FED:Media to be urged to report on suicide

AAP General News (Australia)
08-02-2011
FED:Media to be urged to report on suicide

SYDNEY, Aug 2 AAP - The Australian media will be urged to report on suicide and related
issues under new guidelines released by the Australian Press Council.

The council has released new standards of practice for reporting suicide and discussing
related issues, which will be binding on all publications affiliated with the council,
including all major newspapers and magazines around Australia.

Traditionally, the Australian media has been reticent to report on suicides.

"The new standards emphasise that general reporting and comment on issues relating
to suicide can be of substantial public benefit," council chair Julian Disney said in
a statement.

"It can help to improve public understanding of causes and warning signs, have a deterrent
effect on people contemplating suicide, bring comfort to affected relatives or friends,
or promote further public or private action to prevent suicide.

"There should not be a taboo on reporting of this kind."

Professor Disney said the new guidelines were developed after extensive consultation
with mental health experts, editors and journalists, and promoted responsible reporting
of suicides.

"It is important to be very careful, however, when the material is likely to be read
or seen by people who may be especially vulnerable (for example, because of their age
or mental health) and relates to suicides by their peers or by celebrities."

The new standards include restrictions on naming people who have died by suicide, providing
details about methods of suicide, and using inappropriate language.

AAP jlw/bwl

KEYWORD: SUICIDE

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

QLD:Newman begins sell job in regions

AAP General News (Australia)
04-06-2011
QLD:Newman begins sell job in regions

Queensland's new opposition leader CAMPBELL NEWMAN admits it's frustrating .. not being
able to participate when state parliament sits tomorrow.

He says it's a bit tricky not being in the engine room .. while leading the Liberal
National Party from the outside as he tries to win the Labor-held seat of Ashgrove.

But Mr NEWMAN's told the ABC that parliament is only a mechanism .. and there are other
ways to get his message out.

The former Brisbane lord mayor begins his mission to extend his reach beyond the southeast
corner .. with a tour of north Queensland starting tomorrow.

AAP RTV tnf/jmt

KEYWORD: LNP NEWMAN (BRISBANE)

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

FED:`Strong demand' for genetic tests

AAP General News (Australia)
12-16-2010
FED:`Strong demand' for genetic tests

Eds: Embargoed to 0100 AEDT, Thursday, December 16.

By Danny Rose, AAP Medical Writer

SYDNEY, Dec 16 AAP - An Australian study has revealed strong demand for genetic testing
despite expert concerns over its predictive accuracy and a lack of "genetic discrimination"

laws.

A clear majority of respondents to a University of NSW survey said they would support
such testing in a case where a doctor offered it to check for a person's future risk of
depression.

Forty per cent also said they were comfortable with the tests being sold, as they are
now, in a largely unregulated way over the internet.

Dr Alex Wilde, from the UNSW's School of Psychiatry, said she was surprised by the
level of community support for the tests which backers claim can reveal a person's future
risk of a range of illnesses and disease.

"The findings are surprising given that we also found widespread belief that genetic
links to mental illness would increase rather than decrease stigma," Dr Wilde said.

"And also because the validity and utility of the testing is still in question ...

There is no certainty depression will manifest in someone with a higher-than-average risk
whether they are exposed to stressful life events or not."

On top of this uncertainty, Dr Wilde said, Australia lacked the "genetic non-discrimination
laws" needed to protect a person should their test results become known to a third party.

An employer, for example, could base a hire or fire decision on a person's genetic
test results with little recourse.

A worrying longer-term health forecast, based solely on an assessment of a person's
genetic code, could also affect the availability or cost of health insurance.

Despite this, Dr Wilde's nation-wide poll of 1000 Australians found those with a history
of depression, or who suspected they were at higher risk, were most likely to be test
supporters.

Popular reasons to have a test included that it may prevent a future mental ill-health
episode or prompt earlier intervention.

There was greater interest in seeking genetic tests for depression through a doctor
(63 per cent), but also strong support for obtaining one over the internet (40 per cent).

"The topic of genetic testing for common disorders has been subject to continuing interest
all over the world since the rise, fall, and rise again of the unregulated direct-to-consumer
genetic testing market," Dr Wilde said.

"Considering direct-to-consumer genetic tests are marketed internationally, consumers
may have no legal protection from genetic discrimination for insurance or employment in
their own country."

Dr Wilde said the poll showed there was "strong demand" for such genetic testing and
so legislation was needed to ensure a person was protected and to "prevent genetic discrimination".

"The results reflect a prevailing belief that the benefits of knowing one's own genetic
susceptibility outweigh the risks," she said.

The study is published this week in the advance online edition of the UK-based journal
Psychological Medicine.

AAP dr/msk/nb

KEYWORD: GENETIC EMBARGOED

� 2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

FED:AAP 4-week diary from Aug 9-Sep 5=4

AAP General News (Australia)
08-08-2010
FED:AAP 4-week diary from Aug 9-Sep 5=4



MONDAY AUGUST 30



ADELAIDE:



BRISBANE:



CANBERRA:



DARWIN:



HOBART:



MELBOURNE:

FASHION EXPOSED 2010

August 29-31, 2010

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

Contact: 03 9854 7773

Website: www.fashionexposed.com

MELBOURNE WRITERS FESTIVAL

August 27-September 5, 2010

Federation Square.

Contact: Magda Petkoff 0409 436 473

Website: www.mwf.com.au

MELBOURNE SPRING FASHION WEEK

August 30-September 5, 2010

Various venues.



SYDNEY:

3RD ANNUAL PHARMACEUTICAL LAW CONFERENCE 2010

August 30-31, 2010

Sydney Harbour Marriott

Website: www.iir.com.au

INTERNATIONAL JEWELLERY FAIR

August 29-31, 2010

Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre

Website: www. internationaljewelleryfair.com.au

GOVERNMENT CONTRACT CENTRE SUMMIT AUSTRALASIA 2010

August 30-September 1, 2010

Star City, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Website: www.govcc.com.au/Event.aspx?id=294166

Contact: 02 9229 1000



PERTH:

RESERVE ACCOUNTING & REPORTING FOR THE PETROLEUM SECTOR 2010

August 30-31, 2010

Novotel Langley Perth

Webiste: www.iir.com.au/reservereporting

SHINJU MATSURI - FESTIVAL OF THE PEARL

August 27-September 5, 2010

Broome

Contact: 08 9192 6461

Website: http://www.shinjumatsuri.com.au/



TUESDAY AUGUST 31



ADELAIDE:



BRISBANE:



CANBERRA:



DARWIN:



HOBART:



MELBOURNE:

FASHION EXPOSED 2010

August 29-31, 2010

MelbourneConventionand Exhibition Centre

Contact: 03 9854 7773

Website: www.fashionexposed.com

MELBOURNE WRITERS FESTIVAL

August 27-September 5, 2010

Federation Square.

Contact: Magda Petkoff 0409 436 473

Website: www.mwf.com.au

MELBOURNE SPRING FASHION WEEK

August 30-September 5, 2010

Various venues.



SYDNEY:

PROF FRED HILMER (PRESIDENT/VICE CHANCELLOR UNIVERSITY OF NSW) TO DISCUSS PROBLEMS
WITH MICROECONOMIC REFORM TODAY.

Venue to be advised.

Contact: 9252 3366

3RD ANNUAL PHARMACEUTICAL LAW CONFERENCE 2010

August 30-31, 2010

Sydney Harbour Marriott

Website: www.iir.com.au

INTERNATIONAL JEWELLERY FAIR

August 29-31, 2010

Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre

Website: www. internationaljewelleryfair.com.au

GOVERNMENT CONTRACT CENTRE SUMMIT AUSTRALASIA 2010

August 30-September 1, 2010

Star City, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Website: www.govcc.com.au/Event.aspx?id=294166

Contact: 02 9229 1000



PERTH:

RESERVE ACCOUNTING & REPORTING FOR THE PETROLEUM SECTOR 2010

August 30-31, 2010

Novotel Langley Perth

Webiste: www.iir.com.au/reservereporting

SHINJU MATSURI - FESTIVAL OF THE PEARL

August 27-September 5, 2010

Broome

Contact: 08 9192 6461

Website: http://www.shinjumatsuri.com.au/



WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 1



ADELAIDE:



BRISBANE:

NATIONAL HOMELESSNESS CONFERENCE "MANY WAYS HOME: TOWARDS ENDING HOMELESSNESS BY 2010"

September 1-3, 2010

Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Contact: Beverley Atkins: 02 6162 0345.



