NSW: Three people die on NSW roads

AAP General News (Australia)
02-07-2009
NSW: Three people die on NSW roads

SYDNEY, Feb 7 AAP - Three people have died in road accidents in the NSW Central west
and the Hunter region in the past 24 hours.

A car hit a tree killing a 48-year-old male driver and his 47-year-old male passenger
on Lachlan Valley Way about 10km east of Gooloogong about 3.40am (AEDT) on Friday.

Police said the two men from Forbes were travelling in a white Ford Falcon.

Both men died at the scene.

Police are investigation the cause of the crash and a report will be prepared for the …

'Grapel denies spy charges to Egyptian investigators'. Israeli accused of being Mossad spy tells authorities his e-mails contained nothing about security

Jerusalem Post staff
Jerusalem Post
06-16-2011
'Grapel denies spy charges to Egyptian investigators'. Israeli accused of being Mossad spy tells authorities his e-mails contained nothing about security
Byline: Jerusalem Post staff
Edition: Daily
Section: News
Type: News

Ilan Grapel, the dual American-Israeli citizen accused by Egyptian authorities of being a spy, denied he ever worked for the Mossad, and told investigators in Cairo that e-mails he had sent to his family did not include sensitive information about Egypt, the Al- Masry al-Youm newspaper reported on Wednesday.

According to the report, Grapel, who was arrested on Sunday, told Egyptian authorities he had sent e-mails to family and friends to reassure them of his safety during the uprising against Hosni Mubarak, and that details he passed on did not include any secrets whatsoever. All the information could be found on the Internet and was broadcast on Egyptian and Arab news channels, Grapel told investigators. He confirmed that he had served in the IDF for two years and three months.
Egyptian prosecutors claim that Grapel sent approximately 20 messages to the Mossad, which included information and pictures about events in the country, the report said.

Israeli officials continued categorically deny that Grapel was ever a spy.

"The allegations against Grapel are ridiculous and the Egyptians know that they are ridiculous," Defense Minister Ehud Barak told Channel 10 yesterday. "I hope he won't be in jail much longer."

Grapel visited Luxor province and collected information on tourist sites in the area, according to the investigators. He also reportedly visited the Jewish community headquarters in Alexandria where he was photographed.

Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram claimed on Wednesday that Grapel was an important element in the Mossad and participated on the front lines of "Israeli aggression on Lebanon."

The report also claimed that Grapel had received advanced training in the Mossad and had sent reports on the security situation in Egypt.

Israeli diplomatic officials in Cairo met with Grapel on Tuesday and said he was in good condition. Israel was continuing to work behind the scenes for his release, the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem said.

Earlier on Tuesday, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said his office was in contact with the relevant American and Egyptian officials. While Grapel falls under American jurisdiction because he entered Egypt using his US passport, Israeli officials said they consider themselves responsible to help him.(c) Copyright Jerusalem Post. All rights reserved.

Illustrations/Photos:
Caption: Ilan Grapel

(Copyright 2011 The Jerusalem Post)

FED:National Newslist for Monday, Dec 5

AAP General News (Australia)
12-05-2011
FED:National Newslist for Monday, Dec 5
AAP's National Newslist for Monday (not for publication). This is a guide only and coverage
plans are subject to change. AAP's News Editors can be contacted on 02 93228611/8610.

TOP STORIES
URANIUM
- Craig Emerson says India will agree to safeguards before uranium exports start.

- Stephen Smith says conference decision deeply significant.

- Pakistan high commissioner says his country should also be able to buy Australian uranium.

- Anna Bligh says her support for uranium export to India does not contradict refusal
to mine it in Qld.

- SA premier backs uranium export for the good of the state but nuclear power not on the agenda.

- Outwatching developments; other reax.

LEGAL: BOY
- Australian teenager convicted for buying marijuana in Bali arrives home.

LABOR RUDD
- Stephen Smith plays down reports a secret Labor Party report criticised the Rudd government
as being driven by spin and lacking purpose; and behind leaks concerning PM during election
campaign.

- Report could increase tensions between Rudd and Gillard.

NEWSPOLL

- Newspoll boss says last poll of the year provides PM with a small Christmas present;
Stephen Smith upbeat about government's standing.

GAY
- Penny Wong calls on oppn MPs to back private member's bill to change Marriage Act.

- Liberal senator says bill will likely fail, even though some coalition MPs support same-sex
marriage.

- Outwatching developments; other reax.

COURTS
MELBOURNE
- Terms of settlement to be announced for the Horsham bushfire class action, Supreme Court
(sitting in Horsham; decision being webcast.

- Inquest into a 25-year-old man shot dead during a shootout with police in South Melbourne
in May 2008, Coroners Court.

- Sentence for a teenager who abducted an international student and forced her to perform
sex acts on him, County Court.

- Expected guilty plea by former Olympic cyclist Gary Neiwand to indecent exposure charges,
Melbourne Magistrates Court.

- Inquest into a 25-year-old man shot dead during a shootout with police in South Melbourne
in May 2008, Coroners Court.

- Judgment expected on ANZ bank fees class action in Federal Court. Judgment on 17 different
ANZ Bank fees and charges in action by Maurice Blackburn Lawyers representing 34,000 ANZ
customers. Maurice Blackburn's Andrew Watson presser.

ADELAIDE
- Jason Lee Gardiner to be arraigned in the Supreme Court on a murder charge.

- Convicted killer Angelika Gavare to appeal against her conviction, if she can get a lawyer.

SYDNEY
- Up to 13 Occupy Sydney protesters to appear at Downing Centre Local court. Occupy Sydney
protesters expected to stage demonstration outside the court.

- Phillip Nguyen, manslaughter of cop Bill Crews, committal hearing, Burwood Local Court

OTHER NEWS
CANBERRA
- PM opens the new Office of National Assessments building 1000.

- VC winner Ben Roberts-Smith launches new guidebook: ANZACs on the Western Front 1030.

- Stephen Smith backs Navy chief comments about service culture.

SYDNEY
- Sydney Airport planning a major overhaul that would see terminals divided by what airline
passengers are flying with rather than where they are travelling. Tourism and business
groups have backed the plans.

- Search for a teenage Kenyan national on the NSW far north coast being hampered by heavy surf.

- One third of all Australian drowning deaths over the past year occurred in NSW.

- Premier Barry O'Farrell presser.

MELBOURNE
- Soccer superstar David Beckham at Royal Children's Hospital.

More on body being found when police called to a burglary in Melbourne's outer east.

- ACTU president Ged Kearney to launch survey on impact of domestic violence on working
people and Australian workplaces.

BRISBANE
- Queensland police to launch Christmas road safety campaign
- 1245 Premier Anna Bligh to launch the Salvation Army DVD for disaster victims.

- Anna Bligh accuses Campbell Newman of not being up-front about LNP's plans to repeal
new same sex civil unions laws, if it wins government.

ADELAIDE
- Premier Jay Weatherill backs selling uranium to India for the good of the state but
says nuclear power is not on the agenda.

- Irrigators, environmentalists, scientists and state government ministers will come together
in Adelaide to find common ground on the plan to save the Murray.

PERTH
- Outwatching bushfires.

HOBART
- Tasmanian Greens leader Nick McKim doorstop amid row with independent federal MP Andrew Wilkie.

- Princess Mary has been honoured by a Hobart butcher with a new sausage he calls The Great Dane.

DARWIN
- Nothing listed.

MEDICAL
- Nothing listed.

ENTERTAINMENT
SYDNEY - New Order, Mark Ronson vs Zane Lowe and Ruby Rose have been added to the Future
Music Festival line-up
SYDNEY - X Factor judge Natalie Bassingthwaighte has married her partner and former Rogue
Traders band mate Cameron McGlinchey
SYDNEY - Australian RnB singer Jessica Mauboy has launched a five-dress fashion line
SYDNEY - Canadian crooner Michael Buble has chimed in at number one on the ARIA albums
chart with his first full-length holiday record Christmas
LOS ANGELES/SYDNEY - US and Australian weekend box office figures

FINANCE
ECONOMIC NEWS:
Sydney - ABS Business indicators for September quarter
Sydney - TD Securities-Melbourne Institute inflation gauge for November.
Sydney - Australian Industry Group/Commonwealth Bank Australian Performance of Services
Index (PSI) for November
Sydney - ANZ job advertisements series for November (Comes in earlier under embargo.)
Sydney - Dun and Bradstreet business expectations survey.

