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Submitted by: M&A Critique
At a time when start-ups are finding it difficult to secure more funding to run their business, consolidation is increasingly taking place in the online retail space. This year alone, there have been 15 mergers and acquisitions (M&As), double that of last year and if the funding pipeline doesnt show any improvement, the dream run of online retail may come to a naught.
Apart from cash crunch, most of the business models lack differentiation in the way of their working. As their working models are becoming very repetitive, big-ticket funding is drying up and valuations of most the e-commerce companies have taken a hit. This year, 10 companies raised $520 million only, a drastic fall from $2.3 billion raised by 14 e-commerce firms last year. Cautious investors have pruned the size of deals as the average investment ticket size in Series A and Series B levels dropped over 50%.
This trend of M&As will continue and grow in the next few years as big companies are always on the prowl to acquire those companies that complement their offerings or add new segments that could help them with incremental growth. Moreover, given the current tight funding scenario, smaller startups wont be able to raise funds like they did before and are open to the idea of getting acquired.
Buying for customer acquisition, vertical addition, and cost rationalization all in non-cash deal
Big companies in the e-commerce business acquire smaller ones to consolidate their position in the high growth cash-intensive sector. Also, they wish to further boost their capabilities, with the right technology and talent. Flipkart, which has so far raised $3.19 billion, is the most funded company, followed by Snapdeal ($1.76 billion) and Paytm ($950 million). With larger players like Flipkart and Snapdeal on a high after having received record-breaking investments last year, they are looking to add more power to their company through strategic acquisitions. The objective is to expand their portfolio and increase their customer base. In the first major M&A activity in the e-commerce space, Flipkart picked up a stake in the marketplace and auctions startup WeHive Technologies Pvt. Ltd. This acquisition will help Flipkart increase its market dominance by scouting for mobile-focused companies.
However, while e-commerce companies raised lot of money in the past, especially the countrys most valuable one Flipkart, there has been a rapid markdown in the valuation. Mutual Fund Morgan Stanley marked down Flipkarts valuation to $5.58 billion. The US-based firm marked down the value of Flipkart for the fourth time in a year, lowering the value of its shareholding by 38% on a quarter-on-quarter basis. It comes at a time when the Indian e-commerce giant has been struggling to raise funds at a valuation higher than or equal to $15.2 billion. Two other investors too, Valic and Fidelity, who earlier marked up the value of their shares in the company, marked down their shares in Flipkartby 11.3%, and 3.2%, respectivelyfor the quarter ended August.
Snapdeal too made its next big kill when it acquired MartMobi, a Hyderabad-based mobile technology startup for an undisclosed amount. This helped Snapdeal strengthen its mobile platform for merchant partners. Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba is also looking at acquisition of Indian e-tailers that have a large customer base as well as a robust network of merchants. Snapdeal too has clearly demonstrated this intent by acquiring other companies that can add more to its existing capabilities.
Another top M&A deals of this year is Myntras acquisition of Jabong for $70 million. Firstcry acquired Mahindra Retails BabyOye for $54 million and Titan acquired CaratLane for $53 million. In the last three months, for example, online fashion retailer Voonik acquired four startups, and Craftsvilla, an online store for ethnic products, made three acquisitions. So, in Indias e-commerce industry, it is just not customers who are scouting for deals, even companies are peers are looking for cheap deals to acquire and grow.
Jabong-Myntra M&A deal
The online fashion retailer Jabong was shopping around the idea of a merger and was in talks with several competitors, including Chinas Alibaba Group, Kishore Biyani-led Future Group. Snapdeal and Aditya Birla Group also may make a bid for Jabong. Finally, Myntra acquired Jabong.
The buzz about Jabongs acquisition started two years ago. In 2014, news reports had suggested that Amazon was in talks to acquire the company for $1.2 billion as it looked to counter Flipkarts acquisition of Myntra. The negotiations failed as the two companies could not reach a consensus on Jabongs valuation. Jabong was among the two top online fashion retailers in India competing closely with Myntra. However, over the last two years, the company has lost steam as a source of funding dried up. While Myntra continued to get a massive funding infusion from Flipkart, Jabong could not manage to attract funds to support its business and eventually got acquired.
