HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 14:30, Aug 192011

AAP General News (Australia)
08-19-2011
HighLights of the AAP National Wire at 14:30, Aug 192011

ADELAIDE - No survivors are expected from the helicopter that crashed in a fireball
in remote South Australia with three veterans of ABC News aboard. (Helicopter 6th Update)
See also HELICOPTER TICEHURST, HELICOPTER LOCKYER, HELICOPTER BEAN, HELICOPTER OFARRELL,
HELICOPTER ABBOTT, HELICOPTER BLIGH.

HELICOPTER TRIBUTES Wrap, HELICOPTER Wrap to come.

CANBERRA - Prime Minister Julia Gillard is facing a hostile COAG meeting with a bloc
of three Liberal premiers pushing for her to scrap the planned carbon tax. (COAG Update)
pix available. See also COAG OFARRELL, COAG BAILLIEU, COAG RANN, COAG BLIGH, COAG BARNETT.

COAG Wrap to come with factbox

CANBERRA - Leading mental health experts have urged the prime minister, premiers and
chief ministers gathering in Canberra they need to adopt a "10-year reform roadmap". (COAG
MENTAL to come)

SYDNEY - NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell says the federal government's carbon tax will
cost tens of thousands of jobs in the state's Hunter Valley, despite the creation of jobs
in alternative energy industries. (Climate OFarrell)

CANBERRA - A protest convoy could leave much of Canberra in gridlock on Monday, ACT
police warn. (Convoy) See also CONVOY BRISBANE, CONVOY NSW to come

CANBERRA - Embattled Labor MP Craig Thomson has denied any wrongdoing, as a scandal
threatened to engulf Julia Gillard's minority government. (Thomson Update) See also THOMSON
ABBOTT.

THOMSON Wrap to come

CANBERRA - Federal ministers have warned all of the world's major economic groupings,
such as G20 and APEC, will need to coordinate their efforts to tackle imbalanced growth
and jittery global markets. (ECONOMY Wrap to come). See also Economy ANZ on finance wire.

CANBERRA - The Australian Medical Board has told a parliamentary inquiry the current
system of supervising overseas trained doctors in Australian hospitals isn't up to scratch.

(DOCTORS to come)

SYDNEY - NSW motorists could face up to a year in jail if they refuse to remove their
burqa, niqab or helmet when asked by police. (VEIL) Wrap to come.

LOS ANGELES - The extradition process for Australian collar bomb suspect Paul Douglas
Peters could take years if he decides to fight it, an American legal expert says. (Peters)

MELBOURNE - A double homicide in a Melbourne smash repair workshop is the result of
a failed business deal involving the two dead men and a third who was shot in the same
incident, police say. (Shooting Update) Wrap to come, with video

BRISBANE - Police divers have returned to the search for Daniel Morcombe's body, spurred
on by the missing teen's family. (Morcombe) Wrap to come

CANBERRA - Defence Minister Stephen Smith says he is "satisfied" the nation has the
necessary ships for disaster or humanitarian issues despite fewer vessels available. (Manoora
Smith)

FINANCE

SYDNEY - ANZ Banking Group is on track for full year earnings growth of 17 per cent
to $5.6 billion despite the impact of volatile financial markets. (ANZ to come with factbox
and graphic) See also ECONOMY ANZ on file.

SPORT

GREENSBORO, North Carolina - Stuart Appleby found some sorely-needed form to shoot
a flawless six-under-par 64 opening round at the US PGA Tour's Wyndham Championship. (Gol
PGA)

MORE

KEYWORD: HIGHLIGHTS NATIONAL

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

Qld: Two drown in pools on Gold Coast

AAP General News (Australia)
02-23-2007
Qld: Two drown in pools on Gold Coast

BRISBANE, Feb 23 AAP - A 12-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl have drowned in separate
swimming pool accidents on Queensland's Gold Coast.

The boy was dragged unconscious from a swimming pool at Conrad Jupiters Casino hours
after he arrived in Australia with his family on holiday from China.

A casino spokeswoman said the boy was swimming with a group of people when the incident
occurred just after 7pm (AEST) yesterday.

A security guard pulled the boy from the pool after hearing members of the group screaming
for help.

With the help of …

Victoria records second road fatality

AAP General News (Australia)
04-23-2011
Victoria records second road fatality

Victoria has recorded its second road fatality this long weekend .. with the death
of a 41-year-old man after his car rolled at Wemen in the state's north-west last night.

Police say the man was found by a passing motorist late last night.

