TECHNICOLOR : Technicolor and Verizon sign memorandum of understanding to provide next generation high speed broadband

PARIS, Jul 29 (MARKET WIRE) —
Technicolor and Verizon sign memorandum of understanding to provide next
generation high speed broadband home router for Verizon

Technicolor (Euronext Paris : FR0010918292 ; NYSE : TCH) today announced
that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Verizon to become
one of Verizon’s suppliers to provide its next-generation FiOS broadband
home routers. These routers aim to enhance the experience of residential
customers served by its advanced fiber-to-the-home access network.

Technicolor’s broadband routers, designed and built to Verizon’s exacting
specifications, will accelerate data transmissions over in-home coaxial
wiring, further bolstering Verizon’s fiber-to-the-home access network. The
new broadband home routers will be ready for deployment in the 2011
timeframe.

Verizon FiOS provides unmatched bandwidth capacity with very low latency
to deliver very fast broadband over an all-fiber-optic network straight
to the home, delivering unsurpassed performance and reliability and a
triple play offer of voice, high-speed Internet and TV service. As of the
end of second-quarter 2010, the FiOS network passed 15.9 million premises
and had 3.8 million FiOS Internet and 3.2 million FiOS TV customers.

Technicolor and Verizon are currently negotiating a final three-year,
strategic agreement. Under this agreement, Technicolor will provide FiOS
broadband home routers and will collaborate with Verizon on new
technologies to enable Verizon customers to access and enjoy the most
powerful communications and media experiences.

“With this announcement, Technicolor is entering the U.S. market for its
world leading portfolio of gateway products,” said Vince Pizzica, Head of
Digital Delivery at Technicolor. “Our strategy has always been to develop
products which leverage broadband communications for service providers,
while relying on open standards to ensure simple and secure
implementation. This alliance with Verizon is a compelling validation of
that strategy, and we look forward to working together with Verizon over
the next three years and beyond, as it is one of the world’s most
pioneering communication providers.”

“The innovative FiOS network has changed the technology and entertainment
landscape by delivering customer satisfaction levels exceeding those of
cable competitors. These broadband home routers will enhance our already
unrivaled access network and enhance the overall FiOS experience,” said
Dick Lynch, Chief Technology Officer of Verizon Communications. “With
Technicolor, we have forged an alliance that will further support our
effort to provide our customers the most robust in-home entertainment
experience with products that are simple to use and exceedingly reliable.”

***

Technicolor is a company listed on NYSE Euronext Paris and NYSE stock
exchanges, and this press release contains certain statements that
constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe
harbor” of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such
forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations
and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results
expressed, forecasted or implied by such forward-looking statements. For a
more complete list and description of such risks and uncertainties, refer
to Technicolor’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
and its filings with the French Autorite des marches financiers.

***

About Technicolor

With more than 95 years of experience in entertainment innovation,
Technicolor serves an international base of entertainment, software, and
gaming customers. The company is a leading provider of production,
postproduction, and distribution services to content creators and
distributors. Technicolor is one of the world’s largest film processors;
one of the largest independent manufacturers and distributors of DVDs
(including Blu-ray Disc); and a leading global supplier of set-top boxes
and gateways. The company also operates an Intellectual Property and
Licensing business.

For more information: www.technicolor.com

Press contacts:

Technicolor Press Office

+33 1 41 86 53 93

technicolorpressoffice@technicolor.com

Bill Kula, APR

Verizon

972-718-6924

william.kula@verizon.com

Technicolor Investor relations: +33 1 41 86 55 95

investor.relations@technicolor.com

Technicolor Shareholder relations:

shareholder@technicolor.com

Technicolor Industry Analyst Relations: +33 1 41 86 59 39

industryanalystrelations@technicolor.com

This information is provided by HUGIN

Copyright 2010, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

UPDATE 1-PureCircle sees lower profitability, shares fall

July 27 (Reuters) – Malaysia-based sweetener group PureCircle Ltd (PURE.L) warned full-year profitability would be below last year as it was running under capacity and invested heavily in production overheads, sales and marketing.

The company’s shares were down 21.2 percent at 216 pence at 0719 GMT on Tuesday on the London Stock Exchange.

PureCircle, which supplies sweeteners to U.S. beverage giants PepsiCo Inc (PEP.N) and Coca-Cola Co (KO.N), also said it expected sales for the year ended June 30 to be flat from year-ago levels.

Separately, the company said it signed a memorandum of understanding with British Sugar Group, a unit of food and retail group Associated British Foods (ABF.L), to form a joint venture owned equally by both parties.

The joint venture, to be called Natural Sweetness Co, will develop and market products that combine the benefits of both sugar and stevia, PureCircle said.

Stevia is a shrub native to Paraguay, and compounds from its leaves like Rebaudioside A (Reb A) are likely to compete with established artificial sweeteners such as saccharin, aspartame and sucralose, which are sold under brand names Sweet’N Low, NutraSweet and Splenda. (Reporting by Tresa Sherin Morera in Bangalore; Editing by Vinu Pilakkott)

Ocean Power Technologies Announces Results for the Year Ended April 30, 2010

PENNINGTON, N.J.–(Business Wire)–
Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: OPTT and London Stock Exchange AIM: OPT)
(“OPT” or “the Company”) announces its financial results for the year ended
April 30, 2010.

Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2010 Highlights

* Revenue grew by 26% to $5.1 million for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2010,
compared to $4.0 million for the same period in 2009.
* Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and marketable securities of $66.8
million at April 30, 2010 (April 30, 2009: $82.7 million). Cash burn was $15.9
million in fiscal 2010, compared to cash burn of $19.5 million in fiscal 2009.
* Successful deployment and operation of a PowerBuoy system at the Marine Corps
Base in Hawaii, and the award of $380,000 in additional funding for the project.
On-station operation of the PowerBuoy is now entering its eighth month.
* Progress made with construction of our first PB150 PowerBuoy-scheduled for
in-ocean testing off the coast of Scotland in the second half of 2010.
* Signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the State of Oregon, setting forth
an approach for developing utility-scale wave power projects within the State`s
coastal waters, including a proposed 100 MW wave power station near Coos Bay,
Oregon.
* Successful completion of in-ocean trials of OPT`s proprietary Undersea
Substation Pod in Spain.
* Awarded new $2.4 million contract to provide PowerBuoy systems to the US
Navy`s Littoral Expeditionary Autonomous PowerBuoy (“LEAP”) program for homeland
security.
* Received $1.5 million contract from the US Department of Energy (“DoE”) for
development of OPT`s next generation PB500 PowerBuoy wave power system.
* Signed exclusive agreement to develop demonstration wave power station in
Japan with consortium of three Japanese companies, including Mitsui Engineering
and Shipbuilding.
* Award of A$66.5 million grant to OPT partnership with Leighton Contractors Pty
Ltd to build a 19 MW wave power project off the coast of Victoria, Australia. In
addition, received an award of €2.2 million from the European Commission to
deliver a PowerBuoy wave energy device with an innovative wave prediction
capability and a “wave-by-wave” tuning system. Both of these grants are
conditional on the achievement of certain milestones, including the receipt of
significant additional funding for each project.

Fiscal year 2010 also saw a strengthening of OPT`s management team with several
key appointments. Foremost among these, Charles F. Dunleavy was appointed OPT`s
Chief Executive Officer, having served as the Company`s Senior Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer since 2001, and as the Company`s Treasurer and
Secretary and a member of the Board of Directors since 1990. From 1993 to 2001,
he served as Vice President, Finance. During this time, Mr. Dunleavy had been
key to OPT`s progress in expanding operations in Europe, North America,
Australia and Japan, and the Company`s raising of over $140 million in equity
capital in the US and Europe.

