Samochody Tesla Roadster są teraz dostępne w pięciu nowych krajach na trzech kontynentach

Pierwsi właściciele w Polsce, Turcji, Japonii, Hongkongu i Kanadzie odbierają
jedyne na świecie samochody sportowe z napędem elektrycznym.
PALO ALTO, Kalifornia–(Business Wire)–
Pierwsze samochody Tesla Roadster pojawiły się w ostatnich tygodniach w Polsce,
Turcji, Japonii, Hongkongu i Kanadzie, ponieważ wiodący na świecie producent
pojazdów z napędem elektrycznym błyskawicznie rozszerza zasięg handlu
detalicznego.

Firma Tesla Motors (TSLA) sprzedała ponad 1 200 roadsterów w co najmniej 28
krajach. Roadster przyspiesza szybciej niż markowe samochody sportowe, które
kosztują dwa razy tyle, ale nie powoduje emisji spalin z rury wydechowej i jest
dwa razy bardziej wydajny od wiodących pojazdów hybrydowych, jeśli chodzi o
oszczędność energii. Roadster nie zużywa paliwa i można go podłączyć do typowych
gniazdek w Ameryce Północnej, Europie i Azji.

Pierwszy samochód Tesla w Hongkongu trafił do Philipa Lianga, dyrektora
generalnego firmy produkującej sprzęt medyczny General Sensing. Pierwszy
samochód Tesla w Japonii trafił do doświadczonego przedsiębiorcy i założyciela
BizSeek, Takao Ozawy.

“Jako nowy zwolennik, chciałem pokazać reszcie społeczeństwa, na czym polega
doświadczenie posiadania samochodu elektrycznego – powiedział Ozawa, który
jeździ swoim czarnym Signature Roadster Sport po Tokio i okolicach. – Teraz,
kiedy mam teslę, przekonałem się, że jest ona nie tylko wydajna i piękna, ale
także naprawdę szybka!”.

Wśród kanadyjskich właścicieli są Vincent i Maggie Argiro, którzy jeżdżą swoim
wspaniałym żółtym roadsterem wśród cudownej scenerii górskiej Kolumbii
Brytyjskiej z widokiem na ocean.

“Roadster wydaje się solidny i dość wyrafinowany – napisali na blogu dla
entuzjastów tesli państwo Argiro. – Jazda była bardziej ekscytująca i
relaksująca niż w innych samochodach sportowych, jakie posiadaliśmy. Oddychanie
całkowicie czystym powietrzem dookoła nas było tak odświeżające, że tym większy
był nasz szok, gdy wjechaliśmy w strumień brudnych spalin samochodu na benzynę
znajdującego się przed nami!”.

Para sprzedaje swoje Ferrari 360 Modena, które teraz opisują jako “w doskonałym
stanie, ale nieco przestarzałe”.

Roadster kwalifikuje się do szeregu bonusów w wielu krajach, łącznie ze
zniesieniem podatku od sprzedaży, ulgami w podatku dochodowym oraz rabatami
gotówkowymi. Na przykład, mieszkańcy Hongkongu nie płacą podatku przy pierwszej
rejestracji roadstera – co stanowi oszczędność do 1 mln HKD (128 600 USD) na
samochodzie o cenie detalicznej 1,2 mln HKD (154 358 USD).

Oprócz tego, wiele spośród największych miast świata oferuje użytkownikom
roadstera darmowe parkowanie, zwolnienie od podatku drogowego oraz swobodne
korzystanie z pasów dla pojazdów przewożących większą liczbę osób oraz pasów dla
autobusów.

Tesla sprzedaje samochody bezpośrednio klientom, zarówno online, jak i za
pośrednictwem rosnącej sieci salonów regionalnych na całym świecie. Pojazdy
elektryczne nie potrzebują rutynowej wymiany oleju, napraw układu wydechowego
ani innych kosztownych usług serwisowych wymaganych przez konwencjonalne
samochody na benzynę. W większości krajów Tesla wysyła wyszkolonych techników do
domów lub biur klientów w celu przeprowadzenia zalecanej corocznej aktualizacji
oprogramowania.

