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Sam Worthington turns producer for sci-fi epic

May 19, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

London, May 19 (ANI): ‘Avatar’ Star Sam Worthington has decided to produce an upcoming sci-fi film ‘Quatermain’.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Aussie actor is all set to act and produce a re-imagining of H. Rider Haggard”s Victorian adventurer Allan Quatermain.

It was made famous in the hit novel King Solomon”s Mines, reports the Daily Express.

Unlike Quatermain novels” original setting in Africa, Worthington”s edition will see the protagonist return to Earth after a space trip-only to find there are no humans left on the planet. (ANI)

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Robert Pattinson wants to star in ‘Kill Your Friends’ movie remake

May 18, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Melbourne, May 18 (ANI): Robert Pattinson wants to star in movie remake of the novel, ‘Kill Your Friends’.

The actor hopes to play the role of A&R (Artist and Repertoire) man Steven Stelfox in the big-screen adaptation of John Niven’s satire on music industry.

“Rob is a huge fan of the novel. He is fascinated by the music industry and is keen to get involved in the project,” the Daily Telegraph quoted a source as telling the Sun.

The insider added: “He”s already approached producers telling them he wants to play the leading man.

If he bags the role, Pattinson will be seen doing drugs, sleeping with prostitutes and committing murder.

The source said: “If he gets the role it would be the darkest part he”s ever played.

“It”s an incredibly adult character and is bound to shock the tweens who account for such a huge part of Rob”s fan base.” (ANI)

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Tyra Banks to publish her first novel

May 12, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

New York, May 12 (ANI): Supermodel/talk show host Tyra Banks has announced that she will be publishing her first novel.

A press release from Random House, the publishers of the novel, which will be titled “Modelland”, stated that it is one of a three-book deal, and is expected to be published in summer 2011.

“It’s for all the girls and guys who want a lot more fantasy in their lives … and some fierceness and magic, romance and mystery, crazy and wild adventures, and yeah, some danger too,” the New York Post quoted Banks as writing on her website describing her new book.

Banks, 36, authored a how-to make-up book in 1998, called “Tyra’s Beauty, Inside and Out”. “Modelland” will be her first fiction book. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: beauty, fiction book, girls, mystery, new york post, novel, press release, publishers, random house, romance, talk show host, Tyra Banks, Wild Adventures

Pedro Almodovar snubs muse Penelope Cruz for new horror movie

May 7, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

London, May 7 (ANI): Filmmaker Pedro Almodovar has turned his back on muse Penelope Cruz as he ventures into the horror genre, because he couldn”t envision the Spanish beauty in the project.

The director has cast Antonio Banderas in his provisionally titled ‘The Skin I Live In’, which will be adapted from Thierry Jonquet”s 1999 novel ‘Tarantula’, about a vengeful cosmetic surgeon.

“(It) will be close to a horror film, which was something I really wanted to do as I had never made one, but I will not respect any rules of the genre,” the Daily Express quoted him as saying.

Almodovar has confessed that he has been struggling with the script, but this time he won’t knock on the door of his favourite leading lady—Cruz.

“If I can finally shoot it, it”s because I have been able to solve the huge problems I had with the adaptation. I am stubborn and I could not abandon this story… The more I developed the story, the less I saw her (Cruz) in the role. But it”s not important at all. I see her again in many more roles,” he said.

Almodovar has worked with the Spanish actress in films including 2006”s ‘Volver’ and last year”s (09) critically acclaimed ‘Broken Embraces’. (ANI)

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Spielberg tackles War Horse

May 6, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Steven Spielberg will direct a film adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s epic World War I novel War Horse.

Spielberg and his DreamWorks studio will also produce the film, which is expected to hit the screens in August 2011.

Adapting the story of the friendship between a young boy and a horse during World War I will be screenwriters Lee Hall (Billy Elliot) and Richard Curtis (Good Morning England).

Published in 1982, War Horse was recently adapted for the stage in London.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: arts-and-entertainment, Billy Elliot, DreamWorks, Dreamworks Studio, England, Epic World, feature films, film adaptation, friendship, London, michael morpurgo, novel, Richard Curtis, screens, screenwriters, steven spielberg, united state, war horse, world war

Zac Efron lands drug runner role

April 16, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

London, Apr 16 (ANI): Zac Efron will be seen playing the role of a drug runner in an upcoming crime thriller.

The High School Musical star will shed his clean-cut image for the remake of Swedish drama Snabba Cash, which translates as Easy Money, reports The Daily Express.

The film is based on a 2006 novel by Jens Lapidus.

