FOREVERMARK DIAMONDS SHINE

AT THE 84^th ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARDS

Los Angeles, 26^th February, 2012 - Forevermark once again made its mark on this year’s Oscars Red Carpet and at high profile Hollywood parties, with actresses choosing Forevermark diamonds to create dazzling fashion statements. 

Michelle Williams, Zoe Saldana, Regina King and Julia Ormond all wore striking creations including special red carpet pieces created by Forevermark Jewellers such as Chow Tai Fook and Hazoorilal.

84^th  Annual Academy Awards  (Sunday, 26^th February 2012)

-    ‘My Week With Marilyn’ Best Actress Academy Award Nominee Michelle Williams, wore a magnificent Fred Leighton necklace set with over 30 carats of round brilliant-cut Forevermark diamonds.

-    ‘The Descendants’ Actress Amara Miller wore a stunning Forevermark pear shape ring with matching pear shape drop earrings.

-    ‘My Week With Marilyn’ Actress Julia Ormond sparkled in Kimberly McDonald for Forevermark 12.75 carat oxidized diamond drop earrings and Kimberly McDonald for Forevermark oxidized rose cut diamond bangles totalling 67.25 carats.

-    Actress Judy Greer donned an elegant Mimi So for Forevermark bangle paired with beautiful Mimi So for Forevermark stick earrings.

Exclusives Oscars Events

-    Actress Zoe Saldana wore a spectacular pair of 10 carat stud earrings by Forevermark Jeweller Chow Tai Fook stylishly matched with a ring featuring a rare 2.75 carat Forevermark pink diamond to attend the Vanity Fair Party.

-    Actress Regina King wore an exquisite pair of Forevermark Millemoi earrings matched with a 13.75 carat bracelet by Forevermark Jeweller Hazoorilal to attend the Vanity Fair Party.

-    Amandla Stenberg, Actress in the upcoming film adaptation of ‘The Hunger Games’ wore exquisite drop earrings featuring Forevermark diamonds to attend an exclusive Pre-Oscars Party.

-    Supermodel Karolina Kurkova wore a beautiful Hoorsenbuhs’ for Forevermark diamond cuff to attend an exclusive Pre-Oscars Party.

Free Cocktails for Women at 36 Oak & Barley

Dress up and look radiant in your favourite outfit, then head to 36 Oak & Barley where they will treat you a cocktail, especially concocted to match your dress, this International Women's day.

For those who love pink, red, or even purple 36 Oak & Barley offers you a fresh strawberry or black grape mojito or even the Spicy pink guava. The sour apple Martini or the spicy vicey is sure to be a hit with the ladies in yellow or green.

The restaurant boasts a large variety of signature cocktails made with fresh ingredients and premium liqueurs that is sure to match your style.

So be charmed with what is churned out for you this Women’s day at 36 Oak & Barley.

About 36 O&B

36 Oak & Barley, a newly launched restaurant in the heart of Kemps corner, is an all day dining that serves up a delectable menu of comfort food presented in a gourmet fashion. This world cuisine restaurant has a lot to offer on the menu that comprises of Soup, Appetizers, Set Mains, Burger, Pizza, Pasta, Dessert and much more.
Some of the signature dishes at 36 Oak & Barley include Akuri on Toast, Warm crispy baked Aspargus and cheese phylo triangles and for dessert the classic Panna Cotta with hints of Vanilla drizzled with sweet ans sour berry coulis.
This all day dining offers Wi fi and a menu for coffee and Tea.

The Arusha Conference Calls for Deeper Integration in EAC in the Context of Strengthened Partnership

February 28, 2012

At a conference entitled, “The East African Community (EAC) after 10 Years: Deepening EAC Integration,” sponsored by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and co-hosted by the Secretariat of the EAC and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Arusha, Tanzania on February 27-28, 2012, policymakers of the region reaffirmed their vision for building a strong economic and monetary union that will bring about significant and sustainable improvements in quality of life for a population of more than 130 million.

The conference brought together Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors from EAC members Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda, as well as from South Sudan, and was held as the EAC enters its second decade. Participants, including senior leaders from governments, central banks, and the private sector, as well as civil society and academia discussed the EAC’s achievements, the benefits of regional integration, and future macroeconomic challenges faced by the region.

“During the last twelve years, EAC has developed the institutions and legal frameworks to promote a viable and vibrant integrated market that is supportive of business investment and growth,” said Dr Sezibera, Secretary General of the EAC.

“We have established a Customs Union and a Common Market which will further deepen regional integration. We are committed to the establishment of the East African Monetary Union (EAMU). In this regard, we recognize the IMF support to the EAMU process through a number of activities at regional level including provision of analytical studies, statistics and technical assistance.