CANBERRA:



DARWIN:



HOBART:



MELBOURNE:

SUSTAINABLE RISK RATIONALISATION CONFERENCE

September 1-3, 2010

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

An international Learning Experience

Contact: 03 8525 5155

Website: www.srr-otek.com.au

LAW INSTITUTE OF VICTORIA: SERVING UP INSIGHTS WITH ATTORNEY GENERAL ROB HULLS

RACV Club, Level 2, 501 Bourke Street.

Topic: Tough on Crime: the Future is Smarter.

Contact: 03 9607 9311

Website: www.liv.asn.au

MELBOURNE WRITERS FESTIVAL

August 27-September 5, 2010

Federation Square.

Contact: Magda Petkoff 0409 436 473

Website: www.mwf.com.au

MELBOURNE SPRING FASHION WEEK

August 30-September 5, 2010

Various venues.



SYDNEY:

GOVERNMENT CONTRACT CENTRE SUMMIT AUSTRALASIA 2010

August 30-September 1, 2010

Star City, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Website: www.govcc.com.au/Event.aspx?id=294166

Contact ph: 02 9229 1000

SECURITY 2010

September 1-3, 2010

Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre

Website: http://www.securityexpo.com.au



PERTH:

SHINJU MATSURI - FESTIVAL OF THE PEARL

August 27-September 5, 2010

Broome

Contact: 08 9192 6461

Website: http://www.shinjumatsuri.com.au/

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 2



ADELAIDE:



BRISBANE:

CHILD PROTECTION WEEK LAUNCH

Parliament House.

And presentation of 2010 Child Protection Awards.

Contact: Catlin King 3844 6414.



CANBERRA:



DARWIN:



HOBART:



MELBOURNE:

SUSTAINABLE RISK RATIONALISATION CONFERENCE

September 1-3, 2010

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

An international Learning Experience

Contact: 03 8525 5155

Website: www.srr-otek.com.au

WORLD SCIENCE FICTION CONVENTION

September 2-6, 2010

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

Contact: 0409 412 311

Website: www.aussiecon4.org.au

MELBOURNE WRITERS FESTIVAL

August 27-September 5, 2010

Federation Square.

Contact: Magda Petkoff 0409 436 473

Website: www.mwf.com.au

MELBOURNE SPRING FASHION WEEK

August 30-September 5, 2010

Various venues.



SYDNEY:

TIM FISCHER, FORMER DEPUTY PM & AMBASSADOR TO THE HOLY SEE, TO DISCUSS THE CANONIZATION
OF MARY MACKILLOP.

Clayton Utz seminar room, Level 30, 1 O'Connell Street, Sydney.

Contact: 9252 3366

SECURITY 2010

September 1-3, 2010

Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre

Website: http://www.securityexpo.com.au



PERTH:

SHINJU MATSURI - FESTIVAL OF THE PEARL

August 27-September 5, 2010

Broome

Contact: 08 9192 6461

Website: http://www.shinjumatsuri.com.au/



FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 3



ADELAIDE:

ROYAL ADELAIDE SHOW

September 3-11, 2010

Website: www.theshow.com.au



BRISBANE:



CANBERRA:



DARWIN:



HOBART:



MELBOURNE:

SUSTAINABLE RISK RATIONALISATION CONFERENCE

September 1-3, 2010

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

An international Learning Experience

Contact: 03 8525 5155

Website: www.srr-otek.com.au

WORLD SCIENCE FICTION CONVENTION

September 2-6, 2010

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

Contact: 0409 412 311

Website: www.aussiecon4.org.au

MELBOURNE WRITERS FESTIVAL

August 27-September 5, 2010

Federation Square.

Contact: Magda Petkoff 0409 436 473

Website: www.mwf.com.au

MELBOURNE SPRING FASHION WEEK

August 30-September 5, 2010

Various venues.



SYDNEY:

SECURITY 2010

September 1-3, 2010

Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre

Website: http://www.securityexpo.com.au



PERTH:

SHINJU MATSURI - FESTIVAL OF THE PEARL

August 27-September 5, 2010

Broome

Contact: 08 9192 6461

Website: http://www.shinjumatsuri.com.au/

SKILLS WEST EXPO

September 3-5

Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre

Website: www.skillswestexpo.com.au



SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 4



ADELAIDE:

ROYAL ADELAIDE SHOW

September 3-11, 2010

Website: www.theshow.com.au



BRISBANE:



CANBERRA:



DARWIN:



HOBART:



MELBOURNE:

WORLD SCIENCE FICTION CONVENTION

September 2-6, 2010

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

Contact: 0409 412 311

Website: www.aussiecon4.org.au

MELBOURNE WRITERS FESTIVAL

August 27-September 5, 2010

Federation Square.

Contact: Magda Petkoff 0409 436 473

Website: www.mwf.com.au

MELBOURNE SPRING FASHION WEEK

August 30-September 5, 2010

Various venues.



SYDNEY:



PERTH:

SHINJU MATSURI - FESTIVAL OF THE PEARL

August 27-September 5, 2010

Broome

Contact: 08 9192 6461

Website: http://www.shinjumatsuri.com.au/

SKILLS WEST EXPO

September 3-5, 2010

Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre

Website: www.skillswestexpo.com.au



SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 5



ADELAIDE:

ROYAL ADELAIDE SHOW

September 3-11, 2010

Website: www.theshow.com.au



BRISBANE:

CHILD PROTECTION WEEK

September 5-11, 2010



CANBERRA:



DARWIN:



HOBART:



MELBOURNE:

WORLD SCIENCE FICTION CONVENTION

September 2-6, 2010

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

Contact: 0409 412 311

Website: www.aussiecon4.org.au

MELBOURNE WRITERS FESTIVAL

August 27-September 5, 2010

Federation Square.

Contact: Magda Petkoff 0409 436 473

Website: www.mwf.com.au

NATIONAL FARMERS FEDERATION 2010 NATIONAL CONGRESS

September 5-7, 2010

Grand Hyatt Melbourne.

Website: www.congress.nff.org.au

MELBOURNE SPRING FASHION WEEK

August 30-September 5, 2010

Various venues.

FESTIVAL OF REFUGEES

Box Hill Town Hall, 1022 Whitehorse Road, Box Hill

Featuring award-winning singer Kavisha Mazzella and Muslim author Hanifa Deen. Aboriginal
Elder Reg Blow will welcome the refugees and acknowledge traditional owners of this land.

Contact: 9650 6811



SYDNEY:



PERTH:

SHINJU MATSURI - FESTIVAL OF THE PEARL

August 27-September 5, 2010

Broome

Contact: 08 9192 6461

Website: http://www.shinjumatsuri.com.au

SKILLS WEST EXPO

September 3-5, 2010

Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre

Website: www.skillswestexpo.com.au



AAP szp

KEYWORD: DIARY 4WEEK 4(AUG 9-SEPT 5)

� 2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Qld: Man stung by irukandji in stable condition

AAP General News (Australia)
12-29-2009
Qld: Man stung by irukandji in stable condition

BRISBANE, Dec 29 AAP - A 38-year-old man stung by a small but deadly jellyfish in north
Queensland is in a stable condition in hospital.

The man was stung on the hand by an irukandji jellyfish while swimming off Long Island
in the Whitsundays on Monday afternoon.

He was transported to Bowen Hospital then airlifted to Mackay Hospital on Tuesday morning.

A Queensland Health spokesman said the man was in a stable condition.

AAP peb/ldj

KEYWORD: STUNG

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Bathroom heaters recalled due to fire risk

AAP General News (Australia)
08-17-2009
NSW: Bathroom heaters recalled due to fire risk

SYDNEY, Aug 17 AAP - Several bathroom heater models are being recalled following reports
they can be a fire hazard, the NSW government says.

