FED: Blood pressure medications cut kidney disease risk

AAP General News (Australia)
02-19-2009
FED: Blood pressure medications cut kidney disease risk

By Danny Rose, Medical Writer

SYDNEY, Feb 19 AAP - Diabetics can cut their risk of suffering potentially fatal kidney
complications by one fifth by taking two drugs to lower their blood pressure.

Australian researchers have found people with type 2 diabetes who used two anti-hypertensive
medications together had lower levels of kidney disease, and it could even repair earlier
kidney damage.

"Our research demonstrated that lowering blood pressure with an ACE inhibitor (and
a) diuretic ... reduces the risk of kidney complications by 20 per cent," says Dr Vlado
Perkovic, of The George Institute for International Health.

"And (it) even resolves some early manifestations of kidney disease in people with
diabetes, regardless of whether their blood pressure is normal or elevated."

The finding is important because more than half of all those with the condition go
on to suffer kidney impairment, and 20 per cent will then die of renal failure.

An estimated 250 million people are living with diabetes around the world.

The George Institute, based in Sydney, designed the study and it involved a group of
independent medical researchers from 20 countries worldwide.

It took in 11,140 patients with type 2 diabetes who were treated and followed up for five years.

One group took the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor perindopril and the
diuretic drug indapamide while another group, who instead took a placebo, showed no drop
in kidney disease.

"For all people with diabetes, reducing their risk of kidney disease is imperative,"

Dr Perkovic also says.

"Individuals who develop kidney disease are at significantly increased risk of developing
cardiovascular complications, which is the major cause of death in these patients," Dr
Perkovic.

The research is published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

AAP dr/ss

KEYWORD: DIABETIC

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

FED:Qantas pilots may stop work within month

AAP General News (Australia)
07-19-2011
FED:Qantas pilots may stop work within month

By Lema Samandar

SYDNEY, July 19 AAP - Qantas international long-haul pilots have not ruled out a nationwide
work stoppage as they begin industrial action for the first time in 45 years over job
security.

The Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA) said its members would begin
30 days of protected industrial action by trying to win the support of the airline's customers.

From Friday, pilots will make "brief and positive" in-flight announcements to passengers
in a campaign to stop any attempt by Qantas to shift their jobs offshore.

AIPA spokesman and Qantas pilot Nathan Safe said captains would talk to passengers
about the safety culture and their skills.

"We'll make it quite clear that we feel that those services are under threat," Mr Safe
told reporters in Sydney on Tuesday.

On long-haul flights from Sydney to London the union message can be expected to be
heard twice, while some domestic pilots will also address their passengers.

The union will also mount a national billboard and internet website campaign to back
its pursuit of a "Qantas flight/Qantas pilot" clause in a new enterprise agreement.

Mr Safe said action had to be taken because management still refused to discuss a written
agreement to ensure pilots' jobs wouldn't be sent offshore.

"We've seen some very minor offshoring numbers to New Zealand, around 100 pilots fly
out of New Zealand under a sham company called Jetconnect that markets and presents itself
as genuine Qantas when in fact it isn't," he said.

"We've seen in Jetstar the setting up of bases in Singapore marketed as Jetstar International,
and we think the next step will ultimately be to set up a Qantas mainline base in Asia,
and that'll see hundreds or thousands of jobs in Australia lost to Asia.

"We think the thin edge to the wedge has begun."

Qantas has rejected the offshoring concerns, saying all Qantas-operated flights will
be flown by the company's pilots.

It says the union campaign is aimed at requiring pilots flying for Qantas affiliates,
including Jetstar, to be paid at the same high rates.

"The claim, if it were ever conceded, would drive up airfares, cost jobs and make Qantas
airlines and routes unprofitable," it said in a statement, adding that it would seek clarification
from the union over the action.

The company says its long-haul pilots are among the best paid in the business, with
an average Boeing 747 captain earning $350,000 a year while its best paid Airbus A380
captain was on $500,000 a year.

The union will have to implement a range of protected industrial actions within 30
days as part of industrial legislation but hopes to do it with little disruption.

"(The approved actions) can be done in very minor ways - we could have one pilot perform
a stop-work action for one minute on one day," Mr Safe said.

"We have no intention or no desire to disrupt Qantas passenger's travel plans."

Asked how likely it was that the Qantas pilots would hold a 48-hour work stoppage,
Mr Safe said: "I can't predict how likely or unlikely it is. It is certainly undesirable."

Last week Qantas engineers stopped work for 60 seconds as part of their ongoing dispute
with the airline.

AAP lxs/klm/jl

KEYWORD: QANTAS WRAP

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

FED:Govt silent on compulsory arbitration

AAP General News (Australia)
12-08-2011
FED:Govt silent on compulsory arbitration

CANBERRA, Dec 8 AAP - Federal Workplace Relations Minister Chris Evans will not be
drawn on whether a review of labour laws could lead to the return of compulsory arbitration.

An independent review of the Fair Work Act begins early next year.

Employers are concerned compulsory arbitration will wind back the clock.

Senator Evans would not speculate on the review's findings other than to say it would
be independent and evidence-based.

"There's a lot of rhetoric in this field, a lot of ideology, a lot of false claims,"

he told ABC Radio on Thursday.

The minister declined to predict how much change might come from the review but said
Labor was committed to the principles of the Fair Work laws.

The ALP national conference last weekend changed the party's policy platform to include
a requirement for enterprise agreements to provide for last-resort arbitration.

Senator Evans said the recent Qantas scandal had put attention on the use of arbitration.

"People are rightly focused on whether a dispute has to get to the stage of a lockout
of employees before arbitration is required," he said.

"It's something the Fair Work review ought to look at."

Meanwhile BHP chief Marius Kloppers has publicly criticised the Fair Work Act.

Labor's industrial relations laws had made workplace negotiations more complicated
and it was easier for workers to strike, he told The Australian Financial Review.

BHP has been subject to six months of industrial action at its coking coalmines in Queensland.

AAP lpm/rl/jmt

KEYWORD: WORKPLACE

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

WA:Cyclone alert for Kimberley

AAP General News (Australia)
04-04-2011
WA:Cyclone alert for Kimberley

Communities on the Kimberley coast are on cyclone alert as a tropical low tracks southwest
.. just offshore.

The weather bureau's cyclone warning is current for coastal areas from Kuri Bay to
Bidyadanga while a cyclone watch is in place from Bidyadanga to Whim Creek.

The bureau says gales with gusts of up to 100 kilometres an hour may develop between
Kuri Bay and Cape Leveque .. before extending further southwest to Broome and Bidyadanga.

Tides may be higher than normal and heavy rain is expected to cause flooding over the
north and northwest Kimberley.

A low-level blue alert is in place from the Mitchell Plateau to Bidyadanga including
Kuri Bay, Cockatoo and Koolan islands, Cape Leveque, Beagle Bay, Broome and Bidyandanga.

AAP RTV ldj/jmt

KEYWORD: CYCLONE (PERTH)

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

NSW:Dead inmate missed medical care: coroner

AAP General News (Australia)
12-13-2010
NSW:Dead inmate missed medical care: coroner

A New South Wales coroner has found Sydney remand prisoner GARY DAVID KELSO was suffering
from heroin withdrawal .. and died within 36 hours of his arrest after authorities failed
to provide health care.

The 46-year-old was arrested on the morning of November 8 .. 2006 .. and was refused
bail in court the same day on a larceny charge .. allegedly committed to support his drug
habit.

KELSO was housed with other inmates at the Surry Hills Cells Complex .. where cellmates
reported he was ill and lying quietly on a mattress when not vomiting.

The evening of the next day he had a seizure .. went into cardiac arrest and was rushed
to St Vincents Hospital where he died a short time later.

