FED:Malaysia deal will 'unravel': opposition

AAP General News (Australia)
08-01-2011
FED:Malaysia deal will 'unravel': opposition

By Katina Curtis

CANBERRA, Aug 1 AAP - The government's deal to send asylum seekers to Malaysia will
soon unravel, Acting Opposition Leader Julie Bishop says.

Ms Bishop believes people smugglers will send more boats to Australia to pressure the
government to change its stance.

The deal allows Australia to send 800 boat arrivals to Malaysia in exchange for settling
4000 confirmed refugees here over the next four years.

Ms Bishop fears the deal will unravel because in the 12 weeks since it was first announced
621 more people have arrived by boat.

"Already it's evident that the people-smuggling syndicates will put pressure on this
deal by sending more boats," she told reporters.

"My fear is that like everything else that the government touches this asylum seeker
swap deal will unravel shortly."

More than 500 boat people who arrived before the deal was signed last week will be
processed and settled in Australia.

But a boatload of 54 asylum seekers, intercepted on Sunday, will be the first group
processed under the new deal.

The government has refused to reveal how many, if any, minors are on board, with the
departments of immigration and customs both saying the arrivals were currently the other's
responsibility.

Independent senator Nick Xenophon said the government needed to answer questions about
what would happen to any children or unaccompanied minors on board that boat.

"I think children are in a clearly separate category," he said, adding that it was
a moral dilemma the government needed to deal with.

The government says there will be no blanket exemptions, but the opposition does not
believe this line.

Immigration spokesman Scott Morrison thought there would be "exemptions implemented routinely".

Senator Xenophon said it was too early to say if the deal was a success or failure.

"Over the coming weeks and months we'll know whether the Malaysian deal has been a
good deal for both countries and whether it's solved the problem that it's intended to
solve," he told reporters.

AAP klc/rl/jl/nb

KEYWORD: BOAT WRAP

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

WA:Bushfire burns homes in Perth's south

AAP General News (Australia)
04-05-2011
WA:Bushfire burns homes in Perth's south

PERTH, April 5 AAP - One home has burned down and four others have been damaged by
an out of control bushfire in Perth's southern suburbs.

The fire began in bushland at a reserve in Coolbellup about 2.45pm (WST) on Tuesday.

A police spokesman said some residents in nearby Bibra Lake had left their evaporative
air-conditioners on, which had caused fires in their homes.

He said residents should turn off their air-conditioners and secure their windows to
prevent further fire outbreaks.

The Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) has issued a watch and act warning
for residents in the southeast of Coolbellup.

More than 10 fire brigades are at the scene and are being supported by two helitacs
and a helicopter.

FESA says residents need to be prepared to leave their homes as embers are likely to
be blown around and spot fires are starting ahead of the fire.

AAP anr/apm

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES WA

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

FED:Bank competition very strong: CBA =5

AAP General News (Australia)
12-15-2010
FED:Bank competition very strong: CBA =5

Another government measure is to increase the powers of the Australian Competition
and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to prevent so-called price signalling, a practice the CBA
denies involvement.

Mr Norris said the banks produced a significant amount of economic commentary through
their respective economic departments, some of which touched on interest rates.

"If pricing signalling ... is going to be part the ACCC mandate to oversight the industry
then we ... if there is a new definition, we will obviously abide by that definition,"

he said.

Mr Norris said he understood the angst in the community caused by his bank's rate increase.

"I certainly got caught up in the maelstrom of this, because it became very personalised,
rather than actually debating the issue," he said.

The Commonwealth Bank had provided repeated proof that his bank's funding costs had
increased, he said.

"We are prepared at any point to stand under public scrutiny."

AAP cb/rl/it

KEYWORD: BANKING CBA 5 MELBOURNE

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

FED:Abbot wants a "guided democracy"

08-08-2010
FED:Abbot wants a "guided democracy"

TONY ABBOTT has been overheard .. suggesting we could use a more guided democracy.

The Opposition Leader made his comment to Nauru's President MARCUS STEPHEN yesterday
.. noting that the media in some other countries is much less disruptive than in Australia.

But the media .. in form of a pack of photographers .. were nearby and close enough
to hear what Mr ABBOTT was saying.

Mr ABBOTT discussed with the Nauru leader a coalition's plan to re-open an asylum processing
centre in the island nation that was set up by the former Howard government as part of
its Pacific Solution.

The Opposition Leader says Nauru is ready .. willing and able to reopen the centre.

AAP RTV sld/wz

KEYWORD: POLL10 ABBOTT (BRISBANE)

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

Qld: Man allegedly spits blood into an officer's face

AAP General News (Australia)
12-28-2009
Qld: Man allegedly spits blood into an officer's face

A 23-year-old man has been charged for allegedly spitting blood into the face of a
police officer.

Police say they arrested the man following a violent altercation on Gold Orchid Drive
at Airlie Beach .. in north Queensland around midnight.

He's been charged with serious assault of an officer and obstructing police and ordered
to appear in the Proserpine Magistrates Court on January 11.

AAP RTV peb/sw

KEYWORD: ASSAULT (BRISBANE)

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

Fed: Senate to start looking at compulsory uni student charge

AAP General News (Australia)
08-17-2009
Fed: Senate to start looking at compulsory uni student charge

CANBERRA, Aug 17 AAP - The Senate begins debate on Monday on whether university students
should be required to pay $250 a year to help fund campus services such as child care.

But the fee, which the federal government wanted to come into effect from July 1 this
year, will not be allowed to support political parties.

The coalition, which abolished compulsory student unionism when last in power, says
the charge is a tax on students.

But Youth Minister Kate Ellis said some universities had been forced to direct money
away from research and teaching budgets to support services and amenities that otherwise
would have been cut.

Labor needs the support of all seven crossbench senators to have parliament approve
the new measure.

The Australian Greens want the government to provide students with a say in how the
money is spent.

AAP rl/ash

KEYWORD: STUDENT

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

Fed: Antarctic ice shelf split due to global warming: Garrett

AAP General News (Australia)
04-07-2009
Fed: Antarctic ice shelf split due to global warming: Garrett

CANBERRA, April 6 AAP - Global warming no doubt contributed to the shattering of a
major ice shelf in Antarctica, Environment Minister Peter Garrett says.

The ice bridge linking the Wilkins Ice Shelf and two islands snapped at the weekend.

"I don't think there is any doubt global warming is contributing to what we are seeing
on the Wilkins Ice Shelf and also more generally in Antarctica," Mr Garrett told ABC television
from Washington on Monday.

The Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), comprised of peak scientific
bodies from 23 countries, including Australia, will present modelling on global warming
at a conference in the US on Monday night.

It has found ice loss has accelerated and the sea level could rise by as much as six
metres by the end of the century.

Mr Garrett said he had not seen the SCAR report yet.

"The fact is we are now entering a period where we are in a position to observe, particularly
in the Antarctic, the consequences of global warming and climate change," he said.

