President Barack Obama's killing of Osama bin Laden is not enough to re-elect him
19 May 2011 16:19 Africa/Lagos
President Obama's Job Rating Unchanged Since Early May, but Half of Americans Unlikely to Vote to Re-Elect Him
Employment/Jobs and the Economy still most important issues for government to address
PR Newswire
NEW YORK, May 19, 2011
NEW YORK, May 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- While President Obama's job ratings may not have changed much from the gain they saw after the death of Osama Bin Laden, there are some shifts the White House probably should worry about as they pertain to his re-election numbers. Currently, 45% of Americans give the President positive ratings for the overall job he is doing while 55% give him negative ratings. Earlier this month, right after the death of the terrorist leader, 46% gave President Obama positive ratings and 54% gave him negative marks.
There are two groups that give President Obama higher ratings. Among regions, 54% of Westerners give him positive marks compared to 40% of Southerners, 42% of Easterners and 44% of those in the Midwest. Almost two-thirds of those with a post graduate degree (64%) give the President positive ratings as do 49% of college graduates and half of those with some college education (50%) while just one third of those with a high school diploma or less (34%) give President Obama positive ratings.
These are some of the results of The Harris Poll of 2,184 adults surveyed online between May 9 and 16, 2011 by Harris Interactive.
Congress, which did not get much of a post-Osama killing bump, also hasn't seen their ratings change much in the past two weeks. Earlier in the month, 13% of Americans gave them positive ratings while 87% gave them negative ones. Now, 12% of U.S. adults give them positive marks while 88% of U.S. adults give Congress negative ratings for their overall job.
Also slipping downward slightly is the direction of the country. Just under two in five Americans (38%) say the country is going in the right direction, down one point from earlier this month. Slightly over three in five say the country is going off on the wrong track (62%), up one point from early May. One reason for this overall sense of dissatisfaction is still the economy. One-third of Americans (33%) say that employment/jobs are one of the two most important issues for the government to address, unchanged from January. One in three U.S. adults (29%) says the most important issue is the economy overall, up from 24% who said this in January. Rounding out the top five most important issues to be addressed is healthcare (18%), the budget deficit/national debt (17%) and gas and oil prices (12% up from 1% who said this in January).
It is this worry and concern over the economy that may be driving the numbers the White House is starting to care most about – likelihood of the American public to vote for President Obama again next November. Half of Americans (49%) say they are unlikely to vote for Barack Obama if the election for president were held today, up from 47% who said this in early May. Just over two in five Americans (43%) say they are likely to vote for him, down from 46% who said so earlier this month. Even more concerning for the re-election committee is that one in five Democrats (20%) say they are not likely to vote for the President while 7% at not at all sure.
So What?
The death of Osama Bin Laden brought the country together, but the question was always how long would that cohesion last. So far, the overall job ratings for the President are holding steady, but at this point in the election cycle President Obama and his advisors are not just thinking about the current job he has, but of extending it for another four years. Come next November, voters will be asking themselves if they are better off than they were in 2009. If the answer isn't yes, there could be issues for the re-election chances of President Obama.
Programming Includes Digital Films, a Virtual Makeover Salon and the IRIS Nights Lecture Series
Los Angeles, CA (May 19, 2011) /PRNewswire/ — The Annenberg Space for Photography is offering additional programming to enrich the BEAUTY CULTURE exhibit including digital films, which expand on the themes of the exhibit; the BEAUTY CULTURE Digital Salon, where guests can experiment with virtual makeovers; and the IRIS Nights lecture series, presenting top fashion, beauty and pop culture photographers and editors.
BEAUTY CULTURE is a photographic exploration of how feminine beauty is defined, challenged and revered in modern society. The exhibit features works from iconic photographers such as Albert Watson, Bert Stern, Herb Ritts, Man Ray, Jean-Paul Goude, ORLAN, Guy Bourdin, Horst, Melvin Sokolsky, Ellen von Unwerth, Lillian Bassman, Matthew Rolston, Philippe Halsman, Lauren Greenfield, Susan Anderson, Tyen and Carrie May Weems. BEAUTY CULTURE encourages a social dialogue about the allure and mystique of the pursuit of female beauty, as well as the cult-like glorification and multi-billion dollar industries that surround it.