EQUITIES
Sydney - Chartered Secretaries Australia annual conference: Address by ASIC deputy chair
Belinda Gibson
Melbourne - Federal Cour judgement for class action against ANZ regarding fees

Also routiners: Aust Stocks, Aust Dollar, Stockwatch and Finance Briefs to come.

SPORT
CRICKET
BRISBANE - News ahead of second Test Australia v New Zealand starting Friday; Aust team
to be named at 1000AEDT; Mike Hussey for interview at 1200AEDT.

MELBOURNE - Former Test opener Simon Katich faces Cricket Australia disciplinary hearing,
closed hearing from 1400AEDT.

MELBOURNE - Sheffield Shield: Vic v Qld, MCG, day 4.

PERTH - Sheffield Shield: WA v SA, WACA, day one.

CANBERRA - Preview Sheffield Shield match NSW v Tas.

SOCCER
MELBOURNE - David Beckham and LA Galaxy training plus media conference 1445, Visy Park
to preview Tuesday's match v Melbourne Victory.

SYDNEY - A-League news.

LONDON - Incoming Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill got an insight into just how much
work awaits him as he watched his new Premier League team surrender a lead in losing 2-1
to Wolverhampton on Sunday.

SAO PAULO, Brazil - Former Brazil great Socrates, the clever playmaker who captained the
country at the 1982 World Cup, died Sunday. He was 57.

TENNIS
MELBOURNE - Samantha Stosur favoured to win Newcombe Medal at Australian tennis awards
night, Palladium Ballroom, Crown Complex.

SEVILLE, Spain - Rafael Nadal recovered from a horrible start to beat Argentina's Juan
Martin del Potro and secure Spain a fifth Davis Cup title on Sunday.

LEAGUE
SYDNEY - South Sydney media conference for Matt King, Sam Burgess and Luke Burgess, 1415,
Aust Technology Park Performance Centre, Redfern Oval.

GOLF
LA QUINTA, California - Cover of AUssies in second last round of US PGA qualifying school.

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida - Cover of Aussies in final round of LPGA Tour qualifyiung school
THOUSAND OAKS, California - Tiger Woods in final round of Chevron World Challenge. SUN
CITY, South Africa - World No.3 Lee Westwood of England retained his Nedbank Golf Challenge
title on Sunday despite shooting a one-over-par 73 in the final round. - (Gol Safrica
AM Update) Wrap to come

SAILING
FREMANTLE - World championships, day 3

HOCKEY
AUCKLAND - Men's Champions Trophy: Australia v Great Britain, 0800AEDT.

RACING
SYDNEY - Nominations for Saturday's Christmas Cup meeting at Rosehill.

MELBOURNE - Entries for Saturday when racing returns to Flemington.

AAP bwl

KEYWORD: NATIONAL NEWSLIST

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

GIANT INTERACTIVE GROUP TO LAUNCH ZT ONLINE 2 ALPHA TEST

AsiaInfo Services
03-30-2011
Giant Interactive Group to Launch ZT Online 2 Alpha Test

SHANGHAI, Mar 30, 2011 (SinoCast Daily Business Beat via COMTEX) -- Shanghai-based Giant Interactive Group Inc. (NYSE: GA) today announces that ZT Online 2, its internally developed, martial arts, massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), will start an alpha test on April 8, 2011.

It took an R&D team of 400 people for three years to develop ZT Online 2. Giant Interactive Group has not kicked off large-scale promotion of the game, whose popularity is gained from the public praise of gamers. By far, ZT Online 2 has recorded peak concurrent players of more than 200,000.

Meanwhile, Giant Interactive Group will launch a new billing form of online games following time billing and extra billing, through which gamers will acquire their extras by completing tasks and trading with other gamers. The company will only charge them 5% commission fees.

Giant Interactive Group Board Chairman Shi Yuzhu reveals that ZT Online 2 has maintained high user stickiness since its technology test in October 2010 till now, indicating that the new billing form has received preliminary acknowledgment among gamers.

Source: www.sina.com.cn (March 30, 2011)

KEYWORD: SHANGHAI INDUSTRY KEYWORD: Internet & Online Services & Media SUBJECT CODE: Internet & Online Services
Portal Software
SinoCast China Business Daily news
Shanghai
ZT Online 2
MMORPG
alpha test
game
billing

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

HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 14:30

AAP General News (Australia)
12-09-2010
HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 14:30

SYDNEY - Flood-stricken Wagga Wagga and the nearby town of Tarcutta have been swamped
by heavy rainfall overnight, forced more people to flee their homes. (Floods NSW, Wrap
to come, see also Floods NSW Wagga Update, Floods NSW Keneally, Floods NSW Ambulance;
Floods NSW Roads - Update to come)

CANBERRA - The swollen Queanbeyan River has peaked in the NSW city neighbouring Canberra
but residents forced to evacuate won't be allowed home until late Thursday evening at
the earliest. (Floods NSW Qbyn Wrap,pix and video)

MELBOURNE - A 51-year-old man swept away by floodwaters on Melbourne's northern fringes
clung to a tree for five hours before he was rescued. (Floods Vic Update)

BRISBANE - Residents in the central Queensland city of Rockhampton will begin sandbagging
homes in preparation for a 7.8-metre flood peak expected early next week. (Floods Qld)

ADELAIDE - The mop up continues in the wake of the record-breaking storms that lashed
South Australia. (FLOODS SA to come)

CANBERRA - Federal government frontbencher Bill Shorten has rejected suggestions Labor
powerbroker Mark Arbib is a spy for the US. (WikiLeaks Arbib Update, Wrap to come, see
also WikiLeaks Arbib Brown, WikiLeaks Wilkie)

LONDON - Lawyers for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange consider the accusations of rape
and molestation made against him by Swedish prosecutors to be "politically motivated".

(Assange - international agencies)

CANBERRA - The national jobless rate fell to 5.2 per cent in November from 5.4 per
cent in October as more than 50,000 people joined the workforce, well above the number
economists were expecting. (Jobs Update, see also Jobs NSW, Jobs Qld, Jobs SA, Jobs Swan,
Jobs Evans, Jobs Hockey, Economy Wrap to come)

CANBERRA - Smokers on low incomes will have even more reason to quit after the federal
government announced it will subsidise the cost of nicotine patches. (PBS, see also PBS
Roxon Update, Smoking, Soliris)

PERTH - Prominent Perth lawyer Lloyd Rayney has pleaded not guilty to the wilful murder
of his wife in the Perth Magistrates Court. (Rayney Update)

CANBERRA - The national school curriculum won't be the same in each state and territory,
Australia's peak public education union says. (Curriculum)

FINANCE

SYDNEY - Strong full time jobs growth in November could tip the nation into full employment
early next year and force the central bank to raise interest rates before wages blow out.

(JOBS ECONOMISTS to come)

SPORT

ADELAIDE - Australian fast bowler Ryan Harris has been passed fit to play the third
Test against England. (Cricket Aust, Wrap to come)

ENTERTAINMENT

SYDNEY - Oprah Winfrey is spending her second day in Australia at Uluru, after changing
her original plans on the advice of a friend. (Oprah, see also Doll)

MORE

KEYWORD: HIGHLIGHTS NATIONAL

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

QLD:Rudd's daughter defends her dad

AAP General News (Australia)
08-02-2010
QLD:Rudd's daughter defends her dad

Former prime minister KEVIN RUDD's daughter says she wants to stand up to the bullies
who cut down a man .. who worked his guts out for the country.

In a 13-hundred word article for women's magazine .. Madison .. JESSICA RUDD has defended
her father .. saying he's driven by compassion and empathy .. and isn't an angry man.

She says when people sledge him .. she wants to sledge them.

A spokesman for Mr RUDD says he's recovering well in hospital after an operation to
remove his gall bladder.

AAP RTV lpm/pjo/ajw/

KEYWORD: POLL10 RUDD (BRISBANE)

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

Fed: Activists say Kevin Rudd must be held accountable

AAP General News (Australia)
12-20-2009
Fed: Activists say Kevin Rudd must be held accountable

Conservationist group Friends of the Earth say leaders of developed nations must be
held accountable for failing to negotiate a global binding climate change pact at Copenhagen.

Wealthy and key developing nations agreed yesterday to limit global warming to two
degrees celsius and also proposed a joint fund of more than 110 billion dollars a year
for poor and vulnerable countries to deal with climate change.

But the deal is yet to win unanimous support .. particularly from many of the small
island nation's most at risk of climate change.