Tesla posiada obecnie 13 salonów regionalnych i rozwija się w niezwykle szybkim
tempie. W ubiegłym tygodniu Tesla ogłosiła zatrudnienie poprzedniego dyrektora
wykonawczego Apple, George’a Blankenshipa na stanowisku wiceprezesa działu
projektów i rozwoju salonów sprzedaży. Blankenship stworzy długoterminowy plan
rozwoju sprzedaży detalicznej firmy Tesla, a do jego początkowych projektów
należy otwarcie salonów sprzedaży Tesla w Tokio (Japonia), Toronto (Kanada) oraz
w Waszyngtonie (Dystrykt Kolumbii).

Informacje o Tesla

Celem firmy Tesla jest produkcja samochodów elektrycznych w coraz bardziej
przystępnej cenie dla wszystkich kupujących oraz nieustanne obniżanie kosztów
pojazdów elektrycznych. Palo Alto, oddział Tesla w Kalifornii, dostarczył ponad
1 200 roadsterów klientom w Ameryce Północnej, Europie i Azji. Tesla projektuje
i wytwarza pojazdy elektryczne i części do układów przeniesienia napędu. Tesla
Roadster przyspiesza szybciej niż większość samochodów sportowych, ale nie
wytwarza żadnych spalin.

Oficjalną, obowiązującą wersję niniejszego zawiadomienia stanowi tekst
oryginalny sporządzony w języku źródłowym. Tekst tłumaczenia służy wyłącznie
celom orientacyjnym, został sporządzony wyłącznie dla celów ułatwienia
zrozumienia zawiadomienia i należy interpretować go w odniesieniu do tekstu
źródłowego, który jest jedyną wersją mającą skutki prawne.

Tesla
Rachel Konrad, +44 7872 543 250
rachel@teslamotors.com

Copyright Business Wire 2010

Covidien annonce certaines activités de gestion de portefeuille

* Accord définitif de vente de la gamme de produits de thérapie du sommeil
* Finalisation de la vente de ses radiopharmaceutiques aux États-Unis

DUBLIN–(Business Wire)–
Covidien (NYSE: COV), fournisseur mondial de premier plan de produits de soins
de santé, a annoncé aujourd’hui la signature d’un accord définitif de vente de
ses produits de ventilation spontanée en pression positive continue (CPAP) Sleep
Therapy et Bi-level à PH Invest, société privée du Luxembourg.

PH Invest acquerra les produits CPAP et Bi-level, y compris l’unité de
production de Nancy, en France, ainsi que toutes les activités commerciales
connexes en Europe. Plusieurs produits, vendus sous les marques GoodKnight et
Sandman, sont couverts par cet accord. En sont cependant exclus les produits
d’aide au sommeil vendus et commercialisés sous les noms de marque Adam, Breeze
et Dreamfit, qui continueront d’être vendus par Covidien. Les conditions
financières de cette transaction n’ont pas été révélées.

Cette transaction, qui est sujette aux conditions de Closing habituelles,
devrait être finalisée au cours des trois prochains mois et ne devrait pas avoir
un effet important sur le bénéfice d’exploitation ou le revenu par action pour
2010 ou 2011.

En outre, Covidien a finalisé la vente annoncée antérieurement de ses
radiopharmaceutiques aux États-Unis à Triad Isotopes, Inc. d’Orlando, en
Floride. Les conditions financières de cette transaction n’ont pas été révélées.

Les ventes nettes du secteur de la radiopharmacie de Covidien se sont élevées à
91 millions de dollars au premier semestre de l’exercice fiscal 2010. Cette
transaction ne devrait pas avoir un effet important sur le bénéfice
d’exploitation ou le revenu par action de Covidien au cours de l’exercice fiscal
2010 ou 2011.

La décision de se départir de ces gammes de produits a été prise à la suite d’un
examen et d’une évaluation approfondis d’un certain nombre d’options
stratégiques. Elle s’inscrit dans la stratégie de Covidien visant à rationaliser
son portefeuille et à réaffecter les ressources vers ses branches d’activité en
plus forte croissance et à marges plus élevées où la société possède, ou peut
posséder, un avantage compétitif sur le plan mondial.