”We are eager to build on the experience of Eurozone countries and other regions with currency unions in designing the EAMU. Early priorities are to develop integrated regional financial capital markets that support capital flows throughout the region. Careful thought is also needed on how to ensure that national fiscal policies and debt management will be supportive of a successful monetary union.

Mr. Naoyuki Shinohara, Deputy Managing Director of the IMF said “We are very pleased with the depth and quality of conference discussions. We have had a candid dialogue with key economic and social stakeholders in East Africa, and this is invaluable, as the EAC is entering its second decade.

“Good progress in regional integration has been made through the launch of customs union and common market projects. These provide scope for countries to achieve greater productivity and competiveness by scaling up their operations in a market of 130 million people.

“At the same time, an important challenge is to further advance the customs union and common market. Important non-tariff trade barriers remain between EAC member countries. Without a truly integrated market, the community is not likely to see the full benefits of improved productivity, competitiveness, and welfare. I am encouraged that Dr. Sezibera has identified removal of non-tariff barriers as a major reform priority for the EAC in 2012.

“A critical question relates to the appropriate pace for moving beyond a common market to monetary union. Certainly, good progress in implementing the customs union and common market will strengthen prospects for a successful monetary union. But the latter also will depend crucially on achieving convergent fiscal, debt, and financial policies. The IMF stands ready to further assist the EAC through analytical work and technical assistance in these areas.”

You Do Have Enough Time And Money To Stay Healthy The Wright Way
Houston, TX, February 20, 2012 – Forty-hour work weeks, two-hour commutes, carpools, school conferences, commitments: who has time to eat healthy foods and exercise? And who can afford pricey organic, fresh foods anyway? You can, according to Randy Wright, MD and his co-author David Tabatsky. They spell it out in practical terms in The Wright Choice: Your Family’s Prescription for Healthy Eating, Modern Fitness and Saving Money (Intouch Media Health Network).
“We all know we should make healthier choices,” Dr. Wright explains. “But we don’t necessarily make it a priority. Sometimes it feels like we can't make it our first choice. Staying fit and eating well seems to fall through the cracks.” Moms and dads with hectic schedules are the norm right now; this pragmatic guide to good health is written especially for them. “We want to help them achieve their goal of staying fit without sacrificing work and personal goals.”
The secret is locked inside our brains, Dr. Wright says. “I wanted to explore the psychology of why we think about being healthier but don’t actually do it. To succeed, we have to completely change the way we think about food and the role exercise plays in our lives. Then you're open for an ‘ah-ha’ moment: just as you shouldn't start planning for retirement a mere five years before you stop working, you shouldn't start living healthy only when something goes wrong.”
Dr. Wright's long medical career is the background for the guide's comprehensive overview on healthy living. From an explanation of fats and how they affect our bodies to a fascinating account of why Americans just can't seem to put down the Twinkies, the truth about food is revealed and medical myths debunked. The financial advantages of physical fitness are outlined, and an affordable easy-to-follow fitness routine to use at home is included. “The rules we've developed work as personal mantras,” Dr. Wright continues. “Protecting your family and your own health are goals that should be taken to heart.”
Making The Wright Choice even more compelling are the testimonials included by Dr. Wright and his co-author. Ordinary people have found success in their health, diets and pocketbooks by following Dr. Wright's simple regimen, including tasty, easy recipes. The Wright Choice: Your Family’s Prescription for Healthy Eating, Modern Fitness and Saving Money is available for sale online at Amazon.com and other channels.
Dr. Randy Wright is Director of the Neurovascular Institute at Conroe Regional Medical Center as well as Medical Director for the Health South Rehabilitation Hospital’s stroke unit in the Woodlands, TX. He received his bachelor’s degree in physics from Xavier University and electrical engineering from Georgia Tech before going on to obtain his medical degree at Emory University. He completed his neurology training at Baylor College of Medicine, then went on to complete a two-year Fellowship in sleep medicine and neurophysiology at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Wright is a Diplomat of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology as well as a Diplomat of the American Board of Sleep Medicine. He currently serves as chairman of the stroke committee for the American Heart Association's SouthWest affiliate and as a liaison member to the South Central affiliate of the American Heart Association.
David Tabatsky is co-author of Chicken Noodle Soup for the Soul: The Cancer Book: 101 Stories of Courage, Support & Love.

Ecko Watches Latest News: The X-Ray Vision

MIDDLEBURY, CT - For Immediate Release –- Mixing materials for depth of character, the E08513 Series is the next evolution of transparent design from UNLTD. This techy-cool design hangs on its 42.5x56mm transparent plastic case framed with metal inlays at the six and twelve positions. The metal inlays are etched with UNLTD. and rhino logos and angled to fit the contour of the wrist. The unique plastic case, ergonomically-contoured fit and soft silicone cuff-style strap combine to create the weightless feel of the E08513 Series.

