NSW:Mum killer not guilty of murder

AAP General News (Australia)
08-18-2011
NSW:Mum killer not guilty of murder

A man who killed his mother in a frenzied knife attack has been found NOT GUILTY of
her murder on the grounds of mental illness.

Two months before GULGHUGAIE NIAZI was attacked, she expressed optimism about her son
returning to the family home after an involuntary stay in a Sydney psychiatric hospital.

BAZIR NIAZI had been put in the hospital after assaulting and threatening his mother
with a knife, but on his release expressed heartfelt regret that he had hurt her.

In the NSW Supreme Court today, Justice ELIZABETH FULLERTON found BAZIR NIAZI not guilty
of murdering his 54-year-old mother in July last year, accepting expert opinion the then
24-year-old was suffering from acute paranoid schizophrenia at the time.

She's ordered NIAZI be detained in a mental health facility until, and if, he's deemed
not to be a danger to himself or the community.

AAP RTV mss/ra/psm/

KEYWORD: NIAZI (SYDNEY)

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

Fed: McGauran urges states to accept Murray-Darling plan

AAP General News (Australia)
02-21-2007
Fed: McGauran urges states to accept Murray-Darling plan

PERTH, Feb 21 AAP - Federal Agriculture Minister Peter McGauran says the states must
stop playing politics and agree in principle, at least, to the commonwealth's Murray-Darling
river system plan.

The federal government wants Queensland, NSW, Victoria and South Australia to hand
control of the rivers to the commonwealth in exchange for a huge upgrade of irrigation
infrastructure and measures to address the over-allocation of water.

Only NSW Premier Morris Iemma has agreed to the plan, and Victorian Premier Steve Bracks
today offered an …

News Diary for Thursday, April 21

AAP General News (Australia)
04-21-2011
News Diary for Thursday, April 21
Good Morning News Editors and Chiefs of Staff

Here is AAP's preliminary newslist for Thursday (not for publication).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

TOP STORIES
GILLARD
- PM Julia Gillard in Japan. AAP covering.

- Meets with parliamentarians mid-morning AEST.

- Meets Japanese emperor at 1300 AEST for pic/fac only.

- Meets with business leaders before speech scheduled for 1400 AEST.

- Joint media conference with PM Naoto Kan at 1900 AEST.

DETAINEE
- Immigration detainees torch a number of buildings inside Sydney's Villawood Detention
Centre. Centre surrounded by police and fire crews. AA covering.

MP
- A South Australian Labor politician charged with child pornography offences.

DOLLAR
- The Australian dollar has reached yet another post float high passing 107 US cents early
Thursday morning.

TIGER
- Discount airline Tiger Airways faces being grounded by the aviation regulator following
a series of serious safety and maintenance breaches.

COURTS
MELBOURNE
- Committal for a man charged with aiding and abetting his wife to commit suicide, Melbourne
Magistrates Court, 1000.

- Committal mention for a man charged with raping and bashing an 85-year-old woman at
a Melbourne train station, Melbourne Magistrates Court.

- Coroners' finding into the death of a man living in a Department of Human Services care
facility who drowned in the Yarra River during an outing with carers, Coroners Court,
1430 (Beacom)
SYDNEY
0930 - Anthony Watts, NRL player accused of assaulting a woman, first appearance, Waverley
Local Court.

1000 - Sentence hearing for David Scott Mathers, regarding "mercy killing" manslaughter,
King Street Court 5.

BRISBANE
- Queensland Court of Appeal hands down judgment on Jayant Patel.

- Accused triple murderer Max Sica mention - Supreme Court.

- Mention for former Solomons A/G Julian Moti, who has won special leave for a High Court
hearing against a Queensland court ruling that allowed a prosecution to proceed against
him - Supreme Court
PERTH
- Coronial findings delivered in the case of a malnourished baby boy in Perth.

- Coronial findings into a series of deaths in police pursuits.

- A man accused of sexually abusing boys at a boarding hostel in WA's south appears in court.

ADELAIDE
- District Court to hand down a verdict in the case of Peter James Herriot, charged with
hitting and killing a 12-year-old boy in a road accident.

- Teenager charged with attempted murder to appear in the Youth Court.

SYDNEY
1030 - Acting NSW president of the Returned and Services League of Australia Bob Crosthwaiteto
attend services at Kokoda memorial. Kokodo Track Memorial Walkway, Concord.
1130 - Reverend Bill Crews to wash the feet of the homeless at a traditional Maundy Thursday
service. Exodus Foundation, Ashfield.

MELBOURNE
- Health Minister David Davis to make announcement about Ambulance Victoria.


BRISBANE
- Outwatching river at Qld town of Taroom reaches major flood level.

ADELAIDE
- Outwatching more on MP charged with child porn offences.

CANBERRA
- No items listed

DARWIN
- No items listed

HOBART
- No items listed.

PERTH
- No items listed.

INTERNATIONAL
WELLINGTON - An executive at New Zealand's biggest online auction website says that it
can't comment on reports that parent company Fairfax may "float" a stake in its Trade
Me subsidiary.

FINANCE
ECONOMIC NEWS
Sydney - ABS Producer Price Indexes for March quarter

EQUITIES:
Sydney - Caltex Australia Ltd annual general meeting
Sydney - Macquarie Atlas Roads March quarter traffic results

SPORT
SYDNEY - Wrap of NRL news NRL.

SYDNEY - NRL Day at Royal Easter Show, 9.30am-4pm.

SYDNEY - Preview Wests Tigers v Brisbane.

SYDNEY - Preview Manly v Penrith.

MELBOURNE - Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy presser, Olympic Park, 11am.

AFL
MELBOURNE - Wrap of AFL news.

MELBOURNE - AFL teams announced.

BRISBANE - Brisbane v St Kilda, Gabba, 7.40pm.

MELBOURNE - AFL media conference with North Melbourne captain Brent Harvey and Richmond
captain Chris Newman, AFL House, 11.30am.

GEELONG - Geelong coach Chris Scott at Skilled Stadium, 9.45am.

RUGBY UNION
BRISBANE - News from Queensland and NSW camps ahead of Saturday night's Super Rugby derby.

MELBOURNE - Preview Blues v Melbourne Rebels in Auckland.

SURFING
BELLS BEACH, Vic - Day two of the Rip Curl Pro.

SOCCER
MELBOURNE - Follow up from Melbourne Victory v China's Tianjin Teda in ACL clash.

RACING
SYDNEY - Preview of the final day of the Sydney autumn carnival at Randwick on Saturday.

MELBOURNE - Preview of Saturday's Easter Cup meeting at Caulfield.

BRISBANE - Preview of the Eagle farm fixture on Saturday.

AAP bwl

KEYWORD: DIARY NEWS THURSDAY AM UPDATE

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

Research and Markets Offers Report: The International Market For Brand Protection Solutions For Luxury Products & Beauty Products

Wireless News
01-29-2011
Research and Markets Offers Report: The International Market For Brand Protection Solutions For Luxury Products & Beauty Products
Type: News

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "The International Market For Brand Protection Solutions For Luxury Products & Beauty Products" report to its offerings.

In a release, Research and Markets noted that report highlights include:
This is the 4th volume in a series of 10 reports on Brand Protection Solutions. Each report focuses on a specific vertical market or end user industry In this case Luxury Products, which covers a range of product categories:

-Jewelry & Watches, Sunglasses

-Leather products / baggage including bags, briefcases, handbags, wallets & purses, suitcases and travel bags.

-Beauty Products - Perfumes, colognes, toilet preparations, cosmetics, make-up.

There has been a marked trend for manufacturers of one category of luxury goods to diversify and extend their product ranges across other categories of luxury goods.

This is making the task of defending a brand significantly more complex as a luxury brand owner may need to defend his increasingly diverse range of luxury product types against varying types of product related crime.

Different types of luxury products have different packaging, different routes to market as well as other differences and so may face different types of brand threats.

Luxury Brand Products typically have high profit margins as well as high prices, which tends to make them particularly attractive to counterfeiters. Counterfeiting and other product related crimes are today widespread across luxury products market sectors. Global financial losses due to counterfeit luxury products and fashion accessories have been estimated at $26.6 billion with counterfeit beauty products weighing in at a further $24.3 billion in 2008.

