Research and Markets: European Markets for Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Devices to 2013

July 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

DUBLIN–(Business Wire)–
Research and Markets
(http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/c1e3ef/european_markets_f) has
announced the addition of the “European Markets for Coronary Artery Bypass Graft
Devices 2009″ report to their offering.

Through 2013, the market for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) devices in
Europe will be driven largely by an increase in procedure volumes caused by
rising rates of coronary artery disease (CAD) and a growing need for repeat
revascularization procedures. Although the market will be limited by less
invasive alternative treatments, such as medical managment and percutaneous
coronary interventions, growing adoption of endoscopic vessel harvesting (EVH)
devices and anastomosis assist devices (AADs) will further support revenue
growth over the forecast period.

Questions Answered in This Report:

The global economic downturn beginning in late 2008 had a broad impact on
European CABG device markets. How have budget restrictions affected the
replacement rate of capital equipment required for CABG procedures? How long
will this impact continue to be felt in the CABG device market?

Cardiac surgeons across Europe are increasingly opting for off-pump coronary
artery bypass (OPCAB) over on-pump coronary artery bypass (ONCAB) methods. How
rapidly is this shift occuring? Will OPCAB completely replace ONCAB? For which
patient subgroups might ONCAB still have a role?

Treatment of CAD by CABG is in direct competition with interventional cardiology
methods. What clinical studies are affecting physicians’ choices? How will the
introduction and adoption of EVH and minimally invasive CABG devices affect this
rivalry?

The competitive landscape of the European CABG device market is highly dynamic.
How have companies used acquisitions to reshape or expand their portfolios? How
do the competitive landscapes of the covered countries differ?

Scope:

Regions covered: France, Germany, Italy, and the UK

Segmentation: Our analysis uses the following segmentation of the market:

* Cardiac surgery labs
* ONCAB devices
* – Disposable perfusion devices (custom perfusion pack and stand-alone:
arterial filters, cardioplegia systems, centrifugal blood pumps,
hemoconcentrators, oxygenators, reservoirs, mini-bypass circuits, and cannulae)
* – Capital equipment (cardiopulmonary bypass machines and centrifugal pump
controllers)
* OPCAB devices
* – Primary devices (stabilizers, positioners, and OPCAB kits)
* – Accessories (blowers/misters and coronary shunts)
* EVH devices
* – Saphenous vein procedures
* – Radial artery procedures
* AADs
* – Proximal (hemostatic seal systems and automated graft delivery system)
* – Distal

Market forecast features: Based on primary research with industry professionals,
we use our proprietary forecasting model to provide an in-depth examination of
current and future trends in procedure volumes, unit sales, average selling
prices, and market values over a 7-year period (20072013).

Competitive analysis: We provide a detailed analysis of the competitive
landscape in the market, as well as market shares and qualitative discussions of
the leading competitors in each market segment.

Key Topics Covered:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF EXHIBITS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

METHODOLOGY

1.0 EUROPEAN CORONARY ARTERY BYPASS GRAFT DEVICE MARKET

2.0 ON-PUMP CORONARY ARTERY BYPASS DEVICE MARKET

3.0 OFF-PUMP CORONARY ARTERY BYPASS DEVICE MARKET

4.0 ENDOSCOPIC VESSEL HARVESTING DEVICE MARKET

5.0 ANASTOMOSIS ASSIST DEVICE MARKET

APPENDIX A: MRG ACRONYMS AND INITIALISMS

APPENDIX B: SUPPLEMENTAL EXHIBITS

For more information visit

http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/c1e3ef/european_markets_f

Source: Millennium Research Group

Research and Markets
Laura Wood, Senior Manager,
press@researchandmarkets.com
U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907
Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

Copyright Business Wire 2010

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Debbie Gibson and Tiffany brawl in Syfy monster movie

June 25, 2010 By Leave a Comment

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Syfy has cast 1980s pop-star rivals Debbie Gibson and Tiffany in one of the network’s signature Saturday night original movies.

Television

The cable network promises an epic battle between the former teen pop stars, who will co-star in “Mega Python vs. Gatoroid.”

Gibson will play a fanatical animal-rights activist who frees illegally imported exotic snakes from pet stores, sending them into the Everglades, where they grow to mega sizes. Tiffany will play an overzealous park ranger who uses dangerous methods to save endangered alligators. In the script, the pair brawl at a party, then take matters outside into the swamp.

Both singers previously have been cast in Syfy originals, but never have appeared together.

The idea was hatched by Syfy’s creative team after Tiffany visited their office and said she always has wanted to work with Gibson, said Thomas Vitale, Syfy’s executive vp programing and original movies; the media often portrayed the duo as rivals during their MTV years. “They loved the idea of taking this perceived rivalry and having some fun with it,” Vitale said.

The project will begin shooting this month and air next year. Mary Lambert (“Pet Sematary”) will direct.

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UPDATE 2-Sanoma sells Welho unit to Finland’s DNA

June 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment

HELSINKI, May 31 (Reuters) – Nordic media group Sanoma Oyj (SAA1V.HE) will sell its Welho cable and broadband unit to Finnish operator DNA, honing its focus and giving it a big stake in one of Finland’s leading listing candidates.

