NSW:Body found in Sydney's Parramatta River

AAP General News (Australia)
08-02-2011
NSW:Body found in Sydney's Parramatta River

SYDNEY, Aug 2 AAP - A council worker has found a body floating in the Parramatta River
in Sydney's west.

The worker was cleaning the foreshore area near Marsden Street, Parramatta, when he
spotted the body about 9.15am (AEST) on Tuesday.

He contacted emergency services, and police rescue will recover the body.

Police are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

AAP ct/tr/jl

KEYWORD: RIVER

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

NSW:Coma woman's family appeal for help

AAP General News (Australia)
04-06-2011
NSW:Coma woman's family appeal for help

The family of a woman fighting for her life in hospital after she was hit by a four-wheel
drive in Sydney's inner west last month has pleaded for witnesses to come forward.

Just before 4pm (AEST) on March 14 a maroon Lexus mounted the kerb along the Princes
Highway at St Peters and struck EMMA DE SILVA .. who was pushing a pram with her baby
daughter in it.

Ms DE SILVA remains in critical condition in a coma in hospital.

Her husband PETER says it's an hour by hour situation for his wife .. who endured three
miscarriages before she had ELOISE .. and it's their baby that's keeping him going.

Police want to identify a woman who held ELOISE until the ambulance arrived .. as well
as anyone who saw the Lexus before it mounted the kerb.

The 24-year-old driver has spoken to police but no charges have been laid.

AAP RTV dmg/wjf/jmt

KEYWORD: EMMA (SYDNEY)

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

FED:National Newslist for Thursday, Dec 16

AAP General News (Australia)
12-16-2010
FED:National Newslist for Thursday, Dec 16

AAP's National Newslist for Thursday (not for publication). This is a guide only and
stories are subject to change. AAP's news editors can be contacted on 02 93228611/8610.

TOP STORIES
BOAT CAPSIZE
- Government says up to 100 people could have been aboard boat which hit rocks on Christmas Island.

- 28 dead, 44 rescued including 11 children.

- Two injured young women flown to Perth hospital by RFDS. Decision to be made for other
injured who are in the Christmas Island hospital which is crowded but too stretched.

- Search to resume 0630 (WST); Bowen says conditions extremely dangerous.

- Chris Bowen says tragic accident won't change gov't border security policy.

- Julia Gillard and Bowen to be briefed later on Thursday morning.

- Oppn says it won't use deaths for political purposes.

- Refugee advocate calls for inquiry into how boat was allowed to reach the island without
being intercepted.

- Outwatching developments, further reax.

WIKILEAKS
- Secret US embassy cables have criticised the handling of asylum seekers by former prime
minister Kevin Rudd. Seeking comment from senior ministers.

SUPER
- Federal govt to unveil changes to superannuation. Assistant Treasurer Bill Shorten presser
1030 in Melbourne.

COURTS
ADELAIDE
- Two boys in court over the murder of a woman in her Adelaide home
- Woman in court for killing her 2yo son because she believed he had been taken over by
an evil spirit.

- A refugee once tortured in Afghanistan to face sentencing submissions for indecently
assaulting a girl on a train in Adelaide.

- Well-known Adelaide busker to face sentencing over a sex charge.

- Victorian man jailed over the murder of Adelaide teenager Carly Ryan to appear before
an appeal court.

BRISBANE
- Man who told authorities he was involved in Daniel Morcombe's disappearance expected
to take stand at inquest.

- Former Qld government minister Gordon Nuttall to be sentenced for latest corruption,
perjury convictions.

- Inquiry into collapsed Gold Coast property group MFS, since renamed Octaviar, to hear
from David Kelleher, the chief of a major financer, Fortress Credit.

MELBOURNE
- Inquest resumes into police shooting death of Tyler Cassidy, County Court 1100.

- Pre-sentence of Gursewak Dhillon, who has pleaded guilty over the death of Indian toddler
Gurshan Singh, Supreme Court, 1030.

- A doctor and former Cleo bachelor of the year finalist appeals suspension by medical
board after he had sex with patients, 0930.

SYDNEY
- Final submissions expected in committal hearing for Suresh Nair, charged with murder
and manslaughter of two prostitutes.

- Judgment on sentence appeal by Rachel Pfitzner, jailed 19 years for convicted of murdering
her infant son Dean Shillingsworth.

- Judgment on appeal by Penelope Woodbridge, very drunk driver who killed a woman and
severely injured the woman's husband, and cross-appeal by crown.

CANBERRA
- Australian War memorial offered another Victoria Cross (video available).

- Burke releases governments sustainable population issues paper 1100.

SYDNEY
- 33 guns stolen from a workshop in Sydney's west, sparking concerns they could now be
on sale in the community. Police presser at 0900.

- Kristina Keneally announcements on Metropolitan Plan for Sydney, and affordable housing (1000).

- Keneally announcement on Barangaroo (1230).

- World-famous architect Frank Gehry displaying his vision for the new UTS building in
Ultimo (1030).

- Preview of Powerhouse Museum's Abba exhibition (1100)

BRISBANE
- Warren Snowdon launches groundbreaking research on jet fuel exposure syndrome, resulting
from working with aviation turbine fuels and F-111 deseal/reseal agents.

- More potentially damaging storms predicted for southeast, as mop-up after yesterday's
super-cell storm continues; Watching flood waters in Rockhampton.

- Search continues for man who failed to surface after kayaking over far north Qld waterfall.

- State opposition says overhaul of parliamentary committe system could pave way for fixed,
four-year terms in Qld.

- Motoring group RACQ releases long-term research on performance of electric cars, including
reliability, range, recharing convenience, and running costs.

ADELAIDE
- Govt to release its mid year budget review.

MEDICAL
- Chasing Australian experts in HIV medicine, to comment on developments in Berlin in
which a HIV-positive man was cured via a blood transplant.

ENTERTAINMENT
SYDNEY - Keith Urban interview.

INTERNATIONAL
AUCKLAND - Knife-wielding man commandeered a Mr Whippy van and hurled icecreams at passersby,
NZ court.

AUCKLAND - More than 100 of the rarest gulls in the world massacred while nesting on NZ
South Island.

AUCKLAND - Fiji will be getting a dose of Oprah fever on Thursday, when the screen queen jets in.

FINANCE
ECONOMICS:
Sydney - RBA December Quarter Bulletin
Sydney - Westpac-Melbourne Institute Survey of Consumer Unemployment Expectations
Sydney - Melbourne Institute Survey of Consumer Inflationary Expectations
Canberra - Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Westpac survey of industrial trends
Sydney - ABS detailed labour force data for November
Sydney - ABS international merchandise imports, Nov 2010

EQUITIES:
Sydney - National Australia Bank Ltd annual general meeting
Adelaide - Elders Ltd annual general meeting
Melbourne - Orica Ltd annual general meeting
Sydney - United Airlines chief executive Jeff Smisek speaks at a National Aviation Press Club lunch.

Also Stocks, Dollar, Finance Briefs and Finance Week to come.

SPORT
CRICKET
PERTH - Third Test: Australia v England, WACA, day one.

HOBART - Preview Sheffield Shield Tas v WA.

ADELAIDE - Preview Sheffield Shield SA v Vic.

SYDNEY - Discarded Test paceman Doug Bollinger interview, SCG nets, 0915.

SOCCER
ADELAIDE - Preview Adelaide United v Melbourne Heart.

BRISBANE/SYDNEY - A-League preview panel.

RUGBY
SYDNEY - Rugby Union Players Association medal for excellence award, The Ivy, Sydney.

LEAGUE
SYDNEY - New signing Mark Riddell and captain Braith Anasta at Sydney Roosters training, 1000.

AFL
SYDNEY - Collingwood star Dane Swann media opportunity, 1000, Essendon Hyundai.

BASKETBALL
SYDNEY - Preview top of the table NBL clash Wollongong v NZ Breakers on Friday.

SWIMMING
DUBAI - Australia claimed their first medal on the opening night of the world short course
titles in Dubai, finishing second behind world record-breaking China in the women's 4x200m
freestyle relay.

TENNIS
MELBOURNE - Australian Open wildcard playoff continues.

OLYMPICS
GENEVA - Olympic authorities are seeking clarification from Monaco after an American,
who claims to have been an employee of Prince Albert II, alleged breaches of the IOC's
ethics code.

RACING
SYDNEY - Preview Randwick races Saturday.

MELBOURNE - Looking at Saturday's Flemington meeting.

BRISBANE - Throw forward to the Doomben fixture on Saturday.

