NSW: Scrapping transit officers will lead to less security: oppn

AAP General News (Australia)
02-20-2009
NSW: Scrapping transit officers will lead to less security: oppn

SYDNEY, Feb 20 AAP - Any moves to scrap NSW rail transit officers will result in less
security on the Sydney rail network, the state opposition says.

It claims the government is scheduled to discuss a plan to replace transit officers
with police officers at a cabinet meeting next week.

The claims come as transport authorities and police discuss options to improve rail security.

NSW opposition police spokesman Mike Gallacher said the government's push to reincorporate
state transit policing into the NSW police force was an …

A struggle to maintain dignity and what's left of privacy

CALVIN WOODWARD Associated Press Writer
AP Online
09-22-1998
WASHINGTON (AP) _ Monica Lewinsky laid the detail about President Clinton on so thick that she embarrassed herself, prompting a juror to suggest she testify with her eyes closed. She responded: ``Can I hide under the table?''

Plenty of extramarital affairs by politicians have become public but none like Clinton's _ nothing close. Americans will be debating for some time whether they needed to see all they have been shown and will continue to be exposed to in the days ahead.

In his videotaped testimony played Monday around the world, Clinton was subjected to questions unimaginable in any other time and place, before such a vast audience. He struggled to keep his dignity and protect what's left of his privacy.

``I know this is somewhat unusual,'' he said, ``but I would say to the grand jury, 'Put yourself in my shoes.'''

More than 3,000 pages of evidence released Monday contain minutiae on each alleged encounter between the president and former intern, a pile too daunting even for most Internet sites to absorb all at once and regurgitate for the public.

Many Americans have already seen enough.

``If they can do this to the president of the United States, they can do that to anybody in this country,'' said Ann Bevan of Haysville, Kan., among the members of a jury pool who watched Clinton in a lounge at the Sedgwick County Courthouse in Wichita. ``Our lives are no longer private.''

Another, Flavia McBride, said: ``The whole thing is appalling, but you don't take any pleasure in seeing someone squirm.'' She supported broadcast of the tape.

In a CBS News poll released just hours before the testimony, 67 percent of respondents disapproved of the release of the videotape and 58 percent said the motivation in making it public was to embarrass Clinton.

Even so, 54 percent planned to watch it and 72 percent believed Clinton probably committed perjury.

Gennifer Flowers' tell-all book about her relationship with Clinton, Paula Jones' now-dismissed sexual harassment lawsuit and a raft of philandering rumors years old had already pried open the lid on Clinton's private life beyond the norm for sitting presidents.

But the combination of a sexually adventurous president, modern communications technology and hard-driving investigators has opened whole new chapters in what a nation knows about its leader's behavior.

It's been enough to make Texas Gov. George W. Bush, mulling over a Republican presidential run, wonder whether he wants to subject his family to the scrutiny that may attend any candidate.

``It's a troubling period,'' he said in the lead-up to the video release. ``Is this something I want to put my family through?''

Alternately forgetful, aggressive and unwilling to go into explicit detail, Clinton told prosecutors: ``Look, I'm not trying to be evasive here. I'm trying to protect my privacy, my family's privacy and I'm trying to stick to what the deposition was about.''

During her own ordeal before the grand jury, Ms. Lewinsky agreed: ``No one likes to have their weaknesses splayed out for the entire world, you know.''

When the grand jury pressed her for details on one sexual episode, this exchange ensued:

``Uh,'' Ms. Lewinsky said.

``I understand,'' said a juror.

``Oh my gosh. This is so embarrassing,'' she responded.

``You could close your eyes and talk,'' a juror said.

``We won't look at you,'' offered another.

``Can I hide under the table?'' she asked, then pressed forward with the answer.


Copyright 1998 The Associated Press All Rights Reserved.

VIC:Explosion blows water heater 400m

AAP General News (Australia)
04-05-2011
VIC:Explosion blows water heater 400m

BALLARAT, April 5 AAP - A faulty hot water heater became a flying projectile when an
explosion blew it 400 metres onto a neighbour's back porch a couple of streets away.

The 200-litre drum landed on the porch of a home while the explosion destroyed a section
of a factory in Ballarat, in regional Victoria.

Firefighters say it was sheer luck no-one was injured in the explosion at 5.30am (AEST)
on Tuesday.

"Luckily the explosion happened when no-one was in the factory; the back of the building
is pretty well destroyed," Country Fire Authority operations officer Bernie Fradd said.

"It landed right on the porch but if it went through a window or hit someone's roof
it could have been a disaster."

The hot water heater was in the roof of a factory in an industrial suburb of Ballarat.

Firefighters believed the thermostat in the service failed which meant the water was
heated continuously until it exploded.

AAP jcr/gfr/nb

KEYWORD: HEATER

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

VIC:Seats in the Victorian parliament

AAP General News (Australia)
12-14-2010
VIC:Seats in the Victorian parliament

Distribution of seats in the Victorian Parliament:



LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY (LOWER HOUSE)

Coalition: 45, up 13

Labor: 43, down 12

Independents: 0, down 1



LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (UPPER HOUSE)

Coalition: 21, up 4

Labor: 16, down 3

Greens: 3, unchanged

Democratic Labor Party: 0, down 1



AAP cmb/cdh

KEYWORD: POLLVIC FACTBOX

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

NSW:Open coronial finding disappoints family

AAP General News (Australia)
08-06-2010
NSW:Open coronial finding disappoints family

By Andrew Drummond

SYDNEY, Aug 6 AAP - A coroner's open finding into the suspicious death of Katrina Ploy
has disappointed the Sydney woman's already "broken" family, who are convinced she did
not commit suicide.

The 25-year-old's body was discovered in Sydney Harbour at a beach near a notorious
suicide spot on Christmas Day 2006, eight days after she went missing.

Expert evidence presented to Glebe Coroner's Court during a four-day inquest found
that her injuries were not consistent with having plunged from towering cliffs in the
area.

Deputy State Coroner Paul MacMahon agreed.

"Katrina had not been subject to a fall from a height of 40 metres," he said on Friday.

"I am satisfied on the evidence that Katrina did not die as a result of a fall from
The Gap or endured any other 40-metre fall from any other location."

Ms Ploy's car and personal items were found atop The Gap at Watsons Bay, an area Mr
MacMahon said "has a reputation" as a suicide spot.

Police evidence based on taxi company and mobile phone records shows Ms Ploy visited
the area at least twice in the month leading up to her death.

One witness - a close friend of Ms Ploy's who cannot be named for legal reasons - told
the court that shortly after her disappearance he was told that Ms Ploy had wanted to
die but couldn't kill herself so had approached a hitman to arrange her own death.

In the two months before her disappearance Ms Ploy withdrew more than $24,000 cash
from her bank accounts, some of which was later reinvested.

The witness, who admitted taking the recreational drug ecstasy with Ms Ploy the night
before her disappearance, said he had come to think that the money was withdrawn to pay
the hitman.

"The evidence available to me is insufficient for me to make any finding into the manner
of her death," Mr MacMahon said.

"There are numerous unexplained matters at this point. Some suspicion attaches to the
death of Katrina."

However, that suspicion did not lead Mr MacMahon to recommend that people linked to
Ms Ploy be prosecuted.

"In this case at the end of the inquest I'm not in a position to be able to make a
finding as to what caused Katrina's death," Mr MacMahon said.

"I cannot positively say she drowned, I cannot ... make a finding about the cause of her death."

He found that Ms Ploy died on or about December 18, 2006 and asked that the police
investigation into the matter remain open in case new information emerges.

"As to the place of her death, the cause and manner thereof, the evidence does not
allow me to make any finding," Mr MacMahon said.

Outside court on Friday Ms Ploy's older sister Tanja Ploy said the family was "pretty
disappointed" with the coronial outcome.

"Where we are right now is really no different to where we were when we entered these
courtrooms, if not worse," Ms Ploy told reporters.

"I believe personally there is sufficient evidence to rule out suicide considering
things like the lack of injuries ... but in the end it is up to the coroner."

Holding back tears Ms Ploy said her sister's death and the subsequent investigation
had destroyed her family.

"It's broken the family apart," she said.

