Tag Archives: London

A.R. Rahman in front of camera in Hollywood film

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Oscar winner A.R. Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire) is in front of the camera in upcoming film “Son of a Preacher Man” about the life and times of Grammy winning singer-songwriter-producer PJ Morton.

Besides Rahman, other cast includes American Gospel musician Kirk Franklin (Norbit), Grammy nominated American Idol Winner Ruben Studdard (Life on a Stick), and producer Warryn Campbell (Stomp the Yard). Shot in Atlanta and New Orleans in USA and London in United Kingdom, it will be released in 2010. Michael Akwesi Djaba (Reasonable Excuse) is the director.

Rahman and Morton collaborated on Sajna song in recent Hollywood comedy “Couples Retreat”.

Acclaimed Indo-American statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, commended multi-talented and innovative Rahman for bringing East and West closer through music and for making the world look at Indian film music more seriously. Diversity of his styles and themes was appealing to different sections of the society, Zed, who is chairperson of Indo-American Leadership Confederation, added.

Rahman, who has reportedly recorded sales of over 300 million, was called “Mozart of Madras” by Time magazine. Rahman sees music “as a way to connect to spirituality and embrace it” and for “creating harmony in troubled times”.

GLOBE 2010 Announces Star Speaker Line-up

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Business leaders from international companies including Dell, AMEC, Fedex, Barrick Gold and Interface will join NGO directors, government and intergovernmental officials and thousands of delegates for three days of engaging and topical conference sessions on business and the environment.

GLOBE 2010 confirmed speakers include Samir Brikho, Chief Executive Officer of AMEC plc, Ray Anderson, Chairman of Interface Inc., Paul Clements-Hunt, Head of the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative, Tony Manwaring, Chief Executive Officer of Tomorrows Company, Tod Arbogast, Director of Sustainable Business of Dell Inc., Suzanne Stormer, Vice-President and Chief of Staff at Novo Nordisk, Caroline Waters, director of people and policy at BT Group, Liesbeth van der Pol, Chief Government Architect of the Government of the Netherlands, Jim Prentice, Ministry of the Environment of the Government of Canada, and Gregor Robertson, Mayor of Vancouver, British Columbia.

Speakers

Samir Brikho, Chief Executive Officer, AMEC plc, has led the London-based engineering company into the prestigious FTSE 100 index while promoting environmental sustainability. In March, the Times of London reported that AMEC seemed to be defying the recession and had reported a 66-per-cent increase in profits. Mr. Brikho has used business to promote peace in the Middle East and is a recipient of the Medal of Honour for Industrial Service from South Korean President Myung-bak Lee.

Ray Anderson, Founder and Chairman, Interface Inc., pledged his company to sustainability long before environmentalism became trendy. In 1994, Mr. Anderson dedicated his Interface, which manufactures carpet, to completely eliminating its environmental impact by 2020. The company has since remade its corporate structure and drastically reduced its waste output. Interface, which in 2008 won a Queens Awards for Enterprise Sustainable Development, has gone so far as to study geckos to learn how to adhere carpets to floors without using glue.

Paul Clements-Hunt, Head of the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative, (UNEP FI), oversees a partnership between the United Nations Environment Programme and the global financial sector. UNEP FI works with more than 170 financial institutions to develop links between the environment and business. Mr. Clements-Hunt founded Thailands first environmental consultancy. He also directed the International Chamber of Commerces energy, environmental and sustainable development policy work.

Tod Arbogast, Director, Sustainable Business, Dell Inc., is responsible for matching Dells growth strategies with sustainable development practices. Mr. Arbogast aims to minimize Dells environmental impact while sustaining its robust growth and status as a leading technological innovator. By creating more energy efficient products, Dell hopes to save customers operating costs while reducing the environmental impact of the companys products.

Tony Manwaring, Chief Executive Officer, Tomorrows Company, aims to improve the relationship between business, employees and society at large. The London-based research and education non-profit advocates holistic thinking that can promote decisions to enable sustainable business success. Mr. Manwaring previously worked as head of The General Secretarys Office for the Labour Party as it transformed into Tony Blairs New Labour.

Jim Prentice, Minister of Environment, Government of Canada, was first elected to Parliament in 2006. He has also served as Ministry of Industry and Ministry of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. As a lawyer, Mr. Prentice specialized in property rights and served as a commissioner on the Indian Specific Claims Commission.

Caroline Waters, Director of People and Policy, BT Group, was named HR director of the year by HR magazine. Ms. Waters has been an outspoken advocate of work-life balance and a strong employee-employer relationship for BT Group, one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world. She has provided advice to government and serves on a number of boards.

Gregor Robertson, Mayor of Vancouver, British Columbia, was elected in 2008 and will speak just weeks after his city hosts the world during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Mr. Robertson has also served in the British Columbia legislature as the New Democratic small business critic. He is co-founder of Happy Planet, an organic juice producer that received the Ethics in Action Award in 2004.

2010 Conference Themes

Water: Potential Impacts + Issues for Business NEW

Clean(er) Technology: Changing the World of Business NEW

Corporate Sustainability Toolkit

Climate Change + Carbon Management

Energy and the Future

Financing the Green Economy

The Urban Infrastructure Revolution

For more information visit www.globe2010.com

About GLOBE

GLOBE 2010 is produced by the GLOBE Foundation, an international consultancy organization in the business of the environment. GLOBEs expertise lies in project management, event development, and management and consulting in the fields of environment and energy, urban development, and corporate responsibility. The GLOBE Foundation is North Americas longest operating producer of environmental events, having produced the GLOBE series since 1993.

Kaplan EduNeering and Seventh Generation Introduce Sustainability Institute

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Sustainability is a holistic, systems-based learning approach to living well today by employing business practices that enable future generations to live better tomorrow, said Lisa Clune, President of Kaplan EduNeering. The Kaplan EduNeering/Seventh Generation Sustainability Institute provides practical guidance and training for business practices that are responsive to the principles of sustainability and to the financial expectations of stakeholders.

There is now compelling evidence that sustainable companies enjoy a competitive advantage over organizations that continue to embrace an exclusive focus on short term profits, said Jeffrey Hollender, Executive Chairman of Seventh Generation. That business paradigm is now seen as counterproductive, not only for society and the natural world but also for company stakeholders. Organizations are beginning to understand that responsible corporate behavior has become a business imperative and that it will only become increasingly more important in the future.

Although recent studies confirm the belief among business professionals that environmental, social and governance activities create shareholder value and increase consumer loyalty, a study by MIT Sloan Management Review and Boston Consulting Group reports that only 30% of firms are implementing sustainability practices.

The Kaplan EduNeering/Seventh Generation Sustainability Institute provides:

– An online library of courses, including Sustainability 101,

Sustainable Supply Chain and Greenhouse Gas Management. Each of these modules addresses one of the essential business practices in an effective sustainability program. The Sustainability Institute courses are also a good primer for companies seeking distribution with Wal-Mart and that must adhere to Wal-Marts Sustainability Index. Kaplan EduNeering is a pioneer in online learning and has developed more than 4,000 custom courses and learning exercises for its clients and a library of 550 standardized compliance and regulatory courses.

