QLD:Govt to release carbon tax modelling

AAP General News (Australia)
08-23-2011
QLD:Govt to release carbon tax modelling

BRISBANE, Aug 23 AAP - The Queensland government is set to release long-awaited modelling
on the effects of the federal government's carbon tax on the state's economy.

Treasurer Andrew Fraser said the information due to be released on Tuesday would allow
the tax debate to be based on facts.

"What it shows is the economy will continue to grow strongly, key sectors will continue
to grow," he told ABC Radio on Tuesday.

The effect of the tax on the state's power generators is still the subject of negotiations
with the commonwealth, Mr Fraser said.

The state opposition has been calling for the modelling for weeks, arguing it should
have been released earlier to give Queenslanders a better understanding of the economic
issues.

AAP gd/jsh

KEYWORD: CLIMATE QLD

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

Vic: Vic blames Howard govt for GP shortage

AAP General News (Australia)
02-20-2008
Vic: Vic blames Howard govt for GP shortage

MELBOURNE, Feb 20 AAP - Victorian Health Minister Daniel Andrews says the state's GP
shortage is a result of the Howard government's failure to invest in undergraduate medical
places.

Mr Andrews today said that over 11.5 years the previous federal government had not
addressed the primary care staffing needs for the state.

"What's important is we have a partnership and we work with the commonwealth," Mr Andrews said.

"The Rudd government has already made some important promises about rolling out additional
support and additional incentives to …

FED:Migration proposal weak, Abbott says

AAP General News (Australia)
04-26-2011
FED:Migration proposal weak, Abbott says

SYDNEY, April 26 AAP - Rioters at detention centres shouldn't be able to get temporary
protection visas, federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says.

Speaking on Christmas Island on Tuesday, he called proposed changes to the Migration
Act "a weak response to the government's loss of control of our borders".

"Nothing that's been announced today will stop the boats or end the protests," Mr Abbott
told reporters.

"The idea that you should reward rioters with temporary protection visas is just wrong ...

"Rioters should be rewarded with punishment, not with temporary protection visas."

Immigration Minister Chris Bowen earlier on Tuesday announced plans to toughen up the
immigration character test by denying permanent visas to those convicted of crimes while
in immigration detention.

But they may still be eligible for temporary visas which allow them to remain in Australia,
although they can't sponsor family members and can be deported when conditions improve
in their home countries.

Mr Abbott said he was yet to see the detail of the proposed changes.

"As for this legislation, well, we'll determine our position when we see it," he said.

"We've got to send the people smugglers and their customers a very clear message -
you have no product to sell - and the product that they have to sell under this government
is permanent residency in Australia."

On Wednesday last week, a riot involving 100 detainees broke out at Sydney's Villawood
detention centre, leaving nine buildings gutted by fire.

The riot came six weeks after a similar incident at the Christmas island detention centre.

AAP eb/tr/jl

KEYWORD: DETAINEES ABBOTT

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

VIC:Man shot dead at farm in northern Vic=2

AAP General News (Australia)
02-11-2011
VIC:Man shot dead at farm in northern Vic=2

Police say the dead man and the 44-year-old who walked into the Kerang station knew each other.

AAP RTV ees/mn/af

KEYWORD: SHOT 2 MELBOURNE (REOPENS)

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

FED:I won't block supply: Xenophon

AAP General News (Australia)
08-27-2010
FED:I won't block supply: Xenophon

HOBART, Aug 27 AAP - A threat by Family First Senator Steve Fielding to block supply
is "irresponsible", says independent senator Nick Xenophon.

Senator Fielding said on Friday the electorate had not granted Labor a second term,
and made no promises of allowing supply through the Senate before his term expires.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said he would not be blocking supply if he could not
form government, while Senator Xenophon said he could not condone Senator Fielding's stance.

"I think we have an obligation to behave responsibly. Talk about blocking supply, or
hinting at that is completely irresponsible," Senator Xenophon told reporters in Hobart
on Friday.

"What he does is up to him. But I'll continue to look at legislation based on the issues,
not on ideology, not a view to being a wrecker with eyes to either side of politics.

"That would be completely irresponsible for an independent."

AAP pbc/was/it

KEYWORD: POLL10 XENOPHON

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

Vic: Main stories in the Melbourne newspapers

AAP General News (Australia)
04-21-2010
Vic: Main stories in the Melbourne newspapers

MELBOURNE, April 21 AAP - Main stories in Wednesday's Melbourne newspapers:

HERALD SUN

Page 1: A bashed and bleeding Carl Williams lay dying in his prison cell for 25 minutes
before he was found by guards. The security lapse was revealed as the police corruption
watchdog took control of the murder investigation.

Page 2: Victoria stands to gain hundreds of extra hospital beds and speedier access
to elective surgery under a historic but fragile deal between the federal government and
the states.

Page 3: If your hospital, emergency department, nursing home or GP doesn't have enough
money to look after you, Kevin Rudd is the man to blame.

World: Text messaging has eclipsed the telephone call to become the most frequent form
of communication among US teenagers, and girls send more than twice as many messages as
boys.

Finance: A May interest rate rise may be no certainty but it is certainly back on the table.

Sport: In a massive break from tradition, the AFL is considering shifting next years
Grand Final from the last Saturday in September to the first weekend in October.

MORE jrd/tr

KEYWORD: MONITOR FRONTERS VIC

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

NSW: Swim mum angry at old sex allegations against Buck

AAP General News (Australia)
12-07-2009
NSW: Swim mum angry at old sex allegations against Buck

SYDNEY, Dec 7 AAP - The mother of two children trained by legendary swim coach Terry
Buck has rubbished claims he abused a number of elite Australian swimmers.

A former Australian swim team captain and Olympic medallist has spoken out about an
abandoned police investigation into allegations he had been abused by Buck, who died in
a tractor accident in 2005.

An investigation into the allegations was dropped in 2001, but the swimmer is now calling
for it be re-opened, saying he was unhappy with how police handled the matter.

News Ltd says the swimmer was targeted by Buck as an 11 year-old at Clovelly Surf Club
and the abuse lasted seven years.

Police began investigating the allegations in 1998, with the swimmer handing investigators
a list of 29 other alleged victims, including four Olympic swimmers.

One was a celebrated gold medallist, and two surfing champions were on the list, News Ltd said.

Strike Force Solano spent five months investigating the allegations after the Sydney
Olympic Games, but the case was dropped in early 2001 because of insufficient evidence.

Monday's News Ltd report triggered an angry response from one woman, who said Buck
had coached her daughter and son.

"He coached my daughter when she was very young right up until she was in her late
teens. He coached my son," Kathleen told Fairfax Radio Network.

"They'd all been away with him for many many years, on trips away, in rooms by themselves,
and I can assure you nothing went on.

"My daughter is distraught to think that they could say these things about Terry Buck,
especially now that he is deceased."

Kathleen said she "wouldn't believe a word" the whistleblower said, claiming he was
motivated by money.

"I can see dollar signs," she said of the swimmer, whom she knows.

"It is very hard now for Terry, who is deceased, to fight the case.

"I would like to see all his swimmers that absolutely adored Terry, and still do, all
go up against this person and see how they go."

Inspector Peter Yeomans, who headed the investigation into the claims, said a number
of alleged victims had refused to co-operate with police.

"In this matter, some of those interviewed simply did not want to give any information
or be involved in the investigation as witness or possible victim," Insp Yeomans said
in a statement.

"Generally, it is a highly personal decision for anyone to pursue criminal charges
against whose who have sexually assaulted them, whether historically or recently.

"Many prefer to deal with it through other courses of action, such as counselling.

Others do not want to relive the trauma at all."

Swimming Australia chief executive Kevin Neil told News Ltd the organisation had no
record of the police investigation, but said it would co-operate if it were to be re-opened.

Mr Neil is due to talk to the media in Canberra early on Monday afternoon.

Comment is being sought from NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione.

