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PowerReviews Works with Retailers to Integrate a Core Feature of Facebook Platform

June 3, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Leading Retailers Including REI and Evo are Benefitting from the Like Button
CHICAGO & SAN FRANCISCO–(Business Wire)–
PowerReviews is excited to announce the turnkey integration of the Facebook Like
button with its leading social commerce suite. This integration allows partners
to quickly start reaping the benefits of richer, deeper customer engagement
through increased customer interactivity with their products, services and
brands. PowerReviews retail partners have been quick to adopt this innovative
social tool, with participants including REI and Evo.

The Like button is a social plug-in that enables users to show interest in
content across the Web and share back to their friends on Facebook with one
click.

“The addition of the `Like` button allows greater interactions with our brand
across the Facebook platform where many of our members and customers actively
participate,” said Brad Brown, REI vice president of E-Commerce and Direct
Sales. “We believe these social connections will help enhance our relevance,
trust and loyalty among consumers as they utilize their personal networks,
including opinions that guide their purchase decisions.”

“Social plug-ins put customers and relationships at the center of the web, while
providing a look into aggregate trends on consumer preferences, so retailers can
in turn offer improved products,” said Pehr Luedtke, CEO of PowerReviews. “The
Like button – which enables people to share feedback with their Facebook friends
- now complements the `People Like Me` functionality that comes from
PowerReviews` affinity tags. This powerful one-two punch creates more relevant
and helpful customer experiences.”

The 2010 Social Shopping survey, conducted by the e-tailing Group and
PowerReviews, found that friends on social websites including Facebook and
“People Like Me” (people that users may not know but may share similar
personalities/interests with) were the top two online voices having the greatest
influence on purchasing decisions.

About PowerReviews

PowerReviews is the leading provider of customer reviews and social commerce
solutions to retailers and brands. The company’s innovative tag-based approach
to collecting, organizing, structuring and analyzing user-generated content
significantly boosts product sales and customer engagement. Recognized as the
customer reviews Solution Leader in the Internet Retailer Top 500 survey,
PowerReviews works with over 850 retailers and brands on over 2700 websites,
including Staples, Drugstore.com, Gardener`s Supply, Diapers.com, Callaway and
Jockey. In addition to its Enterprise solution, PowerReviews offers an on-demand
solution for small- and medium-sized businesses called PowerReviews Express
(www.powerreviewsexpress.com). PowerReviews also operates the leading reviews
and recommendation site for consumers, Buzzillions.com (www.buzzillions.com).
PowerReviews blog is at www.blogs.powerreviews.com.

Facebook is a registered trademark of Facebook Inc.

TidalWave PR
Lisa Tarter, 415-203-2462
lisa@tidalwavepr.com

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: affinity, business wire, Commerce Suite, Consumer Preferences, Core Feature, facebook friends, interactivity, loyalty, Personal Networks, personalities, Plug Ins, Powerreviews, Punch, Purchase Decisions, Rei, Retail Partners, San Francisco Business, social connections, Social Tool, turnkey

Over 60 percent Chinese couples are happy with their marriage

May 16, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 16 (ANI): Over 60 percent of couples in China enjoy a blissful marital life, a survey has revealed.

The survey was conducted by the All-China Women”s Federation and covered 9,645 couples in 10 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in China from October last year to April.

About 62.4 percent of the respondents said that they were happy with their marriage, and “loved and respected each other.”

About 64.5 percent of surveyed Chinese couples said they were “satisfied” or “very much satisfied” with their sex life.

The survey found a direct correlation between level of education of both partners and conjugal bliss. Only 7.5 percent of husbands and wives, who never went to school, felt very much satisfied with their sex life. The ratio increased to 28.6 percent among those with a degree of bachelor or higher.

According to the survey, about 70.2 percent of the surveyed couples were happy and very happy in their life. The happiness was strongly related to the couples” perception of their economic status, the survey report said.

The survey also found Chinese couples considered loyalty as the most important virtue in maintaining a good marriage. About 69.4 percent of the surveyed couples said the least tolerable mistake was having extramarital affairs, Xinhua news agency reports. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Autonomous Regions, bachelor, China Women, chinese couples, Chinese Marriage, Conjugal Bliss, direct correlation, Economic Status, Extramarital Affairs, happiness, Husbands And Wives, loyalty, Municipalities, New Delhi, perception, respondents, sex life, survey report, virtue, Xinhua news agency

Rebels targeting Gasnier, not Folau

April 13, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

The Melbourne Rebels insist they are only chasing one player with ties to rugby league and that is Mark Gasnier.