In addition to the 175 images on display in the Print Gallery, hundreds more images from the BEAUTY CULTURE photographers fill the Digital Gallery’s larger-than-life, high-resolution screens in a digital slideshow.
The exhibition is accompanied by a short documentary film directed by acclaimed photographer and award-winning documentarian Lauren Greenfield. The digital film brings the print exhibit’s themes to life and features interviews with well-known photographers, models, historians and beauty experts who guide visitors on a fascinating photographic exploration of the culture – and cult – of beauty.
Voice of the Photographer video segments share interviews with the exhibit’s four featured photographers – Lauren Greenfield, Melvin Sokolsky, Tyen and Albert Watson.
The Photography Space has also created an interactive BEAUTY CULTURE Digital Salon. Guests can alter an image of themselves by changing their hair style, hair color and eye color and by applying cosmetics. They can explore the idea of the beauty of facial symmetry by applying a filter to average the two sides of their face. Visitors can then choose to email or upload to Facebook their “before” or “after” image.
The Photography Space continues its popular weekly IRIS Nights lecture series. Visitors can hear first-hand from photographers and other professionals about their experiences in the industry and their perspectives on photography’s role in the definition of beauty. Guest speakers include Jill Greenberg, Melvin Sokolsky, Susan Anderson, Lauren Greenfield and Davis Factor, among others. The IRIS Nights lecture series takes place Thursday evenings in the Photography Space and is free to the public with advance registration. The current schedule is listed below. Additional lectures will be announced later this summer.
BEAUTY CULTURE IRIS NIGHTS LECTURE SERIES SCHEDULE
June 2, 2011, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Public Lecture: Jill Greenberg Jill Greenberg will be speaking on her photographic work as it relates to the range and history of practices of aggressive feminine bodily transformation, restrictive clothing and even corporal punishment of women. June 9, 2011, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Public Lecture: Melvin Sokolsky The prerequisites of beauty have changed over the ages. Melvin Sokolsky, one of BEAUTY CULTURE’s featured photographers, will give his personal insights on how the press and media have influenced the concept of beauty over the ages. June 16, 2011, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Public Lecture: Susan Anderson Specializing in fashion, portraiture and conceptual/narrative work, Susan Anderson delved into the world of child beauty pageants for her book High Glitz: The Extravagant World of Child Beauty Pageants. Her work is displayed in the BEAUTY CULTURE exhibit. June 23, 2011, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Public Lecture: Mark Laita Mark Laita has built a reputation for producing award-winning commercial work for clients including Adidas, Apple, Mercedes-Benz and MINI. Mark’s non-commercial work urges viewers to reconsider or reinforce their perception of American archetypes by exploring themes such as beauty, career, age and wealth. July 14, 2011, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Public Lecture: Andrew Southam In a career that has spanned more than 25 years, Andrew Southam has gained an international reputation for his images of beautiful women, including some of the definitive photographs of Liv Tyler, Gwyneth Paltrow, Natalie Portman and Jewel. His work has also garnered such accolades as a Dove Award and honors from the Society of Publication Designers. July 28, 2011, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Public Lecture: Paul Lange Photographs by New York-based photographer Paul Lange have been featured in scores of distinguished national and international publications such as Vogue, Glamour, GQ, Mademoiselle, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, British Vogue, and the New York Times. His work is displayed in the BEAUTY CULTURE exhibit. September 1, 2011, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Public Lecture: Davis Factor Davis Factor, based in Los Angeles, has had a varied career photographing celebrities and models for prestigious fashion magazines such as Vanity Fair; advertising campaigns such as Mercedes Benz, Cartier and Maybelline; and movie studios and television networks including Paramount and Warner Bros. September 15, 2011, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Public Lecture: Leonard Nimoy Actor, writer and photographer Leonard Nimoy has possessed a love for photography since he was a child. BEAUTY CULTURE features images from his “The Full Body Project” which uses photographs of non-classical models in a hope to foster discussions about beauty, social acceptance, culture and health. September 22, 2011, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Public Lecture: Kwaku Alston Kwaku Alston will show a selection of his celebrity and personal portraits, as well as discuss symbols of beauty in our culture and how he responds to or draws influence from them. Alston, who is also a sought-after advertising photographer, will reflect on his experiences with how beauty is defined in the creative industry. September 29, 2011, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Public Lecture: Mark McKenna and David Fahey Mark McKenna, Executive Director of the Herb Ritts Foundation, helps support and direct the Foundation’s two main objectives: continuing Herb’s longstanding support of HIV/AIDS research and supporting Herb’s deep passion for photography.