The Melbourne-based group says Prime Minister KEVIN RUDD contributed to what they say
is a failed deal .. and are demanding rich countries .. including Australia .. stop holding
the rest of the world hostage.

AAP RTV sld/wz/crh

KEYWORD: SUMMIT FRIENDS (CANBERRA)

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

Good morning Picture Editors, News Editors and Chiefs of Staff,

AAP General News (Australia)
08-11-2009
Good morning Picture Editors, News Editors and Chiefs of Staff,
This is a list of AAP's planned photographic coverage for today. This is a guide only
and coverage is subject to change.

AAP Picture desk can be contacted on (02) 9322 8707

View images at the following link <http://www.aapimage.com/> www.aapimage.com. To locate
specific images search the newsroom using keywords in caps below.

AAP IMAGE OUTLOOK FOR TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2009

SYDNEY

Media call for the musical Avenue Q - AVENUE Q MEDIA CALL

Musician Delta Goodrem at a cocktail event - DELTA GOODREM SYDNEY

MELBOURNE

Following up on assault charges against Storm player Greg Inglis - GREG INGLIS ASSAULT

CANBERRA

PM Kevin Rudd launches the AFL's Green Round - KEVIN RUDD AFL GREEN ROUND

Uigher leader Rebiya Kadeer speaks at the National Press Club - REBIYA KADEER PRESS CLUB

House of Representatives sits - QUESTION TIME

CAWARRAL, QLD

Following up on the Hendra virus story - HENDRA VIRUS CAWARRAL QLD

ADELAIDE

Ark Tribe in Court fighting charges he failed to attend a compulsory interrogation by
the Australian Building and Construction Commission - ARK TRIBE ABCC COURT ADELAIDE

Dan Peled | Picture Editor

<http://www.aap.com.au/> Australian Associated Press
L6 3 Rider Boulevard Rhodes Waterside, Rhodes, NSW, 2138
T +61 0293228707 | F +61 0293228717 | E dpeled@aap.com.au

KEYWORD: IMAGE OUTLOOK

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

NSW: About 3,000 properties without power in Sydney's inner west

AAP General News (Australia)
04-01-2009
NSW: About 3,000 properties without power in Sydney's inner west

Three thousand homes and businesses in Sydney's inner west are blacked out after an
electrical fault which may have been caused by heavy rain.

EnergyAustralia says that about 6.30am (AEDT) a fault cut the power supply to parts
of Glebe and Camperdown.

Crews are working on the problem but it's not known when power will be restored.

On Monday a blackout hit about 70 thousand homes and businesses in Sydney's CBD and
cut power to about 140 sets of traffic lights .. causing peak hour chaos.

AAP RTV sg/wjf/jmt

KEYWORD: POWER (SYDNEY)

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

HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 14:45, Aug 28

AAP General News (Australia)
08-28-2008
HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 14:45, Aug 28

CANBERRA - Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has warned teachers' unions that the government
is intent on lifting national education standards and they should get on board the 21st
century. (Schools Rudd Lead)

Schools Nightlead to come

CANBERRA - Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has used a new survey showing a fall in business
confidence to ramp up his attack on the opposition's pledge to block budget measures.

(Economy Rudd)

CANBERRA - A record low level of business confidence has prompted the federal opposition
to say Australia is facing an economic leadership crisis. (Economy Turnbull)

Economy Nightlead to come. See also Rates ANZ on finance wire

SYDNEY - The NSW government unexpectedly killed debate on its plans to privatise the
state's electricity sector to avoid it being defeated in the upper house of parliament.

(Electricity Delay Lead (pix available))

Electricity Nightlead, Newsfeature to come

SYDNEY - Cast and crew of the TV series All Saints are struggling to come to terms
with the death of cast member Mark Priestley, the Seven Network says. (Priestley Lead)

Priestly Nightlead to come

CANBERRA - A Labor-dominated Senate committee has supported an increase to the luxury
car tax, despite admitting the measure itself might be unfair. (Cars Lead)

Cars Nightlead to come

CANBERRA - The Australian Greens have revived a push for a ban on junk food advertising
targeting kids after the media watchdog failed to impose restrictions. (Junk Nightlead,
to come)

CANBERRA - The federal government's planned emissions trading scheme is nothing more
than a tax, Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson says. (Climate Nelson. Climate N/L to come)

SYDNEY - Gordon Wood was agitated on the night his girlfriend was killed and his behaviour
made no sense, the model's father has told a Sydney court. (Wood Father)

Wood Nightlead to come

MELBOURNE - No baby elephant has ever been born in Australia - but now three elephants
are pregnant at zoos in Sydney and Melbourne. (Elephants (with pix))

SYDNEY - AMP Ltd has reported a fall in first half earnings and says delivering growth
in the short term will be challenging, with financial market conditions likely to remain
volatile. (AMP)

AMP Nightlead to come with graphic

MELBOURNE - ANZ Banking Group Ltd will lower its fixed home loan rates and residential
investment loans rates by between 30 basis points and 50 basis points. (Rates ANZ)

GOLD COAST - The A-League will expand to a 10-team competition from next season, with
Football Federation Australia today confirming the entry of two new teams. (Soccer AL
Lead)

Soccer AL Nightlead to come

NEW YORK - Chris Guccione's confidence is high - and it needs to be. (Tennis Open Aust Nightlead)

MORE nf

KEYWORD: HIGHLIGHTS NATIONAL

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

NSW: Booze-fuelled violence doubles in decade in NSW=2

AAP General News (Australia)
04-23-2008
NSW: Booze-fuelled violence doubles in decade in NSW=2

"The increase in alcohol-related crime is disturbing," Mr Acherstraat said.

Part of the problem stemmed from the inconsistent application of laws surrounding the
irresponsible service of alcohol, he said.

Mr Acherstraat said NSW police and the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing (OLGR) both
had powers to lay charges but in some cases licensees would receive a verbal warning when,
for a similar incident, another would be fined.

"Whenever you have two agencies involved in administering a program there is always
the need to liaise closer, and invariably things can fall through the cracks," Mr Achterstraat
said.

In terms of pub and club owners facing the courts, police referred 136 cases to prosecutors
in 2007, well up on the 58 cases in 2006.

The OLGR referred just six cases in 2007, up from two in 2006.

The report, titled Working with Hotels and Clubs to Reduce Alcohol-related Crime, found
NSW has a total 14,227 licensed premises.

Thirty per cent of ARAs occurred on licensed premises in 2006-07, another 35 per cent
occurred outdoors, while 24 per cent were in residential homes.

AAP dr/hn/it/sp

KEYWORD: ALCOHOL 2 SYDNEY

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

Vic: Victoria's baby boom triggers funding for children centres

AAP General News (Australia)
12-19-2007
Vic: Victoria's baby boom triggers funding for children centres

Victoria's baby boom has prompted the state government to invest nearly 39 million
dollars in early childhood centre upgrades .. as well as new one-stop shop children centres
at schools.

Premier JOHN BRUMBY's called for applications to build more than 40 children centres
across Victoria.

One-stop shop children centres will be be given priority in the government's four-year
plan .. with 500 thousand dollar grants for each successful application.

There were over 70-thousand births in Victoria last financial year .. a 10 per cent
increase from 2004-05.

Mr BRUMBY says the one-stop shop centres will allow parents to drop off their children
at the one place .. including pre-school and primary school-aged children.

AAP RTV jat/gfr/af/bart

KEYWORD: CENTRES (MELBOURNE)

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

NSW: More than 100 employees re-enter building after gas leak

AAP General News (Australia)
08-07-2007
NSW: More than 100 employees re-enter building after gas leak

SYDNEY, Aug 7 AAP - More than 100 people have returned to work after a gas leak triggered
the evacuation of an inner-Sydney office building.

Workers in a nearby pit ruptured a gas pipe about 10am (AEST) today, forcing the evacuation
of 118 people from a building at Alexandria, the NSW Fire Brigades said.

After the alarm was raised, specialist fire crews rushed to the building on Euston
Rd, near the intersection of Sydney Park Rd.

The workers had closed the gas line by 11.30am and they remain on site.

No one was harmed during the incident.

AAP vpm/hn/evt/de

KEYWORD: GAS LEAD

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

Fed: Rudd's call for televised debate a stunt: PM

AAP General News (Australia)
02-14-2007
Fed: Rudd's call for televised debate a stunt: PM

The prime minister says KEVIN RUDD's call for an impromptu debate on Iraq in parliament
today .. was a stunt.

