VIC:Fire recovery went as well as could:Nixon

AAP General News (Australia)
08-05-2011
VIC:Fire recovery went as well as could:Nixon

Former bushfires recovery chief CHRISTINE NIXON says the recovery effort from the Victorian
Black Saturday bushfires went as well as it could.

Ms NIXON says some people are still struggling with issues like housing, two-and-a-half
years after the devastating bushfires that killed 173 people.

Ms NIXON chaired the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority but stepped
down last July, amid criticism over the then police chief commissioner's decision to go
out to dinner on Black Saturday.

AAP RTV mn/pmu/nap

KEYWORD: BLACK NIXON (MELBOURNE)

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

South Sea Bubble

South Sea Bubble The collapse of the British market in South Sea Company stocks in 1720. The South Sea Company, a joint-stock company founded in 1711, traded, mostly in slaves, with Spanish America. In 1720 its offer to take over part of the national debt was accepted by parliament, causing a rise in the value of its shares from 128 (in January) to 1000 (August). By December the bubble had burst and the shares fell to 124, ruining many investors. A subsequent enquiry implicated three ministers on charges of corruption and touched King George I, first because he had become governor of the company in 1718, and secondly because two of his mistresses were involved in the scandal. The situation was saved by Sir Robert Walpole, who transferred the stocks to the Bank of England and the British India Company. The subsequent legislation, known as the Bubble Act 1720, restricted the formation of joint-stock companies.

AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Midday, April 10

AAP General News (Australia)
04-10-2011
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Midday, April 10
Midday Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 1130


Egypt (CAIRO)

More than one-thousand protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square have vowed to stay overnight
in defiance of the military after a protester was killed the night before when soldiers
dispersed a similar sit-in.

At least one person was killed earlier .. when troops and police stormed the square
to break up a protest demanding the trial of former regime officials.

The health ministry says apart from the one death .. 71 people have been hurt .. some
from bullet wounds and others suffering breathing difficulties or having been beaten during
clashes.



ICoast (ABIDJAN)

Forces supporting Ivory Coast's entrenched strongman have broken through the security
perimeter imposed around the presidential compound.

Residents in the Cocody district of Abidjan have reported explosions and heavy arms
fire .. while French forces say that helicopters attempting to evacuate diplomats from
a residence near the presidential compound were hit by machine gun fire.

Meanwhile the UN evacuated 17 British citizens from the British High Commissioner's
residence .. only steps from GBAGBO'S compound.



Budget Wong (CANBERRA)

Finance Minister PENNY WONG says a drop in commonwealth revenue because of the summer
floods justifies the need for a tough budget next month.

The federal government has signalled spending cuts will be made when the budget is
unveiled on May 10.

Senator WONG told ABC TV this morning that key revenue forecasts had changed since
Treasury released its mid-year economic and fiscal outlook in November .. with company
tax revenue falling by $3 billion .. while personal income tax receipts have dropped by
$1 billion.



China Aust (CANBERRA)

Foreign Minister KEVIN RUDD has raised the delicate topic of human rights in Tibet
and Xinjiang with one of China's most powerful leaders.

Mr RUDD met with JIA QINGLIN .. Beijing's fourth-ranked Community Party leader .. in
Brisbane yesterday and a spokesperson for Mr RUDD has now confirmed he raised the situations
in Tibet and Xinjiang.

The spokesman says they discussed Australian consular cases in China and agreed that
these should be the subject of further discussions.



Pacific (CANBERRA)

The federal opposition says KEVIN RUDD is doing a very good job as foreign minister

.. but says he's taken his eye off the Pacific.

Coalition foreign affairs spokeswoman JULIE BISHOP says Mr RUDD has been impressive
.. but says she's seriously concerned that he's taken his focus away from the Pacific
.. PNG .. East Timor and Fiji.

Ms BISHOP says Australia's aid program too needs to focus more on Australia's neighbourhood.



Iceland Vote (REYKJAVIK)

Voters in Iceland have rejected a renegotiated deal to compensate Britain and The Netherlands
over the 2008 collapse of the Icesave Bank.

Some 230,000 voters were asked to decide on the proposal to pay Britain and the Netherlands
more than $5-billion for compensation payments to 340,000 people who lost money when Icesave
.. an online bank .. went under at the height of the global financial crisis.



Libya NATO (ROME)

NATO says it has destroyed key ammunition stockpiles and several armoured vehicles
in air strikes across Libya in the last 24 hours.

NATO says it's aircraft have hit the ammunition stockpiles east of Tripoli that were
being used to resupply MUAMMAR GADDAFI'S forces who were involved in shelling innocent
civilians in Misrata.

General CHARLES BOUCHARD says NATO aircraft have been hitting loyalist supplies and
have also succeeded in destroying a good percentage of the Libyan government's armoured
forces.



Floods Inquiry Qld (BRISBANE)

The weather bureau has hit back at amateur weather watchers claims that is was behind
ball in warning about flash flooding in Queensland's Lockyer Valley.

A deadly wall of water hit Grantham .. Toowoomba and Murphys Creek .. on January 10
killing 20 people.

A week later there were media reports that amateur storm chasers blogged about flash
flooding at around one p.m. .. more than two hours before Grantham was devastated and
well before an official alert was issued.

But now the Bureau's state director JAMES DAVIDSON has told the Queensland Floods Commission
that the bureau updated its severe weather warning at 11.05am on January 10 predicting
heavy rainfall leading to localised flash flooding in the district.



Unsafe (MELBOURNE)

Victoria's top mechanics say one in three cars on the state's roads are unsafe.

A study by the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce has found that tyres are the
car part most likely to cause problems .. ahead of brakes and lights.

The VACC checked the brakes .. tyres .. lights .. steering and seatbelts on 774 vehicles
between January and March this year and found 35 per cent of them were unsafe.



Assaults (BRISBANE)

An accused date rapist who allegedly assaulted three female international students
has been charged with a further rape offence.

Police say a 37-year-old Murarrie man faced Brisbane Magistrates court yesterday on
two rape charges and three charges of stupefying.

They say the alleged attacks happened over three nights in the Brisbane suburb of Mount
Coot-tha .. the victims were all Asian students who are in Australia to study English.



UK Hacking (LONDON)

Prominent Britons who have accused a tabloid newspaper of hacking into their phone
messages say they're not satisfied with the paper's apology and offer of compensation.

The News of the World has acknowledged eavesdropping on the voicemails of public figures
and says it will pay compensation for an unspecified number of justifiable claims.

But the admission has done little to end a scandal that has rattled Britain's political
establishment and RUPERT MURDOCH'S media empire.

A lawyer for SIENNA MILLER .. one of several celebrities suing the paper .. says the
actress has not dropped her lawsuit against the News of the World.



Briefly in other news ..

Abbott (SYDNEY)

Federal Opposition Leader TONY ABBOTT is about to cross the finishing line in the 14th
annual Pollie Pedal after cycling from the Gold Coast to Sydney.


Ofarrell (SYDNEY)

New South Wales premier BARRY O'FARRELL says Opposition leader JOHN ROBERTSON is a
"boof head" who needs to stop playing politics and focus on the real issues.



France Veils (PARIS)

French police have arrested 61 people .. including 19 women .. for trying to hold an
outlawed Paris protest against France's pending ban on face-covering Islamic veils.



in Sport ..



Gol Masters (AUGUSTA, Georgia)

Australian JASON DAY slipped four strokes behind leader RORY McILROY after the third
round at the 75th Masters in Augusta, Georgia.

DAY is in a four-way tie for second place after a respectable even-par 72 at Augusta National.

But the man to beat is Northern Irishman McILROY, who has carded 70 to pull clear at
12-under 204 with one round left.

DAY is joined on eight-under by ANGEL CABRERA, K.J. CHOI and CHARL SCHWARTZEL, while
Australian ADAM SCOTT is also within striking distance, five shots behind after a 67.

TIGER WOODS and GEOFF OGILVY have bogeyed the last to fall seven behind.



Ten Women (CHARLESTON)

World number one CAROLINE WOZNIACKI has reached the final of the WTA clay court tournament
in Charleston with a 6-4 6-4 victory over JELENA JANKOVIC.

She'll face either China's PENG SHUAI or Russian ELENA VESNINA in the final tomorrow.



Mot Indy (BIRMINGHAM)

Australia's WILL POWER has earned pole position for the IndyCar Grand Prix of Alabama,
nabbing his second pole in as many races so far this season.

POWER turned a fast lap of 1minute 11.46seconds in the Fast Six final section of qualifying.

