Procter & Gamble Acquires Ambi Pur

Ambi Pur Car. (PRNewsFoto/Procter & Gamble) CINCINNATI, OH UNITED STATES
Ambi Pur 3volution. (PRNewsFoto/Procter & Gamble) CINCINNATI, OH UNITED STATES
Ambi Pur logo. (PRNewsFoto/Procter & Gamble) CINCINNATI, OH UNITED STATES
Ambi Pur Single Plug-Ins. (PRNewsFoto/Procter & Gamble) CINCINNATI, OH UNITED STATES

11 Dec 2009 15:05 Africa/Lagos


Procter & Gamble Acquires Ambi Pur

CINCINNATI, Dec. 11, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) announced today it has signed a binding offer with the Sara Lee Corporation (NYSE:SLE) to acquire Ambi Pur for euro 320 million ($470 million). Under the terms of the agreement, P&G will acquire Ambi Pur, a leading global air care brand with presence in 80 countries, as well as several toilet care products with strong presence in Western Europe and Asia.


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"The acquisition of Ambi Pur strengthens P&G's global leadership in Home Care and specifically Air Care by extending our reach to serve more consumers in more parts of the world more completely," said David Taylor, P&G group president-global home care. "This acquisition brings the strong Ambi Pur brand equity and complementary geographic presence, particularly in Europe and Asia."


"Ambi Pur also brings high-performance products and new technologies to our current Air Care portfolio, including car air fresheners, battery-powered air fresheners, toilet rim blocks and various non-energized air fresheners," added David Taylor. "We see many opportunities to leverage these additional technologies and P&G's core capabilities in consumer understanding, innovation, brand building and go-to-market execution to grow both the Febreze and Ambi Pur brands robustly for many years to come."


"The Ambi Pur brand has a rich history in innovation and is enjoyed by millions of consumers," said Vincent Janssen, chief executive officer, Sara Lee International Household and Body Care. "Receiving this offer from leading consumer goods company P&G validates the tremendous trends and potential of this innovative air care leader."


The transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory clearances, is anticipated to close in the current fiscal year, which ends on June 30, 2010. Both P&G and Sara Lee will consult with relevant work councils and regulatory bodies during the review process.


P&G also stated that the transaction should not have a material impact on the company's results in fiscal year 2010. The Ambi Pur brand generated annual sales of approximately 260 million euro and estimated operating income(1) of 24 million euro for the year ending June 2009, using an exchange rate of 1.37 dollars per euro.


Forward Looking Statement


All statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this release or presentation, are forward-looking statements, as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based on financial data, market assumptions and business plans available only as of the time the statements are made, which may become out of date or incomplete. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other factors. Forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and investors must recognize that events could differ significantly from our expectations. In addition to the risks and uncertainties noted in this release or presentation, there are certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by some of the statements made. These include: (1) the ability to achieve business plans, including growing existing sales and volume profitably despite high levels of competitive activity, especially with respect to the product categories and geographical markets (including developing markets) in which the Company has chosen to focus; (2) the ability to successfully manage ongoing acquisition and divestiture activities to achieve the cost and growth synergies in accordance with the stated goals of these transactions without impacting the delivery of base business objectives; (3) the ability to successfully manage ongoing organizational changes designed to support our growth strategies, while successfully identifying, developing and retaining key employees; (4) the ability to manage and maintain key customer relationships; (5) the ability to maintain key manufacturing and supply sources (including sole supplier and plant manufacturing sources); (6) the ability to successfully manage regulatory, tax and legal requirements and matters (including product liability, patent, intellectual property, competition law matters, and tax policy), and to resolve pending matters within current estimates; (7) the ability to successfully implement, achieve and sustain cost improvement plans in manufacturing and overhead areas, including the Company's outsourcing projects; (8) the ability to successfully manage currency (including currency issues in certain countries, such as Venezuela, China and India), debt, interest rate and commodity cost exposures and significant credit or liquidity issues; (9) the ability to manage continued global political and/or economic uncertainty and disruptions, especially in the Company's significant geographical markets, as well as any political and/or economic uncertainty and disruptions due to a global or regional credit crisis or terrorist and other hostile activities; (10) the ability to successfully manage competitive factors, including prices, promotional incentives and trade terms for products; (11) the ability to obtain patents and respond to technological advances attained by competitors and patents granted to competitors; (12) the ability to successfully manage increases in the prices of raw materials used to make the Company's products; (13) the ability to stay close to consumers in an era of increased media fragmentation; (14) the ability to stay on the leading edge of innovation and maintain a positive reputation on our brands; and (15) the ability to rely on and maintain key information technology systems. For additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to materially differ from those projected herein, please refer to our most recent 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K reports.


About Procter & Gamble


Four billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of people around the world. The company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Pampers®, Tide®, Ariel®, Always®, Whisper®, Pantene®, Mach3®, Bounty®, Dawn®, Gain®, Pringles®, Charmin®, Downy®, Lenor®, Iams®, Crest®, Oral-B®, Duracell®, Olay®, Head & Shoulders®, Wella®, Gillette®, Braun® and Fusion®. The P&G community includes approximately 135,000 employees working in about 80 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com/ for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.


