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DIARY – Egypt/Sudan – April 2

April 3, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

This diary is updated daily. New listings or amendments are marked *. All events/times provisional and in GMT (local time is GMT +2 for Egypt and GMT +3 for Sudan).

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TUESDAY, APRIL 6

CAIRO – Egypt’s administrative court to view a lawsuit against the government to stop building a steel barrier at the border with Gaza.

CAIRO – Palm Hills Developments (PHDC.CA) closes rights issue.

SATURDAY, APRIL 10

CAIRO – Court expected to issue final ruling in Mobinil (EMOB.CA) ownership dispute.

TUESDAY, APRIL 13

SHARM EL SHEIKH – Start of International Grain Trading Conference organised by the Russian Grain Union and APK-Inform (until April 15).

SHARM EL SHEIKH – Water resources ministers of the Nile Basin countries meet to discuss new frameworks regarding shared Nile waters.

THURSDAY, APRIL 15

CAIRO – Telecom regulator’s bid deadline for two cable, voice and internet licences.

SUNDAY, APRIL 18

QENA – Court due to issue verdict on three Muslims charged with killing Copts in front of a church in southern Egypt on Coptic Christmas Eve.

MONDAY, APRIL 12

* SHARM EL-SHEIKH – Two-day Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Investment Forum begins.

TUESDAY, APRIL 20

CAIRO – Two-day Large Scale Farming in Africa conference starts.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28

CAIRO – Court due to issue verdict in Hezbollah cell trial.

TUESDAY, MAY 4

CAIRO – Egypt hosts a conference on solar energy in the Middle East and North Africa (until May 5).

MONDAY, MAY 10

CAIRO – International Renewable Energy Conference and Exhibition, RETECH Egypt 2010, opens (until May 12).

THURSDAY, MAY 13

CAIRO – Telecom Egypt (ETEL.CA) due to issue first quarter results.

MONDAY, MAY 17

CAIRO – Orascom Development Holding (ODHR.CA) due to issue first quarter results.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 12

CAIRO – Telecom Egypt (ETEL.CA) due to issue second quarter results.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 17

CAIRO – Orascom Development Holding (ODHR.CA) due to issue second quarter results.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11

CAIRO – Telecom Egypt (ETEL.CA) due to issue third quarter results.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17

CAIRO – Orascom Development Holding (ODHR.CA) due to issue third quarter results.

NOTE-Inclusion of diary items does not necessarily mean that Reuters will file a story on the event.

Key world financial events diary [KEY/DIARY]

International political diary [POL/DIARY]

Full index of available diaries [IND/DIARY]

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Africa Conference, amendments, barrier, cairo court, Cairo Egypt, Cairo International, Christmas eve, Egypt, Egypt 2010, egypt sudan, grain, Grain Trading, Mobinil, muslims, Nile Basin, Nile Waters, Ownership Dispute, Palm Hills, Phdc, Qena, Scale Farming, Southern Egypt, Steel Barrier, Telecom Egypt, Telecom Regulator

Chennai artist writes 550 letters on a single rice grain

September 1, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Chennai, Sep 1 (ANI): Unlike other artists who use big canvases to portray their work of art, Mani, a Chennai based uses a single rice grain and a mustard seed to write as many as 550 miniature alphabets.

He claims to have written 550 miniature letters on a single rice grain, three chapters of a Tamil poem named ‘Thirukkural’ on a mustard seed.

“I have written 550 letters on a single rice grain and three chapters of ‘Thirukkural’ on a mustard seed till now. I want to write 350 letters on a single strand of hair of one inch. Yet I would like to write all the 133 chapters of ‘Thirukkural’ on an inch of hair and one ‘Thirukkural’ chapter on each mustard, which will be completed in a year’s time. I have planned to enter into the Guinness book of world records by writing about the life history of former president A P J Abdul Kalam,” he said.

Mani believes that one has to struggle in life to be successful and admits that it took lot of time for him to write 550 letters on a rice grain and lines from the ‘Thirukkural’ on one mustard seed.

In future, Mani wishes to write national songs of hundred countries and the text of the Bhagwat Gita, the Quran and the Holy Bible on a strand of hair. (ANI)

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New sugar season to begin with much lower stocks: Pawar

September 1, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Sep. 1 (ANI): Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Tuesday said that the new sugar season will begin with much lower stocks, as the production will be hit by lower sugar recovery from cane after the failure of monsoon rains.