Leading luxury products brand owner companies are taking an increasingly robust approach in their fight against product related crime to slow the resulting loss of revenues and erosion of the value of their brands.

This report describes the different approaches to brand protection that are available to luxury products brand owners, outlining the different strategic considerations that are appropriate across the different segments of this diverse marketplace.

An overview of problems and key drivers, together with descriptions of appropriate solutions, including actual case studies are included. The case for 1st, 2nd and / or 3rd level brand protection technologies is examined as well as approaches to tackling on-line internet related threats to luxury brands.

Companies Mentioned:

-Louis Vuitton

-Tiffany & Co

-Montres Rolex

-LVMH

-Herms International

-L'Oreal

Report information:

http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/09802a/ the_international

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

Copyright 2011 Close-Up Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
n/a

SA:Trial over plastic bags in March

AAP General News (Australia)
08-23-2010
SA:Trial over plastic bags in March

ADELAIDE, Aug 23 AAP - A trial will be held next year over complaints the consumer
watchdog has raised against two companies that marketed plastic bags in South Australia
that flouted a state ban.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's (ACCC) case against Goody Environment
Pty Ltd and Nupak Australia Pty Ltd came before the Federal Court in Adelaide on Monday
with Justice Bruce Lander setting down dates in March for the expected four-day trial.

The ACCC alleges the companies engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct and made
false representations in contravention of the Trade Practices Act.

The action alleged the two companies had claimed the Goody brand bags contained an
additive that made them biodegradable and compostable.

Under SA laws the sale of lightweight plastic shopping bags is banned unless they are
compostable.

South Australia is the only state to have such a law.

The ACCC alleges that the Goody bags failed to meet Australian standards for biodegradability,
disintegration and the concentration of toxic or hazardous substances.

After an earlier hearing, Nupak undertook to refrain from making representations that
its bags were biodegradable.

The ACCC said Nupak had also agreed to send a letter to each of its customers supplied
with the bags informing them of the ACCC action, the allegations and its undertakings.

In court on Monday, Justice Lander said that as the case involved issues of consumer
protection, it was important the matter be heard without delay.

"If there is anything in it, it ought to be heard by the court as soon as possible," he said.

Justice Lander set down a directions hearing in December.

AAP tjd/jfm/cdh

KEYWORD: BAGS

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

Fed: Icelandic volcano has ripple effect on passengers in Aust

AAP General News (Australia)
04-16-2010
Fed: Icelandic volcano has ripple effect on passengers in Aust

MELBOURNE, April 16 AAP - A vast cloud of ash from a volcanic eruption in Iceland is
messing up the travel plans of thousands of Australians.

With air space shut down across parts of Europe, Asian airports are become clogged
as passengers hang around waiting for connecting flights.

UK airspace is closed and no flights are operating to and from Britain until its National
Air Traffic Services gives the all-clear while European airports are closing down across
the entire continent.

The closures have have had a knock-on effect with the cancellation of many flights
to Europe from busy hub airports such as Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

Passengers in Australia bound for Europe were being advised not to fly, a Singapore
Airlines spokeswoman said on Friday.

"Anyone who has onward connections to Europe we're advising not to travel today," the
spokeswoman told AAP.

"Obviously none of us know when the situation is going to return to normal."

She said hotel rooms in Sydney were filling fast while in Singapore most hotels were
booked out and stranded passengers with sleeping bags were filling airport lounges.

Flights would be rebooked with no fees or charges associated, the spokeswoman said.

Passengers scheduled to fly to Europe on Thai Airways from Australia will be stopped
at Bangkok airport, while onward flights to Europe remain suspended.

"We're basically allowing anyone to change their flights to early next week," Ms Marr told AAP.

A statement issued by Emirates said customers travelling to Paris, Nice, Frankfurt,
Dusseldorf, Hamburg and Moscow were advised to check the status of their flight at www.emirates.com.

It said affected customers were being put in hotel accommodation where necessary.

"The safety of our passengers and crew is of paramount importance and will not be compromised,"

the statement said.

AAP ees/ce/it/de

KEYWORD: VOLCANO FLIGHTS AUST UPDATE

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

Fed: Senate rejects ETS legislation a second time

AAP General News (Australia)
12-02-2009
Fed: Senate rejects ETS legislation a second time

Reissuing, fixing take key, adding Abbott quote



CANBERRA, Dec 2 AAP - The Senate has rejected the government's emissions trading scheme
a second time, giving Labor a trigger for a double dissolution election.

The Senate voted 41 to 33 to reject legislation setting up the carbon pollution reduction scheme.

The vote, taken at 11.47am (AEDT) on Wednesday, followed more than 40 hours of debate
in the upper house.

Liberal senators Sue Boyce and Judith Troeth voted with the government, but their support
was not enough to give Labor a majority.

The crossbench, including the five Australian Greens, voted with other coalition senators.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd had wanted the deal - negotiated with ousted Liberal leader
Malcolm Turnbull - passed before the UN climate change summit in Copenhagen, starting
on December 7.

New leader Tony Abbott, who was elected on Tuesday, immediately withdrew Opposition
support for the bills.

"The Senate has delivered a big win to the people of Australia who have been saved
from a massive new tax that would have been foisted on tehm without proper scrutiny,"

Mr Abbott told reporters after the vote.

Mr Abbott has said it would be "folly" for Australia to establish an emissions trading
scheme before the United States had settled on its model and before Copenhagen.

Family First senator Steve Fielding, who voted against the government, said the vote
was a win for commonsense.

"Australian families and business will breathe a sigh of relief today knowing that
they won't be slugged with a massive tax," he said in a statement.

AAP rl/jlw

KEYWORD: CLIMATE SENATE VOTE UPDATE

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

Fed: First home buyers none the wiser on grant's future

AAP General News (Australia)
04-24-2009
Fed: First home buyers none the wiser on grant's future

By Colin Brinsden, Economics Correspondent

CANBERRA, April 24 AAP - Potential new home buyers will head into Saturday's Anzac-shortened
house viewings none the wiser about the future of the government's more generous first
home owners grant.

Should they buy anything or hand over any cash now to ensure they make the June 30
cut-off for the increased grant, or will there be something in the May 12 budget that
extends it in some form?

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was sticking to his line that "all good things must come
to an end" when quizzed on the issue on Friday.

However, Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner said the grant, along with a number of issues,
is something that the government was still actively considering for the May 12 budget.

Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull said the government was sending out too many mixed
messages on economic measures, including the home owners grant.

"There seems to be a state of confusion about what they are going to do in the budget,"

Mr Turnbull told reporters in Darwin.

Adding to the speculation about the future of the grant, News Limited newspapers said
the scheme could be revised in the budget to favour new home construction over purchases
of existing homes.

The $1.5 billion scheme formed part of the $10.4 billion economic stimulus package
announced in October last year.

The grant to first-time buyers of existing houses was doubled to $14,000, and raised
to $21,000 for those buying new housing stock.

Industry groups want the scheme extended beyond June 30.

Queensland's Master Builders industry group is urging the government to keep the more
generous scheme to boost activity and employment in Queensland's building and construction
industry.

"We consider an extension of the (grant) would be in the best interests of the Queensland
economy and would assist in protecting the jobs of thousands of Queenslanders," Master
Builders Director of Housing, Darren Barlow said.

Official data shows that first-time buyers made up a record 26.9 per cent of granted
home loans in the first few months of this year.

Building approvals too have started to grow after months of decline.

"It's been a big help," Mr Rudd told the Fairfax radio network.

Mr Rudd clarified that the basic $7,000 grant was likely to continue.

He rejected opposition suggestions that the grant had served only to push up home prices
through boosting demand while doing nothing to increase the supply of homes.

"When we looked at this decision for government last October, it was very practical
- how could you reduce the impact of this recession on Australia," he said.

"This boost, as the industry has told us and many people have told us, has helped keep
our housing construction figures up when the rest of the world has actually been falling
in reverse."

Despite its success, Mr Tanner said the increased grant, as it stands now, will end
on June 30. But that issue, along with a number of others, is something that "we're still
actively considering".

