Thousands make claims for bushfire losses

AAP General News (Australia)
02-17-2009
Thousands make claims for bushfire losses

MELBOURNE, Feb 17 AAP - Insurance companies have received more than 5,000 claims relating
to the devastating Victorian bushfires.

A statement from the Insurance Council of Australia said about 1,300 of the claims
were for total loss of property.

Ten per cent of the claims were for motor vehicles and about 90 per cent were for building
contents.

"The Insurance Council encourages all policyholders to contact their insurers as a
matter of priority," said council chief Kerrie Kelly.

More than 1,800 homes are believed to have been destroyed by the bushfires, which also
killed at least 200 people.

Council spokesman Sean Sampson said as more people were able to get access to their
properties, he expected the number of insurance claims would rise further.

AAP xlc/pmu/apm

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES VIC INSURE

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

BOOMZ TERMINATED ON SOME OPERATING PLATFORMS

AsiaInfo Services
07-07-2011
Boomz Terminated on Some Operating Platforms

SHANGHAI, Jul 07, 2011 (SinoCast Daily Business Beat via COMTEX) -- It is disclosed that the game Boomz may have or will be stopped operation on platforms of tianya.cn and 9you.com. However, the operation of this game is normal on baidu.com and renren.com.

Tianya.cn claimed on July 5 to stop the operation of the Boomz, because they received the notice from 7road, the developer of the game, an insider of tianya.cn disclosed. 9you.com said that they stopped the cooperation because the contract will soon expire.

An analyst pointed out that the conflict may arise from the unbalance of profits between the game developer and those platform operators. As a matter of fact, this is common in online game business. For instance, some community portals and online social game developers have agreed that the former enjoy 52% of the total profits while the latter enjoy the rest. This can even be 80%-to-20% in case that the game operator is superior.

Source: www.nbd.com.cn (July 07, 2011)

KEYWORD: SHANGHAI INDUSTRY KEYWORD: Internet & Online Services & Media SUBJECT CODE: Internet & Online Services
Portal Software
SinoCast China Business Daily news
Boomz
platform
game developer
profit
conflict
contract

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

FED:Wong urges banks to pass on rate cut=3

AAP General News (Australia)
12-07-2011
FED:Wong urges banks to pass on rate cut=3

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says Mr Swan should ensure the big four banks to pass
on rate cut in full.

"Wayne Swan keeps telling the banks that they should pass interest rate cuts on in
full and pretty consistently they thumb their nose at him," he told ABC Radio on Wednesday.

"(The banks) should be passing on rate cuts in full.

"That's what happened under the former government, that's what the current treasurer
says should happen and the current treasurer should use his authority and try to ensure
that it happens.

"Unfortunately ... he might be the world's greatest treasurer but he doesn't seem to
have a lot of authority with local banks."

AAP ra/tr/jel/

KEYWORD: RATES 3 SYDNEY

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

NSW:3 new Liberals for NSW 'super-ministries'

AAP General News (Australia)
04-02-2011
NSW:3 new Liberals for NSW 'super-ministries'

New South Wales Deputy Premier ANDREW STONER is reportedly to give up the roads portfolio
and take on a super-ministry comprising trade .. investment and regional infrastructure
in Premier BARRY O'FARRELL'S new cabinet.

Fairfax newspapers say Mr O'FARRELL is to introduce eight super-ministries to his new
cabinet .. which will include three fresh Liberal faces .. while the Nationals' representation
in cabinet will be cut from eight to seven.

The papers say Nationals MP DUNCAN GAY will take over roads .. while Ryde MP VICTOR
DOMINELLO will become Aboriginal Affairs Minister.

AAP RTV ih/wz

KEYWORD: CABINET (SYDNEY)

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

VIC:PM's partner shows of shed for men's group

AAP General News (Australia)
12-12-2010
VIC:PM's partner shows of shed for men's group

MELBOURNE, Dec 12 AAP - The prime minister's bloke has one, so does Jeff Kennett. They're
showing them off online and now they want other Aussie men to show them theirs.

The humble backyard shed has become a tool in the battle to combat male depression.

Now, there's no four walls shutting anyone out.

The Australian Men's Shed Association, beyondblue and the Movember Foundation have
joined forces to launch a new community networking site, The Shed Online, where blokes
can connect with other blokes, make new mates, share skills and seek information on health
and wellbeing.

The forum is an extension of the 400 Men's Shed groups around Australia and aims to
create a virtual community, reaching out to more men, particularly those in rural and
remote areas.

At Monday's launch, beyondblue chairman Jeff Kennett shows off his shed, and Australia's
first man, Tim Mathieson, displays his in the salubrious grounds of Kirribilli House.

Mr Mathieson, a patron of the Australian Men's Shed Association, says he seeks refuge
in his shed when he wants to "escape" the house.

It's a place where he can tune into the cricket, pick up a bat and ball and pretend
he's hitting out for Australia.

"My shed is a temple. It's great for my mental health," he says.

Mr Kennett, a former Victorian premier, says his shed is very important to him and
houses his gardening and carpentry tools.

"Every man needs a shed. But not everyone has one. So, we're building Australia's biggest
shed and it's online. The more men, the bigger the shed," he said in a statement.

"We want to give men who don't have a local Men's Shed the opportunity to be part of
a community, to socialise, make new friends and maybe work on a project together."

The Shed Online features a discussion forum, information on health and wellbeing and
a calendar of upcoming events and activities.

The initiative aims to build on the 30,000 members of Men's Shed groups around Australia.

AAP cmb/gfr/cdh

KEYWORD: SHED

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

QLD:Qld govt rejects aged care sale claim

AAP General News (Australia)
08-04-2010
QLD:Qld govt rejects aged care sale claim

By Paul Osborne

BRISBANE, Aug 4 AAP - The Queensland government has rejected claims it plans to add
aged care services to its privatisation list.

Queensland Health operates 20 residential aged care facilities across 14 health service
districts.

The government is in the process of selling $15 billion in major public assets.

Opposition Leader John-Paul Langbroek tabled in state parliament on Wednesday the health
minister's "charter of goals", which appeared to support for the sale of public aged care
facilities.

The charter includes the line: "Promote the role of non-government and private sector
in the delivery of residential aged care services and where appropriate consider the transfer
of Queensland Health facilities to these providers."

Mr Langbroek asked Premier Anna Bligh whether she would confirm "that Labor has reached
a new low with its plan to privatise and sell off nursing homes".

Ms Bligh said the government had no plan to privatise its nursing homes.

"That's been a policy that's been put on the record and repeated over and over again,"

Ms Bligh said.

"There is however some interest from some nursing home operators in the non-government
not for profit community sector and there has been discussions with them.

"Why are they seeking assistance from the state government? Because they haven't been
able to secure the finance they need to access the places available through the commonwealth
government."

Anton Kardash, chief executive of industry body Aged Care Queensland, said he was not
aware of any members holding talks with Queensland Health about buying its homes.

But he said Queensland Health had frequently transferred licences, enabling his members
to build or extend a facility.

