Spectrum Pharmaceuticals Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2009 Corporate Update

* Form 10-K For Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2009 Submitted to the SEC on
April 2, 2010
* FY09 Revenues Approximately $38.0M
* ZEVALIN® FY09 and Q4 Revenues Approximately $15.7M and $5.1M, respectively
* Strong Cash Position With Approximately $125M In Cash and Investments as of
December 31, 2009
* Major Development Programs on Track
* Delay In Filing of Form 10-K Related To Accounting Restatement To Reclassify
Common Stock Warrants From Equity To Liability

* $19.8M Income In FY09 and $6.6M Common Stock Warrant Liability At December 31,
2009, Result From Accounting Entries, With No Cash Impact
* No Impact On Financial Statement Amounts Previously Reported For Assets,
Revenues, Operating Costs And Expenses, Or Net Cash Flows
* No Effect On Performance Of Core Business Operations

IRVINE, Calif.–(Business Wire)–
Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NasdaqGM: SPPI), a commercial-stage
biotechnology company with a primary focus in oncology, today reported financial
results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2009.

Company Operations and Performance

“The year 2009 was filled with notable accomplishments for Spectrum that have
laid the groundwork for continued and significant growth in 2010 and beyond,”
said Rajesh C. Shrotriya, MD, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Spectrum
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. “The stabilization of the ZEVALIN® brand in 2009 and the
signing of two partnerships for the Asian territories for apaziquone (EOquin®)
provided us with the resources to acquire Belinostat, a novel HDAC inhibitor in
pivotal trials for peripheral T-Cell lymphoma (PTCL). As of today, we have two
FDA-approved and marketed anti-cancer drugs ZEVALIN and FUSILEV, that in 2009
generated approximately $28.2M in product revenue. In addition, we have two
novel anti-cancer drugs in late stage pivotal trials being conducted under a
Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) from the FDA. These are Belinostat for PTCL
and apaziquone for bladder cancer. In 2009 we completed enrollment of over 1,600
patients in clinical trials with apaziquone. We currently expect to file the New
Drug Applications for Belinostat and apaziquone in 2011 and 2012, respectively.
We have been successful in growing Spectrum through strict fiscal discipline,
portfolio management, and an opportunistic approach to drug acquisitions.”

Fourth Quarter Results1 Ended December 31, 2009

Consolidated revenue of $8.6 million was comprised of product sales of $5.2
million – $5.1 million from ZEVALIN, an increase of 8.5% over third quarter
2009, and $0.1 million from FUSILEV – $1.5 million attributable to the milestone
payment upon full enrollment of the apaziquone Phase 3 trials, and $1.9 million
attributable to the amortization of the Allergan licensing fee. This compares to
$8.0 million in revenue in the same period in 2008. The Company recorded a net
profit of $10.2 million, or $0.21 (basic earnings) and $0.20 (diluted earnings)
per share, compared to a net loss of $8.9 million, or ($0.28) basic and diluted
loss per share, in the fourth quarter of 2008, after reporting $19.8 million of
income resulting from the reclassification of common stock warrants from equity
to liability. Total research and development expenses were $3.5 million, as
compared to $7.6 million in the same period of 2008, a $4.1 million, or 54%
decrease, mainly due to sharing by our partner, Allergan, Inc., of
apaziquone-related development costs, and a reduction in development costs
related to other pipeline products. Selling, general and administrative expenses
were $11.1 million compared to the $6.2 million in the same period in 2008. The
$4.9 million increase was attributable to the direct cost of commercialization
activities related to ZEVALIN and FUSILEV and related payroll costs.

Fiscal Year End Results1
Ended December 31, 2009

Consolidated revenue of $38.0 million was comprised of product sales of $28.2
million – of which $15.7 million derived from ZEVALIN and $12.5 million from
FUSILEV – $1.5 million attributable to the milestone payment upon full
enrollment of the apaziquone Phase 3 trials, and $8.3 million attributable to
the amortization of the Allergan licensing fee. This consolidated revenue
compares to $28.7 million for the same period in 2008, which was comprised of
approximately $7.7 million and $0.3 million derived from FUSILEV and ZEVALIN
sales. After the recording of $8.1 million income resulting from the
reclassification of common stock warrant from equity to liability, the Company
recorded a net loss of $19.0 million, or ($0.48) basic and diluted loss per
share, compared to a net loss of $14.2 million, or ($0.45) basic and diluted
loss per share, in the same period of 2008. Research and development expenses
were $21.1 million, as compared to $26.7 million in the same period of 2008, a
$5.6 million, or 21% decrease, mainly due to sharing by our partner, Allergan
Inc., of apaziquone-related development costs, and a reduction in development
costs related to other pipeline products. Selling, general and administrative
expenses were $33.6 million, compared to the $15.2 million in the same period in
2008, attributable to the direct cost of commercialization activities related to
ZEVALIN and FUSILEV and related payroll costs.

Net cash used in operations in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 was $17.6
million compared to approximately $8.0 million during 2008, stated after
revenues of approximately $20.7 million from the sale of interests in certain
non-core assets. The 2009 operating cash outflows are reflective of higher
selling, general, and administrative expenses due, in a large part, to the
marketing efforts associated with ZEVALIN, substantially mitigated by revenues
from ZEVALIN and FUSILEV and the participation by Allergan Inc. in
apaziquone-related development expenses.

As of December 31, 2009, the Company had cash and total investments of
approximately $125 million, compared to approximately $78 million as of December
31, 2008. Currently there are approximately 49 million shares of common stock
outstanding.