À PROPOS DE COVIDIEN

Covidien est une société internationale de premier rang spécialisée dans les
soins de santé. Elle crée des solutions médicales novatrices en vue d’améliorer
l’évolution de l’état de santé des patients et apporte de la valeur par son
leadership et son excellence cliniques. Covidien fabrique, distribue et assure
le service après-vente d’une gamme variée de lignes de produits leaders dans
trois secteurs : dispositifs médicaux, produits pharmaceutiques et fournitures
médicales. Avec un chiffre d’affaires de 10,7 milliards de dollars en 2009,
Covidien emploie plus de 42 000 collaborateurs dans 60 pays, et commercialise
ses produits dans plus de 140 pays. Consultez le site www.covidien.com pour en
savoir davantage sur notre société.

DÉCLARATIONS PROSPECTIVES

Toute déclaration contenue dans le présent communiqué de presse qui ne décrit
pas des faits historiques peut constituer une déclaration prospective aux termes
du Private Securities Litigation Reform Act de 1995. Les déclarations
prospectives contenues dans le présent communiqué sont basées sur les croyances
et les attentes actuelles de la société mais sont sujettes à un certain nombre
de risques, d’incertitudes et de changements des circonstances, ce qui peut
entraîner un écart entre les résultats actuels ou les actions réelles de la
société et ce qui est exprimé ou sous-entendu dans ces déclarations. Les
facteurs susceptibles d’entraîner un écart entre les résultats futurs réels et
les attentes actuelles de la société comprennent, sans toutefois s’y limiter, la
possibilité que la transaction portant sur la thérapie du sommeil ne soit pas
finalisée ou que le Closing en soit retardé, la capacité de la société à lancer
et à commercialiser efficacement de nouveaux produits ou à suivre le rythme des
avancées technologiques, les pratiques de remboursement d’un petit nombre
d’importants assureurs publics et privés, les efforts de maîtrise des coûts des
clients, groupes d’achat, tiers payeurs et organisations gouvernementales, les
litiges portant sur les droits de propriété intellectuelle, la réglementation
complexe et coûteuse, y compris les réglementations sur la fraude et les abus
sur les soins de santé, les problèmes ou les perturbations survenues dans la
fabrication ou dans la chaîne d’approvisionnement, la hausse des coûts des
services publics, les rappels ou les alertes de sécurité et la publicité
négative concernant Covidien ou les produits de la société, les pertes de
responsabilité produit et les autres responsabilités en cas de litige, y compris
les litiges liés à Tyco, la fermeture de certaines activités ou lignes de
produits, la capacité de la société à mettre en œuvre les acquisitions
stratégiques, les investissements ou les alliances avec d’autres compagnies et
entreprises, la concurrence, les risques inhérents à l’activité commerciale hors
des États-Unis, les taux de change, ou les responsabilités environnementales
potentielles. Ces facteurs, et d’autres, sont identifiés et décrits en détail
dans le rapport annuel de la société déposé auprès de la SEC. La société rejette
toute obligation de mettre à jour ces déclarations prospectives, à l’exception
des cas exigés par la loi.

Le texte du communiqué issu d`une traduction ne doit d`aucune manière être
considéré comme officiel. La seule version du communiqué qui fasse foi est celle
du communiqué dans sa langue d`origine. La traduction devra toujours être
confrontée au texte source, qui fera jurisprudence.

Covidien
Eric Kraus, 508-261-8305
Premier Vice-président
Communications
eric.kraus@covidien.com
ou
Bruce Farmer, 508-452-4372
Vice-président
Relations publiques
bruce.farmer@covidien.com
ou
Coleman Lannum, CFA, 508-452-4343
Vice-président
Relations avec les investisseurs
cole.lannum@covidien.com
ou
Brian Nameth, 508-452-4363
Directeur
Relations avec les investisseurs
brian.nameth@covidien.com

Copyright Business Wire 2010

Bret Michaels opens to Oprah Winfrey about haemorrhage ordeal

New York, May 19 (ANI): Poison frontman Bret Michaels has revealed to Oprah Winfrey that he wore his signature bandana during his hospital stay.

Michaels, 47, who suffered a brain haemorrhage last month, told Winfrey in an interview that he was determined to keep his head wrapped in the bandana.

“I said, ‘If I’m going out, I want to go out rockin’,” the New York Daily News quoted him as telling the talk show host.