– Ten video modules for ongoing sustainability learning, with topics ranging from Developing a Sustainability Mindset to Be Transparent. The video series includes five modules centered on sustainable business practices. Each of these modules addresses one of the essential business practices in an effective sustainability program. The videos feature Jeffrey Hollender, Seventh Generations co-founder and current Executive Chairman. As the companys Inspired Protagonist, Jeffrey has advised Fortune 500 companies and authored best-selling books including How to Make the World a Better Place: A Guide for Doing Good and What Matters Most – How a small group of pioneers are teaching social responsibility to big business – and why big business is listening. Jeffreys newest book, The Responsibility Revolution, is scheduled for publication in March 2010.

– An online toolkit called the Sustainability Communication Coach(SM) (SCC), which includes articles, brochures, mini-training modules, case studies and other resources to develop and sustain an ongoing, enterprise-wide sustainability communications program. The SCC is modeled after Kaplan EduNeerings widely used Ethics Communication Coach(SM), which now includes 2,000 tools and celebrates its ten-year anniversary in 2009.

– Optional services, including sustainability consulting, through Seventh Generations professional staff and an exam prep package for the LEEDv3 (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). A Green Associate certificate awarded by the Green Building Council can be provided by Kaplan AE Education.

The gap between recognizing the value of sustainability and achieving that value is costing businesses around the world billions of dollars in lost profits, said Lisa Clune. The Kaplan EduNeering/Seventh Generation Sustainability Institute provides the broad resources to help companies understand and achieve the tangible benefits of sustainable business practices.

About Kaplan EduNeering

Kaplan EduNeering (www.kaplaneduneering.com) is part of Kaplan, Inc., a leading global provider of educational services to individuals, schools and businesses. Kaplan is a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO). Kaplan EduNeering develops technology-enabled knowledge solutions for assuring regulatory compliance and improving business performance. Kaplan EduNeering is headquartered in Princeton, NJ, and has offices in Houston, TX, Bloomsburg, PA, and London, UK.

About Seventh Generation

Seventh Generation is a leader in corporate responsibility and sustainable business practices and is committed to being the most trusted brand of household and personal-care products for your living home. It derives its name from the Iroquois belief that In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations.

For information on Seventh Generation cleaning, paper, baby and feminine personal care products, to find store locations, and explore the companys website visit www.seventhgeneration.com. To read more about Seventh Generations corporate responsibility, visit the Corporate Consciousness Report at:

www.seventhgeneration.com/corporate-responsibility/2008.

Security Council calls for world free of nuclear weapons during historic summit

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The Security Council today affirmed its commitment to the goal of a world free of nuclear weapons and established a broad framework for reducing global nuclear dangers, in an historic summit-level meeting chaired by United States President Barack Obama.

Today’s meeting – only the fifth in the Council’s history to be held at the level of heads of State and government – began with the unanimous adoption of a resolution by which the 15-member body voiced grave concern about the threat of nuclear proliferation and the need for global action to combat it.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the resolution, adding that the summit was “an historic event that has opened a new chapter in the Council’s efforts to address nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.”

Stressing that “nuclear disarmament is the only sane path to a safer world,” Mr. Ban said in his opening remarks that “nothing would work better in eliminating the risk of use than eliminating the weapons themselves.”

In resolution 1887, the Council called on countries to sign and ratify the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and created additional deterrence for withdrawal from the treaty.

In addition, the Council called on all States to refrain from conducting a nuclear test explosion and to sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), thereby bringing it into force as soon as possible.

“Although we averted a nuclear nightmare during the Cold War, we now face proliferation of a scope and complexity that demands new strategies and new approaches,” said Mr. Obama, the first US President to preside over a Security Council meeting.

“Just one nuclear weapon exploded in a city – be it New York or Moscow, Tokyo or Beijing, London or Paris – could kill hundreds of thousands of people. And it would badly destabilize our security, our economies, and our very way of life.”

Russia’s President said his country continues to reduce nuclear arms “way ahead of schedule,” adding that all of its nuclear weapons are “located on its national territory and under reliable protection.”

Dmitry Medvedev also highlighted the “unprecedented” reductions of strategic nuclear arsenals by Russia and the US.

Removing the threat of nuclear war is vital to realizing a safer world for all, China’s President Hu Jintao, told the Council, while acknowledging that nuclear disarmament remains a “long and arduous” task.

He put forward a series of measures, including abandoning the nuclear deterrence policy based on first use and taking credible steps to reduce the threat of nuclear weapons.

President Óscar Arias of Costa Rica said the UN had been founded on the promise that all people would able to sleep peacefully, but that promise had not been kept.

“While we sleep, death is awake. Death keeps watch from the warehouses that store more than 23,000 nuclear warheads, like 23,000 eyes open and waiting for a moment of carelessness,” he stated, adding that it did not seem plausible to discuss disarmament as long as existing agreements were not being honoured.

While affirming the right of nations to peaceful uses of nuclear energy, the resolution called for stronger safeguards to reduce the likelihood that peaceful nuclear programmes can be diverted to a weapons programme, as well as stricter national export controls on sensitive nuclear materials.

Director General Mohamed ElBaradei spoke of the need to strengthen and empower the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) if it is to play a role in nuclear disarmament.

“Our verification mandate is centred on nuclear material. If the Agency is to be expected to pursue possible weaponization activities, it must be empowered with the corresponding legal authority,” he said.

During the meeting several delegates voiced concern about the challenges to the non-proliferation regime posed by the nuclear activities of Iran and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

The world cannot stand by when Iran and DPRK reject the opportunities of peaceful civil nuclear power and instead take steps to develop nuclear weapons in a way that threatens regional peace and security, stated Prime Minister Gordon Brown of the United Kingdom.

“Today, I believe we have to draw a line in the sand. Iran must not allow its actions to prevent the international community from moving forward to a more peaceful era,” he said, adding that as evidence of Iran’s breach of international agreements grows, tougher sanctions must be considered.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said that DPRK shows what happens when too much time is allowed to pass. After years of diplomatic efforts, the country is now at the point of conducting nuclear tests and long-range missile tests, and it exports sensitive technologies to unstable regions, he stated.

“I call on those with the means to put pressure and exert influence on Pyongyang to use them so that it puts a halt to these schemes.”

Today’s meeting comes ahead of the nuclear security summit to be convened by Mr. Obama next April and the NPT Review Conference set for next May. It also coincided with a two-day conference that began at UN Headquarters today to try to promote the CTBT and its entry into force.