"And because the economy has deteriorated even further over the past few months as
a result of the global recession, then clearly there's a lot of issues that we have to
give some further examination to. That's just one of them."

Opposition treasury spokesman Joe Hockey warned that caution was needed in extending
the grant at a time of rising unemployment, which could see up to 300,000 people out of
work.

"It might be great to stimulate and distort one part of the economy," Mr Hockey he
told ABC Radio.

"But if it means that those poor buggers are going to end up unemployed and default
on their home loan in 12 or 18 months' time through no fault of their own, then this will
be seen to be a mistake."

AAP cb/jl/jlw/

KEYWORD: HOME WRAP

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

Vic: Vic says it's a winner

AAP General News (Australia)
12-19-2008
Vic: Vic says it's a winner

MELBOURNE, Dec 19 AAP - Nineteen Victorian infrastructure projects will be considered
as part of the Commonwealth's plans to boost the nation's infrastructure.

More than 90 major projects will be considered for federal funding after advisory body
Infrastructure Australia recommended them in a report released on Friday.

Victoria was a big winner, with the bulk of its recently unveiled transport plan included,
Victorian Government Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky said.

However, state Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu said Premier John Brumby would not get
the money he needed to fund his transport plan.

Projects from the $38 billion Victorian Transport Plan being considered include the
$3.5 billion alternate to the West Gate Bridge and $3.5 billion for the first stage of
a rail tunnel from Footscray to Caulfield.

A Very Fast Train through Victoria, the ACT and NSW is also being considered that would
cost $59 billion.

The Commonwealth had endorsed key transport projects that would ensure Victoria remained
a major driver of the Australian economy, Ms Kosky said.

"Today's announcement shows that Victoria has developed an integrated transport plan
that has significant economic benefits for both the state and the nation," she said.

Mr Baillieu said Victoria would only have access to $12 billion in funds, but needed
$69 billion to fund the infrastructure projects the Victorian government was promising.

He also accused the Victorian government of being confused about the costs of its own
transport projects and predicted blow-outs.

"This is a government report, which yet again says the John Brumby government quite
clearly hasn't done its homework on the metro rail tunnel, they haven't got basic information
to conclude that this is worth doing," he said.

AAP gr/pmu/jfm

KEYWORD: INFRASTRUCTURE VIC

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

Main stories in today's 3AW news

AAP General News (Australia)
08-14-2008
Main stories in today's 3AW news

MELBOURNE, August 14 AAP - Main stories in today's 3AW news:

- Eamon Sullivan red hot favourite to win gold in the 100m freestyle final on the back
of his second world record in the semi-final

- Train drivers have told a court hearing they had expressed earlier safety concerns
and spoke of `near misses' at the crossing where 11 people died at Kerang last year in
a truck collision with a V/Line train

- Greek gaming lottery operator Intralot is struggling to spark public interest in
its games, with some game sales down by more than 91 per cent

- The RSPCA has called for those responsible for butchering animals at a Geelong school
to be jailed

- Further indications that the Reserve Bank will cut interest rates with inflation
on its way down

- All ordinaries up to 5077, Aussie dollar $86.91 US

- AFL Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse has lashed out at media coverage of the Didak/
Heath incident, saying Collingwood sells newspapers.

AAP ees/gfr

KEYWORD: MONITOR 3AW 1200

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

NT: Eighteen crocs stolen from Darwin farm

AAP General News (Australia)
04-05-2008
NT: Eighteen crocs stolen from Darwin farm

Police say blackmarket money or a crocodile fetish probably drove thieves to steal
18 baby saltwater crocs from a farm in the Darwin region.

They struck sometime in the hours before seven o'clock (CST) on Tuesday morning ..

when an unknown number of intruders entered the farm.

The baby saltwater crocodiles measure about 37 centimetres long .. are only about a
week old .. and have identification tags printed with a number attached to both rear feet.

Raised scales on their tails have also been clipped as a permanent ID mark.

MATT CRICHTON from Darwin Police says the thieves could try to sell the animals on
the black market for one-thousand dollars each .. or maybe .. they have a fetish for crocodiles.

AAP RTV tr/wz/tm/jec/

KEYWORD: REPTILES (DARWIN)

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

Vic: Undercover cops target fire bugs

AAP General News (Australia)
12-03-2007
Vic: Undercover cops target fire bugs

Police say they're going undercover to catch arsonists .. after a surge in the number
of firebugs in Melbourne's eastern fringe last summer.

They say 21 suspicious fires .. started in the Yarra Ranges last summer .. are still
inder investigation.

The blazes endangered the mix of outer suburban and regional communities nestled throughout
the forested mountain area.

Detective Sergeant MARTY FLEMING says the number of suspicious fires last year was
a substantial increase on previous years.

To stop the firebugs .. plain-clothes police in unmarked four-wheel drives will patrol
tracks and roads in high risk areas .. as part of Operation Hussar.

Detective Sergeant FLEMING says it's important people call Triple-0 to report suspicious
firebug activity .. or Crime Stoppers with any background information.

AAP RTV kn/gfr/tm/wf

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES VIC (MELBOURNE)

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

Vic: South Melbourne restaurant damaged in fire

AAP General News (Australia)
04-20-2007
Vic: South Melbourne restaurant damaged in fire

A fire has hit a South Melbourne restaurant overnight .. causing a quarter of a million
dollars worth of damage.

At its height .. 25 firefighters were battling the blaze at the Chef's Hat restaurant
.. which broke out around 3.30am (AEST).

The Melbourne Fire Brigade says the fire which broke out in the storage area .. at
the back of the building.

AAP RTV sjm/wf

KEYWORD: CHEFS (MELBOURNE)

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

NSW: Sydney professor says drought masking farm skills shortage

AAP General News (Australia)
12-19-2006
NSW: Sydney professor says drought masking farm skills shortage

SYDNEY, Dec 19 AAP - The drought should not turn school leavers off a career in agriculture,
a University of Sydney professor says.

Les Copeland, dean of the university's faculty of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources,
said today the short-term negatives were masking a potential skills shortage in the farm
sector.

Speaking on the day NSW students received their HSC results, Prof Copeland said agricultural
qualifications would be increasingly sought after as agribusiness recovered from the drought.

"While the drought is having a short-term negative impact on some areas of employment,
the sector is facing momentous changes that create a serious need for more people with
skills in exactly these areas," he said.

"Agriculture is no longer just about farming but intrinsically tied in with the entire
food chain, managing the environment and minimising the impact of human endeavours on
our natural resources.

"Recruitment firms specialising in agricultural appointments are telling us that the
choices are almost limitless, once graduates have a few years experience under their belts,
including science, commercial and advisory careers."

Prof Copeland said more than 90 per cent of graduates from the university's agricultural
faculty had jobs before they completed their course.

"While many of those opportunities are outside what could be directly considered agriculture,
the background and understanding of rural issues make graduates in agricultural science
and economics extremely valuable as employees and high level managers," he said.

AAP ab/was/wjf/de

KEYWORD: HSC AGRICULTURE

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

HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 14:45, Aug 11

AAP General News (Australia)
08-11-2006
HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 14:45, Aug 11

CANBERRA - Australia's terrorist alert is under review after British police and security
chiefs foiled a plot to blow up as many as 10 planes flying between the UK and the US.

(Terror Aust Second Daylead)

Terror Aust Nightlead to come



MELBOURNE - Family First senator Steve Fielding has met two West Papuan asylum seekers
ahead of a vote on controversial new border protection laws. (Migration Fielding. See
also Migration Vanstone)

Migration Nightlead to come



DENPASAR - Schapelle Corby's final appeal against her drug smuggling conviction and
20-year prison sentence will be heard in a Bali court next week. (Indon Corby)

Indon Corby Nightlead to come



NORFOLK ISLAND - A Norfolk Island court has heard startling new claims that the former
wife of murder accused Glenn McNeill was seen with what appeared to be blood on her clothes
the day Janelle Patton died. (McNeill Lead)

McNeill Nightlead to come



BALLARAT - A former Ballarat Catholic priest behind bars for indecently assaulting
teenage boys more than 20 years ago has had four years added to his minimum jail term.

