Gisele Gives $1.5 Million to Haiti Relief Efforts

(US Magazine.com) Gisele Bundchen has written a $1.5 million check to the Red Cross to aid the relief effort in Haiti, which was rocked Tuesday by a 7.0 earthquake that is believed to have killed at least 100,000 people.

The model -- who reportedly earned $35 million last year -- was prompted to pitch in after seeing the devastation done by this week’s earthquake, according to The Boston Globe.
Who are Hollywood's most generous celebs?

Other stars who are helping:
Haiti-born Wyclef Jean: He has already raised more than $1 million through his Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund.

Madonna: She has pledged $250,000. In a statement, she said told UsMagazine.com: "My prayers are with the people of Haiti. I can't imagine the terrible pain and suffering they are experiencing. Sadly the depths of the tragedy are just becoming known and the need for our support grows more urgent with every passing moment."

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt: They are donating $1 million to Doctors Without Borders. Pitt's international advocacy group, Not On Our Watch - which he founded with George Clooney, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle and producer Jerry Weintraub - also gave $1 million.

Lance Armstrong: His LiveStrong Foundation has pledged $250,000. Money will go to Doctors Without Borders and Partners in Health founded by Harvard professor Paul Farmer.

Alyssa Milano: The goodwill ambassador for UNICEF wrote a $50,000 check to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. She is asking U.S. corporations to match her donation.

Tyler Perry: $250,000
Ben Stiller: He's raising money for a school in Ceverine in Haiti through Save the Children. He also is asking fans for $10 donations charged to phone bills by texting "Haiti" to 90999.
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George Clooney: As Us reported Thursday, he is hosting a telethon Jan. 22 on MTV to raise funds.

David Blaine: The magician, who once shot a TV special in Haiti in 1999, is working with the Red Cross to raise funds for Haitian earthquake victims by performing his street magic for 72 hours non-stop, starting Friday at 9 a.m. in Times Square.

India’s Tata Communications Launches IP Exchange (IPX) to Enable Universal Service Interoperability for Mobile Network Operators

(Reuters) Tata Communications, a leading provider of the new world of communications, today announced the launch of its IP Exchange (IPX) solution, which will enable mobile service providers to seamlessly and efficiently route all communication traffic, including voice, IP and signaling solutions, via one IP pipe while supporting end-to-end QoS, security, multilateral connectivity, and cascading payments.

With commoditization of voice and messaging driving down ARPUs, service providers are under increasing pressure to control costs. Moving to an IPX platform provides one IP gateway for many services and this helps mobile operators to protect their margins on roaming and international traffic termination.

As a universal service gateway, IPX also reduces overhead costs on network maintenance and service development as well as helps manage complexity from voice routing, service testing and partnerships. In addition, the network optimization provided by IPX empowers mobile network providers to make the tough migration to the new world of IP connectivity allowing increased bandwidth flexibility, global reach and ensured quality for converged services.

Currently, the interconnection of IP is optimized for public Internet, and service providers are unable to distinguish between voice and data services or guarantee quality connectivity to their end users. Tata Communications IPX creates a flexible ecosystem that allows mobile operators to tap into the company`s global MPLS network as an IP backbone for the secure transport of any form of application and rich media via any access network with varying service quality levels.

"Tata Communications IPX service provides an efficient, cost-effective and future-proof converged IP transport solution for MNOs to help them address their key challenges of protecting margins and growing revenues," said Christian Michaud, Senior Vice President, Product and Business Development, Global Voice Solutions, Tata Communications. "As the industry moves towards universal service interoperability, IPX will help service providers to optimize profitability and long-term growth by providing one connection for many services."
Tata Communications is a key member of the IP Interworking Alliance (IPIA), which engages operators and carriers in technical specifications and commercial templates for the IPX with the ultimate goal of facilitating global interworking of IP services.

"End-to-end delivery of innovative multimedia services calls for the efficient inter-working of fixed and mobile networks and the adoption of new business models. The IPX architecture provides a comprehensive commercial and technical solution to the interconnection, management and billing of IP traffic. IPX solutions like those from Tata Communications can help service providers balance their needs to ensure high service quality and to reduce costs," said David James, Principal Analyst Wholesale Telecoms at Ovum.

About Tata Communications
Tata Communications is a leading global provider of a new world of communications. With a leadership position in emerging markets, Tata Communications leverages its advanced solutions capabilities and domain expertise across its global and pan-India network to deliver managed solutions to multi-national enterprises, service providers and Indian consumers.

The Tata Global Network includes one of the most advanced and largest submarine cable networks, a Tier-1 IP network, with connectivity to more than 200 countries across 400 PoPs, and nearly 1 million square feet of data center and collocation space worldwide.

Tata Communications` depth and breadth of reach in emerging markets includes leadership in Indian enterprise data services, leadership in global international voice, and strategic investments in operators in South Africa (Neotel), Sri Lanka (Tata Communications Lanka Limited), Nepal (United Telecom Limited), and subject to approval by the Chinese government, China (China Enterprise Communications).

Tata Communications Limited is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange of India and its ADRs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange

India beat Sri Lanka by eight wickets

India booked its birth in the finals of tri-nation cricket tournament on Sunday (January 10) after crushing Sri Lanka by eight wickets.

India chased the target of 214 runs in 32.4 overs.

Indian batsmen Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli made 71 run each.

India’s left hand seamer Zaheer Khan and legspinner Amit Mishra took three wickets.

Zaheer Khan was adjudged the man of the match award.

India will take on to Sri Lanka in the finals.

United States has plan to deal with Iran's nuclear program, says Top US commander

Florida: The United States of America has developed contingency plans regarding Iran’s nuclear facility, Gen. David Petraeus, head of U.S. Central Command said on Sunday (January 10).

"It would be almost literally irresponsible if CENTCOM were not to have been thinking about the various 'what ifs' and to make plans for a whole variety of different contingencies," Gen. David Petraeus told CNN in Tampa.

The nuclear program of Iran was launched in the 1950s with the help of the United States and Western European governments but was halted after the Islamic revolution in the country.

The US said that Iran is trying to build a nuclear bomb in its secret-nuclear facilities. Whereas, the Islamic Republic of Iran says that its programme is for peaceful purposes.

Israel has called Iran's nuclear program the major threat facing its nation.

Iran is holding out on a United Nations-backed deal on its nuclear program that includes enriching uranium. The country had until the end of 2009 to accept the deal offered by the "P5 plus one" -- permanent U.N. Security Council members Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States, plus Germany. Instead, Iran countered, giving the West until the end of January to accept its own proposal.