QLD:Gold Coast cops deny blitz is a fizzer

AAP General News (Australia)
08-01-2011
QLD:Gold Coast cops deny blitz is a fizzer

Eds: removing extraneous material



By Tony Bartlett

GOLD COAST, Aug 1 AAP - Senior police have denied criticism that the first weekend
of a blitz against crime on the Gold Coast was a fizzer.

Over the weekend under Operation Seymour, 64 people were arrested and charged with
100 offences ranging from forgery to drink-driving, drugs, public nuisance, stealing,
breaking and entering, robbery and assault.

Another 186 people were arrested on 225 charges, bringing the total to 250 arrests
on 325 charges.

Assistant Commissioner Paul Wilson says that in two significant arrests, one man was
charged with possessing equipment to make false drivers' licences and another was charged
with armed robbery.

Mr Wilson refused to comment on the political debate surrounding the operation and
media criticism that it was little more than a window dressing exercise, but he referred
to the successful approach taken by former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani in reducing crime
rates by tackling minor crime first.

He told reporters the argument that only minor charges were laid in the first couple
of days by the extra 50 officers brought in to the Gold Coast for Operation Seymour carried
"no weight at all".

"Another thing we do not know in policing is how many offences you deter, which is
the unknown factor which comes from saturation policing.

"But looking at the statistics from the weekend, we have had only one assault and robbery
and as you are aware there have been a number in recent times.

"So as this operation progresses we will see the complaints that come in, and if there
is a drop in them we can then statistically say there has been success."

Mr Wilson said organised and major crime is approached on a long term tactical basis,
and the crimes being targeted in Operation Seymour are public offences which need an immediate
and high profile response to restore public confidence.

AAP bart/crh/dep

KEYWORD: SEYMOUR (PIX AND VIDEO AVAILABLE) (REISSUING)

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

HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 14:30, April 52011

AAP General News (Australia)
04-05-2011
HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 14:30, April 52011

HOBART - Further local reaction to the federal government's announcement of a detention
centre at Pontville, in southern Tasmania (Detention Abetz to come), outseeking comment
from Greens and Opposition Leader Will Hodgman.



HOBART - The Tasmanian government says a no-confidence motion in one of its ministers
could bring down the government if it is passed by parliament. (THORP to come)



HOBART - Forestry peace deal facilitator Bill Kelty has released his report into the
statement of principles. (FORESTRY TAS to come).

AAP was

KEYWORD: HIGHLIGHTS NATIONAL 3 SYDNEY (REOPENS)

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

FED:Assange fears US justice, says supporter

AAP General News (Australia)
12-15-2010
FED:Assange fears US justice, says supporter

A friend of JULIAN ASSANGE says the WikiLeaks founder is more worried about being hauled
off to the United States and thrown into a dark room .. than extradited to Sweden to face
rape allegations.

Mr ASSANGE has been granted conditional bail by a British court but remains in prison
while Swedish authorities appeal the decision.

His friend VAUGHAN SMITH .. who runs the journalists' Frontline Club in London .. says
the 39 year old Australian doesn't seem worried by the Swedish case .. but does fear being
transferred to the US to face charges over the publication of secret documents.

Mr SMITH's told ABC Radio he's worried American authorities will throw him into a dark
room and chuck away the key.

AAP RTV jcd/rl/af

KEYWORD: ASSANGE (CANBERRA)

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

NSW:Young girl dies in house fire

AAP General News (Australia)
08-07-2010
NSW:Young girl dies in house fire

The body of a five-year-old girl has been found following a house fire in the New South
Wales Hunter region.

Police and fire crews were called to a house at Woodberry near Maitland following reports
the home was on fire at 10 o'clock this morning.

A woman managed to escape the house but her five-year-old granddaughter was trapped inside.

Firefighters worked for well over an hour to extinguish the blaze and once inside crews
located the body of the girl.

Hours earlier .. fire crews were called to a burning home at Hamilton in Newcastle's
west where a 50 year-old man was dragged unconscious from the house.

AAP RTV vpm/sw/

KEYWORD: FIRE (SYDNEY)

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

SA: Fatality-free day on the nation's roads

AAP General News (Australia)
12-27-2009
SA: Fatality-free day on the nation's roads

It's been a fatality-free day on the nation's roads today .. with the national road
toll sitting at 43.

The figure climbed earlier on confirmation a woman's died after being thrown from a
car in northern Western Australia yesterday afternoon .. taking that state's holiday road
toll to seven.

So far this holiday period 13 people have died on New South Wales roads .. 11 in Victoria
and six in Queensland.

The holiday road toll for South Australia remains at two .. with one in the Northern
Territory .. three in Tasmania and none in the ACT.







(EDS: National road toll figures are for the period 0001 December 18 to 2359 January
3. Some states and territories have different periods.)

AAP RTV njl/tm

KEYWORD: TOLL NATIONAL (ADELAIDE)

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

NSW: Orphaned teenager believes killers targeted parents

AAP General News (Australia)
08-16-2009
NSW: Orphaned teenager believes killers targeted parents

Orphaned teenager BRENDA LIN believes those responsible for the murder of her family
were targeting her parents .. but she's no idea why.

The Cheltenham Girls High student was on an excursion to New Caledonia when her parents
MIN and YUN LI .. two brothers and an aunt .. were bludgeoned to death in their beds.

Police are yet to make an arrest or reveal a motive for the murders last month in Epping
.. where her family ran a nearby newsagent.

In an interview on tonight's 60 Minutes program on the Nine network .. 15 year-old
BRENDA .. says she doesn't have any clues about the motive for the killings.

BRENDA says she's got no idea because her parents were always really nice to all the
customers and they never received threatening phone calls.

She also says in spite of the horrific killings .. she's not frightened for her safety.

AAP RTV krc fdf

KEYWORD: HOUSE (SYDNEY)

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

Vic: Minister denies any wrongdoing

AAP General News (Australia)
04-06-2009
Vic: Minister denies any wrongdoing

Senior Victorian government minister TIM PALLAS has rejected allegations that he tipped
off former police assistant commissioner NOEL ASHBY that his phone was tapped.

A leaked document alleges ASHBY met with a government minister in April 2007 and was
told to be careful if talking to former police association secretary PAUL MULLETT on the
telephone.

Fairfax radio host NEIL MITCHELL named Mr PALLAS today but the roads and ports minister
says he has no knowledge of a police integrity investigation.

He's admitted to meeting ASHBY on April 2 .. 2006 .. but says the meeting was about
roading projects and tunnels.

ASHBY resigned from the police force in 2007 after the OPI accused him of leaking sensitive
police information to MULLETT.

Both men have been charged in relation to the alleged leaks.

AAP RTV kb/mh/sw/wf

KEYWORD: OPI PALLAS (MELBOURNE)

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

SA: Toys banned in the lead-up to Christmas

AAP General News (Australia)
12-02-2008
SA: Toys banned in the lead-up to Christmas

ADELAIDE, Dec 2 AAP - Sixteen toys have been banned in South Australia after failing
safety checks in the lead-up to Christmas, including a toy gun with a laser 12 times more
powerful than allowed under Australian law.

Consumer officials said on Tuesday the laser was tested at a strength of 12 milliwatts,
while Australian regulations limited lasers to one milliwatt.

They said police found the laser had a range of 400 metres, posing a threat to motorists
and even pilots.

The banned toys also included a folding chair that could trap small fingers, a magnetic
learning set that released small parts and a toy that expanded in size when placed in
water.

Consumer affairs Minister Gail Gago said eight traders had been ordered to remove the
dangerous items from sale.

She said all traders had also been reminded that they faced a $10,000 for supplying banned items.

"We are reminding traders to ensure that their stock complies with safety regulations,"

Mr Gago said.

She said consumers who had purchased any of the banned items were entitled to a refund.

They were also encouraged to buy sensibly at Christmas and ensure gifts were suitable
for the age of the child.

AAP tjd/maur

KEYWORD: TOYS

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

Fed: Solar energy storage has real future - opposition

AAP General News (Australia)
04-29-2008
Fed: Solar energy storage has real future - opposition

CANBERRA, April 29 AAP - The federal coalition says its enthusiasm for solar energy
has changed dramatically, mainly because of technical know-how advances on the issue of
energy storage.

The opposition's environment spokesman, Greg Hunt, says there have been "enormous breakthroughs"

on storage capacity.