AAP mj/rs

KEYWORD: ANTARCTICA AUST

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

Qld: Households face third power hike under deregulation

AAP General News (Australia)
12-02-2008
Qld: Households face third power hike under deregulation

By Gabrielle Dunlevy

BRISBANE, Dec 2 AAP - Queenslanders are facing their third hike in electricity costs
in three years - but the government maintains consumers are benefiting from deregulation.

The Queensland Competition Authority (QCA) on Tuesday released its draft decision to
increase the maximum charge for electricity by 13.6 per cent from July 1 next year.

It would add $4.20 a week, or $55 a quarter, to a $400 quarterly bill.

The QCA said the rise was needed because of higher fuel and capital costs as well as
increased transmission and distribution costs.

Opposition treasury spokesman Tim Nicholls said the government had promised no one
would pay more with competition, but there had been hikes of 11 and five per cent since
deregulation began.

"This government has failed to understand fully the implications of their actions when
it comes to finances," Mr Nicholls told reporters.

"It means Queenslanders are now going to be something in the region of 31 per cent
worse off than they were two years ago before this government `fixed up' electricity."

Despite being disappointed with the size of the latest recommended hike, Energy Minister
Geoff Wilson said deregulation had worked - even though only about 514,000 people had
exercised their right to shop around for a cheaper price.

"If they did not have that choice they would be forced to pay that maximum cost," Mr
Wilson told reporters.

"It's certainly helped people make savings on their total bill."

Queensland Council of Social Service director Jill Lang said the rise was unwarranted.

"We will see even more vulnerable Queenslanders face disconnection," she said.

"Electricity is a necessity, not a luxury."

Mr Wilson said the government would examine the price decision, but it could not overrule
the decision.

"The independent economic regulator, they're the ones to decide what increase in costs
of supply of electricity has taken place in the last 12 months," Mr Wilson said.

"We will argue the case on behalf of the consumer because we believe that this ...

draft decision by the QCA is a blow to the battlers and for everyone."

The government will make its submission on pricing within a month.

AAP gd/pjo/jl/de

KEYWORD: POWER QLD WRAP

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

Fed: Husband of Lindsay candidate pleads guilty over leaflets

AAP General News (Australia)
04-29-2008
Fed: Husband of Lindsay candidate pleads guilty over leaflets

SYDNEY, April 29 AAP - The husband of former Lindsay Liberal candidate Karen Chijoff
has pleaded guilty to distributing bogus pamphlets during last year's federal election
campaign.

Greg Alex Chijoff today pleaded guilty in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court to one
count of distributing electoral material without the name and address of the authorising
person.

Chijoff was one of five men charged over the leaflets, which purported to be from a
radical Islamic group aligned with the Labor Party.

The pamphlets claimed Labor supported terrorism and wanted forgiveness for the Bali bombers.

Chijoff and the husband of former Liberal MP Jackie Kelly, Gary Clark, were allegedly
photographed by Labor officials putting the pamphlets in letterboxes in the western Sydney
seat.

Another of the accused men, Troy Craig, also pleaded guilty over the scam and Magistrate
Pat O'Shane was to deal with both their cases this afternoon.

Clark and NSW Liberal right faction powerbroker Jeffrey Egan pleaded not guilty before
Ms O'Shane and their cases were adjourned to May 27.

The fifth accused, Robert Mathew Holstein, applied for an adjournment and is due to
appear in the same court on May 20.

Egan and Chijoff were ousted from the Liberal Party following the controversy, although
Egan was permitted to return in February this year before resigning in March.

The men face a maximum $1,000 fine for breaching the electoral act.

Lindsay, which was a key seat at the federal election, swung to Labor by a large margin
following the controversy, and the ensuing damage to the reputation of the Liberal Party
was credited in part with Labor's resounding election win.

AAP ajc/dg/hn/sp

KEYWORD: LEAFLETS CHIJOFF (PIX AVAILABLE)

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

Fed: Test match crowd on best behaviour

AAP General News (Australia)
12-26-2007
Fed: Test match crowd on best behaviour

Day one of the first Test at the MCG has been free of racist attacks that marred Australia's
cricket tour to India earlier this year.

Police had been specially briefed on the issue .. but say they haven't received any
reports of racist behaviour among the crowd of more than 65 thousand.

The officer in charge of the MCG operations says he's heard of no racist sledging of
players or rival supporters .. with harmony prevailing in even the most notorious section
of the vast ground.

Indian crowds had hurled racist taunts at the Australian team during the one-day series
in the sub-continent.

And racism was also been a problem on the latest South African tour of Australia.

AAP RTV mh/wz

KEYWORD: CRICKET CROWD (MELBOURNE)

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

NSW: School fire damages 35 classrooms

AAP General News (Australia)
08-18-2007
NSW: School fire damages 35 classrooms

SYDNEY, Aug 18 AAP - A deliberately-lit fire has damaged every classroom of a school
in regional NSW.

The fire at Wellington High School in the state's central west is believed to have
started at about 5.30am (AEST) today.

The fire burned its way through the school's air conditioning system causing damage
to 35 classrooms and common areas.

Student art work along with computer and audio visual equipment were damaged by the
fire, with the total repair bill expected to amount to millions of dollars.

Police believe arsonists are responsible for the fire.

Detectives are investigating the cause of the fire which comes just weeks before Year
12 students reach the peak of their HSC studies.

AAP ad/mn

KEYWORD: BLAZE

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

Qld: Suspicious fire damages three businesses

AAP General News (Australia)
04-03-2007
Qld: Suspicious fire damages three businesses

BRISBANE, April 3 AAP - A suspicious fire has damaged three businesses on the Gold Coast today.

Police said a witness noticed a man standing near the front window of the Dog Master
Training Centre in Palm Beach Avenue at Palm Beach about 2am (AEST).

The man departed and a few minutes later, the witness noticed flames inside the business.

He called the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service who attended and extinguished the
blaze, which damaged an office and caused smoke damage to two adjacent businesses.

Police said another local resident reported a car passing by the area a number of times
before stopping at the front of the business just before the blaze.

The car was described as a 1980s or 1990s model white sedan, possibly a Ford with one
working headlight and a grey rear bumper bar.

AAP rad/pjo/cp/de

KEYWORD: FIRE QLD

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

Vic: Motorcyclist dies in crash

AAP General News (Australia)
12-02-2006
Vic: Motorcyclist dies in crash

MELBOURNE, Dec 2 AAP - A Melbourne motorcyclist is dead following a crash early today.

Police are investigating the incident, which occurred at Essendon, in Melbourne's north,
about 8.45am (AEDT).

Officers say charges may be laid in relation to the incident, in which a Toyota Camry
travelling west along Keilor Road was struck by a motorcycle travelling in the same direction.

The Camry is thought to have been trying to turn right into a carpark when it was hit
by the motorcycle.

A 26-year-old Tullamarine man driving the motorcycle, died at the scene while the two
occupants of the car received only minor injuries.

The death brings Victoria's road toll to 304 compared to 311 at the same time last year.