David Fahey, co-owner and partner of the Fahey/Klein Gallery, wrote the introduction to Herb Ritts: The Golden Hour, a book celebrating the work of his colleague and personal friend. October 6, 2011, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Public Lecture: Peter Fetterman Peter Fetterman has been deeply involved in the medium of photography for over 30 years. Initially a filmmaker and collector, he set up his first gallery over 20 years ago. The Peter Fetterman Gallery has one of the largest inventories of 20th century photography in the country. October 20, 2011, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Public Lecture: Mona Kuhn Mona Kuhn's photographic work has been exhibited, and is included in public and private collections, both internationally and in the United States. Her figurative work is focused on redefining ways of looking at the body, as a residence to ourselves. October 27, 2011, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Public Lecture: Elaine D’Farley and Philip Gefter As SELF Magazine’s beauty director, Elaine D’Farley researches the hottest brands and latest trends to create quality beauty editorial. She will be joined by photo critic David Gefter. November 3, 2011, 6:30 – 8:00 PM
Public Lecture: Lauren Greenfield Named as one of the 25 most influential photographers of our time by American PHOTO, Lauren Greenfield was commissioned to create the BEAUTY CULTURE documentary film due to her extensive work capturing youth culture, body image and the effects of consumerism. November 10, 2011, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Public Lecture: Frank W. Ockenfels Over nearly two decades, Frank Ockenfels has photographed musicians, celebrities and corporate leaders. His images have graced the covers of Rolling Stone, Esquire, Premiere, Blender, Newsweek, Wired, Entertainment Weekly, Spin, New York Magazine, and Gear and have also appeared in W, Outside, and UK Condé Nast Traveler.
BEAUTY CULTURE runs from May 21, 2011 through November 27, 2011.
Annenberg Space for Photography 2000 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, CA 90067 Tel: 213.403.3000 http://www.annenbergspaceforphotography.org Wednesday through Sunday: 11 AM-6 PM; Closed Monday and Tuesday. General admission is free. About the Annenberg Space for Photography
The Annenberg Space for Photography is a cultural destination dedicated to exhibiting compelling photography. The Space conveys a range of human experiences and serves as an expression of the philanthropic work of the Annenberg Foundation and its Directors. The intimate environment features state-of-the-art, high-definition digital technology as well as traditional prints by some of the world’s most renowned and emerging photographers. The exhibits change three times a year. It is the first solely photographic cultural destination in the Los Angeles area. About the Annenberg Foundation
The Annenberg Foundation is a private family foundation that provides funding and support to nonprofit organizations in the United States and globally. Since 1989, it has generously funded programs in education and youth development; arts, culture and humanities; civic and community life; health and human services; and animal services and the environment. In addition, the Foundation and its Board of Directors are directly involved in the community with several projects that expand and complement its grant support to nonprofits. Among them are innovative nonprofit capacity building initiatives, the Annenberg Space for Photography, Explore, and the Metabolic Studio. The Annenberg Foundation exists to advance the public well-being through improved communication. As the principal means of achieving this goal, the Foundation encourages the development of more effective ways to share ideas and knowledge. ###
Media Contacts: Tiffany Caronia Evolutionary Media Group 323.658.8700 Tiffany@emgpr.com Camille Lowry Annenberg Foundation 310.209.4568 clowry@annenbergfoundation.org
Chivas Regal and FilmAid International Launch Global Brand Partnership in Cannes
FilmAid Founder Caroline Baron, FilmAid President Iliane Ogilvie Thompson and Long-time FilmAid Supporter Robert De Niro Celebrate Launch
CANNES, France, May 16 /PRNewswire/ — Chivas Regal, the world's original luxury Scotch whisky and Official Partner of the Festival de Cannes, has announced a new global brand partnership with the charity FilmAid International.