Penske teammate and fellow Australian RYAN BRISCOE will start alongside him on the
front row after notching the second-fastest time.



ENDS MIDDAY ROUND-UP

Broadcast Desk inquiries 24 hours: 02 9322 8714

AAP RTV ar

KEYWORD: MIDDAY ROUND-UP

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

NSW:Pre-Christmas spike in theft offences

AAP General News (Australia)
12-20-2010
NSW:Pre-Christmas spike in theft offences

A rise in fraud and theft offences across Sydney in the lead up to Christmas has sparked
a security reminder from NSW police.

Police say in the five days to Sunday .. 72 people were arrested and charged with 85
fraud and theft offences .. and more than 17 thousand dollars worth of property was recovered.

Among the offenders nabbed during Operation Lightfingers was a woman in the Pitt Street
Mall .. who took a wallet and mobile phone from another woman's handbag.

AAP RTV ad/klm/wf

KEYWORD: LIGHTFINGERS (SYDNEY)

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

VIC:Heroin and $2.5m seized in drug raids

AAP General News (Australia)
08-12-2010
VIC:Heroin and $2.5m seized in drug raids

MELBOURNE, Aug 12 AAP - Police say they have smashed a major drug ring, seizing millions
of dollars worth of heroin, $2.5 million in cash and arresting 12 people in early morning
raids around Melbourne.

Victoria Police, along with the Australian Crime Commission (ACC), executed search
warrants at 14 properties in inner and western suburbs from 5am (AEST) on Thursday.

Police say they have taken possession of heroin believed to have a street value of
several million dollars and have seized around $20 million worth of residential and commercial
real estate.

Police raided properties in suburbs they raided including Fitzroy, Brunswick, St Albans,
Maribyrnong, Footscray, Sunshine and Collingwood.

They say there is potential for further arrests and drug seizures.

The raids capped off a 10-month operation - one of the largest of its type - investigating
a suspected organised crime syndicate involved in importing and distributing drugs.

The 12 people arrested - nine men and three women - are aged between 25 and 60.

Head of the Victoria Police Drug Task Force, Detective Inspector John Potter, said
the arrests highlight the effectiveness of multi-agency cooperation.

"As a result of this joint operation we believe we have been able to disrupt the activities
of a significant drug and organised crime syndicate operating in our state," Det Insp
Potter said.

"Operations such as this should send a clear message to crime syndicates that Australian
law enforcement is working together and will target anyone who thinks they can break our
laws.

"These joint operations have proven to be an incredibly powerful and efficient way
of tackling the activities of criminal networks."

AAP jxt/gfr/dep

KEYWORD: RAIDS UPDATE

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

TAS: Police investigate remains link to NZ fisherman

AAP General News (Australia)
04-03-2010
TAS: Police investigate remains link to NZ fisherman

Police in Tasmania are investigating if human remains found on state's east coast could
belong to a New Zealand fisherman missing in the area since January.

40 year old BASIL ALEXANDER LEE was last seen returning to a fishing boat at Triabunna
wharf on January 11 where he was employed as a deckhand.

The remains were found yesterday morning near the Esplanade at Triabunna by a local
fisherman and his wife walking their dog.

Police say the forensic examination of the remains is expected to take several weeks.

AAP RTV ees/ar

KEYWORD: REMAINS (HOBART)

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

Fed: Pragmatism will rule ties between Aust and China

AAP General News (Australia)
08-21-2009
Fed: Pragmatism will rule ties between Aust and China

By Sandra O'Malley, Diplomatic Correspondent

CANBERRA, Aug 21 AAP - China is nothing if not pragmatic.

It may be eager to flex its political and economic clout, as it seeks acknowledgement
as one of the world's most important powers.

But it's not stupid.

And it won't let diplomatic squabbles with Australia or anyone else stand in the way
of building its massive economy.

Beijing is displeased by Canberra's recent decision to grant a visa to exiled Uighur
leader Rebiya Kadeer and it's made its anger obvious by cancelling a high-level ministerial
visit to Australia.

But diplomacy is diplomacy and commerce is commerce.

And China isn't about to let one interfere with the other.

China needs energy to power its bustling cities and vast manufacturing sector.

Its insatiable demand for Australian commodities, particularly iron ore and coal, has
underpinned the nation's economic prosperity for much of the past two decades.

With a population of 1.3 billion - including an expanding middle class - its demand
for sources of energy will only grow exponentially.

Important to China, too, is the security of supply of these diminishing resources.

It would have been the uppermost consideration when PetroChina agreed to a $50 billion
deal to buy natural gas from the proposed Gorgon development off the Western Australian
coast.

The staggeringly big deal - the biggest in Australian history - serves Australia well too.

It makes it virtually impossible for Gorgon's joint venture partners - Chevron, ExxonMobil
and Shell - to do anything but give the $50 billion development the go-ahead.

The latest agreement takes to $300 billion the value of all Gorgon contracts over the
next two decades, assuring Australia guaranteed income streams to weather the economic
ups and downs of the coming years.

For the Rudd government, the timing could not have been more opportune.

The Kadeer controversy had it facing yet more scrutiny over relations with China, coming
just weeks after the messy diplomatic situation created by the detention in China of Rio
Tinto executive Stern Hu.

Now, the federal government is able to unflinchingly say it can stand its ground in
the diplomatic sphere without it affecting the crucial trading relationship.

Trade Minister Simon Crean has long championed the view that Australia and China are
of equal importance to each other.

"We've got to understand our significance to China, we've got to stand tall in that
relationship," he said.

Practically speaking, he would seem to be right.

AAP so/sb/cdh

KEYWORD: GORGON (AAP NEWS ANALYSIS) RPT

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

Fed: Military censors enter Fiji newspaper office

AAP General News (Australia)
04-11-2009
Fed: Military censors enter Fiji newspaper office

A military censor is at work in the newsroom of Fiji's largest daily newspaper which
will hit the streets with large blank spaces.

News Limited spokesman GREG BAXTER says the censor appointed by military ruler Commodore
FRANK BAINIMARAMA started vetting Fiji Times articles for publication yesterday.

News Limited has criticised Fijian authorities for tearing up the constitution and
installing an unelected military government under new arrangements for another five years.

Fiji Times editor NETANI RIKA is still publishing the newspaper .. but leaves out anything
that has been censored.

Mr BAXTER says tomorrow's edition will have large blank spaces after stories about
the crisis were rejected by the military censor who is upholding a government decree that
prevents the publication of any independent reports about the situation.

AAP RTV saj/ldj/it/goc/wz

KEYWORD: FIJI MEDIA (CANBERRA)

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

FED: Rudd's staff not overworked, says ex-union offical Shorten

AAP General News (Australia)
12-07-2008
FED: Rudd's staff not overworked, says ex-union offical Shorten

CANBERRA, Dec 7 AAP - Kevin Rudd hasn't been pushing his staff too hard, according
to workers' advocate turned federal Labor MP Bill Shorten.

The prime minister's staff are said to be so overworked many of them are leaving.

About 40 per cent of new appointments to his private office since last December have
quit, while his deputy Julia Gillard has lost nearly 50 per cent, Fairfax reports.

About a quarter of all ministerial staffers appointed between December last year and
October this year have fled.

But Mr Shorten, who headed up the Australian Workers' Union for seven years before
being elected to parliament last year, says Mr Rudd isn't too tough on his staff.

"I don't think people have been worked too hard," Mr Shorten told Sky News.

"They (staff) haven't been lost, people have moved jobs."

It was inevitable that after winning government the nucleus of Labor's highly-trained
staff "would spread from the leader's office into other ministers' offices."

"Also it's inevitable there's churn in a modern workplace where people get promoted."

The idea that the government has misplaced 40 per cent of its staff and can't find
them is not correct, he said.

The Victorian MP said down the corridor from Labor's ministerial offices, Malcolm Turnbull
had sacked all of former opposition leader Brendan Nelson's staff when he took over the
Liberals' top job.

"100 per cent, (they) all lost their jobs."

AAP jcd/rl/wf

KEYWORD: RUDD STAFF SHORTEN

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

Fed: Govt moves to cool talk of recession

AAP General News (Australia)
08-04-2008
Fed: Govt moves to cool talk of recession

The federal government says it's well placed to steer Australia through difficult economic
times .. amid mounting speculation the nation could be lurching towards recession.

A string of economic reports over the past week have provided more evidence the economy
is slowing on the back of high interest rates and rising petrol prices.

Finance Minister LINDSAY TANNER concedes the economy is slowing .. but says speculation
that Australia is headed for a recession is premature.