Brands manufactured by Chief Kitchenware and sold around Australia, including Mistral,
Plugz, Vogue Design and RingGrip, have been reported to have caused fires in Queensland,
South Australia and Tasmania.

The heat lamp holders on the recalled 3-in-1 heat, light and fan units can become overheated
and catch alight.

NSW's acting Fair Trading Minister Linda Burney said owners of the listed models should
stop using the heat lamps.

"Consumers are advised to unscrew and remove the heat lamps and store safely," she
said in a statement.

"Chief Kitchenware has advised Fair Trading there is no risk of an electrical shock
and it is safe to continue using the light and exhaust fan without the heat lamp."

Chief Kitchenware recalled some Airflow, P&R and Lanson models in 2007 and extended
the recall list in 2008.

Consumers should contact Chief Kitchenware on 1800 677 845 to have their bathroom heaters
repaired for free.

The recalled products include Mistral M6600-0, M6601-0, M6700-0, M6700 DUCT, M6705-0,
M6740-0, M6715 AUTOHEAT, Plugz P3N1-2, P6601-0, Vogue Design VD2N1/2, VD3N1/DUCT and RingGrip
6600-0, 6700-0, 6601-0.

AAP bm/evt/apm

KEYWORD: HEATERS

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

FED: Ministers fly to Washington for Ausmin talks

AAP General News (Australia)
04-07-2009
FED: Ministers fly to Washington for Ausmin talks

CANBERRA, April 7 AAP - Foreign Minister Stephen Smith leaves for Washington on Tuesday
for annual defence and policy talks with the United States.

Mr Smith and Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon will sit down with US Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton and Defence Secretary Robert Gates on Thursday for the annual Australia-US
Ministerial (AUSMIN) meeting.

While Prime Minister Kevin Rudd met US President Barack Obama twice in recent weeks,
it will be the first formal discussions with Australia's closest ally.

AUSMIN is the key forum for foreign policy, defence and strategic discussions on the
Australian-US alliance.

Mr Smith and Mr Fitzgibbon said the first AUSMIN meeting with the Obama administration
reflected "the enduring strategic importance of the alliance".

"Australia's alliance with the United States continues to be an indispensable part
of Australia's security and defence arrangements," they said in a statement.

The agenda will include the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, security in the Asia-Pacific
region, and the nuclear threat posed by North Korea's provocative weekend rocket launch.

The ministers will discuss the renewed focus on nuclear disarmament, spearheaded by
Mr Rudd last year and embraced by President Obama in a speech at the weekend.

"The talks will include Australia and the United States shared goal of a world free
of nuclear weapons," Mr Smith and Mr Fitzgibbon said.

AAP so/rl/tnf

KEYWORD: AUSMIN

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Rudd govt rushes bills before parliament ends for 2008

AAP General News (Australia)
12-03-2008
Fed: Rudd govt rushes bills before parliament ends for 2008

The RUDD government's introducing 17 bills to parliament today .. the second last sitting
day of the year.

There'll be 13 bills for the lower house .. covering everything from aviation to workplace
relations and telecommunications interception .. and four for the upper house.

Parliament rises tomorrow for a two-month break.

AAP RTV mj/rl/jmt

KEYWORD: PARLIAMENT (CANBERRA)

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

FED: Gay group welcomes equal rights move

AAP General News (Australia)
04-30-2008
FED: Gay group welcomes equal rights move

CANBERRA, April 30 AAP - Gay rights advocates have urged the federal opposition to
get behind a government plan to begin removing discrimination against same-sex couples
within months.

Federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland today is expected to announce that legislation
removing discrimination in areas including superannuation and aged care will be introduced
in the winter session of parliament, with a delayed implementation in areas like social
security and veterans affairs to be completed by mid-2009.

Australian Coalition for Equality spokesperson Rodney Croome welcomed a fixed timetable
for reform, saying it would ease the burden on elderly and retired same-sex partners,
giving them certainty on their superannuation, aged care and pension entitlements.

"The recognition of same-sex de facto couples is long overdue and will bring Australian
national law into line with all Australia's states and territories and many other western
nations," Mr Croome said.

"We call on the coalition and its leader Brendan Nelson to extend full, bipartisan
support to the government's proposal so that it is not delayed in the Senate, and so that
a clear anti-discrimination message is sent to the Australian public."

He called on supporters of equality to continue to pressure the government to ensure
reform is as comprehensive as possible.

"Reform must extend to all federal family entitlements including Family Court access,
and it must ensure formally-recognised civil partners in Tasmania and Victoria have full
federal entitlements.

However, he added: "It is deeply disappointing that the government is not prepared
to accept equality in marriage, but I look forward to same-sex de facto law reform rekindling
the debate on why full legal and social equality is needed".

AAP cdh/apm

KEYWORD: GAY DAYLEAD

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Tran-Tasman kayakers battle fatigue, morale and competition

AAP General News (Australia)
12-27-2007
Fed: Tran-Tasman kayakers battle fatigue, morale and competition

EDS: Takes in Row. Please note language in paragraph 7.



By Vincent Morello and Crystal Ja

SYDNEY, Dec 27 AAP - Two men attempting to become the first Australians to paddle across
the Tasman are battling physical and emotional exhaustion, as well as the likelihood a
competing craft will steal their glory.

Eight-metre swells continue to swamp their custom-built kayak as Sydneysiders James
Castrission, 25, and Justin Jones, 24, paddle towards Auckland in rough conditions.

The pair set out on their 2,200km journey on November 13 from Forster, on the NSW mid-north
coast.

They reached their halfway point in early December but went around in circles for two
weeks in attempts to dodge persistent head winds and a whirlpool of ocean currents.

They are now 540km from Auckland, but their support team estimates the men have paddled
an extra 1,000km as a result of their unplanned detours.

"They're physically and mentally exhausted, and morale has gone to its lowest point
in the journey," support team member Tom Mitchell told AAP.

"Basically, they're sick to death (of trying) to get their arses across to New Zealand."

For the past two days, they have made big advances, paddling more than 200km, and expect
strong westerly winds to push them similar distances for another two days.

But strong tail winds have brought big seas that make paddling difficult.

The kayak enters the middle of eight-metre swells, submerges slightly and resurfaces
to repeat the challenge.

"And on top of that, they've only been getting one hour of sleep a night because the
seas are so rough," Mr Mitchell said.

"They've described it as trying to sleep with 12 kids jumping up and down on the bed."

Their original arrival date of Christmas Eve has been extended repeatedly, but the
support team expects the pair to arrive in NZ as early as January 7.

Crossing from the opposite direction, a four-person rowing team of Steven Gates, Andrew
Johnson, Kerry Tozer and surf boat champion Sally Macready, set out on November 29 from
Hokianga Harbour, north of Auckland.

The conditions that hammered Castrission and Jones favoured the foursome, who reached
their halfway mark in just 15 days.

They are now just 370km from Sydney Harbour and are expected to arrive on New Year's
Day or the next day.

The larger team has also endured rough conditions and a near-miss with a freighter
on Christmas night.

But on Boxing Day, they encountered a pod of dolphins and good conditions.

"The weather was glorious. We finally struck a favourable current and it was great
to be on the ocean," Gates said in a statement.

Jones and Castrission are not expected to reach land first, since easterly headwinds
are forecast to return on Sunday.

Mr Mitchell said the pair are not bothered that Gates' team will arrive first, especially
since they have twice the rowing capacity.

"Everything that's held our boys back has given the other team the advantage to keep
paddling hard to make it there before them," Mr Mitchell said.

"And the more people you have, the less prestigious it is."

He said solo kayaker Andrew McAuley would have been the ultimate champion.

He attempted the crossing to New Zealand's Milford Sound in February, but he disappeared
after sending out a garbled distress signal only about 50km from his destination.

His partially submerged craft was found drifting in the ocean, but his body was never located.

AAP vpm/hn/jl/mn

KEYWORD: KAYAKERS NIGHTLEAD (FILE PIX AVAILABLE)

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Vic: New mental illness strategy for families

AAP General News (Australia)
08-19-2007
Vic: New mental illness strategy for families

The Victorian government has announced a new strategy to help families in which a parent
suffers a mental illness.

