VIC:Vic govt slams home star rating scheme

AAP General News (Australia)
08-14-2011
VIC:Vic govt slams home star rating scheme

The Victorian government has attacked federal plans that will reportedly see compulsory
energy star ratings for homes sold or rented out.

It was reported yesterday that the federal government aims to introduce mandatory energy
star ratings for those homes from as early as next year.

Under the plan costing 1.1 billion dollars over 10 years, vendors and landlords would
have to pay about 200 dollars to have their property assessed.

Victorian Planning Minister MATTHEW GUY says this is just another tax impost that will
have a downward impact on housing affordability and will hurt average Australians.

AAP RTV xlc/sw/wz

KEYWORD: HOMES (MELBOURNE)

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

Fed:Boeing workers back at work but jurisdictional brawl raging

AAP General News (Australia)
02-21-2006
Fed:Boeing workers back at work but jurisdictional brawl raging

By Samantha Baden, Industrial Reporter

SYDNEY, Feb 21 AAP - As Boeing workers sign back onto the aviation giant's payroll,
a brawl is raging over which industrial tribunal has jurisdiction in one of Australia's
longest-running workplace disputes.

Twenty-five Boeing workers, who repair and maintain the RAAF's F/A-18 Hornet jet fighters
at the Williamtown RAAF base near Newcastle in NSW, yesterday returned to work after nine
months on the picket line.

The workers are currently undergoing retraining and are expected to resume …

QLD:Jockey suing slim spray company

AAP General News (Australia)
04-17-2011
QLD:Jockey suing slim spray company

A Queensland jockey is suing a slimming company after he was disqualified from a race
he won .. for being too light.

Lawyers for WANDERSON D'AVILA have filed a lawsuit against the makers of SensaSlim
Solution for more than 12-thousand dollars plus loss of reputation.

He bought the product .. which is sprayed onto a person's tongue to fool the brain
into believing they've eaten .. after seeing it on a TV show.

After taking it .. Mr D'AVILA won the second race of the Gold Coast Turf Club's February
19 meeting .. but was disqualified for being almost one kilogram under his allocated weight.

He says he bought SensaSlim because it "sprayed away hunger" .. but claims it wasn't
made clear to him that it would also "spray the kilos away".

AAP RTV lpm/ka/dn

KEYWORD: DAVILA (BRISBANE)

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

VIC:Victorian fire season arrives

AAP General News (Australia)
12-31-2010
VIC:Victorian fire season arrives

The fire commissioner says Victoria has held up well in the face of its first serious
bushfire test of the summer.

Temperatures rose beyond 40 degrees in much of the state today but Commissioner CRAIG
LAPSLEY says most outbreaks were small and relatively quickly contained.

The most serious threat was in the Mallee and Wimmera regions near the South Australian border.

Mr LAPSLEY says the fires of concern are in the western part of the state but at this
stage they aren't expected to be a problem.

A total fire ban is in place across more than half of the state with only the Gippsland
and North-East regions unaffected.

A cool change is expected early this evening.

AAP RTV mh/pmu/sw

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES VIC (MELBOURNE)

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

SA:Painful time ahead for SA treasurer

AAP General News (Australia)
08-19-2010
SA:Painful time ahead for SA treasurer

ADELAIDE, Aug 19 AAP - South Australian Treasurer Kevin Foley is in for a painful time
as he puts the final touches to the state budget, but not just because of SA's finances.

Mr Foley is scheduled to have his wisdom teeth removed next week.

He said he thought he might as well get the two painful experiences - preparing the
budget and the teeth extractions - over at the same time.

"I have been holding off on my wisdom teeth for about six months and they're really,
really aching," he told ABC Radio on Thursday.

"So I'm going squeeze (in) a couple of days off to get my wisdom teeth out."

Mr Foley has forecast bringing down a tough budget on September 16 with significant
cuts to government spending and an increase in state debt.

"Debt is a function of the fact that we are running budget deficits right now," he said.

"So, yes the debt will increase.

"What I will be putting forward to the state is a plan to ensure that we maintain our
triple A credit rating.

"Debt in itself is not a bad thing, provided that it is debt that is going towards
the works program of your state."

Mr Foley said his budget would be hard but responsible.

AAP tjd/apm

KEYWORD: BUDGETSA

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

FED: Health shake-up needed with super-sized Australia

AAP General News (Australia)
04-12-2010
FED: Health shake-up needed with super-sized Australia

By Danny Rose, Medical Writer

SYDNEY, April 12 AAP - The health system that struggles to cope with current demand
would require a major overhaul before it could stomach a "super-sized Australia", a doctor
has warned.

Treasury forecasts of 35 million citizens by 2049 had been welcomed by the business
community and politicians for their positive indication of stable economic growth, said
Dr Deborah Pelser.

However, she warned Australia's health system would have to be overhauled with a new
focus on prevention measures in the community, if these projections were to become reality.

"It is clear that, even at today's current population of only about 20 million, the
public health system is struggling to cope," the Sydney-based Dr Pelser said in an article
published online by the Medical Journal of Australia on Monday.

"Changes will be required to deal with a vastly increased and yet still ageing population
and the attendant multiple comorbidities, many attributed to increased urbanisation."

Dr Pelser's suggested reforms include the politically sensitive issue of "deinvestment"

- cutting resources from under-performing practices, procedures, technologies and pharmaceuticals
known to deliver minimal health gains compared to their cost.

These and extra dollars should be redirected to fund new prevention initiatives in
the community, employ more doctors and nurses and also a possible expansion of the roles
of senior nurses and pharmacists.

Rising population would provide further impetus for a move to a "single level of funding,
with the federal government taking over responsibility for hospitals from the states",
she said.

Dr Pelser said a detailed population policy was needed, to foster a national debate
on the issue and also underpin other government policy in the areas of infrastructure
and urban development.

"Australia's capital cities will have to expand considerably to house the new migrants,"

she said.

"Increased urbanisation, when not accompanied by appropriate town planning, is associated
with higher rates of chronic disease".

Dr Pelser said poor urban planning, such as the expansion of low-density housing in
suburbs on the city outskirts and with limited public transport options, were a factor
in rising rates of obesity and diabetes.

She urged other health care professionals to engage with the federal government to
ensure its delivery of health care reform matched its "appetite for unfettered, economically
expedient migration to this country".

Dr Pelser is a member of the Ku-ring-gai Residents Alliance, a community group which
is opposed to further high-rise buildings on Sydney's upper north shore.

"In his 2004 documentary Super size me, Morgan Spurlock suffered severe adverse health
consequences after a 30-day period eating super-sized meals at Mcdonalds," she said.

"Prime Minister Rudd's vision of a super-sized Australia, while it might have some
short-term economic benefits, will put further strain on the health system."

AAP dr/maur

KEYWORD: HOSPITALS POPULATION

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

QLD: Mt Isa man charged with murder and attempted murder

AAP General News (Australia)
08-28-2009
QLD: Mt Isa man charged with murder and attempted murder

BRISBANE, Aug 28 AAP - Police have charged a Mount Isa man with the murder of Fred
Mabb and the attempted murder of Phillis Mabb.

The 18-year-old is due to appear in the Mount Isa Magistrates Court, in the northwestern
Queensland mining town, on Saturday.

It's alleged he murdered Mr Mabb and tried to murder Ms Mabb on August 15.

AAP dac/cdh

KEYWORD: MABB

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

Qld: Parliament starts for new Qld govt

AAP General News (Australia)
04-20-2009
Qld: Parliament starts for new Qld govt

By Jessica Marszalek

BRISBANE, April 20 AAP - The new Queensland government will wrestle with the issue
of four-year fixed parliamentary terms as it sits for the first time since the March election.

The new government will be sworn in in a ceremonial sitting at Parliament House on
Tuesday before getting down to business on Wednesday.

The government will introduce 16 pieces of legislation this week, including new tree
clearing laws, but Ms Bligh has also put the issue of fixed four-year parliamentary terms
on the agenda.

She told reporters on Monday she would seek bipartisan support from Opposition Leader
John-Paul Langbroek.

Mr Langbroek's predecessor Lawrence Springborg, now deputy leader, backed four-year
terms but only on the condition that the government introduce a raft of accountability
measures.

"Over the last six months, we've seen all the speculation about elections, a fixed
term is something I think Queenslanders would welcome," Ms Bligh said.

"I hope that John-Paul Langbroek's indications today that he has an open mind are real."

She said she hoped to bring Queensland into line with other states, introducing legislation
ahead of the next election to take effect in the following term.

Mr Langbroek said he was open to discussions but did not believe four-year fixed terms
were an important issue for voters.

"I don't think the people of Queensland are as concerned about it as some politicians
are," he told reporters.

"I think they're more concerned about their mortgages and their jobs."

He said the opposition had its own objectives for the parliamentary sitting.

"We're looking forward to holding the government to account for the things that they
promised during the recent election campaign," he said.

