Fed: Bernardi sacked from shadow ministry for attack on Pyne =3

AAP General News (Australia)
02-19-2009
Fed: Bernardi sacked from shadow ministry for attack on Pyne =3

Senator Bernardi told AAP he was disappointed but accepted it was the Liberal leader's
prerogative to determine the frontbench.

And he disputed that the email in any way identified a serving Liberal MP.

"My comments were part of my story about what motivated me to get involved in activist
politics," he said.

"I went to great lengths not to identify any individual, to say this happened 14 years
ago but it had a key impact on my life.

"I don't regret that because it's true."

Senator Bernardi said Mr Turnbull had set a new benchmark for behaviour by Liberal frontbenchers.

"The action has certainly set a new standard," he said.

"I've lost my shadow parliamentary secretary responsibilities as a result of me referring
to a personal anecdote that had a key impact on my political life and career and involvement.

"I've gone to great pains ... not to identify the individual concerned. I've neither
confirmed nor denied the speculation ... about the name of the individual.

"He's set a very high benchmark and I would expect it to be lived up to by all."

MORE so/de

KEYWORD: LIBERALS BERNARDI 3 CANBERRA

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

24QUAN.COM DENIED RUPTURE OF CASH CHAIN

AsiaInfo Services
07-21-2011
24quan.com Denied Rupture of Cash Chain

BEIJING, Jul 21, 2011 (SinoCast Daily Business Beat via COMTEX) -- 24quan.com, a group purchase website in China, denied that the company is short of money to pay for advertising fees due to rupture of cash chain. Meanwhile, it disclosed that the second round of large-sum financing has been finished, source indicated yesterday.

Previously, related person in charge of t56.net, a portal site of Taizhou, Jiangsu province, said that 24quan.com defaulted in the payment of advertising fees in July and doubted that 24quan.com is been faced with the problem of cash chain rupture. Meanwhile, an insider in JCDecaux, a bus body advertising company, also disclosed 24quan's default in final payment of advertising fees. There is even news saying that 24quan.com has been defaulted in payment of two-month salaries of several employees of regional management layer.

Actually, Du Yinan, CEO of 24quan.com, expressed several days earlier that the company has finished the second round of financing with a total sum not less than that of its peers. But he did not reveal any information of the investors and specific details.

Source: www.hexun.com (July 21, 2011)

KEYWORD: BEIJING INDUSTRY KEYWORD: Internet & Online Services & Media SUBJECT CODE: Internet & Online Services
E-commerce
SinoCast China Business Daily news
rupture
cash chain
financing
deny
default
advertising fee

Copyright 2011 AsiaInfo Services (via Comtex). All rights reserved

NSW:Senior bikie's home searched

AAP General News (Australia)
12-08-2011
NSW:Senior bikie's home searched

SYDNEY, Dec 8 AAP - Police have seized cannabis, firearms, crossbows and a baton in
a raid on the home of a senior bikie in the NSW Blue Mountains.

Gangs Squad detectives swooped on the Station Street property at Woodford about 8.45am
(AEDT) on Wednesday.

They allegedly found seven firearms, 1,850 rounds of ammunition, two crossbows, a baton,
and 400 grams of cannabis and over three kilograms of dried cannabis leaf.

A 48-year-old man has been charged with a total of 31 drug and firearm offences.

He's alleged to be a senior member of the Larrikins Motorcycle Social Club and a former
member of the Life and Death Outlaw Motorcycle Gang.

The man was refused bail to face Penrith Local Court on Thursday.

AAP stu/tr/mjs

KEYWORD: LEGAL: FIREARMS

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

FED:Fraudsters nicking $600m from taxpayers

AAP General News (Australia)
04-04-2011
FED:Fraudsters nicking $600m from taxpayers

CANBERRA, April 4 AAP - Fraudsters are ripping $600 million each year out of federal
government coffers.

Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor admits it's a significant sum but he says the
government is slowly driving the figure down.

The extent of fraud against the commonwealth is outlined in a report from the Institute
of Criminology.

"It's a significant sum," Mr O'Connor told ABC Radio.

"It's 18 cents in every $100 outlaid by the commonwealth."

As part of the study, hundreds of public servants were investigated for misusing credit
cards, stealing equipment and passing on confidential information.

More than 800,000 incidents of fraud were recorded by Centrelink, Customs and other
government agencies in 2008-09.

The report looks at the combination of public and private fraud.

"Fraud has been identified as the most expensive crime category in Australia," the report says.

Mr O'Connor said the government was well aware of the problem and was looking at how
to improve its defences.

"It's millions and millions of dollars and we need to make sure we do everything we
can to prevent such fraud," he said.

An extra 827 fraud control staff have been employed across government agencies in the
past 12 months.

AAP pv/sb/goc/

KEYWORD: FRAUD UPDATE

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

WA:'I'll never carry a Taser again': officer

AAP General News (Australia)
12-13-2010
WA:'I'll never carry a Taser again': officer

By Josh Jerga

PERTH, Dec 13 AAP - A West Australian officer who tasered Aboriginal man Kevin Spratt
10 times at Perth Watchhouse has told a corruption hearing that given the choice he would
never carry a Taser again.

Sergeant Aaron Strahan was one of the officers who arrested Mr Spratt on August 31
2008 and brought him back to Perth Watchhouse where he was tasered 14 times.

Sgt Strahan told the Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC) hearing on Monday that when
he and Detective Constable Brett Fowler arrested Mr Spratt he thrashed out and struggled
and was able to knock the two officers down simply by kicking them.

When they got back to Perth Watchhouse Sgt Strahan said he was conscious of how unpredictable
and strong the now 41-year-old was.

"The last thing I wanted on my conscience was one of my officers or Mr Spratt getting
injured because of what he was capable of and underestimating his capability," he said.

"I tried to speak to him on a level he would understand. If he did muck up here, he'd
be in a world of hurt and the lock-up staff wouldn't appreciate it," he said.

Some time later Mr Spratt refused to comply with a strip search, sat on a seat and
braced himself on the arm rests, turning his back on the officers which prompted Sgt Strahan
to take a Taser gun from his holster.

"My concern was if you can anchor yourself and use your anchor combined with a blow
of some kind, you can double your force," he told the hearing.

Taking Sgt Strahan by surprise, his colleague Senior Constable Troy Tomlin tasered
Mr Spratt four times in drive mode which the sergeant said escalated the situation with
the Aboriginal man firing up and going into a "super-charge mode".

When Sgt Strahan saw Mr Spratt grab Snr Const Tomlin's Taser, he deployed the probes
of his gun before using it nine more times in drive mode.

While Mr Spratt was being tasered, up to 10 officers were present with some of them
being junior and inexperienced.

Sgt Strahan said if more senior officers were on duty who could have got involved,
things may have gone differently.

As a result of their actions Sgt Strahan and Snr Const Tomlin faced disciplinary hearings
where they were fined and were found to have used undue force.

Facing the CCC hearing, Sgt Strahan told Commissioner Len Roberts-Smith despite accepting
the findings, he stood by his actions and did not believe his use of force was excessive.

"No officers got injured, Mr Spratt didn't get injured. I know it looks terrible but
I can't be any more honest than that," he said.

He later added that now following the subsequent events, widespread publicity of the
incident and the corruption hearing he feels uncomfortable carrying what he called a "flawed
weapon".

"Given the choice I'll never carry a Taser again. If I'm instructed to carry a Taser,
I'll carry a Taser," he said.

The CCC is inquiring into whether any members of WA Police or the Department of Corrective
Services engaged in misconduct during Mr Spratt's repeated tasering while in custody.

The hearing continues.

AAP jsj/nb

KEYWORD: SPRATT WRAP

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

QLD:Murder accused handed himself in

AAP General News (Australia)
08-05-2010
QLD:Murder accused handed himself in

A man has been charged with the murder of a Cairns mother after handing himself in to police.