Mental Health Minister LISA NEVILLE says the state will spend 2.4 million dollars employing
eight coordinators .. including five in rural areas .. and distribute a strategy for helping
families cope.

More than 18-thousand families in Victoria have a parent with a severe mental illness
.. being treated by a specialist.

AAP RTV kl/gfr/ibw

KEYWORD: PARENT (MELBOURNE)

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Vic: Two teenagers injured in garage explosion

AAP General News (Australia)
04-03-2007
Vic: Two teenagers injured in garage explosion

A teenage boy is in a Melbourne hospital in a serious condition .. with burns to 15
per cent of his body .. after an explosion in a suburban garage.

Ambulance officers says the accident happened about 12.30 (AEST) this afternoon at
a Seabrook house .. in Melbourne's south-west.

Paramedics say two boys .. believed to be about 13 .. were playing with petrol when
it caught fire and exploded.

One is in a serious condition in the Royal Children's hospital .. with burns mainly
to his face .. neck and arms.

The other teenager's been taken to the same hospital .. where he's being treated for
minor injuries.

AAP RTV sam/tm/bart

KEYWORD: EXPLOSION (MELBOURNE)

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Qld: Crow causes power outage in Brisbane

AAP General News (Australia)
12-03-2006
Qld: Crow causes power outage in Brisbane

About a thousand homes lost power in Brisbane this morning .. after a crow became tangled
in power lines.

An Energex spokesman says the bird hit overhead lines at Toowong about 8.30am (AEST)
.. knocking out power to residents in Indooroopilly and Toowong.

Energex crews have restored electricity to 900 homes .. and the other rest should be
back on line within the hour.

AAP RTV cf/jmt

KEYWORD: CROW (BRISBANE)

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Minister stops short of apology over Kovco body bungle

AAP General News (Australia)
04-27-2006
Fed: Minister stops short of apology over Kovco body bungle

MELBOURNE, April 27 AAP - The grieving family of the Australian soldier accidentally
killed in Iraq will have to wait until at least Saturday to claim his body, after the
wrong casket was flown to Australia.

Defence Minister Brendan Nelson today expressed his regret that Private Jacob Kovco's
body failed to arrive in Melbourne this morning as scheduled, but stopped short of apologising
for the bungle that resulted in someone else's body flown from Kuwait.

Dr Nelson said a private mortuary in Kuwait appeared to be responsible for the mistake.

He refused to apologise on behalf of the government until an investigation identified
who was to blame.

"I am not in a position at the moment to express sorrow, if you like, on behalf of
the Australian government, and let's just find out what the cause of it was first," Dr
Nelson told reporters at Melbourne Airport.

"Let's get him back and then let's find out what happened before we start assigning blame."

Dr Nelson and Chief of Army Lieutenant-General Peter Leahy flew to Sale near the Kovko
family hometown in south-eastern Victoria to tell Mr Kovko's family of the mixup.

He said Pte Kovco's wife Shelley was upset by the news and spoke to Prime Minister
John Howard overnight.

"Needless to say the Kovco family were quite distressed," Dr Nelson said.

"(The prime minister) had a conversation with Mrs Kovco in which she expressed her
disappointment and distress that her husband's casket had not been dispatched to Australia."

The 25-year-old private accidentally shot himself while cleaning his weapon in Baghdad on Friday.

He was a member of the 110-strong security detachment in Iraq's capital to protect
Australian officials.

MORE jlw

KEYWORD: KOVCO BODY 2ND LEAD

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Kuntī

Kuntī In the Indian epic the Mahābhārata (see Mahābhārata), Kuntī is a wife of Pāṇḍu, who because of a curse cannot have sexual relations with his two wives. Kuntī becomes the mother of the three main Pāṇḍava (see Pāṇḍavas) brothers—the heroes of the epic—by the gods Dharma (see Dharma), Vāyu (see Vāyu), and Indra (see Indra). Because of a promise inadvertently made by Kuntī, the Pāṇḍava brothers must share one wife, Draupadī (see Draupadī). Kuntī is also the mother, by the sun god, of the antihero Karṇa (see Karṇa) before she became the mother of the Pāṇḍavas. It might be said, then, that the gods use Kuntī as a kind of catalytic vessel for many of the events of the epic. It is perhaps for this reason that she is also called Pṛthā, which associates her with the primal vessel, Pṛthivi (see Pṛthivi) or Earth.

High-tech tool a hit in classroom

ST. CHARLES - At first glance, it seemed that pupils at Wredling Middle School were surfing TV or the Internet, or perhaps into some serious text messaging.

But on closer inspection, the kids - all 32 of them - were simultaneously communicating data to teachers during a recent school day using individual hand-held remotes that operate a new educational tool dubbed the "ConVA" system.

Built by St. Charles-based Dukane Audio Visual, the innovative system allows teachers to gauge the effectiveness of a school's curriculum.

Results are instantaneously displayed on a screen through a data projector, said John Mucci, the Dukane software engineer who developed ConVA.

Kids like the feedback and interactive learning while administrators value ConVa's ability to deliver real-time data, he said.

Mucci pointed out that the ConVA system has a number of functions but one main objective.

"Generally, it's used for assessments to find out whether a student understands - or does not understand - a fact or a notion that the teacher is trying to get across - with that curriculum," he said.

In addition to pilot programs at Wredling and St. Charles North High schools, ConVA has been installed in other schools around the country. Garland Independent School District in Texas has served as a key development site, with more than 3,000 classrooms there using the system.

In Kane County, Burlington-based Central School District is preparing to implement the program at the middle school level, Mucci said.

Considering the scope of technology, the ConVA system would seem reasonably cost-effective.

Equipping a typical classroom, Mucci explained, costs roughly $3,000, including 32 remotes for student response and needed software for the teacher.

Wredling Principal Melissa Dockum said after observing classes using ConVA, she is sold on the system.

She said teachers can use ConVA to ask a curriculum-related question and can determine immediately whether they are getting through to their students.

"The teacher can then see what percentage of the students have the correct answer," Dockum explained.

If 90 percent of students answer correctly, the curriculum would seem appropriately structured, she added.

"But if they had 50 percent right, then (teachers) realize they have a problem and may have to 're-teach' a new concept," Dockum said.

She said it is gratifying to see kids reaping benefits through technology.

"And now if we want to meet them when they're truly interested - we've got something in our hands to do it - so I'm thrilled," she said.

Comment at beaconnewsonline.com

Wredling Middle School eighth-grader Nikil Bontu responds to a question pertaining to American history on a hand-held device called the ConVA. His response appears on the screen in the form of percentages as well as on the hand-held device that allows the user to see if the question was answered properly. The technology is used in the St. Charles middle school to assess learning.Marina Makropoulos / Staff Photographer

NORTEL NETWORKS: Nortel Networks announces calling name application for BroadBand STP.

M2 PRESSWIRE-27 May 1999-NORTEL NETWORKS: Nortel Networks announces calling name application for BroadBand STP (C)1994-99 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

RDATE:260599

Research Triangle Park -- Nortel Networks* [NYSE/ TSE: NT] announced the availability of a calling name application that delivers caller ID services (including both the caller's name and number) for its Internet-ready carrier-class signaling transfer point, the BroadBand STP.

The STP is a messaging hub that routes addresses and other customer-specific information within an SS7 network. Nortel Networks is a world leader in SS7 signaling, which enables intelligent data services such as caller ID to be delivered over traditional voice (circuit-switched) networks. Nortel Networks' BroadBand STP, introduced in November 1998, meets the increasing demands for SS7 intelligent network services, while ready to interface with the packet-switched world including Internet Protocol (IP) networks. The BroadBand STP uses asynchronous transport mode (ATM) technology to address a wide range of signaling requirements at the boundaries between SS7 and IP networks and paves the way to the next generation of data-oriented signaling products.

The calling name service, an adjunct application available with BroadBand STP Release SSR1.1, achieved in-service status on March 8, 1999 after successfully completing verification trials with Com Net, Inc. of Ohio-a consortium of independent operating companies serving 50,000 subscribers in the Midwest.