Deputy State Coroner MALCOLM MACPHERSON says KELSO wasn't seen .. reviewed nor triaged
by any Justice Health professional or nurse during his time in custody .. and his death
can be directly attributed to this.

AAP RTV ad/tr/tm

KEYWORD: KELSO (SYDNEY)

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

NSW:Labor will bow to rail union: O'Farrell

AAP General News (Australia)
08-05-2010
NSW:Labor will bow to rail union: O'Farrell

NSW Opposition Leader BARRY O'FARRELL fears the government will cave to union demands
and avoid a rail strike to help federal Labor during the election campaign.

The Rail .. Tram .. and Bus Union is threatening a 24-hour work stoppage on rail networks
for Wednesday August 18 .. just three days before the poll.

Mr O'FARRELL says state Labor has failed to stand up to union demands and urged the
NSW Industrial Relations Commission to settle the case before strike action inconveniences
commuters.

Workers are asking for a five per cent pay hike and assurances that the increase won't
have an impact on staffing levels.

The state government hopes an agreement can be reached between Railcorp and the union
before a 24-hour strike.

AAP RTV vpm/wjf/dcc/klw

KEYWORD: TRAINS O'FARRELL (SYDNEY)

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

Vic: Failure to fix cells inexcusable, lawyer says

AAP General News (Australia)
12-24-2009
Vic: Failure to fix cells inexcusable, lawyer says

A community lawyer says the Victorian government failed to remove hanging points from
an old cell in the Echuca lock-up .. where a man died on Tuesday night.

A 46-year-old married father .. named in The Age newspaper as off-duty paramedic STEPHEN
NIIT .. was arrested for being drunk in Echuca .. in Victoria's north .. and placed in
the police cells just after 8pm (AEDT).

He was found dead only 10 to 15 minutes later hanging from his shirt .. having apparently
committed suicide.

PETER NOBLE .. a solicitor at the Loddon Campaspe Legal Centre .. has told The Age
that police and the state government have not acted on a 2006 report on the condition
of police cells .. which noted that some older cells still had hanging points.

Mr NOBLE says the failure to fix such older cells is inexcusable.

AAP RTV jrd/af

KEYWORD: CUSTODY (MELBOURNE)

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

Main headlines on 3AW 1000 News

AAP General News (Australia)
08-14-2009
Main headlines on 3AW 1000 News





++ A motorists killed after ploughing into shops had earlier been clocked travelling
nearly 100 km over the speed limit.





++ Dense jungle and bad weather are still preventing authorities from taking out the
bodies of the victims of the Kakoda plane crash.



++ The PM is denying he has any intention of calling an early election and is focussing
on having the ETS scheme passed in parliament





++ One of Victoria's worst hit fire areas has been earmarked for a multi-million dollar
super GP clinic.





++ Woolworths says it will continue selling caged eggs to give customers value for money.





++ The greens are stepping up calls for a national watchdog in a bid to fight corruption.





++ Australian olympic officials have welcomed the inculsion of golf .. seven's rugby
and women's boxing in the olympics.





AAP RTV sw

KEYWORD: MONITOR 3AW 1000 (SYDNEY)

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

NSW:50,000 Sydney premises without power as second cable fails

AAP General News (Australia)
04-04-2009
NSW:50,000 Sydney premises without power as second cable fails

MELBOURNE, April 4 AAP - About 50,000 homes and businesses in parts of Sydney's CBD
and the eastern suburbs are without power on Saturday after a major cable failed.

The power outage, which occurred about 10.30am (AEDT), affected the northern part of
the city centre, parts of the eastern and inner city suburbs, EnergyAustralia spokeswoman
Kylie Yates told AAP.

Ms Yates said it was not the same cable which failed last Monday, throwing the city
into chaos, but a second one.

"EnergyAustralia is working to reroute power to these areas to get the power back on
as soon as possible," she said.

On initial reports, police believe about 50 sets of traffic lights are out of action.

There are four major power cables that supply two substations in central Sydney.

It is the second time this week that a major power cable has failed. The first is still
out of action as it is being repaired.

Sydney's CBD was thrown into chaos on Monday when a massive peak-hour power outage
forced the closure of major road links, blacked out traffic lights, and left dozens of
people stranded in lifts.

The problem was caused by the failure of one of the four cables that supply two major
substations in central Sydney.

About 70,000 homes and businesses, mostly in the city's north and surrounding suburbs
were affected, plus inner eastern suburbs including Paddington, Rose Bay and Darlinghurst,
were affected in that outage.

Some 140 sets of traffic lights were blacked out, with police directing traffic at 40 of them.

Power was restored within two hours, but not before the Roads and Traffic Authority
(RTA) was forced to close two of the busiest roads out of the city - the Harbour Tunnel
and Eastern Distributor - around 5.45pm (AEDT).

AAP md/ldj/cdh

KEYWORD: CABLES

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

NSW: Delta Goodrem the head caroler in Sydney show

AAP General News (Australia)
12-01-2008
NSW: Delta Goodrem the head caroler in Sydney show

Pop star DELTA GOODREM's announced she'll be headlining Sydney's Christmas spectacular
.. Carols in the Domain.

And skivvy-clad childrens' band .. The Wiggles .. will take part in the free festivities
for the 17th consecutive year.

GOODREM will be joined on stage by her Irish beau BRIAN MCFADDEN .. and Australian
Idol graduates .. SHANNON NOLL .. GUY SEBASTIAN and PAULINI.

The Christmas show attracts about 100-thousand people each year.

AAP RTV nap/tm/psm/

KEYWORD: CAROLS (SYDNEY)

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

Vic: Hotline for elder abuse too little, too late - Opposition

AAP General News (Australia)
04-27-2008
Vic: Hotline for elder abuse too little, too late - Opposition

The Victorian opposition says a helpline for elderly people who are being abused is
too little .. too late.

Opposition spokeswoman on Ageing MARY WOOLDRIDGE says three-and-a-half years after
a report recommended the issue of elderly abuse be looked at .. the government's only
response is the hotline announced today.

Studies estimate that one to five per cent of older people experience some form of
abuse or neglect.

The hotline opens at 10am tomorrow .. on 1300 386 821.

AAP RTV md/gfr/jmt

KEYWORD: HOTLINE WOOLDRIDGE (MELBOURNE)

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

NSW: Blood test negative before boy died of meningitis: hospital

AAP General News (Australia)
12-23-2007
NSW: Blood test negative before boy died of meningitis: hospital

Hospital officials say the meningitis death of an eight-year-old Sydney boy is a tragedy
.. but his blood test didn't indicate he was infected with the virus.

Punchbowl Public School Year 2 student ISARAELU PELE died on Tuesday after a visit
to Bankstown and then one to Westmead Children's Hospital .. where he vomited blood and
had a temperature of 38 degrees.

The Sunday Telegraph reports he was sent home by doctors who said there was nothing
wrong with him.

A Westmead Hospital spokeswoman says a blood test conducted during his visit didn't
indicate ISARAELU was suffering from the deadly virus.

She says more details will emerge once the NSW Coroner investigates the boy's death.

AAP RTV vpm/af/sw

KEYWORD: PELE HOSPITAL (SYDNEY)

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

Fed: Experimental sleep drug turns off happy hormone

AAP General News (Australia)
08-16-2007
Fed: Experimental sleep drug turns off happy hormone

A new sleeping pill designed to help insomniacs stay asleep .. will be trialled on Australians.

The experimental drug targets the so-called happy hormone .. serotonin .. to promote
more shut-eye among among troubled sleepers who fall asleep easily .. but wake long before
dawn.