24-year-old MARK ANDREW WHITEHOUSE .. of Kewarra Beach .. has been charged with murdering
LEANNE NICOLE MAYHEW .. also 24 .. at her Cairns home early yesterday.

A neighbour found Ms MAYHEW'S body around 3.50am and contacted emergency services ..

but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police say she suffered multiple wounds but haven't confirmed the cause of her death.

Regional Crime Coordinator Detective Inspector JOHN HARTWELL says police are searching
for a knife which was used in the attack.

Det Insp HARTWELL says WHITEHOUSE and Ms MAYHEW were "friends" but weren't in a relationship
and didn't live together.

WHITEHOUSE was due to face court today but his appearance was excused on the request
of his lawyer.

He's been remanded in custody and the matter was adjourned until September 30 for mention.

AAP RTV ews/pjo/klw

KEYWORD: WHITEHOUSE (CAIRNS)

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

Fed: Govt asked to cut business tax rates

AAP General News (Australia)
12-24-2009
Fed: Govt asked to cut business tax rates

A business group says all Australians will benefit if the government lowers corporate
tax rates in response to the Henry review.

The government received the long-awaited report into the nation's tax system yesterday
.. but won't reveal its contents until early next year.

The Business Council of Australia expects the review will recommend a cut in the 23
per cent company tax rate .. and spokesman PETER CRONE has told ABC TV this would be better
for the Australia economy than cutting personal income tax.

AAP RTV sld/rt

KEYWORD: TAX BUSINESS (CANBERRA)

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

Qld: Patel to face trial on March 22, 2010

AAP General News (Australia)
08-14-2009
Qld: Patel to face trial on March 22, 2010

By David Barbeler

BRISBANE, Aug 14 AAP - Former Bundaberg surgeon Jayant Patel will face a jury trial
starting on March 22, a court heard on Friday.

The trial is expected to run between 10 and 12 weeks.

Patel, 59, will face three charges of manslaughter, two of grievous bodily harm and
an alternative charge of negligent acts causing harm.

The charges all relate to Patel's time as director of surgery at Bundaberg Base Hospital
between 2003 and 2005.

Patel has been charged with the manslaughter of James Phillips, Mervyn Morris and Gerardus Kemps.

He has also been charged with grievous bodily harm for surgery he conducted on Darcy
Blight and Ian Vowles.

Justice John Byrne will be the judge for the trial, to be held in the Supreme Court in Brisbane.

In that court on Friday, Patel's defence lawyer Michael Byrne, QC, advised he would
not be applying for a judge-only trial.

Justice Debbie Mullins, who presided at Friday's hearing, wanted the trial to be heard
earlier in the year due to its length but Mr Byrne has another matter before the courts
then.

Mr Byrne asked the court to be supplied with a list of witnesses the prosecution intends
to call, arguing that it heard from only a "fraction" of them during the committal hearing
in February.

Justice Mullins ordered the list to be given to the defence before September 11. A
review has been set for October 16.

AAP djb/pjo/jhp

KEYWORD: PATEL WRAP

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

HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 14:45, April 4

AAP General News (Australia)
04-04-2009
HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 14:45, April 4

SYDNEY - Power has been restored to Sydney's CBD, eastern and inner suburbs after the
second major outage in less than a week. (Cables 2nd Update)

SYDNEY - Power company EnergyAustralia has apologised for the second disruption to
the power supply this week which affected about 50,000 homes and businesses in parts of
Sydney on Saturday morning. (Cables EnergyAust)

SYDNEY - NSW Energy Minister Ian Macdonald has called for an urgent meeting and report
from EnergyAustralia after a second major Sydney power failure in less than a week. (Cables
Macdonald)

SYDNEY - The public is being urged to avoid Sydney's CBD as another power cable failure
blacks out parts of the CBD and surrounding suburbs, again trapping people in lifts, closing
the harbour tunnel and causing traffic chaos. (Cables Update)

MELBOURNE - About 50,000 homes and businesses in parts of Sydney's CBD and the eastern
suburbs are without power on Saturday after a major cable failed. (Cables)

Cables Wrap to come.

SYDNEY - An alleged bikie accused of murdering a man by shooting him in the head and
body in a quiet suburban street has been refused bail in a Sydney court. (Jacobs )

SYDNEY - A Hell's Angels bikie charged with gun possession offences was disqualified
from driving and on his L-plates when he was pinned to the road and arrested in a dramatic
daytime operation, a court has been told. (Birch)

SYDNEY - Police say they are investigating possible links between a Hells Angels bikie
arrested in Sydney and violence that has racked the city in recent weeks, including a
fatal brawl at Sydney Airport. (Bikies Police)



CANBERRA - The United Nations Human Rights Committee says Australia should take "urgent
and adequate measures" to ensure nobody is returned to a country where there's a risk
they may be killed, following reports "rejected" asylum seekers have been murdered after
being returned to Afghanistan. (Rights, to come)



CANBERRA - The United Nations says the federal government should "redesign" the Northern
Territory intervention so it complies with the Racial Discrimination Act and the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. (Intervention, to come)



CANBERRA - Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has met with Chinese President Hu Jintao after
the G20 summit in London, amid intense speculation in Australia about the government's
relationship with the Asian superpower. (Rudd Hu)



SYDNEY - NSW Premier Nathan Rees has described as "tragic" the death of a baby boy
who died shortly after he was delivered in a NSW public hospital toilet. (Baby, to come)

MORE cdh

KEYWORD: HIGHLIGHTS NATIONAL

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

Fed: Injured Aussie couple on way home

AAP General News (Australia)
12-01-2008
Fed: Injured Aussie couple on way home

A young Australian woman shot in the leg in the Mumbai attacks should be home within hours.

When the terrorists struck India's biggest city .. 24-year-old KATIE ANSTEE was dining
at Cafe Leopold with her boyfriend DAVID COKER .. who's 23.

They'd only arrived a few hours earlier .. at the start of an 11-week holiday to celebrate
their university graduation.

The bullet broke Ms ANSTEE's femur and exited through the front of her thigh.

Mr COKER has flesh wounds from bullets that grazed his legs.

The Nine Network says Ms ANSTEE'S parents flew to Mumbai and is accompanying their
daughter home today.

AAP RTV kb/ao/jmt

KEYWORD: INDIA AUST ANSTEE (MELBOURNE)

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

News Diary events for Monday, April 28, 2008

AAP General News (Australia)
04-27-2008
News Diary events for Monday, April 28, 2008
Good Evening News Editors and Chiefs of Staff

Here is AAP's preliminary newslist for tomorrow (not for publication).

This is a guide only and stories, local times and locations are subject to change. In
some cases times and locations may not be available. Story coverage is subject to staffing.

ADELAIDE
- No items listed.

BRISBANE
- No items listed.

CANBERRA
1000 - RAAF flyover of Australian War Memorial to coincide with dedication of plaque to
air controllers.

1100 - Independent MP Tony Windsor to release results of wheat growers' survey on wheat
marketing arrangements.

MELBOURNE
1000 - ACTU president Sharan Burrow and workers to commemorate International Workers'
Memorial Day, Executive Room, Victorian Trades Hall Council.

1030 - Trial continues of Evangelos Goussis, charged with murder of underworld figure Lewis Moran.

1030 - Trial continues for 12 Victorian men accused of terrorism offences

PERTH
- No items listed.

SYDNEY
- Monitoring Todd McKenney back on air after drugs arrest.

1000 - Trial of Ian David Kennedy, accused of murdering a pensioner at Waterloo. Supreme
Court, St James Road.

1000 - Trial of Sadatia Anne Ferguson, accused of murder. Supreme Court 3, Darlinghurst.

1030 - Media Call for Neil Sedaka concert tour. Grand Ballroom Shangri-La Hotel, 176 Cumberland
Street, The Rocks.

1200 - Special Commission of Inquiry into Acute Care Services in NSW holds hearing at
Lismore Workers Club. Contact: 9374 4200.

- Fair Work Australia Summit. Impact on organisations of industrial relations reforms.