AAP ad/klm/jfm/apm

KEYWORD: PLOY WRAP (PIX AVAILABLE)

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

NSW: Pregnant woman loses baby after struck by van

AAP General News (Australia)
12-26-2009
NSW: Pregnant woman loses baby after struck by van

A pregnant woman who was hit by a van that careened onto a footpath on the New South
Wales central coast has lost her baby.

Police say the 29-year-old Ourimbah woman was hit while walking at Ourimbah yesterday morning.

She was treated at the scene for a suspected broken leg and pelvis .. before being
airlifted to Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney for treatment.

AAP RTV vpm/rt

KEYWORD: PREGNANT (SYDNEY)

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

Vic: The Victorian snow report for Sunday, August 16

AAP General News (Australia)
08-16-2009
Vic: The Victorian snow report for Sunday, August 16

MELBOURNE, Aug 16 AAP - Conditions on Victoria's snowfields today:

MT HOTHAM: Good firm-packed snow cover softening later for skiing and boarding in all
open terrain. Snow depth: 78cm. Wind: moderate NW. Overnight temp: 0C

FALLS CREEK: Good melt freeze affected snow cover softening later in the day for skiing
and boarding. Fifteen lifts open. Snow depth: 83cm. Wind: strong NNW. Overnight temp:
-1.1C.

MT BULLER: Good packed then softening snow cover for skiing and boarding with extensive
grooming on all open areas. Seventeen lifts open. Snow depth: 65cm. Winds: strong N. Overnight
temp: 2.2C

MT BAW BAW: Poor to fair skiing and boarding on a groomed soft snow cover in limited
areas. Three lifts open. Wind: moderate NNE. Snow depth: 8cm. Overnight temp: 4.8C.

LAKE MOUNTAIN: Insufficient snow for cross-country skiing. Poor tobogganing and snowplay
on a soft snow cover on the village toboggan run only. Overnight temp: 6.3C. Snow depth:
0cm. Wind: moderate/strong N.

MT BUFFALO: Patchy sightseeing snow and snowplay. Snow depth: patchy.

DINNER PLAIN: Sightseeing snow and snowplay. Poor cross-country skiing around village.

One lift open.

MT STIRLING: No skiable snow lower trails. Snow depth: 20cm.

MT ST GWINEAR: Fair cross-country on soft snow on the main trail. Poor to fair coverage
elsewhere. Snow depth: 8cm.

MT DONNA BUANG: No snow.

AAP sbl/jhp

KEYWORD: SNOW VIC

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

Fed: Swan says opposition reckless abnd irresponsible

AAP General News (Australia)
04-06-2009
Fed: Swan says opposition reckless abnd irresponsible

Treasurer WAYNE SWAN has accused the opposition of preferring to see Australia fail
.. than the Rudd government succeed in moves to counter the global financial crisis.

The coalition has threatened to block budget bills that include a third round of stimulus
measures .. they judge to be wasteful.

Mr SWAN has told ABC Radio the opposition is being completely irresponsible and reckless
.. and hasn't offered any positive solutions.

Meantime the treasurer has refused to comment on the Rudd government's second budget
to be unveiled on May 12 .. he says they're constantly evaluating how the global financial
crisis is hitting the Australian economy.

AAP RTV mb/rl/sw/jmt

KEYWORD: BUDGET SWAN (CANBERRA)

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

News Diary events for Tuesday, December 2, 2008

AAP General News (Australia)
12-02-2008
News Diary events for Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Good Morning News Editors and Chiefs of Staff

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

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

INTERNATIONAL
SINGAPORE - ABC journalist Peter Lloyd to be sentenced on four drugs charges.

BRUSSELS - The EU and Australia have signed a new trade agreement to protect EU wine labelling
and ease the certification of Australian wines entering the 27-nation bloc.

PARIS - Nicole Kidman tells Paris media conference for launch of Australia, she has no
plans to drop her career altogether.

COURTS
MELBOURNE
- Trial continues for Simon Kell and Robin Dey, accused of murdering a man outside an
Ashwood house in June last year. 1000.

SYDNEY
- Continuation of inquest at Glebe into bus-stop death of Emma Hansen. 1000.

- Continuation of inquest at Glebe into car-park death of Thomas Lee. 1000.

- Sentencing submission for Paul James Wilkinson, who pleaded guilty to the murder of
a missing nurse. NSW Supreme Court. 1000.

ENTERTAINMENT
- Second day TV industry conference at the ABC.

- Preview of film Twilight.

CANBERRA
- Checking arrival home of Afghanistan casualty 25yo Lt Michael Fussell.

- Parly sitting.

- Media access to 1978 Cabinet Records. Menzies Room, National Archives. 1030.

- Aviation Green Paper release,National Press Club. 1200.

SYDNEY
- Outwatching possible arrival of emergency flights from Thailand.

- Emergency exercise at Bankstown Airport involving NSW Fire Brigades, police and ambulance
crews. 0930.

- Retired Salvation Army officer Brigadier Hazel Woodbury celebrates 104th birthday with
her 100-year-old Brother. Salvation Army Aged Care Plus Macquarie Lodge, Arncliffe. 1015.

- City of Sydney to release Cycleways plan. Level 4, Town Hall House. 1030.

- Workers march to abolish Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC). Sydney
Town Hall, then march to ABCC. 1145.

- Teachers at 500 Catholic schools expected to stop work over pay dispute.

MELBOURNE
- Declaration of results of the Melbourne City Council election. 1000.

- Funeral for Barbara Williams, mother of gangland killer Carl Williams. St Theresa's
Catholic Church, Essendon. 1130.

- Checking reports top secret Victoria Police files leaked to high-ranking criminals.

BRISBANE
- State parliament sits. 0930
- Committal resumes for former minister Gordon Nuttall on corruption charges.

- Seeking update on ABC Learning.

PERTH
- Seeking more on two men killed after truck explosion pressurised powder material at Broome.

FINANCE:

Sydney - Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) commodity price index for November

Sydney - Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) business indicators data for September quarter

Sydney - Australian Industry Group/PricewaterhouseCoopers Australian Performance of
Manufacturing Index for November

Sydney - TD Securities-Melbourne Institute inflation gauge for November

Sydney - Quarterly Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey

Sydney - 25th national Chartered Secretaries Australia conference (day 1 of 2)

Sydney - 10th Papua New Guinea Mining & Petroleum Investment Conference (day 1 of 3)

SPORT:
CRICKET

ADELAIDE - Second Test: Australia v New Zealand, Adelaide Oval, day 4.

BRISBANE - Sheffield Shield: Qld v SA, Gabba, Day 4.

SYDNEY - Preview of Sheffield Shield match between NSW and Tasmania at Bellerive Oval
starting on Tuesday.



GOLF

MELBOURNE - Latest after players go from the Australian Masters to prepare for the
Australian PGA in Coolum.



RUGBY

CARDIFF - Latest on Matt Giteau investigating a release to play in France, look forward
to Barbarians match/tour analysis.

SYDNEY - NSW Waratahs announcement.



AFL

SYDNEY - New Swans draft picks Lewis Johnston and Dan Hannebery available, along with
coach Paul Roos.

ADELAIDE - Power media session.



RUGBY LEAGUE

WOLLONGONG - New St George coach Wayne Bennett conducts first media session at the
Dragons. Club CEO Peter Doust and selected players also available.

MELBOURNE - Storm coach Craig Bellamy available for his first training session back with club.



SURFING

SUNSET BEACH - Roxy Pro at Sunset Beach continues.



RACING

SYDNEY - Entries taken for Saturday's Festival Stakes at Rosehill.

MELBOURNE - Nominations for Caulfield Saturday.

AAP bwl

KEYWORD: DIARY NEWS TUESDAY AM UPDATE

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

Qld: State govt to find who is responsible for sinking homes

AAP General News (Australia)
04-28-2008
Qld: State govt to find who is responsible for sinking homes

By Jessica Marszalek and Rosemary Desmond

BRISBANE, April 28 AAP - Queensland Premier Anna Bligh says the state government will
ensure the futures of homeowners whose houses have been evacuated due to old underground
coal mines.

Nineteenth-century coal mines have been blamed for causing cracks in homes in the Ipswich
suburb of Collingwood Park.

More evacuations are expected as engineers grapple with the problem of the subsidence
in about 20 homes.

Ms Bligh today moved to ease homeowners' concerns, saying the government would find
out who was at fault and would offer assistance.