Seconds after today's parliamentary sitting began .. the opposition leader unsuccessfully
attempted to suspend the House of Representatives program for an hour .. so he could debate
JOHN HOWARD on Australia's involvement in the war in Iraq.

Mr RUDD also accused the PM of lacking guts and courage .. for refusing to take part
in a nationally televised debate on the issue.

But Mr HOWARD says a separate televised debate isn't necessary .. as the two leaders
debate each other every parliamentary sitting day.

He says the Labor leader will be able to quiz him in question time today.

AAP RTV jb/sb/tm/jmt

KEYWORD: IRAQ DEBATE PM (CANBERRA)

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

Qld: Flegg calls in extra help

AAP General News (Australia)
08-28-2006
Qld: Flegg calls in extra help

By Jessica Marszalek and Evan Schwarten

BRISBANE, Aug 28 AAP - A senior federal Liberal Party staffer from Canberra has joined
Queensland Liberal leader Bruce Flegg's troubled state election campaign team.

Special adviser Graeme Hallet said he has taken two weeks paid leave to volunteer as
part of the September 9 election.

But he denied he was acting as Dr Flegg's chief of staff.

Dr Flegg's chief of staff Cathy Uechtritz reportedly walked out of his office on Friday
after a confrontation with the state MP but was today back at work.

It's been alleged the blonde-haired Ms Uechtritz was furious at Dr Flegg after he explained
some of his campaign gaffes as "having a blonde moment".

Mr Hallet said he had volunteered because he "passionately" believed in Dr Flegg, who
replaced Bob Quinn as state leader shortly before the election was called.

"I didn't think it (the offer of help) was needed but I passionately believe in him," he said.

Dr Flegg, who had a poor start to his campaign, refused to comment on whether he believed
his popularity at the polls would increase with Mr Hallet's help.

Meanwhile, a key Queensland Liberal powerbroker has dodged questions on Dr Flegg's
future as leader.

Opposition frontbencher Michael Caltabiano avoided giving a definitive answer when
questioned about Dr Flegg, saying he was focusing on winning his own electorate of Chatsworth
in Brisbane's east.

"Between now and September 9, I am concentrating on winning the state seat of Chatsworth,"

he said.

The former state party president gave the same answer when asked about his own leadership
ambitions.

Mr Caltabiano, elected in a by-election 12 months ago following the resignation of
then deputy Labor premier Terry Mackenroth, faces a difficult battle to retain Chatsworth.

Labor has TV sports broadcaster Chris Bombolas as its candidate and a recent poll showed
he was a strong chance to regain the one-time ALP stronghold.

"Chatsworth had been held by the Labor Party for 28 years until August last year, it's
always going to be a tough ask but I'm putting my credentials forward and doing the best
I can," Mr Caltabiano said.

"I've been to every school, neighbourhood watch and community meeting there has been
for the past 12 months so they (constituents) have seen more of me than the former member
for the past 28 years."

The performance of the Liberals, particularly in Brisbane, is a key to the coalition's
chances of eating into Labor's 16-seat parliamentary majority.

The main political leaders campaigned in regional Queensland today with Premier Peter
Beattie in Townsville in the state's north and Yeppoon in central Queensland, while coalition
leader Lawrence Springborg visited Kingaroy, Bundaberg and Rockhampton.

AAP sc/grc/de

KEYWORD: POLL QLD NIGHTLEAD (PIX AVAILABLE)

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

NSW: Gunman fled in taxi after fatal shooting say witnesses

AAP General News (Australia)
04-21-2006
NSW: Gunman fled in taxi after fatal shooting say witnesses

By Katherine Danks, Police Reporter

SYDNEY, April 21 AAP - Gunshots were heard before the body of the man was found lying
in a pool of blood in a Sydney laneway, the victim of an execution-style murder.

The man, believed to be a member of a bikie gang, was found with a gunshot wound to
the head in a lane off Riley Street in East Sydney about 9.15pm (AEST) yesterday.

Witnesses in nearby Stanley Street told police they saw the suspected killer get into
a taxi outside the Lord Roberts Hotel just after the shooting.

The victim, aged in his early 30s, was seen with his killer at Italian eatery Bar Reggio
shortly before the murder.

The taxi, which wasn't fitted with a security camera, has been seized by police for
forensic examination.

The driver was unharmed and has been interviewed by police.

Investigations were continuing today, but a police spokeswoman said officers had a
good idea of who they were looking for.

A 55-year-old local resident, who asked not to be named, said he saw the victim's body
in Chapel Street.

He was in the nearby Arch cafe, which backs on to Chapel Street, when he heard police sirens.

"I saw the body in the laneway," he said.

"I just poked my head out the door and saw black shoes and maybe black pants.

"Everyone was still dining, the restaurants were full, there were people in the street."

Leigh McDivitt, 24, who works in nearby restaurant Pello, also saw the murder victim.

"The guy was lying there in a pool of blood," she said.

"They left the body there for hours."

Rebecca Evans, 25, who has lived near Chapel Street for about six months, said she
had heard "lots of arguments" in the laneway, but she was surprised by last night's murder.

"(I heard) two bangs, that's it ... we were watching television," she said.

One neighbour, who also asked not to be named, said she felt safe in East Sydney regardless
of the crime rate.

"I wish it wasn't happening, but it's just part of life in the suburb," she said.

"I've never felt scared, it's my patch, it's well lit and there are always people around.

"I could get caught in the crossfire, but I don't think they're targeting locals."

Police believe the gunman is aged in his late 30s or early 40s, about 180cm tall, of
white/European appearance and a muscular/athletic build, with shaved or short grey/white
hair.

He was wearing dark coloured shorts and a light coloured jacket and carrying a black
bag similar to a doctor's bag.

He is believed to be armed and dangerous.

AAP kjd/tam/jjs

KEYWORD: SHOT WITNESSES

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

VIC: Main stories in today's Melbourne newspapers

AAP General News (Australia)
12-23-2005
VIC: Main stories in today's Melbourne newspapers

MELBOURNE, Dec 23 AAP - The main stories in today's Melbourne newspapers:

HERALD SUN

Page 1: It's the season for giving and cricket spin king Shane Warne played Santa to
perfection yesterday. The Telstra Dome is up for grabs, with the Seven Network looking
to sell its stake.

Page 2: Opposition Leader Robert Doyle has demoted key opponents in a reshuffle described
by some Liberal MPs as `payback'.

Page 3: A savage American pit bull has been killed with an axe while attacking a young boy.

World: The US Senate yesterday blocked a plan to open the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge to oil exploration.

Finance: Dick Pratt's Visy packaging empire has completed a restructure of around $2
billion of debt as part of an overhaul of group operations.

Sport: Shane Warne has claimed South African captain Graeme Smith lacks imagination
and remains adamant he will turn first Test saviour Justin Kemp into `the new Darryl Cullinan'.

More cmc

KEYWORD: MONITOR FRONTERS VIC

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

Fed: Beattie seeks agreement on tax phasing-out period

AAP General News (Australia)
04-14-2005
Fed: Beattie seeks agreement on tax phasing-out period

Queensland Premier PETER BEATTIE has called on Treasurer PETER COSTELLO to allow a
six-year phasing out period of state taxes as a solution to the row over the GST.

Mr BEATTIE has conceded Mr COSTELLO has the whip hand in the argument, because he can
withdraw GST revenue to the states if they don't accede to federal demands they abolish
state taxes in return for the GST.

But Mr BEATTIE says the commonwealth demand can't be achieved in one budget.

He's told ABC Radio that rational Australians will see the phasing-out proposal is reasonable.

AAP RTV dep/maur/jjs

KEYWORD: TAX BEATTIE (CANBERRA)

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

MEASURE HOLDS LINE ON POSTAL RATES.(BUSINESS)

Byline: Jim Abrams Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- Americans will get a three-year reprieve from higher postal rates under legislation that allows the Postal Service to save billions of dollars that would have otherwise gone into pension payments.

The bill, which would require the Postal Service to keep stamp prices at current levels until 2006, passed 424-0 by the House on Tuesday and now goes to President Bush for his expected signature. The Senate passed the bill last week.

The legislation has strong support in the $900 billion mailing industry, which has suffered in recent years from the poor economy, lost volume, the anthrax scare, increased competition from online banking and other electronic communication, and public aversion to rising prices.

The price of a first-class stamp was raised to 37 cents last June, the fifth increase since 1991, when the rate jumped from 25 cents to 29 cents.