The new Super 15 rugby franchise has been linked with Brisbane Broncos star Israel Folau.

The 20-year-old, who joined the Broncos in 2009 after two successful years with the Melbourne Storm where he broke try-scoring records, has reportedly been given a deadline of the end of April to re-commit to his NRL club.

Brisbane signed the Test flyer on a four-year deal that has a two-year option in the player’s favour and want Folau to pledge his loyalty.

Although he moved back to Brisbane to be closer to his tight-knit family, it is believed he misses Melbourne.

While the Storm NRL club, already under serious salary cap pressure, could not afford him, the new Super side, who will join the expanded competition next year, could.

However coach Rod Macqueen said the only league player, former or otherwise the Rebels were pursuing, was former Test representative Gasnier, who is currently playing rugby in France.

“We haven’t had any discussions with Israel Folau,” Macqueen said.

“At the moment we’re concentrating on Gasnier so from our point of view, if we can get him we’ll be very happy.

Macqueen said the Rebels had not discounted recruiting league players who were interested in a code switch, but were not actively pursuing any current NRL players.

The World Cup-winning coach said the Rebels were not expecting a decision from Gasnier until he had finished his negotiations with the Australian Rugby Union, who he would also sign with.

It is believed the ARU has offered the former Dragons captain a largely incentive-based contract, which will mean a big pay-day if he makes the Wallabies squad for next year’s World Cup in New Zealand.

Gasnier has spoken of his desire to play in the tournament and prove himself on the international stage, as he did in rugby league.

However his cashed-up French club Stade Francais is reportedly making it difficult for him to leave, where the centre is settled with his French wife, Claudine, who he married last month, by offering a massive deal.

The ARU has not set any deadlines for Gasnier to declare where his future lies.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Aru, Australian Rugby Union, brisbane broncos, Code Switch, Dragons, favour, French Club, international stage, loyalty, Mark Gasnier, Melbourne Storm, negotiations, NRL, Pay Day, pledge, rebels, Rod Macqueen, Salary Cap, Stade Francais, World Cup

HP Announces Leadership Changes for HP Enterprise Sales, Marketing and Strategy

April 6, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

PALO ALTO, Calif.–(Business Wire)–
HP (NYSE:HPQ) today announced it has appointed David J. Shirk as senior vice
president of Worldwide Marketing, HP Enterprise Business.

Deborah Nelson, who currently leads HP Enterprise Business Marketing, will
become chief of staff for the Enterprise Sales, Marketing and Strategy unit at
HP. Both changes are effective immediately.

Shirk and Nelson will report to Thomas E. Hogan, executive vice president,
Enterprise Sales, Marketing and Strategy, HP.

Shirk will lead marketing for HP`s Enterprise Business, the approximately $54
billion unit of HP that includes the company`s industry-leading portfolio of
servers, storage, networking, software and services.

Shirk joins HP from Siemens, where he served as executive vice president of
Global Marketing and Communications. Shirk was responsible for public relations,
digital marketing, industry and solution marketing, strategy and analyst
relations, collateral, creative services, and campaigns and programs for
Siemens` hardware, software and services portfolio. Prior to Siemens, Shirk was
executive vice president of Global Marketing at UGS Corp. He also held several
leadership positions at Vignette, Novell and Oracle.

In her new role, Nelson will be responsible for driving the HP Enterprise
Business sales and marketing agenda to establish HP as the partner of choice for
enterprise solutions and the clear leader in client loyalty. Previously, Nelson
held senior leadership positions for multiple HP business groups and client
segments at both global and regional levels.

“David brings a long track record of thought leadership and results. His broad
experience across hardware, software and services will be instrumental in
aligning HP`s marketing with the continued expansion in our enterprise
portfolio,” said Hogan. “Deborah has done an exemplary job the past five years
leading a significant transformation in marketing. I look forward to her
continued contributions as we partner to bring HP`s enterprise clients a new
standard in service and value.”