"This has allowed Queensland Health to realign its services into rehabilitation and
the sub-acute sector," Mr Kardash told AAP.

"In doing that it's never talked to any of my members about selling off the services."

He said he would be surprised if there were a market for any of the QH facilities at the moment.

He said the current return on an aged care bed was less than two per cent a year, with
a typical centre costing around $20 million to build.

"The industry is on its knees at the moment," he said.

AAP pjo/dep

KEYWORD: ASSETS QLD WRAP

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

Vic: "Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde" rapist to pay $1 million to victims

AAP General News (Australia)
12-22-2009
Vic: "Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde" rapist to pay $1 million to victims

By Michelle Draper

MELBOURNE, Dec 22 AAP - No amount of compensation will ease the pain of five victims
awarded more than $1 million after suffering at the hands of a sexual "Mr Hyde", a Supreme
Court judge says.

John Xydias was jailed for 28 years in June for drugging and raping 11 women over 15
years and filming the "depraved" attacks.

The assaults occurred at the home Xydias shared with his parents in the Melbourne suburb
of Glen Iris and at their holiday home in bayside Dromana.

The 45-year-old pleaded guilty to 25 counts of rape and 61 charges of indecent assault.

Supreme Court of Victoria Chief Justice Marilyn Warren ordered on Tuesday that Xydias
pay five of the 11 victims a total of $1.08 million for pain and suffering.

In her written judgment Chief Justice Warren said that no amount of compensation could
ease the victims' physical and psychological pain.

"For each of the applicants, the grief and distress associated with the crime is greater
than the crimes themselves," she said.

"They have suffered horribly from the later discovery of what the respondent (Xydias)
did to them.

Chief Justice Warren said in most cases the victims learned of the "depraved sexual
abuse" only when police showed them the films of the women being sexually assaulted and
raped.

"The applicants knew the respondent as a `Dr Jekyll' but in the films saw him as a
hideous, sexual `Mr Hyde' abusing their bodies," she said.

"Commonsense and experience tells me that these women will likely suffer psychological
symptoms for most of their lives."

Chief Justice Warren said some of the five victims suffered from post-traumatic stress
disorder, others had attempted suicide or felt suicidal, while one woman had developed
anorexia and bulimia.

Several suffer nightmares and flashbacks.

One victim who was awarded the largest amount of $300,000 said the rapes were a "shattering
blow" which had "pushed her to the edge".

"I have contemplated taking my life on a number of occasions," the victim stated.

Another victim who said she felt violated and embarrassed was awarded $210,000 compensation.

A third victim who experiences anxiety attacks and nightmares said she sometimes wished
she did not know about the sex attacks.

She was awarded $150,000 compensation.

Another woman awarded $200,000 said she felt "dirty, ashamed, disgusted, angry and
violated" when she learned of the assaults.

A fifth victim was often asleep for days after being drugged by Xydias, who would dress
her up in his collection of women's underwear and sexually assault her.

The woman said the day she was shown films of herself being assaulted by Xydias was
the most "earth shatteringly horrible day in my life and my life has been turned completely
upside down since".

That victim was awarded $220,000.

Xydias, who must serve 20 years in jail before being eligible for parole, was also
ordered to pay the legal costs of the victims.

Chief Justice Warren said about $310,000 of Xydias's funds were being held by the State
of Victoria to pay compensation and victims would be paid on a pro rata basis.

AAP md/ldj/apm

KEYWORD: XYDIAS WRAP

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

SA: Review attorney-general's cabinet position: Liberals

AAP General News (Australia)
08-13-2009
SA: Review attorney-general's cabinet position: Liberals

The South Australian opposition says the cabinet position of the state's Attorney-General
MICHAEL ATKINSON should be reviewed following a defamation settlement.

Mr ATKINSON issued a statement yesterday saying cabinet had decided to settle legal
proceedings with Deputy Chief Magistrate ANDREW CANNON and would pay Dr CANNON about 175
thousand dollars for costs and interest and 30 thousand dollars for Mr ATKINSON's legal
fees.

Dr CANNON launched defamation action after the attorney-general used the words daft
and delusional in June last year when the magistrate suggested some people might get lighter
sentences because of overcrowded jails.

Liberal attorney-general spokeswoman VICKIE CHAPMAN says the ministerial code of conduct
states ministers shouldn't recklessly attack the reputation of another person .. and it's
time for Mr ATKINSON's position to be reviewed.

AAP RTV sl/crh

KEYWORD: ATKINSON (ADELAIDE)

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

NSW: Armed men rob hotel, bash victim in the face

AAP General News (Australia)
04-03-2009
NSW: Armed men rob hotel, bash victim in the face

SYDNEY, April 3 AAP - Four armed men have robbed a Sydney hotel, forcing staff and
customers to the ground and striking one person in the face.

Police say the men wore disguises and carried firearms when they stormed a hotel in
Tennyson Road, Mortlake, about 12.45am (AEDT) on Friday.

Up to 10 staff members and patrons were ordered to lie on the ground while the offenders
stole money from the cash registers, safe and poker machines.

During the incident, a man suffered a cut to his chin after one of the robbers struck
him on the face. Ambulance officers treated him at the scene.

The armed men fled a short time later in a white sedan with a rear spoiler.

AAP vpm/rs

KEYWORD: ARMED

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

FED: Reality TV blamed for cosmetic surgery rise

AAP General News (Australia)
08-31-2008
FED: Reality TV blamed for cosmetic surgery rise

Psychologists warn extreme makeover and weight loss shows are fuelling a surge in the
number of Australians going under the knife .. to dramatically change their appearance.

A report published in the Medical Journal of Australia blames reality television programs
like The Biggest Loser for the huge increase in people seeking cosmetic and weight reduction
surgery.

It states that the number of procedures has climbed by about 15 per cent in most countries
.. including Australia .. between 2006 and 2007.

Professor KEITH PETRIE from the University of Auckland in New Zealand says the reality
programs were attracting massive audiences .. with more than one million Australians tuning
in to watch each episode of The Biggest Loser last year.

The winner of a US makeover show .. The Swan .. underwent 13 facial .. dental and body
procedures.

Professor PETRIE says these types of shows typically distort the speed and difficulty
of huge physical changes .. creating dangerously inflated .. unrealistic expectations
for viewers.

Network Ten has defended The Biggest Loser .. saying the show is filmed in a safe ..

controlled environment with slow weight loss supported by expert guidance from dieticians
.. trainers and psychologists.

AAP RTV tam/tm

KEYWORD: COSMETIC (SYDNEY)

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

Fed: G-G tells of "deep cuts" of sadness at military deaths

AAP General News (Australia)
04-25-2008
Fed: G-G tells of "deep cuts" of sadness at military deaths

Governor-General MICHAEL JEFFERY has spoken of the deep personal sadness he feels ..

when honouring Australian front-line troops who've died in the war on terrorism in Afghanistan.

Major General JEFFERY has attended an Anzac Day dawn service at Tarin Kowt .. in the
southern Oruzgan province.

