC had directed the Foreign Ministry to call for a fresh tender bid to print MRPs and hand over the contract on the competition basis.

Disregarding the PAC directive, on March 19, the cabinet gave its approval to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to grant the contract to print MRPs to an Indian company.

The government had authorised the Foreign Ministry to hand over the MRPs contract to Indian state-owned Security Printing and Minting Corporations, citing the fast approaching International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) deadline and the cancellation of tender process. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: competition, Government, kantipur, Madhav Kumar, sujata koirala

TASER International Wins Patent Infringement Summary Judgment Against Stinger Systems,…

April 3, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

TASER International Wins Patent Infringement Summary Judgment Against Stinger
Systems, Inc.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., April 2, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TASER International, Inc.
(Nasdaq:TASR) today announced that on March 31, 2010, the United States District
Court for the District of Arizona entered an order for TASER International in
the patent infringement lawsuit filed against Stinger Systems entitled TASER
International, Inc. v. Stinger Systems, Inc. granting TASER’s motion for summary
judgment against Stinger for literal patent infringement of TASER’s U.S. Patent
6,999,295 (“295 Patent”).

The patent infringement claim against Stinger’s S-200 is based on TASER’s patent
on the dual mode “shaped pulse” technology found in the TASER(R) X26(TM),
X3(TM), Shockwave and C2(TM) products. The Court’s ruling found that the
“Flyback Quantum Technology” found in the Stinger S-200 literally infringes
TASER’s ’295 Patent. The Court stated that, “A party is liable for inducing
infringement on a method claim ‘if it sells infringing devices to customers who
use them in a way that directly infringes this method claim.’” The Court
concluded, “Accordingly, TASER has demonstrated that the [Stinger] S-200
embodies every element of claims 2 and 40 and summary judgment concerning
infringement of ’295 patent is warranted.” In a related ruling, the Court
granted Stinger summary judgment on its motion that claim 3 of TASER’s U.S.
Patent 7,102,870 is invalid as obvious.

TASER also filed a complaint in February 2009 in the United States District
Court for the District of Nevada against James F. McNulty, Jr., Robert Gruder,
and Stinger Systems, Inc. alleging securities fraud under 15 U.S.C. §
78j(b), trade libel/defamation, unfair competition in violation of the Lanham
Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a), abuse of process, and deceptive trade practices.
Defendants brought a motion to dismiss this complaint and on March 25, 2010 the
Court denied this motion on all claims except the securities fraud claim.

“We believe the Court’s ruling in this patent infringement lawsuit against
Stinger is a vindication of the important patent rights of TASER International
and a rebuke to competitors who try to copy our protected intellectual
property,” said Doug Klint, President and General Counsel of TASER
International.

In addition, the company announced that four (4) product liability lawsuits
filed against TASER were dismissed in First Quarter 2010.

About TASER International, Inc.

TASER International, Inc. is the global leader in the development of
technologies that Protect Life and Protect Truth. More than 15,000 public
safety agencies in 40 countries rely on TASER electronic control devices (ECDs)
to help protect and serve. TASER innovations benefit individuals and families
too, providing personal protection and accountability while maintaining regard
for life. TASER is committed to bringing advanced solutions to market, like
TASER AXON and EVIDENCE.com — powerful evidence capturing and management
platforms. Learn more about TASER International and its products at
www.TASER.com or by calling (800) 978-2737.

The TASER International logo is available at

http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=2931

Note to Investors

To review the TASER International Safe Harbor Statement, please visit our
Investor Relations Safe Harbor Statement at www.TASER.com/safeharbor.

