University of Miami Business Professor is World's No. 1 International Business Scholar

26 Apr 2010 19:20 Africa/Lagos

University of Miami Business Professor is World's No. 1 International Business Scholar

School of Business Administration Ranked No. 20 in the World

CORAL GABLES, Fla., April 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Yadong Luo, Emery Findley Distinguished Chair and professor of management at the University of Miami School of Business Administration, is the world's foremost international business scholar according to a study* just published in the International Business Review. The same study ranks the School of Business No. 20 in the world for international research, ahead of such elite institutions as Harvard University and the London Business School. The findings are based on an examination of approximately 17,000 academic articles published between 1996 and 2008 in 29 international business journals deemed to be the world's best by the researchers.


The authors were ranked based on a formula that took into account the number of pages published by each author and each journal's "impact factor." In all, the study looked at articles published by nearly 4,000 authors from more than 1,200 institutions. Luo is ranked No. 1 on the list of the top 50 scholars from around the world.


"To be recognized as the world's top scholar in international business is truly remarkable and is a testament to amazing research talent. Yadong Luo's honor is well-deserved and I congratulate him," said Barbara E. Kahn, dean of the University of Miami School of Business Administration. "Great business schools are measured in large part by the strength of their faculty and we are very proud to call Yadong one of our own as we work to earn our place among the world's most elite institutions for management research and education."


As part of its effort to bolster its research reputation, the School has attracted new faculty over the past two years from some of the world's leading business schools and universities including the Wharton School, Harvard University, MIT, and Duke University. In October, 2009, the School was ranked No. 32 in the world by the influential Financial Times in the newspaper's annual rankings of Executive MBA programs, further illustrating the research strength of the School. The authors of this latest study in the International Business Review note the significance of management research, particularly research in international business and particularly that which is cross-disciplinary.


"As business continues to internationalize, the need for researchers and academic institutions to produce significant and impactful international research also increases," wrote the authors. "An important contribution of this study is its evaluation of the [international business] field across an array of business disciplines."


About the University of Miami School of Business Administration


The University of Miami School of Business Administration is a comprehensive business school, offering undergraduate business, full-time MBA, Executive MBA, MS, PhD and non-degree executive education programs. One of 12 colleges and schools at the University of Miami, the School is located in a major hub of international trade and commerce and acclaimed for the global orientation and diversity of its faculty, students and curriculum. The School delivers its programs at its main campus in Coral Gables as well as at locations across Florida and abroad. More information about the University of Miami School of Business can be found at www.bus.miami.edu.


*Trevino, L. J., et al. A perspective on the state of the field: International business publications in the elite journals as a measure of institutional and faculty productivity. International Business Review (2010), doi:10.1016/j.ibusrev.2010.02.004


Source: University of Miami School of Business Administration

CONTACT: Jeff Heebner of University of Miami School of Business
Administration, +1-305-284-4005, jheebner@miami.edu


Web Site: University of Miami School of Business Administration

'Video Game Bible' Returns - Guinness World Records(R) 2010 Gamer's Edition

"Video Game Bible" returns - Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition 2010 available from January 4th 2010 in U.S. and January 21st in UK. (PRNewsFoto/Guinness World Records) NEW YORK, NY UNITED STATES

4 Jan 2010 12:00 Africa/Lagos

'Video Game Bible' Returns - Guinness World Records(R) 2010 Gamer's Edition

"Halo" Selected First of Top 50 Games of All Time by Readers of Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition

NEW YORK, Jan. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- The globally-recognized authority on record breaking achievements Guinness World Records, today announced the availability of the best resource for video game records, facts, trivia and new developments, with the Guinness World Records 2010 Gamer's Edition. Gamer's Edition 2010 will be sold and distributed globally by BradyGames providing a larger breadth of distribution to both traditional book retailers and specialist gaming stores from January 4th for $14.99 in the U.S. and 21st of January for 15.00 pounds Sterling in the UK.


(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100104/NY31409 )


The third book in the series Gamer's Edition 2010 provides a comprehensive guide to record-breaking video games on all consoles and features the Most Popular Video Game Series of All Time as voted by 13,000 visitors to the Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition website. Gamer's Edition 2010 describes the attributes that likely influenced gamers to select Bungie's first person shooter Halo over second placed Legend of Zelda as "great video game design: an iconic character, excellent level design, perfect controls and unparalleled multiplayer options." Modern video game series Call of Duty and Guitar Hero also appear on the list ahead of many classics including Super Mario Brothers and World of Warcraft.