Restatement of Financial Statements

As more fully described in the Company`s Annual Report on Form 10K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, the common stock warrants issued in
connection with registered common stock offerings during 2005 and 2009, were
previously classified as equity. In connection with the audit for the fiscal
year 2009, the Company, in consultation with its independent registered public
accounting firm, Ernst & Young LLP, reassessed the “Accounting for Derivative
Financial Instruments Indexed to, and Potentially Settled in, a Company`s Own
Stock”, a highly complex area of accounting under US Generally Accepted
Accounting Principles. In view of an interpretation that these common stock
warrants could, under highly remote theoretical circumstances require
net-cash-settlement, the Company`s audit committee determined that recordation
of common stock warrants as liabilities was required under US GAAP. Accordingly,
the Company made accounting adjustments restating previously issued consolidated
financial statements, including the quarterly condensed consolidated financial
statements for the periods ended March 31, 2008 through September 30, 2009.

“The restatement does not have any impact on the financial statement amounts
previously reported for the Company`s cash balances, assets, revenues, operating
costs and expenses, or reported net cash flows for any of the restated years, or
any quarterly period in those years,” said Shyam Kumaria, Vice President of
Finance.

In our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, we have reflected
the necessary adjustments to previously filed financial statements. We have not
amended such previously filed Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the fiscal years
ended December 31, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008, or the Quarterly Reports on Form
10-Q for the periods ended September 30, 2005 through September 30, 2009, which
previously issued statements should thus no longer be relied upon. For further
information regarding the restatement, please read our Annual Report on Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009.

Upcoming Company Milestones

ZEVALIN

* Continue to grow the ZEVALIN brand, currently approved for:

* Treatment of patients with previously untreated follicular non-Hodgkin`s
lymphoma, who achieve a partial or complete response to first-line chemotherapy;
and
* Treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory, low-grade or follicular
B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

* Pursue removal of the bioscan requirement prior to ZEVALIN administration;
* Pursue consistent reimbursement for ZEVALIN in the community setting.

FUSILEV

* Submit requested FUSILEV data in colorectal cancer to the FDA in the second
half of 2010.

Belinostat

* Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma

* File NDA in 2011, with a potential approval in late 2011 or early 2012.

* Carcinoma of Unknown Primary

* Target complete enrollment by year-end in the ongoing Phase 2 trial that is
being conducted and 100% funded by TopoTarget.

* Other tumor types

* Explore additional trials in additional indications.

Apaziquone (EOquin)

* Phase 3 data expected in first quarter 2012; and
* Initiate a multiple-instillation trial in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer
by year-end 2010.

Conference Call

Tuesday, April 6, 2010 @ 11:30a.m. Eastern/8:30a.m. Pacific
Domestic: 877-837-3910 passcode 57165403
International: 973-796-5077 passcode 57165403

Webcast and replays: www.sppirx.com

Audio replays will be available through April 17, 2010.
Domestic: (800) 642-1687, passcode 57165403
International: (706) 645-9291, passcode 57165403

About ZEVALIN® and the ZEVALIN Therapeutic Regimen

ZEVALIN (ibritumomab tiuxetan) is indicated for the treatment of patients with
previously untreated follicular non-Hodgkin`s Lymphoma (NHL), who achieve a
partial or complete response to first-line chemotherapy. ZEVALIN is also
indicated for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory, low-grade
or follicular B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

ZEVALIN is a CD20-directed radiotherapeutic antibody administered as part of the
ZEVALIN therapeutic regimen. The ZEVALIN therapeutic regimen consists of three
components: rituximab, Indium-111 (In-111) radiolabeled ZEVALIN for imaging, and
Yttrium-90 (Y-90) radiolabeled ZEVALIN for therapy. The ZEVALIN therapeutic
regimen is a form of cancer therapy called radioimmunotherapy.
Radioimmunotherapy (RIT) is an innovative form of cancer treatment with a
mechanism of action that is different from traditional chemotherapy. RIT builds
on the combined effect of a targeted biologic monoclonal antibody augmented with
the therapeutic effects of a beta-emitting radioisotope.

Full prescribing information can be found at www.ZEVALIN.com.

About FUSILEV® (levoleucovorin) for Injection

FUSILEV, a novel folate analog, is available in 50-mg vials of freeze-dried
powder. FUSILEV rescue is indicated after high-dose methotrexate therapy in
osteosarcoma. FUSILEV is also indicated to diminish the toxicity and counteract
the effects of impaired methotrexate elimination and of inadvertent overdosage
of folic acid antagonists. FUSILEV (levoleucovorin or (6S)-leucovorin) is the
only commercially available formulation containing only the pharmacologically
active isomer of leucovorin.

Full prescribing information can be found at www.FUSILEV.com.

About Spectrum Pharmaceuticals

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals is a commercial-stage biotechnology company with a
focus in oncology. The Company`s strategy is comprised of acquiring, developing
and commercializing a broad and diverse pipeline of late-stage clinical and
commercial products. In addition to building an efficient in-house clinical
research organization with regulatory and data management capabilities, the
Company has established a commercial infrastructure for its drug portfolio. The
Company markets two oncology drugs, FUSILEV and ZEVALIN and has two drugs in
late stage development, apaziquone and belinostat, along with a diverse
pipeline. The Company also leverages the expertise of its worldwide partners to
assist in the execution of its strategy. For more information, please visit the
Company`s website at www.sppirx.com.

