"Hot and hotter" forecast as heat wave bakes eastern U.S

(Reuters) - Relentless heat was forecast for much of the eastern United States for a fourth straight day on Monday, after violent storms killed at least 15 people and knocked out power to more than 3 million customers.

"Hot and hotter will continue to be the story from the plains to the Atlantic Coast for the next few days," the National Weather Service said.

Emergencies were declared in Maryland, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, D.C., during the weekend because of damage from storms that unleashed hurricane-force winds across a 500-mile (800-kilometre) stretch of the mid-Atlantic region.

Almost 2.4 million people from Illinois to Virginia were still without power Monday morning, with the biggest concentration of outages in the Washington, D.C. area.

The storms came as sweltering temperatures topped 100 Fahrenheit (38 Celsius) in several southern cities, including Atlanta, where the mercury hit an all-time record of 106 degrees (41 C) on Saturday and reached 105 on Sunday.

Over two-dozen cities across 10 states set or tied all-time record high temperatures on Friday and Saturday, including Columbia, South Carolina; Knoxville, Tennessee; and Raleigh, North Carolina.

One of the hardest hit cities was Charlotte, North Carolina, where the mercury reached 104 degrees (40 C) on Sunday.

From St. Louis, Missouri, to Washington, D.C., temperatures were forecast to hit more all-time records on Monday.

Excessive heat warnings and advisories continued on Monday over much of the mid-Mississippi Valley and southern states, and temperatures were forecast to remain well above normal for a large portion of the United States.

Strong to severe thunderstorms were possible across the southern mid-Atlantic region and north-central United States, the National Weather Service said.

"CATASTROPHIC" DAMAGE TO POWER GRIDS

Thunderstorms and high winds battered eastern North Carolina on Sunday afternoon, leading to three more deaths on top of at least 12 caused by deadly storms in several states on Saturday.

In Pitt County near Greenville, a man was killed when his shed fell on him as he tried to put his golf cart inside, said David Glenn of the National Weather Service.

A couple was killed in neighboring Beaufort County when a tree fell on their golf cart, he said.

More than 40 people were reported injured in Beaufort County and numerous homes were damaged in Pitt County, said Christy Wallace, spokeswoman for the Pitt County sheriff.

After power outages that affected some 15,000 customers, Greenville Utilities said Monday morning that all major outages had been repaired.

Powerful storms that brought wind gusts of up to 90 mph on Sunday knocked out power to more than 200,000 Commonwealth Edison customers in northeastern Illinois and about 100,000 remained without power on Monday, the utility said.

Power crews worked on Monday to restore service to homes and businesses, and officials in some areas said the job could take up to a week. Utilities in Ohio, Virginia and Maryland described damage to their power grids as catastrophic.

FirstEnergy utilities had restored service on Sunday to more than 314,000 of the 566,000 customers affected by the storm. The company said it expected to restore power to its Maryland, Ohio and Pennsylvania customers by Tuesday and Wednesday, but it could be late in the week before power is restored to all its customers in West Virginia.

Pepco, which serves Washington and much of its surrounding suburbs in Maryland and Virginia, reported about 233,000 without power on Monday morning. Baltimore Gas & Electric said about 235,000 customers remained without power, but it had restored electricity to more than 400,000.

Storms killed six people in Virginia and left more than 1 million customers without power. Two people were killed in Maryland, officials said.

A falling tree killed two cousins, aged 2 and 7, in New Jersey and heat was blamed for the deaths of two brothers, ages 3 and 5, in Tennessee who had been playing outside in 105-degree (41 C) heat.

In Ohio, severe storms knocked out power to about 1 million homes and businesses on Friday across two-thirds of the state. Governor John Kasich sought and was granted federal emergency assistance.

(Reporting by Karen Brooks in Austin, Texas, Alex Dobuzinskis in Los Angeles, Paul Thomasch in New York, Susan Guyett in Indianapolis, Tim Ghianni in Nashville, Jane Sutton in Miami and Alistair Bull in Washington; Editing by Eric Beech)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/eastern-u-battles-heat-wave-amid-power-outages-065033909.html

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Native plant restoration not enough to maintain tropical dry forests in Hawaii

ScienceDaily (July 2, 2012) ? Protecting Hawaiian dry forests from invasive species and the risk of wildfire is an on-going challenge for land managers and scientists conducting research on the Island of Hawaii. It is commonly thought that removing the invasive species and planting native species will restore the land to its original state. However, in a recent paper published in Biological Invasions, Dr. Susan Cordell, USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station, Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry; Dr. Erin Questad, Cal-Poly Pomona; and Dr. Jarrod Thaxton, University of Puerto Rico found that it is not quite that simple.

