NSW:NSW not following Qld urban mining ban

AAP General News (Australia)
08-16-2011
NSW:NSW not following Qld urban mining ban

SYDNEY, Aug 16 AAP - The NSW government has rebuffed a Greens call for Premier Barry
O'Farrell to follow the lead of his Queensland counterpart Anna Bligh and ban mining exploration
in urban areas.

The Queensland government announced on Monday that it would prohibit exploration in
urban centres, providing a two-kilometre buffer around towns with a population of 1000
or more.

NSW Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham called on Mr O'Farrell on Tuesday to provide the same
protections in NSW, where coal seam gas (CSG) exploration has also become a divisive political
issue.

"In NSW right now there are major mining projects occurring perilously close to major
centres," Mr Buckingham said in a statement.

"The entire Sydney metropolitan area is covered by coal seam gas exploration licences,
as is the Illawarra, the Central Coast, Newcastle, Taree and other centres.

"Bligh's decision is a recognition by a government in a major resource state that mining
and gas exploration and development has gone too far and that urban areas are simply not
suitable for these activities."

Last month the NSW government announced it would introduce a moratorium on the controversial
"fracking" process used in CSG mining, and ban the use of toxic chemicals.

However, a 60-day moratorium on new exploration licences for coal, coal seam gas and
petroleum was allowed to expire.

Mr Buckingham has introduced a bill into the NSW parliament for a 12-month moratorium
on CSG exploration.

Responding to the Queensland ban, a spokeswoman for NSW Resources Minister Chris Hartcher
said, "The NSW government has no current plans to impose a 2km buffer between CSG extraction
and residential areas".

"The NSW government is currently developing its Strategic Land Use Strategy to deliver
a comprehensive framework for the management of competing land uses across NSW," she said.

"We have also moved to introduce more stringent environmental planning assessments
to address concerns some communities have raised regarding environmental standards for
minerals exploration and mining."

Opponents of CSG mining, including the Lock the Gate Alliance and the NSW Greens, will
protest outside a NSW government mining conference in Sydney on Thursday.

AAP ab/wjf/dep

KEYWORD: CSG NSW

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

Fed: Dick Smith says Hicks can face trial in Australia

AAP General News (Australia)
02-19-2007
Fed: Dick Smith says Hicks can face trial in Australia

Businessman DICK SMITH says there are legal loopholes that could be used .. to have
terror suspect DAVID HICKS tried in Australia.

Mr SMITH has given 60 thousand dollars to support the campaign to free HICKS .. who's
been in US custody at Guantanamo Bay for five years.

He says HICKS' legal team has advised the government of legal options that would allow
him to face trial in Australia.

And he's told the Nine Network .. it'd just require the government to enact some retrospective
legislation .. which the prime minister refuses to do.

Mr SMITH says normally Australia doesn't back-date laws .. but he feels in the case
of terrorism .. it's appropriate to do so.

He says although he doesn't support DAVID HICKS .. he'll continue to fight to ensure
he receives a fair trial.







HICKS is likely to face charges of attempted murder in violation of the law of war
and providing material support from terrorism at a US military commission later this year.

He could be sentenced to life imprisonment if convicted.

AAP RTV sld/sb/tm/bart

KEYWORD: HICKS SMITH (CANBERRA)

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

NSW:Hopoate convicted over Kings Cross assault

AAP General News (Australia)
04-19-2011
NSW:Hopoate convicted over Kings Cross assault

SYDNEY, April 19 AAP - Former rugby league international John Hopoate has been convicted
and fined after pleading guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm over a bashing
in Sydney's nightclub district Kings Cross.

The 37-year-old faced Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday when he was also
placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond.

Two other charges relating to the December 18 incident, including common assault and
affray, were dropped.

The former top-level rugby league player and heavyweight boxing champion sat quietly
in court throughout his hearing, wearing a grey check suit.

It was in contrast to his last appearance in January, when he clashed with reporters
by standing in the doorway blocking access to the courtroom.

Hopoate was working as a responsible service of alcohol officer at the Trademark Hotel
at the time of the December 18 brawl in which Wilson Duque Castillo, 33, was bashed and
later died.

Mr Castillo slipped into a coma and never regained consciousness, while his 27-year-old
brother, Wilmer, suffered facial injuries.

Lynn Matia, 35, a security guard, has been charged with the manslaughter of Mr Castillo.

Police alleged the men and a friend were refused entry to the venue and then chased
when one of them threatened door staff.

Hopoate was arrested the following day and was later charged over the attack on Wilmer.

His lawyer Stephen Alexander told the court on Tuesday his client was provoked during
the incident and hit on the head with a belt buckle.

Mr Alexander said the victim had produced a paint scraper and showed it to security
instead of walking away after being told to leave.

The victim then picked up a table, lifted it over his head and dropped it on the floor,
the court was told.

Mr Alexander said there had been no physical contact and his client then acted in self-defence.

But Mr Alexander said Hopoate later overstepped the mark when he punched and kicked
the victim while he was restrained on the ground.

Magistrate Janet Wahlquist took into account his admirable contribution to the community
and early guilty plea but said the offence was serious and his behaviour "completely unacceptable".

He was fined $1000 and ordered to pay $79 court costs.

AAP bzs/tr/jnb/apm

KEYWORD: HOPOATE

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

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Dedicates Yawkey Center for Cancer Care

Wireless News
01-19-2011
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Dedicates Yawkey Center for Cancer Care
Type: News

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute announced its Yawkey Center for Cancer Care, a clinical facility designed with involvement from patients.

According to a release, the Yawkey Center is the keystone of Dana- Farber's commitment to providing care, guided by clinical and laboratory science and tailored to each patient's cancer. The 14- story, 275,000 square foot facility will house most of the adult outpatient care provided at Dana-Farber, beginning Jan. 30.
"The Yawkey Center for Cancer Care is the product of a shared vision held by so many people, from our patients and families to our faculty and staff," said Edward Benz, president of Dana-Farber. "It will enable our clinicians to provide patients and their families with the finest care and treatment options available in a safe, welcoming, patient-centered environment, as well as facilitate the translation of laboratory advances into new, more effective clinical treatments sooner."

The Yawkey Center is named in honor of the Yawkey Foundation, which made a $30 million gift during Dana-Farber's recently completed $1 billion capital campaign. The Yawkey Foundation's gift continued the long relationship between Dana-Farber and the late Tom and Jean Yawkey, former owners of the Boston Red Sox, and underscored the Yawkeys' nearly half-century of dedication to the fight against cancer.

Creation of the Yawkey Center comes after a dramatic increase in the number of patients Dana-Farber cares for and the accelerating pace of cancer research, both in the clinics and the laboratories. Between 2001 and 2009, outpatient visits and infusions at Dana- Farber more than doubled, from nearly 128,000 to more than 299,000 annually. The number of clinical trials available to Dana-Farber patients increased nearly 80 percent, from 409 trials to 736.

The Yawkey Center will have 104 exam rooms and 139 infusion chairs - about a 30 percent increase of Dana-Farber's current capacity on its main campus - and 17 consult rooms. It will house the adult treatment centers, an expanded clinical research center to conduct complex, early-stage clinical studies, and centralized registration, pharmacy, and laboratory services. In addition, the Yawkey Center will be the home to patient and family services, a two- story healing garden, new interfaith chapel, and two floors of physician offices. The Yawkey Center also gives Dana-Farber a presence on Brookline Avenue and will serve as its new main entrance.

The Yawkey Center's design incorporates input and review from architects, engineers, public officials, faculty, staff, and members of Dana-Farber's Patient and Family Advisory Councils. By using this approach, Dana-Farber officials believe they have created an environment designed from the ground up to foster healing and maximize patient safety and comfort, making it possible for staff to provide its patient-focused care.

During the design process, Dana-Farber incorporated a number of safety elements that focused on infection control, injury prevention, and creation of a safe and ideal working environment. This included using seamless countertops in clinical spaces and the optimal placement of hand-washing sinks to reduce the risk of infections; embedding stainless steel strips into the lobby's stone steps to help prevent slips and falls; installing handrails in the exam room changing areas and hallways in the clinical areas to assist those who may be feeling weak, tired or unsteady; and conducting acoustic reviews to guide the creation of a calmer, less distracting environment for patients and staff.