Described by critics as the "Video Game Bible," Gamer's Edition 2010 features interviews with key figures in the industry (including Shigero Miyamoto, creator of Donkey Kong and Nintendo Wii) and a broad range of content from classic arcade games to new developments in technology that will shape the future of gaming. Unique to this year's book are spreads on many of the best selling games of 2009 including Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2, The Beatles: Rock Band, Assassin's Creed II, Halo 3 ODST, New Super Mario Bros. and Madden NFL 10. Popular features in every edition include the Twin Galaxies high scores charts that allows gamers to see how they compare with the best in the gaming world and a guide on How to become a Guinness World Record-Breaker.


Compiled and edited by the renowned Guinness World Records editorial team, 2010 Gamer's Edition features more than 600 updated video game world records. New Guinness World Record highlights include the Best Selling Video Game Series of All Time (Super Mario Bros series sold more than 201 million copies across all genres); The Highest Grossing Video Arcade of All Time (NBA Jam which earned over $1 billion in its first year of release) and the Longest Time Spent Playing an MMORPG (Sara Lhadi spent 16,799 hours playing Runescape between November 2004 and October 2009 - this averages out at 9 hours 20 minutes of play every day!)


The book's new layout and design presents the book's contents more clearly so the vast amount of information is even easier to enjoy. Departing from the game-by-game structure of the last two books, the new approach covers the world of gaming by genre and sub-genre, enabling the book editors to pick only the strongest and most relevant records in each topic area.


Guinness World Records Gaming Editor, Gaz Deaves, says: "With huge game releases, big announcements and long-standing records broken, this year has been great for gaming. The Gamer's Edition 2010 is all about what's great in videogames right now, and gamers of all ages and abilities will find something amazing in the new book, from the casual to the ultra-hardcore."


To celebrate the US release of the book, New York City will play host to Guinness World Record holder for the youngest professional gamer, Lil' Poison (11- year - old Victor De Leon), as he embarks on a two-day media tour and challenges other gaming gurus to 1-on-1 games during the week of January 18th.


About Guinness World Records


Guinness World Records is the universally recognized authority on record-breaking achievement. First published in 1955, the annual Guinness World Records book is published in more than 100 countries and 25 languages and is one of the highest-selling books under copyright of all time with more than 3 million copies sold annually across the globe. Guinness World Records celebrated its 50th anniversary edition in 2004, a year after the sale of its 100 millionth copy. Guinness World Records also annually publishes the Gamer's Edition; a records book devoted solely to the world of computer gaming and high score record achievements. The Guinness World Records website (www.guinnessworldrecords.com) receives more than 11 million visitors a year. Guinness World Records is part of the Jim Pattison Group, one of Canada's largest privately owned companies which is a conglomerate of interests, including advertising, broadcasting, grocery stores and automotive retailing.


About BradyGames:


Headquartered in Indianapolis, BradyGames develops high quality video game strategy guides. The company also produces high-end exclusive Signature Series and Limited Edition guides for leading PC and video game titles. The ultimate online source for video game strategy, BradyGames.com, features BradyGames news, strategy guide updates, video strategy, Strategy E-Guides, walkthroughs and more. BradyGames is an imprint of Dorling Kindersley (DK) within the Penguin division of Pearson plc (NYSE:PSO) .


Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100104/NY31409
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN2
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Guinness World Records

CONTACT: Guinness World Records US: Philip Robertson, +1-718-513-7268,
Philip.Robertson@guinnessworldrecords.com or Jamie Panas, +1-718-513-7263,
Jamie.Panas@guinnessworldrecords.com; UK: Damian Field,
press@guinnessworldrecords.com; BradyGames: Autumne Bruce, +1-317-428-3293,
Autumne.Bruce@bradygames.com


Web Site: Guinness World Records




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40,000 Miles in 248 Days - Our Earth by Motorcycle