Other key appointments to the management team included Angus Norman as Chief
Executive of Ocean Power Technologies Limited. Mr. Norman joined OPT from EDF
Energy where he held the position of Managing Director of Sustainable Solutions
and brings extensive leadership experience in the energy and renewable energy
generation sector, as well as a nearly 30 year record of acquisition, divestment
and project development in the energy, transport, minerals and infrastructure
markets.

In June 2010, OPT announced the appointment of Michael G. Kelly as Vice
President of Operations. Mr. Kelly joined OPT with 28 years of experience in the
marine industry, spanning design, manufacturing, deployment and field service of
large, complex ocean-based systems. The scope of this work has included the
management of international commercial and technical teams to deliver
best-in-class marine industry solutions within schedule and budget.

Also, in June 2010, OPT appointed Brian M. Posner to the position of Chief
Financial Officer of the Company. Mr. Posner joined OPT with over 25 years of
experience in both public and private companies, with a notable track record in
working with capital markets, regulatory and accounting matters and strategic
alliances. His career has encompassed NASDAQ-listed companies as well as
early-stage and publicly-held businesses. In addition, Mr. Posner served on the
audit staff of PriceWaterhouseCoopers, LLP where he had a diverse group of
clients in the manufacturing, banking and natural resources sectors.

Charles F. Dunleavy, Chief Executive Officer of OPT, said: “This has been a
pivotal year for OPT during which we made solid progress in advancing our
existing projects as well as achieving major breakthroughs in our target markets
worldwide. These were achieved against a background of a global credit crunch
that has constrained the adoption of new technologies. However, OPT`s strong
balance sheet, blue chip partnerships and progress in commercializing its
technology have served it well during the year. With the important strengthening
of our management team, we feel confident of our prospects for the year ahead
and are excited about upcoming achievements that we expect to report on several
fronts.”

Operational Review

The year ended April 30, 2010 represented another year of progress for OPT. The
Company achieved key milestones in a number of ongoing projects and established
strong foundations in new developments, which include:

HAWAII, US – OPT deployed an upgraded 40kW peak-rated PowerBuoy under its
ongoing program with the US Navy for the development and construction of wave
power systems at the Marine Corps Base in Oahu, Hawaii. The device has been in
operation since its deployment in December 2009, and is producing power in
accordance with expectations and testing protocols. In addition, the device has
successfully survived significant storm conditions. The Company also received
$380,000 in further funding for the commissioning and operation of this
PowerBuoy system.

OREGON, US – Construction of the steel structure for the first PB150 PowerBuoy
for a 1.5 MW commercial-scale project at Reedsport, Oregon was begun by Oregon
Iron Works, a prominent local company, and is advancing as planned.With support
from Pacific Northwest Generating Cooperative (PNGC Power) and funding from the
US Department of Energy, OPT continued to work extensively with interested
stakeholder groups at local, county, state and federal agency levels to develop
this project, and progress was made in the overall permitting and licensing
process. The project remains on schedule, with the PB150 construction expected
to be completed by the end of 2010 and ocean testing expected to commence in
2011. This project is expected to be expanded subsequently in a second phase to
a 10 PowerBuoy array connected to the west coast grid, after receipt of third
party funding for the project.

During the year, OPT also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with the
State of Oregon to set forth an approach for developing wave power projects
within the State`s coastal waters. This MOU outlines important principles for
the potential development of future wave power facilities in Oregon. These
principles are expected to be first applied to the development of OPT’s Coos Bay
project in Oregon. The Company is studying the feasibility of building an OPT
wave power station near Coos Bay, Oregon, in phases up to 100 MW. The project is
in the initial stages of public and agency review.

SCOTLAND, UK – The construction of OPT`s first PB150 PowerBuoy has been
completed, while the energy conversion and power take-off sub-assemblies are
soon to be integrated into the buoy structure. OPT expects to conduct in-ocean
trials off the coast of Scotland in the second half of calendar year 2010.

CORNWALL, UK – The South West of England Regional Development Agency (“SWRDA”)
has placed a contract for the installation and commissioning of the
infrastructure, including onshore electrical equipment, for its planned facility
in Cornwall, England. Excavation at the site began in June 2010, and SWRDA
expects that the final cabling and subsea infrastructure will be installed by
the engineering contractor by the end of calendar year 2010. OPT has signed a
commitment agreement with SWRDA to advance the development of one of the four
wave power stations that are expected to comprise the Wave Hub – one of the
world`s largest proposed renewable marine energy projects. OPT was the first
company to sign the agreement, ratifying its long-standing involvement with this
project.

SPAIN – Under a contract with Iberdrola S.A., the Company completed in-ocean
trials of OPT`s Undersea Substation Pod (“USP”) product. The testing was
successful and opens a new revenue opportunity for OPT. The USP was designed
in-house by OPT for use in a utility-scale wave power station at a site
approximately three miles off the coast of Santoña, Spain.

On March 3, 2010, OPT announced the receipt of an award of €2.2 million under
the European Commission`s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), by the European
Commission`s Directorate responsible for new and renewable sources of energy,
energy efficiency and innovation. The grant to OPT is part of a total award of
€4.5 million to a consortium of companies, including OPT, to deliver a PowerBuoy
wave energy device under a project entitled WavePort, with an innovative wave
prediction capability and a “wave-by-wave” tuning system. Conditional on the
receipt of significant additional funding, it is anticipated that this PowerBuoy
will be deployed at the Santoña site in Spain.

US NAVY “LEAP” PROJECT – During the fiscal year 2010, OPT won a new $2.4 million
contract from the US Navy to provide a wave energy conversion system for the
Navy`s LEAP program. This contract, to be performed over a one-year period, is
the initial award under a proposed four-year, $10-$15 million project to
establish a prototype for a near-shore maritime surveillance for homeland
security. Under the initial contract, OPT will provide its PowerBuoy wave energy
conversion technology for testing with sensor-based communications systems, with
the ultimate aim under the four-year program of developing a LEAP-based vessel
detection system testbed. The preliminary design phase work has been submitted
and is now under review. OPT expects to complete the initial $2.4 million
contract in the second half of calendar year 2010.

US NAVY DEEP OCEAN APPLICATION – Progress continued on OPT’s ongoing project to
provide the Company’s autonomous PowerBuoy technology for the US Navy’s Deep
Water Active Detection System for ocean data gathering. The current $3.0 million
contract was awarded in November 2008 following the completion of the initial
test phase work by OPT. Deployment of the enhanced device is scheduled for the
second half of calendar year 2010.

JAPAN – OPT signed an agreement in Japan for the development of the country`s
first utility-scale wave power station with a consortium of three Japanese
companies: Idemitsu Kosan Co., Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., and
Japan Wind Development Co. Subject to the successful identification of a project
site and completion of economic assessments, the parties plan to enter into an
agreement to build a demonstration plant with up to three OPT PowerBuoys. The
trial plant would provide the basis for the expected building of a
commercial-scale OPT wave power station with an initial capacity of 10 MW or
more – enough power for up to 3,000 households in Japan.

VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA – In November 2009, Ocean Power Technologies (Australasia)
Pty Ltd (“OPTA”) was awarded, in partnership with Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd
(“Leighton”), an A$66.46 million grant from the Federal Government of Australia
towards building a 19 MW wave power project off the coast of Victoria,
Australia. The award was one of four renewable energy projects approved by the
Federal Government of Australia after considering over 30 applications, and is
the only wave energy venture to receive a grant. The funding is intended to be
used to advance the construction of a wave power station to be built in three
phases to supply electricity to up to 10,000 homes. The project is to be
developed by a special purpose company, Victorian Wave Partners Pty Ltd, that
was formed by Leighton to collaborate with OPTA in pursuing wave power projects
off the east and south coasts of Australia. The grant is conditional on the
signing of a Funding Deed which will set out the terms of the grant, including
funding milestones. Victoria Wave Partners is seeking the significant additional
funding required to enable the completion of the 19 MW wave power station.

PB500 DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM – OPT`s technical achievements were recognized by the
US Department of Energy in awarding the Company $1.5 million for the development
of the next generation PowerBuoy wave power system. The DoE grant will be used
to help fund the scale-up of the power output per device from the current level
of 150kW to 500kW. In addition, the technology development effort will focus on
increasing the power extraction efficiency and reliability, and will utilize an
enhanced “Design-for-Manufacture” approach.

Financial Review

Revenues increased by $1.1 million in fiscal 2010, or 26%, to $5.1 million as
compared to $4.0 million in fiscal 2009. This growth primarily reflects an
increase in revenue from the US Navy under the Deep Water Active Detection
System and LEAP programs, for which OPT provides its autonomous PowerBuoy
technology. In addition, there was also an increase in revenue related to OPT`s
project off the coast of Reedsport, Oregon. The growth in revenue generated by
these projects was partially offset by the decline in revenue from OPT`s
utility-scale project in Spain and the Company`s utility PowerBuoy project with
US Navy at the Marine Corps Base in Hawaii, which is now in operation.

The Company`s contract order backlog at April 30, 2010 was $5.7 million,
compared to $7.5 million at April 30, 2009. Most of this backlog is expected to
be recognized as revenue during the fiscal year ending April 30, 2011.

The net loss attributable to OPT for the year ended April 30, 2010 was $19.2
million, compared to a net loss of $18.3 million in the prior year. The increase
in the fiscal 2010 net loss was primarily attributable to costs incurred in the
Company`s product development programs, which were $13.0 million for fiscal 2010
compared to $8.4 million for fiscal 2009 and a decrease in interest income due
to a decrease in cash equivalents and marketable securities, as well as lower
yields. The Company`s product development efforts were focused on increasing the
output and reliability of the PowerBuoy technology. These factors were offset by
an increase in gross profit, an increase in foreign exchange gains and a
decrease in selling, general and administrative costs. Other income also
increased in the year ended April 30, 2010 due to the favorable settlement of a
claim against a supplier of engineering services during the first quarter of
fiscal 2010.

The Company finished the year with a strong balance sheet. On April 30, 2010,
total cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and marketable securities were
$66.8 million, compared to $82.7 million on April 30, 2009. Total “cash burn”
for fiscal 2010 was $15.9 million, compared to $19.5 million for fiscal 2009.
The Company`s cash equivalents and investments are highly liquid investments
consisting primarily of term deposits with large commercial banks and U.S.
Treasury notes.

Additional information may be found in the Company`s Annual Report on Form 10-K
filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Form 10-K may be
accessed at www.sec.gov or at the Company`s website in the Investor Relations
tab.

Webcast Details

OPT will host an audio webcast to review its results, on Tuesday, July 13, 2010,
at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (3:00 p.m. BST). Charles F. Dunleavy, Chief Executive
Officer, and Brian M. Posner, Chief Financial Officer, will host the webcast.
Investors and other interested parties may access the webcast by visiting the
Company’s web site at www.oceanpowertechnologies.com and clicking on the
Investor Relations tab, then Webcasts and Presentations.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain “forward-looking statements” that are within the safe
harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s current expectations about its
future plans and performance, including statements concerning the impact of
marketing strategies, new product introductions and innovation, deliveries of
product, sales, earnings and margins. These forward-looking statements rely on a
number of assumptions and estimates which could be inaccurate and which are
subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could vary materially from
those anticipated or expressed in any forward-looking statement made by the
Company. Please refer to the Company’s most recent Form 10-K for a further
discussion of these risks and uncertainties. The Company disclaims any
obligation or intent to update the forward-looking statements in order to
reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

About Ocean Power Technologies

Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: OPTT and London Stock Exchange AIM: OPT)
is a pioneer in wave-energy technology that harnesses ocean wave resources to
generate reliable, clean and environmentally-beneficial electricity. OPT has a
strong track record in harnessing wave energy and participates in a $150 billion
annual power generation equipment market. The Company’s proprietary PowerBuoy
system is based on modular, ocean-going buoys that capture and convert
predictable wave energy into low-cost, clean electricity. The Company is widely
recognized as a leading developer of on-grid and autonomous wave-energy
generation systems, benefiting from over a decade of in-ocean experience. OPT`s
technology and systems are insured by Lloyds Underwriters of London. OPT is
headquartered in Pennington, New Jersey with offices in Warwick, UK. More
information can be found at www.oceanpowertechnologies.com.

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of
April 30, 2010 and April 30, 2009

April 30, April 30,
2010 2009
ASSETS $ $
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents 4,236,597 12,267,830
Marketable Securities 32,536,001 40,849,736
Accounts receivable 1,474,600 985,149
Unbilled receivables 448,686 988,418
Other current assets 1,005,885 1,082,696

Total current assets 39,701,769 56,173,829

Marketable Securities 28,865,046 28,619,528
Restricted cash 1,205,288 951,552
Property and equipment, net 710,563 897,718
Patents, net 1,036,881 909,727
Other noncurrent assets 1,458,646 1,241,552

TOTAL ASSETS 72,978,193 88,793,906

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable 1,843,378 908,837
Accrued expenses 4,092,113 3,760,039
Unearned revenues 1,101,541 281,570
Current portion of long-term debt 95,386 93,398

Total current liabilities 7,132,418 5,043,844

Other non-current liabilities 140,685 ─
Long-term debt 250,000 345,386
Deferred rent ─ 21,649
Deferred credits 600,000 600,000

Total liabilities 8,123,103 6,010,879

OCEAN POWER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; authorized ─ ─
5,000,000 shares; none issued or outstanding
Common stock, $0.001 par value; authorized 105,000,000 shares; 10,391 10,210
issued and outstanding 10,390,563 and 10,210,354, respectively.
Treasury stock, 1,072 and 0 shares at cost, respectively (6,443) ─
Additional paid-in capital 155,726,672 154,568,931
Accumulated deficit (90,413,098) (71,242,791)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (503,322) (553,323)

Total Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. stockholders’ 64,814,200 82,783,027
equity

Noncontrolling interest in Ocean Power Technologies 40,890 ─
(Australasia) Pty, Ltd

Total equity 64,855,090 82,783,027

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY 72,978,193 88,793,906

Consolidated Statements of Operations
For the years ended April 30, 2010 and 2009

April 30, April 30,
2010 2009
$ $

REVENUES 5,101,311 4,049,445
COST OF REVENUES 4,298,955 4,840,403
Gross profit (loss) 802,356 (790,958)
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT COSTS 13,001,550 8,372,244
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS 9,063,482 9,529,071
Total operating expenses 22,065,032 17,901,315
Operating loss (21,262,676) (18,692,273)
INTEREST INCOME, net 1,032,484 1,672,350
OTHER INCOME 557,540 ─
FOREIGN EXCHANGE GAIN (LOSS) 540,644 (1,295,227)
Net loss (19,132,008) (18,315,150)
Less: Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest (38,299) ─
in Ocean Power Technologies (Australasia) Pty, Ltd
NET LOSS attributable to Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. (19,170,307) (18,315,150)
Basic and diluted net loss per share (1.88) (1.79)
Weighted average shares used to compute
basic and diluted net loss per share 10,217,003 10,210,354