Forward-looking statement – This press release may contain forward-looking
statements regarding future events and the future performance of Spectrum
Pharmaceuticals that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to differ materially. These statements include but are not limited to
statements that relate to the restatement of our consolidated financial
statements, our business and its future, Spectrum’s ability to identify,
acquire, develop and commercialize a broad and diverse pipeline of late-stage
clinical and commercial products, establishing a commercial organization for our
approved drugs, continuing to build our team, leveraging the expertise of
partners around the world to assist us in the execution of our strategy,
continued and significant growth in 2010 and beyond, that we expect to file the
New Drug Applications for Belinostat and Apaziquone as early as 2011 and 2012,
respectively, the safety and efficacy of ZEVALIN and FUSILEV, continue to grow
the ZEVALIN brand, pursue removal of the bioscan requirement prior to ZEVALIN
administration, pursue consistent reimbursement for ZEVALIN in the community
setting, submit requested FUSILEV data in colorectal cancer to the FDA by the
end of the third quarter 2010; in ongoing belinostat PTCL pivotal trial; file an
NDA in 2011, with a potential approval in late 2011 or early 2012, target
complete enrollment for Belinostat by year-end in the ongoing Phase 2 CUP trial,
explore additional trials in additional indications for Belinostat, that
Apaziquone Phase 3 data is expected in first quarter 2012; initiate a
multiple-instillation trial in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer by year-end
2010 for Apaziquone and any statements that relate to the intent, belief, plans
or expectations of Spectrum or its management, or that are not a statement of
historical fact. Risks that could cause actual results to differ include the
possibility that our existing and new drug candidates, may not prove safe or
effective, the possibility that our existing and new drug candidates may not
receive approval from the FDA, and other regulatory agencies in a timely manner
or at all, the possibility that our existing and new drug candidates, if
approved, may not be more effective, safer or more cost efficient than competing
drugs, the possibility that our efforts to acquire or in-license and develop
additional drug candidates may fail, our lack of revenues, our limited marketing
experience, our dependence on third parties for clinical trials, manufacturing,
distribution and quality control and other risks that are described in further
detail in the Company’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. We do not plan to update any such forward-looking statements and
expressly disclaim any duty to update the information contained in this press
release except as required by law.

SPECTRUM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC., ZEVALIN, and FUSILEV are registered trademarks
of Spectrum, EOquin is a registered trademark of Allergan Inc., TURNING INSIGHTS
INTO HOPE and the Spectrum Pharmaceutical logos are trademarks owned by Spectrum
Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

© 2010 Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

1 All numbers are approximates

SPECTRUM PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
Summary Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations

Quarter Ended December 31, Year Ended December 31,
(Unaudited)
Restated Restated
2009 2008 2009 2008

Total revenues $ 8,620 $ 8,049 $ 38,025 $ 28,725
Operating expenses:
Cost of product sales (excludes amortization of purchased intangibles shown below) 2,446 1,193 8,148 1,193
Selling, general and administrative 11,069 6,209 33,607 15,156
Research and development 3,525 7,594 21,058 26,683
Amortization of purchased intangibles 870 158 3,720 158
Acquired in-process research and development – 4,700 – 4,700
Total operating expenses 17,910 19,854 66,533 47,890

Loss from operations (9,290 ) (11,805 ) (28,508 ) (19,165 )
Change in fair value of common stock warrant liability 19,834 (210 ) 8,075 1,271
Other income, net 61 609 662 1,165
Pre-tax net income (loss) 10,605 (11,406 ) (19,771 ) (16,729 )
Income tax expense (421 ) (5 ) (421 ) (5 )
Net loss of attributable to non-controlling interest – 2,538 1,146 2,538
Net income (loss) – attributable to Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. stockholders $ 10,184 $ (8,873 ) $ (19,046 ) $ (14,196 )

Net loss per share – attributable to Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. stockholders
Basic $ 0.21 $ (0.28 ) $ (0.48 ) $ (0.45 )
Diluted $ 0.20 $ (0.28 ) $ (0.48 ) $ (0.45 )
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding 48,425,486 31,928,778 39,273,905 31,551,152
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding 49,704,126 31,928,778 39,273,905 31,551,152

Summary Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
December 31,
2009 2008
Restated
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities $ 113,341 $ 75,938
Accounts receivable, net 8,658 9,776
Inventories 3,230 1,841
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 1,028 693
Total Current Assets 126,257 88,248

Bank certificates of deposit & treasuries 11,438 2,148
Property and equipment, net 1,928 1,782
Zevalin related intangible assets, net 33,325 37,042
Other assets 185 289

Total assets $ 173,133 $ 129,509
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Total current liabilities (excluding common stock warrant liability) $ 32,864 $ 32,806
Common stock warrant liability 6,635 765
Total current liabilities 39,499 33,571
Total noncurrent liabilities and deferred revenues 25,310 42,822
Total liabilities 64,809 76,393

Total equity (including non-controlling interest) 108,324 53,116

Total liabilities and equity $ 173,133 $ 129,509

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Paul Arndt
Senior Manager, Investor Relations
949-788-6700×216

Copyright Business Wire 2010

Acacia Subsidiary Enters into Settlement Agreement with Sonus Networks, Inc.

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.–(Business Wire)–
Acacia Research Corporation (Nasdaq: ACTG) announced today that its Network
Gateway Solutions LLC subsidiary has entered into a settlement agreement with
Sonus Networks, Inc. This agreement resolves patent litigation that was pending
in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware.

ABOUT ACACIA RESEARCH CORPORATION

Acacia Research`s subsidiaries partner with inventors and patent owners, license
the patents to corporate users, and share the revenue. Acacia Research`s
subsidiaries control over 140 patent portfolios, covering technologies used in a
wide variety of industries.

