Qld: Ship's master on trial over failed drug shipments

AAP General News (Australia)
02-02-2009
Qld: Ship's master on trial over failed drug shipments

By Christine Flatley

BRISBANE, Feb 2 AAP - A ship's master helped organise two failed attempts to bring
millions of dollars of cannabis resin into Australia, a court has been told.

Andrew Robert Hyde was the master of a vessel named Highlander, which made two unsuccessful
attempts to bring almost eight tonnes of the drug to Queensland in late 1996, the Supreme
Court in Brisbane was told on Monday.

It is alleged that Hyde, 51, and other co-conspirators organised for the Highlander
to meet another vessel in waters off Tuvalu, a Polynesian island nation in the Pacific
Ocean, where the drugs were to be transferred.

Commonwealth prosecutor Glen Rice told the court Hyde made two attempts in September
and October 1996 to collect the drugs, but the planned rendezvous failed to eventuate.

Hyde returned to Queensland's Sunshine Coast after the second trip and transferred
responsibility of the Highlander before heading to South America, the court was told.

He had allegedly already left the country before the drugs were eventually imported
by others and seized under a joint Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Customs investigation.

Hyde has pleaded not guilty to conspiring to import prohibited imports.

Mr Rice told jurors they would hear evidence from a number of witnesses during the
10-day trial about Hyde's alleged involvement in the two failed importation attempts.

Evidence would include surveillance tapes that had recorded Hyde speaking in code about
the proposed handover of the drugs, Mr Rice said.

The court was told Hyde had created a document containing the codebreakers, which police
found onboard the Highlander when they conducted their search in December 2006.

The trial before Justice James Douglas continues.

AAP cf/pjo/tnf/jlw

KEYWORD: HYDE

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

Universities Select Airband's Fixed Wireless Data to Support Booming Demand for High-speed Internet Access

Wireless News
05-17-2011
Universities Select Airband's Fixed Wireless Data to Support Booming Demand for High-speed Internet Access
Type: News

To stay ahead of increasing Internet-usage demands, Mount St. Mary's University and Stevenson University are two of the higher education institutions using Airband Communications' fixed-wireless data services to ensure their campuses have reliable and high- performing bandwidth.

Mount St. Mary's University, home to 1,500 students and located an hour from Baltimore and Washington, in the foothills of the Catoctin Mountains in Emmitsburg, Md., chose Airband as its Internet provider because it needed additional high-speed Internet access to support both students' and faculty's increasing Internet usage. By using Airband's fixed-wireless data services, Mount St. Mary's avoids expensive local-loop fees because data is transmitted directly to its campus via Airband's last-mile fixed-wireless network.
"With the majority of our students living on campus, it's vital that we have the bandwidth to support students' Internet needs for their personal use, including Netflix, Hulu and their gaming systems, because we want them to have the same resources here as they do at home," said Bobby Flack, chief information officer at Mount St. Mary's University. "With Airband, students have full availability to high-speed Internet, 24 hours a day and seven days a week because our network can scale on-demand to meet usage needs, without having to run packet-shaping devices or restricting access of any applications."

Airband provides high-capacity Internet access on its fixed- wireless network to meet Mount St. Mary's student life and academic online needs, including the use of hosted applications. Flack said that universities are increasingly leveraging hosted applications, such as email and course management systems, to enhance student and faculty services with added features and functionality. Mount St. Mary's has a second campus in Frederick, Md., and Airband provides a point-to-point high-bandwidth wireless circuit that interconnects the two campus locations so the Frederick campus can connect to the university's VoIP system and trusted applications without a VPN arrangement.

"As a smaller university, we need the same bandwidth as larger schools to use the same best-of-breed hosted applications, and Airband allows us to do that in a cost-effective manner. Airband has proven a trusted partner in providing reliable, high-speed Internet access as well as great customer service," said Flack.

Like Mount St. Mary's University, Stevenson University chose Airband's fixed-wireless data services when it needed additional bandwidth to stay ahead of the growing Internet demand on campus. Located near Baltimore in Stevenson, Md., the university is using Airband's high-speed Internet to support classroom needs, students' entertainment activities and online classes.

"Whether it's a professor using a streaming video in their lecture or teaching an online class reaching students all across the world, the Internet is integral to the delivery of education. We chose Airband's fixed-wireless Internet access because it can rapidly deliver the additional bandwidth we need in a cost- effective way," said Thomas Allen, chief information officer at Stevenson University. "Even during snow storms, rain or heavy fog, Airband has provided us with the reliable, high-performance bandwidth we need for us to best serve our students and faculty."

Universities like Mount St. Mary's and Stevenson benefit from Airband's fixed-wireless Internet access because it is an alternative to wireline options. Airband delivers high-bandwidth Internet access via its fixed wireless network, which bypasses the local phone and cable infrastructure, meaning universities don't have to pay the additional cost of the local loop.

Airband serves 17 markets across the U.S. including Atlanta; Austin; Baltimore; Dallas; Des Moines; Fort Lauderdale; Fort Worth; Houston; Las Vegas; Los Angeles; Miami; Orange County, Calif.; Philadelphia; Phoenix; San Antonio; San Diego and Washington, D.C.

Airband Communications is a fixed-wireless voice and data provider for businesses in the U.S. .

More Information:

www.airband.com

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

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

NSW:NSW, Qld sign cross border agreement

AAP General News (Australia)
08-30-2011
NSW:NSW, Qld sign cross border agreement

SYDNEY, Aug 30 AAP - NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell and his Queensland counterpart Anna
Bligh have committed to expanding cooperation on health, policing, primary industries
and disaster management along the length of the border.

The two leaders signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Sydney on Tuesday, which
would extend the current sharing of services in the Gold-Coast and Tweed regions to the
whole of the Queensland-NSW border.

Mr O'Farrell said the MoU recognised there "are towns, there are issues, that straddle
both sides of the border".

"Whether it's northeast NSW or it's southeast Queensland, they're parts of the nation
where there are real issues around policing, around health, but as you go further west,
there are issues that are just as important around primary industry and natural resources
and emergency services," Mr O'Farrell told reporters.

"This agreement is a whole of state border agreement between Queensland and NSW. It
respects the fact that people simply want to get access to services."

Ms Bligh said the details of the agreement had yet to be worked out.

"What we're signing today is really a statement of political intent", she said.

"We want anyone who is sick to get the closest available ambulance, we want police
to be able to go across borders and conduct police chases, for example.

"Those arrangements have been very confined to Tweed Heads and Coolangatta - we want
to now put them along the length of the border.

"It is very much about ensuring that people can get the best services as Australians,
regardless of which side of the state border they've got to live on."

Ms Bligh said the cross border agreement would ensure her government was implementing
recommendations from the Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry for better emergency
services co-ordination between the states.

"For example, we will look at the use of governments' Air Wings for personnel, transport
and freight into and out of flooded areas," Ms Bligh said.

"The Commission of Inquiry also recommended that Queensland work with NSW to co-ordinate
road condition reporting procedures to inform local councils and road users of interstate
road conditions in a variety of different ways."

AAP ab/tr/mm

KEYWORD: BORDER (VIDEO AVAILABLE)

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

CHINA UNICOM, ALIBABA TO BUILD MOBILE E-COMMERCE PLATFORM

AsiaInfo Services
02-24-2011
China Unicom, Alibaba to Build Mobile E-commerce Platform

BEIJING, Feb 24, 2011 (SinoCast Daily Business Beat via COMTEX) -- China Unicom (Hong Kong) Ltd. (NYSE: CHU, SEHK: 0762, and SHSE: 600050) yesterday inked agreement with Alibaba Group on strategic cooperation, according to which both sides will deepen cooperation in telecommunications infrastructure, Internet and value-added service based on the WCDMA technology.