Satellite operators to benefit from insurer profitability in 2010

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LONDON – Space insurers are expected to generate more than USD400 million in profit for 2009 provided there are no claims before the end of the year, according to Aon’s International Space Brokers, the largest specialist risk adviser in this sector. The space insurance market has been very profitable over the last five years and this will inevitably lead to more competitive premiums for satellite operators in the New Year as the capacity for space risks continues to increase.
In 2009, more than USD800 million of premiums is expected to be paid for ‘all risks’ launch and in-orbit insurance. The third quarter of 2009 saw five major insured launches (two Ariane 5s, two Protons and one Long March 3B – of which ISB were involved in four), which generated an estimated USD154.6 million of premium income for the space insurance market. The Long March 3B launch fell short of the target orbit due to a third stage anomaly but engineers managed to manoeuvre the Palapa D spacecraft to the correct orbit which resulted in a loss of only one third of the spacecraft life.
Losses occurring so far this year amount to between USD 400 and USD 450 million, while the other major launch vehicles have performed flawlessly. It means insurers will have been profitable for four out of five years, with the only exception being a deficit in 2007. The favourable market conditions are attracting more capacity into the space insurance market, enabling risks to be placed at better terms due to increased competition. As a result, rates in 2009 to date have continued their slow, but steady decline.
Clive Smith, space business unit leader, said: “Demand for satellite communication capacity continues to grow, from delivering broadband and television to surveying the earth for pollution, resources and disaster monitoring. The recession made it more difficult for some operators and particularly new projects to raise capital but nevertheless there are a number of interesting projects that are still progressing well. The health of the insurance industry means it’s well positioned to support satellite programmes by providing sufficient capacity to satisfy investor requirements.”
About Aon
Aon Corporation (NYSE: AOC) is the leading global provider of risk management services, insurance and reinsurance brokerage, and human capital consulting. Through its more than 37,000 colleagues worldwide, Aon readily delivers distinctive client value via innovative and effective risk management and workforce productivity solutions. Aon’s industry-leading global resources and technical expertise are delivered locally through more than 500 offices in more than 120 countries. Named the world’s best broker by Euromoney magazine’s 2008 and 2009 Insurance Survey, Aon also ranked highest on Business Insurance’s listing of the world’s largest insurance brokers based on commercial retail, wholesale, reinsurance and personal lines brokerage revenues in 2008. A.M. Best deemed Aon the number one insurance broker based on brokerage revenues in 2007 and 2008, and Aon was voted best insurance intermediary, best reinsurance intermediary and best employee benefits consulting firm in 2007 and 2008 by the readers of Business Insurance. For more information on Aon, log onto http://www.aon.com/.

Source: WEBWIRE

Firmware Update to BlueAnt Q1 Headset Adds A2DP Streaming Audio

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One of the best features of the award-winning BlueAnt Q1 Voice
Controlled Bluetooth headset is that it allows for quick and easy
firmware updates. Q1 owners can take advantage of this with the
just-released Firmware
Version 8.19 update that adds A2DP audio streaming to the Q1 so they
can listen to music, podcasts, and hear turn-by-turn directions from
mobile phone GPS applications.
“This upgrade provides major enhancements to the already easy-to-use and
functionality-rich Q1 headset at no cost to our customers. With more
mobile phones like the iPhone 3GS incorporating AD2P streaming audio,
our customers were eager to use their Q1 headsets to listen to music and
podcasts, and enhance the hands-free driving experience by listening to
directions from GPS applications,” said Taisen Maddern, BlueAnt
executive chairman. “We are happy to provide this capability through a
simple, quick firmware upgrade.”
Also in response to customer feedback, BlueAnt’s latest upgrade makes it
even easier to end a call on the Q1 with a single click of the BlueAnt
button. Double-clicking the BlueAnt button during a call now switches
between Voice Isolation standard and max levels and the headset will now
revert to Voice Isolation standard at the end of every call. Updated
voice recognition software provides an improved response to the “answer”
and “ignore” voice commands and enhanced audio means even richer and
louder sound.
Updating is Easy
Customers can keep their Q1 headsets up-to-date with the BlueAnt Q1
Updater software that downloads and installs the latest firmware version
available. Therefore those who have already run an update on the Q1 can
simply run it again. Those who have not run an update on their Q1
previously should first go to the BlueAnt support site at http://register.blueantwireless.com
to register their device. This will create an account and allow access
to the BlueAnt Q1 Updater software and other special downloads. Firmware
Version 8.19 is currently available for US English with other languages
such as UK English, Canadian French, French and Latin American/South
American Spanish available shortly (currently available through Firmware
Version 8.16).
To find more detailed information and instructions for Firmware Version
8.19, go to http://myblueant.com/q1/firmware.php.
To learn more about all of BlueAnt’s products, please visit www.blueantwireless.com.
About BlueAnt Wireless
BlueAnt Wireless is a global technology company providing the most
innovative Bluetooth peripheral devices and accessories on the market.
BlueAnt’s product portfolio includes hands-free and wireless
communication products offering cutting-edge technology, design and
features. With its headquarter office in Melbourne, Australia, BlueAnt
also has offices in Silicon Valley and London. Find more information on www.blueantwireless.com.