The governor-general .. who ends his five-year term in September .. has presented an
Order of Australia medal for outstanding leadership to Major General MIKE HINDMARSH ..

Commander of Australian forces in the Middle East.

He's also paid special tribute to the four Australian troops who've died fighting Taliban
forces in Afghanistan.

Major General JEFFERY says it's very special for him to spend his final Anzac Day as
viceroy with regiments he'd served with or commanded .. including the third battalion
.. his unit in Malaya.

AAP RTV dc/tm

KEYWORD: ANZAC GG (SYDNEY)

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

Vic: Police call for driver vigilance after fatal smash

AAP General News (Australia)
12-21-2007
Vic: Police call for driver vigilance after fatal smash

EDS: AAP's Xmas/New Year road toll figures are for the period 0001 December 21 to 2359
January 4. Some state and territory police forces may use different road toll periods.



EDS: Corrects age of driver and updates location of stolen car based on updated police
information.



MELBOURNE, Dec 21 AAP - A man in his 20s has died after the stolen car in which he
was a passenger collided with another vehicle at an intersection in Melbourne's south
east.

The man died at the scene while the 19-year-old driver of the stolen Ford Laser was
taken in police custody to The Alfred hospital with moderate injuries.

The 24-year-old driver of the other vehicle, a Nissan Sylvia, was treated at Dandenong
Hospital for minor injuries.

The death was the first in the nation's official Christmas road toll period.

Acting Sergeant Carsten Schultz (Carsten Schultz) said it appeared the car, believed
to have been stolen from Clayton, may have run a red light at the intersection of Clow
Street and Stud Road, Dandenong when it ploughed into an oncoming car at 4.50am (AEDT).

"We believe that speed may have been a factor," he told AAP today.

Sgt Schultz said the accident was just five hours into the Christmas road toll period.

"The clock is ticking, it's Christmas time," he said.

"I don't know what people think ... people are just not immune to death or injury in vehicles."

"It's frustrating. People just need to step back, take a look and have a good think
before they get into a motor car."

He said he wasn't sure what more police could do to stop the carnage.

"We are constantly putting operations into place that involve an enormous amount of
effort into curbing the road toll every year," he said.

The fatality takes the state's road toll for 2007 to 321, two fewer than at the same
time last year.

AAP md/ce/jt/de

KEYWORD: TOLL VIC 2ND LEAD

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

Fed: Companies not required to report exact emissions - ACF

AAP General News (Australia)
08-15-2007
Fed: Companies not required to report exact emissions - ACF

CANBERRA, Aug 15 AAP - The federal government's reporting scheme for greenhouse gas
emissions falls short of requiring companies to provide meaningful information, the Australian
Conservation Foundation (ACF) says.

The government today introduced draft laws to federal parliament to set up the reporting
system next year, a step towards establishing an emissions trading system by 2012.

The ACF says companies would not need to publicly disclose the specific value of their
emissions as the bill only requires reporting a range of values.

"This gives us no assurance that we will have publicly available meaningful information
about corporate pollution levels," climate change campaigner Phil Freeman said.

Mr Freeman said companies also could request their data not be made public if it would
reveal trade secrets or diminish commercial value.

"There is no requirement that the relevant authority even disclose publicly the fact
that such a confidentiality order has been made," he said.

"Depending on implementation, this aspect has the potential to undermine the public
accountability function of the register."

AAP pw/sb/cjh/bwl

KEYWORD: CLIMATE ACF

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

NSW: Iemma attacks Debnam over water recycling plan

AAP General News (Australia)
02-16-2007
NSW: Iemma attacks Debnam over water recycling plan

By Peter Jean and Drew Cratchley

SYDNEY, Feb 16 AAP - Recycled sewage dominated political discussion in NSW today as
Premier Morris Iemma and coalition leader Peter Debnam prepared to meet in a televised
election debate.

The two leaders will tonight take part in the first televised campaign debate in NSW
history ahead of the March 24 state election.

Mr Iemma today slammed Mr Debnam's plan to add recycled sewage and storm water to Sydney's
drinking water supply if dam levels drop to 20 per cent.

The coalition has promised to spend $955.7 million on linking water treatment plants
in north-western Sydney and connecting plants in the city's south-west to Prospect Reservoir.

Mr Iemma said the government already had established water recycling projects and another
was at the tender process but they would only be used to supply water for industrial and
other non-drinking purposes.

"We are forcing industry to use it, whereas Mr Debnam wants to force the people of
western Sydney to drink sewerage," he told reporters at a sewage treatment plant at Penrith,
in western Sydney.

The 86 gigalitres of water purified by the coalition's recycling network each year
would initially be used for agricultural and industrial purposes and for environmental
flows.

If dam levels, which are currently at 37 per cent, fell to 20 per cent, recycled water
would be used to supply up to 10 per cent of Sydney's drinking water.

Mr Debnam assured Sydney residents recycled water would not taste any different to
the tap water they receive now.

"It doesn't taste different," he told reporters.

"Nobody notices any difference. It is purified water, it's pure water."

The state government plans to build a $1.9 billion, 125 megalitre per day, desalination
plant at Kurnell in southern Sydney to supplement Sydney's drinking water supply.

The coalition has said it would consider building a desalination plant in the safe
Labor eastern Sydney electorate of Maroubra only as a last resort solution to the water
crisis.

Mr Debnam said voters would have a choice at the election between Labor's desalination
plant and the coalition's recycled water project.

"It is a very clear choice. For the next five weeks we're going to debate this and
the issue will be decided on March 24," he said.

Total Environment Centre director Jeff Angel said the coalition's water recycling proposal
was a cost effective and environmentally sustainable way to secure drinking water supplies.

"Using purified recycled water is a crucial part of creating a long-term sustainable
and cost-effective water supply," Mr Angel said in a statement.

"Desalination by contrast is expensive, energy intensive and crates problems with disposal
of highly saline brine."

Queensland Premier Peter Beattie plans to use recycled sewage to boost his state's
drinking water supplies.

AAP pj/klw/imc/bwl

KEYWORD: POLLNSW WATER NIGHTLEAD

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

Fed: Large Aussie contingent heads to Toronto Film Festival

AAP General News (Australia)
08-30-2006
Fed: Large Aussie contingent heads to Toronto Film Festival

By Jonathon Moran, National Entertainment Writer

SYDNEY, AAP - One of the largest ever Australian contingents to the Toronto International
Film Festival will next week head for Canada, an important gateway into the potentially
lucrative North American market.

Some eight Australian films will screen at the Canadian festival, which runs from September
7 to 16.

And Aussie actors Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Isla Fisher and Jacinda Barrett will
all be at the festival with big budget Hollywood films.

"There are usually only a few Australian films so this is really rather a lot," says
producer Jan Chapman, who will attend the festival as a governor of its young talent lab.

"It is indicative of a very strong Australian presence and it will look in America
as though our film is on the rise."