AAP bwl

KEYWORD: NATIONAL NEWSLIST

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

FED:Rush's parents head to Bali for appeal

08-09-2010
FED:Rush's parents head to Bali for appeal

SYDNEY, Aug 9 AAP - The parents of convicted Bali Nine drug smuggler Scott Rush are
heading to Indonesia on Monday, ahead of next week's appeal against his death sentence.

Rush's father Lee has told ABC Radio his son's lawyers will argue Scott was a courier
and not the mastermind of the 2005 drug haul.

Mr Rush says there'll be an appearance by Scott and a reading of new evidence when
his case heads back to court next Wednesday, and then a delay from prosecution until information
is gathered and sent to the Supreme Court in Jakarta.

The Queenslander was one of four Australians arrested at Bali's Denpassar Airport with
heroin strapped to their bodies, three of whom are on death row.

AAP psm/ao

KEYWORD: BALI RUSH

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

Vic: Teenage boy drowns in bay

AAP General News (Australia)
12-29-2009
Vic: Teenage boy drowns in bay

A teenage boy's drowned at an inner city Melbourne beach.

Police say the 15-year-old boy from Braybrook in Melbourne's west was pulled out of
the water at Albert Park beach this afternoon after bystanders saw him floating in the
water.

Fire crews and ambulance officers tried unsuccessfully to revive the boy and he was
taken to The Royal Childrens Hospital but did not regain consciousness.

It's believed the boy had been swimming with friends and the death is not considered suspicious.

AAP RTV gr/wz

KEYWORD: DROWN (MELBOURNE)

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

NSW: Main stories in today's Sydney newspapers =3

AAP General News (Australia)
08-18-2009
NSW: Main stories in today's Sydney newspapers =3

The Australian:

Page 1: China's relationship with Australia is strained, with China effectively banning
visits by senior officials. A royal commission into the Victorian bushfires has been highly
critical of the state's fire services. Cubbie station manager, John Grabbe, says the government
knocked back attempts by the cotton producer to sell its water allocations. Tasmanian
Premier David Bartlett says the state can be the country's food bowl.

Page 2: Non-union work place agreements could be struck out following a Federal Court decision.

Page 3: The government are expected to use data showing a rise in private hospital
membership to counter the opposition's attempts to block budget cuts to the health insurance
rebate.

World: (Kuwait City) There are reports the ex-wife of a groom at a wedding where 43
women and children were killed in a fire has confessed to starting the blaze.

Finance: Andrew Forrest's Fortescue Metals Group has offered to sell iron ore at the
lowest price negotiated this year.

Sport: Sprinter Usain Bolt says anything is possible after breaking his own world record.

AAP sg/ht

KEYWORD: MONITOR FRONTERS NSW 3 SYDNEY

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

AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Evening, April 7

AAP General News (Australia)
04-07-2009
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Evening, April 7
EVENING ROUND-UP: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 1630


RATES RBA (SYDNEY)

Another drop in interest rates today means even lower mortgage repayments for families
and even better rates for business in general.

The Reserve Bank cut the cash rate by 25 basis points this afternoon to 3.0 per cent
.. bringing rates to a 49-year low.

The news was immediately greeted by Treasurer WAYNE SWAN .. who says the cut will help
the Australian economy .. and he's called on banks to pass on the cut to consumers.

However .. in a first reaction .. the Commonwealth Bank has cut its standard variable
home loan rate by only by 10 basis points.

The latest cut in interest rates comes as the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
predicts unemployment to top nine per cent by the end of this year.

And a survey says Australian employers are considering enforced leave without pay to
cut costs .. and are also looking at reducing contract staff and changing part-time and
flexitime working hours.

Meanwhile .. Rio Tinto announced today it's shedding 705 jobs after slashing bauxite
production and pulling back on a refinery expansion project in Queensland.



BROADBAND WRAP (SYDNEY)

Australian business has reacted positively to the government's surprise plan to set
up its own high-speed national broadband network .. but the opposition sees problems.

Prime Minister KEVIN RUDD announced the new plan this morning .. saying none of the
bidders in the tender process was willing or able to do the job.

The government will hold a majority share in the company that'll put 43 billion dollars
into the project over eight years.

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry says building a high-speed broadband
network will provide a substantial stimulus for the nation's economy.

Australia's second largest telco Optus has called the move visionary and a big step
forward .. and Telstra says it's looking forward to working on the plan.

But the opposition says the proposal .. while needed .. will burden Australians with
tens of billions of dollars of debt.

Opposition Leader MALCOLM TURNBULL says high speed broadband services are essential
for education .. communication and trade .. but the government's proposed plan is ill-thought
out.



PHONE (DARWIN)

Phone and internet services have been restored in the Northern Territory .. after two
faults in remote areas caused a communication blackout overnight.

Mobile .. internet and STD calls on landlines went down after hardware failures near
Kununurra in Western Australia .. and in Marla in South Australia.

Telstra says full services were restored late this morning .. but technicians are still
trying to figure out what caused the problems.



NEWSPOLL TURNBULL (SYDNEY)

Federal Opposition Leader MALCOLM TURNBULL is attempting to ignore his plummeting popularity
.. saying he's focussed on holding the government to account.

The latest Newspoll in The Australian shows support for KEVIN RUDD as preferred prime
minister climbed to 67 per cent from 65 .. while Mr TURNBULL'S dropped two percentage
points to 18 per cent.

Meanwhile .. 42 per cent of respondents said they're dissatisfied with Mr TURNBULL'S performance.

Mr TURNBULL refused to comment on the results .. instead saying he's focused on ensuring
the opposition holds the government to account.



BIRCH (SYDNEY)

An extra firearms charge has been laid against a Hell's Angels bikie .. allegedly arrested
with a loaded semi-automatic pistol tucked down his pants.

Today prosecutors charged 39-year-old CHRISTIAN MANU BIRCH with possessing an unauthorised
firearm .. in addition to several other firearm and driving offences he already faces.

Stopped while riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle and wearing full Hells Angels colours
.. BIRCH was pinned to the road during his arrest on Friday in the inner Sydney suburb
of Eveleigh.



STEWART (SYDNEY)

Manly rugby league star BRETT STEWART is fighting sex charges relating to a 17-year-old girl.

He's pleaded not guilty in the Manly Local Court today to having sex with the teenager
without consent on March 6 in North Manly.

The matter's been adjourned until May 26 in the Downing Centre Local Court.

STEWART'S been banned from approaching or contacting the teenager for three months
under a Apprehended Violence Order.

Despite the case .. he will make his first appearance for Manly this weekend.



SWIM D'ARCY (SYDNEY)

Controversial swimmer NICK D'ARCY has been kicked off the Australian swimming team
for this year's world championships in Rome after being found guilty of recklessly causing
grievous bodily harm.

D'ARCY was convicted in the Downing Centre Local Court last month for his attack on
former swimmer SIMON COWLEY following the 2008 Australia Olympic trials.

He received a suspended sentence of 14 months and 12 days.



RAIN NSW (SYDNEY)

A woman and child have been rescued from flood waters on the New South Wales north
coast .. after heavy rainfall hit the area.

SES workers and police rescued the pair from flood waters west of Mullumbimby .. on
the far north coast .. this morning.

94 millimetres of rain has fallen in Mullumbimby in the last 24 hours .. 131 in nearby
Myocum and 112 at Cudgera Lake.



STORES (CAIRNS)

An inquiry has heard residents of remote Aboriginal communities are routinely being
sold rotten and overpriced food.

Torres Strait and Cape York residents in Queensland have told a federal parliamentary
inquiry into community stores that their local shops often sell substandard food.



BRIEFLY IN OTHER NEWS ..



SKIMMING NSW (SYDNEY)

Two men have been refused bail after equipment used in an alleged Sydney ATM skimming
scam was discovered by an airconditioning technician.



Commissioner (ADELAIDE)

South Australia's Police Commissioner MAL HYDE will stay on as the state's top cop
for another three years.



AIRPORT (CANBERRA)

Canberra airport bosses say a three-year .. 350-million dollar makeover will make it
the best airport in Australia.



KOREA MISSILE Photo (SEOUL)

A US-based research institute has released what are believed to be the first publicly
available satellite photographs of North Korea's rocket launch.



IN SPORT ..



AFL TRIBUNAL (MELBOURNE)

Four players will fight charges at the AFL tribunal tonight .. while Sydney co-captain
BRETT KIRK will also face the judiciary after being charged with making reckless contact
with an umpire.

KIRK's case has been referred directly to the tribunal after the AFL issued a warning
to clubs before the season began that rules against umpire contact would be strictly enforced.

The strict interpretation means KIRK can be penalised entirely at the tribunal's discretion
if found guilty.