Dana-Farber's mission to combine patient care with research also influenced the building's design. Each of the treatment centers on floors 6 through 10 are connected by a bridge to the corresponding research areas in the adjacent Smith Laboratories building. The light-filled bridges, which will feature cafe tables, coffee machines and wireless Internet access, were designed to allow for passage between labs and clinics, and to be an inviting environment that draws together clinicians and researchers, facilitating collaboration and exchange.

This patient care/laboratory science connection is exemplified by the Susan Smith Center for Women's Cancers. The medical staff will care for patients with breast and gynecological cancers on the Yawkey Center's ninth and tenth floors, while across the bridge the research staff will conduct related laboratory studies. Those clinicians and researchers will now be able to connect more quickly when they believe they have made a discovery that may influence clinical care or provide insight into the basic understanding of the disease process. Another benefit is that it will be easier for those Smith Center faculty members who are clinician/scientists to maintain their patient care and research schedules.

The Yawkey Center also features low-flow plumbing, a light dimming system that adjusts to available daylight, automated shades that raise or lower depending on the amount of sunlight to maximize use of natural light while reducing glare, and a heat recovery system that reclaims energy by warming or cooling outdoor air. The majority of the building's tiered roofs are planted with native foliage, such as grasses, sedums, and other low-lying groundcover. These green spaces - the first in the Longwood Medical Area - will help cool the building in the summer, improve air quality, and reduce the rate of storm water runoff.

Taking cues from nature, the Yawkey Center's interior design utilizes curves and rounded elements, natural light and calming colors. Nature is also being brought indoors with the two-story Stoneman Healing Garden, which features seasonal flowers, shrubs, and plants, including stands of bamboo that will be nurtured by grow lamps in the ceiling. Next to the Healing Garden, and separated by glass walls, is the Morse Conservatory, which offers a plant-free environment with negative air pressure to protect patients with allergies, compromised immune systems, or other health issues.

The Yawkey Center will feature 350 pieces of art, a testament to Dana-Farber's belief in the healing effects of art. The collection, much of which has been donated, includes a variety of media and styles, including sculpture, oil paint, watercolor, glass, prints, textiles, and photography. Large, original works will be displayed in major patient areas, such as a kinetic mobile that will hang in the atrium lobby. The collection will also include a rotating art exhibit on loan from a generous benefactor and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. The first slated exhibit will feature three decades of advertising drawings produced by artists commissioned as fashion illustrators.

The building's design was led by Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership, a national architecture, planning, and interior design firm, with design support from Miller Dyer Spears, an architectural and planning firm. Walsh Brothers oversaw construction management.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a principal teaching affiliate of the Harvard Medical School.

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

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

FED:Hawke sorry for McKew in Bennelong

AAP General News (Australia)
08-21-2010
FED:Hawke sorry for McKew in Bennelong

SYDNEY, Aug 21 AAP - Liberal candidate John Alexander has won the NSW seat of Bennelong,
snatching back the electorate taken by Labor from former prime minister John Howard in
2007.

With 40.1 per cent of the vote counted, the Australian Electoral Commission called
the seat in Sydney for the former tennis champion and commentator.

Former Labor prime minister Bob Hawke said the swing against Ms McKew which was evident
in early counting was a disappointment.

"Quite apart from the obvious partisan feeling ... I'm very personally disappointed
for her because she was on such a high after her achievements ... so I feel very sorry
for her because she's been a good member but there's no doubt that John Alexander ran
a very strong campaign," Mr Hawke told Sky News.

Ms McKew had held the seat won in 2007 on a margin of just 1.4 per cent.

AAP ad/klm/jlw

KEYWORD: POLL10 COUNT BENNELONG 2ND UPDATE

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

Main stories in ABC's World Today

AAP General News (Australia)
04-14-2010
Main stories in ABC's World Today

SYDNEY, April 14 AAP - Main stories in ABC's World Today:

* In the federal court in Sydney, former childcare operator Eddy Groves is being grilled
over his role in the collapse of the massive ABC Learning company and over allegations
made on Tuesday by his ex-wife.

* The gloves are well and truly off in the debate over national hospital and health
policy. South Australian Premier Mike Rann has warned his Victorian counterpart John Brumby
not to stuff up the opportunity for a revamp of Australia's healthcare system. But the
plan is facing a tough audience at next week's COAG meeting.

* One of Australia's top medical professionals is also warning the states not to sign
on to the prime minister's health reform plan. Dr John Dwyer, Professor of Medicine at
UNSW, says the prime minister is forcing his flawed plan on the premiers and the public
with undue haste.

AAP bm/evt

KEYWORD: MONITOR WORLD TODAY

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

Events Diary for Tuesday, September 1, 2009

AAP General News (Australia)
08-31-2009
Events Diary for Tuesday, September 1, 2009
EVENTS LISTED IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER AND LOCAL TIME UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED:

ADELAIDE
1100 - Nine Network personalities and Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide players take part
in sausage sizzle fundraiser for white balloon day to raise awareness of child sexual
abuse. Rundle Mall. Contact: Amanda McGregor 9492 1004.

1215 - Professor Elspeth Probyn in conversation with Professor Sara Ahmed in Hawke Conversation
Series. Hawke Building, Level 5. 50 North Terrace, Adelaide. Contact: Louise Carnell 8302
0371.

1330 - Australian netball team media conference ahead of test against world team. Level
2, Hilton Hotel. Contact: Karen Phelan 0420 557 114.

BRISBANE
No items listed.

CANBERRA
No items listed.

MELBOURNE
0830 - The Wilderness Society to deliver a giant tree "petition" made from 1,000 signed
green slips calling on the Victorian government to protect Victoria's forests. Steps of
Parliament House, Spring Street, Melbourne. Contact: Luke Chamberlain 0424 098 729 or
Amelia Young 0404 074 577.

0900-1630 - Hearings for Senate inquiry into the welfare of international students. St
James Court conference and function centre, St James Centre, 12 Batman Street, West Melbourne.

1000 - ACTU and Trades Hall Council members to rally at Trades Hall and march to Parliament
House, calling for stronger workplace safety laws from state and federal governments.

Rally begins at Trades Hall, Lygon Street, Carlton. Contact: Elisha Johnson 0410 283 965.

1030 - Re-enactment of the lodgement of the first prisoner at the old city watchhouse
on its first day of operation 100 years ago today. Old city watchhouse, Russell Street,
Melbourne (next door to the Old Melbourne Jail). Contact: Shirley Hardy-Rix 9842 9740
or 0412 057 288.

1200 - Special preview of Melbourne Theatre Company's latest production, God Of Carnage.

The Arts Centre Playhouse (media to meet at stage door). Contact: Miranda Brown 0411 568
781.

PERTH
No items listed.

SYDNEY
1000 - ICAC inquiry into corruption allegations concerning security industry training
courses continues. ICAC Hearing Room, Level 21, 133 Castlereagh Street, Sydney. Contact:
Nicole Thomas 8281 5799 or 0417 467 801.

1030 - Launch of Spina Bifida Awareness Week by Dr Cindy Pan. H20 Cafe and Restaurant,
Pyrmont. Contact: Savannah Finlay 0408 659 779.

1100 - Police and race organisers will address the media ahead of this weekend's inaugural
Repco Rally Australia in northern NSW. Main foyer, Mantra on Salt Beach, Gunnamatta Avenue,
Kingscliff. Contact: Chris Nixon 0418 759 417.

1100 - The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW, 2009 Spring Sydney Royal Fine Food Show.

The branded lamb competition. Charley Room, Members Stand, Grand Parade (off Main Arena
Concourse), Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park. Contact: Philippa Lampe 0419 483 407.

1215 - NSW Small Business Minister Steve Whan joins David Koch for the first of 300 small
business events marking the 10th anniversary of the NSW government's Small Business September.

Greater Union Cinema, 505-525 George Street. Contact: Garth Montgomery: 0408 864 851.

1315 - Emergency Services Minister Steve Whan, Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons
to hold media briefing to declare fire season starts early in key regional areas. NSW
Parliament House Jubilee Room. Contact: Garth Montgomery 0408 864 851.

1315 - NSW Parliament returns for sitting after winter break.