"By deploying calling name on our installed BroadBand STP, we can deliver a popular service to our customer base that we can operate and manage locally," said Randall Plaisier, chief technical officer for Com Net, Inc. "Because we now have direct control over our data management processes, Com Net is realizing increased operational efficiencies we would not otherwise enjoy."

"Calling name delivery is a prime example of an SS7 Intelligent Network service that can deliver significant revenue streams for our BroadBand STP customers in small-to-medium size markets," said Randolph Wheatley, general manager of Nortel Networks' Signaling Solutions Group (SSG). "Because of the flexibility of the BroadBand STP's Signaling Server architecture, we are able to develop and deliver important revenue-generating services quickly and cost-effectively."

The calling name service is implemented by interfacing the BroadBand STP with fully redundant Nortel Networks Application Peripheral (AP) Units, and a user-friendly point-and-click interface for easy provisioning and maintenance. Calling name is a highly scalable solution, supporting up to 300,000 names and 500 NPA-NXXs (area code-local exchanges), and is available for volume shipments. The BroadBand STP is the first application based on Nortel Networks advanced Signaling Server platform-a scalable, IP-Centric computing engine, featuring ATM as its internal messaging protocol for the reliable and high-speed transport of all types of digital information. The BroadBand STP's fault-tolerant yet compact design features the smallest footprint in the industry (less than four square feet) and an easy-to-use graphical interface, which help keep operational, training and maintenance costs down.

Nortel Networks delivers value to customers around the world through Unified Networks* solutions, spanning mission-critical telephony and IP-optimized networks. Customers include public and private enterprises and institutions; Internet service providers; local, long-distance, cellular and PCS communications companies, cable television carriers, and utilities.

Nortel Networks' common shares are listed on the New York, Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and London stock exchanges. Nortel Networks had 1998 revenues of US$17.6 billion and has approximately 75,000 employees worldwide.

CONTACT: Carol Anderson, Nortel Networks Tel: +1 919 997 2205 e-mail: caroland@nortelnetworks.com

*M2 COMMUNICATIONS DISCLAIMS ALL LIABILITY FOR INFORMATION PROVIDED WITHIN M2 PRESSWIRE. DATA SUPPLIED BY NAMED PARTY/PARTIES.*

-Vayant Travel Technologies Announces Partnership with 2e Systems GmbH.

Travel Business Review-June 28, 2011--Vayant Travel Technologies Announces Partnership with 2e Systems GmbH(C)2011] ENPublishing - http://www.enpublishing.co.uk

Travel Business Review - 28 June 2011

Vayant Travel Technologies, a US-based company offering flight search technology, has announced a strategic partnership agreement with Germany-based online and mobile solutions provider, 2e Systems GmbH.

The partnership will provide an integrated solution using the company-owned proprietary Microproducts, including FareList, TaxQuote and IntelliPricer, with 2e's complete Internet Booking Engine, to airBaltic, an airline in the Baltics.

Eric Dumas, the company chief operations officer, said, 'We have executed the delivery of our solution relying on our core platform and additional micro-products for airlines, enabling a smooth integration with our partner, 2e Systems. Our goal is to provide a new breed of technology solutions for airlines and offer a comprehensive suite that increases flexibility and performance while driving down overall costs for the carrier.'

[Editorial queries for this story should be sent to tbr@enpublishing.co.uk]

((Distributed via M2 Communications - http://www.m2.com)).END.PUB430>PDJune 28, 2011>JNTRAVEL BUSINESS REVIEW.PRICEDATENOT APPLICABLE.DAY

Jobs makes it cloud and clear.

Summary: SAN FRANCISCO - Apple Inc CEO Steve Jobs unveiled services for people to store more of their photos, music and other data online, giving the iPad and iPhone maker the lead in a fast-expanding new consumer market.

SAN FRANCISCO - Apple Inc CEO Steve Jobs unveiled services for people to store more of their photos, music and other data online, giving the iPad and iPhone maker the lead in a fast-expanding new consumer market.

Jobs entered to a standing ovation from more than 5,000 Apple faithful at its Worldwide Developers' Conference and showed off Apple products meant to help customers keep their iPhones, iPads and computers in sync.

The Silicon Valley icon and pancreatic cancer survivor -- animated but again looking very thin -- unveiled remote computing services that for now at least push Apple ahead of rivals Google and Amazon.com, which recently launched their own moves into music storage and streaming.

Jobs, whose decision to headline the event assuaged some concerns on Wall Street about his health, didn't say a word about his condition but strode briskly onstage after James Brown's soul classic I Got You (I Feel Good) blasted over the sound system.

"We're going to move the digital hub, the center of your digital life, into the cloud," Jobs said. "Everything happens automatically and there's nothing new to learn. It just all works." In cloud computing, data and software are stored on servers, and devices like smartphones or PCs access them through the Internet.

With its knack for designing easy-to-use gadgets, Apple hopes to make cloud computing -- right now a term tossed about mostly by corporate IT departments and Silicon Valley geeks -- an everyday convenience for many people.

As more people use smartphones and tablets with limited storage, demand for cloud-based services is growing, and technology companies are rushing to stake out their turf.

Reuters

Copyright 2011 Khaleej Times. All Rights Reserved.

Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company

O'Malley signs bill limiting texting; Drivers no longer get pass at lights.(METRO)

Byline: David Hill, THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley signed a bill Thursday that strengthens the state's texting-while-driving ban by closing a loophole that allowed drivers to text at stoplights and read messages while driving.

The bill was passed this session by the General Assembly and was one of more than 200 new laws approved Thursday by the Democratic governor. It prohibits reading text messages - a restriction absent from the current law that bans typing and sending - and expands the ban to include emails and other electronic messages.

Maryland is one of 32 states, along with the District, that outlaw texting while driving. The new law will go into effect Oct. 1.

It just takes the guessing work away from police officers, said Sen. James Brochin, Baltimore County Democrat and bill sponsor. And it's a clear message to kids who are taking driver's ed, that they can't text.

The previous texting law, passed in 2009, does not outlaw reading text messages because many legislators argued at the time that reading a text was no more distracting than such legal driving activities as reading a map, newspaper or novel. The previous law also was limited to moving vehicles.

Legislators sought to expand the law this session, arguing it would improve public safety. Talking or texting while driving is a factor in 1.3 million crashes each year in the U.S., according to the National Safety Council.

Maryland police wrote 208 texting-while-driving citations in the law's first year, Mr. Brochin said.

Texting while driving is a misdemeanor in the state, punishable by a maximum $500 fine and one-point penalty on the offender's driving record. It is a primary offense, meaning police can pull over violators without first observing an additional offense such as speeding or reckless driving.

Handheld phone use while driving - banned last year in the state - is a secondary offense, meaning another offense must be observed.

This year's texting bill easily passed both chambers with a 35-to-11 vote in the Senate and a 114-to-24 vote in the House, but received opposition from some Republicans who accused legislators of overreaching in their control over motorists.

This is a nanny-state bill. This is an infringement on your liberties, Delegate Michael Smigiel Sr., Cecil Republican, said during the legislative session. The bill itself never should have been passed, and trying to fix it this way just makes it worse.

Opponents also said the law would be difficult to enforce because it does not explicitly ban other phone uses such as listening to music, playing games or surfing the Internet.

The new law also does not apply to use of GPS devices or texts to emergency personnel.

Mr. Brochin acknowledged that some possible loopholes remain, but that the new law's safety benefits easily outweigh any shortcomings.

While you're driving, you should be looking at the road, he said. It's as simple as that.

Cegedim Relationship Management Announces Availability of Next Generation of MI for iPad[TM].

Life Sciences-Specific CRM Solution Features Enhanced Usability Based on Worldwide User Feedback

PARIS -- Cegedim Relationship Management today announced the general availability of the second generation of MI for iPad[TM], the company's Life Sciences Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solution designed specifically to leverage the benefits of iPad. This latest version features improved usability and enhanced offline functionality for increased user adoption.

Today's Life Sciences field personnel demand a mobile CRM solution that enables them to maximize their time in the field by providing them with all of the customer data they need, a mechanism for entering and capturing information wherever they are, and a device that will help them offer vivid multi-media presentations. MI for iPad delivers on this demand and is backed by Cegedim's 40+ year history of serving the Life Sciences industry with innovative technology solutions.