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For the years ended April 30, 2010 and 2009

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: April 30, April 30
2010 2009
$ $

Net Loss (19,132,008) (18,315,150)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Foreign exchange (gain) loss (540,644) 1,295,227
Depreciation and amortization 365,755 299,405
Loss on disposals of property, plant and equipment 113,087 268,976
Treasury note premium/discount amortization, net 146,834 288,331
Compensation expense related to stock option grants and restricted stock 1,117,935 1,511,666
Deferred rent (21,649) 5,412
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable (474,407) 472,422
Unbilled receivables 603,765 (589,970)
Other current assets 77,278 140,418
Other noncurrent assets (202,731) (857,060)
Accounts payable 953,815 (354,740)
Accrued expenses 246,816 (454,682)
Unearned revenues 827,786 (418,182)
Other noncurrent liabilities 147,684 ─

Net cash used in operating activities (15,770,684) (16,707,927)

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of marketable securities (33,884,604) (124,675,859)
Maturities of marketable securities 41,838,886 67,151,702
Restricted cash (252,080) –
Purchases of equipment (239,449) (811,493)
Payments of patent costs (153,667) (243,941)

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 7,309,086 (58,579,591)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from long-term debt ─ 250,000
Repayment of long-term debt (93,398) (42,801)
Acquisition of treasury stock (6,443) ─

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (99,841) 207,199

EFFECTS OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 530,206 (1,488,155)

NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS (8,031,233) (76,568,474)

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD 12,267,830 88,836,304

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD 4,236,597 12,267,830

Ocean Power Technologies, Inc.
Charles F. Dunleavy, Chief Executive Officer
Brian M. Posner, Chief Financial Officer
+1-609-730-0400
or
Nomura Code Securities Limited
Juliet Thompson/Richard Potts, +44 20 7776 1200
or
Media:
Corfin Public Relations
Neil Thapar/Claire Norbury, +44 20 7596 2860

Copyright Business Wire 2010

FACTBOX-Japan, S.Korea join hunt for global resources

July 9 (Reuters) – Japan and South Korea are under intense pressure to secure raw materials for their economies as neighbouring China strikes one resource-procurement deal after another. (For related analysis: [ID:TOE66701U])

China in June signed more than $8.8 billion of commercial and mining deals with Australia. [ID:nSGE65K059]

Japanese and South Korean firms, backed up their governments, are stepping up efforts to secure resource deals overseas.

Here are some recent deals they have pursued.

SOUTH KOREA:

* A South Korean consortium led by Korea Electric Power Corp (KEPCO) acquired five Australian coal fields worth a total of A$580 million ($488 million) from London-listed Anglo American Plc (AAL.L) earlier this month. [ID:nTOE66404W]

* Korea National Oil Corp (KNOC) is talking over a cash offer for Britain’s Dana Petroleum (DNX.L), as it looks to use a $6.5 billion war chest to help double the country’s oil reserves.

* POSCO (005490.KS), the world’s No.4 steelmaker, is looking at A$6.6 billion worth of investments in Australian Premium Iron Ore, a joint venture project in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

* KORES and South Korea’s small steelmaker Dongbu Steel (016380.KS) in May agreed with South Africa’s Kermas to develop iron ore and titanium there. [ID:nTOE64Q05T]

JAPAN:

* Vietnam’s state oil and gas group Petrovietnam signed a memorandum of understanding on June 22 with the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), Nippon Export and Investment Insurance and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp for cooperation in areas such as long-term finance arrangements. [ID:nSGE65K0JA] * State-backed Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corp (JOGMEC) signed a deal with American Lithium Minerals Inc (AMLM.OB) on June 11 to jointly explore a lithium mine in Nevada in the United States. [ID:nTOE65A047]

* JOGMEC on June 24 selected Japan’s second-largest copper smelter Sumitomo Metal Mining Co Ltd (5713.T) to transfer its exploration rights for copper, gold and metal molybdenum in Brazil’s Carajas region.

* JOGMEC in May decided to offer equity capital finance to a unit of JX Holdings Inc (5020.T) for an oil and gas exploration project in Vietnam.

* JBIC signed a loan agreement in late May totaling $160 million with Similco Finance Ltd, a Canadian firm in which third-largest copper smelter Mitsubishi Materials Corp (5711.T) has an equity stake, to finance the restart of the Similco copper mine.

* JOGMEC took an equity stake in Sumitomo Metal Mining Co’s nickel mining development project in the Solomon Islands in March.

* Mitsubishi Corp (8058.T), JX Holdings unit JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corp and Mitsubishi Materials in April teamed up to raise their combined ownership stake in Chile’s Escondida copper mine. ID:nSGE63C0JC] (Reporting by Chikako Mogi in TOKYO and Cho Mee-young in SEOUL; editing by Dhara Ranasinghe)

Comstar UTS BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF COMSTAR-UTS APPROVES AGREEMENTS SIGNED WITH ROSTELECOM REGARDING THE SALE OF ITS STAKE IN SVYAZINVEST

BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF COMSTAR-UTS APPROVES AGREEMENTS SIGNED WITH ROSTELECOM
REGARDING THE SALE OF ITS STAKE IN SVYAZINVEST

Moscow, Russia – June 25, 2010 – “COMSTAR – United TeleSystems” JSC (“Comstar”
or “the Group”) (LSE: CMST), the largest integrated telecommunications provider
in Moscow and 82 Russian cities, announces that at a meeting held on June 25,
2010, its Board of Directors approved the purchase and sale agreement between
OAO Rostelecom (“Rostelecom” – RTS and MICEX: RTKM, RTKMP; OTCQX: ROSYY) and
Comstar, according to which Rostelecom will purchase the common shares of OAO
Svyazinvest, which account for the 17.31% of its equity, for RUB 18 billion.

MGTS Finance S.A., a company controlled by Comstar, has also received the
required corporate approval for the sale of 7.69% of OAO Svyazinvest to
Rostelecom for RUB 8 billion.

Therefore, the total amount of these transactions, involving the sale of the
25%+1 share stake in OAO Svyazinvest to OAO Rostelecom, amounts to RUB 26
billion. The proceeds of these transactions will be used by Comstar to pay down
its outstanding debt to Sberbank in the amount of RUB 26 billion.

As has been announced previously, the closing of the transactions is subject to
satisfying a number of conditions including, inter alia, obtaining the necessary
corporate approvals by the parties involved, regulatory clearances, including
those from the Federal Antimonopoly Service, and entering into the exchange
transaction by AFK Sistema and Svyazinvest, after the completion of which,
Svyazinvest will control 100% of the share capital in SkyLink CJSC and AFK
Sistema will acquire the 23.33% stake in OAO Moscow City Telephone Network
(MGTS). The agreements are in line with the previously announced non-binding
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) concluded by Comstar with Sistema and
Svyazinvest on November 23, 2009.

The Comstar group of companies currently owns a 25%+1 share stake in
Svyazinvest. Comstar has a 69.93% stake in MGTS. Svyazinvest owns a 23.33% stake
in MGTS and a 38% stake in Rostelecom (50.67% of the voting shares).