Watersedge (Pier 1, 11 Hickson Road) Sydney.

FINANCE
ECONOMIC NEWS:
SYDNEY - Housing Industry Association State and National March quarter outlook

EQUITIES NEWS:
SYDNEY - Boart Longyear Ltd annual general meeting
MELBOURNE - Orica Ltd interim results

SPORT
AFL
MELBOURNE - Wrap of AFL news
MELBOURNE - Injuries and AFL tribunal updates

LEAGUE
SYDNEY - Wrap of NRL news
SYDNEY - Injuries and NRL judiciary updates

RUGBY
SYDNEY - Waratahs name team for South Africa trip, SFS, 1515

NETBALL
SYDNEY - NSW Swifts v Wellington Central Pulse, Olympic Park, 1900
CHRISTCHURCH - Canterbury Flames v Melbourne Vixens, Westpac Centre, 1700 AEST

BASKETBALL
MELBOURNE - Boomers coach Brian Goorjian media conference, MSAC, 1100

GOLF
IRVING, Texas - Coverage of Aussies at PGA's Byron Nelson Championship

SOCCER
GOSFORD - Mariners training, Danny Vukovic to talk, 1130
CARY, NTH Carolina - Aust v USA women's international, 0900 AEST

RACING
SYDNEY - Final field declared for Wednesday's AJC Australian Oaks.

SYDNEY - Nominations for Saturday's four Group One races at Randwick.

MELBOURNE - Preview Warrnambool jumps carnival.

AAP jlw/mn

KEYWORD: DIARY NEWS MONDAY

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

HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 14:15, Dec 23

AAP General News (Australia)
12-23-2007
HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 14:15, Dec 23

TARIN KOWT - Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says he fears what the new year has in store
for Australian troops serving in Afghanistan after a tragic end to 2007. (Afghan Aust
Rudd Nightlead (Pix available))

KABUL - Australia will contribute a further $110 million to rebuilding Afghanistan
and is in the country for the long haul, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says. (Afghan Aust
Rudd Daylead (Pix available))



CANBERRA - Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson has paid tribute to former West Australian
premier Sir Charles Court, who died last night aged 96. (Court Nelson) See also Court
Omodei, Court Jeffery.

Court Nightlead and Obit to come, pix available



SYDNEY - It is unacceptable that an eight-year-old boy has died from meningitis in
2007 in Australia, despite visiting two Sydney hospitals, which failed to diagnose his
illness, the NSW opposition says. (Pele Skinner) See also various sidebars

Pele Nightlead to come



SYDNEY - The national holiday road toll has reached 12 after the deaths of a pedestrian
and a motorcyclist on the country's roads. (Toll National Daylead) Nightlead to come

See also Toll Vic Daylead, Toll WA, Toll Qld Central



ADELAIDE - Chasing Council of Civil Liberties re international DNA controversy and
implications for convicted murderer of Peter Falconio. (to come)



SYDNEY - BHP Billiton Ltd says it is still seeking to engage in discussions with Rio
Tinto Ltd after regulators gave it 47 days to either launch a formal bid for its rival
or walk away. (Rio Tinto)



MELBOURNE - A brawl has broken out between the Victorian government and caged fighting
organisers over a ban on the increasingly popular events. (Cage to come)



MELBOURNE - Preview of the first Test as Adam Gilchrist speaks ahead of the clash with
India on Wednesday at the MCG. (Cricket Aust)



CANBERRA - Doctors are urging Christmas revellers to drink only moderate amounts of
alcohol and avoid overdosing on fruit cake and candy canes. (Alcohol, with factbox. Embargoed
until 0001 AEDT Monday December 24)



MORE mn

KEYWORD: HIGHLIGHTS NATIONAL

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

SA: Casual Living group sold

AAP General News (Australia)
08-16-2007
SA: Casual Living group sold

ADELAIDE, Aug 16 AAP - The troubled Casual Living furniture retailing group has been
sold for an undisclosed amount, with most of the Adelaide staff expected to retain their
jobs.

The operating company, Damilock Ltd, was placed in voluntary administration in July
with cash-flow problems and debts of about $10 million.

Its problems arose after the Adelaide-based group's recent expansion into Sydney and Melbourne.

Administrator Martin Lewis said today Casual Living's four Adelaide stores and its
local distribution centre had been sold to an entity associated with the prominent Starrs
family, which also owns the Truscotts electrical retailing group.

"It is anticipated that settlement will occur within the next week," Mr Lewis said.

He said the majority of about 60 staff employed in Adelaide would be offered work with
the new group, while 20 or so staff employed interstate had lost their jobs.

Two Casual Living stores in Sydney and one in Melbourne also had been closed along
with the distribution centres in each city.

AAP tjd/jm/bwl

KEYWORD: CASUAL

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

National Newslist for Sunday, April 1

AAP General News (Australia)
04-01-2007
National Newslist for Sunday, April 1
Good Morning News Editors and Chiefs of Staff
AAP's National Newslist for today (not for publication):
This is a guide only and stories are subject to change.

AAP's news editors can be contacted on 02 93228611/8610.

HICKS
INTERNATIONAL:

GUANTANAMO BAY - The paperwork for the return to Australia of confessed terrorist David
Hicks could be completed by the end of the week, his lawyer Major Michael Mori says.

DOMESTIC

SYDNEY - Confessed terrorist David Hicks will return to studying and seek to live a
normal existence on his return to Australia and release from jail, his lawyer Major Michael
Mori says.

SYDNEY - A decision on whether to monitor David Hicks upon his release from jail in
Australia is a matter for the police, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer says.

CANBERRA - Sympathisers of David Hicks should remember the thousands of innocent people
killed by the terrorist groups he admitted to supporting, Treasurer Peter Costello says.


GENERAL
CANBERRA:

- Australia's richest politician, Malcolm Turnbull has denied he has ambitions to take
over from John Howard as prime minister.

- Labor is treating climate change as a near religious issue while the government is
working to reduce its effects by practical measures, Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull
says.

SYDNEY:

- Ferry update, including press conference with father of missing 14-year-old Morgan
Innes to be held at 10.45am (AEST).

- Checking up on hunger strike at Villawood Detention Centre.

- Qantas families and unions to gather at Cahill Park, Arncliffe over concerns that
jobs, conditions, and entitlements will be cut if the Airline Partners Australia takeover
bid goes ahead.

- Wests Tigers forward Bryce Gibbs is charged for assaulting police.

- A nine-year-old boy has been seriously injured in a hit and run in Sydney's north.

- An assistant in a newsagency has been punched in the head and robbed by two men in
Sydney's eastern suburbs.

- Two men have been airlifted to hospital with severe burns after an explosion on a
boat on the Hawkesbury River north-west of Sydney.

- Update on Earth Hour.

MELBOURNE:

- Vic govt introduces new, tougher water restrictions from today.

- Rove McManus returns to TV.

- Police in Melbourne hunt gunman who held up a service station before fleeing with
the cash takings.

- A woman has been killed and three other people hurt in a head-on collision involving
two cars in northern Victoria.

- An elderly man has died trying to escape a fire in his home in Victoria's south.

BRISBANE:

- A man has been charged after allegedly threatening police with an axe on a south-east
Queensland street.

- Two women are recovering in hospital after being hit by an out-of-control car while
standing on a footpath in Brisbane's north.

- A man has died after his car left the road and rolled several times in outback Queensland.

- A man is in a critical condition after allegedly being punched in the head by a bouncer
in Brisbane's south.

- The federal Labor Party holds a comfortable 14 point lead over the coalition on a
two-party preferred basis, according to a new opinion poll.

- Federal Young Liberals president Mark Powell withdraws his bid for Queensland's vacant
Senate seat and thrown his support behind Bob Quinn.

- Qld deputy premier Anna Bligh update on water projects




MEDICAL:

- Hospitals have endured a fourfold increase in cases of drug-induced psychosis in
the past decade, fuelled by addiction to dangerous stimulants, landmark research shows.