AAP xlc/arb

KEYWORD: TOLL VIC

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

Fed: Costello warns PBS could break if costs not contained

AAP General News (Australia)
04-26-2006
Fed: Costello warns PBS could break if costs not contained

PETER COSTELLO is warning Australia's system of subsidised medicines could disappear
over the next few decades .. if the government doesn't keep trying to tackle rising health
costs.

The treasurer says the government needs to remain vigilant with the Pharmaceutical
Benefits Scheme.

Mr COSTELLO says new pharmaceuticals are being invented all the time .. and they're
much more expensive.

And he says the ageing population contributes to the increased use of pharmaceuticals.

AAP RTV pv/so/ibw/bart

KEYWORD: PBS COSTELLO (CANBERRA)

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

NT: Should Australia cull its killer creatures?

AAP General News (Australia)
12-29-2005
NT: Should Australia cull its killer creatures?

By Karen Michelmore and Steve Larkin

DARWIN, AAP - Should Australia cull its crocodiles and sharks?

The federal government this year shot down a Northern Territory proposal for limited
trophy hunting of 25 saltwater crocodiles a year in a bid to help manage the region's
burgeoning croc population.

But questions linger after the man-eaters killed three people in Australia's top end in 2005.

A series of shark attacks down south also had beachgoers on edge.

Five people have been killed by sharks in the past five years off South Australia's
coast, but only in the past year has the danger struck in suburbia.

The last two SA victims were killed in separate attacks in waters off metropolitan
Adelaide beaches - the last at touristy Glenelg, the state's most popular beach.

Some politicians want a huge shark cage built and placed along the metropolitan coast,
centred on Glenelg.

Others, such as Jake Heron, a surfer who survived a shark attack near Port Lincoln
on SA's Eyre Peninsula in September, want them culled.

"It's the top of the food chain ... nothing affects it," Mr Heron said.

"The numbers are just going up, it's time they started controlling the numbers of sharks.

"They kill our national emblem out at Coffin Bay, kangaroos ... it's time to keep the
(shark) numbers down."

In the NT, meanwhile, it is the region's 75,000-strong croc population that have some
worried after two fatal attacks in the territory and one in Queensland in 2005.

The NT's crocodile management plan already allows the taking of 600 crocodiles a year
for farming, skin and flesh production, as well as the shooting of problem crocodiles.

The territory government wanted up to 25 of those 600 crocodiles to be taken by trophy
hunters, with their heads and skins exported.

But Federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell rejected the plan, and said the crocodile-hunting
safaris were not the answer to preventing fatal attacks.

"I regard the decision as important, but I think anyone who links safari crocodile
hunting with stopping crocodile killings of humans is linking two issues that are not
necessarily linked," Senator Campbell said.

"What we have to understand is that we live in an ancient continent, where ancient
animals like crocodiles are abundant, and humans have to have enormous respect for sharks
and crocodiles, particularly when you are in their habitat.

"I think going out and shooting them for cash with foreign tourists is not what anyone
would regard as a sophisticated way of managing the population."

NT Environment Minister Marion Scrymgour has vowed to fight on in 2006.

"(This) wasn't about letting amateurs or cowboys go out there and willy nilly shoot
these crocodiles," she said.

"(Senator Campbell) talks about crocodiles being iconic - our coat of arms has kangaroos
... yet we allow millions of those kangaroos to be killed."

AAP km/sl/lma/de

KEYWORD: YEARENDER PREDATOR

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

NSW: Parents found guilty of locking up daughter for two years

AAP General News (Australia)
08-24-2005
NSW: Parents found guilty of locking up daughter for two years

SYDNEY, Aug 24 AAP - A Sydney couple has been found guilty of locking their daughter
in her bedroom for almost two years.

A NSW District Court jury today found the pair, who cannot be named, guilty of falsely
imprisoning their daughter, now 21, in a darkened room in their Sydney home from June
2000 to April 2002.

The jury found the couple not guilty of maliciously neglecting the girl.

The court was told during the trial that the girl, who weighed only 44kg, walked into
Macquarie Fields police station in April 2002 and told officers her mother had locked
her in her bedroom for almost two years.

The case was adjourned to October 21 for sentencing submissions.

AAP klw/nf/sco/de

KEYWORD: IMPRISON

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

NSW: Judges in top literary prize quit

AAP General News (Australia)
12-22-2004
NSW: Judges in top literary prize quit

Three of the five judges of Australia's most prestigious literary prize -- the Miles
Franklin Award -- have quit after their decision-making powers were cut.

Melbourne bookseller MARK RUBBO, Adelaide writer and critic KERRYN GOLDSWORTHY and
Sydney journalist DAVID MARR have resigned just as they were about to start selections
for next year's prize.

Mr MARR and Mr RUBBO have told The Australian newspaper the award's administrator has
cut judges' terms in half and introduced the right to dismiss them at any time.

The three have been replaced by Sydney bookshop director EVE ABBEY, ROBERT DIXON from
the University of Queensland and Sydney Writers' Festival chairman IAN HICKS.

AAP RTV tam/jo

KEYWORD: FRANKLIN (SYDNEY)

2004 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Draupadī

Draupadī The wife of all five Pāṇḍava (see Pāṇḍavas) brothers in the Indian epic the Mahābhārata (see Mahābhārata), “fire-born” Draupadī is an incarnation of Śrī (see Śrī, Lakṣmi) or “Prosperity,” the wife of the god Viṣṇu (see Viṣṇu), which is appropriate to a kingdom such as that of the Pāṇḍavas, which follows the principles of dharma (see Dharma), or proper social law. Draupadī's situation as the wife of five men is not common and occurs only because of a promise made by Kuntī (see Kuntī) or Pṛthā, the mother of the brothers. In any case, although she favors the hero Arjuna (see Arjuna), Draupadī is a faithful wife to all five brothers and provides each with a son. When Yudhiṣṭhira, the oldest brother and the king, gambles away his kingdom and his brothers and even their wife, it is Draupadī who convinces the Pāṇḍava enemies to grant the brothers their freedom. The event that leads to their release is a high point in the Draupadī myth and clearly establishes her as Śrī and as the source, with Kṛṣṇa (see Kṛṣṇa), of Pāṇḍava power. When the gambling victors, the Kauravas (see Kauravas), attempt to strip Draupadī in order to humiliate her and her husbands, Kṛṣṇa intervenes and miraculously prevents the stripping. As always in the events of Hindu mythology, there is a symbolic meaning to this incident. It suggests that the dissolution of the universe, represented by Śrī-Draupadī, will not yet take place. A cult based on Draupadī as an incarnation of the Goddess (see Devī) exists to this day in parts of India.

SOHU.COM Announces Date for Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2001 Earnings.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

BEIJING, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 19, 2001

SOHU.COM (Nasdaq:SOHU), China's leading online media, communications and commerce company, today announced its fourth quarter and full fiscal year financial results will be released on Tuesday morning, February 5, 2002, in Hong Kong/China time zone, corresponding with Monday evening, February 4, 2002 in U.S. Eastern/Pacific time zone after market close.