The research team has been working at the Kaupulehu dry forest reserve on the Island of Hawaii for the past decade. The largest current threat to this unique and endangered ecosystem is the spread of non-native fire-promoting grasses, in particular, fountain grass or Pennisetum setaceum.

To test characteristics of ecosystem resilience in this dry tropical forest, the researchers allowed natural rates of re-invasion of non-native species into an existing restoration project and looked at how effective restoration projects were at enhancing invasion resistance. They paid particular attention to the relationship between invasibility and native plant diversity.

Key findings from the research include:

  • Higher invasion rates occurred in plots that supported the most native species, suggesting that similar mechanisms may regulate the distribution of both native and invasive species.
  • Fountain grass was associated with native plant mortality and declines in native diversity, particularly in areas with harsh environmental conditions (i.e. steep slopes, little soil, exposed terrain).
  • Native woody plant restoration alone was not an effective tool for weed control in this community, and continuing invasion may result in declines in native diversity in the long term.

"We have spent a considerable amount of time understanding the role of restoration on non-native plant invasion," says Dr. Cordell. "In the short term, restoration of native species serves to improve invasion resistance -- but results from this study also indicate that long-term sustainability of restoration projects will require continued non-native species management."

These findings suggest the need for consideration of long-term sustainability measures in restoration plans for tropical dry forest ecosystems in Hawaii.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by USDA Forest Service - Pacific Southwest Research Station.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.


Journal Reference:

  1. Erin J. Questad, Jarrod M. Thaxton, Susan Cordell. Patterns and consequences of re-invasion into a Hawaiian dry forest restoration. Biological Invasions, 2012; DOI: 10.1007/s10530-012-0253-6

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/LWhJoltNY3Y/120702134828.htm

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95% Marley

Director Kevin MacDonald and co-producer Ziggy Marley bring forth the most definitive look back at the life of Bob Marley, in the new documentary "Marley". From the formation of "The Wailers" and the comings and goings of different members of the band (including Peter Tosh and Jimmy Cliff), to Marley's dealings in Rastafarian and how it bled into his Reggae music; and also from his controversial lifestyle punctuated by being a "womanizer" (eleven children from seven different women) to his humanitarian nature, this in-depth (two and a half hour) documentary will immensely satisfy fan and novice alike. I, like many other younger American non-Rasta's, had grown up knowing Bob Marley for his more commercially catchy hits and from his countless depictions on a multitude of shirts worn by numerous Bay Area potheads. But, being a novice, going into this film I wasn't particularly interested in seeing a two and a half hour movie about the life and times Bob Marley. A story I thought I knew, and had heard, countless times before. But that notion changed rather abruptly within the first few minutes of this movie. And by the end, due to the brilliant investigative journalistic nature of MacDonald which elevates "Marley" from an average movie to a MUST SEE documentary, audiences who see this film will walk out with an in-depth appreciation for the man who wrote some of the most poetic and revolutionary lyrics in music history. "Marley" is the no holds barred dissection of a particular subject (or subject matter) which fans of great documentaries will crave (and in fact, was nowhere to be found in the films of 2011). And for a documentary that was originally supposed to be directed by Martin Scorsese, after seeing what MacDonald has accomplished here, it would be hard to imagine "Marley" being more perfectly executed in anybody else's hands. What truly sets "Marley" apart from other bio-documentaries and A&E specials is how, in a very PBS way, MacDonald uses a seemingly endless amount of archival footage, as well as interviews with almost everybody (still alive) who had anything to do with Marley's upbringing and his life as a world famous musician, as the narration. It was quite apparent that MacDonald had full access to any and all information he wanted, and as far as I could see, he thankfully took complete advantage of this fact. As audiences, we hear from Marley's family and peers about how as a young boy he was an outcast because of his mixed-race. We also hear from notable Jamaican artists and record executives, who saw his maturation into a musician that worked to bridge the gaps, not only in Jamaica (during times of war) but nationwide as well. In this way, MacDonald enables audiences to intimately know Bob Marley on every level (get your mind out of the gutter). But all the pure information aside, what MacDonald does very well here is not creating a documentary which totally sanctifies Bob Marley, much as many movies (tributes) do when celebrities with checkered pasts die. MacDonald captures recollections of Marley from both those who loved the man and those who thought him to be nothing more than a womanizing zealot, who was sadly not as politically motivated as he should have been. Final Thought: Overall "Marley" is a brilliant example of an archetype onto how all biographical documentaries should be made. Grade "A" filmmaking, in conjunction with a larger than life subject (subject matter) is what elevates "Marley" into one of the most entertaining two and a half hour documentaries I have ever seen. If you are at all a Bob Marley fan (casual or otherwise) and if you are able to, see "Marley", any way you can, before Hollywood makes a more commercialized (legacy ruining) feature film version of his life in a few years; starring Mekhi Phifer no doubt. Written by Markus Robinson, Edited by Nicole I. Ashland Please visit my page on Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/x-52464-San-Jose-Indie-Movie-Examiner and leave any comments you have about this or any review. The more hits I get the better. Thank you. Follow me on Twitter @moviesmarkus