It is the first time for domestic communications high-tech companies to kick off cooperation with mobile e-commerce service providers, indicating that China Unicom takes another step further in the Internet market. Chang Xiaobing, board chairman of the company, says their cooperation will be carried out in the fields like could computing, e-commerce, mobile payment, terminal distribution and sales network.

China Unicom and Alibaba plan to jointly build commodity trading and life service platforms based on mobile Internet technologies through the improvement of informatization applications for e-commerce and mobile Internet market. Alibaba Board Chairman and CEO Jack Ma points out that they will share resources in network, application platform and customer service.

Source: www.163.com (February 24, 2011)

KEYWORD: BEIJING INDUSTRY KEYWORD: Internet & Online Services & Media SUBJECT CODE: Internet & Online Services
E-commerce
SinoCast China Business Daily news
cooperation
Internet
WCDMA
e-commerce
Jack Ma

Copyright 2011 AsiaInfo Services (via Comtex). All rights reserved

Briefs Australia

AAP General News (Australia)
12-03-2010
Briefs Australia
Briefly in other news this hour:



Two Perth teenagers have been charged and one is on the run .. after the trio allegedly
threatened three victims with a syringe .. hitting one in the face with a bottle .. during
three robberies.



++



A man has died west of Brisbane .. after the bean picking machine he was operating
ran off a road and into a flooded river in the Lockyer Valley.



++

And a 18-year-old Melbourne driver who'd only had his licence for two weeks has died
in hospital this morning .. after losing control of his car in wet conditions yesterday.





AAP RTV tm/

KEYWORD: BRIEFS AUSTRALIA (SYDNEY)

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

News Diary for Wednesday April 28, 2010

AAP General News (Australia)
04-28-2010
News Diary for Wednesday April 28, 2010
Good Morning News Editors and Chiefs of Staff

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

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

ADELAIDE
- Flinders University employee accused of stealing more than $20 million in court
- UCL opens school of Energy and Resources with Premier Mike Rann and Santos CEO David Knox
- Outwatching state government announcement
- Liberals first day of long and short-term planning in Renmark after losing state election.

BRISBANE
- Teachers set to decide on NAPLAN ban.

- Premier Anna Bligh heads to US on trade trip.

- Police media conference on murder investigation.

- RACQ to launch campaign against sale of Qld Motorways.

- John-Paul Langbroek visits Cape York.

CANBERRA
1030 - Canberra's Homeless Soccer Players Head to the Home of Elite Sport. Australian
Institute of Sport.

1030 - Water parliamentary secretary Mike Kelly releases National Performance Reports
on Urban and Rural Water Utilities, Parliament House.
1100 - Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor MP, Farewell to AFP deployment to Afghanistan,
Parliament House.
1230 - Housing Minister Tanya Plibersek vs Opposition spokeswoman Dr Sharman Stone on
"What Women Want" Debate. National Press Club.
1800 - Safe Work Australia Chair, Tom Phillips will present the 5th Annual Safe Work Australia
Awards Ceremony. Great Hall, Parliament House.

MELBOURNE
0930 - Bushfires Royal Commission
1000 - Trial due to start of Donna Fitchett, accused of killing her two sons.

1000 - Bail application to resume for Judy Moran, charged with the murder of her brother
in law Des Moran.
- Australian International Beer Awards judging

SYDNEY
0900 - Futures Forum, futurists debate possible futures for society by 2030 and the impact
on public libraries. State Library
1000 - Continuing murder trial of Des Campbell, his police interview. King Street Court 2
1000 - Tony Hancock, Kha Weng Foong, Mei Ch'eng Che, Yung Feng Yun - multi-million dollar
credit card fraud, Central Local Court.
1015 - Appeal by OV against Board of Wesley Mission. Hearing St James Road
1000 - Guide Dogs NSW/ACT briefing at Centennial Parklands Dining on new research showing
most guide dogs distracted by patting, etc
1000 - House of Representatives committee to examine the role of school libraries and
teacher librarians. On merit
1200 - 6000 workers will participate in the Bad Laws Cost Lives rally at Darling Harbour Memorial.

1230 - Salvation Army launches its National 2010 Red Shield Appeal. Four Seasons Hotel

PERTH
- Outwatching more on the Buswell affair
- Former WA Premier Brian Burke in court on corruption charges

ENTERTAINMENT
SYDNEY - Cleo Bachelor of the Year announced
MELBOURNE - Launch of MTV Classic channel, featuring red carpet and performances by Slash,
Andrew Stockdale and Angry Anderson

INTERNATIONAL
AUCKLAND - Group of men replicating the voyage of Captain William Bligh will depart from Tonga.

US - Aust scoutmaster Scott Zirus sentencing on child molestation. AAP attending Texas court.

FINANCE
- RBA assistant governor Guy Debelle addresses Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia's
breakfast seminar.

- Australian Bureau of Statistics consumer price index for March quarter
- Commonwealth Bank CEO Ralph Norris addresses American Chamber of Commerce luncheon
- Examination of Octaviar (formerly MFS) collapse continues in NSW Supreme Court
- James Hardie directors' appeal hearing
- Aristocrat Leisure Ltd annual general meeting

SPORT
LEAGUE
SYDNEY - NRL news including latest developments in Melbourne salary cap scandal
SYDNEY - Media opportunity with Sydney Roosters' player Nate Myles, 1115 Kippax Lake
SYDNEY - Media conference with Manly coach Des Hasler and players Jamie Lyon and Brent Kite, 1245

AFL
MELBOURNE - Media conference with St Kilda coach Ross Lyon ahead of Friday's blockbuster
against the Western Bulldogs, 1350, Moorabbin
BRISBANE - Media conference with Brisbane captain Jonathan Brown (with Sydney spearhead
Daniel Bradshaw on video conference) ahead of Saturday's match, 1030 Telstra Building
MELBOURNE - Weekly AFL column

RUGBY
BRISBANE - Wrap of Super 14 news

TENNIS
MELBOURNE - Media conference with Australian tennis development boss Todd Woodbridge, 1030 Kooyong

SOCCER
MELBOURNE - ACL: Melbourne Victory v Seongham Ilhwa in Korea, 2100 (AEST)

CRICKET
GROS ISLET, St Lucia - Wrap of news from Australian camp ahead of World Twenty20

MOTORSPORT
BRISBANE - Media opportunity with drivers Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes ahead of weekend
V8 Supercars round at Ipswich, 1100

RACING
SYDNEY - Review Wednesday's Canterbury meeting.

MELBOURNE - Wrap-up of the Sandown fixture on Wednesday.

SYDNEY - Looking ahead to Saturday's stand-alone Hawkesbury meeting.

MELBOURNE - Looking ahead to Saturday's Caulfield races.

AAP RTV jlw/ajw/

KEYWORD: DIARY NEWS WEDNESDAY

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

Vic: Giant water bomber arrives to fight fires

AAP General News (Australia)
12-14-2009
Vic: Giant water bomber arrives to fight fires

MELBOURNE, Dec 14 AAP - Victoria has boosted its fire fighting arsenal with the arrival
of Australia's largest water bombing aircraft.

The DC-10-30 aircraft arrived at Avalon airport west of Melbourne on Monday and will
be ready for deployment in early January.

The reconfigured passenger plane can hold about 45,000 litres of water, about eight
times more than other fire fighting aircraft.