- Obese people are more likely to develop infected wounds and renal failure after
heart surgery, new research shows.




FINANCE:

- Myer boss Bill Wavish interviewed on Inside Business.

- Retail sales are likely to have risen in February.

- Demand for information and communications technology contractors on the increase.

- Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission releases draft report on food regulation

- Inside Business looks at Alinta and Babccock & Brown deal and talks to one of the
deal's chief architects, Babcock & Brown's Trevor Loewensohn. - Market Preview


SPORT:

MELBOURNE - Ian Thorpe expected to front media at a press conference in Melbourne at
3pm (AEST) today amid allegations he returned abnormal hormone levels at a doping test
last year.

MELBOURNE - Australian team captain Grant Hackett scheduled to defend his 1500m freestyle
title at the world swimming championships in Melbourne tonight.

MELBOURNE - American superstar Michael Phelps chasing his eighth gold medal at the
world swimming championships in Melbourne tonight in the 400m individual medley and men's
4x100m medley relay.

ST JOHN'S, Antigua, March 31 AAP - Glenn McGrath claimed the World Cup record for most
wickets as Australia coasted to a 10-wicket win with 8.1 overs to spare in today's Super
Eights clash with Bangladesh in Antigua.



AAP cdh

KEYWORD: NATIONAL NEWSLIST

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

NSW: The prosecutor-candidate gets no help from his friends

AAP General News (Australia)
08-31-2006
NSW: The prosecutor-candidate gets no help from his friends

By Peter Jean, State Political Reporter

SYDNEY, AAP - Greg Smith is the acting NSW Director of Public Prosecutions but he would
rather be a Liberal member of state parliament.

Henry Alfred Anning, 72, is facing 90 charges before the NSW District Court in Newcastle
related to alleged offences, mostly sex-related, against boys aged 10-16.

Bill Heffernan is a federal senator, president of the NSW Division of the Liberal Party
and an outspoken campaigner against paedophilia.

Peter Debnam will tomorrow (EDS: September 1) celebrate the first anniversary of his
election as leader of the NSW Parliamentary Liberal Party.

These four men have been drawn together in controversy by telephone calls Senator Heffernan
and Mr Debnam made to Mr Smith regarding Anning's case.

Those conversations have caused a minor political storm in NSW.

Mr Smith and federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner Pru Goward are the lead candidates
in the contest to win Liberal Party endorsement to contest the safe Sydney seat of Epping
at the state election next March.

When it was revealed last week that prosecutors had decided not to proceed with charges
against Anning, Attorney-General Bob Debus made a formal request for the decision to be
reviewed by the DPP.

The DPP, Nicholas Cowdery, enjoys a life appointment and his position was created in
order to take decisions on prosecutions out of the hands of politicians.

As a deputy DPP, Mr Smith also has a life appointment (although he will have to resign
if he enters parliament) and during Mr Cowdery's present absence overseas, he is acting
DPP.

Mr Debnam rang Mr Smith to urge him to overturn the decision to drop the charges against
Anning and so did Senator Heffernan.

Mr Smith decided on Sunday the charges should proceed and there has been no suggestion
this decision was improper.

The problem is the potential influence Mr Debnam and Senator Heffernan have over whether
or not Mr Smith is preselected, and the perception that improper political influence may
have been placed on the DPP.

Mr Debus is seeking legal advice on whether the phone calls may have jeopardised Anning's
trial and whether the matter should be referred to the Independent Commission Against
Corruption (ICAC).

He argues it was appropriate for him as attorney-general to ask the acting DPP to review
a decision but not for other politicians to make phone calls to Mr Smith on the matter.

Police Commissioner Ken Moroney, who has been publicly criticised by Mr Debnam in the
past, agrees the DPP should be left to make decisions without political pressure.

"The director and those responsible to him make their own decisions on the evidence
he has available to him.

"(They should be) able to make up their minds without any pressures at all, and that
ought to be the case."

Mr Smith refused to comment on the matter this week and Liberal Party rules forbid
him from discussing his preselection bid with the media.

Senator Heffernan also declined to comment on his conversation with Mr Smith but Mr
Debnam denied Anning's trial could have been jeopardised by the phone calls.

He said he wasn't aware people couldn't call the DPP.

"They've got a phone number," Mr Debnam said.

But imagine if the situation were a little different, and Greg Smith had not made the
decision several years ago to quit the Labor Party and join the Liberals.

Mr Smith might still have been the acting DPP and he might have sought Labor preselection.

If a right-wing Labor "mate" or powerbroker like former federal minister Graham Richardson
had been stupid enough to ring Mr Smith to lobby him over a prosecution, the opposition
would have been outraged.

By all accounts, Mr Smith is a lawyer of the highest integrity, but Senator Heffernan
and Mr Debnam have brought him unwelcome negative publicity as he tries to launch a political
career.

The last thing he needs is to be hauled before an ICAC hearing to give evidence on
the phone calls.

Good luck is an important factor in many political careers.

Nicholas Cowdery's overseas trip has proved to be bad luck for Greg Smith.

AAP pj/klw/hn/jt/sd

KEYWORD: NEWSCOPE NSW (AAP NEWS ANALYSIS)

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

ACT: Thousands gather for dawn service in Canberra = 2

AAP General News (Australia)
04-25-2006
ACT: Thousands gather for dawn service in Canberra = 2

Meanwhile .. Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD is expected to announce today the War Memorial
and Anzac Parade will be placed on the National Heritage list.

AAP RTV jlw/psm/

KEYWORD: ANZAC DAWN ACT 2 CANBERRA (REOPENS)

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

Fed: Former RAAF officer wins compensation

AAP General News (Australia)
08-23-2005
Fed: Former RAAF officer wins compensation

A senior air force officer summarily removed from his post is to receive compensation
from the Australian Defence Force.

But the size of the payout awarded to former Air Vice Marshal PETER CRISS will remain secret.

Mr CRISS was removed from his post as Air Commander in 1999, but the reasons for his
dismissal have never been made public.

The former officer began a battle for compensation under which it is believed he sought
about $1 million.

In a statement issued last night, the defence force said the mediation process has
finished and Mr CRISS will be awarded compensation.

The chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal ANGUS HOUSTON, and Defence Department
secretary RIC SMITH say they are disappointed by the failings revealed in the handling
of the matter and the long time taken to resolve it.

AAP RTV rp/tm/jv/psm/

KEYWORD: DEFENCE CRISS (CANBERRA)

2005 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

German, Sir Edward

German, Sir Edward (1862–1936) The English composer wrote incidental music for several Shakespeare plays, including Henry VIII ( Lyceum, 1892), from which the dances are often performed.

Kids recite, and remix, the pledge

The Pledge of Allegiance always conjures up feelings of loyalty, makes hearts swell with pride, and causes me to wonder: Who the heck is Bob?The Supreme Court issued a long-awaited ruling on Monday that allows God to maintain his place in the Pledge of Allegiance.

A California atheist, upset that his daughter was being force-fed religion through the Pledge of Allegiance at her public school, brought the matter to court. He just so happened to be involved in a messy custody dispute over the girl, too. Regardless, his action renewed national debate over whether religion should mix with government.

But after all the arguing, two things are certain: God gets to stay. And the pledge will be riddled with malapropisms as children nationwide continue to butcher the ode to a symbol of our country -- one nation, under Bob, invisible, with liberty and justice frog.

What's fitting is that this California crybaby ended up shining a spotlight on the very words he was trying to have stricken. Moreover, everyone who recites the pledge is now conscious of the fact that God gets a shout-out.

Wasn't there an easier and far less costly solution? Couldn't his 10-year-old daughter just have skipped the "under God" part? Her teachers never would have caught on.

Trust me, I survived eight years of Catholic grade school by lip-synching Ave Maria and every other hymn at Mass with my classmates. The priests never knew any better, I was spared ridicule, and my peers were spared bleeding ears and my lousy singing voice.

