Natural History Museum bets on discovery of Loch Ness monster

London, Sept 14 (ANI): London’s Natural History Museum has inked a deal with bookmakers William Hill, which will see the mythical Loch Ness monster go on public display – if it is ever caught.

The Loch Ness Monster is a creature believed to inhabit Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. It is similar to other supposed lake monsters in Scotland.

The museum has secured the rights to showcase Nessie’s remains, if the monster is ever caught.

According to the archive documents, under the 1987 deal William Hill will pay the museum an annual fee on return for the guarantee its experts will provide “positive identification” of the elusive creature.

The agreement also covers the Yeti or Abominable Snowman, another mythological creature and an ape-like cryptid said to inhabit the Himalayan region of Nepal and Tibet.

The bookmaker currently offers odds of 500/1 on the existence of the Loch Ness monster being proved within a year and 200/1 for the Yeti.

“We have maintained our relationship with the Natural History Museum and are delighted to do so,” the Telegraph quoted Graham Sharpe, spokesman for William Hill, as saying.

“As we rely on the Met Office to rule on white Christmases, we are dependent on the museum to tell us whether any carcass that may emerge from the loch is a haddock, or a previously unknown creature from the deep,” he added. (ANI)

Manchester City not in 47-mn pounds deal for Tevez

London, Sep 12 (ANI): No deal was struck with Manchester City to pay a British record transfer fee of 47 million pounds for Carlos Tevez to MSI, the company fronted by Kia Joorabchian which owned the player before his move to City.

A spokesman for Kia Joorabchian last night denied that Manchester City had struck a deal to pay 47 million pounds for Tevez to MSI.

A report last night alleged that City had agreed to pay 47 million pounds for the Argentine forward, as opposed to 25.5 million pounds, the figure widely reported as the fee City paid to lure him from Manchester United.

“It’s not true,” a spokesman for Joorabchain said of the 47 million pounds figure. The spokesman said that he expected Joorabchian, and possibly City, to issue a formal denial today.

Rumours have circulated for several weeks that City had agreed to pay considerably more for Tevez than the 25.5 million pounds reported at the time of his move, The Independent reports.

Last night’s reports suggested that City had agreed to an initial 15 million pounds payment for Tevez, with two 16 million pounds payments to come.

If City did agree to pay 47 million pounds for Tevez, as alleged last night, that figure would smash the British record of 32.5 million pounds that City paid in 2008 for Robinho.

It would cast fresh light on the magnitude of the ambitions of City’s Middle Eastern owners, and on their willingness to pay massive sums for players, the paper reports. (ANI)

Lover of collapsed MG Rover director paid 1.7-mn pounds for a year’s work

London, Sep 12 (ANI): MG Rover’s director paid his lover 1.7 million pounds for a year’s work, according to a report on the collapse of the car manufacturing giant.

In May 2000, the Phoenix consortium-John Towers, Nick Stephenson, Peter Beale and John Edwards-acquired the business for a nominal 10 pounds from BMW.

BMW ensured that MG Rover could survive for a few years. But from the outset, it was clear that it had no long-term future unless it could find a substantial business partner within the motor industry.

The report into the demise of the giant compiled by Gervase MacGregor, a partner at the accountants BDO Stoy Hayward, and the barrister Guy Newey QC condemns the consortium which made a fortune out of the collapsed car maker, The Independent reports.

They reported that the four directors supplied inaccurate and misleading information about Rover’s finances to MPs, and singled out evidence Beale gave to the Commons trade and industry select committee.

They expressed concern over the plainly excessive fee of almost 1.7 million pounds paid to Dr Qu Li for advice she gave the Phoenix management about potential business partners in China.

For some of the time Dr Li was paid by Rover, she and Stephenson were having an affair. The report protested about the poor “corporate governance” of the Phoenix team: some board members were not invited to several board meetings and inaccurate minutes were taken of discussions.

Despite the failure of MG Rover between 2000 and 2005, the Phoenix Four continued to pay themselves generously right up to the group’s demise in 2005.