M&As – growth enable
M&A in the e-commerce sector have been on the rise as it is the only way for gaining competitive advantage. The growing penetration of technology facilitators such as internet connections, broadband, and third-generation (3G) services, laptops, smartphones, and tablets will drive the e-commerce eco-system. Also, to capitalise on the benefits offered by the unique Indian consumer base, e-commerce companies have been innovating with policies traditionally not available in a brick-and-mortar store.
The primary motivation for most mergers is to increase the value of the combined enterprise. Synergistic effects can arise from four sources: For one, operating economies take place from economies of scale in management, marketing, production, or distribution, which help the company to grow. Secondly, financial economies will gain such as lower transactions costs and better coverage by stock market analysts. Thirdly, differential efficiency, which implies that the management of one firm is more efficient and that the weaker firms assets will be more productive after the merger; and lastly, there will be increased market power due to reduced competition.
Industry surveys suggest that e-commerce industry is expected to contribute around 4 percent to the GDP by 2020. In comparison, according to a NASSCOM report, by 2020, the IT-BPO industry is expected to account for 10% of Indias GDP, while the share of telecommunication services in Indias GDP is expected to increase to 15 percent by 2015. With enabling support, the e-commerce industry too can contribute much more to the GDP.
Deals in potential sectors
The Indian cab market is reporting a host of M&A deal as most players are looking a pie in this huge sector given its immense potential. The sector is worth close to Rs 50,000 crore, with only 5% in the organized sector. As the city traffic is increasing every day, the number of customers relying on a taxi for their transportation has also increased significantly. Ola bought TaxiForSure for $200 million in a cash-and-stock deal. TaxiForSure was actively looking out for a big investment to keep up with the cash-rich Ola Cabs and Uber. This acquisition added value both on the supply and demand side, for Ola. Apart from a huge customer base, TaxiForSure added 15,000 cars to Olas fleet of more than 100,000 cars.
Food is another area where in e-commerce which is throwing a lot of opportunities. Countrys online food-ordering platform Foodpanda acquired its biggest rival Just Eat India four months after acquiring Pune-based competitor TastyKhana. After closing the deal for an undisclosed amount, Foodpanda is now present in over 200 cities in India and partners with over 12,000 restaurants.
On their path towards expansion, e-commerce players in India are looking out for potential M&A deals in order to expand their businesses. The consolidation drive in the e-commerce industry follows from the fact that foreign direct investment will not happen much and domestic players to grow the pie and expand their business share on their own.
About the Author: M&A Critique is the only magazine, News published from India which gives M&A News, Mergers and Acquisitions News, Analysis, Restructuring, Takeovers, and JV.Read More on:
mnacritique.mergersindia.com/
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Saturday, February 19, 2005
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Wednesday, October 13, 2010
The rescue of the Chilean miners trapped in the San José Mine in Copiapó, codenamed Operación San Lorenzo (San Lorenzo Operation), began on Tuesday night, at around 20:00 local time (23:00 UTC).
Florencio Ávalos was the first miner to be rescued, at 00:12 local time (03:12 UTC) on Wednesday. He was wearing a shirt signed by all his fellow miners. “The first miner is already with us. We saw it all, him hugging his wife Monica and his son Byron,” said President Piñera shortly after the first rescue. “We still have a long journey.”
“This will be recorded on every single Chilean heart forever,” Piñera added. “I hope the miners’ hope stay with us, just like the [February] earthquake victims’ [hope] and what the earthquake took off. We know that the disasters unite us all.”
All the 33 miners were rescued. The last miner, Luis Urzúa, was rescued at 21:55 Chile time (00:55 UTC). “It is a pleasure to be Chilean, [I’m] proud,” said Luis Urzúa to President Piñera. “In honour of the miners, their families, the rescuers […] let’s sing our national anthem. Viva Chile Mierda!,” said Piñera. Urzúa thanked Mining Minister Golborne and the First Lady Cecilia Morel for “fighting for their lives.” “I’m proud of my fellow miners,” Urzúa added.