And .. he says the tax cuts .. that came into effect on July 1 .. may help to avoid a recession.

AAP RTV kms/wz/psm/

KEYWORD: ECONOMY (CANBERRA)

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

Vic: Chinese computer hackers access classified government files

AAP General News (Australia)
02-10-2008
Vic: Chinese computer hackers access classified government files

Chinese computer hackers have launched targeted attacks on classified federal government
computer networks.

Fairfax newspapers reports the cyber attacks have prompted an internal review of IT security.

It says the hacking activity is thought to be part of an international espionage operation
.. in a bid to glean intelligence from the western world.

And Australian intelligence figures are believed to be concerned at a growing level
of industrial espionage.

The attacks are believed to be directed at local companies .. and occurred late last year.

But it's thought the attacks haven't acquired sensitive information .. and a government
intelligence source says he wouldn't characterise the attempts as malicious .. just routine
espionage.

A Department of Defence spokesman wouldn't confirm or deny the recent cyber attacks
on key government agencies.

And a Chinese government spokesman denies any cyber espionage had been authorised for
any Australian agencies.

AAP RTV jat/jec/

KEYWORD: HACKERS (MELBOURNE)

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

Tas: Main stories in today's Hobart newspapers

AAP General News (Australia)
08-23-2007
Tas: Main stories in today's Hobart newspapers

HOBART, Aug 23 AAP - The main stories in today's Hobart Mercury:

Page 1: Lowering the speed limit on Tasmania's rural roads is a waste of time and will
not reduce the road toll, says the state's peak motoring body. The Tasmanian mother who
swam the English Channel this month was reunited with her children in Hobart yesterday.

Page 2: Federal Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd has branded the Exclusive Brethren Christian
sect a cult and criticised Prime Minister John Howard for meeting with the group's world
leader. Olympic swimmer Brooke Hanson defended her former coach against child-sex allegations,
telling a jury he was a world-class coach and a great person.

Page 3: The scientist who alerted the world to rising sea levels, CSIRO Hobart oceanographer
John Church, has been recognised with a prestigious Eureka Prize. People smoking in cars
containing children face fines up to $2000 under new Tasmanian legislation.

World: US President George W Bush withheld support for Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki,
saying Iraqi voters could decide to replace him.

Finance: The competition watchdog says it won't oppose the takeover bid by Wesfarmers
for retailer Coles Group.

Sport: Devils defender Ben Careless will end his 88-game VFL career when he plays for
Tasmania on Saturday.

AAP ec/it

KEYWORD: MONITOR FRONTERS TAS

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

FED: Easter road toll rises to 16

AAP General News (Australia)
04-08-2007
FED: Easter road toll rises to 16

SYDNEY, April 8 AAP - The Easter road toll has risen to 16, with Western Australia
recording its first deaths this long weekend.

A 23-year-old man was killed at Esperance, on WA's south coast, about 10pm (WST) yesterday,
when he lost control of his vehicle while trying to overtake and crashed into a tree.

And at 1.20am today, a man was killed in a hit-and-run at Medina in Perth's south.

There have been six deaths in New South Wales, four in Victoria, three in Queensland
and one in the ACT.

Tasmania, South Australia and the Northern Territory remain toll free.



(EDS: AAP's Easter road toll figures are for the period 0001 April 5 to 2359 April
9. Some states and territories may have different periods.)

AAP cj/jmt/srp

KEYWORD: TOLL NATIONAL

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

NSW: Lethwaite slams NSW govt over parole opposition

AAP General News (Australia)
12-06-2006
NSW: Lethwaite slams NSW govt over parole opposition

By Simon Kirby

SYDNEY, Dec 6 AAP - Convicted child killer John Lewthwaite has accused the NSW government
of using pre-election politics to derail his chances of parole and being involved in new
charges laid against him.

Premier Morris Iemma today shrugged off the claims as "preposterous", but made no apology
for opposing any move to grant parole to Lewthwaite.

Last week police charged the 51-year-old with exposing himself to two women in Sydney's
south in January of this year.

He remains in custody after his life-long parole was revoked in September amid a public
outcry over a separate exposure charge at a southern Sydney beach, of which he was eventually
convicted and fined $1,000.

The State Parole Authority (SPA) is due to consider Lewthwaite's parole at a hearing this Friday.

In an open letter dated yesterday, published on the website of the NSW Council for
Civil Liberties (NSWCCL), Lewthwaite wrote: "My friends and my lawyer believe that this
action by police is deliberate, not because they believe I am guilty of the offence, but
as a way of keeping me in jail.

"They also think there has been political interference to keep me behind bars until
after the March election.

"Certainly the timing of this charge is very suspicious."

Mr Iemma took issue with Lewthwaite's accusations today.

"The charge has been levelled that there has been political interference - well that
is just absurd," the premier told reporters.

"There has been no interference in the court process and there will not be any."

NSWCCL President Cameron Murphy would not be drawn on whether the council supported
Lewthwaite's claims.

But he did criticise both media coverage of the story and any politicians who sought
to take advantage of inflamed public opinion.

"Certain sections of the media have portrayed the story in a certain light while politicians
and other community members have made comments that have not necessarily been appropriate
and may prejudice Mr Lewthwaite's parole hearing," Mr Murphy said.

"We believe everyone should take a step back and let the criminal justice system run
its course without interference."

In his letter, Lewthwaite wrote the latest charges were "absurd" as he was a gay man
who had never had any sexual interest in women.

The women may have recognised him from media coverage of the earlier charge, he wrote.

Lewthwaite stated he understood that he could never be forgiven for the 1974 stabbing
murder of five-year-old Nicole Hanns.

But he pointed out he had lived in anonymity for seven years since his 1999 release,
proving he was no longer a danger.

"Our justice system believes in rehabilitation and the chance of a new life (and) ...

should be allowed to work without interference," his letter said.

Comment is being sought from the SPA.

AAP sk/hn/imc/bwl

KEYWORD: LEWTHWAITE NIGHTLEAD

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

China sets fines for Net piracy

International Herald Tribune
05-30-2006
China said Monday that it would impose fines of as much as 100,000 yuan on distributors of illegally copied music, movies and other material over the Internet, a move likely to put pressure on search engines like Baidu.com.Internet service providers must give the authorities contact information for owners of sites that distribute pirated material, the State Council, China's cabinet, said in a statement dated May 18 and posted on its Web site Monday. The maximum fine is the equivalent of $12,500Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, EMI Group and Universal Music Group sued Baidu, the most-used search engine in China, last year for allowing free downloads of their music. The company, based in Beijing, offers a service allowing users to find MP3 files and may be forced to cooperate with the authorities in cracking down on illegal music sites.''Baidu will be under a lot of pressure to stop offering links to illegal MP3 files and may have to stop their MP3 search service,'' said Edward Yu, chief executive of the research company Analysys International, based in Beijing. The new rules could also cut the number of Baidu's users, he said.Calls to a Baidu spokeswoman, Cynthia He, were not returned.The government can fine individuals and companies selling equipment and technology designed to allow illegal copying, according to the rules. It can also confiscate equipment used for making and distributing pirated material.Yu said that China had repeatedly promised to crack down on illegal copying. ''China's piracy problem is an enforcement problem,'' he said. ''There have always been piracy laws.''

2006 Copyright International Herald Tribune. http://www.iht.com

PERISCOPE; Top 10 Winners and Losers

O'Dowd, Niall
Irish Voice
01-03-2006
THE year 2005 will go down as one of the most interesting of recent times.
Here's my annual eclectic list of 10 winners and losers.

Winner: Bono, named as Time magazine's Person of the Year along with Bill
Gates and his wife Melinda. It is an incredible achievement for the rock
star, whose extraordinary abilities are sometimes taken for granted. Bono
is worth the Nobel Prize, given some of the nonentities who have won it in
recent times. (Who was that woman from Honduras a few years ago?)

Loser: Colin Farrell. He's everything Bono is not, a spoiled brat who has
made bad movies recently and is constantly partying and carousing and
generally making a fool of himself. The drug addiction is just the latest
sad chapter in a tale that started off with such promise.

Winner: Frank McCourt, who ended the year atop The New York Times
bestseller list again with Teacher Man. It's an extraordinary performance
by the 75-year old Limerick native who already climbed the Olympian heights
on two other occasions.

Loser: Pierce Brosnan. I know he has said it was the best thing that
happened to him when he lost the Bond role, but the suave and dangerous
secret agent role was made for Brosnan. Best of luck with his indy career,
however.

Winner: Senators Ted Kennedy and John McCain. Their courageous immigration
bill points a way forward to give undocumented a path to legality and
finally deals with a major question confronting America.