Towers, who led the buyout, was paid 8.96 million pounds, Stephenson 8.98 million pounds and Edwards received 9.02 million pounds. Beale, who is accused of misleading the parliamentary inquiry into the company’s collapse, was paid 8.98 million pounds over the four years, while Howe pocketed 5.71 million pounds.

The report cleared ministers of blame for MG Rover’s demise. (ANI)

Musharraf may meet Obama in October during US ‘lecture tour’

Islamabad, Sep.9 (ANI): Former Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf may meet President Barack Obama in October, when he visits the United States for a lecture tour.

According to Musharraf’s lawyer, Chaudhry Fawwad, the former general will be arriving in Washington on September 14 for his 40-day US trip.

Musharraf is being paid a whopping fee of 300,000 dollars per lecture to various American think tanks and other institutions, Fawwad said.

Only former US president Bill Clinton is being paid as much for delivering a lecture and nobody else is being paid more than this amount,” PKonweb quoted Fawwad, as saying.

Musharraf is expected to deliver lectures in 17 American states during his tour. (ANI)

Former cricketer Tufnell set to spin his pins on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’

London, Aug 21(ANI): English television personality and former cricketer Phil Tufnell has signed up to appear in a television show called ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, which features celebrities with professional dance partners competing in Ballroom and Latin dances.

The former spin-bowler is already in training for the BBC1 ballroom hit after agreeing to a fee of around 30,000 pounds.

“Phil is as fit as a fiddle so he’s a perfect signing. He’s also a massive Strictly fan and has been to watch the show several times in previous series,” The Sun quoted a show source, as saying.he 43-year-old had retired from professional cricket before the 2003 season in order to participate in the reality television show ‘I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!’.

The telly favourite will find out today which pro dancer he will partner in the series kicking off next month. (ANI)

DIET CET 2009 ~ 2009 DIET CET ~ 2009 Andhra Pradesh DIET CET ~ DIET CET 2009 Counseling ~ Andhra Pradesh DIET CET 2009 Counseling ~ Andhra Pradesh DIET CET 2009

DIET CET 2009 ~ 2009 DIET CET ~ 2009 Andhra Pradesh DIET CET ~ DIET CET 2009 Counseling ~ Andhra Pradesh DIET CET 2009 Counseling ~ Andhra Pradesh DIET CET 2009

DIET CET-2009 are informed to the qualified candidates to attend the counseling for admission into Govt. DIETs / Private Elementary Teacher Training Colleges for the year 2009-2011. Counseling Fee Rs.200/- and Registration Fee Rs.100/- for each candidate.

Give the Address below – Wesley Girls High School,

Opp Keys High School,

Near Secunderabad Railway Station.

The candidates should produce all the Certificates :

1) DIETCET-2009 Rank card & Hall Ticket

2) Pass Certificate

3) Date of Birth Certificate

4) Study Certificates

5) Integrated Community Certificate

6) Income Certificate of Parents

7) Residence Certificate

8 ) Transfer Certificate

Now, a website to help dads read bedtime tales to kids even when not around

Melbourne July 12 (ANI): Fathers who fear not being able to get home at time to read their kids bedtime stories can sigh in relief for a new website offers them the chance to do so with remote reading.

British website FiveDads.com prompts fathers to read one of 15 popular stories into their computer’s microphone for a fee of about 10 dollars.

Hi-tech software then records the voice of fathers reading a story along with addition features such as music and sound effects.

The audio file is then emailed to the child.

Audio editor Chris Coombs came up with the idea for his daughter when he had to shift to Canada after the New York terror attacks.

“We realised we could be providing something for people to make a connection with their kids that otherwise they could never have,” News.com.au quoted him as saying.

But relationship experts seemed less convinced, saying the alternative could not take the place of the traditional story telling techniques.

Newcastle University families and fathers research program leader Dr Richard Fletcher said: “Reading involves a whole lot of relationship building, that is why it is important. It is not just because that is a way children build up their word skills and language functionality.”