Sanoma, owner of Finland’s largest daily Helsingin Sanomat, has said it wants to streamline its business portfolio, which ranges from traditional media like magazines and television to movie theatres and kiosk operations.

The deal gives DNA, whose roots are in northern and central Finland, a crack at the bigger Helsinki-area cable market, and deepens its rivalry with larger Elisa (ELI1V.HE), which also offers television alongside mobile and fixed-line services.

“The deal makes a lot of sense,” said Handelsbanken analyst Maria Wickstrom. “(It also) opens up the windows for further transactions … Sanoma has a widespread portfolio.”

Sanoma said on Monday the value of the sale was worth around 200 million euros ($245 million) and it would book a gain of around 185 million once the deal received regulatory approval, expected during the summer.

It said it would take the money from DNA and buy a 21 percent stake in the operator in a directed share issue, making it the second-largest shareholder. The payment values DNA at 952 million euros.

At 1012 GMT Sanoma shares were 4.7 percent higher at 14.85 euros, making them the top gainers on a slightly firmer STXE 600 media index. .SXMP

“We will gain a share in a very profitable and competitive company with great growth potential,” Sanoma Chief Executive Hannu Syrjanen said in a statement.

“This is a long-term strategic ownership for us as we believe that media and telecommunication businesses are converging further. Through this transaction we are able to participate in developing the industry.”

DNA CEO Riitta Tiuraniemi told Reuters the deal does not affect any possible listing plans for the operator. She later told a news conference that while the firm is ready for a listing, no such decisions have been taken.

“This deal makes us stronger than ever,” she added.

Welho is Finland’s largest cable TV operator, with 2009 sales of 67 million euros and some 205 staff. DNA is Finland’s third-largest telecom operator. (Reporting by Brett Young; editing by Karen Foster and Michael Shields)

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Hizb commander shot dead by associate in Jammu

May 31, 2010 By Leave a Comment

In a case of rivalry between two top militants, a terrorist belonging to Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) shot dead his commander during a shootout in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir today, police said.

Chota Bashir, district commander of the outfit in Doda and his newly recruited associate Abdul Lateef exchanged fire in Lolore area this morning, in which the latter was killed, they said.

The two turned rivals after Chota Bashir took over as the district commander in Doda following Bashir Lohar’s surrender to the army last month, police said.

Lateef later surrendered to troops of the 10 Rastriya Rifles (RR) and a AK rifle and ammunition was recovered from him, they said, adding the body of the slain militant has been recovered.

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INTERVIEW – Johnson says no rival to give Bolt a jolt

May 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Ben Johnson, the disgraced former sprinter who was banned from competition in 1993 for using steroids, said athletics is fortunate to have Usain Bolt but the sport lacks the kind of rivalries that marked his time in the spotlight.

Johnson, who waged a memorable rivalry with American Carl Lewis during his prime, said Olympic and world champion Bolt is capable of running even farther away from the pack and could lower his 100 meters world record of 9.58 seconds to 9.4.

“Track and field has not the excitement like there used to be anymore. The excitement is gone,” Johnson told Reuters in Harlem on Thursday after participating in a sports symposium.

“We know Bolt is going to win all the time.”

Bolt has electrified the sprint scene since setting the 100 metres world record two years ago in New York, registering an Olympic and world record triple in the 100, 200 and 4×100 relay at the 2008 Olympics, and lowering the current 100m standard at last year’s world championships in Berlin.

Johnson was clocked at a world record 9.79 seconds when he beat Lewis for gold at the 1988 Seoul Olympics before he tested positive for steroids at the Games and had his medal and record stripped away in a startling plunge from prominence.

“Carl Lewis and I were a big rivalry,” Johnson, 48, said.

“We didn’t like each other. But Carl Lewis brought the best out in me and I brought the best out in Carl Lewis. Carl Lewis and Ben Johnson was like Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier back in the ’70s boxing.”

Johnson, banned from competing for life in 1993 after a second positive doping test, now helps train young sprinters in Toronto. The Jamaican-born Johnson does not attend top track events but said he noticed that Bolt has room to improve.

“From what I’ve seen on the replays, I think if he can work on the first 10 metres on his start — he doesn’t have to work on the 30 and 40 — just get the reaction, he can run a 9.4.”

Before the symposium on the future of Jamaican athletics, Johnson, still looking fit in a dark dress suit with his familiar shaved head and sad eyes, told a news conference that his autobiography “Seoul to Soul” would reveal new evidence of sabotage related to his positive dope test.

Saying he was “singled out” as a doping cheat and “wrongfully convicted”, Johnson defended his prowess as a sprinter and said his use of steroids only served to allow him to train harder, not to run faster.

“Usain Bolt and I come from different generations,” he said. “When I was running, I was running 9.79 on a slow track. Now technology has changed and he is running 9.5. So things have changed over the years.

“I’m not saying he is not good. He is great. And it’s good for Jamaica and it’s good for all the kids in Jamaica to say I want to be a part of that.”

(Editing by Frank Pingue; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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Time to bet on spin

May 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

India’s young captain Suresh Raina has managed to get what Mahendra Singh Dhoni could not.

First, he got leg-spinner Amit Mishra and left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha, who have been playing musical chairs in the last one year, in the team for the tri-series in Zimbabwe. And as icing on the cake, the selectors picked R Ashwin, a talented off-spinner from Tamil Nadu, following his decent showing in the IPL

The skipper, thus, has an enviable variety in his spin arsenal.