PRNewswire, London, November 13. MIEMING, Austria - Edelweiss Bike Travel: Circumnavigation of the world by motorbike, the fifth stage right across Asia and then home to Mieming/Tyrol. The last stage will take the participants right across the whole of Asia and back to the starting point in Mieming, Tyrol. Stamina and off-road experience are mandatory for this tour. (PRNewsFoto/Edelweiss Bike Travel) MIEMING AUSTRIA


13 Nov 2009 17:14 Africa/Lagos

40,000 Miles in 248 Days - Our Earth by Motorcycle

From November 14, 2010 to July 20, 2011, Edelweiss Bike Travel, Number One in the World for Guided Motorcycle Tours, will be Realizing a Never Before Attempted Expedition Over all 5 Continents

MIEMING, Austria, November 13/PRNewswire/ -- "We have been organizing professional motorcycle tours for 30 years now. To celebrate our anniversary, we are organizing an unforgettable expedition around our earth for motorcycle enthusiasts." says the founder of Edelweiss, Werner Wachter, about the unique and spectacular project, which will start and finish at the Edelweiss headquarters in Mieming/Austria.


(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091113/366761 )





DISCOVER OUR EARTH


The first stage starts on November 14, 2010, and leads via Paris to Dakar in Senegal. Man/woman and machine will then fly to Buenos Aires. Wachter: "We have allowed 9 weeks for the section from Argentina to Bogota in Columbia. The subsequent third stage from crossing the Panama Canal to Los Angeles in California will be relatively short at 5 weeks."


After the flight over the Pacific, we will start traversing the Australian continent. "This means 7,000 miles in 4 weeks! Fitness and stamina will help," stresses Wachter. On the fifth and last stage from Beijing right across the whole of Asia and half of Europe, participants will be nearing their final destination, the Alps (8 weeks). On July 20, 2011 it will be time to celebrate the return of the expedition team in Mieming!


Kevin and Julia Sanders from GlobeBusters, the Guinness Book recordholders for the fastest circumnavigation of the world, will be supporting Edelweiss. Wachter: "Let's discover the entire globe!"


All current press texts also on http://www.pressetexter.at


Additional images under: http://www.tourismuspresse.at/redirect.php?qv20je45





A picture accompanying this release is also available on AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org (PRN Ref 1)



Contact:

Edelweiss Bike Travel
Karin Gritsch
Sportplatzweg 14
A-6414 Mieming/Austria
Tel.: +43-(0)5264-5690-10
Karin.gritsch@edelweissbike.com
http://www.edelweissbike.com




Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091113/366761

Source: Edelweiss Bike Travel

Contact: Edelweiss Bike Travel,Karin Gritsch, Sportplatzweg 14, A-6414 Mieming/Austria, Tel.: +43-(0)5264-5690-10, Karin.gritsch@edelweissbike.com

World News Video Update

South Africa Tops Prosperity Rankings in Africa

26 Oct 2009 14:00 Africa/Lagos

South Africa Tops Prosperity Rankings in Africa, While Zimbabwe and Sudan Rank Bottom in the World, Finds the Legatum Prosperity Index

LONDON, October 26/PRNewswire/ --


- Strong Communities, Personal Freedom and Democratic Institutions are the Recipe for Success in South Africa and Botswana; Poor Governance, Dire Health Conditions and Low Levels of Internal Security Drag Down the Rest


The third edition of the Legatum Prosperity Index, published today, ranks 104 countries (covering 90% of the world's population), based on a definition of prosperity that combines economic growth together with measures of happiness and quality of life. Thanks to strong communities and democratic institutions, South Africa is the highest ranked sub-Saharan African nation, placed 51st, closely followed by Botswana at 56th. The majority of African countries rank in the bottom 15 with the Central African Republic, Sudan and Zimbabwe ranked dead last at 101st, 103rd, and 104th respectively.


"The Legatum Prosperity Index is the world's only global assessment of wealth and wellbeing," said Dr. William Inboden, Senior Vice President of the Legatum Institute. "The lowest ranking African countries show a clear link between a lack of effective government structures, high levels of internal conflict, and a lack of personal freedom, all of which contribute towards low levels of prosperity," he continued. "However, for African countries pursuing greater prosperity, there are clear and positive signals in success stories such as South Africa and Botswana which demonstrated considerable economic growth over the last few years as well as improved governmental structure, and the promotion of civil liberties - the building blocks for prosperity." concluded Dr. Inboden.