The international trial is being led by French pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Aventis
.. maker of the controversial drug Stilnox .. which was recently linked to bizarre sleep
behaviour like binge-eating and driving.

Under the trial .. sleep maintenance insomniacs will be given either the drug or a
placebo to compare results.

It'll involve 18 hundred people from Australia .. Europe .. the Americas .. Asia and
South Africa.

AAP RTV tam/wf/af

KEYWORD: INSOMNIA (SYDNEY)

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

Vic: Woman killed in head-on crash in state's north

AAP General News (Australia)
04-01-2007
Vic: Woman killed in head-on crash in state's north

MELBOURNE, April 1 AAP - A woman has been killed and three other people hurt in a head-on
collision involving two cars in northern Victoria.

Police say an eastbound car travelling in an erratic manner on the Midland Highway,
west of Mooroopna, ran out of control, veering onto the wrong side of the road and slamming
into the westbound car, shortly after 4.30pm (AEST) yesterday.

A woman in her 40s, who was a back seat passenger in the westbound car, died at the scene.

The male driver, who's in his 30s, was airlifted to the Royal Melbourne Hospital while
another female passenger was taken to Shepparton Hospital for observation, Senior Constable
Julie-Anne Newman said.

The male driver of the other car was also taken to Shepparton Hospital.

The death takes Victoria's road toll to 79 for the year, compared to 83 for the same
time last year.

AAP sjm/jt

KEYWORD: TOLL VIC

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

Fed: A land less free, but are we any safer?

AAP General News (Australia)
08-31-2006
Fed: A land less free, but are we any safer?

By Doug Conway, Senior Correspondent

SYDNEY, Aug 31 AAP - Should Australia be less free and more safe, or more free and less safe?

Terrorism is forcing authorities to choose one at the expense of the other, and the
landmark case of "Jihad" Jack Thomas has given Australians their starkest reminder of
the Howard government's choice - less free and hopefully safer.

Mr Thomas, for example, is a free man who is not really free at all.

He has no convictions against his name, and faces no charges, yet he is not free to
leave his Melbourne home between midnight and 5am.

He is not free to continue the beach holiday he was enjoying with his family in eastern Victoria.

He is not free to use any telephone or internet service provider not approved by federal police.

He is not free to leave Australia without permission, and must report to a police station
three times a week.

He is not free to contact anyone he chooses, at least not if they happen to be members
of a proscribed terrorist group.

He is specifically not free to contact terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden, a requirement
which the magistrate who granted it later described as farcical.

Jack Thomas had no idea any of these restrictions were being placed on him until police
turned up to enforce them.

If he breaches them he can be jailed for up to five years.

His freedoms - the freedoms most Australians take for granted - have been curtailed
not because of anything he has done, but because of what authorities suspect he might
do.

The Muslim convert this week became the first Australian subjected to so-called "control
orders" which are part of the Howard government's tough new anti-terrorism laws.

The former taxi driver was found guilty in February of receiving funds from al-Qaeda
and holding a false passport, although the jury cleared him of two counts of intentionally
providing resources to al-Qaeda.

On August 18 an appeal court quashed the convictions and overturned Thomas' five year
jail sentence.

He had 10 days of freedom - the sort of freedom most citizens understand - before he
made legal history and entered the new grey area where he is partially free, a suspect
without a charge.

Courts can grant control orders if it's found there are "reasonable grounds" they will
substantially help prevent a terrorist attack, or if there are reasonable grounds to suspect
a person has given or received training from a terrorist group.

Civil libertarians say control orders fly in the face of the cherished presumption
of innocence supposedly at the heart of Australia's legal system.

They maintain that every single erosion of individual freedom brings Big Brother ever
closer and takes Australia further down the path towards a police state.

Others argue that infringements on freedom are the price that must be paid to combat
the heinous evil of terrorism.

They say a government would be derelict in its duty if it took no action to monitor
and control someone who has had some association with a terrorist group.

"Control orders are about protecting the Australian community," said Attorney-General
Philip Ruddock, who signed the Thomas application.

"They don't mean you are punished, they don't mean you are locked away.

"They mean some controls are put on your behaviour where it is reasonably believed
that that will protect the community."

"You wouldn't need control orders if you could rely on the criminal justice system
to provide ongoing protection."

That is what the justice system apparently failed to do, if Australia's first control
order is any indication.

Victoria's appeals court ruled inadmissible Thomas's 2003 confession that led to the
convictions against him.

Thomas had been denied access to a lawyer during an involuntary interview with federal
police in Pakistan, the court found.

Prosecutors plan to seek a retrial, arguing that Thomas later made the same admissions
in an interview with ABC television's Four Corners program.

The federal magistrate who granted the control order accepted police submissions that
Thomas's links with "extremists such as (alleged Jemaah Islamiah spiritual leader) Abu
Bakar Bashir, some of which are through his wife, may expose and exploit Mr Thomas's vulnerabilities".

Thomas's family maintains, however, that the only link his Indonesian-born wife Maryati
has with Bashir is that she went to school with his wife.

Federal magistrate Graham Mowbray, who granted the control order, later blasted the
federal government for including the name of Osama bin Laden, who Mr Thomas met in Afghanistan
five years ago, on a list of people he is banned from contacting.

As the federal government sought to extend the order, a process adjourned until September
11, Mr Mowbray said: "In my view it makes the order look somewhat silly.

"It makes it look almost a bit farcical, and this is a very serious proceeding."

Mr Thomas' lawyer Lex Lasry, QC, said the names on the list also included 13 people
who were either dead or currently in custody at America's Guantanamo Bay military prison
in Cuba.

Mr Mowbray also criticised the way Mr Thomas was forced to return immediately from
a holiday to comply with the order.

"If I had known the circumstances, I may have reviewed the orders I made," he said.

Some commentators argue that police would have been wiser to place Mr Thomas under
covert surveillance, not only to monitor any activity deemed suspicious but to garner
further information on any contacts.

By so spectacularly advertising the fact that he is under suspicion, the argument runs,
they have ruined any chance of flushing out extra information.

Free or not, Jack Thomas now has a neon sign hanging over him.

AAP dc/sp/cjh/sd

KEYWORD: THOMAS (AAP NEWS ANALYSIS)

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

iBAHN reveals 55% of business travellers have WiFi security concerns

Internet Business News
04-25-2006
Some 55% of business travellers are concerned about WiFi data security levels, according to a global survey by iBAHN, a provider of secure wired and wireless high-speed Internet access to the hospitality industry.

While public WiFi hotspots have existed in places such as railway stations, airports, coffee bars and hotels for some time, 30% of the 150,000 people surveyed by iBAHN confirmed it is the security of hotspots that worry them. Some 20% said they are nervous about using an unfamiliar WiFi provider.

WiFi provides a limited range radio signal to enable travellers with WiFi-enabled devices to connect wirelessly to the Internet at high speeds. iBAHN said 68% of respondents reported owning a WiFi-enabled device, for use on secure wireless networks, while 21% said they intend to purchase such a device within the next year.

iBAHN has introduced one of the first WiFi Protected Access (WPA) networks in the UK throughout its enabled hotels and said companies must establish internal WiFi policies for mobile workers using hotspots.

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



Copyright 2006 M2 Communications, Ltd., All Rights Reserved.

NSW: The sayings of Kerry Packer

AAP General News (Australia)
12-27-2005
NSW: The sayings of Kerry Packer





"Strict but magnificent." - On his tough father Sir Frank.



"There is a little bit of the whore in all of us, gentlemen. What is your price?" -
To the Australian Cricket Board in 1976, seeking the right to televise Test matches.



"From now on it is every man for himself and let the devil take the hindmost." - Storming
out of a meeting with ICC members at Lord's in 1977.