For more information about SOHU.COM, please visit the company's Investor Relations website: http://www.sohu.com/about/English.index.html

About SOHU

SOHU.COM is one of mainland China's most recognized and established Internet brands and indispensable to the daily life of millions of Chinese who use the portal for their e-mail, home page, chat, messaging, news, search, browsing and shopping. Apart from continuous product development, SOHU.COM also concentrates its efforts on making the Internet ubiquitously available, whether in the office, at home or on the road. SOHU.COM, established by Dr. Charles Zhang, one of China's Internet pioneers, is in its fifth year of operation.

The Wright Medical Group Announces Appointment of New Chief Financial Officer.

ARLINGTON, Tenn., Nov. 28 /PRNewswire/ --

The Wright Medical Group announced today that effective December 11, 2000, John K. Bakewell will assume the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. The Wright Medical Group was formed by the merger of Wright Medical Technology of Arlington, Tennessee and Cremascoli Ortho Group of Toulon, France in a transaction led by Warburg Pincus Equity Partners, L.P. and the Vertical Group in December 1999. The Wright Medical Group with over $140 million in pro forma 1999 sales, has world-wide distribution channels and a broad product line including prosthetic hip and knee systems, small joints and bone graft materials.

"We are very pleased to have a seasoned financial executive with John's experience join our organization and manage the global financial and administrative activities of the business," said F. Barry Bays, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Mr. Bakewell has a strong financial background in high-growth, public company and venture-backed emerging growth technology-oriented environments. His most recent experience is with a venture-backed e-commerce solutions provider and operator of the wholesale energy industry's largest internet-based business-to-business electronic marketplace. Previously, Mr. Bakewell was the Vice President of Finance, Administration and Chief Financial Officer of Cyberonics, Inc., a rapidly growing Nasdaq-traded medical device manufacturer commercializing a novel therapy for the treatment of neurological disorders. He is a Certified Public Accountant with extensive experience with two Big Five accounting firms

"The Wright Medical Group is an extraordinary company and I am excited about the opportunities ahead," said Mr. Bakewell. "We have an excellent opportunity to leverage Wright's solid reputation, long-standing customer relationships and innovative product offerings while building outstanding shareholder value as the only remaining mid-sized independent 'pure play' global orthopaedic company. I am particularly impressed with the Company's industry-proven management team and its excellent financial partners, as well as the breadth and quality of its product lines."

Wright Medical Group is a global orthopaedic company providing innovative medical implantable devices for hips, knees and small joints and bone graft substitute materials.

United's Monthly Online Ticket Sales Hit Record $30 Million.

April figures reflect boom in do-it-yourself bookings

CHICAGO, May 18 /PRNewswire/ -- United Connection(R) soared in April with a record-breaking $30 million in online travel sales. The figures continued a strong performance streak that saw United Airlines' online travel planning product log an industry-leading $200 million in sales in 1998, including flights with United as well as over 500 other carriers.

The increase reflects rising awareness of the United Connection service, which is accessed through United's Web site (www.ual.com ), as well as the growing response of air travelers to the convenience of do-it-yourself online booking.

"The Internet has opened up a whole new era of choice and convenience for air travelers, and the dynamic growth in our online bookings shows that consumers welcome the do-it-yourself approach to buying air travel," said Mark Koehler, Director of Electronic Distribution for United Airlines. "We believe this segment of the business will become an increasingly important factor as consumers become more comfortable with electronic commerce and more aware of the Internet booking and buying option."

Introduced in 1995, the United Connection service enables travelers to use the Internet to book travel with over 500 airlines, 45 car rental companies and 30,000 hotels around the world. The program can be used to check airline schedules, shop for the lowest fares, purchase tickets, select seats, and research and reserve hotel rooms and rental cars directly from the user's desktop.

Discounted "E-Fares" for last-minute weekend travel to selected domestic and international destinations are available exclusively through the United Connection service, as are seasonal specials such as Valentine's Day and Cherry Blossom fares.

The airline also offers up to 1,000 bonus miles per round trip to Mileage Plus(R) members who purchase travel through United Connection. United's frequent flyers also have the ability to track their account activity and request flight upgrades at the United Web site.

For more information, visit United Connection on the Web at www.ual.com.

Research and Markets: Global Telecom Market Status and Forecast, 2010-2015 - Global Telecom Revenue expected to reach US$1.2 trillion by 2016.(Industry overview)

M2 PRESSWIRE-July 25, 2011-: Research and Markets: Global Telecom Market Status and Forecast, 2010-2015 - Global Telecom Revenue expected to reach US$1.2 trillion by 2016(C)1994-2011 M2 COMMUNICATIONS

RDATE:25072011

Dublin - Research and Markets(http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/72cc9d/global_telecom_mar) has announced the addition of the "Global Telecom Market Status and Forecast, 2010-2015" report to their offering.

This 83-page report will give telecom managers around the world the information they need to develop winning and informed strategies to compete and survive in the increasingly challenging and complex telecom environment.

This report also gives you an insight on the world's top 20 operators, top 10 equipment vendors, as well as the top 20 countries in the fixed, mobile, Internet and broadband markets.

According to the information in the latest report Global Telecom Market Status and Forecast, the global telecom services revenue reached US$1.9 trillion in 2010, representing a 4.5% increase, an improvement compared with 2009, when revenue growth had declined to 3.8%.

Growth is expected to decline again starting in 2011 up to 2016 and telecom service revenue growth is therefore projected to slow to a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.5% and revenue is expected to reach US$2.1 trillion in 2015, having surpassed the US$2.0 trillion mark in 2013.

Trends impacting the current market evolution include mobile growth reaching maturity in most markets, fixed line decline accelerating and spreading to a growing number of countries and Internet and broadband growth slowing in many regions. Continued pressure on price, may it be in the fixed or mobile segments, the decline of mobile termination rates and roaming rates and the increased presence of Over-The-Top (OTT) players in the voice market will also contribute to the slowing of telecom service revenue growth over the next 5 years HOT TELECOM's president Isabelle Paradis said.

By year-end 2010, the global aggregate number of fixed, mobile and Internet subscribers grew by 10.8% to over 7.2 billion. Nevertheless, for the first time in 2011, the growth in total telecom subscribers should drop into the single digits to 7.7%. This is mainly due to the fact that many regions are nearing saturation in each of these sectors. The growth in the number of total telecom subscribers should continue to slow over the forecasted period with a forecasted CAGR of 5.1% over the next 5 years to nearly 9.2 billion at the end of 2015. The growth in number of subscribers will continue to mainly be driven by new broadband and mobile connections.

For more information click on link below:

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/72cc9d/global_telecom_mar

CONTACT:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager,

press@researchandmarkets.com

U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

((M2 Communications disclaims all liability for information provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied 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)).

State Street Corporation Announces Webcast of Second-Quarter Conference Call.