He added: “But you wouldn’t mix up the effect of sitting physically reading with your child to getting an email about it. We want dads to read to kids so that they become a part of that world that children inhabit.” (ANI)

Job Mela ~ JNTU Job Mela ~ Job Fair in Hyderabad ~ Hyderabad Jobs Fair ~ JNTU Hyderabad Job Fair ~ Hyderabad Job Fair ~ 11th July 2009

Job Mela ~ JNTU Job Mela ~ Job Fair in Hyderabad ~ Hyderabad Jobs Fair ~ JNTU Hyderabad Job Fair ~ Hyderabad Job Fair ~ 11th July 2009

The Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU) in association with the Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education is going to conduct its first Career Awareness and Recruitment Drive (CARD) programme on its premises at Kukatpally on July 11.

D.N Reddy, vice-chancellor, JNTU said, “Only graduates, including B.E (or) B.Tech and MBA, MCA post graduates from different universities in the State are eligible for registration.”

Interested candidates can enroll their names by paying Rs.10 as registration fee on Saturday from 9.30 a.m. onwards.

Three registration counters have been set up at Academic Staff College, School of IT and College of Engineering in university premises.

Candidates are advised to carry minimum of ten resume copies, passport size photographs and true copies of marksheets and other certificates.

No proposal to privatize Air India and Airport Authority: Patel

New Delhi, July 9 (ANI): Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel ruled out disinvestments of Air India (AI) and Airport Authority of India (AAI).

Replying to a question in the Lok Sabha, Patel said there is no such proposal before the government and also said that the government is not considering Initial Public Offer (IPO) at this stage.

For the members demand to roll back the development fee collected by the privatized airports, Patel said the government had constituted Airport Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) entrusted with the responsibility of deciding on the issue.

Members suggested that partners should develop airports from their own funds and once they complete the works, they could charge development fees.

The Delhi and Mumbai airports were charging development fees from passengers against whom the Resources of Aviation Redressal

Association (ROAR) had protested, but there was no protest in this regard from International Air Transport Authority (IATA). ROAR has filed a writ petition in the Delhi High Court on the matter, Patel informed the house.

Patel informed that out of the total cost of around Rs 9,000 crore, about Rs 5,500 crore has already been spent and the AAI had taken up development work on Chennai and Kolkata airports.

Replying to another question, Patel said there was no shortage of pilots in the country and the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Uran Academy (IGRUA) has been modernized to increase its annual capacity from 40 to 100 candidates.

A world-class flying training institute at Gondia in Maharashtra has been set up with capacity to train 110 candidates annually, including 10 for Commercial Helicopter Pilot, Patel informed the house.

Patel said the government was supporting other flying clubs by providing trainer aircraft through Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Aero-Club of India (ACI).

Patel assured the house that congestion in air traffic in Delhi would be considerably reduced and the taxiing time for aircraft brought down once the new terminal under construction became operational in 2010. (ANI)

Liverpool signs up Gerrard for 26 m pounds

London, July 9 (ANI): Liverpool FC skipper Steven Ggerrard has agreed to continue with the club till 2013 for a contract fee of 26 million pounds.

According to The Sun, Gerrard has insisted this will be his last deal and is seriously considering quitting at 33. “I”ll be 33 at the end of my contract and it”s doubtful whether I”ll carry on. If I decide to stop, I will be proud of the fact I”ve spent my entire career with the same club,” The Sun quoted Gerrard, as saying.

The Anfield skipper has insisted on his conviction of having a Premier League winners” medal by then.

“I thought about leaving Liverpool twice, especially in 2005 when Chelsea was a temptation. I”m glad I never did. If we don”t win the title this year, it”ll be the next, or the year after and that will be the greatest moment of my career,” he added. (ANI)

How practice improves zebra finch’s singing performance

Washington, July 7 (ANI): A study on zebra finches conducted by neuroscientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has shed some light on how practice improves performance.