May 29, 2012

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/marley/

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Williams' next Wimbledon opponent wins perfect set

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) ? Absolutely perfect ? 24 points played, 24 points won.

Can't be any better than wild-card entry Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazahstan was at the beginning of her third-round match at Wimbledon on Saturday, winning every single point in the 15-minute first set of what became a 6-0, 6-4 victory over French Open runner-up Sara Errani of Italy. It's the only "golden set" for a woman in the 44 years of professional tennis.

Of all the ways a point can be lost ? a double-fault, for example, or an opponent's ace; one ball that floats a half-inch wide or long or catches the tape of the net, say, or even a lucky shot off the other player's racket that somehow finds a line, etc., etc. ? none happened during Shvedova's 15 minutes of fame.

"Apparently, it's the biggest news of the day: I lost a set without winning a point. Unbelievable," the 10th-seeded Errani said. "She was impossible to play against. I don't even feel like I played terribly. She just was hitting winners from every part of the court."

The 65th-ranked Shvedova didn't even realize what was happening. Not until she was in the gym afterward, cooling down, when her coach pointed out the accomplishment.

"I had no idea. I was just playing every point and every game," said Shvedova, a 24-year-old who won two Grand Slam doubles titles in 2010 with Vania King of the U.S.

Shvedova did notice the way spectators at Court 3 applauded and yelled after Errani stopped the streak by taking the opening point of the second set.

"I was, like, 'What's going on?" Shvedova said.

Now things figure to get a tad tougher. In the fourth round Monday, she'll face Serena Williams, whose 13 Grand Slam titles include four at the All England Club.

"Hopefully I'll be able to win a point in the set," Williams said, somehow keeping a straight face. "That will be my first goal, and then I'll go from there."

She actually came rather close to exiting Saturday, needing every one of her tournament-record 23 aces to come back and edge 25th-seeded Zheng Jie of China 6-7 (5), 6-2, 9-7. Williams won all 18 of her service games and saved all six break points she faced.

Three times, while down 5-4, 6-5 and 7-6 in the final set, she served to stay in the match ? and the tournament.

Each time, she won the pivotal game at love.

"It's good to know that I can rely on that," said the sixth-seeded Williams, who also held the previous Wimbledon women's mark of 20 aces.

"I definitely felt like it was a gut check," she said. "I've always been really strong mentally. That's not going anywhere."

The 5-foot-4 1/2 Zheng watched one second-serve ace kick so high that it bounced over her head. Otherwise, though, she stood tall against the 5-9 Williams, zipping flat groundstrokes that barely cleared the net.

With the American's older sister, five-time Wimbledon champion Venus, sitting in the front row right above the scoreboard, and Oscar-winning actor Dustin Hoffman ("Major fan of his. ... I was honored to have him in my box," she said) there in support, too, Williams broke for an 8-7 lead in the last set by smacking a big return that left an off-balance Zheng hitting a wild forehand long.

After a couple hiccups while trying to serve it out, including a double-fault and two wasted match points, Williams ended the nearly 2 1/2-hour contest with a 102 mph service winner, followed by a stretch backhand volley winner. She celebrated with a huge leap.

"I just wanted to get through that match," said Williams, who was upset in the first round at the French Open in late May and hasn't won a Grand Slam title in two years. "The last thing I wanted to do was lose."