BOSTON -- State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT) will release its second-quarter 2011 financial results on Tuesday, July 19, 2011, followed by a related Internet broadcast of a conference call at 9:30 a.m. EDT that morning. The call will be accessible on State Street's investor relations home page, at www.statestreet.com/stockholder, and by telephone at +1 706/679-5594 (Conference ID #36966780) or +1 888/391-4233 (Conference ID #36966780). Recorded replays of the conference call will be available on the web site, and by telephone at +1 706/645-9291 (Conference ID#36966780) or + 1 800/ 642-1687 (Conference ID#36966780), beginning two hours after the call's completion. The telephone replay will be available for approximately two weeks following the conference call. The press release announcing second-quarter 2011 financial results, presentation materials referred to on the conference call and additional financial information will be available on State Street's website, at www.statestreet.com/stockholder beginning prior to the scheduled Internet broadcast of the conference call.

State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT) is the world's leading provider of financial services to institutional investors including investment servicing, investment management and investment research and trading. With $22.61 trillion in assets under custody and administration and $2.12 trillion in assets under management at March 31, 2011, State Street operates in 26 countries and more than 100 geographic markets and employs 29,000 worldwide. For more information, visit State Street's web site at www.statestreet.com or call +1 877/639-7788 [NEWS STT] toll-free in the United States and Canada, or +1 678/999-4577 outside those countries.

This AUM includes the assets of the SPDR Gold Trust (approx. $55.8 billion as of March 31, 2011), for which State Street Global Markets, LLC, an affiliate of State Street Global Advisors, serves as the marketing agent.

New Comodo Dragon Internet Browser Release Now Available.

M2 PRESSWIRE-June 8, 2011-: New Comodo Dragon Internet Browser Release Now Available(C)1994-2011 M2 COMMUNICATIONS

RDATE:08062011

JERSEY CITY, NJ, -- Comodo (www.comodo.com) , a leading certificate authority and Internet security organization, today announced that Comodo Dragon, a fast and versatile Internet browser is now available for download.

Version 11.4 of Comodo Dragon is based on 11.0.696.71 Chromium core. With the latest release, Internet users now have the ability to quickly share a Web page with social network contacts via popular sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, specify proxy settings such as proxy server IP and port, and clear automatic browser history upon exit. In addition, Comodo Dragon users will now have the option to start the browser in incognito mode. Lastly, the new installer offers a reduction in size and a better appearance.

"We're pleased to introduce the Comodo Dragon, a Chromium technology-based browser that offers users all of Chrome's features plus a greater level of privacy than Chromium technology offers," said Comodo CEO, Melih Abdulhayoglu.

"Yes, the Internet has grown up, but the sophistication of millions of hackers, scammers, phishers and thieves has grown too. This all makes Comodo Dragon the browser to have in the second decade of the twenty-first century," Abdulhayoglu said.

About Comodo

Comodo(r) is a leading brand in Internet security. With US Headquarters in New Jersey and global resources in UK, China, India, Ukraine, and Romania, Comodo provides businesses and consumers worldwide with security and trust services, including digital certificates, PCI scanning, desktop security, and remote PC support. Securing online transactions for over 200,000 businesses, and with more than 35 million desktop security software installations, 780755208 including an award-winning firewall and antivirus software, Comodo is Creating Trust Online(r). To learn more, visit Comodo's website: www.comodo.com.

For more information, reporters and analysts may contact:

Arvind Krishnamurthy,

Comodo Public Relations and Corporate Communications

Office: 201-963-0004 x 4073

E-Mail: media-relations@ comodo.com

((M2 Communications disclaims all liability for information provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied 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)).

Republican Craig Huey Debuts New Radio and TV Campaign Ads for Special Election in California's 36th Congressional District.

Friends of Craig Huey for Congress announced that it began airing new television, Internet and radio ads in the critical days before the Special Election, May 17 for the 36th Congressional Seat.

According to a release, the newest television commercial titled "Lemonade Stand" focuses on the burden of the $14.3 trillion national debt on future generations as well as fiscal irresponsibility in Washington.

Craig Huey's new radio ad "Battle for Prosperity" features an endorsement by Congressman Tom McClintock and highlights Huey's fight to stop reckless spending, ruinous borrowing and crushing regulations.

The new ads will be running in the 36th Congressional District.

Craig Huey is the Republican candidate endorsed by Congressmen Tom McClintock, Mike Pence and Dana Rohrabacher. He is also endorsed by the American Independent Party and the former libertarian candidate against Janice Hahn.

More information:

www.CraigHuey.com

((Comments on this story may be sent to newsdesk@closeupmedia.com))

OC Systems Launches RTI v3 at Red Hat Summit and JBoss World.

RTI Delivers End-to-end Performance Diagnostics for Complex JBoss Applications

BOSTON, May 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- OC Systems, Inc. has released Version 3 of RootCause Transaction Instrumentation (RTI). RTI is a deep-dive performance monitoring and diagnostic tool for JBoss that captures the actual end-user experience, starting at the browser, and lets performance engineers, testers or developers drill down into slow transactions to identify the root-cause of performance problems.

RTI is available in two editions:

* RTI Web, which is available for free, measures response time at the browser and lets engineers quickly triage a performance problem to the client, network or backend.

* RTI Enterprise provides the ability to do a deeper dive, drilling down to the method level to identify the root cause of performance problems.

RTI is different from other application performance management (APM) tools in several key ways:

* RTI provides transaction tracing upon demand. When specific end-users are experiencing performance problems, RTI can be deployed on the fly to just those users.

* It is easy to dynamically adjust the type and quantity of data that is collected as the application executes.

* RTI is particularly lightweight to install and maintain. It is agentless, and requires no firewall changes, no large-scale data repositories, and no management server. The management console runs on any Windows workstation.

Designed for production, RTI also provides deep diagnostics for test automation through integration with LoadRunner, JMeter and soapUI.

"One of the things that impressed me about RTI is that it is lightweight enough that you can run your application with deep diagnostics turned on," said James Pulley, CTO of Newcoe Performance Engineering. "Another is that it is easy to use. You don't have to deploy agents or spend a lot of time defining what you want to examine. As someone who has been working continuously since 1996 to help customers solve complex performance problems, I can tell you that this is a tool that will be useful to anyone who is working to identify and resolve performance issues."

"Many people find the organizational issues in implementing an application performance management system to be roadblocks. They need firewall tunneling, extra servers, and have to get buy-in from so many groups that the project just stalls," said Oliver Cole, president of OC Systems, Inc. "In this new version of RTI we decided to build a simpler solution. No extra servers, no drilling holes in firewalls, no agents. Just a way to track down JBoss performance problems that's there when you need it."

Pricing and Availability

RTI Web is available for free, enabling performance diagnostics to the client, network and backend tiers. Client-side performance collectors and analysis for Internet Explorer, Firefox, LoadRunner, JMeter and soapUI are included. Server-side performance monitoring is provided for Apache HTTPD.

RTI Enterprise extends RTI Web, providing lightweight method-level diagnostics for Red Hat JBoss Enterprise and Community Platforms, as well as Apache Tomcat. RTI Enterprise is available annually for $1500; shorter and longer term licenses are available.

More information about RTI can be found at http://www.rtiperformance.com.