It narrates three interwoven stories about friends who become involved with drugs and organized crime. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Crime Thriller, daily express, drug-runner, drugs, easy money, jens, Lapidus, London, musical star, novel, Swedish Drama, Zac Efron

Clancy’s heroes team up to fight terrorism

April 8, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

American espionage writer Tom Clancy is bringing all his fictional characters together into one novel about modern terrorism.

Dead Or Alive, Clancy’s first book in seven years, will be published in December.

“This is Tom Clancy for the first time bringing all his all-stars together, including Jack Ryan,” said Ivan Held, president of Penguin’s GP Putnam’s Sons.

Held said the novel will take in the last quarter century of Clancy’s literary characters.

“They will be going after modern terrorism,” he said.

The 62-year-old bestselling author is best known for his books Patriot Games, The Hunt For Red October, Clear And Present Danger and The Sum Of All Fears.

All were later turned into films.

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Pearson, Coetzee make literary award shortlist

April 8, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

New South Wales Premier Kristina Keneally has announced the shortlist of writers vying for this year’s Premier’s Literary Awards.

A total of 46 writers are competing across six categories for a total prize pool of over $300,000.

Among those nominated are Indigenous leader Noel Pearson and Nobel laureate J M Coetzee as well as script writers Jane Campion and Warwick Thornton.

Kathy Charles’ book “Hollywood Ending” has been shortlisted for two of the six categories.

She says the nomination has given her the confidence to pursue her dream of a writing career.

“When you’re a debut novelist you’re bright and shiny and sexy and people think there’s so much potential,” she said.

“But keeping that momentum going and actually creating a career out of writing is very different to just getting a novel published.

“So I think this kind of nomination will allow me to actually get the right doors open, to continue writing, which is what I would like to do.”

The winners will be announced next month during the Sydney Writer’s Festival.

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Skipper wants to ‘fly’ boat around the world in 40 days

March 29, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Washington, March 29 (ANI): Reports indicate that Alain Thebault, the captain of the world’s fastest sailboat, the Hydroptere, has announced that he wants to sail his boat around the world in 40 days.

According to a report in Discovery News, Thebault has said that his next project is to circumnavigate the globe in half the time of the Jules Verne novel “Around the World in 80 Days.”

“My dream is to cross the world in 40 days,” Thebault told CNN. “It is a project that is very close to my heart and that I believe in,” he said.

“Hydroptere,” currently the world’s fastest sailing boat, gets its speed from foils, or underwater “wings” that lift the boat and enable it to “fly” several meters above the water.

This innovation, which uses principles similar to those of airplanes, avoids drag and allows the 18- by 24-meter boat to achieve previously unimaginable speeds.

But, he isn’t using Hydroptere to sail around the world, but is currently building a larger version of the sailboat, the Hydroptere Maxi, which will be sea-ready in 2013.

At 30 by 30 meters, Thebault hopes that “Maxi” will react better in heavy seas and be able to accommodate a group of 10 sailors.

He expects “Maxi” to be sea-ready in 2013. (ANI)

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‘Atonement’ to get opera makeover

March 19, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

London, March 19 (ANI): Atonement, Ian McEwan’s novel about class and love set in the Second World War, is to become an opera.

The novel has already been made into a movie starring Keira Knightley and James McAvoy.

Now, the book’s author and two of his friends have begun work on an adaptation that they hope will transfer the success of his 2001 bestseller and the Oscar-winning film to the stage.

McEwan said that he finally agreed to the project “several weeks ago”.

While he will shape the overall adaptation, Craig Raine, the poet and critic, will write the words and Michael Berkeley, the composer who presents the Radio 3 show Private Passions, will write the music.

“It”s not a chamber piece, that”s for sure. You can do some very dramatic things with this. If you were thinking of a large-scale opera then what springs to mind is 380,000 troops on the beaches of Dunkirk. That would be quite a choir,” the Telegraph quoted McEwan as telling the Times. (ANI)

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Terrorism a by-product of Pak’s past mistakes: Zardari

September 19, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, Sep. 19 (ANI): President Asif Ali Zardari has revealed that extremism was a by-product of Pakistan’s past mistakes and was deliberately created during the 1980s.

He said the employment of a liberal policy encouraged religious fanaticism and achieved of certain strategic objectives of terror perpetrators.

“What we are witnessing today is the outcome of that policy of the 80′s and even earlier.The policy of using religious extremism as an instrument of war. We in Pakistan have paid a very heavy price for this policy,” The News quoted Zardari, as saying.