While the squad to Bangladesh for the Test series in January had three spinners, it is after a fairly long time that the Indian team is travelling abroad with three spinners, covering all varieties, for a one-day series.

Though skipper Raina said the young bunch of pacers would shine in the outing, the spin department will be his best bet. “We have a bunch of talented youngsters and it will be good opportunity for all of us,” the 23-year-old said at a press conference here before the team’s departure. “We have experienced players in the spin department and are keen to do well in Zimbabwe.”

For Mishra and Ojha, who have been pushing hard for the second spinner’s spot in the Asia Cup team, the next two weeks will play a crucial role in checking in for the Asia Cup, starting June 15.

Young and restless

Amid the Mishra-Ojha rivalry, Ashwin would hope for a tweak in his fortunes. But he is rooted to the surface. “I am not thinking about the Asia Cup at the moment – my focus is only on this tournament,” he said. “We have three good spinners in the team, so it’s not about hoping for a place in the next series but about doing your job and cashing in on any opportunity that comes your way (in Zimbabwe).”

The 23-year-old opened with the new ball for his IPL side, Chennai Super Kings, and added a new dimension to his bowling. And though he said that “helping each other is more important” while playing for the country, Ashwin is shrewd enough to realise the importance of that move. “When someone talks about me, they will know I can even open the bowling as an off spinner. That opens up a lot of options,” he said.

But the trip will be a point to prove for all three, as they will get a chance to firm up their place on the international stage, according to Ashwin.

Calm with experience

Being the most experienced among the trio, Mishra, making a comeback, knows the huge expectations and therefore wants to keep things simple. “There is no point in thinking too much ahead,” he said.

“One needs to be calm and just try to bowl properly using variations. If you keep thinking about your place in the team and lose focus, chances are you may end up nowhere,” Mishra added.

Performance matters

Ojha, meanwhile, rubbished the idea that the performance in Zimbabwe may not count for much. “There is also another team – Sri Lanka,” he said, “and this is an international tournament, so taking wickets won’t be easy.”

All three, though, are aware that only one of them will pass the test for the Asia Cup. With Harbhajan Singh set to retain his spot in the trip to the Emerald Islands, the trio will hope to make the most of this low-key event.

Besides the May 28-June 9 tri-series, also involving Sri Lanka, India play two T20 internationals against hosts Zimbabwe on June 12 and 13.

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Bolt cruises to victory on China return

May 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Usain Bolt celebrated his return to China for the first time since his Beijing Olympic heroics with a comfortable victory in the 200 metres at the Shanghai Diamond League meeting on Sunday.

Less than two years after his sensational sprints at the Bird’s Nest arena, the Olympic and world champion treated Shanghai Stadium to a more controlled performance on a cool and windy evening in China’s financial capital.

Well ahead by the halfway stage, Bolt crossed the line 10 metres clear of the field in 19.76 seconds, outside his own world best time of the year (19.56) and well shy of his world mark (19.19).

The 23-year-old Jamaican, who ran the fastest 100 metres of the year (9.86) in Daegu, South Korea on Wednesday, was followed over the line by Americans Angelo Taylor and Ryan Bailey.

“For me tonight was definitely a good run. I felt good. I felt all right,” the 100m and 200m world record holder told reporters.

“Here it was kind of chilly and it was windy and a negative wind … But I felt good overall and that’s a good thing.

“I didn’t think of posing (to celebrate). I did it so much in Korea I guess I was kind of tired of doing it.”

The biggest name in world athletics, Bolt was making his debut in the new 14-leg elite Diamond League circuit after skipping the opening meeting in Doha this month.

With Bolt dominating the men’s side, Carmelita Jeter did her bit to balance the Jamaican-U.S. sprint rivalry with a commanding victory over world and Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser in the women’s 100m.

OVERHAULED FRASER

The muscular American, who ran the second fastest 100m of all time in Shanghai last year, was slower out of the blocks but caught up with and overhauled her Jamaican rival.

“I wasn’t expecting too much,” said Jeter, who crossed the line in 11.09 seconds.

“For this year my goal is keep healthy. It is a season of recovery, not too much pressure, not the championship season. It is just a beginning and it is much better than I expected.”

It was Jeter’s seventh win in a row since finishing third at the world championships in Berlin last year, a race won by Fraser.

“I’m disappointed,” said Fraser, who trailed home in 11.29. “But I think that I’m somewhat okay. I have to go back to train and work much harder.”

American David Oliver was hugely impressive in the 110 metres hurdles, powering home in 12.99 seconds to upset hometown hero Liu Xiang and world champion Ryan Brathwaite.

Former world and Olympic champion Liu, still dogged by the Achilles injury that ruined his Beijing Olympic dream, was third behind compatriot Shi Dongpeng, while Brathwaite pulled up in frustration after knocking down his first three hurdles.

“My foot was definitely not well,” said Liu, who clocked 13.40. “For me it was quite a challenge. Competition relies on training, systematic, intensive and high quality training. But I have had none.”

(Editing by Ed Osmond; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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Australia seek treble as England bid to end wait

May 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Australia seek a world title treble while England will be chasing a first global one-day trophy when the old enemies meet in Sunday’s Twenty20 World Cup final in Barbados.