OC Systems

OC Systems, Inc. (www.ocsystems.com) provides software tools, development environments, and services that its customers use to improve the performance and operational reliability of their software applications. Customers include Lockheed Martin, IBM, Northrop Grumman, SAS, Sandia National Laboratories, Intel, SAIC and the U.S. Army. Founded in 1983, the employee-owned company is based in Fairfax, Virginia.

Contact: Steve Sturtevant, OC Systems, 703-577-6633, sms@ocsystems.com

SOURCE OC Systems, Inc.

Online poll series reveals region's optimism.

More than half (65.1%) of respondents across the Middle East said they believed it was good time to be in the Middle East, according to the latest online poll series conducted by job site Bayt.com.

The latest poll Change andChallengein theMiddle East Job Market: How is it Viewed? asked respondents whether they believed it was a good time to live and work in the Middle East. The response was positive with 42.2% of respondents saying it was a better time than ever before, 22.9% saying it was as good a time and only 24.9% saying it was not a good time.

Additionally, the poll went on to ask if respondents expected to see economicimprovements from the recent changes in the Middle East. Not surprisingly, post-revolution Egypt proved to be the most optimistic with 56% saying they definitely expected improvements. Overall, in the region the sentiment was also similar although less pronounced with 50% of respondents saying yes while only 15% said no.

The respondents were then asked where they thought responsibility for unemployment in their countriesmostly lied. The vast majority 47.1% blamed the government, while 7.3% said the private sector, 5.2% the education sector and 6.3% said it's the responsibility of individuals themselves.

One third of respondents (32.9%) felt all the above reasons applied. Respondents were also asked to what extent they thought the governmentheld responsibility for job creation. The vast majority (92.3%) felt the government was responsible to some extent from "only slightly" to "exclusively".

"As the number one job site in the Middle East, Bayt.com is dedicated to researching and analysing data that can be useful to both employees and employers," said Amer Zureikat, VP Sales, Bayt.com, "The results of our most recent poll showed that despite recent changes occurring in different parts of the region, the Middle East is still considered to be a great place to live and work. The report also indicated several changes that governments should be considering in order to improve their country's employment. In light of the recent turmoil, I believe we will be seeing a lot more of these come to light."

Respondents were also asked how the government could best improve employment in their countries; 10% said create more jobs in the public sector, 8.1% said improve the education sector, 5.6% said foster a better environment for business, 4.7% said improve labour laws, 17.1% said stop corruption and 3.7% said develop better transparency and legal guidelines. Nearly half (48.1%) said all of the above.

Interestingly there was a strong emphasis on stopping corruption, especially in Egypt, coinciding with the country's recent emergence of corruption scandals that had taken place during the previous government.

"Very interestingly, the vast majority of the region's respondents (59.3%) also felt that there were many highly qualified professionals and fewgood jobs which could indicate that the region does in fact need to create more employment through more transparent means," added Zureikat.

Overall however, respondents were optimistic about the future with 65.1% indicating they are optimistic about their career prospects and 64.7% saying they are optimistic about their country's economy. A vast majority of respondents (86.5%) also indicated they believed it was possible to dramatically improve employment prospects through better public policies.

Finally, respondents in the region also felt that the internet is aiding employment in their countries with 32.5% saying it helps to a huge extent, 22.7% saying it moderately helps and 44.8% stating it slightly helps.

Data for the poll series was conducted by job site Bayt.com. The latest poll series Change andChallengein theMiddle East Job Market: How is it Viewed? was collected online between March 11th and April 4th 2011, with a total of 9708 respondents from across the Middle East. This and other Middle East research, as well as information on Bayt.com's classifieds, are available online on www.bayt.com

2011 CPI Financial. All rights reserved.

Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company

Research and Markets: 2009 Russia Medium Business Market Snapshot - Economic Impact, Buyer Profiling and Targeting.

DUBLIN -- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/bfdcce/2009_russia_medium) has announced the addition of the "2009 Russia Medium Business Market Snapshot - Economic Impact, Buyer Profiling and Targeting" report to their offering.

This report provides marketers a systematic analysis of ICT market drivers, profiling established and emerging products and services including:

* Infrastructure: hardware platforms (PCs, Notebooks, Servers)

* Software applications

* Storage

* Security

* Networking

* IT Services, managed services

* Telecommunications services

* Mobility

* Internet/IP-enabled services

The AMI ICT Market Snapshot Profile details other key buying influencers among technology buyers/ users such as:

* Economic factors

* Budgets

* Buying behaviors

* Decision makers

* Channel preferences

* Outsourcing

* Service/support

* Attitudes

* Strategic planning priorities

Based on AMI's annual survey of medium businesses across Russia, this study tracks a broad spectrum of issues pertaining to the adoption and usage of information technology and communications (ICT) solutions. AMI-Partners defines medium businesses (MBs) as companies that have 100 to 999 employees, are non-residential and non-government organizations, and are not a franchise of a larger corporation. This is one of a continuing series of reports drawn from AMI's proprietary surveys of small and medium businesses worldwide.

Key Topics Covered:

* Russia MB Overview Report Outline

* AMIs Three Waves of Adoption

* Russia MB Hosted IP Users Profile

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/bfdcce/2009_russia_medium

AT&T, KDD First to Offer International T155 Service.

BASKING RIDGE, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 7, 1997--AT&T said today it will partner with Kokusai Denshin Denwa (KDD) of Japan to offer international private line service at 155 megabits per second from the United States to Japan, the first time such service has been available from the U.S. to anywhere in the world.

AT&T International T155 Service lets multinational businesses send huge amounts of digital data over dedicated point-to-point circuits at speeds of 155 megabits per second, the equivalent of about 2,000 simultaneous voice calls. The high bandwidth capability makes the service ideal for Internet service providers, and for such applications as medical imaging, multimedia and executive videoconferencing.

The service will initially be provided between San Francisco and Tokyo via dedicated circuits on undersea fiber-optic cables. Internet service provider Internet Initiative of Japan (IIJ) will be the first customer to use the service to meet growing demands for Internet data transmission needs to and from the U.S. and Japan. IIJ expects to start the service next month.

"Introduction of International T155 Service demonstrates we are listening to the demands of our large, multinational business customers for services specially designed to meet their expanding data transmission needs," said Darrell Sagehorn, director for AT&T's international data services group. "The service will give those customers the connection they need to facilitate a true bandwidth- intensive application between multiple locations across the world."

The agreement to provide T155 service with KDD comes soon after the announcement that AT&T and KDD now provide Asynchronous Transmission Mode (ATM) technology between the U.S. and Japan. AT&T will utilize the 155 megabits per second network to carry ATM. AT&T also recently announced the availability of T45 service between the U.S. to Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Korea, again demonstrating the company's response to the growing demand of multinational businesses for high-speed international private line services in the Asia-Pacific region.

AT&T T155 Service will be available at half-channel rates and as a two-point service only. Flexible terms and discounts will also be available.

AT&T is the world's premier communications and information services company, serving more than 90 million customers, including consumers, businesses and government. The company has annual revenues of more than $52 billion and 130,000 employees. It runs the world's largest, most sophisticated communications network and is the leading provider of long-distance and wireless service. AT&T operates in more than 200 countries and territories around the world.