Of the subarachnoid haemorrhage, the singer said he knew right away something “was severely wrong”.

“It just exploded instantly – ran from my temple down to the back of my skull,” he added.

The singer, who’s also known for his “Rock of Love” reality show on VH1, has quickly bounced back from his brush with death, with a planned performance at the Hard Rock Live show in Biloxi, Miss., next week. (ANI)

Times Square case: Expert says Shahzad”s signature reveals hostility

New York, May 6 (ANI): Thirty-year-old Faisal Shahzad”s handwriting on a 2004 condo sale agreement unmasks him as a hostile, self-destructive, arrogant man, an expert has said.

The New York Daily News quotes forensic document examiner and author of “Handwriting Analysis 101” Bart Baggett, as saying: “He”s angry at everybody and he”s lashing out at the world.”

Baggett identified three “ticks” – tiny marks where the pen has dragged – that indicate aggression and hatred: at the top of the F, the bottom of the S and the end of the L in Faisal.

The one on the F is particularly telling because Shahzad”s handwriting has large “upper zones” that suggest an interest in philosophical ideals, religion and analysis, Baggett said.

The presence of the tick there, means Shahzad is angry at religion and ideology, he said.

Shahzad also signed only his first name, indicating pride. The excessive pen pressure he used shows determination, Baggett said. (ANI)

Monroe’s ‘Diamonds are a Girl”s Best Friend’ pink gown up for grabs

Washington, May 04 (ANI): The bright pink strapless dress that Marilyn Monroe wore in “Diamonds are a Girl”s Best Friend” sequence in the movie “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” is being auctioned off.

Hollywood memorabilia dealers at California auction house Profiles in History are offering the dress, which they”re calling “the most important film dress to ever come to auction” during a summer sale next month (Jun10), reports Contactmusic.

The gown is said to be the highlight of the auction, and will also feature Monroe’s test footprints and signature set in cement from outside Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.

Monroe”s beautiful dress is expected to fetch between 150,000 dollars and 250,000 dollars.

The auction will feature over 1,500 lots of Hollywood memorabilia. (ANI)

Maritime lawyer denies forging boss’ signature

A New South Wales Maritime lawyer, accused of using government resources to run a private business, has denied that she forged an approval form from her manager.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is investigating whether the most senior lawyer at NSW Maritime, Tonette Kelly, misused staff offices, phones and other facilities to run a personal legal practice that earned her $120,000 per year.

Ms Kelly had permission to carry out limited personal work but the counsel assisting has told the hearing that she far exceeded that amount.

Jeremy Gormly SC suggested to Ms Kelly that she had forged the handwriting of the NSW Maritime CEO on a document that would have allowed her to use a legal search engine for her personal use.

Mr Gormly said a handwriting expert concluded that the word ‘approved’ has been physically or digitally cut, copied and pasted from an earlier document.

Ms Kelly has denied she carried out the forgery to give the impression she had been granted approval.

Folau focused on footy, not contract games

Angry Brisbane coach Ivan Henjak has slammed reports Brisbane star Israel Folau is playing under the pressure of an ultimatum to commit to the final two years of a $1.6 million deal.

Henjak is becoming increasingly annoyed by media speculation linking the club’s marquee player to a return to the Melbourne Storm and also reports saying he was the prime target of new Super 15 franchise the Melbourne Rebels.

“He has an option in his contract he has to take up at the end of April but to say we’ve put a deadline on him is rubbish,” said Henjak.

“I’ve asked Izzy about the Storm rumours and he has told me he hasn’t spoken to anyone, and I believe him.

“Of course we’d love to have him signed up now, but to say we have given him an ultimate is not correct.”

Weekend reports said the Broncos had slapped an April 30 deadline on the destructive 20-year-old to either take up his option to leave or re-commit to the next two years.

Folau was able to have the two year bail-out clause included in his contract because at the time it was negotiated, the Broncos did not have a replacement coach for Wayne Bennett.

“I wasn’t coach at the time and the clause was included to protect him (Folau),” Henjak said.

Folau, who returns from finger surgery against Cronulla on Sunday said last month when the Rebel rumours first surfaced that he wanted to be a Bronco “long term”.