Mail advertising and parcel deliveries amounts to hundreds of billions of dollars in commerce every year, said Rep. John McHugh, R-N.Y., the bill's chief sponsor. The legislation "certainly would go a long way toward boosting the economic activities of this nation as a whole."

"This represents stable postal rates which we haven't seen for some time," said Neal Denton of the Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers, which represents churches, charities and other groups that use the mail to raise funds and disseminate information. "This is tremendous news."

The measure grew out of findings last year by the Office of Personnel Management that the Postal Service was paying billions of dollars too much into the Civil Service Retirement System, which covers workers who joined before 1984. The office estimated that the Postal Service would eventually overfund the retirement program by more than $70 billion.

The legislation allows the Postal Service to adjust its pension payments, with the condition that there be no rate increases until 2006 and that the savings be used to pay down the Postal Service's debts, which now stand at more than $11 billion. The savings can't be used to pay executive bonuses.

It is expected to result in savings of $2.9 billion this budget year and $2.6 billion next year.

The financial break comes as a presidential commission considers long-range changes to the money-losing agency. "It helps to lay the foundation for systematic reforms that are so desperately needed in the nation's mailing system," said William L. Davis, head of R.R. Donnelley, which provides printing and related services to catalog merchandisers and newspaper, magazine, book and directory publishers.

The bill is S. 380.

* On the Internet: Congress: thomas.loc.gov/USPS: www.usps.gov

Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers: www.nonprofitmailers.org/about.html

H2fuel Developing Promising Membrane Technology for Fuel Cell Hydrogen.

Process Would Create Pure Hydrogen From Readily Available Fuel Sources for Use

In Fuel Cells

SPOKANE, Wash., Oct. 17 /PRNewswire/ --

Avista Labs today announced its affiliate H2fuel, LLC is developing new technology that would greatly reduce the cost of producing hydrogen for use in fuel cells. Avista Labs, a subsidiary of Avista Corporation (NYSE: AVA), and a 70 percent owner of H2fuel, is a leading developer of Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells. H2fuel is a developer of hydrogen extraction and purification technologies for use in the fuel cell industry.

(Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990629/AVALOGO )

The new membrane-based technology works by eliminating carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide from readily available fuels such as natural gas and propane, thus allowing the production of nearly pure hydrogen. This is important for fuel cells, because the cleaner the hydrogen fed into them, the more efficiently they tend to run.

H2fuel, of Mt. Prospect, Ill, recently awarded a research and development contract to the University of Kentucky to synthesize, characterize and test a family of chemical transport membranes that efficiently and selectively remove the oxides of carbon from a gas mixture.

The H2fuel research at the University of Kentucky is being supplemented by a parallel effort funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

According to H2Fuel President Serge Randhava, this membrane-based approach to the extraction and purification of hydrogen from natural gas or propane is a departure from other methods currently in use, and is expected to be less expensive than other methods.

Dr. Winston Ho of the University of Kentucky's Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering is the principal investigator for both the H2fuel and the DOE programs. The H2fuel technical team is led by Dr. Richard Kao, H2fuel vice president of technology.

Avista Corp. is an energy company involved in the production, transmission and distribution of energy as well as other energy-related businesses. Avista's affiliates include Avista Utilities, a company operating division that provides electric and natural gas service to customers in four western states. Non-regulated affiliates include Avista Advantage, Avista Labs and Avista Energy. Avista Corp.'s stock is traded under the ticker symbol "AVA" and its Internet address is www.avistacorp.com

NOTE: Avista Corp. and the Avista Corp. logo are trademarks of Avista Corporation. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.

This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding the company's current expectations. Forward-looking statements are all statements other than historical facts. Such statements speak only as of the date of the news release and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the company's control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations. These risks and uncertainties include, in addition to those discussed herein, all of the factors discussed in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2000, and the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31 and June 30, 2001.

MAKE YOUR OPINION COUNT - Click Here

http://tbutton.prnewswire.com/prn/11690X59813182

Over 3O Percent of Korea's Research and Development Spending Now Available for Licensing On yet2.com.

Business/Technology Editors

Four New Korean Companies Join the World's Premier Technology Exchange

to Offer Technology and Intellectual Property

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 19, 2000

yet2.com, the first global marketplace for the exchange of intellectual property on the Internet, announced today that Hyundai Heavy Industries, LG-Elite, Samsung Electronics and SK Corporation have joined yet2.com's online exchange as Founding Sponsors. For the first time, these companies have made their multi-billion dollar portfolios available for licensing exclusively on the yet2.com site. Collectively, the companies joining yet2.com's international marketplace represent more than 30 percent of Korea's spending on research and development.

"We spend over $1.6 billion annually on research and development, and we have been searching for the safest, most effective outlet that would allow us to capitalize on our underutilized intellectual assets," said Dong-Geun Lee, manager of the Intellectual Property Group at Samsung. "yet2.com provides us with the platform necessary to license our technology know-how while enabling our engineers to search for R&D technologies that will help our company continue to grow."

Together, yet2.com's Founding Sponsors represent approximately 15 percent of the world's R&D annual spending making the site the largest source of intellectual property. yet2.com is the only cross-industry global marketplace that helps intellectual property and R&D professionals make non-intuitive connections by matching buyers and sellers from different industries.

"The Internet is drastically changing the way corporations license intellectual property," said S.T. Yun, general manager of Information Technology Division of Hyundai Heavy Industries. "We wanted to be a part of this trend and decided to join the largest online trading floor for intellectual assets. yet2.com will enable us to extract additional value from our innovative technologies as part of our ongoing new business efforts."

Organizations can now efficiently market their technologies to realize hundreds of millions of dollars in revenues through out-licensing. Individual scientists, inventors and licensing professionals can more easily market their technologies to buyers worldwide and also tap into R&D resources at leading technology companies. yet2.com enables companies of all sizes and individuals to shorten the technology transfer process and increase R&D efficiencies.

"Hyundai Heavy Industries, LG-Elite, Samsung Electronics and SK Corporation join our international who's who of companies that have agreed to post their technologies exclusively on our site," said Chris De Bleser, CEO of yet2.com. "Companies of all sizes around the world are turning to us to help increase shareholder value by creating a convenient and effective environment to extract value from their intellectual assets."

Other leading technology companies that have joined yet2.com's marketplace include 3M, Agfa-Gevaert Group, Arthur D. Little, Asahi Glass Company, BASF, Battelle, Bayer, The Boeing Company, Bosch, British Telecommunications, Ciba Specialty Chemicals, Denso Corporation, Dow Chemical, DuPont, EPRI, Ford Global Technologies, Fuji Photo Film Company, Honeywell, Kansai Research Institute, Kao Corporation, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Mitsui Chemicals, Monsanto, NEC Corporation, Nippon Steel Corporation, NTT Advanced Technology Corporation, Osaka Gas, Royal Philips Electronics, Pitney Bowes, Polaroid Corporation, Porsche, Procter & Gamble, Rockwell, SAIC, Sandia National Laboratories, Shell Global Solutions, Siemens, Sumitomo Chemical, Sumitomo Electric Industries, Takeda Chemical Industries, Toray Industries, Toshiba Corporation, Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, Toyota Motor Corporation, TRW and the University of Michigan.

About yet2.com

yet2.com is the first cross-industry global marketplace for the exchange of technology on the Internet. The company has enlisted a growing core of leading corporations and government agencies to pledge technology assets from every field of research. yet2.com is creating the most efficient method of streamlining research and development and extracting value from intellectual assets. With its headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, yet2.com has offices in Europe and Asia. For more information, visit www.yet2.com.

Dr. Art Ulene Joins Jenny Craig Medical Advisory Board.

Jenny Craig Also Announces Plans to Develop and Market

Exclusive Line of Dietary Supplements With Dr. Ulene

LA JOLLA, Calif., Dec. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Jenny Craig, Inc. (NYSE: JC) today announced that Dr. Art Ulene has joined its Medical Advisory Board and will work with the Company on formulating an exclusive line of vitamins, minerals, and herbal dietary supplements for sale on the Internet and in Jenny Craig Centres. Known to millions of television viewers as "America's Wellness Doctor" after nearly 20 years of appearances on NBC's TODAY show, Dr. Ulene serves as chairman of the Feeling Fine Co., which develops and distributes health information programs and nutritional supplements

"The addition of Dr. Ulene to Jenny Craig's Medical Advisory Board underscores our commitment to provide credible information to women on health and wellness and to ensure that our program materials continue to reflect the most current recommendations for weight management," said Phil Voluck, President and Chief Operating Officer for Jenny Craig. "Dr. Ulene's medical background along with his experience as an entrepreneur in the development and distribution of nutritional supplements will further enhance our efforts to become a respected provider of vitamins, minerals, and herbal supplements on the Internet and in our centres." The Company expects to begin marketing the new line of nutritional supplements in February 1999.