“The production of sugar in India during year 2008 and 2009 sugar season has not been adequate to meet the domestic demand of the country. We started with very comfortable opening balance that was around 10 million tonnes of sugar on 1st October 2008. However we expect sugar production during 2009 and 2010 definitely less…somewhat 8-22 billion tonnes,” Pawar told reporters.

Recently, the head of the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Ltd, J.B. Patel had said India’s opening stocks would be at 2.7 million tonnes, down three quarters from 10 million tonnes on October 1, 2008.

India’s dwindling stocks and rising demand have helped raw sugar futures surge to the highest in nearly three decades on prospects of large purchases by the world’s top sugar consumer.

Weak monsoon rains have further raised supply concerns in India.

Many Indian farmers abandoned cane cultivation last year as they found wheat more attractive after the government raised the purchase price for the grain handsomely.

India had exported five million tonnes of sugar last year, but it swiftly turned into a large importer to counter low supply and rising prices.

Sugar industry officials say the government should lift controls on the sugar sector to correct the demand-supply mismatch. (ANI)

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Whole grains can lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer

August 30, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, Aug 30 (ANI): Stressing on the importance whole grains, experts have claimed that incorporating them in the diet can lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke and certain cancers.

Lona Sandon, assistant professor of clinical nutrition at UT Southwestern Medical Center and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, says that it’s important for people to keep whole grains in their daily diet.

“Research shows that whole grains are good for your heart, lower risk of diabetes and stroke, and may help prevent certain cancers. They also help in managing weight,” she said.

Sandon said that whole grains are chock full of good-for-you nutrients including fiber, folate and niacin, vital B vitamins, and magnesium.

“The phytochemicals found in whole grains have been shown to have health promoting and disease prevention benefits,” she added.

Sandon recommended that adults aim for three servings, or 48 grams, of whole grains a day.

She advised that people should by rule look for the words “Made with whole grain” and “100 percent whole grain” on packages.

She gave other going-with-the-grain tips, which include swapping whole wheat breadstuffs for white rolls and breads, using whole wheat bread crumbs for stuffing.

Adding wild rice or brown rice to dishes as well as serving whole wheat crackers with hors d’oeuvres can also ensure that there is a good amount of whole grains in your diet. (ANI)

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Kolkatans worried over rise in prices of vegetables, fish

August 29, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Kolkata, Aug 28 (ANI): People of Kolkata are a worried lot as prices of vegetables and fish have increased in the city.

The vegetable vendors are selling potatoes at the rate of Rs.18 per kg which were earlier being sold at Rs.6. Earlier, prices of tomatoes were Rs.20 per kg but now they are being sold at Rs.30 per kg. The prices of other vegetables have also increased.

Vegetable sellers say that less production of vegetables have increased the price this year.

“The prices of vegetables were low earlier. But now the prices are increasing because of less production. There is a gap between supply and demand,” said Sahadeb Poira, a vegetable seller.

Residents say that prices of vegetables are becoming unaffordable for them.

“Here if I go to market for potatoes I have to pay 18 rupees more than that. And say now when you—-purchase 5 rupees or 6 rupees per kg now its three times therefore we can’t afford it,” said RN Chakraborty, a resident of Kolkata.

The prices of food grain, sugar and other items of daily needs have created an explosive situation in India because of weak monsoon and drought like situation.

Food prices surged an annual 13.3 percent in mid-August even as the overall wholesale price index fell, and the impact of a poor monsoon on inflation and the economy could prompt further government relief steps.

The prices of ‘Hilsa’ fish have also increased in the region. Sayeed Anwar Maqsood, secretary, Fish Importers Association says that prices have increased because of less procurement from neighbouring Bangladesh.

“The prices of Hilsa fish have gone up because of the fact there is a scarcity in the market. We fish importer association used to bring every year more than 5,000 metric ton of Hilsa fish. But then we are not able to bring fish this year from Bangladesh. The major reason is because fish availability in Bangladesh itself is very little,” said Maqsood.