***

For further information, please visit www.comstar-uts.com or contact:

Comstar UTS Shared Value Limited

Masha Eliseeva
Tel. +44 (0) 20 7321 5010

Tel: +7 985 997 0852 comstar@sharedvalue.net

ir@comstar-uts.ru

Comstar-UTS is the leading fixed-line telecommunications company in Moscow.
Comstar provides voice, data, television and other value-added services to
residential and corporate subscribers and operators, using its extensive
backbone network and exclusive last mile access to 96% of Moscow households. The
Company also offers communications services in 82 cities in the Russian regions,
Armenia and Ukraine. Comstar had 3.6 million residential subscribers including
860 thousand residential broadband internet subscribers in Moscow, as well as
2.6 million regional and international residential subscribers, including 426
thousand residential broadband internet subscribers and 2.0 million residential
pay-TV subscribers at the end of the first quarter of 2010. Comstar generated
US$ 407.0 million of revenues and an 43.9% OIBDA margin for the three months
ended March 31, 2010. Comstar`s Global Depositary Receipts are listed on the
London Stock Exchange (ticker: CMST).

Some of the information in this press release may contain projections or other
forward-looking statements regarding future events or the future financial
performance of Comstar UTS. You can identify forward looking statements by terms
such as “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “will,”
“could,” “may” or “might”, the negative of such terms or other similar
expressions. Comstar UTS wishes to caution that these statements are only
predictions, and that actual events or results may differ materially. Comstar
UTS does not intend to update these statements to reflect events and
circumstances occurring after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of
unanticipated events. Many factors could cause the actual results to differ
materially from those contained in projections or forward-looking statements of
Comstar UTS, including, among others, general economic conditions, the
competitive environment, risks associated with operating in Russia, rapid
technological and market change in the industries Comstar UTS operates in, as
well as many other risks specifically related to Comstar UTS and its
operations.

Comstar UTS

Copyright Business Wire 2010

China Strategic says not pursuing MOU with Chinatrust

June 25 (Reuters) – China Strategic Holdings (0235.HK), a buyer of AIG’s (AIG.N) Taiwan Nan Shan Life unit, said on Friday that it will not pursue an MOU to sell a stake in Nan Shan to Chinatrust Financial (2891.TW).

Stocks | Mergers & Acquisitions | Global Markets

China Strategic and Primus Financial Holdings agreed to pay $2.2 billion for AIG’s (AIG.N) Taiwan Nan Shan Life unit and the deal is pending for Taiwanese regulatory approval.

“I believe this is not an appropriate time to talk with Chinatrust before we have successfully bought Nan Shan”, said Raymond Or, chief executive of China Strategic.

“Especially as when we signed the MOU (with Chinatrust), the regulators said this complicated the whole issue,” he added.

Chinatrust agreed to buy the Nan Shan stake last November for $660 million, but the memorandum of understanding expired on Friday. (Reporting by Alison Leung; Editing by Chris Lewis)

China plans to launch credit default swaps market

June 22 (Reuters) – China is planning a market in credit default swaps (CDS), a senior financial industry executive said on Tuesday.

“I can assure you that the Chinese version of CDS will be launched, and it will not take too long,” said Shi Wenchao, secretary general of the National Association of Financial Markets Institutional Investors.

Shi was speaking at a ceremony to mark the signing of a memorandum of understanding on technical co-operation and training with the International Capital Markets Association. (Reporting by Zhou Xin and Alan Wheatley; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)

Devgen: Devgen and PT (Persero) Sang Hyang Seri sign memorandum of understanding on the introduction of biotech rice in Indonesia

Ghent – Jakarta, 17 June 2010.

Devgen and PT (Persero) Sang Hyang Seri (SHS) herewith further strengthen their
relationship. The companies have already ongoing agreements for R&D, production and
distribution of non-transgenic hybrid rice in Indonesia.

“Bringing biotech traits to market will take several years and is a complex and stepwise
regulatory and research process.” Says Dr. Thierry Bogaert. “We are pleased to further
strengthen our relationship with SHS, a strong partner in Indonesia.”

“We are pleased to work with Devgen, a leader in rice trait and hybrid seed technology”
says Mr. Eddy Budiono, the President Director of Sang Hyang Seri. “With this cooperation
we will, as per government guidance, provide the Indonesian farmer with the best,
locally produced, hybrid rice to increase yield and productivity in the country. The
result will be significantly realized in the next few years. ”

Indonesia is South East Asia’s largest rice growing country with approximately 12
million ha under rice cultivation.

About SHS

Pt Sang Hyang Seri is a government wholly owned company dealing with seed, fertilizer
and agrochemicals with offices and farms across Indonesia.

About Devgen nv

Devgen’s mission is to enable farmers to sustainably grow more food on less land, with
less water, agrochemicals and labour.

Devgen uses advanced biotechnology and molecular breeding technology to make high
yielding seeds and crop protection solutions with a superior environmental profile.
Devgen brings this technology to the market in the world’s major food and feed crops
through two complementary strategies:

- licensing Devgen technology for use in corn, cotton and soy and selected other crops
in exchange for R&D funding, and milestone and royalty payments;

- producing and selling its premium hybrid seeds in major field crops such as rice,
sunflower, sorghum, and pearl millet, in the Indian subcontinent and South-East Asia.

In its Crop Protection unit, Devgen developed an agro-chemical product that protects
crops from damage by parasitic nematodes. This nematicide was launched in Turkey and in
US.

Incorporated in 1997, Devgen has offices in Ghent (Belgium), and has subsidiaries in
Singapore, Hyderabad (India), General Santos (Philippines) and Delaware (US), totalling
about 280 employees.

For more information please contact:

Thierry Bogaert, CEO Wim Goemaere, CFO
Tel. +32 9 324 24 24 Tel. +32 9 324 24 24
Thierry.Bogaert@devgen.com mailto:Thierry.Bogaert@devgen.com Wim.Goemaere@devgen.com

Or visit: www.devgen.com http://www.devgen.com/

This press release may contain forward-looking statements containing the words
“anticipates”, “expects” , “intends”, “plans”, “estimates”, “may” and “continues” as
well as similar expressions. Such forward looking statements may involve known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which might cause the actual results,
performance or achievements of Devgen to be materially different from any future results
or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that
could cause or contribute to such differences include, among others: agricultural risks
and difficulties, including weather factors, diseases and pests, the costs and
requirements of regulatory compliance and the speed with which approvals are received;
public acceptance of biotechnology products; political, economic and social developments
in countries where Devgen operates and other risks and factors detailed in the company’s
most recent annual report.

These forward looking statements speak only as of the date of publication of this
document. Devgen disclaims any obligation to update such forward looking statements in
this document to reflect any change in its expectations, conditions or circumstances on
which such statement is based, unless required by law or regulation. This document does
not constitute, or form part of, any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any
solicitation of any offer, to purchase or subscribe for any securities issued by Devgen
NV.

HUG#1424563

Cisco, M&C Corporation Plan to Transform Properties in Vietnam Into Smart+Connected Communities

HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM and SHANGHAI, CHINA, Jun 16
(MARKET WIRE) —
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) today announced a collaboration with M&C
Corporation, one of the leading property developers in Vietnam, to
explore how their combined technologies and innovations can help
transform properties in Vietnam into sustainable and connected
communities.

This collaboration, validated through the announcement of a memorandum of
understanding between Cisco and M&C Corporation at the Shanghai World
Expo 2010, will see the two companies discuss the planned implementation
of Cisco’s Smart+Connected Communities solutions for M&C’s strategic
developments as a precursor to integrating these technologies into other
developments across the country. The first implementation of Cisco’s
Smart+Connected Communities solutions is expected to be at M&C’s flagship
project, Saigon M&C Tower. A luxurious, 41-storey development with
150,000 square meters of ground floor area in the center of Ho Chi Minh
City, the Saigon M&C Tower, once completed, will be the most
technologically advanced building in Vietnam.