Australia already own the titles in the 50-over World Cup and the Champions Trophy but England have failed to land a prize in the 35 years since the International Cricket Council began global one-day events.

An exciting tournament will end at the Kensington Oval with the two best teams meeting in a fixture given added spice by the ancient rivalry between Australia and England.

While Australia have dominated the Twenty20 throughout, they will face an England team that has looked more together, focused and talented than any they have assembled in recent years.

However, as skipper Paul Collingwood has frequently noted, that progress will count for little if they return home from the Caribbean empty-handed again.

“We haven’t won anything yet — that’s the thing. We’ve got to a final but it means nothing until we win a World Cup,” he told reporters. “Until we do that we’re going to keep our feet on the ground.”

Collingwood hinted he would field the same team that comfortably beat Sri Lanka in their semi-final on Thursday.

That will mean a first taste of Australian pace bowling for young openers Craig Kieswetter and Michael Lumb.

POSITIVE APPROACH

The pair have kick-started England’s innings well throughout the tournament and despite the threat posed by the pace of Shaun Tait and Dirk Nannes, Collingwood said he would not ask his openers to change their positive approach.

“We’ve got a plan of action against every team and right the way through the tournament we have been very aggressive and I don’t want to change our mindset going into the final,” said the captain.

“The guys are going to go out with confidence and belief and keep doing the things they have been doing well throughout this tournament.”

Australia have looked the most powerful outfit in the event although they needed a rescue act from Mike Hussey, who struck a brilliant 60 in 24 balls, to get past Pakistan in Friday’s semi-final.

Michael Clarke’s men will be favourites largely due to their strength in depth and experience in big matches.

Clarke, though, said the form book counted for little in the compressed action of Twenty20.

“People would have thought we were the favourites on Friday and we nearly got beaten,” he said. “The fact is that we’ve got two wonderful cricket teams who’ve played fantastic Twenty20 cricket throughout this tournament.

“We have come a long way in this form of the game. But we didn’t come here to make the final, we came here to win the final.

“There’s no doubt we’d be much happier leaving Barbados with that one last trophy we don’t have just yet,” added Clarke.

(Editing by Tony Jimenez. To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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Collingwood unfazed by Australian win

May 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

England captain Paul Collingwood said he was unsurprised by Australia’s remarkable last-over win over Pakistan and believes his team are ready to beat their old rivals in Sunday’s Twenty20 World Cup final.

Mike Hussey hit 60 off 24 balls, including three sixes in the last over, as Australia won their semi-final against Pakistan in dramatic style, having looked out of the game.

“We always knew what Australia were capable of,” said Collingwood, “Nothing surprised us yesterday. All we can concentrate on is our game.

“Australia have always been a very strong side, and they still are. It bodes well for what should be a very, very good final.

“Whether it had been Pakistan or Australia, we were going to have to play very, very good cricket,” he said.

England have marched to the final on the back of a series of impressive performances, comfortably dealing with Sri Lanka in their semi-final after winning all three Super Eight games and Collingwood said the team, which is likely to be unchanged, are relishing the biggest challenge yet.

“There’s plenty of confidence in our side, the way we’ve played throughout this tournament has given us a lot of belief.

“We believe we’ve got the skills to beat any side on the day. We have surprised a few ourselves in this tournament — and the guys are very, very positive.

England have never won a global limited overs in the 35 years since the ICC began organising them but Collingwood said there were no signs of excessive pressure taking a toll.

“When you’re going into a World Cup final there’s a lot of emotion around. But the guys seem very relaxed, and know their roles very well.

“We haven’t won anything yet — that’s the thing. We’ve got to a final, but it means nothing until we win a World Cup. Until we do that, we’re going to keep our feet on the ground.

England and Australia’s rivalry, which dates back to the first official test match in 1877, adds some extra spark to a game which, after Friday’s drama, is being highly anticipated.

“This is literally the ultimate. You’ve got through to a World Cup final; you’re playing against the old enemy, Australia. It doesn’t get much better than this,” he said.

England’s last attempt to win a world event was the 2004 Champions Trophy, which ended in defeat to West Indies and Collingwood is the only survivor from that team.

In contrast Australia currently hold the two other international limited overs titles — the 50 overs World Cup and the Champions Trophy, but Collingwood said England’s lack of big final experience would not necessarily work against them.

“I think if you have played in big matches it does help but there is also the cause that if you are fresh into a side and you don’t know what it’s all about it can sometimes help.

“There are a lot of guys in our side that haven’t experienced finals but I really do sense the guys are ready. The guys seem very relaxed going into such a big occasion and that’s a great sign,” he said.

(Editing by Alison Wildey

To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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One killed, seven injured in Dagestan blast

May 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Moscow, May 8 (IANS/RIA Novosti) At least one person was killed and seven people were injured in a blast that ripped through a railway station in Derbent town in the Russian North Caucasus republic of Dagestan Friday night, a police source said.

‘According to the latest information, the number of wounded increased to seven,’ the source said adding that the number may rise further.

The explosive device was placed in a garbage dumpster near the platform, he said, adding that one of the hospitalised people is a police officer, who sustained grave wounds in the blast.