Six rescuers, including a miner and a paramedic, descended to the miners’ shelter using the Fénix 3 capsule which was specially constructed for the rescue. They performed check-ups and talk with the miners before taking them back to the surface. The rescuers still don’t leave the mine.
The Fénix 3 capsules are 3.95 metres in height and weigh about 460 kilograms. They have an armour, an oxygen tube and a microphone. The occupants helmets contain an intercom to keep them in contact with the rescue team on the surface.
President of Chile Piñera assisted to the rescue. Bolivian President Evo Morales could not attend Carlos Mamani’s rescue. Mamani is the only Bolivian miner in the group.
A mass for the miners was conducted at 18:00 local time (21:00 UTC). The rescue takes between 15 and 20 minutes for each miner.
On Tuesday, Mayor of Copiapó Maglio Cicardini announced that the municipal schools in the city will have no classes this Wednesday “to transform the rescue of the Atacama’s 33 in a familiar meeting,” Radio Cooperativa reported.
“The miners will be taken to the Copiapó Regional Hospital for medical checkup, where they will have to stay for 48 hours,” Health Minister Mañalich said to Televisión Nacional de Chile.
Celebrations are taking place in several Chilean cities. In Santiago de Chile, people gathered in one of the most important points of the city, Plaza Italia. In Pichilemu, tens of cars are passing over its most important streets. In Copiapó, people gathered in its main square to assist a massive concert.
On August 5, 33 miners were trapped more than 700 meters (2,300 ft) underground, in the San José copper–gold mine, located about 40 kilometers north of Copiapó, Chile.
The youngest trapped miner is 19 years old, and the oldest is 63. There were several rescue attempts before reaching the miners’ shelter on August 22. The National Emergencies Office of Chile (ONEMI) released a list of the trapped miners on August 6, which included Franklin Lobos Ramírez, a retired footballer.
Chile is the worlds top producer of copper, according to The Economist. The San José Mine is owned by the San Esteban Mining Company (Empresa Minera San Esteban). The mine was closed down in 2007, after relatives of a miner who had died sued the company executives, but the mine was re–opened in 2008.
It was originally estimated that “it would take three to four months to complete the rescue of the trapped miners”. There were three plans to reach the miners: “Plan A” using a Strata 950 drill, “Plan B” using a Schramm T130XD drill, and “Plan C” using a RIG-422 drill. The first to reach the miners was “Plan B”, early on Saturday 9.
The last step of their rescue, announced by Health Minister Jaime Mañalich, was originally due to begin on Tuesday. Laurence Golborne, Minery Minister said “If it is possible, and the cement sets before and we don’t have any impediments to doing it, it would be wonderful,” in a press conference on Monday. The men will be extracted in a steel rescue capsule 54 cm (21 inches) in diameter.
On September 4, Chilean filmmaker Rodrigo Ortúzar announced plans to film a movie about the accident, called “Los 33” (“The 33”). The film will be released in 2011.
One miner is Bolivian, and the other 32 are Chilean.
Raúl Bustos, 40 years old, is an hydraulics engineer. He left his job in Talcahuano after the February 27 earthquake to work in the mine.
Daniel Herrera, 27 years old, is a lorry driver. He has acted as paramedic assistant in the mine. He said to La Tercera “the miners were unhappy with the psychologist in the rescue team.”
Claudio Acuña, miner, is fan of the Colo-Colo football club. The BBC reports he is aged 56, but El Comercio says he is 44.
Pedro Cortez is aged 24. He joined the mine with his friend Carlos Bugueño. Cortez is an electrician, and lost a finger in the mine a year ago.
File:Juan Aguilar with President Piñera.jpg
A native of Los Lagos, Juan Aguilar is 49 years old. Aguilar is married to Cristy Coronado, according to El Comercio. Aguilar works as a supervisor.
Mario Sepúlveda is a 39 years old electrician native of Parral; he is married. He has been the spokesman of the most of the miners’ videos. Mario Sepúlveda was the second miner to be rescued, on Wednesday at 01:10 local time (04:10 UTC).
Víctor Zamora is a 33 years old auto mechanic. Zamora is married to Jéssica Cortez, who confirmed she was pregnant while he was in the mine.
Osman Araya is 30 years old, and married. He began working as miner four months before the accident.
