FED:Greens push for Securency inquiry

AAP General News (Australia)
08-16-2011
FED:Greens push for Securency inquiry

The Australian Greens will move to establish an inquiry into the Securency international
banknote bribery scandal.

Federal authorities in a number of Asian and African countries have launched investigations
into Securency International, the company accused of bribery to induce officials in a
number of countries to use its banknote products.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has a half-share in Securency International.

Greens MP ADAM BANDT will introduce a motion in the lower house calling for an independent
inquiry.

AAP RTV ah/bwl/wz

KEYWORD: SECURENCY (CANBERRA)

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

Fed: US hits out at sympathetic portrayal of Hicks

AAP General News (Australia)
02-19-2007
Fed: US hits out at sympathetic portrayal of Hicks

By Sandra O'Malley, Diplomatic Correspondent

CANBERRA, Feb 19 AAP - US ambassador Robert McCallum has hit out at supporters he says
are painting an unduly sympathetic portrait of David Hicks, a man who left his children
behind when he went to train with militants in the Middle East.

Mr McCallum, who last week described Guantanamo Bay inmates like Hicks as ruthless
fanatics who would kill in the blink of an eye, defended his right to speak about the
detainees.

"I'm always kind of surprised that those who view things from a perspective that is
favourable to Mr Hicks are allowed to talk about whatever they care to and make whatever
allegations they care to," he said.

But Mr McCallum said when he spoke on behalf of the many American citizens traumatised
by the September 11 terrorist attacks it was viewed as prejudicial.

"(We are told) we cannot talk about anything because it might prejudice the case," he said.

Treasurer Peter Costello weighed into the debate yesterday when he claimed that Hicks
could easily have killed Australian soldiers if he hadn't been caught by coalition forces.

Hicks' US military lawyer Major Michael Mori accused Mr Costello of knowing nothing
about the facts of the case and trying to demonise his client.

"Obviously he is just going into this trying to demonise David Hicks and not speaking
of reality," Major Mori told Southern Cross Broadcasting.

"He ought to ask for a briefing by Australian Federal Police and see if that's what
their investigation turned up."

Adelaide-born Hicks, 31, has been in the US military prison in Cuba for more than five
years since being picked up in Afghanistan in late 2001.

He has yet to be formally charged with anything, despite Prime Minister John Howard
last month setting the US a deadline of mid-February.

A convening authority is currently considering the charges recommended by prosecutors
- attempted murder and providing material support for terrorism - and Hicks is likely
be formally served with the charges within a few weeks.

Mr McCallum says he believes the deadline has been met.

"I certainly believe that the executive branch has done everything in its power to
meet the expectations and deadlines set by the prime minister," he said.

The case is a growing political headache for the government, which is now suggesting
Hicks could be home by the end of the year - either as a free man, if acquitted, or to
serve any prison term, if convicted.

Mr Howard is facing a backlash from coalition backbenchers who realise the issue is
generating growing concern in the electorate.

Mr McCallum suspects that is due to the publicity offensive waged by Hicks supporters,
who he says are painting an unduly sympathetic portrayal of the Muslim convert who is
accused of having trained with al-Qaeda.

"The legal strategy is to try to get your particular sympathetic points out and preclude
anyone from debating them," he said.

Mr McCallum said Hicks was presented as a father but no mention was made of what had
happened to his children when he ventured overseas.

"You can talk about the detainee's family, that he had multiple children, and not address
the issue of whether he left those children behind and whether he continued to provide
support for those children while he was out engaged in armed hostilities against innocents,"

he said.

However, Mr McCallum said he sympathised with what Hicks' father, Terry, was going through.

"I think that what one has to do is respect Mr Hicks' father, Terry Hicks, what any
father would be going through," he said.

"(What we need to do is) debate this on a broader basis, not with respect to David
Hicks individually."

AAP so/sb/wjf/imc/de

KEYWORD: HICKS NIGHTLEAD (PIX AVAILABLE)

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

FED:Somare takes indefinite medical leave

AAP General News (Australia)
04-19-2011
FED:Somare takes indefinite medical leave

By Eoin Blackwell, Papua New Guinea Corespondent

SYDNEY, April 19 AAP - Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare says he will
vacate his office to take indefinite medical leave and has backed his deputy Sam Abal
to stand in for him.

Sir Michael was in Singapore to celebrate his 75th birthday and undergo what he said
was a minor medical operation following a two-week suspension from office for financial
misconduct.

In an emailed statement on Tuesday, Sir Michael said Abal, who had served as PM in
his place, would continue the job.

"The country is in good hands and, while I am pleased that the period of my suspension
is now over, I will remain on medical leave until further notice," he said.

"I take this opportunity to once again thank all the visitors and well wishers including
those who are praying for my return to good health and speedy recovery.

Mr Somare said he was visited in hospital by foreign minister Kevin Rudd, where the
pair discussed a possible visit by Mr Rudd to PNG in May.

"During this period of infirmity, I was also fortunate enough to be visited by my former
Australian colleague," he said.

"We discussed various issues surrounding my health, and the possibility of a visit
by Mr Rudd to PNG in May this year. I reassured him that he is a friend of PNG and we
will be looking forward to his visit."

Sir Michael was suspended from office on April 4 following the judgment of a specially-convened
international tribunal which found him guilty on 13 charges of failing to fill in financial
forms correctly.

The charges dated back 20 years.

Sir Michael was expected to return to work on April 19.

Last week, there were reports Sir Michael was gravely ill in Singapore, but the 43-year
veteran of PNG politics and self-described Grand Chief called the national broadcaster
to say he was only being hospitalised for minor surgery.

AAP eb/ajw

KEYWORD: PNG SOMARE

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

Tunisian president flees chaos ; Longtime prime minister assumes power after crackdown in the capital

DAVID D KIRKPATRICK
International Herald Tribune
01-15-2011
Tunisian president flees chaos ; Longtime prime minister assumes power after crackdown in the capital
Byline: DAVID D KIRKPATRICK
Type: News

News of the departure of President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali electrified an Arab world whose residents have increasingly complained of governments that seem incapable of meeting their demands.

President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali left Tunisia on Friday amid growing chaos in the streets, French diplomats said, and the prime minister went on television to say he was in charge.
A French Foreign Ministry official said the authorities did not know where the president had gone, and representatives of the president were not immediately available to confirm the report.

News of the departure of Mr. Ben Ali electrified an Arab world whose residents have increasingly complained of governments that seem incapable of meeting their citizens' demands and bereft of ideology save a motivation to perpetuate themselves in power.