That had prompted a contrasting attitude now to that of the former Howard coalition
government which did not believe solar power could contribute to baseload energy output
- the sort needed for the national power grid.

Mr Hunt has been spruiking the opposition's vision of Australia becoming the first
solar continent.

"I think the science is moving very quickly," Mr Hunt told ABC Radio.

"What we see is the big problem for solar was storage. We're now seeing things such
as chemical energy storage being developed.

"There are enormous breakthroughs in this storage capacity."

The technical world had moved on and it needed to be recognised and embraced, Mr Hunt said.

"To say, here's a vision for something quite dramatic and big.

"This idea of a solar continent is the framework and our task now is to fit in the pieces.

"I think solar baseload is possible. It will happen within our lives."

Mr Hunt says one aspect of the plan is for shorter-term energy.

"It's about helping with the peak needs and that's where solar panels or photovoltaic
panels come in.

"We see that happening on three fronts, through solar homes, solar schools and solar cities.

"The second big part, which is in a way the very exciting part, is solar baseload,
and that's often known as solar thermal power.

"This is the long-term, base energy for your system."

Solar-generated power would not replace the need to clean up coal and gas-fired power
stations, Mr Hunt said.

But those power stations could be cleaned up and done so in an effective way.

AAP dep/rl/jfm/bwl

KEYWORD: SOLAR HUNT

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

NSW: Main stories in today's Sydney newspapers=3

AAP General News (Australia)
12-26-2007
NSW: Main stories in today's Sydney newspapers=3

THE AUSTRALIAN:

Page 1: Australia will build the world's most lethal conventional submarine fleet.

The competition watchdog plans to break big oil's control of national fuel storage facilities.

Wind, fire and water battered parts of Australia on Christmas Day.

Page 2: Flooding rains in western NSW have been the best Christmas present for the
drought ravaged area.

Page 3: Religious leaders yesterday called for compassion and a return to the true
meaning of the Christmas story.

World: Ousted Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has promised to return home to
clear his name.

Finance: Stockland, Australia's third largest shopping centre owner, had recycled $322
million from New Zealand to fund $1.8 billion of retail development projects in Australia.

Sport: Australia is searching for a reason to select paceman Shaun Tait for the Boxing Day Test.

AAP pc/it

KEYWORD: MONITOR FRONTERS NSW 3 SYDNEY

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

Vic: Police arrest two men after party stabbings

AAP General News (Australia)
08-18-2007
Vic: Police arrest two men after party stabbings

MELBOURNE, Aug 18 AAP - Two young men have been arrested following the stabbing of
two partygoers in a house in Melbourne's south-east.

The men, aged 18 and 20 years, were taken into custody from a house in Berwick this
morning, police said.

Just after midnight (AEST) last night, four men were stopped from entering a party
at Clyde North, and a fight ensued where two other men, aged 20 and 21, one a resident
of the house, were stabbed.

A spokesman for The Alfred Hospital said this morning that one of the injured men is
in a critical but stable condition while the other man is stable.

AAP jxt/arb

KEYWORD: STAB LEAD

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

Qld: Seeney calls for Libs to resolve leadership

AAP General News (Australia)
04-02-2007
Qld: Seeney calls for Libs to resolve leadership

Queensland Opposition Leader JEFF SEENEY says he wants questions over the Liberal leadership
to be resolved as soon as possible.

Liberal leader BRUCE FLEGG has rescheduled a meeting with rogue MP TIM NICHOLLS to
resolve leadership tensions.

Mr NICHOLLS stated last week he was considering challenging Dr FLEGG for the top job
.. but he didn't have the backing.

The Clayfield MP was due to meet Dr FLEGG today .. but pulled out saying he wants a
full party room meeting to discuss his concerns about the current direction of the Liberals.

Party sources say some issues have been resolved .. and he's likely to meet with Dr
FLEGG tomorrow.

Mr SEENEY says the matter needs to be sorted out .. so the opposition can get on with
the business of focusing on the government.

AAP RTV pjo/tm/bart

KEYWORD: LIBERALS QLD (BRISBANE)

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

Highlights of the AAP National Wire at = 2

AAP General News (Australia)
12-01-2006
Highlights of the AAP National Wire at = 2

CANBERRA - Powerful American farm lobbies have asked the US attorney-general to investigate
whether disgraced wheat exporter AWB has broken US anti-corruption laws. (AWB US)

CANBERRA - The Senate today passed new copyright laws with the government backing down
on one key provision which could have seen prosecution of iPod owners who kept spare copies
of songs on their personal computer. (Copyright )

CANBERRA - Ridicule, belittlement and backstabbing may be an everyday part of exchanges
in parliament, but senators have been banned from hugging visiting MPs. (Hugs)

KUALA LUMPUR - Prime Minister John Howard says he does not think there will be any
major change of tactics for the coalition in Iraq, although it made sense to look at all
the options. (Iraq Howard)

SYDNEY - A key koala habitat in NSW is one of several areas under threat by bushfires
today. (Bushfires NSW Second Daylead)

Bushfires N/L to come.



SYDNEY - The identities of four Sydney brothers convicted of gang rape will not be
made public, after the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal today rejected a media application
to name them. (Gang Suppression)

SYDNEY - Convicted child killer John Lewthwaite has been charged with committing indecent
acts in southern Sydney earlier this year. (Lewthwaite Lead)

Lewthwaite N/L to come.



SYDNEY - A Sydney couple will be sentenced next year for killing their disabled son.

(Suttons to come)



SYDNEY - Charges have been dropped against convicted terrorist Faheem Khalid Lodhi
for allegedly lying to Australia's national security agency. (Lodhi)

SYDNEY - Labor's national executive has moved to install maritime union chief Robert
Coombs as the party's candidate for the NSW state seat of Swansea, formerly held by Milton
Orkopoulos. (Orkopoulos )

SYDNEY - Many Australians lack a disciplined approach to saving money, but spending
it is another matter, new figures show. (Savings Survey)

SYDNEY - Senior News Ltd political columnist Glenn Milne has apologised for his on-stage
attack on Crikey.com.au founder Stephen Mayne during a national media awards event. (Walkley
Push Daylead. Pic available)

SYDNEY - Nestle Australia has issued a recall of an infant formula after metal fragments
were found in a small number of cans. (Formula )

SYDNEY - Newsreader Sharyn Ghidella has bid a tearful farewell to Nine Network viewers,
15 years after joining the TV station. (Ghidella. File pics available)

SYDNEY - Mobile phones could be used to monitor cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy
in remote parts of Australia, the country's top cancer experts have been told. (Mobile)

MELBOURNE - Victorian Premier Steve Bracks and the 19 other members of his cabinet
were officially sworn into office by state Governor David de Kretser today. (PollVic Cabinet

2nd Daylead (Pix Available))

PollVic N/L to come)



MELBOURNE - Troubled carpet maker Feltex has been sold but 300 of its Victoria-based
workers remain in limbo, their union says. (Feltex)

MELBOURNE - A Melbourne high school teacher has been jailed for six months for having
sex with a student he called his "sexy horny schoolgirl". (Hayes)

Hayes N/L to come. With factbox.



MELBOURNE - Prosecutors are seeking a retrial of terrorism charges against Melbourne
man Joseph Terrence Thomas. (Thomas)



MELBOURNE - Thousands of subscribers to pay-TV network Foxtel had their services frozen
this morning due to a technical glitch. (Foxtel)

Foxtel Lead to come.



BRISBANE - Drinking water in south-east Queensland could contain 10 per cent recycled
sewage if residents approve the state government's controversial plan, Premier Peter Beattie
says. (Water Qld Daylead)

BRISBANE - Queensland Premier Peter Beattie has rejected a former minister's reason
why he did not declare a $300,000 loan on the official parliamentary register. (Nuttall
to come)

BRISBANE - Veteran Queensland Nationals senator Ron Boswell will face five challengers
in a preselection battle tomorrow. (Nationals Qld)

Nationals Qld N/L to come.

BRISBANE - Bob Irwin celebrates third birthday. (Irwin to come. Pics available)

BRISBANE - Queensland's police union boss has been re-elected unopposed despite facing
contempt of court proceedings next year. (Wilkinson)

BRISBANE - Customs officers have cracked a major distribution racket for performance-enhancing
drugs (Racket to come)

ADELAIDE - About 70 sheep have died in a bushfire in South Australia's Barossa Valley.