The researchers say that studying the chirps of zebra finches helped them determine that as these tiny songbirds fine-tune their songs, their brains initially store improvements in one brain pathway, before transferring this learned information to the motor pathway for long-term storage.

They believe that their findings may further scientists’ understanding of the complicated circuitry of the basal ganglia, brain structures that play a key role in learning and habit formation in humans.

The basal ganglia are also linked to disorders like Parkinson’s disease, obsessive-compulsive disorder and drug addiction.

“Birds provide a great system to study the fundamental mechanisms of how the basal ganglia contributes to learning. Our results support the idea that the basal ganglia are the gateway through which newly acquired information affects our actions,” said senior author Michale Fee, an investigator in the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT.

The researchers point out that young zebra finches learn to sing by mimicking their fathers, whose song contains multiple syllables in a particular sequence.

Like the babbling of human babies, young birds initially produce a disorganized stream of tones, but after practicing thousands of times they master the syllables and rhythms of their father’s song.

Studies conducted in the past have identified two distinct brain circuits that contribute to this behaviour in zebra flinches.

A motor pathway is responsible for producing the song, and a separate pathway is essential for learning to imitate the father. The learning pathway, called the anterior forebrain pathway (AFP), has similarities to basal ganglia circuits in humans.

“For this study, we wanted to know how these two pathways work together as the bird is learning. So we trained the birds to learn a new variation in their song and then we inactivated the AFP circuit to see how it was contributing to the learning,” said first author Aaron Andalman, a graduate student in Fee’s lab.

With a view to training the birds, the research team monitored their singing and delivered white noise whenever a bird sang a particular syllable at a lower pitch than usual.

“The bird hears this unexpected noise, thinks it made a ‘mistake’, and on future attempts gradually adjusts the pitch of that syllable upward to avoid repeating that error. Over many days we can train the bird to move the pitch of the syllable up and down the musical scale,” Fee said.

On a particular day, after four hours of training in which the birds learned to raise the pitch, the researchers temporarily inactivated the AFP with a drug. The pitch immediately slipped back to where it had been at the start of that day’s training session – suggesting that the recently learned changes were stored within the AFP.

The research group, however, observed that over the course of 24 hours, the brain had transferred the newly learned information from the AFP to the motor pathway. The motor pathway was storing all of the accumulated pitch changes from previous training sessions. (ANI)

Punjabi University reschedules interviews

Punjabi University reschedules interviews

Patiala Punjabi University, Patiala, has revised its schedule for interviews, aptitude tests and last dates for accepting applications for its various courses.

M S Saini, Dean, Academic Affairs, said the interviews for admission to various university departments, which were earlier scheduled to be held on July 8, 9 and 10, will now be held on July 14 and 15. According to a university press release, admission to various courses offered at regional centers and university campuses at Bathinda, Talwandi Sabo, Malerkotla, Jhunir, Sardulgarh, Karandi, Dehla Seehan, Ralla Mansa, Rampura Phul, Maur and Jaiton will be held on July 16 instead of July 10.

Saini said the interviews for applicants under sports quota and cultural activities quota will now be held on July 20 and 21, respectively. The Aptitude Tests for the B Tech in television, film production and media technology and PG Diploma in audio-visual production courses, which were slated for July 9 and 10, will now be held on July 15 and 16, respectively, the dean (Academic Affairs) added.

The aptitude test for M A Part-I, Semester- I of Journalism and Mass Communication, M A (Theatre and Television), and M A (Dance) will be held on July 14. The timings and venues of all the tests, however, will remain the same. The physical efficiency test for Masters in Physical Education Part-I and Semester-I will be held on July 14 from 9 am to 4 pm.

The last date for submitting the application forms for admission to various courses has also been extended from July 7 to July 13 with a late fee of Rs 1,000 and Rs 2,000 on the day of interviews, Saini said.

Source –

http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/punjabi-university-reschedules-interviews/485473/

Real steal French striker Benzema from Man U

Madrid (Spain), July 2 (ANI): Manchester United have been dealt another bitter blow by Real Madrid, as the Spaniards signed Lyon star Karim Benzema for 30-million pounds.