About HP

HP creates new possibilities for technology to have a meaningful impact on
people, businesses, governments and society. The world`s largest technology
company, HP brings together a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing,
software, services and IT infrastructure to solve customer problems. More
information about HP is available at http://www.hp.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks,
uncertainties and assumptions. If such risks or uncertainties materialize or
such assumptions prove incorrect, the results of HP and its consolidated
subsidiaries could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements and assumptions. All statements other than statements
of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking
statements, including but not limited to statements of the plans, strategies and
objectives of management for future operations; any statements concerning
expected development, performance or market share relating to products and
services; any statements regarding anticipated operational and financial
results; any statements of expectation or belief; and any statements of
assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Risks, uncertainties and
assumptions include macroeconomic and geopolitical trends and events; the
execution and performance of contracts by HP and its customers, suppliers and
partners; the achievement of expected operational and financial results; and
other risks that are described in HP`s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2010 and HP`s other filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to HP`s Annual Report on Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2009. HP assumes no obligation and
does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express
warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein
should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be
liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.

HP
Emily Neumann, +1-714-963-3501
emily.neumann@hp.com
or
HP
Michael Thacker, +1-415-819-3115
thacker@hp.com
or
HP Media Hotline
+1-866-266-7272
pr@hp.com
www.hp.com/go/newsroom

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: expectation, global marketing, loyalty, portfolio, strategy

Former King to take Goorjian’s throne

March 27, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Bad timing has denied the Sydney Kings the chance to bring back coach Brian Goorjian, with former King and coaching unknown Ian Robilliard to be handed the enormous responsibility of leading the club back into the NBL.

Kings general manager Bob Turner contacted Goorjian about re-joining the club he led to three championships between 2003 and 2005, but the greatest coach in NBL history had already committed to another year in China.

When the Kings folded in 2008, Goorjian led the South Dragons to an NBL title before they pulled out of the league, while he was also replaced as Boomers coach, unbelievably leaving him out of a job in Australia.

He was thrown a lifeline by both the Dongguan Leopards in the Chinese Basketball Association and the Chinese national men’s team and feels a loyalty to those assistant coaching positions, which he will return to next week.

Goorjian is prepared to help the Kings in any way possible, but Robilliard will be named head coach in Sydney on Tuesday.

“I was contacted by Bob and I did have a commitment in China,” Goorjian said.

“Really that’s pretty much as far as it went.

“We had a real nice conversation and I appreciated the interest and I love Sydney, but timing’s everything.

“This owner in China has been unbelievable. I had nothing. The Dragons and the national team ended real quickly.

“This owner invested money and he invested time into me and he’s counting on me next year to follow through with all the resources and effort he’s put in.”

Goorjian will have a meeting with Turner on Tuesday, where he expects to clarify the ways he can try and help the Kings take on the massive task of rebuilding.

“It’s unbelievably important the Kings are back and I would do anything from where I sit to help the club,” he said.

“That could be a range of things. It could be imports, discussions with the coaches on strategy, helping them with tours.

“All Bob said was ‘would you help the club’ and I said ‘not a problem at all, I’d love to’.”

Turner has talked about returning the club to the grassroots levels that made it a financial success in the 1990s, but Goorjian feels they need to put resources into marketing and can learn some lessons from his time in the harbour city.

“I know they keep talking about the glory days and what they did off the floor, but I thought our period of time was great,” he said.

“We had a strong board and when it was handed over to (former owner and disgraced businessman) Tim Johnston, boom it went down.

“There’s been a lot of damage done … and everything needs to be right with the right people and the right venue.

“It needs to be a success because there’s no more chances. This is it.”

- AAP

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Basketball Association, Bob Turner, boomers, Brian Goorjian, China, Chinese Basketball, coaching, Dragons, Enormous Responsibility, head coach, Job In Australia, led, leopards, lifeline, love, loyalty, Massive Task, National Men, Nbl, Sydney Kings

Putin hands over 5500 dollar Swiss watch to cheeky Russian factory worker

September 17, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Moscow, Sep.16 (ANI): Russian Prime Minister Vladmir Putin handed over a 5000 dollar Swiss watch to a weapons manufacturing factory worker in Tula.

According to The Telegraph, the metalworker put Putin in a spot after he gave a speech on the economy in the town of Tula.

“Vladimir Vladimirovich, maybe you’ll give me something to remember you by?” Viktor Zagaevsky asked.

A bemused-looking Putin gestured he had nothing to give before jokingly asking what the worker wanted. “Maybe your watch,” the worker shot back.

After a short pause, Putin handed the watch over, leaving those present stunned.

The watch, made by Swiss company Blancpain, sells for around 5,500 pounds, what an average Russian earns in a year.