"We hope that what happened in Tunisia could happen in other Arab countries where leaders and kings have rusted on their thrones," said Abeer Madi al-Halabi, a newscaster on New TV, a Lebanese station that supports leftist causes.

Mr. Ben Ali, who came to power 23 years ago and ruled through a police state, dismissed his cabinet in the afternoon and called for new legislative elections to be held in six months.

In his speech later on state television, the prime minister, Mohamed Ghannouchi, a longtime ally of Mr. Ben Ali and in office for 11 years, said, "As the president of the republic is unable to exercise his functions for the time being, I have assumed, starting now, the powers of the president."

That announcement followed an extraordinary back-and-forth between the government and protesters. After the president tried to placate the protesters on Thursday with promises of more freedom, including a right to demonstrate, tens of thousands rushed into the streets of central Tunis on Friday to take advantage of his pledge by calling for his ouster.

But when the protesters led a funeral procession through the streets, the police finally moved to disperse the crowds, brutally beating demonstrators and raining tear gas on Boulevard Bourguiba.

The government announced the cabinet dismissal and offered early elections soon after the police moved in on the crowds, but news agencies said it also declared a state of emergency forbidding new demonstrations and warning that those who disobeyed would be shot. There were reports of gunfire in the center of the capital on Friday evening, The Associated Press reported.

The reports that the president had left surfaced soon after that, as did the televised address by the prime minister.

The anti-government protests began a month ago when Mohammed Bouazizi, a college-educated street vendor, committed suicide by setting fire to himself in protest of his dismal prospects amid Tunisia's poverty.

But the mounting protests quickly evolved from demands for more jobs to demands for political reforms, focusing mainly on the perceived corruption of the government and the self-enrichment of the ruling family. The protests were accelerated by Tunisia's large group of educated young people, who used social-media sites like Facebook and Twitter to call for demonstrations and to circulate videos of each successive clash.

Some demonstrators also cited the evidence of cables from the U.S. Embassy in Tunisia that were released by the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks providing vividly detailed accounts of the first family's self-enrichment and opulent lifestyle.

Since their beginning, the protests have been closely followed by Arabic-language networks, as well as social Internet media like Facebook and Twitter. Hours after Mr. Ben Ali's reported departure, messages were posted to Facebook celebrating the fall of one of the Arab world's heaviest handed dictatorships.

"The most important thing is that we got rid of the dictator, Ben Ali, and his family. Thank God!" said one comment posted on a Facebook group called Tunisia.

Smaller protests, many of them over rising prices and economic conditions, have already taken place in countries like Egypt, Algeria and Jordan. Egypt, in particular, seems to bear at least a passing resemblance to Tunisia: a heavy-handed security state with diminishing popular support and growing demands from an educated, yet frustrated population.

"It's the creeping realization that more and more people are being marginalized and pauperized and, increasingly, life is more difficult," said Rami Khouri, director of the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs, at the American University of Beirut. "You need little events that capture the spirit of the time. Tunisia best captures that in the Arab world."

The crowd that gathered in the streets on Friday morning on Avenue Bourguiba was celebrating its confidence that change was at hand. "Victory, victory, until the government falls," protesters chanted.

"Bouazizi you are a hero!" they shouted. "The people of Tunisia have won!"

Tunisia had not seen demonstrations like this since Mr. Ben Ali came to power in a bloodless coup. Tunisians have been accustomed to living under a police state that countered unauthorized public gatherings with arrests and possible torture. Dozens died over the past week as security forces -- including snipers, witnesses say -- fired on protesters.

Copyright International Herald Tribune Jan 15, 2011

FED:Liberal MP doubtful of majority govt

Mahendra Ved
New Straits Times
08-23-2010
`Sholay'a landmark in Indian cinema
Byline: Mahendra Ved
Edition: Main/Lifestyle
Section: Main Section

AMID the joys and sorrows that marked the Independence Day celebrations, filling the hearts of many with nostalgia was the anniversary of a film that is a landmark in Indian cinema.

Thirty-five years after its release on Aug 15, 1975, the young, too, are curious about Sholay ("Embers"). It remains one of the best examples of the interest, spanning several generations, that a good Bollywood film can retain.
It is also underscores how Bollywood emulates/adapts/is inspired by Hollywood, and much else, while still retaining its own identity.

Critics panned it, only to be stunned by its initial draw. They called it a copy of not one but many Hollywood films. It was, besides John Sturges' The Magnificent Seven, a spoof on Westerns, which were popular then.

They called it a "Spaghetti Western" since it had strong Italian elements like the mid-Sixties' Django and For A Few Dollars More.

Eventually, they settled on "Curry Western" -- an Indian potpourri with huge doses of drama and tragedy, romance and violence, comedy and action.

A perfect blending of these elements contributed to its success. With so much masala, it could not be pinned down to a single genre.

Sholay's release passed me by totally. I was too busy reporting from neighbouring Bangladesh where president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was killed on that day.

Back home, too, there was political turmoil. Cornered by an adverse court verdict and a gathering opposition storm, prime minister Indira Gandhi had imposed an internal emergency that June. With press censorship in force, public discourse was curbed.

With my writings subjected to double censorship (in Dhaka and Delhi), I was battling "embers" of a professional kind.

Indians could not protest the opposition leaders' detention but they could toast Sholay and its characters. This allowed them to let off steam.

Sholay grew on its audiences and created a hysteria. Every youth wanted to be like the lead pair of small-time crooks and charming jailbirds turned defiant do-gooders, played by Dharmendra and Amitabh Bachchan.

In the movie, the two had agreed to fight a much-feared bandit for money. After losing his buddy in the blood-letting, the survivor refused the money and departed. He was rewarded for his karma with the girl he loved.

Sholay was about the undying friendship between the two, the unspoken love of a young widow, the exuberant romance between a garrulous girl riding a tonga (carriage drawn by a mare) and a flamboyant thief, the immensely tragic life of an idealistic police officer and, of course, Gabbar Singh, the dacoit who struck terror.

Gabbar was a take-off from a bandit with the same name who roamed central India in the 1950s. He would not kill the cops he ambushed but instead chop off their noses and ears.

The celluloid Gabbar was more menacing. But parents prided on their little brats doing his act, donned in green battle fatigue, strutting on a cliff. His men boast: "A mother can put the child to sleep saying, go to sleep, else Gabbar will get you."

Debutante Amjad Khan remains Indian cinema's best known bad man. He went on to do many more roles, but never again on the same level as Gabbar.

Director Ramesh Sippy was called a magician for the spell he cast. He, too, has been unable to repeat his Sholay feat.

The film remains the ultimate high point for many stars - Amitabh, Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Hema Malini and Jaya Bhaduri.