Source: Business Wire

Highlights of the week

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IOC ACTIVITIES
This week, IOC President Jacques Rogge has been in Madrid for the 40th anniversary of the creation of the Spanish Olympic Academy, an occasion attended also by the Prince of Asturias, Felipe de Borbón, and IOC members Lambis V. Nikolaou and Guy Drut. He took advantage of his time in Madrid to meet the Spanish NOC President and Secretary General, Alejandro Blanco and Victor Sánchez, and to visit the Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) office, accompanied by OBS CEO Manolo Romero and IOC honorary member Hein Verbruggen.
From Madrid, President Rogge travelled to Porto (Portugal), where he received an honorary doctorate on 26 November from Porto University’s Faculty of Science and Physical Education.
He then went to Lisbon on 27 November to address the General Assembly of the European Olympic Committees (EOC), whose President is IOC member Patrick Hickey. Before attending the Portuguese NOC’s centenary gala in the evening, the IOC President had a meeting with the Portuguese President, Anibal Cavaco Silva, and the Prime Minister, José Socrates, accompanied by the Minister of the Presidency, Pedro Silva Pereira, and the Secretary of State for Youth and Sport, Laurentino Dias.
Philip Craven has been re-elected as President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), at the IPC General Assembly held in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia). See also under “Recognised Organisations”.
Carlos Arthur Nuzman has received the “Eagle Award” of the United States Sports Academy (USSA), in recognition of his leadership of the Brazilian NOC; his role in developing sport in Brazil and securing the 2016 Games for Rio; and the successful organisation of the Pan-American Games in 2007. He was presented with the award by Peter Tichansky, President and CEO of the Business Council for International Understanding, representing the USSA. More details on www.cob.org.br.
For the second time this year, the Coordination Commission for the 2012 Games in London, whose Chairman is Denis Oswald, has met in the British capital. During this fifth visit, on 25 and 26 November, the Commission was updated by the Organising Committee (LOCOG) and its local government partners on progress in areas including sport, the Olympic Villages, venues and infrastructures, city operations, marketing, NOC services, press operations, technology and the Paralympic Games. Full report on www.olympic.org.
INTERNATIONAL SPORTS FEDERATIONS
On 22 November, at the International Athletics Foundation (IAF) gala in Monaco, the top athletes of the year were honoured, in the presence of the IAF and International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) President, Lamine Diack, and IAF Honorary President Prince Albert II. For the second time in a row, Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt was named “Athlete of the Year”. Among the women, America’s Sanya Richards won her second title, after the first in 2006. See the names of all the winners and photos on www.iaaf.org.
The International Rowing Federation (FISA) has announced that the 2010 World Rowing Coaches Conference will be held from 21 to 24 January 2010 in Copenhagen (Denmark). Organised by the Danish Rowing Federation at the House of Sport, the theme of the Conference will be “Duration, Optimisation of Rowing Performance and Training”. The Conference will end with a gala dinner, at which the 2009 World Rowing Awards will be presented. More details on www.worldrowing.com.
In a press release, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) has announced that, with the women’s World Championships less than a year away, the event web site has been launched. Find out more by visiting www.czechrepublic2010.fiba.com. These Championships will be held in the cities of Karlovy Vary, Ostrava and Brno between 23 September and 3 October 2010. The draw to decide in which of the four groups the 16 teams taking part will play was held this week. Details on www.fiba.com.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has launched its “Tennis…Play and Stay” campaign in India, to attract more of the 1.1 billion population to the sport. In collaboration with the All-India Tennis Association, the ITF has held Play Tennis courses to train coaches, tutors and volunteers on how to work with starter players. Seven of the top coaches in India also attended a specific training session to enable them to lead the Play Tennis coaches’ course themselves. Details on www.tennisplayandstay.com. The ITF has also announced the death of American Randy Snow, a legend in the world of wheelchair tennis. In 1984, he won a silver medal in what was then a demonstration event at the Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. Over the course of his career, he was world number one in 1992, and won singles and doubles gold medals at the Paralympic Games in Barcelona. Four years later, at the Paralympic Games in Atlanta, he was a member of the bronze medal-winning basketball team. More information on www.itftennis.com/wheelchair.
At its meeting in Rome (Italy) at the beginning of November, the International Archery Federation (FITA) Council took a number of important decisions. These included the election of the host cities for the World Archery Championships in 2011, 2012 and 2013; the Olympic and Paralympic qualification system; the calendar and rounds of the Archery World Cup from 2010 to 2012; the new rule book; the budget for 2010-2012 and financial policies; and the World Archery Indoor Challenge. More details can be found at www.archery.org.
NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEES
The Costa Rican NOC recently awarded the prizes in its first Olympic sports photography competition. The 90 photographs entered are displayed on the walls of the NOC headquarters. The winners are Alexander Otárola Rojas, in the professional category, and Walter Salazar Rojas in the amateur category. The ceremony was held in the presence of the NOC Executive Committee members, including NOC President Henry Núñez Nájera, the participants and the jury members. The competition was organised by the Costa Rican Olympic academies department, which is headed by Luis Cruz Meléndez.
On 18 November at the Lithuanian NOC headquarters, the NOC President, Arturas Poviliunas, was decorated with Lithuania’s Thousand Year Star by Foreign Affairs Minister Vygaudas Usackas, in recognition of his valuable services to Lithuanian sport over many years. He was also named Sports Ambassador for his successful establishment of solid cooperation with the political and governmental forces as well as international organisations. Numerous personalities from the worlds of sport, politics and the media were present on this occasion. Two days later, the Lithuanian Olympic Academy, whose President is Povilas Karoblis, celebrated its 20th anniversary and 15 years of its “Sports Science” journal. The personalities present included Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus; the NOC President; the Director General of the State Department for Physical Education and Sports, Ritas Vaiginas; and the leaders of the Olympic academies of Belarus, Latvia and the Czech Republic.
SINGAPORE 2010
On 21 November, the Singapore 2010 Organising Committee unveiled the mascots of the first Youth Olympic Games: Lyo and Merly. Lyo is short for “Lion of the Youth Olympics”. Merly gets her name from “mer” (French for “sea”) and “ly”, derived from the words “liveliness” and “youthfulness”. Between 14 August and 6 September this year, the public was asked to find names for these two mascots. Almost 375 suggestions were received from 20 countries. Sean Pang Yi Wei suggested the name Lyo, and Merly came from Tung Chi Jun, both from Singapore. More details on www.olympic.org/yog.
RECOGNISED ORGANISATIONS
Held last week in Kuala Lumpur, the IPC General Assembly brought together more than 350 participants representing 100 National Paralympic Committees, five regions, four international disabled sports organisations and 22 sports. The decisions taken included to elect a new Governing Board, chaired by Philip Craven, and the reinclusion of athletes with an intellectual disability in competitions, including the Paralympic Games. The Paralympic Awards for 2009 were also presented to the winners in the categories of sport, the media and science. Read the full list on www.paralympic.org.
ERRATA
In last week’s issue, please note the following corrections in the “IOC Activities” section:
* In the first paragraph, the text should read: “3rd edition of the International Federations Forum, organised in Lausanne by SportAccord Convention” (rather than Sport Accord). The link should also be www.sportaccordconvention.com rather than www.agfisonline.com.
* In the list of the President’s meetings, please note that Amar Addadi is President of the International Mediterranean Games Committee (CIJM), not the Algerian NOC Vice-President.

Source: WEBWIRE

Assembly looks at home care services for older Londoners

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These and other important questions are the focus of a London Assembly Health and Public Services Committee meeting tomorrow at City Hall.
As part of their investigation into home-based care and support services for older Londoners, the Committee will put questions to the following guests:
· Cllr Lorna Campbell, London Borough of Lambeth and Deputy Chair of the Health and Adult Services Forum for London Councils
· Samantha Mauger, Chief Executive, Age Concern London
· Francis McGlone, Policy Manager, UK Homecare Association
· Ian Winter, Deputy Regional Director, Social Care and Partnerships, Department of Health
· Martin Cheeseman, Director of Housing and Community Care, London Borough of Brent

The meeting will take place on Wednesday 25 November at 10am in Committee Room 4 at City Hall ( The Queen’s Walk, London SE1 ). Media and members of the public are invited to attend. The meeting can also be viewed via webcast at: http://www.london.gov.uk/assembly/webcasts.jsp

Notes to Editors

1. Full agenda papers for the meeting are available at: http://www.london.gov.uk/assembly/health_ps/2009/nov25/agenda.jsp
2. As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.

The Chair of the Committee, James Cleverly, is available for interviews. For more details, please contact Lisa Moore in the Assembly Media Office on 020 7983 4228. For out of hours media enquiries please call 0207 983 4000 and ask for the Assembly duty press officer. Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit, Greater London Authority, on 020 7983 4100.

Source: Media Newswire

University Boat Club enjoys another winning weekend

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Held at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, the British Indoor Rowing Championships attracts the very best rowers from around the country. RUBC returned home with an amazing eight medals, winning four gold and four bronze. This tally made Reading by far the most successful university competing at the event and confirmed its reputation as an institution that not only attracts talented rowers, but has the facilities and expertise to produce world-class athletes.

Wins from Sam Townsend and John Preston in the heavyweight and lightweight division respectively, as well as Ally Brooks first place in the lightweight womens event, were just some of the fantastic results achieved by the Club. Dave Smith also won gold with in the adaptive ( paralympic ) boat class, another terrific performance.

RUBC also had over 20 crews competing in the Kingston Small Boats Head of the River Race in London. Despite the gusty conditions RUBC stayed on their winning course to record a series of stunning results, coming first in six races. Special mentions go to the mens senior quad who were the fastest crew at the whole event and also the womens intermediate 3 coxed 4 boat, the fastest ladies coxed 4 crew of the day.

RUBC Director of Rowing Will Rand said: This weekend has been a truly memorable one for the Club. All the squads have worked extremely hard and these results are testament to their efforts. The Club is continuing to grow in stature and as always extremely grateful to the University for its generous support. Everyone involved with RUBC should be very proud of the results and we look forward to more success throughout the season.

Next up for RUBC are the GB trials in Boston, Lincolnshire just before Christmas. This gives the top performers at RUBC the chance to either make their way into, or confirm their position in the GB team heading towards the London 2012 Olympics.