AAP ab/wjf/maur/bwl

KEYWORD: SWIM UPDATE

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

Fed: Peter Garrett announces his Rock the Schools tour

AAP General News (Australia)
04-29-2009
Fed: Peter Garrett announces his Rock the Schools tour

By Alyssa Braithwaite, National Entertainment Writer

SYDNEY, April 29 AAP - Federal Arts Minister Peter Garrett is going back to school
to help teach kids how to rock.

The former Midnight Oil frontman has been announced as the patron of the Boost Mobile
Rock the Schools initiative, which tours secondary schools and teaches students about
careers in the music industry.

Bands including Operator Please, Van She and Dash and Will have passed on their knowledge
and advice since the program began in 2006.

Now students will have the chance to learn from Garrett about his days as part of one
of Australia's most successful bands.

"They can learn that it's not only about aiming to have great songs and putting on
a really spirited performance, it's also having high levels of organisational skills,
and it's about marketing and promotion, which is one of the most critical components,"

Garrett told AAP.

"It's a commercial business, so things like proper book-keeping, use of equipment,
insurance - the sorts of all-round business savvy skills that you need out there in the
wide world, you need them just as much in the rock `n' roll world."

Having spent 25 years and made 13 albums with Midnight Oil before entering politics,
Garrett knows the industry well.

At a time when many Australians are struggling through hard times, Garrett said young
people should not be put off from pursuing a career in music: when the going gets tough,
the tough get rocking.

"I think that when we're going through difficult times music means more to us than
ever before," he said.

"I know for a fact that a lot of acts keep touring through these periods and people
still come out and they want to hear what people have got to offer."

Garrett said he loved re-joining his Midnight Oil bandmates for a special performance
at Melbourne's Sound Relief concert last month, and but he's not ready to consider a return
to music right now.

"It was a unique opportunity because of the enormity of the event and the fact it had
impacted on so many people's lives and I really relished the opportunity to provide some
sort of support in that way," he said.

"Walking back out on stage with The Oils was a huge thrill for me, but ... I've got
a full time job and I'm going to stick to that for the moment."

Garrett's first stop on his Rock the Schools tour will be at Brunswick Secondary College
in Melbourne on May 6.

AAP acb/it

KEYWORD: ROCK

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

Vic: What the main editorials in Melbourne said today

AAP General News (Australia)
12-25-2008
Vic: What the main editorials in Melbourne said today

HERALD SUN

MELBOURNE, Dec 25 AAP - The message of Christmas is the focus of the Christmas Day
editorial in the Herald Sun.

As most Australians celebrate Christmas, we are also facing a difficult and different
future and the country is no longer the place we once knew, it says.

The economic impetus that brought prosperity has slowed and people are overwhelmed
by questions such as "how much have I got?" and "how much have I left?"

But, the newspaper argues, perhaps it is time to return to older values, and just as
the world's financial markets are undergoing severe correction, "So it is that in a changing
world an old sense of common purpose and community can give us new hope," the paper says.

Christmas is our chance to change things for the better, the editorial says, adding:
"Christmas is essentially a time of reflection and personal renewal."

AAP sjm/ldj

KEYWORD: EDITORIAL VIC

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

Fed: Rudd to head to NZ, Pacific Islands

AAP General News (Australia)
08-18-2008
Fed: Rudd to head to NZ, Pacific Islands

Prime Minister KEVIN RUDD meets his New Zealand counterpart HELEN CLARK this week ..

to discuss economic ties between the two countries.

Mr RUDD will arrive in New Zealand today on the first leg of a four-day trip .. which
includes attending the annual leaders meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum.

As well as economic talks .. Mr RUDD will take part in a climate change conference
in Auckland with Ms CLARK tomorrow .. before heading to the Polynesian island of Niue
to discuss political and economic challenges facing the Pacific Islands region.

AAP RTV srj/rl/af/psm/

KEYWORD: RUDD NZ (CANBERRA)

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

Vic: Culvert contributed to cyclists death: coroner

AAP General News (Australia)
04-10-2008
Vic: Culvert contributed to cyclists death: coroner

MELBOURNE, April 10 AAP - A ditch on a Melbourne bike path was a "hidden trap" that
directly contributed to the death of a cyclist, a coroner has found.

Robert Graham, 55, broke his neck and subsequently died after hitting a culvert and
being flung over the handlebars of his bicycle on a popular bike track in Melbourne's
north on February 27, 2007.

The impact severed his spinal chord and paralysed him from the neck down.

He died on March 2 last year after agreeing to have his life support at the Austin
Hospital switched off.

Coroner Dyson Hore-Lacy today found that the culvert was a "classic, hidden trap" and
that the local Nillumbik Shire Council had a duty of care to maintain the bike path.

The culvert "caused Mr Graham's fall and contributed to his death," Mr Hore-Lacy said
in his finding.

Mr Hore-Lacy delivered two key recommendations in his finding.

He called on the Victorian government to consider providing extra funding to local
councils to allow them to maintain and develop safe shared pathways.

He also recommended the government undertake a review of Australian standards and guidelines
relevant to Victoria for shared pathways.

AAP md/gfr/it/cdh

KEYWORD: GRAHAM

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

AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Breakfast, Dec 7

AAP General News (Australia)
12-07-2007
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Breakfast, Dec 7
Breakfast Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 0430


Climate Bali Rudd (BRISBANE)

The prime minister says his government will only set carbon emission targets that are
economically responsible.

KEVIN RUDD's promise follows Opposition Leader BRENDAN NELSON's warning yesterday ..

that targets supported by the Australian delegation at climate change talks in Bali would
devastate the economy.

A delegate told the UN talks .. Canberra backs the idea of reducing emissions by 25-to-40
per cent by 2020 .. but Mr RUDD says his government doesn't agree with the target.

Mr RUDD says the target was decided by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change earlier this year .. and Canberra takes the same position as other countries which
don't necessarily accept the targets.



Education (CANBERRA)

Schools will be invited to apply for up to one million dollars each to buy computer
and technology equipment for students and classrooms.

Federal cabinet yesterday signed the first stage of Prime Minister KEVIN RUDD'S education
revolution .. giving every student in years nine to 12 access to their own computer at
school.

The total package is worth one billion dollars .. to be split among schools which will
be able to apply for funding for technological resources from March next year.

Mr RUDD says schools will be able to spend the money on computers .. interactive whiteboards
.. broadband connections .. digital projectors and other equipment.



Health Roxon (SYDNEY)

The federal government will make an urgent start today on cutting elective surgery
waiting lists for thousands of patients.

Fairfax reports patients will get operations from early next year under a 100 million
dollar blitz planned by federal Health Minister NICOLA ROXON.

Ms ROXON will meet state and territory health ministers today to advance the plan ..

which is part of a 600-million dollar longer-term strategy.

Fairfax says public and private hospitals will be able to bid for the operations under
the new scheme .. which aims to deal with delays and introduce a public hospital report-card
system on waiting lists.



Liberals (CANBERRA)

Opposition Leader BRENDAN NELSON has tried to remove the cloud of Work Choices from
his first shadow frontbench .. dumping KEVIN ANDREWS .. the man who introduced the unpopular
laws.

Mr ANDREWS was the biggest casualty in the opposition's frontbench shake-up .. which
has seen the rise of some new faces and the return of some old ones.

After being dumped from the HOWARD ministry in 2001 .. BRONWYN BISHOP's been given
a new lease of political life as veterans affairs spokeswoman.

Two barely known Victorian MPs have been parachuted from the backbench into top shadow
cabinet spots .. GREG HUNT in climate change and TONY SMITH in education.



Liberals Bishop (CANBERRA)

Deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop says former treasurer PETER COSTELLO was not approached
to take on a frontbench role in opposition at his own request.

Ms BISHOP told ABC television last night Mr COSTELLO had not been asked to figure on
the new coalition frontbench because he had asked not to be involved.



Telstra Broadband (SYDNEY)

Telstra boss SOL TRUJILLO has torpedoed the new federal government's proposed approach
to achieve a broadband and education revolution.

Mr TRUJILLO has bluntly rejected the new government's proposal for a partnership to
build a national broadband network.

The Australian newspaper reports the Telstra chief executive says the company will
never agree to the government's suggestion of a form of joint ownership .. mocking it
as some sort of "kumbaya, holding hands" theory.