Amitabh and Jaya got married during the filming of Sholay. Dharmendra, who was wooing Hema at the time, paid the crew to ensure many retakes and went on to marry her five years later.

They all became household names, eventually entering Parliament. Indeed, while the hubbies have left their uncomfortable parliamentary innings behind, Hema and Jaya are still lawmakers.

Amitabh is still going strong - in movies, ads, on TV and advocating public causes. However, time has taken its toll on most of the others - Sanjeev, Amjad, Jalal Agha and most recently, Mac Mohan - all consummate actors. Producer G.P. Sippy is dead.

Sholay was a true multi-starrer. Its several cameo performances remain popular to this day.

Budgeted at US$429,000 (RM2 million), its cost shot to US$1.5 million but has earned US$160 million after adjusting for inflation, becoming Indian cinema's top grosser.

It was the first Indian movie to have a stereophonic soundtrack, and to be presented in 70mm widescreen format.

For composer R.D. Burman, Sholay marked the zenith of a great career, leaving behind a huge repertoire that continues to entice the young. His Mehbooba Mehbooba, with its Middle-Eastern tune, is among the best choreographed songs on the Indian screen.

Just when the era of literary writing in cinema was fading, came writer duo Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar. Sholay underscored the importance of a good script, screenplay and dialogue. Thanks to Sholay, the writer is paid much better today.

"We had no idea that this will become such a huge film. We conceived an idea and when we started working on the screenplay, gradually it dawned on us that the film has more than two important characters," Javed, who co-scripted the film with Salim, told IANS.

"After 35 years, even the minor characters are copied in ads, promos, films and sitcoms," said Javed, a celebrated poet and a lawmaker.

With numerous cameos, songs and dances, Bollywood films of that era were long. At three hours and 20 minutes, Sholay was deemed too long.

Confined to traditional markets in the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia and the then Soviet Union, Indian cinema was still far from the crossover era of the 1990s. Bollywood was still sneered at in the international film festival circuit.

But Sholay had no arty pretensions. When there was no television and no effective visual marketing tools, word of mouth worked. The last three decades have only added to its charm and the film- maker's bank balance.

In 1999, BBC India declared it as the "film of the millennium".

To Indians and to Bollywood cinema's fans globally, Sholay remains more iconic than James Bond and more lasting than The Godfather.

(Copyright 2010)

NSW: Authorities unsure if herbicide killed gardener

AAP General News (Australia)
04-14-2010
NSW: Authorities unsure if herbicide killed gardener

Authorities say it's still unknown whether a garden herbicide is responsible for a
Sydney man's death .. or he simply suffered a heart attack.

The 56-year-old was spraying his market garden at Horsley Park this morning .. when he collapsed.

Police have described the spray as a normal garden herbicide .. something stronger than Roundup.

Twenty-one people .. including family members .. neighbours and paramedics who tried
to revive the man .. have undergone decontamination as a precaution.

An autopsy will be carried out determine the cause of the man's death.

AAP RTV ct/evt/wz

KEYWORD: TOXIC (SYDNEY)

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

Boost for contact centres

Izwan Ismail
New Straits Times
11-16-2009
Boost for contact centres
Byline: Izwan Ismail
Edition: Main/Lifestyle
Section: Tech & U
Column: News front

ASPECT Software's unified communications products for contact centres now can inter-operate with Office Communications Server 2007 following a tie-up with Microsoft.

OCS 2007 provides a platform that supports the concept of presence of individuals in an organisation, including their profiles, skills and availability.
With the Aspect-Microsoft unified communications offerings, contact centres now have the ability to match the right agent to handle a customer request, said Aspect's chief executive Jim Foy.

"Often in a contact centre environment, customers or callers are left dissatisfied with the feedback they receive as the agent may not be knowledgeable enough to answer or solve the problem.

"The new solutions from Aspect and Microsoft can identify the exact skills profile of all the agents in the contact centre so the most appropriate agent can be assigned to help the customer, with just a single click."

Contact centres also can cut expenses as the offerings simplify management and maximise the budget and resources.

"Companies can consolidate costly third-party solutions and avoid capital investments. This is done by reducing travel expenses. For instance, replace in-person meetings with Web and video conferencing modes," Foy explained.

"Companies can also reduce telephony and audio conferencing charges by up to 40 per cent. Built-in VoIP (voice over Internet protocol) and unified conferencing capabilities help lower long- distance charges and audio conferencing minutes."

Foy pointed out that Malaysia is an important growth market for contact centre applications in the Asia-Pacific region.

"Malaysia has already established itself as a contact centre hub. The market here is driven largely by the banking, telecommunications, airline, healthcare and Government sectors.

"Western countries outsource to places such as India, China and Malaysia because not only is the cost base justified, the language skills and business case are also proven."

Frost & Sullivan sees the global unified communications market growing to US$45 billion (RM153 billion) in the next five years.

(Copyright 2009)

Vic: Ambos warn of strike action over paramedic fatigue

AAP General News (Australia)
04-23-2009
Vic: Ambos warn of strike action over paramedic fatigue

Reissuing to clarify reference to other states' rest break allowances in second paragraph



MELBOURNE, April 23 AAP - Weary Victorian paramedics are preparing to stage their first
mass strike in 36 years after failing to win an agreement from the state government on
longer rest breaks.

Victoria and Western Australia are the only states that give paramedics only eight
hours' rest between shifts, while most other states allow paramedics at least 10-hour
breaks, an ambulance union analysis shows.

Ambulance Employees Australia Victorian secretary Steve McGhie said a major sticking
point was a refusal by Ambulance Victoria to support a minimum of 10 hours' rest between
shifts.

"Victorian ambos face extreme workloads. Many work more than 15 hours straight, often
without meal breaks, and then need to be back working eight hours later," Mr McGhie said.

"Our survey last year found many get just five hours sleep between shifts. Many are
falling asleep driving and making clinical errors because of their relentless workload
and lack of sleep between shifts.

"For an entire year, we've negotiated in good faith for proper breaks and fair wages.

We have got nowhere.

"Paramedics don't want to take industrial action, but it seems they've been left with
no other way to fix this dangerous situation."

The union is calling on Victorian Health Minister Daniel Andrews to intervene in the
talks but warned paramedics were already preparing an application for an industrial action
ballot.

It also cited a 2007 inquest in which Victorian coroner Peter White ruled paramedics
had been "fatigue-affected" when they administered the wrong drug to a 78-year-old cardiac
patient.

WorkSafe Victoria says shift breaks of less than 10 hours are a fatigue hazard.