(Bushfires SA Daylead )

ADELAIDE - More than 7,000 South Australian motorists have been banned from driving
in the past year under new laws which police believe have slashed the road toll. (Licences
)

PERTH - Daylight saving will be introduced to WA this weekend. (Daylight to come)

PERTH - A Perth researcher playing a key role in the development of vaccine against
HIV-AIDS hopes this will occur within 10 years. (HIV to come)

HOBART - More than 20 pilot whales have stranded themselves on a beach in north-western
Tasmania. (Whales)

Whales N/L to come.



HOBART - British sailor Tony Bullimore is within eyesight of Tasmania's south-west
cape as he nears Hobart ahead of his bid to break the solo world circumnavigation record.

(Bullimore)

Bullimore N/L to come



HOBART - Blasting has restarted at Tasmania's Beaconsfield Gold Mine, eight months
after miners Todd Russell and Brant Webb were miraculously pulled out alive from its depths.

(Beaconsfield)

HOBART - He's battled rough seas, salt sores and fevers, and he's encountered sharks
and sea snakes with only a kayak for protection. (McAuley)

AAP br

KEYWORD: HIGHLIGHTS NATIONAL 2 SYDNEY

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

Vic: Petrol price hike expected today

AAP General News (Australia)
04-26-2006
Vic: Petrol price hike expected today

MELBOURNE, April 26 AAP - A peak motoring body has advised drivers to fill up as soon
as possible amid predictions petrol prices could climb to $1.45 a litre today.

Victoria's RACV said pump prices were low in the morning round-up across all Australian
capital cities, but some Melbourne motorists had since complained that service stations
had put prices up to 144.9 cents.

The average price at 8am (AEST) in Melbourne was 131.1 cents a litre, 131.9 in Perth,
131.0 in Sydney, and 129.8 in Adelaide, RACV figures showed.

RACV manager of government and corporate relations David Cumming said service stations
in Melbourne usually put up their prices on Wednesdays under the normal price cycle.

Last Wednesday, he said, one service station chain raised its price at 11am and the
rest of the major chains followed at 3pm.

Mr Cumming predicted rises today could result in some outlets increasing their prices
to $1.45 a litre.

He said independent outlets usually kept their prices lower, and predicted they would
cap their pump price at $1.42 today.

"It's up to the others how high we go - it's a matter of them working out their strategies,"

he said.

"It will be a hell of a shock to Victorian motorists, and of course it won't just happen
here, it will happen all across Australia."

Mr Cummings said prices would normally start to come down again on Thursday morning or Friday.

AAP jb/gfr/dk/nf

KEYWORD: PETROL

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

Animism

Animism Animism is the belief that all things are given life—that is, animated—by spirits. The word often refers specifically to the idea that aspects of nature—rivers, mountain, trees, and so forth—were originally parts of immortal beings. Animism plays an important role in many creation stories in Asia and elsewhere (see, for example, Chinese Cosmogony, Bön, Korean Mythology, Phi).

ongoing events

Bear to Bull Investment Club: Meetings take place at 7 p.m. the first Thursday of the month in Naperville. Learn about stocks and investing. Call 630-212-4663.Bibo Business Exchange: Weekly business networking event takes place Mondays at Bar Bibo, 112 N. First Ave., St. Charles. Call 630-377-7022.Alliance Builders: The group meets to exchange referrals and business ideas from 7 to 8:30 a.m. Tuesdays at Alden Gardens of Waterford, 1955 Randi Drive, Aurora. Call 815-642-8783 or e-mail Laura Gilbert at lgilbert@mwos.com.

Business Network International: The group meets to exchange referrals and business ideas from 7 to 8:30 a.m. Thursdays at IHOP, Butterfield and Naperville roads, Wheaton. Call Ron Johnson, 630-805-0492 or e-mail feelsafehomeinspections@comcast.net. Visit www.bni.com.

Business Network International: The group meets to exchange referrals and business ideas from 7 to 8:30 a.m. Tuesdays at the Baker's Square restaurant on Route 53 north of Route 55 in Bolingbrook. Call Carl Davis, 630-539-4015, or e-mail carl@cdavisproperties.com.

Business Networking International: The group meets from 7 to 8:30 a.m. Tuesdays at Oakfield Family Restaurant, at Geneva and County Farm roads in Winfield. Call 630-784-8127.

Business Referral Group: The Tri-County Business Referral Group meets from 7 to 8 a.m. Thursdays at Charlie's at Clow Airport Restaurant, 130 S. International Parkway, Bolingbrook. Call 815-886-6000 or 630-783-1628.

Chicago Area Real Estate Investors Association: The nonprofit group supporting landlords in and around Cook, DuPage, Kane and Will counties has Networking Night the fourth Monday of the month at Old Country Buffet in Lombard. Visit www.careia.org.

Career coaching, business development: Choices Worldwide offers monthly career coaching and business development seminars, led by Vickie Axford Austin at Borders Books and Music in Wheaton. Call 630-510-1900 or write choices321@aol.com.

Consulting services: Benedictine University's Center for Entrepreneurship offers teams of business administration graduate students to work with area nonprofit groups on improving operations, developing strategies and conducting market research. Call 630-829-6205.

Creative Child Care Choices: Licensed child-care providers in DuPage, Kane, Will and Cook counties meet monthly for training that meets the requirements for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services' licensing standards for home day care. Call 630-322-9161 or visit www.creativechildcarechoices.com.

DuPage Executive Network: The group, for senior-level management personnel with a minimum base salary of $75,000 in their last position, holds daylong meetings monthly at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn. The cost is $75 a year, plus $5 a month. The guest meeting fee is $15. Call 630-942-2230 or e-mail den@cdnet.cod.edu.

Employers for internships needed: College of DuPage Cooperative Education and Internship program invites area employers to participate in its internship program with College of DuPage students. Call 630-942-2657.

Fox Valley public accountants: The Fox Valley Chapter of the Illinois Certified Public Accountant Society holds a monthly networking breakfast at 8 a.m. the second Tuesday of the month at the Hilton Lisle-Naperville, 3003 Corporate West Drive. $10 at the door. Call 630-305-0033.

Fox Valley Hospice speakers: Professionally trained speakers are available to businesses, organizations and religious groups for programs on hospice care and grief. Fox Valley Hospice offers free programs and services for individuals and families facing life-threatening illness and grief. Call 630-232-2233, Ext. 227.

Fox Valley Leads Club: Meetings are 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Wednesdays. The club provides an opportunity for businesspeople to increase referrals. Call Ron Vivoli, 630-514-9655.

International Trade Center: The College of DuPage Business and Professional Institute's International Trade Center provides free market research and counseling assistance to small and midsize companies seeking international market expansion. Call 630-942-3052 or e-mail keener@cdnet.edu.

Internet job listings: The Web site www.ccjobnet.com is a collegiate employment network listing full- and part-time jobs in northern Illinois. Job seekers can register online to post resumes or receive job leads.

Microsoft certificate programs: Certificate courses in Microsoft programs are available online through Elgin Community College's Center for Lifelong Learning. The cost is $69 for each component. Call 847-214-7211 or visit www.ed2go.com/elgincc.

Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce: SCORE counselors are available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the first, second, third and fifth Thursdays of each month in the chamber's Meeting Room B, Main Street Promenade, downtown Naperville. SCORE is a national nonprofit volunteer association of retired and active executives and business owners who share business experience and provide free business counseling. Call 630-355-4141.

Naperville Men's Leads Clubs: The professional networking organization meets from 7:15 to 8:30 a.m. Thursdays at Cafe 59, Route 59 and Ferry Road. Call 630-357-3868.

Network for Success: The small-business networking group meets from 7 to 8 a.m. Thursdays at Central Park, 4225 Naperville Road, Lisle. Call 630-466-5900 or visit www.marketpwr.com/nfs.htm.

NFA - Networking for All: The business referral group meets from 7 to 8 a.m. Thursdays at Egg Harbor Cafe, 175 W. Jackson Ave., Naperville. Call Zachary Kraus, 630-768-2832.

Real Estate Institute: Self-study courses for people interested in careers as real estate salespeople, brokers and licensed brokers are available. To register, visit www.instituteonline.com or call 800-995-1700.