According to Sun Sport, the French striker Benzema was the man Man U boss Alex Ferguson wanted to replace Carlos Tevez.

But free-spending Real president Florentino Perez nabbed the ace to leave Fergie reeling.

Benzema, 22, is one of the hottest strikers in European football and had attracted interest from Chelsea, Arsenal, Barcelona and AC Milan.

He became Madrid’s fourth signing so far this summer after the capture of Ronaldo, Kaka and Raul Albiol.

Benzema will sign a six-year deal worth about 100,000-pounds a week, with the fee possibly hitting 35.2 million pounds with bonuses.

A statement from the Bernabeu giants said: “Real Madrid and Lyon have reached an agreement for the transfer of Karim Benzema, which will be effective after the player’s medical and the signing of the contract.”

Benzema’s move means Real are no longer in the market for Spanish international striker David Villa. (ANI)

Eto’o greed for more puts a question mark on his move to City

London, June 30 (ANI): Cameroon’s star striker Samuel Eto’o's greed for more than 250,000 pound a week has put a question mark on his 25 million pound move to Manchester City. The deal is in danger of collapsing.

The Cameroon footballer is set to become the highest-paid player in the world by pocketing 250,000 pound a week for the next four years if he joins City.

But he is demanding a 12.5 million pound signing-on fee and that could scupper the deal at the last minute.

Eto’o's agent Josep Maria Mesalles said: “If there is not a 180-degree turnaround, then he will stay with Barcelona.”

Catalan giants Barca were ready to let their star striker go for a cut-price fee because he only has one year left on his contract, The Sun reports.

President Joan Laporta appeared resigned to losing Eto’o on Sunday when he revealed that the hit man has a stratospheric offer from City.

Eto’o believes he is entitled to pocket the extra cash because of the way Barcelona seem to be driving him out of the Nou Camp.

Eto’o is not prepared to miss out on the huge signing-on fee he could expect if he saw out his contract and signed for a club of his choosing next year, and is therefore, asking for that money now.

It is unclear whether that cash would come out of the fee City cough up or whether the Arab owners of the Eastlands club will be forced to shell out more money.

Meanwhile, City’s Brazilian star Elano is demanding showdown talks with boss Mark Hughes when he returns from holiday after Confederations Cup duty. And it is almost certain they will end with the 28-year-old being told he can go, with Inter Milan keen on signing him. (ANI)

ICC rejects PCB’s proposal of hosting 2011 World Cup matches on neutral venue

London, June 26 (ANI): The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rejected the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) request to stage its share of 2011 World Cup matches at neutral venues such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The ICC has decided that the 14 matches, which were allotted to Pakistan earlier, would now be shared between the other three host nations India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.

he ICC president David Morgan said that the apex authority did consider the PCB’s proposal of hosting the matches in a ‘fifth country’, but decided against it.

“The (ICC) board has considered that but it has decided the 14 matches originally allocated to Pakistan should take place in the three other subcontinent countries of the full members, that is India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh,” The Dawn quoted Morgan, as saying.

Morgan said the final decision on number of matches re-located to the other three host nations would be taken later, as the matter has been referred to the tournament’s central organising committee for further action.

“We need a recommendation from those four host nations, including Pakistan. They will come forward with the location of those matches to the commercial board of the ICC,” Morgan added.

The ICC, which had stripped Pakistan of the mega event’s hosting rights following the brazen terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore in March, however, said that Pakistan would remain a co-host of the World Cup.

Morgan also announced that despite not hosting any World Cup matches, Pakistan would receive a hosting fee of 750,000 dollars per match amounting to a whopping 10.5 million dollars in total. (ANI)

Company that persuaded Jacko for 50 ‘farewell’ gigs faces £300M liability

London, June 26 (ANI): King of pop Michael Jackson’s death has brought AEG Live, the entertainment company that persuaded him to sign up for 50 “farewell” concerts at the O2 arena, under a liability of 300 million pounds.