Essendon's ADAM MCPHEE .. Port Adelaide's DANIEL MOTLOP and North Melbourne's MICHAEL
FIRRITO will challenge striking charges tonight .. while the Brisbane Lions' LUKE POWER
will contest a charge of making contact with an umpire.



DIVE (ADELAIDE)

The Australian free-diving record has been smashed .. with WALTER STEYN diving 92 metres
in a single breath.

The 36-year-old held his breath for two minutes and 43 seconds for the dive during
the Vertical Blue competition in the Bahamas.



SUPER MACKAY (SYDNEY)

South African police will reportedly treat the accident which hospitalised Brumbies
player SHAWN MACKAY .. who died later .. as culpable homicide.



SUPER BRUMBIES CHISHOLM (CANBERRA)

Brumbies lock MARK CHISHOLM will miss the remainder of the Super 14 regular season
after suffering a dislocation in his wrist in Saturday's win over the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.



LEAGUE JUDICIARY (SYDNEY)

Cronulla's wretched start to the NRL season looks set to continue with PAUL GALLEN
.. MISI TAULAPAPA and KADE SNOWDEN to miss Saturday's clash with Canberra after entering
early guilty pleas to weekend charges.



AFL BOCK (ADELAIDE)

Adelaide captain SIMON GOODWIN says suspended defender NATHAN BOCK has tarnished the
image of the club and the AFL and is paying a heavy price.



ENDS EVENING ROUND-UP


Broadcast Desk inquiries 24 hours: 02 9322 8714


AAP RTV wz/ka

KEYWORD: EVENING ROUND-UP

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

Fed: Bill of rights back on the agenda

AAP General News (Australia)
12-03-2008
Fed: Bill of rights back on the agenda

CANBERRA, Dec 3 AAP - Federal Labor MPs are backing plans for a public debate on a
national bill of rights, but the idea is not supported by the coalition.

The federal government is set to begin a consultation process next week into what the
document should look like, Fairfax says.

The charter would outline a set of rights and require the parliament to ensure legislation
complied with them.

Labor backbencher Yvette D'Ath welcomed the push, saying some in the community had
been asking for a bill of rights.

"I think there is merit to having some basic rights outlined in a bill of rights or
the constitution," she told reporters on Wednesday.

It was a complex issue and the government would have to make sure any bill of rights
was enforceable, she said.

Her position was supported by other Labor MPs, but not by the coalition.

Former attorney-general Philip Ruddock said democratically-elected parliaments were
best-placed to protect human rights.

"Bills of rights impose rigidities that are determined by unelected judicial officers
in the main, rather than elected parliaments," he told reporters in Canberra.

"A lot of the commentary tends to come from those who often haven't tried their arm
at trying to convince the Australian public that the views that they hold ought to be
preferred."

AAP ca/rl/ldj

KEYWORD: RIGHTS MPS

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

National Newslist for Wednesday, April 30 2008

AAP General News (Australia)
04-30-2008
National Newslist for Wednesday, April 30 2008
Good Morning News Editors and Chiefs of Staff
AAP's National Newslist for today (not for publication):
This is a guide only and stories are subject to change.

AAP's news editors Joanne Williamson and Nalita Ferraz can be contacted on 02 93228611/8610.

GAY
- AG Robert McClelland announces overhaul of federal laws to remove same-sex discrimination.

Presser at 0945
- McClelland says there will be losers as well as winners.

- The federal opposition says it supports plan in principle but opposes gay marriage,
gay adoption, gay IVF
- ACT Attorney-General Simon Corbel says it is unlikely the federal government will support
territory's push to recognise same-sex unions

COURTS:
SYDNEY
- Mercedes Corby defamation case against Channel Seven etc. continues.

- Robert Agius expected in Central Local Court to be charged over $100m tax evasion scheme
MELBOURNE
- Expected appearance of man arrested over shooting murder of Frankston woman
- Trial continues for Evangelos Goussis, charged with murder of Lewis Moran
- Trial of 12 men accused facing various terrorism related charges continues
- Trial continues for man accused of stabbing a train passenger to death
ADELAIDE
- Trial continues for a man charged with sex offences involving a girl he met on a vampires website.

PERTH
- 21yo man in court over cricket bat bashing death of Yalgoo farmer Bill Rowe.

CANBERRA
- Trial of former ACT Tenants Association president accused of stabbing his neighbour to death

ENTERTAINMENT:
- Covering Australian Fashion Week shows
- NZ fashion designer Kate Sylvester apologises over use of war medals in parade
- Interview with US rapper Eve ahead of her Australian tour
- Interview with Big Brother Big Mouth host Rebecca Wilson
- New Australian-made daily soap - Out of the Blue - debuts in UK; designed to replace
Neighbours in BBC's lineup

MEDICAL:
- Cannabis use is to blame for higher rates of cigarette addiction in alternative communities,
Australian research shows.

- Coverage from the Aboriginal Health Research conference in Sydney.

TECH:
- Story on electronic stethoscope

CANBERRA:
- Haneef inquiry opens today with preliminary one-hour hearing. Scheduled for 1400; government
will consider giving it more powers
- Senate committee inquiry into wheat export laws due to report today
- Treasury Secretary Ken Henry says budget one of the hardest
- Reserve Bank releases monthly credit report for March
- Media Briefing ICAA Deloitte Tax Report
- Prime Minister Kevin Rudd addresses Public Service Commission
- Deputy PM Julia Gillard launches 2008 National Schools Constitutional Convention
- Executive Director Kimberley Land Council addresses National Press Club
- ACCC inquiry into grocery prices public hearing
- Government announces restoration of CDEP to 30 Aboriginal communities in NT
- Figures show that for the first time the stipend rate for Australian Postgraduate Awards
will slip below the poverty line by the end of 2008
- A new tailored visa for the crews of superyachts will provide a boost to the tourism industry
- More than 15,000 new residential blocks will be released during the next five years

SYDNEY:
- Australian journalist injured, another badly shaken in a suicide bombing that killed
15 people in Afghanistan
- Chinese officials ban on Australian shipments of food for the Beijing Olympics; Coastes
says issue shouldn't be problem
- Iemma's approval rating dives to 28 points
- Two BASE jumpers charges after one landed on a road in front of a patrolling police car
- Federal Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese to announce "first plank" of government
plan for transport and infrastructure in major cities
- Senate committee hearing on sexualisation of children in the media. (09.45)
- Inquiry into NSW hospitals sitting at St Vincents Hospital. (09.00)

MELBOURNE:
- 60yo man arrested over shooting murder of Tracey Greenbury; still to be charged; father
says he and his wife would be emotionally devastated if they saw accused in court
- Vic Premier John Brumby to make green coal announcement at Loy Yang power station.

- Federal Communications Minister Stephen Conroy opens Primus call centre.

- Hundreds of Melbourne taxi drivers block major city intersection demanding better safety
after one of their own was critically injured in a stabbing; more to come

BRISBANE:
- Fitzgibbon visits wounded soldiers in Afghanistan
- Law firm preparing class action on equine influenza outbreak
- Details and timing of an inquest into the deaths of four skydivers and their pilot in
2006 to be announced today
- State parliament sitting.

- Update on Ipswich homes damaged by underground coal mines.

- Buderim Ginger AGM.

ADELAIDE
- South Australian Premier Mike Rann to open major mining conference.

PERTH:
- chasing more on Buswell.

SPORT:
AFL
MELBOURNE - Media conference with Carlton coach Brett Ratten, 1000, Princes Park
MELBOURNE - AFL weekly column.

SYDNEY - Swans news from training, interviews.

LEAGUE
SYDNEY - Wrap of NRL news
SYDNEY - NRL Judiciary sits from 1800
WOLLONGONG - News from City and Country teams as they continue to train for Friday's night's
representative match.

WOLLONGONG - NSW Country Team of the Century to be announced tonight.

RUGBY
SYDNEY - Waratahs name team to play Bulls ahead of departure for South Africa on Thursday.

SPORTS DOPING
SYDNEY - Presser for WADA president John Fahey and director general David Howman, 1130,
ahead of two-day symposium in Sydney in countdown to Beijing Olympics.

OLYMPICS
SYDNEY - Several athletes in Sydney's Martin Place 0700-0900 to mark 100 days to go to
Beijing Olympics, followed with 1000 presser with AOC chief John Coates.

MELBOURNE - Runner Tamsyn Lewis in Melbourne's Bourke St Arcade to mark 100 days to go
to Beijing Olympics, 1100

HOCKEY
DARWIN - Australia v China in 4-Nations men's tournament, 1930AEST

RACING
SYDNEY - Review Wednesday's AJC Australian Oaks.