CONTACT: TASER International, Inc.
Steve Tuttle, Vice President of Communications
Media ONLY Hotline: (480) 444-4000

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Abuse Of Process, alleging, Arizona, company, competition, Deceptive Trade Practices, Flyback, infringement, Infringement Claim, James F Mcnulty, lanham act, Libel Defamation, Motion For Summary Judgment, Patent Infringement Lawsuit, Pulse Technology, Quantum Technology, Robert Gruder, securities fraud, States District Court, Taser International Inc, Tasr, Tm Products, Trade Libel, United States District, X26

Go to the World Cup Final in South Africa with print24

April 3, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Europe`s leading online printing company, print24, is launching a photographic
competition to find the best football fan pictures. A trip to the World Cup
Final in South Africa awaits the winners.
RADEBEUL, Germany–(Business Wire)–
From the beginning of April print24 will be trying to find the best fan pictures
in a photo competition. With the motto “On your cameras, get set, go!” all
friends, couples and football fans are invited to have a go. The wackier,
funnier and more offbeat the picture you send in, the better. The only
conditions for taking part: the photo subjects must be at least 18 years old and
must be wearing a football fan outfit. All photos submitted will be published in
a picture gallery on the print24 blog and the winners will be decided by
readers’ votes.

It`s worth taking part for several reasons: the winners will get a trip for two
people to the soccer World Cup in South Africa. The package includes: 5 days
(8th to 13th July 2010) in Johannesburg in a 5-star hotel, a day trip to Soweto
(South Western Townships) and a thrilling safari in the Kwalata nature reserve
and last but not least, 2 highly sought-after tickets for the World Cup Final.
And as a bonus, print24 is also offering a Samsung NC 10 netbook and a Samsung
ES55 digital camera, if the winners agree to use them to record their travel
experiences. The trip report will then be published by print24 on its online
blog and on the Facebook Fan page. There are also great prizes for 2nd to 5th
place: an original World Cup ball for each.

You can enter the print24 photo competition online until 16th April on:

http://print24.com/blog/2010/04/go-to-the-world-cup-with-print24

As from 19th April anyone visiting the print24 blog can vote on the pictures.
The couple with the most votes by 23:59 on 10th May will be the winners.

print24 is also offering anyone who publicizes the photo competition in forums,
blogs, on Facebook, Twitter etc., with their own contribution on the photo
competition site and comments on this with the relevant link on the print24
blog, the chance to win a World Cup table football game and 9 official World Cup
balls. The winners of these prizes will be decided in a draw.

Companies and private individuals can use www.print24.com to design and order
products such as flyers, visiting cards, writing paper, postcards, posters,
prospectuses, brochures and much more online. The free print24-freedesign
software with countless free design patterns makes it really simple even for
amateurs to come up with their own designs online.

Further information on print24 and its products and services can be found on
www.print24.com.

print24 online on demand Ltd.
Nirooshan Jeevarajah, 0800-5242424
nirooshan.jeevarajah@print24.co.uk

http://print24.com/uk

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: 16th April, Best Football, business wire, competition, day trip, fan page, Football Fan, football fans, Germany Business, Johannesburg, nature reserve, netbook, Photo Competition, Photo Subjects, Photographic Competition, postcards, Printing Company, Samsung, Soccer World Cup, Soweto, star hotel, townships, Trip Report, twitter

South African officials withhold findings of Caster Semenya’s gender test

September 19, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, Sep. 19 (ANI): Even before South African star athlete Caster Semenya’s gender was questioned at the World Championships in Berlin, Athletics South Africa (ASA) had found out and withheld the fact that she had internal testes, an e-mail exchange has revealed.

According to the e-mail exchanges published in the Mail and Guardian newspaper, ASA officials were aware of the findings of a Pretoria clinic that Semenya had internal testes and produced abnormal amounts of testosterone for a woman, Times Online reports.

It was ASA’s chief medical officer and team doctor, Harold Adams, who had suggested the need carrying out the tests on Semenya, 18, because of her deep voice, muscular body and facial hair, which later became a subject of controversy in Berlin.

Another email exchange shows that Adams later suggested that the results to be kept confidential while the South African team was in Berlin.

“Thinking about the current confidential matter, I would suggest we make the following decisions. 1. We get a gynae opinion and take it to Berlin. 2. We do nothing and I will handle these issues if they come up in Berlin,” the report quoted from Dr Adams’ email to ASA President Leonard Chuene and General Manager Molatelo Malehopo, as saying.