Key Findings from the 2009 Legatum Prosperity Index

- Finland tops the Index, followed by Switzerland, Sweden, and
Denmark; the United States is 9th and the United Kingdom is 12th.

- The low rankings of Sub-Saharan African countries such as Kenya,
Nigeria and Zimbabwe can be linked to a combination of poor
governance, dire health conditions and low levels of internal security.

- In Botswana, improved governmental structure and the promotion of
civil liberties are key to the countries good ranking, with 84%
of citizens confident in the fairness of the judicial system, and 91%
believing that the country's political elections are honest. However,
the very low health rank, attributed to the deep impact of the AIDS
epidemic on the country, pulls it down.

- Zimbabwe ranked inside the bottom three in five separate areas:
Economic Fundamentals, Health, Safety and Security, Governance, and
Personal Freedom.

- Mali and Nigeria rank within the top 16 countries globally
for social capital. In fact, most Sub-Saharan African countries rank
inside the top third globally in this area thanks to the high degree
of religiosity in Africa, where African countries take six of the
top 10 places.

- All but two Sub-Saharan African countries rank within the
bottom 25% of the rankings for entrepreneurship and innovation.

- Mozambique ranks lowest globally for education.

- The Central African Republic ranks lowest globally for both
entrepreneurship and innovation and health.

- Zimbabwe ranks lowest globally for economic fundamentals and
governance.

- Both Botswana and Ghana are in the top third globally for
levels of personal freedom.

- Mali is the most safe and secure Sub-Saharan African country ranking
43rd in this area while Sudan is the least secure Sub-Saharan African
country ranking 103rd globally.

- Six of the 11 lowest ranking countries for safety and
security are Sub-Saharan African.




The Index identified nine key factors that drive economic growth and personal wellbeing, which are foundations of prosperity. Each of these nine factors is represented in a sub-index and a country's final Prosperity Index ranking is generated by averaging its scores across all nine sub-indexes, equally weighted. More information on the Prosperity Index, including full country rankings, background on data and methodology, and profiles of each country can be found at http://www.prosperity.com.


Notes to Editors:


About the Legatum Prosperity Index


The 2009 Legatum Prosperity Index is based on statistical analysis of more than 40 years of data for more than 100 countries worldwide, produced and supervised by the Legatum Institute, with input from the research consultancy Oxford Analytica and a panel of respected academic advisors in the fields of economics, history, development, sociology, and political science.



2009 Legatum Prosperity Index Rankings

TOP TWENTY COUNTRIES AFRICA

1. Finland 51. South Africa
2. Switzerland 55. Botswana
3. Sweden 64. Mali
4. Denmark 67. Namibia
5. Norway 71. Tunisia
6. Australia 83. Ghana
7. Canada 84. Senegal
8. Netherlands 85. Morocco
9. United States 88. Egypt
10. New Zealand 89. Mozambique
11. Ireland 92. Zambia
12. United Kingdom 96. Algeria
13. Belgium 97. Kenya
14. Germany 98. Tanzania
15. Austria 99. Nigeria
16. Japan 100. Cameroon
17. France 101. Central African Republic
18. Hong Kong 103. Sudan
19. Spain 104. Zimbabwe
20. Slovenia


BOTTOM TEN COUNTRIES

95. Kenya
96. Algeria
97. Tanzania
98. Nigeria
99. Pakistan
100. Cameroon
101. Central African Republic
102. Yemen
103. Sudan
104. Zimbabwe




How the Index is constructed


The Prosperity Index accounts for 90 percent of the world's population, using a combination of objective data and subjective responses to surveys. This data comprises 79 different variables, and each is then distilled into one of the nine different sub-indexes identified as a foundation of prosperity. A country's performance in each sub-index is given a score, and the overall Prosperity Index rankings are produced by averaging the equally-weighted scores of the 9 sub-indexes for each country. Those countries that perform well across each sub-index score highest in the overall rankings.