"An Alan Bond only happens to you once." - After Mr Bond bought the Channel Nine network
for $1.05 billion in 1987. Packer bought it back three years later for $300 million.



"I've been to the other side, and let me tell you son, there's nothing there." - In
1990 after his heart stopped while playing polo.



"He wasn't very lovable but he was bloody efficient." - On one of his heroes, Genghis Khan.



"If a working class Englishman saw a bloke drive past in a Rolls-Royce, he'd say to
himself 'Come the social revolution and we'll take that away from you, mate'. Whereas
if his American counterpart saw a bloke drive past in a Cadillac he'd say 'One day I'm
going to own one of those'. To my way of thinking the first attitude is wrong. The latter
is right".



"Kerry Francis Bullmore Packer. Reluctantly." - To a federal parliamentary media inquiry,
when asked to state his full name and the capacity in which he appeared.



AAP dc/br/bart

KEYWORD: PACKER SAYINGS (FACTBOX)

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

NSW: Endeavour arrives in Sydney

AAP General News (Australia)
04-17-2005
NSW: Endeavour arrives in Sydney

By Tamara McLean

SYDNEY, April 17 AAP - She might have been late but the replica of Captain Cook's famous
Endeavour still sailed into Sydney Harbour to cheers and whistles tonight.

The majestic tall ship was due to arrive in Port Jackson at 1pm (AEST) today but was
stranded on a sandbar at Botany Bay on the last day of its five-month voyage.

It was stuck for four hours within view of the monument celebrating Lieutenant James
Cook's visit to Kurnell on April 29, 1770.

Federal Arts and Sport Minister Rod Kemp, who spent the day on board, said it was fitting
that the crew enjoyed a perfect viewing of the landing place.

"Kurnell was a special place for Cook and the boat stuck on the sandbank in full view
of the memorial, so there you go," Senator Kemp quipped.

"Fortunately the boat was able to get clear water and she's still completely seaworthy."

The boat set sail from the United Kingdom in November to retrace the voyage of the
original Endeavour when it discovered Australia more than 200 years ago.

It followed Cook's route, travelling to South America, down through Tahiti, the Pacific
Islands and New Zealand before touching Australia's east coast.

While the boat missed firing broadsides from her cannon in a welcome-home parade, hundreds
of people still waited dockside for her arrival at the Australian Maritime Museum.

"Most were friends and family of crew members but there were plenty of other people
who had just come to welcome the vessel home," Senator Kemp said.

"It's a beautiful boat and it's very special to have it home."

He today announced the government would contribute $750,000 a year to allow Endeavour
to operate tours from its base outside the museum in Darling Harbour.

"Hopefully, it will also have a chance to make longer trips around Australia," the minister said.

"Over the next few years I hope hundreds of thousands of people will get a chance to
see it and climb aboard."

Endeavour will be open to the public on Wednesday, April 20.

AAP tam/pb/de

KEYWORD: ENDEAVOUR NIGHTLEAD (PIX AVAILABLE)

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

Fed: 12 month extention for elections on tax: Brough

AAP General News (Australia)
12-20-2004
Fed: 12 month extention for elections on tax: Brough

CANBERRA, Dec 20 AAP - The time for making or revoking "tax elections" which affected
the taxable income of businesses would be extended, Assistant Treasurer Mal Brough said
today.

Mr Brough said consolidated groups lodging their consolidated tax returns will now
have until December 31, 2005, to make or revoke tax elections that affect their taxable
income.

"There have been significant legislative changes introduced recently through the Taxation
Laws Amendment Bills, and the government recognises the need to provide businesses with
sufficient time to operate under the benefits of these changes before making these important
decisions," he said in a statement.

Mr Brough said the extension followed discussion with business groups.

He said the changes would cover the election to retain existing tax cost for assets
or reset their tax cost, the election to utilise certain losses over three years or the
election to cancel a loss on the transfer of a loss.

But the election to form a consolidated or multiple entry consolidated group will remain
irrevocable.

AAP sw/it/sd

KEYWORD: TAX

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

Fauré, Gabriel

Fauré, Gabriel (1845–1924) The French composer wrote a suite, Shylock (1889), for a French version of The Merchant of Venice; it has two songs and four orchestral pieces.

Thousands gather for ice skating championship

Editor's note: Part of this story was missing in Friday's edition. The complete story is being reprinted.GENEVA -- Dressed in matching black leotards, about 20 women from Western Michigan University's synchronized skating team glided onto the rink at the Fox Valley Ice Arena on Thursday afternoon. They circled, stopped and struck a pose.

A musical montage from Evita poured from rink-side speakers, and the skaters began to move in perfect unison. Linking their arms, they flowed from one intricate formation to the next with startling speed, whizzing past each other so closely they provoked gasps among spectators.

They spun, they lifted, they flipped. When it was all over, they caught their breath and started their routine again from the top.

This was the last chance they would get to practice before competing in the Midwestern regional championships, which are being held at the Geneva rink today and Saturday.

Joining the ladies from Western Michigan for the weekend competition are almost 150 other synchronized skating teams from around the Midwest. That's about 2,500 skaters in all, representing teams with names ranging from Go Figure and Texas Chilli Peppers to Swan Synch-sation.

"A lot of people don't know about it, but (synchronized skating) is huge," said Debbie Voss, a Geneva mother whose daughter is on the Fox Valley Ice Arena's home team, Ice Elite.

"Figure skating takes a lot of time," requiring countless hours of practice, Voss said. "For a lot of the girls, it's all they do, so team skating gives them some social time. They get to spend time together as a team."

Essentially a cross between ballet and solo figure skating, "synchro" has boomed in popularity. It will be a competition at the 2006 Winter Olympics and is scheduled next year to become an official women's sport in the NCAA.

"It's a tough sport," said Mark Przybylski, the marketing chairman for the Midwestern championships. "These girls are athletes in the truest sense of the world. When they come off the ice, their feet are beat up, everything. It's very competitive."

It's also very expensive. Some parents at the ice rink Thursday said they spent as much as $12,000 each year for their child's lessons, costumes, skates and traveling to competitions.

Teams compete according to their age and skill. Skaters ages 6 to 93 in about a dozen categories will perform at this weekend's championship.

Many are exhibition categories, but in the five categories for teens and college students, the competition is fierce. Only four teams from each category will score enough points to make it to the national competition to be held in March in San Diego.

In preparation for the competition, most teams came to town on Wednesday or Thursday to get extra practice time. But with 150 teams, each one got only 15 minutes on the arena's two rinks for pre-contest practice. Even with such short times, practices ran for about 12 hours on Wednesday and from dawn to after midnight Thursday.

The Teen Introductory squad on the Geneva-based Ice Elite team got practice in early Thursday morning. They said they were definitely ready to face the judges today.

"I'm really excited," said Kristen Hibbard, 13, of Naperville, as she and her friends talked about their sport. "Synchronized skating is a challenge because you have to make sure everyone else is doing the same thing."

Parents say the graceful and fast- paced sport also is fun to watch. "It's not the same watching figure skating on TV," Voss said. "You don't get a feel for how fast they are going or how close they are."

For those interested in watching some excellent adult team skating, organizers of the championship said there also will be a national-level competition at 12:15 p.m. Sunday.

"Those will be some world-class skaters," said publicity chairman Lynn Brown. "And for the $2 ticket, it's a good deal."

For the regional championship, which began Friday and runs from 7:45 a.m. to 10 p.m. today, tickets are $15.

Both events will be at the Fox Valley Ice Arena on Kirk Road north of Fabyan Parkway in Geneva. Complete schedules are available on the Internet at www.2004synchromids.org.

On-line Christmas shopping -- avoid disappointed faces on Christmas morning.