Loser: All those other representatives and senators who played to the
gallery with draconian legislation (stopping immigration, legal and
otherwise, criminalizing the undocumented, denying citizenship to
American-born children of undocumented, deporting 11 million illegals)
rather than addressing the fundamental issues.

Winner. Tom Brady, the incredible New England quarterback who has now won
three Super Bowl trophies, despite being drafted in the sixth round.

Loser: Brian Kerr. The former Irish soccer manager failed to get his team
into the World Cup, then blamed everyone except himself.

Winner: Senator John McCain, ended the old year as by far the most popular
politician in America according to a new Zogby poll. Third party candidate
for president anyone?

Loser: President George W. Bush had the year from hell. Hurricane Katrina,
New Orleans, Iraq, wiretapping and torture etcetera. Will be hoping for
better in 2006.

Winner: Irish Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern, who spoke out boldly on behalf
of Irish undocumented on frequent trips to the states.

Loser: Irish Minister for Justice Michael McDowell, who leaked raw Gardai
(police) files to the newspapers in an attempt to discredit a journalist
Whatever happened to presumptions of innocence?

Winner: Celtic Tiger. The Irish economic boom continues uninterrupted. Long
live the Tiger!

Loser: Celtic Tiger. Everyone knows this can't keep up, but people just
keep spending and borrowing at a frantic rate.

Winner: Irish Americans, because under the new EU/U.S. agreement, there
will be many more airlines and flights to Ireland as well as new
destinations on both sides of the Atlantic in the next few years.

Losers: Irish travel agents in America whose ranks have thinned noticeably
because of the Internet booking phenomenon.

Winner: Gaelic Athletic Association in Ireland because they have opened
Croke Park up to soccer and rugby after a century long ban.

Losers: The GAA in North America as the numbers of young emigrants heading
home permanently to Ireland meant far fewer teams.

Winner: Celtic for signing the best player of his generation in Roy Keane,
even if he is a little past it.

Loser: Manchester United for bringing such an abrupt end to Keane's
magnificent career with the club. Which part of legend do they not
understand?

Article copyright Irish Tribune.
V.19;

Qld: Two bodies with cut throats found in Brisbane

AAP General News (Australia)
08-29-2005
Qld: Two bodies with cut throats found in Brisbane

BRISBANE, Aug 29 AAP - A man and a woman were found with their throats cut in a probable
double murder in Brisbane's north.

Police said they were called to a Calvary Street house in Boondall at about 1.45am
(AEST) today by a visiting relative.

The adult male and female were found in the bedroom of the house.

"It appears their throats have been slashed," a police spokeswoman said.

The house has been cordoned off as police scientific officers, scene-of-crime officers
and detectives continue to investigate.

AAP jvb/rs

KEYWORD: THROATS

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

Today | 24Library Closed: The Frankfort Public Library, 21119 S. ...

Today | 24

Library Closed: The Frankfort Public Library, 21119 S. Pfeiffer Road, will be closed today in observance of Easter. Information: (815) 534-6173 or www.frankfortlibrary.org.

Monday | 25

Orland Toastmasters: The Orland Park Toastmasters meet at 7:15 p.m. the second and fourth Mondays of the month at Brementowne Manor, 16130 S. Oak Park Ave., Tinley Park. The group meets to help members improve communication and leadership skills. Information: Ruth Miller, (708) 532-8139.

Sweet Success: The Bridge Teen Center, 15555 S. 71st Court, Orland Park, will host a free program titled "Sweet Success: Getting the Job" for students from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday. Students will learn how to find a job, how to fill out an application, basic interview skills and how to dress appropriately. Registration is required. Information: (708) 532-0500.

Weekly Bingo: The Orland Hills Senior Club offers games of bingo for seniors from noon to 2 p.m. Mondays at the Orland Hills Community Center, 16553 S. Haven Ave. The cost is $3 for cards and $1 for food. Information: (708) 349-7211.

Gym Time: The Oak Forest Park District, 15601 S. Central Ave., offers its Gym Time for Toddlers program for children ages 1 to 4 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Mondays until May 9. The cost is $9 for residents and $11 for nonresidents per class. Information: (708) 687-7270.

Zumba Fitness: Crestwood Recreation and Wellness Center, 5331 W. 135th St., offers Zumba Fitness classes from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Zumba is a fitness program that utilizes Latin rhythms. The cost is $8 per class. Information: (708) 371-4810.

Pass It On: Pass It On Thrift Center, 5435 W. 127th St., Crestwood, sells household items, clothing, toys and furniture to benefit Southwest Chicago Christian Schools from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays; from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursdays; and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. Information: (708) 824-0433.

Food Pantry: Faith United Methodist Church, in conjunction with Together We Cope and the Greater Chicago Food Depository, offers nonperishable food bags to Bremen, Orland, Palos and Worth township residents from 9 a.m. to noon Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the church, 15101 S. 80th Ave., Orland Park. Information: (708) 444-8560.

Tuesday | 26

Card Days: The Bremen Township Senior Center, 15350 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Forest, offers its Card Days program at 11 a.m. Tuesdays. Information: (708) 687-8220.

Live Theater: Emerald City Theatre will perform the play "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus" for children age 3 and older at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Frankfort Public Library, 21119 S. Pfeiffer Road. Registration is required and is open to library cardholders only. Information: (815) 534-6178.

Public Hearing: The Oak Forest City Council will hold a public hearing to present the proposed fiscal year 2011-12 budget at 8 p.m. Tuesday at Oak Forest City Hall, 15440 S. Central Ave. Information: (708) 687-4050.

Cybercafe Open: The Orland Township Cybercafe is open from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays in the technology center at 14807 S. Ravinia Ave., Orland Park. The cafe features free internet access, Microsoft Office 2010, computer assistance and complimentary coffee and snacks. Proof of residency is required. Information: (708) 403-4222 or www.orlandtwp.org.

Pub Trivia: Chicago Gaelic Park, 6119 W. 147th St., Oak Forest, hosts its Pub Trivia event at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Residents can participate in teams of up to five to answer trivia questions and win prizes. Games consists of seven rounds, with each round consisting of 10 questions. Information: (708) 687-9323 or www.chicagogaelicpark.org.

Business Connectors: The Business Connectors Chapter of Business Network International meets from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Tuesdays at Southfork Restaurant, 14631 S. LaGrange Road, Orland Park. Reservations are required. Information: Vince Krydynski, (708) 478-5818.

Enrollment Applications: St. Damian School, 5300 W. 155th St., Oak Forest, is accepting applications for enrollment for students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. Information: (708) 687-4230.

Wednesday | 27

Historical Society: The Tinley Park Historical Society and Museum, 6727 W. 174th St., is open from 1 to 3 p.m. the first Sunday of the month and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays. The museum offers exhibit tours and more. There is no admission fee. Information: (708) 429-4210.

Wellness Wednesday: Orland Township will offer its Wellness Wednesday event from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Orland Township Activity Center, 14807 S. Ravinia Ave., Orland Park. The event will feature blood pressure and blood sugar checks as well as basic cholesterol screenings. Appointments are required. Information: (708) 403-4222.

Literacy Workshop: Moraine Valley Community College hosts a literacy workshop from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays at the Acorn Public Library, 15624 S. Central Ave., Oak Forest. Information: (708) 687-3700 or www.acornlibrary.org.

Food Pantry: The food pantry at Tinley Park United Methodist Church, 6875 W. 173rd Place, is open from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesdays for residents of Tinley Park and Orland Hills only. Residents must sign in by 1:30 p.m. in order to be served. Information: (708) 532-2960.

Awana Club: Christian Hills Church, 9001 W. 159th St., Orland Hills, holds its Awana Club for children in third through sixth grades at 7 p.m. Wednesdays. Kids will be able to participate in games, activities and awards. Information: (708) 349-0777.

Thursday | 28

Herb Guild: Southernwood Herb Guild meets at 7 p.m. the fourth Thursday of the month at the Founders Center, 140 Oak St., Frankfort. Information: (815) 469-4637.

Vintage Celebrations: Homer Township Public Library, 14320 W. 151st St., Homer Glen, will host "Vintage Celebrations: A Scrap-Cookbook" at 7 p.m. Thursday. Participants will make scrapbook pages that could be part of a gift album. Attendees should bring eight to 10 pictures. Registration is required. Information: (708) 301-7908 or www.homerlibrary.org.

'Nunset Boulevard': Orland Township will host a trip to Munster, Ind. to see the musical "Nunset Boulevard" from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Tickets are $60 for residents and $65 for nonresidents and include transportation to the theater, the performance and a lunch buffet. Information: (708) 403-4222 or www.orlandtwp.org.