"Paramedics in NSW, Queensland, South Australia, Northern Territory and the ACT all
get 10-hour rest breaks between shifts," Mr McGhie said.

"I am certain Victorians would also want their ambos to be properly rested when they
are on duty."

AAP sjm/gfr/jl

KEYWORD: AMBULANCE VIC (WITH FACTBOX) REISSUING

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

AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Breakfast, Dec 18

AAP General News (Australia)
12-18-2008
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Breakfast, Dec 18
BREAKFAST ROUND-UP: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 0430


PRIVATE HEALTH (CANBERRA)

We could be paying more for private health insurance soon .. because of the global
financial crisis.

The Private Health Insurance Administration Council says investment losses of large
funds and the general decline in investment revenue mean insurers will have to find more
money .. and we .. the customers .. could be hit with the bill.

Applications to Health Minister NICOLA ROXON for premium increases closed this week
.. and she's expected to announce her response early next year.



OPEC OUTPUT (ORAN)

OPEC said overnight it's cutting crude oil output by a record two-point-two million
barrels a day .. with non-member producers .. like Russia .. also ready to slash 600-thousand
barrels.

The decision by OPEC producers and others means a seven per cent cut to the output.

But fears that this would send oil prices sky-rocketing .. and our petrol prices too
.. have so far not been realised .. with international oil prices sliding even more ..

as expectations for demand are down due to an ailing world economy.



MIGRATION (CANBERRA)

The federal government is revamping its skilled immigration intake .. saying it may
even cut back the intake in the next six months .. if it has to.

Immigration Minister CHRIS EVANS says while the government is sticking to this year's
permanent skilled migration intake of 133-thousand .. it will monitor the situation.

And .. the government is fast-tracking visas for migrants with critically needed skills
in medical and key IT areas and engineering and construction trades .. to boost Australia's
economy against recession.

Senator EVANS says there's concern that the program has not delivered the right skills
to the right areas.

Meanwhile .. up to 60 international players from the Homeless World Cup remain in Australia
as the deadline for their departure approaches.



SHOT (MELBOURNE)

Victoria Police have been warned the fatal shooting of a teenage boy last week has
sent relations with the community to a dangerous low .. as the funeral of the boy takes
place today.

Crime expert JULIAN BONDY says the force faces a long summer .. dealing with young
people angry over the death of 15-year-old TYLER CASSIDY.

He was shot by three officers in a Melbourne park last week.

TYLER'S funeral will be held today at St John the Baptist Catholic Church in Clifton Hill.

The Herald Sun newspaper says TYLER'S family has asked for an open casket funeral ..

but denies the gesture is intended as a message to the police that killed him.



THAI AUST (BANGKOK)

Thai customs have charged an Australian man with smuggling drugs after arresting him
at a Bangkok airport with packs of heroin allegedly strapped to his body.

Officials have named him as 36-year-old ANDREW HOODS .. and say he was arrested in
the international airport's departure hall yesterday afternoon .. allegedly in possession
of three kilograms of heroin in 12 packets.

Another Australian .. believed to be a friend .. escaped.

Drugs trafficking carries the death penalty in Thailand.



INDIGENOUS DODSON (DARWIN)

Aborigines from Arnhem Land have thrown their support behind PATRICK DODSON .. inflaming
already tense relations between indigenous leaders over the federal intervention.

Mr DODSON launched an attack last week on Aboriginal academic MARCIA LANGTON and her
allies .. Cape York leader NOEL PEARSON and former Labor national president WARREN MUNDINE.

At a meeting in northeast Arnhem Land over the future of outstations .. he said the
trio don't recognise those people and their culture.

He accused them of negatively influencing the federal government in their bid for reforms
to combat passive welfarism.



US AUST (CANBERRA)

Outgoing United States ambassador ROBERT MCCALLUM is confident the new OBAMA administration
will continue its active engagement with Australia and the Asia Pacific region.

Mr MCCALLUM .. who arrived in Australia in August 2006 .. will resign his diplomatic
commission with the inauguration of BARACK OBAMA next month.

But he's certain the transition to a new administration holds no dangers for one of
America's strongest allies .. saying relations between the two countries transcends politics.



FLAVELL CMC (BRISBANE)

Queensland's Crime and Misconduct Commission will hand down its report and recommendations
today .. on whether former director-general SCOTT FLAVELL should face criminal charges
after its investigation.

The CMC inquiry began in July to investigate possible official misconduct by the former
Department of Employment and Training director-general.

The inquiry was told Mr FLAVELL began discussions with private investors about the
establishment of Careers Australia .. a Brisbane training centre for international students
.. more than a year before he resigned as director-general in September 2006.



IRAQ UK FORCES (BASRA)

Britain's prime minister GORDON BROWN says his country's forces will wrap up their
mission in Iraq within months.

He made his announcement during a surprise trip to Iraq .. saying by the end of May
.. or earlier .. the mission will be completed.

BROWN spoke at a joint press conference with his Iraqi opposite number NURI AL-MALIKI.

Meanwhile .. nine people were killed when a car bomb exploded in Baghdad.



EU HOURS (STRASBOURG)

The European Parliament has rejected plans by EU member states to allow employees to
work more than 48 hours a week.

The decision means that the controversial working time measures .. held up for around
three years .. will now have to be thrashed out between the assembly and the 27 EU nations.

Meanwhile .. the European Parliament has approved the EU's climate change package ..

aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent by 2020.



BRIEFLY IN OTHER NEWS ..




All Woolworths stores in Britain are to shut permanently over the next few weeks ..

with the loss of 27-thousand jobs.




An Iraqi doctor found guilty of trying to murder hundreds of people in failed car bombings
in London and Glasgow has been jailed for at least 32 years.




A new report shows Sydneysiders can look forward to a great summer of swimming .. with
the city's beaches 98 per cent cleaner than they were in the early 1990s.



America's TIME magazine has named US president-elect BARACK OBAMA its 2008 Person of the
Year.



And .. German officials say they've rescued .. one-thousand-500 .. parakeets from a
two-room apartment in Berlin.



IN SPORT ..



SOCCER RANKINGS (SYDNEY)

The Socceroos have broken into the world's top 30 teams for the first time in the latest
FIFA rankings.

Australia climbed nine places to be 28th in the world, their highest-ever FIFA ranking
.. following the 1-0 World Cup qualifying win over Bahrain in Manama last month.



CRICKET AUST (PERTH)

SIMON KATICH says Australia's bowlers must be on their game when South Africa have
their chance to bat on day two of the first Test at the WACA Ground.

Australia resume on 9-341 .. trying to add some runs to their first innings total before
having a crack at the Proteas with the ball.



