SA:Ferry service out to Kangaroo Island

AAP General News (Australia)
08-15-2011
SA:Ferry service out to Kangaroo Island

Ferry services between Kangaroo Island and the South Australian mainland have stopped
running because of mechanical issues.

Sealink, which takes tourists and supplies to the island, says services are expected
to resume on Thursday.

It says staff are contacting all passengers, but won't give details on if anyone's
stranded on the island.

AAP RTV tjd/nap

KEYWORD: ISLAND (ADELAIDE)

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

Qld: Recycled sewage cleaner than dam water: expert

AAP General News (Australia)
02-02-2007
Qld: Recycled sewage cleaner than dam water: expert

The chairman of an independent expert advisory panel .. says Queenslanders have every
right to to feel anxious about drinking recycled sewage .. but it's much cleaner than
current drinking water.

Professor PAUL GREENFIELD says although there are short-term risks from bacteria and
viruses .. they're no different to those found in the current water supply that flows
into dams.

Professor GREENFIELD believes public confidence will grow as recycled water becomes
the norm and people realise other environmental benefits.

AAP RTV jmm/pj/imc/bart

KEYWORD: WATER QLD (BRISBANE)

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

NSW:Body found in laundry bin in western Syd

AAP General News (Australia)
04-18-2011
NSW:Body found in laundry bin in western Syd

A man's naked body has reportedly been found in a laundry bin in a western Sydney home.

Police have not confirmed the media reports .. but say the 56-year-old man was found
in the laundry of his home in Whalan by his son this afternoon.

An inspection of the man's body found no visible signs of injury and a post mortem
will be conducted to establish the exact cause of his death.

AAP RTV ct/af

KEYWORD: LAUNDRY (SYDNEY)

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

FED:HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 19:30, Jan 102011

AAP General News (Australia)
01-10-2011
FED:HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 19:30, Jan 102011

CANBERRA - The Australian Privacy Commissioner is to investigate claims that the personal
details of Vodafone customers were available on the internet. (Vodafone Privacy)



PERTH - A West Australian man who drowned his dog in an esky after it dug up garden
water pipes has been given a suspended jail sentence, fined $5000 and barred from having
a pet for five years. (Hastie)



PERTH - Prominent Perth business couple Pankaj and Radhika Oswal won't attend a Burrup
Fertilisers receivers' meeting but look forward to selling their share in the company,
a spokesman says. (Oswals)



BRISBANE - A man with rejection issues subjected three women to a barrage of abusive
emails and texts after they spurned his advances, a court has been told. (Vaughan)



CANBERRA - Australia's first indigenous political party has been officially registered. (First)



ADELAIDE - Kevin Foley says some people might hate him and public reaction to his bashing
has "burned deep", but he still wants to be South Australia's treasurer. (Foley)



ADELAIDE - South Australia has the highest taxes on business of any state, but the
government says its proud of its tax reform record and more relief will come when it's
economically prudent. (Tax SA Wrap)



PERTH - A bushfire emergency warning has been issued for Lake Clifton in Western Australia's
southwest, with residents told to flee as a blaze threatens lives and homes. (Bushfires
WA Update)



SYDNEY - Australian couch potatoes have never had so much choice - and with Network
Ten's new youth-oriented channel Eleven about to go live, another demographic is about
to be cornered. (Eleven)



SYDNEY - Scottish funnyman Danny Bhoy can't decide whether to live in Sydney or Melbourne
but acknowledges the reason he's able to choose either city stems from a clash of comedy
versus politics in Canberra. (Bhoy)



PERTH - More of Perth's young graffiti vandals will have to wipe out their work under
an extended clean-up program. (Graffiti)



SYDNEY - A man has died after his car slammed into a house in NSW's southern highlands.

(Toll NSW)



MELBOURNE - A man has died after his car collided head-on with a utility in Victoria's
southwest. (Toll Vic)



SYDNEY - Police on the NSW central coast have recovered the car they suspect was involved
in a New Year's Eve hit-and-run, in which a man was badly injured. (Cowardly)



MELBOURNE - Police have launched a public appeal to find four men who allegedly sexually
assaulted and bashed a man in a Melbourne park. (Assault)



PERTH - Police are calling for witnesses to a serious assault on an off-duty police
officer in the Perth suburb of Claremont. (Officer)



AAP de

KEYWORD: HIGHLIGHTS NATIONAL UPDATE 2 SYDNEY

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

VIC:Two die after car hits pole

08-21-2010
VIC:Two die after car hits pole

Two people have died after a car hit a pole in southwest Victoria.

Police were called to Melaluka Road at Leopold about six o'clock this morning.

The deaths take the state's road toll to 207 .. compared to 190 at the same time last year.

AAP RTV ees/sw/

KEYWORD: TOLL VIC (MELBOURNE)

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

NSW: Opposition urges IPART to reconsider electricity price rise

AAP General News (Australia)
04-13-2010
NSW: Opposition urges IPART to reconsider electricity price rise

The NSW opposition says the consequences for seniors would be dire if the state government
doesn't reconsider proposed electricity price increases.

Electricity bills are expected to soar over the next three years by up to 600 dollars
a year .. after the state's Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal last month agreed
to the rises.

NSW Premier KRISTINA KENEALLY has said that the government offers rebates and vouchers
to the vulnerable to help with bill payments.

But Opposition Aging and Disability services minister ANDREW CONSTANCE says many seniors
are proud people who don't want handouts.

He says the opposition's concerned that seniors are going to die in their homes this winter.

AAP RTV bc/klm/af

KEYWORD: ENERGY (SYDNEY)

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

Main stories on ABC 2BL's 0630 news

AAP General News (Australia)
08-31-2009
Main stories on ABC 2BL's 0630 news

- Japanese PM takes responsibility for election defeat;

- Bodies of two airmen killed in Vietnam returned to families today;

- Firefighters in Shoalhaven continue to battle fire that's burned 3,000ha of land;
weather conditions better today;

- High capacity pumps and sprays expected in Darwin to help clean up oil spill in Timor Sea;

- Operators of fed-owned airports to lose automatic approval for developments; govt
made new arrangements so buildings like schools and shops can't be built unless community
approval sought;

- Shots fired at restaurant at Yagoona;

- Man due to face court charged with killing wife at Narre Warren; turned himself in
to police with 4-y-o son;

- Men's basketball team defeats Angola to proceed to next round in China.

AAP RTV psm/

KEYWORD: MONITOR 0630 2BL (SYDNEY)

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

News Diary for Wednesday, April 22, 2009

AAP General News (Australia)
04-22-2009
News Diary for Wednesday, April 22, 2009
GOOD EVENING NEWS EDITORS AND CHIEFS OF STAFF

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

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

ADELAIDE
- No items listed.

BRISBANE
- State parliament sits.

- Preview of Kleenmaid creditors meeting on Thursday.

- Lacey murder trial continues.

CANBERRA
- Outwatching more on economy; CPI March quarter figures out

MELBOURNE
0930 - Melbourne meetings of Senate committee on Climate Policy. Witnesses include Sharan
Burrow and Dave Oliver of AMWU
1030 - Media Preview of John Brack retrospective. 150 works of art. Ian Potter Centre,
NGV, Federation Square.

1215 - US Consul General Michael Thurston to speak at Rural Press Club lunch.

- Mention for man who allegedly stole a bushfire appeal tin containing $1000, Melbourne
Magistrates Court, 9.30am
- Supreme court trial expected to begin for four people accused of human trafficking/sexual
slavery involving female victims from Thailand.


PERTH
- Court proceedings against Andrew Forrest's Fortescue Metals Group to continue. (AAP
Finance covering)
- Kevin Rudd in town: addressing Chamber of Commerce and Industry luncheon at noon; regional
Cabinet meeting; plus community forum. AAP covering throughout the day
- Environment Minister Peter Garrett to announce jobs at a solar hot water system company
in the morning.

SYDNEY
0800 - Protest condemns nuclear industry and "radioactive racism". World Nuclear Fuel
Conference, 161 Elizabeth Street, Sydney.

0930 - Crunch Time - Australia's Policy Future conference begins. 4 Goulburn Street, Sydney.