Putin’s love of chunky Swiss watches matches his macho action man image that goes down so well with Russian voters. He famously wears his watch on his right hand, a quirk that prominent members of his United Russia party have mimicked to show their loyalty.

The most expensive watch Putin has been spotted wearing is a model by Swiss firm Patek Philippe that sells for about 35,000 pounds.

Last month, he “spontaneously” took a watch from his wrist and gave it to an impoverished shepherd’s son in Siberia in a choreographed Kremlin propaganda exercise. (ANI)

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Shoe throwing Iraqi journalist’s release from jail postponed by a day

September 14, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Baghdad, Sep. 14 (ANI): Iraq has postponed the release of the journalist who threw his shoe at former US President George W Bush in Baghdad last year.raqi television journalist Muntazer al-Zaidi will be released from prison a day later than expected, his brother said.

“He called me from the prison and said ‘they won’t release me today, they will free me tomorrow’,” The Telegraph quoted Durgham al-Zaidi, as saying in tears.

Zaidi, 30, was initially sentenced to three years for assaulting a foreign head of state but had his jail time reduced to one year on appeal. He is being freed early because of good behaviour.

Zaidi shouted “it is the farewell kiss, you dog,” at Bush on December 14 last year, seconds before hurling his size-10 shoes at the man who ordered Iraq be invaded and occupied six-and-a-half years ago.

Although Bush, who successfully ducked to avoid the speeding footwear, laughed off the attack, the incident caused massive embarrassment, to both him and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

Zaidi faces the prospect of a very different life from his previous existence as a journalist for Al-Baghdadia television, a small, privately owned Cairo-based station, which has continued to pay his salary in jail.

Zaidi’s boss has promised the previously little-known reporter a new home as a reward for loyalty and the publicity that his actions, broadcast live across the world, generated for the station.

But there is talk of plum job offers from bigger Arab networks, lavish gifts such as sports cars from businessmen, a celebrity status, and reports that Arab women from Baghdad to the Gaza Strip want his hand in marriage. (ANI)

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‘I covered up for Advani on Kandahar,’ says Jaswant Singh

August 21, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Aug.21 (ANI): Breaking his decade-long silence over the hijacking of an Indian Airlines plane to Kandahar in Afghanistan, former External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh on Friday sought to embarrass senior BJP leader L K Advani further by saying that he (Jaswant Singh) “covered” up for him (Advani) when he said that the former Home Minister was not aware that he was going to Kandahar with three terrorists in 1999.

He also said Advani was aware of the decision to release of the terrorists in exchange for freedom of over 160 hostages kept in the Indian Airlines plane that was hijacked.

“Yes, he did,” Singh told the NDTV news channel on Friday when asked whether Advani knew that Singh was going to Kandahar with three terrorists.

It maybe recalled that Advani had claimed a few years ago that he did not know that Jaswant Singh was on the plane with the three dreaded terrorists to Kandahar.

Singh was asked why he said during the election campaign that Advani did not know that he was going to Kandahar with the terrorists and whether he covered up for Advani.

“I’m sorry I did. I tried to cover it. I treated it as part of my continuing sense of commitment and loyalty,” he said.

Asked whether he regretted covering up for Advani, Singh told NDTV: “I don’t regret because that is the step I had taken. But it was part of an election campaign. How should I put it? I was being very conservative with truth.”

He said Advani could not have not known about the decision to fly to Kandahar.

“I announced it in the Cabinet. Yes, Advani was there, how can they (terrorists) be released from prison without the Home Minister consenting and signing pieces of paper? he asked.

Singh said he felt very hurt when Advani said what he did and he went.

“I went and told him. I was really hurt. Look I have travelled this route to Pakistan in every possible fashion, the Lahore bus, to Kandahar, to Agra, Chhatisinghpura, Parliament attack. But I have never tried to transfer responsibility. I have never spoken, it was very hurtful,” he said.

Singh also made a veiled criticism of Advani when he asked why the aircraft was allowed to leave Amritsar because once it left the “game was lost”.

“Who would be responsible for the aircraft leaving Amritsar. For 45 minutes the aircraft was on ground at Amritsar. All of you are fixated on Kandahar. I didn’t go to Kandahar because there was a good night club there. I went there because 166 lives were involved and the officers there asked me to consult if a decision was to be made,” he said.

He even asked Advani what the latter wanted him to say.

“He said you say whatever you want to,” Singh said.