"And, obviously, also we'll be out there talking to the people of Queensland and coming
up with policies that makes us more relevant to them."

He said the LNP would announce on Tuesday whether they would put forward their own
candidate for Speaker, to challenge Labor's nominee, former transport minister John Mickel.

Ms Bligh said she would also undertake the most significant restructure of the state
parliament's committee system in decades, creating four new "super committees", merging
two others and abolishing the existing Travelsafe Committee on road safety.

The total number of parliamentary committees will increase from eight to nine.

The premier said that the Parliament of Queensland Amendment Bill 2009 would be introduced
this week to give effect to the new structures.

AAP stg/cdh

KEYWORD: PARLY QLD WRAP

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

Fed: Aust women to stand by their East Timorese sisters: GG

AAP General News (Australia)
12-15-2008
Fed: Aust women to stand by their East Timorese sisters: GG

Governor-General QUENTIN BRYCE has used her first official visit to East Timor to pledge
the support of Australian women to end the hardship and poverty of their Asian sisters.

She also told East Timor's national parliament the relationship between the two countries
.. which she says share a common ethos and a common humanity .. should be seen as a model
by the rest of the world.

Ms BRYCE made history in September when she became Australia's first female head of state.

Today .. she met East Timor's Prime Minister XANANA GUSMAO and President JOSE RAMOS-HORTA.

AAP RTV tr/wz/tm

KEYWORD: TIMOR BRYCE (DARWIN)

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

AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Evening, Aug 10

AAP General News (Australia)
08-10-2008
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Evening, Aug 10
Evening Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 1630


Oly08 Wrap (Beijing)

Australia's glamour girl STEPHANIE RICE has broken the world record in the 400m individual
medley to win Australia's first gold medal at the Beijing Olympics.

RICE has slashed 1.67 seconds off American KATIE HOFF'S world mark in stopping the
clock at 4 minutes 29.45 seconds.

Her gold was Australia's 400th summer Olympic medal.

The Aussies picked up a second medal in the pool when the women's 4x100m freestyle
relay won the bronze medal.

The foursome of CATE CAMPBELL .. ALICE MILLS .. MELANIE SCHLANGER and LIBBY TRICKETT
stopped the clock in three minutes 35.05 seconds to finish behind the Netherlands who
beat the USA for the gold medal.

But Olympic swim team captain GRANT HACKETT missed out on a medal in the 400 metres
freestyle .. finishing sixth behind South Korean youngster PARK TAE HWAN.

Outside the pool .. Australia's MICHAEL DIAMOND has survived a three-man sudden-death
shoot-off to make the final of the men's trap shooting .. while our Olympic equestrians
are off to a great start in the team eventing.

They're leading after the first of three disciplines .. the dressage .. going into
the cross country stage tomorrow.

Australian CHRIS GUCCIONE has suffered a first-round singles defeat at the Olympic
tennis tournament .. falling in straight sets to American eighth seed JAMES BLAKE.

In other Olympic news .. Greek sprinter KATERINA THANOU has been barred for her role
in a drug-testing scandal at the Athens Games four years ago.

The International Olympic Committee's announced the ban today .. after its disciplinary
panel investigated THANOU'S selection for the 100 metres for the Greek team.



Meanwhile .. the Australian Olympic Committee is urging Australian athletes and supporters
to wear team uniforms outside the Olympic village .. after an American was killed in downtown
Beijing yesterday.

The father in-law of the US men's volleyball coach was fatally stabbed by a Chinese
man while sight-seeing yesterday.

His wife was also seriously hurt in the attack .. which came a day after Australian
sports commentator STEVE ROBILLIARD had a stool hurled at him.

AOC boss JOHN COATES says Australians have been warmly embraced by local Chinese ..

but to be safe they should wear their national colours downtown.



Also making news ..



PollNT Wrap (DARWIN)

The Northern Territory's Chief Minister says he'll analyse Labor's poor performance
at yesterday's poll.

PAUL HENDERSON says his government's been sent a message .. and he's giving a commitment
to listen to what Territorians have said and act on those concerns.

Senior ministers declared their support for Mr HENDERSON this morning .. after Labor
suffered a massive nine per cent swing at yesterday's election.

The final result will depend on the outcome of the northern suburb of Fannie Bay ..

vacated by former chief minister CLARE MARTIN following her resignation from the top job
last year.

But the government may also depend on a UFO spotting former chicken farmer from the
outback .. who could hold the balance of power in a new Northern Territory government.

Last month GERRY WOOD .. the Independent member for Nelson .. told a local newspaper
he thought he saw UFOs flying over Howard Springs.

But now he's been propelled into the political spotlight.

With a hung parliament this close .. Mr WOOD's now avoiding questions about who he'll back.

He's told the ABC if it does happen .. he'll take due time to make sure he makes the
best decision for Territorians and for the Territory.



Murray SA (ADELAIDE)

Thousands of South Australians have braved a wet and chilly morning to rally near the
mouth of the Murray River .. to voice their concerns over the future of the dwindling
water source.

An estimated crowd of five thousand have marched across the Hindmarsh Island Bridge
at the small river town of Goolwa .. pausing briefly in the middle for two minutes' silence.

Alexandrina Council Mayor KYM MCHUGH says it was to underscore this 11th hour bid to
save the nation's greatest river.

The council's calling for the release of a minimum of 250 gigalitres of water from
upstream storages to prevent an environmental .. economic and social disaster in the lower
reaches of the river and the lower lakes region.



City2Surf Death (SYDNEY)

A young man has died just 200 metres from the finish line of the City2Surf running
race in Sydney.

Ambulance officers say the 26-year-old fell to the ground at Bondi Beach around 11
am (AEST) .. while thousands of runners were passing by on their way to completing the
14 kilometre race.



Bali Smith (CANBERRA)

Foreign Minister STEPHEN SMITH denies there's any contradiction in pleading for clemency
for Australian drug dealers on death row .. while allowing Indonesia to execute the Bali
bombers.

Federal Labor is opposed to the death penalty .. and cabinet's believed to have recently
debated whether it could argue more effectively against capital punishment if it publicly
opposes it in all cases.

Mr SMITH's told the Nine Network .. when an Australian overseas has been convicted
and is subject to capital punishment .. the government will make representations on their
behalf.



Georgia Wrap (TBILISI)

Russia and Georgia are locked in an escalating battle over South Ossetia .. with Tbilisi
accusing Moscow of pursuing a policy of annihilation .. by bombing cities across the country.

Officials say Georgian and Russian forces exchanged artillery fire overnight .. while
Russian planes have bombed the runway of a military airfield near Tbilisi international
airport.

US President GEORGE W BUSH has led a chorus of international calls to end to the bombardment
over fears the conflict .. which may have already claimed over two thousand lives .. might
spread to other parts of the volatile Caucasus region.

And .. UN Secretary General BAN KI-MOON has called for an immediate end to hostilities
.. urging all parties to exercise restraint .. as well as guarantee the safety and security
of UN military observers.



Briefly in other news ..




Queensland Opposition Leader LAWRENCE SPRINGBORG will announce a shadow cabinet reshuffle
later this week .. brought on by the formation of the Liberal National Party two weeks
ago.




Snow has fallen in the central tablelands of New South Wales this morning .. with the
temperature in Bathurst at nine (AEST) this morning 4.5 degrees .. while in Orange it
was 3.2 degrees.




And .. at least 125 people are dead or missing in mountainous northern Vietnam .. after
heavy rains brought by tropical storm Kammuri triggered widespread flash floods and landslides.



in Sport ..



AFL Kangaroos (MELBOURNE)

North Melbourne has beaten the second-placed Western Bulldogs by 20 points in the AFL
match at Telstra Dome.

The Kangaroos ambushed the Dogs early and held off two revivals to win 21.10 (136)
to 18.8 (116) win.

Midfielder BRENT HARVEY was outstanding with 27 touches and three goals.



League Raiders (CANBERRA)

The Raiders have thrashed Penrith by an astonishing 74-12 in the NRL game in Canberra.

Five-eighth TERRY CAMPESE scored 36 points with four tries and ten goals.



ENDS EVENING ROUND-UP

Broadcast Desk inquiries 24 hours: 02 9322 8714

AAP RTV crh

KEYWORD: EVENING ROUND-UP

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

NT: Thieves raid priceless Aboriginal works

AAP General News (Australia)
04-01-2008
NT: Thieves raid priceless Aboriginal works

DARWIN, April 1 AAP - At least eight priceless artworks have been stolen in a heist
at the Northern Territory Museum and Art Gallery in Darwin.

Police said security staff at the museum, in the Fannie Bay district, raised the alarm
shortly before 4.30am (CST) today after finding thieves had smashed a window to get inside
before fleeing with the paintings.

The stolen works include six Papunya Tula style paintings as well as a central Australian
watercolour painting from the Namatjira family.

The gallery is renowned for its collection of Aboriginal art.

"At least eight paintings have been taken from the display area in the museum," Darwin
Police Watch Commander Bob Harrison said.