Everyone was happy, and Jilli Vanilli was never exposed. All was good.

But that was religion, and we're talking about the pledge, and I'm supposed to keep those two matters separate.

So while people try to take the Ten Commandments out of a courthouse and deliberate about whether to remove, "In God We Trust," from our pocket change, kids across this land remain free to keep mutilating the pledge.

That's more offensive than the G-word any day.

On a positive note, at least one part of the recitation is now ingrained in young minds: "Under God" -- the newest addition to the pledge included 50 years ago by Congress -- is the only phrase people are sure to get straight, thanks to the atheist.

That wasn't always the case. Finally, gone are the days of confused kids declaring our nation "underdog," "underground," "under guard" and "under Bob."

The Internet is a frightening window to the various ways in which children botch the Pledge of Allegiance and "The Star-Spangled Banner." It's evident that they have some far-out ideas of what this country's all about.

Take the kid who pledged a lesion to the flag, for example. Ouch. The same little sadist added a touch of flair to his rendition by promising "liberty -- and just this! -- for all."

Then there's the hungry child who promised liver, tea and just rice for all.

The one I'm most concerned about, though, is the little one who thought, "You may be seated," punctuated the pledge because that's how she heard it over the intercom at school every day. Good thing the principal didn't routinely announce a post-pledge bathroom break.

Maybe, after this recent brouhaha in the courts, kids can take away a lesson about the pledge's meaning. Because no matter what god you pray to, I'm fairly certain he doesn't go by Bob.

Actually, I think Harold be thy name.

Reporter Jill Jedlowski can be reached at (815) 729-6055 or via e-mail at jjedlowski@scn1.com.

Cingular Xpress Mail. (Wireless Gear).(Brief Article)

* For GSM and TDMA services

* Full e-mails delivered to handsets

* Flexibility between a phone call and the Internet

Cingular Wireless offers Xpress Mail to select GPRS business customers. The service allows always-on access to corporate Microsoft Exchange e-mail on the handset through Cingular Wireless Internet Express. The service allows customers the flexibility to switch between an Internet session and a phone call without having to abandon an Internet connection or lose information that is being transferred.

 Cingular Wireless www.cingularwireless.com 

Advance Summary: U.S. Crude Oil, Natural Gas, and Natural Gas Liquids Reserves 1999 Annual Report.(Brief Article)

U.S. proved reserves of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids all rose in 1999 (see table), and crude oil reserves posted the largest percentage increase (3.5) in the 23 years the Energy Information Administration has been compiling these data.

U.S. Proved Reserves, 1989-1999             Crude Oil                  Natural Gas Liquids                    Percent                         Percent        Million    Change              Million     Change        Barrels    From                Barrels     From        (42 U.S.   Previous            (42 U.S.    Previous Year   Gallons)   Year         Year   (Gallons)   Year  1989    26,501      -1.2       1989     7,769       -5.7 1990    26,254      -0.9       1990     7,586       -2.4 1991    24,682      -6.0       1991     7,464       -1.6 1992    23,745      -3.8       1992     7,451       -0.2 1993    22,957      -3.3       1993     7,222       -3.1 1994    22,457      -2.2       1994     7,170       -0.7 1995    22,351      -0.5       1995     7,399       +3.2 1996    22,017      -1.5       1996     7,823       +5.7 1997    22,546      +2.4       1997     7,973       +1.9 1998    21,034      -6.7       1998     7,524       -5.6 1999    21,765      +3.5       1999     7,906       +5.1        Dry natural Gas                   Percent                  Change        Billion   From        Cubic     Previous Year   Feet(a)   Year  1989   167,116     -0.5 1990   169,346     +1.3 1991   167,062     -1.3 1992   165,015     -1.2 1993   162,415     -1.6 1994   163,837     +0.9 1995   165,146     +0.8 1996   166,474     +0.8 1997   167,223     +0.4 1998   164,041     -1.9 1999   167,406     +2.1 

(a) 14.73 pounds per square inch absolute, 60 [degrees] Fahrenheit.

Note: Reserves are measured at the end of the year.

Source: Energy Information Administration.

Proved reserves are those quantities that geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be recoverable in the future from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions. For crude oil reserves in 1999, the key element in this definition was "economic conditions," for it was largely the increase in crude oil prices that boosted the proved reserves. The December 1999 oil price used to estimate proved reserves was about three times the December 1998 price. The annual average domestic first purchase price rose 43 percent from the 1998 level, to $15.56 per barrel. Exploratory oil well completions, on the other hand, fell nearly 50 percent and total well completions were down about 40 percent, primarily because the low (and slow-recovering) 1998 oil prices did not support higher levels of drilling activity.

Natural gas proved reserves rose more than 2 percent, marking the fifth yearly increase in 6 years. Notable increases were seen in Texas, Colorado, and Utah, although reserves declined in Oklahoma and the Gulf of Mexico. Coalbed methane reserves and production continued to grow faster in 1999 than those of conventional gas; coalbed methane reserves rose to 8 percent of proved natural gas reserves and accounted for 7 percent of total dry gas production in 1999.

Natural gas liquids reserves, the sum of natural gas plant liquids and lease condensate reserves, rose more than 5 percent. Natural gas liquids represented 27 percent of total liquid hydrocarbon proved reserves in 1999.

Advance Summary: U.S. Crude Oil, Natural Gas, and Natural Gas Liquids Reserves, 1999 Annual Report; DOE/EIA-0216(99)Advance Summary; 16 pages, 9 tables, 9 figures. This report is available only via the Internet; go to www.eia.doe.gov and click on By Fuel [Petroleum], By Product [Crude Oil], and then scroll down to Other Links. Contact wmaster@eia.doe.gov if you have problems. Questions about the report's contents should be directed to John Wood, Office of Oil and Gas, at john.wood@eia.doe.gov or 214-720-6160. For general information about energy, contact the National Energy Information Center at infoctr@eia.doe.gov or 202-586-8800.

PaylinX Announces Exclusive Agreement With Merisel; Merisel to Distribute PaylinX Enterprise Payment Server to Its Extensive Network of VARs and System Integrators.

ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 7, 1999--PaylinX Corporation, the leader in the Enterprise Payment Server (EPS) market, today announced an exclusive distribution agreement with El Segundo, Calif.-based Merisel, Inc., a leading distributor of computer hardware and software products. Under the terms of the agreement, Merisel will distribute the PaylinX Enterprise Payment Server software to its extensive network of North American Value-added Resellers (VARs) and System Integrators, enhancing its competitive e-commerce offering with PaylinX's unique enterprise commerce payment processing platform.

The PaylinX solution set offered through Merisel includes PaylinX Enterprise Payment Server and PaylinX Internet Payment Server. Both offerings utilize three payment options -- PaylinX VISA POS-port, PaylinX VISA ISDN, and PaylinX Paymentech Frame Relay. These options enable Merisel resellers to offer their customers cost-effective, e-commerce payment solutions.

Only PaylinX provides enterprise commerce payment processing -- enabling credit card transaction processing that spans electronic commerce, point-of-sale, interactive voice response (IVR) systems, catalog sales and call centers. PaylinX recently was named the 1998 Call Center News Service Product of the Year, and is a three-time winner of the Internet Commerce Expo Best of Show award.

Merisel VARs and system integrators will find the PaylinX distribution agreement instrumental in expanding their options for e-commerce solutions. "Most first- and second-generation electronic commerce implementations focus entirely on the Internet, forcing those who provide solutions, such as Merisel's resellers, to implement costly, redundant systems and processes," said Bob Lozano, president and chief executive officer of PaylinX. "PaylinX enables market leaders such as AT&T, PageNet, Bose, Microsoft, and MediaOne to provide a uniform, enterprise-wide transaction infrastructure for all customer sales interactions."