Pokies (SYDNEY)

New South Wales is reducing its cap on the number of poker machines.

Fairfax reports Gaming and Racing Minister GRAHAM WEST will today announce the statewide
cap on poker machines will be reduced by five thousand to 99-thousand .. with plans to
reduce the cap even further over time.



Bushfires SA (ADELAIDE)

A man's body has been found in a bushfire ravaged area of Kangaroo Island.

South Australian police say no other details are available.

Police communications Senior Sergeant MICK GRESCH says more information will be available
at 6am (ACDT).

The Country Fire Service yesterday deployed two water bombing aircraft to a bushfire
in the Western River Conservation Park on Kangaroo Island .. south of Adelaide.

About 150 hectares had been burnt .. but the fire was not threatening homes or properties.



Missing (BRISBANE)

The search resume this morning for a Malaysian student who saved a woman from drowning
off south-east Queensland yesterday .. and likely lost his own life in the process.

Police say the 25-year-old man went missing off Moreton Island yesterday afternoon
after helping a woman in difficulty.

The man was with a group of Malaysian students from the University of Queensland camping
at Honeymoon Bay with Brisbane-based Blue Planet Tours.



Rail (SYDNEY)

Engineers have reportedly bungled construction of a Sydney rail tunnel .. making it
too steep for CityRail's new trains.

The Daily Telegraph reports the Epping to Chatswood link will have to be serviced by
30-year-old trains .. which the New South Wales government had promised to phase out.

The newspaper reports a late design change .. in favour of a rail tunnel instead of
a bridge .. created Sydney steepest 3.5km section of track.



BRIEFLY IN OTHER NEWS:



Australian drug trafficker HOLLY DEANE-JOHNS is due to fly into Perth from Thailand
today .. to serve the rest of her jail term back home.




Prime Minister KEVIN RUDD says his cabinet will continue to meet in various parts of
the country .. after its first meeting in Brisbane yesterday.




The Prime Minister has promised to crack down on bad behaviour by his ministers ..

releasing a code of conduct that tightens accountability.




In the United States .. it's emerged a 19-year-old school dropout .. who shot and killed
eight people at a shopping mall .. had lost both his job and girlfriend and believed he
was worthless.



IN FINANCE:


Rates (ADELAIDE)

Experts say home loan interest rates will top nine per cent early next year.

The alarming forecast has come from the South Australian Centre for Economic Studies.

It says there'll be significant rate rises next year to control inflation .. which
is still building in the economy despite recent rate rises.

The centre expects the Reserve Bank to lift interest rates by 0.5 percentage points
in the first half of 2008 .. taking the home loan rate to about 9.1 per cent.

The Reserve this week left its key official cash rate at an 11-year high of 6.75 per
cent .. having raised rates 10 times since 2002.



ABARE Climate (CANBERRA)

Australia's commodity forecaster says the impact of climate change will chisel five
per cent off the nation's economic output by 2050.

The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics has urged the development
of policies .. encouraging climate-change adjustment in vulnerable agriculture sectors.

Its report has also called for more research and development .. to be done in both
climate-change adaption and mitigation technologies.

The ABARE report shows the effects of climate change will push sugar exports down 79
per cent by 2050 .. while beef exports will sink more than one-third .. and sheep meat
will decline by over one-fifth.



AND IN SPORT:


AFL KANGAROOS BOARD (MELBOURNE)

The Kangaroos have rejected the AFL's push for the club to relocate to the Gold Coast
and have vowed to remain a Victorian-based AFL club.

The club board met yesterday afternoon after the club learnt that the AFL wouldn't
give it a 12-month moratorium to consider the proposed relocation to the Gold Coast.



CRICKET ICC RANKINGS (LONDON)

Sri Lanka batsman KUMAR SANGAKKARA has knocked Australia skipper RICKY PONTING off
the top of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) latest Test rankings.

SANGAKKARA is the first Sri Lankan to top the batting rankings after a tremendous run
of form, including a superb 152 in the first Test defeat of England this week.



SUPER BRUMBIES (BRISBANE)

Injured Wallabies skipper STIRLING MORTLOCK will keep the captaincy reins of the Brumbies
in the 2008 Super 14.

The 30-year-old, eyeing a move overseas late next year, insists he is still keen to
keep the captaincy despite missing the first half of the Super 14 following shoulder surgery.



NBL DRAGONS (MELBOURNE)

South Dragons rookie SHANNON SEEBOHM was to be brought out of an induced coma last
night, after he'd collapsed during a National Basketball League training session.

The 19-year-old development player, who was also selected in the Australian under-19
team this year, was practising with teammate BRAD HILL at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic
Centre (MSAC) on Wednesday afternoon when the incident occurred.



ENDS BREAKFAST ROUND-UP

Broadcast Desk inquiries 24 hours: 02 9322 8714

AAP RTV psm/

KEYWORD: BREAKFAST ROUND-UP

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

Fed: Invention will make us prosperous, Rudd says

AAP General News (Australia)
04-24-2007
Fed: Invention will make us prosperous, Rudd says

SYDNEY, April 24 AAP - Innovation and research will be the foundation for prosperity
in Australia, federal Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd says.

Mr Rudd and Opposition science spokesman Kim Carr today unveiled Labor's plan for long-term
productivity through investment in these areas.

Under the plan - titled New Directions for Innovation, Competitiveness and Productivity
- Labor would appoint a full-time chief scientist for Australia, upgrading the role from
part-time.

The key policy areas of industry, science and research would be combined within one
government department to provide national leadership and ensure a coordinated approach
to policy development.

The New Directions paper also includes an investment of up to $200 million to establish
10 Enterprise Connect innovation centres around Australia.

Through the centres companies would be able to have their businesses benchmarked against
best practice, as well as accessing facilities for prototyping and testing.

Labor also would establish Industry Innovation Councils to support the Enterprise Connect
network, so that high-level decision makers and experts could work together to build an
innovation culture in Australian businesses, research institutions, universities, and
all levels of government.

"Federal Labor's paper demonstrates that improving Australia's research and innovation
performance is essential to keeping Australian industry competitive in a fast-paced, rapidly
changing world economy," Mr Rudd said.

"Innovation allows existing businesses and industries to stay at the leading edge while
enabling new firms and new industries to emerge, creating jobs and income for Australians
well into the future."

Mr Rudd said the investment in innovation complemented existing policies investing
in people and infrastructure, and reducing unnecessary business regulation, to support
long-term growth and jobs in Australia.

"This is important because we are embracing the challenges the Australian economy faces
to build long-term prosperity," Mr Rudd said.

"If you're going to build long-term economic prosperity you've got to do something
which looks after Australia's interests after the mining boom is over."

AAP acb/wjf/ks/bwl

KEYWORD: INNOVATION

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

NSW: Special New Years Eve transport arrangements

AAP General News (Australia)
12-22-2006
NSW: Special New Years Eve transport arrangements

SYDNEY, Dec 22 AAP - New Year's Eve revellers in Sydney will be able to buy special
bus and train tickets giving them all-night access to public transport.

About a million people are expected to flood into the city on December 31 to watch
the fireworks display on Sydney Harbour.

Standard public transport tickets are normally valid until midnight, but NSW Transport
Minister John Watkins said the New year's Eve tickets would remain valid throughout the
night and into the morning.

"Plenty of buses and trains will be running to get you into the city and get you home
again," Mr Watkins said.

New Year's Eve bus tickets will be available from 3pm (AEDT) and remain valid until
9am the next day. Train tickets will be available on New Year's Eve and will remain valid
until midday on January 1.

"If you are coming into the city to celebrate New Year's Eve, please use public transport,
leave your car at home," Mr Watkins said.

Tickets will cost between $2 and $10 depending on the zone and category of traveller.

Travel within the CBD is free all night.

Circular Quay railway station will be closed between 8pm and 1am so passengers will
have to use Wynyard, St James or Martin Place stations and walk to the foreshore.

Mr Watkins said the Harbour Bridge would be closed between 11.45pm December 31 and
12.45am on January 1.