The nine foundations of prosperity that define successful nations include:



- Economic Fundamentals - a growing, sound economy that
provides opportunities for wealth creation
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation - an environment friendly to new
enterprises and the commercialisation of new ideas
- Education - an accessible, high-quality educational system that
fosters human development
- Democratic Institutions - transparent and accountable governing
institutions that promote economic growth
- Governance - an honest and effective government that preserves
order and encourages productive citizenship
- Health - the physical well-being of the populace
- Personal Freedom - the degree to which individuals can choose the
course of their lives
- Security - a safe environment in which people can pursue opportunity
- Social Capital - trustworthiness in relationships and strong
communities




About the Legatum Institute


The Legatum Institute is an independent policy, advocacy and advisory organisation. The Institute's mission is to research and promote the principles that drive the creation of global prosperity and the expansion of human liberty and wellbeing.


For more information about the Legatum Institute, please visit http://www.li.com.


The Institute is part of the Legatum Group, a private global investment organization focused on investing in the international capital markets and the promotion of sustainable development.


For more information about the Legatum Group, please visit http://www.Legatum.com.



Media Enquiries

London
William Inboden, Legatum Institute
Telephone: +44-20-7148-5400
william.inboden@legatum.com

Nick Wood, Media Intelligence Partners
Telephone +44-20-3008-8146
Email: nickwood@nickwood.demon.co.uk

Dubai, UAE
Hamish Banks, Legatum
Telephone: +971-4-317-5800
Email: hamish.banks@legatum.com

Nicole Anwer, Legatum
Telephone: +971-4-317-5800
Email: nicole.anwer@legatum.com

New York
Michael Iacovella, Edelman
Telephone +1-212-704-8254
Email: michael.iacovella@edelman.com

Mumbai
Arwa Husain, Adfactors PR
Telephone +91-22-2281-3565
Email: arwa.husain@adfactorspr.com

Source: Legatum

Media Enquiries: London: William Inboden, Legatum Institute, Telephone: +44-20-7148-5400, william.inboden@legatum.com; Nick Wood, Media Intelligence Partners, Telephone +44-20-3008-8146, Email: nickwood@nickwood.demon.co.uk; Dubai, UAE: Hamish Banks, Legatum, Telephone: +971-4-317-5800, Email: hamish.banks@legatum.com; Nicole Anwer, Legatum, Telephone: +971-4-317-5800, Email: nicole.anwer@legatum.com; New York: Michael Iacovella, Edelman, Telephone +1-212-704-8254, Email: michael.iacovella@edelman.com; Mumbai: Arwa Husain, Adfactors PR, Telephone +91-22-2281-3565, Email: arwa.husain@adfactorspr.com


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Bill Gates to Call for United Action to Support World's Poorest Farmers

Bill Gates at the World Economic Forum in 2007

15 Oct 2009 05:00 Africa/Lagos


Bill Gates to Call for United Action to Support World's Poorest Farmers

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to Announce $120 Million in New Agriculture Grants

DES MOINES, Iowa, Oct. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, on Thursday will urge governments, donors, researchers, farmer groups, environmentalists, and others to set aside old divisions and join forces to help millions of the world's poorest farming families boost their yields and incomes so they can lift themselves out of hunger and poverty. Gates will say the effort must be guided by the farmers themselves, adapted to local circumstances, and sustainable for the economy and the environment.


Speaking at the World Food Prize in Des Moines, Iowa, in his first major address on agricultural development, Gates will lay out the foundation's vision, which includes investments in better seeds, training, market access, and policies that support small farmers. Gates also will announce nine foundation grants totaling $120 million that illustrate the range of efforts necessary to empower millions of small farmers to grow enough to build better, healthier lives.


"Melinda and I believe that helping the poorest small-holder farmers grow more crops and get them to market is the world's single most powerful lever for reducing hunger and poverty," Gates will say, according to a draft of his speech.


After his speech, Gates will be joined on the stage by the 2009 World Food Prize laureate, Dr. Gebisa Ejeta, a renowned Ethiopian sorghum researcher who was honored for his work to develop hybrids resistant to drought and the Striga weed -- advances credited with increasing food security for hundreds of millions of Africans.


The foundation's new grants include funding for legumes that fix nitrogen in the soil, higher yielding varieties of sorghum and millet, and new varieties of sweet potatoes that resist pests and have a higher vitamin content. Other projects will help the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa support African governments in developing policies that serve small farmers; help get information to farmers by radio and cell phone; support school feeding programs; provide training and resources that African governments can draw on as they regulate biotechnologies; and help women farmers in India manage their land and water resources sustainably. To date, the foundation has committed $1.4 billion to agricultural development efforts.