Information about Acacia Research is available at www.acaciatechnologies.com and
www.acaciaresearch.com.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of
the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995.Such statements are based upon our current expectations and speak only as
of the date hereof.Our actual results may differ materially and adversely from
those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors
and uncertainties, including the recent economic slowdown affecting technology
companies, our ability to successfully develop products, rapid technological
change in our markets, changes in demand for our future products, legislative,
regulatory and competitive developments and general economic conditions.Our
Annual Report on Form 10-K, recent and forthcoming Quarterly Reports on Form
10-Q, recent Current Reports on Forms 8-K and 8-K/A, and other SEC filings
discuss some of the important risk factors that may affect our business, results
of operations and financial condition.We undertake no obligation to revise or
update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.

Acacia Research Corporation
Rob Stewart
Investor Relations
Tel: 949-480-8300
Fax: 949-480-8301

Copyright Business Wire 2010

U.S. wants Kuwait’s Agility to pay $750 mln-report

KUWAIT, April 5 (Reuters) – U.S. authorities want Kuwaiti logistics firm Agility (AGLT.KW) to pay up to $750 million to settle fraud charges but the company hopes to pay less, a Kuwait newspaper said on Monday.

Stocks | Industrials

Arabic language daily al-Jarida, citing unnamed sources, said Agility wants to pay between $300 million to $500 million in compensation.

Agility officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

The Kuwaiti firm, formerly Public Warehousing Co K.S.C., is in talks to resolve an indictment accusing it of overcharging the U.S. Army on supply contracts in Iraq, Kuwait and Jordan.

The company has delayed the release of its financial results until Tuesday and requested a trading halt on its shares, pending clarity on talks to reach a financial settlement.

On Monday, al-Jarida said the two parties were negotiating a schedule for repayment and whether Agility will get new contracts with the U.S. military.

A second Kuwaiti newspaper, al-Anbaa, quoted unnamed sources as saying that if talks between Agility and the U.S. government do not reach a settlement this week, the case will go to U.S. courts.

Kuwait, which was the launch pad for the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, has become a major logistics base for American forces. (Reporting by Diana Elias; Editing by Amran Abocar)

Coldplay, Satriani reach settlement over plagiarism row

Washington, September 16 (ANI): Coldplay has reportedly reached a legal settlement with guitarist Joe Satriani over a plagiarism lawsuit.

The band were served with a lawsuit by Satriani, who alleged the rockers lifted his 2004 instrumental, “I Just Wanna Fly,” for the basic melody of “Viva La Vida”.

Both the parties were said to have settled the matter, and copyright infringement lawsuit has been dismissed, reports Contactmusic.

According to Billboard.com, a confession of any wrongdoing will not be required from the group, who have always denied the claims.

A statement from the Brits said: “If there are any similarities between our two pieces of music, they are entirely coincidental, and just as surprising to us as to him.”

Both sides declined to comment about the settlement. (ANI)

British troops far from defeating Taliban, says Brit Defence Secretary

London, Sep.16 (ANI): British troops are a long way from winning the battle against a resilient Taliban in Afghanistan, and the conflict in the country could lead to “major shifts” in military spending, said British Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth.

“We are facing a resilient enemy which we are far from succeeding against yet,” he told an audience of defence experts at King’s College London.

“I reject the proposition we are not making progress. I also reject the proposition a reduced military presence will lead to less Taliban success,” The Telegraph quoted Ainsworth, as saying further.

A leading thinktank warned earlier that the presence of large numbers of foreign troops in Afghanistan made it harder to achieve a political settlement to the conflict.

The International Institute for Strategic Studies said western forces in Afghanistan needed a “more cunning” strategy if they were to achieve their aims.

Ainsworth said a military failure in Afghanistan would have “profound consequences for our national security” and “undermine the Nato alliance”.

He also called for an open debate about future defence policy and how money for the military should be spent before the government publishes a defence review green paper in advance of next year’s general election. (ANI)

Early man used crude version of ‘sat nav’ system to navigate across England

London, September 15 (ANI): In a new research, a scientist has found that prehistoric man navigated his way across England using a crude version of a satellite navigation system, which was based on stone circle markers.

According to a report in the Telegraph, the research, by historian and writer Tom Brooks, shows that Britain’s Stone Age ancestors were “‘sophisticated engineers” and far from a barbaric race.

Brooks studied all known prehistoric sites as part of his research.

He found that the prehistoric man was able to travel between settlements in England with pinpoint accuracy, thanks to a complex network of hilltop monuments.

These covered much of southern England and Wales and included now famous landmarks such as Stonehenge and The Mount.

New research suggests that they were built on a connecting grid of isosceles triangles that ‘point’ to the next site.

Many are 100 miles or more away, but GPS co-ordinates show all are accurate to within 100 metres.

This provided a simple way for ancient Britons to navigate successfully from point A to B without the need for maps.

“To create these triangles with such accuracy would have required a complex understanding of geometry,” said Brooks.

“The sides of some of the triangles are over 100 miles across on each side and yet the distances are accurate to within 100 metres. You cannot do that by chance,” he added.

“So advanced, sophisticated and accurate is the geometrical surveying now discovered, that we must review fundamentally the perception of our Stone Age forebears as primitive, or conclude that they received some form of external guidance,” he further added.

Brooks analyzed 1,500 sites stretching from Norfolk to north Wales. These included standing stones, hilltop forts, stone circles and hill camps.

Each was built within eyeshot of the next.

Using GPS co-ordinates, he plotted a course between the monuments and noted their positions to each other.