It is believed the man lost control of the car after he left the Robinvale Golf Club
.. south of Mildura .. and was thrown from the car as it rolled a number of times before
finishing up on its roof.



(EDS: AAP's long weekend road toll figures are for the period 0001 April 21 to 2359
April 26. The official police Easter road toll ends at 2359 Monday April 25 and does not
include the extra public holiday on Tuesday for Anzac Day)



AAP RTV RTV wz

KEYWORD: TOLL VIC (MELBOURNE)

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

AOL Europe Acquires goviral

Wireless News
02-03-2011
AOL Europe Acquires goviral
Type: News

AOL Europe announced that it has acquired the video distribution network goviral.

According to a release, goviral distribute branded video content across the Internet for some of the world's largest and most esteemed brands, media agencies, creative agencies, and content producers.
The transaction will further strengthen AOL's video offerings in Europe and North America and will deliver further scale, placing it in pole position to expand its reach internationally, engage new highly targeted consumer audiences and serve its advertising partners. AOL has completed the purchase of goviral A/S for $74.1 million. In addition, $22.6 million of consideration will be deferred and paid over two years following completion. goviral is set to join other strategic acquisitions made by AOL in 2010 including StudioNow, 5min Media, TechCrunch, Thing Labs, Pictela and most recently, about.me.

"Video is core to AOL's consumer programming strategy and goviral has created a platform that delivers highly measureable and cost effective solutions to publishers and advertisers," said Kate Burns, SVP, AOL Europe. "We believe that goviral offers a unique proposition in today's market, and allows us to match our ambition for premium content creation and engaging advertising, with highly targeted distribution at scale. We look forward to welcoming this truly talented and innovative team."

goviral will retain its offices in the UK, Germany, France, Denmark, Sweden and Spain - and further global expansion is planned. goviral's current video content distribution network includes more than 18,000 publishers across 24 verticals, allowing its clients to reach well over 350 million global Internet users and generate more than 60 million video views monthly. Specializing in the distribution of viewer-activated videos it has delivered campaigns for some of the world's most progressive and well known brands including: Nike, LG, Unilever, Paramount, Nokia, Hyundai/Kia, Audi, Nintendo and Gucci.

"We're excited to be joining AOL, a company with vision, that truly understands the shifting dynamics of the Internet," said Rene Rechtman, CEO, goviral. "AOL has made a clear commitment to deliver great original content, and with their strong U.S. position, it is a great accelerator for us to grow internationally and realize the potential of video. We simply believe and have experienced that good content is a key driver to reach and engage audiences globally. Working with a strong global brand such as AOL we are able to bridge the best of both worlds; scale and quality content that has relevance and resonance for users, advertisers and publishers."

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

Copyright 2011 Close-Up Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
n/a

WA:Main stories in The West Australian

AAP General News (Australia)
08-25-2010
WA:Main stories in The West Australian

PERTH, Aug 25 AAP - Main stories in Wednesday's The West Australian:

Page 1: School terror lesson to kill Australians.

Page 3: Ex-Eagle laments cocaine "error".

Page 5: Abbott uses alliance scare tactic.

World: Gunmen kill MPs in Somalia hotel massacre.

Business: Xstrata bids $428 million for Sphere Minerals.

Sport: Star defender Chris Tarrant unlikely to play for Fremantle again.

AAP ldj/nl

KEYWORD: MONITOR FRONTERS WA

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

Vic: Growing support for health pool arrangments: Brumby

AAP General News (Australia)
04-18-2010
Vic: Growing support for health pool arrangments: Brumby

Victorian Premier JOHN BRUMBY says support is growing among the states for a pooled
health funding agreement .. on the eve of crucial talks in Canberra.

The federal government wants to become the dominant health provider by grabbing 30
per cent of the states' GST revenues.

But Mr BRUMBY and New South Wales Premier KRISTINA KENEALLY are pushing a pooled 50-50
shared funding arrangement that would leave the states in control of public hospitals.

Meanwhile the Australian Medical Association in Victoria says Mr BRUMBY shouldn't sign
the commonwealth's plan until it includes extra funds for more public hospital beds.

AAP RTV ees/gfr/jmt

KEYWORD: HOSPITALS BRUMBY (GEELONG)

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

WA: Mayor and deputy exposed council over Burke links: CCC

AAP General News (Australia)
12-03-2009
WA: Mayor and deputy exposed council over Burke links: CCC

By Andra Hayward

PERTH, Dec 3 AAP - A mayor and aspiring federal Labor candidate helped expose his council
to a culture of corruption through his links to disgraced former premier Brian Burke,
Western Australia's corruption watchdog says.