1000 - Continuation of inquest into death of bushwalker, David Iredale, Penrith Coroner's Court.

1000 - ICAC inquiry into corruption allegations concerning TransGrid employee and contractor
continues. ICAC Hearing Room, Level 21, 133 Castlereagh Street, Sydney.

1000 - Sentencing submissions continue for Paul James Wilkinson for murdering his girlfriend
in 2004. NSW Supreme Court 5, Darlinghurst.

1100 - API Australian Property Directions Survey. Australian Property Institute, 60 York
Street, Sydney.

1145 - Anzac Field of Remembrance Commemoration Service. St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney.

1830 - Miss Universe Australia Crowning Ceremony. Hilton Hotel, George Street, Sydney.

FINANCE
ECONOMIC NEWS
SYDNEY - ABC Consumer Price Index for March quarter

EQUITIES NEWS
MELBOURNE - BHP Billiton quarterly report
SYDNEY - MasterCard Australia Ltd executive vice-president, Australasia Eddie Grobler
to address American Chamber of Commerce in Australia lunch on "The Future of Payments"

SYDNEY - Dexion Ltd annual general meeting
MELBOURNE - Bell Financial Group annual general meeting
MELBOURNE - Rex Minerals Ltd general meeting
BRISBANE - Consolidated Rutile annual general meeting
BRISBANE - Progen Pharmaceuticals Ltd general meeting
DARWIN - Energy Resources Of Australia Ltd annual general meeting
PERTH - Kagara Ltd general meeting

SPORT
AFL
MELBOURNE - News from Dick Reynolds Club function ahead of Anzac Day clash between Essendon
and Collingwood
MELBOURNE - Interviews with Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade and players ahead of Sunday's
clash with St Kilda, 1015 Whitten Oval
MELBOURNE - Weekly AFL column

LEAGUE
SYDNEY - Players available for interview at Easter Show
SYDNEY - News from Bulldogs training
BRISBANE - News from Broncos training

CRICKET
DUBAI - Australia plays Pakistan in opening match of one-day series beginning at 2030 AEST

SOCCER
NEWCASTLE - ACL match Newcastle v Nagoya Grampus on Wednesday
NEWCASTLE - Follow-up to ACL match between Kawasaki Frontale and Central Coast, 2000

RUGBY
PERTH - Western Force news ahead of must-win match against Lions on Friday
BRISBANE - Queensland team announcement for Saturday's away clash with the Blues

SPORT
BRISBANE - News from three codes football lunch involving Broncos, Reds and Lions coaches

TENNIS
MELBOURNE - Australia team media conference ahead of weekend's Fed Cup tie against Switzerland
in Mildura

RACING
SYDNEY - Final field for Saturday's Sydney Cup at Randwick.

SYDNEY - Review Canterbury races on Wednesday.

MELBOURNE - Review Wednesday's Sandown meeting.

BRISBANE - Review Doomben races Wednesday

ENTERTAINMENT
- Cleo bachelor of the year winner announced
- Miss Universe Australia winner announced

AAP RTV jlw/af/fdf

KEYWORD: DIARY NEWS WEDNESDAY

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

Qld: Justice Kirby loves the four-letter word

AAP General News (Australia)
12-16-2008
Qld: Justice Kirby loves the four-letter word

Eds: Embargoed until 2100 AEDT, December 16



By Angela Harper

BRISBANE, Dec 16 AAP - It's a four-letter word - but it could be the perfect cure.

In what could be one of his last speeches as a serving High Court Judge, Michael Kirby,
has praised the virtues of love.

It has the power to extinguish human rights injustices, racism, and sexual and gender
discrimination, he said.

As the book closes on his 50-year career, Kirby welcomed those just beginning new careers
at the Griffith University Business and Law schools graduation ceremony in Brisbane on
Tuesday.

And rather than give a "scarcely riveting" speech about tax and business law, the judge
instead chose to talk about love.

"I want to identify ... the most important thing that we discover in life. I refer
to love," Kirby said.

"Love for one another. Love for our community. Love for others everywhere in the world.

"I have always thought that the essential underpinning of fundamental human rights is love."

The renowned human rights activist has fought for equality for gays, women, Aborigines
and Asians for many years.

"In Australia, we did not always love our indigenous people. Some still don't," he said.

"We consign them to the outskirts of our civilisation. Many are still there.

"So too with Asian people in the decades of White Australia. We did not love them either.

"So also for women and for gays."

He has also faced the wrath of discrimination.

Justice Kirby has fought for equal rights for his partner of 30 years, Johan van Vloten,
to qualify for the same basic rights as other couples.

He praised the amalgamation of the left and right sides of government that united to
recognise gay couples' equal rights.

"Until last week, my partner, Johan, was a second-class citizen of Australia (as) he
was denied recognition and equal treatment under our law," he said.

"Government and opposition members joined together (at the end of 2008) in rare harmony
to get rid of a lot of legal discrimination, specifically to equalise Johan with the pension
rights of the partners of other judges."

It was the Parliament's responsibility to right the wrongs in society, he said.

The judge also spoke of the value of volunteering and maintaining a good work-life balance.

"I am sure that no one coming to this ceremony expected a High Court judge to use the
occasion to talk about that four-letter word, love. But that's a good thing," he said.

"In life, never be predictable. It's so uncool."

NSW Supreme Court judge Virginia Margaret Bell, 57, will replace justice Kirby on the
High Court bench from February 3 next year.

The appointment of the Sydney University law graduate, described as having grass-roots
legal experience, will reshape the High Court bench, which will feature three women and
four men for the first time.

Justice Kirby and Queensland Governor Penelope Wensley were also honoured with a doctorate
by the university.

AAP ahe/jfm/cdh

KEYWORD: KIRBY (EMBARGOED )(FILE PIX AVAILABLE)

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

Qld: Compulsory student unions fees won't be reintroduced

AAP General News (Australia)
08-11-2008
Qld: Compulsory student unions fees won't be reintroduced

By Petrina Berry

GOLD COAST, Aug 11 AAP - The federal government is working on rebuilding tertiary students'
services eroded since voluntary student unionism was introduced, acting Prime Minister
Julia Gillard says.

Ms Gillard, who is also the Education Minister, described the Howard government's decision
in 2005 to ban compulsory university student fees as "the cruelest" it had made.

But despite her comments and a report saying voluntary unionism was having a negative
impact on university life, Ms Gillard said today the government had no plans to reintroduce
compulsory student union fees.

"As the report released by my department shows ... students are missing out on vital
services, sporting opportunities, welfare services, counseling services ... the kinds
of things students rely on and need while they're at university," she said.

"We are working with our universities to rebuild.

"We have invested already $500 million through our Better Universities Renewal Fund
and that money can be used for student services for the capital development for student
services if universities choose."

The Department of Education report has found small universities and regional campuses
suffered most because of a lack of amenities and services provided to students.

The National Union of Students (NUS) says it is time to establish a new system to protect
student organisations following the introduction of VSU (Voluntary Student Unionism)."

"VSU has had a devastating impact on campus life and culture, but also on essential
support services that student organisations provide to help students while they're at
uni," NUS spokesman Angus McFarland told ABC Radio.

Ms Gillard today opened the private Bond University Mirvac School of Sustainable Development
building at the Gold Coast.

She also defended the $3 million the government invested in the building, which she
described as a "six star green rating" building.

"The Rudd government wants every university and indeed every school in this country
to be a provider of excellent education," she said.

"That's why we support all of the universities in this nation and support schools whether
they are in the state system, the private system or the Catholic system.

"We want people to have choice and we want every choice to lead to a quality education."

The building cost the university a total of $11 million to build and is being heralded
as a world leader in sustainability after the Green Building Council of Australia awarded
it a six-star green rating.

AAP peb/jt/jlw

KEYWORD: VSU GILLARD NIGHTLEAD

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

Fed: Vet warns of dangers of drugging and moving roos

AAP General News (Australia)
04-02-2008
Fed: Vet warns of dangers of drugging and moving roos

CANBERRA, April 2 AAP - Moving 500 kangaroos from a defence property in Canberra to
another site could mean the deaths of half the animals if it is not done properly, a wildlife
expert has warned.