Asked whether he would have expected Advani to stand up for him, Singh said “He (Advani) was not required to cover any misdeed. My going to Kandahar was not a misdeed. And I was not going on a holiday jaunt. 166 lives were involved.”

He said it was a sense of commitment to India that required to save whatever another colleague has done.

“You know what the comment means. I didn’t know. It’s a comment not on Jaswant Singh. It’s a comment on Atalji because there is a sense of collective responsibility of the Cabinet. We forgot ssentials.” (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Afghanistan, agra, bjp leader, decade, election campaign, External Affairs Minister, Hijacking, Home Minister, hostages, indian airlines plane, kandahar, l k advani, lahore bus, loyalty, minister jaswant singh, ndtv, ndtv news channel, New Delhi, parliament, silence, terrorists

J.K. Rowling tells Danielle Radcliffe ‘no more Harry Potter books’

July 16, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, July 16(ANI): Danielle Radcliffe has revealed that J.K. Rowling told him that she won’t be writing any more Harry Potter books.

The actor is happy to hear it because he thinks he needs to re-consider playing Harry Potter if in case Rowling adds to her list of seven novels which have all been adapted to films.

“I saw JK Rowling the other day, and I said, ‘You’re not writing any more ‘Potter’ books, are you?’ “And she said, ‘No,’ and I said, ‘OK, cool,’” the Telegraph quoted him as saying.

He added: “And then I said, ‘You know, if you did, I would have to think long and hard.’ I think also I would only do it if Emma and Rupert would.”

However, Radcliffe is still not discounting Rowling’s ability to come out with eighth Harry Potter book.

He said: “Honestly, after the seventh film, I don’t think she should do anymore. I think it would have to be something pretty good.

“But Jo Rowling’s such an intelligent person, she knows. She knows if she was ever going to consider doing another, it would have to be bulletproof. It would have to be an almost perfect book not to get slaughtered.

“So hopefully she won’t, but if she does, of course I would have to consider it, because I have a loyalty to her and to the fans.” (ANI)

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Ancelotti jokes that Terry may not captain Chelsea in 2010

July 7, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, July 7 (ANI): Chelsea coach Carlo Ancelotti has described club and England captain John Terry as the team’s most valuable player and talisman, but astonished everyone by jokingly saying that he may not be skipper in 2010.

Terry has been captain Chelsea since May 2005 and England captain since August 2006,

“I think that John Terry is a symbol of this team but I don’t know if he will be the captain next season.”

“Naturally, I joke,” he laughed. “I like to joke in the press conference,” The Sun quoted him, as saying.Terry has said he wants to stay for ever at Chelsea and we want to keep him for ever.”

The England captain is being seriously courted by Manchester City with big money on the table.

And until Terry comes out and states categorically how much he wants to stay at Chelsea, doubts will remain.

The Blues board are impatiently waiting for Terry to kill City’s overtures stone-dead. They expect a statement of loyalty from Mr. Chelsea and a single sentence would do the job – but so far silence.

Ancelotti admitted he had only spoken to Terry once when he was first appointed and that a month has gone by since any conversation between them.

He says Terry wants to stay but he has not heard that from his skipper’s mouth since City made their latest 30-million-pound bid. (ANI)

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Jackson’s bodyguard who dialled 911 comes out of closet

July 5, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, July 5 (ANI): The bodyguard who took control as a panicking doctor fought to save Michael Jackson’s life has finally come out of the closet but refuses to divulge any details.

Alberto Alvarez had called up 911 asking for help as Jacko struggled for life after a suspected cardiac arrest believed to be due to drug overdose.

His identity has been kept under wraps for quite sometime and is being questioned by detectives.

Alvarez said that he had been ordered not to talk.

“Loyalty is everything in the security business. I am going to go away for a few days to work out what to do,” the Mirror quoted him as saying.

Last night, a source who knows Alberto said: “He is fiercely loyal and still wants to do the right thing by Michael Jackson.

“He is helping the police but he is being pulled in the opposite direction by the Jackson family. They want to keep him on salary and make him sign a confidentiality agreement, so they can make sure the information he has remains under wraps.” (ANI)

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US initiates historic shift in Afghan counter-narcotics policy

July 1, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, July 1 (ANI): The International Council on Security and Development (ICOS) today hailed the monumental move by the US to stop the failed policy of poppy crop eradication in Afghanistan.

It also called on the US, UK and the international community to back its “Poppy for Medicine” proposal in the war-torn country.

