Wednesday 3 September 2008

Trapped And Neglected - Trafficked Children In South Asia Need The Law On Their Side

�All as well often child victims of sexual victimization and trafficking are damn and punished across South Asia, where weak national legislation tin can lead to further victimization of children, according to a UNICEF report launched recently.


The report "South Asia in Action: Preventing and responding to youngster trafficking" base that torah need to be reinforced to protect children after they have been trafficked, as easily as from being trafficked. Child trafficking is a neglected form of human trafficking, as children risk being picked out as undocumented migrants, juvenile delinquents or unaccompanied minors. South Asian children continue to be trafficked for multiple forms of sexual victimisation - including prostitution, sex tourism, shaver pornography, pedophilia - and labour victimisation in agriculture, factories, domestic servitude and begging, forced marriage, acceptation, military recruitment and debt release. There is a great deal a leaning to overlook the trafficking of boys for intimate exploitation.


Although few reliable estimates exist of the true magnitude of the phenomena, trafficking occurs both within and between countries in the region and also from South Asia to other regions including East Asia, Europe and the Gulf States.


The reputation recognizes that governments in South Asia have highly-developed national plans of activeness and some have adoptive laws that criminalize trafficking in human beings. But the legal framework needs to be strengthened further to protect children from all forms of trafficking and to assist child victims with legal and psychosocial support. Most outside and regional standards focus on adults. So far only two countries in South Asia, India and Sri Lanka, have gestural the Palermo Protocol, the first legal instrument to provide international definition of trafficking in human beings and specifically addresses children. However, non one South Asian body politic has ratified the Palermo Protocol.


The judicial process itself also necessarily to be reformed, according to the report, to make it more child-friendly. Legal remedies, such as witness protection schemes and in camera proceedings, to protect the privacy and psychological upbeat of children should be implemented. South Asian children are currently not well informed about the legal process and that stool lead to children by chance being criminalized.


Child trafficking across the region is not exclusively committed by organized criminal networks. It may involve friends, relatives and even parents of children.


There ar push and pull factors that draw children into being trafficked and poorness is by and large recognized as the most visible and widespread effort but, spell further research is required into the root causes, it is well documented that violence and ill-treat at home and in the residential area and indeed the sweetener of a better life means that children and young people can descend prey to traffickers.



The report "South Asia in Action: Preventing and responding to nestling trafficking" is being launched today as South Asian government and NGO representatives are gathering in Kathmandu to discourse the subject of sexual exploitation of children and adolescents. The South Asia Forum Regional Preparatory Consultation for the World Congress III against sexual exploitation of children and adolescents, due to be held in Rio de Janeiro in November 2008, presents a unequalled opportunity to reinforce the commitments made by governments in South Asia to ensure auspices of children from trafficking and sexual exploitation.

About UNICEF


UNICEF workings in over 150 countries and territories to assist children hold up and flourish, from former childhood through adolescence. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child wellness and nutrition, safe water system and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, development, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

UNICEF


More info

Sunday 24 August 2008

Ed Mcmahon - Mcmahon Finds Buyer For Home

TV star ED MCMAHON has seen off the threat of foreclosure and found a buyer for his Beverly Hills, California mansion.

The early Tonight Show sidekick was reportedly liner up a deal to sell the $5.75million (GBP2.9million) six-bedroom home to Apprentice star Donald Trump.

Now he has shut the sale - merely revealed holding developer Trump will non be the new owner.

The buyer of the business firm has non been revealed, but MCMahon's spokesman Howard Bragman says, "It's a confidential deal, and the buyer wants anonymity, only I can tell you it is not Mr Trump - and it's not (Republican presidential candidate) John MCCain."

MCMahon had owned the home for 30 days but faced the threat of foreclosure after his mortgage lenders filed notice of default in February (08).





More info

Thursday 14 August 2008

EXACT Sciences Announces Next Generation Stool-Based DNA Technology Study Results Of 92% For Colorectal Cancer Detection

�EXACT Sciences Corporation (NASDAQ: EXAS) announced the published results of a sketch in which stool and blood plasma were assessed, in a head-to-head equivalence, for the detection of colorectal malignant neoplastic disease (CRC). Using an improved BEAMing DNA detection engineering science from Johns Hopkins University, study results demonstrated 92 percent predisposition for detective work CRC in stool samples. Importantly, results showed that, using this BEAMing engineering, stool-based DNA testing outperformed blood plasma testing, especially for the detection of early stage CRCs. EXACT Sciences has exclusive rights to the Johns Hopkins University BEAMing technology for use in a succeeding generation stool-based DNA (sDNA) detection engineering for CRC.