For more information about RUBC, contact Will Rand, the Director of Rowing at the University of Reading on 07989 972 594 or email [email protected]

Ends

For all University of Reading media enquiries please contact James Barr, Press Officer tel 0118 378 7115 or email [email protected]

Source: Media Newswire

InterDigital to Present at NASDAQ OMX 23rd Investor Program in London

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InterDigital, Inc. (NASDAQ:IDCC) announced today that the company will
present at the NASDAQ OMX 23rd Investor Program at the May Fair Hotel in
London on December 2, 2009 at 2:45 p.m. London local time (9:45 a.m.
ET). InterDigital° executives will present InterDigitals
strategy, business update, and the company’s unique positioning to
capitalize on growth trends in the wireless industry.
The presentation will be webcast live and available in the Investor
Relations section of the companys website. In addition, a replay of
managements presentation will be available for 30 days following the
conference.
About InterDigital
InterDigital designs, develops and provides advanced wireless
technologies and products that drive voice and data communications.
InterDigital is a leading contributor to the global wireless standards
and holds a strong portfolio of patented technologies which it licenses
to manufacturers of 2G, 2.5G, 3G, and 802 products worldwide.
InterDigital is a registered trademark of InterDigital, Inc.
For more information, visit: www.interdigital.com

Source: Business Wire

Todd-AO Extends¡Presence in Santa Monica

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Post-production sound company Todd-AO (www.toddao.com)
today announced it has entered into an agreement to extend the lease for
its Todd-AO West facility, located within the Lantana complex at 3000
Olympic Boulevard in Santa Monica.
“Todd-AO West is an important part of our strategic plan to remain
the destination of choice for post-production sound services,” said
Robert C. Rosenthal, President of CSS Studios. “This
agreement reinforces our commitment to continuing a strong, full service
presence in Santa Monica.”
Todd-AO West consists of five mixing stages, one ADR stage, one
Foley stage and a number of editorial rooms.
In recent years, Todd-AO West has completed technical upgrades to
its mixing stages, converting all five of them to Euphonix System 5
consoles. Additionally, the facility continues to attract
top-tier creative talent and projects, including titles such as the
upcoming feature Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, the recent
feature G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra and the HBO mini-series The
Pacific.
“Our clients want to work in a creative setting with access to top
talent,” said Rosenthal. “At the same time, our clients
demand a high degree of content security, comfort, and privacy, within
an organization capable of adjusting to the unique needs of their
project. Todd-AO West is a time-tested facility that has
proven capable of rising to those challenges in the service of a highly
discriminating clientele.”
About CSS STUDIOS, LLC
Hollywood, California-based CSS Studios is a wholly owned
subsidiary of Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK),
the world’s number one nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5
billion cumulative subscribers in over 170 countries. CSS
Studios provides creative services to major motion picture studios,
independent producers, broadcast networks, cable channels, advertising
agencies and interactive producers. CSS services are
marketed under the brand names Todd-AO, Sound One, Soundelux, POP Sound,
Modern Music, Soundelux Design Music Group and The Hollywood Edge, with
facilities in Los Angeles, New York and London. With more
than 50 years of experience in providing creative sound services and
technical solutions, the companies, collectively, have garnered more
than 50 Academy Award nominations and won 26 Academy Awards°.&/

Source: Business Wire

British Conductor and Harpsichordist Nicholas Kraemer Leads Chicago Symphony Orchestra Dec. 10-12

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British conductor and harpsichordist Nicholas Kraemer returns to Symphony Center to lead the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) in a program highlighting three composers of the 18th centuryTelemann, Haydn and Mozartas well as 20th-century master Richard Strauss.

Performances are Thursday, Dec. 10, at 8pm, Friday, Dec. 11, at 1:30pm and Saturday, Dec. 12, at 8pm.

Well known as an authority of Baroque and Classical period music, Nicholas Kraemer is equally successful leading music by composers of the 20th century and today; his repertoire ranges from Vivaldi and Monteverdi to Britten and Musgrave.

Kraemer, familiar to Chicago audiences as principal guest conductor of Music of the Baroque, made his CSO debut in November 2007 with works by Handel, Haydn and Telemann, earning critical acclaim for his stylish, lively interpretations.

His December concerts contain Haydns Symphony No. 88one of the composers finest and the first in which he uses trumpets and timpani in a slow movement; Mozarts spirited Divertimento in D Major, K. 131; selections from Telemanns second volume of imaginative Tafelmusik, which Kraemer will lead from the harpsichord; and Strauss elegiac Metamorphosen, composed at the end of World War II as a heartfelt lament on the destruction of his beloved opera houses and cultural monuments of Germany.

Nicholas Kraemer began his career as a harpsichordist and soon moved from playing Baroque continuo at the back of the orchestra to directing from the keyboard at the front. While performing with the English Chamber Orchestra in the 1970s, his repertoire widened to encompass the 19th and 20th centuries.

He formed Raglan Baroque Players in 1978 and served as its music director, and he held conducting posts with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Irish Chamber Orchestra and London Bach Orchestra.

In addition to his current position with Music of the Baroque, he is permanent guest conductor of the Manchester Camerata in England.

Kraemer regularly conducts ensembles, orchestras and opera companies throughout the world, including the Hall Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic and National Orchestra of Wales, Berlin Philharmonic, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Royal Symphony Orchestra of Seville, Toronto Symphony, Detroit Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and Ensemble Kanazawa in Japan.

Upcoming debuts include the West Australian Symphony and Colorado Symphony Orchestra.

Committed to working with young musicians, Kraemer has directed orchestras and choirs of Venezuelas El Sistema programs and has led master classes at the Aspen Music Festival; he regularly conducts the Northern Sinfonias Young Sinfonia and in 2010 will lead Handels Belshazzar in a collaboration of the Manchester Camerata and the Royal Northern College of Music.

His discography includes dozens of concertos by Vivaldi with both the City of London Sinfonia and Raglan Baroque Players; music of Locatelli, Tartini and Pergolesi as well as Handels Rodelinda with Raglan Baroque Players; several works by Thea Musgrave with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra; and choral works by Scarlatti, Mozart, Handel and Haydn.

He also has contributed to several feature films, most notably as Baroque music director for The Madness of King George.&/