Gates will say the world should draw inspiration from the agricultural transformation in Latin America and Asia during the 1960s to 1980s, known as the Green Revolution, which averted famine, saved hundreds of millions of lives, and fueled widespread economic development.


But Gates will warn that as scientists, governments, and others strive to repeat the successes of the original Green Revolution, they should be careful not to repeat its mistakes, such as the overuse of fertilizer and irrigation.


"The next Green Revolution has to be greener than the first," Gates will say. "It must be guided by small-holder farmers, adapted to local circumstances, and sustainable for the economy and the environment."


According to the World Bank, three-quarters of the 1 billion people who live in extreme poverty depend on agriculture for a living. More than 1 billion people suffer from chronic hunger in the developing world. In the world's poorest areas, small farmers frequently face harsh conditions, including depleted soils, pests, drought, diseases, and lack of water. Even if they manage to grow a surplus, they often lack a reliable market where they can sell it.


Despite these challenges, there are reasons for optimism in the fight against hunger. After two decades of neglect, the world's attention is once again focused on agricultural development. The G20 group of leading donor and developing nations recently made a three-year, $22 billion pledge to help solve global hunger by supporting small farmers in the developing world.


"It's a great thing that donor nations are focusing on this issue," Gates will say. "But we need them to spell out clearly what the $22 billion means -- how much is old money, how much is new, how soon can they spend it, and when will they do more?"


While Gates will say that major breakthroughs in the fight against hunger and poverty are now within reach, he will caution that progress toward alleviating global hunger is "endangered by an ideological wedge that threatens to split the movement in two." On one side, he will say, there are groups that support technological solutions to increase agricultural productivity without proper regard to environmental and sustainability concerns. On the other, there are those who react negatively to any emphasis on productivity.


"It's a false choice, and it's dangerous for the field," Gates will say. "It blocks important advances. It breeds hostility among people who need to work together. And it makes it hard to launch a comprehensive program to help poor farmers. The fact is, we need both productivity and sustainability -- and there is no reason we can't have both."


Gates will say the foundation is supporting research on crops that can withstand drought and flooding so poor farmers can adapt to climate change. It is also supporting a ground-breaking effort with the World Food Programme (WFP) to buy food from small farmers in the developing world for food aid. WFP has already purchased 17,000 metric tons of food from small farmers through the program, linking many to markets for the first time.


Gates will say the foundation isn't an advocate of any particular scientific method. "Of course, these technologies must be subject to rigorous scientific review to ensure they are safe and effective. It's the responsibility of governments, farmers, and citizens -- informed by excellent science -- to choose the best and safest way to help feed their countries," Gates will say.


Gates will also pay tribute to Dr. Norman Borlaug, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for his pioneering work in expanding agricultural production in the developing world, who died on September 12 of this year.


"His passing is cause for sadness, but his life should make us optimistic," Gates will say. "He not only showed humanity how to get more food from the earth -- he proved that farming has the power to lift up the lives of the poor. It's a lesson the world is thankfully relearning today."


Note to Editors: Video clips and other media materials will be available following the speech at:



ftp://gatesfoundationiiWorldFoodPrizeII@omaedcftp001.interpublic.com
Username: GatesFoundationII
Password: WorldFoodPrizeII

This announcement includes the following grants:

Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)
The AGRA Policy Program: $15 million

To develop a strong policy support system in Africa that will raise incomes, and assure household and national food security. The program focuses on policies to speed adoption of approaches to improve farmer productivity, market and trade policies to stimulate expanded markets for staple crops, and land and property rights policies to stimulate equitable agricultural growth for the poor.


Press Contacts
Preeti Singh, +1.301.652.1558, ext. 5722, psingh@burnesscommunications.com
Stella Kihara, +254 735380199, skihara@agra-alliance.org

American Institutes for Research (AIR)
Farmer Voice Radio: $10 million

To create a network of radio broadcasters, farmer groups, universities, research institutes, non-governmental organizations, ministries of agriculture, and African media organizations to generate quality content and facilitate impact-driven and sustainable broadcasting to small-holder farmers to enhance their livelihoods. The project aims to reach 1.6 million small-holder farmers in Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, Mali, Ghana, and Tanzania in its first four years.