(Ridsdale)

Ridsdale Nightlead to come



SYDNEY - Words cannot express the "debauched behaviour" of a paedophile who applied
live exposed electric wires to the bare chest of a three-year-old boy after he choked
to death on his vomit, a NSW judge says. (Clare Nightlead (Pix available))



SYDNEY - The mother and widow of Private Jake Kovco were moved to tears today as they
heard an emotional tribute from his platoon commander during the inquiry into his death.

(Kovco to come)

Kovco Nightlead to come



BRISBANE - Worried parents have taken their children home from a Brisbane school after
a suspicious substance was found in one of its toilet blocks - days after poison was planted
in a children's playground. (Poison Copycat Lead)

Poison Nightlead to come



CANBERRA - Australia's trade gap with the rest of the world has narrowed substantially,
easing to a shortfall of $722 million in June. (Trade)

Economy Nightlead to come



MELBOURNE - Tourism operators in regional Victoria are offering free or heavily discounted
fuel in a bid to entice more visitors as petrol prices continue to soar. (Petrol Tourism)



MELBOURNE - Australian property developer Lend Lease is one of three groups in the
running to build the Olympic Village for the 2012 London Games. (Lend Lease )

Lend Lease Nightlead to come



SYDNEY - Lleyton Hewitt remains upbeat about the US Open in two weeks' time despite
a worrying knee injury. (Tennis Hewitt Nightlead)

MORE jlw

KEYWORD: HIGHLIGHTS NATIONAL

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

NSW: Man charged over Cronulla race riot jailed for three months

AAP General News (Australia)
04-05-2006
NSW: Man charged over Cronulla race riot jailed for three months

A Sydney man charged over the beachside Cronulla race riot .. has been jailed for up
to three months for his role in the violence.

19-year-old DANNY GLEN SHANAHAN was sentenced in Sutherland Local Court to at least
10 weeks in prison for assaulting a Middle Eastern man .. SAFI MERHI .. during the December
11th riot.

With 34 days in custody already served .. SHANAHAN will be eligible for parole on May 10th.

Magistrate WILLIAM BRYDON said SHANAHAN had gone to Cronulla after receiving text messages
encouraging white Australians to gather at the beach.

He said SHANAHAN had good prospects for rehabilitation.

SHANAHAN'S defence lawyer .. LIONEL RATTENBURY .. says he'll appeal and apply for bail.

AAP RTV dcr/cj/was/wf/rt

KEYWORD: SURF COURT (SYDNEY)

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

Fed: Key dates in Howard-Costello relationship

AAP General News (Australia)
12-07-2005
Fed: Key dates in Howard-Costello relationship

Key timings in Howard/Costello leadership speculation:



1995 - John Howard becomes Liberal leader, Peter Costello becomes deputy.

1996 - Howard government elected, with Costello as Treasurer.

1999 - Costello says he has one or two more budgets in him.

2003 - Howard reverses his plan to consider retiring in the lead-up to his 64th birthday.

2004 - Howard government wins fourth consecutive election with unexpected Senate majority.

2005

Jan - Labor leader Mark Latham quits, is replaced by Kim Beazley.

April - Howard says he's looking forward to contesting 2007 election against Beazley.

May - Costello reportedly asks Howard for timetable for leadership handover; hands
down 10th budget.

Nov - Costello says he is preparing 11th budget for May 2006.



What's ahead:

Next election due late 2007.

Jan 26, 2006 is 40th anniversary of the retirement of Robert Menzies - Howard's role
model and the only PM to have served for longer than Howard.

March 2 is 10th anniversary of Howard government's election.

On March 15 Howard will sit beside the Queen as she opens the Melbourne Commonwealth
Games. It will also be approximately 18 months until the next election.



AAP mfh/sb/evt/sp

KEYWORD: LEADERSHIP FACTBOX

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

performance appraisal

performance appraisal A formal review of the performance of an employee. The results of the appraisal may be used in deciding an employee's pay or other rewards, career prospects, or training requirements. It usually involves an interview between the employee and his or her immediate manager, although in some cases there may be an element of self-appraisal.

In most organizations, appraisal consists of assessing the employee's ability (or otherwise) to meet expected standards and his or her general demeanour as a member of the workforce. See also employee evaluation.

Monomer composition for optical plastic material and lens. (Plastics).

The NOF Corporation has developed a monomer composition which provides a plastic optical material with a high refractive index and Abbe number, a low specific gravity and excellent physical properties, namely dyeing properties, heat resistance and impact resistance.

The composition comprises a di(meth)acrylate compound, as well as divinylbenzene and/or divinylbiphenyl, a crosslinking-type isocyanate compound, a polythiol compound with two or more thiol groups, and a thiourethane bonding accelerating compound.

The plastic optical material obtained by the reaction of the above composition with a radical polymerization initiator is used to make a lens.

In recent years the field of optical materials used for lenses has increased demand for materials with additional properties such as reduced weight, enhanced optical properties and increased toughness. The materials used for lenses are changing from conventional inorganic glass to synthetic resins. Some synthetic resins have had disappointing optical properties; however the new monomer composition addresses this problem providing superior optical characteristics.

For further information, contact: NOF Corporation, 4-20-3 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150, Japan; tel: 3-5424-6600; fax: 3-5424-6800; Internet: www.nof.co.jp

Research and Markets: Protecting Medicines and Pharmaceuticals, a Manual of AntiCounterfeiting Solutions: How to Assess, Implement and Develop Strategic Programs to Fight Counterfeits.

M2 PRESSWIRE-June 24, 2011-: Research and Markets: Protecting Medicines and Pharmaceuticals, a Manual of AntiCounterfeiting Solutions: How to Assess, Implement and Develop Strategic Programs to Fight Counterfeits(C)1994-2011 M2 COMMUNICATIONS

RDATE:24062011

Dublin - Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/770e3c/protecting_medicin) has announced the addition of the "Protecting Medicines and Pharmaceuticals: A Manual of AntiCounterfeiting Solutions" report to their offering.

Pharmaceutical counterfeiting is a global menace which is believed to have killed thousands around the world and which requires action across the international pharmaceutical community. Protecting Medicines & Pharmaceuticals: a Manual of AntiCounterfeiting Solutions is the first ever resource book for pharmaceutical companies on how to assess, implement and develop strategic programs to fight counterfeits.

The Protecting Medicines & Pharmaceuticals: a Manual of AntiCounterfeiting Solutions report is a guideline for manufacturers, distributors, regulators and medical organizations and provides a top-to-bottom approach to fighting counterfeiting. The first of its kind to focus specifically on the requirements of the pharmaceutical industry, it draws on the experience of governmental and law enforcement agencies as well as a wide range of organizations within the pharmaceutical, converting and authentication industries to provide, in more than 200 information-packed pages, the most relevant answers to the most testing issues and problems.

How You Will Benefit:

- Discover the extend of the counterfeiting problems and its impact on companies and the public

- Learn about the components for an anticounterfeiting strategy - assessment - planning - management action - enforcement - designing and implementing protective packaging - investigation - evaluation

- Explore the different technologies and systems - proven and under development - for securing, authenticating and tracking your products through the supply chain

- Find out how cross-industry collaboration can help in the fight against counterfeiting

- Take advantage of the case studies showing how companies have taken action and how they have benefited

- Learn about Return on Investment for anticounterfeiting - how fighting back means profits as well as consumer protection

Who Should Read It?