Source: Chicago Press Release

Flash Fontanelli Music Album “FIRANGI“ Creates Havoc in Asian Community

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New York, USA, November 28, 2009 ~ Indo-American Singer-Songwriter Flash Fontanelli, with his unique voice and exotic instrumentation, will officially release his debut album , FIRANGI, on November 30th, 2009.
Love him or hate him, Flash Fontanelli, the self-proclaimed Emperor of Chaos, is the most outrageous personality to ever hit the Asian music scene. Hailed by fans as being the new voice for Desi youth and denounced by critics as being a misrepresentation of Asian values, most would agree that Fontanelli is a musical mastermind. Guaranteed to take World Music to a new dimension, FIRANGI is an incredible collection of 18 innovative tracks filled with ethnic vigor, energy, and emotion. Songs include Shahrukh Khan, IRAQ, Laugh and Desire Wire to name a few.
Flash broke cultural and musical barriers, societal norms and stereotypes in a manner that was anything but traditional on his rise to fame. His music, often overshadowed by his loud personality, is unique to the point that it fits no existing genre. Flash sings in English but his music is distinctly ethnic. Combining Indian music with Hip Hop, Rock and Reggae, and using a wide array of instruments from places like Greece, Ireland, Jamaica and Egypt to name a few, Flash has created a new form of musical expression. The multi-talented Fontanelli is not only a singer, but also a composer, musician, songwriter and producer. His voice is raw, deep and husky. He has been compared to Elvis Presley and Jim Morrisson. His vocal ability is undeniably versatile. He can rap, he can sing low, high, soft, smooth or loud. And his musical formula is original. Most Flash Fontanelli songs have both a musical hook and a vocal hook.
Flash Fontanelli, born in India, migrated with his family to Liverpool, England at the age of 2. Four years later, they settled in the United States and he has since lived in New York, California, Connecticut, South Carolina, Illinois and Arizona. He was introduced to music at age 10 by skilled guitarist and family friend, Javid Hassan. By age 13, Flash had mastered the piano and was writing songs with ease. He was the songwriter and frontman for several Punk & Metal bands, including User Friendly and Skull Krusher, in his teenage years. At age 19, Flash went to his native India for what was supposed to be a one month vacation. Drawn to the culture, languages and music, he ended up staying for six months. It was in Mumbai that he met Indian Music Director & accomplished programmer Satya Narayan. Under Narayan’s tutiledge, Flash came back with a strong understanding and passion for Indian Music. After his return to the States, Fontanelli was working two jobs while singing and playing keyboard for the Bhangra influenced Reggae-Ska band, Coconut Swing. But frustrated by the politics and close-minded nature of the music industry, Flash gave up music for three years. On the insistence of his friends and family, Flash decided to give it one more go in 2008. It was then that he met Jon Weil, lead guitarist of Busticles and a professional Sound Engineer at Fuzzywallz Recording Studio in Tempe,AZ. Flash started recording with Jon at Fuzzywallz Studio and it didn’t take long for Fontanelli to grow a strong internet following, much to the credit of Akash Suresh, a professional DJ and Indian party promoter. The response from the younger generation of Desi’s living in the United States and United Kingdom was overwhelming. Fontanelli was playing shows again from California to London. The big break came in February 2009 when film director Fredy Polania heard the song Shahrukh Khan and wanted to shoot a Music Video for it. The video was launched on May 28, 2009 and became an instant hit on You Tube. This led to radio play and increased exposure, making Shahrukh Khan the ethnic party anthem of the Summer.
Flash Fontanelli has been busy the past few months, completing a 3 continent tour that saw him perform in New York, London and Mumbai to name a few places. Then Blue Mango Records came calling, in conjunction with Indian label Leit Motif Records, and offered him a recording contract. He accepted, citing creative control as the primary reason, and recorded his debut album. Firangi features work from Jon Weil, talented Indian producer Manik Satya, Bollywood playback singer Tarannum Mallik, guitar prodigy Nitesh Dean and Sound Engineer Alex Patole. The album was mastered by engineer Jerome Schmitt from Air Mastering in London, UK.

In addition to release of his music album, there is also a treat for the eyes for Flash Fontanelli fans as they get to see him in flesh. His second music video for the track “IRAQ”, directed by Thomas Jacob, was released on November 10, 2009. This video will be offered to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-NoDerivs license, so that the people around the world can legally copy, distribute, and share the clip.
In a recent interview, Flash Fontanelli said: Some kids grow up wanting to be Lil Wayne. Some grow up wanting to be Jay Sean or Ozzy Osbourne. Me? I just wanted to be Flash Fontanelli. My goal is to make the most flavorful music possible in a way that no one else has ever done before. I want to introduce the world to Desi Music. And I want to introduce my Desi’s to World Music. My music may have a new sound but it relates to YOUR life. Some songs will make you happy, some will make you bounce up and down and party with your homies. Some will make you remember someone that you have lost. But in the end, If it invoked some sort of emotion in you, then I succeeded. I don’t believe in following rules. Rules are false boundaries that society created with the intention of killing innovation and progress. So f*** the rules
Music critic Chris Mark —a respected name in World Music—states, This artist is going to revolutionize music the way it’s seen and heard in the UK and USA. It’s modern World Fusion mixed with catchy hooks, witty lyrics and that signature Flash Fontanelli style. FIRANGI is an eclectic blend of powerful Bhangra beats, exotic instrumentation, Rock, Reggae and Indian Hip Hop. The only regret with this amazing journey is that it ends, leaving us wanting for more musical enchantment. This is one POWERFULL new voice
.
To listen to or download MP3’s or to watch music videos from Flash Fontanelli, check out his website at:
www.flashfontanelli.com

Source: WEBWIRE

Rio Tinto partners with WA Government to develop vibrant communities in the Pilbara

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Rio Tinto Iron Ore chief executive Sam Walsh today signed an memorandum of understanding with the Premier of Western Australian, Colin Barnett, and the Minister for Regional Development, Brendon Grylls, as the first step towards a town redevelopment strategy in the Pilbara.
The MoU will lead to the formalising of a co-operative partnership between the State Government and Rio Tinto.
Mr Walsh said: Rio Tinto is committed to providing our Pilbara communities with new opportunities to have a sustainable future and to plan for the longer term
Together with the state and local governments, we will examine opportunities to plan, develop and implement a town and community development strategy for the Pilbara, with an initial focus on the revitalisation of Dampier
The Pilbara towns of Dampier, Wickham, Tom Price, Paraburdoo and Pannawonica were all built by Rio Tinto subsidiaries in the 1960s and 1970s.
Rio Tinto continues to have a role in providing infrastructure and services to these towns in partnership with government.
About Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the UK, combining Rio Tinto plc, a London and NYSE listed company, and Rio Tinto Limited, which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.
Rio Tinto’s business is finding, mining, and processing mineral resources. Major products are aluminium, copper, diamonds, energy (coal and uranium), gold, industrial minerals (borax, titanium dioxide, salt, talc) and iron ore. Activities span the world but are strongly represented in Australia and North America with significant businesses in South America, Asia, Europe and southern Africa.

Source: WEBWIRE

Deutsche Börse connects 100th participant to Proximity Services

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Algotraders benefit from low latency / Total of more than 1,000 logical network connections
Deutsche Börse: 100 Eurex and Xetra participants, vendors and service providers already use the two Proximity data centers in Frankfurt, benefiting from the low latency and the high bandwidth of the Enhanced Broadcast Solution and Enhanced Transaction Solution interfaces. Another five customers are soon to be connected.
This confirms Deutsche Börse Group’s irrefutable role as leading European exchange in this field and highlights its attractiveness for trading houses that pursue latency-sensitive algorithmic trading strategies said Matthias Kluber, Executive Vice President and Head of Networks and Infrastructure at Deutsche Börse Systems. Since the launch of the first Proximity data center in 2006, we have experienced continuous growth in demand for low-latency locations from our trading participants, despite the deepening economic crisis. For us, this is the result of constantly optimizing not only our own infrastructure but also the range of additional proximity and low latency trading services we offer
For example, Deutsche Börse Group has made it possible to transmit private newsfeeds unencrypted via the Enhanced Transaction Solution interface, thereby saving more time. This communication channel is safeguarded by way of additional technical features such as infrared surveillance systems and armored conduit for cable ducts. Since August 2009, a new 10GBit/s backbone data line has also been in place between London and Frankfurt, setting new standards with its network latency of under five milliseconds.
New Proximity participants can initially test the new services with their algorithms and trading engines under the Proximity Tryout scheme – which features 100 percent realistic conditions in terms of latency and data throughput. Teams and services from Customer Technical Support and ExServes will be available to help. In order to manage its permanent proximity installations securely and cost-effectively in the long term, Deutsche Börse Systems offers fast and reliable management links via its worldwide network.
We will continue to meet the high demands many customers place on our trading infrastructure in terms of latency, performance and implementing technological progress in the future commented Matthias Kluber. And our IT security and availability standards will remain high
The Eurex and Xetra members that use Deutsche Börse Group’s Proximity Services come from all over the world. Eleven different countries are represented, including Germany, the UK, the US, the Czech Republic, Hong Kong and Singapore. The participants include international universal banks, renowned hedge funds and highly specialized algotraders. 21 percent of all Eurex and 18 percent of all Xetra members already use a Proximity data center.