Russia’s mainly Muslim North Caucasus republics, especially Chechnya, Dagestan and Ingushetia, have seen an upsurge of militant violence lately, with frequent attacks on police and officials.

The Kremlin has pledged to wage ‘a ruthless fight’ against militant groups but also acknowledged a need to tackle unemployment, organised crime, clan rivalry and corruption as causes of the ongoing violence in the region

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Jessica Parker, Cattrall, Nixon admit to on-set rows

May 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, May 8 (ANI): Stars of hit American TV series ‘Sex and The City’ have admitted that there used to be rivalry between the actors and continuous arguing on the sets – but insisted they are still friends.

Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall and Cynthia Nixon revealed about their rivalry with each other.

Parker and Cattrall were at the centre of a rumoured rift. They had previously rubbished rumours, saying that they are friends who maintain a professional working relationship, reports The Daily Express.

But now they have opened up and revealed about their onset struggles.

“When you”re on set, you”re working 90-hour weeks, you”re never home, you”re exhausted. There are times when all of us have been sensitive and sometimes feelings get hurt. But I don”t have any regrets about how I”ve treated people,” 45-year-old Parker said.

“It hasn”t always been smooth sailing. But the idea that we”re somehow adversarial is ludicrous,” Nixon said.

“Nineteen-hour workdays are stressful, whether you”re driving a truck, working in a coal mine or on a set and trying to be your brightest at 4 o”clock in the morning. But there”s a camaraderie that happened through all of that. The chemistry among the four of us is very strong,” Cattrall said. (ANI)

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Hamilton undaunted by Button challenge

May 7, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, May 7 (ANI): Lewis Hamilton is unfazed by the threat posed by in-form Jenson Button, who is leading Formula One’s Battle of Britain.

Button has won two of this season’s four races while McLaren team-mate Hamilton is yet to register a win.

Button leads the world championship table, and Hamilton is back in joint-third place with archrival Fernando Alonso.

Asked whether he fancied his chances at supplanting Button, an unperturbed Hamilton told The Sun, “Yeah, I”m not sweating, it”s all good. It”s a long season and we”ve only had four races, so there”s a long, long way to go.”

Hamilton, who has pulled off 32 overtaking manoeuvres this season against Button”s seven, added, “I don”t fear anyone or any other team. I have not even looked at what points I have or what points I don”t have. We”ll see what happens in the future.”

Meanwhile, Hamilton insists that their rivalry is limited to the racetrack alone, and that their performances are propelling McLaren to greater victories, “We”re coping really well and doing productive work at the team. I”m in the best team with the best team-mate,” said Hamilton.

On the subject of racing with Formula-One giant Michael Schumacher Hamilton said it was a privilege to go wheel-to-wheel with him.

Schumacher’s comeback from retirement has been disappointing with Hamilton easily out-doing him on the circuit. (ANI)

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Federer still feels Nadal is still the clay champ he wants to beat

April 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Rome, Apr.27 (ANI): Despite his victory in last year”s French Open, World No 1 Roger Federer believes ”tearaway” Spaniard Rafael Nadal remains the one clay court champion to beat.

When Federer goes to the Roland Garros next month, he believes the favourite to lift the Coupe des Mousquetaires will be a rival who has just won his first tournament for 11 months.

Federer says he has always held Rafael Nadal in the highest respect and believes the Spaniard is rapidly putting his recent difficulties behind him.

“The guy”s been on an absolute tearaway on clay for pretty much the last five years,” The Independent quoted Federer, as saying.

“He”s hardly lost any matches on clay and he”s only lost one match at the French Open, so I would think he”s still the favourite. I would love to say I”m the big favourite, but I don”t think that”s quite right, even though I won the French Open last year,” he added.

“He (Nadal) just hasn”t lost to anyone on clay outside of the top five or top 10 players – and he”s just proved again in Monaco how tough he is,” Federer said.

Meanwhile, Nadal is also doing his best to be match fit in the run-up to the next two Grand Slam tournaments.

As for the prospect of renewing an old rivalry with Federer, Nadal said: “It”s too early at the start of the tournament to think about Federer. I think for me and for Roger it would be a pleasure if we played each other in the semi-finals – just because it would be very good news to be in the semi-finals of a very tough tournament like Rome.” (ANI)

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Cavs take two-game advantage to Chicago

April 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

LeBron James scored 40 points as the Cavaliers took a 112-102 win and a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven NBA playoff series against Chicago on Monday.

The Cavs did not miss a shot from three-point range in the final 12 minutes and were perfect from the free throw line to seal a two-game lead before the series heads to Chicago on Thursday.

After never looking like losing control in the first game on Saturday, Cleveland was constantly challenged by the Bulls in their second meeting and it was close until the fourth quarter.

James exploded for 15 points in the final period, scoring 11 straight as the Cavaliers stretched their lead to 107-98 with under two minutes to play.

The Cavaliers’ marquee man, who becomes a free agent after this season and whose signature is the hottest property in the NBA, added eight rebounds and eight assists

The two teams built a heated rivalry over the course of the season and the playoff series has done nothing to ease the tension, with Bulls forward Joakim Noah booed every time he touched the ball.

“(The Bulls) were talking the whole game,” James told the team’s official website.

“Every time I caught the ball over there (by the Bulls’ bench), they were daring me to shoot the ball. So that’s what I did.