“Over the next five years, around 700 million people will be added to the
world’s cities, and by 2050, at least 100 new cities will be inhabited by
more than a million residents. This urbanization presents a number of
great prospects. The cities of the 21st century will be defined by
Internet access and broadband, with the ability to connect virtually
anything to the network: cars, hospitals, buildings, energy, home
appliances and schools. We are excited by the opportunities this presents
for our community, and we are committed to working with M&C Corporation
to develop the infrastructure for Vietnam’s cities of the future,” said
Mr. Lee Chiang Toh, general director of Cisco in Vietnam.

Cisco and M&C Corporation will explore how Cisco technologies and
solutions can transform key developments by M&C Corporation in Ho Chi
Minh City into economically, socially and environmentally sustainable
communities using the network as a platform for collaboration — which
will explore how M&C Corporation can upgrade its core network and
information technology platforms for a connected community.

“We are excited that the memorandum of understanding with Cisco reaffirms
our commitment to work with the leader in networking technologies and
solutions, as we work together to transform our business, communities and
country. Our collaboration will showcase both M&C Corporation and
Vietnam’s forward thinking initiatives on the importance of the network
as a platform for modern day living,” said Mr. Huy Hoang, senior vice
president of Operation, M&C Corporation.

Cisco will also share best practices of its global Smart+Connected
Communities developments with M&C Corporation as the two companies
investigate the feasibility of these solutions as a catalyst to changing
the way the community lives, works, plays and learns. As the first step,
Cisco will showcase the concept of a Connected Life using Cisco
Smart+Connected Communities solutions in the strategic M&C development
selected for this transformative model. As part of this collaboration,
Cisco intends to share its expertise in cloud computing and its data
center strategy as they work with M&C Corporation to build on their
organization’s success.

Cisco’s strategy of a connected community uses the network as platform
for sustainability and while addressing the opportunities present in
Vietnam as a result of rapid urbanization. Through this model, Cisco is
helping various cities, towns and villages in the world change the way
they are designed, built and managed.

About M&C Corporation

M&C Corporation is one of the leading real estate developers in Vietnam.
The Company focuses on high end mixed used and resort developments in
strategic locations throughout Vietnam. The Company’s flagship is the
Saigon M&C Tower, a two towers, 41 stories river view ultra luxurious
mixed used development in CDB in HCM City. The development is being built
by the world’s leading General Contractor, Bouygues Construction and will
be completed in Q4 2011. The property will become one of the highest
priced real estate in Vietnam.

In addition, M&C Corporation is also developing several luxury mixed used
properties in downtown locations in both HCMC and Hanoi City as well as
over total 450 ha of high end beach resorts in Ba Ria, Nha Trang and Phu
Quoc.

About Cisco

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO), the worldwide leader in networking that transforms
how people connect, communicate and collaborate, this year celebrates 25
years of technology innovation, operational excellence and corporate
social responsibility. Information about Cisco can be found at
http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go to
http://newsroom.cisco.com. Cisco products are supplied in Vietnam by
Cisco Systems International, BV, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cisco
Systems, Inc.

Cisco, the Cisco logo and Cisco Systems are registered trademarks or
trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United
States and certain other countries. All other trademarks mentioned in
this document are the property of their respective owners. The use of the
word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and
any other company. This document is Cisco Public Information.

For direct RSS Feeds of all Cisco news, please visit “News@Cisco” at the
following link:

http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/rss.html

Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=1283784

Media relations:
Supriya Addanki
Cisco
(65) 6317-7145
suaddank@cisco.com

Analyst relations:
Huey Miin Leong
Cisco
(65) 6317-5650
hmleong@cisco.com

Copyright 2010, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

Libya, Swiss to sign deal ending row-Libyan official

June 13 (Reuters) – Libya and Switzerland will soon sign a memorandum of understanding to resolve their long-running diplomatic dispute, a source in the Libyan Foreign Ministry said on Sunday.

Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey arrived in the Libyan capital for talks early on Sunday and is expected to make a statement to reporters shortly, the source, who did not want to be identified, told Reuters. (Reporting by Ali Shuaib; Writing by Christian Lowe)

Away from gunshots in Valley, they build a future

Mumbai, June 6 — Kausaruddin Najjar is sure that had he continued living in Kashmir he would have been waylaid by militants or picked up by the army on suspicion. The 21-year-old native of Phulwama in Jammu and Kashmir now stays in Pune where he is pursuing a degree in Commerce.

Najjar is among the several young boys and girls who have left the violence of the valley to come to Maharashtra’s education capital where, they say, the environment is conducive to studies. “Strikes are so frequent in J&K that even teachers don’t come to school regularly and our studies get affected,” said another student, Noor Mohammed Basu.

One of these students, Abu Khan (name changed), was one kidnapped by militants back home. He is now going to the US to complete a post-graduate diploma in media studies.

NGOs based in Maharashtra, the first state to reserve seats in colleges for students from the valley, help students like Khan and Najjar get away from militancy and pursue academics. “Generally, Kashmir is selling point [for tourism] and people only know about the stunning scenery and the extremism there.

But nobody wants to do anything for the children there,” said Sanjay Nahar of Sarhad, an NGO that has adopted and educated more than 105 children from J&K since its inception in 1997. Sarhad also facilitated a Memorandum of Understanding between the Srinagar Municipal Corporation and Pune Municipal Corporation for an exchange of ideas on civic issues.

Other Pune NGOs, Jnana Prabhodini and Borderless World Foundation, are also working with Kashmiri youth. Sarang Gosavi of Jnana Prabhodini said, “When we first showed children in Kupwara, Badgoan and Bijbihara a computer in 2003 they mistook it for a television.

” Gosavi said the aim is to bridge the gap between J&K and other states. “We want to bring them into the mainstream.

” Some children who undertook computer training from Jnana Prabhodini are now teaching computers at Anantanag University and are also part of the government-run Sarva Siksha Abhiyaan. Stories from the valley Zahid Bhatt He almost picked up a gun I have seen the blood,” said 16-year-old Zahid Bhatt, who grew up in Badgoan.

Bhatt, whose father rears sheep for a living, understood the meaning of terrorism at the tender age of eight. He always said he wanted to become a terrorist.

“They [the army and police] used to trouble the villagers and harass them for no fault of theirs,” Bhatt recalled. “They would abuse them and beat them mercilessly.

I could not tolerate this and would think I could stop this only if I had a gun.” Schools were bad, Bhatt said, and he lost interest in studies.

His parents, concerned about his way of thinking, sent him to Sarhad in Pune. Bhatt recently took his Class 10 examination.

And his ambitions have undergone a sea change too. “I want to enter politics,” he said.

“I am sure one day I will become Chief Minister.” Ateq Khan (name changed) Decided to leave home Eighteen-year-old Ateq Khan (name changed) grew up in an atmosphere of extremism.

His father was a militant and he took young Khan to terrorist training camps with him. His father was killed in 2004.

A resident of Anantanag, Khan decided to leave the Valley and come to Pune, Maharashtra’s education capital, three years ago. That decision saved him from becoming a terrorist, he said.

Khan has now completed Class 10. He enjoys theatre and wants to be an actor some day.

Aslam Khan (name changed) He is heading to America Thirty year old Aslam Khan (name changed) said he never thought he would get an opportunity to go to the United States of America. Khan is leaving for the USA on Monday to pursue a postgraduate diploma in media studies.

Life would have been different for Khan if would not have shown his valour 15 years ago when he was abducted by militants in Kashmir. Khan, the son of a religious leader, grabbed an opportunity to escape and returned home from the terrorist training camp.