Australian films selected to screen in different divisions of the festival include
The Book of Revelation, Macbeth, Suburban Mayhem, The Silence, Candy, Ten Canoes, 2:37
and Jindabyne.

Chapman, who produced The Silence and Suburban Mayhem, said the Toronto Film Festival
was particularly important in helping secure distribution deals in the United States.

And some industry insiders argue Toronto has eclipsed France's Cannes International
Film Festival, held in May, in terms of selling Australian films to America.

"It is the gateway to North America," said Chapman.

"All the American buyers will be there so you have more of a chance of reaching more
companies, maybe finding the exactly right one for your film."

Romper Stomper director Geoffrey Wright's latest film, Macbeth, will have its world
premiere at Toronto.

Producer Martin Fabinyi agreed the festival was extremely important in terms of securing
distribution in the United States.

"It is incredibly important," he said.

"Our sales agent is really going hard to sell Macbeth into north America, which is
obviously the big one."

Wright's modern adaptation of the classic Shakespeare drama will screen in the festival's
inaugural Vanguard program, featuring movies that push the envelopes in technology, culture
and sexuality.

Macbeth stars AFI award winner Sam Worthington as Macbeth, alongside Victoria Hulme,
Steve Bastoni, Gary Sweet and Lachy Hulme.

Murali Thalluri's 2:37 will also screen in the Vanguard division.

The film, set in a high school, explores the themes of suicide and the way individuals
are perceived, mixing drama with characters talking to the camera about issues such as
rape, sexuality, drugs and suicide.

Toronto is known for being comparatively friendly to the film loving public, with thousands
of movie connoisseurs attending the festival each year.

Due to its proximity to Los Angeles and New York, the festival attracts some of the
biggest name actors in the world.

This year's batch includes Brad Pitt, Jude Law, Sean Penn, Kate Winslet, Susan Sarandon,
Orlando Bloom, Gwyneth Paltrow and Liam Neeson.

Toronto's annual film festival, now in its 31st year, is also unofficially regarded
as a precursor to the film awards season, leading into the Academy Awards, the British
Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards and the Golden Globes.

Australian director Sarah Watt's Look Both Ways last year won the Toronto Film Festival
Discovery Award, and went on to secure a number of AFI Awards.

Last year's Oscars darling Capote also premiered at the Toronto Film Festival.

"It seems like Toronto is much more involved in the actual pleasure of looking at films
than somewhere like Cannes or Venice," Chapman said.

"So I have always found Toronto very useful in terms of connecting with audiences."

Australian Oscar winner Russell Crowe will unveil his latest film, A Good Year, directed
by Ridley Scott and also starring Abbie Cornish.

Cate Blanchett, who is shooting the Bob Dylan film I'm Not There in Montreal, will
walk the red carpet in Toronto for Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's Babel.

Former Home and Away star Isla Fisher will be at the premiere of The Pleasure of Your
Company, while her British fiance Sacha Baron Cohen will be there with his film Borat:
Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.

Queenslander Jacinda Barrett will attend the festival to promote The Last Kiss, a big
budget Hollywood film also starring Zach Braff, Rachel Bilson, Casey Affleck and Blythe
Danner.

And acclaimed Australian director Phillip Noyce will unveil his big budget Hollywood
flick, Catch a Fire, starring Derek Luke and Tim Robbins.

Noyce will also participate in the festival's young talent lab, helping and advising
22 budding Canadian writers, directors and producers on all things filmmaking.

AAP jwm/jt/bwl

KEYWORD: TORONTO AUST AAP NEWSFEATURE (FILE PIX AVAILABLE)

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

NSW: Five drown in weekend accidents

AAP General News (Australia)
04-24-2006
NSW: Five drown in weekend accidents

Five people drowned in three states on the weekend.

In New South Wales .. an extensive air and sea search failed to find any trace of a
15-year-old swimmer who went missing on the far north coast on Saturday.

The teenager was last seen about 150 metres out to sea at Cabarita Beach about 3 o'clock
(AEST) in the afternoon.

Police say a scaled down search will resume this morning.



Brisbane police say dangerous swimming conditions at the Gold Coast claimed the life
of a 24-year-old man who attempted to rescue two struggling children.

The man went missing while trying to assist a boy aged 10 and a girl aged 13 in waters
off Seaworld Drive .. Main Beach .. around 8.30am yesterday.



And in Tasmania .. three men who drowned after their fishing boat was hit by a wave
and sank off Tasmania's south-east coast were wearing life jackets.

A Tasmania Police spokesman says five people were aboard the boat which went down off
Eaglehawk Neck on the Tasman Peninsula just after 1 o'clock yesterday afternoon.

AAP RTV psm/

KEYWORD: DROWNINGS (SYDNEY)

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

Fed: James Hardie, unions to strike compo deal: report

AAP General News (Australia)
12-18-2004
Fed: James Hardie, unions to strike compo deal: report

MELBOURNE, Dec 19 AAP - Unions and James Hardie Industries could reach a landmark compensation
deal before Christmas for workers contaminated by asbestos.

Melbourne's The Sunday Age newspaper reported today it believes James Hardie Industries
was close to an agreement with the ACTU and unions for compensation worth several billion
dollars over 50 years after months of negotiations.

The compensation would cater for James Hardie's share of the 30,000 Australian victims
who are likely to suffer mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancers and other fatal illnesses
as a result of exposure to asbestos dust, the newspaper said.

James Hardie's liability was estimated at $1.5 billion today, but would be significantly
more over the next 50 years, the newspaper said.

James Hardie would make a yearly contribution to the expected cost of claims for the
following year, a figure set by an actuary, or a set percentage of the company's cash
flow, with a $200 million sum provided straight up to prevent future shortfalls in the
fund.

AAP jrd/rs

KEYWORD: JAMES HARDIE

2004 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Boulder, Colo.-Based Magazine Publishing Firm Fires Longtime Editor.

By Matt Branaugh, Daily Camera, Boulder, Colo. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Nov. 8--For the first time in 11 years, someone other than Rick Kahl will edit Skiing magazine.

Boulder-based Mountain Sports Media, which oversees Skiing, Ski and three other magazines for parent company AOL Time Warner Inc., fired Kahl on Monday, replacing him with Perkins Miller.

Skiing, started in 1948, boasts a circulation of 400,000. Mountain Sports, owned by AOL Time Warner since January, employs 72 people in Boulder.

The editor swap comes at a bumpy time for Skiing. Free-lance writers that contribute to that publication, as well as Ski magazine, are battling AOL Time Warner over new "work-for-hire" contracts required by the company.

Andrew Clurman, Mountain Sports' president and publisher, said Miller will help Skiing continue targeting avid skiers ages 18 to 35. The magazine prints seven times each year, providing insider, trend and technical insights on the sport.

Miller will also help boost Mountain Sports' online media interests, Clurman said. He declined to discuss his decision to fire Kahl.

Miller, 34, most recently served as director and general manager of Internet operations for the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. His career also includes editing stints with Mountain Sports & Living and Snow Country Business.