AAP krc/was/hn/goc/cdh

KEYWORD: EVE TRANSPORT

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

SA: Man recaptured in SA after allegedly escaping from jail

AAP General News (Australia)
08-16-2006
SA: Man recaptured in SA after allegedly escaping from jail

ADELAIDE, Aug 16 AAP - A prisoner who allegedly escaped a South Australian jail has
been recaptured after spending almost 24 hours on the run, police say.

The 21-year-old man allegedly escaped from Port Lincoln prison on the Eyre Peninsula
on Monday night, but was recaptured about 5.30pm (CST) yesterday, a police spokesman said.

The man was found in scrubland about 30km south of Whyalla after allegedly dumping a stolen car.

He has been charged with escaping lawful custody and traffic offences.

AAP sl/cdh/nf

KEYWORD: ESCAPEE

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

Fed: Australia to boost aid spending in May budget

AAP General News (Australia)
04-10-2006
Fed: Australia to boost aid spending in May budget

SYDNEY, April 10 AAP - Australia will boost its aid spending by up to $300 million
in the May budget but its programs will emphasise good governance and tackling corruption
rather than alleviating poverty.

An Office of Development Effectiveness will also be established within AusAID to ensure
funding achieves its aims and to give feedback to the government, The Australian Financial
Review says today.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer will outline the new funding regime in a white paper
in a fortnight.

Australia currently spends about $2.5 billion on direct aid.

An aid industry source told the Financial Review that "aid will no longer be seen as
charity" in the white paper which will extend the principle of mutual obligation.

The development follows a speech by Prime Minister John Howard to the United Nations
in December in which he said he would boost aid spending to $4 billion a year, or 0.36
per cent of GDP, by 2010.

AAP lb

KEYWORD: AID

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

Tas: Police investigate stabbing at St Helens

AAP General News (Australia)
12-05-2004
Tas: Police investigate stabbing at St Helens

A 33-year-old man is in a stable condition in Launceston General Hospital after he
was stabbed several times in the back at a party.

Police say the man was stabbed in the back after an argument broke out at 3.30am (AEDT)
in the front yard of a house at St Helens, north-east of Launceston.

Sergeant PHIL GREGORY from St Helens police says no-one has been charged.

AAP RTV sam/lm

KEYWORD: ARGUMENT (HOBART)

2004 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

FANUC Robotics Introduces the New i Pendant with an Integrated Web Browser.

ROSEMONT, Ill., June 1 /PRNewswire/ --

FANUC Robotics North America, Inc. is debuting the i Pendant with an integrated web browser in an arc welding application at the International Robots & Vision Expo 2001 in booth #300 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont (Chicago), Ill., from June 5 to 7.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010530/IPENDANT )

The i Pendant is a new color graphic user interface device to the FANUC SYSTEM R-J3i MODEL B Controller that is based on Internet technology. The pendant includes an integrated Internet web browser allowing critical support information to be accessed right from the robot. Users can access corporate web sites, FANUC electronic documentation/manuals and advanced diagnostic and part information. It provides a single point of access to web-based information.

The i Pendant has an intuitive multi-window display, which makes the i Pendant easy to use and learn. Users of FANUC Robotics' new i Pendant can expect to see increased uptime due to integrated diagnostics and decreased training time since it is compatible with the current teach pendant and includes integrated help functions.

"The integration of the web browser as part of the teach pendant is the largest innovation in robot teach pendant capability in more than 10 years. With the integrated web browser, users have the power of the network in the palm of their hands," said Claude Dinsmoor, general manager of controller product development. "This intuitive color graphic interface provides the user with integrated help and diagnostic functions as well as enhanced robot and process data."

The ergonomically designed i Pendant improves operator efficiency since it has easier navigation and custom screens for applications and installations. It has a customizable interface where users can create customized web pages based on their needs.

The new i Pendant, with its large color LCD display, is interchangeable with FANUC Robotics' standard teach pendant on the recently introduced RJ-3i Model B robot controller and can be purchased as an upgrade option for the RJ- 3i Model B in late 2001. The i Pendant can be connected to the factory network through the Ethernet in the robot controller. Users can also touch-up points with the i Pendant and immediately verify on the teach pendant that the program works correctly.

FANUC Robotics North America, Inc. designs, engineers and manufactures innovative robots and robotic systems that impact business performance for global customers. FANUC Robotics is the North American robotics industry leader and is a subsidiary of FANUC Ltd. in Japan. The company has facilities in Chicago; Los Angeles; Charlotte, N.C.; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Toledo, Ohio; Toronto; Montreal; Mexico City; Aguascalientes, Mexico; and Sao Paulo, Brazil. FANUC Robotics can be found on the Internet at www.fanucrobotics.com or by calling 800-47-ROBOT.

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NetworkOSS Selects Daleen's eBusiness Product Suite for Global Communication Markets.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

BOCA RATON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 25, 2000

Leading service provider for next-generation of communication

service providers (CSPs) to provide customers with

Daleen's web-enabled billing, customer management,

self-care, and service activation

Daleen Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:DALN) today announced NetworkOSS, a global service solutions provider, has selected Daleen's eBusiness software suite for web-enabled billing, customer management, self-care, and service activation. NetworkOSS will offer customized single-source Operation Support System (OSS) solutions in a secure, complete networked infrastructure.

NetworkOSS offers new entrants in the communications industry OSS solutions including customer care and billing, order management and provisioning and network monitoring, integrated and interoperable with a customer's existing OSS applications. By incorporating Daleen's suite into their BusinessNowTM solutions offering, NetworkOSS will deliver integrated billing and customer management, electronic bill payment and presentment (EBPP), web-enabled catalog and customer self-care functionality, as well as service activation to their CSP customers.

  Daleen products provided as part of the solution include:  --       eCare, which will let NetworkOSS' customers explore and          research products and services over the web; purchase          services online, provide ordering and status tracking;          receive service outage notices and reports; resolve service          problems; view bills; and perform bill usage analysis;  --       The BillPlex(R)ICP software package will provide customer          management, convergent billing functionality, and EBPP; and  --       SwitchFlow(TM), service activation software will provide          automated flow-through service activation and network          provisioning for voice and data services. 

"We selected Daleen's eBusiness suite of software because of the company's product excellence and proven leadership in the ICP market segment, as well as its strategic partnerships with leading operations support systems (OSS) providers," said Steven Queroli, President and Chief Executive Officer of NetworkOSS. "The interoperability of Daleen products with leading third-party software vendors will provide us with a complete process flow-through for an integrated OSS solution, resulting in increased efficiencies for managing our customers' subscribers and services. Now, with our customized and integrated OSS application suites working together with existing OSS packages, Daleen's convergent, web-enabled solutions will enable us to help ICPs focus on what is most important to them:-- their customers and business strategies," Mr. Queroli continued.

About Daleen

Founded in 1989, Daleen (Nasdaq:DALN) is a leading provider of solutions that bond businesses and customers in the digital economy. Daleen's software solutions provide mission critical customer and partner management support for businesses that offer voice, data, web and applications hosting services over packet and circuit-switched networks. Daleen's eBusiness software products include eCare, for Internet-self care and partner management, BillPlex(R), for customer management and billing, and SwitchFlow(TM), for service activation. The company distributes its eBusiness software products throughout the world via Business Alliance Partners and other leading certified systems integrators including, Business Edge, Cap Gemini, Danet, Ernst & Young, Prolan and Unisys. Daleen is an active participant and provides leadership in industry forums such as the Global Billing Association, Ordering and Billing Forum (OBF), Internet Protocol Data Record (IPDR) working group, TeleManagement Forum and the Application Service Provider (ASP) Industry Consortium. In addition to its Boca Raton, FL headquarters, Daleen has regional offices located throughout the United States, and Toronto and London. For additional information regarding Daleen's products and services, visit the company web site at www.daleen.com.