India, South Africa sign three bilateral agreements

New Delhi, June 4 (ANI): South African President Jacob Zuma met Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Friday and the duo signed three bilateral agreements to give a fresh boost to economic, trade and investment relationships.

During their meeting, the two leaders held talks on a wide range of bilateral and global issues.

“Our strategic partnership with South Africa is based on mutuality of interests, common aspirations and close mutual understanding. Today, President Zuma and I have decided to impart a fresh, forward-looking character to these ties and to further broaden our co-operation,” said Dr Singh.

The two nations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on agricultural cooperation, an air services pact and an MoU between the Foreign Service Institute of India and the Diplomatic Academy of South Africa.

Dr Singh further said that the two countries would also diversify cooperation in the area of science and technology, agriculture, Human Resources Development and security.

“India remains willing to work with South Africa in addressing the sheer challenges of capacity building, skill development, jobs creation and combating disease, which are essential for achieving inclusive, balanced growth,” he added.

The visiting President expressed his gratitude towards India”s hospitality and concluded the discussions to be fruitful.

“We have had a very fruitful discussion. We have discussed very critical strategic issues as well as our issues with regard to global issues and bilateral issues,” said President Zuma.

The two leaders also decided to support each other”s candidature for rotating non-permanent seats in the United Nations Security Council for 2011-12.

“We have agreed to support each others candidature for the non-permanent seat of the Security Council for the 2011-2012 term,” said Dr Singh.

The South African President, who is on his first official trip to Asia, arrived in New Delhi from Mumbai on Thursday.

He is accompanied by a high profile business delegation to promote and strengthen the historical and business ties between both countries. (ANI)

Korea hopes India would renew POSCO Steel MOU in Orissa

Busan (S.Korea), June 4 (ANI): Alaying doubts over the fate of South Korean steel company Posco’s memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Orissa government to build a steel plant to be lapsed next month, South Korean former Finance Minister and Chairman of Presidential Committee for the G20 Summit hoped that India will renew its license further.

The MoU for the largest foreign investment in India, signed on June 22, 2005, is valid only for a period of five years and an extension is possible only if there is mutual agreement.

But the ongoing agitation by locals and tribals at the proposed site in Jagatsinghpur district, who are not willing to part with the land for the steel plant has cast show over its viability of the project and it has angered the steelmaker Posco due to lack of progress even after five years of signing the agreement.

Defending Korean steel major Posco, South Korean Leader said, “I hope it will be renewed and I know the Posco is doing well there and working very closely with Indian counterpart. Direct investment is a win-win proposition anyway, I hope India will renew the agreement.”

As per the MoU, the project’s first module, comprising a 3MTPA crude steel plant and a 2.82MTPA finished steel plant, should have been commissioned by July 2010 or within 36 months from the date of taking possession of the land, or the registration of the executed prospecting license, whichever is later.(ANI)

President Patil dedicates Indian-style Buddhist temple to China

Luoyang (China), May 29 (IANS) Visiting Indian President Pratibha Patil Saturday dedicated a Buddhist temple, built with Indian assistance, to the Chinese people.

The structure is adjacent to the White Horse Temple (Baima Si) built in the first century A.D. in honour of two Indian monks who travelled on horseback, carrying with them religious texts and an image of the Buddha.

As she entered its premises in this city in Henan province, she was welcomed by Buddhist monks in yellow robes.

The temple has a dome that 63 feet high and 80 feet in diameter and has a 16-feet tall statue of Buddha in a preaching position. Indian officials say it is modelled on lines of the Sanchi Stupa in Madhya Pradesh.

The temple is Indian not only in concept and design but also the material that has gone into its construction. A variety of stones in many textures from Kota and Jaisalmer in Rajasthan as well as marbles and granite were carried in 200 containers to China.

The glass roof of the temple allows in a swathe of sunlight that falls on the Buddha statue. The statue is made of Chunar sandstone, the same that was used to make the Buddha idol at Sarnath near Varanasi, a major Buddhist pilgrim centre.

At the entrance to the shrine is the ‘toran’ or the ‘welcome gate’ along with two ‘dwarapals’ (gatekeepers). There is a separate shrine for the ‘paduka’, the Buddha’s feet that are traditionally worshipped. Water bodies and lawns outside complete the exteriors.

The idea of the temple was proposed by China in 2003 when then Indian prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited Luoyang. He promptly accepted the idea, realising the importance of a Buddhist shrine as a means for people-to-people contact.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit in 2008.

India has provided technical, financial and other support for the temple that stands on a 6,000 square metre plot provided by the Chinese government.

Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh is known for its stupas, monasteries, temples and pillars dating from the 3rd century B.C. to the 12th century A.D. The most famous of these monuments, the Sanchi Stupa, was originally built by emperor Asoka.

Patil is on a six-day visit to China. The visit ends May 31.

EU urges Greece to stick to austerity, pension plan

The European Union sent Greece a letter to remind it to stick to the terms of a 110-billion euro ($134.6 billion) bail-out deal, officials said ahead of talks this week on Athens’ pension reform plans.

The comments came after Greece’s Labour Minister said on Monday that the EU and IMF were asking the debt-choked country to stiffen its draft pension reform, which is required by a multi-billion euro “aid for pain” deal agreed this month.

A European Commission spokesman dismissed suggestions the letter related to any shortcomings in Athens’ adherence to the plan, but said the EU executive had to closely monitor Greece’s implementation of the aid programme.

“We at the European Commission are obliged to keep a close eye on all the various elements involved in applying the memorandum,” Amadeu Altafaj said.

“This is a normal exchange between the Greek authorities and the Commission services on a draft law which has to follow parameters that have been set up under the memorandum of understanding,” he told a regular news briefing.

Pension reform is a key performance benchmark for Greece under the three-year bailout programme, the biggest ever for an individual country. Any glitch over pensions could raise doubts about the Greek government’s resolve to carry out the programme.

The draft pension bill allows retirees to draw a full pension after 37 years of contributions, three years earlier than set out in the bailout deal agreed earlier this month.

The bill also fully implements reform in 2018, three years after an EU-IMF deadline.

“We are discussing with Greece how to make the pension reform compatible with the memorandum of understanding,” European Commission’s Director General for Economic and Monetary Affairs Marco Buti had told Reuters earlier on Tuesday.

A joint delegation of the EU, the IMF and the European Central Bank will discuss the issue with senior Greek labour ministry officials in Athens on Thursday.

“2018 seems too late for them and they tell us to go ahead in 2015,” Greek Labour Minister Andreas Loverdos said in a television interview on Monday, commenting on the letter.

Altafaj said the letter was part of regular correspondence with Athens.

“The letter contains strictly nothing new in reference to the memorandum (signed between the European Commission, Greece, the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank),” the spokesman said. “It was quite simply to remind people of the terms of the memorandum on this question.”

Greece will submit on Friday an actuarial study to back up its arguments in talks with EU and IMF officials, Loverdos said.

The pension bill is expected to be submitted to parliament in the coming days and to be voted on in June. The socialist government has a comfortable parliamentary majority.

The main labour unions oppose the bill, saying it will put a further burden on the poor who have already been hit by other sweeping austerity measures.

The reform aims at containing public pensions spending by cutting benefits, raising the retirement age for women and discouraging early retirements.

The IMF’s chief economist Olivier Blanchard said on Monday Greece must show determination in implementing the plan agreed with the EU and the International Monetary Fund.

Nine injured in clash over setting up of Korean steel plant in Orissa

Jagatsinghpur (Orissa), May 16 (ANI): At least nine people, including six policemen, were injured in a clash in Orissa”s Jagatsinghpur District as violence flared over a planned steel plant of South Korea”s POSCO.