Her buddy and possible London Olympics mixed doubles partner, Andy Roddick, did lose. The 29-year-old American, three times the runner-up to Roger Federer at the All England Club, blew a kiss to the Centre Crowd as he walked off after being beaten 2-6, 7-6 (8), 6-4, 6-3 by No. 7-seeded David Ferrer, but said he hasn't made up his mind about his future in the sport.

"If I don't have a definitive answer in my own mind, it's going to be tough for me to articulate a definitive answer to you," the 30th-seeded Roddick said.

Another American, Sam Querrey, also departed, with a 7-6 (6), 6-4, 6-7 (2), 6-7 (3), 17-15 loss to No. 16 Marin Cilic of Croatia. The 5 1/2-hour match is the second-longest in tournament history, behind the 11-hour, 5-minute marathon that John Isner won 70-68 in the fifth set against Nicolas Mahut in 2010.

"I'm bummed. I'm sad," Querrey said. "But I'm sure tomorrow I'll be over it and really look back and say that was a great match and it's a good steppingstone for the summer."

Two other U.S. men did make the fourth round: 126th-ranked qualifier Brian Baker, who was off the tour for about six years after a series of operations; and 10th-seeded Mardy Fish, who is in his first tournament since having a medical procedure on his heart in late May and hasn't faced anyone ranked higher than 70th.

Winners also included No. 4 Andy Murray, whose four-set victory over Marcos Baghdatis ended at 11:02 p.m.; No. 5 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, No. 9 Juan Martin del Potro, and No. 27 Philipp Kohlschreiber, who beat the man who beat Rafael Nadal, Lukas Rosol, 6-2, 6-3, 7-6 (6).

Women joining Williams and Shvedova in the fourth round were defending champion Petra Kvitova, second-seeded Victoria Azarenka, recent French Open champions Ana Ivanovic and Francesca Schiavone, No. 21 Roberta Vinci and unseeded Tamira Paszek.

Good as each was Saturday, none can say they have ever been as good for a set as Shvedova was.

No woman has.

"I mean, that's stunning. I'm, like, speechless," Querrey said. "You could maybe understand first round, maybe a local wild card playing (Maria) Sharapova, just really nervous or something like that. But in a third round, that's just shocking."

According to the International Tennis Federation, only one other perfect set ever has been played since the Open era began in 1968: Bill Scanlon of the U.S. won all 24 points in the second set of a victory over Marcos Hocevar of Brazil at Delray Beach, Fla., in 1983.

Oddly enough, only once before had a woman won 23 consecutive points, the ITF said: Shvedova, of all people. She took a 5-0, 40-love lead in a match against Amy Frazier of the U.S. at Memphis in 2006 ? only to end up losing 1-6, 6-0, 6-0.

Imagine that! Shvedova said she couldn't remember that one.

Told about that wild turnaround involving Shvedova, Errani pointed out that she did take a 2-0 lead in the second set, then added with a wink and a smile: "I came close. It could have been 6-0, 6-0 the rest of the way for me."

She marveled about the play of doubles specialist Shvedova, who compiled a 35-6 edge in winners on the afternoon, showing off a high-risk, high-reward style that carried her to the French Open quarterfinals as a qualifier. Errani was particularly wowed by Shvedova's powerful serves, noting that one second serve came in at 117 mph.

"She served really hard," Errani said. "Hard, hard. It was like playing a Williams."

Shrugging off her record-setting setback, Errani said she figured losing a set that way was the same as dropping one 20-18 in a tiebreaker. A loss is a loss. Still, she wants to watch a replay of the set to try to figure out whether she could have done anything differently.

But Errani was pretty sure there wasn't.

"With a serve like that, with groundstrokes that strong," she said about Shvedova, "who knows? Maybe she'll win Wimbledon."

Williams might have something to say about that, too.

___

Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/williams-next-wimbledon-opponent-wins-perfect-set-221703489--spt.html

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Eat for FREE at Disneyland Paris! ? VisitDisneylandParis.com Blog

We?re really pleased to hear that Disney have extended their?free meals offer!

If you?ve been to Disneyland Paris before then you?ll know that?eating out everyday for both lunch & dinner?can become quite?expensive!

So when we say ?FREE Meals?, What does?it actually?mean & how do you get the offer? The great thing about this deal is that you have a wide choice of restaurants to choose from across both Parks, Disney Village and at your chosen hotel!