Press Contact
Larry McQuillan, +1.202.403.5119 or +1.202.641.7747, lmcquillan@air.org

Grameen Foundation
Building a Network of Community Knowledge Workers: $4.7 million

To develop a network of 4,000 community knowledge workers in Uganda who use mobile devices to increase the reach and relevance of agricultural information, leading to improved productivity and livelihoods for small-holder farmers. The project aims to reach up to 280,000 small-holder farmers, reduce the cost of adoption of new and improved practices by 25 percent to 50 percent, and ultimately provide a model that can be scaled to reach millions of small-holder farmers throughout Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.


Press Contact


Liselle York, +1.202.628.3560, ext. 128 or +1.202.549.3400, lyorke@grameenfoundation.org


International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)


Harnessing Opportunities for Productivity Enhancement (HOPE) of Sorghum and Millets: $18 million


To help small-holder farmers in moisture-deficient areas of Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia increase their yields of sorghum, pearl millet, and finger millet to improve food security and increase the income of farmers. The project aims to benefit 200,000 households by increasing yields of sorghum and millet by 35 to 40 percent over four years.


Press Contact
Rex L. Navarro, +91 40 3071.3223, rex.navarro@cgiar.org

International Potato Center (CIP)

Sweet Potato Action for Security and Health in Africa (SASHA): $21.25 million


To produce high-yielding, stress-tolerant varieties of sweet potato to help farming families in Sub-Saharan Africa improve their productivity, incomes, and nutrition. The project aims to benefit 150,000 families directly from the initial seed systems work, and up to 1 million families indirectly from the first set of improved varieties in five years.


Press Contact
Valerie Gwinner, 202.468.7486, v.gwinner@cgiar.org



New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and Michigan State University (MSU)


African Biosafety Network of Expertise (ABNE): $10.4 million


To create a center in Africa that provides training, education, and technical support to African regulators to develop regulatory systems for biotechnology, ensuring countries can make informed decisions on how to use these advances while protecting farmers, consumers, and the environment.


Press Contacts
Aggrey Ambali, +27 12 841 3688, aggrey@nepadst.org
Karim Maredia, +1.517.353.5262 or +1.517.775.6627, kmaredia@msu.edu
Stephanie Motschenbacher, +1.517.884.2135, motsche3@msu.edu

Partnership for Child Development (PCD)
Home-grown School Feeding: $12 million

To support the delivery of cost-effective school feeding programs that promote local agriculture and benefit small-holder farmers. The project aims to increase the income and improve the nutritional status of approximately 200,000 small farmers; improve the education, health, and nutrition of school-age children; and provide opportunities to those involved in the transportation, processing, and preparation of food along the school-feeding value chain.


Press Contact
Lucy Goodchild, +44 (0)20 7594 6702, lucy.goodchild@imperial.ac.uk

Professional Assistance for Development Action (PRADAN)

Developing Farm-based Livelihoods in Endemically Poor Regions of India: $9.7 million


To create sustainable farm-based livelihoods for rural families in endemically poor regions of India by training women farmers in land and water management and modern farming practices, establishing village extension services, and building effective market linkages. The project aims to mobilize 120,000 women into self-help groups to assist them in improving their farm productivity and food security, enhancing their household income.


Press Contact
Souparno Chatterjee, +91 11 2651 8619 or +91 4164 0611, ext. 21

Wageningen University, The Netherlands

Putting Nitrogen Fixation to Work for Small-holder Farmers in Africa (NforAfrica): $19 million


To increase legume productivity, family nutrition, soil health, cropping systems, and farm income for small farmers in Burkina Faso, Mali, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, and Malawi by expanding the use of selected legumes, proven tools of biological nitrogen fixation, and sound agronomic principles. The project aims to benefit 225,000 farmers.


Press Contact


Erik Toussaint, +31 (0) 317 48 08 67 or +31 (0) 6 51 56 59 49, erik.toussaint@wur.nl


Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation


Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people's health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people -- especially those with the fewest resources -- have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Jeff Raikes and Co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett. Learn more about the foundation at www.gatesfoundation.org.


Source: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

CONTACT: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, +1-206-709-3400,
media@gatesfoundation.org


Web Site: http://www.gatesfoundation.org/



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Startup Weekend Nigeria Rocks!