Following the IAAF establishing that Semenya was a hermaphrodite, South African officials not only angrily denounced it, but also denied carrying out their own tests.

Taking matters a step further, South African Sports Minister Makhenkesi Stofile lost his temper at a press conference and threatened to start a “third world war” if Semenya was banned from international competition because of her gender.

Earlier, Semenya’s ex-coach Wilfred Daniels had said the ASA had duped Semenya into thinking the gender test carried out on her were routine drug tests. (ANI)

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Flintoff’s ECB contract rejection threatens Test cricket, but he plays it down

September 17, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, Sep.17 (ANI): All-rounder Andrew Flintoff may have unwittingly incited the break-up of international cricket by his refusal of an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) incremental contract, but he has played down reports of a possible backlash.

Flintoff has assured that his rejection of an England increment contract, a second tier deal offered to him because of his retirement from Test cricket, did not lessen his commitment to England. The all-rounder, who is Dubai undergoing rehabilitation after knee surgery, made it clear that he has no intention of missing any England games should they clash with matches in the various Twenty20 franchise competitions he also hopes to be part of.

Although Flintoff has put all negotiations on hold while he recovers he is known to have been in preliminary talks with teams in Australia, where their revamped Twenty20 competition is to be called the Big Bash and South Africa, where the Pro20 is easily the most popular professional cricket in the country.

Sean Morris, the chief executive of the Professional Cricketers’ Association, said yesterday that other players would join Flintoff in rejecting national deals and that there may be a rash of early retirements from international cricket.

“I think there will be a lot of serious discussion in Johannesburg later this month among the parties and between the parties. I can’t overestimate its importance. In the space of a few weeks we have had two leading players withdrawing from components of the international game, Andrew Flintoff from Tests and Ricky Ponting, from Twenty20 internationals,” The Telegraph quoted Morris, as saying.

Flintoff’s move may stimulate more than debate.

England captain Andrew Strauss was mildly surprised by the decision.

“I’m not going to sit in judgement of him because we don’t know the reasons. We need to sit down and speak to him about why he’s done this and we’ll then make an informed decision about what that means to his availability for England,” he said. (ANI)

Filed Under: Sports News Tagged With: all-rounder, andrew flintoff, andrew strauss, ANI, association, Australia, availability, backlash, bash, Big, board, break-up, captain Andrew Strauss, commitment, competition, contract, country, Cricket, Cricketers, deal, debate, decision, discussion, Dubai., ecb, England, england and wales cricket board, england captain, england cricket, England Games, executive, franchise, game, hold, importance, increment, intention, International cricket, international game, Johannesburg, judgement, knee, knee surgery, London, lot, month, morris, move, overestimate, part, ponting, professional, professional cricketers association, rash, refusal, rehabilitation, rejection, retirement, retirements, Ricky Ponting, rounder, Sean Morris, Sep, South Africa, space, surgery, Telegraph, test, test cricket, tests, tier, wales, wales cricket board, yesterday

Study on sheep shows link between personality, survival, and reproductive success

September 17, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, September 16 (ANI): Canadian researchers have established a link between personality, survival, and reproductive success by carrying out a study on male bighorn sheep.

Denis Reale, a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at UQAM and Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Ecology, says that the new study offers insight into personality differences in animals and humans, from an evolutionary perspective.

Since 1969, several teams of researchers have been studying this population of bighorn sheep in Alberta, Canada. They have collected considerable data over the years.

Working in collaboration with researchers from the University of Sherbrooke and the University of Alberta, Reale identified the rams in terms of boldness and docility.

The researchers then conducted paternity tests to determine which rams were reproducing.

They point out that in a system like that of bighorn sheep where there is strong competition among the males for impregnating females, large size and high dominance status are normally key factors in a male’s success.

Males usually attain these conditions in the prime of life, between 6 and 12 years, the researchers say.

However, the paternity tests showed that some young males manage to fertilize females.