"We've had the museum staff initially attend and they've told us that the value of
the paintings is priceless, so we are carrying out further investigations.

"We're getting our forensic people and our investigators to carry out further investigation
at the scene."

AAP gr/sjm/maur/jlw

KEYWORD: GALLERY

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

Vic: Whiteley portrait of Van Gogh sells for $1.02m

AAP General News (Australia)
08-30-2007
Vic: Whiteley portrait of Van Gogh sells for $1.02m

MELBOURNE, Aug 30 AAP - A portrait of Dutch painting master Vincent Van Gogh by Australian
Brett Whiteley sold for $1.02 million at an auction in Melbourne yesterday.

Vincent, which depicts Van Gogh just after he cut off his ear with a razor, was sold
to an absentee bidder by auction house Deutscher and Hackett in South Yarra for $850,000
($1.02 million including the buyer's premium).

There were only two bidders for the work.

Bearing Gifts, a work by Sydney artist Del Kathryn Barton, sold at the same sale for
$138,000, almost trebling her record sale price.

An Arthur Streeton landscape - North Shore, Sydney - sold for above expectations for
$372,000. It had been estimated it would sell for around $180,000 to $240,000.

AAP jrd/jxt/ce/jm/jlw/

KEYWORD: WHITELEY

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

Today's Birthday, April 19

AAP General News (Australia)
04-16-2007
Today's Birthday, April 19

For pictures please call AAP Images on 9322 8708 or visit the website at www.apanage.com
(trans reference number (AUS101)).

Today's birthday April 19: Lindsay Fox, Australian businessman (1937-)

Lindsay Fox is a successful entrepreneur and businessman and is one of Australia's richest people.

Born on April 19, 1937, Fox, the owner of transport company Linfox, had humble beginnings,
growing up in a boarding house in Fitzroy, Melbourne.

Fox's first job was selling Coca-Cola out of the back of a truck in Melbourne's suburbs.

Fox was a successful sportsman as a young man. He played AFL for St Kilda, started
ice skating when he was in his early teens and was selected in the Australian team for
ice hockey.

He went to Melbourne High School but left after 18 months, preferring to work.

Following in his truck-driving father's footsteps, Fox bought his first truck at the
age of 16, and got his licence by lying about his age.

His first success as a truck driver came when he began distribution of heating oil
for BP and by the time he was 30, Fox owned a fleet of 60 trucks.

Fox's company today has about 11,000 employees in New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia,
Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Guangzhou and mainland China.

Fox puts his success down to employing people he trusts, and maintaining trust integrity
and loyalty.

Fox contributes to the St Kilda football club, Melbourne High and unsuccessfully attempted
to relaunch Ansett after its collapse.

He is a well-known philanthropist, helping disadvantaged youth, but is humble about
his community work.

Fox has five children, and spends most of his time between Sydney and Melbourne.



AAP sg/jm

KEYWORD: TODAY'S BIRTHDAY 19/4

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

Vic: Communities on tenterhooks as bushfires intensify

AAP General News (Australia)
12-14-2006
Vic: Communities on tenterhooks as bushfires intensify

Communities in the fire-ravaged regions of Gippsland and north-east Victoria are on
tenterhooks .. as the state sizzles ahead of a volatile wind change.

The temperature in fire-affected areas is already nudging 30 degrees .. with strong
north-westerly winds fanning the flames.

So far more than 420 thousand hectares have been burnt out .. as 11 bushfires continue
to rage out of control.

Department of Sustainability and Environment spokesman KEVIN MONK says the fire danger
will peak later this afternoon.

He says a cool change .. expected to hit between 5pm and 8pm (AEDT) .. will make conditions
worse .. bringing a south-west wind change gusting at up to 50 kilometres an hour.

AAP RTV cmb/gfr/wf/jmt

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES VIC (MELBOURNE)

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

Vic: Man accused of infecting others with HIV had condom phobia

AAP General News (Australia)
08-07-2006
Vic: Man accused of infecting others with HIV had condom phobia

MELBOURNE, Aug 7 AAP - A Melbourne man accused of deliberately infecting several sexual
partners with HIV had a "condom phobia," a court has been told.

Michael John Neal, 48, of Coburg, is facing more than 30 charges, including three counts
of intentionally causing a very serious disease, and eight counts of attempting to intentionally
cause a very serious disease.

In a pre-committal hearing in Melbourne Magistrates Court today, three doctors who
treated Neal gave evidence under a compulsory examination of witnesses.

Doctor Stephen Rowles, who specialises in HIV, told the court Neal had a "condom phobia"

and frequently engaged in unprotected anal sex with several men.

Dr Rowles described Neal's behaviour as reckless, saying he wanted to contract HIV
so he could have unprotected sex with other men with the virus.

"(He) wanted to become HIV positive sometimes so he can have unprotected anal intercourse,"

Dr Rowles said.

The court also heard Neal had a "Prince Albert" piercing through his genitals which
could heighten the risk of HIV transmission.

"My opinion is that it's possible that it could increase the risk of trauma during
anal sex and therefore increase the risk of acquisition or transmission of HIV," Dr Rowles
said.

The hearing before magistrate Lisa Hannan continues.

AAP cb/szp/tnf/sp/sd

KEYWORD: NEAL

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

AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Breakfast, April 1

AAP General News (Australia)
04-01-2006
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Breakfast, April 1
Breakfast Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 0430


Terror Vic (MELBOURNE)

Three Melbourne men have been charged by the Federal Police .. over links with a terrorist
organisation.

A 25-year-old from Brunswick .. a 21-year-old man from Coburg .. and a 26-year-old
Hadfield man have been remanded in custody .. after counter-terrorism police teams swooped
on Melbourne's northern suburbs.

The Australian Federal Police .. ASIO .. and Victoria Police worked together to arrest the men.

All are are expected to appear before the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Monday.



Indon Aust Warning (JAKARTA)

The foreign affairs department is warning Australians terrorists might strike against
them anywhere in Indonesia tomorrow.

Relatives of nine Australian victims of last year's navy rescue helicopter crash gather
this weekend on remote quake-hit Nias to remember the dead.

The US embassy in Jakarta has added to the concerns .. warning of a very high threat
of an attack tomorrow .. the first anniversary of the chopper tragedy.

The new fears come amid heightened anti-Australian sentiment across Indonesia .. following
Canberra's decision to grant visas to 42 Papuan separatists.



Hinch Health (SYDNEY)

Melbourne broadcaster DERRYN HINCH is battling a mystery illness .. which has caused
him to lose a large amount of weight.

HINCH has appeared gaunt and weakened on TV .. denying an allegation he sexually assaulted
a former business partner.

The alleged victim's told police HINCH sexually assaulted her at his Melbourne apartment
.. 12 months ago.

A presenter on Melbourne's 3-A-W radio station .. HINCH has vowed to defend his reputation
against the claim .. with his last breath.

Obviously affected by poor health .. HINCH replied no .. when asked if he was allright.



China Aust (CANBERRA)

Chinese Premier WEN JIABAO begins a four-day visit to Australia today.

The focus of the visit will be a nuclear safeguards agreement Australia and China are
expected to sign .. when Mr WEN travels to Canberra next week.

The two countries have been nutting out the deal since August last year .. and it will
open the way for China to begin buying Australian uranium.



Gaven (GOLD COAST)

Premier PETER BEATTIE is appealing to voters to give him the chance to deliver improved
health services in Queensland .. asking them to vote Labor in today's Gaven by-election.

The premier made the plea yesterday .. as he turned the first sod at the site of a
proposed ambulance station at Nerang.

Today's result is likely to go down to the wire .. with a Gold Coast Bulletin newspaper
survey yesterday showing 23 per cent of voters remain undecided on who to elect.



Drugs (SYDNEY)

A national drugs survey says heroin kills far more people than speed .. or methamphetamine.

The survey says many more people use speed than heroin .. but deaths from heroin overdoses
continue to be a far greater problem than speed-related deaths.

And heroin deaths are increasing in the older 45-54 years age group.

The details have come from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre.



Bahrain Boat (MANAMA)

A number of Westerners and Asians are among the 57 people killed when an overcrowded
leisure boat sank off the coast of Bahrain.

Among the dead are 17 Indians and 13 Britons .. while others came from South Africa and Pakistan.

Rescuers are continuing to comb the Gulf waters for survivors .. while bodies are being
brought by boat to the shore of the tiny island state.



Quake Iran (GARAJ)

The US has offered aid to Iran .. following a strong earthquake in the country's west
that's killed at least 70 people and devastated villages.

More than one-thousand-200 people have been injured after the 6.0 quake .. in an area
around the cities of Doroud and Boroujerd in the province of Lorestan.



Mideast Deaths (GAZA)

Three Palestinians in Gaza have been killed and 12 more wounded .. in clashes between
gunmen and security forces after a top militant died in a car explosion.



IN SPORT ...



