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Indian scientist wins Wolf Prize for agricultureJERUSALEM: Dr. Gurdev S. Khush of the Manila-based International Rice Research Institute h...

Indian scientist wins Wolf Prize for agriculture

JERUSALEM: Dr. Gurdev S. Khush of the Manila-based International Rice Research Institute has won this year’s Wolf Prize for Agriculture, the Wolf Foundation announced in Jerusalem. He will receive $100,000. Khush, 54, a fellow of the Royal Society in Britain, was honoured for his “extraordinary contribution to theoretical research in plant genetics, evolution and breeding, especially of rice, with regard to food production and alleviation of hunger”. He has been able to produce more eco-friendly rice varieties resistant to several major insect pests, the Foundation said in its citation. His techniques also serve in studies of the origin and evolution of other grain crops. More than 300 varieties of rice developed under his leadership have been released as national programmes in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Madonna to sell London mansion

LONDON: Pop superstar Madonna has put her London mansion up for sale only weeks after buying it, fearing she would not be totally safe there, according to press reports here Tuesday. The Times said she had put the luxury home in swanky Chelsea, West London, on the market days before Christmas. She acquired the four-storey property for Â£3.7 million in November, and hopes to sell it again for four million pounds. With estate agents’ fees and government taxes however, the 41-year-old is unlikely to make a profit. Various “sources” told the papers that she did not feel safe in the house, which is visible from the road, particularly after ex-Beatle George Harrison was stabbed last month. “Anyone with a profile needs to be slightly neurotic about their safety in the current climate,” a source close to the singer told The Times.

Agassi’s smartest backhand yet

MELBOURNE: Andre Agassi produced his smartest backhand reply when asked about a report that he had secretly married girlfriend and former women’s tennis number one Steffi Graf.

A British newspaper reported last weekend that Agassi, thereigning French and U.S. Open champion, and Graf had exchanged wedding vows on New Year’s eve in Hawaii. Quizzed about the report at the launch for a warm-up tournament to next week’s Australian Open, Agassi smashed back the question. “Oh yeah, (we had) a big bash, 250 of our closest friends were there. We actually had the ATP and WTA (tennis tours) give out about 20 invitations to the world’s most intelligent and professional journalists. Sorry you weren’t there.”