"Where we can save their properties we will and where we can't we will sit down and
work through the legal issues to ensure that they are provided with a future, as we would
if this was a flood or any other form of disaster," she told reporters.

"I can guarantee them that we will sit down with them, look at their own personal circumstances,
what their own insurance covers or doesn't cover, what liability might accrue to the state
or to the council ... and make sure that you have a certain future."

She said the government would not shy from the responsibility if it was found to be at fault.

"If there is a liability to the state government, then we will for not one minute shirk
that liability," Ms Bligh said.

But it was possible old records of mining in the area were not complete and could hinder
the investigation, she said.

Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale said Queensland had done well out of mining and the state
government should make funds available to those affected.

He said homeowners were "distraught" over the damage.

Queensland Department of Mines and Energy executive director of statewide services
Jim Grundy said it would take several days to gauge the full extent of the problem.

"Once we have detailed studies of the area, and once we have established the extent
and the total area affected by subsidence, we will put together a comprehensive, longer
term response plan," Mr Grundy said.

AAP jmm/pjo/jm/mn

KEYWORD: SUBSIDENCE NIGHTLEAD

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

Vic: Big Merv lays down law to fans

AAP General News (Australia)
12-25-2007
Vic: Big Merv lays down law to fans

Former Australian fast bowler MERV HUGHES has told cricket fans not to let their enjoyment
of the traditional Boxing Day Test .. spoil it for others.

At least 70 thousand people are expected at the MCG on Boxing Day to see Australia take on India.

The event's been marred by boozy patrons in the past .. and this year's crowd is being
asked to leave alcohol .. racism .. and the banned Mexican Wave at home.

Police say they'll use CCTV cameras to catch offenders .. who'll be evicted from the ground.

AAP RTV gr/jl/mn/jmt

KEYWORD: TEST (MELBOURNE)

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

NSW: MP wants lie detector tests for parents in Family Law Court

AAP General News (Australia)
08-17-2007
NSW: MP wants lie detector tests for parents in Family Law Court

SYDNEY, Aug 17 AAP - An MP has called for compulsory lie detector tests for parents
facing the Family Law Court.

South Australian independent MP Ann Bressington says current family law is a divisive
"cash cow" that harms those it aims to protect - children.

The federal government must intervene and rewrite the law, just as it is acting to
protect indigenous children in the Northern Territory, Ms Bressington told AAP in Sydney,
where she is attending a Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission conference.

"We have to ask why the Attorney-General (Philip Ruddock) and the Prime Minister (John
Howard) would be seen to support such a dysfunctional (Family Law) Act when they can take
the action they did in the Northern Territory to supposedly protect Aboriginal children,"

she said.

A draft bill to introduce polygraph (lie detector) tests for individuals before Family
Court proceedings would be introduced in the South Australian parliament in the next session,
said Ms Bressington.

However, she said the use of polygraph tests needed to be implemented federally.

"There is no recognition of perjury. A man or a woman can go into a Family Law Court
and lie about the conduct of their partner and it can be proven to be false but there
is no course of action that's taken," Ms Bressington said.

"I believe the research and evidence to support the use of polygraphing, not for court
but pre-court is very strong. It has a 98 per cent accuracy ... If we can save resources
in the social services departments and thousands of hours spent by social workers investigating
false allegations ... that's a good thing."

Ms Bressington said the family law system was biased against men, but children suffered too.

"On top of the dysfunctional family law system we have a corrupted child protection
agency.," she said.

"We have children being coerced in interviews to support false allegations.

"It's a feeding ground, it's a cash cow, people are literally striped of any assets
and use it (the court) against one another," she said.

Ms Bressington said her main focus was on drug and alcohol issues but through this
she had experienced first hand the difficulties people faced with family law.

In 2006 she introduced a bill calling for random drug testing of SA school children.

She is the chief executive officer and founder of DrugBeat South Australia, a treatment
and rehabilitation centre.

AAP ig/wjf/it/mn

KEYWORD: PARENTS

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

Fed: Costello pays tribute to Jeannie Ferris

AAP General News (Australia)
04-02-2007
Fed: Costello pays tribute to Jeannie Ferris

CANBERRA, April 2 AAP - Treasurer Peter Costello has paid tribute to South Australian
Liberal senator Jeannie Ferris, who lost her battle with cancer last night.

Mr Costello said today Senator Ferris, who was suffering from ovarian cancer, had been
a valuable worker over many years.

She was elected to the Senate in 1996 and was appointed government whip in 2002.

"I first met her when she was working for the (National) Farmers Federation. I was
also a counsel for the Farmers Federation," Mr Costello told the National Press Club in
Canberra.

He said Senator Ferris regarded the passage of therapeutic cloning legislation as among
the greatest achievements of her time in parliament.

"She'll be sorely missed and I want to send my condolences to her family," Mr Costello said.

Senator Ferris died peacefully in hospital in Canberra last night, where she has been
supported by family and friends during the past few weeks.

She was 66.

AAP dcr/sb/maur.de

KEYWORD: FERRIS COSTELLO

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

Vic: Victorian firefighters heading to NSW

AAP General News (Australia)
12-01-2006
Vic: Victorian firefighters heading to NSW

MELBOURNE, Dec 1 AAP - More than 100 volunteer firefighters from Victoria are heading
to NSW where more than 70 blazes are raging across the state.

The 116 firefighters left Victoria at 10.30am (AEDT) today and will begin fighting
fires around Mudgee.

Horror conditions with low humidity, northerly wind gusts and temperatures in the mid-to-high
30s will greet the firefighters.

A spokeswoman for Victoria's Country Fire Authority (CFA) said the three strikeforce
teams would be backed by support and administration staff.

There are fears property in NSW may come under threat from the fires, as conditions
worsen near Coonabarabran, with an unknown number of fires also burning in inaccessible
terrain in the nearby Pilliga Nature Reserve.

A key koala habitat in NSW is one of several areas under threat by bushfires today

More than 100,000 hectares have been burnt out in the Pilliga, where a key koala habitat
is under threat, since lightning strikes sparked bushfires two days ago.

AAP xlc/ce/jm/cdh

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES NSW CFA

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

NSW: Western Sydney gets new $12 million court

AAP General News (Australia)
04-26-2006
NSW: Western Sydney gets new $12 million court

The New South Wales governmnet's opened a new 12 million dollar court in Sydney's west.

Attorney General BOB DEBUS says the new Mount Druitt Court .. which consists of two
courtrooms .. will ensure crime is dealt with swiftly in the area.

He says it's a modern .. fast growing and multicultural community .. which now has
a truly modern courthouse.

The court will be monitored by closed circuit TV cameras .. and an audio visual link
to allow dangerous prisoners and defendants to take part in court proceedings while in
custody.

It'll also allow witnesses and victims of crimes .. such as sexual assault .. to give
evidence from a remote room within the complex.

AAP RTV af/wz/tm

KEYWORD: COURT (SYDNEY)

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

WA: Anderson made to wait after $50m court case wraps up

AAP General News (Australia)
08-23-2005
WA: Anderson made to wait after $50m court case wraps up

Property developer WARREN ANDERSON will have to wait to know whether he's successfully
sued the West Australian government for over $50 million over an ill-fated investment.

The hearing has finished, six weeks after the state's Supreme Court started hearing
evidence related to the claim.

But Acting Chief Justice MICHAEL MURRAY has deferred his judgement on whether Mr ANDERSON
should be repaid the money he ploughed into the catastrophic rescue of merchant bank Rothwells
in 1988.

Through his private company Tipperary Developments, Mr ANDERSON launched his $50 million
claim against the Western Australia government in 1992.

The claim centred on allegations he was induced to provide the loan in return for an
agreement on a lucrative Perth property deal.

Mr ANDERSON says he was given assurances by then Western Australia premier PETER DOWDING
that the state would pay him back if Rothwells couldn't.

Witnesses who've given evidence during the hearings included Mr DOWDING, former New
South Wales Premier NEVILL WRAN and Wentworth MP MALCOLM TURNBULL.