Defence contractors had been preparing to cull the kangaroos on a former naval site,
after the ACT government rejected a plan to relocate them.

Now the Department of defence wants to trial moving the kangaroos to another site after
first drugging them with tranquiliser darts.

Dr Jon Hanger, a senior vet with the Steve Irwin-founded Wildlife Warriors at Australia
Zoo in Queensland, said he had successfully moved 25 kangaroos from a Gold Coast development
site to bushland 20 kilometres away.

There were substantial risks, but if done properly it was a humane approach.

"There is certainly a risk of trauma," he told ABC Radio.

"There is always a risk with a darting exercise as there is with any veterinary intervention
that requires an anaesthetic.

"That risk is much higher if it's done by people who are not very experienced.

"You can potentially have up to a 50 per cent mortality from either darting injuries
or myopathy or overheating if the thing is not managed very well."

Dr Hanger said he would not accept a mortality rate greater than five per cent.

Translocation costs from $500 to $2,000 per animal depending on the time taken and
other circumstances.

"There's no two ways about it - it is an expensive process," he said, adding that defence's
initial plan - tranquilising the roos then killing them by lethal injection - was also
expensive.

Dr Hanger, whose group has tendered for any translocation job, said the public expected
a compassionate approach to reducing kangaroo numbers.

The procedure involved first tranquilising each animal using a dart gun.

That took five minutes to take effect after which a vet would then examine each animal.

Those deemed to be diseased or in poor condition would be killed.

Animals would be transported five at a time and held in a pen at the release site for
an hour or so until sufficiently revived to be released.

Dr Hanger said little research had been conducted on translocation of kangaroos and
their long-term survival rate wasn't really known.

"The time has come for us to attach radio collars or other tracking devices on these
animals so we can assess their movements and survival after release and how well they
integrate into the resident population," he said.

Dr Hanger said without research it wasn't known whether released kangaroos would seek
to head back home.

"We really don't know unless we put some sort of tracking device on them and monitor
them," he said.

AAP mb/rl/af/sp

KEYWORD: KANGAROOS

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

Fed: Dumping of Sydney mother shows hypocrisy of the union bosses :Hockey

AAP General News (Australia)
08-31-2007
Fed: Dumping of Sydney mother shows hypocrisy of the union bosses :Hockey

The Workplace Relations Minister has accused union bosses of being hypocrites after
a Sydney woman was dumped from an anti-WorkChoices advertisement because her child was
sick.

New Limited reports MAREE FLETCHER .. was promised 14 hundred dollars to appear in the ad.

But it says she was told by a Sydney-based production company she wasn't needed ..

after her daughter woke with chickenpox on the morning of the shoot.

JOE HOCKEY says the unions are so busy spending millions trying to get KEVIN RUDD and
JULIA GILLARD elected that they've forgotten about helping their members.

He says what they've done is what they're campaigning against.

The Australian Nursing Federation is launching a four week campaign against the IR laws today.

AAP RTV sw/mb/sw/rt

KEYWORD: NURSES (CANBERRA)

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

Fed: Rudd says his office missed email on Long Tan

AAP General News (Australia)
04-17-2007
Fed: Rudd says his office missed email on Long Tan

Opposition leader KEVIN RUDD says his office will introduce a new system to ensure
emails aren't missed .. after the Sunrise dawn service fiasco.

Mr RUDD says he didn't know about an email advising his office of concerns about Seven
Network plans .. for a fake dawn service at Long Tan in Vietnam.

Mr RUDD has told ABC Radio his staff didn't show him the email because they were too busy.

He says from now on .. more senior staff will check all emails.

AAP RTV rad/pjo/jlw/maur/sp/rh/bart

KEYWORD: ANZAC SUNRISE RUDD (BRISBANE)

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

SA: American man cleared for return to the US

AAP General News (Australia)
12-15-2006
SA: American man cleared for return to the US

An Adelaide court has cleared the way for an American man to be extradited .. to face
sexual torture charges in the United States.

51-year-old JAMES LEROY DAVIE .. from Hamilton in Alabama .. has been held in custody
in Adelaide since his arrest in September.

He's been charged in the US with first-degree rape .. sexual torture and first-degree
sodomy .. in 2004.

US authorities allege he fled the country .. after he was released on bail prior to his trial.

In the Adelaide Magistrates Court today .. Magistrate SIMON MILAZZO has ruled DAVIE
is eligible to be surrendered to US authorities.

AAP RTV tjd/cp/wf

KEYWORD: DAVIE (ADELAIDE)

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

Fed: Model drained after winning singing contest

AAP General News (Australia)
08-06-2006
Fed: Model drained after winning singing contest

By Erin McWhirter, Television Writer

MELBOURNE, Aug 6 AAP - Television personality and model Erica Heynatz says she is physically
and emotionally drained following her It Takes Two victory.

So overwhelmed was she by the win that she fled the post-show party in tears and retreated
to her dressing room for some space and time alone.

"It's been completely overwhelming from start to finish," she told AAP later in the evening.

"I had a lot to prove to myself going into this show.

"Everybody goes through different patches in their lives and I thought I wasn't doing
enough, or pushing myself enough, so I set this challenge for myself.

"It's been tough."

Heynatz, who was partnered by opera singer David Hobson, beat swim star Sarah Ryan
and her partner Guy Sebastian to take out the first series.

Each couple sang three songs during the two-hour show, which included a performance
by popular American singer Nick Lachey and an exclusive peek at Sebastian's brand new
single, Taller, Better, Stronger.

Over the years, Heynatz has hosted, presented and worked her life in front of a camera
to make a living.

However she says singing in front of a live audience on national television exposed
her inner emotions completely.

"It's so much more difficult than you would ever imagine," she said.

"It's confronting on every level and you can't hide anything in your voice.

"This was about me doing something for myself and learning.

"There were incredible moments of self-doubt but I feel a huge, huge sense of accomplishment
because I worked really, really hard."

It Takes Two is filmed in the same studio as Seven's smash hit Dancing With the Stars
and couples well-known personalities with ten of the nation's top recording artists in
a vocal battle.

Heynatz and Hobson won by a combination of viewer voting and a judges score.

Sebastian said he wasn't disappointed at coming in runner-up.

The 2003 winner of Australian Idol said the last three years have been a rollercoaster
journey for him and showcasing his new single tonight was terrifying.

"I was more nervous than I have ever been in my whole life," he said.

"It's been such a long time since I have done a new song and with it I'm entering a
new phase and you want it to be of a high standard and nail it."

Taller, Better, Stronger is an inspirational ballad which Sebastian says is about a
"dark" period in his life.

"It's just been a bit of a darker patch over the last year," he said.

"As men, we don't analyse much and a lot of stuff has happened to me since 2003.

"My career happened and I was on Idol and got propelled into this life where there
are great things and things that you aren't prepared for.

"It hit me all at once on a writing and personal level... I was lost for awhile. I
wrote for about a year and kept nothing."

"It was just a challenging time."

AAP em/af/pe/de

KEYWORD: TWO NIGHTLEAD (PIX AVAILABLE)

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

FED: Milk-based alcohol drinks appeal to the young: study

AAP General News (Australia)
04-03-2006
FED: Milk-based alcohol drinks appeal to the young: study

SYDNEY, April 3 AAP - Most youngsters cannot tell the difference between milk-based
alcoholic drinks and milkshakes, NSW researchers have found.

The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) surveyed 350 people between the
ages of 12 to 30 to determine which drinks appealed most to adolescents and young adults
and whether palatability changed with age.

In the world-first study, the centre found under-age drinkers could not tell the difference
between normal chocolate milk and a chocolate milk vodka-based drink.

The findings have led to calls for a ban on milk-based alcoholic drinks and a reconsideration
of vodka premixed with soft drinks.

"We certainly should consider banning them...young people cannot tell the difference
between chocolate milk and vodka-based milk," NDARC Associate Professor Jan Copeland told
News Ltd newpapers today.

The chocolate vodka Mudshake and watermelon Bacardi Breezer were named most palatable
by participants.

"Now we have good, strong, data to say to alcohol companies that we need to get rid
of milk drinks and that vodka drinks look risky," NDarc's Paul Dillon told News Ltd.