Refer Network: A networking group for business owners and professionals meets from 8 to 9:15 a.m. first and third Tuesdays of the month at Panera Bread, 1492 S. Randall Road, Geneva. Call 630-587-5551 or e-mail debra.tucholski@countryfinancial.com.

Saturday Morning Workout: Meet to learn communication and leadership skills from 8 to 10 a.m. the second and fourth Saturdays of the month in the Naperville police station's Community Room, 1350 Aurora Ave., Naperville. Call 708-638-8134.

Soroptimist International of Suburban Chicago: Soroptimist is a volunteer service organization for women in business, management and the professions who support community-based projects benefiting women. Meetings are 6:30 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month, except December, July and August, 1325 Prairie Court, West Chicago. Call 800-942-4629, visit www.soroptimist.org or e-mail si_suburbanchicago@prodigy.net.

Amex Index Options.

Amex Index Options closed on Dec. 12, 2001 as follows:

Airline (XAL): up 1.49 to 90.50. Contracts volume 0 with 0 puts and 0 calls.

Biotechnology (BTK): down 11.50 to 560.64. Contracts volume 1384, with 352 puts and 1032 calls.

Computer Technology (XCI): up 8.33 to 816.93. Contracts volume 0 with 0 puts and 0 calls.

Credit Suisse First Boston Technology (CTN): up 2.02 to 234.13. Contracts volume 0, with 0 puts and 0 calls.

Disk Drive Index (DDX): up 3.84 to 111.23. Contracts volume 0, with 0 puts and 0 calls.

Eurotop 100 (EUR): down 2.76 to 279.35. Contracts volume 7 with 7 puts and 0 calls.

Hong Kong (floating rate)(HKO): up 2.90 to 233.12. Contracts volume 0, with 0 puts and 0 calls.

Institutional (XII): down 0.88 to 616.59. Contracts volume 0, with 0 put and 0 calls.

The Inter@ctive Week Internet (IIX): up 0.80 to 154.11. Contracts volume 0, with 0 puts and 0 calls.

Japan (JPN): up 3.35 to 114.82. Contracts volume 251, with 245 puts and 6 calls.

Major Market (XMI): up 2.21 to 1012.95. Contracts volume 24, with 22 puts and 2 calls.

Morgan Stanley Commodity (CRX): down 0.41 to 241.91. Contracts volume 0, with 0 puts and 0 calls.

Morgan Stanley Consumer (CMR): down 1.73 to 545.25. Contracts volume 0, with 0 puts and 0 calls.

Morgan Stanley Cyclical (CYC): down 2.47 to 527.62. Contracts volume 0, with 0 put and 0 calls.

Morgan Stanley High Tech 35 (MSH): up 4.47 to 537.30. Contracts volume 10, with 5 puts and 5 call.

Morgan Stanley Internet Index (MOX): up 0.19 to 15.04. Contracts volume 76, with 20 puts and 56 calls.

Natural Gas (XNG): down 1.79 to 170.37. Contracts volume 18, with 0 puts and 18 calls.

Deutsche Bank Energy Index (DXE): down 3.01 to 361.40. Contracts volume 10, with 0 puts and 10 calls.

Oil (XOI): up 1.84 to 490.89. Contracts volume 3, with 0 puts and 3 calls.

Pharmaceutical (DRG): down 4.65 to 378.07. Contracts volume 44, with 41 puts and 3 calls.

S&P Midcap (MID): down 1.44 to 495.29. Contracts volume 24, with 11 puts and 13 calls.

Securities Broker Dealer (XBD): down 3.52 to 507.35. Contracts volume 96, with 0 puts and 96 calls.

NASDAQ NON-FINCL 100 Index (NDX): up 8.68 to 1669.95. Contracts volume 31.

Mini NDX 100 Stock Index (MNX): up 0.87 to 167.00. Contracts volume 198 with 0 puts and 0 calls.

Amex Defense Index: down 1.99 to 522.47. Contracts volume 0, with 0 puts and 0 call.

Contact: Amex Media Relations, +1-212-306-1640

Aladdin Systems, Inc. Wins HOC100 Award for StuffIt at Comdex.

Home Office Computing Magazine Salutes Aladdin Systems

LAS VEGAS, Nov. 15 /PRNewswire/ --

Home Office Computing, the technology and productivity magazine for today's work-at-home workforce has named Aladdin Systems, Inc.'s StuffIt(TM) for Windows(R), the most powerful, easy-to-use Zip utility ever, one of the 100 best home office products of 2000.

StuffIt for Windows won a HOC 100 Silver award in ceremonies held at the Comdex trade show in Las Vegas Tuesday. It was one of only three winners in the category of utility software. This year marks the 3rd annual award ceremony with winner selection based on value, performance, ease of use, innovation, and suitability for home offices.

"Two out of three new businesses begin at home, and almost 20 million Americans today are at least part-time telecommuters. That makes home offices a hotter market than ever before," says Home Office Computing editor in chief Eric Grevstad. "We're pleased to salute StuffIt because it helps home-based workers succeed -- instead of being aimed at corporate computing centers or family consumers, it's just right for today's work-at-home workforce."

Aladdin Systems can be reached on the Internet http://www.aladdinsys.com/ and Home Office Computing is at http://www.destinationsoho.com .

"StuffIt gives users maximum choice for compression formats, beats zip compression by up to 20%, and is the best compression utility that supports both PCs and Macs, as well as international files," said Marty McGillivray, Director of Product Management at Aladdin. "As more people leverage the Internet to send and receive files, we are thrilled to have the industry acknowledge StuffIt as the superior compression standard for file compression."

About Aladdin Systems, Inc.: Helping Transmit, Access and Organize

Information(TM)

Founded in 1988, Aladdin Systems, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Aladdin Systems Holdings, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: ALHI), is in its second decade of developing and publishing award-winning business and consumer software.

Aladdin is located at 245 Westridge Drive, Watsonville, CA 95076, USA; telephone: 831-761-6200; Fax: 831-761-6206. For more information visit: http://www.aladdinsys.com or e-mail: info@aladdinsys.com.

Forward Looking Statements: Any information contained within this news release which is not historical data may be deemed "forward-looking statements." Factors which could cause actual results to vary materially from the future results covered in such forward-looking statements include competition and the management of our growth. Such forward-looking statements are subject to other risks and uncertainties, which are detailed in the Company's filings with the SEC.

NOTE: StuffIt, Aladdin Expander, and the Aladdin Logo are trademarks of Aladdin Systems, Inc. All other products, brand names or companies are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

News briefs.(News Briefs)

Lockheed Martin flies into broadband business

Lockheed Martin last week announced a partnership with TRW and Telecom Italia to develop a $3.6 billion satellite company called Astrolink that will provide global, broadband multimedia and Internet access for business and consumer use. Lockheed Martin says its Global Telecommunications Group will invest $400 million in the venture. Telespazio, part of Telecom Italia, and TRW will each invest $250 million. Astrolink plans to launch the first of nine satellites in 2002 and hopes to provide broadband data communications services to Europe, North America and South America by 2003.

AT&T digests IBM Global Network

The venerable IBM Global Network is now called AT&T Global Network Services - at least in the U.S. AT&T last week completed its acquisition of the IBM net domestically, with customer contracts and 3,000 employees moving over to AT&T. Significantly, AT&T then put the entire business in its rapidly growing AT&T Solutions division, signaling the company's determination to continue to push managed networks and outsourcing along with its new network assets. Closing the IBM Global Network deal in other parts of the world depends on regulatory approval and other matters, AT&T officials say.

Kennard wants E-rate funding

Federal Communications Commission Chairman William Kennard last week pushed for full funding of the E-rate program to provide network-services subsidies to schools and libraries. That means the program would get $2.25 billion over the next school year - the maximum allowed by law - compared with about $1.3 billion for the current school year. E-rate ran out of money this past year, meaning it could provide funding for carrier services but not LAN and WAN equipment at schools in relatively wealthy districts. Kennard is expected to get a fight over his proposal, as many lawmakers have criticized E-rate for its administrative complexity. Lawmakers also have attacked E-rate for funding many regular phone services in addition to 'Net access, and because it has resulted in additional charges on all phone bills.

Informix gets a new boss

Bob Finocchio last week said he will step down as president and CEO of database vendor Informix but will continue in his role as chairman of the company's board. Replacing Finocchio will be Jean-Yves Dexmier, currently executive vice president of worldwide field operations and previously Informix's chief financial officer. The transition, which includes Dexmier being appointed to the company's board of directors, will be effective July 16.