Board Meeting: The Frankfort Public Library board meets at 7 p.m. the fourth Thursday of the month in the meeting room at the library, 21119 S. Pfeiffer Road. Information: (815) 534-6178 or www.frankfortlibrary.org.

Home Educators: Christian Home Educators of the South Suburbs meets at 7 p.m. the fourth Thursday of the month at CrossRoads Community Church, 1501 Gougar Road, New Lenox. Information: (815) 462-9065.

Explorers Club: Crestwood Public Library, 4955 W. 135th St., hosts its Explorers Book Club for children in second through fourth grades at 3:30 p.m. the second and fourth Thursdays of the month. Children read and discuss books in a small group and take part in activities related to the book. Information: (708) 371-4090 or www.crestwoodlibrary.org.

Senior Yoga: Tinley Park Public Library, 7851 Timber Drive, offers its Senior Yoga program from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. the second and fourth Thursdays of the month until May 26. The cost is $3 per class, and registration is required. Information: (708) 532-0160, Ext. 3.

Kids Club: The Cancer Support Center, 19250 Everett Lane, Mokena, offers its Kids Club from 4 to 5 p.m. Thursdays. The group is for children age 12 and younger who have a loved one with cancer, who have cancer themselves or who have lost someone to cancer. Supplies and snacks will be provided. The group is sponsored by the Chicago FireWorks for Kids Foundation. Registration is required. Information: (708) 478-3529.

Business Network: The Connection Network Chapter of Business Network International meets from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Thursdays at Golden Oak Restaurant and Waffle House, 19845 S. LaGrange Road, Mokena. Information: (708) 508-2828.

Drop-in Craft: Manhattan Public Library, 240 Whitson St., offers a drop-in craft day from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursdays. Registration is not required. Information: (815) 478-3987.

Rotary Club: The Tinley Park-Frankfort Rotary Club meets at 7:15 a.m. Thursdays at Lincoln-Way North High School, 19900 S. Harlem Ave., Frankfort.

Friday | 29

Ballroom Dancing: Legacy Dance Studio, 14814 S. Cicero Ave., Oak Forest, offers tap, ballet, hip-hop, jazz and other dance classes for residents age 2 and older. The studio also offers adult ballroom dancing at 8 p.m. Fridays. Information: (708) 535-1300 or www.legacydancing.com.

Date Night: The Frankfort Park District will host its Mother/Son Date Night from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday at the Founders Community Center, 140 W. Oak St. The event will feature a DJ and dancing. The cost is $9 for residents and $12 for nonresidents. Registration is required. Information: (815) 469-9400 or www.frankfortparks.org.

Knitting Group: Mokena Public Library, 11327 W. 195th St., holds a knitting group for participants of all ages and skill levels from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Fridays. Information: (708) 479-9663 or www.mokena.lib.il.us.

Center Rental: The Founders Center, 140 Oak St., Frankfort, is available for rent. Contact the Frankfort Park District for fees. Information: (815) 469-9400 or www.frankfortparks.org.

Bingo Fridays: The Bremen Township Senior Center, 15350 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Forest, offers games of bingo at 9 a.m. Fridays. Coffee and sweets will be served. The cost per card is 50 cents. Information: (708) 687-8220.

Travel Hour: The Orland Hills Senior Club hosts its Travel Hour event for seniors age 55 and older from noon to 2 p.m. Fridays at the Orland Hills Community Center, 16553 S. Haven Ave. Participants take virtual trips to countries or states and make foods and crafts associated with each location. Registration is required one week in advance. Information: (708) 349-7211.

Saturday | 30

Al-Anon Group: The Lockport Al-Anon Group meets at 6 p.m. Saturdays in the Stalzer Room at the St. Dennis Parish Center, 1214 Hamilton St. Al-Anon is a 12-step group for families and friends who have been affected by alcoholism. Attendees should enter the parking lot from Washington Street. There are no dues or fees for membership, and meetings are confidential.

Health Fair: The village of Orland Park will host its Fit For Life Family Health Fair from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Sportsplex, 11351 W. 159th St. The fair will feature free screenings and information on health issues such as asthma, depression, balance, blood pressure, bone density, body mass index, flexibility and more. Information: (708) 645-7529.

Kite Fly: The Oak Forest Park District will host is annual Family Style Kite Fly from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at Jesk Park, 15500 S. Ridgeland Ave. Participants will be able to make and fly their own kites. Kite supplies will be provided. Concessions will be available. Information: (708) 687-7270.

Mothers' Teacup: The Mokena Park District will offer its Mother's Day Teacup class for children ages 8 to 12 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the Cady Craft Room, 10925 S. LaPorte Road, Mokena. Children will make teacups for their mothers. The cost is $18 for residents; nonresidents will pay an additional fee. Registration is required. Information: (708) 390-2401 or www.mokenapark.com.

Take-Back Day: Associated Counseling and the Midlothian Police Department's Community Services division will participate in National Take-Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in the parking lot of the police department, 14801 S. Pulaski Road. Participants will be able to get rid of expired, unwanted or unused pharmaceutical controlled substances and other medications. Information: (708) 385-2534.

Handwriting Analysis: Chris McBrien, a handwriting analyst and professional entertainer, will discuss graphology, which is the art of handwriting analysis, from 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday at Mokena Public Library, 11327 W. 195th St. The program is free, and registration is not required. Information: (708) 479-9663 or www.mokena.lib.il.us.

Center for Rent: The Oak Forest Community Center, 15501 S. Kilpatrick Ave., is available for use by families and organizations. Requests to rent the facility will be accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis. Rental procedures and an application form are available at www.oakforest.org. Information: Jim Richmond, (708) 687-4050, Ext. 1005 or jrichmond@oak-forest.org.

Shredding Event: The Friends of the Tinley Park Public Library will host a Shredding Event from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the library, 7851 Timber Drive. Participants can bring a maximum of two standard-sized paper boxes filled with sensitive papers to be shredded. Information: (708) 532-0160, Ext. 3 or www.tplibrary.org.

Mother/Daughter Banquet: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 295 Sauk Trail, Frankfort, will host its Mother/Daughter Banquet from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. The cost is $5 per person and includes lunch, entertainment, prizes and a photo. Information: Linda Sangmeister, (708) 987-0194 or www.goodshepherdfrankfort.org.

Bright Starts: Orland Park Public Library, 14921 S. Ravinia Ave., holds its Bright Starts Story program from 10 to 10:30 a.m. Saturdays for children of all ages. Registration not required. Children with Orland Park Public Library cards will be given priority. Information: (708) 428-5127 or www.orlandparklibrary.com.

Sunday | 1

Lincoln Exhibit: "Forever Free: Abraham Lincoln's Journey to Emancipation," a national traveling exhibition that focuses on Lincoln's quest to restore a Union divided by Civil War, will be on display from May 1 to June 12 at the Frankfort Public Library, 21119 S. Pfeiffer Road. Information: (815) 534-6173 or www.frankfortlibrary.org.

Remembering Mom: Heartland Hospice will host its "Remembering Mom Sunday Tea" from 2 to 4 p.m. May 1 at Hope Covenant Church, 14401 West Ave., Orland Park. Participants can bring a picture of their mother and will be able to share a favorite memory of her. Registration is required. Information: Beverly Raatjes, (815) 469-7100.

Monday | 2

Ladies Auxiliary: The Harry E. Anderson VFW Post 9545 Ladies Auxiliary meets at 7 p.m. the first Monday of the month at the post, 323 Old Hickory Road, New Lenox. Information: (815) 485-8369.

Walker School in Tinley Park recently hosted its annual Scholastic Book Fair. The hot book this year was "Radiance" by Alyson Noel. | Supplied photoThe Tinley Park High School World Language Club recently collected shoes for Share Your Soles. Pictured are students (from left) Kaytlyn Johnson, Angelica Lafemina, Delilah Betouni and Christa Pavlick. | Supplied photo

Fact Box: How to contact usSend your press releases to communitynews@southtownstar.comFor questions regarding community news submissions, call Jason Freeman at (708) 802-8808. We require two weeks notice before an event.

Lowe's Companies, Inc. Invites You to Join Its Fourth Quarter & Year End 2001 Earnings Results Conference Call on the Web.

WILKESBORO, N.C. -- In conjunction with Lowe's Companies, Inc. Fourth Quarter & Year End 2001 earnings press release, you are invited to listen to its conference call that will be broadcast live over the Internet on Monday, February 25, 2002, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time with: Robert L. Tillman, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer; and Robert A. Niblock, executive vice president and chief financial officer, of Lowe's Companies, Inc.