Hilsa prices in Kolkata, as a result, have shot up substantially from 100-120 rupees (2.3- 2.7 US Dollars) a kilogram to 350-400 rupees (8.15- 9.31 US Dollars), putting the fish out of reach of middle class Bengalis. (ANI)

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Scientists propose new mechanism for dune formation on Saturn’s largest moon

August 26, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, August 26 (ANI): A new research paper has proposed a possible new mechanism for the development of very large linear dunes formed on the surface of Titan, Saturn’s largest moon.

The paper, authored by LSU (Louisiana State University) Department of Geography and Anthropology Chair Patrick Hesp and United States Geological Survey scientist David Rubin, is titled – “Multiple origins of linear dunes on Earth and Titan.”

The authors examined the linear – or longitudinal – dunes that stretch across the surface of China’s Qaidam Basin, finding them composed of sand and some salt and silt.

The latter two elements make the dunes cohesive or sticky.

According to the study, this leads to a complete change in dune form from transverse dunes to linear dunes, even though the wind speed and direction does not change.

Typically, transverse dunes are formed by winds from a narrow directional range while longitudinal or linear dunes are formed by winds from two obliquely opposing directions.

These findings offer an alternative interpretation of similar dunes found on Titan.

Hesp and Rubin suggest that if the giant linear dunes found on the surface of Titan are also formed from cohesive sediment, then they too could be formed by single-direction winds.

This is in sharp contrast to earlier studies, which assumed that the sediments were loose and interpreted the dune shape as evidence of winds coming from alternating directions.

The alternative hypothesis that Titan’s linear dunes are formed in cohesive sediment has significant implications for studies on Titan.

If the Hesp and Rubin alternative is correct, new hypotheses regarding the composition, origin, evolution, grain size, stickiness, quantity, global transport patterns and suitability for wind transport of Titan’s sediment; the velocities, directions and seasonal patterns of Titan’s winds; and overall surface wetness will all have to be completely reassessed. (ANI)

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Provide immediate relief to drought-affected areas: Pawar

August 21, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Aug 21 (ANI): Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar asked the State Agriculture Ministers on Friday to take immediate steps to provide relief to the drought affected areas.

Addressing a conference of State Agriculture Ministers here, Pawar urged them to take steps to protect the interest of small and marginal farmers.

Pawar described the situation in 246 districts across 10 states as grim, and said the state agriculture departments must gear up their machinery to ensure full support to the farmers at this critical times.

Rabi crops can be planted early and over a large area to make for the kharif losses due to a poor monsoon, Pawar explained.

“This is good opportunity to ensure wheat is sown in time particularly in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal,” Pawar.

Pawar said there is an urgent need to promote alternate crops like pulses, sunflower, bajra, fodder and vegetables as the reports pointing out a shortfall in paddy sowing.

In his speech Pawar also stressed the need for sustaining the animal health, livelihood of small and marginal farmers and landless labourers.

He asked the State Governments to set up control rooms at the state capital and district headquarters to deal with drought situation.

“For the drought-affected population we should ensure availability of food, drinking water, fodder and employment. I am sure with your cooperation we would be able to tide over this crisis and regain the momentum of food grain production in the country.”

Pawar also expressed concern over price rise and asked the ministers to take measures to check it. (ANI)

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Climate change could deepen poverty in developing countries

August 20, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, August 20 (ANI): A new study has determined that climate change could deepen poverty in developing countries.

In the study, a team led by Purdue University researchers examined the potential economic influence of adverse climate events, such as heat waves, drought and heavy rains, on those in 16 developing countries.

Urban workers in Bangladesh, Mexico and Zambia were found to be the most at risk, as the cost of food drives them into poverty.

“Extreme weather affects agricultural productivity and can raise the price of staple foods, such as grains, that are important to poor households in developing countries,” said Noah Diffenbaugh, the associate professor of earth and atmospheric sciences and interim director of Purdue’s Climate Change Research Center.

“Studies have shown global warming will likely increase the frequency and intensity of heat waves, drought and floods in many areas. It is important to understand which socioeconomic groups and countries could see changes in poverty rates in order to make informed policy decisions,” he added.

The team used data from the late 20th century and projections for the late 21st century to develop a framework that examined extreme climate events, comparable shocks to grain production and the impact on the number of impoverished people in each country.