Florencio Ávalos is 31 years old. He is the brother of Renán Ávalos, who is also trapped in the mine. He worked as driver in San José. Ávalos filmed videos, sent later to his relatives.
Ávalos was the first miner to be rescued, on Wednesday at 00:10 local time (03:10 UTC).
Jorge Galleguillos, 56 years old, has worked all his life in the mine. He said in one video he was feeling unwell; he takes medication for hypertension.
Carlos Barrios is a 27 years old miner. His father, Antenor Barrios, told Agence France-Presse: “I find he’s very strong and has enthusiasm. He spoke loud and clear. I was excited.”
Franklin Lobos Ramírez is a 53 years old retired footballer. He played for Cobresal, Deportes Antofagasta, Club de Deportes Santiago Wanderers and Unión La Calera, and briefly for the Chile national football team. Lobos had worked as a truck driver in the mine.
Yonni Barrios, called “The Doctor”, is a 50 years old electrician. He has knowledge of first aid, and was given responsibility for monitoring the health of his colleagues. “I felt I was in hell,” Barrios said in a letter to his wife.
Carlos Bugueño, 27 years old, joined the mine with Pedro Cortez. Previously, he worked as a watchman.
Alex Vega Salazar is a 31 years old heavy machinery mechanic. He is married to Jessica Salgado, and celebrated his birthday in the mine on September 22.
Ariel Ticona is a 29 years old miner. His wife, Margarita gave birth to his daughter on September 14. She was named Esperanza (Hope), at Ticona’s request.
Richard Villarroel is a 27 years old mechanic from Coyhaique.
Edison Peña is a 34 years old miner. “I want to go out soon,” he said on his first contact with his relatives. “I want to be free, I want to see the sun,” he added. He is a fan of Elvis Presley.
Claudio Yáñez is 34 years old, and works as drill operator.
José Ojeda, 46 years old, is the master driller. Ojeda is widowed and diabetic.
Luis Urzúa is a 54 year old topographer. He is the shift-leader, and was the first miner to talk with authorities. He is known as Don Lucho among the miners. He draw plans of the area of the mine where they are trapped.
Urzúa will be the last miner to leave the mine.
José Henríquez is a 54 years old drill master. He is also an evangelical preacher, and has worked in mines for 33 years.
Víctor Segovia is a 48 years old electrician. He is in charge of writing down everything that happens in the mine.
Pablo Rojas is a 45 years old explosives loader. Married, he had been working less than six months in the mine.
Juan Illanes is a 51 year old miner. He was a sergeant in the Beagle border conflict between Chile and Argentina in 1978, the incident which almost provoked a war between the countries.
Illanes was rescued on Wednesday, at 02:07 local time (05:07 UTC).
Jimmy Sánchez, 19, is the youngest miner. He had been working in the mine for five months before the accident. His role is to check the temperature and humidity in the mine.
Samuel Ávalos is a 43 years miner. His wife Ruth said “he was addicted to the cocaine.” His role in the rescue is to check air quality in the area the miners are living. According to the BBC, “Ávalos has worked in the mine for five months.”
Mario Gómez, aged 63, is the oldest of the miners. He has worked 51 years as miner. His father was also a miner, and is nicknamed “El Navegao” (“The Sailed One”). He was thinking of retiring in November.
Gómez also wrote the message “Estamos bien en el refugio los 33” (“We are fine in the shelter the 33 [of us]”).
Segovia is 48 years old. He is married to Jessica Chille, who said “To hear his voice was a confort to my heart,” after talking with him for the first time in 24 days. His sister María, was nicknamed “La Alcaldesa” (“The Mayoress”) for her leading role at Campamento Esperanza. His father, Darío Senior, was trapped in a mine for a week, and suffered serious injuries after two other mining accidents, according to the BBC.
Carlos Mamani is a 23 years old heavy equipment operator. He is also the only non-Chilean miner; Mamani is Bolivian. He began working in the mine just five days before the accident.
He was rescued at 03:11 local time (06:11 UTC) on Wednesday.
Renán Ávalos is a 29 years old miner, single, who had been working for five months in the mine before the accident. Florencio Ávalos is his brother.