On Saturday, the US announced that it would withdraw its support for efforts to eradicate opium cultivation in Afghanistan.

Richard Holbrooke, the US envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, said that eradication “didn’t reduce the amount of money the Taliban got by one dollar.”

Shortly after the Taliban fell in 2001, the US-led international community in Afghanistan adopted eradication as part of their counter-narcotics policy in an attempt to curtail the opium crisis.

Since then, eradication policies have been inefficient and counter-productive in winning the hearts and minds of the Afghan people.

“Eradication provides the Taliban insurgency with an even more valuable currency than money, and that is loyalty,” said Emmanuel Reinert, Executive Director of ICOS.

“Farmers have turned against the US and ISAF military when their livelihoods were destroyed; with the US stopping its own eradication policies, the West has a real opportunity to turn the situation around and build trust with the Afghan people.”

“This move by the US represents a ‘historic shift’ in its counter-narcotics policy, yet it won’t go far enough to alleviate the opium crisis in Afghanistan,” said Reinert.

“In addition to ending poppy eradication programs, our Poppy for Medicine proposal is a crucial step to successfully cutting off Taliban supplies and provide sustainable and viable livelihoods to Afghan farmers.”

After the US announcement, the UK government spoke out against the new stance by the US and vowed to continue its own eradication efforts.

“I would urge the UK and the entire international community to eliminate poppy crop eradication from their counter-narcotics policy in Afghanistan, and to support a truly viable alternative based on scientific study, namely, Poppy for Medicine,” said Raymond Kendall, Former Secretary-General of Interpol and a Member of the ICOS Advisory Board.

The Council called on the US to implement its proposed Poppy for Medicine programme to license the growing of the poppy crop in Afghanistan for localised, tightly controlled production of morphine, currently unavailable to 80 percent of the world’s population.

Since 2005, ICOS has conducted intense research on its Poppy for Medicine initiative. The European Parliament endorsed the proposal in October 2007, yet was rejected on several occasions by the Bush Administration since005.

“The Poppy for Medicine programme, if implemented, would function as a counter-insurgency initiative which would end Taliban funding through drugs trafficking and drive a wedge between insurgents and poppy farmers.

Changing Afghanistan’s counter-narcotics policy is a first bid to win back the hearts and minds of Afghanistan´s 2.4 million farmers currently dependent on illegal poppy cultivation,” he added.(ANI)

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McCullum may play for New South Wales in Champions League Twenty20 tourney

May 26, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Sydney, May 26 (ANI): New South Wales Cricket are poised to offer Otago 250,000 American dollars for Brendon McCullum’s services in the inaugural Champions League Twenty20 tournament after losing David Warner to the Delhi Daredevils.

In a merry-go-round of international stars, Warner is likely to feature for Delhi and McCullum could play for NSW in the tournament, which was expanded from eight to 12 teams at the weekend, and will be played in India from October 8 to 23, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

“There is no doubt having Brendon McCullum in your team increases your chances of a win, that is an undeniable fact,” Cricket NSW chief executive David Gilbert said.

“It’s about ensuring we have got all the bases covered. [Making Otago an offer] is certainly something we will consider. It is a cost-neutral exercise,” he added.

Otago have not ruled out the possibility of taking the cash in exchange for their highest-profile player.

“Given the fact he has played for them in the last 12 months, I think it could happen,” Otago chief executive Ross Dykes said.

“You can’t ignore figures like that. But on the other hand, you have loyalty reasons for which you wouldn’t want to do it. Brendon would have to be involved in these discussions,” he added.

The Champions League includes the best domestic Twenty20 sides from around the world. The initial plan was to feature eight teams – two each from India, Australia and South Africa, with one from Pakistan and England.

But after Pakistan refused to clear its players to travel to India – a stance taken after the fallout of the Mumbai bombings – organisers have revised the tournament.

Now there is a third Indian team (Delhi) to join the IPL’s finalists Deccan and Bangalore, and additional teams from Sri Lanka (Wayamba), the West Indies (Trinidad and Tobago), Otago and the two finalists from England’s domestic tournament to be decided on August 25.

NSW and Victoria had already qualified, along with South Africa’s Cape Cobras and Eagles. (ANI)

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Michael Clarke, Lara Bingle show their undies for ad campaigns

May 17, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Melbourne, May 17 (ANI): Michael Clarke and Lara Bingle have ditched their clothes….. for underwear campaigns.