“I love the Broncos here and after one year here I really enjoyed it so with my second year coming around I certainly feel a lot more comfortable around the club now and getting to know everyone else,” he said.

“I haven’t even thought about (the Rebels). My main focus is playing good footy with the Broncos.”

Rebels coach Rod MacQueen came out on Monday declaring the new franchise was only interested in the signature of one rugby league international and that was Mark Gasnier, who has been playing rugby union in France.

Henjak did not contest reports the club was angling to bring highly decorated prop Petero Civoniceva back in 2011 after being close to getting him in Bronco colours again this year.

Football manager Peter Nolan is expected to continue talks with Civoniceva, who has another season on his contract with Penrith but who is understood to be interested in coming home ahead of schedule.

Civoniceva played his first 215 NRL games for Brisbane.

The man who holds the record for the most Tests by a forward (40) and who has played 25 Origins for Queensland, declared a week out from his 34th birthday that he planned to continue playing as long as his body held up.

“It’s a year to year thing, but right now the body feels great and as long as it stays that way, I’ll keep on playing,” he said.

Blues retain Warner’s services

Twenty20 specialist Dave Warner has rejected the entreaties of rival states to remain with New South Wales for the next three seasons.

Warner, afforded only limited opportunities with the Blues’ first-class team despite his peerless reputation for T20 pyrotechnics, was due to be out of contract in July but ultimately decided to stay and fight for his place in NSW.

By doing so he elected not to entertain the approaches from rival states, among whom Queensland and Victoria are thought to have pushed hard to win his signature by offering the incentive of a place in their respective Sheffield Shield sides.

“I am very much looking forward to continuing my playing career at New South Wales,” Warner said.

“I have played all my junior and senior cricket here and I would like to perform well for my home state.

“NSW has a proud tradition of producing great cricketers for the state and for Australia and if, in some way, I have the opportunity to be part of that tradition it would be great.

“We have a strong squad at NSW.”

Though he missed out on a Cricket Australia contract for 2010-11, Warner has made no secret of seeing himself as more than a T20 player, saying he would like to add to his seven Australian appearances in 50-over cricket while also yearning to play Tests someday.

Nevertheless, his place as a T20 maestro in NSW has had its advantages, not least his ability to secure lucrative T20 contracts with the Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League and English county Middlesex.

Barrister fined over false documents

A former Mildura barrister has avoided a conviction for forging his wife’s signature to make and use false documents.

Ballarat Magistrates Court, in central Victoria, heard Graeme Jackson, 56, set up a company in 1992 to act as a family trust.

He made his then wife Kerryn the director and secretary of the company but did not tell her.

Between 1994 and 2001 he received her tax returns, forged her signature and deposited them on the family home loan.

Jackson pleaded guilty to two counts of making a false document and five counts of using a false document.

The prosecution urged magistrate Peter Couzens to fine and convict Jackson, but his defence lawyer, Ian Hills QC, said his high profile client had already suffered enough through humiliation.

Mr Couzens fined Jackson $5,000 without conviction.

Brit student creates Winehouse’s life-sized sculpture with 3000 Lego bricks!

London, April 7 (ANI): Justin Ramsden, a Brit art student, has used over 3000 Lego bricks to create a life-sized sculpture of Amy Winehouse.

e model portrays the singer in her signature beehive hairstyle and a cigarette between her lips.

Ramsden, 19, who is a member of the Brickish Association, a group for adult fans of Lego, worked in his spare time for two weeks to come up with the sculpture.

“I really like Lego. It’s a different medium to express my art,” the Telegraph quoted him, as saying.

“I like the fact that although it is all bricks and angular, you can still create curves and artistic designs.” Ramsden, a foundation art and design student at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form ollege, added. (ANI)

Prince Harry’s get well soon message for injured girl

London, April 7 (ANI): Prince Harry risked the Queen’s ire when he broke royal rules by autographing the plaster cast of a female Air Training Corps cadet who had broken her arm.

Harry, the third in line to the throne, is not supposed to sign anything that could lead to his signature being copied and forged.

However, his grandma is likely to forgive the young prince, 25, for writing “Get well soon.Harry” on Charlotte Wilkinson-Burnett’s cast.

Burnett’s, 17, from Barrow Upon Soar, Leicestershire, met Harry when he visited cadets training for an expedition to Lesotho this July.