Commercial Team Tested & Proven

The new version of MI for iPad highlights enhanced usability. The enhancements are based on worldwide user feedback and the company's in-depth knowledge of the unique business process needs of Life Sciences' commercial teams, combined with the user-friendly features innate to the iPad. Usability improves user adoption, a critical need in today's competitive environment. Also contributing to a high user adoption rate is MI for iPad's robust offline functionality, which provides users with a superior experience.

"Our competitive differentiator continues to be the single interface whether you are connected or offline. This important differentiator is the result of our insight into what Life Sciences users really need and the challenges that they face while doing their jobs, including difficulty in connecting to the internet while at hospitals or on the road," explained Laurent Labrune, Chief Executive Officer of Cegedim Relationship Management.

"Also, MI for iPad has been optimized to reduce administrative work and support what users do best, which is to build relationships with their stakeholders," said Mr. Labrune. "It's been tested through usability sessions with real users in Europe, Asia Pacific and North America. We will continue to conduct usability sessions to further cement our leadership position in Life Sciences CRM."

Revolutionary Mobile CRM Analytics

MI for iPad also includes built-in, mobile CRM analytics through integration with MeLLmo Inc.'s Roambi[TM], the leading business app for interactive mobile analytics. Roambi transforms CRM and other business data into immersive, dashboard-style analytics, instantly delivered to any iPhone[R] or iPad, enabling MI for iPad users to make faster, better decisions anytime, anywhere for improved relationship building.

Cegedim Relationship Management is the world's leading provider of pharmaceutical CRM with a 35% global market share. MI for iPad, includes location-based services, multimedia detailing and electronic signature capture, and promotes visibility, collaboration and analysis.

iPad, Apple, iPhone and respective images and trademarks are exclusive property of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

Roambi[TM], the Roambi[TM] Logo, MeLLmo[TM], the MeLLmo[TM] Logo and Free-Range Intelligence[TM] are trademarks of MeLLmo Inc.

[c] Copyright 2011. All Rights Reserved.

About Cegedim Relationship Management:		Cegedim Relationship Management is the Life Sciences industry's leading provider of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solutions. Designed specifically for Life Sciences, the company's innovative business solutions incorporate a thorough understanding of local, regional and worldwide trends. Cegedim Relationship Management enables more than 200,000 users in many of the world's most innovative companies to stay ahead of market challenges. In addition to CRM, Cegedim Relationship Management also provides marketing, data optimization and regulatory compliance solutions in more than 80 countries. Cegedim Relationship Management is part of the France-based Cegedim S.A. Group. To learn more, please visit: www.cegedim.com/rm.
About Cegedim:		Founded in 1969, Cegedim is a global technology and services company specializing in the healthcare field. Cegedim supplies services, technological tools, specialized software, data flow management services and databases. Its offerings are targeted notably at healthcare industries, life sciences companies, healthcare professionals and insurance companies. The world leader in life sciences CRM, Cegedim is also one of the leading suppliers of strategic healthcare industry data. Cegedim employs 8,500 people in more than 80 countries and generated revenue of [euro]927 million in 2010. Cegedim SA is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: CGM). To learn more, please visit: www.cegedim.com

Red Cross takes a bite out of local chapter.(News)

It doesn't quite have the same feel to it, even though it is a nice gesture that the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago was seeking names of local heroes to be honored in various community categories at a breakfast event in April.

It's not the same because the Fox Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross held a similar event each spring, but it would have a total Kane County feel to it. The stories of numerous local heroes were told and a community breakfast at Eagle Brook Country Club in Geneva honoring their actions was always well-attended.

Sadly, that's only the half of it, when considering that the local American Red Cross chapter has essentially been eliminated and folded into the Greater Chicago area chapter. It's likely that the Red Cross had to make tough decisions about cutting administrative costs and other expenses that came with separate chapters in Chicago's collar counties.

When an organization has had local ties for so long, as American Red Cross did, you identify certain faces to it. That's why the organization won't be quite the same without the noticeable faces that were former executive director Ken Robertson or marketing director Kay Catlin for so many years.

It's probably a relief for some local board members who had the unenviable task of raising money during these hard times. But when a Red Cross has a local chapter, there are several other presentations, safety classes or helping hands for the communities they serve that could unfortunately be lost in this shuffle.

There is no doubt that the Greater Chicago Chapter will emphasize its commitment to keeping the Fox Valley area "in the loop" but it's tough to eliminate a local chapter and its local leaders and somehow stay local.

Tough for novelties: I wondered how the Mr. Kitschy novelties store at 313 W. State St. in Geneva would hold up in a terrible economy.

It was a great store to visit, and I went in many times. I just didn't walk out with many purchases, other than some Laurel and Hardy figurines and a small plastic Ralph Kramden figure.

The store was more of a museum and walk down memory lane, and it probably had the same feel for many others. Thus, the store has its "store closing sale" signs up on its windows and will close some time in March.

But the owners plan to continue as an Internet business and Mr. Kitschy items will be available through a Facebook link or misterkitschy.com.

Those bright lights: We've wondered out loud in this column about why the Arcada Theater marquee always had lights burning out, and owner Ron Onesti explained at that time that it was a difficult process because of old wiring and making sure the city would agree to any facade changes he made.

So it was good to hear this week that a marquee restoration is planned, with help from a downtown partnership grant, and other community support for Onesti Entertainment's investment.

There's no arguing that the Arcada marquee is the most noticeable downtown sign in St. Charles. If it could have a sparkling new look, it would only complement the rest of the progress taking place to give the city a healthy look and feel as we continue to slowly climb out of this crippling recession.

Phones they can use: Kids make fun of their grandparents when they fumble around with mo dern technology, whether it's a DVD player or a cell phone. Wouldn't it be nice if the elderly could at least be equipped with a cell phone that would dial 911 in an emergency with just a push of a button?

With the support of Advantax Group, LLC of St. Charles, some Geneva High School students helped TRIAD of Central Kane County pursue that idea. They collected old cell phones donated by Advantax and deprogrammed them so they could be reloaded with a 911 emergency response program.

TRIAD has long been involved in keeping elderly people safe, whether through crime-prevention, health or safety tips and programs. Advantax, a property tax service organization, had the spare cell phones and TRIAD had the student helpers, so it made a perfect combination to do something positive for the area's senior citizens.

Some quick action: Bob Beavan of St. Charles was surprised to see a policeman at his door Monday morning, and even more surprised when he was told not to go out his back door. The heavy snowfall had knocked down a power line along South Third Street, so Bob had a "live wire" cooking in his backyard.

"Boy, it didn't take long for firemen and guys from the city or electric company to get out there and fix it," Beavan said. "I thought they did a great job.

Stuff in our brains: It's amazing what kind of trivial info is stuck in our brains. Much of it comes out when you attend a trivia night fundraiser.

Folks who support the Kaneland Sports Boosters will notice that at the organization's fourth annual Trivia Night and Auction from 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday at Elburn Lions Park. For $25, you get dinner, dessert and all of the auctions, raffles and games.

Brush up on your history, science, geography, sports and movie trivia, and you should do fairly well. For information, contact Melanie Kuhar at (630) 365-9003.

dheun@sbcglobal.net

zanox to Launch $2 Million Application Store Contest at 2009 Web 2.0 Expo.(Company overview)

Company to Unveil Its Second VC Contest for $2 Million US Dollars Along with New zanox Application Store in San Francisco Next Week

SAN FRANCISCO & BERLIN -- zanox, a global leader for performance-based online marketing, today announced the company will be launching the new zanox Application Store as well as officially kicking off its $2 Million Application Store Contest at the Web 2.0 Expo San Francisco, March 31 - April 3, 2009. The start-up contest, which is being held in conjunction with the M&A advisory company Corporate Finance Partners, will award the winning business model(s) an investment of up to two million US-Dollars for the best monetizing application based on zanox Web Services. Having recently wrapped up the company's first 1 Million Euro zanox Web Services Contest, the Application Store Contest is another step for zanox toward helping developers and start-ups monetize the Internet.