Omar Reygadas is a 56 year old electrician. He began working in the mine shortly before the accident.
Esteban Rojas is a 44 years old miner. Rojas is married to Jessica Yáñez.
Sedatives for Dogs
by
Richmond NicksLocal animal shelters sometimes have labs available for adoption. Many purebred dogs can in fact be found at animal shelters. By adopting a chocolate lab from a shelter, you’ll be helping a dog in need as well as bringing a potentially lovely pet into your home.
A lot of people do not know how to recognize if their natural worries have developed into a phobia. A phobia is classified as an illogical dread or fear. If a person comes upon a phobia trigger, they may grow panicked with faster heartbeat and respiration. Often, that person may begin experiencing a choking sensation or their hands get clammy. The person could additionally have ringing in their ears and find they are powerless to focus on the environs.
Holistic treatment for insomnia is multifaceted and incorporates many techniques including herbal medicine, vitamin and mineral supplements, lifestyle changes, improved sleep hygiene, massage therapy, behavioral therapy, meditation, diet, exercise, hypnosis, acupuncture, relaxation, guided imagery, and homeopathy. A treatment approach is aimed at precluding all the potential causes of insomnia rather than simply providing symptomatic relief.
Dog friendly hotels and motels are becoming more and more common. Often you have to pay an extra fee to offset the cost of vacuuming up the dog hair but that is usually only an extra $10 or so. A common rule is to never leave your dog alone in the room as the barking could disturb your neighbors and take your dog far away from any entrances or pathways to do their ‘business’. And always, always, always clean up after your dog!
A lot of the disadvantages of the drug solution to dog noise anxiety will be obvious, as they’re the same as for humans: an often prohibitive cost with a need for regular resupply (every storm season in this case), and potential side effects, interactions, and even liver toxicity. Don’t forget that just as we need a doctor’s visit for a prescription, you’ll need to go through a veterinarian, which is another annoying fee. One thing that makes drug administration to dogs far worse is the fact that you’d have trouble asking even the most intelligent of dogs how the drug makes them actually feel. You may be leaving your pup sadly dazed just to get them through the stresses of a storm and firework summer.
When phobic disorders go untreated they can lead to secondary conditions such as depression, other anxiety disorders, substance abuse and even suicide. Many people with social phobia become dependent on alcohol or sedatives and use them to reduce their anxiety.
Traveling by car with your dog can be a lot of fun. Ensure that you have all documents related to your dog on hand. Whenever traveling, be certain that your dog has a sturdy collar on, with at least one identification tag, and one registration or medical tag. The smart thing for both you and your dog while being transported in a car is for the dog to be secured. This prevents injury to the dog should you have to stop abruptly, and it prevents the dog from becoming airborne and smashing into you.
Dog owners with gun shy dogs have to be watchful, especially in summer, when there often are loud noises that come out of the blue. Apart from running into harms way, gun shy dogs can be extremely destructive.They climb on and destroy furniture, they scratch in corners, at walls and doors. They dig under fences in a desperate attempt to escape. Some dogs have severely injured themselves jumping through glass windows in fear.Read about bohemia travel. Also read about lose weight exercises and hair styles for medium length
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Thursday, March 5, 2009
The small archipelago of Malta in the Mediterranean Sea takes the Eurovision Song Contest very seriously. Leading a fight to remove a cap on the number of competing countries brought them back to the Contest in 1991 after a 16-year absence, and ever since the nation has had perfect attendance.
Since then, Malta’s dependable “shining star” has been Chiara Siracusa, who goes by her first name in her music career. First competing in 1998 at the age of 21, she was pushed to the brink of victory until the votes from the final country that evening leveled her placement to third. Her rendition of the song “The One That I Love,” and the recognition she received not only for herself, but for her country, made her a star in Malta overnight, and helped her launch a singing career in Europe.
She would later return to the Contest in 2005 with “Angel,” an anthem she penned herself, and achieved second place. Now, in 2009, she will be going back to Eurovision for a third try, hoping for the “3-2-1” charm and a victory — something that has eluded her thus far. Her entry, the ballad “What If We,” has special memories for Chiara; it is dedicated to her father, who is recently deceased.