Source: WEBWIRE

Triple grant success for medical researchers

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Pre-eclampsia – a group of conditions that result in high blood pressure in expectant mothers – can be fatal, while fetal growth restriction, where the baby does not grow properly in the womb, results in a greater risk of death or handicap.

The five-year programme grant from the Medical Research Council has been given to Professor Colin Sibley, Dr Sue Greenwood and Dr Mark Wareing in Manchester’s Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre based at St Mary’s Hospital, together with collaborators in Cambridge, Harwell and Alberta.

Professor Sibley said: “Pre-eclampsia and fetal growth restriction are diseases with many different causes and are the most dangerous pregnancy complications. There are currently no treatments available other than Caesarean section or inducing labour.

“Some of the causes of the conditions are similar to those in other conditions, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer, and our research will determine whether the same drugs that are useful in those diseases can be used in treating pregnancy complications.”

A further £220,000 has been awarded by the Medical Research Council to fellow Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre scientists, Professor John Aplin and Dr Lynda Harris. Their research will focus on an enzyme called MMP-12 and whether blocking its actions may be a therapeutic intervention in complicated pregnancies.

Meanwhile, Dr Stuart Pickering-Brown and Professor David Mann, in the School of Translational Medicine, have been awarded £1 million of a £4.5 million programme grant by the Wellcome Trust and Medical Research Council to identify genetic risk factors in motor neurone disease.

Working with colleagues at King’s College London, the Manchester researchers will investigate a gene called FUS – known to play a role in motor neurone disease – in dementia patients with frontotemporal lobar degeneration ( FTLD ).

Dr Pickering-Brown said: “Recent research on motor neurone disease and frontotemporal dementia has shown that RNA-processing proteins are deposited in degenerating nerve cells and that rare mutations in three known genes, including FUS, cause a genetic form of these diseases.

“Using these discoveries, our team will model key aspects of the human disorders in transgenic mice to allow us to explore fundamental disease mechanisms and identify new therapeutic targets.”

Ends

Notes for editors
For further information contact:

Aeron Haworth
Media Relations
Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences
The University of Manchester

Tel: 0161 275 8383
Mob: 07717 881563
Email: [email protected]

Source: Media Newswire

London 2012 Continues To Make Positive Progress

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The International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s Coordination Commission concluded today its fifth full visit (25-26 November) to the city of London. With less than 1,000 days to go to the London 2012 Opening Ceremony, the Commission was able to hear about the advances made by the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) and its partners and share their thoughts and experiences on the planning for the Games. The two-day session focused principally on the operational delivery of the Games, and the Commission received in-depth updates on the progress of its operations.
Very Positive
Commenting after the meeting, IOC Coordination Commission Chairman Denis Oswald said, “Once again, we have had very productive meetings with our partners at London 2012 and we are very positive about the progress that they are making in preparing for the Games.” He continued, “It is over a year since the Beijing Games came to a close and LOCOG has clearly been able to learn from its experiences last year and integrate them into planning for 2012. This was evident from the good discussions and sharing of information that we had around a number of topics including venues, infrastructure, workforce, city preparations and LOCOG’s volunteer programme, which will be launched next year. LOCOG also updated us on the proposals to move badminton and rhythmic gymnastics to Wembley Arena and we are satisfied with progress on this issue. LOCOG is discussing the proposal with the two International Federations concerned and we look forward to hearing LOCOG’s position at our Executive Board meeting in December.”
Operations And Planning
With venue construction continuing on or ahead of schedule and the Games drawing ever nearer, the focus of this Coordination Commission was largely on operations and planning than on the excellent construction and regeneration work being carried out by the Olympic Delivery Authority. With this in mind, the Commission spent time discussing with LOCOG and its partners, including the Government and the Mayor of London’s office, a number of operational subjects including athlete services, ticketing, city operations, technology, press operations, transport, sport and Paralympic Games operations.
LONDON 2012
London was elected as the Host City for the Games of the XXX Olympiad on 6 July 2005 at the 117th IOC Session in Singapore. London eventually succeeded in the fourth round of voting taking 54 votes from a possible 104. London faced stiff opposition during the vote from the other four candidate cities: Paris, New York, Moscow and Madrid. There will be 26 sports on the Olympic programme in London in 2012 and around 10,500 athletes.

Source: WEBWIRE

Mistakes happen – failure to put them right quickly and properly can make them considerably worse

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In the report Ann Abraham said:

In a perfect world, mistakes would never happen but, given that they do, it is how public bodies react when mistakes occur that interests me most. Small mistakes have the potential for far-reaching consequences and the failure to remedy mistakes quickly and properly can make them considerably worse.

In the case of Mr U, highlighted in the report, it took nearly three years, the breakdown of Mr Us marriage and damage to his relationship with his children before the Child Support Agency (CSA) admitted that they had wrongly identified Mr U as the father of two other children. In fact, CSA knew less than two months after they first made the mistake that they probably had the wrong man. Following the Ombudsmans investigation, Mr U received an apology from the CSA and compensation of 10,000. The CSA had previously offered compensation of just 350.

Ann Abraham stressed the importance of prompt and efficient complaint handling:

The public bodies involved in these complaints have told me that these cases should not be seen as representative of the services these agencies deliver to millions of people every day. I do not suggest that they are. I am, however,concerned that in every one of these cases there were opportunities that were not taken to put things right much sooner. It should not have taken the intervention of the Ombudsman to bring an end to Mr Us nightmare.

The report emphasises the need for public bodies to seek continuous improvement one of the Ombudsmans key principles. Ann Abraham concluded:

I cannot stress strongly enough the importance of public bodies learning from complaints and using this learning to improve their services and performance. I hope that all public bodies those cited in this Digest and those which are not will take the opportunity to reflect on and learn from these cases.

Notes to editors:

1. Ann Abraham holds the post of UK Parliamentary Ombudsman and is also Health Service Ombudsman for England. She is appointed by the Crown and is completely independent of Government and the NHS. Her role is to provide a service to the public by undertaking independent investigations into complaints that government departments, a range of other public bodies in the UK, and the NHS in England, have not acted properly or fairly or have provided a poor service. There is no charge for using the Ombudsmans services.

2. Number of complaints: In 2008-09 the Parliamentary Ombudsman received 7,608 enquiries about government departments and public bodies (excluding health). There was an 8.8 per cent increase in the number of complaints.

3. Recommendations: Over 99% of recommendations the Ombudsman made during the year have been accepted or are currently being considered by the body or practitioner complained about.