“The occurrence and magnitude of what are currently the 30-year-maximum values for wet, dry and hot extremes are projected to substantially increase for much of the world,” said Diffenbaugh.

“Heat waves and drought in the Mediterranean showed a potential 2700 percent and 800 percent increase in occurrence, respectively, and extreme rainfall in Southeast Asia was projected to potentially increase by 900 percent,” he added.

In addition, Southeast Asia showed a projected 40 percent increase in the magnitude of the worst rainfall; central Africa showed a projected 1000 percent increase in the magnitude of the worst heat wave; and the Mediterranean showed a projected 60 percent increase in the worst drought.

A statistical analysis was used to determine grain productivity shocks that would correspond in magnitude to the climate extremes, and then the economic impact of the supply shock was determined.

Future predicted extreme climate events were compared to historical agricultural productivity extremes in order to assess the likely impact on agricultural production, prices and wages.

According to Thomas Hertel, a distinguished professor of agricultural economics and co-leader of the study, “Food is a major expenditure for the poor and, while those who work in agriculture would have some benefit from higher grains prices, the urban poor would only get the negative effects.” (ANI)

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Prince Charles likens himself to ‘tree hugging’ ancestor Henry VIII

July 10, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, July 9 (ANI): Prince Charles has likened himself to Henry VIII, saying his ancestor was a tree hugger, just like him.

The Royal made the reference while urging action to stop climate change during the 2009 Richard Dimbleby Lecture in London.

“Henry instigated the very first piece of green legislation in this country. In ordering the building of a great many ships, he effectively founded the Royal Navy,” The Sun quoted him as saying.

“But there came a moment when Henry realised that creating his fleet was putting too much strain on the natural supply of wood, particularly oak,” he added.

Charles further hailed the then king’s introduction of the Preservation of Woods law in 1543, to ensure that the country did not run out of timber.

He said: “It was a simple and rather elegant piece of long-term thinking.”

He added: “What was instinctively understood by many in King Henry’s time was the importance of working with the grain of Nature to maintain a balance.” (ANI)

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Green neighbors unwittingly goad one to go green too

June 30, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, June 30 (ANI): Individuals are more likely to register for conservation programs if their neighbors do, says a new study.

The research, to be published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) this week, is the first to focus on the phenomenon of social norms in the context of China’s conservation efforts, said scientist Jianguo “Jack” Liu of Michigan State University (MSU).

“Much of the marginal cropland in rural communities has been converted from agriculture to forests through the Grain-to-Green Program, one of the largest ‘payment for ecosystem services’ programs in the world,” said Alan Tessier, program director in the National Science Foundation (NSF)’s Division of Environmental Biology.

“Results of this study show that a community’s social norms have substantial impacts on the sustainability of these conservation investments,” the expert added.

While money is a key factor in whether people sign up for the voluntary program, peer pressure also plays a surprisingly large role, Liu said.

“That’s the power of social norms. It’s like recycling. If you see your neighbors doing it, you’re more likely to do it,” he said.

A representative survey of households in China’s Wolong Nature Reserve for giant pandas found that both government payments and social norms had “significant impacts” on citizens’ intentions of re-enrolling in the Grain to Green program.

“In other words, people’s re-enrollment intentions can be affected by the re-enrollment decisions of their neighbors and tend to conform to the majority,” says Liu. (ANI) and

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Agriculture on the way ‘up’ for next 10 years

June 27, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, June 25 (ANI): A new research has indicated that despite certain uncertainties, ‘up’ is precisely the direction an Iowa State researcher believes agriculture is headed for at least the next 10 years.

Wally Huffman, professor in agricultural economics and Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor in Agriculture and Life Sciences, predicts that supply will go up, demand will go up, and real prices of grain and oilseeds also will go up.

“I’m very optimistic about the next 10 years,” said Huffman.

Huffman presented his research to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris, France, last month.

An important part of Huffman’s study was the long-term trend of corn and soybean yields in Iowa, wheat in Kansas and France, rice in Japan and potatoes in the Netherlands. Huffman examined the trends and then made projections about the next decade.

The optimism starts with the producers.