"We have been working with the Country Fire Authority since September to bring a large
aerial fire fighting aircraft to Victoria for the first time to help protect lives and
properties," Victoria Premier John Brumby told reporters on Monday afternoon.

Fire fighting aircraft are one of our key weapons against bushfires.

"They can drop large amounts of water, suppressant foam and fire retardants to help
control fires in hard to reach locations."

Victoria will conduct the first Australian trial of the DC-10-30.

AAP cmb/vam/cjb

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES VIC PLANE

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

HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 14:30, Aug 5

AAP General News (Australia)
08-05-2009
HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 14:30, Aug 5

MELBOURNE - A man charged over an alleged terrorist plot to kill Australian soldiers
has delivered an angry outburst in court. (Terror Fattal)

CANBERRA - The radical Islamist organisation allegedly planning an attack on a Sydney
military base had been considered for listing as a terrorist group in Australia. (Terror
alShabaab Rudd)

MELBOURNE - Victorian Police Commissioner Simon Overland has announced the Office of
Police Integrity (OPI) will launch a wide-ranging inquiry into the leaking of sensitive
details about a counter-terrorism raid in Melbourne on Tuesday. (Terror Overland Update)

SEE ALSO: Terror Dein, Terror NSW, Terror Civil

TO COME: Terror Wrap, Terror Federal Wrap, Terror Police Wrap. More expected on Terror Community



CANBERRA - Opposition Senate leader Nick Minchin says Malcolm Turnbull is innocent
in the OzCar affair and has the Liberal Party's full support. (Dealers Senate)

Dealers Wrap to come



BRISBANE - Queensland Opposition Leader John-Paul Langbroek is without a chief of staff
and may be stuck with a $90,000 bill after an "annotated" email was used to defend the
taxpayer funding of billboards. (Billboard Update)

Billboard Wrap to come



CAIRNS - The departing chairman of the Pacific Island Forum has urged Fijian citizens
to rise against the country's military regime. (Forum Fiji Update)

CANBERRA - Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has told a meeting of Pacific Island leaders that
improving the lives of the region's 2.7 million poor should be top of their agenda. (Forum
Rudd)

SEE ALSO: Forum Fiji Update, Forum Torres, Forum Ielemia, Forum Smith, Forum Protest

TO COME: Forum Wrap. Plus coverage of Rudd presser



DARWIN - Renegade MP Alison Anderson says the Northern Territory's chief minister is
a "dead man walking" and she's going to make the Labor government wait a week before it
knows its fate. (Anderson 2nd Update. See also Anderson Wood)

TO COME: Anderson Wrap, Anderson Timeline



BANGKOK - A 36-year-old Australian has avoided the death penalty and been sentenced
to life imprisonment for trying to smuggle heroin to Australia from Thailand. (Thai Hood)

Thai Hood Wrap to come



CANBERRA - Motorcycle club members are taking their fight against tough new anti-bikie
laws to Canberra on Wednesday. (Bikies)

Bikies Wrap to come



SYDNEY - A man who murdered his wife and nine-year-old stepdaughter and threw their
bodies off a cliff was a possessive, controlling and evil husband, a court has heard.

(Bodies)

Bodies Wrap to come



NEWCASTLE - The sister of a girl who was starved to death by their parents has told
the NSW Supreme Court she feared for the future of herself and her sisters after their
sibling's death. (Starve)

Starve Wrap to come



MELBOURNE - A stripper accused of raping the best man at a bucks party has been found
not guilty of the charge in a Melbourne court. (Naggs)

Naggs Wrap to come



SYDNEY - David Jones Ltd says fourth quarter sales rose 0.6 per cent and it continues
to look forward to an eight to 12 per cent rise in full year profit. (David Jones)

David Jones Wrap to come



LEEDS - Australia not only face the galling prospect of losing the Ashes in this week's
fourth Test at Headingley but they could also surrender their long-held No.1 world ranking.

(Cricket Aust Wrap)

MORE jlw

KEYWORD: HIGHLIGHTS NATIONAL

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

Fed: Key senator wants water reforms fast-tracked

AAP General News (Australia)
02-11-2009
Fed: Key senator wants water reforms fast-tracked

Independent senator NICK XENOPHON says thousands of jobs could be saved along the Murray-Darling
Basin .. if the federal government fast-tracks money for water reforms as part of its
economic stimulus.

The government needs the vote of Senator XENOPHON and six other crossbenchers .. to
have parliament approves its 42 billion dollar economic package.

The South Australian senator says the stimulus is needed .. but he wants changes.

He's told ABC radio hundreds of millions of dollars allocated for water buy-backs and
irrigation infrastructure should be brought forward .. to avoid a massive collapse in
employment and economic activity in the bush.

Senator XENOPHON's also backing his crossbench colleagues .. who are pressing the government
to relax the liquid assets test for the unemployed .. currently set at two and a half
thousand dollars.

AAP rl/rt

KEYWORD: STIMULUS XENOPHON (CANBERRA)

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

Bkb: Opals force fed a third helping of humble pie

AAP General News (Australia)
08-24-2008
Bkb: Opals force fed a third helping of humble pie

By James Dampney

BEIJING, Aug 23 AAP - The Opals have been humbled by the United States for the third
straight time in an Olympic gold medal match.

The US produced their best performance of the tournament when it mattered most in Beijing
while the Australians were left ruing a dreadful first half in a 92-65 loss.

The Americans have now won four straight Olympic titles, while the shattered Opals
must wait another four long years to try and get their hands on Games gold, adding yet
another silver to the ones they picked up in Sydney and Athens.

Australian coach Jan Stirling said her team would need to bring its "A-game" to have
a chance of winning tonight.

But the only letter that related to their performance was 'F' after they failed to
handle the big occasion in an extremely disappointing display.

Belinda Snell was the only Opal to have any impact in the first half, while Lauren
Jackson found her range after the main break and finished with 20 points, but by that
stage the outcome had been decided.

A courageous Penny Taylor played despite her badly sprained ankle but was well below
her best and had little impact.

The Americans had been desperate to face Australia ever since they won gold at the
2006 world championships and the US took home bronze.

And the States emphatically settled the argument about who was the better team tonight
in a horribly one-sided contest.

It had looked like a different script was being written in the early stages as the
Australians jumped out to an early 9-4 lead.

But the US gradually got into the flow of the game, utilising their incredibly deep
bench, one area where they had a clear advantage over Australia.

Reserves Kara Lawson and Sylvia Fowles led the Americans to a 22-15 lead after one quarter.

It was more of the same in the second period as the red-hot Americans strolled to a
47-30 halftime advantage.

Australia shot a dreadful 22 per cent from the field in the first half (8-of-37), compared
to 63 per cent for the Americans (19-of-30).

The Opals were more competitive in the second half, but it was all too little, too late.

MORE jd/tdw

KEYWORD: OLY08 BKBW AUST NIGHTLEAD

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

Fed: Rise of Asian giants to lead summit security discussions

AAP General News (Australia)
04-18-2008
Fed: Rise of Asian giants to lead summit security discussions

By Peter Veness and Max Blenkin

CANBERRA, April 18 AAP - As 90 academics, trade unionists and defence specialists prepare
to consider Australia's future security at the 2020 Summit this weekend, an equally large
government team is hard at work on a new defence White Paper and a national security statement.

Both these major policy documents were launched earlier this year, with the White Paper
to be drafted within Defence and the security statement prepared by the Department of
Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Both are scheduled to be finalised before year's end.

It remains unclear just what, if anything, this weekend's 2020 Summit will contribute
to either project.

Professor Ross Babbage, a former senior defence official and a member of the panel
advising Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon on the White Paper, said he retained an open
mind on summit conclusions.