And don?t forget that you?ll also be saving 30% on the price of your package and if you?ve kids under the age of 7, then they?ll go free too!

When to Arrive

The free meals offer is valid at Disney?s Davy Crockett Ranch & Disney?s Sequoia Lodge for selected dates in July, August & September. You?ll need to stay a minimum of 3 Nights at Davy Crockett & a minimum of 4 at Sequoia Lodge.

Valid Arrival Dates for 3 Nights at Davy Crockett: 12th ? 14th, 19th ? 20th & 26th ? 31st July 1st ? 3rd, 17th, 24th & 31st August 1st, 16th ? 17th & 23rd ? 26th September. Subject to Availability.

Valid Arrival?Dates for 4 Nights at Davy Crockett & Sequoia Lodge 12th ? 13th, 19th & 26th ? 31st July 1st ? 2nd & 31st August 16th ? 17th & 23rd ? 25th.?Subject to Availability.

How & where do I dine for free?

When you check-in at your hotel (along with your room keys and vouchers for any other extras you?ve booked), you?ll receive 2 meal vouchers per adult and per child (aged 3-11) for each night of your stay.

You will receive one ?meal voucher 1? and one ?meal voucher 2??(Full details below)?

Breakfast is included in your package for Disney?s Sequoia Lodge and will be added to your package at Disney?s Davy Crockett Ranch.

Vouchers can be used for lunch and dinner (except brunch) throughout and only for the duration of your stay. EG: From dinner on the day of arrival to lunch on the day of departure.

Meal Voucher 1:

Voucher includes an all-you-can-eat buffet or a set menu (starter for adults only, main course, dessert) + 1 soft drink and is valid in one of the restaurants listed below depending on your hotel. These restaurants are located across the resort (in Disneyland? Park, Walt Disney Studios? Park, your Disney hotel and Disney Village).

If you?ve booked a stay at Disney?s Davy Crockett Ranch, your meal voucher will be valid for use at:

Cowboy Cookout Barbecue, Silver Spur Steakhouse, Plaza Gardens Restaurant, Restaurant Agrabah Caf?, Restaurant des Stars, Annette?s Diner, The Grange at Billy Bob?s Country Western Saloon, Chuck Wagon Caf?, La Cantina, Crockett?s Tavern

If you?ve booked a stay at Disney?s Sequoia Lodge, your meal voucher will be valid for use at the restaurants listed above PLUS

Walt?s ? An American Restaurant, Blue Lagoon Restaurant, Silver Spur Steakhouse, Caf? Mickey,

The Steakhouse, Manhattan Restaurant, Parkside Diner, Yacht Club, Cape Cod, Beaver Creek and Hunter?s Grill.

Meal Voucher 2:

Voucher is valid in the Disney restaurants listed below, for an adult menu at 11.99? (incl. 1 main course, 1 side order, 1 dessert & 1 soft drink) and for kids menu at 6.10? (incl. a choice of 1 main course, 1 side order, 1 dessert & 1 soft drink).

Restaurants:

Au Chalet de la Marionnette, Pizzeria Bella Notte, Toad Hall Restaurant, Fuente del Oro Restaurante, Colonel Hathi?s Pizza Outpost, Restaurant Hakuna Matata, Caf? Hyp?rion, Restaurant en Coulisse.

These restaurants are located in the Disneyland Park & Walt Disney Studios Park.

Important information

Table reservation is highly recommended before coming to Disneyland Paris, at least 7 days in advance. Meal vouchers 1 and 2 may also be used as means of payment in all other table or buffet restaurants listed below (except Planet Hollywood ? Rain Forest Caf? ? King Ludwig ? Starbucks ? Mc Donald?s)

Restaurants:

Auberge de Cendrillon (-meals with Princes and Princesses), Blue Lagoon Restaurant, Buffalo Bill?s Wild West Show ? 2nd Category, Inventions ? dinner only, California Grill, Manhattan Restaurant; Yacht Club, Walt?s ? An American Restaurant, Blue Lagoon Restaurant, Silver Spur Steakhouse, Caf? Mickey , The Steakhouse, Manhattan Restaurant, Parkside Diner, Yacht Club, Cape Cod, Beaver Creek, Hunter?s Grill, Cowboy Cookout Barbecue, Silver Spur Steakhouse, Plaza Gardens Restaurant, Restaurant Agrabah Caf?, Restaurant des Stars, Annette?s Diner, The Grange at Billy Bob?s Country Western Saloon, Chuck Wagon Caf?, La Cantina, Crockett?s Tavern. These restaurants are located across the resort in Disneyland? Park, Walt Disney Studios? Park, your Disney hotel and Disney Village.