At the Web 2.0 Expo, zanox will also introduce the new zanox Application Store, an innovative platform for developers to introduce and distribute their applications directly to zanox's network of more than one million publishers and over 2,000 international advertisers. The zanox Application Store, which will hold more than 50 million product offers that can be retrieved automatically via zanox Web Services, was designed to help developers monetize their innovations, such as applications or widgets for the Internet and mobile, including the iPhone, Facebook and iGoogle, as well as all other platforms. Promising contributions may also include in-game or video advertising, contextual ads, behavioral targeting, Web analytics, bid management solutions, recommendation systems and review tools, as well as social community features and social commerce.

"After receiving so many impressive entries for our first contest last Autumn, zanox and our partners are keen to give start-ups a second opportunity to successfully monetize their business models with zanox Web Services," said Thomas Hessler, CEO and founder of zanox. "With the current state of the worldwide economy, it's become increasingly difficult for many of these companies to secure follow-up financing for their projects - this is where we would like to help."

In January 2009, zanox launched the Open Beta of zanox Web Services, an innovative solution for professional Web developers and publishers. zanox Web Services offers access to a wide variety of new functions within the zanox affiliate network as well as the zanox infrastructure. In addition, zanox recently awarded the winner of the first zanox Web Services Contest, Webtrekk, at the zanox headquarters in Berlin on March 24, 2009. Webtrekk, a high-quality provider of Web analytics focusing on online marketing and conversion rate improvement, received one million Euros in growth capital. Along with intelliAd's Bid Management Tool CPCagent, Webtrekk's winning application Webtrekk Q3 will be one of the first software-solutions zanox publishers and advertisers will be able to purchase from the zanox Web Services Application Store.

zanox board members Thomas Hessler, CEO, and Heiko Rauch, COO/CFO, will be in San Francisco and available for interviews throughout the Web 2.0 Expo, March 31 - April 3. Please contact Cindy Young at cindy@connectedpr.eu if interested in scheduling a meeting at the show.

About zanox Publisher Initiative

zanox Web Services and the $2 Million Application Store Contest are part of the zanox Publisher Initiative, which helps publishers in the zanox network to easily monetize their websites' traffic. The zanox publisher campaign is focused on enhancing the features of zanox's affiliate marketing services, steadily extending the zanox Web Services platform as well as the upcoming launch of the zanox VIP Club for top-performing publishers. With its specialized industry-specific expertise, unrivaled international reach and modern "open company" philosophy, zanox aims to become the global publisher network of choice.

Important Links:

* zanox Web Services Landingpage

* zanox Web Services Blog

* zanox Wiki Web Services Documentation

* zanox Official Blog

* zanox Affiliate Marketing

About zanox

ZANOX.de AG is a global market leader for performance-based online marketing and has established a strong presence in all core markets around the world. More than 2000 prestigious international companies rely on the zanox affiliate network and sector-specific expertise in all sectors where innovation is taking place. Affiliate programs provide companies with global solutions for efficiently marketing their products and services on the Internet. zanox attaches great importance to the quality and the continuing development of its affiliate sites, whose owners are in addition being motivated by fast and transparent compensation.

zanox's international focus is strengthened by its Global Alliance Partner (GAP) program. Furthermore, in June of 2008, the zanox GAP Campus opened its doors at zanox headquarters in Berlin to serve as an international meeting point for developers and designers.

zanox is owned by Axel Springer AG (52.5 percent) and by PubliGroupe (47.5 percent). Axel Springer AG is Germany's largest newspaper house, ranks third among her magazine publishers and is also one of the leading European media companies. PubliGroupe AG is an independent, internationally leading group offering marketing, sales and services to media and advertisers, which it assists in the implementation of their communication and media strategies by delivering marketing and technology services to them.

To learn more about zanox, its products and services, please visit zanox.com, blog.zanox.com or twitter.com/zanox

Arch Rock unveils first enterprise-class wireless sensor network.(NEW PRODUCTS)

Arch Rock Corporation has introduced the first wireless sensor network (WSN) to address large-scale enterprise applications by forming large, resilient IP-based WSNs and letting users centrally manage collections of those WSNs as an integral part of the enterprise IP infrastructure.

Arch Rock's new PhyNet IP-based platform implements a tiered WSN architecture that eliminates the need to co-locate individual sensor networks with the server-based functions that control them by placing a scalable Internetworking tier--the first "WSN router"--between them. Sensor applications can now reside half a world away, across a corporate campus, or in the next room, communicating with any number of WSNs across local or wide area IP networks.

Because PhyNet extends standard Internet Protocol (IP) technology from the enterprise infrastructure to the sensor network mesh and out to individual sensor nodes, those nodes can communicate directly with any other IP devices on the enterprise network regardless of their connection medium (IEEE 802.15.4 radio, 802.11 Wi-Fi, Ethernet, etc.). The PhyNet platform also applies to the IP-based WSN the vast body of standard and well-tested IP tools for interoperability, management, and security, eliminating the need to deploy dedicated and unproven schemes.

The PhyNet platform's tiered architecture includes the following:

--The PhyNet Server, which manages collections of WSNs and displays sensor data on a Web-based user console that lets users do WSN setup, diagnostics, management, and Web services-based applications. The Management Server connects via LAN or WAN IP networks to:

--The PhyNet Router, centerpiece of the new architecture. PhyNet Routers form an Internetworking backbone between an IETF 6LoWPAN (IPv6 Low-Power Wireless Personal-Area Network)-based WSN and its server-hosted applications; the use of multiple PhyNet Routers within a single WSN eliminates the performance bottlenecks and the single point of failure characteristic of other solutions. PhyNet Routers connect via IEEE 802.15.4 low-power radio links to:

--Arch Rock Nodes, including the new IPserial Node, which extends Arch Rock sensor support beyond analog sensors to digital sensors, data loggers, and devices with legacy serial connectors.

PhyNet is well suited for a broad range of large-scale applications, including energy management, compliance and safety enforcement, environmental monitoring, and emerging energy-generation technologies.

Roland Acra, Arch Rock CEO, said, "Enterprise-ready' means being able to deploy both individual sensor nodes and whole WSNs in a manner dictated not by the constraints of incompatible network technologies, but by real business needs.

Up to now wireless sensor networks have generally been targeted at pilot networks or small-scale scenarios. Arch Rock's original product brought quick out-of-the-box deployment and standards-based IP into the picture last year with our Primer Pack/IP. Our customers are now entering a phase where they want to connect and centrally manage multiple sensor-equipped buildings, often for the purpose of offering remote monitoring services to their own customers.

"To accomplish this, the PhyNet platform allows management services and applications to reside in a protected and highly available corporate data center, while sensor nodes and networking functions can be located throughout a building, machine room or harsh outdoor environment any distance (or number of links) away. No matter how the PhyNet elements are distributed across the enterprise, the applications can run end-to-end to the IP-based sensors through standard enterprise-integrated IP routing."

David Mohler, chief technology officer at Arch Rock customer Duke Energy, based in Charlotte, North Carolina, said, "IP networks represent the best choice in network protocol, providing utilities access to thousands of compatible devices for enhancing utility operations and the delivery of energy efficiency products to our end-user customers.

IP networks are the primary choice for Duke Energy as we build out our infrastructure to improve our services and leverage technology in crafting a better customer experience."

Russian retail growth is surprisingly stable.

The Russian economy had a difficult first half 2005 in spite of the fact that windfall profits from rising oil prices will stimulate overall economic growth for the year. The Russian Economy Ministry said that growth from January to June 2005 was 5.6 percent, down significantly from 7.6 percent from the same period in 2004.

Retail prices rose 8.1 percent from January 2005 through June 2005 compared with a 6.1 percent increase during the same period in 2004, according to a Reuters report originating from Moscow and carried by the Cable News Network (CNN) in late August 2005.

Some of the 2005 disappointments are evident in the chart above where a dip in the growth of Russian retail sales and a near crash in the growth of disposable real income is evident. Note, however, that the decline in retail sales growth was from 14.2 percent in December of 2004 to 9.2 percent (compared to the same months in the previous year) in January of 2005. And note, too, that as of April 2005 retail sales grew 12.2 percent when measured against April 2004.