This watch has it-the cool factor. The innovative case is rectangular with the aperture to dial framed out in a transparent square. The E08513 Series is available in black-tinted and clear case versions with black or white straps. Bold numbers for easy readability against a honeycomb pattern on the dial add to its artsy, street-tech appeal.

A cuff width, very smooth silicone strap stamped with a repeating pattern of the ubiquitous rhino logo comfortably secures the timepiece on the wrist. The rhino logo on the crown is the finishing touch.

"The E08513 Series is an oversized watch with micro-details," states Stephen Scholz, Global Brand Director of Marc Ecko and UNLTD. Timepieces. "We continue to use our transparent material pallet to tell a new story in product design."

The E08513 Series is cool, simple and iconic, perfect for the person who is open to new things, to uniqueness that defines personal style. The E08513 Series has an edge, but it is an edge with a refined attitude.

ABOUT MARC ECKO WATCHES

 Marc Ecko watches offer a diverse range of timepieces characterized by aggressive styling, unique details and unlimited possibilities. The collection speaks to 15 to 35-year-old cultural connoisseurs passionate and engaged in fashion, music, sports, technology and social media. A Marc Ecko watch expresses character and individual style, more than just time. 

ABOUT TIMEX GROUP
Timex Group designs, manufactures and markets innovative timepieces and jewelry globally. Founded in 1854, Timex Group, a privately held company with numerous brands and more than 5,000 employees worldwide, is one of the largest watchmakers in the world.

Mesa Exploration [TSX-V:MSA] - Mesa Exploration Announces Non-Brokered Private Placement

Mesa Exploration Corp. (TSXV: MSA) (“Mesa” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce a non brokered private placement (the “Offering”) of up to 1,200,000 units (the “Units”) at a price of $0.50 per Unit for gross proceeds of up to $600,000. Each Unit will consist of one common share (a “Share”) in the capital of Mesa and one non-transferable common share purchase warrant (a “Warrant”). Each whole Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one additional common share (a “Warrant Share”) in the capital of Mesa at a price of $0.75 per Warrant Share. The warrants will expire 24 months from the date of issue. The securities issued under the Offering will be subject to a four month hold period under applicable Canadian securities laws. The Offering is subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval.

Proceeds from the Offering will be used to advance Mesa’s exploration projects and for general working capital.

About Mesa Exploration
Mesa is developing and exploring a portfolio of mineral properties in the United States where it controls significant land holdings. All projects are within proven mining districts with excellent access and infrastructure. Mesa currently has 14 million shares issued and outstanding, and no debt.

HONEYWELL adds new flow ranges to Zephyr™ Airflow Sensor portfolio TO OPTIMIZE SYSTEM PERFORMANCE IN MEdical, industrial applications

High Sensitivity at Very Low Flows Allow Detection of the Low Pressure Drops that Often Occur in Medical Applications

MINNEAPOLIS, February 28, 2012 – Honeywell (NYSE: HON) announced today that it has added new flow ranges to its Zephyr™ Analog and Digital Airflow Sensor portfolio to provide high sensitivity at very low flows – making the sensor portfolio ideal for use in a variety of medical equipment and industrial applications.

Honeywell has added four standard flow ranges between ±50 SCCM and ±750 SCCM to its existing flow range of ±200 SCCM. In addition to the flow ranges, a new port/housing style, the short port fastener mount, has also been added to the portfolio. The extended flow ranges give the Honeywell Zephyr™ the ability to detect low-pressure drops that often occur in medical applications and which can impact patient comfort, and can reduce noise and system wear on components, such as motors and pumps. In industrial applications, lower flow range detection can optimize performance in gas leak detection and clogged HVAC air filter detection.

“With the addition of the new airflow ranges, Honeywell provides its customers with more options to integrate the sensor into their application,” said AJ Smith, director of global product marketing for Honeywell Sensing and Control. “Customers will also benefit from the portfolio’s industry-leading accuracy and the ability to customize the sensor to meet their specific application needs.”

Customers who have already designed a bypass that extends the flow range above the normal range of the existing airflow sensor can now use the Honeywell Zephyr™ airflow sensor to optimize overall performance and reduce manufacturing costs.