“The cast is coming off on May 18 but I’m keeping it now – it’s going in a glass box,” the Daily Express quoted her as saying. (ANI)

Jackie Chan gives up death-defying stunts

Melbourne, March 25 (ANI): Jackie Chan has confessed he would not continue with his signature death-defying stunts in future films.

The 55-year-old Hong Kong actor, known for his martial arts, said he was getting too old for the kung fu kicks and suffered constant pain.

“A lot. My shoulder, my arms . . .” He points at his groin: “Here. All the joints really hurt . . . you don”t know! My back!”, the Herald Sun reported.

Chan further revealed falling the wrong way during the making of Police Story was his most painful stunt ever.

He recalled: “I thought ”I”m dying” . . . I thought my backbone had gone through my heart. There was all this blood coming out. That hurt but I wasn”t dying.” (ANI)

Obama signed healthcare bill with 22 pens

Washington, Mar. 25 (ANI): Many presidents have embraced the idea of signing historic legislation – like the healthcare bill – with multiple pens and US President Barack Obama was no different. He signed the healthcare bill on Tuesday with 22 pens.

According to the Christian Science Monitor (CSM), Obama used each of the 22 pens to contribute to a letter, or even just half a letter, to his signature.

A full minute and 35 seconds elapsed between when the president began and finished.

As he placed the last pen back in the box, the president announced, “We are done.”

Many modern presidents have used multiple pens to sign major pieces of legislation.

The moment they leave the president’s hand, these pens become valuable political souvenirs worth hundreds of dollars.

Presidents often give them out to political supporters and friends.

Franklin Roosevelt was the first president to use multiple pens to sign legislation. President Truman did so as well, but it was President Lyndon Johnson who used 72 pens to sign the Civil Rights Act.

Other presidents, including Ronald Reagan, have done the same.
.
President Bush, however, used only one pen to sign legislation.

Yesterday’s bill signing was not the first time President Obama used multiple pens to sign legislation.

He signed the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act last year with seven pens.

On Tuesday, Obama kept one pen for himself and two for the archives. The rest of the pens were given out to supporters. (ANI)

Woman Rescued After Car Goes Into Pool

EAST BRIDGEWATER, Mass. — Bystanders have rescued a woman whose car ran off a street and into a backyard swimming pool in East Bridgewater.

Police said 62-year-old Marjorie Ponder of East Bridgewater was driving a 2005 Kia on Washington Street when she apparently had a medical problem on Tuesday afternoon. The car left the road and went through two fences into the pool behind a house.

Amy Rinker told reporters at the scene she was driving behind Ponder and saw the accident. Rinker and Jen Pavao, who lives in the house, worked with a neighbor to get Ponder out.

Ponder was taken to Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital with what police said were potentially serious injuries. Her condition was not immediately released.

Rare Warhol self portrait may raise up to £10m at auction

London, Mar 20 (ANI): A rare self-portrait of Andy Warhol, which the artist painted less than a year before his death, could rake in a whopping 10 million pounds in auction.

Currently owned by the designer Tom Ford who acquired the work from the artist”s estate in 1998, the painting makes part of the artist”s final series of Self Portraits, which is known to be the most important of his career.

“I have always had an extensive art collection and own many Warhols,” the Telegraph quoted Ford as saying.

“I am constantly buying and selling art to update my collection,” he added.

The portrait will go on sale at Sotheby”s in New York on May 12 this year.

The series was Warhol”s last prior to his death in February 22 1987.

Measuring 108 x 108 inches, the acrylic and silkscreen ink on canvas was based on Polaroids taken by Warhol during the 1970s.

The picture sees the artist wearing his signature “fright” wig.

Warhol died in New York aged 58 shortly after having a gall bladder operation.

The painting will be shown in London, along with other highlights from the May auction, from 15 – 19 April. (ANI)

MJ’s new signature dance move, Penguin, set to sweep fans

London, September 19 (ANI): Michael Jackson’s completely new signature dance move in a new footage while rehearsing for his comeback concerts may soon become a rage amongst his fans.

The King of Pop, in the move, being called as the Penguin, was seen flapping his right arm up and down very quickly as his body shimmied while standing on the spot.