With the Olympics, he negotiated a joint venture deal involving NBC and Microsoft Corp. worth more than $30 million.

Miller's skills will help extend the magazine's brand and "help evolve the magazine to its stated mission and also help extend to some of these other multimedia forms," Clurman said.

Free-lance writers say AOL Time Warner's contracts, which the company also uses at its other publications, including Time and Sports Illustrated, prevent them from reselling their work to noncompeting publications or receiving payments for republications made by the publisher, namely on Web sites.

Claire Walter, a local free-lancer and former contributing editor for Skiing, said AOL Time Warner recently rejected an amended offer relinquishing some free-lancer rights. Many, including herself, won't write for the publications anymore, she said.

Clurman said he wasn't aware of any writers avoiding his publications, but said new assignments aren't doled out for another 30 days to 60 days.

Kahl, who started at Skiing in 1980, also declined to discuss his departure in detail.

Mountain Sports' decision didn't surprise him, he said, although he "felt good" about the magazine's progress during the past six years. He said he'll evaluate his future come January.

"This is a good time for some new leadership to come into the magazine," Kahl said. "I've been there a long time -- maybe too long, and it's probably a good time to bring someone in with fresh vision."

To see more of the Daily Camera, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.bouldernews.com/

(c) 2001, Daily Camera, Boulder, Colo. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

AOL, GE, MSFT,

INTELLIGENT ENVIRONMENTS REVENUES HIGHER THAN EXPECTED.

Web-to-mainframe access company Intelligent Environments Group Plc has announced an unexpected 50% increase in revenues during 1998. It ended the year with revenues of 6.6m pounds, and recorded a loss of 1m pounds compared to 3m pounds in 1997. An annual 150% growth in internet revenues was responsible for the UK-based company's improved performance, now representing 40% of its income. The launch of its Amazon Integrator products and services has brought in orders of over 600,000 pounds.

New role opens Jessica's eyes.

Provided by 7DAYS.ae

Being a Hollywood actress may look like an incredibly glamorous gig, but for some roles, there's more going on behind the glossy scenes than just having your make-up done. For her latest role Jessica Alba had to learn to play the violin like a professional while pretending to be blind - no small feat for any actress. Chinese horror remake 'The Eye' follows blind violinist Sydney Wells (Jessica) as she undergoes a cornea transplant and adapts to her newly acquired sight. But her comfortable life is shattered when she takes on the traits of her dead donor, including disturbing flashbacks and the power to see ghosts.

Jessica, 26, reveals the intensive training she undertook at orientation centres in Los Angeles and New Mexico to prepare for the role. "I learned basic Braille reading, how to walk with a cane and how people live in their homes, self-sufficiently," she says. "I labelled everything in my house, so I could walk freely wearing sleep shades." It seems her hard work paid off when she actually started filming, because she couldn't see much through eerie grey contact lenses. "They covered my entire eye - I had no peripheral vision and sometimes partial vision." Jessica, who is best known for her roll as Max Guevera in the TV series 'Dark Angel' and as Sue Storm in the 'Fantastic Four' movies, found that she had to totally immerse herself in this new, more challenging role. She spent time with a blind musician, which totally transformed her view of blindness as a disability.

"She's a vocalist and travels all around the world on her own, takes taxis, subways, planes, everything. She was pretty much my inspiration," she reveals. "And she was incredibly perceptive. After about 20 minutes in a room she didn't use her cane. "If you can't see, you really pick up on people's energy differently. You don't have their face to guide you on who they are so you don't judge people in quite the same way. "I had thought it was much more of a handicap, but you can live on your own, you can pretty much hold down most jobs blind. "It's really other people's perceptions that makes it an issue because she was quite happy with her life and thought it was just the way God made her." Having learnt to live without sight, Jessica then had to tackle the violin.

"It was the most difficult instrument on the planet," she says, laughing. "I did six months of extensive training with five different women who have been playing since they were kids. "They still practice eight hours a day just to stay good enough to be in an orchestra. I just don't have that kind of dedication." But she did commit to the task, practising whenever she could, even during breaks from filming on 'Fantastic Four: Rise Of The Silver Surfer'. "I didn't even have time to take off that suit, so in my Storm outfit I was hacking away at the violin," she laughs. "My poor dogs probably suffered the most, because they were always in the trailer with me. They would always run to the back. "I had to learn six or seven pieces, but by the time we were shooting the movie, it got pared down to two, which I curse the directors for. In a nod to movie 'The Sixth Sense', Sydney's developing vision allows her to see dead people - from the little boy in the corridor by her apartment, to the diners in the burned-out Chinese restaurant. At first she thinks she's going mad, but with the help of Dr Paul Faulkner (Alessandro Nivola), Sydney finally works out she is experiencing a real-life phenomenon called Cellular Memory, where transplant recipients display the characteristics of their donors. "Ghost stories are such a leap of faith and the audience go on this journey with you, so you want to try and infuse it with as much reality as possible," explains Jessica. "I met a guy who loved sweets and hated Italian food and he said after his liver transplant, he didn't pick up a single sweet ever again and all he could eat was pizza and pasta. "He spoke to the mother of his donor, who was a 16-year-old boy - hated sweets and his favourite food was pizza and pasta."

[c] 2007 Al Sidra Media LLC

Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company

NTT America Highlights Key Industry Trends, Predictions for Remainder of 2011.

Tier-1 global IP network provider identifies emerging technology, evolving customer demands and global events as issues that will have the greatest effect on the industry

NEW YORK -- NTT America, a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of NTT Communications Corporation (NTT Com) and a Tier-1 global IP network services provider, today highlighted several key trends and upcoming industry developments in the broadband and IP transit industry.

"New technology innovations, global developments and the changing nature of how both businesses and consumers are using the Internet are all impacting our industry greatly," said Michael Wheeler, vice president of NTT America's Global IP Network business unit. "Now is the time for businesses to make the adjustments needed for success in the future."

Wheeler outlined the following industry developments that will continue to affect the industry throughout the remainder of 2011:

Industry consolidation:

As IP transit providers continue to struggle with constraints on capital following the global financial crisis, industry consolidation will continue. Already this year, the industry has seen this consolidation several times over, with CenturyLink/Qwest/Savvis, Terremark/Verizon and Level 3/Global Crossing most notably.

Emerging technology:

IPv6 will remain at the forefront of industry discussions, as the transition will be extremely gradual. While NTT America's IPv6 traffic on its NTT Communications network nearly doubled on World IPv6 Day, many content networks and service providers will still be slow to adopt the new protocol permanently.

However, the seemingly infinite amount of addresses provided by the new protocol have the potential to pave the way for new opportunities for existing technologies such as digital rights management (DRM) and radio-frequency identification (RFID) devices. It is these opportunities - instead of an IPv6 "killer app" - that could incentivize a faster transition.