1900 - Governor-General Quentin Bryce will speak at The Sydney Institute's 20th annual
dinner. Grand Harbour Ballroom, Star City. Contact: Lalita Mathias 9252 3366.

No time given - The Tibetan Monks Mandala Tour. Monks will be at Warriewood Centro Shopping
Centre until September 6, building sand masterpieces. Warriewood Centro, Jacksons Road,
Warriewood. Contact: Helen 0422 114 127.

SPORT
CYCLING - UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World C'ships - to September 6
Canberra
TENNIS - US Open - to September 13
USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Cnt, Flushing Meadows, New York
ARCHERY - World C'ships - to September 10
Ulsan, Korea
GALLOPS -
Cessnock
Warrnambool
Ipswich
Sth Africa
France
UK
TROTS -
Menangle
Geelong
Albion Park
Northam
New Zealand
France
GREYHOUNDS -
Gosford
Warragul
Townsville
Angle Park
Horsham
Lismore
Mandurah
Devonport
Ipswich
New Zealand

AAP bm/evt/apm

KEYWORD: DIARY EVENTS TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2009

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

FED: 55 boat blast witnesses interviewed so far, police

AAP General News (Australia)
04-22-2009
FED: 55 boat blast witnesses interviewed so far, police

Northern Territory police have finished interviewing 55 witnesses to last week's fatal
explosion on a boat carrying asylum seekers.

A total of 51 Australian Defence Force personnel have been interviewed .. as well as
four of the 47 asylum seekers and two crew who were aboard when a blast and fire sunk
the boat off Ashmore Reef off northern Australia last Thursday .. killing five people
and injuring dozens more.

NT Police Acting Commander PETER BRAVOS says another detainee will be interviewed later
today at the Department of Immigration and Citizenship detention centre at Berrimah.

The cause of the explosion remains unknown with a large number of people yet to be
interviewed .. more images yet to be assessed and more evidence yet to be examined.

AAP RTV str/jlw/af

KEYWORD: BOAT INVESTIGATION (DARWIN)

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

AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Evening, Dec 17

AAP General News (Australia)
12-17-2008
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Evening, Dec 17
Evening Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 1630


Skaf Father (SYDNEY)

The father of a teenage girl raped by a gang says it's unbelievable two of her attackers
have had their sentences reduced.

BILAL SKAF and his younger brother MOHAMMED today failed in their bid to overturn their
convictions over the August 2000 pack rape at Gosling Park .. in Sydney's west.

But the pair have won reductions in their sentences .. with BILAL'S parole date brought
forward by two years .. and MOHAMMED'S by 18 months.

During the appeal .. the SKAFS' lawyers argued there was no long-term physical injury
suffered by the victim.

On Macquarie Radio .. the victim's father DARREN said the SKAFS' defence lawyers are cowards.



Shine (BRISBANE)

Queensland Premier ANNA BLIGH's joined a chorus of criticism over comments by her Attorney-General
that some rapes have only a minor effect on women.

While the premier stood by KERRY SHINE .. she's described his comments as insensitive.

Mr SHINE told ABC Radio today that figures for 2007-08 showing one in eight people
sentenced over rape avoided jail partly reflect the fact that some rape victims aren't
as traumatised as others.

He later called the station back to apologise after talkback callers expressed their outrage.

Ms BLIGH says Mr SHINE's been a tireless champion for victims and has appealed lenient
sentences on a regular basis.



Mining (BRISBANE)

Federal treasurer WAYNE SWAN says mining companies should weather the hard times as
long as possible before shedding jobs.

Three mining companies .. Xstrata .. OzMinerals and Macarthur Coal .. all announced
yesterday they're sacking more than 500 workers at Queensland mines .. because of the
global financial crisis.

Mr SWAN says the government recognises international factors are having a dramatic
impact on the sector but is asking companies to exercise caution when making such decisions.

Meanwhile Mr SWAN says a bookmaker's offer of $1.12 odds on Australia plunging into
recession is "utterly irresponsible."

Centrebet will pay out punters if Australia slips into recession in the next 12 months.



Station Greens (SYDNEY)

The Australian Greens are calling for reforms to gun laws after a murder-suicide in
Sydney yesterday.

New South Wales Greens MP LEE RHIANNON says the man who shot dead his estranged wife
had an Apprehended Violence Order against him and shouldn't have had access to a gun under
state law.

Ms RHIANNON says NSW has weak gun laws and hopes Premier NATHAN REES tightens them
following his meeting with the National Coalition for Gun Control today.

She says it shouldn't take a serious incident for Australian governments to reform gun laws.



Climate Aust (MELBOURNE)

A leading climate change expert says the climate can be stabilised if every nation
on earth adopts Australia's five per cent carbon emissions reduction target.

But a failure to act .. causing a three degrees celsius rise in global temperatures
.. would almost certainly mean the loss of natural icons like the Great Barrier Reef.

Global Carbon Project chairman MICHAEL RAUPACH has made the warning after the World
Meteorological Organisation released its annual statement on the global climate.

Dr RAUPACH says the five per cent target is challenging given Australians emissions
have been growing about two per cent per year from 2000.



India Aust Anstee (SYDNEY)

A young Sydney woman shot during the terrorist attacks in Mumbai is recovering well
and is expected to begin her career as a lawyer next year.

A bullet ripped through 24-year-old KATE ANSTEE's leg .. breaking her femur while in
Cafe Leopold .. her boyfriend DAVID COKER suffered flesh wounds from bullets in the attack.

Her mother CANDY says Ms ANSTEE's doing daily physical therapy and intends to start
a job at a Sydney law firm in February.

Mrs ANSTEE says emotional assistance has been offered to the duo by the Federal and
New South Wales governments .. but at the moment the couple is doing fine.



Boat (MELBOURNE)

The federal government denies Australia's becoming a bigger target for illegal boat
people .. despite six boats making it into the country's water in recent months.

A boat carrying 37 asylum seekers of unknown nationality was intercepted by the navy
yesterday about 110 nautical miles north-east of Darwin.

Immigration Minister CHRIS EVANS says the number of arrivals are about the same as last year.



Indigenous Drift (DARWIN)

A new study's discredited claims the federal intervention into Northern Territory indigenous
communities is causing Aborigines to drift into urban centres.

The measures to combat child sex abuse have been repeatedly blamed for an increase
in the numbers of Aboriginal people squatting on the borders of towns like Darwin and
Katherine.

But a study by researchers from Charles Darwin University refutes the claims saying
aborigines are on the move regardless of the intervention.



Briefly in other news ..



Mokbel (MELBOURNE)

The younger brother of accused gangland murderer TONY MOKBEL has been jailed for 11
years for drug trafficking.



Zimbabwe Smith (PERTH)

Foreign minister STEPHEN SMITH says Australia has tightened sanctions against the brutal
Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe.



Universities UA (CANBERRA)

Universities are urging the federal government to run a budget deficit .. if that's
what's required to pump an additional six and a half billion dollars into the higher education
sector.



Saltie (DARWIN)

A saltwater crocodile's been sighted in a suburban drain in Darwin.



in Sport ..



Cricket Aust (PERTH)

Australia have moved to 3-74 at lunch on day one of the first Test at the WACA after
South African pace duo MAKHAYA NTINI and DALE STEYN ripped through the home side's top
order.

NTINI gave South Africa a dream start when he snared the key wickets of MATTHEW HAYDEN
and RICKY PONTING with consecutive deliveries in the third over of the day.

Australia slumped to three for 15 when MICHAEL HUSSEY edged STEYN to slip but SIMON
KATICH and MICHAEL CLARKE have since combined for an unbeaten 59-run stand to steady the
ship.



AFL Cousins (MELBOURNE)

BEN COUSINS says he's clean of drugs .. and confident he can make a successful comeback
to football with the club which resurrected his AFL career.

COUSINS trained with Richmond for the first time today in front of a crowd of around
2,000 fans at Punt Road Oval .. where his every move was cheered by supporters during
a 45-minute hitout.

The 30-year-old then told a packed media conference that he was currently clean of
drugs and was putting a lot of effort into his rehabilitation.



Soccer Aust Kewell (SYDNEY)

Socceroo HARRY KEWELL is resting in Sydney after a minor hernia operation earlier this week.