You can also use your ?meal voucher 1? as means of payment. The Davy Crockett voucher is worth 25.20? for adults & 11.20? for children. For Sequoia Lodge it?s 31.50? for adults & 13.20? for children.

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Source: http://visitdisneylandparis.wordpress.com/2012/06/29/eat-for-free-at-disneyland-paris/

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FudzillaNews: EA to confirm Wii U sports plans: Will confirm titles on July 18th & 19th http://t.co/BjWaueG0

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Online Marketing Ideas for the current Marketer! | Chris Parish

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Employing the utilization of high authority writing a blog platforms and learning search engine optimization techniques may significantly increase the rate of this process. Strategic and quality writing a blog is certainly one of the most efficient online marketing ideas.

Website Promotion and To generate leads

After establishing a top quality blog, it is important to begin to use proven blog advertising strategies. This concept looks rather difficult, but tend to actually be quite simple. If you?re familiar with the basics involving Facebook and Twitter, you?re well on your way towards generating leads for your home based marketing business. Utilizing social networking websites is really a remarkably cheap and intensely effective method of raising exposure.

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Glasenberg's dealmaker renown at mercy of Qatar

LONDON (Reuters) - By rejecting Glencore's coveted acquisition of miner Xstrata, Qatar could also put paid to the reputation of Ivan Glasenberg, chief executive of the commodities trader, as consummate dealmaker.

Those who have worked with him on takeovers - and against him defending the companies he targeted - say Glasenberg's self-belief is second to none. That, plus unbending determination, means he normally gets his way.

But this time he appears to have been wrong-footed, thinking the support of major Xstrata shareholder Qatar Holdings was in the bag.

"Did Glencore misread the Qataris? Absolutely," said one banker familiar with the mining sector, but not involved in the deal. "Qatar does not like the limelight, so they must feel pretty strongly to end up going public."

Apparently undeterred by the rejection, Glasenberg showed little relish for compromise, letting it be known he would not overpay.

Glencore's position had not changed, a person familiar with the matter said, and the company would rather walk away than offer more. Bankers said such talk was a standard M&A tactic and to be expected of any company in such negotiations.

It is not only Glasenberg's track record that is under the microscope following Qatar Holdings' surprise demand for better terms for the takeover. The bankers advising him may also have been caught napping.

The stakes are high for all involved, with banking teams working on the deal standing to lose out on a pay day worth up to $130 million if the $26 billion deal collapses. Xstrata was due to pay up to $80 million to its financial advisers, while Glencore may have to shell out up to $50 million.

With fee income in retreat after a 25 percent fall in worldwide M&A volumes in the first half of the year, such pay days are more important than ever for bankers struggling to bring in revenue for their increasingly cost-conscious employers.

The combination of Glencore and Xstrata would rank as the biggest-ever done deal in a sector littered with the skeletons of failed deals. These include the $144.5 billion hostile bid for Rio Tinto by BHP Billiton in 2008, and BHP Billiton's more recent $39.7 billion offer for Canada's Potash.

Glasenberg is not the only executive to have been exposed by the failure to get "Glenstrata" blessed by shareholders.

His opposite number at Xstrata, CEO Mick Davis, was not listening to the mood music over executive pay when he secured himself a $45 million three-year retention package to seal the miner's deal with Glencore. The mining group was forced to convert it to an all-share, performance-related package after an embarrassing shareholder outcry.

Qatar Holdings, which has remained silent for months as it built up the second-largest stake in miner Xstrata - about 11 percent - pushed the deal to the brink on Tuesday, demanding better terms before it would support the deal.

The wealth fund is part of a new breed of investors in the mining sector, focused on creating long-term value and acting on motivations that are sometimes at odds with a more numerous body of investors looking at a shorter timeframe.

Despite the apparent blow to Glasenberg's plans, hedge fund managers said it was too soon to say he had been outwitted by the Qataris.

"Glasenberg is always the smartest man in the room and always one step ahead of everyone. We don't know what is going on behind closed doors," a hedge fund manager who owns Xstrata stock said.