“They asked me to shoot a jumper and I did that, over and over and over and over and over and over and over again.”

Noah defied the cold reception by putting up 25 points and 13 boards.

In other games, Utah point guard Deron Williams had 33 points and 14 assists and Carlos Boozer had a 20-point, 15-rebound night as the Jazz held off the Denver Nuggets to tie their first round series 1-1.

Williams and Kyle Korver drained crucial free throws in the dying seconds to keep the Nuggets at bay.

Carmelo Anthony backed up his 42-point effort on Saturday night with 32 on Monday, but Denver struggled from beyond the arc, making just 4 of 18 three-point attempts.

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Firebirds finally take flight against Mystics

April 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Rivalry round honours have gone to Australia in the trans-Tasman netball league, as the Romelda Aiken-inspired Queensland Firebirds broke through for their first win of the season.

Preseason fancy Queensland got its groove back, as it outmuscled the Auckland-based Northern Mystics 71-54 at the Brisbane Convention Centre.

The Rivalry Round Trophy was all but decided before the Firebirds ran out against the Mystics after the unbeaten Melbourne Vixens thumped the Tactix 64-49 at Christchurch earlier in the night.

Domination in the round matching up the five Australian and five New Zealand teams is decided by goal aggregate.

And the Vixens’ victory gave the Aussies a massive 41-strong advantage heading into the Firebirds’ crunch clash.

Yet Queensland still had plenty to play for after surprisingly dropping its first three games despite dominating the preseason with tournament wins in both Queenstown and Sydney.

Indeed the Mystics would have backed themselves to notch their first win on Australian soil and reclaim fourth spot after arriving with a 2-1 record – their only loss coming against heavyweights Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic last round.

However, following great service from Sarah Wall and Lauren Nourse, Queensland’s maligned scoring duo of Aiken and Natalie Medhurst finally clicked – much to rookie Firebirds coach Roselee Jencke’s relief.

After struggling in the early rounds to cope with increased attention from opposition defenders, Jamaican sensation Aiken detonated on Monday night, shooting 42 from 50 at 84 per cent.

World championship-winning goal attack Medhurst was just as damaging, shooting 29 from 32 at 91.

Catherine Latu (29 from 34 at 85) and Maria Tutaia (25 from 29 at 86) tried to keep the visitors in contention as Queensland kept its nose in front to lead 15-12 at the first break and 32-27 at half-time.

But it was all over after Queensland outscored the visitors 20-11 in a third-term blitz to enjoy a 52-38 advantage at the final break.

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ANALYSIS – Leaders turn frequent flyers as weak Iraq forms gov’t

April 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Iraqi leaders, struggling to form a government after an inconclusive March poll, are travelling around the region to set out their political stalls, forge alliances and to enhance their reputations at home.

Despite having almost 100,000 troops in Iraq, Washington has so far been absent from politicians’ travel itineraries.

Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Syria and the United States have their own favourite to become Iraq’s prime minister, Iyad Allawi, a secular Shi’ite Muslim with a cross-sectarian coalition, as they try to limit the influence of neighbouring mainly Shi’ite Iran.

That could mean an Iraq more able to resist Iran, the world’s fifth-biggest oil exporter and locked in a stand-off with the West over its nuclear programme.

Tehran has been a big influence since the 2003 invasion and Shi’ites outnumber Sunnis in Iraq, giving Iran an advantage.

But the ancient rivalry between Iranians and Arabs and Iraqis’ strong nationalism is going to limit how far Tehran can go in shaping a government, at least openly, analysts said.

“I don’t think there is a foreign kingmaker in Iraqi politics,” said David Mack, vice president of the Middle East Institute in Washington.

The Iranians “have their influence, they potentially want a government that will not be threatening to them. But there’s a limit. I don’t think that they are in any sense able to control matters,” Mack told Reuters.

The narrowness of the election as Iraq emerges from years of sectarian fighting, has given foreign players a role in Iraq’s efforts to assemble a government, with some analysts saying this makes politicians vulnerable to pressure from abroad.

“What we’re seeing is symptomatic of the weakness of the Iraqi state,” said Joost Hiltermann, an analyst with the International Crisis Group in Washington.

“The neighbouring states prey on the divisions in Iraqi politics. The situation is very fluid and chaotic because there is no (single) strong player, on either side.”

The fragility of the post-election security situation in Iraq has been emphasised by an upsurge of violence in Baghdad province this month that has killed more than 100 people. Security forces blame the violence on al Qaeda militants.

FREQUENT FLYERS

Complex political talks at home have been supplemented with a whirlwind of foreign visits by political leaders since final election results were announced on March 26.

Allawi’s cross-sectarian Iraqiya coalition finished first with 91 seats in the 325-seat parliament. Iraqiya, which drew substantial support from Sunni Muslims, was two seats ahead of the State of Law coalition of Shi’ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. Forming a government demands 163 seats.

Since the election, Iraqi politicians including Maliki and President Jalal Talabani have visited senior officials in Iran, a bulwark for Shi’ite Muslims.

Leaders have also met there with powerful anti-U.S. cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, head of a leading faction in the Shi’ite Iraqi National Alliance (INA), which has close links to Iran.