About NetworkOSS

NetworkOSS, The Power To Do Business Now,TM is a leading service provider for the global communications industry, offering timely, integrated Operations Support Systems (OSS) and computing resources within a secure, hosted environment. NetworkOSS's vertical expertise, breadth and depth of resources and complete infrastructure services, provides the new generation Communications' Providers with integrated applications suites from category-leading OSS vendors. BusinessNow(TM), NetworkOSS' application suite includes an array of industry leading OSS components including; interconnection, billing, customer care, sales force automation, trouble administration, workforce administration, inventory, provisioning and activation and network management. NetworkOSS, www.networkoss.com, is headquartered in Woodbridge, New Jersey, with operational data centers in New York City, Sunnyvale, California and soon to be opened, London, England, to handle its European Customer Base.

Forward Looking Statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release are forward-looking statements. When used in this release, words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend" and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or its management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company's management, identify forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors including, but not limited to: the effect of business and economic conditions; the impact of competitive products and pricing; and capacity and supply constraints or difficulties. Such statements reflect the current views of the Company with respect to future events and are subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to the operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity of the Company.

Servicesoft Technologies Prepares for Rapid Growth Securing Over $16 Million in Financing.

NEEDHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 21, 1999--

Funding From Top-Tier Venture Firms Allows for Expansion of Company

Operations to Meet Overwhelming Demand For eService

Servicesoft(R) Technologies, Inc., the breakaway leader in Internet Customer Service, today announced it closed a round of financing of more than $16 million. New York and Toronto-based CIBC Capital Partners and San Francisco-based FT Ventures join Sigma Partners, Internet Capital Group, Gemini, Sofinov, JL Albright and Grey Advertising, in fueling Servicesoft's growth. Proceeds from the investment will focus on expanding the company's domestic and international operations to maintain its leadership position in eService.

In an aggressive move to deliver on customer demands for a complete eService experience, ServiceSoft Corporation and Balisoft Technologies merged in February 1999, creating Servicesoft Technologies. The merger has allowed Servicesoft to deliver Servicesoft eCenter(TM), the first complete solution to meet the pent-up demand for Internet Customer Service.

"eService is the missing link to making e-commerce work by providing customers with smart answers and support on the Web, and Servicesoft is leading this charge," said Mark Skapinker, chairman and CEO of Servicesoft Technologies. "Since the merger, Servicesoft has grown exponentially and has attracted some of the finest investors in the world. This new funding will help fuel our rapid growth and allow us to maintain our leadership position in eService."

Teddy Rosenberg, Managing Director, CIBC Capital Partners, the lead investor in this round of financing, said "Servicesoft is sitting in the middle of an e-Commerce revolution as customers increasingly turn to their browsers for customer service instead of picking up the phone. Our experience with numerous e-commerce investments has helped us recognize Servicesoft's value proposition in providing a critical component to every company's Internet/e-commerce strategy. We are enthusiastic about Servicesoft's core company focus, vision and commitment to excellent customer service on the Web - all the right ingredients to being the clear leader in this space."

Dave Tarrant, president of Servicesoft Technologies, said "The key to leading this market is executing quickly with best-of-breed, comprehensive solutions. This capital will allow us to aggressively build our infrastructure to maintain our leadership position in Internet Customer Service, setting the technology standard by which all others will follow."

About Servicesoft Technologies

Servicesoft Technologies, Inc. (http://www.servicesoft.com) is the breakaway leader in Internet Customer Service - delivering the industry's only complete end-to-end solution, comprised of best-of-breed applications for self-help, e-mail management and live customer interaction, all driven by the industry's most robust knowledge base. This complete offering is crucial to enabling companies to leverage the promise of the Inter Cisco Systems, Motorola, Verio and NB Tel rely upon the company's award-winning offerings. The company's pad herein are acknowledged to be registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective holders.

Consequences Of The EU Ker-Optika Case For eHealth Services.

In a previous post I have analysed the consequences of the European Court of Justice's Ker-Optika judgment for e-commerce in physical medical devices. This post extrapolates the reasoning of the European Court in that case with respect to the provision or sale of medical devices as services in the context of eHealth services. My conclusion is that eHealth services constituting medical devices are regulated identically under EU law to physical medical devices and analyses the consequences of this.

Refresher; are eHealth services regulated under the EU Medical Devices Directive?

EU member states are not under all circumstances allowed to restrict the sale of medical devices to only physical outlets that specialise in medical devices. That is the outcome of the recent Ker-Optika judgment, concerning a dispute about the legality of Hungarian legislation that reserves the sale of contact lenses to shops that specialise in the sale of medical devices and, consequently, prohibits the sale of contact lenses via the Internet.

This has important consequences for the eHealth services industry in the EU, because eHealth services may very well constitute medical devices in the meaning of Directive 93/42 ("MDD") as amended. In fact, many eHealth services have characteristics that cause them to fall within the scope of the concept of 'medical device' as defined in the MDD. Any software provided as service or software application provided to an end user for diagnostic and/or therapeutic purposes will normally constitute a medical device caught within the scope of the MDD. Indeed, with the adoption of Directive 2007/47 amending the MDD it has been clarified beyond doubt that standalone software can also constitute a medical device. That means that eHealth services constituting a medical device or involving a medical device must be CE marked as required under the MDD and the local national implementation of that directive, because otherwise they are on the market illegally. In practice however many eHealth services and applications do not meet this requirement and the level of awareness of regulatory compliance on the part of developers of such products and physicians prescribing them is very low.

Typical candidates for inclusion in the scope of medical devices are for example remote monitoring tools that monitor the physical condition of a patient via the internet and include a software algorithm that warns a physician if the patient's parameters give cause for this. Another candidate would be remote readout and interpretation of blood values, like glucose or other critical values allowing a patient to adjust medication to the readout. As I have argued on other occasions, prime candidates are internet websites that allow individuals to assess their health risks or apps that psychiatric patients can use on their iPad to condition themselves for and report to their psychiatrist about otherwise threatening situations that may provoke panic attacks. Another good example is a medical decision support system running on a central server.

And finally, many of the telemedicine applications mentioned in the Commission's Communication on telemedicine for the benefit of patients, healthcare systems and society will fall within that scope. Therefore, the legal situation with respect to telemedicine is a lot less unclear than the Commission states in its Communication on telemedicine for the benefit of patients, healthcare systems and society, because telemedicine will largely be an information society service regulated under the e-Commerce directive and the MDD.

Consequences for eHealth services

Because the e-Commerce Directive also applies to the sale or provision of services, it applies likewise to medical devices that are sold through the internet as an eHealth service, as has been confirmed by the European Commission in the Explanatory Memorandum to the Cross-Border Healthcare Directive and in the Communication on telemedicine for the benefit of patients, healthcare systems and society.

If we apply the reasoning in the Ker-Optika judgment, this means that EU member states cannot restrict the provision of eHealth services in general with the sole argument that the physical presence of the patient and the health professional in the same place is required at all times. This is for example one of the major obstacles to telemedicine mentioned in the Commission's communication on telemedicine for the benefit of patients, healthcare systems and society. This obstacle has been to an extent removed by the Ker-Optika judgment. However, an EU member state could prescribe that (certain) eHealth services can only be offered after initial expert clinical intervention, e.g. after prescription by a physician or after an initial consult to define the parameters of the eHealth service.

In addition, in case of cross-border eHealth services EU member states may restrict the freedom to provide those on grounds of the protection of public health (see ee article 3 (2) juncto article 4 (a) (i) 2nd indent e-Commerce directive), provided however that

the eHealth service concerned prejudices public health or presents a serious and grave risk of prejudice to those objectives and that

the measures taken are proportionate to those objectives (Article 4 (a) (ii) and (iii) e-Commerce directive) and that

the EU member state has concerned has asked the member state in which the provider is established to take measures and the latter did not take such measures, or they were inadequate, and notified the European Commission and the EU member state in which the provider is established of its intention to take such measures (article 4 (b) e-Commerce directive).

The Commission has indicated in its Communication on telemedicine for the benefit of patients, healthcare systems and society that

"for business-to- business (professional-to-professional) telemedicine services, such as teleradiology, the country of origin principle applies: the service offered by the professional must comply with the rules of the Member State of establishment. In the case of business-to-consumer activities (which might be relevant to telemonitoring services) the contractual obligations are exempted from the country of origin principle: the service might need to comply with the rules of the recipient's country." It is unclear to me why the Commission would want to make this distinction between B2B and B2C eHealth services, as there is no clear basis for that in the e-Commerce directive.