"We are delighted to make PaylinX available to our resellers," said Merisel's Director of Software, Tony Warwick. "As the market leader in the enterprise payment server category, PaylinX brings significant value-add to Merisel resellers and system integrators, not only for enterprise-wide payment processing, but also in consolidation with existing legacy systems. The enterprise payment server market is a key enabler of enterprise commerce -- and we're pleased to be at the forefront with PaylinX."

In addition to its enterprise-wide capability, the PaylinX architecture meets the high availability objectives of the most demanding IT environments by enabling feature set enhancements such as multi-processor failover, Payment Pipes(TM) transaction routing and load balancing, while safeguarding existing infrastructure investments. Running on a single NT server, PaylinX Enterprise Payment Server software processes tens of thousands of transactions per hour. Lab tests extend that number to a processing capability that supports one million transactions per hour. PaylinX Enterprise Payment Server is a true multi-threaded solution for enterprise applications.

About Merisel

Merisel, Inc., (Nasdaq:MSEL) is a leader in the distribution of computer hardware and software products. Based in El Segundo, Calif., Merisel is a Fortune 500 Company with reported 1998 sales of $4.6 billion. Merisel distributes a full line of 25,000 products and services from the industry's leading manufacturers to resellers throughout North America. In addition, the company provides a full range of customized, value-added services. Merisel also offers dedicated support to high-end resellers through the Merisel Open Computing Alliance (MOCA(TM)) and the company's Enterprise Computing Division. Merisel's corporate Web site is located at www.merisel.com.

About PaylinX

Focused on enterprise commerce payment processing since 1995, PaylinX Corporation is the leader in the Enterprise Payment Server market providing real-time and/or batch credit card authorization, settlement and reporting across the entire enterprise. Only PaylinX provides enterprise commerce payment -- enabling credit card transactions processing spanning e-commerce, point-of-sale, interactive voice response systems, catalog sales and call centers. PaylinX is available from Value Added Resellers, PaylinX OEM Partners, or directly from the company. PaylinX is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, and can be reached at (314) 692-0929 or www.paylinx.com.

Note to Editors: PaylinX is a registered trademark, PaylinX for Site Server and PaylinX ISDN Payment Pipe are trademarks of PaylinX Corporation. Other trademarks, service marks, and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.

CrowdGather to Discuss Annual Growth and Report Fiscal Fourth Quarter 2011 Financial Results on July 28, 2011.(Financial report)

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. -- One of the leading networks of forum communities on the Internet, CrowdGather (OTCBB:CRWG), today announced that it will report its fiscal fourth quarter financial results for the period ended April 30, 2011 following the market close on Thursday, July 28, 2011. On that day, CEO Sanjay Sabnani will host the annual year-end conference call at 2:00 p.m. PT to discuss revenue growth and business progress achieved during the 2011 fiscal year as well as the company's business plans and goals for fiscal 2012, including the potential for additional acquisitions.

What:				CrowdGather Fiscal Fourth Quarter 2011 Financial Results Conference Call
When:				Thursday, July 28, 2011
Time:				2:00 p.m. PT
Live Call:				1-877-941-4775, passcode 4460195
Replay:				1-800-406-7325, passcode 4460195#
				(Available until 11:59 p.m. on August 4, 2011)

About CrowdGather, Inc.

With its growing portfolio of special interest forums and enthusiast message board communities, CrowdGather (www.crowdgather.com) has created a centralized network to benefit forum members, forum owners and forum advertisers. CrowdGather provides a highly interactive and informational social network for members, a management and revenue-sharing resource for third-party forum owners, and a largely untapped advertising network for marketers worldwide.

This press release contains forward-looking statements (as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) concerning future events and the Company's growth and business strategy. Words such as "expects", "will", "intends", "plans", "believes", "anticipates", "hopes", "estimates", and variations on such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, changes in the Company's business; competitive factors in the market(s) in which the Company operates; risks associated with operations outside the United States; and other factors listed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.

Hook big fish in world talent pool.

Many New Zealand companies find it a daunting and time-consuming task hunting for overseas talent because they don't know where to start looking, says Robert Walters managing director Richard Manthel.

But as there are skill shortages in the country and New Zealand needs to compete internationally, sometimes companies do need to source people from other markets.

Carmen Bailey, consultant director at Emergent, says her recruiting organisation does not think that overseas staff are being targeted well.

``Some employers are still thinking it is an employers' market, which it most definitely isn't at the moment,'' she says.

``I am also not sure how salaries stack up for international talent, so the most likely is for us to attract people who have made the decision to return to New Zealand for lifestyle reasons so money isn't a key driver.''

While interviewing candidates for a senior role in Sydney recently, ``we were considerably out in terms of salary when you take into consideration exchange rates. So unless you are offering an exceptional brand to work for, such as an Air New Zealand, you will find it hard to compete on the international market.''

Manthel says a lot of companies simply put up a job advertisement and expect it to work for them.

``To be successful, companies need to explore many different sourcing channels.''

Michael Barnett, chief executive of the Auckland Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry, agrees that New Zealand companies don't generally recruit overseas talent effectively. It's partly because of old-fashioned views of what companies require, he says. However, universities have recently responded to the flexibility and versatility of global markets when it comes to qualifications required for jobs.

Joint degrees in subjects such as law and marketing, or accounting, law and other matches, help their students become more employable.

``Employers, on the other hand, have been slow to change and still have the old job-descriptors on paper and in their minds, which limits the way they market their roles,'' he says.

``Advertising the role has similarities to promoting a product and employers need to be imaginative in the way they promote the product and the story they tell.

``Be boring or unimaginative and you will get what you deserve _ there is competition out there and the best product and story will attract the best talent,'' Barnett says.

Manthel says some companies are doing a good job recruiting overseas because they have a proper strategy in place and employ the right people to do it. ``It is really difficult to hunt good people down. The days when people came to you are long gone.''

He says that much of the world's top talent doesn't consider New Zealand a desirable place to work.

``It's too far away and the package they are offered is not high enough.''

He says there are companies that do create attractive packages for people such as engineers and telecommunications specialists.

``Some have three- to six-month contracts and are provided with accommodation. After their contract has ended, they move on elsewhere.''

Manthel says companies need to invest the time and money in recruiting top workers. He says Robert Half has ``three staff on our international team. Presently two of them are in London talking to candidates who are Kiwis considering coming home.

``We keep in contact with about 5000 Kiwis abroad ... So when they decide to come back we can introduce them to companies who need their skills.''

Different strategies are required to recruit non-Kiwis. ``We need to meet them and show we're serious.''

Manthel says a lot of companies don't do forward planning. ``They suddenly decide that they need a skill set immediately. When we're talking to someone who's not a New Zealander it takes time, even months.''

He says companies should at least put in place medium-term planning. ``If you're going to embark on a project in six months' time, you need to start recruiting now.''

It's about knowing what skill sets are needed, being able to use multiple recruitment channels and having the ability to contact people of interest. Manthel adds that internet and social media have made things more complicated for recruiters.

``It can be a minefield deciding what [website] to post job advertising on ... It's about knowing where to look, how to network.''

As far as the Government is concerned, Manthel says the immigration service is excellent. ``Both access and advice we get from them is good.'' He is surprised when he hears recruiters blame immigration services for their lack of success. ``If a person needs to be in the country and has a skill set that is required, things move very quickly.''

And when companies do bring people into the country, they need to know that that is not the end of their obligation. ``[Companies] who are bringing in people from off-shore need to be aware of the needs of their new staff members in order to keep them here. They and their families may need assistance in settling in New Zealand.''

-German Zanox to take over Dutch marketing network M4N.

CORPORATE IT UPDATE-(C)1995-2011 M2 COMMUNICATIONS

7 June 2011 - German Internet-based marketing platform provider Zanox will buy Dutch marketing network M4N in a move to gain leading presence in the Benelux countries.

Financial details were not disclosed.

M4N's two founders, Thomas and Klaas Joosten, will remain with the company and will continue to develop it.

Zanox's managing director Philip Justus did not say whether the transaction would lead to job cuts in the Netherlands.