About Sara Lee Corporation


Each and every day, Sara Lee (NYSE:SLE) delights millions of consumers and customers around the world. The company has one of the world's best-loved and leading portfolios with its innovative and trusted food, beverage, household and body care brands, including Ambi Pur, Ball Park, Douwe Egberts, Hillshire Farm, Jimmy Dean, Kiwi, Sanex, Sara Lee and Senseo. Collectively, these brands generate almost $13 billion in annual net sales covering approximately 180 countries. The Sara Lee community consists of 41,000 employees worldwide. Please visit www.saralee.com for the latest news and in-depth information about Sara Lee and its brands.


(1) "Estimated operating income" is based on adjusted operating segment income and includes adjustments for the impact of depreciation, amortization and significant items, as defined by the Sara Lee Corporation.


Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091211/CL24716-b
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Source: Procter & Gamble

CONTACT: Paul Fox, +1-513-983-3465, or fox.pd@pg.com, Marie-Laure
Salvado, +1-513-983-7643, or salvado.ml@pg.com, John Chevalier, Investor
Relations, +1-513-983-9974, or chevalier.jt@pg.com, all of Procter & Gamble


Web Site: Procter & Gamble

Apple Countersues Nokia

11 Dec 2009 16:03 Africa/Lagos

Apple Countersues Nokia

CUPERTINO, Calif., Dec. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Responding to a lawsuit brought against the company by Nokia, Apple® today filed a countersuit claiming that Nokia is infringing 13 Apple patents.


"Other companies must compete with us by inventing their own technologies, not just by stealing ours," said Bruce Sewell, Apple's General Counsel and senior vice president.


Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has entered the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.


© 2009 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Mac, Mac OS and Macintosh are trademarks of Apple. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.


Source: Apple

CONTACT: Steve Dowling of Apple, +1-408-974-1896, dowling@apple.com


Web Site: http://www.apple.com/


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Nigerian Couple Charged With Enslaving Nigerian Woman in Texas

10 Dec 2009 19:20 Africa/Lagos

Ft. Worth, Texas, Couple Charged With Holding Nigerian Woman in Domestic Servitude

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A federal grand jury has indicted a Ft. Worth, Texas, husband and wife, Emmanuel and Ngozi Nnaji, on charges of engaging in a nine-year scheme to compel the labor of a Nigerian victim as their domestic servant, the Justice Department announced today.


According to the seven-count indictment returned late yesterday, which charges the defendants with conspiracy, forced labor, document servitude, alien harboring and false statements, Emmanuel Nnaji and Ngozi Nnaji enticed a widowed Nigerian mother of six to come to the United States to be their domestic servant by falsely promising a salary and support for her children, who she was struggling to support.


The indictment alleges that the defendants procured fraudulent immigration documents, confiscated the victim's documents, harbored her in their home, compelled her to work long hours with no days off for little or no pay, used a scheme to isolate her and restrict her communications, withheld her documents and pay, and refused her requests to return home or be paid. The indictment also alleges the defendants failed to provide support for the victim's six children in Nigeria, limited and monitored contact with her family in Nigeria, isolated her from normal society in the United States, and refused to allow her to regularly attend church. The indictment alleges Emmanuel Nnaji sexually assaulted the victim and made her fearful to call the police.


If convicted, Ngozi and Emmanuel Nnaji each face a maximum sentence of up to 55 years in prison. An indictment is merely an allegation and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Ngozi Nnaji, a Nigerian national, faces deportation following conviction on any of the charged felonies.


This case is being investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Trial Attorney Susan French of the Civil Rights Division's Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit.


Source: U.S. Department of Justice

CONTACT: U.S. Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs,
+1-202-514-2007, TDD: +1-202-514-1888


Web Site: http://www.justice.gov/


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Brazil Most Likely to Meet Spain in the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM) Final

PRNewswire, London, December 7. CAPE TOWN, South Africa - Two of the world's most passionate footballing nations, Spain and Brazil, are favourites to go head to head in the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM) Final according to the Castrol Predictor, a new tool launched today by 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM) sponsor Castrol. The Castrol Predictor, uses objective analysis and highly advanced technology to offer unique insights into winning performances. (PRNewsFoto/Castrol) CAPE TOWN SOUTH AFRICA

7 Dec 2009 15:56 Africa/Lagos


Fiery Final Ahead as All New Castrol Predictor Shows Brazil Most Likely to Meet Spain in the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM) Final

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, December 7/PRNewswire/ --


- Castrol Predictor Shows the Five Times Champions Will Lift the Trophy Again


Two of the world's most passionate footballing nations, Spain and Brazil, are favourites to go head to head in the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM) Final according to the Castrol Predictor, a new tool launched today by 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM) sponsor Castrol (http://www.castrolfootball.com).


(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091207/369780-a )


(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091207/369780-b )


While the UEFA Euro 2008 winners, Spain, seem to be most bookmakers' favourite going into the tournament, the Castrol Predictor shows that they actually have only a 16.1% chance of glory and are second favourites behind the five time winners Brazil, with a 23.6% chance of success.


Castrol has applied the same expertise they apply to the development of their oils to create the Castrol Predictor, using objective analysis and highly advanced technology to offer unique insights into winning performances.


Castrol's analysis shows that the best placed teams to qualify from Group G, the so called 'Group of Death', are Castrol Predictor tournament and group favourites Brazil (91.7%) and Portugal (52.4%). Carlos Queiroz's men cannot afford to be complacent as they are almost inseparable from their group rivals and African favourites Ivory Coast, who have a 50.5% chance of reaching the last 16.