He said there was an enormous amount of work now going into preparation of the security
statement and white paper.

But the very broad 2020 Summit security agenda and the large number of participants
raised questions about what would emerge beyond the most general of statements, he said.

"I will be surprised if something comes out of this that we have never thought of," he said.

"But let's wait and see.

"There is a hope that some of the things the 2020 Summit will come up with will be
broadly compatible with the things that are likely to come anyway."

Prof Babbage said one of the government's purposes with the summit was clearly to engage
a broader range of participants and to be seen to be doing so.

"There are a range of folk who are not normally involved on national and international
security issues. Generally that is pretty healthy," he said.

In the summit discussion paper, designed to stimulate delegates' thinking, the government
canvasses a broad range of issues set to impact on Australia.

The issues include the rise of China and India, Australia's alliance with the US, membership
of international organisations, globalisation and world trade, people smuggling, terrorism,
climate change, disease pandemics and struggling regional nations.

The new government's preference for multilateralism and high-minded international groupings
features strongly in the background paper.

One page is even headlined "a strong, rules-based, multilateral trading system is in
Australia's interests".

There is little mention of the former government's penchant for bilateral trade and
security pacts, although the paper does admit the number of one-off trade agreements has
grown significantly since 1990.

An 89-member panel chaired by Michael Wesley, professor of International Relations
at Griffith University, will discuss it all in two busy days of debate.

Panel members include ACTU president Sharan Burrow, former defence chief General Peter
Cosgrove and Victorian Police Commissioner Christine Nixon.

Those names show the debate will be wider than national security, foreign affairs or
defence policy.

Despite the abundance of issues on the agenda, a new paper released today by the Australian
Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) suggests one security challenge will remain paramount
- terrorism.

ASPI national security project director Carl Ungerer said "religiously-motivated mass
casualty terrorism" was a pre-eminent concern.

One reason is that US engagement in the war on terror was unlikely to change significantly,
no matter who occupied the White House. The other is Australia's proximity to South-East
Asia.

Whatever the delegates decide this weekend, one thing is certain: There will be a defence
White Paper and there will be a national security statement finished by the end of this
year.

AAP pv/sb/ldj/cdh

KEYWORD: SUMMIT FOREIGN (AAP BACKGROUNDER) REPEAT

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

FED: Tooth damage extensive among Aboriginal preschoolers

AAP General News (Australia)
12-14-2007
FED: Tooth damage extensive among Aboriginal preschoolers

Eds: Embargoed until 0100 AEDT Friday, December 14



SYDNEY, Dec 14 AAP - Fewer than five per cent of Aboriginal preschoolers brush their
teeth regularly, according to a report showing rates of dental decay are rising.

The report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows rates of tooth decay
have increased among indigenous children in recent years, with those six and younger worst
affected.

Those who are less well off or living in rural and remote areas were hardest hit.

Co-author Dr Kaye Roberts-Thomson, from the institute's Dental Statistics and Research
Unit, said hospitalisation for treatment of dental decay occurred at higher rates among
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children than among other children.

"This is partly related to more dental disease and partly related to lack of timely
access to dental services," Dr Roberts-Thomson said.

She said diet was also an issue.

"Sugar, particularly in the form of soft drinks, which are readily accessible even
in the remotest of communities, is a factor in the poorer oral health of indigenous children."

The report showed that fewer than five per cent of remote indigenous pre-school children
brushed their teeth on a regular basis.

And many young remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children experienced extensive
destruction of their baby teeth.

Dr Roberts-Thomson said the findings indicate a need for an increased focus on prevention
and primary health care for oral health of indigenous children, particularly among preschoolers.

Previous reports have shown that the oral health of all Australian children has worsened
since 1996, even though by international standards the oral health of Australian children
is generally good.

AAP tam/it/mn

KEYWORD: TEETH (EMBARGOED)

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

Agistix Moves to Finals of 2007 American Business Awards

Wireless News
05-16-2007
Agistix Moves to Finals of 2007 American Business Awards

WIRELESS NEWS-May 16, 2007-Agistix Moves to Finals of 2007 American Business Awards (C)2007 10Meters - http://www.10meters.com

Agistix, a provider of Logistics Management Automation (LMA) software, was named a Finalist today in the Most Innovative category in The 2007 American Business Awards program of the Stevie Awards.
Hailed as "the business world's own Oscars" (New York Post , April 27, 2005), The American Business Awards are the only national, all-encompassing awards program honoring great performances in business.

Stevie Award winners will be announced during the annual gala on Monday, June 11 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. More than 700 executives from across the U.S.A. are expected to attend. The ceremonies will be videocast on the Internet and broadcast on radio, and hosted by Larry Wilmore of TV's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

More than 2,000 entries from companies of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted for consideration in more than 40 categories. Agistix will be competing in the category for Most Innovative Company -- Up to 100 Employees.

Agistix's customer centric approach has resulted in momentum on every front. In 2006, the company achieved 100% revenue growth and filed a patent for a unique approach to web based printing for thermal labels which provides line workers huge time savings. The company was the first to market with a solution for Logistics Management Automation (LMA) and today drives 2,500-3,000 logistics transactions per week via its on-demand LMA platform. Agistix has been named to the Supply & Demand Chain Executive 100, Global Logistics & Supply Chain Strategies list of 100 Great Supply Chain Partners, and Start-IT Hottest Companies: Up & Coming.

"We owe our success to our unfailing commitment to logistics executives and our ability to consistently deliver a practical, global automation solution that meets their needs by bridging the gap between transportation planning and day-to-day logistics activities," said David Fox, president and CEO of Agistix. "We are very pleased to be a Stevie Award finalist selected from so many other deserving businesses."

Members of the Awards' Board of Distinguished Judges & Advisors and their staffs will select Stevie Award winners this week from among Finalists. Finalists were chosen by business professionals nationwide during preliminary judging in April through early May.

"Being named a Finalist in The American Business Awards is an important achievement," said Michael Gallagher, founder and president of The Stevie Awards. "It means that independent business executives have agreed that the nominee is worthy of national recognition. We congratulate all of the Finalists on their achievement and wish them well in the competition."

The American Business Awards and the list of Finalists: www.stevieawards.com/aba.

((Comments on this story may be sent to newsdesk@10meters.com))

((Distributed via M2 Communications Ltd - http://www.m2.com))

(Copyright M2 Communications Ltd. 16, 2007)

Public payoffs from tech transfers Universities, start-ups and investors gain, too