Addressing a gathering at London’s International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS), Zardari pointed out that militants and militancy were not created in a vacuum; they have been the product of a deliberate policy to fight the rival ideology.

The free world adopted a novel strategy that was based on the exploitation of religion to motivate Muslims around the world to wage jehad, he added.

Furthermore, Zardari pointed out that the strategy may have worked well but some serious mistakes were also made as the world abandoned Afghanistan in a hurry and no thought was given to its stability after the withdrawal of foreign forces.

“After the retreat of foreign forces, Afghanistan was abandoned and left at the mercy of the warlords and the jehadis…Pakistan has suffered more than others. For decades we had to host and continue to host millions of Afghan refugees,” he said. (ANI)

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European company develops mobile robots that are autonomous and multi-tasking

September 19, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Madrid (Spain), September 19 (ANI): An European company has developed innovative robots which are mobile, multifunctional, collaborative, autonomous and polyvalent, suitable for a wide range of work from street cleaning and rubbish collection to accompanying elderly people.

According to a report carried out in www.basqueresearch.com, this new generation of robots have been developed by TECNALIA Technological Corporation, and are a part of the European DUSTBOT research project under the remit of the VI European Framework Programme and in which TECNALIA is participating.

These latest generation robots are suitable for the monitoring of large spaces (open and closed), as guides for persons in large shopping areas (indicating to them where a particular shop or product is within a shopping centre), for accompanying elderly people or those with certain disabilities (both at home and outside), thanks to their functions of orientation, navigation, communications with others or tele-assistance centres.

They can also be used as guides in teaching spaces (museums, visitor centres), and for transport, storage and transport and goods deliveries, besides the cleaning of both open and closed surfaces, which have either difficult or easy access.

DUSTBOT has collaborative, multifunctional and autonomous robots that are capable of operating in partially destructured environments/situations based on information provided by a map.

The robots can also facilitate working in large areas, stations, airports and other types of public buildings, without being any obstacle for the activity of these places, given its reduced size, and without being a danger for members of the public, thanks to the novel system for the detection and avoidance of obstacles.

The rail station of the Euskotren company in the Bilbao neighbourhood of Atxuri in Spain was chosen for the public presentation of these devices.

The demonstration of two robot models was undertaken: the DustCart and the DustClean.

The DustCart robot, measuring 1.45 metres high and 70 Kg in weight, has a humanoid form and is designed to interact with the user and for the collection of low demand waste.

The DustClean robot, in the form of a small vehicle and measuring 96 cm high and 250 Kg in weight, cleans streets of dirt and dust. Moreover, both control the quality of air in real time.

“These robots are the solution for cleaning areas of difficult access and for the collection of rubbish at the very front door of, above all, persons who have mobility problems when moving the rubbish to the communal waste containers,” said Inaki Inzunza, Director of the Business Unit at the Tecnalia Technological Corporation. (ANI)

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Researchers operate biomedical robots from different locations worldwide via Internet

September 19, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, September 18 (ANI): Experts from the University of Washington and SRI International have jointly developed a new software protocol, to standardize the way biomedical robots are managed over the Internet.

Nine research teams from universities and research institutes around the world recently made a successful demonstration of biomedical robots operated from different locations in the U.S., Europe, and Asia with the help of the ‘Interoperable Telesurgical Protocol’.

In a 24-hour period, each participating group connected over the Internet, and controlled robots at different locations.

The tests performed demonstrated how a wide variety of robot and controller designs can seamlessly interoperate, allowing researchers to work together easily and more efficiently.

The demonstration also evaluated the feasibility of robotic manipulation from multiple sites, and was conducted to measure time and performance for evaluating laparoscopic surgical skills.

“Although many telemanipulation systems have common features, there is currently no accepted protocol for connecting these systems. We hope this new protocol serves as a starting point for the discussion and development of a robust and practical Internet-type standard that supports the interoperability of future robotic systems,” said SRI’s Tom Low.

The protocol is expected to allow engineers and designers that usually develop technologies independently, to work collaboratively, determine which designs work best, encourage widespread adoption of the new communications protocol, and help robotics research to evolve more rapidly.

Its early adoption may encourage robotic systems to be developed with interoperability in mind, and avoid future incompatibilities.

“We’re very pleased with the success of the event in which almost all of the possible connections between operator stations and remote robots were successful. We were particularly excited that novel elements such as a simulated robot and an exoskeleton controller worked smoothly with the other remote manipulation systems,” said Professor Blake Hannaford of the University of Washington. (ANI)

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Vaccine for urinary tract infections comes closer to reality

September 19, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, Sept 18 (ANI): A simple vaccine may soon be available to protect against urinary tract infections, thanks to researchers from University of Michigan.