“Prices right now for corn and soybeans are up about 50 percent relative to two years ago, so those are relatively good prices,” said Huffman. “That’s good news for grain producers,” he added.

The impact that the rising demand for biofuels will have on the market for agricultural products is not entirely clear, but grain and oilseed prices will generally be higher than they would be without biofuels.

“Overall, biofuels are probably a good thing for farmers,” said Huffman. “However, there will be more erratic variation in grain and oilseed prices than there would be without biofuels,” he added.

According to Huffman, while biofuels are pushing demand for grain and oilseeds up, the long-term trend in supply of grain and oilseeds is due to new technologies that are being developed by the private sector and marketed to farmers.

“Supply is going up, and demand is going up. I think they will grow at a similar pace,” he said.

“There will be occasional spikes due to bad weather and abrupt restriction in crude oil production, but prices will come down. When they do, they will come down to similar levels to what they are now in real terms, and those are pretty good prices,” he added.

Huffman also predicts that the rate of increase in yields for corn and soybeans in major production areas will rise much faster than it has in the past 50 years.

“From 2010 to 2019, corn yields are going to increase quite substantially, maybe at four to six bushels, per acre, per year,” he said. (ANI)

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Gujarat hospital launches unique grain for health scheme for poor

May 24, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Ahmedabad, May 24 (ANI): Villagers in Anand and Kheda in Gujarat can now avail medical benefits of up to Rs.5000 at Rs.90 or ten kilograms of food grains.

The Shri Krishna Hospital is promoting this unique initiative called the Krupa Arogya Suraksha (KAS) social security scheme.

The insurance cover will increase on higher subscription.

Under the scheme the hospital accepts food grains instead of money from people who belong to the special categories like landless labourers, farmers and other deprived section of the society, which accounts for 30 percent of the population in that district.

“We believe, a scheme such as the one we have, where you pay seven or eight kilograms of rice or wheat can be a good way to cover themselves through our scheme,” said Sandeep Desai, CEO, H.M Patel Center for Medical care managed by Charotar Arogya Mandal.

The medical benefits under the Krupa Arogya Suraksha (Security) scheme may be opted at the Shri Krishna Hospital or any other hospital nominated by Shri Krishna Arogya Trust (SKAT).

Any person between the ages of three months to 75 years is eligible to opt for the scheme.

So far, at least 45,000 people have enrolled themselves under KAS scheme.

SKAT plans to expand the work in rural areas by tying up with like-minded organization for maximizing benefits of the unique scheme.

“Till now this scheme is restricted only to Anand and Kheda districts (India’s western Gujarat). Our own hospital takes part in this organization. As our scheme grows, we would go to rural areas and tie up with like-minded organizations there,” said Pragnesh Gor, General Manager, Extension programme for Krupa scheme.

A special mobile van run by the Shri Krishna Hospital also goes door to door to spread awareness about the health care scheme and collects food grains from the families who enroll for the treatment.

This scheme also provides maternity benefits on completion of ten months of membership without any additional charges. It also covers pre-existing condition unlike other medi-claim policies. (ANI)

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Genetic pathway responsible for plant growth identified by scientists

May 21, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, May 21 (ANI): Researchers at Iowa State University, US, have discovered a previously unknown genetic pathway in plant cells that regulates plant growth.

Yanhai Yin, an assistant professor in genetics, development and cell biology, Iowa State University, examined signaling mechanisms of a plant hormone called brassinosteroids.

The hormone controls the growth of cells.

“The brassinosteroids (BRs) have a major impact on how large the plant grows,” said Yin.

“Previously, we knew that steroids promote growth,” said Yin. “In model plants like Arabidopsis (a relative of mustard) and crops such as corn and rice, if you have more steroids, you have more growth, and if you have less steroids, you have less growth and the plant is smaller,” he added.

Now, Yin knows that the HERK1 (named for Hercules – the Greek and Roman god who possessed superhuman strength) pathway, induced by BRs, is controlling much of that growth.

There are many other internal and external factors such as light, nutrition and hydration that effect plant growth, but the HERK1, along with some unknown signals, have a great effect.

Yin and his team of Hongqing Guo, assistant scientist; Lei Li, Huaxun Ye, and Xiaofei Yu, all graduate students; and Alexandria Algreen, undergraduate student; have shown that by over-expressing HERK1, they were able to increase a plant’s size by 10 to 15 percent.