What if Chiara could take home the gold in Moscow; for Malta, for her father, and for herself? Only time will tell. Chiara took time out of her Eurovision promotional schedule to answer some questions from Wikinews’ Mike Halterman about her past performances, and most importantly, her upcoming one.
This is the fourth in a series of interviews with past Eurovision contestants, which will be published sporadically in the lead-up to mid-May’s next contest in Moscow.
((Mike Halterman)) You’ll be going to Moscow for a third try at possibly winning Eurovision. Why did you decide to compete this year? How did your partnership with Marc Paelinck and Gregory Bilsen come about?
Chiara: Well, I met Marc Paelinck long time ago through a friend in Belgium. We started working together and it brought us to this collaboration today. I was thinking of going back to the festival [for a long time] and this year felt like the right year to do so.
((Mike Halterman)) Eurovision fans from across Europe picked you as the wide favorite to win Malta’s preselection this year. Were you as confident? Were you nervous about competing in the semi-final rounds this time around, or did you think this was something you could handle?
Chiara: When I go into a competition, I always go to win, but I was nervous like everyone else…I think [when] you win a festival, [you win] for what you present, not for what your history is.
((Mike Halterman)) Growing up, did you always want to become a singer? Who were your musical influences, and what genres do you think are your favorite? Do you think these preferences have molded you into the singer you are today?
Chiara: Definitely. My mum always says I used to sing and dance for them all the time since I was a baby, and I’ve always loved ballads. In fact, my favourite singer has always been Whitney Houston.
((Mike Halterman)) How did you come to the decision to enter the Eurovision pre-selection for Malta back in 1998? What kinds of feelings did you experience during the path you took to eventual victory in the national final?
Chiara: 1998 was my first time in the festival. I was very young and I felt I could never win it. I wanted just to try and be there with the big names of those times. It was very scary and overwhelming, [and] then I won.
((Mike Halterman)) Did you feel overwhelmed performing in front of an international audience in Birmingham? What kind of personal feelings and emotions made you relate to the song you sang, “The One That I Love”? There were remarks afterwards that your performance was great, but your dress had similarities to Barbara Dex’s from five years before (and she has become well-known for her “fashion don’t”). Looking back on it, what did you think of that dress?
Chiara: Well…looking back I remember that I was completely overwhelmed [singing] in front of so many people. I was very scared but managed to do well. As for the dress, they were different times [back then] and it was beyond my control.
((Mike Halterman)) You came very close to winning the Contest for Malta back in 1998. When you didn’t, how did it make you feel? Did you feel “robbed”? As an addenda, some Wikipedians I’ve talked to have hypothesized that tabloid hype before the event helped Dana International win; in other words, she would not have won had she not been a transsexual. Do you feel that’s true, and did you like her song?
Chiara: I know a lot of Maltese who voted for Dana because they liked the song and for no other reason. The song was good and we still hear it today.
Obviously when you are so close to winning something and you don’t, yes, you feel a bit robbed, but [then there’s] the moment [when] you realise you did well and you are happy.
((Mike Halterman)) After Eurovision, you made a transformation from an unknown singing hopeful to a true recording artist. Tell us a bit about your transformation, and how you felt during this time. Also, around this time you started to perform in concerts and festivals abroad. What was your best memory from this time, when you were performing abroad and people from outside Malta not only knew who you were, but were interested in your life and music.
Chiara: Everything came like rain in my life, from one thing to the other, and before I knew it I became “Chiara of Malta.” I loved it, but I didn’t have much time to think about it. It came quickly; I went to a lot of places and sang with many people but I think what I will always remember is the concert I did with my band, where Seal was as well in the same event, in Frankfurt. It was incredible.
((Mike Halterman)) In 2005, you entered the Contest again, this time with a song you wrote yourself. What is the meaning behind “Angel,” and what kind of story do the lyrics tell about your own life and experiences?
Chiara: “Angel” is a love song and it will always have a special place in my heart. It’s about the love you give someone without wanting anything back, and the unlimited support too.
((Mike Halterman)) You achieved the best placing for Malta in Eurovision history with your performance in 2005. What did you learn from your experiences in 1998 and, in your mind, how did you improve to become more successful in 2005?