Current world champions Italy, will have their work cut out to mirror their triumph of 2006, with the Azzurri ranked 7th favourites to reclaim their crown and given only a 3.6% chance of victory. One Italian that is in contention to lift the famous trophy is England manager Fabio Capello, who will look to guide his team to their first World Cup Final since 1966. England are third favourites to go all the way, with the Castrol Predictor giving them a 10.4% chance of success, however, Capello's men will be weary of penalty shoot-out heartbreak, given their poor record when it comes to spot-kicks.


The Castrol Predictor has been created by the same team of Castrol Performance Analysts behind the Castrol Rankings and Castrol Index.


It measures past team and player performance and works out the attack and defence ratings of each nation. Then, by simulating the tournament more than 100,000 times and taking into account the draw groupings, Castrol has calculated each team's chances of progression through the FIFA World Cup(TM) group stages and ultimately, of winning the world's most famous trophy.


The Castrol Predictor will be updated throughout the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM) on http://castrolfootball.com, so fans can see the impact of each and every match result on their team's chances.


The Castrol Predictor is fully interactive, letting fans find out how they will get on in their group, which teams they are most and least likely to meet at each round, and whether they'll face a grudge match with arch rivals.


Castrol Ambassador Marcel Desailly says: "I am surprised that the Castrol Predictor shows Brazil as favourites because I really thought Spain were the team to beat this time. I will be hoping that my home nation Ghana does better than predicted as the Castrol Predictor only gives them a 0.2% chance of success! It's great being able to look at the teams' predicted success in this way and I'm sure it will be a talking point for football fans everywhere."


Castrol Senior Vice-President Mike Johnson added: "We want to offer real insight to football fans around the world and the Castrol Predictor does exactly that, offering fans a new and meaningful way of following their team through the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM). As passionate football fans we are looking forward with great excitement to using the Castrol Predictor throughout the tournament next year."

Notes to Editors:


Castrol's commercial success is underpinned by their ability to deliver improved performance through the application of analysis, technology and innovation. This has helped Castrol deliver superior performing lubricants for over 100 years including brands such as Castrol EDGE, Castrol Magnatec and Castrol Power 1 and Castrol Professional. Castrol believes that by applying the same expertise to football that they do in the development of their oils, they can enhance the fans' experience and bring a new and intriguing point of view to the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM).


For more information on the Castrol Predictor please visit http://castrolfootball.com


Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091207/369780-a
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091207/369780-b

Source: Castrol

For more information on the Castrol Predictor please contact the Castrol Global Press Office: Shervin Behzadi: T: +44-20-7544-3694 / +44-7891-824-581 / E: shervinb@mcsaatchi.com; Laura Tucker: T: +44-20-7543-4769 / +44-7854-267-839 / E: laura.tucker@mcsaatchi.com





Apasionada final: Castrol Predictor señala a Brasil como rival de España en la final de la 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM)

Tout porte à croire que nous assisterons à une finale ardente d'après le Prédicteur de Castrol, qui prévoit que le Brésil affrontera l'Espagne lors de la finale de la Coupe du Monde de la FIFA 2010 (TM)

Hitziges Finale erwartet, da der "All New Castrol Predictor" zeigt, dass es beim Finale der Fussball-Weltmeisterschaft 2010 wahrscheinlichBrasilien und Spanien aufeinander treffen

Fiery Final Ahead as All New Castrol Predictor Shows Brazil Most Likely to Meet Spain in the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM) Final

Fiery Final Ahead as All New Castrol Predictor Shows Brazil Most Likely to Meet Spain in the 2010 FIFA World Cup(TM) Final


To see more releases from Castrol, Click Here


This company's web site http://www.castrol.com/


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U.S. Citizen Charged With Conspiracy in 2008 Mumbai Attacks in Addition to Foreign Terror Plot in Denmark

The hottest news making headlines today have nothing to do with the buzz word of the day Sex Drive, and the most baffling is how David Coleman Headley, a U.S. citizen was an accomplice in the 2008 Mumbai attacks! How did a bona fide American become a member of Islamic terrorists in Pakistan? The following report is a must read.

7 Dec 2009 18:10 Africa/Lagos

Chicagoan Charged With Conspiracy in 2008 Mumbai Attacks in Addition to Foreign Terror Plot in Denmark

Additional charges unsealed alleging retired Pakistani major conspired in Danish plot

CHICAGO, Dec. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- New federal charges filed today allege that a Chicago man, who was arrested in October for planning terrorist attacks against a Danish newspaper and two of its employees, also conducted extensive surveillance of targets in Mumbai for more than two years preceding the November 2008 terrorist attack on India's largest city that killed approximately 170 people, including six Americans, and injured hundreds more.


The defendant, David Coleman Headley, a U.S. citizen, earlier this decade allegedly attended terrorism training camps in Pakistan maintained by Lashkar e Tayyiba (Lashkar), and conspired with its members and others in planning and executing the attacks in both Denmark and India, federal law enforcement officials announced today.


Also today, a criminal complaint was unsealed in federal court in Chicago charging Abdur Rehman Hashim Syed (Abdur Rehman), a retired major in the Pakistani military, with conspiracy in planning to attack the Danish newspaper and its employees. Another Chicago man, Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a Canadian citizen and native of Pakistan, was arrested in October on federal charges filed in Chicago relating to the Danish terrorism plot.


Through his attorneys, Headley has authorized the Justice Department to disclose that he is cooperating in the ongoing investigation of both the Danish and Indian terror plots. He has remained in federal custody without bond since he was arrested in Chicago on Oct. 3, 2009. No date has been set yet for his arraignment in U.S. District Court in Chicago.