As explained above, national rules on how physical medical devices may be provided fall within the scope of the rules on the free movement of goods. This does not however apply to eHealth services in the same way. In the Ker-Optika case the Court held that this was an unregulated field under the e-Commerce directive because "requirements applicable to the delivery of goods" were explicitly stated to be outside the coordinated field pursuant to article 2 (h) (ii) e-Commerce directive. Consequently, the Court held, the national rules which relate to the conditions under which goods sold via the Internet may be supplied within the territory of a Member State fall outside the scope of that directive. Article 2 (h) e-Commerce Directive that defines the coordinated field of the e-Commerce Directive does not contain a similar limitation of the scope of the directive for information society services, so these are fully within the scope of the e-Commerce directive. This means that eHealth service providers are fully subject to the internal market clause in article 3 of the e-Commerce Directive (free provision of services provided that the provider meets the requirements for the activity concerned of the member in which it is established). Those member states may pose requirements with which the service provider has to comply in respect of:

the taking up of the activity of an information society service, such as requirements concerning qualifications, authorisation or notification,

the pursuit of the activity of an information society service, such as requirements concerning the behaviour of the service provider, requirements regarding the quality or content of the service including those applicable to advertising and con- tracts, or requirements concerning the liability of the service provider (Article 2 (h) (i) e-Commerce directive)

This means that it is very attractive to engage in forum shopping in the EU, because an eHealth services provider would logically establish itself in the EU jurisdiction with the most favourable eHealth regime and subsequently export that to the other member states via the internal market clause. Larger companies can choose out of which of their subsidiaries they will conduct the activities concerned.

In their implementation of EU directives member states have to observe the basic freedoms granted under the TFEU and the requirements that they may impose within the coordinated field have to be proportionate (see for example C-315/92 Clinique [1994] ECR 317, point 17). Member states have to be able justify the proportionality of their rules. Since the provisions on the free movement of services are highly similar (and some might argue identical) on the point of restriction of market access and possible justifications for them, the reasoning of the European Court in the Ker-Optika case would arguably be similar when applied to eHealth services. Whether or not a restriction in the form of a prior mandatory examination in person by a physician (as opposed for example to a video conference consultation) is justified will depend on the risks associated with the condition that the eHealth service seeks to treat. Conversely, the fact that there is a high safety risk for users and patients if the eHealth service fails, is not as such an argument to prohibit an eHealth service for a particular purpose altogether.

Finally, since article 168 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU provides that the EU is not entitled to regulate healthcare as such, the scope and content of healthcare services will remain member state competence, as the Commission also states in its eHealth communication. However, the Commission has stated in that same document that as a general principle the classification of specific telemedicine services as medical acts should ensure that these meet the same level of requirements as equivalent non-telemedicine services (e.g. teleradiology vs. radiology). This principle ensures that adequately regulated health services are not replaced by less regulated telemedicine services and it avoids discrimination between providers of the same service, which would be incompatible with the e-Commerce Directive.

One other important point is that any member states' rules that have an impact on eHealth services are most likely technical regulations are caught under Directive 98/34/EC as amended by Directive 98/48/EC that establishes a procedure imposing an obligation on Member States to notify the Commission and each other of all draft technical regulations "concerning products and Information Society Services, including telemedicine", before they are adopted in national law. If this has not taken place the European Court has ruled in a line of case law including the CIA Security case and the LIDL Italy case "that breach of the obligation to notify renders the technical regulations concerned inapplicable, so that they are unenforceable against individuals". As a result, eHealth providers have a strong instrument to use against technical measures impacting on eHealth services that have not gone through the notification procedure correctly and were duly scrutinized by the European Commission.

Conclusion

The Ker-Optika case confirms many of the legal assumptions that the Commission has previously made about the legal status of e-Health services. eHealth services that constitute medical devices fall within the scope of the e-Commerce directive. As a result, advertising and sales of these services are covered by that directive. Also the way the services are provided is harmonised under the e-Commerce directive and although it may still be regulated by EU member states in certain detail, such regulation must meet the proportionality requirements for restrictions on the free provision of services. If member states takes measures to regulate e-commerce in eHealth services, they must notify these to the European Commission for them to be enforceable against companies and private persons.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

Mr Erik Vollebregt

Greenberg Traurig LLP

Strawinskylaan 3127

The Atrium 8th Floor

Amsterdam

1077 ZX

NETHERLANDS

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OFFICES CLOSED JULY 4 TO OBSERVE INDEPENDENCE DAY CUSTOMERS SHOULD CERTIFY; SERVICES AVAILABLE ON INTERNET.

CHICAGO -- The following information was released by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency:

Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) offices will close Monday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day. Services will be available at the website. Claimants scheduled to certify for benefits should do so. Regular office hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. will resume Tuesday, July 5.

Independence Day is celebrated as the Fourth of July. It honors the Declaration of Independence which summarily declared sovereignty from Great Britain. Thomas Jefferson drafted the document between June 11 and June 28, 1776. The expressed political philosophy of individual liberty was not new and had been advocated by many. This time, however, Jefferson presented the tenets as self-evident truths. The document presents a list of reasons, or grievances, against Great Britain's King to explain why such a rebellious act was warranted.

Illinois has added 107,000 jobs so far this year and more than any state in the Midwest. In May, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 8.9 percent. The rate has fallen in 15 of the past 16 months. The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and looking for work regardless if they are eligible for unemployment insurance. A person not collecting unemployment benefits still will be reflected in the unemployment rate if they continue to look for work.

Although IDES offices will be closed, services are available at the website. People still will be able to file for first-time unemployment benefits, certify for benefits which is necessary to receive payment, and switch that method of payment to direct deposit. The website is www.ides.illinois.gov The IDES will process customer certifications on Monday. Because Monday is a federal banking holiday, the availability of some benefit payments might be delayed. The IDES does not determine federal banking holidays.

The IDES supports economic stability by administering unemployment benefits, collecting business contributions to fund those benefits, connecting employers with qualified job seekers, and providing economic information to assist career planning and economic development. It does so through nearly 60 offices across the state, including the Illinois workNet Centers. Services for Illinois workers include assistance to identify how current skills might be augmented through training or schooling in an effort to qualify for a new job or switch careers. For businesses, the Department administers tax credits and bonding programs to reward employers who hire specific workers, such as military veterans and the formerly incarcerated.

Listen guys, we women NEVER moan. We just point things out.(Features)

Byline: JANET STREET-PORTER

WHEN I read that the average couple has seven rows a day, I thought, 'Is that all?' I'm an expert -- usually participating in three arguments before leaving home in the morning.

Living with someone in such close quarters is not a natural state -- in the Stone Age, your hunter-gatherer partner would have been out of the hut at first light, foraging for food, tracking his quarry and trapping anything that moved. He would not have returned until he was successful.

Now, they lie in bed whimpering about feeling tired and anxious about work, don't turn their mobile phone alarms off at weekends, hog the bathroom, can't load the dishwasher correctly and have no idea that the washing machine operates on anything other than the hot wash.

They don't even manage the modern version of hunter-gathering once a week -- the supermarket shop -- to any decent level of efficiency, regularly losing your carefully compiled list in their multi-pocketed combat-style shorts before they've parked the car.

Last Saturday, mine came back with a bag of compost and a pair of nasty blue rubber swimming shoes that were 'on offer', but no cooking oil.

THESE days, you rarely hear anyone saying 'we've been married 50 years and never had a cross word' in the way people did a few decades ago. Were these marriages of the war years really so happy and harmonious? I doubt it, but unlike our grandparents, my generation has always gone out to work -- which gives us plenty to moan about. Apparently the biggest reason for arguing is because the other person appears not to be listening. I can verify that. No matter how many times a week I tell my partner what we have planned, he starts every day by saying 'remind me what we're doing tonight/tomorrow/this weekend'.

His brain operates on another waveband to mine: Radio Bloke. It's full up with the little gadgets he's secretly ordered on the internet, which I regularly have to go to the post office and collect. Recent examples include a plastic rod with a brush on the end for catching spiders, and a pair of repulsive waterproof trousers.