Customer landscape:

Demands on the Internet will continue to grow as the application of video evolves and people continue to increasingly live their lives on the Internet via sites like Facebook, Flickr and YouTube. In fact, according to Forrester Research, 2010 marked the first year that consumers are spending just as much time online as they are in front of their televisions. Further, a late-2010 study cited in Multichannel News revealed that North American households are using a median of 4 Gigabytes per month of Internet bandwidth, rising steadily from 3 Gigabytes per month in 2009. Overall, Internet usage is transitioning from cache and storage to real-time and over-the-top (OTT) content.

Global developments:

Latin America continues to rise in prominence as the next big emerging market, and with Netflix's recent announcement that it will begin offering service in the region, many industry researchers are suggesting that streaming content from the company could overtake cable in terms of adoption.

Additionally, in spite of the March 2011 Japanese earthquake, NTT America's network remains strong. Its sophisticated infrastructure and high level of redundancy ensured that while its transpacific route was affected by the earthquake, actual service interruptions for its customers were negligible.

NTT America leverages the strength of the NTT Communications Global IP Network to provide the high-quality and flexible service its customers need to remain competitive and profitable regardless of current industry conditions. As a Tier-1 provider, the company provides seamless service from a single global ASN (ASN2914) over NTT Communications Global IP Network, directly connecting content providers, ISPs, CDNs and enterprises at the highest performance levels available.

NTT America provides flexible and fast dedicated access to the global Internet and the most aggressive Service Level Agreements (SLAs) in the industry. The company supports its customers by shaping IP transit bandwidth delivered over both Internet protocol version 4 (IPv4) and the next generation Internet protocol version 6 (IPv6).

About NTT America

NTT America is North America's natural gateway to the Asia-Pacific region, with strong capabilities in the U.S. market. NTT America is the U.S. subsidiary of NTT Communications Corporation, the global data and IP services arm of a Fortune Global 500 telecom leader: Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corporation (NTT). NTT America provides world-class Enterprise Hosting, managed network, and IP networking services for enterprise customers and service providers worldwide. For additional information on NTT America, visit us on the Web at www.us.ntt.com.

U.S. product information regarding the NTT Communications Global IP Network and its award winning IPv6 transit services may be found at http://www.us.ntt.net/, by calling 877-8NTT-NET (868-8638), or by emailing sales@us.ntt.net. Join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/NTTAmerica, follow NTT America on Twitter at @NTT_America or LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/companies/ntt-america for up-to-date news and announcements.

About NTT Communications Corporation

NTT Communications provides a broad range of global networks, management solutions and IT services to customers worldwide. The company is renowned for reliable, high-quality security, hosting, voice, data and IP services, as well as expertise in managed networks and leadership in IPv6 transit technology. NTT Communications' extensive infrastructure includes Arcstar Global IP-VPN and Global e-VLAN, as well as a Tier 1 IP backbone reaching more than 150 countries in partnership with major Internet service providers, and secure data centers in Asia, North America and Europe. NTT Communications is the wholly-owned subsidiary of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, one of the world's largest telecoms with listings on the Tokyo, London and New York stock exchanges. Please visit www.ntt.com/index-e.html.

NTT, NTT Communications, and the NTT Communications logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION and/or its affiliates. All other referenced product names are trademarks of their respective owners. [c] 2011 NTT Communications

Trump, Cain, Israel fire up Faith-Freedom crowd.(PAGE ONE)

Byline: Ralph Z. Hallow and Seth McLaughlin, THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Donald Trump threatened a third-party presidential run, Herman Cain and Israeli lawmaker Danny Danon stirred up the crowd and Jon Huntsman Jr. and Tim Pawlenty got polite receptions at the second annual Faith and Freedom Coalition conference in Washington.

Ralph Reed's gathering Friday and Saturday of conservatives also heard from GOP presidential polling front-runner Mitt Romney, the only major hopeful to not mention Israel, and saw a video address from a vacationing Newt Gingrich, who led an informal survey by The Washington Times of attendees asked whom they would most like to hear give a speech.

Only Mr. Cain, a former corporate executive and the sole black 2012 nomination contender, set afire the audience of several hundred political operatives, activists and consultants, most of them religious and social conservatives clearly dedicated both to defeating President Obama and to supporting Israel.

But it was a man who fancies himself the new GOP kingmaker - real estate magnate and TV star known as the Donald - who proved to be the biggest attraction before Mr. Cain's closing banquet address Saturday night.

The outspoken New York billionaire was a big draw, no question about it, Mr. Reed told The Washington Times.

Mr. Trump, who earlier this year ruled out a bid for the GOP presidential nomination after flirting with the idea for weeks, reasserted his embrace of same-sex marriage, his pro-life view on abortion and the dire need to deny Mr. Obama a second term.

In a separate interview, however, Mr. Trump said he would run as an independent if the GOP nominates someone I don't agree with - a threat not exactly in keeping with the unity theme sounded by Mr. Reed, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour and virtually every other speaker.

But no issue seemed to unify those in attendance more than Israel. One breakout panel of speakers addressed the subject, Israel: Surrounded Yet Undaunted in the Face of Evil. And from the podium in the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Washington, speaker after speaker offered steadfast support for Israel while leveling stiff criticism at Mr. Obama's desire to have the starting point for renewed peace talks to be based on Israel's borders before the Six-Day War in 1967.

America must do what all previous presidents have done since Harry Truman and stand with Israel. I stand with Israel, Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota said Friday.

One of the loudest ovations Saturday night came after Danny Danon, a member of the Knesset for the Likud Party, said in his speech, "President Obama, take your hands from Jerusalem.

We will fight, and Jerusalem will stay united, he vowed, sparking the audience into a frenzy. Jerusalem will stay under Jewish control forever. Following the speech, Bob Reccord, executive director of the Council for National Policy, offered a prayer, saying Heavenly Father, the Scriptures are very clear when they tell us in the Old Testament pray for peace in Jerusalem.

The importance of Israel as the only friend and ally of the United States in the Middle East shared thematic dominance with an evangelicals' desire to elect a Republican to replace Mr. Obama in the 2012 elections.

Much of the conference was devoted to simultaneous work sessions led by specialists in political organizing and messaging.

Mr. Reed said the purpose of the conference was not just to give 2012 aspirants a platform before churchgoing political activists, but also to act as the equivalent of a National Football League miniature training camp for identifying, motivating and getting voters to the polls.

Many attendees agreed, after Mr. Cain addressed the conference banquet on Saturday night, that the man who had turned around the failing Godfather's Pizza chain was the only candidate who blew away the audience.

The appearance capped another big week for a candidate once considered a GOP long shot - including a strong Gallup Poll showing, a favorable New York Times portrait of the reaction to his campaign among conservatives and an appearance Sunday on ABC's This Week, where he said he doesn't have to out-fundraise Mr. Romney to win.

There are two dynamics that have changed the political landscape - the power of the Internet, as well as the citizens' tea party movement. Those dynamics neutralize having the most amount of money, he said.

Later on Sunday, Mr. Cain flew to New York to address a crowd of 20,000 at a Salute to Israel rally in Central Park sponsored by the United Jewish Appeal.