While in no sense is Russian retail comparable to the retail sectors of countries in Western Europe, performance is, nonetheless, remarkably aggressive.

This is not the cliched picture the world holds of Russia's retail sector. Other puzzles emerge as well from the page 1 chart.

During 2004--generally considered to be a good year for the Russian economy ---two prominent dips in real disposable income are visible. And from July 2004 to March 2005, the retail growth line and the disposable income line appear relatively far apart suggesting retail strength against real income decline.

Normally one would expect to see retail growth more seriously affected by a decline in income.

The answer to this seeming paradox was provided by three recent reports on the Russian consumer market. Two of the reports are by the respected Interactive Research Group (IRG) (Moscow) and one other, using some of the results from the IRG reports was authored by Russia's biggest direct marketing company, The PPE Group (Moscow).

In its discussion of the Russian consumer market, IRG offered two ideas that would explain the stability of Russian retail. The first is that Russian consumers are not burdened with nearly the same basic expenses as are consumers in developed countries.

Rents are lower in Russia. Most of the members of Russia's growing middle class own their own apartments. Electricity costs are much lower, as are taxes.

Thus much more of a household's income can go into discretionary spending.

In its January 2005 report, IRG offered also some eye opening facts about the Russian market.

Mobile phones: Users grew from 3.4-million in 2000 to 74-million in 2004 with market penetration going from 2.3 percent to 51 percent over the period.

Internet: Market penetration grew from 6 percent in the autumn of 2002 to 12 percent, autumn 2004.

Cars: New foreign car sales increased 80 percent in 2004. Domestic car manufacturers grew 12 percent.

IRG says the Russian government underestimates the contribution of consumer markets to GDP. IRG's rough estimate for 2004 is 50 percent.

PRODUCT FOCUS:

Toronto sends back injured left-hander; DeWitt returned to Blue Jays in Sirotka aftermath.

Byline: Paul Sullivan

TUCSON, ARIZ. _ Like a horror movie in which the killer keeps springing back to life, the "Shouldergate" saga was resurrected one more time Tuesday.

In what should be the final word on the controversial White Sox-Blue Jays trade, the Sox sent right-handed pitcher Matt DeWitt back to Toronto as compensation for injured left-hander Mike Williams, who returns to the Sox organization.

Both DeWitt and Williams were considered throw-ins in the Jan. 14 trade that featured David Wells and Mike Sirotka. But Williams saw a doctor on his own after the trade and told the Sox a magnetic resonance imaging test reported a bone bruise in his shoulder.

When Sirotka later was discovered to have a torn labrum, Toronto General Manager Gord Ash asked the commissioner's office for compensation, using Williams as Exhibit B in his case for leverage purposes.

Before Commissioner Bud Selig's ruling, Sox General Manager Ken Williams informed the Blue Jays he would offer compensation for Williams.

Although Selig ruled the Sox owed Toronto nothing, Ken Williams stuck to his word regarding the compensation offer. He and Ash, who haven't been on good terms since the trade, finally agreed to the swap Tuesday.

"The conversation wasn't long," Williams said. "There's not a lot of love lost there."

A visibly distraught DeWitt packed his belongings in the Toronto duffel bag he had brought to camp, then flew to Florida to report to the Blue Jays' minor league camp in Dunedin. He posted a 6.75 earned-run average in seven appearances with the Sox this spring and had been pegged for Class AAA Charlotte.

"It's tougher to take now because I thought it was over with," DeWitt said. "The commissioner's office said it was done and everyone said their peace. But it's the nature of the beast. You're a professional and this stuff happens."

Ash informed De Witt the Blue Jays' pitching roster already was set, adding to his disappointment. Williams said he felt "terrible" about giving DeWitt the news.

"It's not fair that he got caught up in this situation," he said.

Mike Williams' injury eventually was discovered to be a "slap lesion," or looseness in the shoulder. He may need surgery in the future and where he'll wind up in the Sox system is not known.

This first thing he has to do is explain to Ken Williams why he didn't tell the Sox he was injured before the trade, putting the Sox's rookie GM in the hot seat during the controversy.

"He has some explaining to do," Ken Williams said.

Made-for-Bo moment: Bo Jackson may be 38 and on his third hip, but the man still can hit a baseball. Jackson, in camp as a volunteer instructor, was engaged in a home run derby during batting practice Tuesday with Frank Thomas and Carlos Lee. Not only did Jackson hold his own, he cranked a batting practice pitch outside the park, hitting the payload of a 12-wheeler truck traveling down an adjacent street and creating a loud boom that could be heard all over camp.

Thomas insisted Jackson still could be a DH at 38, if not for the bum hip.

"It was a shame he wasn't on ESPN's `50 Greatest Athletes' list," Thomas said. "Bo is definitely one of the best ever."

Roster moves: The Sox optioned shortstop Jason Dellaero to Class AAA Charlotte and reassigned catcher Miguel Olivo to minor league camp.

X X X

(c) 2001, Chicago Tribune.

Visit the Chicago Tribune on the Internet at http://www.chicago.tribune.com/

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.

New proposal on internet governance to be tabled at summit.

M2 PRESSWIRE-8 December 2003-WSIS: New proposal on internet governance to be tabled at summit(C)1994-2003 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

RDATE:12082003

Geneva - International business leader, Mr Talal Abu-Ghazaleh will tomorrow use a high-level meeting at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) to propose creation of an internet governance forum balancing the interests of governments, civil society and business.

During a private roundtable meeting with the President of the Swiss Confederation, H.E. Mr Pascal Couchepin, Mr Abu-Ghazaleh will submit an internet governance proposal which uses the already established UN ICT Task Force as a platform for future discussions on governance of the internet.

Mr Abu-Ghazaleh is also the Vice-Chair of the UN ICT Task Force and Chair of the International Chamber of Commerce`s E-business & IT Commission.

His proposal advocates the continued "operational management of the internet under private sector leadership, driven by the dynamics of business".

It comes amid pre-summit discussion of the role in internet governance of such technical bodies as Icann - Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, the World Wide Web Consortium and the Internet Engineering Taskforce.

The proposal complements many of the provisions already adopted in the pre-summit preparatory process.

"This summit provides us with an excellent opportunity to ensure the massive potential of the internet is spread to all corners of the globe," Mr Abu-Ghazaleh said here today. "How this resource is managed needs serious discussion. It is my view that the UN ICT Task Force, an already-existing, multi-stakeholder body, Is the best forum for this discussion. It is the only body which currently enjoys international legitimacy - we should build on it.

"There is already provision within the UN ICT Task Force for the voices of government, civil society and business to be equally heard."

Under the terms of the Abu-Ghazaleh proposal, the International Telecoms Union (ITU), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) would be among member organizations of an UN ICT Task Force-led forum.

The forum would also feature a representative from each continent, in addition to the current membership of government, private sector and civil society members.

The UN ICT Task Force is a multi-stakeholder organization, established by UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan in 2001 to bring together governments, civil society and business to explore ways in which IT technologies can best be harnessed to realise the UN`s Milennium Development Goals.

It comprises 18 government representatives, six inter-governmental organiztions, four NGOs and eight private sector leaders - of whom Mr Abu-Ghazaleh is one.

CCBI (Coordinating Committee of Business Interlocutors) is a coalition of companies and business groups formed to provide private sector input to the World Summit on the Information Society.

For further information on CCBI and its summit activities, visit www.businessatwsis.net

CONTACT: Bryce Corbett, Communications Director, ICCTel: +33 1 4953 2987e-mail: bryce.corbett@iccwbo.org

((M2 Communications Ltd disclaims all liability for information provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data prepared by named party/parties. Further information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at http://www.presswire.net on the world wide web. Inquiries to info@m2.com)).

Enterprise zones set to boost cities; BUDGET BRIEFS.(News)

Byline: City Editor Chris Blackhurst

THERE will be 21 new "enterprise zones" the Chancellor said today, 11 more than expected. They will offer tax breaks and deregulation on top of super-fast internet connections to help firms grow. Businesses operating within these zones will benefit from 100% rate reductions up to [pounds sterling]275,000 over a five-year period. The zones will be in cities including London, Birmingham, Sheffield and Leeds.