SYDNEY - Throw forward to group One racing at Randwick on Saturday.

MELBOURNE - Review Wangoom Handicap fixture at Warrnambool on Wednesday.

AAP jlw

KEYWORD: NATIONAL NEWSLIST

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

Vic: Main stories in today's 1800 Nine News

AAP General News (Australia)
12-27-2007
Vic: Main stories in today's 1800 Nine News

MELBOURNE, Dec 27 AAP - Main stories on tonight's National Nine News bulletin:

- Victorian police will trial an American-style crackdown on New Year's Eve troublemakers.

- Police have refuted suggestions they have been heavy-handed with misbehaving cricket
fans at the MCG.

- Police are investigating how a woman pedestrian was struck and killed by a car in
Flinders Street.

- A man has perished in a house fire in Coburg North.

- Six people have been injured in a multi-vehicle smash on the Princes Freeway at Altona North.

- Premier John Brumby has conceded that Melbourne motorists will have to put up with
traffic chaos, but as a short-term measure to ease the squeeze VicRoads is considering
tough new penalties for those who park in clearways.

- A father of five bashed to death with a cricket bat he used during a family game
of beach cricket on a WA beach was a close family friend of Test cricketer Adam Gilchrist.

AAP jrd/apm

KEYWORD: MONITOR 1800 NINE

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

NSW: Five injured in freeway smash

AAP General News (Australia)
08-19-2007
NSW: Five injured in freeway smash

Five people have been injured in a major crash on the freeway between Sydney and Newcastle.

The accident happened at about 7.20pm (AEST) .. when six cars heading north along the
Newcastle Freeway .. collided two kilometres south of the Mooney Mooney Bridge.

A 40-year-old woman suffered head injuries and was trapped in her car for a short time
.. but has since been taken in a serious condition to Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital.

A man was injured after getting out of his car and being struck by another vehicle.

He suffered multiple fractures to his lower limbs .. and was taken to Gosford Hospital
in a stable condition.

Three other people involved in the crash were treated at the scene for minor injuries
and will be taken to Royal North Shore Hospital.





Police say the crash has caused traffic chaos on the freeway .. with northbound lanes
blocked .. and traffic being diverted to the Pacific Highway at Berowra .. rejoining the
freeway near Brooklyn.

Drivers are urged to avoid the area for the time being.

AAP RTV ad/wz

KEYWORD: CRASH (SYDNEY)

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

Fed: Radical sheik barred from Australia

AAP General News (Australia)
04-04-2007
Fed: Radical sheik barred from Australia

MELBOURNE, April 4 AAP - A radical Muslim cleric has been refused entry to Australia,
and another has been asked to show cause why he should not also be banned, just days before
they were due to attend an Islamic conference in Melbourne.

Sheik Bilal Philips, a Canadian citizen who lives in Qatar, was banned at the last
minute by Department of Immigration officials, believed to have been acting on national
security agency advice, the Herald Sun reported today.

Sheik Philips' ban has been confirmed by Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews.

He was due to speak at the Australian Islamic Conference at the University of Melbourne
over the Easter weekend.

The US government has named him an "unindicted co-conspirator" in the 1993 World Trade
Center bombing in New York City, and he was deported from the US in 2004.

The Herald Sun reported Sheik Philips once wrote: "Western culture, led by the United
States, is the enemy of Islam".

Meanwhile, Saudi-based academic Sheik Jaafer Idris, who was also to attend the conference,
has been asked to show cause why he should be allowed to enter Australia.

It is unlikely Mr Idris will be able to provide the information in time before the
conference, sources told the Herald Sun.

Sheik Idris, 76, a Sudanese citizen, espouses a radical form of Islam known as Wahhabism,
the report said.

AAP jrd/it/

KEYWORD: PHILIPS

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

Vic: A lack of concentration behind fatal accidents - Police

AAP General News (Australia)
12-03-2006
Vic: A lack of concentration behind fatal accidents - Police

By Shelley Markham

MELBOURNE, Dec 3 AAP - A desperate appeal for road users to concentrate has been made
by a senior Victorian traffic officer after the number of fatalities reached double figures
since Friday.

Two cars collided head-on about 1pm (AEDT) today on the Goulburn Valley Highway near
Nagambie, in central Victoria.

The driver and only occupant of one car, a man aged in his 30s, died at the scene.

The man driving the second car, who was also travelling alone, was airlifted to The
Alfred hospital in Melbourne, in a critical condition.

Acting Inspector Mick Talbot from the Major Collision Investigation unit travelled
from his home at Kyneton, in central Victoria to Melbourne today to make an urgent appeal
for drivers to concentrate.

His appeal comes after 10 people died on the state's roads and a 13-year-old boy was
killed in an off-road trailbike accident, since 5.30pm on Friday.

Insp Talbot said the weather had been dry and he could only put the spate of fatal
accidents down to a loss of concentration by road users.

"In anybody's terms that's a lot of people," Insp Talbot said.

"Each person that drives a car, rides a bike or is a pedestrian, must take responsibility
for what they do," he said.

"Pay attention to what you are doing. If you don't, it will be you, you will be a statistic."

"I'm tired of standing up here telling people to slow down, to pay attention and drive
as best they can."

A woman died in Montrose, in Melbourne's east, last night when a small Ford sedan hit
a Ford Bronco head on, about 9.10pm.

A 20-year-old Kilsyth woman died at the scene while two other people in the car were
uninjured. The driver of the Bronco was also seriously injured.

A 27-year-old pedestrian from Wodonga also died last night when he was hit by a bus
while walking on the Hume Highway near Bowser, in Victoria's north.

Police said the man was believed to have been walking along a fog line - a white line
on the edge of the highway - when the bus struck him.

The deaths follow a spate of four road fatalities yesterday that left police calling
for drivers to slow down and take care.

There were also three deaths on Friday.

In addition to the 10 road deaths, a trailbike rider was killed in an off-road crash
yesterday at Hazelwood, in south-east Victoria, and was not counted in the road toll.

Insp Talbot said it was particularly disturbing that six of the accidents, including
the off-road crash, had involved motorcyclists.

"That's a significant over-representation of motorcycle riders (in the road toll) in
Victoria," he said.

"That's too many, too many in anyone's words."

Today's death near Nagambie brings Victoria's road toll to 310, two fewer than for
the same time last year.

AAP sam/gfr/cjh/de

KEYWORD: TOLL VIC NIGHTLEAD

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

Fed: Private contractors blamed for Kovco bungle

AAP General News (Australia)
04-27-2006
Fed: Private contractors blamed for Kovco bungle

The government's blaming private contractors for a major bungle .. in which the body
of an Australian soldier killed in Iraq has been left in Kuwait .. and the wrong casket
flown to Australia.

And Defence Minister BRENDAN NELSON says the distressed widow of Private JAKE KOVCO
gave JOHN HOWARD an earful over the bungle in a late night phone call.

Dr NELSON says a private mortuary in Kuwait and contractor appear to be responsible
for the mix-up.

The 25-year-old's body remains in a civilian mortuary in Kuwait .. with the federal
government now considering chartering a private plane to bring him home.

Private KOVCO's body's not expected to be returned to his family until early Saturday.

But Dr NELSON has stopped short of apologising for the bungle on behalf of the federal
government.







The defence department says Private KOVCO accidentally killed himself with his own
pistol in his room in Baghdad last Friday.

His body was due to arrive at Melbourne airport early today ahead of a funeral with
full military honours.

The identity of the body mistakenly flown to Melbourne airport has not been revealed.

AAP RTV ce/jrd/gfr/sp/jv/rt

KEYWORD: KOVCO BODY (MELBOURNE)

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

NSW: Qantas plane backfires, aborts landing=2

AAP General News (Australia)
08-25-2005
NSW: Qantas plane backfires, aborts landing=2

The Qantas spokeswoman said the plane's captain had idled one of the engines after
technical difficulties.

"As the plane was coming in to land, the captain has felt vibrations in one engine," she said.

"He did a go around, where the plane turns around for a second landing, and pulled
the engine into idle as a precaution."

The spokeswoman said what witnesses thought was an engine fire was sparks as the engine
was pulled into idle.

AAP jcg/cdh/de

KEYWORD: PLANE 2 SYDNEY

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

Face-to-Face Financial Planning Advice Trumps Internet for Affluent Professionals, Nationwide Financial Study Shows; Affluent trust investment professionals, but still research their advice online.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- When it comes to financial planning, face-to-face advice is highly credible and still beats online options -- even though affluent professionals often go online to research their investment professionals' advice. That's according to a survey conducted for Nationwide Financial , one of the country's leading providers of retirement and income products.