AAP RTV tc/bk/wz

KEYWORD: ANDERSON (PERTH)

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

Mwindo Moves to the Heavens

Mwindo Moves to the Heavens The Heroic Side of Man Soars to the Heavens.The epic hero, mythic, belonging to the realms of earth and heaven and moving between the two, embodies the essential qualities of the relationship between God and man. The heroic epic is a majestic blending of tale and myth, heroic poetry and history, dwelling on major turning points in history, always with a towering historical or nonhistorical figure who encapsulates the turning point, linking pivotal events to tradition. The effect of the epic is to mythologize history, to bring history to the heart of the culture, to endow history with the resonant roots of the society as these are expressed in myth, tale, motif, and metaphor. The significant genre involved in epic is not history but tale and myth. As the tales take routine, everyday experiences of reality and, placing them into the fanciful context of conflict and resolution, with emotion-evocative motifs of the past, give them a meaning and a completeness that they do not actually have, so in epic is history given a form and a meaning that it does not possess unless history is seen as myth. The imaginative environment of epic revises history, takes historical experiences and places them into the context of the culture, giving them thereby cultural meaning. The epic hero, linking heaven and earth, god and human, fancy and reality, gives historical disjunction a cultural continuity.

(Nyanga/DRCongo) Mwindo, who is to become a mythical king, is the miraculously born son of Chief Shemwindo and his preferred wife. Rejected by his father, who did not want any of his wives to bear sons, the newly born Mwindo successfully escapes his father's attempts to kill him. He is locked in a drum by his father's councillors, and travels in a river in search of his father's sister, who is married to a water serpent. He is liberated from the drum by his paternal aunt, Iyangura, then returns with her to his village in search of his father. Mwindo can walk and talk from birth. He has the gift of premonition and is born with a magical scepter. On the journey home, he performs extraordinary deeds until he reaches his village from which his father has escaped. He destroys the village and sets out, in subterranean travels, in quest of his father. In the realm of subterranean beings and divinities he successfully performs many tasks, until his father is turned over to him. He carries his father home, revivifying on his way the many enemies whom he had overcome. A great council is convened in which all parties express opinions. The kingdom is divided into two parts, one ruled by the hero, one by his father. But the troubles are not finished. Followers of Mwindo, on a hunting party, are swallowed by a dragon, Kirimu. Mwindo defeats the dragon and liberates his followers. But the destruction of the dragon disturbs Lightning, a friend and ally of both Mwindo and the dragon. Lightning takes Mwindo into the celestial realms of Moon, Sun, Star, and others, where for one year the hero undergoes his final purification. He is returned to earth with warnings and prescriptions. Mwindo now rules as a glorious chief, prescribing for his people a set of rules for harmonious interrelationships. He moves to completeness, to the state of heroism, represented by a movement from what his father represents to what his aunt represents. The symbolism of his aunt is reinforced by Mwindo's journeying in the celestial realm, after which he returns home with a command that all beings are sacred in the eyes of the gods and no human may make decisions as to his fate.

Stakes high in battle to ban 'Net gambling

THIS ELECTRONIC VERSION MAY DIFFER SLIGHTLY FROM PRINTED VERSION

If you hadn't heard before now that Jaime Gold is the winner of the 2006 World Series of Poker No-Limit Texas Hold 'em Championship ... well, you must have had the TV turned off and skipped reading the papers.Gold is a former Hollywood agent who once counted James Gandolfini among his clients, and that he produced 10-time WSOP winner Johnny Chan's instructional poker DVD. And that makes him a near-perfect media winner for what has become an enormous annual media event.

It wasn't always that way, of course. No one outside poker pro circles paid attention in 1970 when Johnny Moss became the first WSOP winner. He was elected champion by his peers, who voted Moss as the competitor who had played the best during the event. The following year, the freezeout formula, playing until one player had all the chips, was adopted, and Moss won again.

Moss won $30,000 for that 1971 freezeout, a far cry from the $12 million Gold won this year. Today's big money is the result of the phenomenal growth in poker, especially no-limit Texas Hold 'em, that has been spurred by televised and online tournaments. There were 8,773 entrants this year, each with a $10,000 buy-in, whether that buy-in came via actually ponying up the 10 grand or by winning their entry for a fraction of the cost in satellites at Harrah's casinos across the country or on the Internet.

The Internet connection is bound to be a source of controversy and angst in the coming years, depending on how aggressively the federal government chooses to pursue controlling online gambling. The U.S. House of Representatives this summer passed a bill that would outlaw banks and credit companies from handling transactions for online gambling. It doesn't appear the Senate will approve such a measure, so we're at an uneasy status quo in which the federal government holds it to be illegal for U.S. residents to gamble online but doesn't seem to be in position to control it.

Against that backdrop, Antigua has filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization, contending that any U.S. crackdown on online gambling violates international trade rules. The WTO can't stop the U.S. from passing anti-Internet gambling rules, but it can impose economic sanctions.

The economic sanction that Antigua is seeking would sting the industry where new World Series of Poker champion Gold makes his non-poker living. Antigua plans to ask the WTO for permission to copy and export U.S.-made DVDs, CDs and other entertainment media without paying royalties.

That raises the stakes far beyond a $10,000 entry to the World Series of Poker and even far beyond Gold's $12 million windfall.

Midwest connection

Scanning the list of players who finished in the money in the No Limit Texas Hold 'em Championship, I kept an eye out for anyone with a local connection. The top Midwesterner was Dan Nassif of St. Louis, who made the final table and finished ninth, good for $1,566,858. No. 1 in the Chicago area was Walt Schafer of west suburban Aurora, who finished 104th, winning $51,129.

The World Series of Poker is far more than the final championship, with 45 events covering the poker spectrum. The top Chicago-area finisher in any of them was Shawnee Barton of Chicago, who finished second and won $123,178 in the $1,000 buy-in Women's No Limit Hold 'em championship.

Milwaukee visit

Off the poker track, my wife and I took advantage of a vacation day to drive to Milwaukee and visit the Potawatomi Bingo Casino. It had been a few years since I'd been able to make it there and wanted to get a good look around. Potawatomi does a great job with its theme, using American Indian photographs, artifacts and imagery around the property. That includes a huge false flame that symbolizes the Potawatomi status as keepers of the fire in alliance with the Chippewa and Ottawa tribes.

We had a fun day, mostly dabbling in nickel slots. What the casino is most of all is a slot-lover's haven, with games from a variety of manufacturers -- IGT, WMS, Bally, Aristocrat, Atronic and Konami. This was the first casino where I got to see Atronic's e-Millions in action -- if you bet the maximum, you're eligible for a million-dollar progressive jackpot. If not, you can still become a nickel-aire, with a jackpot of a million nickels.

Food service is outstanding here, with Dream Dance being one of the best casino restaurants around. We were there on a seafood buffet night, so we opted to make some cold cracked crab claws the center of our meal.

Expansion is coming soon to Potawatomi, and I'm looking forward to seeing what that brings.

On the road

Since February, I've been hosting a weekly casino talk show at 7 p.m. Saturdays on WCKG-FM (105.9) in Chicago. On Sept. 9, we're taking it on the road. I'll be broadcasting live from Majestic Star casino in Gary's Buffington Harbor. I look forward to taking comments and questions for those who are there, so come on out to Majestic Star and look for me there.

Listen to John Grochowski's "Beat the Odds" tips at 6:20 a.m., 2:50 and 7:41 p.m. Saturdays and at 8:20 a.m., 2:50 and 10:42 p.m. Sundays on WBBM-AM, News Radio 780 in Chicago, streaming online at www.wbbm780.com, and to his casino talk show from 7 to 8 p.m. Saturday on WCKG-FM (105.9).Visit his Web site at www.casinoanswerman.com or e-mail him at grochowski_j@yahoo.com

INDIA TENDER - DIGITAL CROSS.

***** ASIA PULSE TENDER *****

VIDESH SANCHAR NIGAM LIMITED

INVITATION OF GLOBAL TENDERS

----------------------------

SEALED GLOBAL TENDERS ARE INVITED FROM THE REPUTED BIDDERS FOR SUPPLY INSTALLATION AND COMMISSIONG OF EQUIPMENT AS FOLLOWS:

  TENDER NO  DESCRIPTION OF EQPT.    TENDER COST     END DUE DATE --------------------------------------------------------------- IMP-82     HIGH ORDER DIGITAL CROSS  RS.10,000    15.12.2000                                      for Indians            CONNECT (DXC) FOR VSNL.   RS 15,000             MUMBAI                   for Foreigners                                      -------------------------  

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A complete set of tender documents can be purchased by the interested bidders on submission of written applications to the address given below giving details of their address for communication including contact person & internet e-mail address and upon non-refundable payment as above in the form of Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd. The tender documents will be available for sale from 21.11.2000 to 11.12.2000 between 1500 hrs to 1700 hrs. (ist) on all the working days. For further details, you may visit our internet site, www.vsnl.net.in/tender.html.