Speedo girl Bingle and her Bonds ambassador fiance peeled off layers of clothing for their respective brands’ spring/summer ranges.

The sizzling images of stunning Bingle were shot on location in an empty public swimming pool at Ashfield, reports News.com.au.

“It was cold,” said Bingle, who posed in Speedo’s new underwear range for the midnight to dawn shoot with swimmer Andrew Lauterstein.

“I’m not bothered at the hours I work. Every day modelling is different, so it’s always good to do something out of the ordinary,” she added.

Following in Bingle’s footsteps, Clarke gave an eyeful by getting involved in a revealing campaign, along with tennis great Pat Rafter.

He also confirmed his loyalty to Pacific Brands underwear label Bonds by saying, “I’m nothing but honoured to be with the brand.” (ANI)

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Sharad Yadav says JD (U) is with NDA

May 13, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 13 (ANI): As confusion continues over the future of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, senior leader of Janata Dal (United) Sharad Yadav on Wednesday said his party was with the NDA.

“As I said, we are in the NDA. There is a declared prime ministerial candidate of the NDA. We have campaigned in the country so that NDA can attain majority,” Yadav said.

Nitish Kumar had proved his loyalty to the NDA after attending a meeting on Sunday.

Yadav also said that the Telangana Rashtriya Samiti (TRS) would support the NDA at the Central level and join an alliance in the state, which would be strongest against the Congress.

“I can say regarding the TRS that there is no change in the stand. It will support the NDA in New Delhi at Central level and in Andhra Pradesh, it will support as per the situation, the strongest alliance against the Congress,” he said.

The presence of K Chandrashekhar Rao, TRS chief, served as a morale booster for the NDA ahead of the final round of polls.

Leaders of the Congress are reportedly trying to woo back coalition partners like the Rashtriya Janata Dal.

The Congress party has already indicated it is willing to take support of former allies, who supported the government for four years, before withdrawing it over the civilian nuclear deal last year.

Meanwhile, one man was killed and 13 injured in an election-related violence in three places in Tamil Nadu.

DMK member S Thangavel died after being stabbed during a clash between supporters of the DMK and the AIADMK in Dindigul town.

In Chennai, seven people were injured and four cars were damaged during a clash between supporters of the DMK and MMK.

No arrest has been made so far. (ANI)

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EX-US VP Cheney believes Powell has left Republican Party

May 11, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, May 11 (ANI): Former US Vice President Dick Cheney believes that former Secretary of State Colin Powell has left the Republican Party.

When asked about the controversy over Powell’s recent suggestion that the GOP move more to the center, Fox News quoted Cheney as telling CBS’ “Face the Nation”: “I think my take on it was Colin had already left the party.

I didn’t know he was still a Republican.”

Asked to clarify, Cheney noted that Powell endorsed Barack Obama, a Democrat, for president shortly before the general election.

“I assumed that that is some indication of his loyalty and his interest,” Cheney said. (ANI)

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BJP, Lalu trade verbal volleys over Nitish’s loyalty

May 11, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi/Patna, May 11 (ANI): Railway Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Yadav and the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Ravi Shankar Prasad traded verbal volleys on Monday over the loyalty factor of Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) chief Nitish Kumar.

While Lalu lashed out at Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi for praising Nitish Kumar, who he said has joined hands again with Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Prasad said it was a clear indication of Railway Minister’s desperation to safe his political career.

Lalu hit out at Kumar’s U-turn on Modi by sharing the same platform at the NDA rally in Ludhiana on Sunday.

He said, “Nitish sacrificed his secular image by joining a murderer like Modi.”

The BJP, however, said that Kumar is very much a part of the NDA and that Lalu is not only attacking Nitish Kumar but Congress as well.

“This is very surprising. Lalu was not supposed to speak before the 16th. How has he spoken today? It is a sign of desperation. Nitish is a part of the NDA right from day one. Narendra Modi is a duly elected thrice Chief Minister of Gujarat and is doing good work. Lalu Prasad is getting a washout, hence all this desperation,” Prasad told a television channel during a political debate.

“He is not only attacking Nitish Kumar, he is attacking the Congress as well. In the last 20 years, Lalu is finding himself in a mess for the first time when he has no legs to stand,” he added.

Earlier, Lalu said, “I always said Nitish has ‘teeth in his stomach’ (a complicated person). Now, people like Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, who had given him the secular certificate, and others who favourably spoke of him will realise how secular he is.”