James Flanigan
International Herald Tribune
01-18-2007
Hartmut Neven came from Germany to the University of Southern California a decade ago to lead research efforts in computerized face and object recognition. The aim was to create a tool for the military and law enforcement agencies to identify enemies and suspects as well as for airlines and other companies to check passengers and visitors. In three years, Neven, a physicist with a doctorate from Ruhr University, succeeded in developing software that could analyze facial features, skin tones and the iris of the eye to achieve such recognition. Then, with encouragement from the technology transfer program at USC, he formed a company named Eyematic. It later became Neven Vision, with the aid of $200,000 in seed money from William Woodward, managing director of Anthem Venture Partners, a firm in Santa Monica, California, and some of Neven's own capital. Connections to the university did not end there. The Information Sciences Institute at the University of Southern California has continued research in computer recognition jointly with Ruhr University in Bochum, Germany. They ''build on top of the basic technology,'' Neven said.Such collaboration between university research, start-up companies and financial backers is a long-term trend dating to the Bayh-Dole Act of 1980, which mandated universities to collaborate with commercial concerns to promote the use of the inventions arising from U.S. government financing. Many universities now have offices of technology transfer looking to turn research into commercial ventures at the same time that advances in information and biological science and growth of Internet commerce has led to an explosion of entrepreneurial companies.''We see it as transferring back to the public benefits of technology that in many cases has been developed with public money,'' said Krisztina Holly, vice provost of USC who is leading a major expansion of its technology transfer program.Pentagon research grants in the 1990s, for example, benefited the early facial recognition research behind Neven Vision. And those grants sparked continued development. Ultimately, the technology ''will allow you to point your camera phone at a movie poster or a restaurant and get an immediate review of the film or the fare on your cellphone, which will tap into databases,'' said Neven.Technology transfer clearly has paid off for Neven and his company's financial backers Neven's company was acquired by Google for a price that financial experts estimate at more than $40 millionBut what do the universities get out of it? The benefits to USC for backing the research include potential licensing fees from patents on the developing technology and the possibility of contributions to the university from successful entrepreneurs like Neven.Lawrence Gilbert, senior director of technology transfer for the California Institute of Technology, puts it this way, ''Universities earn fees and royalties from licensing patents, but the real benefit comes from contributions to the endowment if the start-up company is successful.'' Caltech has spawned 80 new companies in the past decade, including Impinj, which makes chips that power radio frequency identification, or RFID, tags. Such microscopic tags make possible continuous tracking of products that enter U.S. ports or sit on the shelves of Wal-Mart stores or in medical vials in hospitals. Impinj, which is based in Seattle, originated in research done at Caltech by Carver Mead, one of the founding geniuses of modern electronics, and a student of his, Christopher Diorio, who is now professor of computer science at the University of Washington and chairman of Impinj. To start the company six years ago, ''Caltech took a small equity stake,'' said William Colleran, president and chief executive of Impinj. It was not investing in specific technology but in potential. ''Initially, we were working with a communications chip,'' Colleran said, ''but in 2003 when the government began to mandate RFID, we saw that our technology could be the perfect product.'' Impinj now has 150 employees and ''tens of millions'' in annual revenue, Colleran said. It also has $75 million in venture capital from nine major funds and looks to one day selling stock publicly, he said, ''which would provide a return for all those investors, including Caltech.''The equity investment by Caltech was in lieu of fees for acquiring a patent usually about $20,000. Caltech also defers license fees until the company gets on its feet. ''Our aim is to help the entrepreneurs get started; they need to retain all the cash they can,'' said Frederic Farina, vice president of Caltech's technology transfer office. Thanks to the success of generations of its scientists, Caltech holds 1,641 patents and has 395 pending. University policies differ on such matters. Publicly financed schools, like the University of California system, are not as liberal as private ones like USC and Caltech or as free-wheeling as entrepreneurs often prefer. Public institutions collect the cost of acquiring patents up front from faculty who are forming companies. ''But our goal above all is to help make innovations and products available for the public good,'' said Jane Moores, interim director of technology transfer for the University of California at San Diego. The university, renowned for medical and biological technology, made 300 innovations public last year.

2007 Copyright International Herald Tribune. http://www.iht.com

Vic: Conditions on Victoria's snowfields today

AAP General News (Australia)
08-23-2006
Vic: Conditions on Victoria's snowfields today

MELBOURNE, Aug 23 AAP - Conditions on Victoria's snowfields today:



MT HOTHAM -

Lifts: 8/13. Overnight temp: -4.3C. Road: Open and clear. Snow depth: 45cm, 80cm in
snowmaking areas. Winds: Light north westerly. Comments: Good cover of packed snow, softening
later, in open areas. Patchy to good cover for cross country skiing. Grooming overnight.



FALLS CREEK -

Lifts: 11/14. Overnight temp: -3.2C. Road: Open and clear. Snow depth: 39cm, 76cm in
snowmaking areas. Winds: Light north-westerly. Comments: Good, packed snow cover, softening
later, in open areas. Poor to good cross country skiing on 26.8km of trails.



MT BULLER -

Lifts: 10/25. Overnight temp: -2.3C. Road: Open and clear. Snow depth: 25cm, 56cm in
snowmaking areas. Winds: Light westerly. Comments: Fair to good cover of softening snow
in open areas. Fair cross country skiing around the village.



MT BAW BAW -

Lifts: 3/7. Overnight temp: -2.1C. Road: Open and clear. Snow depth: Patchy natural
snow, 20cm in snowmaking areas. Winds: Light westerly. Comments: Fair to good, limited
cover of softening, mand-made snow in open areas. Poor cross country skiing on ungroomed
trails.



DINNER PLAIN -

Lifts: 0/1. Snow depth: Patchy. Road: Open and clear. Comments: Limited, patchy, softening
snow for sightseeing and snowplay only. Insufficient snow for downhill or cross country
skiing. All facilities open.



LAKE MOUNTAIN -

Overnight temp: 0.1C. Road: Open and clear. Patchy snow. Winds: Light northerly. Comments:
Insufficient snow for skiing on all trails, insufficient snow for tobogganing. Poor snowplay.



MT STIRLING -

Road: Open and clear. Snow depth: Patchy. Limited cross country skiing with unmarked
hazards on a patchy snow cover around the summit/Kings Saddle area. 2.5km of skiable snow.



MT BUFFALO -

Lifts: 1/4. Overnight temp: -1.1C. Snow depth: Patchy natural snow, 10cm in snowmaking
areas. Poor to fair cover of packed snow, softening later, on novice poma for beginners
only. Good tobogganing under Valley Chair. Insufficient snow for cross country skiing.

Last day of lift operations for the season today.



MT ST GWINEAR -

Road: Open and clear. Snow depth: Patchy. Comments: Patchy sightseeing snow on the
higher levels only.



MT DONNA BUANG -

Road: Open and clear. Snow Depth: No snow.



AAP jrd/

KEYWORD: SNOW VIC

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

SA: Cray fisherman cheats death after boat capsizses in SA

AAP General News (Australia)
04-16-2006
SA: Cray fisherman cheats death after boat capsizses in SA

By Brad Watts

ADELAIDE, April 16 AAP - A fisherman has cheated death by swimming three kilometres
to shore in treacherous seas in South Australia's south-east.

Amateur fisherman Rodney Silvester, 47, battled three to five metre swells in freezing
water for nearly two hours yesterday after his small crayfish boat capsized near Cape
Jaffa, about 300km south of Adelaide.

Mr Silvester was conducting a routine check of his crayfish pots near Boatswain Point
when one of the nets became tangled around the propeller of his five metre fibreglass
vessel about 8.45pm (CST).

"The cray pot ended up wrapped around the prop on my boat that capsized and I got dragged
into the swell," Mr Silvester said.

"As my boat was still attached to the bloody pot it wasn't going to go nowhere and
(the line) kept dragging the boat under.

"So I thought I may as well swim for it and just did."

Fortunately, Mr Silvester was wearing a life jacket that probably saved his life, Senior
Constable Simon Hurling from Mount Gambier Police said.

Local residents were astonished at the fisherman's miraculous survival in the treacherous
conditions.

"He would've been swimming against the strong wind and current," said Lindsay Gilchrist
from Cape Jaffa Caravan Park.

A major land, sea and aerial search of the nearby coastal area for the missing fisherman
found his upturned boat by about 9.20pm (CST) but there was no sign of Mr Silvester.

"When I was swimming, I could see the boats looking for me but even though I was fatigued
I wasn't going to turn around," he said.

"I could see lights on shore and all that was going through my head was to keep going."

Exhausted, with mild hypothermia, Mr Silvester swam for more than two hours before
stumbling ashore near Cape Jaffa about 10.30pm (CST) where he was found by friends.