Chiara: I think it’s the maturity and the experience. [Through] the years, without knowing, you [gather] so many lessons and behave better and take things a bit more serious and so on.
((Mike Halterman)) Surely you’ve read not only supportive comments, but negative ones as well, particularly concerning your weight. At the same time, however, you have become a role model of sorts for fuller-figured women across Europe, who aren’t accustomed to seeing “people like them” at Eurovision. How did you deal with the negativity, both in the context of the Contest and in your personal life, and what message do you hope to give to full-figured women who look to you for inspiration?
Chiara: Well, I have always been “full figured,” as you put it. I have spent time in my life trying to become as thin as I could, but I could never make it. Through the years I have learnt to accept myself and love me for what I am and how I look. I feel I have nothing less than others and my advice is to be happy with yourself, and love yourself, because you can never get someone to love you if you yourself don’t.
((Mike Halterman)) Tell us about the emotions you convey in the song “What If We.” Every song has a story, so what is the story played out in this song?
Chiara: The story for me with this song is completely about my father. He was the one to contact Marc [Paelinck] and he was the machine behind Eurovision for me, so he’s entirely what this song is about for me and being that he passed away three months ago, well, it makes the song very special when I sing it.
((Mike Halterman)) If you had to absolutely pick one song, which of the three songs you’ve submitted is your favorite, and why?
Chiara: The three songs [each] have a story of [their own]. “The One That I Love” gave me my whole career, my fame and everything I am today so i can never forget it; “Angel” is too special because it’s like my baby, I wrote it myself; and “What If We” is very deep in my heart because of my dad, so I can never choose between them. Sorry!
((Mike Halterman)) What are your plans for after the Contest? What kinds of projects would you like to pursue? Have you considered launching a singing career in the United States?
Chiara: My immediate project after the festival is an album which I have already started working on, in my style [which] is completely ballads, then wherever that takes me I’ll go, [whether it be] the U.S. or elsewhere.
((Mike Halterman)) Finally, what would you like to tell all of your fans, awaiting your performance this May in Moscow?
Chiara: I would like to thank them for the ongoing support they have always showed me, and promise them I will give them my all on the performance night in Moscow.
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
Opened in limited release on December 3, 2004 (New York City and Los Angeles, 145 screens)
House of Flying Daggers is a martial-arts action/romance film.
Thursday, April 14, 2005
An exhausted Charles Kennedy returned to the election campaign to launch a twenty page Liberal Democrat manifesto targeted at disaffected Labour voters, promising a fairer tax system and withdrawal from Iraq.
Entitled The Real Alternative the manifesto pledges to reduce the lowest rate of income tax, but increase the rate on those earning over £100,000 to 50%. The party would also scrap the unpopular local council tax in favour of a new local income tax. The manifesto also promises to remove hidden “stealth taxes”.
Under this system the party claims the poorest 15 million (25%) of people in Britain would be better off, and the middle 50% would be paying no extra tax.
The manifesto promised to scrap the controversial university tuition fees, increase services for pensioners and add £100 a month to the state pension, and train 21,000 new primary school teachers and 10,000 new police. A Lib Dem government would make eye and dental checks free, and reduce the cost of prescription medicine.
The Liberal Democrats were the only one of the three largest parliamentary parties to have consistently voted against the Iraq war, and the manifesto has promised an exit strategy with a phased withdrawal of Britain’s 8,000 troops still in the country.
“We reject a foreign policy based on ‘my ally right or wrong’,” Kennedy said. “And we say that war should always be a last resort.”
Kennedy, who became a father on Tuesday, admitted he’d had little sleep before the manifesto launch, and stumbled while answering questions on the proposed tax system.
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In a path breaking solution to all prostate gland related urological problems, Sagar Hospitals brings to Bangalore the world’s most advanced, breakthrough, out-patient Laser procedure for the treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate experienced by most men after the age of fifty.
GreenLight PVP™, or Photoselective Vaporization of the Prostate, is unlike any other enlarged prostate treatment, since it combines the effectiveness of an invasive surgical procedure with the safety and ease of a minimally invasive treatment. The GreenLight PVP Laser Procedure has been proven safe, effective and durable in clinical studies conducted over a five-year period at many leading medical institutions across the world.