All TENDERS ACCOMPANIED BY TENDER SECURITY AS GIVEN ABOVE SHALL BE SUBMITTED ON OR BEFORE 1100 HRS. (IST) on the due date to the address given below. The tender shall be opened at 1500 hrs. (ist) on the due date.

Senior General Manager (C0mmercial), Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd.

4TH floor Videsh Sanchar Bhavan,

Mahatma Gandhi Road, Fort, Mumbai

-400 001. INDIA.

PHONE: +91 (22)2624020/2655015.

TELEX +81 (11) 82429 VSNH IN FAX +91(22)2619640/2619449.

Pacific International Enterprises, Inc. Announces New Internet and E-Commerce Division.

GOLDENDALE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 30, 1999--

Pacific International Enterprises, Inc., dba "the France Group", (OTC BB:PCIE), Thursday announced that they intend to build a search engine and E-Commerce site oriented towards Action Sports Market boarder sport end-users, with focus on Generation-X and Y consumers.

The overall program has already been designed and final discussions are underway with a top firm to construct the site. PCIE has not yet determined if the site will be incorporated into its existing http://www.247snow.com website or the http://www.francegroup.com website. Those websites were developed by Sony Music Canada (NYSE: SonyCp ).

"We believe this additional step into the world of the Internet will greatly benefit PCIE by providing a tremendous amount of information about our company and its board products directly to the targeted Generation-X and Y end-user," stated PCIE's Chairman, Binks A. Graval.

PCIE is engaging in strategic alliances with important industry partners that will enable the company to offer, in addition to its search platform, a variety of services targeting its clients worldwide. The platform may include services offered by companies like CD Now (NASDAQ:CDNW), RealNetworks (NASDAQ:RNWK). It is anticipated the site will offer extreme sports events information through sites like Ticketmaster (NASDAQ:TMCS), e-commerce like Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), eBay (NASDAQ:EBAY), Autobytel (NASDAQ:ABTL), Ivillage (NASDAQ:IVIL), Internet services like America Online (NYSE:AOL), At Home (NASDAQ:ATHM), Yahoo (NASDAQ:YHOO), Excite (NASDAQ:XCIT), Lycos (NASDAQ:LCOS), Infoseek (NASDAQ:SEEK), Broadcast.com (NASDAQ:BCST), AT&T (NYSE:T), Double Click (NASDAQ:DLCK), and Inktomi (NASDAQ:INKT).

"The international segment of our business is expected to grow rapidly with our focus now in that direction and the addition of this Internet and E-commerce division is a key ingredient in that expansion program as it strengthens our overall position within the industry. It should also serve to enhance our ability to serve the global marketplace and ensure our position as a leader and key player in the rapidly expanding Generation-X and Y marketplace which is growing exponentially in all age groups," stated Jim Fraser, General Manager for the France Group.

Pacific International Enterprises, Inc. is a multi dimensional company with divisions focusing on the action sports arena, and specifically the Generation-X and Y segment. The company is currently on track to attain its goal of $10 million in revenues for the fiscal year ending in 2000. The company manufactures wakeboards, snowboards, small snow skis and skiboards, water skis and is presently entering the skate board market.

For other 1999 PCIE publicity releases, reference the Internet; Business Wire, Yahoo, Snowboarding On Line, etc. -0-

 (PR No. 1) Jan. 20, 1999 -- Pacific International Enterprises Inc. Acquired the Assets of France Sports Mfg. and Twenty Four Seven Snowboards. (PR No. 2) Jan. 26, 1999 -- Pacific International Enterprises Inc. Acquired the Assets of Durham Molding Corp.'s (DMC) Wake Technology Wakeboards and Rift Snowboards. (PR No. 3) Jan. 27, 1999 -- Pacific International Enterprises Inc. Acquires $3.5 Million in Assets of France Sports Mfg., Twenty Four Seven and Wake Tech. (PR No. 4) Feb. 4, 1999 --  Pacific International Enterprises Inc. Signs Nagano Olympic Gold Medalist Ross Rebagliati. (PR No. 5) Feb. 16, 1999 -- Pacific International Enterprises Inc. World Champion Snowboarder Sondra Van Ert, Having Best Season Ever on 24/7 Snowboards. (PR No. 6) Feb. 23, 1999 -- Pacific International Enterprises Inc.; The France Group; OEM Order Entry Rate Running Ahead of Projections. Ph.: 509/773-4400, Web: www.247snow.com, Fax: 509/773-5695. 

-0-

This release contains certain forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions or the Private Securities reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause the Company's actual results in future periods to differ materially from forecasted results. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, estimated, expected or projected.

Such risks and uncertainties include the Company's ability to successfully create a sports web page, use it to market its products, or attract a significant number of visitors to it. Certain of these as well as other risks and uncertainties will be described in more detail in the Company's Registration Statement of Form S-3 which will be filed under the Securities Act of 1933. The Company undertakes no other obligation to update any such factors or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of the forward looking statements contained herein to reflect future events or developments.

Thailand rocked by bomb blasts.

Twin bomb blasts ripped through a town in Thailand's south, killing two people and wounding dozens in the latest violence of a six-year insurgency.

The rebellion across the southern provinces, by a shadowy band of separatist Islamists fighting for greater autonomy in the area bordering Malaysia, has left more than 4,100 people dead.

There have been fewer attacks recently in the south because insurgents knew their cause had been overshadowed by two months of deadly anti-government protests in Bangkok, said analyst Srisompob Jitpiromya.

At least 55 people were wounded five seriously yesterday in the blasts in Yala, the main town in the province of the same name, said the provincial hospital.

The bombs were hidden on motorcycles and exploded near the business district of the town, police said, pointing the finger at Islamist militants.

"Provincial authorities had been warned of the attack beforehand, but the warning was for May 28 to 30," said Krisada Boonrach, the Yala governor.

"Currently there is an 11-day provincial fair until June 5 and as security is strict in the town centre, the militants chose to attack in the outer part of town."

The first bomb detonated at 10.15am in front of a car showroom and the second went off close by ten minutes later, wounding rescue workers and police who had come to investigate the first attack.

The rebels have targeted both Buddhists and Muslims with shootings, bombings and gruesome methods such as beheadings and crucifixions.

There is no link to the anti-government Red Shirt protests in the Thai capital, which were broken up last week by the army and had sparked several outbreaks of violence that left 88 people dead.

"In the last few days they've tried to increase their operations because the situation in Bangkok has quieted down," said Srisompob, of Deep South Watch, an independent monitoring group.

"In the coming days or weeks maybe there will be more attacks. That's the tactics of the insurgency."

The region was an autonomous Malay Muslim sultanate until it was annexed in 1902, by mainly Buddhist Thailand, and tensions have bubbled since.

Life begins to return to normal in Bangkok

Britain has urged its nationals to avoid "all but essential travel" to Bangkok, easing a warning made last week not to visit the Thai capital under any circumstances.

The revised advice came after the end of mass rallies by anti-government Red Shirt protesters, which were broken up by the army last week.

"We are now advising against all but essential travel to Bangkok," said Britain's Foreign Office in a statement. "This replaces the previous advice, which advised against all travel to Bangkok."

"Although the situation in Bangkok is returning to normal, it is still unpredictable," it warned.

The advice does not apply to transiting the airport en route to other destinations.

2009 Al Sidra Media LLC

Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company

With Mobistar, a single mobile Internet contract to share with multiple devices!

Brussels, - Smartphones, tablets, laptops... Users have more and more devices connected to mobile Internet. But up to now, in order to surf the Internet from all these terminals they had to subscribe into multiple contracts, with all the costs and complications that implies. To better meet their needs, Mobistar launches Internet Everywhere Multi, a contract which allows sharing the same data bundle on several devices. A first on the Belgian residential market.

Sales of smartphones and tablets are booming. Today, more than one in four mobile phones sold in Belgium is a smartphone, while 2011 is the breakthrough year for sales of digital tablets to the public: it is estimated that there will be 300,000 in the hands of Belgian users by the end of this year, compared to only 75,000 at the end of 2010. These two trends go hand in hand: according to a study carried out by Nielsen in the United States, 90% of iPad owners also have a smartphone and 99% of them possess a laptop. Not forgetting that portable gaming consoles and kindles are also adding to the panoply of connected devices.