"There was people on the beach looking for me and my mate Barry took me in his ute
and I was relieved to get home," he said.

"It was a fortunate outcome for everyone involved," Snr Const Hurling said.

Ambulance officers treated Mr Silvester at his home but he refused to go to hospital,
preferring to stay at his house with friends.

Despite the ordeal, Mr Silvester was determined to go crayfishing again but he said:
"It won't be for a while."

AAP baw/cjh/de

KEYWORD: FISHERMAN

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

ai Corporation partners with The 3rd Man on card fraud detection solution

Internet Business News
08-15-2005
ai Corporation (aiCorp), a provider of payment card fraud detection and prevention software, has announced it has signed an agreement with The 3rd Man Ltd, a developer of screening services, to offer Internet Payment Processors and Card Not Present Merchants a solution to card fraud detection and prevention through the Internet.

In 2004 in the UK, CNP fraud cost GBP150.8m, an increase of 24% on the previous year. Research has estimated that 10% of current online purchases are fraudulent.

Under the terms of agreement, ai Corp and The 3rd Man will offer a joint solution, which will monitor, detect and manage all forms of card fraud. The solution, delivered in both real-time and off-line, will reportedly stop fraudulent transactions before they are completed.

No financial details of the agreement were disclosed.

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

Copyright 2005 M2 Communications, Ltd., All Rights Reserved.

share index

share index An index formed by selecting a number of prominent shares traded on a stock exchange and comparing the daily value of these shares with their value on a stated date in the base year. The daily value of the shares takes into account the volume of shares traded (see WEIGHTED AVERAGE). See CHAMBRE AGENT GENERAL INDEX; COMMERZBANK INDEX; DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE; FINANCIAL TIMES SHARE INDEXES; NIKKEI STOCK AVERAGE; HANG SENG INDEX.

Cable & Wireless Unveils Plans for Future.

Evening Standard, London Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Jan. 24--Troubled Cable & Wireless invited the City to its central London headquarters today in a first attempt to bolster investor support since its boardroom culls.

Around 50 telecoms analysts and representatives of the company's major shareholders heard about C&W's plans for its Regional business, which runs telecoms networks in the Caribbean, Middle East and Pacific Rim.

In a presentation, C&W Regional chief Robert Lerwill told his audience the business's revenues should grow at between 0 percent and 5 percent this year, profit margins should be held and capital expenditure will come in again at less than UKpound 300 million.

Analysts said the get-together was an attempt to remind people C&W has a pretty good Regional business outside the Internet Global company which has been the subject of a major restructuring.

It is the first company presentation since the arrival of new chairman Richard Lapthorne, the ex-BAE Systems executive, who this week announced the departure of chief executive Graham Wallace.

To see more of the Evening Standard, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.thisislondon.co.uk

UKpound preceding a numeral refers to the United Kingdom's pound sterling.

(c) 2003, Evening Standard, London. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

CWP, CW, BAESY,

ZipMed.com and Reuters Health Information Launch Daily Streaming Webcast of Top Consumer Health News.

FORT MYERS, Fla., Sept. 11 /PRNewswire/ --

ZipMed.com, Inc., a streaming media company serving online healthcare, and Reuters Health Information, Inc., the Internet's most trusted source of health news and information, today announced the launch of the Reuters Health Daily AudioCast, a daily streaming webcast version of the popular Reuters Health eLine news service.

Streaming media allows Internet users to experience live and on-demand audio, video and other multimedia programming on their computers.

Under the agreement, ZipMed.com will convert the consumer-focused Reuters Health eLine content into digital audio to create an on-demand streaming version of the service. Similar in concept to a traditional syndicated health radio program, the audiocast featuring the day's top health stories will be available to web sites on a subscription basis. The companies are jointly premiering the new program at their web sites, www.zipmed.com and www.reutershealth.com.

Among its portfolio of health news services, Reuters Health Information currently supplies more than 100 sites with a text-based version of Health eLine. The innovative new streaming health news program, which the companies will jointly promote and market, will provide approximately 50 streaming stories a week to subscriber sites. ZipMed will webcast the program via its satellite-based distribution network provider iBEAM Broadcasting Corp.

"We're very pleased to bring this exciting new program to the Web," said ZipMed CEO R. Douglas Zipperer. "It's a natural convergence of media and technology. This type of important programming from a trusted source like Reuters Health will help people to keep up with the latest breaking health news in a whole new way."

The streaming version of Health eLine will extend Reuters' online impact and enhance its offerings with rich-media content. "ZipMed has put the infrastructure in place to make it easy for Reuters Health to deliver our news in audio over the Internet. This expanded service will also benefit millions of sight-impaired Internet users who want to stay current on advances in health and medicine," said Dan McKillen, President and CEO of Reuters Health Information, Inc.

Keynotes announced for 4GWE, M2M Evolution, Super WiFi Summit Conferences in Austin.

Leading wireless events join forces to present 360 degree view of opportunities and challenges in a wireless world.

NORWALK, Conn. -- TMC and Crossfire Media today announced two joint keynote addresses for the attendees of the 4G Wireless Evolution, M2M Evolution, and Super WiFi Summit conferences on September 14th at the Austin Convention Center. Each conference is collocated in Austin with TMC's popular ITEXPO, the leading conference and trade show covering communications and technology.

Cameron Coursey, Associate VP of Product Development for AT&T will deliver a keynote address at 9:00 AM on September 14th discussing "Managing the Device, Network and Applications (DNA)." Immediately following this session, Strobe Corporation's CEO, Charles Jolley, will discuss "Why HTML5 Trumps Device Operating Systems."

"The collocated events at ITEXPO provide dozens of sessions that focus on a variety of content areas and at the same time, there's enough overlap between events to help attendees expand their educational experience," said Rich Tehrani, CEO and Conference Chairman for TMC. "We invite everyone joining us in Austin to attend joint sessions like these, because they also provide great networking opportunities amongst our broad attendee base."

4G Wireless Evolution discusses the best ways to enable the mobile enterprise and leverage the mobile Internet. The M2M Evolution conference showcases B2B applications in the transportation industry and examines the intersection of technology, regulatory issues, end user applications, and the ROI associated with M2M technology. And The Super WiFi Summit identifies the new opportunities that the unlicensed white space spectrum (known as Super WiFi) is creating for consumers, enterprises, service providers and device manufacturers.

* Cameron Coursey's keynote will discuss the lifecycle of today's latest devices, and identify the development and implementation requirements for tomorrow's networks.

* Charles Jolley's keynote will examine the impact that HTML5 will have on operating systems and APIs, and how it will help shift the emphasis from the device to the user experience.

Registration for 4GWE, M2M Evolution, and SuperWiFi is now open. Exhibiting, advertising and branding opportunities are still available, and interested parties should contact Matthew Gleeson at mgleeson@tmcnet.com or 203.852.6800 ext 145. Members of the media can reserve media credentials by contacting Todd Keefe at For Immediate Release PR.

About TMC:

Technology Marketing Corporation (TMC) is a global, integrated media company that helps clients build communities in print, in person, and online. TMC publishes the Customer Interaction Solutions, INTERNET TELEPHONY, Unified Communications, NGN and InfoTECH Spotlight magazines. TMC is the producer of ITEXPO, the world's leading B2B communications event. TMCnet.com, which is read by two million unique visitors each month, is the leading source of news and articles for the communications and technology industries. In addition, TMC runs multiple industry events: 4G Wireless Evolution; Smart Grid Summit; M2M Evolution; Cloud Communications Expo; SIP Tutorial: Bringing SIP to the Web; VIPeering; Business Video Expo; Regulatory 2.0 Workshop, DevCon5: The HTML5 Development Conference; CVx; AstriCon; StartupCamp; MSPAlliance MSPWorld and more. Visit TMC Events for a complete listing and further information.