Cricket Aust (JOHANNESBURG, S Africa)

A controversial catch low-down by MATTHEW HAYDEN for the wicket of JACQUES RUDOLPH
has helped Australia take a dominant position on the first day of the third Test against
South Africa in Johannesburg.

Trailing 2-0 in the series .. the home side was six for 238 at stumps, when bad light
forced an early end to play with 11 overs remaining at Wanderers Stadium.



Motor Prix (MELBOURNE)

Australia's MARK WEBBER has targeted a qualifying position around the third or fourth
row of the grid today for tomorrow's Australian Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne.

WEBBER completed just 10 laps in practice at Albert Park yesterday .. but is expected
to do more laps in this morning's third practice session ahead of this afternoon's qualifying.

The 58-lap Grand Prix will be held Sunday.



League (SYDNEY)

North Queensland's dream start to the NRL season continued last night with the Cowboys
powering to their fourth straight win with a 26-18 victory over Parramatta.

In today's action .. Cronulla and South Sydney clash at Toyota Park .. the Sydney Roosters
travel to Brookvale to meet Manly .. and the Raiders host Penrith.



AFL Bulldogs (MELBOURNE)

The Western Bulldogs have sent a powerful message to the rest of the AFL with a 115-point
demolition of Richmond in an awesome display at Telstra Dome tonight.

The Bulldogs took control start and won 25.17 (167) to 7.10 (52), their biggest ever
win over the Tigers.



Super Waratahs (SYDNEY)

The NSW Waratahs have retained top spot on the Super 14 table with a hard-earned 26-3
victory over the Cheetahs at Sydney's Aussie Stadium overnight.



Super Force (PERTH)

Western Force has been cruelly denied its first ever win, after Stormers flanker LUKE
WATSON'S try with just four minutes left gave the South Africans a tense 26-25 win in
Perth.



ENDS BREAKFAST ROUND-UP

Broadcast Desk inquiries 24 hours: 02 9322 8714

AAP RTV

KEYWORD: BREAKFAST ROUND-UP

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

NSW: Iemma expected to make announcement about vendor tax

AAP General News (Australia)
08-01-2005
NSW: Iemma expected to make announcement about vendor tax

SYDNEY, August 1 AAP - Incoming NSW Premier Morris Iemma will make an announcement
about the future of the state's controversial vendor tax tomorrow.

Mr Iemma will be formally elected as Labor leader by the caucus tomorrow, before being
sworn in as NSW premier later in the week.

According to senior Labor figures, Mr Iemma promised to roll back poker machine taxes,
and the unpopular 2.25 per cent vendor duty on the sale of investment properties, as part
of his pitch for the state's top job.

But Mr Iemma yesterday denied a decision had been made, saying he "will be revealing
all on Tuesday".

The Real Estate Institute of NSW and the Property Council of Australia said scrapping
the vendor tax would restore momentum to the state economy.

Mr Iemma will also be under pressure to cut business taxes to make the state more competitive.

Industry group Australian Business Limited said more than 80 per cent of full time
jobs created in Australia last year were outside NSW.

The average payroll tax and workers' compensation charges per employee paid by NSW
businesses were 71 per cent higher than in Queensland, 41 per cent more than in Western
Australia and 40 per cent higher than in Tasmania, it said.

AAP ka/cjh/

KEYWORD: IEMMA DAYLEAD

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

Berthollet, Comte Claude-Louis

Berthollet, Comte Claude-Louis (1748–1822) French chemist Born in Talloires, France, Berthollet studied medicine at Turin and gained his MD in 1768. He went to Paris in 1772 where he began publishing chemical researches in 1776 and was elected a member of the Académie Française in 1780. His Italian medical degree was not recognized in France so he obtained a Parisian degree in 1778.

When Berthollet published his important paper on chlorine, Mémoire sur l'acide marin déphlogistique (1785), he was the first French chemist to accept Antoine Lavoisier's new system. Unfortunately, he also accepted Lavoisier's erroneous idea that chlorine contains oxygen. In 1784 Berthollet became inspector of a dyeworks and he discovered and developed the use of chlorine as a bleach. He published a standard text on dyeing Eléments de l'art de la teinture (1791).

Berthollet was neither a great manipulator nor a persuasive lecturer, but he did original work in many fields. He analyzed ammonia (1785), prussic acid (hydrogen cyanide, 1787), hydrogen sulfide (1798), and discovered potassium chlorate (1787). Although a convert, he remained skeptical about Lavoisier's oxygen theory of acidity: his analyses showed no oxygen in prussic acid or hydrogen sulfide, despite their undoubted acidity. Berthollet attempted to use his newly discovered potassium chlorate in gunpowder but it proved too unstable, destroying a powder mill at Essones in 1788. More productive were his analyses of iron and steel, which resulted in better quality steel.

After the French Revolution of 1789 Berthollet was a member of various commissions and in 1795 he became a director of the national mint. In 1798 he was entrusted by Napoleon with the organization of scientific work on the expedition to Egypt and he established an Institute of Egypt. On his return to Paris in 1799 Berthollet bought a large house at Arcueil in the suburbs of Paris, where he set up a laboratory and subsequently founded the Société d'Arcueil, which included Pierre de Laplace, Alexander von Humboldt, Jean Biot, Louis Thenard, and Joseph-Louis Gay-Lussac. At Arcueil, Berthollet produced his magnum opus, the Essai de statique chimique (1803), in which he propounded a theory of indefinite proportions. By 1808, following the work of John Dalton, Jöns Berzelius, and Gay-Lussac. indefinite proportions was decisively rejected, but Berthollet's idea that mass influences the course of chemical reactions was eventually vindicated in the law of mass action of Cato Guldberg and Peter Waage (1864).

Berthollet was made a senator in 1804 and in his later years was regarded as the elder statesman of French science.

attest

attest To bear witness to an act or event. The law requires that some documents are only valid and binding if the signatures on them have been attested to by a third party. This also requires the third party's signature on the document. For instance, the signature of the purchaser of land under a contract must be attested to by a witness.

Unico Corrects and Replaces Previous Acquisition Announcement, BW 66, UNICO-INC.

FREMONT, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 28, 1998--

Unico's Announces Acquisition of Singapore Technology Company

Multiwave Innovation Pte. Ltd., a

High-Performance Developer of Multimedia Solutions

Unico Inc. (Nasdaq: UNRC) Wednesday announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire 100 percent of the outstanding stock of privately held Multiwave Innovation Pte. Ltd. The agreement calls for Unico to issue $5 million worth of common shares to the current shareholders of Multiwave. In addition, this acquisition will boost Unico's net assets to close to $5 million.

Multiwave is an engineering company with a focus on research and development. This will provide Unico's distribution company, Paradise Innovation, with rapid access to new and exciting products. Multiwave is a pioneer in the design, development, production and marketing of high-performance multimedia and Internet-related products for brand name sales or OEM contracts.

Their products are modem cards, sound cards, Web-TV and various other multimedia upgrade kits and accessories. Multiwave markets products on a transcontinental scale with sales in Japan, Australia, Malaysia, Korea, Hong Kong, most major European countries, North America and Latin America.

Multiwave's largest shareholders are NatSteel Electronics Ltd. -- a publicly listed company on the Singapore Stock Exchange with contract manufacturing operations in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hungary, China and Mexico -- and Uraco Holdings Ltd., a publicly listed company on the Singapore Stock Exchange that is a precision manufacturer of disk drives and semiconductor equipment components.

NatSteel and Uraco will become significant owners of Unico's common shares following the completion of the merger.

John Hwang, the president of Unico, who is in Singapore, finalized the definitive agreement and stated: "The completion of the Multiwave acquisition is the continuation of Unico's plan to optimize growth by acquiring compatible technology companies. The acquisition of Multiwave will allow Unico to access low-cost global manufacturing strengths of NatSteel and Uraco.

"We believe the merger will be a contributing factor for increasing current profit margins. Furthermore, it will provide additional worldwide distribution channels for Unico and the Paradise family of products (www.paradisemmp.com).

"Multiwave will have the benefit of marketing their products (www.multiwave.com) through Unico's subsidiary company, Paradise Innovations. The Paradise brand is registered throughout the world with established brand name recognition. We are in the process of dramatically increasing our product line with instant access to new distribution channels," concluded Hwang.

Paradise Innovations, a Unico subsidiary, markets computer components. In addition, the company markets a proprietary line of computer peripherals, including modems, video adapter cards, multimedia and Internet-related products.

Paradise has existing Distribution Agreements with Ingram, Tech Data, Comark, SED, D&H Distributing and Almo Distributing. Hwang stated: "The combined revenues will generate more than $50 million for the next 12 months of operations. Additionally, Unico is actively seeking acquisitions of product and product-related companies."