Announcing the launch of the new technology, Dr. Hemachandra Sagar, Chairman, Sagar Hospitals Bangalore said, “We are extremely delighted to bring the world’s best and latest technology for the treatment of prostate related problems in India. The Institute will not only provide succor to the people suffering from prostate disease, but is the most modern centre offering complete urological solutions.” Choosing a BPH treatment involves careful consideration to determine if the treatment is safe, effective in relieving symptoms and restoring urine flow, long-lasting and easy to tolerate. The most commonly available treatments all require the patient to make significant compromises in these areas. Drug therapy provides some symptom relief but requires a daily commitment to medication, is costly and likely to fail over time. Conventional surgery in the form of Transurethral Resection of Prostate (TURP) of Holmium enucleation prostate (HOLEP) have proven to be effective treatment for BPH, but are associated with higher risks and complications, such as impotence, incontinence and the need for blood transfusions, as well as a prolonged catheterization and a 4-6 week recovery period. In contrast, most minimally invasive heat treatments offer reduced risks and also reduced efficacy and delayed symptom relief for several weeks following treatment. With the GreenLight PVP Laser Procedure, BPH patients no longer need to compromise the effectiveness or the safety of treatment. The GreenLight PVP Laser Procedure is a true treatment solution, not just a step in the management of BPH.Dr. Dilip Dhanpal, Senior Urologist, Sagar Hospitals said, “Urology has always been the most techno-intensive medical discipline. The GreenLight PVP Laser Procedure is the latest technological innovation in the treatment of prostate gland enlargements. As a practicing specialist trained on this new technique, I find it to be a quick and bloodless operation as compared to the existing option of TURP (Transurethral Resection Prostate) or the Holmium Laser Enucleation Prostate (HOLEP) and an efficient, cost effective, complication free procedure beneficial to the patient. It is an ideal procedure for high risk patients such as cardiac patients and patients on anticoagulants.” Prostate is an integral part of the reproductive system for men, providing the fluid necessary to transport sperm during ejaculation. However, as men age, the prostate gland can be a source of problem, consequent to an increases in size. Prostate enlargement is a condition that causes urinary problems in nearly half of all men over the age of 50, and that percentage increases with age. By the age of 80, nearly 80% of all men suffer from BPH symptoms. Although BPH is the most common health problem for men in this age group, there is a lack of awareness and understanding about the condition, symptoms, treatment solutions and overall health risks with delayed treatment.
Dr. Mahmood A. Hai, MD, Oakwood Annapolis Hospital, USA, said, “BPH can have devastating effects on the quality of one’s life, ranging from disturbed sleep, to avoiding going out in public places, for fear of inability to hold urine. While BPH may be as common as getting gray hair, or needing reading glasses, men can now choose to do something about it. The GreenLight PVP™ Laser Procedure offers patients a surgery that is safe, totally effective, with lasting relief in symptoms. My patients have reported that they have a whole new lease on life, and can once again enjoy things many of us take for granted; such as going out to eat, or to the movies, or playing golf.” “Unlike other BPH treatments, the GreenLight PVP™ Laser Procedure offers immediate relief in symptoms with minimal pain and results that are better than traditional TURP or HOLEP surgery,” said Dr. Hai.
With the breakthrough GreenLight PVP Laser Procedure at Sagar Hospital, Bangalore men suffering from enlarged prostate in their 50s and above, will witness unparalleled clinical endpoints, immediate and dramatic relief of symptoms, no catheterization in many cases, very short outpatient procedure and short convalescence.
In addition, Sagar Hospitals also offers comprehensive treatment solutions in Urology for stone disease, urinary incontinence, male infertility and erectile dysfunction and urological cancer using state of the art equipment.
Article Source: sooperarticles.com/health-fitness-articles/hospitals-articles/india-offers-latest-technology-bloodless-laser-prostate-surgery-832.html
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— Jineesh Paul, India. Mob: – +91 9961646360 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              +91 9961646360      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, Email: – jineeshp@gmail.comAuthor: Paul
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