The study found that while half of affluent professionals use the Internet for some type of financial planning activities, only 7 percent report they prefer to use the Internet for financial planning advice and 17 percent report currently using it for that purpose. More than 80 percent prefer face-to-face options for financial advice.

"In today's world, the Internet is an important supplement to face-to-face advice, but not a replacement," said Michael Butler, senior vice president of NFS Distributors, Inc. "Investment professionals continue to be trusted resources for affluent individuals looking for comprehensive financial plans, estate planning guidance and help planning for income management in retirement."

The Nationwide Financial High-Income survey, conducted by Mathew Greenwald & Associates, an independent polling firm, surveyed 500 professionals younger than age 60 with annual incomes above $150,000 per year. Respondents were medical doctors, attorneys, corporate executives, business owners or high-tech executives.

All study participants either currently engage in financial planning or plan to start in the near future. The study provided insight into what motivates professionals to begin planning and what they take into consideration when choosing financial advisors.

The survey found that 62 percent of affluent individuals check their advisor's advice with their own research, even though 84 percent believe their advisor thoroughly researches all the options available.

Only 39 percent report seeking a second opinion on their advisor's advice; 87 percent report they are confident their advisor presents an objective analysis that fits their personal situation versus what will earn the advisor the most money. Those who reported using the Internet for financial planning are most likely to use it for:

   --  Researching specific investments (74 percent)   --  Tracking investment portfolios (55 percent)   --  Doing general research on financial planning (53 percent)   --  Performing stock market or other investment trades (45 percent) 

In addition, 20 percent reported using the Internet to communicate with their advisor. Only 6 percent reported going online to purchase an insurance product.

"Affluent individuals are often highly motivated, well educated and concerned about their financial future," Butler said. "So, it's no surprise that they use the Internet to research their investment professionals' advice. What's especially important for investment professionals to focus on is that the affluent value their advice and believe their best interests are being represented."

The Nationwide Financial High Income Survey results are supported by an August 2000 study by Media Metrix, Inc., which reports that the affluent** spend less time online than any other income group, but their time is spent searching for information. Respondents in lower income levels spent much more time on auction and career sites. According to Neilson/NetRatings, as of September 2000, there were nearly 148 million Web users in the United States. A 2000 study by Spectrum Group estimates that there are 29.1 million people in the United States living in affluent households.*

   Other results of the Nationwide Financial High Income study include:   --  A majority of respondents (54 percent) say they currently use a       professional investment advisor or financial planner and 45 percent       say they prefer to use this type of professional. Nearly half of the       respondents (45 percent) say they use professional investment advisors       or financial planners most frequently for financial advice, up from 37       percent last year.   --  Reliance on other types of professionals is down compared to last       year: stockbrokers (32 percent versus 50 percent), accountants (22       percent versus 48 percent), attorneys (13 percent versus 34 percent),       insurance agents (7 percent versus 31 percent) and banks (7 percent       versus 19 percent). 

Nationwide Financial Services, Inc. , based in Columbus, is a leading provider of annuities, life insurance, retirement plans, mutual funds, and other financial services for individuals and institutional clients. The major operating subsidiary of NFS is Nationwide Life Insurance Company.

Nationwide Financial, with assets under management of $111 billion in 2000, is the retirement savings and income operation of Nationwide, a leading provider of diversified insurance and financial services. The parent company is ranked #127 on the Fortune 500 based on asset size. For more information about Nationwide Financial visit http://www.nationwidefinancial.com/ .

   *   defined here as households with a minimum of $100,000 in income and/or       $500,000 in net worth   **  defined here as household income above $100,000   Investing may involve market risk, including possible loss of principal. 

Annuities and life insurance products are issued by Nationwide Life Insurance Company or Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company, Columbus, Ohio. The general distributor is Nationwide Investment Services Corporation, member NASD. In MI only: Nationwide Investment Svcs. Corporation.

   Media Contacts:   Tiffany Swinehart   614-677-4297   goldstt@nationwide.com   Jeff Botti   614-249-6339   bottij@nationwide.com                   MAKE YOUR OPINION COUNT -  Click Here              http://tbutton.prnewswire.com/prn/11690X41587106 

Contact: Media, Tiffany Swinehart, +1-614-677-4297, or goldstt@nationwide.com, or Jeff Botti, +1-614-249-6339, or bottij@nationwide.com, both of Nationwide Financial

Website: http://www.nationwidefinancial.com/

Telseon Delivers E-Business-Enabling IP Service to San Diego, Houston and Phoenix Metro Markets.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 5, 2000

IP Network Provider Extends Fast, Scalable Service to Three Major

Markets; On Track to Reach 20 Cities by Year-End

Telseon, an established provider of fast optical networks, today announced that its scalable, high-bandwidth service is available in Houston, San Diego and Phoenix.

Telseon's Ethernet-based technology offers service providers and data centers in these metros a lightning-fast, more cost-efficient alternative to traditional telecommunication systems.

Telseon, already operational in 14 major metros, views the addition of Houston, San Diego and Phoenix as key to its aggressive deployment strategy. There are more than 850 information technology-based companies, 90 telecommunications companies and over 30 Internet-based companies operating in Houston. As many as 100,000 high tech workers in more than 500 companies contribute to San Diego's growing economy. Phoenix is frequently recognized as a hot spot for entrepreneurs due to its airline hubs, educational institutions, skilled workers and telecommunication infrastructure, and is ranked first in the nation in percentage growth of new employees, and second in the number of new business establishments.

As economic growth in these cities continues to rise, Telseon will enable businesses in each to leverage its IP services for faster data transport at typically half the cost of traditional telecommunications offerings. Telseon provides service providers and data center operators that cater to enterprises, including ASPs, ISPs and BLECs, with the high-bandwidth data network that is essential to support business growth and the development of next generation solutions, such as outsourced storage, real-time Internet trading communities and content distribution.

Telseon meets the demand for high-bandwidth services in Houston, San Diego and Phoenix by enabling local businesses to transmit data at 20,000 times the speed of a dial-up modem and to easily provision their bandwidth from one to 1,000 megabits with the click of a mouse.

"Congested metropolitan networks are impeding the growth of Internet-driven businesses," said John Kane, chief executive officer of Telseon. "What we are doing is offering a faster, simpler alternative to the quagmire of traditional carrier networks, and as a result accelerating the ubiquity of e-business in these fast-growth metros."

Through strategic relationships with leading fiber providers such as Level 3 and MFN, as well as colocation facility providers, including BridgePoint, COLO.COM, Equinix and Switch & Data Facilities Company, Telseon delivers faster, more cost-efficient IP services that relieve network congestion caused by traditional legacy systems. With the combination of a high-speed optical network and instantly scalable web-based provisioning, Telseon accommodates the massive data communication needs of the Internet Economy and puts control in the hands of the customer.

In addition to Houston, San Diego and Phoenix, Telseon's service is now available in the Detroit, Miami, Orlando, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Denver, Chicago, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Atlanta, Dallas, Seattle, San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley metro markets. The company is on schedule to deploy its services to a total of 20 U.S. metropolitan areas by year-end.

About Telseon

Telseon offers fast data network services to enable service providers and their enterprise customers to break the bandwidth bottlenecks in the metropolitan area. Telseon's high-bandwidth IP services allow customers to extend their network reach to meet their data communications needs. With $86 million in funding from a number of well-respected venture capital and investment firms including Crosspoint Venture Partners, DLJ, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, Pivotal Asset Management and Sevin Rosen Funds, Telseon is well positioned to change the way metropolitan bandwidth is acquired and delivered. The company is headquartered in Denver, Colorado, and can be reached at 888/858-8032 or on the web at http://www.telseon.com.

Explorer top 10.

1 Jungle Juice

Get healthy by knocking back a power juice or smoothie. Most of the exotic concoctions are low in fat and sugar, and contain at least three portions of fruit. You can also opt for a shot of wheatgrass juice, which is said to meet all your vegetable requirements for one day. Food is also served, and can be delivered.