Except for historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risk and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially due to a variety of factors, including without limitation the presence of competitors with broader product lines and greater financial resources, intellectual property rights and litigation, needs for liquidity, and other risks detailed from time to time in the company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Networks flee Web series; After early zeal, television moves on from Internet TV; But others increasing investment in original online programming.(Business)

Byline: Jake Coyle; The Associated Press

NEW YORK -- Around 2007, TV networks made a land rush to the Web, looking to lay down digital production studios. Four years later, many of those networks have pulled up stakes, shunning original Web content and reorienting their online outlook.

The Walt Disney Co. and ABC launched their digital media destination, Stage 9, only to fold it by 2009. Time Warner's comedy-focused site Super Deluxe also launched in 2007 and closed the next year. (CBS and Fox have shown only sporadic interest in original Internet TV.)

Now, Comcast has announced that the NBC Universal Digital Studio, launched in 2008, is shuttering. A relatively robust digital outfit, its series often paired sponsors with a show, such as the Hollywood drama "Dial Star" (AT&T), the comedy "Fact Checkers Unit" (Samsung) and the comedy "In Gayle We Trust" (American Family Insurance). Clearly, Comcast, a cable operator and NBC's parent, has some interest in maintaining the primacy of TV.

But why are so many TV networks fleeing a business for which they would seem perfectly suited? The exodus comes at a time when many see brightening skies for original content on the Web. Though it took some time for the numbers to measure up to the early promise of Web video, profits and audiences are on the uptick.

"I would think they should be doubling down right now on creating original content for the Web," says Marc Hustvedt, editor-in-chief of Tubefilter News and founder of the International Academy of Web Television. "The ad dollars are moving towards it. There's this whole group, a new core of digital studios that are really booming in terms of audience."

NBC said the move was "simply about a change in strategy."

"Going forward we plan to focus our digital efforts and investment on content that's supportive of our on-air programs, providing our audience with additional content that further engages them in our shows," the network said in a statement.

That means more content such as the webisodes that accompany "The Office" -- things that feed viewers back to broadcast shows. And those shows, after all, are often already available digitally, whether on NBC.com, Hulu or Netflix.

But at the same time some networks are backing out, many online destinations are increasing their investment in original Web programming. YouTube has inspired its partners in the art of video production. Funny Or Die, founded by Adam McKay and Will Ferrell, just produced one of its most ambitious videos yet, an imagined sequel to "Field of Dreams." In March, the digital arm of the Lionsgate Television launched its first original Web series on Hulu: the animated "Trailer Trash." Last year, the production company Berman Braun Productions, which makes numerous series for MSN, signed a $100 million deal with Starcom MediaVest Group, which represents companies such as Wal-Mart and Coca-Cola.

Sometimes, startups have shown more patience than the networks. Revision3, an online network founded in 2005, didn't reach profitability until late 2010, when it saw total views across the network increase by 165 percent.

Blip.tv, created in 2005, has steadily grown and says that it has now has reached more than 3 billion views to date. Steve Woolf, vice president of content for blip.tv, believes TV networks have failed to embrace the interactivity of the medium, and have instead pushed simply a less expensive TV product.

"That is clearly the problem," says Woolf. "They are trying to fit a square peg into a round hole."

"Creators have full control over how they create their shows," Woolf says of blip.tv, which gathers series from across the Web. "There's no studio level, there's no layer of production executive that they have to get answers and OKs from. They make their stuff, they know their audiences and it's a direction connection to the audience. I think a lot of these guys have shied away from that," to their detriment.

Not all networks have abandoned Web originals. Fox's first foray, the digital outpost 15 Gigs, ceased within months of debuting in 2009. But the same year, it created the Fox Digital Studios.

Though it has yet to produce any major Web original, Fox Digital currently has several original Web projects in development, said a network official. One is called "The Ropes" and is being written and produced by Vin Diesel. The 18 seven-minute episodes will be based on Diesel's pre-Hollywood days working as a bouncer.

CBS's original online series included an early hit, 2007's "Clark and Michael" with Michael Cera, but its output has slowed and remains undefined. In March, it shifted direction, acquiring the highly respected Internet TV guide Clicker and making its co-founder, Jim Lanzone, president of CBS Interactive.

Sony Pictures Entertainment, though, has held fast. Sony created Crackle in 2007 and continued to produce high-quality online shows, while surrounding them with programming from Sony Pictures' broadcast library. Last year, the Crackle crime drama "The Bannen Way" drew millions of viewers. It also released the frenetic comedy "Backwash," starring Michael Ian Black, Joshua Malina and Michael Panes.

With Crackle, Sony has focused its strategy on optimizing numerous "windows" of distribution, releasing popular shows after their initial ad-supported runs on iTunes, DVD on TV networks and in international syndication.

"The result of all of this has made us very successful," says Eric Berger, executive vice president of digital networks at Sony Pictures and head of Crackle. "We're going to continue to create originals."

Berger says Crackle is finding increased appetite for long-form content, which breeds higher quality shows. Their projects currently in development are being prepped to run in 30-minute, TV-length episodes.

TV networks may be moving on from Internet television, but maybe soon, there won't be much separating the two.

CAPTION(S):

Crackle via The Associated Press: Michael Ian Black, Joshua Malina and Michael Panes are shown in an ice-cream truck in a scene from the Web series ''Backwash'' from Sony's Web channel Crackle. (0417525744)

Copyright (c) 2011 Seattle Times Company, All Rights Reserved.

Why Credit Unions Are A Mirror, Not A Window.(Opinions)

Byline: Frank J. Diekmann

It wasn't all that long ago that to be a radical in the credit union business you made the switch to a community charter.

And that was back in the day when the definition of "community" was an actual community--a village or a town or, as NCUA used to quaintly define it, an area where people could be reasonably expected to interact (this would lead to great uproars in the Western U.S. over how regulators back east didn't understand that it isn't unusual in some parts to drive several hours to the grocery store).

Of course, when something is "radical" it requires that something else be traditional, and credit unions are nothing if not traditional. And that is generally a good thing. It's hard to know now just how many credit unions had "Employees" in their name, with that word a suffix to the name of a particular sponsor company or government body. The traditionalists objected to what they saw as an abandonment by some of the credit union "mission"--even if size of the FOM has nothing to do with it--and especially the violation of what was then the age-old Honor Code of Credit Unions, if you will: Thou Shalt Not Overlap Another CU's FOM.

Screaming & Gasping

Many of the traditionalists began screaming as some credit unions got city, county or even, gasp, statewide fields of membership. They protested to state regulators and to NCUA, and with the latter found a sympathetic ear in that of former Chairman Norman D'Amours. But the expansions continued, and the "Employees" references began to disappear as new names (some of them awful, frankly) were selected and new signs were put up.

Many of the traditionalists, although it was never phrased this way, liked their monopolies on certain groups, especially at larger employers that paid well. They didn't have to "compete"; new members flowed in regularly with every new employee orientation led by HR. They didn't have to innovate or be particularly lean or efficient or even smart. (And yes, I can already hear some of you sighing and longing to go Old School.) When other credit unions began to "overlap" them it wasn't long before deficiencies in management and boards at some credit unions were exposed. Surprise, a lot of those folks didn't much care for that, either.

Lessons From San Antonio

In this issue Credit Union Journal takes a look at the evolution in the credit union charter over the past decade. We do so in conjunction with CUNA's America's Credit Union Conference, which is being held in San Antonio, a city known for three things: an Alamo that doesn't rent cars; the foresight not to bury a small creek inside a concrete pipe like just about every other American city has done, and instead to turn it into a "Riverwalk" that is a gem of a tourist attraction; and third, of course, numerous, large, successful credit unions that all "overlap" each other.

It must have something to do with the saintly works credit unions believe they do, because San Antonio has joined San Diego as the two "credit union towns" in the country.

It can be argued that the expansion of charters has been the great defining change in credit unions over the last decade. For some people it will be argued without answer for another decade whether or not it has been a change for the good. Certainly, however, it seems there was no choice. Credit unions are a mirror of the country itself. Founded to serve low-income workers in a small milltown at the turn of the last century (coincidentally, that first CU, St. Mary's Bank, had a community charter), credit unions began to spread across the U.S. as new companies and industries and cities themselves took root. By the mid-1970s, there were more than 23,000.

But so much has changed since the days of gas lines and big hair, and credit unions had to mirror that change, too. Can you imagine the sad shape of the Credit Union World had so many of those single-sponsor or limited-SEG-based CUs had never changed their charters? They would all have adjoining plots in the Cemetery of Once Great Companies That Have Shut Down, just another sign on a broken door inside a dark, now shuttered plant.

Yes, there are about one-third as many CUs today as there were just 40 years ago, and a year from now there will be fewer still. But credit unions are harldy alone in having to deal with marketplace changes no one in a Norman Rockwell painting could have ever imagined.

Down On Main Street

Credit unions like to think of themselves as Main Street institutions, but seldom give thought to how Main Street itself has morphed and evolved, much of it often painful.