Additional industry-leading features of the Honeywell Zephyr™ airflow portfolio include:

· Total Error Band as low as ±2.25 %FSS (full scale span) allow for very accurate airflow measurement

· Stability reduces errors due to thermal effects and null shift, providing accurate readings over time and often eliminating system calibration after PC board mount

· Linear output provides a more intuitive signal than the raw output of basic airflow sensors, helping to reduce production costs and design and implementation time

· Low pressure drop typically improves patient comfort in medical applications, and reduces noise and system wear on other components such as motors and pumps

Potential applications for the Honeywell Zephyr™ airflow sensors include:

· Medical: anesthesia, hospital diagnostics (spectrometry/gas chromatography), nebulizers, oxygen concentrators, patient monitoring, sleep apnea, spirometers, ventilators, and ventricular assist devices

· Industrial: air-to-fuel ratio, analytical instrumentation (spectrometry, chromatography), fuel cells, gas leak detection, gas meters, HVAC filters, VAV system on HVAC systems, and meteorology

Mining in the country of the Africa Cup of Nations champions ThyssenKrupp Fördertechnik receives major order for semi-mobile crushing plants

It's a promising kick-off: At the very start of the year ThyssenKrupp Fördertechnik GmbH reports a further major order for its Business Unit Processing: Three semi-mobile primary crushing systems are to be supplied to the new Sentinel mine in Zambia, a copper ore mine operated by Kalumbila Minerals Ltd., a subsidiary of First Quantum Ltd. The mine is part of the Trident project launched by the Canadian mining company in the northwest of Zambia in 2011, which also includes the open-pit mines Enterprise and Intrepid.

Fitted with ThyssenKrupp type KB 63-89 gyratory crushers, the most powerful currently available in this market segment, the systems are capable of handing 3,600 tons of copper ore per hour. Startup is scheduled for 2013. With a total value of around 40 million euros, this order is one of the biggest in the history of the Ennigerloh location.

The crushing plants are designed to be relocated as mining progresses. For the relocation of the individual modules, which weigh up to 1,200 tons, ThyssenKrupp Fördertechnik is supplying a specially designed transport crawler, only once before built in this size.

The use of semi-mobile systems in ore mining has been gaining increasing acceptance for some years because compared with traditional stationary systems they are cheaper to maintain and operate. They also reduce pollution from dust, waste gases and CO2. "We are constantly developing new processes and products that are more efficient, environmentally friendly and can cover the growing demand for raw materials on a sustainable basis," says Detlef Papajewski, Vice President Crushing Technology.

The Business Unit Processing of ThyssenKrupp Fördertechnik GmbH with headquarters in Essen, Germany, has approximately 200 employees and is located in Ennigerloh, Germany. Here, high-performance processing plants for crushing, grading and transporting rock, ore and other mineral resources are developed by a committed team of highly qualified engineers.

ThyssenKrupp Fördertechnik is part of the Business Area Plant Technology of ThyssenKrupp AG. With more than 2,800 employees worldwide ThyssenKrupp Fördertechnik is one of the leading suppliers of plants and systems for the mining, processing and handling of raw materials and minerals. Our equipment is used in open-pit mines and quarries, port terminals, power plants and stockyards throughout the world, constantly setting new standards. Innovative concepts, decades of expertise and a global presence enable us to provide expert advice, planning, engineering, design, construction, delivery, installation, commissioning and after-sales service - from individual units to turnkey plants.

Outokumpu announces a share incentive scheme for the CEO related to the Inoxum transaction

The Board of Directors of Outokumpu Oyj has approved the granting of 25 000 Outokumpu shares as a special incentive scheme to the Group's CEO, Mika Seitovirta. Outokumpu is in the process of preparing a rights issue in connection with the implementation of the strategically important Inoxum acquisition announced on 31 January 2012 and the CEO has committed to fully subscribe all the shares which the reward shares entitle to.

The aim of the scheme is to retain the CEO as he has a central role in the successful implementation of the acquisition process and the related integration. The reward shares will be delivered to the CEO no later than 29 February 2012. Outokumpu will pay the taxes and any social security contributions related to the reward shares.

The reward shares are subject to a restriction according to which the reward shares may not be transferred or in any other manner disposed of before 31 March 2015. The reward shares are also subject to a restriction according to which the CEO forfeits the reward shares if his service is terminated or a notice for the termination of the service is given prior to the end of the above restriction period. The reward shares are, in addition, subject to a claw-back provision during the above restriction period.

The reward shares are subject to the share ownership guideline applied by the company to the executive management. The company's other limitations on variable pay will be applied in connection with the delivery of the reward shares.

The reward shares will consist of Outokumpu treasury shares and will, therefore, have no diluting effect.

Citrix and Dell Deliver a Simple VDI Appliance for the Mass Market

New Integrated Turnkey Hardware Appliance Makes Virtual Desktop Deployments As Simple as Assembling Building Blocks

India, February 28, 2012 – Citrix Systems today announced it has teamed with Dell to deliver a new VDI appliance that radically simplifies and accelerates desktop virtualization deployments for the mass market. The Dell DVS Simplified solution with Citrix VDI-in-a-Box™ is an easy, repeatable solution that will be sold through Dell’s global sales team and channels, reaching millions of customers who want to take advantage of the significant business benefits that desktop virtualization offers, such as enhanced mobility and streamlined IT management.