Most of the young people surveyed believed the drinks were marketed to apeal to them,
with packaging, size and placement deliberately set up to attract a younger market.

"Some of these products are not viewed by young people as appealing in their taste
and packaging, whereas others are extremely palatable and there is the belief held among
adolescents, that they are targeted towards them," Prof Copeland said.

AAP lb/rs

KEYWORD: ALCOHOL

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

NSW: Primary school students in NSW sit Basic Skills Test

AAP General News (Australia)
08-02-2005
NSW: Primary school students in NSW sit Basic Skills Test

EDS: Embargoed until 0500 (AEST) Tuesday August 2



SYDNEY, Aug 2 AAP - More than 175,000 NSW students in years three and five will sit
the state's Basic Skills test today.

The students will be tested on their reading, writing, language and numeracy skills,
enabling teachers to monitor their academic development, NSW Education Minister Carmel
Tebbutt said.

The 87,000 students in Year Three and 88,000 students in Year Five will sit the writing
component of the test today and the literacy and numeracy components on Thursday.

"The Basic Skills Test has helped our students achieve some of the best literacy and
numeracy results in the world," Ms Tebbutt said in a statement.

"These tests assist teachers to pinpoint where students need help, so students don't
fall between the gaps."

She said the NSW government was spending $500 million over the next four years on the
State Literacy and Numeracy Plan, of which the Basic Skills Test was the most important
part.

AAP ka/cjh/sd

KEYWORD: SKILLS (EMBARGOED)

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

Clemenceau, Georges

Clemenceau, Georges (b. Mouilleron-en-Pareds, 28 Sept. 1841; d. 24 Nov. 1929) French; Prime Minister 1906–9, 1917–20 Clemenceau was born in 1841 in the western department of the Vendée. The son of a gentleman doctor imprisoned for his opposition to the 1851 coup d'état of Louis Bonaparte, he inherited from his father a lifelong detestation of Bonapartism and a commitment to democratic Republicanism; one of his most celebrated sayings was that the French Revolution was a bloc which must be accepted in its totality, including the Terror. He studied medicine in Paris, where he engaged in anti-regime politics, and then emigrated to the United States, from which he returned, complete with American wife, shortly before the fall of the Second Empire. His entry into politics coincided with the twin disasters of the Franco-Prussian War and the Commune. As mayor of Montmartre he experienced at first hand the brutalities which accompanied the latter and as a member of the National Assembly he was one of the deputies who refused to accept the loss of Alsace Lorraine to Bismarck's Second Reich. By the late 1870s he was the leader of the advanced Radicals, and acquired national prominence as a champion of social reform and hammer of the Catholic church—and also as the wrecker of the Opportunist governments of the early Third Republic. He never held office, however, and in the 1880s his political judgement was called into question by his flirtation with the demagogic General Boulanger and by his friendship with the crooked financier, Cornelius Herz, who was heavily implicated in the Panama Scandal. Having lost his seat in the 1893 parliamentary elections, he looked for a time to be politically finished. His campaigning zeal blazed up again when the Dreyfus Affair appeared to reopen the war between the supporters and opponents of Republicanism. He flung himself into the pro-Dreyfus cause, opened the columns of his newspaper to Zola's famous article ‘J'Accuse’, and in 1903 was elected Senator for the Var.

Though Clemenceau still described himself as a Radical, he took no part in the foundation of the Radical Socialist Party in 1901 and was notably reserved about the government led between 1902–5 by the Radical's favourite Émile Combes. In the run-up to the 1906 elections, he was invited to become Minister of the Interior in a coalition government designed to show the unity of the Republican family against its clerical and nationalist opponents. He dealt effectively with the consequences of a mining disaster in Northern France and with the potentially dangerous First of May campaign organized by France's revolutionary syndicalist movement. Four months later, at the age of 64, he became Prime Minister. His appointment was widely regarded as opening the door to the realization of the social programme of Radicalism and his ministerial programme contained proposals for an income tax, old-age pension, and for the nationalization of the Western Railway. Yet although a number of reforms were passed by a government which was one of the longest lasting in the history of the Third Republic, his first ministry is chiefly remembered for the heavy handed way it dealt with labour unrest and for his implacable opposition to public sector trade unionism. Clemenceau insisted that in a democracy force in the defence of the rule of law was justifiable and that public sector officials owed a duty of obedience to the state. His opponents in the Radical Party condemned his disregard for the pieties of Republican unity and the Socialists claimed that his enthusiasm for police repression demonstrated the inability of bourgeois Radicalism to cope with the reality of class conflict. Thus his government witnessed a breakdown in the Socialist-Radical unity which the Dreyfus Affair had created. It gave Clemenceau a reputation as the enemy of organized labour which he would never subsequently lose.

After the defeat of his ministry in July 1909, Clemenceau appeared to settle for the role of Angry, but Isolated, Old Man. If, in the run-up to the First World War he supported the Three Years Law extending military service, he also attempted, unsuccessfully, to prevent the election in 1913 of Poincaré as President of the Republic. When the First World War began, he used his presidency of the Senate Army commission, and his newspaper, to launch ferocious attacks on what he regarded as the incompetent management of the conflict by governments and generals alike. Excesses of tone once again contributed to his reputation for irresponsibility. But in 1917, as war weariness set in at—and behind—the front, he began to be seen as the man who might galvanize national energies. By late 1917, there was open talk of a compromise peace and some evidence that prominent politicians were starting to put out feelers to the enemy. Faced with this crisis, Poincaré turned to the man who had been savaging him in the newspaper ever since 1913, and appointed him Prime Minister. Clemenceau's ministerial declaration was simple—‘I make war’—and he dominated his government. He made frequent visits to the troops at the front, established effective relations with the military, and managed to persuade the English to accept Marshal Foch as Allied Supreme Commander. The real war he waged was against proposals for a negotiated peace, and those who made them. He sent a number of German agents to the firing squad, imprisoned a number of prominent politicians on charges of defeatism, and cowed his most prominent rival Briand into silence.

Clemenceau's vigour and determination unquestionably restored France's will to fight. When Germany sued for peace in November 1918, he was greeted with acclamation by the public and was declared by parliament to have deserved well of the country. He remained Prime Minister throughout 1919 and dominated the French delegation to the Versailles Peace Conference. As the last surviving representative of the deputies who had refused to accept the 1871 peace settlement, his aims were straightforward—the return of Alsace Lorraine and the destruction of Germany's potential ever again to threaten France. He insisted on the war guilt and reparation clauses of the Versailles Treaty, but was unable to persuade the Allies of the need to separate the Rhineland from Germany. He defended the treaty against the opposition of hard-line nationalists, who argued that it gave too much away, and of the Socialists who regarded it as too harsh. His national popularity remained high and he lent his authority to the anti-Bolshevik Bloc National which swept to power in the November 1919 elections. Thus his victory in the 1920 presidential election looked assured. But at this moment his past reputation destroyed his political future. His uncompromising anti-clericalism alarmed the Catholic right; his equally uncompromising anti-Socialism alienated the radical left; and his bruising attacks on political rivals made him vulnerable to their resentment. On the preliminary vote for the presidency, he was outvoted by the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Deschenel. He immediately withdrew from the contest and resigned as Prime Minister. Having spent the last years of his life travelling, writing and defending the Versailles Treaty, he died, at the age of 88 in 1929, and was buried in the Vendée.

For most of his fifty-year career, Clemenceau was a deeply controversial figure. Self-opinionated and aggressive, he could be almost wantonly destructive and he certainly helped create the culture of government instability which became a characteristic of Third Republic politics. Yet he was consistent in his anti-clericalism, his advocacy of good relations with Great Britain, his commitment to the Republican ideal, and, above all, his blazing patriotism. The leadership qualities he demonstrated in 1917–19 brought France victory and the photograph of the old, moustachioed man talking at the front to ordinary soldiers (he took to his grave the bunch of wild flowers which one such group gave him) is one of the potent images of the First World War. He remains France's most celebrated civilian politician of the twentieth century.

main market

main market The premier market for the trading of equities on the London Stock Exchange. The listing requirements are more stringent, and the liquidity of the market is greater, than on the Alternative Investment Market. A company wishing to enter this market must have audited trading figures covering at least five years and must place 25% of its shares in public hands. The main market currently deals in over 2600 securities.