To survive, Main Street retailers have had to be nimble and innovative in order to fill the gaps left by the generic Big Box stores in or near the mall. They have had to provide the personal service not found by clicking on the online links of Internet retailers. In short, they have had to do all the things credit unions have done and must do in order to open the doors tomorrow.

Main Street couldn't count on loyalty, but it could count on every community rooting for it to survive. After all, every community needs a Main Street, and every Main Street must be a part of its community.

Frank J. Diekmann can be reached at fdiekmann@cujournal.com.

Aetna Announces Appearance at Goldman Sachs 32nd Annual Global HealthCare Conference.(Conference news)

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Aetna (NYSE: AET) announced today that Mark T. Bertolini, chairman, CEO and president, is scheduled to make a presentation at the Goldman Sachs 32nd Annual Global HealthCare Conference on June 8, 2011, in Rancho Palos Verde, CA.

Aetna's presentation is scheduled to begin at 12:20 p.m. ET (9:20 a.m. PT). Investors, analysts and the general public are invited to listen to this presentation over the Internet via Aetna's Investor Information link at www.aetna.com/investor. To listen to this presentation live on the Internet, visit Aetna's web site prior to the presentation to download and install any necessary audio software. A webcast replay will be available via Aetna's Investor Information link at www.aetna.com/investor, beginning approximately two hours after the event, for 14 days.

Anyone listening to the presentation is encouraged to read Aetna's annual and quarterly reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a discussion of Aetna's historical results of operations and financial condition. Information reconciling certain financial and other measures that may be disclosed in the presentation to relevant GAAP measures will be available prior to the presentation via the Investor Information portion of Aetna's web site.

About Aetna

Aetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 33.8 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional, voluntary and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities and health care management services for Medicaid plans. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. For more information, see www.aetna.com. To learn more about Aetna's innovative online tools, visit www.aetnatools.com.

Elekta: Invitation to Capital Markets Day June 9, 2011 in Stockholm.

STOCKHOLM -- A revised version of the release posted on May 13, 2011, at 10:57 AM BST, is being issued due to multiple revisions including a new link to the internet broadcast, http://www.elekta.com/ir.

The corrected release reads:

ELEKTA: INVITATION TO CAPITAL MARKETS DAY JUNE 9, 2011 IN STOCKHOLM

Regulatory News:

Elekta's year-end report for 2010/11 will be published on June 9, at 07:30 CET and Elekta will also arrange a Capital Markets Day the same day from 09.00 to 12.00 CET.

Elekta invites analysts, investors and media representatives to a Capital Markets Day on June 9 from 09.00 CET to 12.00 CET, for a strategic and financial update and a closer look at Elekta's markets. The Capital Markets Day will be held at Museum of Modern Arts, Skeppsholmen in Stockholm and will be webcasted.

Details for webcast, June 9, at 09.00-12.00 CET

The Capital Markets Day will be broadcasted over the Internet only (audio and slides).

Please visit: > http://www.elekta.com/ir (http://www.elekta.com/ir)

We look forward to your participation on June 9!

Best regards,

Stina Thorman Elisabeth Natt och Dag VP Corporate Communications Information Manager

This information was brought to you by Cision http://www.cisionwire.com

Cabot Oil & Gas Provides Operations Update.

HOUSTON, April 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation (NYSE: COG) today announced continued achievement of milestones in the Marcellus, drilling success in the Eagle Ford and agreements in principle for its Haynesville joint venture effort. "We continue to build momentum in our two areas of focus for 2011," said Dan O. Dinges, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Additionally, we have streamlined our east Texas operation with arrangements that are accretive to Cabot."

North Region

In the Marcellus, the Company ended the quarter producing at a curtailed rate of 320 Mmcf gross per day. This represents a production increase since year-end of 90 Mmcf per day as the benefits of the Lathrop expansion began to show up in production.

Contributing to these totals was the completion of several multi-well pads that were turned in line, albeit at curtailed rates. Cabot's first six-well pad added 51 Mmcf gross per day, although infrastructure limits are restricting its full productive capacity. A two-well pad with 29 completion stages is producing 36 Mmcf gross per day. "The productivity we have seen repeatedly for the last 18 months provides a great deal of confidence in our program," commented Dinges. "Tempering this excitement is the 'blocking and tackling' in the trenches to get the infrastructure in place timely to exploit these results."

In regards to the infrastructure build-out, all seven compressors at Lathrop are installed, and the Company is working on additional dehydration and more piping to reach full functionality. This effort will afford Cabot 450 Mmcf per day of takeaway capacity from this station and together with the Teel station provides a total of 550 Mmcf per day of capacity. "In conjunction with this growing capacity of Lathrop, we have identified and secured markets throughout the summer that will allow us to utilize a portion of this additional capacity," stated Dinges. "However, we will still have excess production capacity until the Springville pipeline to Transco becomes operational, which is scheduled during the third quarter."

To highlight the productivity of Cabot's Marcellus acreage, last week Cabot achieved 100 Bcf of cumulative production in Susquehanna - a feat that took just under three years. At the current production rate, it will take less than one year to achieve the next 100 Bcf of cumulative production.

In other North Region news, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PaDEP) has requested the industry to stop disposing of frac flowback fluids at certain approved sites. "We fully support this action by the PaDEP and the Pennsylvania administration," said Dinges. "Since late 2009, we have been recycling 100 percent of our frac fluid returns. We are committed to performing all our operations using best practices and endorse continuing improvements in those practices to minimize impact on the environment and communities in which we operate."

"Additionally, we converted our drilling operation to utilize a closed loop system by the fourth quarter of 2010. This eliminates the need for open pits at drill sites and significantly enhances our fluid management capabilities," added Dinges.

South Region

In the Eagle Ford shale, the Company added three more successful operated completions with 24-hour initial production rates ranging from 345 to 958 barrels of oil per day equivalent. "This range of results highlights the variability as we continue to evaluate completion techniques in the early stages of development in this play," stated Dinges. "Presently we have three more wells drilled, cased and in the queue for completion in our Buckhorn area."

At the Haynesville area, Cabot has signed two deals with industry peers that provide the Company with a carried interest in the initial well for 24 units. In the third deal, Cabot has elected to sell several non-operated units producing 4 Mmcf per day. This deal is signed and under the normal due diligence evaluation. Closing is scheduled for early May with approximately $50 to $55 million in proceeds expected from all these transactions.

"We are pleased with the joint venture outcome as we accomplished our goal of being carried by selling one-third of our acreage and eliminating the need for near term capital allocation in this area," said Dinges.

Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation, headquartered in Houston, Texas is a leading independent natural gas producer with its entire resource base located in the continental United States. For additional information, visit the Company's Internet homepage at www.cabotog.com.

The statements regarding future financial performance and results and the other statements which are not historical facts contained in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, market factors, the market price (including regional basis differentials) of natural gas and oil, results of future drilling and marketing activity, future production and costs, and other factors detailed in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT Scott Schroeder (281) 589-4993

SOURCE Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation

CROWDSOURCING, WIKILEAKS, CYBERWAR, AND MORE.

NEW YORK, N.Y. -- The following information was released by the Open Society Institute:

by Becky Hogge

A roundup of news stories that the Open Society Information Program team has been following this week.

Google Ends Secret Wifi Data Gathering as International Privacy Watchdogs Investigate

Google vice president Alan Eustace has stated that his company is "mortified" that its Streetview cars have been "inadvertently" collecting and storing personal data while scanning wifi networks. The Streetview cars, which travel the world taking photographs to upload to Google's controversial Streetview service, had also been gathering information about the location of wifi networks to improve the company's geolocation services, a practice Google say they will now stop. Privacy watchdogs in the UK, Germany, France and Canada are currently investigating the issue.

Livejournal Bloggers Expose Suspicious Government IT Contracts in Russia

Global Voices report that Russian bloggers with IT expertise have launched a new campaign to scrutinize government IT tenders, after they noticed that the Ministry of Health was inviting companies to tender for contracts on unfair or suspicious terms. The campaign has already seen at least three tenders canceled, with one official responsible for a suspicious tender being forced to resign.

What Will the Internet Look Like in 10 Years?

The Internet Society have shared the results of a scenario-planning exercise they engaged in to reveal plausible courses of events that could impact the future "health of the Internet." The results are presented in a compelling way, and represent a useful framework for understanding current issues such as censorship technologies, the rise of web giants like Facebook and Google, and cybersecurity concerns.

Judging the Cyberwar Terrorist Threat

In this essay for the New Yorker, Seymour Hersh gives context and depth to Western governments' current obsession with cyberwar, tallying the potential cost to civil liberties of an over-reliance on the military to respond to cyberthreats.

Ten Theses on Wikileaks

Internet scholars Geert Lovink and Patrice Riemens present 10 competing analyses of the status and prospects of the whistle-blowing website Wikileaks. This week Wikileaks disclosed hundreds of thousands of US Army reports pertaining to the war in Iraq, which revealed greater civilian casualties than previously reported, and allegations of widespread torture of detainees.

How Useful Is Humanitarian Crowdsourcing?