Consumers spent more than $12 billion on natural supplements last year -- nearly double the amount spent in 1994, and sales continue to grow at more than 10% a year. Given the growing popularity of electronic commerce -- which is projected to reach $350 billion by 2002 -- Voluck said the convenience of purchasing quality nutritional supplements via the Internet bodes well for the Company. "With many consumers taking such supplements to stave off disease and enhance their physical and psychological well-being, there's a strong link between their use and the services Jenny Craig provides," he said. "More and more women are searching for alternative solutions to improve their appearances and their health. Jenny Craig is already a leading choice among women seeking to lose weight. Now the Company is positioning itself to serve women as their leading source of information on nutrition, health and well-being. Offering a proprietary line of nutritional supplements specially formulated to address the unique health needs of women is our first step in achieving this objective. And we can think of no better person than 'America's Wellness Doctor' to help us do that."

In addition to working with Jenny Craig on formulating the new line of nutritional supplements, Dr. Ulene will join the Company's other Medical Advisory Board members in reviewing and approving program materials and offering input and guidance on the Company's weight management services and wellness programs. Comprised of health experts representing the fields of medicine, psychology, physiology, and nutrition, Jenny Craig's eight-member Medical Advisory Board also keeps the Company apprised of the latest developments in their respective fields.

"Joining Jenny Craig's Medical Advisory Board offers me a wonderful opportunity to contribute to the ongoing development of one of the nation's most recognized and respected weight management programs," said Dr. Ulene. "I'm particularly looking forward to working with Jenny Craig on developing a new line of nutritional supplements and utilizing the Internet as a new medium to promote public health. Jenny Craig and I share common views regarding the health and wellness of women, and by forging this partnership, I feel we can be more effective in our collective efforts to educate women and serve their needs, wants and desires throughout all stages of their lives."

Dr. Ulene is a Board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist and a Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Southern California School of Medicine. His special interest is the application of modern communications technology to health education.

Since 1975, Dr. Ulene has spearheaded the use of television to promote public health. His health reports appeared nationally on NBC's TODAY show for nearly 20 years. In addition, Dr. Ulene has worked with the American Medical Association to develop nationwide campaigns to promote healthful behavioral change. These campaigns have helped Americans deal with problems such as obesity, high blood cholesterol, headaches, back pain, and nicotine addiction. Dr. Ulene is the author of more than 50 books and home video/audio programs designed to promote good health. He is a member of the Board of Councilors of the Schools of Medicine and Pharmacy at the University of Southern California, and a member of the Board of Directors of the USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Founded in 1983, Jenny Craig, Inc. is one of the largest weight management service companies in the world. The Company offers a comprehensive weight management program that helps clients develop a healthy relationship with food, build an active lifestyle, and create a more balanced approach to living. The program includes personal, one-on-one consultations at centres located in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Puerto Rico. At September 30, 1998, the Company owned 643 Centres with an additional 138 Centres owned by franchisees.

MORE PEOPLE ATTACK THE EMPLOYMENT PROBLEMS IN SOUTH JERSEY BY STARTING THEIR OWN SMALL BUSINESSES.

TRENTON, NJ -- The following information was released by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA):

By Wallace McKelvey

Atlantic City Press

They lack the clout to sway votes in Congress or the savvy to set up tax shelters in the Cayman Islands. When they start up, there's little fanfare, and when they go under, there's no one to bail them out.

But they are the unseen engines of the local economy.

Small businesses -- defined as firms with fewer than 500 employees -- represent about 98 percent of New Jersey's employers and more than 50 percent of the state's private-sector jobs, the U.S. Small Business Administration says.

Local economic experts say all indicators point to an increase in small business activity in the region. With unemployment hovering at about 9 percent statewide, they say more people are taking their financial futures into their own hands, creating jobs for themselves and their neighbors.

Joseph Molineaux, director of the Small Business Development Center at The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, said 2011 may be a record-setting year for entrepreneurs.

About 350 visitors have come to his office in the first six months of the year, seeking help with business plans and funding for their endeavors. Molineaux said that is on track to match or beat the record of 704 set two years ago. Last year, he said, about 650 small business hopefuls visited the Atlantic City office.

"Right now, the conditions are ripe for people to do their own thing," he said. "The opportunities are there -- all they need to do is look for unmet needs to help people."

Most of today's business proposals involve personal service, especially those centered on technology and the tourism industry, Molineaux said. In the current environment, most tend to avoid ideas that involve large start-up costs, such as restaurants.

"Everyone's expectations are more realistic today," he said. "They're realistic about what they can earn and what people will pay for products."

In addition to starting smaller, Molineaux said he encourages prospective business owners to design a strong business plan and have an exit plan.

"People look at exit strategies to know at what point to get out," he said. "That wasn't part of the business plan years ago. Now it's integral."

The Internet has also opened up marketing opportunities businesses didn't have before, Molineaux said. The smart entrepreneur has a web presence on Facebook and Twitter, if not their own website.

The three businesses The Press of Atlantic City contacted all have either a website or a business page on Facebook.

And while bank loans can still be difficult to obtain, Molineaux said there are micro-loans available through various lenders statewide.

In the first six months of fiscal year 2011, the SBA's New Jersey district office approved 22 small business loans, totaling $17.6 million in Atlantic County, compared to 14 loans and $3.9 million during the same period in 2010.

As of June 30, the SBA has approved 27 loans for $20.4 million, said spokesman Harry Menta.

He said the increase in small business loans is largely due to the Small Business Jobs Act, which was signed into law last year, clearing the way for $42 billion in tax credits and loan incentives for banks. The bill also guaranteed loans up to 90 percent and waived fees for borrowers, he said.

"Putting capital in the hands of small business organizations has a trickle down effect that can create jobs for our area, put people back to work and lead to more orders for another business," he said. "One loan can do more than one thing for one small business owner."

Mayor James "Sonny" McCullough said Egg Harbor Township hasn't done anything specifically targeting small businesses, but entrepreneurs are good for the community.

"We're not discouraging it, but what we're really looking for is commercial ratables," which won't come from a home operation, he said.

Although he's unsure whether home-based businesses -- which are difficult to track -- are seeing real growth in the township, McCullough said they are more visible. With the Internet, he said people can find a caterer or cleaning service in minutes.

New career as a "rental wife"

When the economic recession struck, Andrea Thonen's career as a freelance home-care nurse hit the rocks.

"Families started taking care of patients themselves instead of paying and having people come in and do it," she said. "And a lot of people are starting their own home health care businesses."

While her client base disappeared, Thonen said her responsibilities as a single mother of 12-year-old twin boys did not.

"It's been horrible, hard times, but we make it," she said. "I refuse to be supported by the state of New Jersey, so I do it on my own."

The solution to her problems, Thonen said, came from her own personal experience with messy boyfriends. There was an unmet need out there for what Thonen calls the "rental wife."

"Guys houses are sometimes very 'bachelor,'" she said. "The beer cans everywhere, garbage piled up, no sheets on the bed -- just a comforter."

Although errand and housecleaning services are common enough, Thonen said few of them have targeted bachelors. When family or future in-laws are stopping by, she said, even the messiest guys want to clean up their act.

"Bachelors out there don't have the first clue about cleaning and putting a house together," she said.

Thonen said her Pretty Girl Service, which provides a range of services from cooking and cleaning to home decor and personal shopping, has attracted three regular clients since it began in May.

Eventually, she said, she hopes to expand her Cardiff home-based business to hoarders and those with more intense cleaning needs.

Financial security at 18

Chop Dawg Studios, a web design firm, will celebrate its second year in business next month. Its 18-year-old owner, Joshua Davidson, said he hopes to move the operation out of his parents' McKee City home by then.

"We'll be looking for a studio next month," he said.

Currently, the studio -- with local and national clients ranging from the Community Partnership for EHT Schools to Six Flags Great Adventure -- exists anywhere Davidson and his six team members can find an Internet connection. But the brick-and-mortar studio isn't likely to change that, noted Creative Director Rauf Tur, 27, of Galloway Township.