The researchers also concentrated on the risk associated with participation in the rut-males can be injured or fall from a cliff in fighting.

Reale and his colleagues hypothesized that the young males that manage to reproduce would be the boldest and most combative, and analysis of the data confirmed it.

However, in exchange for sexual precocity and risk-taking, these rams often die younger than their more docile peers. The latter, instead, invest in the long term, breed later and reach an older age.

Based on their observations, the researchers came to the conclusion that their findings indicate a variation in the personalities and life histories of the population, with two extreme types: one that could be characterised as “live fast and die” and the other as “slow and steady wins the race”.

Depending on their personality, the males managed to breed and to transmit their genes, but in different ways.

The study demonstrates that personality has a direct influence on the lifestyle of individuals.

A research article describing the study has been published in the Journal of Evolutionary Biology. (ANI)

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Oz speed-reader to demystify Dan Brown’s Lost Symbol 2hrs after release

September 15, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Melbourne, September 14 (ANI): Publishers of Dan Brown’s much-anticipated book, ‘The Lost Symbol,’ will host speed reading competition during its launch in Australia.

The person who ends reading the book fastest will be provided with an opportunity to give its first review.

Speculations are high on the closely-guarded plot, which is believed to focus on the Freemasons.

Publisher Random House will provide a copy of the book at the State Library of NSW the moment it is released.

It is expected that the first person should complete reading in two hours.

After which the reader will give a review to public and press.

“Millions of Australians have enjoyed the pure adrenalin thrill of Dan Brown’s novels, coupled with their fascinating historical insights,” News.com.au quoted Margie Seale, managing director of Random House Australia, as saying in a statement.

The publishers anticipate that the book will match 81 million copies of The Da Vinci Code sold around the world. (ANI)

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South Africa Sports Minister warns of World War III over Semanya

September 12, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, Sep 12 (ANI): The South African government has threatened a “third world war” if the International Association of Athletics Federation bans champion runner Caster Semenya over a test that shows her to be a hermaphrodite, a person with both female and male sexual characteristics.

The IAAF commissioned a gender test on the teenager after her performance levels improved remarkably in the build-up to the competition.

The leaked report that a gender verification test had found the 18 year-old to be a hermaphrodite with no womb was greeted with outrage in South Africa on Friday, with politicians, sports officials and Semenya’s relatives decrying the teenager’s public humiliation.

On Friday the IAAF attempted to diffuse the controversy by refusing to confirm the medical reports, insisting that it would make official comment until after the test results had been verified by a panel of scientific experts.

But the prospect of the teenager being disqualified from future female races drew a furious response from South African Sports Minister Makhenkesi Stofile, The Telegraph reports.

“I think it would be the third world war. We will go to the highest levels in contesting such a decision.She’s a woman, she remains our heroine. We must protect her,” he said.

Semenya was due to run in a 4km race at the national cross-country championships in Pretoria on Saturday, but was withdrawn by her coach Michael Seme on the grounds that she was “not feeling well”.

The IAAF is expected to disqualify the South African from future events and advise her to have surgery because her condition carries grave health risks, The Daily Telegraph report claims.

A source closely involved with the IAAF tests said Semenya had internal testes-the male sexual organs, which produce testosterone.

“There certainly is evidence Semenya is a hermaphrodite. But the trouble is the IAAF now has the whole ANC and the whole of South Africa on their backs. Everything is going to have to be done absolutely by the book, no question of a challenge to the findings,” the source said. (ANI)

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Song birds have to deal with cover artists too

September 10, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, Sep 9 (ANI): Just like great singers among humans, birds too have to deal with cover artists who copy songs.

A new research has revealed that some bird species have evolved to sing the same tune as their rivals, in order to compete effectively.

Led by Dr. Joseph Tobias and Dr Nathalie Seddon from the Edward Grey Institute, University of Oxford, the research team analysed the calls and songs of two antbird species that were living side-by-side in the Amazon rainforest- the Peruvian warbling-antbird and the yellow-breasted warbling-antbird.