M2 PRESSWIRE-22 November 2001-Collectpoint: On-line Christmas shopping -- avoid disappointed faces on Christmas morning (C)1994-2001 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

RDATE:21112001

Coming up to Christmas, what better way for busy people to shop for gifts than to surf the Internet and buy on-line. These days, many millions of pounds are spent buying from the Internet and, as Christmas approaches, the wires will be hot. But Jim Doyle of Collectpoint, the company that enables you to pick up your Internet purchases from local convenience stores, says there could be pitfalls for the unwary.

Collectpoint has considerable experience of 'e-tailing' in action. "It's still a matter of buyer beware", says Jim Doyle, "and you still need to be as sharp on the computer as you would be in the High Street."

To avoid any disappointments this Christmas, Jim Doyle offers his 'top tips' for buying on-line. One of the fundamental issues, for example, is that the lower costs and convenience of buying on-line rapidly disappear if taking delivery of the goods becomes a hassle.

Taking a day off work to wait in for a home delivery or, if you miss the delivery, having to queue up at a parcel depot, can really take the shine off what should be a slick transaction. "Having been caught out a few times myself, I decided to set up Collectpoint to tackle one of the main problem areas", says Jim Doyle, "but there are other considerations when buying on the Internet and I hope my Top Tips will help to avoid disappointments this Christmas."

Ten Top Tips for On-line Christmas Shopping

1.. Be sure to complete your purchase before any specified cut-off dates for Christmas delivery

2.. Make sure the store carries stock items so you don't have to wait for re-stocking or delivery chains

3.. If there is a customer service or sales line, ask if your order can be fulfilled in time. If you don't get an answer, perhaps the company is already under Christmas pressure!

4.. Check shipping and handling fees before making the purchase

5.. Keep a printed copy of all e-mail you receive from the online store, including your purchase order number, order confirmation and dispatch note.

Merchandise should be delivered to you within 30 days. The seller must inform you of likely delays

6.. Paying by credit card rather than debit card gives you greater protection.

If you are concerned about giving out your card number out on the Internet, most credit card companies give an 'online fraud protection guarantee'. You can email marketing@collectpoint.com to find out which cards offer guarantees

7.. Read the seller's privacy policy carefully to find out what personal information the seller is capturing from you and how it will be used. If a site does not have a privacy policy posted, contact its customer services to ask how you can prevent inappropriate use of information

8.. If you are concerned about the safe delivery of your purchase when normally no one would be at home to receive it, ask if delivery could be made at a specified time. Better still, have the goods delivered to a Collectpoint to be kept ready for you to collect at your convenience

9.. Check for any faults as soon as you receive your purchase. If you find any defects, contact the seller both by telephone and in writing, again making sure to keep copies of all correspondence

10.. Before buying from a site check out its returns policy. Make sure you aren't stuck with something you don't want!

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

Collectpoint plc has more then 3,200 active delivery points in Britain, which can be found in numerous branches of Dillons/One Stop, SPAR, The Mills Group, David Sands, GT News and the Co-op as well as in some Londis stores. The large number of delivery points is making the service increasingly attractive to a wide variety of internet retailers. Latest partner webshops include www.blushingbuyer.co.uk; www.gadgetshop.com; and www.worthaglance.com.

Information about online shops and the service and selection of the nearest delivery points can be accessed via Collectpoint's website at www.collectpoint.com

CONTACT: Katie Sutton Tel: +44 (0)1344 622280 e-mail: katies@tc-comms.co.uk

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

Eagle USA Second Quarter Revenues and EPS to Exceed Expectations.

HOUSTON, April 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Eagle USA Airfreight, Inc. (Nasdaq: EUSA), expects to report second quarter fiscal 1999 net income of $5.2 million to $5.6 million, or $.27 to $.29 per share, on revenues of $131 million to $133 million. Analyst consensus earnings estimates for the second quarter, according to First Call, are $.24 per share. Net income for the second quarter of fiscal 1998 was $4.0 million, or $.21 per share on revenues $90.5 million. The Company plans to release second quarter earnings on April 27, 1999.

President and CEO James R. Crane said, "These strong results in what has been our seasonally weakest quarter demonstrate that our non-asset based business model is generating excellent results due to the continued expansion of our domestic, international and local pickup delivery businesses. Our established network of terminals continues its rapid sales momentum as same terminal revenue growth is expected to exceed 30 percent for the second quarter of fiscal 1999."

The statements in this press release regarding income, revenue and same terminal revenue growth expectations or business expectations and any other statements that are not historical facts are forward looking statements. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, competition, general economic conditions, ability to manage and continue growth, risks of international operations and other factors detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary from those indicated.

Eagle USA Airfreight's dedication to providing superior flexibility and fewer shipping restrictions on a price competitive basis has made it a leading provider of airfreight forwarding and other transportation and logistics services. The Company's network of 73 terminals in five countries features state-of-the-art information systems designed to maximize cargo management efficiency and customer satisfaction. The Company's shares are traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol "EUSA".

For more information about EUSA:

Visit EUSA on the Internet at http://www.eagleusa.com Contact EUSA Investor Relations via the Internet at mslaught@eagleusa.com or by telephone at 281-618-3428, Michael Slaughter, Director of Investor Relations.

Market Maker Surveillance Report. TZOO, HLIT, SIFY, PLCM, NTWK, TTHI, Losing Stocks With Lowest Price Friction For Thursday, July 21st 2011.(Report)

M2 PRESSWIRE-July 22, 2011-BUYINS.NET: Market Maker Surveillance Report. TZOO, HLIT, SIFY, PLCM, NTWK, TTHI, Losing Stocks With Lowest Price Friction For Thursday, July 21st 2011(C)1994-2011 M2 COMMUNICATIONS

RDATE:22072011

BUYINS.NET / www.buyins.net, announced today its proprietary Market Maker Friction Factor Report for Thursday. Since October 2008 market makers are now required to be on the bid as much as they are on the offer and for like amounts of stock. This Fair Market Making Requirement is designed to prevent market makers from manipulating stock prices. On Thursday there were 4144 companies with "abnormal" market making, 4452 companies with positive Friction Factors and 2230 companies with negative Friction Factors. Here is a list of the top companies with the largest percentage loss per share Thursday and low price friction (bearish). This means that there was more selling than buying in the stocks and their stock prices dropped faster with less Friction. TRAVELZOO INC (NASDAQ:TZOO), HARMONIC INCORPORATED (NASDAQ:HLIT), SIFY TECHNOLOGIES-SPON ADR (NASDAQ:SIFY), POLYCOM INC (NASDAQ:PLCM), NETSOL TECHNOLOGIES INC (NASDAQ:NTWK), TRANSITION THERAPEUTICS INC (NASDAQ:TTHI). To access Friction Factor, Naked Short Data and SqueezeTrigger Prices on all stocks please visit http://www.buyins.net .

Market Maker Friction Factor is shown in the chart below:

Symbol Change Percent Buy Volume Buy %% Sell Volume Sell %% Net Volume Friction

TZOO $-29.530 -34.45% 3,451,661 47.85% 3,641,492 50.48% -189,831 -64

HLIT $-0.960 -13.60% 2,383,039 44.13% 3,009,437 55.73% -626,398 -6,525

SIFY $-1.090 -19.19% 1,747,854 39.25% 2,704,224 60.72% -956,370 -8,774

PLCM $-4.140 -13.38% 2,766,729 49.02% 2,844,466 50.40% -77,737 -188

NTWK $-0.460 -30.69% 2,957,084 46.47% 3,405,963 53.53% -448,879 -9,758

TTHI $-0.330 -12.09% 45,146 32.41% 94,134 67.59% -48,988 -1,484

Analysis of the Friction Factor chart above shows that each of the six stocks mentioned above have high net dollar losses (Change) and extremely low price friction in their stocks. The Friction Factor displays how many more shares of buying than selling are required to move a stock higher by one cent or how many more shares of selling than buying moves a stock lower by 1 cent.