   What:      Fourth Quarter & Year End 2001 Earnings Release   When:      9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Monday, February 25, 2002   Where:     http://www.lowes.com              Click on About Lowe's              Click on Investor Information              Click on Shareholder Services, Calendar of Events   How:       Live over the Internet -- Simply log on to the web at the              address above or dial (719) 457-2633 (confirmation code              728009).   Contact:   Paul Taaffe (336) 658-5239 

With 2000 sales of $18.8 billion, Lowe's Companies, Inc. is the world's second largest home improvement retailer. Headquartered in Wilkesboro, N.C., Lowe's is the 14th largest retailer in the U.S. as well as the 30th largest retailer worldwide. Lowe's and its 100,000 employees are Improving Home Improvement for over six million do-it-yourself retail and commercial business customers each week at more than 740 stores in 42 states. For more information, visit lowes.com.

A webcast replay of the call will be available and can be accessed by visiting http://www.lowes.com/, clicking on About Lowe's, Investor Information, Shareholder Services, Calendar of Events. The webcast replay will begin at 12:00 Noon on February 25, 2002, and will be available for 7 days. A replay of the conference call is scheduled to begin at 12:00 Noon February 25, 2002 and will be available until February 26, 2002, at 12:00 midnight. To hear the replay dial 719-457-0820 (confirmation code 728009).

(Minimum Requirements to listen to broadcast: The Windows Media Player software, downloadable free from http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/EN/default.asp, and at least a 28.8 Kbps connection to the Internet. If you experience problems listening to the broadcast, send an email to isproducers@prnewswire.com.)

MAKE YOUR OPINION COUNT - Click Here

http://tbutton.prnewswire.com/prn/11690X87544672

Contact: Paul Taaffe of Lowe's Companies, Inc., +1-336-658-5239

Website: http://www.lowes.com/

Hispanic Broadcasting Firm's Workers Enjoy New Digs in Coral Gables, Fla.(Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News)

Jan. 4--For the employees of Hispanic Broadcasting Corp., which owns four local Spanish-language radio stations, the move from their old bursting-at-the-seams studios on Coral Way to their new digs in Coral Gables is like a move into the modern world.

"The Coral Way studio was like Cuba, and this is like America," enthused Augustin Tamargo, a veteran broadcaster on Radio Mambi (WAQI-710 AM). Tamargo began his journalism career in Puerto Padre, Cuba, before the 1959 revolution.

The four HBC stations -- WAQI, WRTO-Salsa 98.3 FM, WQBA-1140 AM, and WAMR Amor 107.5 FM -- were jammed into a building intended for just two radio stations at 2828 Coral Way. Now the stations and 150 employees are housed on a single floor with studio windows that look out on Calle Ocho -- the Main Street of Miami's Little Havana.

Not only are the new facilities, which sit at the corner of Calle Ocho and Galiano Avenue, more spacious, but everything -- including the furniture and all the radio equipment -- is new.

The move, which took 2-1/2 years to plan and cost more than $3 million, is an affirmation of HBC's commitment to the Miami market.

Dallas-based HBC, which has been on an acquisition binge in recent years and now owns or programs 48 radio stations in 13 top Hispanic markets, entered the Miami market in 1994 with the purchase of two Spanish-language radio stations (WQBA AM and FM).

HBC (then known as Heftel Broadcasting Corp.) followed up a year later with the acquisition of Radio Mambi and an FM music station then known as WRTO Radio Ritmo.

At the new broadcast facility, there are backup studios where guests wait to go on the air and additional production suites. Software for computer editing has been updated and all record-keeping has been computerized. Promotional products and materials for HBC's annual Three Kings Day Parade (on Sunday with Heat star Alonzo Mourning as grand marshal) that were once spread over three warehouses are all housed in one place.

"After the last few years in the old studios, this place feels like heaven. We just could not fit," said Claudia Puig, general manager of HBC's four Miami stations. Space was so tight at Coral Way, "we even converted a closet to an office," she said.

One thing the old studios didn't lack was plenty of character, and they have long figured heavily in Miami's political lore.

Last September, just before HBC began moving, two local politicians -- Rep. Renier Diaz de la Portilla, R-Westchester, and Rep. Carlos Lacasa, R-Miami -- traded punches outside the Coral Way facility -- after Diaz de la Portilla took offense at remarks made by Armando LaCasa -- father of the state representative -- on the Marta Flores show on Radio Mambi.

Mambi consistently ranks among the top-rated AM stations in the local market. So many listeners called 911 after Flores mentioned the battle on the air that Miami's emergency response system crashed.

When there's a crisis in Miami's Cuban community or money needs to be raised to help hurricane victims in the Caribbean or to bury a penniless rafter, the local Spanish-speaking community doesn't hesitate to turn to HBC's Miami radio stations. Listeners have often come directly to the stations at moments of high emotion.

While executives hope the Miami stations will continue to be the voice of the community, security has definitely been stepped up at HBC's new Calle Ocho home. Now it takes a plastic passcard to get inside the studios.

The new HBC Miami headquarters is both bomb-proof and hurricane-proof. In fact, during its first incarnation it was Miami's Federal Reserve building. The old vault doors are now part of the decor, and there's still a shooting range in the basement.

But inside the reconfigured Fed building, the radio equipment is now state-of-the-art and has helped move HBC's Miami stations into the Internet era. In December, the Miami stations launched a local version of netmio.com, HBC's network of Hispanic community-oriented bilingual websites.

Netmio.com features community news, webcasts, news about each station's broadcasters and programming and free e-mail. HBC's fifth Miami online radio offering is Radio Mikimbin -- a station than can only be heard via the Internet.

"We really think the Internet complements radio, but we've taken it slowly so we can do it right," Puig said. "Netmio.com goes beyond our radio products. Not only can an Internet user see an artist being interviewed during a webcast, but Netmio is a source of local information, like a city guide."

Netmio.com has helped expand the Miami stations' listening audience well beyond the range of its antennas and what might be considered prime listening territory for Spanish-language radio.

"Amor (Spanish-language talk/music format) is the most visited site," said Nelson Albareda, HBC's marketing and public relations director in Miami. "Now an announcer might get an e-mail while he's on-air from someone who is listening to the webcast in Tennessee."

Amor's popular morning show -- Desayuno Musical, hosted by Javier Romero and Osvaldo Vega -- slipped to second place during Arbitron's summer survey of the Miami-Fort Lauderdale market, but October and November ratings showed it once again atop the morning drive-time heap with 8.4 and 8.2 percent of the radio audience age 25 to 54.

"The morning show is doing great again. The toughest thing is not getting there, but maintaining top market share," Puig said. "The chemistry between Javier and Osvaldo is at an all-time high."

Another reason for the uptick, she said, is that HBC has started to test its own promotions before airing them. "Our last Javier and Osvaldo commercial got a really good response," she said.

To see more of The Miami Herald, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.herald.com

(c) 2001, The Miami Herald. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

Novient names Dave Keil as Executive Vice President Of Corporate Strategy and Business Development.

Premier Industry Analyst Further Strengthens Novient's Executive Team

ATLANTA, Feb. 23 /PRNewswire/ --

Novient, the global leader in Services Automation solutions, has named Dave Keil executive vice president of corporate strategy and business development. Most recently, Keil served as managing director and senior equity analyst at The Robinson-Humphrey Company LLC, a subsidiary of Solomon Smith Barney. While at Robinson-Humphrey, Keil was responsible for the Computer Software and Services practice and was nationally recognized as one of the premier analysts in that sector. At Robinson-Humphrey, Keil had been ranked by the Wall Street Journal as the number one analyst nationwide in the Computer Software and Services space.

For the past 15 years Keil has been intimately involved in the Consulting and Software industries. Since 1995, he was an analyst for over 20 public equity offerings including Initial Public Offerings for AnswerThink Consulting Group, AppNet Systems, Computer Management Sciences, Harbinger, Xpedior, as well as recent secondary offerings for iXL and US Internetworking.

Prior to his years as an analyst, Keil honed his marketing expertise with two enterprise software companies, including positions as product manager with Dun & Bradstreet Software and director of product marketing with TSW International. Formerly, Keil was a consultant with Bain and Company, a leading strategy consulting firm. He received his undergraduate degree from Brown University, and holds a MBA from the Wharton School of Business. "I had a strong desire to leverage my skills within a leading solutions organization," said Keil. "At Robinson-Humphrey, I had the opportunity to become familiar with hundreds of private companies in the areas of Internet Consulting, Enterprise Software, and Internet Infrastructure Software. Novient's combination of product breadth, vision, customer base and management team is superior to any I've evaluated."