Caroline Baron, Robert DeNiro and James Slack
The official launch celebration of the partnership took place in Chivas House, on the Croisette in Cannes, on Friday 13th May and was attended by FilmAid Founder Caroline Baron, FilmAid President Iliane Ogilvie Thompson and long-time supporter of FilmAid and President of the Jury of this year's Festival de Cannes, Robert De Niro.
The partnership will see Chivas Regal and FilmAid working together to help, educate and inspire communities in need through the power of film. An initial donation of US$100,000 was made by Chivas Regal to support FilmAid projects across the world.
FilmAid International is a humanitarian organisation that harnesses the power of film to educate and bring hope to refugees and other communities in need around the globe. Founded in 1999 during the Balkan crisis, FilmAid works in partnership with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and other global aid organisations to bring film and video programs that inform inspire and empower to more than 1 million people.
Chivas Regal has a history of supporting cinema, having played a starring role at many of the world's most celebrated events. Now in its third year as the Official Partner of the Festival de Cannes, Chivas Regal continues to strengthen its position in, and commitment to, cinema.
To mark the launch, Chivas Regal commissioned Magnum Photos to create an exhibition showcasing the work of FilmAid, a selection of which is on display in Chivas House.
James Slack, Brand Director of Chivas Regal, says, "The work of FilmAid is truly inspirational and we are delighted to support the amazing work they do around the world.
"The partnership aligns well with values that Chivas Regal is passionate about: brotherhood, generosity, integrity and a social awareness for the world in which we live. The partnership with FilmAid provides our customers with a tangible proof-point of these values while reinforcing our commitment to film and cinema, whether it be here in Cannes or among some of the most needy communities in the world."
Liz Manne, Executive Director of FilmAid, says, "We at FilmAid International are delighted by our new partnership with Chivas Regal. Their dedication to cinema makes them the perfect partner for FilmAid, which brings cinema to those most in need of the inspiration and education that film can provide. We look forward to developing this partnership with Chivas in the future."
For free editorial content from the FilmAid partnership launch, visit the Chivas FTP site:
* Click on the following link ftp.chivasincannes.com * To view this FTP site in Windows Explorer, click Page, and the click Open FTP Site in Windows Explorer. * Username: Chivas * Password: FilmAid2011
Notes to Editors
* Chivas Regal is now in its third year as official supplier of the Festival de Cannes – the most exclusive and celebrated international film festival. * Chivas Regal's global brand partnership with FilmAid will see Chivas Regal provide financial support to FilmAid projects across the world. * Chivas Regal commissioned Magnum Photos photographer, Dominic Nahr, to shoot on location at a FilmAid project in Kenya. A selection of images was showcased at the launch event in Cannes.
About Chivas Regal
* Chivas Regal is a truly international premium Scotch whisky brand, sold in more than 150 countries, selling over 4.2 million nine-litre cases annually. * Chivas Regal is regarded as a global luxury icon, much like the celebrated Festival de Cannes. * In addition to Cannes, which in 2011 runs from the 11th to the 22nd May, Chivas Regal has historically played a starring role at many other prestigious cinema occasions, such as the BAFTA Nominees Party, The Academy Awards, Césars in France and more recently the Asian Film Awards, of which Chivas Regal 25 is the red carpet sponsor.