Headley, 49, was charged in a 12-count criminal information with six counts of conspiracy to bomb public places in India, to murder and maim persons in India and Denmark, to provide material support to foreign terrorist plots, and to provide material support to Lashkar, and six counts of aiding and abetting the murder of U.S. citizens in India.


The charges were announced by Patrick J. Fitzgerald, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Robert D. Grant, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the FBI. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California and the FBI's offices in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., are also participating in the case.


"This case serves as a reminder that the terrorist threat is global in nature and requires constant vigilance at home and abroad," said David Kris, Assistant Attorney General for National Security. "We continue to share leads developed in this investigation with our foreign and domestic law enforcement partners as we work together on this important matter."


FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, III, said: "This case illustrates the importance of continued global cooperation to combat terrorism around the world. The FBI continues to strengthen relationships and to foster collaboration with our international partners to best ensure our collective ability to identify and disrupt international terror networks."


"This investigation remains active and ongoing. The team of prosecutors and agents will continue to seek charges against the other persons responsible for these attacks. I continue to express my deep appreciation to the FBI agents and other members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force for their extremely hard work on this matter," said Mr. Fitzgerald.


Mumbai Terror Attacks


According to the charges, after learning from members of Lashkar in late 2005 that he would be traveling to India to perform surveillance for Lashkar, Headley changed his name from Daood Gilani on Feb. 15, 2006, in Philadelphia, in order to present himself in India as an American who was neither Muslim nor Pakistani. He later made five extended trips to Mumbai -- in September 2006, February and September 2007, and April and July 2008 -- each time taking pictures and making videotapes of various targets, including those attacked in November 2008.


Starting Nov. 26, 2008, and continuing through Nov. 28, 2008, 10 attackers trained by Lashkar carried out multiple assaults with firearms, grenades and improvised explosive devices against multiple targets in Mumbai, including the Taj Mahal and Oberoi hotels, the Leopold Cafe, the Nariman House and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus train station, each of which Headley allegedly had scouted in advance, killing approximately 170 victims.


The six Americans killed during the three-day siege are identified in the charges as Ben Zion Chroman, Gavriel Holtzberg, Sandeep Jeswani, Alan Scherr, his daughter Naomi Scherr, and Aryeh Leibish Teitelbaum.


Lashkar (the "Army of the Good") operated in Pakistan for the principal purpose of fighting to separate from India portions of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. It was designated by the United States as a foreign terrorist organization on Dec. 26, 2001. Headley allegedly attended Lashkar training camps in Pakistan that began in February and August 2002 and August and December 2003.


After being tasked in late 2005 with gathering surveillance in Mumbai and changing his name in early 2006, the charges allege that Headley traveled to Chicago in June 2006 and advised a person identified in the charges as Individual A of his assignment. Headley obtained Individual A's approval to open an office of First World Immigration Services in Mumbai in 2006 as cover for his surveillance activities, the charges allege. Headley allegedly misrepresented his birth name, father's true name and the purpose of his travel in his visa application.


After each trip that Headley took to India between September 2006 and July 2008, he allegedly returned to Pakistan, met with other co-conspirators and provided them with photographs, videos and oral descriptions of various locations. In March 2008, Headley and his co-conspirators discussed potential landing sites for a team of attackers who would arrive by sea in Mumbai, and he was instructed to take boat trips in and around the Mumbai harbor and take surveillance video, which he did during his visit to India starting in April 2008, the charges allege.


At various times, Headley allegedly conducted surveillance of other locations in Mumbai and elsewhere in India of facilities and locations that were not attacked in November 2008, including the National Defense College in Delhi, India.


Denmark Terror Plot


Regarding the Denmark terror plot, Headley allegedly conspired between October 2008 and Oct. 3, 2009, with Ilyas Kashmiri, as well as a person identified as Individual A, members of Lashkar and others to plan and carry out terrorist attacks, including murder and maiming, against the facilities of the Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten, a Danish newspaper, and two of its employees, Editor A and Cartoonist A. In 2005, the newspaper published cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed, to which many Muslims took great offense.


Mirroring the initial charges filed against Headley in October, today's charges allege that he met with co-conspirators while he was in Pakistan in late 2008 and discussed planning for the attack, including extensive surveillance work that he would perform. In late December and early January 2008, after advising Individual A of the planned attack and his intended travel to Denmark to perform surveillance of the newspaper's facilities, Headley obtained Individual A's approval and assistance to identify himself as a representative of First World and gain access to the newspaper by falsely expressing interest in advertising the business in the newspaper. At the same time, while in Chicago, Headley exchanged emails with co-conspirators to continue planning for the attack and coordinate his travel to Denmark to conduct surveillance. Before departing Chicago, Headley obtained business cards that identified him as a representative of First World, according to the charges.


Headley allegedly traveled in January 2009 from Chicago to Copenhagen, Denmark, to conduct surveillance of the Jyllands-Posten newspaper offices in Copenhagen and Aarhus, Denmark, and videotaped the surrounding areas. From January through May 2009, Headley met with co-conspirators, including Kashmiri, on multiple occasions in Pakistan to review his surveillance and discuss plans for the attack, the charges allege, adding that Headley traveled in August 2009 from Chicago to Copenhagen to conduct additional surveillance and made approximately 13 videos. On Oct. 3, 2009, Headley was arrested at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, intending ultimately to travel to Pakistan to meet with, and deliver, the approximately 13 surveillance videos to co-conspirators, including Kashmiri.