About Crossfire Media:

Crossfire Media is an integrated marketing company with a core focus on future trends in technology. We service communities of interest with conferences, tradeshows, webinars, and newsletters and provide community websites with the latest information in our industries.

ACONEX LAUNCHES CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY'S FIRST ACCREDITED DOC ...

(Full text of a statement. Contact details below.)

(BW)(ACONEX) Aconex Launches Construction Industry's First Accredited Document Control Course

High-Tech Writers/Building/Construction Writers

MELBOURNE, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE) - Jul. 06, 2011--

Aconex, the world's largest provider of online collaboration solutions to construction and engineering projects, has launched the industry's first accredited course for the document control profession.

Developed and run by industry professionals, the four-day Certificate IV in Document Control in a Project Environment aims to improve attendees' document control effectiveness so that they can reduce project and organisational risk.

The national qualification, which is accredited by the Australian Government Department of Education, covers areas such as: best practice records management based on ISO standards; the application of risk management principles; and the use of industry tools to optimise and streamline records management.

Janaki Ramachandran, Commercial Manager for the Aconex business Document Control Essentials, said: "Few project teams are subject to higher levels of risk and uncertainty than those in engineering and construction. If risks are not adequately contained, both margins and reputations can be on the line.

"Document controllers are relied upon by project teams to manage the distribution, filing, storage, and retrieval of project information - essentially the lifeblood of any project. Organisations that lack skills in this area expose themselves to the increased likelihood of claims, disputes and litigation, and the schedule and budget overruns that follow.

"By taking this course, participants will walk away with a skill set and toolkit that will add immediate value to their companies and projects."

Jenny Cahir, Senior Document Controller at O'Donnell Griffin, a leading engineering solutions provider, said: "Having taken the course, I'm already saving time by managing drawings more efficiently. In addition, it has helped me to better influence and effect positive change in the project team."

Dr. Cynthia Wang, Lecturer of the Built Environment at University of Technology Sydney and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), said: "This course will cover the current disconnect between vocational training and higher education. It's something that both document controllers and the industry need."

Aconex has 38 offices worldwide that service more than $260 billion worth of projects in 70 countries. Since 2010, the company has trained document control professionals from more than 15 countries through the company's flagship professional development program, Certificate in Document Control. With the two programs on offer, the accredited course which is a qualification and the non-accredited course, participants now have a wider choice for professional development.

Upcoming course dates in Australia include: Darwin - August 16, 2011 Melbourne - September 20, 2011 Sydney - October 18, 2011 Brisbane - November, 2011 Perth - November, 2011 Global course dates are available at Aconex.com/DocumentControl.

Aconex Communications

Will Turbet, +44 20 7520 5470

KEYWORD: Australia Asia Pacific Australia/Oceania

INDUSTRY KEYWORD: Education Technology Data Management Internet Other Technology Manufacturing Engineering Professional Services Other Professional Services Training Construction & Property Commercial Building & Real Estate

CATEGORY KEYWORD: Product/Service

Source: Aconex

Copyright Business Wire 2011

ASIA PULSE ry 07-07 1011

NewCom's Emergency Communications Response Network[TM] Provides Instant Communications for Governments, Military & Law Enforcement Worldwide.

Miami, FL (PRWEB) May 10, 2011

Government, military and law enforcement personal now have instant access to critical voice, video and data communications anytime, anywherea thanks to the Emergency Communications Response Network[TM] (ECR) recently unveiled by Miami, Florida-based NewCom International.

NewCom International, a global communications firm that specializes in unified voice, video, data and content solutions, developed ECR to provide an instant, cost-effective contingency plan or back up should regular communications go down. It also serves as an on-the-go communications center for mobile military and public safety corps units.

ECR is a compact, self-contained communications E2E solution that includes voice, Internet, SCADA connectivity, email, fax, video surveillance, VideoMeetings[TM] and data services. Along with the communications components, the package includes a portable antenna and optional solar power supply.

"Having the ability to instantly communicate via voice, video, instant messaging and email is critical to providing aid and security when a natural disaster or tragedy strikes -- or to support mobile military or public service operations around the globe," notes Jaime Munera, Director of IP and Product Development for NewCom International. "ECR is a comprehensive, cost-effective solution that serves as both an emergency back-up system and as an ongoing mobile communications center -- with flexible pricing plans tailored to the needs of the user. Users can activate the box instantly by calling our NOC and pay only for bandwidth they use; keep the box activated for a low monthly fee and pay for bursts when emergency usage occurs; or pay a fixed-flat rate for ongoing usage."

NewCom's Emergency Communications Response Network[TM] utilizes aggressive compression technology combined with iDirect's powerful, efficient shared platform service to minimize bandwidth requirements, ensuring a low-cost solution that delivers high-quality voice, video and data services.

ECR is just one of several bundled solutions that NewCom has developed to address the needs of the governments, business and organizations it serves. Other self-contained bundled solutions include NewCom's Rural Education Package, which integrates internet access and its VideoMeetings[TM] (virtual teaching) service with world-class online educational materials that meet government curriculum requirements, and Live Stream Mobile[TM] -- a mobile video streaming package.

ABOUT NEWCOM INTERNATIONAL

NewCom International specializes in unified voice, video, data and content solutions for the global marketplace. Using integrated satellite, fiber, microwave and Wi-Fi networks as the foundation, we deliver bundled solutions that combine high quality communications services with rich online content and cutting-edge applications. Our bundled approach a which includes high-level engineering support, systems design, installation, project management and monitoring a ensures our clients receive the cost-effective, turnkey solutions they need for virtually any government or enterprise application. Our dedicated network operations center, world-class teleports and global support staff are at the heart of the services we offeraproviding a one-stop shop for your critical communications needs. For more information, please visit: http://www.newcominternational.com or contact us: sales(at)newcominternational(dot)com

###

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/5/prweb8404266.htm

Video Dating: the Darling of Online Courtship...Sight and Sound Advance Internet Dating Sites.

Many people today have met their better halves online. Spawned

from paper catalogs posted from across the globe, the current framework of online dating is a very different animal when one surveys the plethora of services offered on the internet and propelled by aggressive marketers to every conceivable demographic and taste.

Untold thousands have wed through introductions via the basic, typical online dating platform that has enamored millions of internet love crusaders. However, as the world moves forward in this high speed virtual age, online matchmakers and marriage brokers strive to keep pace and find more clever and innovative uses for the myriad of today's technological advances.

E-marketers since the dawn of virtual space have simply taken pictures, text and contact information from print, and published it online with few major enhancements. However, with the development of the video camera came walk-in TV dating salons and their quick transplant to the net sphere resulting in the birth of video dating.

Video dating is the newest hot trend in internet mate sourcing and takes online romance to a whole new level. At first a collection, sometimes a mind-boggling number of videos from individuals preening and plying themselves in search of their perfect match, video dating has been thrust to the forefront of virtual libidinous space with the advent of two way sight and sound communication, and includes Video Chat ( http://www.anastasiadate.com/Pages/Search/SearchResults.aspx?onlyVideoConf=1&

sortBy=1), the offspring of the video conference.