He found that they all lie on a vast geometric grid made up of isosceles ‘triangles’. Each triangle has two sides of the same length and ‘point’ to the next settlement.

Thus, anyone standing on the site of Stonehenge in Wiltshire could have navigated their way to Lanyon Quoit in Cornwall without a map.

According to Brooks, many of the Stone Age sites were created 5,000 years ago by an expanding population recovering from the trauma of the Ice Age.

“The triangle navigation system may have been used for trading routes among the expanding population and also been used by workers to create social paths back to their families while they were working on these new sites,” he said. (ANI)

SunTec, Seachange partnership offers integrated IPTV billing solution

Amsterdam (Netherlands)/ Trivandrum (Kerala), Sep 14 (ANI/Business Wire India): SunTec, the leading provider of convergent transaction pricing and billing solutions for the Communication, Media and Entertainment industry, has partnered with video-on-demand, IPTV and advertising software and systems leader SeaChange International to offer television service providers globally automated provisioning of IPTV consumers and accounts in ‘near real time’, while supporting complex revenue sharing business rules.

The SunTec and SeaChange partnership has already resulted in the integration of SunTec’s convergent billing solution, TBMS-T, with SeaChange’s TV Navigator IPTV middleware for the Smart Digivision’s MyWay (http://www.myway.in) IPTV service. Available in 54 cities across India on Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (http://www.bsnl.co.in) (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd. (http://www.mtnl.net.in) (MTNL) broadband networks, MyWay is expected to reach three million subscribers in the first five years.

“Integrating SunTec’s convergent billing system with SeaChange’s middleware opens a compelling opportunity to the IPTV Service Provider to roll out innovative services and programs for its consumers. SunTec is happy to have a strategic association with SeaChange and I see this partnership complement both the companies’ growth in the emerging IPTV markets,” said Rajesh BL Narashimha, Vice-President and Sales Head APAC and MEA, SunTec.

SunTec’s convergent billing solution, TBMS-T interfaces in near real time with SeaChange’s, TV Navigator middleware, electronic program guide, video-on-demand systems and set top box applications. The flexibility of TBMS-T, coupled with SeaChange’s open middleware, allows the service provider to design innovative services and pack programs/content to attract more usage and consumers. In addition to this, SunTec’s TBMS-T supports the service provider with complex revenue sharing business rules and settlement with IPTV service carriers and content providers/aggregators.

“IPTV operators require open solutions that allow flexibility to choose best of breed vendors and components,” said, Lincoln Owens, Director Broadband Sales, APAC, SeaChange International. Our TV Navigator middleware is rooted in this open approach, which has given way to beneficial alliances across markets. Our tie-up with SunTec has helped create one of the most promising IPTV efforts in Asia and we anticipate further success.” (ANI)

Jolie visits ‘dire’ refugee camp in Kenya

Washington, September 14 (ANI): Angelina Jolie recently visited a refugee settlement camp in Africa.

As United Nations Goodwill Ambassador she spent a day at the Dadaab Refugee camp on the Kenyan border.

The beauty was appalled to see the conditions of 285,000 refugees living in a camp, which was initially made for just 90,000 people.

Somali people, who have fled into Kenya because of atrocities in their country, live in the camp.

The ‘Gia’ star wants to bring world’s attention to the plight of the refugees.

“If this is the better solution, then what must it be like in Somalia? The toilets are already overflowing. There is not even enough space for trash dumps so people are living amongst the garbage,” Contactmusic quoted her as saying.

“What is amazing is that as more and more people come into the camp, the Somali families continue to be generous with what little they have, even if that means having one eighth of the water they need and their children suffering from dehydration,” she added.

The beauty met some families in the camp too.

She said: “The Somali families I met today are full of warmth and affection. I wish more people could meet them because then they would have a stronger desire to help.” (ANI)

Now, computers become lawyers!

Washington, September 13 (ANI): European researchers have created a legal analysis query engine that combines artificial intelligence, game theory and semantics to offer advice, conflict prevention and dispute settlement for European law.

European law is complex, many layered and expanding. There are thousands of regulations, so many that compliance is difficult, time-consuming and expensive.

While harmonization is underway, the process itself demands that individuals, companies and law firms often have to relearn the system.

Meanwhile, areas like intellectual property rights (IPR) and digital rights regulation that seek to combat piracy are becoming evermore complex to understand and apply consistently across Europe.

Now, the ALIS Project has developed a computerized platform that uses artificial intelligence (AI), game theory and semantic technologies to ‘understand’ and track the regulations in a large, and expanding area of expertise – in this case IPR.

ALIS sought to develop a working system in IPR to tackle the fundamental technological challenges before expanding it to more areas later on.

The system is much more than a simple database of relevant legal regulations.

It uses insights from game theory to help contentious parties come to an amicable agreement, either through conflict prevention or dispute resolution, and it can assist lawmaking as well.

Game theory looks at how strategic interactions between rational people lead to outcomes reflecting real player preferences.

It can be used to develop algorithms that find equilibria in games, markets, computational auctions, peer-to-peer systems, security and information markets.

Now, with ALIS, it is available for legal systems too.

This concept of equilibria supports conflict prevention, dispute resolution and offers decision support for lawmaking.

A key factor in the system is its test for regulatory compliance.

This is very powerful. It can help citizens, companies and lawyers quickly scan the relevant legal corpus to discover if they are compliant. It is a key factor for the other roles in the ALIS system as well.

For conflict prevention, dispute resolution and lawmaking, the ALIS first establishes if the parties, or the proposed legislation, are compliant with current law.