For example, the chart above shows TZOO with a dollar loss Thursday of $-29.53000 and a Friction Factor of -64 shares. That means that it only took 64 more shares of selling than buying to move TZOO lower by one penny. This means the Market Makers are allowing the stock to drop quickly (low friction). The combination of low friction and negative market direction can drive prices lower faster than normal.

TRAVELZOO INC (NASDAQ:TZOO) - Travelzoo Inc., an Internet media company, publishes travel and entertainment offers from various travel and entertainment companies in North America and Europe. The companys publications and products include the Travelzoo Web sites, including travelzoo.com, travelzoo.ca, travelzoo.co.uk, travelzoo.de, travelzoo.es, and travelzoo.fr; the Travelzoo Top 20 e-mail newsletter; and the Newsflash e-mail alert service. It also offers the SuperSearch pay-per-click travel search tool; and the Travelzoo Network, a network of third-party Web sites that list deals published by Travelzoo. In addition, the company operates Fly.com, a travel search engine that allows users to find the best prices on flights from various airlines and online travel agencies. Its products provide advertising opportunities for airlines, hotels, cruise lines, vacation packagers, and other travel and entertainment companies. Travelzoo Inc. was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

HARMONIC INCORPORATED (NASDAQ:HLIT) - Harmonic Inc. designs, manufactures, and sells video products and system solutions that enable service providers to deliver broadcast and on-demand services. Its broadcast and on-demand services include high-definition television, video-on-demand, network personal video recording, and time-shifted TV. The company offers video processing products, including broadcast encoders, contribution and distribution encoders, stream processing and statistical multiplexing solutions, and decoders and descramblers. It also offers management and control software products that consist of NMX Digital Service Manager that gives service providers the ability to control and visually monitor their digital video infrastructure at an aggregate level; and NETWatch management system, which operates in broadband networks to capture measurement data and enables the broadband service operator to monitor and control the hybrid fiber-coax transmission network from a master headend or remote locations. In addition, the company provides content management software that comprise CLEARCut storage encoding and CarbonCoder software, which facilitate the creation of multi-format video for Internet, mobile, and broadcast applications; ProStream 8000 solution that allows operators to present on-screen mosaics with various channels tiled within a single video stream; and Armada and Streamliner products for the management of an operators video-on-demand assets and the distribution of these assets to subscribers. Further, it offers edge and access products, such as edge products, optical transmitters and amplifiers, and optical nodes and return path equipment. Further, the company provides consulting, implementation, and integration services. It sells and markets its products through direct sales force, independent distributors, and integrators to various broadband communications companies primarily in the United States. The company was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California.

SIFY TECHNOLOGIES-SPON ADR (NASDAQ:SIFY) - Sify Technologies Limited provides enterprise and consumer Internet services primarily in India. The company offers various corporate network/data services comprising e-commerce and network connectivity solutions, such as end-to-end services network, application, and security services; voice origination and termination services; co-location and managed hosting services; and system integration services for data centre build, hardware distribution, security solutions, and turnkey projects. It also provides application services, including SLEMS and Microsoft Exchange messaging platforms; I-test for online assessment and LiveWire, which enable management of training processes across the organization; document management system for the management of documents electronically; and Forum, a forward supply chain solution. In addition, the company operates e-Ports that offer browsing, chat, email, gaming, utility bill payment, travel ticketing, hotel booking, mobile recharge, Internet telephony, and online share trading services; and portals, which provide news, views, reviews, interactions, and services in the areas of movies, sports, finance, food, videos, astrology, online games, shopping, and travel, as well as offers content offerings and broadband services. Further, it provides infrastructure management services, such as network management, datacenter and helpdesk outsourcing, desktop and storage outsourcing, IT security outsourcing, LAN and WAN outsourcing, database and telecom outsourcing, and application monitoring and management services to automotive, chemical, media, and financial enterprises; and virtualization design, integration, and deployment services for servers, storage, networks, and end user clients. Sify has approximately 1,278 e-Ports in 200 towns and cities; and serves 1,06,000 broadband subscribers through 1500 cable TV Operators. The company, formerly known as Sify Limited, was founded in 1995 and is based in Chennai, India.

POLYCOM INC (NASDAQ:PLCM) - Polycom, Inc. provides communications solutions to enterprise, government, education, and healthcare customers to enable voice, video, and content communications. It operates in three segments: Video Communications Solutions, Voice Communications Solutions, and Services. The Video Communications Solutions segment offers video communications products, including telepresence, room, desktop, and personal video products; and network systems products, such as UC media servers, network management, security, streaming, and recording solutions. The Voice Communications Solutions segment offers conference phone, wired desktop voice products, and wireless handset voice products. The Services segment offers integration services, including consulting, education, design, and project management; consulting services, such as planning and needs analysis; design services, including room design and custom solutions; and project management, installation, and training services. This segment also offers maintenance services, including telephone support, software upgrades and updates, parts exchange, on-site assistance, and direct access; and professional services solutions, such as assessments, implementation, network consulting, wireless services application integration, and advanced project management services. The company sells its products through a network of channel partners, including distributors, value-added resellers, systems integrators, communications service providers, and retailers primarily in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and Latin America. Polycom, Inc. has strategic partnerships with companies, such as Avaya, Broadsoft, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Juniper, Microsoft, McAfee, Inc., and Siemens. The company was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Pleasanton, California.

NETSOL TECHNOLOGIES INC (NASDAQ:NTWK) - Netsol Technologies, Inc. designs, develops, and markets software products for the automobile finance and leasing, banking, healthcare, and financial services industries worldwide. It offers NetSol Financial Suite, which is an end-to-end solution that covers the leasing and finance cycle. The NetSol Financial Suite consist of software applications comprising Point of Sale, a front office processing system for the finance sector; Credit Application Processing System to handle the incoming credit applications from dealers, agents, brokers, and the direct sales force; Contract Management System to manage and maintain a contract; Wholesale Finance System to automate and manage the floor plan/bailment activities of dealerships; and Fleet Management System to handle fleet management needs. The NetSol Financial Suite also includes LeasePak that develops Web-enabled and Web-based tools for the leasing technology industry. In addition, the company offers LeaseSoft Portals and Modules; enterprise wide information systems, such as LRMIS, MTMIS, and Hospital Management Systems; accounting outsourcing services; and career and technology programs. Further, it provides portfolio management systems for the financial services industry; and consulting, custom development, systems integration, and technical services for the healthcare, insurance, real estate, and technology markets. Additionally, the company offers business intelligence, independent system review, information security, and software process improvement consulting services; maintenance and support, and project management services; and solutions for the defense and military forces. It serves Fortune 500 manufacturers, automakers, financial institutions, utilities, technology providers, and government agencies. The company was formerly known as NetSol International, Inc. and changed its name to NetSol Technologies, Inc. in March 2002. NetSol Technologies, Inc. was founded in 1997 and is based in Calabasas, California.