INNOVATORS: QUANTUM BEAM.

With wireless technology no longer relying solely on high--frequency radio signals, low power lasers are ready to boost the high-speed internet link. Andrew Parkes sees it as more than just a flash in the pan

Factfile

Name: Quantum Beam

Web: www.quantumbeam.co.uk

Employees: 20

Capitalisation: [pound]7m

Location: Cambridge

Product: Laser based wireless broadband communication system

Funding: www.generics.co.uk and www.sandercapital.com and www.intel.com/capital/

Alan Green and Dr Euan Morrison were researching optics and broad band communications for Scientific Generics when they considered the low power laser beam might be another way of transmitting large amounts of information.

Scientific Generics agreed to sponsor Quantum Beam with a research grant of [pound]100,000. Andrew Parkes, who worked for the Scipher Group, was recruited as the company's chief executive officer.

While at Scipher, Parkes was part of the management buyout of the company and its eventual flotation. He had the business skills to tap into the potential funding that Quantum Beam needed.

He also knew there was a market in the US for wireless technology and that US venture capitalists with UK offices would be more open-minded to the idea.

Quantum Beam raised [pound]7m in funding, but Parkes said the negotiations were not all plain sailing. He also said the company's beginnings were a little stifled because he could not find enough staff. The difficulties of recruiting people with the right skills in optics and communications is a problem the company still faces.

The wireless communications supplied by Quantum Beam use a laser to send signals from one location to another with opto-electronic devices that act as receivers and transmitters.

The laser is fired at a target, and unless that 'hub' of the communication network is the signal's destination, it is bounced to another location.

Once reaching its destination the signal is turned into an electrical signal, which is then transmitted along a conventional network of lines.

The advantages of the system are that it is easy to install, does not need a licence -- unlike radio transmissions -- and does not require expensive optical fibre.

The downsides include problems posed by fog, which can absorb the laser light. But this is also a problem for 20--40Ghz radio frequencies -- the only competing radio frequency that can carry as much data as Quantum Beam's lasers.

At present the company is based at Scientific Generic's site, but Parkes has invested in a 13th century barn that is being converted. Based near Duxford aerodrome, the company is expected to move in shortly. And by the end of June, Parkes hopes to have grown the Company to around 35 people.

Pathnet Dials Up Customer Wins With New Cisco End to End Solution.

Business Editors

SUPERCOMM 2000

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 6, 2000

Delivering Industry's First Packet-Based Local

Access Service Spanning Pris, Xdsl,

Voip and Private Lines For Under-Served Markets

Pathnet, a privately held "next generation" carrier's carrier, and Cisco Systems, Inc., the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, today announced Pathnet's new service that uses a new Cisco packet-based Signaling System 7 (SS7) Primary Rate Interface (PRI) gateway solution. It extends the reach of Pathnet's carrier customers by offering a rich set of New World Internet services to untapped markets across the country, at cost savings of as much as 50 percent.

The Pathnet VPOP (Virtual Point of Presence) Plus service is the industry's first deployment of packet-based local access service that combines high capacity transport with dial, PRI, digital subscriber line (DSL), Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and dedicated private line technologies. This was announced at the SuperComm 2000 trade show at the Georgia World Congress Center.

Along with this innovative service Pathnet also introduced three customers -- NaviPath, I-Link and DSLi.com -- who already have adopted its VPOP Plus services for end-user customers. The VPOP Plus service specifically targets the nation's second- and third-tiered markets, comprising approximately 500 cities.

Pathnet's ability to quickly deliver this innovative service at a significant discount is due to a unique Cisco New World network architecture, which combines DSL, media gateway, softswitch, router, access server, and optical transport solutions over a network backbone that employs the latest OC-192 fiber optics and SONET microwave technology.

"Our carrier customers are demanding that Pathnet bring them the absolute latest in technology at the lowest possible rates, wherever they may need it. Our aim is not only to deliver on this requirement, but to take it one step further and deliver the next requirement before they have to ask for it," said Dick Jalkut, Pathnet's chief executive officer. "Cisco was the only vendor that offered end-to-end carrier-grade packet solutions which demonstrates they understand our mission. By meeting and exceeding our customers' requirements, together we have created a New World network in these markets that will be difficult to duplicate."

"Today's network service providers are in a fiercely competitive market," said Kevin Kennedy, senior vice president, service provider line of business at Cisco. "The entrance of aggressive, non-traditional competitors has changed the playing field for success. Pathnet can now deliver advanced services to carriers with a New World solution that delivers functionality, flexibility, and most importantly, profitability to them and their customers. We are very excited to be working with service providers such as Pathnet who are leading the pack in accelerating the delivery of their packet services."

As part of the rollout, Pathnet will deploy the Cisco 6160 IP DSL Switch, the Cisco 6400 carrier-class broadband aggregator, the Cisco ONS 15454 evolutionary optical transport platform, the Cisco MGX 8260(TM) Media Gateway and the VSC Virtual Switch Controller 3000 softswitch and a full range of Cisco routers. This innovative blend of integrated network elements delivers a powerful solution set of access options for DSL, private line, and PRI. With Pathnet's cost-effective fiber-based transport, the services based on these packet-enabled access methods positions Pathnet as one of the nation's first packet-based inter-exchange carriers.

Solution components

Pathnet's implementation of the Cisco SS7 PRI gateway solution, using the Cisco MGX 8260 Media Gateway and the Cisco Virtual Switch Controller 3000 for PRI services, is the first of its kind to offer such high-density, and presents a major economic competitive advantage in serving smaller markets where companies with traditional circuit-switched architectures simply cannot compete today. With this open, packet-based distributed architecture, Pathnet can deploy cost effective networks to enter new markets quickly.

The Cisco MGX(TM) 8260 Media Gateway is the only gateway capable of performing all the functions required for packet and Time Division Multiplex (TDM) network convergence - high-density local TDM switching, SS7-PRI offload and a foundation for packet telephony services. The Cisco MGX 8260 Media Gateway is based on industry standard open interfaces, including the media gateway control protocol (MGCP), offering carriers a mix of new services and call control functions.

Coupled with Cisco award winning media gateways, the Cisco Virtual Switch Controller VSC 3000 is a telco-grade, MGCP-enabled softswitch that performs intelligent call routing, signaling mediation, services access, gateway control and centralized management. It demonstrates how Cisco is leading in SS7, building on the success of the SC2200 SS7 Dial Platform which is deployed in 32 countries on five continents with more than 50 ISUP variants available. The Virtual Switch Controller VSC 3000 enhances the SC 2200 capabilities by adding new application strength which introduces call control capabilities to switch and intelligently route calls. The introduction of the Virtual Switch Controller VSC 3000 continues to underscore how Cisco is committed to open standards and the Cisco Open Packet Telephony architecture.

The Cisco 6000 IP DSL Switch family provides breakthrough solutions that deliver premium, IP- and Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) based, managed data, voice and video capabilities to service providers. Powered by Cisco IOS(R) software, the products enable service providers to differentiate themselves competitively and increase customer loyalty and revenue by delivering the industry's broadest, most feature-rich set of managed multi-service applications on a single platform. The IP DSL Switch family enables service providers to deliver MPLS-based virtual private networks (VPNs), secure firewalls, multicast video, web caching, and voice services for both business and consumer entertainment applications.

The Cisco ONS 15454 is an evolutionary next generation transport manager that integrates 3/1 cross connect functionality with SONET transport and high speed data aggregation and switching. Unlike traditional SONET solutions, the Cisco ONS 15454 integrates all of the SONET transport features into a common platform. In addition to managing bandwidth via traditional time division multiplexing for DS1 and DS3 circuits, the Cisco ONS 15454 also integrates statistical multiplexing to better utilize each STS1 in a data intensive SONET network. The Cisco ONS 15454 provides users with multi-service options and can act as either a SONET transport system, digital cross-connect or data switch.