Once compliance is established, the system can present a series of options based on an analysis of the potential conflict or dispute, or it can provide information to further assist lawmakers to formulate policy.

Similarly, the tool aims to rapidly speed up the work done by lawyers, helping to resolve relatively straightforward cases faster, so they can concentrate on more complex problems. (ANI)

510-year-old church in Newfoundland may be New World’s oldest Christian site

Ottawa, September 7 (ANI): In a new project, a team of archeologists is planning to search for the remains of a 510-year-old church on the western shore of Conception Bay, Newfoundland, which may be the oldest Christian site in the New World.

According to a report in the National Post, the project is aimed at adding to a string of recent discoveries about explorer John Cabot’s history-making voyages to Canada in the late 15th century.

The recent emergence of new evidence about Cabot’s voyages, including potentially “revolutionary” findings by the late British historian Alwyn Ruddock, has renewed interest in England’s earliest New World ventures during the reign of King Henry VII.

Canwest News Service recently revealed a researcher’s discovery of a 1499 letter in which Henry VII himself describes a previously unknown expedition to Canada headed by William Weston, a Bristol merchant who is finally emerging – five centuries after his death – as a key backer of Cabot’s quest to establish an English foothold in North America.

The king’s letter also contained the earliest known use of the phrase “new founde land” to describe Canada’s easternmost province, which Cabot is believed to have reached in June 1497 – the first European landfall in North America since the age of the Vikings.

Bizarrely, the recent spate of revelations from the dawning days of Canadian history follows Prof. Ruddock’s order – carried out by the executors of her will after she died in 2005 — that her unpublished research be destroyed.

But, through a project headed by University of Bristol historian Evan Jones, Prof. Pope and other scholars are combing through a small collection of Prof. Ruddock documents that survived destruction and may point the way to fresh discoveries – including the suspected Catholic mission at Carbonear.

In the outline for a book she never completed, Prof. Ruddock claimed to have found documents detailing the establishment of a church at Carbonear.

Historians generally believe Cabot perished during the voyage, and little was accomplished by any of the ships involved in the expedition.

But Prof. Ruddock’s sketchy references to a New World church built as early as 1498 has electrified Prof. Jones and other researchers.

“If she were correct, this would be the first European Christian settlement in North America, with the church Prof. Ruddock mentions being the first built on the continent,” said Jones. (ANI)

Katie Price’s hellraiser lifestyle could make her lose kids and £5m

London, September 6 (ANI): Hottie Katie Price could lose custody of her kids as well as 5 million pounds to her estranged husband/singer Peter Andre due to her hellraiser lifestyle, according to a top showbiz lawyer.

Ambi Sitham has said that the reality star’s boozy jaunts to Ibiza may do her harm during the divorce procedures at court.

“Price’s behaviour over the last four months is probably going to contribute to the custody arrangements, especially her well-publicised trips to Ibiza,” the Daily Star quoted her as saying.

Price’s explicit relationship with boyfriend Alex Reid, who has acted in an X-rated movie, may become a problem too.

She added: “She was obviously getting very drunk. In addition she has exposed her children at a very young age to a new relationship with Alex Reid.

“They will look into his background and at his suitability as a potential stepfather to Price’s children.

“The courts will not look favourably on anyone they deem a bad role model.

“I should think the least the judge would decide is to grant joint custody of the children to Price and Andre. He might even get sole custody.

“Andre, coming from a strong Greek-Cypriot family ­background, has conducted himself as the model father.”

The lawyer believes that Price could lose out on at least a quarter of the 20million pounds she has made since her wedding to the ‘Mysterious Girl’ singer during the settlement.

Ambi said: “The courts will look at what role was played in emotional support as well as financial.

“Andre will be able to show he ­contributed to the Katie Price brand. Before they met she was purely known as Jordan the glamour model.

“As a result of marrying Andre she was able to create an alter ego. I think she is in line for a bit of a shock.

“She will not be walking away from this without making a substantial payout.” (ANI)

Indians, Chinese credited with helping make Wellington an international city

Wellington, Sep. 5 (ANI): New Zealand-born Indians and Chinese living in Wellington have been credited with helping the capital in its quest to become an international city.

According to an Asia NZ Foundation report by Auckland University’s Wardlow Friesen, India and China have close links with the city, as one-third of Indians and Chinese living in Wellington are New Zealand-born.

“The report shows how far the city has come in terms of diversity of its population, which was something people had generally embraced and celebrated.

“Its conclusions reflect a very important step on Wellington’s journey to becoming a truly international city,” The Dominion Post quoted Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast, as saying.

The study points out that a small Chinatown emerged in Wellington in the 19th century as Chinese moved north after the gold rush, whereas Indian settlement was more sporadic and gradual.

Thanks to diplomatic posts and international universities, Wellington is continuously attracting Asian population, which is predicted to double from 37,000 to 61,000 by 2012, it adds.

Asians living in Wellington consider the city to be “cosmopolitan”, “quiet”, and its people friendly.

“I never feel like a stranger in this city. Actually now it feels like my home,” said Sarjon Warde, originally from Iraq.

There are 121 Asian restaurants in Wellington, including 30 Indian, 29 Chinese and 15 Thai restaurants. (ANI)

PCB chief miscalculated on ICC compensation package to Pak

Lahore, Sep 1 (ANI): Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt was off the mark when he claimed last week that Pakistan would receive around Rs 1.5 billion (18 million dollars) from the International Cricket Council (ICC) after settling its 2011 World Cup dispute with the game’s governing body.