TRANSITION THERAPEUTICS INC (NASDAQ:TTHI) - Transition Therapeutics Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, develops novel therapeutics for various disease indications primarily in Canada. Its lead products include ELND-005/AZD-103, a Phase II clinical trial product for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease; and TT-223 gastrin analogue, a Phase II clinical trial product for the treatment of diabetes. The companys TT-223 gastrin analogue, includes TT-223 in combination with a GLP-1 analogue as a therapy for the treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, which is under Phase 1b clinical study in type 2 diabetes patients; and TT-223 in combination with EGF analogues that has completed two Phase I clinical trials for the drug candidate in type 1 and type 2 diabetics. In addition, it has an emerging pipeline of preclinical drug candidates developed using its proprietary drug discovery engine. Transition Therapeutics Inc. has a strategic collaboration with Elan Pharma International Limited to develop and commercialize ELND-005/AZD-103 therapeutic agent, as well as a licensing and collaboration agreement with Eli Lilly and Company to develop and commercialize gastrin based therapies, including the lead compound TT-223. The company was formerly known as Transition Therapeutics and Diagnostics Inc. and changed its name to Transition Therapeutics Inc. in December 2000. Transition Therapeutics Inc. was founded in 1987 and is based in Toronto, Canada.

About BUYINS.NET

BUYINS.NET, www.buyins.net , monitors trading in all US stocks in real time and maintains massive databases of short sale and naked short sale time and sales data, short squeeze SqueezeTrigger prices, market maker price movements, shareholder data, statistical data on earnings, sector correlation, seasonality, hedge fund trading strategies, comparable valuations. Reports include:

REGULATORY & COMPLIANCE NEWS

Friction Factor -- market maker surveillance system tracking Level II market makers in all stocks to determine Price Friction and compliance with new "Fair Market Making Requirements"

RegSHO Naked Shorts -- tracks EVERY failure to deliver in all US stocks and tracks all Threshold Security Lists daily for which stocks have naked shorts that are not in compliance with Regulation SHO

INVESTMENTS & TRADING

SqueezeTrigger -- 29 billion cell database tracks EVERY short sale (not just total short interest) in all US stocks and calculates volume weighted price that a short squeeze will begin in each stock.

Earnings Edge -- predicts probability, price move and length of move before and after all US stock earnings reports.

Seasonality -- predicts probability, price move and length of move based on exact time of year for all US stocks.

Group Trader -- tracks sector rotation and stock correlation to its sector and predicts future moves in ALL sectors and industry groups.

Pattern Scan -- automates tracking of every technical pattern and predicts time and size of move in all stocks.

GATS (Global Automated Trading System) -- tracks all known trading strategies and qualifies and quantifies which are working best in real time.

DISCLAIMER:

BUYINS.NET is not a registered investment advisor and nothing contained in any materials should be construed as a recommendation to buy or sell any securities. BUYINS.NET has not been compensated by any of the above mentioned companies. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Please visit our web site, www.buyins.net , for complete risks and disclosures.

Contact:

BUYINS.NET

Thomas Ronk

800-715-9999

tom@buyins.net

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CONTACT: Buyins.netThomas Ronktom@buyins.netwww.buyins.net

((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)).

New Zealand telecom law could breach WTO agreements: internet NZ.(NEW ZEALAND)

A planned New Zealand telecom law could end up violating important trade agreements and force the country to face stern measures from the World Trade Organization.

According to Internet NZ, some portions of the law breach two trade agreements signed by the country: AANZFTA (Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement) and GATS (General Agreement on Trade in Services).

The legislation pertains to the UFB (ultrafast broadband) and RBI (rural broadband initiative) to boost Internet speeds in the island nation. While the WTO norms must be adhered to by all 153 members, the AANZFTA guidelines bind 12 nations.

Internet NZ CEO Vikram Kumar said that in case the legislation is passed, the WTO could compel the government to modify it. The controversial legislation primarily related to the regulatory power granted to Crown Fiber Holdings, which would monitor the Internet infrastructure, as opposed to an independent body.

Open Solutions Unveils Revolutionary Products and New Corporate Brand at Record-setting Client Conference.

-- Stimulates collaboration among community-based financial institutions --

GLASTONBURY, Conn. -- Open Solutions Inc.[R] today announced that a record-setting 1,200 attendees were on hand at the company's annual Client Conference and Solutions Expo from April 30 through May 4 to witness the formal unveiling of two game-changing new technologies - DNAcreator[TM] and DNAappstore[TM] - and the introduction of Open Solutions' new corporate brand.

Themed "Ingenuity Without Boundaries," the conference content was sharply focused on fostering innovation through collaboration among community-based financial institutions, the people they serve, and their technology partners.

"Open Solutions' conference is more interactive than others I attend. Maybe it's because all clients, both banks and credit unions, are on the same technology platform, or because we are all a little bit more innovative and forward thinking than a lot of our peers, which creates a great sense of community among us. Whatever it is, we collaborate all year long, sharing best practices and solutions to business problems," offered Sheryl Shinn, Senior Vice President, Information Technology & Operations, Hampden Bank, Springfield MA, and Chair Person for the Open Solutions Partnering Council of the Client Association. "Coming together this one time each year feels like a celebration of our successes. Not only do we work hard, but it's a great time too!"

During the conference keynote on May 2, Open Solutions Chairman and CEO, Louis Hernandez, Jr., marked the culmination of several years of planning and development by formally launching two game-changing technologies: DNAcreator and DNAappstore.

With DNAcreator, Open Solutions is providing its partners, clients and independent developers with a comprehensive, free toolkit to build custom applications (DNAapps) that can exponentially broaden a client's core banking capabilities. The DNAappstore provides a global, digital marketplace where people can share and discuss DNAapps, to promote the industry's best ideas and solutions. Over 70 DNAapps were available at the time of the announcement and many more have been added since Open Solutions launched the DNAappstore.

"DNAcreator and DNAappstore are unprecedented solutions that will fundamentally change how technology is developed for community-based financial institutions," says Louis Hernandez, Jr. "We're opening up our core product for anyone to build on, giving them the tools to create revolutionary new apps, and providing a robust marketplace for sharing their ideas and solutions. Nobody else in this industry has ever dared to do this. But given today's regulatory, competitive and economic climate, we are gratified that the strategic decisions we made years ago now position us to offer strong support to community financial institutions at a time when they need it most."

Open Solutions also unveiled at the conference the company's new brand and corporate theme, "There's Power in Community."

Commenting on the rebranding initiative, David Mitchell, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Open Solutions, noted, "A lot has changed - both in the industry and at Open Solutions - in the 11 years since we last visited our brand. Our new theme better captures what we value and believe in today at Open Solutions. It expresses our belief in the vital role that our clients play within the communities they serve. It reflects the invaluable support and wealth of ideas we've received from our strong and innovative client user community. And it conveys the idea that by leveraging our collective knowledge and collaborating with each other, DNA[TM] clients can transform their businesses and become a much more powerful force in the marketplace."

Along with the new brand and corporate messaging, the company launched a new corporate web site at www.opensolutions.com, with improved navigation and content expressing the new brand.

The annual Open Solutions Client Conference and Solutions Expo took place from April 30 through May 4 at the Gaylord National Hotel & Convention Center in National Harbor, MD. More than 1,200 attendees, representing community-based banks and credit unions in the U.S., Canada and overseas, joined the conference for educational sessions, technology demonstrations, and peer-to-peer collaboration. Also on hand were technology partners to showcase products and services that complement Open Solutions' industry-leading enterprise financial solutions, as well as analysts, press, consultants and employees.

About Open Solutions Inc.

Open Solutions Inc. offers a fully-featured strategic product platform that integrates core data processing applications built on a single centralized Oracle[R] relational database, with Internet banking, cash management, CRM/business intelligence, financial accounting tools, imaging, digital documents, Check 21, wealth management, interactive voice response, technology services, payments and loan origination solutions.

Open Solutions' full suite of products and services allows banks, thrifts, credit unions and financial services providers in the United States, Canada and internationally to better compete in today's aggressive financial services marketplace, further enhancing their trusted financial relationships, client affinity, community presence and personalized service.