The study was aimed at investigating their similar songs, and, in particular, at testing the theory that the birds’ songs could become increasingly similar to enable effective communication between competing species.

The above notion has attracted controversy as many scientists have argued that convergence in territorial or mating signals results in needless confrontation or crossbreeding and the creation of hybrids.

“Biologists have long been fascinated by convergence in ecological traits as it offers tangible evidence of evolution and the forces of selection by which it operates, but until now there is no clear evidence that social competition between animal species can produce convergent signals. We examined this idea by analysing the structure and function of songs in two birds which we knew to be strong social competitors,” said Tobias.

The researchers studied the species in Peru and Bolivia at one site where they lived together, and two sites where they lived in isolation.

Firstly, they recorded three sets of signals-songs, calls, and plumage colour of both species (including a total of 504 songs from 150 individuals).

Later, they played them back to individuals of each species to test the significance of songs of both types.

The results showed that territorial songs of both species were extremely similar particularly where they lived together, such that territorial birds treated songs of both species as equally threatening.

In the meantime, they discovered that non-territorial signals like calls and plumage were highly divergent.

“In effect, the territorial songs of these birds are more or less interchangeable in design and function. Given that they last shared a common ancestor more than 3 million years ago, it is almost equivalent to humans and chimpanzees – which diverged around 5 million years ago – using the same language to settle disputes over resources” said Tobias.

“Our results provide the first compelling evidence that social interaction can cause convergent evolution in species competing for space and resources.

They also suggest that while competition drives convergence in territorial songs, this is offset by divergence in non-competitive signals such as plumage colour to promote species recognition and reduce the chance of interbreeding,” he added.

The study has been published in Evolution.(ANI)

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Promoting kids’ talent for music in Nagaland

September 8, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Kohima (Nagaland), Sep 7(ANI): With an aim to promote the inherent musical talent of Nagaland, a musical competition was organized in the State.

The theme of the competition was ‘Discovering talents to a higher level’ and was organized by Pheto Music Association, an initiative by music enthusiast Kasheto Kiba.

Kiba had started the musical competition way back in 2007 to encourage young talent from the age group of 9 to 15 years and this year twelve participants mesmerized the audience with their favorite songs in one of its auditions at State Academy Hall in Kohima.

“I believe that kids for fame would bring peace in our land. Through this entertainment, many talented youth will be promoted not only in Nagaland but I believe they will go further even in national and international level. We are trying our best to help out in such a way that our kids will be promoted and we have this vision that one day our kids will definitely benefit themselves through singing and hope they will bring great change in our society,” Kiba said.

This was a fabulous opportunity for students to showcase their talent.

“I am grateful to the organizers for giving me this platform to expose my talent to the people,” said Tumchobeni Tsopoe, a participant.

The winner will be awarded a cash prize of Rs.2 lakhs in addition to a one-year educational scholarship and music training at Hope Centre in Dimapur.

Nagaland is rich in talent and if given proper opportunity there is no doubt that the state can produce musicians of international repute in the times to come. By Vibhou Ganguly (ANI)

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Assam football club creates swine flu awareness

September 6, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Guwahati, Sep 5(ANI): With numerous cases of swine flu being detected in different parts of northeast, a local football club in Assam’s Guwahati city has taken up an initiative to create mass awareness about the deadly H1N1 virus through a football tournament.

In a tournament sponsored by Udyan Kristi Sangha, the Rainbow XI Club played the game wearing facemasks with an aim to create awareness about Swine Flu among the villagers, who have little knowledge about the disease.

“We are wearing mask and playing football to create awareness about swine flu among the villagers, so that they can be vigil and take necessary precautionary measures,” said Monoj Basumatary, a Rainbow Club player.

While, T. Medhi, a member of the organising committee, said: “Swine Flu is spreading and in this regard, the club from Odalbakra has done a fine job in creating awareness about the swine flu.”

In the first case of swine flu reported from the northeastern states, a 19-year-old Manipuri woman fencer who returned from a competition in Singapore tested positive for the disease.