SOCCER (LONDON)

Former Bolton and Newcastle boss SAM ALLARDYCE has been appointed the manager of Blackburn
Rovers on a three-year contract - a day after they had sacked PAUL INCE.

And .. Ecuador's Liga de Quito have stormed into the final of the Club World Cup with
a 2-0 defeat of Mexico's Pachuca .. setting up a potential clash with Manchester United.



MOTOR V8 BARGWANNA (SYDNEY)

Former Bathurst winner JASON BARGWANNA will return to the V8 Supercars next year after
joining Holden's Sprint Gas Racing Team.



ENDS BREAKFAST ROUND-UP


BROADCAST DESK INQUIRIES 24 HOURS: 02 9322 8714


AAP RTV wz

KEYWORD: BREAKFAST ROUND-UP

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

Bkb: Aussie Spirit go down to Japan 4-3 =2

AAP General News (Australia)
08-13-2008
Bkb: Aussie Spirit go down to Japan 4-3 =2

By James Dampney

BEIJING, Aug 12 AAP - Australia lost their opening game in the Olympic softball competition
4-3 to Japan in Beijing tonight.

The Australians are the reigning Olympic silver medallists and are hopeful of going
one better in 2008, but made a shaky start to the tournament at the Fengtai Softball Field.

In the round robin format the 'Aussie Spirit' can afford to drop some games in the
group stages, but they face three-time defending gold medallists the United States tomorrow
and will need to quickly bounce back.

Japan picked up bronze in Athens four years ago and are also eyeing top spot on the
podium in China, although the dominant US team again present a massive hurdle.

All the scoring tonight occurred in the opening two innings, with Satoko Mabuchi smashing
a three-run homer off Australian pitcher Melanie Roche deep over centre field in her first
at bat.

Australia hit back hard in the second innings, with Natalie Titcume putting two runs
on the board with a hit that just cleared the left field fence before Jodie Bowering's
home-run facing her first pitch of the innings tied the scores.

Megu Hirose got on base with a ground ball to left field in Japan's second innings
before taking advantage of an error from Australian catcher Titcume to scrape home off
a flyball from Motoko Fujimoto.

Both sides had plenty of chances to add to the scoring the rest of the way, but neither
were able to find any more runs.

Justine Smethurst replaced Roche in the fifth inning and pitched a tight game, but
the Australians weren't able to get the two runs they needed to win the game.

Japanese pitcher Yukiko Euno stayed in for the whole game and didn't allow a single
run after the second innings.

Hirose's effort to beat the throw and earn what proved to be the winning run was an
extremely tight call, but Australian coach Fabian Barlow didn't any complaints about the
decision.

"It's a typical way Japan scores runs," he said.

"It's always a controversial decision and a tough call on the umpire. There was no
argument from us."

Despite the narrow defeat, Titcume felt Australia's two home runs in the second innings
had sent a message to Ueno should the medal fancies meet again later in the tournament.

"We will think about that game and regather and come out fighting," she said.

"We just showed her what Australia was all about."

Australia take on the US at midday tomorrow (1400 AEST).

AAP jd/jds

KEYWORD: OLY08 SOF AUST NIGHTLEAD

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

News briefs

AAP General News (Australia)
04-03-2008
News briefs

Briefly in news this hour:





++A Melbourne man has been charged with trying to smuggle four valuable live snakes
from Africa into Australia.





Adelaide households have cut water use by almost 30 per cent in response to measures
imposed because of the drought.

++





++ And a self proclaimed conservationist in Tanzania who insists it's all a tribute
.. has started up a private zoo and named it after STEVE IRWIN.

So far he's boasting a leopard .. a hyena .. a zebra .. a python .. a couple of chimps
.. a pair of baboons and a few birds.



AAP RTV gr/ce/sw/bart

KEYWORD: NEWS BRIEFS

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

Facebook more popular than porn sites

Meghan Michael
University Wire
11-12-2007
(The Heights) (U-WIRE) CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- Your class ended early, and you arrive back to your room sooner than expected. You see your roommate sitting at his computer, but when he sees you, he quickly closes his screen with a guilty expression on his face. You can't help but wonder what he had been doing, but you may not need to worry. It's likely that he just didn't want you to see that he was on Facebook.com, checking out the profile of one of the girls he had met at a party the night before.

According to a recent article in the New York Times, Facebook is now more popular than pornographic websites among college students. Social networks rank first among websites visited by users ages 18-25, notably Facebook, which has a corner on the market, with 85 percent of students at four-year colleges as members. Search engines came in second, followed by Web-based e-mail. Pornographic websites finished in fourth place, recently declining in the past two years. In October 2005, porn sites accounted for 16.9 percent of all site visits in the United States, but now account for only 11.9 percent, a 33 percent decline.

What could account for this shift? Donnah Canavan, associate professor in the psychology department at Boston College, believed that, when given the opportunity, people prefer to connect with someone over something that interests them rather than doing other activities alone, such as pornography. The rise of social networking websites like Facebook allow people to create or maintain connections which may have been more difficult for them to do previously.

"In a funny kind of way, they are saying that somebody who would sit down and view pornography might actually prefer to go to a Schwarzenegger movie with someone next door. The difference is that you can always go to the store and buy beer, or [look on] the Internet and find porn, but it's harder to find ways to connect with other people," Canavan said. "Maybe at the heart of this, people still want to connect to other people but they just don't know how to."

This, however, doesn't fully explain why pornographic websites are still highly ranked among users over the age of 25, second only to search engines. One possible explanation is that older generations are simply taking longer to adjust to the new resources available on the Internet and are just starting to catch on now. According to Facebook.com, the fastest growing demographic of users is over the age of 25.

While students may have been using Facebook for years, professors are also starting to participate in this phenomenon. Canavan said that she actually has a Facebook page for her dog, which a group of former students put together. Her dog, named Gabby, has 25 Facebook friends from BC and has recently been receiving friend requests from dogs all around the world.

"One of the dogs actually says he is in a relationship with another dog," Canavan said. "I don't really know what that means. While I'm not on Facebook, my dog is."

Marina McCoy, assistant professor in the philosophy department, also has a Facebook account. She said she uses the site both to stay in touch with her friends from college and her younger family members and also as a means to interact with her students.

"I use Facebook as a chance to post photos of my children or to cheer on the Eagles, since students often like to see a different side of their professors," McCoy said in an e-mail. "Facebook is relatively new for me, and I am still learning the ropes."