Media City, 04 438 0280 and Times Square Center, 04 341 8601

2 Yo! Sushi

When you need sustenance, swap a burger for some maki rolls plucked from Yo! Sushi's colourful conveyor belt. Sushi typically contains a sliver of raw fish with vegetables and rice, but you can also opt for slices of succulently fresh, raw fish (sashimi), as well as a range of soups, salads and cooked delicacies. Dishes are priced according to the plate colour. Branches throughout the UAE, www.yosushi.com

3 az.u.r

For an organic dining experience, try az.u.r at the Dubai Marriott Harbour Hotel & Suites. The menu features wholesome high-end dishes using meat, fish, seafood and vegetables produced from organic sources wherever possible. Even the wine is organic. The food is excellent and there's a great Marina view from the terrace to round off the experience. 04 319 4000

4 Pink Berry

Tucking into cold, creamy delights doesn't have to be sinfully calorific - Pink Berry's swirls of yoghurt offer a healthier alternative. The delicious variety of flavours, which include green tea, mango and pomegranate, can be topped with fresh fruit, nuts or, if you're feeling naughty, chocolate chips. Half a cup of frozen yoghurt contains just 100 calories and is made with fat-free milk. Mall of the Emirates, 04 341 1378, pinkberry.com

5 Pulp

Whether you are after a quick health fix or something to quench your thirst, Pulp's fresh juices provide a hit of fruity goodness in one quick shot. The selection on offer is wide - try the Juice Salvation which has ginger, apple and pineapple juice, or opt for the Refresher, which is packed with anti-aging and cancer fighting benefits. Mall of the Emirates, 04 341 4644, and Deira City Centre, 04 295 6136

6 Super Markets

Find your five-a-day at the fruit and veg souk in Deira where you can browse plentiful piles of colourful, fresh produce. Put your best bartering skills to the test, but don't take it too seriously as the traders often give you a bag of freebies if they feel you've paid over the odds. For an air-conditioned alternative to the souk, head up the Hatta Road and follow signs to the fruit and vegetable market.

7 Yogurberry

Another franchise offering healthy concoctions of yoghurt, fruit and toppings - start your day with the Yoghurt Crunchie Parfait, a yummy mix of granola, yoghurt and six fruit toppings. The 100 per cent natural, low-fat, low-calorie yoghurt also contains the bacteria Bifidus Lactobacillus, which is said to aid digestion. ADNEC in Abu Dhabi, Al Qasba in Sharjah, and Dubai Festival City. www.yogurberry.com

8 Healthy Supplements

Shops selling sports supplements, energy bars and protein powders are often classified as health food shops and some now sell speciality foodstuffs. Nutrition Zone (www.nutritionzoneltd.com) in Dubai Mall and Jumeirah Town Centre, specialises in vitamins, health supplements and detoxifying products from Holland & Barrett. It also sells gluten and wheat-free products.

9 Healthy Hypermarket

Head to Lulu Hypermarket for its cheap and tasty salad bar which is stocked daily with a great selection. You can create your own healthy mix of raw and cooked veggies, meat and cheese and top it off with some free dressing or buy a readymade packet. The store also has a good fruit bar for a healthy dessert. Various locations across the UAE, www.uae.luluhypermarket.com

10 Weight Rose

Waitrose's 'Perfectly Balanced' range is calorie and fat counted to help slimmers. Spinneys also stocks a limited selection of the range, plus some Weight Watchers products. Both chains stock organic fruit and vegetables, plus Waitrose-branded beans, pulses, biscuits and fruit juice. Log on to Spinneys' website for a vast directory of healthy recipes. Various locations; www.spinneys-dubai.com

2009 Al Sidra Media LLC

Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company

Research and Markets Offers Report: Digital Media - Social Networks and Gaming Insights.

Research and Markets announced the addition of the "Digital Media - Social Networks and Gaming Insights" report to its offerings.

In a release, Research and Markets noted that report highlights include:

Social media developments are fascinating and exciting and have become an important part of Internet media development. Facebook remains the global social media leader and has expanded its offerings to much more than just social communication. However while Facebook has managed to capture the largest share of the market in recent years, the industry is not sitting still and new social networks are again emerging that aim to improve upon the originals models. In addition, online gaming, particularly social gaming, are becoming increasingly popular. Facebook is well positioned in this area too, offering popular games such as Zynga's Farmville.

The following report includes recent industry insights and information on the social media and online gaming sectors. The report includes selected information on the leading trends in this sector. The report is designed to provide current observations which may assist investors, analysts and industry participants in making investment and business decisions.

Report information:

http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/41c822/digital_media_so

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

Shamed ex-HBOS chief gets a [pounds sterling]2.4m payoff from Boots.(News)

Byline: Rupert Steiner Chief City Correspondent

THE disgraced former banker who led Halifax Bank of Scotland to the brink of collapse in 2008 has received a [pounds sterling]2.4million payoff after leaving his latest job. Andy Hornby, who was partly responsible for the implosion of Britain's banking system, had attempted to rehabilitate his career as chief executive of Alliance Boots, the private firm behind Boots the chemist.

But the 44-year-old, who was at the helm at HBOS just before it was merged with Lloyds TSB, resulting in the loss of more than 16,000 jobs, stepped down from his [pounds sterling]1.7million-a-year job at Boots two months ago, saying he was suffering from stress.

It has emerged that Mr Hornby's final pay cheque from Boots will comprise [pounds sterling]842,000 in salary, a [pounds sterling]750,000 bonus, a [pounds sterling]337,000 pension payment and [pounds sterling]41,000 in other benefits. The annual report for Alliance Boots also reveals that he was paid [pounds sterling]450,000 to compensate him for not being allowed to join a rival healthcare group.

This was despite the firm insisting two months ago that Mr Hornby would not receive such a payment, in order to emphasise that he left of his own volition.

But sources close to the firm said that after his departure was announced, it asked him to sign a legal document preventing him from taking trade secrets to a rival company.

Mr Hornby allegedly refused and it was only with the inducement of the [pounds sterling]450,000, brokered by lawyers, that a deal was eventually agreed.

He stepped down in March 'with immediate effect', claiming he needed a 'few months' break' to recover from 'an intense five years'.

Having cost the British taxpayer billions of pounds after HBOS was bailed out by the Government, sources said Mr Hornby was frustrated that two years into his career at Alliance Boots the spotlight remained on his disastrous spell at the bank.

Sources said last night he was 'a worried man would could not concentrate on what he was doing'.

He was understood to be nervous about an impending report into the collapse of the bank and obsessed with monitoring its progress in newspapers and on the internet.

Earlier this week Alliance Boots chairman Stefano Pessina said Mr Hornby was probably not ready for such a high-profile role so soon after his time at HBOS, where he waived a [pounds sterling]1million payoff but walked away with a pension pot of [pounds sterling]2.4million.

He added: 'Andy was stressed, he had a difficult year, and probably he had decided to come back and work in a company where the workload was quite substantial maybe a little too early.' It had also been agreed internally that the shadow of HBOS would make it difficult for Mr Hornby to lead Alliance Boots if it was floated on the Stock Exchange - a move that is under review by the group.

Mr Hornby was thrust back into the limelight in October after Boots announced it was slashing 900 jobs.

He had signed off the job losses as part of a three-year cost-cutting plan aimed at saving the group [pounds sterling]56million a year by 2013.

The bulk of the cuts were made at the head office in Nottingham, with administrators and middle managers taking the brunt. Frontline shop workers were not affected.

The move followed the news that the company was shutting down its final-salary pension scheme.

The announcement came after Alliance Boots joined an elite band of high street billionaires, posting annual profits of [pounds sterling]1billion.

CAPTION(S):

'Stressed out': Andy Hornby

OSU SOCIAL SCIENCE SEMINAR SERIES TO FOCUS ON CAMPAIGN COMMUNICATIONS.

STILLWATER, OK -- The following information was released by the Oklahoma State University:

By Joseph Dunn

It's no surprise. Political candidates today are going where the people are - on the Internet.

But what campaign analyst James Druckman really wants to know is if these congressional candidates are using their campaign websites strategically. On March 9, he will deliver a lecture on "Campaign Communications in U.S. Congressional Elections" starting at 7 p.m. in Room 035 of Murray Hall at Oklahoma State University.

Druckman, a political science professor and Faculty Fellow at the Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University, is one of several visiting lecturers this spring. His talk is part of the Social Science Seminar Series sponsored by the OSU College of Arts and Sciences. All lectures are free and open to the public.

"Professor Druckman has distinguished himself as a scholar and has also earned a reputation as an excellent teacher with outstanding dedication to students," said Eve Ringsmuth, an assistant professor in political science at OSU. "His visit presents an exciting opportunity for students, faculty and members of the public to interact with a high-profile scholar."

Part of Druckman's lecture will focus on strategies used by incumbents vs. those used by challengers in congressional races throughout the country.

Druckman's research focuses on political preference formation and communication, as well as campaign and media strategy. In an era of information overload, he also studies how voters make political, social and economic decisions.

To learn more, phone (405) 744-7586 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The social sciences are comprised of communication sciences and disorders, geography, journalism and broadcasting, political science, psychology and sociology, all departments in the College of Arts and Sciences at OSU. Visit http://cas.okstate.edu.