Internet Everywhere Multi is the ideal solution for "multi-equipped" users. With this new data bundle launched on 1st July by Mobistar, everything becomes much simpler and more flexible: a single bundle can be shared by several SIM cards (voice or data) if these are grouped together on the same Mobistar contract. By default, Multi bundles include a SIM card (to put in your tablet, for example) which will be added to the SIM card already included in the mobile voice contract, but it is possible to add additional cards for 3 euros per month per card. This new revolutionary bundle is available to all residential and SOHO customers subscribed to Mobistar, whatever their tariff plan1 .

Mobistar will put two Multi bundles on sale from this Friday: the Relax bundle consists of 750 MB of data for 15 euros per month, while the Max offers 2 GB of data for 30 euros. Good news: for the launch of this new product, Mobistar doubles the quantity of data included in the Relax bundle (1.5 GB instead of 750 MB). For iPad owners, Mobistar also offers one year's free access to the online edition of a leading Belgian daily (either De Standaard or Het Nieuwsblad, or Le Soir), for every subscription to a Multi-bundle between 1st July and 31st December 2011.

With Internet Everywhere Multi, Mobistar once more brings innovation to the Belgian telecoms market and demonstrates its capacity to adapt to the changing consumer needs. Shared data bundles are in fact a major revolution on the international telecoms scene, as pre-paid cards were in their time. Back then, Mobistar was the first European mobile operator to launch such cards. As it launches Internet Everywhere Multi, Mobistar is once again leading the way!

1 If the customer does not have a Mobistar mobile phone contract, they can also subscribe to Internet Everywhere Multi: they will then receive a SIM card which they can use with their tablet. If they also want to share their data bundle with a laptop, all they have to do is take out an additional card for 3€ per month. Related LinksSource

Keywords: Electronics.

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

Panache Offers Interactive Video Ads on HTTP Live Streaming to Connected Devices.

Panache, a digital video advertising fulfillment provider, announces the industry's first digital video ad insertion technology for the HTTP live streaming (HLS) standard. This technology enables publishers and advertisers to match interactive overlays to live or simulcast streaming video content, such as broadcast television, across any connected device, including Apple's iPad and Android tablets.

"We know consumers want to watch premium broadcast content on connected devices, especially Apple and Android tablets, but one of the limits on providing that content is monetization," said Steve Robinson, CEO and founder of Panache. "We expect this technology to enable content owners and MSOs to quickly and easily establish new revenue by pairing interactive overlays against TV ad buys. Additionally, for advertisers, this technology maintains reach across the full viewing audience while creating an opportunity to engage consumers thoughtfully."

Panache's ad-insertion technology matches the interactive overlay dynamically, at runtime, to the ad spots in an internet-delivered feed using the HLS standard. Thus, a TV ad buy can become a digital or mobile buy when a stream is viewed on a connected device. Panache can provide any stream distributor (MSOs, broadcast networks, cable programmers) a way to integrate best-in-class interactive advertising using its existing workflow technology to test, preview, traffic and measure ads across the ever-expanding universe of consumer devices. For advertisers, this technology simplifies the task of layering engagement such as social networking, special offers, or other interactive content onto their TV-driven brand campaigns, raising the value of planned ad buys.

Panache makes it easy to fulfill any digital video ad format into ad servers and across publisher sites - with the ability to customize, scale, extend, and measure campaigns across connected devices, including Apple and Android tablets. Panache's workflow technology helps advertisers and publishers to bring campaigns to market more quickly, with accountability. All Panache ad formats come with interactive demos, sales collateral, creative templates, full pre-flight preview and testing, and robust campaign measurement reports.

Panache will be demoing the technology at ELEVATE on June 7th at New World Stages in New York City and by invitation only at the Cable Show in Chicago from June 14-16. Supporting Resources Video demo and additional product information About the HLS standard Catalog of Panache ad formats About Panache Panache provides digital video ad fulfillment software and services that help premium publishers accelerate ad revenues through ad planning, innovative ad formats, workflow processes and performance metrics. Paired with professional services and unparalleled domain expertise, Panache enables leading premium publishers such as Fox News, CBS, and MTV Networks to grow their digital video advertising business with ease. Founded in 2006, Panache is a privately-held company headquartered in Los Angeles.

Keywords: Advertise, Advertising, Digital Video, Leisure, Panache, Software, Technology, Television.

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

Comcast Donates $250,000 to Tornado Relief Efforts.

During a check presentation to Alabama Governor Robert Bentley today, Comcast, one of the world's leading media, entertainment and communications companies, announced a quarter of a million dollars in contributions to several charities engaged in disaster relief efforts. The charities include: the Governor's Emergency Relief Fund; the American Red Cross; and one of its local chapters, the Red Cross of West Alabama. Comcast presents Alabama Governor Bentley with a $200,000 check to assist with tornado relief efforts in the state. Pictured, from left to right are: Patricia Collins, Senior Director of Government Affairs - Delta Area; Governor Bentley; John Butts, Technical Operations Supervisor - Tuscaloosa; Homer Butler, Jr., Executive Director - United Way of West Alabama; Douglas Wells, Regional Vice President of Government Affairs - Mid-South Region; Stacy Cole, Director, Government & Community Affairs - Central Division; Michael Wall, Senior Director of State Government Affairs - Central Division.

Specifically, the Comcast Foundation is donating $200,000 to Governor Bentley's Emergency Relief Fund which will be administered by the Governor's Office on Faith Based and Community Initiatives with the United Ways of Alabama serving as the fiscal agent. This Fund acts as a clearing house for donations designated for those severely impacted by tornado and storm damage.

Homer Butler, Jr., Executive Director of the United Way of West Alabama, attended the check presentation and stated, "Comcast and the United Way of West Alabama have a longstanding relationship. Comcast has been very supportive of the United Way of West Alabama and its programs. We are very grateful to Comcast for making such funds available for the recovery efforts in our area. The tornados caused tremendous devastation and this gift will be used to help many families. Thank you," remarked Butler.

"Comcast is a true example of corporate citizenship of the highest order, and we are humbled by the charitable gift that will help get the necessary supplies and relief to our fellow citizens so they can recover and rebuild their lives after the tornado outbreak," said Governor Bentley. "I appreciate the generosity of Comcast and their commitment to Alabama families."

Comcast will also make two additional contributions of $25,000 each to the local Red Cross of West Alabama and to the National Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

Comcast and its local employees have been working around the clock to restore communication services to affected markets throughout Northern Alabama and the Southeast resulting in services being restored to the vast majority of customers. Although system damage continues to be assessed in the most devastated areas, plans for rebuilding are well underway. Comcast will be investing millions of dollars for infrastructure repairs to maintain communication services in those areas hardest hit by these tragic storms.

"We are committed to be there when our customers and employees are in need," said Terry Kennedy, Market Vice President for Comcast. "Since day one, Comcast employees have been working side by side with our fellow Alabamians in the restoration efforts."

In addition to cash contributions and rebuilding efforts, Comcast has established two disaster relief communication centers in Tuscaloosa. These centers enable local residents, whose services were affected by the storm, access to Comcast High-Speed Internet services and Comcast Digital Voice, to make local, long distance and some international calls, all free of charge. These sites are located at the Belk Center, which is the largest shelter in the city, and the Holy Spirit Catholic Church which offers Spanish speaking assistance to the Hispanic community.

"We are strongly committed to the communities we serve in Alabama and our thoughts are with those who have been impacted by this tragedy," said John Barrett, Regional Senior Vice President of Comcast's Mid South Region. "Our contributions will help those hit the hardest with both personal needs and also with the restoration efforts taking place across the state." About Comcast Foundation The Comcast Foundation was founded by Comcast Corporation in June 1999 to provide charitable support to qualified non-profit organizations. The Foundation primarily invests in programs intended to have a positive, sustainable impact on their communities. The Foundation has three community investment priorities-promoting community service, expanding digital literacy, and building tomorrow's leaders. Since its inception, the Comcast Foundation has donated more than $90 million to organizations in the communities nationwide that Comcast serves. More information about the Foundation and its programs is available at www.comcast.com/community. About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) (www.comcast.com) is one of the world's leading media, entertainment, and communications companies. Comcast is principally involved in the operation of cable systems through Comcast Cable and in the development, production and distribution of entertainment, news, sports and other content for global audiences through NBCUniversal. Comcast Cable is one of the nation's largest video, high-speed Internet and phone providers to residential and business customers. Comcast is the majority owner and manager of NBCUniversal, which owns and operates entertainment and news cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, local television station groups, television production operations, a major motion picture company and theme parks.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6729408&lang=en

Keywords: Cable Television Companies, Industry, Politics, Service Companies, State Government.