Mr. Reed, who came to prominence in the 1990s as the face of and driving force behind religious broadcaster Pat Robertson's Christian Coalition, said that his new coalition, thanks to digital and social media, is doing more than simply passing out candidate report cards to Christians.

That is a wise accommodation Ralph's new coalition has made to these changing times, said Bob McEwen, a former U.S. House member from Ohio. "There may have been a time when operatives could maneuver their candidates in front of a Jewish, Evangelical Christian or agricultural audience, where they could mouth the proper phrases on Israel, life or ethanol and make some progress politically. But technology and social media are changing that.

Almost any audience is likely to know more about the statements of [former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.] on cap-and-trade, before he speaks a word than most people knew about Jimmy Carter's philosophy of government by Election Day, Mr. McEwen said.

Mr. Reed said his coalition's goal is to register and educate, motivate and turn out the largest conservative vote in a presidential election in modern history.

Longer term, our goal is to become a permanent institution on the political landscape that will advocate for a constituency of people of faith and their allies similar to the National Rifle Association for gun owners and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for businesses.

Mr. Reed said his coalition is not in competition with Tony Perkins' Family Research Council, which sponsors an annual Values Voters Summit in Washington that draws a similar audience. Mr. Reed said the strength of Mr. Perkins' group is research and policy development, while Mr. Reed's is voter registration and getting out the vote.

The Reed event added some tea party leaders like Mark Meckler to the usual audience mix of religious and social conservatives.

Mr. Danon told The Washington Times before his speech: In the past, we were not sure if Obama was confused or biased. Today, we feel he is biased against Israel. He took the side of the Palestinians.

Asked about the strong evangelical support for Israel, he said, It's an easy crowd. I don't have to convince the people to support Israel unconditionally.

-Susquehanna Financial names senior internet analyst in the US.

Global Banking News-May 17, 2011--Susquehanna Financial names senior internet analyst in the US(C)2011 ENPublishing - http://www.enpublishing.co.uk

Global Banking News - 17 May 2011

Susquehanna Financial Group, Lllp (SFG), the institutional broker-dealer unit of the Susquehanna International Group of Companies (SIG), has said that it has named Herman Leung as senior analyst, covering the US Internet sector.

In his new role, Leung will be based out of SFG's San Francisco office, and will cover companies including Google, Amazon, eBay, Yahoo!, Priceline and Expedia.

Most recently, Leung has been a senior member of the Internet team at Deutsche Bank (NYSE: DB) (DBK.DE) for the last five years with primary responsibility for covering the e-commerce and online travel sectors. Before joining Deutsche in 2005, Herman has worked in the technology industry, including at Nextag, an online comparison shopping site, Telesoft Partners, a venture capital fund focused on technology investments, and at Thomas Weisel Partners as an investment banking analyst.

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

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

OBAMA WATCHED HIM DIE; THE OPERATION BIN LADEN.(News)

Byline: CHRIS HUGHES; STEVE MYALL

IN the stifling night-time heat the crack US troops swarmed silently towards their target, took up position and waited for the helicopters to sweep in behind them.

As four Chinooks carrying navy Seals arrived at 1.15am, a commander on the ground gave the order to attack and soldiers blasted through the three-foot thick compound walls with "bar mines".

Commandos poured down ropes from the helicopters, and the fate of the world's most wanted man Osama bin Laden was sealed - all watched by Barack Obama on a live video link in the US.

The al-Qaeda chief's guards opened fire on the troops in a desperate bid to protect the despised terrorist. But they were soon overpowered as the squad smashed their way inside the pounds 600,000 home with grenades and machine guns.

Inside they killed three armed men and one of bin Laden's sons, a key al-Qaeda chief. One guard used a woman as a human shield as he fired at the soldiers. Both were shot dead.

Then, through the smoke, loomed their prize, the 6ft 5in bin Laden screaming and firing his AK47 at the attackers.

The cowardly terrorist grabbed his youngest wife Amal al-Sadah to use her as a shield. She was shot dead.

He was taken down by bullets to the head and chest.

Back in the White House, Obama whooped with delight and declared jubilantly: "We got him." So ended the 10-year manhunt for the man responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians around the world and allied troops. His body was later positively identified by DNA.

One helicopter was disabled in the attack but managed to land nearby.

The top secret operation to wipe out bin Laden was organised by the CIA. Only a handful of military and political chiefs knew of its existence.

He was traced to Abbottabad in Pakistan after Islamic prisoners in Guantanamo Bay pointed agents in the direction of couriers who worked for the terror boss. Because he would not use the internet or mobile phones for fear of being traced, these aides would carry his murderous orders to other al-Qaeda thugs on his behalf.

Bin Laden was holed up in the heavily fortified home that sits just hundreds of yards away from a military academy in a town crawling with soldiers - sparking questions over what the Pakistan authorities knew about his existence there.

White House counter-terrorism chief John Brennan confirmed the US president had seen the whole incident. He said: "We monitored the situation in real time with regular updates.

"We had real-time visibility into the progress of the operation. It was probably one of the most anxious periods of time in the lives of the people assembled here.

"The president was concerned about the safety of our men on the ground. It was very tense with a lot of people holding their breath.

"There were silences as we got updates. There was a tremendous sigh of relief when who we believed was in the compound was found."

Speaking of the attack, he added: "There was family at that compound, and there was a female who was, in fact, in the line of fire that reportedly was used as a shield to shield bin Laden from the incoming fire."

Pressed on whether that was bin Laden's wife, he replied: "That's my understanding. Here is bin Laden who has been calling for attacks, living in this compound in an area far removed from the front, hiding behind women in front of him as a shield. That's the nature of the individual."

Last night, locals told of their shock at the attack in the normally quiet area.

Nasir Khan said commandos surrounded the compound as helicopters hovered overhead. He added: "All of a sudden there was firing toward the helicopters from the ground. There was intense firing and I saw one of the helicopters crash."

Mohammad Haroon Rasheed said: "I heard a thundering sound, followed by heavy firing. Then firing suddenly stopped. Then more thundering, then a big blast." Muhammad Bashir added: "We saw people attacking this house and heard voices of women and children. They were weeping. We have also seen these children, women and other stuff being loaded on helicopters and flown away. One of the helicopters was hit and it dropped with a big bang and then fire erupted."

Neighbour Mohammad Idrees said: "We rushed to the rooftop and saw flames near that house. We also heard some gunshots." It is believed Amal identified the terror boss during the assault by shouting his name.

Navy Seals held rehearsals for the raid on April 7 and April 13, with officials monitoring the action from Washington.

White House chiefs had originally planned to bomb the house holding bin Laden, but Mr Obama wanted proof they had the right man and ordered an air assault.

The world was inadvertently alerted to the bin Laden raid by Abbottabad IT fan Sohaib Akhtar who was woken by the helicopter noise and tweeted his annoyance.

He gave a running commentary of events. The 33-year-old wrote: "Helicopter hovering above Abbottabad at 1AM (is a rare event).