Autobytel and Edmunds Enter Settlement Agreement.

Autobytel Inc. (Nasdaq: ABTL) and Edmunds.com, Inc. announced that they entered into a settlement resolving EdmundsE declaratory judgment action (Edmunds Holding Company and Edmunds.com, Inc. v. Autobytel Inc.) filed against Autobytel in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware and relating to AutobytelEs U.S. Patent Number 6,282,517 for lead technology (oE517 Patento). Although the case was recently dismissed by the court, the parties have entered into a settlement to avoid any further proceedings in this matter (see also Autobytel Inc.).

According to the settlement, Autobytel has granted to Edmunds a limited license to the E517 Patent and other existing Autobytel leads-related patents in exchange for the right to publish on AutobytelEs family of websites a select assortment of Edmunds.comEs industry-leading multi-media automotive content, including photos, editorial reviews, and articles. The agreement also provides for mutual releases of claims.

oWe are happy to continue our long-standing relationship with Edmunds.com, a fellow pioneer in the automotive Internet,o said Autobytel President and CEO Jeffrey Coats. oEdmunds.comEs automotive information has long been valued for its ability to attract and retain in-market car buyers. The addition of this rich and multi-media content to our websites from what we consider to be the best source in the business u without the costly operations involved in creating it - furthers our core strategy of streamlining our internal operations, while at the same time focusing our website and lead generation efforts on attracting the highest quality, in-market car buyers u which we consider mission critical to help our dealers in the current economic environment.o

oAutobytel and Edmunds.com have been marketing partners since the earliest days of the automotive Internet, and we are very pleased to have reached this settlement amicably and to our mutual benefit,o said Edmunds.com CEO Jeremy Anwyl. oWe are delighted to put this matter behind us and to continue doing business as we have for years.o About Autobytel Inc. Autobytel Inc. (oAutobytelo or the oCompanyo) is an automotive marketing services company that assists automotive dealers and manufacturers sell cars. By connecting consumers to automotive dealers and manufacturers through internet lead referral programs and on-line advertising, the Company provides automotive dealers and manufacturers with opportunities to efficiently market their vehicles to potential customers. The Company purchases from third party sites and generates from its owned websites consumer internet requests for pricing and availability for new and used vehicles as well as for vehicle financing (these consumer internet requests are referred to as oLeadso). The Company sells the Leads primarily to its automotive dealer and manufacturer customers. Leads are purchased from a network of supplier websites, such as Edmunds.com, AOL, Kelley Blue Book and Yahoo!. The Company owns consumer-facing automotive websites, including Autobytel.com[R], Autoweb.com[R], AutoSite.com[R], Car.comsm, CarSmart.com[R], CarTV.com[R], and MyRide.com[R], that provide consumers with information and tools to aid them with their automotive purchase decisions. In addition to advertising opportunities on its owned websites, the Company provides advertising opportunities for automotive manufacturers and other automotive advertisers through the CompanyEs marketing network, which includes the automotive sections of third party co-branded websites operated by the Company, such as ESPN.com and the CompanyEs AutoReach advertising network.

Keywords: Business, Patent Actions, Patents Actions, Autobytel Inc.

This article was prepared by Biotech Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Biotech Week via NewsRx.com.

CLARCOR to Release Second Quarter Financial Results on Tuesday, June 17, 2008.(Financial report)

FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- CLARCOR Inc. (NYSE: CLC) said today it will release financial results for the second quarter of its 2008 fiscal year on Tuesday, June 17, 2008, after the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

The Company will host a conference call and audio webcast the following morning, Wednesday, June 18, 2008, at 10:00 a.m., Central Daylight Time, to discuss operating results and provide a business update. To listen to the call via the Internet, go to CLARCOR's website at www.clarcor.com or www.viavid.net. A replay of the conference call will be available shortly following the conclusion of the call at www.clarcor.com and www.viavid.net, as well as by dialing 1-888-203-1112 or 1-719-457-0820 and providing the access code 7945694. The replay will be accessible through June 25, 2007 via telephone, and for 30 days on the internet.

CLARCOR is based in Franklin, Tennessee, and is a diversified marketer and manufacturer of mobile, industrial and environmental filtration products and consumer and industrial packaging products sold in domestic and international markets. Common shares of the Company are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CLC. Further information on CLARCOR can be found at www.clarcor.com.

This Just In.(Black Entertainment Televisionm, Hip Hop Awards)(Home Box Office Inc talks about distributing a broadband internet channel to cable operators)(A&E Television Networkschannel market share)

By Staff

NFL Net T-Day GameLeaves Some Fans In Cold

Staff

New York - The NFL Network kicked off coverage of its first live league game on Thanksgiving night, but Time Warner Cable, Charter Communications and Cablevision Systems subscribers were expected to be shut out from the Kansas City Chiefs-Denver Broncos contest.

At press time Wednesday afternoon, all indications were that the parties would not bridge the gaps in their entrenched stands over placement and price. The network wants analog or digital-basic carriage, while operators advocate tier positioning for the National Football League's in-house channel, which is now offering eight live games. The asking price: about a 70-cent monthly subscriber fee.

According to a spokesman, the NFL Network did not execute a last-minute local advertising blitz against operators not carrying the network.

Meanwhile, American Cable Association president and CEO Matt Polka faxed a pre-Turkey Day missive to NFL Network head Steve Bornstein requesting a change in the service's game plan.

'Currently, your network allows big cable companies like Comcast and Cox to offer the NFL Network in a variety of tiers and packages to consumers in urban areas,' the letter said in part. 'At the same time, NFL Network is refusing to allow the same flexibility to ACA member companies and their customers. - Your network's actions to tie independent cable operators' hands and require carriage of your expensive service only on analog or digital basic forces cable consumers to bear the cost of a service that not all consumers want.'

Polka called on the network to change its 'discriminatory and anti-consumer policy.'

The letter was also sent to all NFL teams and owners, the Federal Communications Commission and many prominent members of Congress.

NFL Network officials declined comment about ACA's letter.

HBO Eyes Broadband ChannelFor Original Series, Movies

Staff

New York - HBO is talking to U.S. cable operators about distributing a broadband Internet channel containing its original series and movies, CEO Chris Albrecht told the Financial Times on Friday.

'What we're hoping to do is to use the brand and to use new products similar to HBO On Demand to help [operators] drive their broadband penetration,' Albrecht said.

Unlike rival Showtime Networks, HBO does not sell individual episodes of programs such as Entourage and The Sopranos on Apple Computer's iTunes store and other Web outlets. HBO executives have said previously that offering a la carte programming would devalue its premium channel, which costs most subscribers about $15 monthly.

But Albrecht told FT HBO is exploring the idea of offering Internet viewing options to existing subscribers of its pay TV channel.

History's Pilgrims CompleteFantastic Ratings Voyage

Staff

New York - The premiere of The History Channel's three-hour special about the Pilgrims' voyage across the Atlantic and arrival in the New World was the service's most-watched program in 2006.

Desperate Crossing: The Untold Story of the Mayflower generated a 2.2 average audience household rating on Nov. 19 from 8-11 p.m., attracting an average of 2.9 million total viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research data.

Network officials said the show ranked first in that metric in ad-supported cable that night and was second among adults 18 to 49 (1.3 million of those viewers) and adults 25 to 54 (944,000). Among men 25 to 54 and 18 to 49, Mayflower finished first and second in the medium that night.

MTV Tr3s, Bela BroadcastingAgree to Distribution Deal

Staff

New York - MTV Tr3s has inked a distribution pact with Bela Broadcasting giving the Latino-targeted youth and music service carriage on full-power broadcast stations in Los Angeles and Phoenix, beginning on Nov. 27.

The affiliation agreement, terms of which were not disclosed, will place MTV Tr3 on KBEH in Los Angeles, a station reaching about 94% coverage of the nation's No. 1 Hispanic market, said Lucia Ballas-Traynor, senior vice president and general manager of MTV Tr3. The network also has a pact with Time Warner Cable, Charter Communications and Cox Communications in the Los Angeles area.

She said distribution on Bela's KMOH-TV and KEJR-LP extends the network's coverage to a similar level in Phoenix, where the service is also carried by Cox.

In both markets, MTV Tr3, which is deploying a hybrid distribution strategy that also includes cable, satellite, broadband and Internet Protocol TV delivery, will air on those stations for 18 hours.