"We are extremely pleased with our Cisco relationship and look forward to mutual success introducing service providers to the opportunities in the second- and third- tier markets," said Bob Rouse, Pathnet's chief operating officer. "With Cisco beside us and the first VPOP Plus in service, we are well on our way to building a bridge over the digital divide."

New World Ecosystem partners

In addition to enabling new carrier services, Cisco works closely with a number of ecosystem partners to deliver network service solutions. Pathnet's New World service will rely on billing software from ACECOMM, a member of the Cisco New World Ecosystem program. The Cisco New World Ecosystem is a community of technology partners enabling service providers to rapidly deploy innovative networking services. Cisco and its partners offer a wide range of solutions for Packet Telephony, Voice Applications, OSS/BSS, Broadband and System Integration/Deployment. Cisco's New World Ecosystem partners support open, standards-based architectures and a shared commitment to interoperable, multi-vendor implementations.

About Pathnet

Pathnet is a `next generation carriers' carrier' providing competitive local access services and high capacity, digital transport to under served, second- and third-tier U.S. cities. Pathnet and its parent company, Pathnet Telecommunications, Inc., provides service to inter-exchange carriers, local exchange carriers, Internet service providers, Regional Bell Operating Companies, cellular operators and resellers. Pathnet currently has 6,900 route miles of completed network and 1200 route miles of network under construction. Additional information about Pathnet can be found on the company's web site at: www.pathnet.net.

About Cisco Systems

Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. News and information are available at www.cisco.com.

Cisco, Cisco Systems, and the Cisco Systems logo are registered trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and certain other countries. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.

The statements made by Pathnet in this press release may be forward-looking in nature. No assurance can be given that future results will be achieved; actual results may differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements. Pathnet believes that its primary risk factors include, but are not limited to: signing additional agreements with private network operators and others; offering services to telecommunication service providers; entering into partnering arrangements; and building a digital network. Additional information concerning these and other potential important factors can be found within Pathnet's periodic reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements in this release should be evaluated in light of these important factors.

Semmens Resigns as Electrosource Chief Executive Officer.

SAN MARCOS, Texas, Dec. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Electrosource, Inc. (Nasdaq: ELSI) (the "Company") today announced the resignation of Michael G. Semmens as Chairman, CEO and President of Electrosource, Inc. effective immediately. The resignation of Mr. Semmens along with the resignation of two other Board members (Dr. William R. Graham and Mr. Earl E. Gjelde) was accepted at a meeting of the Board of Directors on Monday, December 7. The Electrosource Board of Directors was also reduced to seven members at the meeting.

The Board appointed Mr. William F. Griffin (Executive Vice-President of Marketing) as the Acting Chief Executive Officer and Ms. Mary Beth Koenig (Treasurer and Chief Accounting Officer) as the Acting Chief Financial Officer of Electrosource effective immediately.

Mr. Griffin stated that "The Company is refocusing its efforts on streamlining operations and manufacture of the Horizon 12H85 battery for its key customers. The performance of this battery in field tests within our customer base has been impressive. The range and cycle life of the 12H85 in such tests as hybrid electric vehicle and pure electric vehicle applications are now consistently approaching that of other advanced battery technologies. We believe this battery has the most immediate potential market applications. All other programs and applications of the core technology are being reviewed on an individual basis."

Management is reviewing current and future business plans with Kamkorp, a customer and equity funding partner, who has stated that the changes in management due not change their plan to continue making payments in amounts necessary to sustain operations. The business review is expected to be completed in early 1999.

Electrosource, headquartered in San Marcos, Texas, designs, manufactures and markets proprietary advanced energy storage technologies and systems. Additional information about the Company is located on the internet at www.electrosource.com.

This release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those discussed in this release. Risks include financial risks, development risks, manufacturing risks, uncertainty of market acceptance, delay in shipment or cancellation of orders, customer reorganization, as well as other risks that are detailed from time to time in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

Beyond.com, ITC Awarded $4.5 Million Government Contract for Digital Delivery of Software.

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 9, 1999--

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Contract Expands

Relationship With Department of Treasury

Internet software superstore Beyond.com(TM) (Nasdaq:BYND) and Intellisys Technology Corporation (ITC) of Fairfax, Va., have been awarded a five-year, $4.5-million contract by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) for the electronic delivery and maintenance of Microsoft software to approximately 3,500 desktop computers within the OCC.

The agreement covers licenses for Microsoft's Windows NT Server, Windows NT Workstation, Office Professional, Exchange Server 5.5 and other BackOffice software, along with additional products, for OCC employees.

The new contract strengthens the relationship Beyond.com and ITC have established with the Department of Treasury, which began when the two companies were awarded a $120-million contract with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in June of 1999. Beyond.com also provides software electronically to the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) and the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO), a division of the Department of Commerce.

"The OCC contract is further verification of Beyond.com's value proposition of digitally downloading and managing software in the enterprise arena," said Steven Cooker, newly appointed vice president of government sales for Beyond.com. "We believe the contract represents a trend by government agencies to help reduce the total cost of software ownership by using electronic delivery."

ITC President and Chief Executive Officer Steve Baldwin said: "ITC understands the challenges facing the Federal government and the ways the Internet and e-commerce can help meet these challenges. We are pleased to join with leaders in the software enterprise arena such as Microsoft and Beyond.com."

The contract allows the OCC to utilize Beyond.com's Electronic Download Manager (EDM) technology to distribute, manage and support products across the Internet to their various sites. EDM is a proprietary service developed by Beyond.com to ease the deployment, management and maintenance of software throughout government agencies and large enterprises.

Under terms of the contract, the OCC will also be able to use Beyond.com as its Web-based store for the electronic purchase of additional Microsoft products.

About Beyond.com

Beyond.com provides commercial, off-the-shelf software and related products and services to the government, enterprise, corporate and consumer markets. Visitors to the company's online store http://www.beyond.com/ enjoy an expansive selection of software backed by customer service and competitive pricing. Beyond.com offers more than 1.6 million software and other digital products, including software stock-keeping units (SKUs) for online purchase from such major publishers as Adobe Systems Inc., IBM Corp., Lotus Development Corp., Microsoft Corp., Network Associates Inc., Sun Microsystems Inc. and Symantec Corp; hardware; computing devices; and digital images in different file formats, including jpeg, gif and mpf through a strategic marketing alliance with IMSI.

The company has established strategic marketing alliances with America Online Inc., CNET Inc., Compaq Computer Corp., Excite@Home, Road Runner/ServiceCo, Yahoo! Inc. and ZDNet. Additionally, Beyond.com offers e-commerce solutions such as site design and construction, site operation, including transaction processing, physical and electronic order fulfillment, customer support, marketing, and merchandising support and reporting to software publishers, hardware manufacturers and systems OEMs.

Customers include Autodesk, Executive Software Inc., McAfee.com Inc., Symantec Corp., Systran Software Inc. Palm Computing, Compaq Computer and HP Shopping Village (a subsidiary of Hewlett Packard). The company has applied for federal registration of the marks BEYOND.COM and BEYOND DOT COM. Beyond.com Corporation trades on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol ("BYND"). More information on the company can be found in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").

About ITC

Founded in 1983, ITC is at the forefront of government e-commerce applications and provides Enterprise Technology services and products to organizations throughout the government. ITC was recently selected as one of two contractors to prime the three-year, $300-million U.S. Army Personal Computer - 3 (PC-3) contract. ITC has experienced exceptional growth since President and CEO Steve Baldwin and his management team joined the company last year.

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. This includes statements relating to expectations about government trends in using electronic software download and Beyond.com's agreement with the Office of Comptroller and Currency for electronic delivery, maintenance and technical support of Microsoft software products. The Government is obligated only to the extent of authorized purchases actually made under the contract. Such statements are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, including the risk that the contract is terminated prematurely and that the government ceases to procure software through electronic delivery. Beyond.com's business is subject to risks including reductions in or cancellations of customer orders, changes in relationships with software suppliers, changes in relationships with strategic partners, changes in the product mix sold by the company, competition from other online software resellers or publishers, inability to raise sufficient capital on satisfactory terms, or at all, and other factors described in the company's filings with the SEC.

Celebrate Napa Valley Harvest and Crush Season with Napa Valley Hotel Harvest Inn's View from Top Package - Hot Air Balloon ride, Champagne Brunch, Winemaker-for-A-Day.