The charges identify Kashmiri as an influential leader of Harakat-ul Jihad Islami (HUJI), an organization that trained terrorists and executed attacks in the state of Jammu and Kashmir under Indian control and other areas. Kashmiri based his operations from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of western Pakistan, and area which served as a haven for terrorist organizations, including al Qaeda and the Taliban. Headley allegedly was introduced to Kashmiri as early as February 2009, and understood that Kashmiri was in regular communication with the senior leadership of al Qaeda.


Abdur Rehman complaint


The two-count complaint unsealed against Abdur Rehman, which was filed on Oct. 20, 2009, charges him with conspiracy to murder and maim persons in a foreign country, and providing material support to that foreign terrorism conspiracy. Abdur Rehman allegedly participated in the planning of a terrorist attack in Denmark, coordinated surveillance of the intended targets, and facilitated communications regarding the surveillance and planning with a member of Lashkar and Kashmiri.


Abdur Rehman, who was not named previously but whose alleged participation was described in the initial charges against Headley and Rana, allegedly played the central role in communicating with Headley and facilitating contacts with other co-conspirators in Pakistan, including members of Lashkar. During Headley's trip to Pakistan in January 2009, Abdur Rehman took him to the FATA region of Pakistan to meet with Kashmiri and solicit the participation of Kashmiri and his organization in the planned attack on the Danish newspaper, according to the complaint against Abdur Rehman. A search of Headley's luggage when he was arrested revealed a list of phone numbers, including a Pakistani number that he allegedly had used to contact Abdur Rehman.


The count against Headley charging conspiracy to bomb public places in India that resulted in deaths carries a maximum statutory penalty of life imprisonment or death. All of the other counts against Headley carry a maximum of life imprisonment, except providing material support to the Denmark terror plot, which carries a maximum prison term of 15 years.


The conspiracy to murder or maim persons in a foreign country charge against Abdur Rehman carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, and the count of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorism carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.


The prosecution of Headley and Abdur Rehman is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Collins and Victoria J. Peters from the Northern District of Illinois, with assistance from the Counterterrorism Section of the Justice Department's National Security Division. The investigation into the Mumbai attacks is continuing with the active participation of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles.


The public is reminded that criminal charging documents contain mere allegations that are not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.


Source: U.S. Department of Justice

CONTACT: U.S. Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs,
+1-202-514-2007, TDD +1-202-514-1888


Web Site: http://www.justice.gov/


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Denmark, Climate Summit Host, Tops Table of Fighting Climate Change With Wind Power

Copenhagen Climate Summit




4 Dec 2009 11:40 Africa/Lagos

Denmark, Climate Summit Host, Tops Table of Fighting Climate Change With Wind Power

BRUSSELS, December 4/PRNewswire/ -- In the run-up to the crucial climate change talks in Copenhagen, the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) has published a league table showing which EU countries are best at exploiting CO2-cutting wind energy.


Top of the table is Denmark, with the highest amount of wind energy capacity per square kilometre of national territory. Germany comes a close second and the Netherlands third. Spain, in fourth place, has half the wind power density of Germany. Portugal and Ireland are above the EU average wind power density.


Italy is not far below average, while France and the UK each have less than half of the EU's average density of wind power capacity. Romania, Slovenia, Malta and Cyprus are floundering at the bottom of the league with next to zero wind power generation per km2.


The density of wind power per km is the best means of measuring and comparing the extent to which different countries exploit their wind power potential. The future of wind power in Denmark looks bright as, according to an August 2009 survey carried out by an independent market research institute, 91% of Danes support the further development of wind power in their country.


If the eight geographically largest Member States had the same density of wind power capacity per km2 as Denmark, they would produce enough wind power to meet 19% of total EU-27 electricity demand and avoid 362 million tonnes of CO2 emissions - equivalent to meeting more than 30% of the EU's 2020 climate target.


"Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands are European leaders in fighting climate change with wind-powered electricity" said Christian Kjaer, Chief Executive of EWEA. ­­­­­"The figures released today also reveal the huge potential for wind power growth in most countries. Laggards in wind energy - including France, the UK, Sweden, Finland and Eastern European countries - can easily play catch-up," Kjaer added.


"The future of wind power in Europe lies in offshore as well as onshore wind power, and some of the pioneer countries will add wind power capacity just by repowering existing plants - replacing old smaller turbines with bigger, more powerful ones which are now available on the market" Kjaer said.


The report containing the just-published league table - entitled "Pure Power" and published today - also outlines EWEA's predictions for growth in wind power by 2020. The industry calculates that it can meet up to 16.6% of EU electricity demand by 2020, or 14.1% in a lower, business-as-usual scenario.


The eight geographically largest countries in the EU include Sweden and Finland as well as France, Germany, Spain, Italy, UK and Poland.


League table extracted from the Pure Power report: MW of wind energy capacity per 1,000 km2 (End 2008)


Denmark: 73.8
Germany: 67
Netherlands: 53.6
Spain: 33.2
Portugal: 31
Ireland: 14.3
EU-27: 14
Luxembourg: 13.5
Belgium: 12.6
Italy: 12.4
Austria: 11.9
Greece: 7.5
France: 6.2
UK: 5.9
Sweden: 2.3
Czech Republic: 1.9
Estonia: 1.7
Poland: 1.5
Bulgaria: 1.4
Hungary: 1.4
Lithuania: 0.8
Finland: 0.4
Latvia: 0.4
Slovakia: 0.1
Romania: 0
Slovenia: 0
Malta: 0
Cyprus: 0




To download the full report visit http://www.ewea.org/index.php?id=178


Media Invitation to COP 15


Journalists, photographers and camera crew attending the international climate change negotiations in Copenhagen are invited to follow the wind industry activities at COP15.