Zanox, part of German publisher Axel Springer (ETR:SPR), made earlier strategic buys also in the UK. The company opened two offices in Turkey and Poland and aims to further expand its business across Europe.

((Comments on this story may be sent to info@m2.com))

HomeTown Health University Currently Offering Free Web-Based Education to Rural Georgia Physician Practices Made Available at teleconnectga.com.

Georgia (PRWEB) May 18, 2011

Free web-based education is now available for Georgia's rural physician practices online at http://www.teleconnectga.com.

HomeTown Health University (HTHU), in partnership with the Georgia Partnership for TeleHealth, has developed education that will provide Broadband and HIT education to more than 5000 physicians and practice managers in rural Georgia through Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP). The goals of GPT's BTOP grant are to promote the expansion of broadband and increase access to healthcare in rural and medically underserved areas through the innovative use of technology and improved access to primary care by equipping and expanding the current GPT telehealth broadband network from 133 access points to 185 access points and through education and outreach introducing all, from rural healthcare providers to low income families, to the advantages of using broadband technology to access healthcare services, to share and exchange health information and access the internet to receive health and wellness information.

Through the BTOP grant, free web-based training is available to Rural Georgia Physician Office Employees which includes courses recommended by the ONC and listed on the HIT curriculum component blueprints, starting with Introduction to Computing, along with HIPAA Compliance, Microsoft Office 2007 and many more courses to help physician office employees fulfill basic IT/Broadband education needs.

To access these free training courses, visit the Teleconnect Georgia for Better Health Online Training Center at http://www.teleconnectga.com and click Learn. The Teleconnect Georgia for Better Health Online Training Center is made possible by the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. To confirm your eligibility, please contact Lloyd Sirmons, BTOP Project Director at Lloyd Sirmons lloyd(dot)sirmons(at)gatelehealth(dot)org.

HTHU is the education arm of HomeTown Health, LLC, a network of 56 rural hospitals in Georgia. Since 2005, HomeTown Health University has helped thousands of healthcare employees reach their education goals and maintain their healthcare certification with accredited online health care education. HTHU offers courses in Patient Financial Services including business office education and certifications, Management Skills and Leadership, Clinical/Staff Compliance including Joint Commission, HIPAA and EMTALA compliance, and Health Information Technology (HIT) for hospital employees as well as courses in our School of Practice Management created specifically for physician office online health care education. Discover the many accredited, healthcare focused courses available on HomeTown Health's online healthcare university at http://www.hthu.net.

As lead applicant on the TeleConnect Georgia for Better Health /BTOP project, Georgia Partnership for Telehealth, Inc. (http://www.gatelehealth.org/) has proven success in establishing and sustaining Georgia's only statewide telehealth network in 2005.

For More information Contact:

Kathy Whitmire

Managing Director, HomeTown Health, LLC

706-491-3493

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Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/5/prweb8427895.htm

HUD SECRETARY ANNOUNCES DISASTER ASSISTANCE FOR ARKANSAS STATE STORM VICTIMS FORECLOSURE PROTECTION OFFERED TO DISPLACED FAMILIES.

WASHINGTON -- The following information was released by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development:

U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced HUD will speed federal disaster assistance to the State of Arkansas and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes following severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding last week.

Yesterday, President Obama issued a disaster declaration for Benton, Clay, Faulkner, Garland, Lincoln, Pulaski, Randolph and Saline Counties in Arkansas. The President's declaration allows HUD to offer foreclosure relief and other assistance to certain families living in these counties.

"Families who may have been forced from their homes need to know that help is available to begin the rebuilding process," said Donovan. "Whether it's foreclosure relief for FHA-insured families or helping these counties to recover, HUD stands ready to help in any way we can."

HUD is:

Offering the State of Arkansas and other entitlement communities the ability to re-allocate existing federal resources toward disaster relief - HUD's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME programs give the State and communities the flexibility to redirect millions of dollars to address critical needs, including housing and services for disaster victims. HUD is currently contacting State and local officials to explore streamlining the Department's CDBG and HOME programs in order to expedite the repair and replacement of damaged housing;

Granting immediate foreclosure relief - HUD granted a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures and forbearance on foreclosures of Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-insured home mortgages;

Making mortgage insurance available - HUD's Section 203(h) program provides FHA insurance to disaster victims who have lost their homes and are facing the daunting task of rebuilding or buying another home. Borrowers from participating FHA-approved lenders are eligible for 100 percent financing, including closing costs;

Making insurance available for both mortgages and home rehabilitation - HUD's Section 203(k) loan program enables those who have lost their homes to finance the purchase or refinance of a house along with its repair through a single mortgage. It also allows homeowners who have damaged houses to finance the rehabilitation of their existing single-family home; and

Offering Section 108 loan guarantee assistance - HUD will offer state and local governments federally guaranteed loans for housing rehabilitation, economic development and repair of public infrastructure.

Information on housing providers and HUD programs -The Department will share information with FEMA and the State on housing providers that may have available units in the impacted counties. This includes Public Housing Agencies and Multi-Family owners. The Department will also connect FEMA and the State to subject matter experts to provide information on HUD programs and providers.

Read about these and other HUD programs designed to assist disaster victims.

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HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.

WiFi Baby HD iPhone and iPad App Lets Parents Monitor Their Child With Password-Protected Video and Audio.

West Palm Beach, FL (PRWEB) April 12, 2011

WiFi Baby, in partnership with SunshineApps, announces the release of the WiFi Baby HD App, an iOS-based baby monitor App that provides password-protected video and audio without interference. By using the WiFi Baby HD App, parents now have the comfort and convenience of seeing and hearing their child on their iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch.

The WiFi Baby HD App securely connects to the WiFi Baby 3G Video Monitor, an innovative stand-alone wireless camera featured on CBS News, CNET and Fast Company. Unlike a webcam, the WiFi Baby 3G requires no physical connection to a computer.

WiFi Baby HD App Features:

* Audio and Video over WiFi or 3G

* Vertical and Landscape View on iPhone and iPod Touch

* Vertical View on iPad

* No Monthly Monitoring Fee

* Overrides Auto-Lock Setting

* Audio Alerts -- Alarm / Vibrate

* Audio Mute -- Audio Alerts Still Function

* Night Mode -- Audio Only Option, Quick Switch To Video

* Customizable Theme and Pictures

* Search Function Finds WiFi Baby 3G For Easy Setup

* Switch to Night Vision Remotely

* Away Mode -- 3G / External Network Access (with additional configuration to user's wireless router)

* Comprehensive Instructions/ Active Support Group

* Single WiFi Baby 3G Camera Support -- SunshineApp's Baby Monitor HD App Supports up to 4

* Compatible with iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch with iOS 4.0 or above

WiFi Baby CEO Stefanie Fox developed the WiFi Baby Monitoring System with the busy lives, privacy concerns and budgets of parents in mind. "We have taken great care in providing quick start guides, setup software and instructional videos to make the setup for home monitoring as easy as possilbe," said Fox.

The privacy risks of traditional baby monitors that use non-password protected analog or digital radio signals have gained nationwide attention including a recent feature on ABC News.

"With the WiFi Baby System, your privacy is protected by both your home WiFi network's security settings and the video and audio can only be accessed with an authorized username and password," continued Fox. "The combination of the WiFi Baby HD App and WiFi Baby 3G gives parents the most versatile, convenient and secure monitoring system on the market today while in the same price range as traditional video monitors. "

Besides the WiFi Baby System's intended purpose as a home baby monitor, it also has advanced features. The user's wireless router can be configured to allow password-protected video and audio outside of the home by PC, Mac, iPhone or iPad. It can then be used as a nanny cam or home security device once users outgrow the need for a baby monitor. This process can vary from easy to complex based on the internet service provider's restrictions, security settings, brand of router and how the home network is configured. Links to online screen shot guides to setup external viewing are at wifibaby.net or advanced tech support is also available for a one-time cost. There are no subsequent monthly fees for remote access.