The study conducted over mice showed that the vaccine prevented infection and produced key types of immunity.

It alerts the immune system to iron receptors on the surface of Escherichia coli bacteria that perform a critical function allowing infection to spread.

Administered in the nose, it induces an immune response in the body’s mucosa, a first line of defense against invading pathogens. The response, also produced in mucosal tissue in the urinary tract, should help the body fight infection where it starts.

The researchers used novel systematic approach, combining bioinformatics, genomics and proteomics, to look for key parts of the bacterium that could be used in a vaccine to elicit an effective immune response.

The team, led by Dr. Harry L.T. Mobley, screened 5,379 possible bacterial proteins and identified three strong candidates to use in a vaccine to prime the body to fight E. coli.

Mobley’s team is currently testing more strains of E. coli obtained from women treated at U-M.

If the robust immunity achieved in mice can be reproduced in humans, it could be the first ever vaccine for urinary tract infections.

Most of the strains produce the same iron-related proteins that can be vaccine targets, an encouraging sign that the vaccine could work against many urinary tract infections.

The findings are published in the open-access journal PLoS Pathogens. (ANI)

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Genes controlling insulin ‘alter’ body clock

September 19, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, Sept 18 (ANI): Scientists at University of California, San Diego have identified certain insulin-regulating genes that can also alter the timing of the body clock.

They said that the findings can lead to new approaches to treating disorders such as metabolic syndrome that can result, at least in part, from chronic disruption of the sleep-wake cycle.

“People knew that the clock regulates many different processes, but what they didn’t realize what that when you tweak those processes, it feeds back and alters the clock,” said Steve Kay, Dean of the Division of Biological Sciences at the University of California, San Diego, who led the study along with John Hogenesch of the University of Pennsylvania.

A molecular clock controls daily physiological rhythms in many types of cells, even cells grown in culture.

By engineering cultured cells to glow yellow when a particular clock gene switched on, the team made the cycle visible. They then interfered with every human gene to see which would shift the clock. They found that hundreds altered the timing.

“We just suddenly discovered 350 new genes that affect the clock that weren’t known before,” Kay said.

However, subsequent screening to confirm the genes’ effect on a second clock gene narrowed the list to 200.

Seven genes involved in insulin control also influenced the rhythms of the clock.

“What came out very strongly was this close relationship between circadian regulation and insulin signalling. There’s a reciprocal relationship between circadian dysfunction and metabolic dysfunction,” said Kay.

The researchers suggest that genetically altered mice with malfunctioning clocks become obese and develop diet-induced diabetes.Understanding this close relationship between circadian regulation and metabolic homeostasis should provide novel ways of identifying new therapies for metabolic disease,” Kay added.

The study appears in journal Cell. (ANI)

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Theron will not play Kidman’s wife in sex-change drama

September 17, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, Sep 16 (ANI): South African actress Charlize Theron has turned down a role in a new movie about the first person to undergo a sex-change operation.

Theron, 34, was to play as Gerda Wegener, the wife of artist Einar Wegener opposite Nicole Kidman, 42, in ‘The Danish Girl’, but she recently turned down the role.

Kidman will star and co-produce the project, which is adapted from David Ebershoff’s novel about Wegener, who underwent a procedure to become a woman in the early 1930s.

Tomas Alfredson, who will direct the film, is refusing to let the casting hiccup upset his filming schedule.

“We have been in talks for close to a year, and we are soon going into production,” Contactmusic quoted him as having told Daily Variety. (ANI)

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MJ’s ‘secret’ novel sparks bidding war between publishers

September 15, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, September 15 (ANI): A secret novel penned by Michael Jackson has reportedly sparked a bidding war for its rights between New York publishers.

The King of Pop is said to have based the untitled book on a rock star’s struggle with money and fame at the pinnacle of stardom.

A source told Essence.com that the novel apparently reflects the singer’s own account of fame and self-imposed isolation, reports Contactmusic.

Jackson allegedly conceptualised the plot and characters and also teamed up with a collaborator on the story. (ANI)

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Charles Dickens ‘displayed mild OCD symptoms’

September 14, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, Sept 13 (ANI): Charles Dickens developed a ritualistic routine in his domestic life, together with an obsessive approach to work, which is consistent with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and can be seen reflected in some of his characters, claims a new biography.

Dickens had a habit of rearranging furniture whenever he stayed in a hotel room and inspecting his children’s bedrooms every morning, leaving behind notes when he was not satisfied with their tidiness.