Boat trip to Middelgrunden Offshore Wind farm* Sunday 13 December, 10:30-12:30


Two hour trip to wind farm of 20 turbines, 100m tall at blade tip height, in curved line 180m apart stretching for 3.4km. Trip will include 15 minute briefing from high level wind industry representatives on the wind farm being visited, the contribution wind power makes to reducing CO2 emissions, and the negotiations from a wind industry perspective. Great photo/film opportunity of offshore wind farm, plus possibility for interviews with leading industry representatives.


* Registration obligatory - ap@gwec.net


Source: European Wind Energy Association (EWEA)

For all information about wind energy, the wind industry activities at the Copenhagen climate negotiations, or for interviews with wind industry representatives please contact: Angelika Pullen, Communications Director, Global Wind Energy Council, angelika.pullen@gwec.net, tel +32-2-502-55-02, mobile +32-473-947-966 ; Julian Scola, Communications Director, European Wind Energy Association, js@ewea.org, tel +32-2-546-1981, mobile +32-486-117-394 ; For more information visit the EWEA website ( http://www.ewea.org/ ) or contact Paolo Berrino, EWEA, paolo.berrino@ewea.org, +32-2-400-10-55


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Chicken Pox Vaccine May Also Reduce Risk of Shingles Among Children

4 Dec 2009 06:01 Africa/Lagos

Chicken Pox Vaccine May Also Reduce Risk of Shingles Among Children

Study used electronic health records to follow 172,000 children

OAKLAND, Calif., Dec. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Herpes zoster, also known as shingles, is very rare among children who have been vaccinated against chicken pox, according to a Kaiser Permanente study in the December issue of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Journal.


The study, the largest of its kind, used electronic health records to identify more than 170,000 children vaccinated with the varicella (chicken pox) vaccine from 2002 to 2008 in Kaiser Permanente's Southern California region, then followed children for an average of two and a half years to identify the occurrence of herpes zoster.


Researchers found only 122 cases of herpes zoster among the 172,163 vaccinated children, for an estimated incidence of 1 case per 3,700 vaccinated children per year. This is a lower rate compared to what one would expect in the unvaccinated children based on previous experiences.


"The message to parents and pediatricians is: vaccinating your child against the chicken pox is also a good way to reduce their chances of getting herpes zoster," said the study's lead author, HungFu Tseng, Ph.D, MPH, a research scientist and epidemiologist at the Kaiser Permanente Department of Research and Evaluation in Pasadena, Calif. "More research is needed to identify the virus strains that cause herpes zoster."


This study did not look at side effects of the varicella vaccine.


Herpes zoster is an acute skin viral infection caused by reactivation of latent varicella-zoster virus, which remains in certain nerve cells of the body after an infection with either wild-type or the varicella vaccine virus. The wild-type virus is found in the natural infection, in contrast to the virus strain found in vaccine.


Since the vaccine's introduction in 1995, there have been few studies on the incidence of childhood herpes zoster among children vaccinated with the varicella vaccine.


Following licensure in 1995, 1-dose varicella vaccine was recommended for children 12 months to 12 years of age. In 2006, a routine second dose of varicella vaccine for previously vaccinated persons aged 4 years and older was recommended.


Other study authors included: Ning Smith, MS, Lina S. Sy, MPH, S Michael Marcy, MD, and Steven J. Jacobsen, MD, Ph.D., from the Kaiser Permanente Department of Research and Evaluation.


About the Kaiser Permanente Department for Research and Evaluation


The Department of Research and Evaluation conducts high quality, innovative research into disease etiology, prevention, treatment and care delivery. Investigators conduct epidemiology, health sciences, and behavioral research as well as clinical trials. Areas of interest include diabetes and obesity, cancer, HIV/AIDS, cardiovascular disease, aging and cognition, pregnancy outcomes, women's and children's health, quality and safety, and pharmacoepidemiology. Located in Pasadena, Calif., the department focuses on translating research to practice quickly to benefit the health and lives of Kaiser Permanente Southern California members and the general population. Visit www.kp.org/research.


About Kaiser Permanente


Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America's leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, our mission is to provide high-quality, affordable health care services to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 8.6 million members in nine states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information, go to: www.kp.org/newscenter.


Source: Kaiser Permanente

CONTACT: Danielle Cass, +1-510-267-5354, danielle.x.cass@kp.org, or
Socorro Serrano, +1-626-405-5534, socorro.serrano@kp.org, both of Kaiser
Permanente; or Emily Schwartz, +1-415-274-7926, eschwartz@golinharris.com, for
Kaiser Permanente


Web Site: http://www.kp.org/research
http://www.kp.org/newscenter
http://www.kaiserpermanente.org/

New Study Finds 70% Reduction in Maternal Deaths and Nearly 50% Decline in Newborn Deaths Are Within Reach

3 Dec 2009 13:00 Africa/Lagos

New Study Finds 70% Reduction in Maternal Deaths and Nearly 50% Decline in Newborn Deaths Are Within Reach

Targeted Investments Can Also Radically Reduce Unintended Pregnancies and Unsafe Abortion and Lower Poverty Levels

NEW YORK, Dec. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Maternal deaths in developing countries could be slashed by 70% and newborn deaths cut nearly in half if the world doubled investment in family planning and pregnancy-related care, shows a new report by the Guttmacher Institute and UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund. Currently, more than half a million maternal deaths and 3.5 million newborn deaths, many of them easily preventable, occur each year in developing countries.