About WiFi Baby[TM]

Florida based WiFi Baby is a company that leverages advanced technology to bring a new wave of wireless baby monitors to market. WiFi Baby has partnered with SunshineApps to provide a complete video baby monitoring solution that uses WiFi technology, but in the same price range as those using analog or digital radio signals. For more information on the products WiFi Baby offers, a company video or a live demo, visit wifibaby.net.

About SunshineApps[TM]:

SunshineApps specializes in iOS Apps for Smarter Connected Homes & Businesses. Founded in 2009, and with a growing portfolio of Apps with sales in 53 countries, they are highly skilled in producing quality Apps for iPhone, iPad and iPad Touch including WiFi Baby HD and Baby Monitor HD.

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Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/iphoneipadbabymonitor/prweb5225794.htm

Interphase introduces next generation PCI ATM Adapter; features hardware-based ABR for optimized traffic management.

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 6, 1997--Interphase Corporation (Nasdaq/NMS:INPH), a leading international supplier of local area network (LAN) and wide area network (WAN) technologies, today announced the 5575 PCI ATM Adapter which provides optimized 155 Mbps ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) connectivity for high performance servers and workstations. Based on the (i)chip+, Interphase's next generation ATM SAR, the 5575 provides numerous performance enhancing features and optimized traffic management capabilities including simultaneous handling of ABR (available bit rate), CBR (constant bit rate) and UBR (unspecified bit rate) ATM transactions.

"A new generation of applications, including the Internet and corporate intranets, is taxing the efficient operation of enterprise networks and the servers which drive them," said Gil Widdowson, ATM technical director at Interphase. "The 5575 offers high performance, reliability, enhanced network traffic optimization and ease of installation to those network managers deploying ATM in response to this problem."

Optimized ABR Traffic Management

With hardware-based ABR, the 5575 offers dynamic network adjustment which is up to a thousand times faster than software-based ABR alternatives. This faster response time to changing network congestion optimizes overall network performance by closely mirroring real-time network traffic patterns. An innovative Interphase cell scheduling algorithm offers continuous granularity on a per-VC basis, thus further optimizing network performance under congested conditions. This differs from the "rate queue" approach utilized by many other adapters which often leads to inefficient allocation of bandwidth when network traffic become heavy. The 5575 is compliant with the ATM Forum Traffic Management 4.0 specification.

Maximized System Performance

Based on proven Interphase (i)chip ATM ASIC technology, the 5575 adapter offers a number of features which enhance overall system performance by minimizing utilization of the PCI bus. The adapter supports 128K byte bursts, providing a faster and more efficient transport of data across of the PCI bus. Performance is further enhanced by the ability to select either on-board or off-board reassembly of packets, allowing the user to tune specific system performance based on the applications being run. In addition, by making the ABR implementation transparent to real time data handling software, CPU utilization is significantly decreased.

Industry's Simplest Set-up and Administration

With CellView, a powerful user installation and diagnostic utility, the 5575 features simplified set-up and configuration. CellView allows a system administrator to quickly configure Interphase ATM adapters and collect statistical information through an intuitive graphical user interface. Among its features, CellView displays all Interphase ATM boards installed in a system including hardware version level. CellView facilitates configuration of signaling parameters, LAN Emulation Client (LEC) interfaces, the LAN Emulation Server (LES) interface, LAN Emulation Configuration Server (LECS) interfaces, and emulated LAN mapping information. Further, CellView provides information on SONET, signaling, and cell level statistics, AAL5 statistics, LEC membership and statistics, and LEC/LECS statistics.

ABR vs. UBR Demonstration at Networld + Interop Las Vegas

Interphase will be demonstrating the new 5575 adapter in conjunction with its ATM Traffic Management comparison of ABR-based performance vs. the performance of UBR with early packet discard. The demonstration features dual systems displaying real-time video received from traffic-laden networks to illustrate the performance of ABR versus UBR under congested network conditions.

Pricing and Availability

The Interphase 5575 PCI ATM Adapter is available immediately for suggested list prices beginning at $850.00. The 5575 offers single mode fiber, multimode fiber and Category 5 UTP connectivity options and is available to OEM customers directly from Interphase or through the company's international distribution channel. The new Interphase adapter comes complete with drivers for Microsoft Windows NT, Novell NetWare, Apple MacOS, Solaris X86 and IBM AIX, and includes CellView, Interphase's graphical configuration and monitoring utility for ATM adapters. Driver updates are available directly from the Interphase Web site.

About Interphase Corporation

Interphase Corporation is a leading international supplier of high-performance computer networking, mass storage, and remote access products. The company's primary product lines are based on established and emerging technologies for the high-speed transmission and storage of information in local and wide area networking environments (LANs and WANs). The LAN and mass storage products are based upon ATM, FDDI, Fast Ethernet, SCSI and Fibre Channel technologies, and provide the network interface within server and desktop environments. The WAN products employ X.25, ISDN and xDSL technologies to provide connectivity solutions for remote sites in heterogeneous, multivendor networking environments. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Interphase markets its products to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), distributors, systems integrators, value-added resellers (VARs) and large end-users through a worldwide sales and service network. Additional information about Interphase, its products and services, is available through the company's web site at http://www.iphase.com . -0-

Note to Editors: For a more comprehensive explanation of how ABR traffic management can increase overall network performance, contact Interphase for a copy of the whitepaper entitled "Increasing TCP LAN Performance By Using ABR Networks: Comparing UBR-based Traffic to ABR-based Traffic on an ATM Network".

Interphase, and the Interphase logo are trademarks, and in some jurisdictions may be registered trademarks, of Interphase Corporation or its affiliated companies. (i)chip+ and CellView are a trademarks of Interphase Corporation. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

CONTACT: Interphase Corporation

Trade:

Michael Eckley, 214/654-5325

meckley@iphase.com

or

Financial:

Bob Drury, 214/654-5000

bdrury@iphase.com

or

Meltzer & Martin Public Relations

Robert Martin

or

Larry Meltzer, 214/953-0808

mmpr@onramp.net

Gates, Ellison, spar over future of online world, Internet competition. (Bill Gates, Microsoft Corp.; Larry Ellison, Oracle Corp.)

Gates Pledges Wallet PC For $500

The chairmen of Microsoft and Oracle Corp. jousted over the future of PCs and the online world at the European IT Forum 1995 in Paris. Microsoft's Bill Gates and Oracle Corp.'s Larry Ellison offered competing visions of how today's computer companies will compete in tomorrow's consumer market.

The Internet is moving the industry away from a desktop-based to a network-based view of computing, Ellison told the meeting sponsored by market-research company International Data Corp.

Ellison demonstrated Oracle's upcoming Web server and browser software, and said his company has the upper hand in delivering multimedia on the Internet because Oracle is already focused on database technology. "Oracle does one thing, and one thing only, very well -- we deliver vast amounts of data to users," he said.

Oracle's browser, which is Netscape-compatible and slated for release in November, has the Java language built-in and allows users to download video and executable programs from the Internet and other networks.

"The MicrosoftNetwork is probably the last of the online services to be built on the Club Med model: come on in and you're safe," said Ellison. "The Internet model is a little riskier but richer culturally."

In the future, software, applications and content will reside on networks, and users will have simple $400-$500 terminals in their homes Ellison dubbed "Internet appliances."

But Gates disagreed, arguing that PCs will not turn into dumb terminals, but will need intelligence and storage capacity. "You'll find that the PC will take on new forms: wallet PCs will be carried around end you'll see kiosk PCs and portable PCs that will all be hooked up into a unified network that provides a rich set of applications," he said.

Over the next year, Microsoft will work with a major vendor to develop a wallet-sized wireless-capable PC to retail at a price of about $500, Gates said. Microsoft is also working with telecommunications companies to develop telecom infrastructure so the cost of communications, apart from data and content, will be "almost free," Gates said.