About FilmAid International
* FilmAid International is a non-profit organization that harnesses the power of film to reach refugees and other communities in need with messages that inspire, address critical shared needs and effect social change. * Working in refugee camps, urban slums, disaster zones and other communities in need, FilmAid's screenings provide a vital channel for conveying knowledge, empowerment and hope. * FilmAid operates two on-going programmes in Kenya: the Kakuma Refugee Camp (85,000 people) on the border of Southern Sudan and the Dadaab Refugee Camp on the border of Somalia (337,000 people). These programmes serve refugees from Sudan, Somalia, Uganda, Rwanda, Congo, Burundi and Ethiopia. FilmAid also works with challenged communities within Kenya, including the Mathare and Kibera Slums. In late 2009, FilmAid started working with Burmese refugees in Thailand, and in 2010 began work with Internally Displaced Persons in Haiti, following the devastating earthquake.
For more information, please contact: Astrid Froment International Marketing Manager – Chivas Regal Tel: +44 (0)20 8250 1658 I / Mobile: +44 (0)7810 630 737 astrid.froment@pernod-ricard.com
Open Invitation to the Members of the Press: New Social Network, New Opportunities - PrimeHangout.com
PR Newswire
PHILADELPHIA, May 16, 2011
PHILADELPHIA, May 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- PrimeHangout, a subsidiary of ClinicTools, Inc. in Philadelphia, PA, is pleased to invite the media to the launching of a new social network popularly known as PrimeHangout.com. The launching, as declared by Henry I. Balogun, founder and CEO, is scheduled to take place at Kirby Auditorium, National Constitution Center, 525 Arch Street, Independence Mall, Philadelphia, PA 19106 on June 10, 2011 at 11:00 am.
"Inspiration behind the establishment of PrimeHangout came out of the desire to create a better platform designed to take connecting with the outside world to a new height," said Henry Balogun. "Our goal is to give people something socially rewarding, financially beneficial, and historically inspiring.
"At http://www.primehangout.com, we make it possible for individuals to showcase creativity - a place for business to increase exposure, thereby generating effective business leads and for vacation destinations to let the world know where people can come to learn, enjoy historical value, relax and unwind."
PrimeHangout.com is divided into three major sections:
1. Individual User section is for creating connections with people locally, nationwide as well as worldwide.
* Genealogy, embedded in the individual user section is designed to help you discover your roots, the people you are connected with by birth and the origin of your humanity.
2. Business User section is designed to help you build a solid, dependable and highly beneficial client base. The time has come to use the power of social networking to increase business as well as the bottom line.
3. Vacation Destination section is designed to assist you in your quest to find a place to relax, and enjoy the rich diversities of culture as well as historical places of interest all around the world.
"Each section is equipped with a way to upload pre-recorded video or live show, thereby communicate effectively with your contacts, audience and friends. Users can use their respective business wall to make presentations, show product demos and generate leads. Our chat module makes it easier to have one-on-one or group chat with friends or business contacts."
Henry Balogun declared that "during this launching, we are going to unveil, thereby make available the first Internet Mall (like the mall in your city) where individuals and businesses can actually open stores, sell and make money. We are also ready to present to the world the first cross-platform EMR/Healthcare Management System ever developed."
PrimeHangout is committed to innovative ideas including ongoing improvements and new functionalities. "We have developed a PrimeHangout App for the iPhone, iPad, iPod and Android-based Smartphone. Use it to make new friends, connect and chat with existing friends, or organize and announce an event at the speed of light - the communication platform of the future is here. Kindly register your intent to attend by sending a message to phpressrelease@mednetservices.com," said Balogun.
Contact:
Henry I. Balogun, Ph.D., Chairman/CEO Mobile Phone: (215) 704-8223 Email: hbalogun@mednetservices.com
This press release was issued through eReleases(R). For more information, visit eReleases Press Release Distribution at http://www.ereleases.com.