"You could work at 4 in the morning in Toronto if you wanted to, or 12 at night in Madagascar," said Tur, who started at Davidson's firm in March. "It doesn't matter as long as you meet the deadlines and get the job done."

Before landing the job, Tur said he struggled to find a job, sending out at least a hundred resumes. He found Chop Dawg through the alumni connection at Richard Stockton College, where Davidson will study business and marketing this fall.

Davidson, who started designing websites for fun, said he started pursuing it as a business to make extra money.

"I got denied about a thousand times before I found my first (client)," he said. "After that first business accepted me, I made a website for them and they became successful and they told two people and they told two people and it became a snowball effect."

Today, Davidson said Chop Dawg has 140 active clients across the country. And he's just launched the studio's first software program, a HTML-free web editor for his clients called Odysseus CMS.

Operating his own business is "amazing and scary at the same time," he said. "It's my responsibility for myself that everything happens and becomes reality."

But it's far better than the alternative, working a minimum-wage job on the boardwalk, Davidson said.

Joshua's 42-year-old father, Dave, who works as a shift manager at a casino, said his son has financial security that is rare at any age in the current economy.

"If I should lose my job, I don't have to worry about him so much as I would for our girls," he said.

"I always thought he'd find his own way," added his mother, Lisaanne. "He's always the one to take the reins and make it work."

A green evolution

When Sandy Valdivieso's children, now 9 and 11, went off to school

four years ago, she said she had to find something to do with her free time.

"I cannot sit still -- I had to do something," she said. Her first at-home business, an errand service, was "very flexible, so I could still be home for the kids when they came back from school."

But the jobs stopped coming as the economy forced her clients to cut back on spending. Valdivieso, who emigrated from Ecuador 14 years ago to be with her engineer husband, said she had to expand her horizons.

Valdivieso, 37, gradually refashioned her business into a green, nontoxic cleaning company under the Shore Naturals banner, evolving with the tough economic times.

She said the biggest impact of the economy has been on the prices she can charge for services. A split-level townhouse that would have cost $120 to clean now fetches about $90, she said.

In March, with mounting competition and increasing overhead costs, she teamed up with two of her Steelmanville neighbors to form Brookside Cleaning. The company now has seven part-time employees to cover a growing roster of commercial and residential clients.

"I don't think I'd be here so quickly by myself," she said. "It's not easy to change, but this was a good transition and it allows (the company) to grow."

Because she's scrubbed bathroom floors herself, Valdivieso said it's important to keep her employees as happy as her clients.

"When we're established, I don't want to be the employer you say, 'You work for that company?'" she said. "We try to be a good company to work at. It has its challenges, but that's important to me."

One of those employees, Victoria Clark, 41, of Northfield, started cleaning houses in April to supplement her income as a dance instructor. She works about 10 hours a week in the evening and on weekends.

"I enjoy walking out of a house, leaving it the way a person wants to find it and knowing they didn't have to do it," she said. "One day, I hope to have that feeling."

Payment Processing, Inc. Drives into Buy Here-Pay Here Auto Dealership Market with Industry Pioneer, Wayne Reaves Software.

Partnership delivers PayMover SecurePlus technology, removing in-the-clear cardholder data from payments equation

NEWARK, Calif., June 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Payment Processing, Inc. (PPI), the industry leader for integrated payments, today announced a partnership with Wayne Reaves Software, developer of automobile dealership management systems. The PayMover SecurePlus payment platform, integrated with Wayne Reaves software, enables dealerships to process credit and debit card payments with advanced security features. The partnership marks PPI's growth, as a key payments technology player, into the 'buy here-pay here' dealership arena.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100217/CL55604LOGO )

Wayne Reaves software utilizes Managed Payer Data for recurring business, allowing the storage of credit card data on PPI's secure servers, significantly reducing risk for the dealership and the customer. Moreover, Encrypted Swipe functionality ensures the POS system never handles clear text cardholder data.

Wayne Reaves' car dealer management software supports all aspects of running a dealership, including: management of dealer vehicle inventory, sales tracking, finance and insurance calculations, customer tracking/follow-up, accounting, bank contracts, buy here-pay here leasing, sales forms, administrative and legal documentation, and full service technical support. Wayne Reaves also provides full website services and internet marketing.

"The integrated technology offered by PPI creates a safer experience for the buy here-pay here customer," stated Wayne Reaves, "and adds a higher level of protection from cardholder data theft for the auto dealership."

PPI President, Eddie Myers, added, "The comprehensive security features in PayMover SecurePlus are a natural fit for Wayne Reaves' solution. Auto dealerships will, no doubt, see the value in removing usable card data from their operations for security far beyond PCI compliance."

About Wayne Reaves Software

A successful independent auto dealer for more than 26 years, Wayne Reaves entered the software business in 1987, delivering superior software development for the highly specialized needs of automobile dealerships, buy-here/pay-here lots, title pawns and much more. Wayne Reaves Software has more than 6,500 users of his software and websites across the United States. WayneReaves.com is a one-stop shop for dealerships, offering time and money-saving products to independent dealers like: 100% verified legal forms, plain-paper printable forms, detailed VIN exploder, stock photos, automated 3rd party-uploads from websites and much more. These tools allow independent dealers to compete directly with the large branded dealers. More information is available at waynereaves.com.

About Payment Processing, Inc.

Since 1995, PPI has been partnering with software developers and their customers, delivering nothing less than robust, stable, fully supported and profitable integrated payment solutions. In 2010, PPI processed in excess of $6.5 billion in Visa and MasterCard payments. We provide developers with a full range of in-house services for building and promoting integrated payment solutions, including PPI-developed hosted payment services, integration support, customer support, marketing assistance and PA-DSS/PCI DSS security services. It's why more than 1,500 partners and 49,000 businesses have selected Payment Processing, Inc. as their dedicated payment professionals. Learn more at www.paypros.com.

Contacts: Garrett Geib, SkyRocket Group 814-833-5026 garrett@skyrocketgroup.com Richard Livingston, PPI 919-463-7632 rlivingston@paypros.com

SOURCE Payment Processing, Inc.

Research and Markets: 1:1 (Personalized) Printing: Boosting Profits Through Relevance Q2 2011.(Financial report)

DUBLIN -- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/8ad480/11_personalized) has announced the addition of the "1:1 (Personalized) Printing: Boosting Profits Through Relevance Q2 2011" report to their offering.

It's a tough marketing world out there. The media mix is fragmenting. Marketers no longer have the freedom to worry only about the big three: television, radio, and print. They need to worry about blogs, social networking, search engine marketing, QR codes, and more. As media continue to splinter, consumers expect to be targeted on a demographic, even individual, basis.

At the same time that there are more places for companies to spend their marketing dollars, those dollars are coming under closer scrutiny. Marketers are increasingly called onto the carpet to justify their spending decisions. With the U.S. just pulling out of the recession and the economic recovering going more slowly than expected, every decision becomes that much more critical.

Fortunately, while the media and the economic environments change, the fundamental rules of marketing don't. Good marketing requires sending the right message to the right target audience at the right time. There are simply more factors and more media to consider in the process.

There has been some question about the role of print in today's increasingly electronic world. When you can zap a marketing message to someone's cell phone at the precise time and place the marketing message is relevant to them, when customers can log into their favorite online retail site and be greeted with personalized recommendations based on their past purchase history, is there a role for a stodgy old medium like print? In today's electronic, mobile world, is print even relevant anymore? The answer is yes, but not the way you might think. Although we tend to think of on-demand access to information and highly responsive (even real-time) marketing and down-to-the-individual personalization as the realm of wireless and the Internet, we can do the same thing with print. Yes, print! Plus, print has tangibility, credibility, and appeal the Internet does not offer.

In this report, we will talk about the role of 1:1 printing in increasing the effectiveness of your marketing program.

Key Topics Covered:

Section 1: Personalizing Through Print

Section 2: 1:1 Printing Basics

Section 3: Evaluating Cost - Benefits

Section 4: Types of 1:1 Printing

Section 5: Case Studies in 1:1 Printing

Section 6: Best Practices for 1:1 Printing

Section 7: Conclusions For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/8ad480/11_personalized

Pinnacle Entertainment Schedules Date to Report 1st Quarter Results and Conference Call.

Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. announced that it will release its 2011 first quarter financial results on Thursday, April 28, prior to the market opening, followed by a conference call on the same day at 8 a.m. ET (5 a.m. PT).