St. Helena, CA (PRWEB) July 14, 2011

Napa Valley hotel Harvest Inn invites guests to enjoy Wine Country Harvest and Crush Season and the spectacular 360 degree views of the Napa Valley with its 'View from the Top Package,' an expertly balanced and blended three-night Napa Valley stay with breathtaking beauty. The authentic Napa Valley experience includes dramatic views of the Valley's ready-to-harvest grapes from a hot air balloon ride, and an exclusive winemaker-for-the-day wine blending and tasting. Everything in between is a breeze with blissful relaxation and pampering courtesy of the Inn's personal concierge. Napa Valley Harvest and Crush Season depends on the weather, but is typically underway from August through October.

The Napa Valley hotel's beautiful setting in the heart of the Napa Valley offers guests an extraordinary connection to the land with eight acres of fragrant gardens, a backyard of ripening grapes and views of the Mayacamas Mountains. Relaxation begins in a luxurious wine country vineyard view room, where guests unwind and uncork with a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine and rich chocolate truffles. Wrapped in monogrammed signature Harvest Inn robes, a delightful reminder of your stay, enjoy two one-hour Wine Country massages al fresco in the Redwood Grove outdoor massage cabana or in the privacy of the Inn's Rose Section guest wing with its bordering gardens.

As dawn breaks over the Napa Valley, take flight in a traditional wicker basket balloon ride. The gentle winds and breezes carry you for an hour-long tour from above of California's famous grape growing region. Back on terra firma, toast the perfect day with a Napa Valley Champagne brunch. Shuttled back to the Inn, guests are invited to stroll the vineyards adjacent trail or simply relax by the heated swimming pools and spas.

A new day to experience the riches of the land includes the opportunity to play winemakers and a private five-hour wine country tour in a luxury sedan, and an exclusive personal wine tasting tour at two of Harvest Inn preferred wine estates. A well-balanced wine is the primary goal of winemakers and guests learn the art of blending its components gracefully at Napa Valley's historic Franciscan Winery or Louis M. Martini Winery. It is the quintessential authentic Napa Valley wine tasting adventure.

The three-night 'View from the Top' package price starts at $2,430, not including taxes and gratuities.

Reservations: toll-free at 1-800-950-8466 or at http://www.harvestinn.com . For the latest events and specials join Harvest Inn on Facebook and follow on Twitter.

About the Harvest Inn

The Harvest Inn is a world-renowned Napa Valley AAA Four Diamond hotel located in St. Helena, surrounded by premium wineries and extraordinary dining. Charming brick and wood cottages, guest rooms and suites are spread over eight acres of gorgeously landscaped gardens, making the Napa Valley Inn an ideal setting for a well-deserved, relaxing vacation getaway or intimate honeymoon. The Inn also features two heated swimming pools, well-equipped Fitness Center and massage treatment rooms tucked into the gardens and Redwoods.

All accommodations include breakfast daily, a wealth of amenities including aromatherapy personal care items, large flat screen televisions with DVD players, refrigerator with complimentary waters and juices and coffee/tea maker, high-speed Internet access and more. Most include fireplaces.

With stunning vineyard views and the Mayacamas Mountains just beyond, guests long to linger in the warm atmosphere with hand-crafted fireplaces, intricate woodwork and country estate ambience.

The Main Lodge features a welcoming lobby with singular 20-foot ceilings and custom carved woodwork throughout. Just beyond the lobby is the Inn's spacious Great Room where guests enjoy fireside wine tastings beside the massive cobblestone hearth. The cozy wine bar is open daily until 11p.m. offering fine samples of local vintages, as well as tranquil views, handsome leather sofas, a grand piano and backgammon tables. Complimentary guided wine and cheese tastings from local producers are offered on Friday and Saturday nights in The Great Room.

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Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/harvestinn/napavalleyhote/prweb8634350.htm

Botswana calls for help with its refugee influx.

Provided by 7DAYS.ae

Botswana appealed for international help yesterday to ease the impact of an influx of Zimbabweans whom it says are draining its resources."The influx of Zimbabweans, whether there is or there is no government (in Harare), is an issue to be dealt with," Foreign Minister Phandu Sekelemani said."We ask the international community to help us because it is a drain on our resources," he said."Even after the failed presidential run-off, we have more 215 who crossed last week... But we cannot turn them back once they qualify" for refugee status.According to government sources late last year, Botswana was playing host to an estimated 250,000 Zimbabweans - a number that was growing as conditions under President Robert Mugabe went from bad to worse.Botswana, Zimbabwe's western neighbour, earlier this month urged other nations in southern Africa not to recognise Mugabe's re-election in a presidential run-off vote in which he was the only contender.

Sekelemani reiterated calls for Zimbabwe to be suspended from the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).

"As a country that practices democracy and the rule of law, Botswana does not ... recognise the outcome of the presidential run-off election, and would expect other SADC member states to do the same," he said.

A[umlaut] 2007 Al Sidra Media LLC

Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company

Something phishy; Gmail under attack.(China, Google and America)

Chinese crackers munched Google

A Chinese cyber-attack on a jumpy America

THE more onerous internet security in the office becomes, the more attractive easy-to-use services such as Google's Gmail. This paradox is at the heart of what looks like a big cyber-attack by China (or Chinese hackers) against the private e-mail accounts of hundreds of senior officials, military types and journalists from America and Asian countries, chiefly South Korea.

Google says it has "detected and disrupted" this campaign, first noted in February by a blogger, Mila Parkour. Unlike previous Chinese attacks on Google, which involved heavyweight cryptographic attacks on its software, this one was clever but simple. Targets received plausible-seeming "phishing" e-mails, often sent from faked State Department addresses, with a subject line such as "Fw: Draft US-China joint statement" and an attachment. Clicking on that produced a bogus Gmail screen. Anyone unwise enough to give their login and password would make their past and future e-mails, and contacts, available to the snooper.

Google has tense relations with the Chinese authorities. In 2010 it stopped co-operating with their censorship efforts, moving its servers to Hong Kong; it is struggling to renew licences it needs for its other operations (it still employs 500 people in China, many of them selling advertising). Now it is talking to the FBI.

But the target of the attack is Google's customers. The Chinese government denies having any part in the scam, but the e-mails seem to have come from the eastern city of Jinan, home to a Chinese military cyberwarfare unit and a college blamed for other attacks on America. This one comes at a time when people there are already jumpy about electronic security. Lockheed Martin, the government's main information-technology provider, said last week that it had experienced a "significant and tenacious attack". A forthcoming Pentagon report says that cyber-attacks could in future prompt a military response. Shooting careless officials would be a start.

New Facebook App Helps Businesses Take Control of the Future.

San Francisco (PRWEB) May 16, 2011

A social media app called Post Planner provides businesses a new way to stay connected with their Facebook fans. Users of the app can schedule posts days, weeks, even years in advance.

"I'm using it to give advice to my son 20 years from now," said Frank May, of Chattanooga, Tenn.

May also uses the app on the fan page of his business, The Pool Place.

San Francisco-based Go West Social developed Post Planner together with French partner, Julie Cros.

"We're helping people organize the future on Facebook," Go West Social founder Joshua Parkinson said.

Using Post Planner on your Facebook profile is free. And more than 1,000 people have downloaded the application.

But Parkinson said they designed the app for small businesses to use on their Facebook fan pages, which costs $5 per month.

Businesses in more than 10 countries have subscribed since the app debuted in March.

With Post Planner, small business owners stay in touch with their customers without having to log in every day.

"People running small businesses are too busy with day-to-day operations to keep up on Facebook. They don't have time to update their fan page every day," Parkinson said. "But that doesn't mean they shouldn't."

"Consistency is key. Fans will only interact with you if they think you're around and listening," Parkinson explained. "You can signal you're around by posting consistently with Post Planner."

Parkinson encourages his clients to set aside time in staff meetings to brainstorm Facebook posts. With Post Planner, they can schedule Facebook posts for the next month in one session.

"You can plan out 20 new conversations over the next month and schedule them all today," Parkinson said. "Then you can just sit back, react and respond."