While in Meghalaya, five persons have already tested positive for the H1N1 virus and in Assam, a law student who recently came to Guwahati also tested positive.

Authorities in the northeastern region have taken precautionary measures against the spread of swine flu. By Peter Alex Todd(ANI)

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Axing 50-over cricket to affect England’s World Cup campaigns: Strauss

September 5, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Melbourne, Sep 5 (ANI): England skipper Andrew Strauss has warned that banishing 50-over cricket from the country’s domestic schedule could have dire consequences for the team’s World Cup campaigns.

The England and Wales cricket board decided to axe 50-over cricket for a shortened 40-over format from next season.

Strauss said domestic cricket should mirror internationals, and believes one-dayers will survive in the face of mounting pressure from Twenty20s.

“Forty-over cricket is not radically different from 50-over cricket, but it just seems sensible to me that if you’re playing 50-over cricket internationally and your domestic scene is a way of preparing people for international cricket, you should be playing the same game,” The Age quoted Strauss, as saying.

“At the moment, there is a future to 50-over cricket. There are no plans that I’ve heard of to get rid of it. My personal view is that domestic cricket should mirror international cricket, so in that respect, playing 40-over cricket is not ideal,” he added.

South Africa had already reduced its domestic competition to 45 overs, and when the England and Wales Cricket Board voted last week to eradicate the 50-over game it was received as a further nail in the coffin for one-day internationals, which have struggled for identity and prominence in an increasingly crowded schedule. (ANI)

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Jo Wood taking tips from Mick Jagger to win ‘Strictly Come Dancing’

September 4, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, Sep 4 (ANI): Jo Wood, who is participating in ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, is getting performance tips from none other than Mick Jagger for winning the show.

The ex-model has been chasing her ex-hubby Ronnie Wood’s flamboyant bandmate for advice on how to shine in the contest.

It is believed that Jo, 53, is ultra-competitive and wants to gain an advantage over her younger rivals, such as The Bill’s Ali Bastian and ex-EastEnder Natalie Cassidy, both 26.

“Jo’s been after some performance tips from Mick Jagger,” the Sun quoted a BBC1 insider as saying.

“She knows that he’s got lots of experience as a showman and she really wants to make sure she dazzles in the competition.

“So who better than the Rolling Stones’ frontman for some advice? The pair are pals and she’s really keen to do her best on Strictly,” added the insider.

Jo, paired with hunk Brendan Cole, has been working very hard and practising the dances for hours on end, which has left her with painful feet.

The mum of four was married to Stones guitarist Ronnie, 62 and has admitted she would never have got the chance to take part in the show if not for the split.

And now she wants to prove that she can stand on her own two feet by winning the show. (ANI)

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Keen contest expected at One Day tri-series cricket in Sri Lanka

September 1, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Bangalore, Sep 1 (ANI): Former New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming has said that the upcoming One Day tri-series in Sri Lanka would see a tough competition.

The series in Sri Lanka, which also involves New Zealand and India, will be held from September 8-14.

The hosts are upbeat after clinching a recent two match test series over Kiwis 2-0.

“Well I think Sri Lanka is a decent side…this series is going to be great…India is of course a good one day side, New Zealand have been in one day format. So, Kiwis are the underdogs…” Fleming told reporters here on Monday.

India earlier this month declared the squad for the Sri Lanka tri-series followed by the Champions Trophy, recalling Rahul Dravid and leaving out explosive batsman Virender Sehwag due to his shoulder surgery.

The former captain, Dravid’s last one-day international appearance came in October 2007 before selectors opted for a more youthful side with an eye on the 2011 World Cup.

Indian selectors hope Dravid will bolster the batting in the Champions Trophy on pacy South African pitches. A young Indian batting unit struggled against short-pitched bowling at the Twenty20 World Cup in England in June.

Sachin Tendulkar returned to the frame after opting out of the one-day series in the West Indies, which the tourists won 2-1 last month. (ANI)

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Mickey Mouse in $4 billion embrace with Spider-Man

September 1, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, Sept 1 (ANI): The world of animation entertainment is all set to become much bigger as Walt Disney buys Marvel Entertainment in a 4-billion dollar deal.