By under-expressing HERK1, the plants were about 50 percent smaller.

Now, Yin and his group are trying to find what regulates HERK1 and how HERK1 controls growth.

Understanding what make plants get bigger could be a critical component when producing grain and bio-mass for biofuels.

“With that knowledge, maybe we have one more tool to manipulate corn and rice if we want more grain, or if we want more mass for bio-energy crops,” said Yin. (ANI)

Filed Under: Science News Tagged With: Alexandria Algreen, Algreen, ANI, Arabidopsis, assistant, Assistant Scientist, Bio Energy, Bio Mass, biofuels, biology, BRs, cell, cell biology, component, corn, critical component, Development, effect, Effect Plant Growth, Energy Crops, external factors, genetic, Genetic Pathway, god, graduate, grain, group, growth, Guo, Hercules, HERK, Hongqing, hormone, Huaxun, hydration, impact, iowa, iowa state university, knowledge, Lei Li, mass, May, model, Model Plants, mustard, nutrition, pathway, percent, plant, plant cells, Plant Hormone, professor, relative, Rice, roman, Roman God, scientist, size, state, steroids, strength, student, superhuman, Superhuman Strength, team, tool, undergraduate, undergraduate student, understanding, University, US, Washington, Xiaofei, Yanhai, Yin, Yu

Folic acid ‘prevents congenital heart defects’

May 15, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, May 15 (ANI): While fortifying grain products with folic acid has been found to be effective in preventing neural tube defects in Canada, scientists have now found that this form of vitamin B also prevents congenital heart defects.

McGill University researchers in Montreal have found in a study that folic acid decreases the incidence of congenital heart defects by more than 6 percent.

Since December 1998, all grain products sold in Canada have been fortified with folic acid with 0.15 mg of folate per 100 g of flour.

With the help of provincial databases, the researchers showed that the rate of congenital heart defects between 1999 and 2005 was 1.47 per 1000 births compared to 1.64 per 1000 births between 1990 and 1999 for a decrease of 6.2 percent per year after 1999.

Despite the success of this initiative, prevention efforts are still necessary to encourage future mothers to take folic acid supplements.

“The level of fortification was established to avoid negative side effects in the general population,” said Raluca Ionescu-Ittu, a PhD candidate on the team.

“However, this level is not quite sufficient for women planning a pregnancy, who should start taking folic acid supplements at least three months before becoming pregnant,” Ionescu-Ittu added.

The study has been published in the British Medical Journal. (ANI)

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Elizabeth Hurley, Prince Charles team up for organic food range

May 2, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, Apr 29 (ANI): Hollywood actress Elizabeth Hurley has joined forces with Prince Charles to launch a new range of low-fat organic food.

The ‘Bedazzled’ actress was reportedly motivated to foray into the catering business after reading dietary advice for women hoping to avoid breast cancer, reports Contactmusic.

Elizabeth’s range of meat and grain products will be sold by Charles’ sustainable food company, The Duchy Originals.

The food range will hit the markets in October (09).

The Prince of Wales founded the company in 1990 in a bid to promote organic food and farming. (ANI)

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Gwen Stefani’s marriage on rocks after hubby’s gay lover claims

April 23, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Melbourne, Apr 23 (ANI): Gwen Stefani’s married life has run into trouble following claims that her husband Gavin Rossdale had an affair with cross-dressing male singer Marilyn.

According to gossip website Bitten and Bound, Marilyn, born Peter Robinson, has revealed that he was involved with Rossdale for five years before he married Stefani.

In 1995, Boy George’s biography, “Take It Like a Man,” had revealed that cross-dressing singer and the Bush frontman had been lovers in the 80s.

However, both Marilyn and Rossdale denied the claims.

But in an interview to In Touch magazine, Marilyn now tells that he agreed to deny their affair because of Rossdale’s growing music career.

“He was just becoming successful in America. I agreed to lie against every grain in my body,” the Daily Telegraph quoted him as saying.

“We were together five years, but it felt like forty.