Jackson was spotted doing the hilarious Penguin in the video, thought to be from the This Is It movie rehearsal footage, as renowned choreographer Kenny Ortega coached and watched him over, reports the Sun.

The move was due to expand his signature repertoire of dance steps including the legendary Moonwalk, Anti-Gravity Lean, and Crotch Grab.

It would be no surprise if kids and adults tried to ape the Jackson Penguin, which West End star Ricko Baird said was not easy to imitate.

He said: “Michael was just so talented and he made it all look so easy. Some of his moves like the Moonwalk – and now the Penguin – are actually very difficult and need a lot of practice.”

Business analyst Christian Severina, 35, London, said: “I love Michael Jackson and I love his dancing. But this was really tricky to do it with the same grace and speed he does it. I ended up looking like I was having a fit.”

Hannah Turner, 16, of Essex, added: “Oh my god I look like such a wally. Only Michael Jackson can make that look cool.” (ANI)

Posh banned from spraying new perfume in front of allergic Whoopi

New Delhi, Sep 12 (ANI): Former Spice Girls member Victoria Beckham has been banned from spraying her new perfume when she promotes it on a US talk show hosted by Whoopi Goldberg.

Goldberg, 53, had invited Posh, 35, to appear on ‘The View’ to talk about her latest fragrance Signature Story, but totally forgot that she’s allergic to perfume, reports China Daily.

Posh has agreed not to spray the scent within a nine-metre radius of Goldberg, while audience members, who will get a goody bag containing a bottle of the fragrance, will have to sign an agreement not to open the fragrance in the studio.

“Whoopi was desperate to get Victoria on ‘The View’ as she’s got an incredible profile in the US right now,” a source told Britain’s Daily Mirror newspaper.

“Victoria is launching her perfume so the timing was perfect and she agreed straight away.

“Sadly, Whoopi didn’t really think things through – and it was only once her guest was confirmed that she informed producers she was allergic to perfume.

“If she smells it, her eyes well up and start streaming, and her lips even swell. Studio bosses have had to write up contracts for the audience and Victoria making sure they don’t spray the scent.

“It’s not the ideal way to promote a perfume, but Victoria saw the funny side,” the source added. (ANI)

How birds and mammals evolved to have 4-chambered hearts

Washington, Sep 3 (ANI): Scientists have discovered the first genetic link that can explain how the heart evolved from being a three-chambered to four-chambered organ.

The discovery has shed light on how cold-blooded birds and mammals became warm-blooded.

Frogs have a three-chambered heart consisting of two atria and one ventricle, which sends a concoction of blood that is not fully oxygenated to the rest of the frog’s body.

On the other hand, turtles’ hearts have three chambers, but the single ventricle starts developing a wall, or septum, which makes the heart send blood that is slightly richer in oxygen than the frog’s.

However, birds and mammals have a fully septated ventricle-a bona fide four-chambered heart, which ensures the separation of low-pressure circulation to the lungs, and high-pressure pumping into the rest of the body.

As warm-blooded animals, we use a lot of energy and therefore need a great supply of oxygen for our activities. The four-chambered heart gives us an evolutionary advantage- we’re able to roam, hunt and hide even in the cold of night, or the chill of winter.

But many humans suffer from congenital heart disease, a very common birth defect, which is usually caused by VSD, or ventricular septum defects-a condition that is frequently correctable with surgery

Benoit Bruneau of the Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, who studies the transcription factor, Tbx5, in early stages of embryological development, has called it “a master regulator of the heart.”

He teamed up with scientists at Michigan State University to examine a wide evolutionary spectrum of animals and found that in the cold-blooded, Tbx5 is expressed uniformly throughout the forming heart’s wall.

On the other hand, warm-blooded embryos showed the protein very clearly restricted to the left side of the ventricle, which allowed for the separation between right and left ventricle.

Interestingly, in the turtle, the molecular signature was found to be transitional as well.

A higher concentration of Tbx5 is found on the left side of the heart, gradually dissipating towards the right.