Students use Facebook to post photos, keep in touch with friends from home, find and contact new acquaintances, and as a general way of sharing information with friends. Social networking websites, like Facebook, are also continuously adding new features to attract and entertain its users. Facebook allows users to access interactive applications created by outside parties, allowing users to send their friends a virtual alcoholic beverage, draw pictures on their "graffiti wall," and post videos of themselves.

All of its many features make Facebook not only a viable means of keeping in touch with friends but also a form of entertainment.

"I go on Facebook every day," said Brett Erhardt, A&S '09. "Facebook has become like a compulsion; you have to check it."

Many students said they would agree with that fact that Facebook has become more popular than pornographic websites, but they also see the two types of sites as independent from each other, with the popularity of Facebook based upon social networking.

"Facebook is getting old, but porn never gets old. It's always a good time," said one sophomore who preferred to remain unnamed.

Although Canavan said that people may visit porn sites less often because they would prefer to have a social connection with someone who shared their interests, some students said that there are other factors that impact their usage of pornographic Web sites.

"You can check Facebook in a regular atmosphere," said Doug Ruth, A&S '09. "Porn needs to be checked privately, in your room alone."

"If I was in a single, I definitely would look at porn a lot more," said one student. "I don't really now because I have two roommates."

Despite circumstances that may impact their online habits, most agreed that they would use Facebook more than pornographic Web sites regardless of the circumstances.

"Porn is like a hobby," said James Blake, CSOM '10. "But Facebook is like a religion."


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(C) 2007 The Heights via U-WIRE

Vic: Coroner recommends review of crossings

AAP General News (Australia)
04-18-2007
Vic: Coroner recommends review of crossings

A Victorian coroner has recommended a review of railway crossing safety .. following
a train and car crash which killed three people in Melbourne's west.

ROLANDO ANTONIO .. LILIA ANTONIO and SANDRA MUAREMI .. died instantly when their car
was hit by a train at suburban St Albans after 6am on August 5 .. 2004.

Earlier there'd been a collision just metres from the crossing .. resulting in traffic
slowing down.

Coroner GRAEME JOHNSTONE said for some reason .. Mr ANTONIO .. whose car straddled
the track .. didn't respond urgently to the oncoming train.

He recommended road and rail safety authorities look at the safety design of high-risk
railway crossing .. and continue an education campaign warning drivers of risky behaviour
and their legal responsibilities.

MERLIN MUAREMI .. whose mother SANDRA was killed .. said more should have been done
to secure the area following the first smash.

He was also disappointed no blame was directly attributed in the finding.

AAP RTV mi/bd/gfr/imc/bart

KEYWORD: TRAIN (MELBOURNE)

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

Qld: 13yo boy charged in violent robbery

AAP General News (Australia)
12-17-2006
Qld: 13yo boy charged in violent robbery

A 13-year-old boy's been charged with the violent robbery of an older teenager in north
Queensland.

Police allege the boy and a friend targeted a 17-year-old boy riding his bike near
a Townsville skate park just after midnight yesterday.

The pair allegedly attacked the cyclist at Riverway Drive in Thuringowa .. who he refused
to hand over his abed and earphones.

Nearby police officers detained a boy after a foot chase.







The 13-year-old will appear at the Townsville Children's Court on December 20.

Police are searching for a second boy.

AAP RTV jmm/rt

KEYWORD: THURINGOWA (BRISBANE)

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

Qld: Man armed with syringe robs service station

AAP General News (Australia)
08-10-2006
Qld: Man armed with syringe robs service station

BRISBANE, Aug 10 AAP - A man armed with a syringe believed to be filled with blood
has robbed a petrol station south of Brisbane.

The robbery happened at the BP Service Station on the corner of Kingston Road and Jacaranda
Avenue at Kingston about 6.40pm (AEST) yesterday, police said.

The man threatened the operator with the syringe before fleeing on foot with a sum of cash.

The syringe appeared to be filled with blood, a police spokeswoman said.

AAP jvb/evt

KEYWORD: SYRINGE

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

NSW:Former Rivkin chauffeur to be charged with model's murder

AAP General News (Australia)
04-04-2006
NSW:Former Rivkin chauffeur to be charged with model's murder

A long-time suspect in the death of Sydney model CAROLINE BYRNE will be charged with
her murder after his arrest in London .. ten years after her death.

New South Wales police say 43-year-old GORDON WOOD .. a former chauffeur to the late
stockbroker RENE RIVKIN .. was arrested at his central London flat overnight.

The body of 24-year-old Ms BYRNE was found at the bottom of The Gap at Watsons Bay
in Sydney's east on June 7, 1995.

MORE RTV pc/psm/

KEYWORD: WOOD (SYDNEY)

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

SA: Man shot in the leg

AAP General News (Australia)
08-03-2005
SA: Man shot in the leg

A 28-year-old man has been shot in the leg in an incident in Adelaide's far southern suburbs.

Police say the man suffered a serious wound to his lower leg at about 11.15 pm (CST)
last night at Noarlunga Downs.

He was taken to hospital and has undergone surgery.

Police say they know the identity of the offender and inquiries are continuing in
a bid to take him into custody.

They say there's no danger to other people.

AAP RTV tjd/goc/

KEYWORD: LEG (ADELAIDE)

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

Etrog

Etrog see TABERNACLES.

mutually exclusive projects

mutually exclusive projects A number of alternative projects being considered for appraisal, in which no one project can be pursued in conjunction with any of the other projects. For example, a parcel of land may be used to build a factory, an office block, or a mixture of the two. Each alternative is mutually exclusive because the choice of one alternative automatically excludes the others. Mutually exclusive projects arise when there is a scarce resource, in this case land.

Des Peres, Mo.-Based Communications Company to Mix Cable, Internet.

By Peter Shinkle, St. Louis Post-Dispatch Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Mar. 30--In a bid to blend cable television with the Internet, Charter Communications Inc. said Thursday it will launch a new service aimed at improving the link between the two technologies.

Charter, which is based in Des Peres, said it has selected Liberate Technologies Inc. of San Carlos, Calif., to develop software for an interactive television and Internet service based on the use of a set-top box, a wireless keyboard and a remote control.

Charter also revealed that it already has tested the product in Charter employees' homes in the St. Louis area, and plans to extend its trial to the homes of about 200 consumers before deploying it.

"We're not doing a trial for trial's sake, we're trialing to deploy," Stephen Silva, Charter's senior vice president of corporate development and technology, said in a telephone conference with industry analysts and the media.

"The strategy is to get this product up and running in St. Louis and one other market by year's end," Silva said in an interview later.

Jerald Kent, Charter chief executive, has vowed to deploy the company's leading technology in St. Louis first.