- Pharmaceutical companies - regulatory affairs professionals, corporate affairs, IP officers, brand managers, packaging technologists, supply chain managers, security managers

- Pharmaceutical distributors

- Government health departments

- Public health and regulatory bodies

- Law enforcers - police, customs agencies, investigative firms

- Non-government healthcare organisations

- Pharmaceutical associations

- Converters, packaging and labelling companies

- Authentication technology suppliers

Key Topics Covered:

- Section 1: Counterfeiting and its Impact

-- Introduction to Pharmaceutical Counterfeiting

-- Counterfeit Drugs: An Overview by the World Health Organization

-- The Counterfeit -- Diversion Link

-- The Impact on Patients

-- The Impact on the Company

- Section 2: Management Strategies for Protection and Enforcement

-- The Hierarchy of Protection

-- Risk Assessment

-- Developing Corporate Strategies to Fight Counterfeits

-- Legal and Enforcement Solutions

-- Effective Investigations and Enforcement

-- Internet Security Solutions

- Section 3: Authentication Technologies and Product Security

-- Introduction to Technology

-- The Effective Use of Technology

-- Packaging, Print and Design

-- The Packaging and Printing Converter and Product Security

-- Labels and Seals

-- Tamper Evidence Solutions

-- Track and Trace Solutions

-- Forensic Analysis Tools

-- In-Product Solutions

-- Future Technologies

- Section 4: Valuation and Return on Investment

-- Valuation and Return on Investment Modeling

- Section 5: Partnership and Industry Cooperation

-- Product Fraud is Product Fraud: Fighting it Together

-- Government Partnerships in Combating Counterfeit Products

-- The Benefits of Working with International Organizations

-- The Pharmaceutical Security Institute

Sources/Contributors:

Authors and contributors to Protecting Medicines & Pharmaceuticals: a Manual of AntiCounterfeiting Solutions include experts from:

- the World Health Organization,

- US Food and Drug Administration,

- US Customs Service,

- Netherlands Ministry of Health and Sport,

- Pharmaceutical Security Institute,

- GlaxoSmithKline

- and Pharmacia.

Contributions also come from leading anticounterfeiting and authentication experts including:

- the Counterfeiting Intelligence Bureau,

- the Anti-Counterfeiting Group,

- the International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition,

- Axess Technologies, De La Rue,

- Westvaco Brand Security,

- GenuOne,

- Pinkerton,

- Schreiner,

- Biocode,

- Nosco,

- CCL Labels,

- deKieffer & Horgan and many more.

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/770e3c/protecting_medicin

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)).

Omantel Business rings in 8 per cent growth.

MUSCAT: Omantel Business, the corporate arm of Oman's leading telecommunications company, has announced strong business growth for the first five months of 2011 as it strengthens its position as the telecoms supplier of choice to the Sultanate's private and public corporate sector.

As part of its continued commitment to introducing new and enhanced services to help business prosper, Omantel Business has also formally announced the introduction of new products to boost the effectiveness and efficiency of the corporate sector.

Already this year, Omantel Business has seen growth of eight per cent in terms of new business customers and companies that have moved back to Omantel from other providers in the Sultanate - reinforcing the quality of service and tailored solutions the company offers the corporate segment in Oman.

Todd Dick became vice-president of Omantel Business six months ago and says he has been delighted with the growth and development of the corporate unit this year - a period that has seen the introduction of a number of new products and enhancement of its market leadership position.

Innovative new products

He says: "The corporate sector is becoming increasingly competitive in Oman and I am delighted with the way that our team at Omantel Business has responded to the challenge of ensuring we deliver even better customer services and innovative new products that can help our customers to meet their business needs and improve operational efficiency.

We are proud that we are first to market with a range of new products to reinforce our partnership with the corporate sector and ultimately help the economic prosperity and well-being of the country.

"Omantel Business uses its highly effective personalised account manager system to build true long standing partnerships with our customers. That means, we deliver focused, tailored and cost-effective solutions to their telecommunications requirements.

Internet package

"The fact that a number of leading Omani companies have returned to Omantel this year after trying other solutions is a firm reinforcement of the continued quality we offer in this sector."

This year has also seen the accolade of Omantel becoming the first telecoms provider in the Middle East to receive to have its Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) core services certified under internationally recognised ISO 27001 standards providing the highly reliable, consistent and secure service that you would come to expect from Omantel Business services.

Omantel Business has also announced the first fully integrated internet package for companies in the Sultanate at a range of highly competitive prices, higher speeds and wide range of usage bands to meet the demands of every size of business.

It uniquely enables companies to bring together their internet, fixed and mobile broadband services under one package making it far simpler for billing, budgeting and managing costs efficiently.

New pricing packages mean that for small businesses that also have a limited need there are three packages on offer with different download and upload speeds and monthly fees for these services are RO13, RO19 and RO37. Businesses' with more demanding needs can choose from five different packages that offer download speeds of between 2MB and 24MB and upload speeds starting from 512KB to 6MB.

Monthly fees range from RO45 to RO321 and include free unlimited Internet usage, free unlimited landline calls and free 150 minutes of calls from landlines to Oman Mobile customers.

Omantel will also be automatically moving its existing customers on the new plans that reflect their existing usage and requirements - ensuring that both old and new customers benefit.

It has also introduced new special pricing packages for the government educational sector to ensure that schools, colleges and universities are able to offer the widest internet connectivity to students.

Commenting on the new ADSL packages, Huda Al Habsi, senior manager, Product Development at Omantel Business said: "We always aim to be first to market in introducing new innovations and we were delighted to introduce our ADSL services as one integrated package that covers fixed and mobile for our customers.

"In addition the range of prices and higher speeds in these new packages are ideally suited to meet the demands of the full range of our customers from the smallest SME to the largest enterprise."

Omantel Business has also been spearheading the growing availability of Wi-Fi connections in some of Oman's most popular and busiest locations from Muscat International Airport to all of the country's leading coffee chains.

This year already over 75,000 individuals have logged on to the internet using the free Wi-Fi capability at the airport or at a number of popular coffee outlets including Starbucks, Costa Coffee, Second Cup, Mood CafA[c], Al Makan, Darcys and others in Muscat.

Ali Saleh Awadh Al Hadid, general manager, Sales Corporate said: "Omantel Business is pleased to have been instrumental in spreading the Wi-Fi capability of some of Oman's most popular coffee outlets and at Muscat International Airport.

"With over 75,000 people having used the service already this year, it is clear that our partnership is helping to improve the capability of the cafA[c] sector by adding value to their services and encouraging greater access to the Internet for customers."

Omantel continues to be recognised as the choice for leading international and Omani companies who need corporate telecommunications solutions that offer long-term support and high level technical expertise.

Omantel Business has the skills, experience and technology required to deliver tailored solutions to companies of all sizes across the Sultanate using its many years of experience, the largest network footprint in the country and a reputation for the finest customer service.

Major companies from the banking sector, oil and gas industries, large industrial concerns, retail companies and many others have all seen their often complex business operations significantly benefit from their long standing successful partnerships with Omantel.

The services offered to the corporate segment include ADSL, mobile postpaid, leased lines, 3.5G data plans, IP MPLS, Internet Leased Lines, Email & Web Hosting and International Private Leased Circuits.

Muscat Press and Publishing House SAOC 2011

Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company

Travelzoo Appoints Glen Ceremony as Chief Financial Officer.

NEW YORK -- Travelzoo Inc. (NASDAQ: TZOO), a global Internet media company, today announced that Glen Ceremony will become Chief Financial Officer on June 15, 2011. Mr. Ceremony joins Travelzoo from eBay, where he serves as Corporate Controller. Wayne Lee, Travelzoo's current Chief Financial Officer, will stay at the company through the end of July 2011 to assist with the transition. After five years in the role, Mr. Lee plans to take time off with his family and to pursue other opportunities.

"We are delighted that Glen has decided to join the team," said Chris Loughlin, Travelzoo's Chief Executive Officer, "With over 20 years experience within high-growth companies and six and a half years within eBay's financial organization, Glen comes with a wealth of Internet advertising and ecommerce experience. Glen also brings a new dimension of strategic financial leadership to our business at a time when our growth rate is accelerating and we are becoming a larger global organization. The transition is of course bitter-sweet, Wayne has done a tremendous job in guiding Travelzoo's financial organization over the past 5 years and he will remain a good friend."

Prior to joining eBay in October 2004, Mr. Ceremony held a number of financial audit and advisory roles. In 2004 he was Senior Director of Global Finance Audit at Electronic Arts Inc., from 1998 to 2004 he worked at PWC LLP serving as Senior Manager for public and private Internet software clients, including Inktomi and Yahoo! and from 1990 to 1998 he was at Coopers & Lybrand LLP, where his last role was Senior Manager.