ENDS EVENING ROUND-UP

Broadcast Desk inquiries 24 hours: 02 9322 8714

AAP RTV af fdf

KEYWORD: EVENING ROUND-UP

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

NT: Hendeson denies leadership an issue

AAP General News (Australia)
08-12-2008
NT: Hendeson denies leadership an issue

The Northern Territory's Chief Minister has denied his leadership is to blame for a
strong voter rebuke at the polls.

PAUL HENDERSON's declined to claim victory today .. with counting of Saturday's shock
election results to continue throughout the week.

But he's acknowledged it's very likely Labor will see out a third term with a one seat majority.

Opposition Leader TERRY MILLS conceded defeat late yesterday when it became clear Labor
would win Fannie Bay .. vacated by former Chief Minister CLARE MARTIN this election.

Mr HENDERSON says he doesn't feel it was a mistake to take over the leadership from
Ms MARTIN last November.

He says he thinks Labor's voter base was cranky at the government for a number of reasons
.. but he stands by his decision to call an early election.

AAP RTV tr/tm/bart

KEYWORD: POLLNT (DARWIN)

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

NSW: Two armed robberies in Sydney's inner west may be linked

AAP General News (Australia)
04-03-2008
NSW: Two armed robberies in Sydney's inner west may be linked

SYDNEY, April 3 AAP - Two almost identical armed robberies in Sydney's inner-west which
occurred 10 minutes apart are believed to be linked, police say.

Three men, armed and with faces covered, entered a hotel on Parramatta Road at Petersham
at about 11.50pm (AEDT) yesterday.

The men threatened staff inside before stealing a sum of money and fleeing the scene
in an Audi station wagon.

Witnesses described one man as being about 173cm tall of medium build, a second of
178cm tall of large build and a third 188cm tall of medium build.

Ten minutes later, in an almost identical incident, three men, armed with a firearm
and faces covered, entered a hotel on Glebe Point Road in Glebe.

They threatened a male employee and demanded a sum of cash before fleeing the scene
in a black Subaru Liberty sedan, which was believed to have been driven by a fourth person.

The men were all described as being of medium build and about 178cm tall, the first
wearing white joggers and black baggy pants.

Detectives are investigating the possibility these two incidences may be linked.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

AAP kaj/wf

KEYWORD: ARMED

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

COLUMN: Look past stereotypes of women and embrace feminist philosophy

Carrie Bass
University Wire
10-05-2007
(Kentucky Kernel) (U-WIRE) LEXINGTON, Ky. -- As a gender and women's studies minor, I cannot begin to count how many times I have endured a class where the majority response to the question, "Are you a feminist?" is "No." The next inevitable question is always, "Why not?"

In my experience, it is not that students deny the equality of the sexes. Rather, most people shy away from identification as feminists either because they are afraid of being associated with the negative stereotypes surrounding the term "feminism" or because they feel that feminism is no longer necessary.

While I would love to address the former, I am afraid that the subject matter would necessitate the space of a book rather than the space of an opinions article.

As far as the latter, I think this belief needs further consideration. One of the best and most pertinent examples of the need for feminism exists in the wide world of American politics.

With the primaries looming in the near future, it is difficult to ignore the role that women are playing in politics and the roles they aren't. Most people are aware that the U.S. has never had a female president -- or a president of a racial minority, of homosexual identification, of non-Christian faith, etc. -- while other countries considered to be less free or open, such as China, have. Throughout her entire career in the political eye, from first lady to senator to presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton has been criticized on many counts but mostly because she is a woman.

Think I am exaggerating?

In general, people seem to know more about Clinton's fashion mistakes than her politics. Recently, scandal swept the Internet and news programs when Clinton appeared to display an inch of cleavage. To reiterate my point, more debate ensued over Clinton's cleavage than has occurred thus far over her campaign platforms.

Additionally, Hillary Clinton continues to campaign in her husband's shadow, as an imitator constantly assumed to mirror her husband's political principles.

On the state level, while Kentucky has seen a female governor, its Senate seats continue to be reserved for the boys club. The lack of female representatives in Kentucky is hardly a phenomenon particular to the Bluegrass state.

The U.S. consistently ranks low on international lists calculating the participation of women in government. Though it is not technically appropriate to consider the "unbiased" judiciary branch in this assessment, women judges are just as few and far between as female Senators.

I do not want to dismiss the accomplishments of those women who have broken into the patriarchal world of politics; rather, I commend them for succeeding against exceedingly difficult odds.

I simply wish to urge liberal-minded (not just liberal) men and women to reconsider their belief that feminism has ceased to be relevant.

The battle for equality in every sense of the word has not yet been won in the world of politics, nor, I suspect, anywhere else.


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(C) 2007 Kentucky Kernel via U-WIRE

SA: Former SA premier to quit politics

AAP General News (Australia)
04-18-2007
SA: Former SA premier to quit politics

ADELAIDE, April 18 AAP - Former South Australia Premier Rob Kerin will quit politics
at the next state election.

Mr Kerin said today he would not contest the next state poll in 2010.

"I have given much thought over the last 12 months to my future plans," Mr Kerin said.

"And I am very comfortable with my decision to make way for a new face."

Mr Kerin was first elected to state parliament in 1993 and has held the mid-north seat
of Frome since then.

He held various ministries between 1995 and 2001 and then became Liberal leader and
premier when John Olsen was forced to resign six months before the election in 2002.

Labor won that poll in a cliffhanger result but then extended its grip on power in
the 2006 election.

After his second defeat at the polls, Mr Kerin was replaced as Liberal and opposition
leader by Iain Evans who was subsequently dumped by the party for Martin Hamilton-Smith
last week.

Mr Kerin said with Mr Hamilton-Smith finalising his shadow cabinet this week he thought
it was a good time to make his position clear.

"Having made the decision to leave politics at the next election, I thought there was
little point in me simply occupying a seat in shadow cabinet," he said.

"Martin and his new team face a big challenge, but I will be totally supporting their
efforts to regain government in 2010.

"In the last 13 years I have had tremendous opportunities and had a terrific six years
as a minister and nearly eight years in leadership positions."

AAP tjd/cjh/bwl

KEYWORD: KERIN

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

Vic: Firefighters suffer burns as hunt steps up for arsonists

AAP General News (Australia)
12-16-2006
Vic: Firefighters suffer burns as hunt steps up for arsonists

By Julie Tullberg and Jane Williams

MELBOURNE, Dec 16 AAP - Nine "experienced" New Zealand firefighters were injured, one
seriously, as they fought a campground blaze in Victoria's north-east today.

One firefighter, aged 42, has serious burns to his airways, two others suffered burns
to the face and hands, and six have minor injuries.

The team of nine New Zealand firefighters were battling a blaze at the Tobacco Flat
campgrounds at Howqua Valley in the Mansfield area about 2.30pm (AEDT) today when they
were caught in a burn-over.

The seriously injured firefighter and two others were airlifted to Melbourne's The
Alfred hospital. All were reported as stable.

In a joint statement, the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) and Country
Fire Authority (CFA) said the firefighters were experienced.

"This incident involved nine very experienced firefighters, two of whom were with us
in the 2003 Alpine fires," DSE chief officer Ewan Waller said.

He said the incident highlighted the dangers of bushfire fighting.

"Every endeavour is made to ensure that our firefighters are not placed in situations
where their safety is at risk, but bushfire fighting will always be dangerous.

"... we are concerned and dismayed at this incident, involving our colleagues from New Zealand."

About 45 firefighters arrived from New Zealand on December 7 and were dispatched to
Victoria's north-east.

Their spokesman Ian Millman said after their arrival that some members of the team
had already experienced a Victorian bushfire season.

"We're quite fortunate this round that we have at least one person in each crew that
was back here in the Alpine fires from 2003, so that gives them an insight," he told the
ABC.

Mr Waller said the three men airlifted to hospital were all stable and it was expected
they would be released within two to three days.

The other six were being treated locally with minor injuries and would be released
within 24 hours, he said.

The incident came as Victoria's arson squad intensified its hunt for the firebugs believed
responsible for a bushfire in the state's south-east which caused the death of a volunteer
firefighter this week.

Victoria Police have eliminated two teenage suspects who were seen near the Cooper
Creek blaze on Thursday.