Marilyn added Rossdale “was the love of my life.” (ANI)

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Marubeni signs grain buying deal with Sinograin

April 14, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

TOKYO, April 12 (Reuters) – Marubeni Corp (8002.T) has signed a broad deal with China Grain Reserves Corp’s fully-owned subsidiary that includes procuring grains for the state-run agency, an official with the Japanese firm said on Sunday.

The agreement with Sinograin, which was signed on April 9, also calls for the joint operation of silos and the exchange of personnel, the official said. Marubeni, Japan’s fifth-biggest trading company, plans to sell 4-5 million tonnes of soybeans to China, the largest buyer of the oilseed, in the current year to end March 2010.

Sinograin manages the state reserve.

China imported 3.86 million tonnes of soybeans in March, a rise of 66.6 percent from a year earlier and the second highest monthly tally, official customs figures showed last week.

Japan’s trading firms are eager to move into the food market, aiming in particular to tap China’s voracious demand, as well as those from emerging economies.

Marubeni last year bought grain storage facilities in the United States through its Columbia Grain unit in a bid to increase its purchase from farmers. (Reporting by Yuko Inoue, writing by Miho Yoshikawa; Editing by Kazunori Takada)

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Nikkei may edge up, exporters firm on yen

April 13, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

TOKYO, April 13 (Reuters) – Japan’s Nikkei stock average is
likely to edge up on Monday, with sentiment improving on hopes
the worst is over for U.S. banks, and exporters such as Canon Inc
(7751.T) rising on a weaker yen.
Investors may hone in on Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) after the
Nikkei business daily said on Sunday the company’s operating loss
could balloon to over 500 billion yen in the year to end March
2010, as the global economic crisis hits car sales. [ID:nT20591]

Though activity may be limited after most major overseas
centres were closed on Friday due to the long Easter weekend,
hopes that things may be heading up for U.S. financials after
Wells Fargo (WFC.N) posted better-than-expected quarterly results
are expected to keep sentiment positive.

“The market rose so rapidly late last week that there is a
sense of overheating in sectors like high tech, but we’re also
seeing increased signs of market energy, and this will continue,”
said Hiroichi Nishi, general manager of the equity division at
Nikko Cordial Securities

Investors are keenly awaiting more U.S. bank results due out
this week, including Citigroup (C.N) on Friday, and trade
activity is likely to be slow.

The benchmark Nikkei .N225 is expected to trade between
8,800 and 9,100. It closed at 8,964.11 on Friday.

Nikkei futures trade in Chicago 2NKc1 was closed on Friday
due to the Good Friday holiday. Nikkei futures traded in Osaka
JNIc1 closed at 8,970.
———————-MARKET SNAPSHOT @ 2253 GMT ————

INSTRUMENT LAST PCT CHG NET CHG
S and P 500 .SPX 856.56 3.81% 31.400
USD/JPY JPY 100.32 -0.06% -0.060
10-YR US TSY YLD US10YT=RR 2.9225 — 0.000
SPOT GOLD XAU 883.35 0.31% 2.700
US CRUDE CLc1 51.99 -0.48% -0.250
DOW JONES .DJI 8083.38 3.14% 246.27
————————————————————-
> Wall St Week Ahead: rally’s fate turns on bank results [.N]
> Euro slides in holiday trade, ECB next move eyed [USD/]
> Bonds fall as higher stocks sap safe-haven bid [US/]
> Gold holds steady in holiday-thinned trade. [GOL/]
> U.S. crude oil dips after IEA slashes demand outlook [O/R]
STOCKS TO WATCH

— Aeon Co Ltd (8267.T)

Aeon, Japan’s second-largest retailer, is likely to post an
annual net loss of around 3 billion yen ($30 million), its first
such loss in seven years and bigger than forecast, hit by
flagging sales and special losses, the Nikkei business daily
reported on Saturday. [ID:nT32477]

— Marubeni Corp (8002.T)

Marubeni signed a broad deal with China Grain Reserves Corp’s
fully-owned subsidiary that includes procuring grains for the
state-run agency, an official with the Japanese firm said on
Sunday. [ID:nT25493]

— Tokyo Electron Ltd (8035.T)

Tokyo Electron said on Friday that orders for its tools to
make chips and flat panel displays fell a quarterly 31 percent,
hitting a seven-year-low as electronics makers slash spending.
[ID:nT5897]

— Softbank Corp (9984.T)

Softbank, Japan’s third-biggest mobile phone operator, said
on Friday it would post a special loss of 75 billion yen ($748
million) for the year just ended.