After the deal is sealed, Disney will be the owner of 5,000 Marvel characters, including superheroes like Spider-Man and the X-Men.

Shareholders of Marvel will receive 30 dollars per share in cash along with 0.745 Disney shares for every Marvel share they own.

The board of directors of both the entertainment companies have approved the deal, which will be inked after the support of Marvel’s shareholders and competition authorities.

The BBC quoted Robert Iger, Disney president and chief executive as saying: “We believe that adding Marvel to Disney’s unique portfolio of brands provides significant opportunities for long-term growth and value creation.”

“We are pleased to bring this talent and these great assets to Disney.”

He added: “Disney is the perfect home for Marvel’s fantastic library of characters given its proven ability to expand content creation and licensing businesses,” said Marvel chief executive Ike Perlmutter.

“This is an unparalleled opportunity for Marvel to build upon its vibrant brand and character properties by accessing Disney’s tremendous global organization and infrastructure around the world.”

Business analysts say the deal is “win-win situation for both companies”. (ANI)

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Ronaldo’s insatiable appetite for major Championship League titles

August 29, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Madrid, Aug 28(ANI): Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo reckons that while the Champions League is the biggest tournament to win in all club competitions, he also dreams of winning the Spanish League.

“I have always admired the Spanish league and dream of winning it one day. When I retire I want to look back and say that I have won both English and Spanish titles, the Champions League and hopefully more international titles,” The Sun quoted Ronaldo, as saying.

Ronaldo also said that he is ready to make up for his last season’s Champions League heartbreak with Manchester United by winning the competition this season with Real Madrid.

“Football doesn’t always go as you would like, but it does still bother me that we lost that game,” Ronaldo said.

“The only thing I am not happy about in my final year was that we could not win the Champions League final again, but I did all I could for Manchester United,” he added.

Ronaldo further said that Barcelona were a force last season and they won the Champions League as they exploited their chances.

“You have to respect Barcelona because they won three big titles last season and that says a lot about their strength, but I don’t think they were better than us (Man U). They were just more efficient when they got their chances,” he said. (ANI)

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Muralitharan to play Twenty20 cricket for Queensland Bushrangers

August 27, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Melbourne, Aug.27 (ANI): Champion Sri Lankan off-spinner Muthiah Muralitharan will join West Indian Dwayne Bravo as the Queensland Bushranger’s second international recruit for the national Twenty20 competition.

While both players are not eligible to play in October’s Champions League international Twenty20 tournament and are committed only for this season’s month-long Big Bash, they would be eligible to turn out at next year’s Champions League if the team qualifies, reports Fox Sports.

In addition, the 37-year-old off-spinner could reshape Victoria’s Twenty20 bowling attack, which in recent seasons has been well-served by the likes of pacers Dirk Nannes, Shane Harwood and Clint McKay.

“It could be an all-spin attack, because really we’ve got [Brad] Hodge and [David] Hussey, [Cameron] White, Murali and also [Jon] Holland and [Bryce] McGain,” coach Greg Shipperd said.

The Bushrangers have also overcome the loss of long-time major sponsor Carlton and United Breweries with a three-year agreement with Dubai-focused property developer Dheeraj and East Coast (DEC). (ANI)

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Pressmart Indonesia Print Media Awards launched

August 25, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Indonesia, Aug 24 (ANI/Business Wire India): Pressmart Media Ltd, (www.pressmart.com), a global leader in the digital publishing and delivery solutions, today announced the launch of “Pressmart-Indonesia Print Media Awards (IPMA)” in a bid to recognize the best publishing houses in Indonesia over the calendar year 2009, just after associating with the magazine publishers in Singapore, for its awards as the lead sponsor.

IPMA will be conferred annually starting February, 2010, is the exciting new competition created to promote magazines, tabloids and newspapers – both in print and digital and also encourage the publishing industry in Indonesia.