4. Publication details: Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, Small mistakes, big consequences, HC 6, 20 November 2009. Press copies of the report are available from the Communications team, Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, Millbank Tower, Millbank, London SW1P 4QP, telephone: 0300 061 4996/ 4258. From 20 November 2009 you can also find the report on the website www.ombudsman.org.uk.

5. The Ombudsman will not be undertaking interviews. For other media enquiries please contact the PHSO Press Office.

Hunter killer sub Astute arrives at her home port

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Measuring nearly one hundred metres from bow to stern, Astute is longer than ten London buses. When fully loaded, she will displace 7,800 tonnes of sea water, equivalent to 65 blue whales.

The Astute submarine has the latest stealth technology, a world-beating sonar system and is armed with 38 torpedoes and missiles – more than any previous Royal Navy submarine. She will be able to circumnavigate the globe while submerged, and advanced nuclear technology means that she will never need to be refuelled.

Astute will be followed in due course by her sister submarines Ambush, Artful and Audacious. These four comprise the first of the expected seven submarines in the Astute Class. The Astute class will carry the potent Spearfish Heavyweight torpedo which can destroy submarines or surface ships, and Tomahawk cruise missiles that can hit inland targets with pinpoint accuracy. The boats will have 50 per cent more firepower than the existing Trafalgar class submarines they will succeed in service.

After touring Astute, the Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Quentin Davies, said:

This is a significant milestone for Astute as she arrives for the first time in her homeport of Faslane. The Astute class of submarines will deliver a step change in capability for defence in terms of anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, protecting the deterrent, providing land attack and intelligence gathering. Astute will now begin a set of sea trials ahead of her full acceptance with the Royal Navy next year.

First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, said:

The Astute Class is truly next generation. They are immensely powerful vessels and they will form a key part of our future programme, giving the Royal Navy the versatility and technical excellence needed to operate successfully across the globe.

Astute is a joint warfighting asset and I look forward to her entry into service, along with that of her six sisters which include Ambush, Artful and Audacious.

Commodore Chris Hockley, the Naval Base Commander at HM Naval Base Clyde, said:

I am particularly pleased and excited at the prospect of welcoming Astute to her home Base today. There has been significant investment and preparations made over several years to prepare us for this occasion.

The Clyde will become a centre of specialisation for submarines, and, of course, submarine training. With the arrival of Astute I cannot think of a more exciting time to be a submariner.

[ENDS]

Notes to Editors
1.For more information, please contact Lisa Murphy of the DEwww.defencenewsimagery.mod.uk in the package 16112009c.
3.HM Naval Base Clyde is the biggest single site employer in Scotland and the biggest military establishment in Scotland. More than 6,000 people are employed directly and an estimated 4,000 more rely on the base economically.
4.Astutes arrival begins a process that will see HM Naval Base Clyde become the UKs sole operating submarine base over the next decade. To this end, infrastructure improvements and spends have included:

150 million on new single living accommodation for submariners and other associated functions;

150 million on a new high tech floating jetty which will eventually service all the Royal Navys hunter-killer attack submarines.

A stitch in time to save painting of Welsh knitters

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The Ministers ruling follows a recommendation by the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest, administered by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA). The Committee recommended that the export decision be deferred on the grounds that the painting is closely connected with UK history and national life, that it is of outstanding aesthetic importance, and that it is significant for the study of Pre-Raphaelite landscape painting and of the representation of Welsh landscape and culture in the nineteenth century. The Committee awarded a starred rating to the painting meaning that every possible effort should be made to raise enough money to keep it in the country.

William Dyce (1806-1865) was a Scottish artist who played an important role in the formation of public art education in Britain. His early career was spent in Edinburgh as a portrait painter. In 1837 he moved to London where he became head of the newly established School of Design, and also worked extensively at the Palace of Westminster and on the decoration of high Anglican churches. He supported the Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood in their mission to revive British art, and adopted their practice of painting on location. Today he is best known for his Pre-Raphaelite landscapes, most of which were set in Scotland.

In the summer of 1860, late in his career, Dyce visited North Wales, where he was deeply affected by both the landscape and the way of life of the people. Welsh landscape with two women knitting is rare in being his only known finished oil painting of the Welsh landscape. The painting depicts two figures, an elderly woman seated and a younger one standing, on a carefully observed landscape in Snowdonia. The young woman is wearing Welsh national dress of red cloak, apron and tall black hat, and both are engaged in the traditional pastime of knitting. The painting reflects the conventional representation at that time of the people of North Wales as still untouched by progress.

Catherine Johns, Reviewing Committee member, said: This painting is not just another pretty landscape, but an image which works on many levels. It is a moving meditation on the passage of time. It is an important depiction of Welsh culture, recording a traditional way of life which was in danger of dying out. And it is a physical manifestation of Dyces attempts to reconcile his deep religious beliefs with the implications of the scientific discoveries which were being made at that time.

The decision on the export licence application for the painting will be deferred for a period ending on 19 February 2010 inclusive. This period may be extended until 19 May inclusive if a serious intention to raise funds with a view to making an offer to purchase the painting at the recommended price of 557,218 (including VAT) is expressed.

Anyone interested in making an offer to purchase the painting should contact the owners agent through:

The Secretary
The Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest
Museums, Libraries and Archives Council
Wellcome Wolfson Building
165 Queens Gate
South Kensington
London SW7 5HD
Telephone 020 7273 8270

Notes to Editors

1. For all media enquiries please contact Senior Media Relations Adviser, Sunita Sharma,on 020 7273 8299, email: [email protected].

2. For enquiries on the operation of and casework arising from the work of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest (RCEWA) please contact Frances Wilson, RCEWA Secretary, on 020 7273 8270, email [email protected].

3. The Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest is an independent body, serviced by MLA, which advises the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on whether a cultural object, intended for export, is of national importance under specified criteria. Where the Committee finds that an object meets one or more of the criteria, it will normally recommend that the decision on the export licence application should be deferred for a specified period. An offer may then be made from within the United Kingdom at or above the fair market price.

4. The details of the painting are:
William Dyce (1806-1864)
Welsh landscape with two women knitting
oil on prepared board
1860
34.3 x 49.5 cm

153/09

Environment Secretary Hilary Benn visits Cumbria following severe flooding

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Hilary Benn said:

I have spent the day in Cockermouth where the devastating impact of the flooding is clear. My thoughts are with all those who have been affected, and with the family of PC Bill Barker in particular. The emergency services are getting help and support to those affected as quickly as possible and there are people working round the clock to do this. I want to pay tribute to the emergency services and all the other organisations who have been doing an outstanding job.

The flooding in Cumbria is a result of an extreme weather event. None of us can stop huge amounts of rain falling from the sky but we can make sure we are as prepared as possible which is why we have invested millions in flood defences and protection over the years. Our new Flood Forecasting Centre also means that we are better able to predict events like this and get warnings to people at the earliest possible stage. However I am determined that we learn any lessons from what has happened this week.

I would urge everyone in the area to make sure you are taking all sensible precautions, heed the warnings of the emergency services, listen to local radio for updates and, most of all, keep safe.

Notes to Editors

1. The latest flood warnings and information can be found on the Environment Agency website at www.environment-agency.gov.uk or by calling Floodline 0845 988 1188

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Release ref: 270/09