In the study, a total of 25 stool DNA samples from colorectal cancer patients were analyzed and a next generation sDNA applied science correctly identified 23 (92%) of the cancers. In the 16 of 25 cases where there were paired stool and plasma DNA samples, the sDNA technology detected mutated DNA in pot in 14 cases (88%) while only if 8 (50%) corresponding plasma DNA samples had detectable levels of mutated DNA. Further, when late-stage disease (Stage IV) is removed from the total, noninvasive sDNA public presentation remained at 86% (12/14) while plasma DNA performance fell to 43% (6/14). The results of the study, Analysis of Mutations in DNA Isolated from Plasma and Stool of Colorectal Cancer Patients, were published in the August journal of Gastroenterology.


"We are very excited by these up-to-the-minute results as they underline the early detection power that is achievable when combining sophisticated detection techniques with a DNA target-rich environment like stool," commented Jeffrey R. Luber, EXACT Sciences' President and Chief Executive Officer. "Although this technology is still at the very early stages of development, the results of this latest sketch suggest that stool, which is in immediate link with the colorectal cancers and polyps, is the more authentic and robust source of mutated DNA when compared to blood plasma for detecting early stage colorectal cancer-an essential characteristic for a mickle screening test."

About BEAMing


BEAMing is the name of an assay technology which incorporates the purpose of "Beads, Emulsion, Amplification, and Magnetism". The engineering is a useful method for performing single-molecule analysis of DNA or "Digital PCR" that has been demonstrated to provide a high grade of sensitivity for the detection of mutations or deletions in gene sequences of stake.

EXACT Sciences Corporation


EXACT Sciences Corporation uses applied genomics to develop patient-friendly screening technologies for consumption in the detection of cancer. EXACT maintains an exclusive license agreement in the United States and Canada with Laboratory Corporation of America� Holdings (LabCorp�) allowing LabCorp to offer a laboratory-developed testing service based on certain of EXACT Sciences' intellectual property. EXACT continues to retain rights for the development of whatever U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved in vitro diagnostic outfit, and rights to licence its technologies outside of the United States and Canada. EXACT Sciences' stool-based DNA engineering is included in the colorectal cancer screening guidelines of the American Cancer Society, the U.S. Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer (a group comprised of representatives from the American College of Gastroenterology, American Gastroenterological Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and the American College of Physicians), and the American College of Radiology. EXACT Sciences is based in Marlborough, Mass.


Certain statements made in this press discharge that are not based on historical information ar express or implied advanced statements relating to, among other things, EXACT Sciences' expectations concerning the public presentation of future versions of its technologies and similar matters. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but ar subject to a sort of risks and uncertainties, many of which ar beyond EXACT Sciences' controller, and which could cause actual results to dissent materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. In particular, the risks and uncertainties include, among other things, EXACT Sciences' ability to secure FDA approval or clearance for any of its products; changes in FDA guidance or policy; the ability to attract prospective collaborators or former parties to enter into a collaboration, acquisition or other strategic transaction with EXACT; the ability to raise additional capital on acceptable price; the clinical performance and market acceptance of its technologies; the reproducibility of its research results in subsequent studies and in clinical practice; sufficient investment in the sales and marketing of EXACT Sciences' technologies; the success of its strategic relationship with LabCorp; EXACT Sciences' ability to license certain technologies or obtain raw materials for its technologies; the ability to convince Medicare and other third-party payors to supply adequate reimbursement for EXACT Sciences' technologies; the ability to convince medical practitioners to fiat tests victimization EXACT Sciences' technologies; the ability to increase the performance its technologies; the ability of EXACT Sciences or LabCorp to take down the cost of stool-based DNA screening technologies through automating and simplifying key operational processes; the number of citizenry who decide to be screened for colorectal cancer using EXACT Sciences' technologies; competition; the ability to protect EXACT Sciences' noetic property and the monetary value of enforcing or defending EXACT Sciences in judicial proceeding relating to intellectual place rights; and the possibility that other companies will develop and market novel or improved methods for detecting colorectal cancer. Existing and prospective investors ar cautioned not to place undue trust on these forward-looking statements, which address only as of the date hereof. EXACT Sciences undertakes no obligation to update or revise the information contained in this press release, whether as a outcome of fresh information, future events or circumstances or otherwise. For additional disclosure regarding these and former risks faced by EXACT Sciences, regard the disclosure contained in EXACT Sciences' public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including, without limitation, its most late Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC.

EXACT Sciences Corporation


More info

Thursday 7 August 2008

Faz

Faz   
Artist: Faz

   Genre(s): 
Other
   



Discography:


So High   
 So High

   Year: 2004   
Tracks: 4




 





Galaxy

Friday 27 June 2008

'Valkyrie' portrait flap was mistaken photo ID








LOS ANGELES - What looked at first like another PR blow to "Valkyrie," the twice-delayed Tom Cruise film based on the true story of a German officer who plotted to assassinate Hitler, turned out to be a case of mistaken photo identity.