To participate in the conference call, please dial (888) 792-8395 approximately five to ten minutes prior to the scheduled conference call time. International callers should call (706) 679-7241. The code to access the conference call is 60141974.

This conference call will also be broadcast live over the Internet and can be accessed by all interested parties at pnkinc.com. To listen to the live call, please go to the website at least fifteen minutes early to register, download, and install any necessary audio software.

A replay of the conference call will be available through May 12, by dialing (800) 642-1687 or, for international callers, (706) 645-9291. The code to access the replay is 60141974.

Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. owns and operates seven casinos, located in Louisiana, Missouri, Indiana and Nevada, and a racetrack in Ohio.

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

ShoreTel Names Peter Blackmore President and CEO.

Industry Veteran Brings Broad Expertise to Fast-Growing Business Communications Leader

SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- ShoreTel[R] (NASDAQ:SHOR), the leading provider of brilliantly simple IP phone systems with fully integrated unified communications, today announced that its board of directors has named Peter Blackmore to serve as the company's president and chief executive officer, effective today. Don Girskis, who served as interim CEO, will resume his position as senior vice president of worldwide sales.

ShoreTel (NASDAQ:SHOR), the leading provider of brilliantly simple IP phone systems with fully integrated unified communications, today announced that its board of directors has named Peter Blackmore to serve as the company's president and chief executive officer, effective today. Don Girskis, who served as interim CEO, will resume his position as senior vice president of worldwide sales. (Photo: Business Wire)

Blackmore was most recently president, CEO and a member of the board of directors of UTStarcom, Inc., a provider of Internet protocol-based network solutions. There, he focused UTStarcom's strategy to capitalize on opportunities in China and India. Before UTStarcom, Blackmore was executive vice president in charge of worldwide sales, marketing and technology at Unisys Corporation. Prior to Unisys, Blackmore worked at Hewlett-Packard where he served as executive vice president of the Customer Solutions Group and, before that, of the Enterprise Systems Group. From 1991 until its acquisition by Hewlett-Packard in 2002, Blackmore served in several senior management positions at Compaq Computer Corporation reporting directly to the CEO, including senior vice president of worldwide sales and marketing and then executive vice president for sales and service. Earlier Blackmore held senior field sales and channel management roles at Compaq in Europe and North America.

"Peter brings a wealth of hardware, software, services and channel expertise to ShoreTel," said Gary Daichendt, chairman of the board at ShoreTel. "His track record of successfully scaling technology organizations worldwide makes him the right leader to accelerate ShoreTel's growth."

"ShoreTel has a solid reputation for industry-leading solutions and world-class customer satisfaction, and I am thrilled to be joining the company," said Blackmore. "I look forward to working with the entire ShoreTel team to help the company continue to accelerate its growth and achieve its tremendous potential."

Daichendt added, "On behalf of the board, I also want to thank Don Girskis for his leadership of ShoreTel during our search for a new CEO, during which time ShoreTel continued to execute effectively on its plan and deliver record revenues, beating industry growth rates. This is a strong foundation on which to build."

Blackmore serves on the board of MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc. and holds an M.A. in Economics from Trinity College, Cambridge, U.K. He is married with two children and lives in Northern California.

About ShoreTel

ShoreTel, Inc. (NASDAQ:SHOR) is the provider of brilliantly simple Unified Communication (UC) solutions based on its award-winning IP business phone system. We offer organizations of all sizes integrated, voice, video, data, and mobile communications on an open, distributed IP architecture that helps significantly reduce the complexity and costs typically associated with other solutions. The feature-rich ShoreTel UC system offers the lowest total cost of ownership (TCO) and the highest customer satisfaction in the industry, in part because it is easy to deploy, manage, scale and use. Increasingly, companies around the world are finding a competitive edge by replacing business-as-usual with new thinking, and choosing ShoreTel to handle their integrated business communication. ShoreTel is based in Sunnyvale, California, and has regional offices in Austin, Texas, United Kingdom, Sydney, Australia and Munich, Germany. For more information, visit www.shoretel.com.

Legal Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

ShoreTel assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements included in this release. This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the federal securities laws, including, without limitation, statements relating to ShoreTel's growth potential. The forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. The risks and uncertainties include the global economic downturn, particularly in the United States, and the impact thereof on information technology spending, the intense competition in our industry, our reliance on third parties to sell and support our products, our dependence on key suppliers and other supply and manufacturing risks, our ability to control costs, our ability to attract, retain and ramp new sales personnel, uncertainties inherent in the product development cycle, including unforeseen delays and unknown defects, uncertainty as to market acceptance of new products and services, the potential for litigation in our industry, risks related to our recently-completed acquisition, including technology and product integration risks, ability to retain key personnel and customers and the risk of assuming unknown liabilities, and other risk factors set forth in ShoreTel's Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2010.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6542497&lang=en

Motorola Positioned in the Leaders Quadrant for Fiber-to-the-Home Solutions in Magic Quadrant Report.

HORSHAM, Pa., Dec. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Motorola, Inc. today announced that it has been positioned by Gartner, Inc. in the Leaders quadrant in the "Magic Quadrant for Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH) Equipment"(1) research report.

The Gartner Magic Quadrant positions vendors according to their "ability to execute" and "completeness of vision" in FTTH equipment.

With respect to the first criterion, "Gartner analysts evaluate technology providers on the quality and efficacy of the processes, systems, methods or procedures that enable IT provider performance to be competitive, efficient and effective, and to positively impact revenue, retention and reputation. Ultimately, technology providers are judged on their ability and success in capitalizing on their vision."

For the "completeness of vision" criterion, "Gartner analysts evaluate technology providers on their ability to convincingly articulate logical statements about current and future market direction, innovation, customer needs, and competitive forces and how well they map to the Gartner position. Ultimately, technology providers are rated on their understanding of how market forces can be exploited to create opportunity for the provider."

"We are pleased to be included in Gartner's Magic Quadrant for Fiber-to-the-Home equipment," said Dr. George Simmons, corporate vice president and general manager, Access Network Solutions, Motorola, Inc. "We consider the placement in the leaders quadrant in the Magic Quadrant to be a testament to our extensive video expertise, the proven and trusted nature of our FTTH solutions portfolio, and our dedication to serving our customers' needs for voice, video and data worldwide."

Motorola's FTTH solution, including Motorola's AXS2200 OLT and AX1800 OLT and a suite of residential, small business and multi-dwelling unit ONTs, allows service providers to take advantage of the ultra-broadband nature of GPON to offer new tiers of residential and commercial broadband services. By leveraging the full capabilities of the Motorola GPON system, operators can deliver trusted IPTV, ultra-broadband data and quality IP and TDM voice services with transparent access to RF video services via existing RF headend and set-top boxes. This approach allows service providers to deploy an economical, proven FTTH solution that enables the delivery of the highest quality HDTV experience and lightning fast symmetrical internet speeds that are optimized to enable the transition from broadcast to unicast service models.

About Motorola

Motorola is known around the world for innovation in communications. The company develops technologies, products and services that make mobile experiences possible. Our portfolio includes communications infrastructure, enterprise mobility solutions, digital set-tops, cable modems, mobile devices and Bluetooth accessories. Motorola is committed to delivering next generation communication solutions to people, businesses and governments. A Fortune 100 company with global presence and impact, Motorola had sales of US $36.6 billion in 2007. For more information about our company, our people and our innovations, please visit http://www.motorola.com/.

(1) Gartner, "Magic Quadrant for Fiber-to-the-Home Equipment," by Peter Kieldsen et al. Dec. 12, 2008

The Magic Quadrant is copyrighted December 12, 2008 by Gartner, Inc. and is reused with permission. The Magic Quadrant is a graphical representation of a marketplace at and for a specific time period. It depicts Gartner's analysis of how certain vendors measure against criteria for that marketplace, as defined by Gartner. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in the Magic Quadrant, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors placed in the "Leaders" quadrant. The Magic Quadrant is intended solely as a research tool, and is not meant to be a specific guide to action. Gartner disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

MOTOROLA and the stylized M Logo are registered in the US Patent & Trademark Office. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners. (C) Motorola, Inc. 2008. All rights reserved.

CONTACT: Media, Therese Van Ryne, +1-847-370-2317, therese.vanryne@motorola.com, or Industry Analysts, Kathy Wiesner, +1-847-875-0166, k.wiesner@motorola.com, both of Motorola Home & Networks Mobility

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