"Dave's expertise in the Services industry, together with his stature and proven proficiency in software and financial markets, will help Novient continue its dominance of the PSA industry in 2000 and beyond." said Mark Kopcha, Novient chief executive officer and co-founder. "Dave's talent and contacts will allow us to form additional strategic partnerships and business alliances that will greatly benefit our customers, our prospects, and our company." Dan Beldy, a partner with Hummer Winblad Venture Partners and Novient board advisor added, "clearly, the world's leading PSA provider will benefit considerably by adding the top analyst in the Software and Services industry. Dave's addition helps significantly fortify Novient's already strong executive team. His presence will simply help them execute even faster and greatly accelerate the company's growth. Halsey Wise, Novient's president concluded, "Dave is smart, well-connected and can run. In a business environment where speed is absolutely critical, we've gained a tremendous asset."

About Novient

Founded in 1995, Novient, Inc. (http://www.novient.com ) is the leading, global provider of 100% Web-based Business-to-Business (B2B) Services Automation solutions used by leading services organizations and their communities worldwide. Novient delivers the most advanced Professional Services Automation (PSA) solution in the industry and provides a proven formula to optimize the business results their clients receive from their services organization. Using patent-pending Powered by Novient technology, Novient provides clients with their own internal services portal and the ability to establish an external collaborative B2B services exchange with their partners and customers.

Novient's 100% Web-based solution enables professional services companies, embedded services organizations, and systems integrators to automate and optimize management of their intellectual capital, engagements, alliances, and customers. Used by more than 50,000 consultants in 32 countries, Novient provides the only industry-proven PSA solution. Representative global customers include SAP-AG Worldwide and its partner network, Policy Management Systems Corporation, Hewlett Packard Corporation, Siemens-Nixdorf Information Services, Hyperion Solutions Corporation, and Harbinger Corporation.

Novient and Novient eServices is a trademark of Novient, Inc.

Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

magicJack VocalTec Expects to Earn Over $2.00 GAAP EPS in 2012 with Revenue Growing 20% from 2011 to 2012.

The company expects Q2 2011 revenue of $28.5M to $29.5M and EPS of $0.28 to $0.30 per share

Dan Borislow speaking at the Canaccord Genuity Growth Conference today and the Oppenheimer's 14(th) Annual Technology & Communications Conference on August 10

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. & NETANYA, Israel -- magicJack VocalTec, Ltd. (Nasdaq: CALL), the company that invented voice over IP (VoIP) and sold over eight million magicJacks[R], will release two revolutionary new products/services, magicJack PLUS[TM] and magicJack APP[TM] for Apple products and the PC on September 6, 2011.

Financial expectations include the following items: The company expects to raise its renewal rates to $29.95 by the end of this year. When enacted and coupled with its new products and service offerings, the company expects that this will enhance its bottom line (net income). The company will have increased sales for Q3 2011 compared to Q2 2011. Since the company primarily records revenue over the life of the product or service sale, the GAAP revenue will decrease from Q2 2011 to Q3 2011 as the deferred revenue for these sales increases. Q1 2012 will be the first quarter that sees the full effects of these changes and introduction of new products and services. This will include our pro rated revenue from a complete three months of stocking the retailers' shelves with the new magicJack PLUS from Q4. The magicJack PLUS and its renewal price will have much greater margins than the original magicJack and its annual fee. The company will also see more revenue from the magicJack APPs in 2012. The projections for revenue growth are after the discontinuance of certain merger-related unprofitable businesses.

The company will continue its successful buyback program with the potential to increase it as it earns more money and cash flow becomes greater.

The company expects the addition of magicJack PLUS and magicJack APP to bode well for the future of the company. The new products and services will expand magicJack VocalTec's customer base through wider consumer acceptance and increased applicability for small businesses. The future product lifecycle of these new products and services is expected to last for a number of years, particularly as the company will be taking a modular approach to adding features instead of replacing whole products. By the end of Q4 2011, management would not be surprised to see a GAAP run rate EPS of over $0.40 per quarter. If the company grows faster than expected, this may negatively affect income results short term.

The magicJackPLUS, the newest blockbuster in the company's line-up of VoIP products has had rave reviews and the response has been terrific from others in the industry who are using it. The newest magicJack gives customers the option, for the first time, to use it without a computer or to plug it into a computer like the original magicJack. Free of the computer, users simply plug the USB side of the magicJack PLUS into the supplied power adaptor and then connect the other side of the device to their router/switch via the supplied Ethernet cord. Either way, customers will be talking on their phone within seconds of taking the magicJack PLUS out of the package.

The magicJack PLUS will have new features including number porting and the ability to set up hunting groups for small businesses. The magicJack PLUS contains only one chip and is a computer and a system on a chip. The latest chip the company built performs over 14 different functions and contains an ARM processor. The company expects to have important patents related to its magicJack PLUS. With the newly added number porting feature, customers may port their old number from another phone company or their existing magicJack number to this new product. magicJack PLUS is also designed to offer triple play services to customers. magicJack will not only build a pluggable, inexpensive Wi-Fi module to eliminate the need to plug into a router, but could also use a 4G module. This 4G module may enable magicJack PLUS to act as an Internet provider and a video on demand provider, hence the triple play. Using the magicJack PLUS as your internet provider, you can simply plug in your existing switch/router or use the future Wi-Fi capability built into the 4G module, eliminating any need for a switch/router in your home while numerous computers can take advantage of the 4G access. The company can envision in the future charging less than $90 per year to offer high speed Internet access and free phone service, with the ability to use it when you travel too.

CEO Dan Borislow will present at the Canaccord Genuity Growth Conference on today, August 9, 2011, at 4:00 p.m. EDT in the London Room at the Intercontinental Hotel Boston. Borislow will also speak at the Oppenheimer 14th Annual Technology & Communications Conference tomorrow, August 10, 2011, at 8:15 a.m. EDT in Salon B of the Four Seasons Hotel Boston.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, contained in this press release, including statements about our projected revenues, cash flows, strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management, are forward-looking statements. Many factors could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, among other things: changes to our business resulting from increased competition; any operational or cultural difficulties associated with the integration of the businesses of VocalTec and YMax; potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the announcement or completion of the merger; unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the merger; the ability of the combined company to achieve the estimated potential synergies or the longer time it may take, and increased costs required, to achieve those synergies; our ability to develop, introduce and market innovative products, services and applications; our customer turnover rate and our customer acceptance rate; changes in general economic, business, political and regulatory conditions; availability and costs associated with operating our network; potential liability resulting from pending or future litigation, or from changes in the laws, regulations or policies; the degree of legal protection afforded to our products; changes in the composition or restructuring of us or our subsidiaries and the successful completion of acquisitions, divestitures and joint venture activities; and the various other factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of the Forms 6-K and 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such factors, among others, could have a material adverse effect upon our business, results of operations and financial condition. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

magicJack is a registered trademark of magicJack VocalTec Ltd. All other product or company names mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

About magicJack VocalTec Ltd.

magicJack VocalTec Ltd. (Nasdaq: CALL), the inventor of VoIP including the softphone and magicJack, has the goal of becoming the leading international provider of global voice over many platforms. The company has achieved sales of over eight million of the easy-to-use, award-winning magicJack since the device's launch in 2008, and has the use of over 30 patents, some dating to when the company invented VoIP. It is the largest reaching CLEC (Competitive Local Exchange Carrier) in the United States in terms of area codes available and certification in number of states, and the network has historically had uptime of over 99.99 percent.

-Santander website not compatible with IE9.

Global Banking News-July 1, 2011--Santander website not compatible with IE9(C)2011 ENPublishing - http://www.enpublishing.co.uk

Global Banking News - 01 July 2011

Users have pointed out that the website of Spain-based Banco Santander (SAN.MC) is not compatible with Internet Explorer 9.

Even though the browser was launched in March, the bank's site was not supporting it. Analysts are of the opinion that since IE9 was not being supported at the site, users would have to use older browsers that could compromise security.

It is believed that the bank replied to the complaint as follows, 'Unfortunately our internet banking website is not fully compatible with Internet Explorer 9 and there are no current plans to make any modifications.'

[Editorial queries for this story should be sent to gbn@enpublishing.co.uk]

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

Research and Markets: Wireless Broadband in Public Safety: Advanced Technologies and the Global Market (2010-2015).