Dick Tracy's futuristic technology becomes a reality

Faced with battling the likes of Wrathful Ralph and Piggy Bank, Dick Tracy could always phone for help or get evidence via his trusty watch. The voice- and video-enabled watch, first introduced in the comic strip in 1946, has been only a dream - until now. Researchers at Bell Labs/Lucent have mastered the technology that could make a Dick Tracy watch possible. They have created a minuscule, 100-micron microphone on a chip, which could lead to the voice and video recognition Tracy relied on.

MCI/Nextel deal no more

It's official: MCI WorldCom will not buy Nextel Communications, the McLean, Va., wireless service provider. MCI WorldCom did not offer any more detail other than to say in a printed statement: "MCI WorldCom has determined not to pursue a bid for Nextel at this time." But rumor has it that the two companies could not come to an agreement on a price. MCI WorldCom never acknowledged it was in talks with Nextel until last week when MCI WorldCom killed the potential deal.

Your digital John Hancock

Your written signature will stand up in a court of law, but will your electronic digital signature? Last week, lawmakers took the first step to make digital signatures legal and binding by introducing The Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, dubbed the "E-Sign" bill. Introduced by Reps. Tom Bliley (R-Va.), Tom Davis (R-Va.), Billy Tauzin (R-La.) and Mike Oxley (R-Ohio), the legislation provides for the acceptance of electronic signatures for interstate commerce and the securities industries. The bill defines technological neutrality and says private parties should be able to pick the forms of electronic signatures that they prefer.

No fear for Maria after Henin defeat.

Maria Sharapova is already looking towards Wimbledon giving her career a much-needed boost after she was dumped out of Roland Garros by Justine Henin.

The former world No.1 was beaten 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 by the battling Belgian.

The Russian has been plagued by shoulder and elbow problems, but her three-set defeat on a claycourt surface that suits neither her game nor movement illustrated that the old power, if not the comfort level, was back as she enjoyed one of her better Paris performances. And in spite of the loss Sharapova is feeling confident about the rest of the season.

"My feelings are that in the past few weeks I've been going out on the court and I've been enjoying playing," Sharapova said.

"This part of the season is one of my favourites, going into the grass. I'll be preparing myself as best as I can, having a training week leading up to my next tournament and then Wimbledon.

"But as long as I'm healthy on the court and I'm working my way towards what I want to improve, which I feel like I've done maybe in the past three weeks since my elbow is feeling better, then I've got a real good shot."

Sharapova, who has won Wimbledon, the Australian Open and US Open but has never got beyond the semi-finals in Paris, had her chances yesterday against Henin.

She was 2-0 ahead in the deciding set and had four break points for a 3-0 lead before the gutsy Belgian battled back to take her place in the last 16.

Henin, playing at Roland Garros for the first time since 2007, is also in confident mood as her comeback continues to

gain momentum.

"Maria is a champion. You can't give her any opportunities. I am happy to get through," Henin, the 22nd seed, said after recording her seventh win in ten meetings with the Russian. "It was a real good test. The journey continues and I'm pleased to have a chance to win here at Roland Garros."

Earlier, Dementieva swept into the quarter-finals with an emphatic 6-1, 6-3 victory over South African qualifier Chanelle Scheepers.

The Russian, who struggled to complete her third-round win over Aleksandra Wozniak due to a calf injury, won in 74 minutes to stay on course for a first Roland Garros final since she lost to Anastasia Myskina in the 2004 decider.

2009 Al Sidra Media LLC

Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company

ARM and Panasonic Corporation Partner to Drive Development of UniPhier SoCs for Internet Connected Digital TV Applications.

ARM announced the use of a wide range of ARM technology in Panasonic Corporation's recently launched UniPhier MN2WS0220 SoC for Internet Connected Digital TV applications. ARM technology used in the UniPhier MN2WS0220 SoC includes high performance, low-power dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore processors running at up to 1.4GHz (typical conditions), ARM CoreLink NIC-301 Network Interconnect and the ARM Cortex-A9 POP for Low Power (LP) process.

The two companies have been working in partnership over a number of years and will continue to partner on delivering the next generation of market-leading UniPhier SoCs for Internet Connected Digital TV devices.

"Panasonic Corporation aims to provide customers with exciting multimedia solutions that combine high-quality audio and video with low power consumption, real-time processing and secure technology," commented Yoshifumi Okamoto, director of corporate system LSI division, semiconductor company, Panasonic Corporation. "Working with ARM allows us to deliver on the promise of an integrated platform that enables ubiquitous networking and makes services easily accessible to consumers, anytime and anywhere. Future generations of UniPhier SoCs using ARM technology will offer even more to our customers and, ultimately, consumers."

"Working with Panasonic Corporation on leading designs for this type of smart device provides consumers with the connected life that they now demand," said Tudor Brown, president, ARM. "We are delighted that the long-term relationship between ARM and Panasonic Corporation on processor cores and implementation optimization has resulted in leading devices, such as the UniPhier MN2WS0220 SoC. Our work developing future generations of SoCs with Panasonic Corporation for use in smart TV applications is an exciting prospect." About ARM ARM designs the technology that is at the heart of advanced digital products, from wireless, networking and consumer entertainment solutions to imaging, automotive, security and storage devices. ARM's comprehensive product offering includes 32-bit RISC microprocessors, graphics processors, video engines, enabling software, cell libraries, embedded memories, high-speed connectivity products, peripherals and development tools. Combined with comprehensive design services, training, support and maintenance, and the company's broad Partner community, they provide a total system solution that offers a fast, reliable path to market for leading electronics companies.

Keywords: ARM, Automobiles, Electronics, Entertainment, Microprocessors, Networks, Semiconductor, Software, Transportation, Wireless Network, Wireless Technology.

This article was prepared by Telecommunications Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2011, Telecommunications Weekly via VerticalNews.com.

WeFi's Q1 Data Report Shows Fast Growth of Samsung Phones and Tablets Using Wi-Fi.(Report)

WeFi Inc. (http://www.wefi.com), creator of the world's first and

largest global Wi-Fi database and provider of the WeANDSF Wi-Fi offloading solution for carriers, released its latest quarterly report on global Wi-Fi usage. Titled "WeFi Analytics Report Q1/2011: An Analysis of Global Wi-Fi", the report includes both statistics and analysis from WeFi on a variety of issues related to wireless internet, including statistics on Wi-Fi and 3G usage over various mobile devices and operating systems, cellular data offloading unto Wi-Fi networks, average duration of use over public Wi-Fi hotspots, Wi-Fi internet usage mobility, and more. The report points out interesting trends in Wi-Fi usage, one example being the fast growth of Samsung Android-based handsets and tablets.

The report covers data usage over laptops, netbooks, and mobile devices using Android or Symbian operating systems (see more information about platforms in the report). The unique data - available solely through WeFi - is based on information gathered from over 90 million Wi-Fi access points in WeFi's database of hotspots around the world. WeFi acquires the Wi-Fi access point data and cellular usage metrics by aggregating the connectivity data from over 6 million mobile devices and laptops where the WeFi client software is installed. WeFi's database is the largest source of data relating to Wi-Fi connectivity of its kind in the world.

To view the full report, please visit http://j.mp/WeFi11Q1

Keywords: Networks, Software, WeFi Inc., Wireless Internet, Wireless Technology.

This article was prepared by Telecommunications Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2011, Telecommunications Weekly via VerticalNews.com.

The Catalan kings; Schumpeter.(The management secrets of Barcelona FC)

The management secrets of Barcelona Football Club

A POPULAR debate among football obsessives concerns whether Barcelona--Barca to its fans--is the best club soccer team the world has ever seen. Is it better than the Santos of the 1960s (which was home to Pele)? Or the AC Milan of the 1990s? The answer is gloriously unclear. But Barca is surely the finest team in the world right now: the standard against which other ball-kickers must measure themselves. Consider the evidence. Barca recently beat its old rivals, Real Madrid, to win the Spanish league. It boasts the best player in the world: Lionel Messi. It goes into the European Champions League final at Wembley on May 28th as the clear favourite (though it would be foolish to underestimate Manchester United).