Toby Dodge, an Iraq expert at the University of London, said Iran had first tried to boost Shi’ite voters’ participation in the elections. Now Tehran is trying to oversee a merger between Sadrists and State of Law as the core of a new government.

“Clearly it has the most influence of any country in Iraq, much more than the U.S. or Saudi Arabia. Iran has invested a great deal of money and a great deal of time in cultivating their allies in Baghdad,” he said.

In turn, Qusai abd al-Wahab, a Sadrist leader and head of the INA political negotiations committee, said the Sadrists had visited Iran, Jordan, Syria and Saudi Arabia. They also have been invited to Egypt, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

“All the neighbouring countries have the same weight for us. We wanted to send a message that we respect them as much as we respect Iran,” he told Reuters.

Allawi, a former prime minister, has visited Turkey and Lebanon. Other stops on politicians’ regional circuit include Syria and the Gulf states.

In one high-level visit, Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi, an Iraqiya leader, went to Qatar on Monday to discuss efforts to form a government, the presidential website said.

Mack, of the Middle East Institute, said politicians were garnering support from foreign capitals as well as boosting their profiles at home as talks to form a government went on.

“We’re at the stage now where the audience is the other political factions, not simply whether a given political leader had popular support … but whether a given political leader can govern the country,” he said.

Although no Iraqi politician has made a flight to Washington, U.S. officials say they are in touch with all the main parties. “We’re prepared to work with whoever emerges,” Ambassador Christopher Hill told reporters last week.

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Murdoch to limit Google, Microsoft

April 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment

News Corp chairman Rupert Murdoch says Google and Microsoft’s access to his newspapers could be limited to a “headline or a sentence or two” once he erects a pay wall around his titles’ websites.

Mr Murdoch, in an interview with journalist Marvin Kalb for The Kalb Report, said he believed most US newspapers would eventually end up charging readers online, like he does with The Wall Street Journal and plans to do with his other properties, beginning with The Times of London.

“You’ll find, I think, most newspapers in this country are going to be putting up a pay wall,” he said.

“Now how high does it go? Does it allow [visitors] to have the first couple of paragraphs or certain feature articles? We’ll see. We’re experimenting with it ourselves.”

The News Corp chief said “we’re going to stop people like Google and Microsoft and whoever from taking our stories for nothing”.

Search advertising had produced a “river of gold” for Google, he said, “but those words are being taken mostly from the newspapers. And I think they ought to stop it, the newspapers ought to stand up and make them do their own reporting or whatever.”

Mr Murdoch said he did not expect search engines would pay for access to newspapers.

“We’ll be very happy if they just publish our headline or a sentence or two and that’s followed by a subscription form,” he said.

Mr Murdoch dismissed concerns that readers used to getting news on the internet for free would be reluctant to pay.

“I think when they’ve got nowhere else to go they’ll start paying,” he said.

Mr Murdoch was also asked about the rivalry between The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, which has announced plans to launch an expanded New York edition later this month.

“I’ve got great respect for the Times, except it does have very clearly an agenda,” he said. “You can see it in the way they choose their stories, what they put on Page One – anything [President Barack] Obama wants.

“And the White House pays off by feeding them stories.”

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Politics and affection

March 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

There is an old saying about kids in kindergarten. When a young boy pulls a girl’s hair it is actually a sign of affection.

That saying crystallised recently in parliament as the Liberal’s Peter Collier and Labor’s Ljiljanna Ravlich ripped into each other through a series of parliamentary Question Time sparring sessions.

It is always entertaining when politicians dislike each other, more so when the repugnance is so strong, that they may actually like each other.

At least that’s what it seemed like this week up the ‘hill’.

The Collier/Ravlich rivalry is fast becoming WA’s version of the relationship between Tony ‘Punch’ Abbott and Julia ‘Judy’ Gillard.

The tension resonates each time Question Time rolls around.

Last Tuesday was a prime example. Protestors rallying over a much more serious matter disrupted parliament and were ejected from the house. When proceedings resumed the Labor MP was standing ready with her question, leading one Government member to note that the ‘real’ trouble was about to begin.

The dispute was actually quite minor: Ms Ravlich claimed the number of apprentices in training had fallen under the current government. Mr Collier says she got the numbers wrong. Then the fun started. The Minister for Training attempted to answer the question while his opposite number sat coiled like a spring and yapped insults across the chamber. “You’ve got no idea, I’m going to prove you wrong sunshine,” she barked.

The Minister, a former school teacher, sighed deeply and forgot every lesson he had given on bullying.

“Mr President everyone involved in this matter is trying to work together to get the best result, except that is for little Ms Nelly No Friends over here!”

In a former life Mr Collier was also a professional tennis coach and it is just as well, as Ravlich hurled an indecipherable volley of abuse across the chamber at the Minister.

The next day was no better. Ms Ravlich continued to bang on about apprentice trainees. The abuse rose to a crescendo, leaving the President of the upper house Barry House to put things in perspective: “I’m not sure what it is about you two but you bring out the worst in each other and it’s having a negative influence on some of the other members.”

The Minister was forced to revert to his old student manual as he worked his way through Ms Ravlich’s question. Each time she interjected he would extend his palm in a ‘stop’ motion, exclaiming “Ah!” At one stage I thought he was going to reprimand the Labor MP for ‘hands on head’ until he had finished.