Mr. Ceremony graduated from California State University, Sacramento with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration; he qualified as a Certified Public Accountant in California. Mr. Ceremony will be based in Travelzoo's Mountain View, California office.

About Travelzoo

Travelzoo Inc. is a global Internet media company. With more than 23 million subscribers in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific and 23 offices worldwide, Travelzoo[R] publishes deals from more than 2,000 travel and entertainment companies. Travelzoo's deal experts review offers to find the best deals and confirm their true value. In Asia Pacific, Travelzoo is independently owned and operated by Travelzoo (Asia) Ltd. and Travelzoo Japan K.K. under a license agreement with Travelzoo Inc.

Certain statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about our plans, objectives, expectations, prospects and intentions, markets in which we participate and other statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts. When used in this press release, the words "expect", "predict", "project", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "intend", "plan", "seek" and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. Because these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, there are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, including changes in our plans, objectives, expectations, prospects and intentions and other factors discussed in our filings with the SEC. We cannot guarantee any future levels of activity, performance or achievements. Travelzoo undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release. Travelzoo and Top 20 are registered trademarks of Travelzoo. All other names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Great Plains Energy Incorporated Declares Dividends.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Great Plains Energy Incorporated (NYSE: GXP) today announced that its Board of Directors approved a quarterly dividend of $0.2075 per share on its common stock. This action continues Great Plains Energy's indicated annual dividend level of $0.83 per share. The common dividend will be payable June 20, 2011 to shareholders of record as of May 27, 2011. The shares will begin to trade ex-dividend on May 25, 2011. The Board of Directors also declared regular dividends on the Company's 3.80%, 4.20%, 4.35% and 4.50% series of preferred stock, payable September 1, 2011 to shareholders of record as of August 11, 2011. The shares will begin to trade ex-dividend on August 9, 2011.

About The Companies:

Headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., Great Plains Energy Incorporated is the holding company of Kansas City Power & Light Company and KCP&L Greater Missouri Operations Company, two of the leading regulated providers of electricity in the Midwest. Kansas City Power & Light and KCP&L Greater Missouri Operations use KCP&L as a brand name. More information about the companies is available on the Internet at: www.greatplainsenergy.com or www.kcpl.com.

Forward-Looking Statements:

Statements made in this release that are not based on historical facts are forward-looking, may involve risks and uncertainties, and are intended to be as of the date when made. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the outcome of regulatory proceedings, cost estimates of capital projects and other matters affecting future operations. In connection with the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Great Plains Energy and KCP&L are providing a number of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the provided forward-looking information. These important factors include: future economic conditions in regional, national and international markets and their effects on sales, prices and costs, including but not limited to possible further deterioration in economic conditions and the timing and extent of any economic recovery; prices and availability of electricity in regional and national wholesale markets; market perception of the energy industry, Great Plains Energy and KCP&L changes in business strategy, operations or development plans; effects of current or proposed state and federal legislative and regulatory actions or developments, including, but not limited to, deregulation, re-regulation and restructuring of the electric utility industry; decisions of regulators regarding rates the Companies can charge for electricity; adverse changes in applicable laws, regulations, rules, principles or practices governing tax, accounting and environmental matters including, but not limited to, air and water quality; financial market conditions and performance including, but not limited to, changes in interest rates and credit spreads and in availability and cost of capital and the effects on nuclear decommissioning trust and pension plan assets and costs; impairments of long-lived assets or goodwill; credit ratings; inflation rates; effectiveness of risk management policies and procedures and the ability of counterparties to satisfy their contractual commitments; impact of terrorist acts; ability to carry out marketing and sales plans; weather conditions including, but not limited to, weather-related damage and their effects on sales, prices and costs; cost, availability, quality and deliverability of fuel; the inherent uncertainties in estimating the effects of weather, economic conditions and other factors on customer consumption and financial results; ability to achieve generation goals and the occurrence and duration of planned and unplanned generation outages; delays in the anticipated in-service dates and cost increases of generation, transmission, distribution or other projects; the inherent risks associated with the ownership and operation of a nuclear facility including, but not limited to, environmental, health, safety, regulatory and financial risks; workforce risks, including, but not limited to, increased costs of retirement, health care and other benefits; and other risks and uncertainties.

This list of factors is not all-inclusive because it is not possible to predict all factors. Other risk factors are detailed from time to time in Great Plains Energy's and KCP&L's quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and annual report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement. Great Plains Energy and KCP&L undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

L-3 Sets Date for 1st Quarter Conference Call.

L-3 Communications announced that it intends to release its 2011 first quarter results on Thursday, April 21, before the open of the market.

According to a release, in conjunction with this announcement, L-3 will host a conference call on the same day at 11 a.m. EDT that will be simultaneously broadcast over the Internet. Michael T. Strianese, chairman, president and chief executive officer, and Ralph G. D'Ambrosio, senior vice president and chief financial officer, will host the call.

The conference call can be accessed at L-3com.com.

The archived version of the call may be accessed at the site or by dialing 888-286-8010 (passcode: 77765387) beginning approximately two hours after the call ends and will be available until the company's next quarterly earnings release.

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

Offerpal Media Names Mihir Shah as Chief Revenue Officer.

Former RockYou and QuinStreet executive tasked with growing the company's revenue numbers and user base

FREMONT, Calif., Dec. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Offerpal Media (http://www.offerpalmedia.com/), the leader in virtual currency monetization and online payment alternatives, today announced Mihir Shah is joining the company as Chief Revenue Officer. Bringing more than seventeen years of experience growing Internet and technology companies from the ground up, Shah will oversee all of Offerpal's commercial activities, including revenue growth and user acquisition. Shah will also be charged with managing the company's relationships with leading advertisers, developers and publishers.

"These are exciting times for the entire social advertising industry, and Mihir's extensive background in rapidly growing successful Internet advertising companies puts us in an aggressive position for 2010," said Offerpal CEO George Garrick. "As CRO of Offerpal, Mihir will maximize revenue opportunities and expand our 160 million user accounts exponentially. We're thrilled to have him on board."

Prior to joining Offerpal Media, Shah was Vice President, Ad Network for RockYou, a leading provider of applications and widgets across the social media space, with application properties on major social networks including Facebook, MySpace and Hi5. In a short time, Shah grew the company's revenues by more than 500% and more than quadrupled gross margin. He was responsible for 15 billion monthly ad impressions, as well as sales, account management, performance marketing, analytics, and publisher management.

Previously, Shah was an investor and founder of CookEatShare.com, a vertical social network connecting home chefs from around the world. Prior to that, he joined QuinStreet pre-revenue as one of only three executives following a Series A round of venture funding. As VP and Worldwide General Manager, Direct Selling Services for QuinStreet, he was responsible for opening all significant international markets for the company, including Japan, China, Europe, and Latin America. Shah began his career as President, CEO and Founder of Liquid Software, where he employed up to 40 people and generated annual revenues in excess of $5 million. Shah received his BA in Quantitative Economics from Stanford University. He can be reached at mihir.shah@offerpal.com.

About Offerpal Media

Offerpal Media is the leader in virtual currency monetization for online games, virtual worlds and social networks. The company's turnkey payment platform gives consumers the opportunity to earn or buy virtual currency by completing targeted advertising offers or by purchasing it through direct, global payment options. Since its launch in 2007, Offerpal has issued more than 750 billion virtual points to more than 160 million consumers across 2,000 publishers. The company is headquartered in Fremont, California. Investors include Interwest Capital, North Bridge Venture Partners, and D. E. Shaw Ventures. For more information, visit http://www.offerpalmedia.com/.

CONTACT: Matt McAllister, Marketing Director of Offerpal Media, +1-510-403-7319, matt.mcallister@offerpal.com, or Amy Jackson of Atomic PR +1-415-402-0230, amy@atomicpr.com

Web Site: http://www.offerpalmedia.com/

Sun adds lightning-fast software for integrated Web-based business computing; Includes market's fastest Web server and firewall products.

MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 15, 1997--Sun Microsystems Inc. (NASDAQ:SUNW) today introduced new security and Web server software that companies must have to safely and reliably conduct business -- whether internally, with business partners, suppliers, and/or customers -- over Java-enabled, Web-based network computing systems.