"A huge window shaking bang here. I hope its not the start of something nasty."

When the computer expert learned the noise was bin Laden's compound being attacked, he later tweeted: "Uh oh, now I'm the guy who liveblogged the Osama raid without knowing it." His tweets attracted more than 15,000 new followers.

Osama bin Laden's former sister-in-law revealed the he would have chosen death over capture.

Swiss-born Carmen Binladin said the coward would not have wanted "to face justice in an American court".

Controversial torture-style techniques - including water-boarding, stress positions and sleep deprivation - used on Islamic prisoners gave US intelligence agents the breakthrough they needed to hunt down bin Laden, it was revealed.

One courier, a protg of 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, was soon identified as key to tracing the murderer.

In August 2010 they got a breakthrough after Pakistani agents revealed that the man and his brother lived at the Abbottabad address.

EVIL FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE: PAGES 4&5

CAPTION(S):

INFERNO Compound in flames after the raid ABANDONED Wreckage of the crashed helicopter SOILED Bin Laden's bed with bloodstains on sheets AFTERMATH Blood stains on the floor after the special forces attack

CSI Forms Document Services Division.

Offers End-to-End Document Solutions

PADUCAH, Ky., April 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Computer Services, Inc. (CSI) (OTCQX: CSVI) announced today the formation of its Document Services division. This new division offers a cohesive, end-to-end solution for every aspect of the check capture, archival and statement print process.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080418/CSILOGO )

"Our newly formed Document Services Division combines the resources of three separate operating units of CSI - Myriad Systems, Inc., Summit Financial Solutions, Inc., and our CSI Data Services data center operations - into a single group focused on providing a best of class product line devoted to electronic and paper document production," explained Steve Powless, Chief Executive Officer. "The new division was formed as part of our Strategic Growth Initiative that is focused on leveraging enterprise-wide opportunities to cross-sell products, integrate the technologies we have developed and acquired, and seek potential opportunities to grow CSI through selective acquisitions."

Myriad Systems, Inc., acquired by CSI in 2009, offers a complete line of check capture, statement print, electronic statement production, and specialized printing for a wide variety of financial and other institutions.

Summit Financial Solutions, Inc., acquired by CSI in 2007, offers check imaging software used by over 400 financial institutions across the country.

CSI Data Services processes over 20 million checks and one million plus statements per month for 350 financial institutions served through its network of data centers and branch/merchant capture installations.

According to Powless, "This reorganization will allow us to create a broader product line with more capabilities than our individual business units provided in the past. We believe the integration of all aspects of the check capture, archival and statement print process will enhance service offerings to existing customers while expanding our opportunities to increase sales to more companies in the financial services industry."

About Computer Services, Inc.

Computer Services, Inc. (CSI) delivers core banking, payments processing, Internet, card services, risk assessment, fraud prevention, network management, regulatory compliance and document delivery solutions to financial institutions and corporate entities across the nation. Technology planning, personal account management and world-class customer service explain why CSI is known as one of the nation's premier providers of technology solutions for the financial services industry. CSI's stock is traded on OTCQX under the symbol CSVI. For more information about CSI, visit www.csiweb.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements except historical statements contained herein constitute "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and are based only on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to future developments that may cause results to differ materially. Readers should carefully consider: (i) economic, competitive, technological and governmental factors affecting CSI's operations, customers, markets, services, products and prices; and (ii) other factors discussed in CSI's Information and Disclosure Statements and other documents posted from time to time on the OTCQX website, including without limitation, the description of the nature of CSI's business and its management discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations for reported periods. CSI undertakes no obligation to update, and is not responsible for updating, the information contained in this release beyond the publication date, whether as a result of new information or future events, or to conform the statement to actual results or changes in CSI's expectations, or otherwise or for changes made to this document by wire services or Internet services.

SOURCE Computer Services, Inc.

John Hancock Investors Trust Reports Earnings.

BOSTON, Jan. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- John Hancock Investors Trust , a closed-end fund managed by John Hancock Advisers, LLC, reported today that net investment income was $773,589 for the one-month period ended October 31, 2008 (1). For the comparable period in 2007, net investment income was $1,246,108.

As of October 31, 2008 the net asset value per share was $14.51 with total net assets of $178,923,475 (2) and 8,336,642 common shares outstanding. Comparable figures for October 31, 2007 reflect a net asset value per share of $19.61 with total net assets of $248,665,501 (3) and 8,296,866 common shares outstanding.

About John Hancock Funds

The Boston-based mutual fund business unit of John Hancock Financial, John Hancock Funds manages more than $47.9 billion in open-end funds, closed-end funds, private accounts, retirement plans and related party assets for individual and institutional investors at September 30, 2008. John Hancock Funds are distributed by John Hancock Funds, LLC, member FINRA | SIPC. For more information, please visit http://www.jhfunds.com/.

About John Hancock Financial and Manulife Financial Corporation

John Hancock Financial is a unit of Manulife Financial Corporation (the Company), a leading Canadian-based financial services group serving millions of customers in 19 countries and territories worldwide. Operating as Manulife Financial in Canada and in most of Asia, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States, the Company offers clients a diverse range of financial protection products and wealth management services through its extensive network of employees, agents and distribution partners. Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were Cdn$385 billion (US$364 billion) as at September 30, 2008.

Manulife Financial Corporation trades as 'MFC' on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under '0945' on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be found on the Internet at http://www.manulife.com/.

The John Hancock unit, through its insurance companies, comprises one of the largest life insurers in the United States. John Hancock offers a broad range of financial products and services, including life insurance, fixed and variable annuities, fixed products, mutual funds, 401(k) plans, long-term care insurance, college savings, and other forms of business insurance. Additional information about John Hancock may be found at http://www.johnhancock.com/.

   (1) The Fund's fiscal year-end was changed from December 31 to October 31   (2) Includes value of bank line of credit   (3) Includes value of auction preferred shares  

CONTACT: Kimberley Dietrich +1-617-663-4217 or Investors: +1-800-843-0090, both of John Hancock

Web Site: http://www.jhfunds.com/

Parlay Entertainment Inc. Ends Tender Process.

M2 PRESSWIRE-14 March 2008-OVERVIEW: Parlay Entertainment Inc. Ends Tender Process(C)1994-2008 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

RDATE:14032008

InvestorIM has been created as a tool for the average investor. The idea is simple, a website where the world can communicate. Do you have a stock related question, then why not ask 50,000 individual members? Are you a shareholder of Parlay Entertainment Inc. (TSX VENTURE:PEI )? Join the many members engaged in this stock right now. Come see for yourself at www.investorim.com for your complimentary subscription.

The stock on March 13, 2008 traded down 28% late in the afternoon with above average volume.

On March 13, 2008 Parlay Entertainment Inc. (TSX VENTURE:PEI ), the world's leading supplier of Internet bingo software, announced today that a binding agreement has not been concluded with any of the parties who expressed an interest in conducting due diligence on the Company within the timeframes established by the Special Committee of the board of directors.

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