"Hedge funds always think they are smarter than the chief executive, but not when it comes to Ivan," he added.

A second hedge fund manager said Glasenberg would do whatever was in the best interests of Glencore, whether that was to stump up more or let the deal die.

"He is one of the most capitalist individuals I have ever seen. He will change what he needs to change to get the best outcome," the second hedge fund manager said.

BANKING ON A DEAL

The deal was already proving difficult for bankers before the Qatari move. They are facing lower fees due to the unique role of former Citigroup grandee turned independent go-between Michael Klein.

It was Klein's ability to get Glasenberg and arch-rival Mick Davis to agree on a valuation that put the deal on the table. Klein is expected to earn between $10 million and $15 million for his work and could be called upon to help smooth out the latest wrinkle, sources said.

Klein's slice of the fees will mean less for Citigroup, Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse and BNP Paribas, Glencore's advisers.

Deutsche Bank, JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Nomura and Barclays, advisers for Xstrata, will also receive a smaller proportion because of Klein's intervention.

London's "mining king", Ian Hannam, the veteran rainmaker who resigned from JP Morgan last month to fight a 450,000-pound fine imposed by British regulators for passing on inside information, is also involved in the transaction, and teams at Citigroup and Morgan Stanley include veteran UK advisers David Wormsley and Simon Robey, among the biggest names in corporate finance in the City of London.

With stakes so high, all will be banking on Glasenberg showing his usual ability for getting the deal done.

"Is he the smartest man in the room? Let's see where the deal goes," the second hedge fund manager said.

(Additional reporting by Clara Ferreira-Marques; Editing by Alexander Smith and Will Waterman)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/glasenbergs-dealmaker-renown-mercy-qatar-140427829--sector.html

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Companies feel the heat as China slowdown takes toll - Business ...

HONG KONG (Reuters) - An economic slowdown in China is taking a toll on a growing number of companies, with a series of profit warnings highlighting how weakness in the world's second-largest economy is hitting earnings and rattling investors across the board.

Shareholders of GOME Electrical , China's No.2 home appliance retailer, said at the company's annual general meeting on Thursday that they were concerned about the impact of a China slowdown on the company's sales.

"The management admitted that sales have been affected by a slowdown in economic growth, but they didn't clearly say if a recovery will come or things will be steady for the rest of the year," said Calvin Tan, a director of investment at Ma & Wong Asset Management.

GOME's shares, which have plunged 44 percent so far this year, closed down nearly 4 percent at HK$0.98 on Thursday, their lowest level since October 2008, lagging a 0.8 percent drop in the benchmark Hang Seng Index .

"It is too late for us to sell the shares and we don't know how long we have to keep the stock," said a GOME shareholder who left in the middle of the meeting and declined to be named.

The concerns over GOME come after shares of China Resources Cement Holdings closed down 5.5 percent on Thursday after it warned of a sharp fall in first-half earnings as selling prices for cement products have fallen.

China's central bank cut its policy rates in June for the first time since the global financial crisis as data for April and May suggested growth was weakening more than previously thought.

Many economists have cut their forecasts since May and say second-quarter growth could be just over 7 percent, which would be the weakest pace of expansion since the global economic crisis.

A Reuters poll in May showed a consensus forecast for full-year growth in 2012 of 8.2 percent, which would be the slowest pace of growth since 1999.

"The worst is yet to come," said Paul Tang, chief economist at the Bank of East Asia . "The impact could be reflected in the third quarter before some sign of improvement. That is why there is an urgent need for the Chinese government to launch some supportive measures."

RETAIL SALES SLIDE

A clampdown on China's property sector by policymakers has weighed on GOME and its bigger rival, Suning , seen by some as China's answer to Best Buy , as spending on appliances has eased.

"Sales simply fell miserably this year, at least 30 percent down from last year, in terms of refrigerators and laundry machines," said a sales assistant at a GOME store in China who would only give her surname Zhang as she was not authorized to speak to the media.

Indeed, home appliance sales rose just 0.5 percent in May from a year earlier, underperforming a 13.8 percent increase in overall retail sales, government data shows.

"It's also related to the slowdown in new apartment purchases, because as soon as you buy an apartment, you need to buy a new refrigerator, washing machine and such," said Bruno Lannes, Shanghai-based head of Bain & Company's retail and consumer products practice for Greater China.