Barca is also a cash machine. It is number two in Deloitte's league of the world's highest-grossing football clubs, behind Real Madrid; with revenues of [euro]398m ($488m) in 2009-10 (Real Madrid earned [euro]439m). It has doubled its revenues over the past four years. Last year Barca signed a five-year sponsorship deal with Qatar Sports Investment for a minimum of [euro]165m, which would involve putting a commercial logo on the team's shirts for the first time. Barca and Real also have an advantage in that they receive a hugely disproportionate share of the revenues from televising La Liga, the Spanish premier league. That said, no one knows how profitable Barca is, nor how indebted.

How has a club that is based in one of Europe's unemployment blackspots turned itself into the ruling power in the world's most popular sport? An obvious answer is that Barca plays as a team in a sport that has far too many prima donnas. It keeps the ball moving, dominates possession and keeps its opponents under constant pressure. But there is a less obvious answer, too, and one that has implications beyond the football pitch. Barca has provided a distinctive solution to some of the most contentious problems in management theory. What is the right balance between stars and the rest of mankind? Should you buy talent or grow your own? How can you harness the enthusiasm of consumers to promote your brand? And how do you combine the advantages of local roots and global reach?

Barca puts more emphasis than any other major team on growing its own players. Other football teams often resemble the United Nations--the Arsenal first eleven, for example, frequently includes just two native-born Britons. Barca, by contrast, is still dominated by local players, and Catalan is often spoken in the dressing room. Eight of the team's leading players are products of its football school, La Masia. That includes Mr Messi, an Argentine who moved to Barcelona as a boy, and the team's coach, Josep ("Pep") Guardiola. La Masia is unique among football schools. It is a boarding school that puts as much emphasis on character-training as on footballing skills. The students are relentlessly instructed in the importance of team spirit, self-sacrifice and perseverance. They are also taught that Barca is "more than a club": it is the embodiment of Catalan pride that kept the region's spirit alive during the years when Spain groaned under the fascist Franco regime. Fans regularly sport banners proclaiming that "Catalonia is not Spain".

Barca has used the idea that it is "more than a club" to cultivate a two-way relationship with its fans. It is owned by its members (socis in Catalan), who now number 150,000, rather than by shareholders or foreign tycoons. The management is answerable to an assembly that consists of 2,500 randomly chosen socis and the 600 most senior members. The club supports many sports other than football and runs a popular museum in Barcelona. After a recent win more than a million people turned out to cheer.

Barca's management style chimes in with the thinking of two admired theorists. Boris Groysberg, of Harvard Business School, has warned that companies are too obsessed with hiring stars rather than developing teams. He conducted a fascinating study of successful Wall Street analysts who moved from one firm to another. He discovered that company-switching analysts saw an immediate decline in their performance. For all their swagger, it seems that their success depended as much on their co-workers as their innate talents. Jim Collins, the author of "Good to Great", argues that the secret of long-term corporate success lies in cultivating a distinctive set of values. For all the talk of diversity and globalisation, this usually means promoting from within and putting down deep local roots.

The beautiful name

Barca has also blazed a trail in nurturing its brand--a tough job in the internet age, when gossip is plentiful and trust is scarce. The proportion of brands that consumers trust fell from 52% in 1997 to 22% in 2008, according to Y&R, an advertising agency, and traditional forms of advertising are becoming less effective. To combat this problem, some firms try to involve consumers in developing their brands. Lego, a toy brickmaker, invites Lego-heads to its headquarters to work with its designers. Asda, a supermarket, invites regular shoppers to suggest what it should sell. But so far nobody has gone as far as Barca in giving customers a direct say in big decisions.

Barca has made its share of mistakes. The team's attempt to widen its recruitment net by setting up a soccer academy in Argentina has been abandoned. Traditionalists worry that it is selling its Catalan soul in pursuit of slick commercial deals. And soccer is an unpredictable business. The team went through a bad patch in the early 2000s; another slump could see its fickle foreign fans disappear or, worse, switch their allegiance to Chelsea. That might cause Barca's revenues to plunge. But for the moment the club is on the top of the world: an example not just of sporting prowess but of smart management.

Economist.com/blogs/schumpeter

INDONESIAN INT'L IT EXHIBITION MAY SEE US$70MLN IN TRANSACTIONS.

JAKARTA, May 4 Asia pulse - The upcoming Indonesia International Communication Expo & Conference (ICC) 2011 is projected to generate transactions worth up to Rp600 billion (US$70.2 million), a spokesman said.

The exhibition is connected to the Indonesian Computer Festival 2011 which will be held on June 8-12, 2011, said Bambang Setiawan, general manager of IT Division Dyandra Promosindo, on Tuesday.

"Around 250 thousand people are expected to visit this exhibition," Setiawan said, adding that the event will take place in the Jakarta Convention Center.

According to him, the rapid growth of ICT industry (Information Communication Technology) in Indonesia has become the reason to implement this exhibition.

Citing an example, Bambang said that the number of celluler phone subscribers as of December 31, 2010, shows a progressive increase, reaching 240 million subscribers.

In addition, the number of Internet users is expected to reach 45 million people, representing 20 per cent of Indonesia`s total population.

The social media networking also increased dramatically, allowing people to connect for 24 hours.

(ANTARA) ms 04-05 1236

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TAKES ACTION TO DISABLE INTERNATIONAL BOTNET MORE THAN TWO MILLION COMPUTERS INFECTED WITH KEYLOGGING SOFTWARE AS PART OF MASSIVE FRAUD SCHEME.

NEW HAVEN, CT -- The following information was released by the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation:

Today, the Department of Justice and FBI announced the filing of a civil complaint, the execution of criminal seizure warrants, and the issuance of a temporary restraining order as part of the most complete and comprehensive enforcement action ever taken by U.S authorities to disable an international botnet.

The botnet is a network of hundreds of thousands of computers infected with a malicious software program known as Coreflood, which installs itself by exploiting a vulnerability in computers running Windows operating systems. Coreflood allows infected computers to be controlled remotely for the purpose of stealing private personal and financial information from unsuspecting computer users, including users on corporate computer networks, and using that information to steal funds.

The Department of Justice strongly encourages computer users to ensure they are using security software on their computers and that users regularly update their security and routinely scan their computers for viruses. To learn more about what you can do to protect your computer, including how to download and receive updates on security vulnerabilities, the public may go to the following sites operated by U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team (CERT) and the Federal Trade Commission, respectively: us-cert.gov/nav/nt01 and onguardonline.gov/topics/malware.aspx.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut has filed a civil complaint against 13 "John Doe" defendants, alleging that the defendants engaged in wire fraud, bank fraud, and illegal interception of electronic communications. In addition, search warrants were obtained for computer servers throughout the country, and a seizure warrant was obtained in U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut for 29 domain names. Finally, the government obtained a temporary restraining order (TRO), authorizing the government to respond to signals sent from infected computers in the United States in order to stop the Coreflood software from running, thereby preventing further harm to hundreds of thousands of unsuspecting users of infected computers in the United States.

"The seizure of the Coreflood servers and Internet domain names is expected to prevent criminals from using Coreflood or computers infected by Coreflood for their nefarious purposes," said U.S. Attorney David B. Fein for the District of Connecticut. "I want to commend our industry partners for their collaboration with law enforcement to achieve this great result."

"The actions announced today are part of a comprehensive effort by the department to disable an international botnet, while at the same time giving consumers the ability to take necessary steps to protect themselves from this harmful malware," said Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division. "Law enforcement will continue to use innovative and responsible actions in our fight against cyber criminals and at the same time, we urge consumers to ensure they are continually taking prudent measures to guard against harm, including routinely updating anti-virus security protection."

"Botnets and the cyber criminals who deploy them jeopardize the economic security of the United States and the dependability of the nation's information infrastructure," said Shawn Henry, Executive Assistant Director of the FBI's Criminal, Cyber, Response and Services Branch. "These actions to mitigate the threat posed by the Coreflood botnet are the first of their kind in the United States and reflect our commitment to being creative and proactive in making the Internet more secure."

According to court filings, Coreflood is a particularly harmful type of malicious software that records keystrokes and private communications on a computer. Once a computer is infected with Coreflood, it can be controlled remotely from another computer, known as a command and control (C and C) server. A computer infected by Coreflood and subject to remote control is referred to as a "bot," short for "robot." According to information contained in court filings, the group of all computers infected with Coreflood is known as the Coreflood botnet, which is believed to have been operating for nearly a decade and to have infected more than two million computers worldwide.