“The PCB stands to gain about Rs.1 billion (12 million dollars) from its deal with the ICC that was struck in Dubai last week,” sources said.

The settlement between the ICC and the PCB was reached following a meeting between ICC president David Morgan and Ijaz in Dubai last Wednesday.

Sources said Ijaz quoted that figure under pressure from the newsmen, who were surprised when Ijaz initially said that Pakistan would get Rs 1 billion from the deal.

“Rs 1 billion is only slightly higher than the amount of 10.5 million dollars which Pakistan would have got in any case as hosting fees for 14 of its World Cup matches,”the Daily Times quoted sources, as saying.

Before making the deal with the ICC, Ijaz had claimed that Pakistan would get a substantial compensation for settling its court case with the ICC over the staging of the World Cup.

The PCB had issued a legal notice to the ICC early this summer after the game’s governing body moved Pakistan’s share of matches out of the country because of security concerns. (ANI)

Only four percent Israelis think Obama is pro-Israel: Poll

Jerusalem, Aug. 28 (ANI): Only four percent Israelis consider the policies of President Barack Obama as pro-Israel, a Smith Research poll conducted by The Jerusalem Post has revealed.

More than half (51 percent) of Jewish Israelis consider Obama’s administration more pro-Palestinian than pro-Israel, according to the survey, while 35 percent consider it neutral.

The support for Obama Administration has fallen 2 percent from an earlier poll published in the paper.

In June, 6 percent Israelis had viewed the policies of the Obama administration more pro-Palestinian than pro-Israeli, while less than four in 10 said the policies were neutral.

The poll of 500 people representing a statistical model of the Jewish Israeli population had a margin of error of 4.5 percent.

Obama’s popularity among Israelis has been plummeting since a May 17 Post poll on the eve of a meeting between Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Obama at the White House.

The new poll was taken on Monday and Tuesday, before reports that Obama had agreed to exclude Jerusalem from a deal with Netanyahu on a construction freeze and to allow construction of essential public buildings, such as schools, to continue in Judea and Samaria.

The poll asked Jewish Israelis whether they would support freezing settlement construction for a year as part of an American-brokered deal.

Fifty percent said no, 41 percent said yes and 9 percent did not express an opinion. (ANI)

‘Israel won’t return to 1967 line’

Jerusalem, Aug. 25 (ANI): Israel is open to discussion on the final borders with Palestine, but the country will surely not return to the line of 1967, Israeli Intelligence Affairs Minister Dan Meridor has said.

“Surely, nobody expects Netanyahu to offer more than what Olmert (former PM) offered (to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas)…Final borders are open for discussion. But we will not return to the line of 1967 – that’s for sure,” The Jerusalem Post quoted him, as saying.

In an interview with German magazine Der Spiegel ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Berlin, Meridor said he was optimistic about the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.

“All in all, I am quite optimistic that things in the Middle East will develop in a positive way. There’s something in the air.”

However, Meridor pointed out that Abbas currently refuses to negotiate until Israel completely freezes settlement activity, despite the fact that he negotiated with Olmert for three years during the reign of President George W. Bush.

Drawing a red line, Meridor said: “The Old City with the Jewish Quarter and the Wailing Wall will never be part of an Arab state. There could be a compromise on land in Judea and Samaria. But all Israeli governments have agreed on having a united Jerusalem. This is our clear position, but we can negotiate about Jerusalem. There are no preconditions.”

He noted that the introduction of religion into a conflict that was historically defined on nationalistic ideas has complicated matters in recent times.

“It has become more difficult over the years because of the introduction of religion into this conflict. Arab rulers hated us in the past, but they did it because of nationalistic ideas. Since the (1979) revolution in Teheran, we hear a different tune: The Iranians, Hizbullah and Hamas fight us in the name of religion. This is very bad because people can compromise, but gods never compromise,” he said. (ANI)

5,000-year-old figurine represents Scotland’s earliest human face

Edinburgh, August 21 (ANI): Archaeologists have uncovered a 5,000-year-old figurine on the Orkney island of Westray in Scotland, which is the country’s earliest representation of a human face and body.

According to a report in The Scotsman, the face and its lozenge-shaped body – measuring just 3.5cm by 3cm – were carved on the Orkney island of Westray between 4,500 and 5,000 years ago.

The enigmatic figurine had lain undisturbed in the earth at the Links of Noltland – one of Orkney’s richest archaeological sites.

That was when archaeologists, carefully brushing away the mud from the fragment of sandstone, found Scotland’s earliest human face staring back at them.

As the tiny object was displayed in public for the first time, Scotland’s culture minister Mike Russell was the first to hail the importance of the remarkable discovery.

“This is a find of tremendous importance. Representations of people from this period are incredibly unusual in Britain,” he said.

“What we are seeing here is the earliest known human face in Scotland. It once again emphasizes the tremendous importance of Orkney’s archaeology,” he added.

The figurine was unearthed by Jakob Kainz, one of a team of archaeologists working at Historic Scotland’s excavations on an ancient farmhouse at the Links of Noltland site – a prehistoric settlement in the dune system flanking Grobust Bay, on the north-west coast of Westray.

Historic Scotland senior archaeologist Richard Strachan said it was a find of “astonishing rarity” – the only known Neolithic carving of a human form to have been discovered in Scotland.

“It was one of those ‘eureka’ moments. None of the archaeology team have seen anything like it before. It’s incredibly exciting,” he said.

Careful examination revealed a face with heavy brows, two dots for eyes and an oblong for a nose.