Judicial Watch Announces Freedom of Information Act Lawsuit Seeking bin Laden Photos and Videos
PR Newswire
WASHINGTON, May 13, 2011
WASHINGTON, May 13, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption, announced today that it has filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the Department of Defense (DOD) seeking "all photographs and/or video recordings of Osama (Usama) bin Laden taken during and/or after the U.S. military operation in Pakistan on or about May 1, 2011" (Judicial Watch v. DOD (No. 1:11-cv-00890) (JEB)).
Under the Freedom of Information Act, the DOD has 20 business days legally to respond. Rather than follow the law, the DOD has stated:
At this time, we are unable to make a release determination on your request within the 20-day statutory time period.
Judicial Watch filed an identical FOIA request with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) on May 4. The CIA has yet to acknowledge or respond to the request.
"The American people have a right to know, by law, basic information about the killing of Osama bin Laden. Incredibly, the Obama administration told us that it has no plans to comply with the Freedom of Information law, so we must now go to court. President Obama's not wanting to 'spike the football' is not a lawful basis for withholding government documents. This historic lawsuit should remind the Obama administration that it is not above the law," said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.
Visit www.judicialwatch.org to view Judicial Watch's Freedom of Information requests.
Founded in 1994, Judicial Watch Inc. is a constitutionally conservative, nonpartisan educational foundation that promotes transparency, accountability and integrity in government, politics and the law. JW is perhaps the most active FOIA request or and litigator operating today.
SOURCE Judicial Watch
CONTACT: Jill S. Farrell, Director of Public Affairs, Judicial Watch Inc., +1-202-646-5188
As Hollywood and Bollywood stars shine at the premiere of the sexual drama "Sleeping Beauty" the toast of the Cannes Film Festival, nothing to show from Nollywood the so called second largest movie industry in the world.
The celebrated movie stars from Hollywood, Bollywood and other notable film industries from other countries are participating and competing for the coveted prizes and other attractions of the film festival. Nigeria has a pavilion at the festival, but no Nollywood movie is in competition or even out of competition.
Nollywood stars are simply unknown here. Just appearing on the CNN or being mentioned on the Oprah Winfrey Show will make Nigerians go gaga, but what really counts is breaking the ice and making heads turn at the Cannes or Oscars and not at the Silverbird Galleria in Lagos city, Nigeria. Our Nollywood stars need to aim at shattering the highest glass ceiling as South African stars have done for decades by winning Oscars. Cinematographer Ted Moore (1914–1987) was the first South African to win an Oscar in 1967, when he also won the BAFTA for Robert Bolt’s magnificent film, A Man for All Seasons. He was from Benoni, the same town as actress Charlize Theron the first South African actor to win an Oscar in 2004 for Monster and her gripping role of serial killer Aileen Wuornos was described as "one of the greatest performances in the history of the cinema" by the highly esteemed American film critic and screenwriter Roger Ebert, the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism. The other Oscar winning South Africans are Ronald Harwood who won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for the multiple award winning The Pianist in 2003 and his other screenplay The Diving Bell and the Butterfly had four Oscar nominations in 2007, and Gavin Hood who got the Oscar for the Best Foreign Language Film with Tsotsi in 2005.
In fact no Nigerian TV knows what is going at the Cannes, except few of the notable Nigerian journalists/film critics like Shaibu Husseini of The Guardian, Victor Akande of The Nation and Steve Ayorinde. The others are the veteran Nigerian filmmaker and scholar Afolabi Adesanya, who is the MD/CE of the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) with his delegation at the Nigerian pavilion where some of the Nigerian movie makers Like Faruk Lasaki, Kunle Afolayan, Madu Chikwendu, Fidelis Duker and others can meet and receive visitors. Today, the European media partner of Eko International Film Festival (EKOIFF), Mr. Bruno Chatelin was at the pavilion to receive an important message from Mr. Hope Obioma Opara, the President of EKOIFF. The other Nigerians here are not different from the tourists. The only Nigerian online news media reporting the Cannes Film Festival since 2005 is International Digital Post Network (IDPN) Limited publishers of 24/7 Nigeria and other niche websites. See it all only on www.247nigeria.com and get the juicy news of the red carpet in audio, video and photos.
Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan arrives on the red carpet for the screening of the film "Sleeping Beauty", in competition at the 64th Cannes Film Festival, May 12, 2011. Twenty films are competing in the May 11 to 22 cinema showcase, with a roll call including major screen stars, revered "auteur" directors and relative newcomers. REUTERS/Vincent Kessler (FRANCE - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT)
Jury member Uma Thurman poses during a photocall at the 64th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes on Wednesday, May 11.
~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima, the Founder/Festival Director of Eko International Film Festival and Publisher/CEO of International Digital Post Network (IDPN) Limited,
The World’s Top Rated News App “NEWS REPUBLIC” Goes Multi-Platform
Mobiles Republic is on course to exceed all its previous download records in the coming months and expects ‘News Republic’ to become the news application of choice for millions of new users around the world.
In little more than 4 months News Republic has attracted over 400,000 new iPhone and Android users with its English, French and Italian editions and this week saw the launch of a Spanish edition with a German language version to follow shortly. In March alone over 15 million news articles including breaking news headlines, in-depth features plus live updates on many popular subjects including Sport, Business, Technology, Celebrity, Entertainment and Hollywood Gossip were viewed on the app.
This hugely popular News Application is now launching on multiple new platforms including Blackberry, Symbian, Bada, Windows Phone 7 and webOS as well as Android Honeycomb tablets. The much awaited iPad version is due in a matter of weeks.
Users create their very own unique and personalised news channels generated from thousands of breaking news stories from over 50 leading news agencies, major brands and local media sources around the world including AFP, AP, Reuters and PR Newswire and multiple specialist media brands including ITN, Adfero, Techradar, eWeek, breaking Celebrity news from WENN plus many more.
The app has secured licensing agreements with all the content providers so users get the full stories, pictures and videos within the app itself. In addition, news stories can be referenced to external resources including Wikipedia, YouTube and Google and with over 120,000 topics covered, users have the option to search and find out even more information or related news and articles across the entire web instantly.
NEWS REPUBLIC, the Top Rated News app is FREE and available worldwide on iTunes Store, Android Market, Blackberry Appworld, Samsung Apps and Ovi Store in the News Sections.
About Mobiles Republic: Founded in 2008, Mobiles Republic quickly established a reputation for innovation and excellence in developing successful apps for the Smartphone market as well as award winning apps for feature phones including the prestigious Sony Ericsson Content Award. Mobiles Republic has developed TAGNAV™, a semantic search and semantic targeting solution that powers its NEWS REPUBLIC™ application. The company has expanded rapidly and has established strong relationships with leading publishers, global media brands and handset manufacturers as well as extensive partnerships mobile network operators. Mobiles Republic applications are preloaded on Samsung Mobile, LG and Sony Ericsson handsets in several regions.
A full Electronic Press Kit is available at http://www.news-republic.com.
High Resolution corporate logos, screen shots, and corporate information available upon request.
Press Contact: UK Louis Kingston Northern European Regional Director Louis.kingston@mobilesrepublic.com
Victims of sexual abuse by priests calling for justice
The cases of sexual abuse by Catholic priests have done collateral damage to the church and exposed the clergy to public condemnation and mockery making millions of people to lose their faith in the Catholic Church and the rest of Christendom.
Pope John Paul II declared in 2001 that "a sin against the Sixth Commandment of the Decalogue by a cleric with a minor under 18 years of age is to be considered a grave sin, or delictum gravius."
With the approval of the Vatican, the hierarchy of the church in the United States claimed to institute reforms to prevent future abuse including requiring background checks for Church employees and volunteers, while opposing extensions of the statutes of limitations in sex abuse cases.
The following is the news release on the John Jay's report on the various investigated cases of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic priests in the U.S.