Yesterday, he absent-mindedly asked: 'Which way do you go around London to get to Surbiton?' This is the man who went to Heathrow via St Albans. Even the sat nav had a row with him. According to researchers, the next most popular reasons for a row -- after being ignored -- are money and laziness.

I don't agree. Men don't even acknowledge the word 'lazy' exists, so it's pointless arguing with them over it. They prefer to talk about their 'different priorities' as in 'I'll get around to that (ie mending the radio/washing the car/gluing a vase back together) in my own time. Men's time is not women's time. It is infinitely more flexible -- tasks cannot be rushed or allocated a certain time slot.

Oxford University has just conducted a comprehensive study into the amount of time men and women spend on housework, published in the journal Sociology. They found that over the years, as more women work, men have (very slowly) done more to help around the home.

Sadly, at the current rate, the scientists have calculated it will take until 2050 for men to do as much as women. Back in the Sixties, women did six hours of housework a day on average, while men got away with just 90 minutes. Now, women average four hours and 40 minutes on housework and childcare, while men manage two hours and 28 minutes.

The reason why progress is so slow comes back to the internet. Men spend hours looking at screens in case anyone is trying to contact them, or in tracking that box set of Extreme Fishing they've ordered on Amazon. Apparently one of the reasons men aren't doing more housework is because certain jobs are still viewed as too 'feminine', such as baking.

I don't agree. My partner makes an excellent cake, but we'll have a row about the way he chucks flour everywhere that I have to clean up. He then resorts to that key phrase that men use (100 per cent guaranteed to trigger off a major row): 'stop moaning'. Women don't moan -- we point things out.

MIKULSKI, CARDIN ANNOUNCE $50,000 TO EXPAND BROADBAND INTERNET ACCESS IN GARRETT COUNTY.

WASHINGTON -- The following information was released by Maryland Senator Barbara A. Mikulski:

U.S. Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Ben Cardin (both D-MD) today announced that the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded a $50,000 grant to the Garrett County Board of Commissioners' broadband feasibility study. Currently, only 65 percent of households in the county have access to broadband Internet. The lack of broadband Internet access in Garrett County impacts the community in education, economic development, and community support services like public safety and emergency services.

"In today's global marketplace, broadband is what connects U.S. communities and businesses to each other and to the world," Senator Mikulski said. "This grant will help communities in Garrett County determine how to best connect to the information superhighway, which will bring new jobs and opportunity to communities and small businesses in Western Maryland."

"Technology is the key to innovation and growth in our economy and all Marylanders --regardless of where they live -- should have access to the tools they need to succeed," said Senator Cardin. "Schools, businesses and support services in Garrett County will be able to provide residents with improved services thanks to the increased broadband Internet access that this grant will help provide."

The new ARC funding will help Garrett County determine how to leverage a new 50-mile fiber backbone, or a fiber optic cable system, so that it can increase broadband availability throughout the county. Garrett County received funding for the fiber backbone from a 2010 Recovery Act grant awarded to Maryland to increase broadband access throughout the state. The county hopes to maximize the impact of every dollar spent.

In addition to the ARC grants, Garrett County will provide more than $50,000 for the study, bringing total funding to $100,000. The ARC is a federal-state partnership that works with the people of Appalachia to create opportunities for self-sustaining economic development and improved quality of life.

The McGraw-Hill Companies' Annual Shareholders Meeting Accessible by Internet and Telephone 11:00 AM, Wednesday, April 27, 2011.(Conference news)

NEW YORK, April 15, 2011 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The McGraw-Hill Companies' (NYSE: MHP) 2011 Annual Shareholders Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 27, 2011, at 11:00 AM Eastern Time.

The Annual Meeting will be webcast live at www.mcgraw-hill.com. The meeting will also be accessible by telephone in listen-only mode.

In his address to shareholders, Harold McGraw III, chairman, president and chief executive officer, will review the Corporation's performance and prospects. The discussion may include forward-looking information. The remarks will be available for downloading from the Corporation's Investor Relations Website under the Investor Presentations link later that day at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com/investor_relations.

Shareholders who wish to attend the Annual Meeting are asked to bring their admission ticket or a brokerage account statement, as well as valid picture identification for admission. For safety and security reasons, cameras, large bags, briefcases, packages, recording equipment and other electronic devices will not be permitted.

Webcast Instructions: Live and Replay

The Webcast will be available live and in replay at http://investor.mcgraw-hill.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=96562&p=irol-EventDetails&EventId=3654877. (Please copy and paste URL into web browser.) The archived replay will be available beginning two hours after the conclusion of the meeting and will remain available for one year.

Telephone Access: Live and Replay

Telephone access also is available. The passcode is "McGraw-Hill" and the conference leader is Harold McGraw III.

* For callers in the U.S.: (800) 988-9707

* For callers outside the U.S.: +1 (517) 308-9492 (long distance charges will apply)

A recorded telephone replay will be available approximately two hours after the meeting concludes and will remain available until May 31, 2011. No passcode is required.

* For callers in the U.S.: 800-284-5340

* For callers outside the U.S.: 402-998-1028 (long distance charges will apply)

About The McGraw-Hill Companies:

Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies is a leading global financial information and education company that helps professionals and students succeed in the Knowledge Economy. Leading brands include Standard & Poor's, McGraw-Hill Education, Platts energy information services and J.D. Power and Associates. The Corporation has approximately 21,000 employees with more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2010 were $6.2 billion. Additional information is available at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com.

Investor Relations: http://www.mcgraw-hill.com/investor_relations

Get news direct from McGraw-Hill via RSS: http://investor.mcgraw-hill.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=96562&p=newsRSS

Release issued: April 15, 2011

CONTACTS News Media: Jason Feuchtwanger Director, Corporate Media Relations (212) 512-3151 (office) (347) 419-4169 (mobile) jason_feuchtwanger@mcgraw-hill.com Investor Relations: Donald S. Rubin Senior Vice President, Investor Relations (212) 512-4321 (office) donald_rubin@mcgraw-hill.com For questions regarding call access: Celeste M. Hughes Senior Manager, Communications and Shareholder Relations (212) 512-2192 (office) celeste_hughes@mcgraw-hill.com

SOURCE The McGraw-Hill Companies

Start Off This School Year On The Right Foot With On Demand Online Classroom Lessons.

It's Back to School Time! Tutorgiant.com Offers Online Video Lessons to Students 24/7. Video Lessons and Worksheets in Math, Reading, Grammar and Writing are Available On Demand with Internet Access.

Toronto, On. (PRWEB) August 21, 2009 -- A new website, Tutorgiant.com, brings the classroom lessons anywhere families have internet access. As students start off the new school year, they should consider the following: "In 2007, about 1/3 of grade 8 students and 1/5 of grade 4 students in the United States scored 'below basic' in proficiency in math." Source-The National Center for Education Statistics

"In 2006, 29% of Canadian 15 year olds received low reading scores." Source-PISA OECD Reading Assessment

Tutorgiant.com provides about 400 videos, 500 worksheets, and over 100 tips for learning. All worksheets are taken up in the videos so students will be able to immediately correct their work, see their mistakes, and improve their skills. Classroom lessons are only taught once in school, but at Tutorgiant.com students can receive English and math online tutoring lessons and worksheets any time throughout the school year. Students from grade one to high school use Tutorgiant videos to get ahead, catch up, and study for tests.

According to Sympatico MSN technology expert, Marc Saltzman, "Whether you're pulling your hair out over algebra or struggling with science, a unique, refreshing, and accessible new website, Tutorgiant.com, is trying to help students with on-demand instructional videos and accompanying printable worksheets. A site like Tutorgiant can really get a student up to speed...get some extra homework to help complement what kids have already received from their teacher. If you want your kids to excel in school, definitely have them check out Tutorgiant.com".