This article was prepared by Politics & Government Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2011, Politics & Government Week via VerticalNews.com.

Days of Wonder Announces Ticket to Ride for iPad.

Best-Selling Board Game Now Available on Fastest Growing Mobile Platform

LOS ALTOS, Calif. and PARIS, May 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Days of Wonder today announced Ticket to Ride(TM) for iPad, its second interactive board game designed specifically for iPad.

Elegantly simple and taking less than three minutes to learn, Ticket to Ride has been honored with over two dozen international board game awards. Millions of players have already discovered this best-selling railroad adventure where tension builds at every turn of the game, as players compete to create routes across North America, earning points as they go. Additional points are won for completing Destination Tickets between specific cities and building the longest continuous route. Over 1.5 Million copies of the board game have been sold and more than 23 million games of Ticket to Ride Online have been played on Macs and PCs to date.

Ticket to Ride for iPad uses the iPad's innovative Multi-Touch interface and large screen to provide a polished digital board game experience. Users can intuitively pick up train cards and place trains on the board to connect distant cities, with the app automatically enforcing the proper rules, calculating the players' scores and keeping track of their Destination Tickets, train cards and remaining trains.

Solo play allows for quick games against up to four AI players. When connected to the internet via the iPad's WiFi or 3G connection, Ticket to Ride for iPad's support of Game Center and Days of Wonder Online accounts lets players pit their tactical skills against up to four other opponents playing on their own iPad, Mac or PC anywhere around the world. An iPad video tutorial teaches players all the rules of the game within three minutes, with an additional interactive, turn-by-turn in-game tutorial included for those who prefer to learn while playing.

"The iPad is a revolutionary gaming platform," said Days of Wonder CEO, Eric Hautemont. "Our very own Small World for iPad paved the way by showing off the iPad's true potential as a digital board game platform, and we built on that experience to offer an even richer board game experience with Ticket to Ride for iPad. We look forward to welcoming iPad Ticket to Ride players into our thriving online players community."

The Ticket to Ride App for iPad is available now for $6.99 from the App Store on iPad or at www.itunes.com/appstore/. Additional maps of Europe, Switzerland and USA 1910 are available as in-game purchases at a special introductory price of $0.99 per map.

About Days of Wonder

Days of Wonder publishes top-quality, family-oriented board and digital games that are easy to learn and fun to play. Founded in 2002, Days of Wonder has a global presence, with offices in the US and Europe, and distribution in 25 countries. To date, the company has sold over 2 million board games and hosted over 23 million games online. In June 2004, Days of Wonder became the youngest publisher ever to win Germany's prestigious Spiel des Jahres, the world's most coveted game prize.

SOURCE Days of Wonder

Healthline Networks First to Market with Fully Mobile-Optimized Health Information Website.

Healthline Networks, the fastest growing provider of intelligent health information services, announced the launch of the first mobile-optimized health information website - m.healthline.com. As a fully-optimized mobile version of Healthline.com, m.healthline.com provides consumers with the same trusted health reference content and applications such as SymptomSearch™ and TreatmentSearch™, enabling them to make better health and wellness decisions from wherever they are located. This new platform, designed to meet the needs of the 43 percent of Americans with Web-enabled mobile devices1, provides advertisers with a robust marketing vehicle to reach the growing number of consumers seeking health information while away from their desktop PC.

"As consumers acclimate to 'ambient healthcare' and the variety of digital, mobile and social tools available for health management, mHealth is transforming the landscape of modern medicine," said West Shell, chief executive officer and chairman of Healthline Networks, "Now that we are mobile-optimized and users have access to the power of Healthline's semantic search, rich data and content platform, our next step is to roll out a variety of health, wellness and prevention applications to take advantage of the exciting developments in mobile health."

Recent data shows that mobile-optimized experiences produced an average 75 percent higher rate of engagements per visit for mobile users.2 According to Morgan Stanley, mobile will overtake desktop in online presence by 20133, and this growing community of mobile users is also more engaged in the online health discovery journey4. Eighty-three percent of wireless internet users have looked online for health information, compared with 70 percent of Internet users who do not use a mobile connection. Healthline has seen a steady increase in site traffic from mobile devices, currently 6 million users annually, a rate that is forecasted to double over the next six months. Moreover, health information seekers who use mobile devices to access the site dramatically over-index for content around private conditions such as mental health, gastrointestinal topics, sexually transmitted diseases and other sensitive health subjects. http://www.ichartsbusiness.com/mobile-searchers-seek-privacy "Healthline mobile users have different needs than desktop users- they come to us seeking credible answers to questions about private conditions and when they need immediate information about symptoms like pain, nausea and dizziness," said David Kopp, Healthline's senior vice president of consumer media. "Because Healthline mobile is optimized for smaller mobile device screens, it's simpler for users to access our health content in a streamlined mobile experience and it's easier for healthcare marketers to engage consumers."

In addition to fully-optimized mobile versions of the Healthline home page and search engine results page (SERP), the new mobile platform features key mobile optimized products, including: SymptomSearch™ - The only semantically-generated, interactive symptom tool, which covers 10 times more symptoms and their likely causes than any other online symptom checkers Treatment Search™ - The only online treatment search tool to surface possible treatment options, including medications, diagnostic tests, as well as medical, surgical and alternative therapies Comprehensive health reference content-The broadest array of mobile-optimized consumer health content from 18 leading health publishers such as A.D.A.M., Cengage, Gold Standard, Reed Elsevier, and more

Advertising opportunities on the mobile platform are available through the Healthline Media Network, the largest advertising network in the health information category. Users can visit the new Healthline mobile platform at: m.healthline.com. About Healthline Healthline Networks is the fastest growing provider of intelligent health information services, enabling 100 million consumers a month to make more confident, informed healthcare decisions. The company's proprietary consumer healthcare taxonomy, the largest of its kind, powers a suite of intelligent health search, content and advertising services. Combining advanced search technology with deep medical expertise, Healthline partners with a network more than 50 trusted destination sites that include publishers, portals, search engines, employers and health plans. Headquartered in San Francisco and ranked #54 in Deloitte's 2010 Technology Fast 500, Healthline is backed by Aetna, GE/NBC Peacock Fund, Investor Growth Capital, Kaiser Permanente, Reed Elsevier, U.S. News & World Report, and VantagePoint Venture Partners. For more information, visit http://www.healthline.com. 1 CTIA, Wireless Quick Facts, December 2010 2 Adobe Industry Insights Blog, April 1, 2011 3 Morgan Stanley, Global Mobile vs. Desktop Internet User Projection, 2007 - 2015 4 Pew Internet and American Life Project, February 2011

Keywords: Advertise, Advertising, Healthline Networks, Marketing, Networks, Wellness, Wireless Internet, Wireless Technology.

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

Sonus Networks Schedules Conference Call For First Quarter 2011 Financial Results.

WESTFORD, Mass., April 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Sonus Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq: SONS), a market leader in next generation IP-based network solutions, today announced that it will release financial results for the first quarter of 2011 after the close of the market on Tuesday, May 3, 2011, and will host a conference call with financial analysts and investors at 4:45 p.m. ET that day.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100928/NE71605LOGO )

Conference Call Details: Date: Tuesday, May 3, 2011 Time: 4:45 p.m. ET

To listen live via telephone: Dial-in number: 800-926-9175 International Callers: +1 212-231-2910

To listen via internet: Sonus will host a live webcast of the conference call. To access the webcast, visit www.sonusnet.com, About Us, Investor Relations.

Replay Information:

A telephone playback of the call will be available following the conference and can be accessed by calling 800-633-8284 or, for international callers, +1-402-977-9140. The reservation number for the replay is 21519789 and will be available until May 17, 2011.