Sun's five new products, complementing the company's existing line of software for Web-based network computing, include the release of Sun WebServer software, which industry-standard benchmark tests show to deliver the industry's highest Web server performance by a significant margin. Sun also announced advanced security software solutions that lock out intruders, protect confidential information from escaping, control network access and protect desktops and applications.

SunSoft President Janpieter Scheerder said the new software is key to transitioning companies from local-and-wide area network computing, to Web-based global network computing. It is also central to establishing the 21st century equivalent to today's dial tone -- called the WebTone -- that will be used for buying and selling goods and services over corporate intranets and the public Internet. Citing data from U.S. Computers Magazine (January 1996), Scheerder also pointed out the bottom-line value of creating virtual private Web-based networks over the Internet.

"Virtual private networks can lower total cost of ownership by up to 50% over an equivalent network using leased lines or value-added networks. But companies can not and will not move to a Web-based computing model unless it is as dependable and expandable as phone systems are today, and can truly ensure confidentiality. That's what our new Web server and network security software is all about. We're giving our customers the reliability and safety they need to use the Web for Java-enabled business-to-business commerce -- and providing it via the fastest technology available on the market."

Heart Of The WebTone

The new Sun WebServer software boasts the industry's fastest Web server performance by a significant margin, on both SPARC and Intel platforms running the Solaris operating environment. SPECweb96 benchmark tests show a Sun WebServer site running on a SunUltra Enterprise 3000 hardware server will process more than 2,500 user transactions per second. Tests submitted to SPEC (Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation) of Sun WebServer software on an Intel PentiumPro system deliver the industry-leading benchmark of 620 transactions per second for a typically configured Intel Web server using standard networking. Additionally, the new Sun WebServer delivers the industry's greatest scalability, security, Web-based administration, interoperability and standards compliance.

Leveraging the proven enterprise performance of the Solaris operating environment, the new Sun WebServer software is designed for corporations, government and educational institutions, as well as Internet Service Providers (ISPs) who need to deploy servers that are able to handle large numbers of simultaneous users conducting business.

A Sun WebServer site deployed on the Solaris environment can enhance a Windows NT server by delivering much-needed performance, capacity and reliability with an easy-to-use, intuitive interface that will not alienate network administrators and clients using Windows.

Sun WebServer software installs in minutes and features a one-step routine for automatically converting free "share-ware" Web sites, such as those hosted by Apache and NCSA. Customers who migrate to Sun WebServer's high performance also can take advantage of Sun's rich service and support offerings, which help companies keep their WebTone up and running round the clock.

Sun WebServer allows organizations to integrate Java client and server software with client/server and legacy environments, reducing development and maintenance costs of advanced Internet and intranet applications and services.

Sun's Network Security Solutions

For aggressive use of networks as communication and trading channels, Sun announced several security products, including new firewall software recently rated as fastest on the market by Data Communications magazine. SunScreen EFS and SunScreen SPF software were introduced as Sun's strategic offering for providing firewall capability and for setting secure virtual private networks over the Internet. Also announced were SunScreen SKIP products that complement SunScreen EFS and SunScreen SPF by extending the secure virtual private network to the individual PC or Solaris client. And, Sun's Security Manager software offers the capability to set up and manage secure Single Sign-On connections from PCs to heterogeneous servers and applications.

SunScreen SPF-200 security software is the premier perimeter defense to protect against Internet attack and to ensure all traffic entering or leaving a company follows security policy. The SunScreen SPF product uses "stealth design," meaning it works transparently on the network and minimizes any attack. SunScreen SPF also has high-speed SKIP encryption, allowing companies to set up numerous virtual private networks over the Internet between customers, suppliers and remote or mobile employees.

SunScreen EFS 1.1 security software is intended for managing widespread "compartments" of multiple screens deployed throughout various sites and departments. Whether an organization deploys only a few or as many as a hundred SunScreen EFS screens, they all can be managed remotely and by the same administrator. Like SunScreen SPF, SunScreen EFS has built-in high-speed SKIP encryption protection. The combination of SunScreen EFS for managing compartments and SunScreen SPF for perimeter defense offers a powerful security strategy. Both products were recently rated as the fastest firewall on the market by Data Communications magazine (http://www.data.com).

For remote users or customers, companies can also deploy SunScreen SKIP clients that communicate over an encrypted channel to SunScreen EFS or SunScreen SPF. In addition, customers can use Security Manager products for tighter controls such as Single Sign-On to certain servers or applications.

Sun also announced that it is the first company to ship a standards-based, application-transparent desktop security solution for connecting remote PCs to the corporate intranet. Through network-layer encryption, SunScreen SKIP for Windows 95 enables companies to securely connect remote PCs, vendors, partners, employees and customers to the corporate intranet. SunScreen SKIP for Windows 95 offers encryption of services and applications (without application modification), to seamlessly link users via secure virtual private networks. All traffic including email, file transfer, Web traffic, database connections and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) can be secured over the Internet. SunScreen SKIP software is also available on the Solaris platform.

The Sun Security Manager product line is based on expandable client/server architecture that provides a secure, Single Sign-On for platforms ranging from desktops to servers, including applications for large heterogeneous environments. Security Manager products easily expand from small to large network environments with tens of thousands of users. Enterprises can centrally administer strong network and host security for a complete range of computing devices. End users benefit from the simplicity and convenience of consolidating multiple log-in procedures to one secure, Single Sign-On, which enables access to all authorized systems and applications. In addition to Security Manager for workgroup servers, the product line now includes Security Manager for desktops and applications as well as for intranets.

Pricing and Availability

The new Sun WebServer software is available now to select sites free of charge, and will be available to the general public in June. SunScreen SPF 200 software will be available within the next 90 days, with prices ranging from $1,500 for 25 users, up to $15,000 for unlimited users. SunScreen EFS 2.0 software will also be available within the next 90 days, with prices ranging from $1,500 to $15,000. An unlimited corporate site license for SunScreen EFS is $250,000. Security Manager products will be available within the next 90 days, priced from $2,600 for a 10 user system to $750,000 for 10,000 users. Sunscreen SKIP software for Windows 95 has been available since March in the US and is priced at $99 per copy. SunScreen SKIP for Solaris will be available as of April 25 at $99 per copy.

Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision, "The Network Is The Computer," has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ:SUNW), to its position as a leading provider of hardware, software and services for establishing enterprise-wide intranets and expanding the power of the Internet. With more than $7 billion in annual revenues, Sun can be found in more than 150 countries and on the WorldWide Web at http://www.sun.com . -0-

NOTE TO EDITORS: Sun, the Sun logo, Sun Microsystems, SunSoft, The Network Is the Computer, Java, Solaris, Sun WebServer, SunScreen EFS, SunScreen, Ultra Enterprise and Security Manager are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All SPARC trademarks are used under license or registered trademarks of SPARC International, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Products bearing SPARC trademarks are based upon an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc.

CONTACT: Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Donna Loughlin, 415/786-4351

donna.loughlin@eng.sun.com

or

GCI San Francisco

Catherine Litzow, 415/974-7213

clitzow@gcigroup.com

HORRIBLE HARVEST (SN).(Pasatiempo)

Byline: ELIZABETH COOK-ROMERO

Histories of war photography often begin with Roger Fenton's 1855 image from the Crimean War, The Valley of the Shadow of Death. It's generally believed that Fenton was careful not to record anything that would offend English Victorian sensibilities. He included no corpses, yet the cannonball-covered battlefield depicted in The Valley provides chilling evidence of how arbitrarily death chooses victims during a battle.

Less than a decade later Felice Beato spared no gory details in his photographs of the Opium Wars and the Indian Mutiny. Photography was then a slow process that could not capture the action of war, but Beato photographed the destroyed bodies of Chinese fighters, Indian mutineers being hanged, and dead Indian rebels whose bones were nearly picked clean by birds.