Tutorgiant.com also offers free online math and reading assessments, and free advice and tips so that parents can get an idea of their child's weaker areas before it's too late into the term. Launched by education expert, Stuart Ackerman MSc.Ed, Tutorgiant.com video lessons are all curriculum based. Mr. Ackerman has compiled curricula from North America and Europe to create all the math and English lessons that students receive in school. Members have unlimited access to all videos in every grade twenty four hours a day. Tutorgiant.com's format is created to help students who are not able to keep up with daily classroom work. It also caters to homeschoolers, students with learning disabilities, and students with different learning styles.

Founder, Stuart Ackerman states, "The lesson is the most critical part of the learning experience. Practicing the skills and concepts learned from the lesson is second. I've developed Tutorgiant.com to do both. The learning experience can now cross the boundaries of time and location. Families have more control than ever with regards to their child's education by learning where and when thier children learn. Technology will help those students who miss school because they are ill or because they require more reinforcement of skills and concepts."

About Tutorgiant.com: Stuart Ackerman gives educational tips on the radio, television, and in the newspapers on a regular basis. He is certified in both the United States and Canada. Stuart Ackerman has his Masters Degree in Education and has over 14 years experience teaching and tutoring all grades.

For more information contact Stuart Ackerman at: (905) 237-3323 www.tutorgiant.com

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Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/tutoring/math/prweb2771444.htm.

AOL Food Partners and Grocery Shopping Network Team Up.

AOL Food is partnering with Grocery Shopping Network to provide AOL Food users access to the UCook.com recipes, wine pairings, and cooking-related video content.

AOL Food (http://food.aol.com) reaches more than 4.7 million unique visitors per month, according to January 2009 comScore Media Metrix data.

Grocery Shopping Network (GSN) owns and operates UCook.com, a recipe portal with more than 65,000 kitchen-tested recipes with nutritional and dietary content. AOL Food users will be able to access the many features that UCook.com offers. In addition to the recipe database, UCook.com also provides users a library of educational cooking videos ranging from "peeling tomatoes" to "making a roux."

"AOL Food is excited to partner with the Grocery Shopping Network to provide consumers a solid, reliable and searchable recipe database," said Tanya Mancini, editorial director, AOL Living. "AOL Food chose GSN's UCook.com because of the quality of the recipes and video content. The variety of recipes that UCook.com provides is so vast and vibrant that we really feel our consumers will have an enjoyable experience as they find everything from home-style American cooking to international fare."

Andy Robinson, GSN CEO, said, "Our company is thrilled that our recipes will be seen by more and more foodies on a daily basis. It is exciting to work with a top Internet destination like AOL Food to expose their audience to more than 45,000 new recipes with nutritional and dietary content."

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

Legacy.com Launches the Most Comprehensive Memorialization Portal on the Web.

Building on affiliation with more than 650 newspapers, online pioneer enhances popular site with expanded content, expert advice, interactivity and social networking features

EVANSTON, Ill., June 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Legacy.com, the Web's dominant obituary resource and leader in online memorialization, has launched an enhanced portal that builds upon its affiliation with more than 650 U.S., Canadian and British newspapers. The portal adds new expert content and a number of advanced features to create the most complete and interactive memorialization site available on the Internet. Complementing its daily obituary feeds from newspapers with its comprehensive database and powerful search function, the 10-year-old category pioneer has added social networking features similar to those available through MySpace and Facebook but specifically geared toward its targeted audience.

"Our goal has always been to provide a place for individuals to create lasting memorials to their deceased loved ones and to offer support to those seeking advice or solace during times of grief and loss," said Stopher Bartol, president and CEO of Legacy.com. "As more and more people turn to the Web to search for information, connect and find comfort, our hope is that Legacy.com and our affiliated newspaper Web sites will provide welcoming destinations for people during the most difficult times in their lives."

LEGACYCONNECT

Among the new site enhancements is an interactive microsite called LegacyConnect, through which visitors can network and gain access to a rich assortment of expert counsel from leading educators, authors, grief counselors and psychologists on topics related to grief and loss. New content and experts will be featured each week. Visitors also can share experiences or seek and offer wisdom or support though a variety of community discussions and message boards.

"LegacyConnect was created as a place where people going through one of life's most difficult experiences can come to share their thoughts, find comfort and begin to heal," explained Bartol. "From inspirational poetry to practical advice on estate settlement, LegacyConnect offers tools and access to experts to help people cope with the aftermath of loss."

LEGACY MEMORIAL WEBSITES

Another exciting addition to Legacy.com is a new online tribute product called Legacy Memorial Websites. Available as stand-alone pages or linkable to printed obituaries, Legacy Memorial Websites enable users to combine a biography, cherished photographs, music, and video and audio clips in a unique way to honor and remember their loved ones. A Legacy.com Guest Book may also be included, allowing visitors to express their sympathy and share thoughts and fond memories. Additionally, these sites can host links allowing visitors to quickly and easily make memorial donations to favorite charities or causes.

These new enhancements build upon the already robust Legacy.com content, which includes:

   -- The most comprehensive and searchable database of obituaries available      on the Web.  Through its partnerships with more than three-quarters of      the nation's largest 100 newspapers, Legacy.com features obituaries and      online Guest Books for more than two-thirds of people who die in the      United States.  Additionally, Legacy.com uploads government death      records and maintains a searchable database for some 85 million deaths      dating back to 1936.   -- Online Guest Books -- made popular by Legacy.com -- enabling visitors      from around the world to offer condolences and memorials to their loved      ones.  Nearly 800,000 new Guest Book entries are logged each month      through Legacy.com.   -- Customized e-mail alerts that automatically notify users of the deaths      of former friends, colleagues and associates.  Users immediately can be      notified by e-mail if someone from a hometown, place of worship,      workplace, university or other affiliation passes away.   -- Timely information about the deaths of celebrities and other noteworthy      individuals, including movie and TV stars, public officials, and      business, philanthropic and civic leaders.   -- Profiles of more than 8,000 U.S. funeral homes including maps, contacts      and other useful information.  Funeral service providers not currently      on the site are invited to post information free of charge to      Legacy.com, including links to their own Web sites, which enable them      to build traffic to their site and enhance awareness of their services.   -- "In Remembrance," a special section of the Legacy.com site that      features profiles for every service member who has died during the wars      in Iraq and Afghanistan.   -- Special memorials honoring the lives of those lost during events that      impacted the entire country, such as 9/11 and the tragic shootings at      Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University.    

Legacy.com's network of sites attracts 12 million unique visitors per month and credits this volume of use to its highly comprehensive, searchable database of obituaries and rich, relevant content -- accessible directly via every local newspaper site affiliated with Legacy.com.

"People automatically turn to newspapers when looking for obituaries of friends and family," commented Bartol. "Through strategic partnerships with our newspaper affiliates, we have taken that top-of-mind association and coupled it with innovative technology that allows anyone around the world to remember a friend or family member and automatically learn of the passing of valued friends and former colleagues via their local hometown newspaper sites. All of the new Legacy.com enhancements will be accessible through our affiliates' Web sites, bringing added value to these partnerships and providing our users with more and better ways to commemorate their loved ones' legacies."

For more information or to experience the new site enhancements first-hand, visit http://www.legacy.com/.

ABOUT LEGACY.COM

Founded in 1998, Legacy.com (http://www.legacy.com/) is an innovative online media company that collaborates with more than 650 newspapers in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom to provide ways for readers to express condolences and share remembrances of loved ones. As the leader in the online memorial and obituary market, Legacy.com and its newspaper affiliate Web sites attract 12 million unique visitors each month. It collaborates with more than three-quarters of the largest 100 U.S. newspapers and features obituaries and Guest Books for more than two-thirds of people who die in the United States. The company has expanded to host "Celebrations" for newspaper affiliates, including birth, marriage, commitment, graduation and other announcements. A privately held company whose investors include the Tribune Company, Legacy.com is headquartered in the Chicago suburb of Evanston. Learn more about Legacy.com by visiting http://www.aboutlegacy.com/. Legacy.com: where life stories live on.(R)

CONTACT: Tim Young, tyoung@lcwa.com, or Jamie Plaxco, jplaxco@lcwa.com, both of L.C. Williams & Associates, 1-800-837-7123, for Legacy.com

Web site: http://www.aboutlegacy.com/ http://www.legacy.com/