Silva said Charter hasn't decided how much it will charge for the new service, but it has used focus groups in the St. Louis area to determine how it should function. For instance, customers can click on a remote to read e-mail on one part of the screen while they're watching a television show on the other.

"They never have to leave the TV experience to check their e-mail," he said.

That is a stark contrast with Worldgate, charter's current product that fuses the Internet with cable television. With Worldgate, customers must go to a computer-style user interface to look for e-mail or do other activities on the World Wide Web, he said.

About 10,000 Charter customers subscribe to Worldgate, according to Charter.

In another improvement over Worldgate, the new product, which Charter has not yet named, will make it possible for consumers to view streaming media from the Internet. Worldgate does not support the protocols necessary to receive streaming music, movies or videos, Silva said.

The product will have a "news" button on the remote control and the wireless keyboard, giving the consumer one-click access to news, Silva said. And the devices will enable consumers to select streaming or text news accounts. Charter is in negotiations with several local news organizations about providing the news, he said.

Digeo Inc., 25 percent of which is owned by Charter, will develop other content and services for the new service.

Charter said the new service will work in connection with the next generation of set-top boxes currently under development by Motorola Inc. Charter has not announced which companies will produce the remote or the wireless keyboard.

To see more of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.postnet.com.

(c) 2001, St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

No show by bride's dad.

Provided by 7DAYS.ae

Lindsay Lohan's father won't give her away if she marries girlfriend Samantha Ronson.Michael Lohan, who claims he hasn't been told about plans for Lindsay to 'marry' DJ Samantha later this year, doubts he will be involved in the ceremony if his daughter does tie the knot.He said: "I haven't heard anything about an upcoming wedding from Lindsay, but if she was marrying Sam, I don't think she'd ask me to walk her down the aisle... She knows about my Christian faith - she just wouldn't ask."

Last week, it was claimed Lohan and Samantha (below) were planning to exchange vows at a private LA ceremony.

[c] 2007 Al Sidra Media LLC

Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company

Toyota, Chrysler, Nissan and Chevrolet Are Big Winners of Insure.com's Low Cost Car Insurance Awards.

Foster City, CA (PRWEB) June 22, 2011

Insure.com's Low Cost Car Insurance Awards recognize manufacturers that are making vehicles that are the least expensive to insure. Toyota, Chrysler, Nissan and Chevrolet took the No. 1 spots on this year's lists of least expensive 2011 cars, vans, SUVs and trucks to insure.

Savvy car buyers should focus on more than simply a vehicle's features and sticker price. A vehicle should also impress when it comes to shopping for car insurance quotes. Being affordable to insure makes a vehicle more attractive to consumers and can simplify the process of choosing a new vehicle for many automotive buyers.

"Congratulations to Toyota, Chrysler, Nissan and Chevrolet -- they're making the least expensive vehicles to insure in the categories of cars, minivans, SUVs and trucks, respectively," said Amy Danise, senior managing editor of Insure.com. "These vehicles will help you hold down your insurance costs."

The five least expensive vehicles to insure by average annual premium per category, according to the Insure.com's 2011 Low Cost Insurance Awards, are:

Cars

1. Toyota Highlander 4 Cylinder 4 Door 2WD Utility: $1,154 per year

2. Toyota Highlander 6 Cylinder 4 Door 2WD Utility: $1,183 per year

3. Volkswagen CC Sport 4 Cylinder 4 Door Coupe: $1,186 per year

4. Nissan Cube SL 4 Cylinder 4 Door Wagon: $1,188 per year

5. Nissan Cube 4 Cylinder 4 Door Wagon: $1,206 per year

Minivans and Vans

1. Chrysler Town & Country LX 6 Cylinder 4 Door Wagon: $1,092 per year

2. Toyota Sienna 4 Cylinder 5 Door Wagon: $1,101 per year

3. Toyota Sienna LE 4 Cylinder 5 Door Wagon: $1,108 per year

4. Honda Odyssey LX 6 Cylinder 5 Door 2WD SOHC: $1,115 per year

5. Honda Odyssey EX 6 Cylinder 5 Door 2WD SOHC: $1,138 per year

SUVs

1. Nissan Murano SL 6 Cylinder 2WD 4 Door Utility: $1,128 per year

2. Ford Escape XLS 4WD 4 Cylinder 4 Door SUV: $1,150 per year

3. Honda CR-V LX 4 Cylinder 5 Door 2.4L: $1,155 per year

4. (tie) Hyundai Santa Fe GLS 4 Cylinder 4 Door 2WD Utility: $1,158 per year

4. (tie) Jeep Patriot Sport 4 Cylinder 4 Door 2WD Utility: $1,158 per year

Trucks

1. Chevrolet Silverado 1500 8 Cylinder 2WD 4 Door Extended Cab 158WB: $1,174 per year

2. Toyota Tacoma 2WD 4 Cylinder 2 Door Reg Cab: $1,184 per year

3. (tie) Chevrolet Silverado 1500 8 Cylinder 2WD 4 Door Extended Cab 144WB: $1,194 per year

3. (tie) Chevrolet Silverado 1500 8 Cylinder 2WD 4 Door Crew Cab 144WB Ethanol: $1,194 per year

5. Chevrolet Silverado 1500 8 Cylinder 2WD 2 Door Regular Cab 133WB: $1,197 per year

To see the top 10 vehicles in each category, see the 2011 Low Cost Insurance Awards on Insure.com.

Methodology

Insure.com commissioned Quadrant Information Services to conduct a car insurance comparison study of average rates for a representative male driver. Information was collected from six of the largest insurance carriers: State Farm, Allstate, Progressive, GEICO, Farmers and Nationwide. Rates were collected from 10 zip codes in each state. The study of cheap car insurance does not include some exotic and high-end luxury vehicles.

About Insure.com

Insure.com provides a comprehensive array of information on auto insurance, home insurance, health insurance and life insurance. We offer an extensive library of originally authored insurance articles and decision-making tools that are not available from any other single source. Insure.com is owned and operated by QuinStreet, Inc. (NASDAQ: QNST), one of the largest Internet marketing and media companies in the world. QuinStreet is committed to providing consumers and businesses with the information they need to research, find and select the products, services and brands that best meet their needs. The company is a leader in ethical marketing practices. For more information, please visit QuinStreet.com.

Press contact:

Jessica Cultra

479-739-2690

pr(at)insure(dot)com

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MAY 31, 2011 INFORMATIONAL: FEDERAL COURT INITIAL APPEARANCE.