A replay of the webcast will be also available on the Sonus Networks Investor Relations website. To access the replay of the webcast, visit www.sonusnet.com, About Us, Investor Relations, Webcast Archive.

About Sonus Networks

Sonus Networks, Inc. is a leader in IP networking with proven expertise in delivering secure, reliable and scalable next generation infrastructure and subscriber solutions. With customers in over 50 countries across the globe and over a decade of experience in transforming networks to IP, Sonus has enabled service providers and enterprises to capture and retain users and generate significant ROI. Sonus products include media and signaling gateways, policy/routing servers, session border controllers and subscriber feature servers. Sonus products are supported by a global services team with experience in design, deployment and maintenance of some of the world's largest and most complex IP networks. For more information, visit www.sonusnet.com.

Important Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act) regarding future events that involve risks and uncertainties. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are only predictions and may differ materially from actual future events or results. Readers are referred to Item 1A "Risk Factors" of Sonus' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, which identifies important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements represent Sonus' views only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing Sonus' views as of any subsequent date. While Sonus may elect to update forward-looking statements at some point, Sonus specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, except as required by law.

Sonus is a registered trademark of Sonus Networks, Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.

For more information, please contact:

Fran Murphy 978-614-8148 fmurphy@sonusnet.com

SOURCE Sonus Networks, Inc.

GENETICS WEB SITES AWARDED FIRST SCIENCE PRIZE FOR ONLINE RESOURCES IN EDUCATION.

WASHINGTON, DC -- The following information was released by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS):

In an age when genetics and genomics research is progressing so fast that not even new teachers are up to date, two Web sites created at the University of Utah's Genetic Science Learning Center are providing an excellent source of new material while educating a hugely diverse audience of users.

Visit the University of Utah's Learn.Genetics and Teach.Genetics Web sites, winners of the Science Prize for Online Resources in Education.

Read a Science editorial on the journal's new prize competition by Editor in Chief Bruce Alberts. [Free with registration.]

Learn more about the Science Prize for Online Resources in Education.

Because of their value as educational tools, Learn.Genetics and Teach.Genetics are being honored with the Science Prize for Online Resources in Education.

"The materials found on these Web sites are designed for teachers, students, and the general public, and are filled with accurate and unbiased information about genetics and health," says Melissa McCartney, an editorial fellow at Science . "What sets them apart is that they do not shy away from exploring cutting-edge research and difficult topics such as epigenetics, neural pathways of drug addiction and biotechnology."

The Science Prize for Online Resources in Education was designed to recognize the worthiest online materials available to science educators. Science will publish an article by each recipient of the award explaining his or her winning project. The article on the Learn.Genetics and Teach.Genetics Web sites appears in the 29 January issue of Science .

"We're trying to advance science education by providing much-needed recognition to innovators in the field whose efforts promise significant benefits for students and for science literacy in general," says Bruce Alberts, editor-in-chief of Science. "The publication in Science of an article about each Web site will help guide educators around the globe to valuable free resources that might otherwise be missed."

An informal conversation with Dr. Louisa Stark.

[Video [umlaut] Science/AAAS]

Louisa Stark, the director of the Genetic Science Learning Center at the University of Utah, developed the Web sites with colleague and online expert Kevin Pompei. Calling herself "a translator of science," Stark says the purpose of the sites is to make challenging but important topics accessible at all levels.

"Learn.Genetics is bringing science to people in a way that they can understand," she says.

Stark, who lives in Salt Lake City, became interested in science at a young age, during long walks across the prairie with her mother near the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota. Her mother's fascination with nature led them to collect plant and animal specimens to study at home. Because Stark's father was a missionary pastor, the family lived on the reservation. There, and in other places the family moved for her father's work, Stark experienced educational disparities within this country.

Having seen such disparities close up, Stark joined a program as a graduate student that brought hands-on science to inner-city classrooms in Denver. She was at the time earning her doctorate in evolutionary genetics, but not long into the school's project, Stark got hooked on becoming an educator.

"I really found that I had a passion for working with students and teachers," she says.

In 1999, Stark joined the University of Utah's Genetic Science Learning Center. Even then, the center had one of the very first science education Web sites. Now, with Learn.Genetics and its companion site for teachers, Teach.Genetics, the center possesses the most widely disseminated genetics education Web sites in the world, according to the developers' own research.

Recently, Learn.Genetics has achieved runaway online popularity. In late October 2009, an animated presentation called "Cell Size and Scale" hit the Internet big-time when link-sharing Web sites started to propagate it. At one point, the page was getting 270 hits per second for seven hours straight, making it the eighth most popular page on the Internet. Some 20,000 Web sites linked to it, including ones associated with movie critic Roger Ebert, Adam Savage of the television program MythBusters, and Car Enthusiast magazine.

The sites received 8 million visits from users in 189 countries in 2009, with 21 million page views. Page views are projected to hit 32 million this year.

Social networks, Stark says, are "actually facilitating the spread of scientific information to people who wouldn't generally see it. I really like knowing that the work I lead is reaching millions of people around the world."

To develop the content of the Web sites, master teachers from a range of settingsu inner city to ruraluhave the unique experience of meeting with scientists to discuss research and concepts that emerge for inclusion in the curriculum. Because research shows that the most learning occurs when lessons include auditory, visual, and kinesthetic formats, the Web site team strives to maximize animated and interactive content.

Stark says she and her team have responded to users' questions by including additional reference materials. In addition to asking questions, users have expanded some of the concepts on their own. For example, visitors to the site played with the differences in scale between a coffee bean and a cell, extrapolating the difference to include other common objects. To Stark, this kind of involvement was heartening, particularly as Americans grapple with the ramifications and ethical issues related to genetics and genomics research. Stem cell research is one such area that has been caught up in controversy.

"Perhaps the only guaranteed fact we know about stem cell research is that the controversy surrounding it won't be going away anytime soon," says McCartney at Science . "The same can be said for advances in personalized medicine, genetic testing, and the genetic modification of organisms. Because of this, it is becoming imperative that the general public become genomics-literate in order to be prepared to make informed decisions."

With their broad appeal, the Learn.Genetics and Teach.Genetics Web sites are known to many educatorsuand even to Twitterers. There's one group in particular, however, that Stark hopes to reach by having won the Science Prize for Online Resources in Education.

She explained: "We hope that this award will bring our work to the attention of Science magazine's main audience: scientists."

Michaela Jarvis

Alleged Hendrix sex film raises disputes.(Arts & Entertainment)

Byline: MIREYA NAVARRO and JEFF LEEDS - New York Times

In a twist on the recent string of sex tapes of Hollywood's young stars, Vivid Entertainment plans to release what it says is a film from the vaults of classic rock: a sex film supposedly of Jimi Hendrix.

The film shows a naked man who resembles Hendrix, the guitar legend who died in 1970, wearing a bandanna in his Afro, having sex with two brunettes in a dimly lighted bedroom. His full face appears on screen for only a few seconds, with his eyes closed. In other portions there are flashes of his profile. But his hands, bedecked with rings, roam large on the screen at times. The film has no audio. Vivid, a large maker of pornographic movies that is releasing the film this week, has created a 45-minute DVD, called "Jimi Hendrix the Sex Tape," that combines 11 minutes of sex footage with a retrospective of Hendrix's career in the 1960s (but with none of his music included). The company, which has released tapes of Kim Kardashian, Pamela Anderson, Tommy Lee and others, will sell it for $39.95 in stores and on Internet, and will offer it for downloading.

But the identity of the man in the film, which has circulated among Hendrix aficionados for years, is fiercely disputed by experts and former associates. And the DVD arrives on the heels of a string of hoaxes involving star look-alikes.

Vivid Entertainment said that after an extensive inquiry led by private detective agencies, it stands by the Hendrix film as the real thing. The DVD includes commentary from two women who met Hendrix and say they believe the tape is real: Pamela Des Barres, the author of "I'm With the Band: Confessions of a Groupie" (1987), and Cynthia Albritton, better known as Cynthia Plaster Caster. Albritton is known for doing plaster casts of the genitals of rock stars, including Hendrix in 1968. But Kathy Etchingham, 60, one of Hendrix's steady girlfriends in the '60s, said: "It is not him. His face is too broad and nose and nostrils too wide for Jimi. Also the hair is too low on the forehead. He would never have allowed anyone to see that. In private, he was very shy and would cover up."