Ballas-Traynor said the Bela deal boosts MTV Tr3's chances of attaining its goal of reaching 50% of the 11.2 million Latino TV households in this country by year-end or early in 2007. The network, which is now in all of the top 50 Hispanic DMAs, is carried by 32 broadcast stations in 19 markets and also has affiliate contracts with Comcast, DirecTV and Dish Network, among others.

BET 'Hip Hop Awards' Draws 3 Million Viewers

Staff

New York - Black Entertainment Television continued its streak of strong performing music awards shows as its inaugural Hip Hop Awards Nov. 15 garnered a 2.93 rating (3.44 million viewers).

The show, which featured such rap artists as Diddy, Busta Rhymes, Snoop Dogg, Nelly and Yung Joc, also scored well among BET's target 18-34 year old African-American demo, grabbing a 32.3 share with that group, a ratio surpassed only by the BET Awards last June, according to the network.

In other BET news, the network last week conducted a soft launch of several series, including DMX: Soul of a Man, American Gangster, Beef the Series, Comic View, Lil' Kim: Countdown to Lockdown and BET J's The Christies: Committed on Apple Computer's iTunes platform. BET said an official announcement on the video downloading deal is expected next week.

Vehix, Honda Drive Cross-Platform Deal

Staff

Denver - Automotive Web portal Vehix and Comcast Spotlight have parked a cross-platform deal with Honda.

The deal, touting the automaker's 2007 models, encompasses online, on-air and for the first time on-demand elements in 90 Comcast markets.

Honda's integrated campaign, which began last week and will continue through Jan. 31, 2007, features an interactive Honda Showroom on Vehix.com, and a sponsorship of VehixTV, which is located on Comcast's On Demand platform. Car shoppers will be able to browse new models, search for inventory, watch test drive videos and receive offers from Honda. The online hub can also be accessed via Comcast.net.

The initiative is also gaining exposure from promotional spots that Honda began running in Comcast markets on Thanskgiving and will appear through year-end. The promos direct Comcast Digital Cable customers to view the Honda Showroom on Vehix.com or on the Searchlight section of the Comcast On Demand menu. There they will be able to experience test drives, review buyer's guides and find other data about Honda's line. Vehix is also running ads in support of the campaign.

The pact, in the making since May and an outgrowth of Vehix's six-year relationship with RPA, Honda's advertising agency of record, was also fashioned by Comcast Spotlight, the cable operator's ad sales unit, which concluded the VOD aspect. Vehix is owned by Comcast and giant automobile dealership Garff Enterprises.

'This is biggest single buy on Vehix.com and is the largest VOD campaign ever for a six-week span,' said Vehix CEO Derek Mattson.

He believes the campaign will be a model for a number of deals with other cable operators and auto manufacturers in 2007.

'We met with 10 other [original equipment manufacturers] at a J.D. Powers symposium in May. There is great interest in this from automakers and cable operators,' he said, noting that the agency, client. Comcast Spotlight and Vehix will meet a couple of times per month during the campaign to monitor its progress in effectuating sales.

Mattson said that the parties will be able to analyze metrics across the Internet, TV and on-demand to gauge lead-generation data, click-through levels and sales as a means for Honda to enhance its knowledge of the purchase cycle.

Mattson noted that the addition of a VOD option to the sales pitch is another means by which cable ad sales executives can further divert local auto dollars from newspapers, and as a means to protect those budgets from jumping to the Internet.

- Mike Reynolds

ADVA Optical Networking's FSP 2000 deployed at Catholic Health System and Weill Medical College.(CONTRACTS)(DVA's Fiber Service Platform)(Fiber Service Platform)

ADVA Optical Networking of Mahwah, New Jersey, announced that Catholic Health System (CHS) in Buffalo, New York, has deployed ADVA's Fiber Service Platform (FSP) 2000 optical networking solution to support bandwidth-intensive Ethernet and storage applications. ADVA's hybrid Coarse/Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (CWDM/DWDM) system provides secure, redundant backbone transport for a private fiber-optic network interconnecting Catholic Health System's 40 geographically dispersed facilities and can easily, affordably accommodate emerging bandwidth needs.

Catholic Health System teamed with Fibertech Networks to develop a 70-mile optical network over three years. ADVA's FSP 2000 platforms are deployed at three of the health system's sites--two data centers and one hospital--along the new network, which became fully operational in July.

"ADVA offers the most advanced CWDM/DWDM hybrid solution we found on the market," explained Doug Torre, director of networking and technology services for CHS. "In addition to the business case and value of the FSP 2000, what set ADVA apart was its demonstrated understanding of the healthcare market."

The ADVA FSP 2000 provides reliable, secure transport for more than 100 different services for CHS--from standard, office applications such as patient billing and accounting to advanced, clinical services such as Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS), which allows caregivers to digitally store, manipulate, and share cardiology and radiology images. CHS plans to soon implement storage services based on the Fibre Channel protocol, ensuring continuity of care in the event of network failure at any of its hospitals, primary care centers, diagnostic and treatment centers, or other facilities.

"We sought a solution that would both prove affordable today and allow us to gradually add services without the expense of expanding the fiber infrastructure later," added Chuck Simet, network engineer with Catholic Health System. "ADVA provided a hybrid solution that could migrate without traffic interruption and allowed us to do upgrades without taking the system down."

Brian P. McCann, chief marketing and strategy officer with ADVA Optical Networking, said, "Catholic Health System is a great example of a busy and successful healthcare organization with demanding 24X7 performance and reliability needs. The advent of hybrid CWDM/DWDM networking is encouraging more enterprises than ever before to implement high-performance Ethernet and storage services. This is one of the most technologically advanced health information networks of its kind in the region. ADVA looks forward to continued partnership with CHS to cost-effectively deploy networking capabilities that provide maximum capacity into the future."

ADVA Optical Networking also announced that Weill Medical College of Cornell University has deployed ADVA's Fiber Service Platform (FSP) 2000 optical networking solution to support Gigabit Ethernet voice and data applications and Fibre Channel storage services. ADVA's Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing (CWDM) system provides secure, redundant links between Weill Medical College's main campus and off-site data center, high-speed connectivity to the Internet and Internet2 through the NYSERNet New York City Dark Fiber Network, and ample, affordable scalability for emerging bandwidth needs.

Having outgrown its data center on Cornell University's main campus on the upper eastside of New York City and needing a disaster recovery site, Weill Medical College opened an off-site facility in midtown in 2003. At about the same time, Weill Medical College connected to the statewide optical network, NYSERNet New York City Dark Fiber Network, designed to provide nearly unlimited capacity at a fixed price for research and education institutions. ADVA FSP 2000 platforms are deployed at each of the three sites along Weill Medical College's 25-kilometer backbone ring network: the off-site data center, the main campus, and a NYSERNet co-location facility.

"ADVA's solution met our financial and operational needs for reliable, high-speed performance at cost-effective rates," said Dr. Steven Erde, senior director of the Office of Academic Computing at Weill Medical College of Cornell University. "We initially looked at T3 connections and saw they weren't going to cut it and then the big question became CWDM versus DWDM (Dense WDM). In most cases, DWDM delivers more scalability than CWDM, but DWDM provided more bandwidth and channels than we needed. With the ADVA system, we are getting the same degree of redundancy and fault tolerance with CWDM as is possible with DWDM but at a lower price point."

In either flavor of WDM, applications of any recognized protocol are multiplexed across a single fiber pair. Application performance is native-speed and the fiber infrastructure is cost-effectively shared. The primary difference between CWDM and DWDM is the number of application channels supported. CWDM uses wider spacings between wavelengths (20 nanometers to DWDM's 1.6 nanometers or smaller), so fewer channels are created in CWDM (typically eight to DWDM's 64). Because they require lower-cost components, CWDM systems tend to cost 30 to 50 percent less than DWDM systems of the same channel count and system functionality.

"CWDM provides a compelling, cost-effective alternative for projects where DWDM is overkill," said Brian P. McCann, chief marketing and strategy officer with ADVA Optical Networking. "Our new CWDM ring feature was perfect for this customer. More enterprises than ever before are able to afford the unprecedented benefits of high-performance Ethernet and storage services thanks to the emergence of CWDM in important, growing segments of optical networking. We look forward to cooperating further with Weill Medical College to support its connectivity needs today and tomorrow."

ADVA's FSP 2000 was launched in May 2001 and more than 3,000 systems have already been sold. Targeted toward enterprises and carriers, parallel use of C/DWDM and muxponder technology enables up to 512 applications to be transported over one single fiber pair. The FSP 2000's robust character and ability to transport all protocols between 8Mbps and 10Gbps per wavelength make the product an ideal solution, particularly for large-scale, high-bandwidth networks.

For more information, please visit http://www.advaoptical.com.