A report posted on Slate.com last week suggested that United Artists had doctored a portrait of Claus von Stauffenberg to make it more closely resemble the "Top Gun" actor. One problem: The two images scrutinized in the story, posted June 17 under the heading "Tom Cruise Mystery: The case of the doctored publicity photo," didn't come from the same source.

David Plotz, the editor of Slate, said after the web magazine was contacted by The Associated Press that the conclusion of the article was wrong, and a correction was planned.

"We did not do the photo research that we should have done," Plotz said Tuesday evening.

United Artists released its side-by-side publicity portraits last year to draw attention to the resemblance between the real von Stauffenberg and Cruise. In the black-and-white images, Cruise and von Stauffenberg are each in a similar profile pose, wearing similarly blank expressions.

Slate's story, by contributor Kim Masters, compares the von Stauffenberg photo supplied by United Artists to an image from the photo archive of The Associated Press.

The posting includes commentary from two Slate designers and an overlay, created by a third designer, with the AP photo - lighter and bearing less resemblance to Cruise - atop the darker, more heavily contrasted image released by United Artists.

The report concludes that it "Looks like someone tweaked the photo. Finding out who may be mission: impossible."

The AP determined that its archived photo of von Stauffenberg is not the same image released by United Artists. That photo can be found, among other places, in a Getty Images database, credited to the Hulton Archive and dated circa 1943.

"We did not check other archival sources to be sure there was not another version of the photograph," Plotz said. "We don't know where UA got the photograph, but it's clear that in the Getty archive there's a version of the photo which they used."

United Artists said it acquired its version of the photo some time ago during research for the film, but could not be certain of its exact provenance, or how the studio came upon it.

"The picture United Artists used of Colonel Stauffenberg can be found all over the Internet," said "Valkyrie" co-writer and producer Chris McQuarrie in a written statement released by a United Artists spokeswoman Tuesday.

McQuarrie, who won a screenplay Oscar in 1995 for "The Usual Suspects," added that it would have been easier to "alter Tom Cruise" than to doctor "every available picture of Claus von Stauffenberg."

"Valkyrie" stars Cruise as the aristocratic army officer executed after a failed attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler in 1944. In April, United Artists pushed back the film's release date from Oct. 3 until February 2009, the second delay for the movie that was originally slotted for June.

The film, to be distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., is the second attempt by Cruise and producing partner Paula Wagner to revive United Artists, in which Cruise owns a stake. The first, the terrorism thinkpiece "Lions for Lambs," was estimated to have lost about $30 million.










See Also

Thursday 19 June 2008

Mel B to start black version of Hannah Montana

London (ANI): Scary Spice Mel B is all set to start a television series, which she claims will be a black version of the kids' show Hannah Montana. The 33-year-old singer has revealed that her show will be broadcast by Nickelodeon. She even revealed that the telecast of the series would begin at Christmas. "I've written my own sitcom that's just been picked up by Nickelodeon that I start at Christmas," the Mirror quoted her as saying. "I'm the star of it. It's a bit like Hannah Montana, but the black version," she added.


Saturday 14 June 2008

Janet Jackson ready to head out on tour

Dates begin Sept. 10 in Vancouver





Though going out on tour means connecting with fans, it can also mean long hours, high stress, and sleepless nights. Janet Jackson says she's looking forward to all of it.
"I love all of that, all of that pressure, I really do," Jackson said Monday as she gears up for a North American tour to kick off in September.
The tour, which opens Sept. 10 in Vancouver, and includes dates in New York and Washington, D.C., is Jackson's first in seven years. But the singer, who just turned 42 last week, said she hadn't planned on waiting for so long.
"I was supposed to go on tour with the last album," said Jackson, referring to the 2006 CD "20 Y.O." But the singer said her record label wanted her to wait for her latest album, "Discipline."
"We were actually in full-blown tour rehearsals at that point ... learning numbers, getting everything together, set designs," she said. "I had to kind of shut everything down and go into the studio."
Jackson's shows have always been heavy on choreography and glitzy sets. But she promised fans some surprises this time around. "It will definitely be a big production but it will definitely also be something that I've never done before, that people have never seen from me before," she said.
While only a few dates have been announced for the Live Nation-produced outing, Jackson expects to take the "Rock Witchu" tour (named, by the way, for a song on her new album, not for her brother Michael's famous hit) worldwide.
"It's been a while so I really want to make my rounds," she said. "I haven't been to "Australia in a very long time; I can't wait to go there. There are a lot of places where I really want to stop off at, and that's the idea, that's the goal with this tour.
Tickets go on sale June 7.