The app is especially handy for marketers who rely heavily on Facebook for delivering messages, he said.

"You can get your whole marketing team using Post Planner," Parkinson said. "Then sit down for an hour a week to brainstorm and plan."

The application displays future posts in chronological order, so users can scroll down the page and see everything they've scheduled. There is even a feature for those who may not know what to post.

"One big problem I've seen is small businesses don't know what to write on their walls," Parkinson said. "They don't know what kinds of questions to ask their fans."

Post Planner's "Suggestions" feature fixes this.

"If you don't know what to write, just click our light bulb icon. A 'Posting for Dummies' guide will pop up with over 40 proven post ideas," Parkinson said. "It's like having an encyclopedia of Facebook best practices at your fingertips."

The "Suggestions" feature also tells users what not to post, he added.

"If all you're doing is pushing out information and not asking questions, then no one is going to interact with you," Parkinson said. "If you're fans don't interact with you, your fan numbers won't grow."

More than half of the suggested posts are questions.

"Fans love to answer questions, so we give our users tons of question ideas to choose from," Parkinson said.

Still, he insisted that businesses must also communicate spontaneously with their Facebook fans.

"We're not trying to replace spontaneous posts," Parkinson said. "We recommend posting spontaneously as often as you can. But if you're having trouble posting consistently, then Post Planner can help."

Hertz Car Sales uses Post Planner at stores throughout the West.

"We had some great features added to our Facebook page a few months back. But the problem was we didn't know what to do with the page once it was all suped up," said Mark Neumann, director of Internet marketing at Overland West, Inc., the largest Hertz licensee in North America. "With Post Planner, we not only know what to write, but we can plan out the next couple weeks in advance, so we don't have to worry about producing content every day."

David G. Butterfield, a state representative in Utah, said he uses Post Planner to connect with voters.

"I use it to keep my page relevant and top of mind," Butterfield said. "Post Planner makes it easy to keep a Facebook presence with my audience and still carry on with all the other things I have to do."

Learn more about Post Planner at http://www.PostPlanner.com.

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Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/5/prweb8430789.htm

InfoRelay Adds 20Gbps of Network Capacity, Adds Telia to Network.

Sterling, VA (PRWEB) April 28, 2011

InfoRelay Online Systems, Inc., an IT solutions and connectivity provider, announced today a major network upgrade that will add 20 gigabits per second of Internet capacity to its network in order to support recent growth.

InfoRelay maintains primary network Points of Presence ("POPs") within multiple markets nationwide, including Los Angeles and Southern California, San Jose and the Silicon Valley area, Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and New York City. Within each market, InfoRelay provides server colocation - the ability for clients to host their servers in secure server cabinets owned by InfoRelay. Each cabinet includes redundant UPS and generator-backed power, and is cooled by a redundant cooling infrastructure. In addition to highly redundant colocation, InfoRelay also provides bandwidth to its colocated customers, as well as other customers in close proximity to its colocation facilities.

Because InfoRelay caters to enterprise clients, Federal and state government agencies, and other businesses with mission-critical business requirements, the company's network engineers have worked to reduce all single points of failure within the InfoRelay network. In order to improve reliability and increase redundancy, InfoRelay has built its network to rest upon the networks of more than 15 tier 1 and tier 2 networks -- each chosen carefully to meet specific network requirements of InfoRelay and its clients.

In addition to already being powered by networks such as Level(3) Communications, Global Crossing, Tata Communications, and several others, InfoRelay is performing network upgrades that will incorporate an additional 20,000Mbps of capacity provided by Telia. InfoRelay will be adding 10 gigabit ethernet connections to Telia in its Los Angeles and Northern Virginia markets in order to accommodate growth and supply additional capacity and redundancy.

"We chose to add Telia to our network because of the depth and breadth of their peering in Europe. We believe that by utilizing select routes provided by Telia, we can continue to provide our clients with a best-of-breed, highly-redundant, optimized network," commented Mr. Joseph Vajda, Director of Network Operations for InfoRelay.

According to Vajda, the installation of the Telia 10 gigabit connections will take place before the end of May, 2011, at which points all InfoRelay customers in the Los Angeles and Northern Virginia markets will benefit from the upgrade.

About InfoRelay Online Systems, Inc.

InfoRelay Online Systems, Inc. delivers enterprise-level managed services to small to medium-sized businesses. InfoRelay improves its clients' efficiency and profitability through the company's array of reliable IT services. By demonstrating unparalleled levels of responsiveness, concern, and overall service, InfoRelay establishes a unique trusting relationship with each client, allowing InfoRelay to act as a 24x7x365 extension of its clients' IT departments. This partnership permits InfoRelay's clients to focus on their core competencies, instead of the day-to-day concerns of hosting infrastructure. For more information, please visit http://www.inforelay.com, follow InfoRelay on Facebook and Twitter, or call (703) 485-4600.

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Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/4/prweb8353007.htm

What Others Call 'The Future of Television' Is Available Now to Verizon FiOS TV Customers in Pomona.

Verizon Offers Hands-On Customer Trials of FiOS TV, America's Most Advanced Video Entertainment Service, at Newly Redesigned Verizon Plus Store

POMONA, Calif., Dec. 3, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumer electronics fans are well aware of the new wave of Internet-connectible televisions and add-on media player boxes that promise to be the hot items on many consumers' wish lists this holiday season. But what they may not know is that the advanced features and functions that these devices promise are standard fare on Verizon FiOS TV today - without having to buy add-on hardware or hassle with its installation.

Rich, interactive widget applications; watching Web video on the TV; streaming personal multi-media (photos, music, home video) from the home computer to the TV screen; multi-room DVR viewing; and now, Flex View multi-screen (TV-PC-Smartphone) video. They are all available for hands-on testing at the Friday (Dec. 3) opening of the newly redesigned Verizon Plus store in Pomona - just in time for the holidays.

"You have to experience FiOS TV to fully appreciate the unique, advanced features that make it such a great service and great value for our customers," said Margaret Serjak, president of operations for Verizon California. "The latest interactive applications and entertainment capabilities are already included at no additional charge and work seamlessly with existing technology in the home. Before spending thousands of dollars on a new connectible HD TV or hundreds more for an add-on TV box this holiday season, we think consumers should come to one of our stores and test drive FiOS TV, and then decide."

The Verizon Plus store in Pomona, located at 280 Locust St., is one of several California stores being redesigned to give customers a true connected-home experience through Verizon's array of advanced fiber-optic network and wireless network products. In addition to FiOS TV, visitors can test drive FiOS Internet - offering the nation's fastest mass-market broadband service (150/35 Mbps) and the only broadband service with symmetric speeds (35/35 Mbps or 25/25 Mbps) - and the new FiOS Flex View multi-screen video feature that empowers users to watch their content whenever and wherever they choose on the TV, the computer or their mobile device.

Visitors will also be able to try out Verizon Wireless smartphones and tablets powered by the largest and most reliable 3G network in America. Verizon Wireless customers can now add a new 3G smartphone on a secondary line and receive a credit equal to the cost of adding a line to a Nationwide Family SharePlan. The $9.99 monthly credit for the new line can save customers nearly $240 per line over the life of the two-year contract.

Other Verizon Plus stores undergoing redesign are located in Victorville, Oxnard, Long Beach and West Covina. An opening event for the Oxnard store, at 528 S. A St., will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday (Dec. 4).

Pomona Mayor Elliott Rothman, City Council Members Ginna Escobar, Cristina Carrizosa, Stephan Atchley, Paula Lantz and Fred Rodriguez, and executives from Verizon will headline the 11 a.m. grand reopening ceremony for the Pomona store. The Ganesha High School band will provide the musical backdrop for the grand opening, which will be followed by product demonstrations, a prize drawing for Lakers tickets and the presentation of a $15,000 grant from the Verizon Foundation to the Boys and Girls Club of Pomona in support of its literacy program.

The Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications, awards grants each year to organizations working to promote literacy in California.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 93 million customers nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 195,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of more than $107 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts, high-quality video and images, and other information are available at Verizon's News Center on the World Wide Web at www.verizon.com/news. To receive news releases by e-mail, visit the News Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news releases.

SOURCE Verizon