Leveraging the all-in-one Citrix VDI-in-a-Box software, Dell and Citrix have created a simple integrated hardware VDI appliance that is pre-certified to support defined numbers of desktops. Based on the unique VDI-in-a-Box grid architecture running on Dell servers, the Dell DVS Simplified VDI appliance can be easily installed to create and rapidly scale a virtual desktop deployment in response to business needs, making VDI easily consumable by light IT organizations that may have previously lacked the resources and datacenter infrastructure needed for desktop virtualization.

The VDI appliance is backed by a full Citrix Ready® verified ecosystem, providing customers with tested and validated workforce mobility solutions, supporting over one billion devices, including PCs, Macs, thin clients, tablets, smartphones, along with peripherals such as web cams, printers, mice and keyboards. Customers can have full confidence that the VDI appliance works “out-of-the-box” with existing end-user technology. With the strengths of partnerships like Dell, Citrix is making VDI more simple than it has ever been and more ideal to grow on-demand than ever before, allowing businesses of all sizes to enable mobile workstyles for their users.

The industry is moving rapidly from the PC era to the cloud era, and small and medium businesses want to capitalize on the business benefits of desktop virtualization, including driving efficiencies, enabling mobility and improving business continuity, but typically have much tighter budgets and far fewer resources. Citrix VDI-in-a-Box addresses these needs head-on. The VDI-in-a-Box design eliminates multiple moving parts that can potentially result in higher costs and complexity of infrastructure. The unique all-in-one grid architecture enables a building-block approach by leveraging Dell’s off-the-shelf servers. Scaling a deployment involves simply adding additional servers, with nothing to re-architect or reconfigure. Citrix continues to help simplify the purchase and accelerate the adoption of desktop virtualization with these new additions:

· A Simple, Integrated VDI hardware appliance – Dell and Citrix have teamed together to create an integrated hardware VDI appliance that comes pre-certified to support defined numbers of desktops. There is no need to determine how much disk, CPU and RAM to use. Simply unpack the box, power it on and go. Built on the VDI-in-a-Box grid architecture, adding virtual desktops is as simple as adding appliances like building blocks, and high-availability is built-in. This solution simplifies and accelerates VDI deployment especially for non-enterprise customers who may lack the resources and datacenter infrastructure that desktop virtualization may require.

· Support for Mobile Workstyles from Over One Billion Devices – The popular Citrix Ready verification program, which helps customers identify third-party solutions that are recommended for Citrix technologies is now expanded to include testing and validation for VDI-in-a-Box. Using the freely available Citrix Receiver™, users can connect from over one billion devices, including tablets, smartphones, Macs, PCs and thin clients to access their VDI-in-a-Box virtual desktop.

· Certified and Trained Partner Ecosystem – Citrix has launched a comprehensive, self-paced 4-hour technical training curriculum for VDI-in-a-Box available free of charge to qualified partners. Over 1,000 partners have already taken the sales training curriculum for VDI-in-a-Box in the first few weeks of availability. The comprehensive partner sales and technical training is designed to enable the Citrix partner ecosystem to sell to and support the rapidly growing customer base for easy, affordable desktop virtualization with Citrix VDI-in-a-Box.

Quotes

Krishna Subramanian, Vice President, Marketing & Business Development, SMB Solutions, Citrix

“We are seeing tremendous customer and partner momentum with Citrix VDI-in-a-Box as SMBs and departments within enterprises seek to capitalize on the benefits of delivering IT services from the cloud by virtualizing desktops. Our relationship with Dell and the new integrated VDI appliance is aimed at making the transition to the cloud a no-brainer for our mutual customers, ultimately breaking down the barriers to VDI adoption for this very important customer segment through a repeatable, simple, affordable and predictable hardware VDI solution.”

Steve Lalla, Vice President and General Manager of Dell’s Mobility Products and Solutions

“Our customers look to Dell as a trusted companion to deploy desktop virtualization solutions that help them promote workforce mobility, business continuity and streamlined IT management. Our new DVS Simplified solution with Citrix VDI-in-a-Box addresses these issues so companies can focus on their core business objectives. Dell’s DVS Simplified dramatically reduces VDI deployment complexity, with nothing to architect, configure or install – simply power it on and go. What’s more, the solution enables businesses of all sizes to realize the benefits of central desktop management that were previously reserved only for the largest enterprises.”