Coreflood steals usernames, passwords, and other private personal and financial information allegedly used by the defendants for a variety of criminal purposes, including stealing funds from the compromised accounts. In one example described in court filings, through the illegal monitoring of Internet communications between the user and the user's bank, Coreflood was used to take over an online banking session and caused the fraudulent transfer of funds to a foreign account.

In the enforcement actions announced today, five C and C servers that remotely controlled hundreds of thousands of infected computers were seized, as were 29 domain names used by the Coreflood botnet to communicate with the C and C servers. As authorized by the TRO, the government replaced the illegal C and C servers with substitute servers to prevent Coreflood from causing further injury to the owners and users of infected computers and other third parties.

The Coreflood malware on a victim's computer is programmed to request directions and commands from C and C servers on a routine basis. New versions of the malware are introduced using the C and C servers on a regular basis, in an effort to stay ahead of security software and other virus updates. If the C and C servers do not respond, the existing Coreflood malware continues to run on the victim's computer, collecting personal and financial information. The TRO authorizes the government to respond to these requests from infected computers in the United States with a command that temporarily stops the malware from running on the infected computer. During that time, the defendants will not be able to introduce different versions of the Coreflood malware onto the infected computers. By limiting the defendants ability to control the botnet, computer security providers will be given time to update their virus signatures and malicious software removal tools so that all victims can have a reliable tool available to them that removes the latest version of the malware from an infected computer.

The Department of Justice and FBI, working with Internet service providers around the country, are committed to identifying and notifying as many innocent victims as possible who have been infected with Coreflood, in order to avoid or minimize future fraud losses and identity theft resulting from Coreflood. Identified owners of infected computers will also be told how to "opt out" from the TRO, if for some reason they want to keep Coreflood running on their computers. At no time will law enforcement authorities access any information that may be stored on an infected computer.

While this enforcement action completely disabled the existing Coreflood botnet by seizing control from the criminals who ran it, this does not mean that Coreflood malware or similar forms of malware have been removed from the Internet entirely. Nor does it mean that criminals will not attempt to build another botnet using a different version of the Coreflood malware or other malware. The best defense against such malware, and botnets in general, is for users to ensure their computers are protected by regularly-updated anti-virus security software.

The law enforcement actions announced today are the result of an ongoing criminal investigation by the FBI's New Haven Division, in coordination with the U.S. Marshals Service. Additional assistance was provided by Microsoft, the Internet Systems Consortium, and other private industry partners. The matter is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward Chang, and attorneys from the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section in the Justice Department's Criminal Division.

Orange Business Services Standardizes Riverbed as Technology Partner for Enterprise Application Management Service.

Vendor-Agnostic Approach with Opex-Based Pricing Model Gives Customers More Choices

PARIS -- Orange Business Services has standardized Riverbed Technology as a technology partner for its Enterprise Application Management service, a fully managed service that delivers application acceleration and WAN optimization with the option of a completely opex-based pricing model.

"Based on their business objectives and optimization requirements, Enterprise Application Management customers can choose from technology partners BlueCoat, Juniper and Riverbed([R]), a recognized leader in WAN optimization and our partner since 2005 for custom-based solutions," said Richard Heaps, head of Product Management, Consulting & Solutions Integration, Orange Business Services. "Our customers are already benefiting: Avago achieved a 31 percent reduction in total data traffic over its network thanks to Riverbed-based Enterprise Application Management, and Lenovo experienced a 50 percent increase in employee productivity."

With applications at the heart of companies' performance and a trend toward data center consolidation to save cost, the network is a critical enabler to deliver application performance and support overall business performance. Enterprise Application Management from Orange Business Services, part of the Business Acceleration solution, includes key valuable features:

* business-driven technology selection assessment: Consultants from Orange Business Services analyze the customer application profile to determine the most effective solution removing business risk in deploying the technology. Then, the solution is fully implemented and managed by Orange Business Services, helping to align business and IT needs and enabling rapid deployment and optimized resources which result in higher end-user productivity, faster return on investment and a lower total cost of ownership.

* flexible service model: Enterprise Application Management from Orange Business Services is based on a highly flexible service model, from equipment resale to a fully managed service based on customer preference.

* opex-based pricing option: Orange Business Services can provide a fully managed service with an opex-based pricing model option for customers restricted by capex spending cuts, in addition to the traditional way of providing equipment resale and professional services with Enterprise Application Management.

According to Heaps, "The move to cloud computing, when applications are provided from data centers outside a company's premises, will further accelerate the criticality of the network and the importance of implementing the right tools to ensure the performance of business essential applications is maintained at all times."

About Orange

Orange is the key brand of France Telecom, one of the world's leading telecommunications operators. With 126 million customers, the Orange brand now covers Internet, television and mobile services in the majority of countries where the Group operates. At the end of 2008, France Telecom had consolidated sales of 53.5 billion euros (38.1 billion euros for the first nine months of 2009) and at Sept. 30, 2009, the Group had a customer base of 190 million customers in 32 countries. These include 128.8 million mobile customers and 13.4 million broadband Internet (ADSL) customers worldwide. Orange is the number three mobile operator and the number two provider of broadband Internet services in Europe and, under the brand Orange Business Services, is one of the world leaders in providing telecommunications services to multinational companies.

The Group's strategy, which is characterized by a strong focus on innovation, convergence and effective cost management, aims to establish Orange as an integrated operator and benchmark for new telecommunications services in Europe. Today the Group remains focused on its core activities as a network operator, while working to develop its position in new growth activities. To meet customer expectations, the Group strives to provide products and services that are simple and user-friendly, while maintaining a sustainable and responsible business model that can be adapted to the requirements of a fast-paced and changing eco-system.

France Telecom (NYSE:FTE) is listed on Euronext Paris (compartment A) and on the New York Stock Exchange.

For more information: www.orange.com, www.francetelecom.com, www.orange-business.com

Orange and any other Orange product or service names included in this material are trade marks of Orange Personal Communications Services Limited, Orange France or France Telecom.

TenFour and Globalink Form Strategic Partnership; E-mail Gateway and Language Translation Software Developers Join Together

NEW YORK, June 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Today at PC Expo, TenFour and Globalink Inc. (AMEX: GNK) announced they have formed an agreement to combine their vision and leadership in the software industry. The partnership brings together two of the industry's most dynamic businesses.

According to Krister Fransson, president of TenFour Sweden AB: "Through our international presence, we recognize the important role language plays in universal Internet messaging. This partnership, between two organizations focusing on global communication, strengthens the positions of both our companies while expanding the realms of the solutions we can offer to today's demanding marketplace."

TFS Gateway(TM) Release 3 from TenFour, released last month, is a 32-bit e-mail gateway using a modular approach, offering support for the most popular LAN-based e-mail systems and utilizing a Windows interface. As such, TFS Gateway(TM) provides the necessary components to build a seamless messaging system. Companies who benefit from TFS Gateway(TM) include BASF, Ernst & Young, Packard Bell, Sara Lee Bakery and Polo Ralph Lauren.

Globalink is the world's leading provider of language translation software and services. With its language translation software products published in numerous languages, the company offers solutions to translation problems faced by individuals and small businesses, to multinational corporations and governments. Whether it's a stand alone product that gives a fast, draft translation or a full system to manage professional document translations, Globalink software and services provide the solutions needed in a multilingual world.

"We address a critical issue facing today's businesses -- the need for fast, convenient and cost-effective translation of foreign language communication," said Philippe J. Kuperman, executive vice president of sales & marketing for Globalink. "Our partnership with TenFour brings together the power and foresight of two market leaders, poised to surge forward in the ever-expanding software industry."

Established in 1991, TenFour is the market leader in the development of gateway software, enabling the delivery of e-mail between different LAN-based networks and the Internet. With headquarters in Marsta, Sweden, TenFour is established in seven countries including the United States, Canada, Germany, France, Australia and the United Kingdom. TFS Gateway(TM) is available through TenFour distributors and resellers in over 40 countries worldwide. The TenFour home page can be found at http://www.tenfour.com.

SOURCE TenFour

     -0-                             6/19/97 

/CONTACT: Kevin T. Devine of TenFour, 703-716-8364, ext. 8005, or e-mail, kevin@tenfour.com; or Kelly Mullins of Globalink, 703-277-3173, or e-mail, kmullins@globalink.com/

(GNK)

CO: TenFour; Globalink, Inc. ST: New York IN: CPR MLM SU: JVN

JN -- DCTH014 -- 6597 06/19/97 10:07 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com

Passenger Volume Declines at Tampa, Fla., Airport.(Originated from St. Petersburg Times, Fla.)