13 May 2011 20:12 Africa/Lagos
Release of John Jay's report on The Causes and Context of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Catholic Priests in the United States, 1950-2010
PR Newswire
May 13
What: Release of John Jay's report on The Causes and Context of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Catholic Priests in the United States, 1950-2010
When: May 18, 2 p.m. ET (Media should be in place by 1:45 p.m.)
Where: USCCB, 3211 4th St. NE , Washington, DC 20017-1194 (USCCB is located on 4th Street, between Michigan Ave., NE and Lincoln Rd. NE, and a short walk from the Brookland Metro stop.)
Who:
Karen Terry , Ph.D., John Jay College and principal investigator for report
Diane Knight, ACSW, Chair, National Review Board, USCCB Secretariat for Child and Youth Protection
Bishop Blase Cupich of Spokane, Washington, Chair, U.S. Bishops' Committee on Protection of Children and Young People
Media who wish to attend must pre-register by calling USCCB Office of Media Relations, 202-541-3200 or e-mailing media-relations@usccb.org by Tuesday, May 17, 3 p.m.
Registrants should indicate beforehand if they wish to do a brief individual TV, radio or print interview with Ms. Terry, Ms. Knight or Bishop Cupich following the media conference.
Media who cannot attend in person can participate in the conference through Adobe Connect and/or listen via telephone. To register for this and to receive a password, please e-mail media-relations@usccb.org . After the presentations, media can submit questions via e-mail as time allows.
The report and related information will be available at www.usccb.org after the media conference.
Agricultural experts push for a strong seed sector in West Africa
COTONOU, May 13, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Underlining that seed security is a prerequisite for achieving food security, agricultural experts participating in the just-concluded Regional Workshop on Seed Policy in West Africa urged decision-makers to support the sustainable growth and development of the West African seed sector, particularly for food security crops, such as rice, millet, sorghum, cowpeas and maize.
The experts recommended the need to formulate, adopt, and implement coherent strategies and policies at regional and national levels for the rapid development of viable seed enterprises which would help increase the steady supply of quality seed to millions of smallholder farmers in West Africa.
The workshop was jointly organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) in Cotonou, Benin. It was inaugurated by His Excellency Michel Sogbossi, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Government of Benin.
“Strong research programs and solid seed systems are crucial to give farmers access to better varieties and quality seeds,” said Dr. Marco Wopereis, AfricaRice Deputy Director General & Director for Research at the workshop, which provided an overview of the current status of the West African seed sector as well as the challenges and opportunities associated with it.
Seed entrepreneurs in the sub-region face many challenges because of the absence of coherent seed policies, poor infrastructure and lack of access to improved seed, complementary inputs, production technologies, credits and training.
Highlighting the importance of developing national seed policies, Dr. Robert Guéi, Senior Officer from FAO, remarked that the seed industry was relatively more developed in other regions of Africa than in Central and West Africa.
“Until now only a few countries in West Africa, such as Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Benin, etc., have formulated and passed a coherent seed policy, while a few others are in the process of doing so,” Dr. Guéi said.
Key recommendations targeted to specific stakeholder groups were made by the participants to enable a sustainable seed production and distribution effort to take off in the sub-regions. These include the need to:
• Develop improved varieties and ensure their rapid delivery through effective seed systems;
• Develop national action plans to support the sustainable development of seed industries;
• Strengthen partnerships between the public and the private sector on seed-related issues, with clear delineation of their respective roles;
• Develop the capacity of the formal and informal seed sectors;
• Integrate a value-chain approach in the seed policies;
• Develop regulatory frameworks for rapid and sustainable growth of the seed industry; and
• Ensure the participation of the whole range of actors in the formulation of seed policies.
“A true partnership among all the actors will be the basis for success to develop a strong seed sector in West Africa,” said Dr. Rita Agboh-Noameshie, AfricaRice scientist, who coordinated the workshop in partnership with FAO.
The workshop was attended by decision-makers from 11 countries in West Africa and from Madagascar. Representatives from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (WECARD/CORAF), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), the African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA), the African Seed Network (ASN), FAO and AfricaRice also took part.