Video dating is the next generation of web dating, following email correspondence in a leap frog over a list of online dating services that includes phone introductions and gift and flower delivery as vehicles by which to reach out and better understand the person on the screen. Building on an electronics system as old as television itself, video dating technology is more cost effective and compact than the decades old TV dating parlor. The technology and systems to produce and upload videos is today commonplace with simplicity the keyword to even the uninitiated. Familiarity has bred confidence in a population accustomed to seeing friends and family first in home movies then on videotape, to exploring the dating world in two way interactive online formats. Video accelerates the dating experience making it faster to evaluate if a person is compatible or not. It's a much more effective and successful way to date online.

Not only domestic online dating sites have adapted the new format, but international sites have flourished citing video dating as the phenomenon that lights the donkey's tail. AnastasiaDate.com, a premiere international web dating portal that specializes in introducing Western men to available women from Russia & CIS, says the sector is growing by leaps and bounds. Anastasia, which sometimes uses translators to converse between her male members in English, French or German, and Russian, has seen her video chat business grow 300% from its inception in late 2008. Additionally, viewing of her over 3000 individual videos of ladies from across Russia and CIS is up more than tenfold since 2006 contributing significantly to Anastasia's bottom line.

Video dating is undoubtedly at the forefront of the online rendezvous sector with its true potential not yet realized.

Keywords: Anastasia International, Electronics, Entertainment, Leisure, Movies, Technology, Television, Video Cameras, Anastasia International, Electronics, Entertainment, Leisure, Movies, Technology, Television, Video Cameras.

This article was prepared by Leisure & Travel Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Leisure & Travel Week via VerticalNews.com.

Mecklermedia to produce Internet world event in Israel.

WESTPORT, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 20, 1996--Alan M. Meckler, chairman and CEO of Mecklermedia Corp. (NASDAQ: MECK), today announced that its trade show division has expanded to the Middle East with Internet World Israel '97.

The event will take place on June 18-20, 1997 in Jerusalem at The Jerusalem Convention Center, and it will be co-produced by People & Computers Group, one of Israel's leading computer marketing companies.

"Many of the exciting Internet technology developments have emanated from Israel, and therefore extending our show to Israel is a natural area of expansion for us," commented Meckler. "Along with the People & Computers Group, we look forward to the debut of Internet World Israel '97, and attendees can expect that it will be an exciting and informative event."

In the United States, Internet World is the oldest and largest show and conference in the industry. Held twice annually, it will be host to more than 500,000 square feet of exhibit space and a projected attendance of 50,000 Internet professionals from around the globe. Fall Internet World will take place on Dec. 10-13, 1996 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City, and Spring Internet World will take place on March 10-14, 1997 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. There are currently 17 international Internet World shows in existence with several in development.

Mecklermedia Corp., based in Westport, is the leading provider of Internet information through its publications Internet World, Web Week, Web Developer, its Internet World Trade Shows, Web Developer and Web Interactive Conferences, and iWORLD, its electronic daily newspaper, located at http://www.iworld.com. Mecklermedia's global presence includes Internet World trade shows and licensed publications throughout Europe, South America, Asia and Australia.

CONTACT: Mecklermedia Corp., Wesport

Francie Coulter, 203/341-2972

email: fcoulter@mecklermedia.com

or

Bob Miko, 203/341-2842

email: bmiko@mecklermedia.com

Market Commentary on Tele Norte Leste Participacoes S.A.

M2 PRESSWIRE-10 April 2007-bellwetherreport.com: Market Commentary on Tele Norte Leste Participacoes S.A(C)1994-2007 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

RDATE:10042007

Market Commentary on Tele Norte Leste Participacoes S.A (NYSE:TNE)

Tele Norte Leste Participacoes S.A., through its subsidiaries, provides telecommunications services in Brazil. It operates in three segments: Fixed-line Telecommunications, Mobile Telecommunications, and Contact Center. Fixed-line Telecommunications segment provides fixed-line telecommunications services, including local services, intraregional long-distance services, inter-regional and international long-distance services, fixed to mobile services, network usage services, public telephone services, and data transmission services, including asymmetric digital subscriber line, Internet service provider, Internet protocol, and other data transmission services. Mobile Telecommunications segment offers mobile telecommunication services under the 'Oi' brand name primarily in Region I, which comprises the states of Maranhao, Piaui, Ceara, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraiba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe, Bahia, Roraima, Amapa, Amazonas, Para, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, and Espirito Santo in Brazil. Contact Center segment provides inbound contact center services, including sales, market research, tele-sales, and collection; and outbound services, such as providing product information, sales, complaints, customer service, and help desk. The company primarily serves residential, corporate, and mobile customers. Tele Norte was founded in 1998 and is based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Shares were up 5% on merger talk.

BellwetherReport.com is a leading online research firm for international investors looking to get an edge over their portfolio. Investors seeking the most up to date information on Tele Norte Leste Participacoes S.A are invited to sign up for a free complimentary subscription to www.bellwetherreport.com. No credit card needed!

U.S.-listed shares of overseas companies logged modest gains Monday, as investors in the broader market exhibited caution ahead of the start of earnings season.

The Bank of New York Composite ADR Index rose 0.13% to 174.14 and most of the gains came from the Latin American sub-index.

On Wall Street, shares edged higher in afternoon trade but action throughout the session has been mixed as market players prepare for the Tuesday's unofficial start of the first-quarter reporting season.

Investors were also digesting Friday's stronger-than-expected jobs report.

Moving higher on the ADR index were shares of Brazil's Tele Norte Leste Participacoes and Brasil Telecom Participacoes.

Stock in each company gained more than 5% following a local report that the government has given clearance for the two telecom services providers to merge.

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IP-based TV soon a reality.(Internet Protocol-based TV)(Brief article)

Internet Protocol-based TV is a technology wherein TV content is delivered via broadband connection. A user can have various choices of anytime access to TV content, like watching the 8 p.m. news at 11 p.m. and watching favorite movies, among others. Telecom operators see IPTV as the new big thing. According to a research carried out by ABI Research, by 2010, the total IPTV subscribers worldwide will be over 120 million, with 47 percent being Asia Pacific's share. Mahanagar Telecom Nigam Limited and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited are expected to launch IPTV first, leveraging their existing last-mile facility and a huge base of landline users. Bharti Tele-Ventures is conducting IPTV trials and is expected to launch it commercially in six months' time. Alcatel is also in talks with prominent operators for supply of equipment.

CARBO Ceramics Announces Increase in Second Quarter Dividend.

CARBO Ceramics Inc. announced today that its Board of Directors has increased the company's dividend for the second quarter of 2003 to $.10 per share, payable on August 15, 2003 to shareholders of record on July 31, 2003.

"Our Board of Directors today voted to increase the dividend by 11 percent," said Dr. C. Mark Pearson, President and Chief Executive Officer of CARBO Ceramics. "The long-term outlook for our business continues to be positive and this increase in the quarterly dividend reflects our strong current financial condition and our confidence in the company's ability to fund its future growth opportunities."

The company plans to release earnings results for the second quarter on July 31, 2003 before market open, and management will host a conference call to discuss the results at 2:00 p.m. central time (3:00 p.m. eastern) that day. To participate in the call, investors should dial 719-457-2679 and refer to confirmation code 346903. The conference call can also be accessed by visiting the company's Web site, http://www.carboceramics.com/ .

CARBO Ceramics Inc. is the world's leading manufacturer of ceramic proppants for use in the hydraulic fracturing of natural gas and oil wells. Company information can be accessed on the Internet at the company's Web site.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties including price volatility, operation and other risks and other factors described in the company's publicly available SEC reports, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements.

CONTACT: Paul Vitek, CFO of CARBO Ceramics Inc., +1-972-401-0090

Web site: http://www.carboceramics.com/