M2 PRESSWIRE-June 13, 2011-: Research and Markets: Wireless Broadband in Public Safety: Advanced Technologies and the Global Market (2010-2015)(C)1994-2011 M2 COMMUNICATIONS

RDATE:13062011

Dublin - Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/c45fbf/wireless_broadband) has announced the addition of the "Wireless Broadband in Public Safety: Advanced Technologies and the Global Market (2010-2015)" report to their offering.

Wireless broadband technology, in its various forms, is getting popular, driven by its applications in public safety, transportation, and utility industries. The sector had earlier experienced problems due to unreliable equipment and faulty network designs, but these have been taken care of with improvements in infrastructure and advanced network technologies.

With increasing terrorism across the globe and unanticipated natural disasters over the last decade, the public safety application segment has emerged as a key market for the wireless broadband technology providers. Growth in the implementation of city-wide and municipal wireless broadband services is driving innovations worth billions of dollars, and is expected to scale new heights within the next five years; benefiting ISPs (internet service providers), mobile device, and infrastructure developers.

Developments during the next three to six years are expected to be crucial for wireless broadband technologies. Analog television spectrum is likely to be cleared by most countries and auctioned off to mobile broadband operators. In line with the U.S., these spectrums are likely to be used in public safety applications in many countries. The usage of satellite technology in public safety is gaining momentum as there is a growing need for integration and effective collaboration among public safety institutions and advanced navigation and information system; especially in remote locations.

This report provides extensive analysis of wireless broadband in the public safety market including current market trends, industry drivers, and challenges for a better understanding of the market. This report covers the strategies followed by wireless broadband in public safety market players.

Introduction & Market Overview

These sections discuss the market definitions of wireless broadband in the public safety market by technology & infrastructure, equipments & devices, and services. They also discuss the way the market is segmented and the methodology and assumptions considered for forecasting revenues. The winning imperatives, along with the burning issues in the market are covered. Drivers, restraints, and opportunities for wireless broadband in public safety market by infrastructure, end-user devices, and services have also been covered in this section.

Market segmentation

This research report categorizes the global market for wireless broadband in public safety into the following submarkets:

- On the basis of network technologies

- On the basis of devices

- On the basis of Services

- On the basis of Wireless Broadband Public Safety Applications

- On the basis of Geography

This section provides a brief overview of all the geographies pertaining to wireless broadband in the public safety market; it covers the trends prevailing in each geography which are impacting the overall wireless broadband in public safety market by governance level market in that particular geography.

Company Profiles

This section provides company profiles of major companies participating in the wireless broadband in public safety market". Company profiles include a brief overview of the company, primary business, financial overview, strategies followed, and developments.

What makes our report unique?

A strong heritage of providing cutting-edge research:

The unique research methodology and expert analytical capabilities will provide you the tools to apply the best marketing practices to your financial institution.

Ensure that your strategy is viable:

This study will help you examine the length and breadth of possibilities you may encounter when planning future strategies and product launches. It will help you create plans that are resilient enough to meet the full range of unanticipated events.

Discover new opportunities:

This market research study will forecast the future roles, uses, and acceptances of new products, services, and applications emerging in the marketplace. It will identify opportunities where companies can get a leg up on the competition.

Key questions answered

- What are the major wireless broadband (WB) technologies used for public safety such as WiMAX, Wi-Fi, Long Term Evolution (LTE)?

- What are the key application areas of wireless broadband for public safety?

- What are the major trends that influence the wireless broadband in public safety markets at the macro and micro level and track geography specific trends?

- What are the winning imperatives, key burning issues, and opportunities present in the market?

- What are the factors which will drive the wireless broadband technologies into public safety domain by infrastructure, equipments & devices, and services" and its various sub-segments?

- What factors are inhibiting wireless broadband technologies into public safety domain by infrastructure, equipments & devices, and services market?

- What is the market size and forecast (2010-2020) of wireless broadband technologies into public safety domain by infrastructure, equipments & devices, and services market?

- What are the trends prevailing in each geography?

- How is the competitive outlook and who are the major players?

Key Topics Covered:

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 KEY TAKE-AWAYS

1.2 REPORT DESCRIPTION

1.3 MARKETS COVERED

1.4 STAKEHOLDERS

1.5 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

1.6 FORECAST ASSUMPTIONS

1.7 KEY DEFINITION

2 SUMMARY

3 MARKET OVERVIEW

3.1 KEY FINDINGS

3.2 EVOLUTION OF WB TECHNOLOGIES

3.3 WB VALUE SYSTEM FOR PUBLIC SAFETY

3.4 WINNING IMPERATIVES

3.5 BURNING ISSUES

3.6 MARKET DYNAMICS

3.7 ANALYSIS OF TOP TEN PLAYERS

3.8 TOTAL ADDRESSABLE MARKET ANALYSIS

3.9 PATENT ANALYSIS

4 MARKET SEGMENTATION

4.1 WB IN PUBLIC SAFETY NETWORK TECHNOLOGY MARKET

4.2 WB PUBLIC SAFETY DEVICES & EQUIPMENT MARKET

4.3 WB PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES MARKET

5 WIRELESS BROADBAND ADOPTION ASSESSMENT

5.1 PHASE I: WB ADOPTION IN PUBLIC SAFETY

5.2 PHASE II - WB USAGE FOR OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICES

6 PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS & POTENTIAL BUSINESS MODELS

6.1 CAPEX MODEL

6.2 MANAGED MODEL

6.3 HOSTED MODEL

7 WIRELESS BROADBAND IN PUBLIC SAFETY APPLICATIONS

7.1 INCIDENT SCENE MANAGEMENT

7.2 PERSONNEL SAFETY & LOCATION

7.3 VIDEO SURVEILLANCE

7.4 AUTOMATED VEHICLE LOCATING

7.5 EMERGENCY MEDICAL TELEMETRY

7.6 GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS

7.7 MOBILE VPN ACCESS

7.8 WORKFORCE COLLABORATION

7.9 DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT & RETRIEVAL

8 COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

8.1 MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

8.2 AGREEMENTS & COLLABORATIONS

8.3 NEW PRODUCTS/SERVICES LAUNCH

9 COMPANY PROFILES

Companies Mentioned:

- ALCATEL-LUCENT

- ALVARION LTD.

- AT&T INC.

- BELAIR NETWORKS INC.

- CISCO SYSTEM INC.

- EADS NV

- ERICSSON

- FIRETIDE INC.

- HARRIS CORP

- IBM CORP

- INMARSAT PLC.

- INTELSAT

- IPWIRELESS INC.

- IRIDIUM COMMUNICATIONS INC.

- LOCKHEED MARTIN CORP

- MESHDYNAMICS

- MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS INC.

- NETMOTION WIRELESS INC.

- NOKIA SIEMENS NETWORKS

- NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORP

- SRI DIRECT TECHNOLOGY (PACKETHOP)

- TATA ADVANCED SYSTEMS LTD.

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/c45fbf/wireless_broadband

CONTACT:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager,

press@researchandmarkets.com

U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

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

No capital? No inventory? No website?(Wealth)

* No Problem!

Although Mark Ostrofsky is known as the "technology wildcatter," he says, "I am not technical. I have never, ever created a website." So how is it that he's earned tens of millions of dollars online?

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

"Making money on the Internet is a learned skill," says Ostrofsky, author of Get Rich Click. You can live it and learn it from your own experience, but I find it's so much less costly to learn from others' experiences and try to then minimize my mistakes. Learning is the key to success in any business."

Some of the advice he offers is counterintuitive. For example, most people think if they're going to sell a product on eBay they must have the product in hand first. That's not necessarily the case. Here's an alternative, potentially more profitable approach Ostrofsky teaches newbies who want to use this mega-site's selling power:

* Get a phone with a digital camera or get a digital camera.

* Take photos of anything you think you might be able to sell on eBay or another site.

* Post that item for sale, put in a starting point with a small profit built in as a minimum price. Be sure to include shipping costs in the price as well.

* Post 10, 30, 100 different photos online. Some of them will undoubtedly sell.

Collect the money from the buyer and then go buy the product and fulfill the orders.

"There are people who do this for a living on eBay; they even use the same photo over and over. If they sell enough of a product, they can often get the supplier to mail it for them so they don't even have to handle the shipping," Ostrofsky says.

Even if you have no interest in selling products on eBay, Ostrofsky still offers a lesson: With a little creativity and know-how, it's possible to build real wealth an the Web.

"I've lived an extraordinary life, not because of my father's money but because of the exemplary life he's lived as an example to me."

--Peter Buffett, musician, composer, author and producer, about his investor-father, Warren Buffett