The clash took place as the villagers were opposing the planned 12 million-tonne-capacity steel plant by the world”s number four steel-maker.

Security personnel resorted to firing teargas shells and rubber bullets to disperse hundreds of villagers, who had gathered at the project site, preventing access to the site to company and government officials.

The police also charged a makeshift camp of the Communist-backed agitators of the POSCO Pratirodh Sangram Samiti.

Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, however, said the district administration was in negotiation with agitated villagers to urge them to not indulge in violence.

“The district administration is negotiating with the local people to clear the road, not to put any hurdle on the road. We believe in peaceful industrialization in our state and that no one should indulge in violence,” said Naveen Patnaik.

POSCO signed a memorandum of understanding in June 2005 for the plant, which was to be built in three phases by 2016, with production scheduled to begin by the end of 2011 upon completion of the first phase.

The making of this world-class steelworks with 12 million tons per annum will not only provide extensive value addition to the mineral wealth of Orissa, but also take the state and nation to the zenith of global industry. (ANI)

Uttarakhand Congress demands CM”s resignation over corruption charges

Dehradun (Uttarakhand), May 6 (ANI): Uttarakhand leader of Opposition and Congress leader Harak Singh Rawat has demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank over allegations of corruption in the allotment of a hydro-power project.

Rawat accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Government of being corrupt in the allotment of the power project to as many as 56 private companies.

Rawat demanded a probe into the matter and sought Nishank”s resignation.

“The State government has resorted to corruption in the hydro-power project. We have been demanding a CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) probe into the matter. The Chief Minister was justifying himself on a national television. We have demanded that he should resign on moral grounds,” said Rawat.

He added that the Congress would not allow the State Government to sell the power project to private companies. The power station in question is capable of generating up to 800 Megawatts.

Meanwhile, Nishank said that the process of allotment would only take place after all clearances have been received and Memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with the companies.

“The 56 companies got power projects on the basis of tender. Only those companies got the tender that were technically sound. After the clearance of objections, MoUs will be signed with the companies,” said Nishank.

“I want to repeat that till now, nobody has got even half a megawatt of power,” he added.

The Chief Minister further said that that a committee of secretary-level officials has been formed to look into the objections raised over the allotment process.

He added that a committee of Secretary-level officials has been formed to look into the objections raised over the allotment process. (ANI)

Traditional owners to develop High Country MOU

Aboriginal elders have decided to develop a memorandum of understanding between traditional owners across the Australian Alps.

More than 100 traditional owners gathered at Jindabyne in the New South Wales South East at the weekend to discuss the role of Aboriginal people in the management of High Country national parks.

They decided that the memorandum will take a cross-border approach, involving working groups from New South Wales, Victoria, and the ACT.

A facilitator of the event, Uncle Ernie Innes, says all Aboriginal groups will be included.

“Whatever we put in place goes out to all of the traditional owner groups, so that everyone is informed of what the outcomes are, and there’s nobody left out,” he said.

“Everybody is represented.”

For more, go to the South East News blog at http://bit.ly/dgL1SN

Dalmiya denies important IPL papers were missing

Kolkata, April 23 (IANS) Describing as ‘most unpleasant’ the Indian Premier League (IPL) controversy that has shaken Indian cricket, Cricket Association of Bengal President Jagmohan Dalmiya Thursday scoffed at allegations that the organisation had received money from questionable sources for hosting the seven IPL matches at the Eden Gardens.

Dalmiya also denied that some of the papers like the Memorandum of Understanding between the CAB and Red Chillies Entertainment which owns Kolkata Knight Riders were found missing during the search and survey operation conducted by the Income Tax Sleuths Wednesday.

‘No paper is missing. We had one duplicate and an orgininal copy of the MOU. Unfortunately, the original of the MOU was not found yesterday (Wednesday). We found it today (Thursday). We will hand it over to the IT people Friday,’ Dalmiya said.

‘A lot of kite-flying and mud-slinging is going on. I will respond to this in three-four days,’ Dalmiya said.

Asked about the IPL crisis, he said: ‘It is most unpleasant. It is the saddest thing to have happened in my entire career as cricket administrator’.

On the CAB receiving cheques of rupees two crore from a Mauritious bank branch, CAB joint secretary Biswarup Dey said: ‘We have received two cheques of Yes Bank, Mumbai branch which we deposited with the SBI, Chowringhee branch here. We have no idea about the source of the money.’

Dalmoya corroborated Dey and countered: ‘When you get your salary from your employers, do you ask where and how they got the money?’

‘We got the money, but we don’t know where it came from. Our parent body is the BCCI. It should know,’ he said.

Dalmiya had a lengthy meeting with a leading tax lawyer at the CAB Thursday evening.

India, Brazil express satisfaction over bilateral cooperation in Defense sector

Brasilia, April 15 (ANI): India and Brazil here on Thursday expressed satisfaction at the ongoing bilateral cooperation in the Defense sector.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva during their bilateral meet welcomed the appointment of Defence Attachis in their respective Diplomatic Missions in Brazil and in India.

They noted the increasing contacts between EMBRAER and DRDO towards the joint development of high-technology military aircrafts.

They underlined that the recent visit of Minister of Defence of Brazil, H.E. Nelson Jobim, to India in March 2010 had opened opportunities for enhanced Defence cooperation particularly in the field of joint production, research and development.

Both the leaders welcomed the decision to host the First Meeting of the India-Brazil Joint Defence Committee, in India, this year, at mutually convenient dates.

Moreover, the two leaders reiterated the importance that Brazil and India attach to bilateral electoral cooperation and noted with satisfaction the ongoing dialogue between the Election Commission of India and Electoral Authorities in Brazil, which saw the visit of Mr. Carlos Augusto Ayres de Freitas Britto, President of the Electoral Superior Tribunal, Brazil, to India for the Diamond Jubilee Celebration of the Election Commission of India on 25 January 2010, and would lead to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Election Commission of India and the Electoral Superior Tribunal of Brazil shortly.

Dr. Singh and President Lula expressed their satisfaction at the growing cultural exchanges between India and Brazil.

The Brazilian side welcomed India’s decision to open a Cultural Center in Sco Paulo, the first of its kind in the Americas.

The Indian side, on the other hand, commended the Brazilian side on the successful organization of the “Brazilian Cultural Week” held in India in 2008.

The Brazilian side also welcomed India’s intention to organize a Festival of India in Brazil in early 2011.

Dr. Singh and President Lula welcomed the convergence of positions between Brazil and India in multilateral fora and in groups such as IBSA and BRIC, which is reflective of the growing importance of developing countries and of their role in shaping a more balanced international order in a multi-polar world.

The two leaders shared the view on the urgent need to strengthen the participation of developing countries in the decision-making processes within the multilateral financial institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, and political bodies, such as the United Nations.

They reaffirmed their commitment for the reform of the United Nations, particularly of the Security Council, including through its expansion in both permanent and non-permanent membership, with a view to improving its efficiency, representativeness, and legitimacy needed to meet the challenges faced by the international community today.

The two Leaders reiterated their support to each other in their quest for permanent membership in an expanded UNSC. They also expressed their commitment to join efforts to convey to other ountries the importance and urgency of the expansion of the UNSC in both permanent and non-permanent categories. President Lula expressed appreciation for India’s support for the election of Brazil as a non-permanent member of the UNSC for 2010-11 and reiterated the support of Brazil to India’s candidature for a non-permanent seat of the UNSC for the period of 2011-12. (ANI)