Chris Wolf, Research VP, Gartner

“We have seen strong interest in virtual desktop technology among our client base. However, cost and complexity have been barriers to entry in certain use cases, namely with small businesses and branch office environments. Virtual desktop appliances represent an emerging virtual desktop solution that delivers desktop virtualization’s flexibility and TCO benefits at a reasonable cost and simplicity that many organizations demand.”

About Citrix

Citrix Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CTXS) transforms how businesses and IT work and people collaborate in the cloud era. With market-leading cloud, collaboration, networking and virtualization technologies, Citrix powers mobile workstyles and cloud services, making complex enterprise IT simpler and more accessible for 260,000 organizations. Citrix products touch 75 percent of Internet users each day and it partners with more than 10,000 companies in 100 countries. Annual revenue in 2011 was $2.21 billion.

Protecting nature and sustaining natural capital make good business sense

SINGAPORE, February 28, 2012: A group of influential business leaders from Singapore, India, Indonesia and Malaysia joined World Bank Group President, Robert B. Zoellick, and members of the Global Tiger Initiative (GTI) to brainstorm new strategies to save wild tigers from extinction and address threats to biodiversity in the region.

With only 3,200 wild tigers left in all of Asia, the meeting of CEOs and regional heads of finance, infrastructure, and transport companies and education groups marks the first in a series to be held throughout the region to bolster support for endangered wild tigers and promote the need to preserve their habitats - with the health of tigers seen as a reflection of the health of surrounding plants and animals.

“Tigers are an iconic species and to think that this species could be eliminated within our lifetime is a terrible tragedy,” Zoellick said.

“Supporting tiger conservation is part of the global development challenge and with the pace of development in the Asia Pacific region, enlisting the support of business and industry fills in the missing piece in the campaign to protect tigers and strengthen biodiversity conservation across the region.”

Zoellick said the World Bank Group, which together with partners such as the Global Environment Facility and the Smithsonian Institution set up the Global Tiger Initiative in 2008- could act as a “connector” in linking industry with environment groups and other agencies seeking to protect tigers and their natural habitats.

“This meeting launches a new conversation with companies and industries at the forefront of change and innovation, and their engagement would bring new business models to enhance the management of national parks and protected areas where wild tigers still roam,” said Keshav Varma, the World Bank’s Program Director for the Global Tiger Initiative.

During the talks in Singapore today, discussion centered on the need to reach out to people across the region and try and change attitudes about tiger products, campaign against poaching and to stress the need for creating a balance between conservation and growth. On the agenda was also discussion about the value of setting up an advisory council of business leaders across the region with the aim of helping conserve wild tigers and advising on the role industry can play in wildlife conservation issues. Participants noted that corporations have any number of opportunities to give back to the communities where they are engaged in business, but they need to set a new standard to preserve the environment and natural habitats for tigers and all wildlife because they are part of the region’s natural heritage.

In 2010, through the efforts of the Global Tiger Initiative and partners, the 13 tiger range countries came together at the “Tiger Summit” in St. Petersburg, Russia, where they unanimously endorsed a comprehensive, 12-year strategy to double the number of tigers in the wild by 2022, the Global Tiger Recovery Program. The Recovery Program estimates that $350 million in incremental financing in the tiger range countries will be necessary over the first five years to bring policy and institutional reform on the ground, with priority given to habitat protection and management, capacity-building, and anti-poaching efforts in national parks and other protected areas across the tiger range.

Group of 20 Advanced Economies Plans Economic Recovery

By MacKenzie C. Babb

Staff Writer

Washington - The Group of 20 advanced economies have worked together to diminish risks to the global economy, but still face significant economic challenges to full recovery, according to U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.

"Our focus now is on reforms that will help create a stronger foundation for future growth and broaden economic opportunity," he said. "Our strategy is to combine investments and reforms in education, innovation and infrastructure with tax reforms and savings to restore long-term fiscal sustainability."

The secretary spoke February 26 at the G20 meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors in Mexico City. He commended "encouraging signs of resilience" in economies around the world. Talks at the February 25-26 meeting focused on three key issues: Europe and the economic outlook, global financial reform, and Iran and oil markets.

On Europe, Geithner said the group was encouraged by recent progress on the region's path to financial recovery.

Mexican President Felipe Calderón, who spoke to the ministers February 25, also praised European leaders for implementing new reforms to enable countries in the region to reduce their deficits.

"I am pleased to see that the Euro zone countries are gradually coming up with the required solutions" to strengthen the European economic recovery, he said. "We know that much remains to be done, but these are obviously steps in the right direction."

Geithner said that beyond Europe, steps that many emerging economies have taken during the past several months have helped to support the global economic recovery. He encouraged countries to continue to enact policies to reinforce economic expansion and domestic sources of growth.