If Mr Collier was playing teacher, then the rest of the chamber was doing its best to play the part of unruly students.

“Someone misses being a school teacher,” Labor’s Ken Travers whined across the house, met by an equally lame “Someone missed being in Government” from Transport Minister Simon O’Brien. “I know you are, you said you are.”, and so on.

Politics and affection? Oil and Water.

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Politics and affection

March 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

There is an old saying about kids in kindergarten. When a young boy pulls a girl’s hair it is actually a sign of affection.

That saying crystallised recently in parliament as the Liberal’s Peter Collier and Labor’s Ljiljanna Ravlich ripped into each other through a series of parliamentary Question Time sparring sessions.

It is always entertaining when politicians dislike each other, more so when the repugnance is so strong, that they may actually like each other.

At least that’s what it seemed like this week up the ‘hill’.

The Collier/Ravlich rivalry is fast becoming WA’s version of the relationship between Tony ‘Punch’ Abbott and Julia ‘Judy’ Gillard.

The tension resonates each time Question Time rolls around.

Last Tuesday was a prime example. Protestors rallying over a much more serious matter disrupted parliament and were ejected from the house. When proceedings resumed the Labor MP was standing ready with her question, leading one Government member to note that the ‘real’ trouble was about to begin.

The dispute was actually quite minor: Ms Ravlich claimed the number of apprentices in training had fallen under the current government. Mr Collier says she got the numbers wrong. Then the fun started. The Minister for Training attempted to answer the question while his opposite number sat coiled like a spring and yapped insults across the chamber. “You’ve got no idea, I’m going to prove you wrong sunshine,” she barked.

The Minister, a former school teacher, sighed deeply and forgot every lesson he had given on bullying.

“Mr President everyone involved in this matter is trying to work together to get the best result, except that is for little Ms Nelly No Friends over here!”

In a former life Mr Collier was also a professional tennis coach and it is just as well, as Ravlich hurled an indecipherable volley of abuse across the chamber at the Minister.

The next day was no better. Ms Ravlich continued to bang on about apprentice trainees. The abuse rose to a crescendo, leaving the President of the upper house Barry House to put things in perspective: “I’m not sure what it is about you two but you bring out the worst in each other and it’s having a negative influence on some of the other members.”

The Minister was forced to revert to his old student manual as he worked his way through Ms Ravlich’s question. Each time she interjected he would extend his palm in a ‘stop’ motion, exclaiming “Ah!” At one stage I thought he was going to reprimand the Labor MP for ‘hands on head’ until he had finished.

If Mr Collier was playing teacher, then the rest of the chamber was doing its best to play the part of unruly students.

“Someone misses being a school teacher,” Labor’s Ken Travers whined across the house, met by an equally lame “Someone misses being in Government” from Transport Minister Simon O’Brien. “I know you are, you said you are.”, and so on.

Politics and affection? Oil and Water.

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Whincup sets early pace at Albert Park

March 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

V8 Supercar champion Jamie Whincup says the non-championship status of this weekend’s races at the Australian Grand Prix will not affect the level of competition on the track.

The TeamVodafone driver topped the timesheets after Thursday’s 30 minute all-in qualifying session at the Albert Park street circuit, coming in just ahead of championship rival Garth Tander.

Whincup clocked a one minute and 57.931 seconds lap in the qualifying session, with Tander second-fastest with a 1:57.997.

New Zealand veteran Greg Murphy made it a Holden one-two-three, qualifying third fastest for Friday’s top 10 shootout with a 1:58.248 lap.

While the three sprint races to be held over the weekend mean nothing in terms of the championship ladder, Whincup was adamant there is still plenty of drive to come out on top, particularly after Tander’s double win in the Clipsal 500 earlier this month.

“There’s always a good battle here, it’s always a good race,” Whincup said.

“Everyone’s going to use their tyres this year because it’s compulsory, there’ll be no-one trying to save a set for somewhere else. That’s a good initiative that’s come in.

“We’re just going to crack it out and who knows? Hopefully we’ll all have the same tyre strategy, we’ll all just put our good tyres on at the same time and we all can just battle it out.”

Tander, who recovered from a disappointing opening two rounds in the Middle East to surge back into championship contention in Adelaide, said he was enjoying the early rivalry with Whincup.

“Shootout tomorrow is going to be a difficult one, that’s one of the hardest laps we do because we don’t drive the car until the shootout tomorrow and the track grip changes considerably because the F1 guys are running,” he said.

“[I'm] looking forward to that, certainly the battle we’re having with Jamie at the moment is enjoyable, the car, set-up wise, is very different to what traditionally we’d run here and it’s responding very nicely.”

Murphy is also hoping to impress at Albert Park after missing the season-opening round in Abu Dhabi and having a disappointing weekend in Adelaide after a promising start.

“We’ve got pressure on to start doing what we’d told everyone we were going to do, and that’s to be competitive,” he said.

“This is a pretty good start.”

The other drivers to qualify for Friday’s top 10 shootout were James Courtney, Rick Kelly, Jason Richards, Paul Dumbrell and Shane van Gisbergen.

The shootout will be held from 3:00pm (AEDT) and will determine pole position and the front five rows of the grid for the day’s 13-lap sprint race starting at 6.15pm.

-AAP

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