Donald Dosser, 48, was killed when he was run over by a fire truck as he helped fight
the fire which razed 11 homes, 58 barns and sheds and a school camp.

Victoria Police spokeswoman Katherine Jess said investigators were satisfied the two
teenagers, who were originally suspects of the arson attack, were locals going fishing.

"Police are urging residents to contact police or Crime Stoppers if they witnessed
any suspicious activity around the Rawson/Tyers Road on Thursday, 14 December between
10.30 and 11.30am," she said.

Meanwhile, DSE crews at Coopers Creek near Walhalla are building a control line along
the south-west edge of the fire.

A DSE back-burn is now generating smoke in the area, which has forced the closure of
Tyers/Walhalla Road. Cowwarr Road also is closed.

In Tasmania, firefighters today took advantage of milder conditions to strengthen containment
lines in the state's north-east.

Fires, which have burnt out about 20,000ha of bushland and an estimated 60 buildings,
lost momentum as winds eased.

Police said the list of damaged property in the state was expected to grow as reports
of shacks and outhouses lost in remote areas were registered with local authorities.

Armed with weather bureau predictions of worsening conditions on Monday, firefighters
today prepared by back-burning and putting in fire breaks around Scamander and Four Mile
Creek.

Crews also continued to patrol the Kellevie fire in the state's south-east.

AAP jat/nf

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES VIC NIGHTLEAD

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

Vic: Slow snow but humans help

AAP General News (Australia)
08-09-2006
Vic: Slow snow but humans help

Victorian ski officials say natural snowfall has so far been well down on expectations
at Falls Creek .. Mt Hotham and Mt Buller.

None of the resorts have been able to open all ski runs at any stage this season ..

and many of the advanced trails reliant on natural snowfall are closed.

The Australian round of the World Cup Aerials .. Mt Buller's flagship event .. has
been cancelled today because of a lack of snow.

Organisers say the natural snow falls are the worst since 1973 .. and it would have
required five million litres of water .. converted into snow .. to make the jump site
usable.

But resorts say skiers are unperturbed by the lack of natural snow .. with bookings
at least as good as last year.

AAP RTV ce/mh/wf/cp

KEYWORD: SNOW SEASON (MELBOURNE)

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

NSW: Man may have survived meningococcal if SA warned NSW: court

AAP General News (Australia)
04-03-2006
NSW: Man may have survived meningococcal if SA warned NSW: court

By Adam Gartrell

SYDNEY, April 3 AAP - A Sydney man who died from meningococcal disease after a cruise
may have survived if South Australian authorities had issued a warning when an Adelaide
passenger fell ill, an inquest has been told.

NSW Coroner John Abernethy today wrapped up an inquest into the case of Lorenzo Lombardo,
21, who died of meningococcal disease six days after leaving the P&O cruise liner Pacific
Sky in January 2002.

Mr Lombardo started feeling sick three days after leaving the ship, Glebe Coroner's
Court was told today.

He collapsed in the shower on the morning of January 24 and died in hospital that night.

His death came two days after South Australian medical authorities diagnosed Adelaide
man Andrew Fechner - who had been on the same cruise - with the potentially fatal disease.

Mr Lombardo's family argue South Australian authorities should have notified health
authorities interstate that other cruise passengers may have been at risk.

They want health guidelines changed to make it mandatory for all cases of meningococcal
disease to be reported to the Communicable Disease Network Australia (CDNA).

Counsel assisting the coroner, Jodie Sheperd, today said Mr Lombardo may have survived
if Mr Fechner's case had been known of in NSW.

"The fact of the matter is, if Mr Lombardo had resided in South Australia, the facts
of this case may not have been in this court," Ms Sheperd said.

"Do we take the chance with someone else's life?"

Dr Robert Hall, the former South Australian public health investigator who dealt with
the Fechner case, said he had decided not to tell the CDNA.

"I considered (Mr Fechner's) was an (isolated) case," he said.

He said investigations had led him to believe that Mr Fechner had only "fleeting contact"

with other cruise passengers and it was therefore unlikely he had passed on the disease.

In hindsight, it was likely both men had contracted the disease on board the ship and
that their cases were directly related, he said.

Dr Jeremy McAnulty, Director of Communicable Diseases at NSW Health, said he believed
"the actions of South Australia were appropriate".

After hearing just three hours of evidence, Mr Abernethy ended the inquest, indicating
he would hand down any recommendations tomorrow.

Today's hearing was the latest coronial inquest into a death aboard the Pacific Sky.

Brisbane mother-of-three Dianne Brimble, 42, was found dead on the floor of a cabin
on the ship less than 24 hours after boarding on September 23, 2002.

A separate coronial inquest has heard Mrs Brimble died from an overdose of the date-rape
drug gamma-hydroxybutyrate, or fantasy.

That inquest will resume in June.

AAP ag/hn/cdh/sd

KEYWORD: LOMBARDO NIGHTLEAD (PIX AVAILABLE)

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

Vic: Man injured in attempted shooting

AAP General News (Australia)
02-13-2005
Vic: Man injured in attempted shooting

A man has been sprayed with shattered glass in what is believed to have been an attempted
shooting north-east of Melbourne.

Police were called to a property on National Park Road in Kinglake about 9.15 tonight.

A police spokesman says a man had been at the door of his house when shots were fired
and he was hit with glass fragments.

Paramedics have treated the man for glass fragments lodged in his face.

He didn't need to be taken to hospital.

Police sat the reasons for the attack are still unclear but an investigation has been launched.

AAP RTV apw/jl

w

KEYWORD: SHOTS (MELBOURNE)

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

MIP

MIP
1. Abbreviation for monthly investment plan.

2. Abbreviation for maximum investment plan.

News after the close.

RDATE:06252002

MONTEREY, CA - Last night after the close David Faber broke a story on CNBC that others are saying "appears to be one of the largest corporate frauds in history". WorldCom, Symbol: WCOM, booked more than $3 billion in expenses improperly as capital expenses. Long time finical chief Scott Sullivan has been fired after the discovery was made during an internal investigation.

The stock already under pressure for weeks last traded at 35 cents, down an additional 61% from the close giving it a total one day loss of 87 cents or 71%.

WorldCom had traded at an all time high of $64.51 back in June of 1999 as one of the darlings of the high tech run-up.

Faber also reported that WorldCom will have to restate earnings for the last five quarters. A Wall Street Journal article puts WorldCom's debt at $30 Billion and suggests the latest discoveries could be the final blow for the company.

Other after hours news included the much anticipated report that Adelphia, symbol: ADLAE, has filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy according to the Wall Street Journal.

In other post market activity, both Palm, Inc., symbol: PALM, and 3Com Corp., symbol: COMS, reported earnings. Palm reported in line with consenses of 19 analyst surveyed according to First Call and 3Com came in 4 cents better then expected by the seven analyst surveyed by First Call.

Micron Technology, symbol: MU, missed estimates by 10 cents on lower DRAM prices and Krispy Kreme, symbol: KKD reaffirmed guidance.

Other developments include an announcement from General Electric saying they are on track for their second quarter. They will be holding a scheduled analyst meeting on Thursday, June 27 which will be available via Webcast starting at 8 a.m. and is available at www.ge.com/investor.

Other earnings released after the close include EXFO Electro-Optical Eng., symbol: EXFO, reported in line with 13 analyst surveyed by First Call and Christopher & Banks Corp. beat expectations of 10 analyst surveyed by 4 cents according to First Call.

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CONTACT: DayTraders.com Tel: +1 831 649 4545 e-mail: info@daytraders.com WWW: http://www.daytraders.com

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

Hybrid Networks Reports Record Results for 4th Quarter, Fiscal 2000.

SAN JOSE, Calif., March 29 /PRNewswire/ --

Hybrid Networks Inc. (Nasdaq: HYBR), the worldwide leader in high-capacity MMDS fixed broadband wireless Internet access systems, today reported net sales of $12.9 million for the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, 2000, compared to $2.6 million for the fourth quarter of 1999, a 396-percent increase. Gross sales for the three months ending Dec. 31, 2000, were $17.6 million. Of the gross sales recognized in the fourth quarter of 2000, $6.6 million, or 38 percent, was attributed to shipments in previous quarters that Sprint accepted during the fourth quarter.