World News Video Update

Rebtel Introduces World's Lowest Rates on Calls to Nigeria

8 Apr 2009 19:00 Africa/Lagos

Rebtel Introduces World's Lowest Rates on Calls to Nigeria

First 30 Minutes Free to New Subscribers

STOCKHOLM, April 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Rebtel, the people's global communications company, today slashed in half its rates to Nigeria so Nigerians living abroad can call their loved ones at home for just 9.9 cents per minute.


"It's the best of all the networks I have ever tried," said Daniel Mejabi, an English teacher at Lanzhou Jiatong University, in Beijing. Added Harmony Home, a Nigerian entrepreneur in New York City: "I love Rebtel. It's genuine, and a real value for the money. Rebtel doesn't charge when the line is busy nor when there's no answer. Other phone companies do. Long live Rebtel!"


There is no charge to set up a Rebtel account. No monthly fees, no connection fees and no hidden costs. And, all new Rebtel customers who use the voucher code NigeriaApril when they sign up this month and purchase at least $10 of calling time will receive 30 minutes of free calls to Nigeria.


To try Rebtel for free go to http://www.rebtel.com/CallNigeria.

Who is Rebtel?

Not yet 3 years old, Rebtel was started by serial entrepreneur Hjalmar Winbladh, his business partner Jonas Lindroth, and 14 like-minded rebels who began work with a unified mission: take the phony out of mobile telephony, and create the first genuinely good, honest, and trustworthy global mobile telecommunications service that saves people money. With Rebtel, they promised, there would be no hidden clauses. No small print. No secret charges.


Rebtel's technology vision was equally straightforward: Shrink the world, make it a friendlier place, and bring people worldwide closer together by making all phone calls local.


How Rebtel works


Rebtel gives people local phone numbers in the country where they live that connect them directly with their friends, family or work colleagues who live abroad.


That means, for example, Rebtel gives someone living in Texas a local Texas phone number that connects them directly to their friend or family member in Nigeria.


There's no access number to dial, no PIN to remember, or long international phone number to enter. The person in Texas only dials a local Texas phone number and Rebtel connects the call over the Internet to their contact in Nigeria.


This concept of making all calls local was invented by Rebtel - something never done before. And when the world heard about Rebtel on May 17, 2006 at the Innovate Europe conference in Zaragoza, Spain it was named one of Europe's top three new startups, and received acclaim from leading business and technology press all over the world.


"The beauty of Rebtel's service is it was designed from the start to be used with any mobile phone - even the most simple, cheap phone - without modification, software downloads or changes to the calling plan you already have with your cell phone provider," said Winbladh.


Today, Rebtel is available in more than 50 countries around the world, and is doubling in size every three months.


"People can spend hours surfing the web to save a few dollars on an airline flight, but for some reason they've given up on the idea that they can be just as smart when it comes to making phone calls," said Winbladh. "People are spending hundreds of billions of dollars calling abroad, roaming and sending SMS with their mobiles. Yet, there's something they can do for a fraction of the price, without changing their phone or carrier, and start saving real money."


Getting started with Rebtel is fast, easy and free

1. Go to http://www.rebtel.com/CallNigeria and enter your number and a
friend's number in Nigeria.
2. Rebtel creates a local number where you live that you can use from any
phone, anywhere.

3. Save the number in your address book and use it any time. It's yours
forever.



"We believe our service is the future of international calling," said Winbladh. "It's easy to use, has great call quality, and above all it offers serious savings for ordinary people. There's no smarter, easier way to make low-cost international calls on your mobile phone than Rebtel."


About Rebtel


Rebtel is a global calling service for individuals and business. With Rebtel it's possible to call any phone, anywhere in the world, for just pennies per minute. Rebtel's services can be used with any mobile phone without modification or software downloads. There is no charge to set up a Rebtel account. No monthly fees, no connection fees and no hidden costs. Anyone may make a free 10 minute call to test the service. Thereafter, customers only pay for the minutes they use. Smart Calls between the 50 counties served by Rebtel are always free and only one of the two people on a call have to be a Rebtel customer. For more information, or to start using Rebtel services, go to http://www.rebtel.com/.


Source: Rebtel

CONTACT: Greg Spector of Rebtel, +1-415-717-4666,
greg.spector@rebtel.com


Web Site: http://www.rebtel.com/

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