According to reports, AEG Live had agreed to “self-insure” Jackson’s shows after most insurance companies expressed doubt whether the frail singer would be able to complete the residency.

A report published in Reinsurance magazine, which found that there was low demand in the London insurance market for the policy to cover all dates promoted by AEG Live, reckons that the liability could be around 300 million pounds.

The first 10 gigs are believed to have been placed on the London insurance market at a value of 80 million pounds, reports Times Online.

The report further reveals that rather than lowering expectations for the shows, the company kept saying that Jackson would present the most spectacular live show seen on an indoor stage.

Jackson’s death may have serious implications for Seatwave, the company that traded in about 10,000 Jackson tickets on the secondary market, in partnership with the O2 arena, often for a price far above face value.

A message placed on the company’s website read: “We at Seatwave are saddened by Michael Jackson’s death. Our condolences go to his family and we appreciate the great legacy he has left us.”

Meanwhile, AEG Live has announced on its official website that fans who could not make the dates rescheduled after the opening dates had been cancelled would get a full refund.

That promise will now be honoured for one million customers.

Ticketmaster, which also sold Jackson tickets, is also said to have a policy to refund the face value of the ticket as well as the booking fee. (ANI)

Another woman claims being paid to attend Belusconi’s parties

London, June 22 (ANI): Silvio Berlusconi has been dragged into further controversy after another woman claimed that she was paid to attend the Italian Prime Minister’s parties.

Model Barbara Montereale said that Berlusconi gave her 10,000 euros “as a present” after attending one of his parties at Villa Certosa.

She was also paid an attendance fee of 1,000 euros from a hostess service, allegedly operated by a local businessman named Giampaolo Tarantini.

Patrizia D’Addario, an escort girl and a former actress, had revealed last week that 72-year-old Berlusconi bedded her in November 2008.

Montereale said that she first met Berlusconi when she attended a dinner at Palazzo Grazioli, his residence in Rome, in November.

She was among the three women-including D’Addario and Lucia Rossini-who had been questioned by prosecutors.

Montereale also said that Patrizia had told her that she had sex with the media tycoon-turned-politician.

“Everyone at the dinner knew Patrizia was an escort,” Times Online quoted her as saying.

“I was meant to be sharing a room with Patrizia at the hotel that night. I slept there alone. When she came back at 8am she told me she had been to bed with him [Berlusconi] but that he hadn’t paid her because she had asked for a favour instead,” she added.

However, Montereale said that she was not an escort girl.

“My nickname is long thighs. I am not an escort. I am an image girl, a hostess. Appearing at nightclubs, parties, chatting with clients,” she said. (ANI)

Dog training centres in China cash in on pet craze

New Delhi, June 20 (ANI): Dog training centres are cashing in on the latest pet craze in China.

Although the number of pet owners is small, they do not hesitate to splash money to pamper their pooches. There are about 100 dog training centres in China.

For instance at Beijing, Jinjiajun Dog Training Centre, an hour’s drive from the centre of the city, all the 10 “VIP” rooms, each of which can accommodate four dogs, have been booked, reports The China Daily.

And the centre’s 40 dog trainers have their hands full.

Dog owners also have an option to choose from different courses at Jinjiajun.

And the most popular being the basic one-month training costing 4,500 yuan, which uses “German techniques”.

Dogs can also be trained for shows at 5,000 yuan a month, basic agility at 4,500 a month for at least three months, or anti-terrorism maneuvers costing 5,000 yuan a month for a minimum six months.

However, training German Shepherds is the costliest with the fees around 10,000 yuan a month for up to six months.

The centre has purebred dogs from around the world, too, which can mate with pets for a fee. It also has a school to train dog trainers and a facility that sells training equipment.

Lu Yuanjie, Jinjiajun’s manager said that plenty of dog owners need help.

“These people are rich and successful in their fields but when it comes to dealing with their dogs, they are at a loss,” he added. (ANI)