On Iran and oil, Geithner said he had a "series of encouraging conversations with countries planning to significantly reduce imports from Iran." He said the G20 partners are cooperating effectively to ensure that banks around the world "cease transactions with the Central Bank of Iran and that Iranian banks find it harder than ever to facilitate Iran's illicit nuclear activities or to help Iran evade sanctions."

The secretary said he was also encouraged by the group's cooperation to ensure alternative sources of oil from major producers to help offset reductions in exports from Iran.

Regarding financial reform, Geithner said the group reviewed the global effort to strengthen safeguards against future risks in the financial system. He said they made important progress on tougher capital standards, discussed strategies for oversight and transparency, and shared information on how to manage financial crises.

The finance ministers' meeting followed a meeting of the G20 foreign ministers in Los Cabos, Mexico, a week earlier. Both meetings came in preparation for the group's annual leaders' summit in Los Cabos in June.

(This is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State.)

Mechel Reports Suspension of Coal Mining at Southern Kuzbass Coal Company’s New-Olzherassk Underground Mine

Moscow, Russia — February 27, 2012 – Mechel OAO (NYSE: MTL), one of the leading Russian mining and metals companies, announces that coal mining at Southern Kuzbass Coal Company OAO’s New-Olzherassk Underground mine’s long wall face # 21-1-7 has been temporarily halted due to coal self-heating.

High levels of carbon monoxide were registered in New-Olzherassk Underground mine’s long wall face # 21-1-7, which is proof of coal self-heating. Mining operations are currently suspended.

Southern Kuzbass Coal Company OAO’s experts are working on measures to eliminate self-heating. Remote sampling yields prompt information on the gas situation in the production area, which is injected with a nitrogen-based foam.

The mine infrastructure, including its transport, ventilation system, dewatering, power facilities and roadheaders, is in working condition and safe.

The timing for resumption of mining will be determined once the project for eliminating self-heating is completed.

Suspension of the mine’s long wall face # 21-1-7 will not cause delay in coal deliveries to customers since there is enough coal at the New-Olzherassk Underground mine warehouse to ensure uninterrupted deliveries within the company’s existing contractual obligations.

This year New-Olzherassk mine has mined over 250,000 tonnes of coal. The coal produced at the mine is mostly used to produce PCI. Mechel is one of the leading Russian companies. Its business includes four segments: mining, steel, ferroalloy and power. Mechel unites producers of coal, iron ore concentrate, nickel, ferrochrome, ferrosilicon, steel, rolled products, hardware, heat and electric power. Mechel products are marketed domestically and internationally.

Amoeba may offer key clue to photosynthetic evolution

Stanford, CA—The major difference between plant and animal cells is the photosynthetic process, which converts light energy into chemical energy. When light isn’t available, energy is generated by breaking down carbohydrates and sugars, just as it is in animal and some bacterial cells. Two cellular organelles are responsible for these two processes: the chloroplasts for photosynthesis and the mitochondria for sugar breakdown. New research from Carnegie’s Eva Nowack and Arthur Grossman has opened a window into the early stages of chloroplast evolution. Their work is published online by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in the week of February 27-March 2.

It is widely accepted that chloroplasts originated from photosynthetic, single-celled bacteria called cyanobacteria, which were engulfed by a more complex, non-photosynthetic cell more than 1.5 billion years ago. While the relationship between the two organisms was originally symbiotic, over evolutionary time the cyanobacterium transferred most of its genetic information to the nucleus of the host organism, transforming the original cyanobacterium into a chloroplast that is no longer able to survive without its host.

A similar process resulted in the creation of mitochondria.

To sustain the function of the organelle, proteins encoded by the transferred genes are synthesized in the cytoplasm, or cell’s interior, and then imported back into the organelle. In most systems that have been studied, the transport of proteins into the chloroplast occurs through a multi-protein import complex that enables the proteins to pass through the envelope membranes that surround the chloroplast.

Clearly the events that gave rise to chloroplasts and mitochondria changed the world forever. But it is difficult to research the process by which this happened because it took place so long ago. One strategy used to elucidate the way in which this process evolved has relied on identifying organisms for which the events that resulted in the conversion of a bacterium into a host-dependent organelle occurred more recently.

Nowack and Grossman focused their research on a type of amoeba called Paulinella chromatophora, which contains two photosynthetic compartments that also originated from an endosymbiotic cyanobacterium, but that represent an earlier stage in the formation of a fully evolved organelle.

These compartments, called chromatophores, transferred more than 30 of the original cyanobacterial genes to the nucleus of the host organism. While gene transfer has been observed for other bacterial endosymbionts, the function of the transferred genes has been unclear, since it does not appear that the endosymbionts (in contrast to organelles) are equipped to recapture those proteins, because they do not have appropriate protein import machineries.