The net loss for the quarter was $5.6 million, or ($0.26) a share, compared to a net loss of $9.8 million, or ($0.88) a share, in the same period a year earlier. Hybrid's net loss for the quarter included $4.7 million in non-cash sales discounts relating to the purchase warrants associated with the shipment of products to Sprint.

For the year ended Dec. 31, 2000, Hybrid reported gross sales of $29.9 million, compared to $13.4 million for fiscal 1999, a 123-percent increase. Net sales for fiscal 2000 were $22.8 million, compared to $13 million for fiscal 1999, a 75-percent increase. Gross sales in 2000 were reduced by a non-cash sales discount of $7.1 million as a result of the vesting in 2000 of the warrants Hybrid issued to Sprint. The net loss for fiscal 2000 was $37.2 million, or ($2.03) a share, compared to a net loss of $22.2 million, or ($2.08) a share, in 1999. Hybrid reported that the net loss for fiscal 2000 included $13.7 million in non-cash sales and marketing expenses related to the vesting of the warrants issued to Sprint.

"Hybrid leads the market with the most fixed broadband wireless deployments worldwide," said Michael D. Greenbaum, president and CEO of Hybrid Networks. "Our field-proven experience enables us to provide our customers with a competitive advantage: more reliable, cost-effective systems. Our recently obtained equity financing permits us to continue developing new technology that answers the public's demand for high-speed Internet access. Hybrid's new near-line-of-sight router, ThruWAVE, dramatically improves system coverage, capacity and scalability and is a significant step in the ongoing evolution of our technology."

A live Webcast of the management team's discussion of fourth-quarter and fiscal year 2000 earnings can be accessed at 10:30 a.m. EST today at http://www.videonewswire.com/HYBRID/032901. A replay of the Webcast will be available until April 30 at the same Web address. An audio replay will be available until April 30 at 800-568-0017, passcode 6291.

About Hybrid Networks

Headquartered in San Jose, Calif., Hybrid Networks Inc. designs, develops, manufactures and markets fixed broadband wireless systems that enable telecommunications companies, wireless systems operators and network providers to offer high-speed Internet access to businesses and residences. Hybrid was first to market with patented two-way wireless products that focus on the MMDS and WCS spectrum in the United States. The company has also deployed systems in the 3.5 GHz band and similar spectrum abroad. Hybrid is a promoting member of the Wireless DSL consortium, an industry association created to establish a common set of open interfaces for products operating in the MMDS and 3.5 GHz bands. The company's customers include Sprint, WorldCom, Look Communications, Thomcast Communications and Andrew Corp. With systems in use in 75 markets across six continents, Hybrid is part of more fixed broadband wireless deployments than all of its competitors combined.

For more information, call 408-323-6252 or visit www.hybrid.com.

Some of the statements in this news release regarding Hybrid Networks Inc. are forward-looking statements, and we caution our stockholders and others that these statements involve certain risks and uncertainties. Factors that may cause actual results to differ from expected results include, but are not limited to, the proposed rollouts not proceeding as currently anticipated, changing plans and circumstances at our significant customers, the impact of evolving industry standards and technological change, our need to raise additional working capital, the effects of competitive products and pricing, economic and political conditions that may impact customers' ability to fund purchases of our products and services, the company's ability to achieve the costs savings anticipated from cost-reduction programs, fluctuations in international exchange rates, the timing of cash payments and receipts, end- use demands for wireless communication services, and other business factors. For information regarding these risks and other related risks, see the "Risk Factors" section of Hybrid's most recent Form 10-K and Form 10-Q on file with the SEC.

HYBRID NETWORKS, INC.

Condensed Statements of Operations

(Amounts in thousands, except per share data)

Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended

December December December December

31, 31, 31, 31,

2000 1999 2000 1999

Gross Sales $17,562 $2,570 $29,924 $13,423

Sales Discounts (4,666) --- (7,129) (407)

Net sales 12,896 2,570 22,795 13,016

Cost of goods sold 12,485 1,668 23,139 13,341

Gross profit (loss) 411 902 (344) (325)

Operating expenses:

Research and development 1,832 1,060 6,715 4,191

Sales and marketing 798 362 16,491 1,740

General and administrative 3,428 3,401 11,625 7,660

Total operating

expenses 6,058 4,823 34,831 13,591

Profit (loss) from

operations (5,647) (3,921) (35,175) (13,916)

Other, net 13 (5,866) (2,028) (8,276)

Net profit (loss) $(5,634) $(9,787) $(37,203) $(22,192)

Basic and diluted net profit

(loss) per share $(0.26) $(0.88) $(2.03) $(2.08)

Shares used in basic and diluted

per share calculations 21,804 11,082 18,309 10,678

HYBRID NETWORKS, INC.

Condensed Balance Sheets

(Amounts in thousands)

December December

31, 31,

2000 1999

Assets

Cash and cash equivalents $1,878 $13,394

Accounts receivable, net 7,699 1,138

Inventories 7,303 3,755

Other current assets 519 234

Total current assets 17,399 18,521

Property and equipment, net 2,000 2,244

Other assets, net 265 387

Total assets $19,664 $21,152

Liabilities and shareholders'

equity

Current liabilities $11,075 $6,994

Convertible debenture 5,500 5,500

Other long term liabilities 132 18,478

Shareholders' equity 2,957 (9,820)

Total liabilities and

shareholders' equity $19,664 $21,152

BANKS SEEK NEW WAYS TO SELL STOCKS, FUNDS AFTER YEARS OF FAILURE: THEIR MARKET SHARE REMAINS STAGNANT; INVESTORS NEED NEW INCENTIVES.

Joseph Matassa is a bank's ideal customer. He uses North Fork Bank for nearly all his financial needs -- mortgage, auto loan and checking account.

When the Centereach, L.I., resident heard North Fork was starting a brokerage subsidiary, he opened an account there, too.

"I want someone I know," says Mr. Matassa. "I feel more comfortable, and they give me better service."

Banks wish there were more customers like Mr. Matassa. But most depositors aren't comfortable trusting their investments to a bank. Though the mutual fund industry has exploded in recent years, banks' share of the pie has remained steady at about 14%.

Tired of watching other financial firms reaping the rewards and pressured by lowered margins on lending, banks are trying new ways to show depositors that they can manage mutual fund portfolios as well as checking accounts.

Taking the bull market by the horns, banks are teaming up with mutual fund companies to extend their investment arms, trumpeting new products and opening brokerage centers.

"We want to keep our customers within our organization so we're the one source they come to," says John Pugliese, senior vice president, Bank of New York.

Mutual fund companies that sell their products through banks are eager to work with the financial institutions. They are increasing their staffs who teach bankers about their products. They are also co-hosting seminars to attract and educate customers, and lobbying for better shelf space in a bank's portfolio of offerings.

Teaming up

Putnam Investments, for instance, last year doubled the number of fund consultants working with New York City banks. Liberty Financial Companies Inc., which owns fund families such as Stein Roe and Colonial, last year added four area banks -- including Republic National Bank of New York and Astoria Federal Savings & Loan Association -- to its local network. Seven mutual fund companies teamed up with Bank of New York to launch an advertising campaign in 1998. Chase Manhattan Bank has seen its mutual fund sales grow by about 25% in the last year, in part because fund companies are providing more training to the bank's brokers.

"Banks want to grow their investment businesses, and we want to be a part of it," says John Bartlett, managing director, financial institutions division, Liberty Funds Distributor Inc.

North Fork is trying a different tactic. Unlike most banks that mainly tout mutual funds, the Melville, L.I.-based bank is putting emphasis on its more lucrative stock trading capabilities to capitalize on interest in individual stocks.

"The headlines in the paper are not about Putnam funds," says Peter DeBuono, president of Compass Investment Services Corp., North Fork's brokerage subsidiary. He oversees 6,000 active trading accounts, up from about 4,500 in 1996. "They are about individual securities, such as Internet stocks."

Republic's strategy is to catch investors early on -- when they are still children. Last March, the bank launched its Young Investors Club, targeted at children between the ages of 8 and 14.