The new report, Adding It Up: The Costs and Benefits of Investing in Family Planning and Maternal and Newborn Health, also found that investments in family planning boost the overall effectiveness of every dollar spent on the provision of pregnancy-related and newborn health care. Simultaneously investing in both family planning and maternal and newborn services can achieve the same dramatic outcomes for $1.5 billion less than investing in maternal and newborn health services alone.


"Investing in a handful of basic health services, like family planning and routine delivery care, can save millions of women and babies," says Dr. Sharon Camp, president of the Guttmacher Institute. "It's not rocket science. These are mostly simple services that can be provided inexpensively at the local level, supplemented by provision of urgent care when needed."


Adding it Up documents that the benefits of meeting the need for both family planning and maternal and newborn health services would be dramatic. Compared with the current situation:


-- the deaths of nearly 400,000 women and 1.6 million infants would be
prevented;
-- unintended pregnancies would decline by more than two-thirds;
-- unsafe abortions and resulting complications would both drop by about
75%; and
-- a host of other benefits would occur, including reduced poverty and
increased economic development in poor countries.


The new report shows that the total investment needed is $24.6 billion -- a little more than double the current spending.


"It is a win-win situation. We know what must be done, we know what it will cost, and we now know that the needed investment is modest in relation to the vast benefits that will follow," says Ms. Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, executive director of UNFPA.


Currently, the world spends approximately $12 billion a year on family planning and maternal health programs in developing nations, with developing countries and families providing the bulk of the total. Still, research shows that 215 million women who want to avoid pregnancy are not using an effective method of contraception, and only about half of the 123 million women who give birth each year receive the antenatal, delivery and newborn care they need. Millions of those with major complications get no treatment and either die or suffer from severe and debilitating conditions such as obstetric fistula.


Investing in family planning and maternal health would also have profound additional benefits the report shows: Increases in condom use for pregnancy prevention would simultaneously curb transmission of HIV and other STIs; preventing unwanted pregnancies would increase women's educational and employment opportunities, enhancing their social and economic status; and family savings and investment would rise, spurring economic growth and reducing poverty. These advances would make social and economic development goals easier to achieve.


"It is critical to the progress of the world's most disadvantaged countries and regions to address the high rates of maternal and newborn death that have long been endemic. Investing simultaneously in family planning and in maternal and newborn health is cost-effective," says Ms. Obaid.


"The report outlines how to best focus resources to achieve the greatest gains. Investing in women has enormous benefits, not just for individuals and families, but for societies as a whole. It can truly transform the future of developing nations," added Dr. Camp.


Regional fact sheets accompany the report, providing a more focused look at the benefits of investing in family planning and maternal and newborn health in Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean (also en espanol), Sub-Saharan Africa (also en francais) and the Arab countries (also in Arabic). In addition, the report's executive summary is available in Arabic, French and Spanish.


All Adding It Up materials are available at www.guttmacher.org and www.unfpa.org.


Source: UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund

CONTACT: Jessica Malter of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund,
+1-212-297-5190, +1-646-732-0047, malter@unfpa.org; or Rebecca Wind of
Guttmacher Institute, +1-212-248-1111, ext. 2203, rwind@guttmacher.org


Web Site: http://www.unfpa.org/
http://www.guttmacher.org/

Leonardo DiCaprio to Make Animated Feature Film Debut in DreamWorks Animation's 'The Guardians' (Working Title)

Leonardo DiCaprio to Make Animated Feature Film Debut in DreamWorks Animation's 'The Guardians' (Working Title)

GLENDALE, Calif., Dec. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (NASDAQ:DWA) announced today that Leonardo DiCaprio will make his animated feature film debut when he headlines the cast of the Company's November 2, 2012 release, "The Guardians" (working title) as Jack Frost.


When an evil spirit called Pitch becomes bent upon taking over the world by inspiring fear in the hearts of kids everywhere, a group of our greatest heroes -- Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, the Sandman and Jack Frost -- band together for the first time, determined to stand in Pitch's way. More than a collection of storybook subjects, "The Guardians" are also a band of superheroes, who possess their own special powers. Now joined in opposition of a common foe, the Guardians heed the call and combine their powers to defeat Pitch and protect the world from his campaign of fear. The film is based on "The Guardians of Childhood," a series of highly anticipated books by William Joyce.


About DreamWorks Animation SKG


DreamWorks Animation creates high-quality entertainment, including CG animated feature films, television specials and series, live entertainment properties and online virtual worlds, meant for audiences around the world. The Company has world-class creative talent, a strong and experienced management team and advanced filmmaking technology and techniques. All of DreamWorks Animation's feature films are now being produced in 3D. The Company has theatrically released a total of 18 animated feature films, including the franchise properties, "Shrek," "Madagascar" and "Kung Fu Panda."


Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements


This document includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company's plans, prospects, strategies, proposals and our beliefs and expectations concerning performance of our current and future releases and anticipated talent, directors and storyline for our upcoming films and other projects, constitute forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the industry in which we operate and management's beliefs and assumptions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions which are difficult to predict. Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements herein due to changes in economic, business, competitive, technological and/or regulatory factors, and other risks and uncertainties affecting the operation of the business of DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. These risks and uncertainties include: audience acceptance of our film and other projects, our dependence on the success of a limited number of releases each year, the increasing cost of producing and marketing feature films, piracy of motion pictures, resource constraints resulting from our expanding number of films and other projects, the effect of rapid technological change or alternative forms of entertainment and our need to protect our proprietary technology and enhance or develop new technology. In addition, due to the uncertainties and risks involved in the development and production of our projects, the release dates described in this document may be delayed. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the reports filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and our most recent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. DreamWorks Animation is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise.


Source: DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc.

CONTACT: Jeff Hare, Publicity, +1-818-695-6055,
Jeff.Hare@dreamworks.com, or Shannon Olivas, Corporate Communications,
+1-818-695-3658, Shannon.Olivas@dreamworks.com, both of DreamWorks Animation


Web Site: http://www.dreamworksanimation.com/

Video: Avon Global Ambassador Reese Witherspoon Signs Petition To Call for Better Services for Women Experiencing Domestic Violence

22:30 2 Dec 2009



Video: Avon Global Ambassador Reese Witherspoon Signs Petition To Call for Better Services for Women Experiencing Domestic Violence


Reese Witherspoon, Global Ambassador for Avon, headlined a press conference at the House of Commons today to promote a powerful new campaign against domestic violence. The campaign has been launched jointly by Avon Cosmetics and Refuge...


Reese Witherspoon supports Avon and Refuge's groundbreaking new campaign at the Houses of Parliament



Avon Global Ambassador Reese Witherspoon speaks out against domestic violence at The Houses of Parliament in London, UK.

London, December 02, 2009 /PRNewswire/ — Reese Witherspoon, Global Ambassador for Avon, headlined a press conference at the House of Commons today to promote a powerful new campaign against domestic violence. The campaign has been launched jointly by Avon Cosmetics and Refuge, the national domestic violence charity. The event saw Reese Witherspoon become the 1353rd person to sign a petition to call for more Government support for women experiencing domestic violence in the UK.

The event marks the mid-point in "16 Days of Activism" which began on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

Avon and Refuge's FOUR WAYS TO SPEAK OUT campaign urges people to speak out against domestic violence in four simple ways:

Buy and wear an Avon empowerment necklace
Sign a petition calling for the UK Government to provide more support services for abused women and children
Download a poster to display in your local community so that women know where to get help
Invite your friends and family to join the campaign
A team of powerful female panellists joined Reese Witherspoon at the event. She sat alongside Anna Segatti, President of Avon UK and Sandra Horley, Chief Executive of Refuge. Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, a human rights barrister and Patron of Refuge opened the speeches for the morning and domestic violence survivor, Wendy Turner Webster, joined the panel to tell her own story. Lynda Waltho MP acted as the host.

Says Reese Witherspoon, Avon's Global Ambassador:
"Women involved in domestic violence situations often find it difficult to reach out to others for help. We can all play a role in bringing this issue to light and breaking the silence that surrounds it. That's why I'm so proud to be here to launch Avon and Refuge's FOUR WAYS TO SPEAK OUT campaign. Together we can make a difference. Together we have the power to raise awareness, provide support, and increase the funding for this vital cause."

Also announced at today's conference are the results of new research commissioned by Avon and Refuge into perceptions of domestic violence in the UK, which reveals more than nine in 10 people (92%) claim they don't know anyone experiencing domestic violence. That's despite official statistics showing that one in four women in England and Wales experience domestic violence at some point in their lifetime. The research also shows over half of the people questioned (54%) wouldn't know where to turn if they did suspect someone they knew was experiencing domestic violence.

Says Anna Segatti, President of Avon UK:
"As the company for women, empowering women by supporting vital causes like this is part of our DNA. It's an ugly reality that domestic violence affects one in four women in the UK and the majority of people who think they know someone experiencing domestic violence wouldn't know where to turn because the services simply aren't there. Today's event gives something tangible to all those women and men who are either not aware of this silent pandemic or would not know where to turn if they thought someone was suffering."

Says Sandra Horley, OBE, Chief Executive of Refuge:
"It's a shocking fact that one in three local authorities provide no domestic violence services for women whatsoever. Where are abused women supposed to go to get help? What can they do? To whom can they turn? Refuge and Avon have launched this campaign to urge the Government to put an end to this postcode lottery, and to raise awareness of the huge issue of domestic violence. Everyone everywhere must speak out. By failing to speak out against domestic violence, we make ourselves part of the problem.

"Refuge is incredibly grateful to Avon for its unstinting support over the last two years. In this current economic climate, where many corporates are tightening the purse strings, it is a huge reassurance to have such a dedicated partner. With Avon's help we have been able to reach many more women and children living in the terrifying grip of domestic violence."

Avon has supported Refuge for the last two years, donating 80% of the UK proceeds of its empowerment necklace and bracelet to support services for abused women and children. The remaining 20% is donated to UNIFEM in the UK. Worldwide sales have raised $8.1 million, which has gone towards funding programmes in 53 countries. Avon UK has pledged to more than double its support for domestic violence charities in 2010.

Contacts:
Avon Products, Inc.
Natalie Deacon
+44 (0)7725 150853
Natalie.Deacon@avon.com
Elizabeth P. Bergman
212.282.8197
elizabeth.bergman@avon.com