The Carnegie team honed in on three of the P. chromatophora transferred genes, which encode proteins involved in photosynthesis, a process localized to the chromatophore. They set out to determine whether these proteins are synthesized in the cytoplasm of the amoeba and whether the mature proteins became localized to the chromatophore.

Using an advanced array of research techniques, they were able to determine that these three proteins are synthesized in the cytoplasm and then transported into chromatophores, where they assemble together with other, internally encoded proteins into working protein complexes that are part of the photosynthetic process.

Interestingly, the process by which these proteins are transported into chromatophores may also be novel and involve transit through an organelle called the Golgi apparatus, prior to becoming localized to the chromatophore. This suggests the occurrence of an initial, rudimentary process for proteins to cross the envelope membrane of the nascent chloroplast. This process ultimately evolved into one that is potentially more sophisticated and that uses specific protein complexes for efficient transport.

“This work demonstrates that P. chromatophora is a potentially powerful model for studying evolutionary processes by which organelles developed,” Nowack said. “Obtaining a comprehensive list of proteins imported into chromatophores, including their functions and origins, as well as understanding the pathway by which these proteins are imported, could provide insight into the mechanism that eukaryotic cells use to ‘enslave’ bacteria and turn them into organelles such as chloroplasts and mitochondria.”

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This research was supported by Michael Melkonian, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, and the National Science Foundation.

The Carnegie Institution for Science (carnegiescience.edu) is a private, nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with six research departments throughout the U.S. Since its founding in 1902, the Carnegie Institution has been a pioneering force in basic scientific research. Carnegie scientists are leaders in plant biology, developmental biology, astronomy, materials science, global ecology, and Earth and planetary science.

Groundbreaking Index Launched to Empower Women and Fight Hunger Washington, D.C.—A significant new breakthrough in the measurement of women’s empowerment in developing countries is launched today. The “Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index” (WEAI) is the first measure to directly capture women’s empowerment and inclusion levels in the agricultural sector. The WEAI focuses on five areas: decisions over agricultural production, power over productive resources such as land and livestock, decisions over income, leadership in the community, and time use. Women are considered to be empowered if they have adequate achievements in four of the five areas. The Index also takes into consideration the empowerment of women compared with men in the same household, based on asking women and men the same survey questions. The Index is a partnership between the US Government’s Feed the Future initiative, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) of Oxford University. The index focuses on women because they play a critical role in agricultural growth in developing countries yet face persistent obstacles and economic constraints, limiting further inclusion in the sector. Piloted in three countries with diverse socioeconomic and cultural contexts—Bangladesh, Guatemala, and Uganda—the Index was developed to track the change in women’s empowerment that occurs as a direct or indirect result of US government intervention under the Feed the Future initiative to tackle global hunger and food security. The US government will use the Index for performance monitoring and impact evaluations across Feed the Future focus countries. “The Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index marks a major advance in our ability to measure empowerment. It brings into stark relief the ways in which women are empowered, and the areas in which they are disempowered,” said Dr. Sabina Alkire, OPHI Director and co-creator of the Alkire Foster method for measuring multidimensional poverty, which has been used to construct the index. “In giving us a new understanding of empowerment, it transforms our ability to better empower women and improve their lives.” “Through Feed the Future, President Obama's global hunger and food security initiative, we are fundamentally transforming our approach to agricultural development, working closely with partner governments, smallholder farmers and private sector players to make smart, cost-effective investments," said Dr. Rajiv Shah, USAID Administrator. "The Women's Empowerment in Agriculture Index will be used to monitor and evaluate Feed the Future programs and their impact on gender to ensure that our efforts are empowering women and supporting the essential role they play in reducing hunger and advancing prosperity.” Traditionally, money and education are used as indirect signposts of women’s empowerment. The new survey questions used for the WEAI expose the weaknesses in these ‘proxies’ by showing, for example, that having money or being educated does not guarantee that women are empowered. “Identifying gaps in empowerment is especially useful for designing interventions that are appropriate in terms of context and culture,” said Dr. Agnes Quisumbing, IFPRI Senior Research Fellow. “Knowing these gaps, policymakers will be in a better position to design and implement interventions to close the gaps.” The WEAI pilot results show some surprising new findings: In the sample from the Western Highlands of Guatemala, wealth is a poor indicator of empowerment—three-quarters of women in the wealthiest two-thirds of the population are not yet empowered. In the southern Bangladesh sample, more than half of women are less empowered than the men with whom they share their house, yet they are usually confident speaking in public. In the sample from rural parts of Uganda, lack of control over resources and time burdens contribute most to the disempowerment of women.