CONTACT: Patricia Robinson

908-221-8541 (Office)

888-602-5418 (Pager)

pcrobinson@attmail.com

or

Karen Way

908-221-6632 (Office)

888-239-0369 (Pager)

kway@attmail.com

Charles Lesser is Chief Financial Officer of Panglobal Brands Inc.

LOS ANGELES -- Panglobal Brands, Inc. (OTCBB:PNGB) has appointed Charles Lesser as Chief Financial Officer. From September 2003 to September, 2007, Charles Lesser was the Chief Financial Officer and a consultant to True Religion Apparel, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Guru Denim Inc. While at True Religion Apparel, Inc., he helped grow the premium jeans manufacturer from a start-up venture to $140 million in sales revenue and a $500 million market capitalization.

Mr. Lesser was CFO for True Religion from its initial merger with a public shell company through to a NASDAQ national market listing. He assisted True Religion to establish an independent board of directors and implement required corporate governance standards. By the time he left True Religion, Mr. Lesser had created an investor relations program, organized extensive road shows, both in the U.S. and in Europe, and presented at investor conferences resulting in over one hundred institutional shareholders and a series of Wall Street firm's analysts providing research coverage on the company.

Prior to True Religion Apparel, Mr. Lesser was Acting President and a Director of Alpha Virtual Inc., a software development company listed on the OTCBB and Chief Financial Officer and a Director of CBCom, Inc., an internet service provider listed on the OTCBB.

Mr. Lesser noted, "I have been at PNGB for six months and believe that our strategy of having a series of diversified apparel brands is beginning to create revenue opportunities for us within each of our product lines. Initially, our brands consist mainly of women's apparel, but we have expertise to be able to grow into men's and kid's apparel."

"Charles has terrific experience helping True Religion Apparel grow from a start-up apparel venture into a highly-successful Nasdaq company. We are excited to have him as a part of our management team at Panglobal Brands, Inc.", said Stephen Soller, Chief Executive Officer.

About Panglobal Brands Inc.

Panglobal Brands, Inc. is committed to building a diverse stable of apparel brands, capitalizing on opportunities to participate in the hottest fashion trends as they happen. Our business strategy is to create a balance with dynamic branded products and the traditionally more stable private label apparel business by selling branded products through specialty retailers and by running a private label division catering to department store chains. Our current brands include: Mynk, a high-end, high-fashion denim brand selling at specialty retailers and Saks 5th Avenue; Nela, an upscale contemporary print dress label; Tea & Honey, a casual ladies wear collection that's ready to burst onto the scene later this year; and, So Sik, which represents affordable fashions for the burgeoning junior market.

This strategy plus a management team with significant apparel industry experience, enables Panglobal Brands to bring eye-popping product lines to market at competitive price points.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements." Statements in this press release, which are not purely historical, are forward-looking statements and include statements concerning the Company's business outlook or future economic performance, anticipated revenues, expenses or other financial items; product introductions and plans and objectives related thereto; and assumptions or expectations relating to any future events, conditions, performance or other matters. Such forward-looking statements include, among others, that: we are building a diverse stable of apparel brands, capitalizing on opportunities to participate in the hottest fashion trends as they happen; that we can create a balance with dynamic branded products and the traditionally more stable private label apparel business through specialty retailers and by running a private label division catering to department store chains; and that we will be able to grow into men's and kid's apparel.

Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and factors include, but are not limited to, the nature of the apparel industry, including changing customer demand and tastes, seasonality, customer acceptance of new products, the impact of competitive products and pricing, dependence on existing management, general economic condition. We may not be able to offer fashion that sells to intended customers; we may not be able to access sufficient capital to carry out our business plan; we may not be able to grow into men's and kid's apparel; we may not be able to attract and retain key employees; and our industry is extremely competitive and can change at any time. Readers should also refer to the risk disclosures outlined in the Company's quarterly reports on Form 10-QSB, annual reports on Form 10-KSB and the Company's other disclosure documents filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission available at www.sec.gov.

The Company assumes no obligation to update the information in this release.

Brand protection in an online world.

Byline: Dianne Beer and Dan Pearce

Nov 08, 2006 (Lawyers Weekly - ABIX via COMTEX) -- With the increased importance of the internet as a medium for doing business, the choice of internet domain name is important. Australian businesses wanting to promote themselves in other parts of the world need to decide how many variations of an internet domain name they wish to register other than the standard ".com". They need to determine whether a rival company in another country is not using the same ".com" name they wish to use. It is possible that if the same name is already in use, the customers they wish to attract will go this alternate site instead.

Publication Date: 3 November 2006

 GOOGLE INCORPORATED YAHOO! INCORPORATED 

All copyright subsisting under the Copyright Act 1968 (Commonwealth) resides in us. No part of the copyright materials may be reproduced, re-used, re-transmitted, adapted, published, broadcast or distributed for any commercial purposes whatsoever without our prior written permission.

Oak Investment Partners Joins IDG Ventures in $30 million Investment in Chinese Online Firm.

SHANGHAI, China and BOSTON -- Allyes Information Technology Secures Funding to Add to Its Dominant Position in Online Advertising and Marketing

Allyes Information Technology, a leading Chinese provider of online marketing services and technologies, announced today it has completed $30 million Series B financing led by IDG Ventures China (IDGVC) and Oak Investment Partners. This latest round, one of the largest venture investments in the Chinese Internet sector this year, allows Allyes to continue its aggressive expansion in the rapidly growing Chinese Internet advertising market.

IDGVC, an existing investor in Allyes, was one of the first American venture capital firms to open offices in China more than 13 years ago. International Data Group (IDG), with headquarters in Boston, is the founding limited partner of IDGVC. Oak, a new investor in Allyes, has been an active investor in the marketing services sector in the United States for the last 10 years.

"With this new capital infusion from two leading international investors, we will solidify our position as the leading online marketing services and technology company in China," said David Zhu, CEO, Allyes. "Since 2002, Allyes's Media Services group has consistently been ranked the #1 interactive agency in China. In addition, we own a substantial share of the Chinese ad serving market."

Allyes features three online businesses: a full-service interactive agency, an online technology solutions suite, AdForward, and a performance marketing services platform, SmartTrade. The three businesses offer a complete set of services for advertisers, agencies, Web portals, and publishers to maximize the benefits of their Internet-based marketing programs.

"We have great confidence in Allyes' ability to execute and grow in this explosive market," said Pat McGovern, founder and chairman, IDG. "As an investor in China for well over a decade, we have witnessed the tremendous growth in Internet usage. Today, China has approximately 100 million Internet users and usage is growing at 10-15% per year," added McGovern. "Allyes will certainly benefit from this impressive trend."

Fred Harman, general partner at Oak Investment Partners of Palo Alto, California said: "We are very pleased to team with IDGVC and partner with Allyes, a pioneer in the Chinese Internet advertising market. We focus on exceptional entrepreneurs and companies with large, growing market opportunities and compelling business models," Harman explained. "Allyes is well positioned as both the largest interactive advertising services company, as well as the dominant market share leader of all Internet advertisement placements in China."