A pair of circles on the chest are being interpreted as representing breasts, and arms have been etched at either side. A pattern of crossed markings could suggest the fabric of clothing.

According to Strachan, “There is a strong possibility that it has been a votive offering to mark the abandonment of the site. It may have been for ceremonial purposes.” (ANI)

Archaeologists find evidence of Britain’s earliest Iron Age town

London, July 16 (ANI): Archaeologists from Berkshire, UK, have discovered evidence of an Iron Age town underneath the remains of a Roman settlement in north Hampshire, which they say could be Britain’s earliest Iron Age towns with a planned layout.

According to a report by BBC News, the discovery was made by the University of Reading’s Archaeology Department, which has been excavating at the Silchester Roman site, Calleva Atrebatum, since 1997.

A street-grid was found to have been in place before the Romans came in AD 43. Archaeologists have also discovered evidence of widespread burning at the site.

They believe this, along with other finds, suggests that the site could have been destroyed at the hands of queen Boudicca, who in AD 60/61 led a major uprising against the occupying Roman forces.

“After 12 summers of excavation, we have reached down to the 1st Century AD and are beginning to see the first signs of what we believe to be the Iron Age and earliest Roman town,” said Professor Michael Fulford, director of the Silchester Town Life Project.

“The discovery of the underlying Iron Age settlement is extremely exciting. While there are traces of settlement beneath Roman Verulamium (today’s St Albans) and Canterbury and close to the site of Roman Colchester, none of these resembles the evidence that we have here at Calleva of a planned town,” he said.

“The completely new street grid implemented later by the Romans could have been a thumbs down on the British arrangement,” he added.

According to Professor Fulford, “We now have evidence that the town was burnt down sometime after AD 50 and before AD 80.”

“The possibility that this was at the hands of Boudicca when leading the largest British uprising during the Roman occupation is hugely significant. It was not thought the revolt passed this way,” he said. (ANI)

Israel says it is clueless about US deadline on settlement freeze

Jerusalem, July 12 (ANI): Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon has said the Benjamin Netanyahu government has no knowledge of any six-month deadline given by the US for freezing settlement construction in the West Bank.

“We have no knowledge of this whatsoever,” The Jerusalem Post quoted Ayalon, as saying.

Earlier a Lebanon daily had quoted French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, as saying that if Israel failed to stop all Jewish construction in the West Bank within six-months, the US would end support for peace talks.

Kouchner reportedly expressed his fear that Israel’s “stubbornness, intentional foot-dragging and acquiescence to the Israel lobby” would convince the Americans to pull out of peace discussions altogether.

The French foreign minister was in Beirut on Friday for talks with senior Lebanese officials, including Hizbullah legislator Nawaf Musawi.

The meeting with Musawi was aimed at facilitating a new coalition government led by Prime Minister-designate Sa’ad Hariri. Hariri’s government is likely to include Hizbullah representation, though the Shi’ite group was defeated in national parliamentary elections.

Israel is opposed to Hizbullah joining the government.

Netanyahu’s advisor Mark Regev responded to the Kouchner-Musawi meeting by warning that “if Hizbullah joins the Lebanese government, then Lebanon as a country will be responsible for any Hizbullah aggression against Israel. That has to be clear.”

Kouchner’s meeting with a Hizbullah lawmaker is the latest in a string of European meetings with the group, which the US and the European parliament have recognized as a terrorist organization.

“Hizbullah is part of the parties that participated in the recent parliamentary elections. It is natural to meet with its representatives,” Kouchner told reporters.

“Lebanon is a democratic country; democracy implies we meet with opposition figures as well.” (ANI)

Heather Mills loving freedom after divorce from Macca

New Delhi, July 11 (ANI): English charity campaigner Heather Mills has revealed that she loves the freedom that she is now enjoying after her divorce from Sir Paul McCartney.

Mills, 41, who had received 24.3 million pounds as settlement from McCartney, after they legally separated in March 2008, says that her life has changed for the better since the high-profile split, reports the China Daily.

“I’m really having a great time, totally. Great freedom!” she said.

The former model, who has a five-year-old daughter, Beatrice, with the Beatle member, had earlier this year claimed that she got asked out “all the time”. (ANI)

Michael Jackson was an excessively lavish spender and a car freak

Washington, July 11 (ANI): While Michael Jackson reportedly died with a debt estimated at around 400 million dollars, it has emerged that the ‘King of Pop’ enjoyed an excessively lavish lifestyle, and had a “thing” for cars.

The ‘Thriller’ hit-maker was known for splashing out money to support his lavish lifestyle with private planes, zoo animals, fantasy rides, antiques, hotels, and personal staff.

However, court papers from his 2000 divorce with Debbie Rowe have revealed that Jackson absolutely loved automobiles, reports Fox News.

According to the papers, 75 vehicles had been registered under Jackson’s name in California, ranging from several Rolls Royce’s to fire trucks to motorcycles to convertibles to Chevys to Mercedes to pick-up trucks.

But Rowe was permitted to keep just one car – a 1998 Ford Explorer-as part of her divorce settlement.

The settlement also states that Jackson was to be the sole owner of “all trains” in his possession.

Rowe was also awarded a house in Beverly Hills, but Jackson owned Neverland ranch and three other sprawling properties in California.

And it is believed that his trustees now have their work cut out piecing together all his funds.

At the time of his divorce, MJ had 16 checking accounts and 5 savings accounts with numerous different Californian banks.

But despite being such a big spender, Jackson’s made it to the 2000 edition of the Guinness Book Of World Records for breaking the world record for the “Most Charities Supported By a Pop Star.” (ANI)