“The great thing about looking backwards like we’ve done with reptilian evolution is that it gives us a really good handle on how we can now look forward and try to understand how a protein like Tbx5 is involved in forming the heart and how in the case of congenital heart disease its function is impaired,” concluded Bruneau. (ANI)

New BMW showroom and workshop launched in West Delhi by Deutsche Motoren

New Delhi, Sep 2 (ANI/Business Wire India): BMW India announced the opening of the new showroom and workshop facility by Deutsche Motoren in West Delhi.

Located at Shivaji Marg, Moti Nagar, West Delhi, this is the second facility in New Delhi from Deutsche Motoren. The showroom and workshop are headed by Yadur Kapur, Dealer Principal, Deutsche Motoren.

Peter Kronschnabl, President, BMW India said, “BMW India dealerships are presently leading in offering high quality services that are at par with international standards. Deutsche Motoren is our flagship dealership in New Delhi, and we are pleased to see further expansion of Deutsche Motoren in order to support our growing sales in the region.”

Deutsche Motoren is fully equipped to manage this 4S facility comprising of sales, service, spare parts and business systems to ensure that customers receive best-in-class pre and post sales ownership experience.

Yadur Kapur, Dealer Principle, Deutsche Motoren said, “Our partnership with BMW India has consistently been successful with premium customers in New Delhi. In order to serve our growing clientele with the same enthusiasm and passion we are proud to launch our second BMW showroom and workshop facility in Delhi.”

The facility is spread over 11,500 sq ft. The showroom can display up to three BMW cars and offers the customers a unique retail environment. The showroom is evolved on the signature-BMW concept of street display and the pavement flanking alongside as the customer area. All operations related to sales are efficiently covered from the space, which ensures comfort to the customer at the point of sales.

The workshop has 3 service bays and offers customers a high quality service experience which ensures comfort at all times. The facility will have a staff of 15 people.

As with every other BMW dealership, Deutsche Motoren has provided its staff intense training in management of sales, service, spare parts and business systems to ensure that customers receive best-in-class pre and post sales ownership experience. A team of service engineers have also been trained at BMW’s training centers in Singapore, Malaysia and Germany. (ANI)

Image of different regions of Trifid Nebula captured by European Southern Observatory

Munich, August 27 (ANI): A new image by the European Southern Observatory (ESO) has captured the different regions of the Trifid Nebula, which is a rare combination of three nebula types, as seen in visible light.

This massive star factory is so named for the dark dust bands that trisect its glowing heart, revealing the fury of freshly formed stars and presaging more star birth.

Smoldering several thousand light-years away in the constellation of Sagittarius (the Archer), the Trifid Nebula presents a compelling portrait of the early stages of a star’s life, from gestation to first light.

The heat and “winds” of newly ignited, volatile stars stir the Trifid’s gas and dust-filled cauldron.

In time, the dark tendrils of matter strewn throughout the area will themselves collapse and form new stars.

The French astronomer Charles Messier first observed the Trifid Nebula in June 1764, recording the hazy, glowing object as entry number 20 in his renowned catalogue.

Observations made about 60 years later by John Herschel of the dust lanes that appear to divide the cosmic cloud into three lobes inspired the English astronomer to coin the name “Trifid”.

Made with the Wide-Field Imager camera attached to the MPG/ESO 2.2-meter telescope at ESO’s La Silla Observatory in northern Chile, the new image prominently displays the different regions of the Trifid Nebula as seen in visible light.

In the bluish patch to the upper left of the image, called a reflection nebula, gas scatters the light from nearby, Trifid-born stars.

The largest of these stars shines most brightly in the hot, blue portion of the visible spectrum.

This, along with the fact that dust grains and molecules scatter blue light more efficiently than red light, imbues this portion of the Trifid Nebula with an azure hue.

Below, in the round, pink-reddish area typical of an emission nebula, the gas at the Trifid’s core is heated by hundreds of scorching young stars until it emits the red signature light of hydrogen, the major component of the gas, just as hot neon gas glows red-orange in illuminated signs all over the world.

The gases and dust that crisscross the Trifid Nebula make up the third kind of nebula in this cosmic cloud, known as dark nebulae, courtesy of their light-obscuring effects.

Within these dark lanes, the remnants of previous star birth episodes continue to coalesce under gravity’s inexorable attraction.

The rising density, pressure and temperature inside these gaseous blobs will eventually trigger nuclear fusion, and yet more stars will form. (ANI)