OPEN SOLUTIONS INC.[R] is a registered trademark of Open Solutions Inc. Third-party names and marks are the property of their respective owners. [c] 2011 Open Solutions Inc. All rights reserved.

Editor's Note: The correct usage of the company name, Open Solutions Inc., is either referring to it as Open Solutions Inc. or Open Solutions. Open Solutions no longer uses the acronym of OSI to refer to the company.

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IP Snapshot April 2011.(intellectual property)

Bringing you regular news of key developments in intellectual property law.

COPYRIGHT

Advocate General's Opinion on Painer v Standard Verlags GmbH, Case-145/10, 12 April 2011

A portrait photo is afforded copyright protection under Article 6 of Directive 93/98 and of Directive 2006/116 if it is an original work resulting from the intellectual creation of the photographer, which is the case where the photographer 'leaves his mark'. The publication of a photo-fit based on a copyright portrait photo constitutes a reproduction within the meaning of Article 2(a) of Directive 2001/29 where the elements comprising the original intellectual creation of the template are also embodied in the photo-fit.

Quotations without consent are permissible but the person making the quotation must credit the author where possible, having taken all measures to identify the author having regard to the circumstances of the individual case.

A slightly modified criterion should be applied in examining whether there is a sufficient close connection for Article 6(1) of the Brussels Regulation regarding jurisdiction for related actions.

For the full text of the opinion, click here

TRADE MARKS

In the matter of application no 2463230 in the name of Catherine Hughes and opposition no 96672 by Annette Campbell and Bente Zaber, BL O-094-11 (UK IPO), 7 March 2011

An application for registration of the name of the deceased well-known voice trainer IAN ADAMS was refused on the grounds of bad faith as it was made for an improper purpose, where the Applicant was seeking to exclude the surviving goodwill and reputation of the name from the estate she was purporting to administer.

For the full text of the decision, click here.

Dame Vivienne Westwood OBE v Anthony Edward Knight [2011] EWPCC 008 (Patents County Court), 22 March 2011

This case, the first to be heard in the Patents County Court under the new procedural scheme applicable in this court (which came into force in October 2010), concerned claims of trade mark and copyright infringement, and passing off brought by Dame Vivienne Westwood against Mr Anthony Knight (an online seller of fashion clothing and accessories). The dispute related to the sale of fashion clothing and accessories bearing various names and marks associated with Dame Westwood.

The court upheld these claims.

For the full text of the decision, click here.

Advocate General's Opinion on Case C-323/09 Interflora Inc v Marks and Spencer plc, 24 March 2011

The Advocate General has delivered an opinion on the questions referred to it by the High Court and has opined that trade mark infringement is possible where the use of the trade mark in question is via an advertising keyword (AdWord) purchased by a third party.

Typing in the keyword (and trade mark) INTERFLORA as a search term in Google generated a sponsored link to M&S' online flower-delivery service. The Advocate General held that in general the display of commercial alternatives in this way is not problematic as there would be little confusion for the average internet consumer. However, the risk with the INTERFLORA trade mark was that the average internet consumer may associate M&S with the network of independent businesses that Interflora comprises. Therefore the proprietor of such a trade mark would be entitled to prohibit the use of such a keyword in advertising by a competitor.

For the full text of the opinion, click here

Yell Limited -v- Louis Giboin and others, Patents County Court, 4 April 2011

Yell sued an individual and his associated companies whose websites depicted the YELLOW PAGES mark and the "Walking Fingers" logo, which were used to promote an online directory of transport related businesses. The defendant argued that his websites were based outside the UK, so that the UK courts had no jurisdiction and also that Yell's marks were used generically over the internet by third parties (but no formal counterclaim for invalidity was made). These arguments were rejected and Yell succeeded on claims of trade mark infringement and passing off.

For the full text of the decision, click here

PATENTS

Oliver Br'stle v Greenpeace eV, C-34/10, 10 March 2011

The Advocate General has published an opinion concerning the interpretation of certain terms contained in Directive 98/44/EC, the "Biotech Directive". In particular the opinion focussed on interpretation of the term "human embryo". The AG considered that totipotent cells, those which have the capacity to evolve into complete human beings, as well as cells at the blastocyst stage of development, must be classified as human embryos and are therefore not patentable. In addition, procedures using pluripotent embryonic stem cells that necessitate destruction or modification of an embryo would not be patentable.

For the full text of the opinion, click here

For our Law-Now on this opinion, click here.

The Hedgehog Golf Company Ltd v Frank Hauser [2011] EWHC 689 (Ch), 23 March 2011

Mr Justice Newey of the Chancery Court has granted a perpetual injunction to The Hedgehog Golf Company Ltd to restrain a former director, Mr Frank Hauser, from improperly disclosing confidential information (including in relation to a patent). The Defendant had shown a "blatant disregard" for an existing Company director's rights and had revealed an intention to destroy or damage the company including an intention to assist a party with which the Company was engaged in litigation.

For the full text of the decision, click here.

Les Laboratoires Servier and another v Apotex Inc and others [2011] EWHC 730 (Pat), 29 March 2011

The High Court has held that a defendant must repay damages paid to it resulting from a cross-undertaking in the context of an interim injunction which was deemed to have been incorrectly granted. This repayment decision is due to the fact that the manufacture of the original product was found to infringe a foreign patent, and so while the UK patent was not being infringed, the principle of ex turpi causa applies. The meaning of ex turpi causa was considered in depth and found to include situations where there was no actual dishonesty or crime, but rather a seriously unlawful act undertaken with relevant knowledge.

For the full text of the decision, click here.

(1) Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc. (2) Starsight Telecast Inc. (3) United Video Properties Inc. v (1) Virgin Media Limited (2) Virgin Media Payments Limited [2011] EWCA Civ 302, 29 March 2011

Users of Virgin's electronic programming guide (EPG) could display programme information in a manner, which according to Gemstar infringed its Single Channel Patent. The mechanism for arriving at favourite channels allegedly infringed Gemstar's Favourite Channel Patent and the mechanism for secondary recording allegedly infringed the Transfer Patent. Virgin disputed the infringement and counterclaimed that the patents should be revoked in view of non-patentable subject matter, lack of novelty and being obvious over the prior art.

The High Court revoked all three patents for lack of novelty. Gemstar appealed against the revocation of two of the patents, the Transfer Patent and the Favourites Patent, arguing that both were novel over the cited prior art. The appeal was dismissed.

For the full text of the decision, click here.

Synthon BV v Merz Pharma GmbH & Co KG, C-195/09, 31 March 2011 and Generics (UK) Ltd v Synaptech Inc C-427/09, 31 March 2011

The Advocate General has given his opinion on the interpretation of the Supplementary Protection Certificate (SPC) Regulation in 2 cases - Synthon v Merz and Generics v Synaptech - the cases were not joined but concern similar aspects of the SPC Regulation. The cases concern the meaning of the term "first authorisation to place the product on the market". Advocate General Mengozzi opined that products which had been placed on the market as medicinal products in Community territory before a marketing authorisation in compliance with Directive 65/65 (the "Medicines Directive", now 2001/83) had been obtained did not fall within the scope of the SPC Regulation and so the related SPC was invalid.

For the full text of the opinions, click here and here.

This article was written for Law-Now, CMS Cameron McKenna's free online information service. To register for Law-Now, please go to www.law-now.com/law-now/mondaq

Law-Now information is for general purposes and guidance only. The information and opinions expressed in all Law-Now articles are not necessarily comprehensive and do not purport to give professional or legal advice. All Law-Now information relates to circumstances prevailing at the date of its original publication and may not have been updated to reflect subsequent developments.

The original publication date for this article was 27/04/2011.

Mr Nick Beckett

CMS Cameron McKenna LLP

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