Some credit Beato with setting the tone for the American photographers who recorded the Civil War. Perhaps presidents and generals did not yet realize that photography, which was still less than half a century old, had the power to explode the myth that war was a glorious undertaking. Photographers like Timothy O'Sullivan and Alexander Gardner set up their cumbersome cameras on battlefields and recorded putrid corpses -- and nobody stopped them. Many of those images were bound into books and sold to the general public as Gardner's Photographic Sketch Book of the War in 1866. The images have become a part of American history, and for some they may now be too familiar to shock.

But, for photographer Benjamin Montague, time and familiarity have not diminished the horror of those Civil War photographs. "They show a side of war that we don't see today," Montague said during a phone interview. "They show bodies torn apart; they show dead American soldiers; they actually show faces of the dead."

While creating the tintypes for his installation, Images of Conflict, which opens at Addison Arts on Friday, Oct. 27, Montague said he looked to the stark truth that O'Sullivan and Gardner captured. "There is one really amazing photograph by O'Sullivan called A Harvest of Death; it shows bodies on the battlefield of Gettysburg. Their pockets are turned out and they are missing their shoes and pants. It shows just how awful the situation was, and that is something the modern media protects."

Montague made all of his dry-plate tintypes in Ohio, far from the battlefields in Iraq and Afghanistan. He works with images appropriated from the news, Internet postings, war toys, and video games.

The news bureaus at network and cable TV stations and newspapers -- outlets that many middle-aged and older Americans turn to for information about the wars -- censor the grim realities that O'Sullivan and Gardner included.

Videos and games, which usually attract a younger audience, don't censor the mayhem of war. But, according to Montague, they trivialize it, leaving the players desensitized to violence and suffering. "Military games are more realistic than what you can see on the news. They're very gory; you see the blood splatter." The players are first-person shooters. Montague said he once rented a copy of Battlefield 2 and found it terrifyingly real.

America's Army: Special Forces, a game developed by the U.S. Army, can be downloaded from the Internet. It's the worst of the military video games, according to Montague. "If you played this video game in which you've blown up a whole village and mutilated all the soldiers, is it going to be disturbing if you see it on TV in the news? I don't think so," he said. "The whole idea that the army has put out a game that incorporates military tactics and prepares you for war -- it's hard to verbalize how wrong I think that is."

Montague worries that there's a lack of outrage about the wars. "That is what spurred this project: how can we torture people and have very little debate about it? I'm outraged, and I'm sure other people are too."

Many soldiers have video cameras and iMovie programs and are making their own films, Montague said. "They put a soundtrack with it, and they cut and splice the images at a fast pace. I saw some on MTV News, but you can see even more on Web sites like MilitarySpot.com or YouTube." For the soldiers, Montague said, perhaps the videos are a way of saying, "We are here."

"They are showing some really gruesome stuff, but they are showing it in a fast-paced, MTV way, and maybe that makes it a little more palatable because that is the way we are used to seeing things."

Images of war have always been manipulated. Historians believe that Gardner and O'Sullivan moved bodies and guns to make their pictures more dramatic. "There is a picture credited to Alexander Gardner of a sniper lying against a wall," Montague said. "There has been a lot of debate about whether he pulled the sniper over there and posed the whole picture. But the debate doesn't lessen the impact of the photograph."

Montague's photographs are manipulated in obvious ways. The texture of the computer or TV screen from which he photographs them is clearly visible in some images. One depicts a young man's face that at first glance appears dead, but with further study it becomes clear that it is only a toy soldier still in its plastic wrapping.

Together the tintypes in Images of Conflict seem to ask what is real and what is created illusion; Montague said that as an artist he cannot tell anyone what to think. "I don't want to preach to anyone because I don't like being preached to. I don't want to say war is wrong. I want people to come to their own conclusions."

Montague uses modern tintype printing because it lacks the slickness of video or even the polished look of gelatin silver prints or digital color images. "I didn't want them to look exactly like Civil War images, but I did want them to have that rawness," he said. "The tintypes' surfaces are a little strange. You can't look at them easily; you have to move around.

"I have some very strong views, and I don't think the work expresses those views as strongly as I feel them. I think they are a little more ambiguous, so people can ask their own questions."

details:

Images of Conflict, an installation by Benjamin Montague

Opening reception 5-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27; exhibit through Nov. 18

Addison Arts, 209 Galisteo St., 992-0704

CAPTION(S):

1. Benjamin Montague: Gas Mask, 2006, dry-plate tintype, 8 x 12 inches

2. Shock and Awe, 2006, dry-plate tintype, 8 x 12 inches; images courtesy Addison Arts

3. Marching Soldiers, 2006, dry-plate tintype, 8 x 12 inches

Playing cycles with tech stocks: Manager thinks group has minimal risks, cheap prices from lowered expectations.

Byline: Kathleen Gallagher

Sep. 18--At the end of 2003, Robert J. Costomiris held no technology stocks in the mutual fund he manages.

Now he's got a bigger percentage of tech names than the Russell Mid Cap Value Index, the index he measures his fund's performance against.

"We're looking to tech for cyclical exposure, and underweighting consumer discretionary, energy, financials and industrials," said Costomiris, manager of the Wells Fargo Advantage Mid Cap Disciplined Fund.

Costomiris' fund snubbed the majority of tech stocks during the last three years because of concerns about investor euphoria pushing their valuations too high, he said.

He also was worried that most technology companies' earnings per share would be hurt by proposed legislation that would require them to expense the value of options they award to employees. Tech companies historically have used options more aggressively than other industries to reward their workers.

Congress passed legislation in 2004 requiring companies to expense the options of their top five executives. It hurt tech companies initially, but now its impact is discounted in the prices of many of their stocks, Costomiris said.

There is concern now that some companies have been manipulating option grants by backdating them to when the company's stock was at or near a low point, so the awards would be worth more. That has dented the share prices of many tech stocks, in some cases unfairly, Costomiris said.

It has also helped lower investor expectations for the group -- and lower expectations are one of the three factors he says he's always looking for.

Costomiris also wants to minimize balance sheet risk and price risk.

Tech companies are flush with cash, which is evidenced by the large number that are either buying back their stock, raising their dividends, or both, he said.

There isn't much price risk involved, either, given that they've underperformed the overall market for the last three years, Costomiris said.

Two tech companies Costomiris owns in his fund are good examples of those for which balance sheet, price and expectation risks are under control, he said.

Juniper Networks Inc. (JNPR, $15.32), Sunnyvale, Calif., provides equipment for Internet and telecommunications service providers and is the second-biggest maker of routers behind Cisco Systems Inc.

Routers are a growth industry, and the biggest driver is the media convergence that is leading to Internet TV, Costomiris said. Juniper is solidly positioned against Cisco to at least maintain a share of this fast-growing market that has high margins and high recurring revenue, he said.

Juniper's shares have declined from a high of $24.60 in November, and the company is conducting an investigation into whether there were backdating issues with some of its options.

"We believe there will be some financial statement effect to the option timing issue at Juniper. However, we believe that's been baked into the stock," Costomiris said.

Applied Materials Inc. (AMAT, $17.20), Santa Clara, Calif., makes semiconductor wafer fabrication equipment and related parts for the semiconductor industry.

Applied Materials paid a dividend for the first time in 2005 and raised it to 5 cents a share this year from 3 cents. The company, a leader among semiconductor equipment makers, also announced earlier this year it would buy back 20% of its stock, Costomiris said.

Applied Materials' flat panel business, which produces equipment for making everything from the panels for TVs to solar panels, is one of the company's fastest-growing. That business represents about 20% of its revenue.

"The bottom line is that, being a leader, they're obviously hugely diverse -- in terms of a diverse product line, in terms of a diverse client base and in terms of a tremendously diverse geographic footprint," Costomiris said.

The biggest risk he associates with the stock is the possibility the economy will stumble and demand for products that use the company's equipment will falter, he said.

"But we think at the end of the day that's mitigated by these other positive attributes and the fact that their geographic diversity mitigates to some extent the cyclical exposure," Costomiris said.

He began buying Applied Materials for his fund in June and now has full positions. Costomiris says both Applied Materials and Juniper should be able to perform at least as well as the overall market over the next few years.

Copyright (c) 2006, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business

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TICKER SYMBOL(S): NASDAQ-NMS:JNPR, NASDAQ-NMS:CSCO, NASDAQ-NMS:AMAT