MISSOULA, Mont. -- The following information was released by the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Montana:

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Missoula, on May 31, 2011, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah C. Lynch, the following individual appeared:

RAYMOND DEAN SMITH, a 42-year-old resident of Helena, made an initial appearance on a complaint alleging sexual exploitation of children, receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography. SMITH came to the attention of law enforcement in Helena, Montana as a suspect in numerous incidents where he is alleged to have entered residences without permission. He is currently detained. If charged with these offenses, SMITH faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and could be sentenced to 30 years, a $250,000 fine and lifetime supervision on the sexual exploitation of children charge; a mandatory minimum of 5 years in prison and could be sentenced to 20 years on the receipt of child pornography charge; and 10 years in prison on the possession of child pornography charge. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia K. Hurd is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Montana Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, the Helena Police Department and the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff's Office.

If anyone believes they have additional information regarding SMITH they are asked to contact Detective Bryan Fischer with the Helena Police Department at (406) 444-1476.

A complaint is merely a written statement of the essential facts constituting the offenses charged. The United States has thirty days from the date of the criminal complaint to present an indictment to a Grand Jury.

Studies from W.Z. Zhang et al Have Provided New Data on Algorithms.

"Service overlay network (SON) provides an effective means to deploy quality of service (QoS)-guaranteed live streaming over today's Internet. A major challenge in designing such a network is dealing with resource sharing among multiple channels," scientists in Xi'an, People's Republic of China report.

"To achieve the best overall QoS in SON, we devise a new multi-channel live streaming scheme. First, we propose a multi-tree construction algorithm by infrastructure-based overlay multicast. The algorithm employs pre-allocated session degree constraints in overlay nodes to reserve resources for multiple channels, and constructs multiple trees by considering the total resource utilization of overlay nodes. Second, we propose a tree-aware queue scheduling algorithm to reduce the overlay processing delay in view of the entire overlay network. Scheduling priority is identified to trade off session priority with node location in different trees," wrote W.Z. Zhang and colleagues.

The researchers concluded: "From simulation and experimental results, the scheme achieves a differentiated control among different sessions, provides load balancing among overlay nodes, and improves the delay performance on SON."

Zhang and colleagues published their study in Multimedia Tools and Applications (Multi-channel live streaming in service overlay network. Multimedia Tools and Applications, 2011;53(1):97-117).

For more information, contact W.Z. Zhang, Xi An Jiao Tong University, MOE KLINNS Laboratory, Xian 710049, People's Republic of China.

Publisher contact information for the journal Multimedia Tools and Applications is: Springer, Van Godewijckstraat 30, 3311 Gz Dordrecht, Netherlands.

Keywords: City:Xi'an, Country:People's Republic of China, Region:Asia, Algorithms, Mathematics

This article was prepared by Journal of Mathematics editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2011, Journal of Mathematics via VerticalNews.com.

TDS(R) Working To Protect Digital Assets on Home Computers.

Madison, WI (Vocus/PRWEB) January 28, 2011

What would you do if your computer and all of its content were gone tomorrow? Gulp. If you are like millions of Americans your "life" is in that computer. But just how safe are all those documents, photos, and online account information? The answer is "it depends."

TDS Telecommunications Corp. (TDS(R)) has launched a new, lower priced, in-home computer protection package to help people protect the growing number of personal digital assets stored on home computers.

Did you know?

* &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;80 percent of home computers are infected with spy ware or ad ware programs

* &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;More than 185,000 viruses exist to date

* &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;67 percent of home computers lack current anti-virus software

* &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;10-15 new computer viruses are discovered each day

(Information provided by F-Secure)

"We believe so strongly in the importance of in-home computer security that we are now making it more affordable and easier for our customers to take action," says Shane Kaatz, product development manager at TDS. "A healthy computer and a reliable Internet connection make being online safe and fun, we want to keep it that way."

TDS believes many people just need a little assistance. The company's new Plus Packs offering features Remote PC Support, which allows TDS PC experts to remotely work on a customer's computer, as if they were sitting in the customer's chair at home. Customers can also select from as many as 10 other services to customize the package. Choices include: TDS Internet Security, Identity Protection, or Backup Online services to ensure they have everything they need to protect their computer and what's on it.

TDS is offering these products to help the company deliver the best Internet service possible, because they can't do it alone. Customers must also play a role in keeping their computers running clean.

"Computer owners need to treat their computer like their car. Regular checkups and oil changes keep a car running smoothly. The same is true for computers. Frequent virus scans, firewall protection, and data back-ups can prevent costly damages later," says Kaatz. "We've put together a new set of products to let you customize a protection package based on what's important to you and the way you use your computer. For less than fifteen dollars a month customers can now protect their digital assets and keep their computers running smoothly."&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

For more information go http://www.tdstelecom.com/PremiumServices or call 1-888-CALL-TDS and ask for Plus Packs Premium Service.

TDS Telecommunications Corp. markets communication services to business and residential customers in 30 states through its brands TDS Telecom(R) and TDS Metrocom(R). With 1.1 million access line equivalents in service, TDS Telecommunications Corp. connects customers to phone, broadband, and digital television service in hundreds of rural, suburban, and metropolitan communities. TDS Telecommunications Corp. is the eighth-largest wire line company in the nation; employing approximately 2,500 people. The company is headquartered in Madison, Wis. Visit http://www.tdstelecom.com and http://www.tdsbusiness.com for more information.

TDS Telecommunications Corp. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. [NYSE: TDS, TDS.S] Telephone and Data Systems, Inc., a Fortune 500(R) company, provides wireless, local and long-distance telephone and broadband services to nearly 7.2million customers in 36 states through TDS Telecommunications Corp. and U.S. Cellular [NYSE: USM], its 83-percent owned wireless subsidiary. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Chicago, Telephone and Data Systems employed 12,300 employees as of Sept. 30, 2010. Visit http://www.teldta.com for more information.

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Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/1/prweb8096479.htm

Educational products & services.(IFA'S 2010 SUPPLIER SOURCE BOOK)(Brief article)

SANDLER TRAINING

Franchise Development

(800) 638-5686

(410) 653-1993 (410) 559-2029

(410) 753-8270 FAX

300 Red Brook Boulevard, Suite 400, Owings Mills, MD 21117

Email: rtaylor@sandler.com

Internet: http://www.sandler.com

CONTACT: Ron Taylor, Vice President Franchise Development; Pam Joeckel, Executive Assistant

TYPE OF BUSINESS: For more than 30 years, Sandler Training has been a leader in sales and sales management training. Sandler's distinctive, non-traditional selling system and highly effective sales training methodology have helped salespeople and sales managers at every level take charge of the selling process. Contact one of our 160+ local training centers and jump start your franchisee's sales.