TAMPA, Fla.--Jan. 31--The number of passengers traipsing through Tampa International Airport was down last year.

Total passenger count dropped 5.37 percent in 1995 compared with 1994, according to the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority.

Jim Johnson, director of airports for the authority, said the decline was mainly due to cutbacks in service and increased fares.

Continental Airlines and USAir each added 15 to 18 jets a day to their service in 1994. Last year, they cut those extra jets as part of systemwide reductions.

Then, USAir cut all of its intra-state Florida jet service in 1995. It replaced the jets with USAir Express, which uses turbo-prop commuter planes.

Meanwhile, American Airlines downsized its service at hubs, specifically in Raleigh-Durham and Nashville. American had been sending three flights a day to each of these airports from Tampa, but cut those flights when the hubs were downsized.

Finally, airlines raised air fares and that reduced the number of people who could afford to fly.

On the bright side, the total cargo pounds that went through Tampa International Airport increased 8.31 percent and mail pounds increased 0.1 percent from 1994 to 1995.

Those increases are due to both Federal Express and Airborne Express adding capacity during the year, said Johnson, and DHL Worldwide Express introduced new service to Tampa.

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ON THE INTERNET:

Visit "sptimes.com", the World Wide Web site of the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times. Point your Web-browsing software to http://www.sptimes.com

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INgrooves Uses Bango to Connect Independent Music Labels with Their Fans around the World.

Bango Creates New Generation Shopping Experience on Mobile

NEW YORK -- INgrooves, the world's leading digital media publisher for independent music, is using Bango's browse and buy technology to connect independent music labels and artists with their fans around the world and create the next generation shopping experience on mobile. With the mobile rights for 500 labels whose music genres include Hip-Hop, R&B, Electronic and Rock, INgrooves is enabling the independent music industry to participate in the mobile content revolution.

Industry analyst NPD Group reports that Rap/Hip-Hop was the leading ringtone genre among those downloading ringtones in the U.S. market in July 2006, accounting for 23 percent of ringtone downloads. Using a content management system from Graphico New Media, INgrooves builds WAP sites for its artists and labels to address the increasing demand for new ringtones and other content such as wallpapers.

Bango's browse and buy technology enables artists such as Thievery Corporation, The Crystal Method, Traxamillion and breakout R&B star, Kieran, to sell digital content directly to mobile phone users across all networks using the mobile internet. The mobile internet enables bands to have their own mobile content shop where users browse and buy in one seamless flow, without the need to exit the shop to send a Premium SMS message to buy content.

INgrooves' artists and labels also benefit from the internet's networking effect where users discover the site by browsing in from a mobile search engine or clicking on a mobile advertisement. The viral element of the internet is also important enabling fans to pass on recommendations and push links for their favorite sites to each other.

In addition to operator billing, consumers can pay using Premium SMS, credit/debit card and PayPal - so these independent music artists and labels can sell directly to consumers on any phone network world-wide.

"Bango's global payment platform is important to our independent artists and labels because their fans span the globe," said Jason Kadlec, Director of Business Development at INgrooves. "We need to deliver a superior consumer experience that makes people want to come back again and again. Bango and the mobile internet deliver that experience."

About Bango

Bango has developed and deployed a unique open, global infrastructure platform that enables content providers to market, sell and deliver their products and services directly to mobile phone users on all mobile networks using the mobile Internet. This "direct-to-consumer" approach operates alongside the operator's mobile content portals. Leading mobile operators including Cingular Wireless, Vodafone, Orange, Telefonica and O2 work with Bango to accelerate the growth of their "direct-to-consumer" business.

The Bango platform has given phone subscribers around the world greater access to third-party content. Leading content brands are now adopting the Bango Service to engage with all of their existing and potential mobile customers directly - irrespective of operator. Bango, based in New York and Cambridge (UK), is quoted on the London Stock Exchange (AIM: BGO).

For further information, go to www.bango.com.

About INgrooves

INgrooves is a digital media publisher and technology company that provides distribution, marketing, and licensing services through its INgrooves[TM], INgrooves Mobile Music[TM], and Digital Music Access[TM] brands. As the digital representative for frontline releases from artists and labels, INgrooves increases the exposure and earnings potential of its artists and label partners. INgrooves distributes audio and video content to over 300 internet and mobile stores worldwide using its patent-pending technology platform. Artists and independent labels seeking worldwide marketing and licensing services rely on INgrooves to get their music into TV, films, video games and other branding programs. For more information, check out www.ingrooves.com.

Wal-Mart September 7 Media Advisory Update.

BENTONVILLE, Ark., Sept. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Information on Katrina's impact on Wal-Mart and the company's aid to storm victims is available for journalists and the general public on http://www.walmartfacts.com/.

   (Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010831/WALMARTLOGO )    Facilities   -- Of the 126 facilities that were originally shut down, 14 stores and      clubs remain closed.   -- A total of 89 facilities have reported damage.  Nine have major damage,      41 moderate, and 39 minor damage or loss of merchandise.    In-Store and On-Line Assistance   -- Today, Wal-Mart made available its gift registry kiosks for anyone      displaced by the hurricane to sign up for items they need.  It allows      those across the country wishing to contribute items to do so.   -- The on-line Emergency Contact Service established through in-store      kiosks and on-line via walmart.com and samsclub.com is helping the      public to locate and communicate with their friends and family members.      So far it has received more than 11,000 postings and more than 1      million hits.    Wal-Mart Associates   -- Initially, more than 34,000 Wal-Mart associates were displaced by      Hurricane Katrina. So far, we have been in contact with 87% of these      associates to learn they are working or safe.   -- Our goal is to help associates get back on their feet and move forward      with their lives.   The Wal-Mart Emergency Information Line,      established to answer associates questions and concerns, has fielded      more than 15,000 calls.      - Any displaced associate can come and work in any other U.S. Wal-Mart        store.  Thus far, these associates have been transposed and are        working from stories as far away as Alaska, California and Nevada,        with many more in neighboring states of Georgia, Texas, and Florida.      - Displaced associates are eligible for up to $1,000 from our Associate        Disaster Relief Fund if their homes were flooded or destroyed. We        have already provided cash assistance to more than 6,100 associates,        totaling more than $3.6 million in associate relief.    Merchandise   -- The company has dispatched more than 2,380 trailer loads of water and      emergency supplies to Wal-Mart and SAM'S CLUB locations in the affected      areas.    Donations   -- More than $3 million of product and water (more than 100 trailer loads)      has been donated to shelters and others in the impacted areas. Many of      these product donations -- diapers, toothbrushes, wipes and other      personal products -- were given to assist evacuees arriving in large      numbers at numerous Red Cross shelters earlier this week.    -- Wal-Mart has donated the use of 17 vacant facilities to various relief      agencies.  More buildings are being evaluated for potential uses.      These are free of charge and we are picking up utility costs.    -- Stores have provided products free of charge in hard hit areas, such as      Pass Christian and Waveland, Mississippi, where other assistance could      not arrive.  Truckloads of water, ice and dry food were sent to the      parking lots of stores to distribute to residents in conjunction with      National Guard.  A mobile pharmacy has also been established in      Waveland, MS since the store is not yet open.    -- We have donated more than 150 computers to Red Cross Shelters, giving      access to evacuees to reach to communicate through the internet.    -- Customers can still donate at all store and clubs or online to the Red      Cross, Salvation Army and Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund through      (http://www.walmartfacts.com/, http://www.walmart.com/, http://www.walmartfoundation.org/,      http://www.walmartstores.com/, http://www.samsclub.com/).    -- Wal-Mart has donated $17 million in cash to aid emergency relief      efforts:      - $15 million to the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund      - $1 million Salvation Army      - $1 million to the American Red Cross.    -- More than $3 million has been collected in public contributions made      directly by customers at our 3,800 Wal-Mart and SAM'S CLUB locations.      These dollars will be donated to emergency relief efforts.    (Downloadable photos now available as well on http://www.walmartfacts.com/)  

CONTACT: Tara Stewart, +1-479-273-4314, or Melissa O'Brien, +1-479-273-4314, or Christi Gallagher, all of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

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

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