Despite the special loss, Softbank said it expects to post a
net profit for the business year that ended on March 31.
[ID:nTKF104327]
(Reporting by Elaine Lies; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)

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Iraqi truck bombing kills 5 US soldiers

April 12, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

A suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden truck into a sandbagged wall surrounding a police headquarters in northern Iraq on Friday, killing five American soldiers and two Iraqi policemen in the single deadliest attack against US forces in more than a year, the US military and Iraqi police said.

A sixth American soldier and 17 Iraqi policemen were wounded in the blast that took place near the national police headquarters in southwestern Mosul — Iraq’s third-largest city and Al-Qaeda’s last urban stronghold.

Lt Col Michael Stuart, chief of US operations in Tikrit, an Iraqi city north of Baghdad, said the target was the Iraqi national police complex in Mosul and not the US patrol. He said the American patrol just happened to be on the same street when the attack occurred.

“It was just bad timing,” Stuart said.

The suicide bomber, who was driving a truck filled with grain, made a sharp turn as he approached the police complex, then rammed his truck through an iron barrier, hitting the sandbagged wall beyond it and detonating his vehicle near the station’s main building, Iraqi police said.

The blast shook the entire complex and badly damaged nearby buildings, witnesses and police said.

A policeman, who identified himself as Abu Mohammed, said he saw the truck driving behind two US Humvees on the street leading to the police headquarters. The Humvees entered the complex, came to a stop, and within seconds, the truck turned and rammed the iron barrier, he said.

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Biggest steel plant in north-east India begins production

April 12, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

R. K. Nagar (West Tripura), April 12 (ANI): The biggest gas-based steel plant in northeast India, having a capacity of 1,50,000 tonnes per annum, has started commercial production in Tripura.

The rupees 250 crores steel plant at Bodhjungnagar, 12 kilometres north of Agartala, is a new addition of the Noida-based Dharampal Premchand Ltd (DPPC), manufacturers of the “Baba” brand of tobacco products, which already had its rubber unit in the State.

R. K. Kakrania, Director of DPPC who claimed his factory to be totally automated using digital controls producing the fines products, said: “The project would not only help to tap the unexplored business potential of the northeastern region and adjacent countries but also provide employment in the state, would ensure rapid socio-economic development of the state.”

“The State government here is much more responsive and friendly than any other State and now the State capital is connected by rail. We hope the Bangladesh government will see reason and soon give transit facility through Chittagong port and once that happens, this place shall be better than Calcutta (Kolkata).”

DPPC, which along with galvanized sheets shall also produced coloured sheets, also target of the growing market in Bangladesh and so already set its office in capital Dhaka.

“By June, the first consignment shall be exported to Bangladesh, hopefully, but we are aware and prepare to compete with China and Korea to enter into the Southeast Asia market”, Kakrani added.

Spread over 24 acres, the plant will manufacture cold rolled sheets, galvanised corrugated and plain sheets and cold rolled closed annealed sheets needed by the roofing, automobile industry and for making cupboards, panels, grain storage bins and silos and barrels. . K. Sarkar, production controller, said, “There shall be four types of products in this factory which are of the finest uniform quality using the latest digital controlled machines.”

“We are not only taking care of our products and the socio economic development of the State but we are also taking care that the wastage of the factory is not harmful and polluting. So we have a recycling plant in our factory”, Sarkar added.

DPPC, which started its journey back in 1929, has grown into a Rs 250-crore company. It has employed 300 youngsters after providing them special training.

Rajesh Debbarma, one of such youngsters, is earning Rs.2,400 per month, he says: “I was unemployed till a few days back but with the setting of the factory many more like me got employment here. Moreover, the local people are now getting tin sheets for roofing from the factory at low price because earlier this use to come from outside the State.”

State-owned upstream oil major Oil and Natural Gas Corp is supplying gas to the steel plant.

Kakrania informed, apart from steel, DPL has already commenced work to set up a ceramic tiles unit in Guwahati. The project is expected to start production by April 2010. By Pinaki Das (ANI)

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