About Allyes

Allyes is the leading Chinese online marketing services and technology company. Allyes helps advertisers and marketers acquire, retain, and grow customers across all digital media. The Company is comprised of three operating units: a full-service interactive agency, a provider of digital marketing technologies and expertise, and a performance media affiliates group. Founded in 1998, Allyes is headquartered in Shanghai, China, with offices in Beijing, Shenzhen, Tianjin, Wuhan, and Chongqing. For more information, please visit www.allyes.com.

About IDG Ventures China (IDGVC)

Founded in 1992 by International Data Group (IDG) -- the leading global technology media, research, and event company -- IDGVC's operations are headquartered in Beijing, with branch offices in Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen in China. As one of first American venture funds in China, IDGVC's investment activities focus on such industries as the Internet, information services, software, telecommunications, networking technology, biotechnology, and life sciences. IDGVC has invested more than $200 million in over 100 portfolio companies including Baidu.com, ctrip.com, sohu.com, blogcn.com, and dangdang.com. IDG Ventures is a $1 billion network of funds spanning Asia, Europe, and North America. For more information on IDGVC, please visit www.idgvc.com.

About Oak Investment Partners

Oak Investment Partners is a multi-stage venture capital firm with a total of $5.8 billion in committed capital. Investments are primarily focused on growth opportunities in internet/enterprise software and services, telecommunications equipment and services, data storage, financial services technology, outsourced services, healthcare services, and retail. Over a 30-year history, Oak has achieved a strong track record as a stage-independent investor funding more than 400 companies at key points in their lifecycle. Oak has been involved in the formation of companies, funded spinouts of operating divisions and technology assets, and provided growth equity to mid- and late-stage private businesses, and to public companies through PIPE investments. A representative list of Oak portfolio companies includes Aquantive, Compaq, Fastclick, Inktomi, InterNAP, Netblue, Parametric, Pivotal, Polycom, Primus, Seagate, SMIC, Sybase, Synopsys, Tele Atlas, Tensilica, and Wireless Facilities. For more information, please visit www.oakvc.com.

Note: Product and company names are trademarks of their respective companies.

Blake hopes to make teacher pay for help.

Byline: Neil Milbert

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. _ New Jersey coach Larry Robinson helped make Colorado's Rob Blake what he is today _ one of the finest all-around defensemen in the National Hockey League.

Now, it has come to this: The one-time protege is trying his best to keep his former mentor's team from winning its second straight Stanley Cup.

Game 3 of the knotted Stanley Cup finals is Thursday night at Continental Airlines Arena.

When Blake left Bowling Green to join Los Angeles with four games to play in the 1989-90 season, Robinson was in the process of winding up his brilliant career with the Kings after having been one of the key players on six of the Montreal Canadiens' Stanley Cup championship teams.

"I was a little in awe of him at first," said Blake. "He's one of the best who ever played."

Like Blake, Robinson was a defenseman. In Robinson's case, a Hall of Fame defenseman.

"He taught me so much," said Blake. "When you've got one of the greatest defensemen to play alongside, to watch day in and day out and see him prepare for playoff games, that's how you learn. He did a lot for my career."

They were teammates for the next two seasons before Robinson retired to go into coaching. He was an assistant with the Devils in 1995 when his former Montreal teammate, Jacques Lemaire, coached them to their first Stanley Cup championship.

The following season Robinson became head coach of the Kings. When Wayne Gretzky was traded to St. Louis, Robinson named Blake the new captain. "He was great to play for," Blake said.

But the Kings were not so great. The team missed the playoffs in three of Robinson's four seasons as coach. They made the playoffs in 1998, but were swept in the first round. The front office was in a state of turmoil, and Robinson was fired after the 1998-99 season.

On May 26, 1999, Robinson rejoined the Devils as an assistant coach. When Robbie Ftorek was fired with eight games remaining in the 1999-2000 season, Robinson was promoted to head coach and led the Devils to their second Stanley Cup title.

Meanwhile, Blake had developed into a superstar in his own right--a defenseman with a yearly salary of $5,267,500.

But there was a problem for both Blake and the Kings. By today's standards he was underpaid and, as of July 1, he was going to become an unrestricted free agent.

The Kings didn't want to ante up in the neighborhood of $8 million. They didn't want to end up with nothing in return if he signed with another team as an unrestricted free agent.

On Feb. 21, the 6-foot-4-inch, 227-pound defenseman and rookie center Steven Reinprecht were traded to Colorado, which had the NHL's best record. The Kings received Adam Deadmarsh, Aaron Miller, a first-round selection in the 2001 draft, a player to be named later and a conditional draft choice.

Blake's honeymoon in Colorado lasted a little more than a month. In a March 30 game against San Jose, Blake was checked by Bill Lindsay and sustained a strained right knee ligament and went on the injured list. After getting 17 goals and 32 assists in 54 games with the Kings, he scored two goals and assisted on eight in 13 games with the Avalanche.

But Blake was healthy when the playoffs began. He has played in all 18 postseason games, averaging a team high 29 minutes per night. He has scored five goals and assisted on 12.

"Rob Blake is the total package," said Colorado coach Bob Hartley. "Here is a guy who will give you 30 minutes of solid hockey whether in the offensive zone or the defensive zone, whether it is to make a pass or to crush someone. He's very reliable in the defensive zone coverage, and can generate offense from three zones. He's got great creativity in our zone, and we all know the power of his shots.

"Rob is certainly a key element in this hockey club."

Blake also has experience in playing in the Stanley Cup finals. In 1993 the Kings defeated the Canadiens 4-1 in the first game of the finals but then lost the next four, three of which were decided in overtime.

"I think this a different situation," said Blake. "There's a different attitude with this team. When I came, the expectations to get to the Stanley Cup finals were there, the commitment was there from Day 1. I had to fit into that. It's a great feeling."

Robinson knows the feeling well. It permeated the dressing room year in and year out when the Devils' coach was playing for the Montreal Canadiens' dynasty.

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.

Goggle to goes public.

Dec 02, 2003 (Internet.au - ABIX via COMTEX)

The Internet search engine, Google, is planning a listing on the stock market. There is speculation as to the size of its initial public offering (IPO), with some suggesting it could be as large as $A20 billion. Google, which has decided to go for a listing on the stock market after rejecting a possible takeover bid from Microsoft, has not yet set a date for its IPO. Targeted advertising has made Google and other similar sites very attractive to advertisers. According to Jupiter Research, Internet marketers will be spending $A4.3 billion on targeted advertising by 2008.

Publication Date: January 2004

 GOOGLE INCORPORATED: MICROSOFT CORPORATION: JUPITER RESEARCH All copyright subsisting under the Copyright Act 1968 (Commonwealth) resides in us. 

No part of the copyright materials may be reproduced, re-used, re-transmitted, adapted, published, broadcast or distributed for any commercial purposes whatsoever without our prior written permission.

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