Customers can put money in a Stein Roe Advisor mutual fund that invests in companies familiar to youngsters, such as Disney and Coca-Cola. Republic holds contests and sends out quarterly newsletters and birthday cards to members. After eight months, Republic opened 3,090 accounts with $5.3 million in assets and hopes the club will entice parents to invest with the bank.

"If parents are opening up accounts for their children, why shouldn't they open their own accounts?" says Joseph J. DePaolo, Republic's managing director for consumer banking.

Other banks are adopting the successful tactics of their brokerage house adversaries. In September, Citibank opened a stand-alone investment center in a corner storefront in the bank's Lexington Avenue corporate headquarters in hopes of attracting non-Citibank customers. The glass-walled office features two scrolling stock tickers, a large screen that often plays CNBC, and two quote machines. It has no automated teller machines.

"This makes a statement that we provide investment services, not only banking products," says Bruce Heines, vice president, Citicorp Investment Services.

These efforts are generating business for banks. Citibank and Chase, for instance, had a net flow in their mutual fund coffers of $2.8 billion and $6.5 billion, respectively, during the first 11 months of last year, according to Lipper Inc. They increased their flow over 1997 figures by $1.3 billion and $762 million, respectively.

Banks earned more from their brokerage accounts, too. Chase's fee income rose to $227 million in 1997, from $75 million the year before, due in part to sales of its successful proprietary Vista funds, which generate more revenue for the bank than the sales of other mutual funds.

Trailing traditional firms

Citibank garnered $144 million in fees in 1997, up from $104 million, according to Singer's Annuity and Funds Report.

Banks' brokerage business, however, pales when compared with

that of traditional firms. Charles Schwab Corp., for instance, had a net of $19 billion flow into its mutual funds, up from $9.3 billion in 1997. Merrill Lynch & Co. added $15 billion over the same time period, up from $9.5 billion the year before.

Though banks began opening investment divisions a decade ago, they have not been able to steal much market share away from the brokerage houses. To compete effectively, deposit institutions must overhaul their mind-set in addition to their brokerage units, industry experts say.

The sales culture still hasn't permeated the branches, and some bankers still fear that they will cannibalize their core assets by offering other services.

Pay scales can also cause conflict. Banks often don't compensate enough to attract top performers at brokerage firms, although Citicorp says it plans to change its pay scale for investment sales agents to bring it more in line with pay at brokerage firms.

"It's unclear if banks can remake themselves," says Ryan Tagal, an analyst with Boston-based Cerulli Associates. "They have to mix conservative bankers and traditions with more risky investment ideas and advice, but they are at different ends of the spectrum."

Who Wants to be a Multi-Millionaire?

'Everyone' Says Publishers Clearing House's New pch.com

As Online Entries Pour in for Web's Biggest-Ever Prize: $21 Million.

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y., Dec. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Publishers Clearing House, famous for its direct mail multi-million dollar sweepstakes prizes for decades, has launched pch.com, a new company that brings to the web a $21,000,000 sweepstakes -- the largest on the Internet -- and a totally new e-commerce business model.

"This is not a case of simply taking our familiar offline brand and translating it to a website," said Andy Goldberg, Executive Vice President in charge of the Internet venture. "We are creating a distinct and separate company that will leverage the promotion, marketing and database strengths of Publishers Clearing House, but provide web users with a totally new experience."

Also different is pch.com's business model. "Everyone has learned sweepstakes can generate significant traffic, and the current contest sites are using that traffic for advertising-based revenue generation," said Goldberg. "The pch.com model will be focused on e-commerce. Visitors to the site will be provided with a superior sweepstakes and game-playing experience and at the same time be exposed to 'winning deals' on a variety of merchandise and magazine offers."

The launch of pch.com will be supported with over $20 million in advertising that includes a year-end blitz of direct mail and over $10 million of television advertising promoting the $21,000,000 prize.

"We are geared up for a level of traffic few sites have seen before," said Todd Sloane, Vice President of pch.com.

"As the TV networks have been reminded in recent months, everyone wants to be a millionaire, and we're ready to make that happen for someone with a $21,000,000 prize awarded this Super Bowl Sunday," said Sloane.

The Super Bowl award will be telecast on ABC-TV as soon as the game ends, where viewers will be able to see the famous Prize Patrol surprise someone with $21,000,000. But visitors to pch.com will be in for even more surprises: "The pch.com VanCam will webcast behind-the-scenes action all day Super Bowl Sunday as the Prize Patrol prepares to surprise the unknowing winner," said Sloane. "For the first-time, viewers will be able to see just how the entire process works, from the drawing to the actual moment someone finds out they are a $21,000,000 winner."

Headline.(WASHINGTON WATCH)

Byline: Editorial Staff

NCUA OFFICIALLY CLOSES

INTERNET GAMBLING CU

MESA, Ariz.-NCUA last week closed Vensure FCU, the credit union supported by Internet poker gambling that had been under federal conservatorship since April 15.

It was the second credit union failure of the week, following the closure of $7-million Borinquen FCU of Philadelphia the Friday before, and 12th failure of the year. Borinquen was chartered in 1974 to serve low-income communities in Philadelphia.

NCUA's closure of Vensure came a week after authorities closed down Full Tilt Poker, one of the two online poker sites for which the $5-million credit union processed bets.

NCUA took Vensure under conservatorship April 15, hours after the U.S. Justice Department indicted a dozen international Internet gambling figures and froze $3 billion in 32 bank and credit union accounts, including $2 million at Vensure that was used to process bets at Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars.

In taking over the credit union, NCUA said it had no loans and its only business was processing of Internet bets in violation of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.

NCUA said it made the decision to close Vensure FCU after determining the credit union was insolvent and has no prospects for restoring viable operations. At the time of liquidation the credit union served 140 members.

Vensure is in the middle of an international probe of illegal Internet gambling and was seized in April, even as it reported strong earnings, all from its online betting business.

HOUSE GOP IS CHIPPING

AWAY AT FANNIE, FREDDIE

WASHINGTON-In a move widely seen as political gamesmanship, the Republican-controlled House Financial Services Subcommittee on Government Sponsored Enterprises continued last week to pass bills aimed at phasing out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, even though the legislation is widely seen as destined to fail in the Senate.

The panel, which endorsed five such bills earlier this year, added seven last week and is planning on as many as 12 more before the end of the year. The bills are aimed at eliminating government backing for the two secondary mortgage market giants, which have been under government conservatorship since September 2008, and privatizing their functions.

The credit union lobby is opposed to the move because it sees the government backing of the secondary market, both in buying their mortgages and guaranteeing securitized loans, as critical to evening the competition with giants that dominate the vast majority of the mortgage market.

The move by GOP lawmakers is seen as gamesmanship because it's widely believed in Congress that any plan to resolve the Fannie and Freddie debacle-the failure of the two GSEs has cost taxpayers an estimated $150 billion to date with no end in sight-will require a comprehensive, not piecemeal, approach. The Senate, which is controlled by Democrats, has indicated it won't undertake such an effort until at least next year.

Last week's bills would: cap government assistance in the Fannie and Freddie bailout; limit the amount of legal fees the government will pay to defend Fannie and Freddie figures in civil litigation; eliminate funds the two companies set aside for low-income housing assistance; limit the size of the companies' business; and revoke their government sponsored charters.

CU CONVERSION PIONEER

MARIO INCOLLINGO PASSES

FEASTERVILLE, Penn.-Mario Incollingo, who lead the first credit union conversion to stock-owned bank, then swiftly sold the institution in a lucrative deal for insiders, passed away last week at 72. The cause of death was cancer.

Incollingo was CEO of IGA FCU, which he converted to a mutual savings bank in 1998, then made it the first credit union to go public just five months later.

He sold the ex-credit union to nearby First Penn Bank the following year in a deal that made millions for him and other insiders. A subsequent lawsuit over the First Penn deal showed that Incollingo actually began merger negotiations with First Penn in February 1999, just two months after the conversion to mutual savings bank for the former $200-million credit union, and 18 months before the IPO.

Long-time credit union members were mostly left out of the money when IGA became the first ex-credit union to sell stock, before being sold to First Penn, with public records showing that only 1,125 depositors took part in the 1999 initial public offering.

The route of IGA FCU, once the credit union for local electric company employees, has become a model for several subsequent conversions to banks.