China's property investment grew 18.5 percent in the first five months from a year earlier, down from an annual rise of 27.9 percent for the full year of 2011 and 33.2 percent in 2010.

Some Suning staff shrugged off concerns of a slowdown.

"The tightening policy only has minimal impact on our sales. Even though a household is restricted to one or two homes, the total transactions are still huge and people's demand for home appliances is strong," said Xiao Yuanfu, a sales manager at Suning who joined the company in 2004.

High-end products have also come under pressure.

Zhang Yuping, executive chairman of Hengdeli Holdings Ltd , China's top luxury watch retailer, told Reuters earlier this month that an uncertain economic environment had slowed sales growth of luxury watches on the mainland this year.

"On the industry front, a trend of slower demand for high-end products is expected this year, with sales of Cartier and Rolex already seen slowing," Zhang said.

Caterpillar Inc , the world's largest heavy machinery maker, warned of weakness this month and said it was scaling back production in China to reflect a slowdown in the industry.

Caterpillar rival Sany Heavy Industry said on Thursday it might delay its planned Hong Kong initial public offering of shares if market conditions remained weak. It filed for a $2 billion listing, Thomson Reuters publication IFR reported in May.

Sany's group president was, however, optimistic for the company's sales in the second half.

"The second half of this year will be better than the second half of last year," said Sany's president, Tang Xiuguo, adding this was because he did not expect further tightening policies.

(Additional reporting by Liangi Chiang and Terril Jones in BEIJING, SHANGHAI Newsroom; Editing by Matt Driskill)

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July 18 Program to Clarify Confusion About Prostate Cancer ...

June 28, 2012 ?

Recent Changes in PSA Guidelines Go Against Decades of Widespread Use

To help clarify public confusion about prostate cancer screenings, Scripps Health will host a free educational program, ?Prostate Cancer Screening: The Other Side of the Story? on Wednesday, July 18, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Schaetzel Center at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla.

Scripps is offering the program in light of a federal health panel?s recently approved recommendation against routine prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening for men of all ages. The recommendation by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force goes against two decades of widespread use of the PSA test as a diagnostic tool, and creates uncertainty among many patients about how to proceed with screening decisions.

Significant Public Health Issue

Prostate cancer is a major public health issue in the United States. It is the second-most common cancer in men and the second-leading cause of cancer death among men. In a 2010 survey, more than half of American men older than 40 reported taking a PSA test in the prior two years, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Scripps program will be led by Dr. Carol Salem, a board-certified urologist with subspecialty training in urologic cancer. The presentation will provide an overview of the facts about screening for prostate cancer and will explore the risk factors that can raise the likelihood of developing the disease. Attendees will also learn about the full spectrum of options for diagnosis and treatment.

The program is open to the general public and validated parking will be provided. Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla is located at 9888 Genesee Ave., La Jolla 90237. More information on events is available by calling 1-800-SCRIPPS.

In addition to the lecture, Scripps will host a series of free prostate cancer screening events in communities throughout San Diego County. These include:

Tuesday, July 24, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, 9888 Genesee Ave., La Jolla, CA 92037.

Thursday, July 26, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Scripps Cancer Center at Mercy Clinic, 4020 Fifth Ave., Suite 401, San Diego, CA 92103.

Cancer care at Scripps is provided through Scripps Cancer Center, a nationally recognized leader in cancer care, providing comprehensive care at Scripps? four hospitals and various Scripps Clinic locations. With more than 300 affiliated physicians, Scripps Cancer Center seeks to provide the best possible treatment and cutting-edge research trials for patients by coordinating medical expertise in the areas of clinical cancer care, community outreach and clinical, translational and basic research.

Scripps is the only cancer care provider in San Diego to earn network accreditation from the American College of Surgeons? Commission on Cancer. Scripps Polster Breast Care Center at Scripps La Jolla, the Breast Care Center at Scripps Green Hospital and the breast care programs at Scripps Encinitas and Scripps Mercy Chula Vista have earned accreditation from the American College of Surgeons? National Accreditation Program for Breast Cancer Centers (NAPBC). The radiation oncology department at Scripps Green Hospital has earned accreditation in radiation therapy from the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) and the American College of Radiology (ACR).

ABOUT SCRIPPS HEALTH

Learn more about Scripps Health, a nonprofit integrated health system in San Diego.

Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, Cancer Care

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