“Nitish had refused to attend an earlier NDA rally in New Delhi, saying he was not prepared to share stage with Modi, but once the elections in Bihar were over, he (Nitish) returned to his original self,” Lalu said. (ANI)

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Samuel L. Jackson keen to play Andrew Mwanguru

May 8, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, May 8 (ANI): Hollywood actor Samuel L. Jackson is keen to play the lead in a film about Andrew Mwangura, a negotiator between pirates and the owners of vessels hijacked off the coast of Africa.

Jackson’s Uppity Films has already collaborated with Andras Hamori’s H20 Motion Pictures to secure life rights of Mwangura.

Mwangura is a journalist and ex-marine engineer who runs the Seafarers’ Assistance Programme, a non-profit group that offers humanitarian aid to all seafarers.

Hamori flew to Mombassa and negotiated a rights deal as Mwangura brokered the freedom of crew and cargo of the Ukrainian ship V.S. Faina for 3.4 million dollars. The price was high because the pirates discovered a secret cache of Russian tanks.

“(Andrew) has the trust of the pirates and the ship owners, and his loyalty is to the kidnapped crews that get caught in the middle of these episodes,” Variety magazine quoted Hamori as saying.

Jackson and Hamori earlier teamed up to produce ‘Formula 51′, and are currently in pre-production of an adaptation of the J.G. Ballard novella ‘Running Wild’ that Jackson will topline. (ANI)

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Two out of three Brits don’t think Muslims are loyal

May 8, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, May 8 (ANI): Two out of three Britons think that Muslims living in the United Kingdom are not loyal to their country.

According to a new Gallup poll, only 36 percent Brits think that they can trust Muslims.

The recent poll has frightened the experts, who fear that the image of peaceful Muslims has been seriously damaged by a few ranting fundamentalists, such as Anjem Choudary and Abu Izzadeen.

“It’s not surprising that a large percentage of non-Muslims think Muslims are not loyal. Every day we see reports of Muslims who are trying to attack this country. It’s not surprising people see a link between fundamentalists and the wider Muslim community,” the Daily Star quoted Centre for Social Cohesion Director Douglas Murray, as saying.

The poll also found that up to a fifth of Muslim residents felt no allegiance to Britain.

“This means up to half a million. It’s in this pool that terrorists can find their recruitment area,” Murray said.

British Muslims also tend to hold more conservative views than their counterparts in the rest of Europe. They are more strongly against gays, abortion, pornography, suicide and sex outside marriage.

Only three percent of Muslims here believe sex before marriage is permissible.

“It’s not a pick-and-choose buffet. If you live in Britain you have to adopt and accept this way of life. We can’t force people to have positive attitudes to co-habiting or sex before marriage but we can encourage people not to live lives apart,” Murray said.

“The biggest mistake we’ve made in this country is to encourage people to live in separate communities. It means that people not only don’t feel loyalty but they feel they don’t have to feel loyalty,” he added.

Despite the figures, Dalia Mogahed, executive director of the Gallup Centre for Muslim Studies, said: “British Muslims want to be part of the wider community and contribute to society.” (ANI)

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Obama “gravely concerned” about ” fragile” Pak government

May 2, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, Apr.30 (ANI): The ‘existential threat’ that Pakistan is facing currently from the ever advancing Taliban has US President Barack Obama seriously worried.

Talking to media persons at a prime-time news conference on the occasion of completing 100 days in office, Obama said he is “gravely concerned” about the stability of the Pakistani government.

Obama termed the Zardari regime in Pakistan as “very fragile”.

“I am more concerned that the civilian government right now is very fragile and don’t seem to have the capacity to deliver basic services, like health care and the rule of law. As a consequence, it’s very difficult for them to gain the support and loyalty of their people,” the New York Times quoted Obama, as saying.

Issues relating to Pakistan have been giving a headache to the US President, and the recently the White House also accepted that it was taking ‘a lot’ of President Obama’s time.

Addressing the media, Obama also criticized the Bush administration for implementing harsh interrogation techniques, what he called ‘torture’, to yield information from suspected people.

“I will do whatever is required to keep the American people safe, but I am convinced that the best way to do that is to make sure we’re not taking shortcuts that undermine who we are,” he said.

Obama pledged to the people of the country that he would make America a safer and better place in future.

“I know you sent me to Washington because you believed in the promise of a better day, and I don’t want to let you down,” he added. (ANI)

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