Ushahidi critic Paul Currion of humanitarian.info attempts to advance the debate on crowdsoucing and humanitarian response: "My critique of crowdsourcing - shared by other people working at the interface of humanitarian response and technology - is not that it is disruptive to business as usual. My critique is that it doesn't work."

For more features and analysis selected by the Information Program team, visit our social bookmarking page, delicious.com/osi_info_program.

Epson Direct Corporation in Japan Chooses AccelGraphics 3D Accelerators; AccelPRO Family Provides High-Performance 3D Graphics Capabilities for CAD/CAM, Animation and Visualization Applications for Professionals.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--December 10, 1996-- AccelGraphics, Inc., the leading supplier of high-performance 3D graphics accelerators for Windows NT, today announced that Epson Direct Corporation in Japan has chosen the AccelPRO family of products as Epson Direct's exclusive 3D graphics accelerators for their new personal workstation: the Endeavour Pro-200E.

"Epson Direct in Japan wanted to partner with the leader in professional 3D graphics for Windows NT and AccelGraphics was the obvious choice. We plan to use the AccelPRO products for SEIKO EPSON CORP. internal use as well as to provide solutions for the open marketplace. As one of the largest users of Pro/ENGINEER software, there are several hundred internal SEIKO EPSON users that will benefit from these new personal workstations. As a second step, we will bring these products to the open marketplace," said Mr. Yasuhiko Kudo, General Manager of Epson Direct Corporation.

Dr. Hiroki Kato, Vice President for Asia-Pacific, of AccelGraphics stated, "We are very excited about our relationship with Epson Direct. We expect to supply products immediately for SEIKO EPSON's internal use as well as for Epson Direct's external marketing thrust. Epson Direct Corporation is a very important customer for us. We are pleased that they will be using the AccelPRO products."

"AccelGraphics' excellent working relationship with Parametric Technology will help ensure a very solid, high performance solution that Epson can use with complete confidence," said Glenn Sinclair, Hardware Partner Manager at Parametric Technology Corporation.

The AccelPRO products provide high performance 3D graphics including smooth double-buffered displays at resolutions up to 1280x1024, support for 24bits of Z, and hardware texture mapping (AccelPRO TX models only). Other advanced features supported include: anti-aliasing, transparency, overlays, dithering, and stencilling. Since the AccelPRO family is OpenGL compliant many other popular OpenGL-based applications are supported. Since the AccelPRO TX boards work with Windows NT, they ensure standard support for thousands of other popular applications, including word processors, spread sheets and Web browsers.

Epson Direct Corporation

Epson Direct Corporation is a subsidiary of SEIKO EPSON Corporation. SEIKO EPSON is a world leader in the electronics sector. With operations in more than 28 countries, the company develops, manufactures and markets watches, precision assembly robots, plastic lens, computers and peripheral products, display products, software tools and semiconductors. The company employs over 36,500 people world-wide.

AccelGraphics, Inc.

AccelGraphics develops, manufactures and markets high-performance three dimensional graphics accelerators for computer-aided design and engineering and other professional markets. AccelGraphics' 3D graphics accelerators enable technical professionals to visualize 3D data quickly and interactively, thereby dramatically enhancing user productivity when using 3D applications.

AccelGraphics, Inc. is headquartered in San Jose, California, and can be reached via phone at 800-444-5699. Fax: 408-441-1599. Internet: http:\\www.accelgraphics.com

-0-

Note to Editors:

AccelPRO is a trademark and AccelGraphics is a registered trademark of AccelGraphics, Inc. All other trademarks, service marks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective companies.

CONTACT: Niraj Swarup

AccelGraphics, Inc.

408/441-1556

E-mail: aginfo@ag3d.com

or

Carol Nash

Sterling Communications, Inc.

408/441-4100

E-mail: cnash@sterlingpr.com

Marmion Industries Announces Purchase Orders Valued at More Than $100,000 for Week Ending 12/23/07.

HOUSTON, Dec. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Marmion Industries Corp (BULLETIN BOARD: MMIO) , (the "Company") -- an emerging manufacturer and modifier of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment -- today announced new purchase orders for the week ending December 23, 2007 totaling $100,101.60.

Commenting on today's news, CEO W.H. Marmion stated, "We are extremely excited to be receiving substantial new purchase orders from customers this late in the year. As evidenced by our quarterly filings with the SEC and our ongoing string of corporate announcements, 2007 has proven to be yet another banner year for Marmion Industries in regards to sales."

Mr. Marmion concluded, "Since we did in fact surpass revenues for all of 2006 during the first nine months of 2007, which marks our third consecutive year of positive revenue growth, our company has been presented with a much welcomed opportunity to further improve its run rate during the fourth quarter. We are very optimistic regarding what 2008 holds for Marmion Industries and look forward to updating the investment community as corporate developments emerge."

About Marmion Industries Corporation

Marmion Air Service specializes in Explosion-Proof Heating, Ventilation, Cooling Pressurization and chemical filtration solutions for mission-critical applications. Our reputation is based on superior equipment and service, from south Texas and Louisiana refineries to drilling rigs and chemical plants in Saudi Arabia and South America. Our products are designed for application in Petro-Chemical, Industrial, Agricultural, wastewater, pulp and paper, elect., medicine, and Aerospace. Marmion Air Service commenced operation in Texas in 1998 in residential and commercial HVAC service. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation -- TACLA019367C -- recognizes the company as a contractor in the field of Heat Ventilation and Air Conditioning. The company is in the process of working towards third party certifications on selected manufactured equipment.

Further information on Marmion Industries is available at: http://www.marmionair.com/ and http://www.microstockprofit.com/

Forward Looking Statements

The information in this news release includes certain forward-looking statements that are based upon management's expectations and assumptions about certain risks and uncertainties that can affect future events. Although management believes these assumptions and expectations to be reasonable on the date of this news release, these risks and uncertainties may cause actual events to differ material from managements those contained in this news release. The risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, continuing as a going concern, availability and cost of our present vendors and suppliers, and absence of any change in government regulations or other costs associated with data transmission over the Internet or termination of transmissions in foreign countries.

   Contact:    Seacoast Advisors   Keith Reinhardt   IR@seacoastadvisors.com   (858) 805-5798  

CONTACT: Keith Reinhardt of Seacoast Advisors, +1-858-805-5798, IR@seacoastadvisors.com, for Marmion Industries Corporation

Daily Market Movers Digest Midday Stock Alerts, Wednesday, June 7th, VPER, DPBM, CBAY, KLUCQ, AOGS, NWWV.

M2 PRESSWIRE-7 June 2006-OTCPicks.com: Daily Market Movers Digest Midday Stock Alerts, Wednesday, June 7th, VPER, DPBM, CBAY, KLUCQ, AOGS, NWWV(C)1994-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

RDATE:07062006

Today our stock watch alerts today include Featured Profiles for Viper Networks, Inc. (OTC: VPER), Deep Blue Marine, Inc. (OTC: DPBM) and stock alerts for Cal-Bay International, Inc. (OTCBB: CBAY), Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (OTCBB: KLUCQ), Avalon Oil and Gas, Inc. (OTCBB: AOGS), NeWave, Inc. (OTCBB: NWWV)

FEATURED STOCK PROFILE

VIPER NETWORKS, INC. (OTC: VPER) "Up 6.78% in morning trading"

Detailed Quote: http://www.otcpicks.com/quotes/VPER.php

View Company Profile: http://www.otcpicks.com/profiles/vper/index.php

Viper Networks, Inc. (OTC: VPER) provides VoIP products and services through distributors and resellers around the world. Its network of VoIP gateways serves more than 350 countries and regions, and it is unique in offering both network services and equipment to its customers. Unlike most competing VoIP providers, Viper Networks offers its service on a pre-pay basis. It charges only for minutes used and does not requiring any monthly fees. Its Internet-based users can get dial-up or broadband service with equal quality. Viper has been pioneering VoIP service and technology for more than five years. For more information, please visit www.vipernetworks.com.

FEATURED STOCK PROFILE

DEEP BLUE MARINE, INC. (OTC: DPBM) "Up 5.88% in morning trading"

Detailed Quote: http://www.otcpicks.com/quotes/DPBM.php

View Company Profile: http://www.otcpicks.com/profiles/dpbm/index.php

Deep Blue Marine, Inc. (OTC: DPBM) is engaged in deep water exploration and recovery of important treasures and artifacts worldwide. In the coming season the company will dive on known and permitted wrecks as well as establish exact locations of other known wrecks. All work will be video recorded.

Deep Blue Marine is a new company that brings together rapidly developing technology and a wealth of experience in both recovery and business. DPBM works only thoroughly researched and permitted (where applicable) shipwrecks in responsible ways that address environmental concerns and preserve worthy marine antiquities.

The crews of DPBM are highly qualified and have extensive backgrounds. Their areas of experience and expertise include research, salvage operations, marine survey, production of documentaries, all phases of diving, management and marketing of artifacts, and liaison with collectors and auction houses.