The Indonesian leading newspaper publisher’s association, Serikat Penerbit Suratkabar (SPS) Pusat will host the Pressmart-Indonesia Print Media Awards.

The nominations are open to the registered members of the SPS and all other publications in Indonesia. IPMA finalist entries will be put in front of jury members led by Pressmart, SPS and highly reputed industry experts from India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.

SPS Chairman, Dahlan Iskan said: “The Pressmart-Indonesia Print Media Awards are unique in recognizing excellence, innovation and outstanding creative output throughout the print media supply chain. These awards will set new benchmarks, bring new insights and most importantly be an ideal learning opportunity for publishing houses to succeed in today’s uncertain economy.”

“We are delighted to launch the first of its kind publishing awards in Indonesia,” said Sanjiv Gupta, Chairman and CEO of Pressmart.

“Most importantly, we want to recognize all of these inspirational print media houses and encourage the publishing industry in Indonesia for the amazing work that they do,” added Gupta. (ANI)

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Female fruit flies prefer keeping sex short to get a reproductive boost

August 22, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, August 22 (ANI): A new study has shown that female fruit flies prefer keeping sex short and sweet because they get a reproductive boost from shorter intercourse.

Since males like sex to last longer, a fight ensues.

“After about a minute and a half (of mating), the female begins kicking and struggling,” National Geographic News quoted Kirsten Klappert, of the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, as having written in the study report.

The researcher notes that when mating lasts longer, female flies have less time to mate again with a different male, if they do so at all.

Although that is good for males flies, as it means that their sperm have less competition, it can be disastrous for females.

“Many male Drosophila montana are infertile, so if you only mate with one you have a high risk of no offspring at all,” Klappert said.

During the study, Klappert’s team paired live males with dead females to see how much control female flies have over mating length.

The dead insects were propped up to convince the males that they were still alive, and ready for sex, said the researchers.

The team observed that male flies’ sex with the dead insects lasted 1.5 times longer than it did with live females.

This finding does attain significance because scientists at other institutions believe that humans can relate to the female fruit fly’s desires.

Rhonda Snook, a senior lecturer at the University of Sheffield in England who studies sexual selection and reproductive behaviour in fruit flies, said: “I don’t know you could say human females want longer copulation, per se. It’s really the foreplay, not the actual act of copulation. In the insects, prior to that, there’s courtship going on, and that’s like foreplay in humans.”

A research article describing Klappert’s study has been published in the journal BMC Evolutionary Biology. (ANI)

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Early goal by Lebanese striker mellows India in Nehru Cup starter

August 20, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Aug 20 (ANI): The fifth minute goal by Lebaneon made it tough for India to bounce back into Nehru Cup starter, Indian football coach Bob Houghton after losing 0-1 to Lebanon said on Wednesday.

Talking to reporters here after losing 0-1 to Lebanon, Houghton said, “It was overall quite a good performance. The first goal early on was a massive set back. It took us a while for us to actually get over that. But I thought the last 20 minutes of the first half and in the second half we were quite dominant. But you know it was always going to be difficult to score goals on the outfield out there.”

Lebanon defender Ali Al Saad fired in a low, curling free kick from 22 yards following a foul by N.P. Pradeep in the fourth minute as Lebanon started at a furious pace to rattle defending champions India.

The hosts went close a few times on either half but Lebanon, clearly the better side, tightened their defence and used quick counter-attacks to keep the hosts from mounting sustained pressure.

The Lebanese coach Emile Rustom said that the uneven surface and coarse grass made it tough for them to play to their potential.

“It will be very hard to play on this ground. The grass should have been cut before this game. We suffered a lot because of the temperature and our opponents also,” said Rustom.

India hopes to come up with a far more clinical performance in their next three games.

Kyrgyzstan face Syria in the next game of the round robin competition on Thursday.

Syria, Lebanon, Kyrgyzstan, Sri Lanka and India feature in the August 19 to 31 tournament, being organised mainly to prepare the hosts for the 2011 Asian Cup in Qatar. (ANI)

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