Incollingo, a former executive at Glenside Savings & Loan, became vice president of IGA FCU in 1988, and from 1992 through 1998 he was its president, chief executive officer, and director.

When the converted credit union was acquired by First Penn Bank in 2001, Incollingo became chief operating officer and director before retiring in 2003.

Incollingo retired with 57,558 shares in the bank valued at $765,000 and a severance package that paid him $320,000, the proceeds of a company-paid life insurance policy, 10,000 stock options valued at $50,000, as well as the Mercedes Benz the company had been leasing for him.

He came out of retirement in February 2007 to serve as president of Colonial American Bank, located in Horsham, Penn., through October 2008.

Kashmir protests.

Provided by 7DAYS.ae

Two policemen were killed yesterday when thousands of angry Hindus in Indian Kashmir stormed a police post as religious tensions reached a new pitch in the insurgency-racked state.The policemen were killed when the protesters attacked the isolated police post in the mainly Hindu region of Jourian in the south of the Muslim-majority state.A rescue team "could not reach the spot in time to save them," said a police official. Some 4,000 Hindus were involved in the attack, he said.The latest violence erupted after the state government reneged on a plan to transfer land to a Hindu shrine, plunging Kashmir - already in the grip of an Islamic separatist insurgency - into new turmoil.The deaths came despite a curfew imposed on the Jammu region by the army last weekend. They followed the killing of two Hindu protesters on Monday in the Jammu area with police firing after demonstrators attacked hundreds of buses and cars.Prime Minister Manmohan Singh scheduled an all-party meeting in New Delhi for today to discuss how to defuse tensions in Kashmir, India's only Muslim-majority state.Singh is keen to get assurances from the main opposition Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janta Party that it will not fuel tensions amid reports party activists were halting trucks carrying supplies for the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley.However, Hindu leaders warned the demonstrations would continue.Kashmir, where the 19-year revolt has left at least 43,000 dead, had been enjoying a lull in violence against the backdrop of India's peace process with Pakistan to settle the disputed region's future when the row erupted in June.In the valley, meanwhile, protesters hurling bricks battled police in the state's main city Srinagar as fury intensified over attacks on Muslims by Hindus in the Jammu area.

E 2007 Al Sidra Media LLC

Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company

King Abdullah Economic City to launch new phase of Al-Talah Gardens project.

Summary: JEDDAH: King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) recently announced the sale in record time of all lands in phase one of Al-Talah Gardens project launched here recently.

The lands sold out within four hours on the first day of the exhibition, as a huge number of citizens visited the event, the company stated. KAEC also announced that the second phase of the project would be launched soon to meet the need of the middle-income segment of the society, which is the largest in Saudi Arabia, for residential land plots at "affordable" prices. This project comes in line with the vision of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to provide Saudis with housing at competitive prices in an integrated residential environment that meet their needs and aspirations. Fahd Al-Rasheed, managing director and CEO of KAEC, expressed his happiness with the success of Al-Talah Gardens in attracting the large segment of the society. According to him, "the great success of phase one of the Al-Talah Gardens project, in which all units were sold in record time, assures the progress of development at KAEC, and signifies a new achievement to the overall success of the city in filling the increasing need for housing." Al Rasheed pointed out that the project offers land plots that are very competitive at SR500-700 per square meter compared to prices of other lands in Jeddah. This gives the opportunity to various members of the society to buy and own land plots, some of whom are employees at Petro Rabigh, King Abdullah University for Science and Technology (KAUST) and KAEC, in addition to families from Makkah and Jeddah. "Many of the buyers were excited with the many gardens and the one kilometer walkway surrounded with trees and palms, providing a meeting point for all members of Al-Talah Gardens community," he added. The one kilometer walkway will allow families to enjoy walking, playing and relaxing in the outdoors surrounded by trees, playground facilities and retail outlets. According to the plan, the purchaser can buy up to two land plots within the project so that other buyers will have equal opportunities. Al Rasheed highlighted that the project aims to provide housing solutions to citizens rather than business investors, ensuring that the project offers an optimum environment in terms of price, location, infrastructure and services. Moreover, Al-Rasheed said: "The remarkable success of the project in its first stage assures our customers of our readiness to launch new phases, which will be announced soon, noting that there are a large number of citizens who expressed their desire to reserve land plots in the second phase." KAEC still allows the possibility of booking through the call center service. Located at the heart of KAEC, Talah Gardens is spread over 500,000 square meters. It overlooks three main roads from the west, east and south, with nearby entertainment, services and dining areas that command a fascinating waterfront view. The project enjoys a highly engineered infrastructure and leading edge amenities, including drainage, sewage systems, water and electricity supply, telecommunications and Internet network, in addition to safety and security systems. When completed, Al-Talah Gardens will also have integrated facilities such as mosques, schools, medical services, advanced health & fitness facilities, events hall and shopping malls at walking distance. The project will enable residents identify a new approach to modern living.

Copyright: Arab News 2011 All rights reserved.

Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company

NO ROOM FOR PASSIVITY IN FIGHT FOR FREE MEDIA.

WASHINGTON -- The following information was released by Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty:

At celebrations last night marking the 60th anniversary of RFE's broadcasts to Czechoslovakia, an expert panel discussed the role of a free media in promoting democracy and civil society around the world today.

"From Gutenberg to Zuckerberg, from the printing press to Facebook, the idea of credible information is on the side of democracy," said Walter Isaacson, Chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), introducing the panel. "The question is whether this Arab Spring is the beginning of a monumental shift in the Middle East, or whether it will be short-livedaMy view is that it will inevitably lead to freedoms."

Regarding Pakistan, where two journalists have recently been killed in targeted attacks, the country's Ambassador to the U.S. Husain Haqqani said, "Pakistan is a place with a crazy free-market (media), totally unregulated," adding that his

From Gutenberg to Zuckerberg, from the printing press to Facebook, the idea of credible information is on the side of democracy

government was not going to place restrictions on a free press. "Credible journalism will create the reality that will check this confusion. We will have both a free media and a reasonably democratic Pakistan," Haqqani noted.

Carl Gershman, President of the National Endowment for Democracy, pointed out that a pressing challenge to a free media was limited funding. He recalled that during the fall of communism in 1989, the U.S. and Europe were "buoyant" and had strong budgets to support media outlets. Today, the Chinese "have loads of money to spend on this, and we don't."

Freedom House Executive Director David Kramer called on policy makers to take an active role in promoting global press freedom. "Passivity is not something we can accept," he said. "We must stand together as a union of democracies." The panel also included RFE Senior Correspondent Golnaz Esfandiari and was moderated by Ambassador Kurt Volker, Managing Director of the Johns Hopkins University SAIS Center for Transatlantic Relations.

Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic Karel Schwarzenberg called RFE "a crucial partner" in the promotion of freedom of speech and of information. Schwarzenberg also announced a new fellowship program to support journalists in RFE's broadcast areas who are under pressure or in danger in their home countries. The program is to receive core funding from the Czech Foreign Ministry, which will seek additional funds from other donors.

Citing the "spirit of freedom, the spirit of democracy" Schwarzenberg added, "We have to show our strength to the founding fathers of RFE as their worthy successors."

The event took place at Johns Hopkins SAIS and was jointly hosted by the SAIS Center for Transatlantic Relations, the Embassy of the Czech Republic in the U.S., and RFE.

About RFE

RFE is a private and independent international news organization whose programs -- radio, Internet, and television -- reach influential audiences in 21 countries, including Russia, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the republics of Central Asia. It is funded by the U.S. Congress through the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG).

Microsoft Announces Upcoming Events for the Financial Community.(Conference news)(Calendar)

Events with Microsoft leadership slated for May.

REDMOND, Wash., April 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Microsoft Corp. today announced participation in the following upcoming events with the financial community. Interested parties can listen to a webcast of these events on Microsoft's Investor Relations Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/investor.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO)

Jefferies Global Technology, Internet, Media & Telecom Conference

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

11:10 a.m. EDT/8:10 a.m. PDT

Charlie DiBona, general manager, Server & Tools

JP Morgan Technology, Media & Telecom Conference

Monday, May 16, 2011

8:40 a.m. EDT/5:40 a.m. PDT

Kirk Koenigsbauer, corporate vice president, Microsoft Office Division

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

SOURCE Microsoft Corp.