Starting with the best possible research for the acquisition and interpretation of available information, Deep Blue is able to find general locations of notable shipwrecks. Subsequently, decisions are made by the high-profile, expert advisory board regarding which wrecks to pursue. Exact locations are then determined by an able crew, using state-of-the-art equipment and procedures.

Recent advances in equipment and technology have lightened the burden of search. In addition to newly developed, proprietary equipment, sidescan sonar, improved magnetometers, satellite imaging, and aerial reconnaissance are all very helpful in locating objects of interest.

In addition to researching and finding on their own, DPBM has also made agreements for mutual benefit with other companies that have actually located wrecks of interest.

OTC STOCK ALERTS

CAL-BAY INTERNATIONAL, INC. (OTCBB: CBAY) "Up 9.8% in morning trading"

Detailed Quote: http://www.otcpicks.com/quotes/CBAY.php

Cal-Bay International, Inc. (OTCBB: CBAY) is currently a publicly traded real estate acquisition and development company with headquarters in Carlsbad, California. Cal-Bay International acquires, develops and manages real estate properties. Cal-Bay's philosophy is to grow shareholder equity through value acquisitions with both substantial short and long-term growth potential.

CBAY News:

June 6 - Cal-Bay Opens Escrow for Acquisition of 25 Acre Development Property in Northern California

Cal-Bay International, Inc. (OTCBB:CBAY) announces acquisition of 25+ acre development property in northern California.

Cal-Bay's Board of Directors today announced the company has entered into a contract for the purchase of the property in the Napa region of California for $1.15M.

Cal-Bay CEO Roger Pawson commented the property will be a premium development project for the company that will include a select number of California Ranch Style homes. The acquisition is scheduled to close on or before the end of July 2006.

Cal-Bay is currently in negotiations for several other large East Coast development projects.

KAISER ALUMINUM CORPORATION (OTCBB: KLUCQ) "Up 14.86% in morning trading"

Detailed Quote: http://www.otcpicks.com/quotes/KLUCQ.php

Kaiser Aluminum Corporation (OTCBB: KLUCQ) is a leading producer of fabricated aluminum products for aerospace and high-strength, general engineering, automotive, and custom industrial applications.

AVALON OIL & GAS, INC. (OTCBB: AOGS) "Up 5.81% in morning trading"

Detailed Quote: http://www.otcpicks.com/quotes/AOGS.php

Avalon Oil and Gas, Inc. is an independent domestic oil and natural gas producer. The Company's strategy is to generate stable cash flows and production by acquiring a portfolio of oil and gas leases, to use efficient reservoir maintenance and innovative technology to generate asset growth, and to deliver a sustainable rate of return for our shareholders. For more information on Avalon Oil and Gas, Inc., please visit its website at www.avaloninc.com.

AOGS News:

June 7 - Avalon Oil and Gas, Inc. and UTEK Corporation Sign a Strategic Alliance Agreement

UTEK Corporation (AMEX & LSE-AIM: UTK), a specialty finance company, and Avalon Oil and Gas, Inc. (OTC BB: AOGS), an oil and gas company engaged in the acquisition of oil and gas producing properties with multiple enhancement opportunities, announced today that they have signed a strategic alliance agreement.

Kent Rodriguez, Chief Executive Officer of Avalon Oil and Gas, Inc. said, "We are very pleased to form this alliance with UTEK. We believe it will provide promising new technology acquisition opportunities for us. Our alliance with UTEK should enable us to develop a portfolio of new technologies for the oil and gas industry."

"UTEK looks forward to working with Avalon Oil and Gas, Inc. to identify potential technology acquisition opportunities that fit its strategic vision," commented Clifford M. Gross, Ph.D., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of UTEK Corporation.

About UTEK Corporation

UTEK(R) is a specialty finance company focused on technology transfer. UTEK enables companies of all sizes to acquire innovative technologies from universities and research laboratories worldwide. UTEK facilitates the identification and then finances the acquisition of external technologies for clients in exchange for their equity securities. This unique process is called U2B(R). In addition to its U2B(R) service, UTEK offers both large and small capitalization companies the tools to search, analyze and manage university intellectual properties. UTEK has operations in the United States, United Kingdom and Israel. For more information about UTEK, please visit its website at www.utekcorp.com.

NEWAVE, INC. (OTCBB: NWWV) "Up 16.19% in morning trading"

Detailed Quote: http://www.otcpicks.com/quotes/NWWV.php

NeWave, Inc. (OTCBB: NWWV), through its websites 'onlinesupplier.com' and 'buydiscount.com', NeWave provides ecommerce solutions and thousands of high value products at significant savings to its online loyalty club customers and members.

To find out more about NeWave (OTCBB: NWWV), visit our websites at www.newave-inc.com, www.onlinesupplier.com and www.buydiscount.com.

NWWV News:

June 7 - NeWave Closes Acquisition; Broadens Media Fulfillment Capabilities

NeWave, Inc. (OTCBB: NWWV) today announced that it has acquired Santa Barbara-based One Source Imaging (OSI). OSI is a business to business media design firm offering a full range of services including graphic design, printing services, data merge, mailing and finishing.

NeWave CEO Michael Hill stated, "The acquisition of OSI allows us to now fully control the printing and fulfillment process in-house as well as realize significant cost savings of approximately 15% and 40% respectively within these areas. The fact that OSI is a local firm with a solid reputation makes for easy logistical and cultural assimilation." He added, "Our strategic decisions are based upon their potential impact on both top line growth as well as earnings and believe that this acquisition falls within those parameters."

About One Source Imaging

One Source Imaging (OSI) is a full service business to business media design firm offering a range of services including graphic design, printing services, data merge, mailing and finishing. To find out more about OSI you may visit www.osimaging.com.

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OTCPicks.com is an Internet destination for investors seeking information on smallcap and microcap companies. The web site features companies in Profile Campaigns, Executive Interviews and Profile Research Reports authored by our financial writers. We publish a daily Newsletter to subscibers, and we publish our Daily Market Movers Digest which is sent out on the M2 Presswire several times daily highlighting hot OTC and OTCBB stocks. To feature a company on our web site or in our daily Newsletter or Market Mover's Digest, please contact our publisher, Brian Dean at 972-546-3740, or via email at publisher@otcpicks.com.

Disclaimer: Never invest in any stock featured on our site or emails unless you can afford to lose your entire investment. This disclaimer is to be read and fully understood before using our site, or joining our email list. PLEASE NOTE: The OTCPicks.com employees are NOT Registered as an Investment Advisor in any jurisdiction whatsoever.

Release of Liability: Through use of this website viewing or using you agree to hold OTCPicks.com, its operators owners and employees harmless and to completely release them from any and all liability due to any and all loss (monetary or otherwise), damage (monetary or otherwise), or injury (monetary or otherwise) that you may incur. Neither the information presented nor any statement or expression of opinion, or any other matter herein, directly or indirectly constitutes a representation by the publisher nor a solicitation of the purchase or sale of any securities. OTCPicks.com has been compensated up to ten thousand dollars by a third party for DPBM advertising and promotional services. OTCPicks.com has been compensated two hundred fifty thousand free trading shares and four hundred thousand restricted rule 144 shares for VPER advertising and promotional services. For a complete list of disclosures go to http://www.otcpicks.com/disclosure_details.php. The information contained herein is based on sources which we believe to be reliable but is not guaranteed by us as being accurate and does not purport to be a complete statement or summary of the available data. The owner, publisher, editor and their associates are not responsible for errors and omissions. They may from time to time have a position in the securities mentioned herein and may increase or decrease such positions without notice. Any opinions expressed are subject to change without notice. OTCPicks.com encourages readers and investors to supplement the information in these reports with independent research and other professional advice. All information on featured companies is provided by the companies profiled, or is available from public sources and OTCPicks.com makes no representations, warranties or guarantees as to the accuracy or completeness of the disclosure by the profiled companies or the information contained herein. OTCPicks.com and its affiliates are not registered investment advisors or a broker dealers. OTCPicks.com has been advised that the investments in companies profiled are considered to be high risk and use of the information provided is at the investor's sole risk. OTCPicks.com also advises that the purchase of such high risk securities may result in the loss of some or all of the investment. Investors should not rely solely on the information presented. Rather, investors should use the information provided by the profiled companies as a starting point for doing additional independent research on the profiled companies in order to allow the investor to form his or her own opinion regarding investing in the profiled companies. Factual statements made by the profiled companies are made as of the date stated and are subject to change without notice. Investing in micro-cap securities is highly speculative and carries an extremely high degree of risk. It is possible that an investor's entire investment may be lost or impaired due to the speculative nature of the companies profiled. OTCPicks.com makes no recommendation that the securities of the companies profiled should be purchased, sold or held by individuals or entities that learn of the profiled companies through OTCPicks.com. OTCPicks.com owners may or may not hold positions in the companies that are profiled.

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