According to Michael Slater, emeritus professor of Victorian literature at Birkbeck college, London, and author of the book, Charles Dickens, the genius’ behaviour could be traced to his childhood when poverty forced his family to move home repeatedly, reports The Times.

Slater said: “The disorder of his upbringing may have had the effect on him of wanting to be in control.”

He reckons that Little Dorrit, the main character in Dickens’s novel of the same name, reflected his character.

“There she is, the epitome of neatness, in the squalid atmosphere of the Marshalsea prison making order and making her father comfortable and sweeping and cleaning and tidying all the time,” said Slater.

Slater said there were also signs of OCD in the semi-autobiographical David Copperfield.

Also, when it came to women, the author’s attitude was governed by neatness. (ANI)

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Biocon limited, Amylin pharmaceuticals enter global development agreement

September 12, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Bangalore/ California Sep 11(ANI/Business Wire India): Biocon, Limited (NSE: BIOCON) and Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMLN) announced today that they have entered into an exclusive agreement to jointly develop, commercialize and manufacture a novel peptide therapeutic for the potential treatment of diabetes.

Amylin and Biocon will collaborate to develop the therapeutic potential of the compound and share development costs. Research will center on Amylin’s “phybrid” technology. A phybrid is a peptide hybrid molecule that combines the pharmacological effects of two peptide hormones into a single molecular entity.

Under the terms of the Development and Commercialization Agreement, Amylin will provide expertise in peptide hormone development, particularly in the area of phybrid technology, as well as metabolic disease therapeutics. Biocon will utilize its expertise in recombinant microbial expression to manufacture the compound and also leverage its experience in pre-clinical and clinical development of diabetes products.

“This agreement fully leverages the synergistic capabilities of the two companies,” said Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chairman and Managing Director, Biocon, Ltd. “Amylin’s knowledge of peptide therapeutics and their leadership in the diabetes market, paired with Biocon’s capabilities in process development, manufacturing and clinical development, provides this global program with the potential to effectively bring a novel therapy to patients living with diabetes.”

“This program could unleash the potential of cutting-edge peptide science to transform the lives of patients with diabetes,” said Daniel M. Bradbury, President and Chief Executive Officer, Amylin Pharmaceuticals. “We are pleased to work with Biocon, a biologics innovator and world-class manufacturing expert, and look forward to collaborating with them on this exciting program.”

Amylin Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company committed to improving lives through the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative medicines. (ANI)

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Kids in modern Britain living in ‘Dickensian poverty’

September 10, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, September 10 (ANI): Kids in the UK receive no better treatment than what orphan Oliver Twist endured in Charles Dickens’s novel, a teacher has claimed.

Lesley Ward alleged students attended school unable to dress themselves, use cutlery or even use the toilet, mirroring the plight of Twist, the child protagonist born into a life of poverty and misfortune in a workhouse.

The president of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) said parents were less likely to pay attention to children’s education due to the strain of living in poor conditions.

“That’s shocking isn’t it?” the Daily Star quoted her as saying.

“You go out to work, perhaps two or even three part-time jobs, and you are still living below the poverty line. Life mirroring the times of Dickens.

“Shared poverty gives rise to shared attitudes, which make learning difficult. Attitudes like: ‘Why should he stay at school? I didn’t and I manage’,” she added. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Association Of Teachers And Lecturers, atl, attitudes, charles dickens, Daily Star, lesley ward, Living Below The Poverty Line, London, misfortune, novel, Oliver Twist, parents, Part Time Jobs, plight, protagonist, s education, toilet, workhouse

Sam Worthington turns producer for sci-fi epic

Robert Pattinson wants to star in ‘Kill Your Friends’ movie remake

Tyra Banks to publish her first novel

Pedro Almodovar snubs muse Penelope Cruz for new horror movie

Spielberg tackles War Horse

Zac Efron lands drug runner role

Clancy’s heroes team up to fight terrorism

Pearson, Coetzee make literary award shortlist

Skipper wants to ‘fly’ boat around the world in 40 days

‘Atonement’ to get opera makeover

Terrorism a by-product of Pak’s past mistakes: Zardari

European company develops mobile robots that are autonomous and multi-tasking

Vaccine for urinary tract infections comes closer to reality

Theron will not play Kidman’s wife in sex-change drama

MJ’s ‘secret’ novel sparks bidding war between publishers

Charles Dickens ‘displayed mild OCD symptoms’

Kids in modern Britain living in ‘Dickensian poverty’

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