The WA Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC) on Thursday tabled a report into alleged
public sector misconduct in the City of Wanneroo, in Perth's north.

It found former Wanneroo deputy mayor Salvatore (Sam) Salpietro had engaged in misconduct
twice between 2003 and 2006 when dealing with Mr Burke, a former premier turned lobbyist.

Wanneroo mayor Jon Kelly, the sole candidate for ALP preselection in the federal Perth-based
seat of Cowan, had not engaged in misconduct, but had a "mutually duplicitous" relationship
with Mr Burke, the CCC said.

The CCC investigation examined five development proposals in Wanneroo and the links
between Mr Salpietro and Mr Burke, his long-time friend.

The allegations were examined in public hearings at the CCC in February 2007.

It is the ninth report into possible misconduct by public officers in connection with
their dealings with Mr Burke and his lobbyist business partner and former minister Julian
Grill.

The CCC said Mr Salpietro had engaged in misconduct when he voted in favour of a development
proposal which he had discussed with Mr Burke.

The then deputy mayor had failed to declare his links with the lobbyist at the meeting
when the vote took place, it said.

The CCC said Mr Salpietro again engaged in misconduct when he told Mr Burke and a client
of the former premier how to conceal a grower's retail market was trading in contravention
of its zoning as a wholesale market.

Mr Burke had also offered to use his connections to help Mr Salpietro's election to
committees and to help him seek a term as the council mayor, the report said.

In his dealings with Mr Kelly, Mr Burke told the mayor he could use his connections
to help him secure a Lotto licence for his business.

Mr Kelly did not immediately follow up the offer but told Mr Burke it was "greatly appreciated".

Later, he experienced problems getting the licence and eventually accepted the lobbyist's
offers of assistance, the CCC said.

"On the evidence, it is apparent that Mr Burke saw that as an opportunity to create
in Mr Kelly's mind a sense of obligation to him," the CCC said.

Mr Burke had also offered Mr Kelly assistance by getting him re-admitted to the ALP
after his resignation during a factional dispute, and a chance to win a seat in WA's upper
house, the CCC said.

Mr Kelly's preselection for Cowan is due to go before the ALP state executive on December 14.

The CCC said Mr Burke used the "tacit compliance" of Mr Kelly and Mr Salpietro to promote
his influence to other clients.

"Discussions with Mr Kelly and Mr Salpietro belie their claim that they kept Mr Burke's
lobbying at arm's length and reacted to his requests by either ignoring or subverting
them," the CCC said.

"Both men were alive to the potential benefits for them if they helped Mr Burke and
kept in his good graces.

"The inability to refuse Mr Burke or to draw clear boundaries in dealing with him,
by both these public officers, exposes a high-risk culture of corruption and misconduct
with the City of Wanneroo at that time."

AAP ah/was/it/cdh

KEYWORD: WANNEROO BURKE

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

Qld: Coal mining gobbling up prime agricultural land: farmers

AAP General News (Australia)
04-26-2009
Qld: Coal mining gobbling up prime agricultural land: farmers

By Steve Gray

TOOWOOMBA, Qld, April 26 AAP - Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has hinted the state's
massive coal export industry could face problems if clean coal technologies do not work.

As Queensland cabinet ministers gathered in Toowoomba, farmers confronted them over
the issue of agriculture versus mining.

Farmers and their families travelled from the Darling Downs communities of Felton and
Haystack Road to confront the ministers over the issue, claiming prime food-growing land
was being sacrificed to coal mining.

The premier, hosting a community cabinet meeting at Highfields, north of Toowoomba,
acknowledged the need for a balance between the competing interests and for a plan to
preserve high-value agricultural land.

She said coal was vital to Queensland's economy and the state has a 300-year supply.

She said Queensland was spending $300 million and the mining industry $600 million
attempting to make coal "clean".

"If we can do that it means that we will be able to successfully develop and continue
to develop that industry," Ms Bligh said.

She said thousands of families depend on the coal industry.

"I'm not going to walk away from it without having put every possible single effort
into protecting it and keeping it if that can be done in the context of the global effort
to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions."

Speaking on behalf of farmers at Felton, 30km southwest of Toowoomba, Rob McCreath
said an open cut coal mine bigger than any in Queensland was planned for land that presently
grows small crops and cereals.

He said mining would destroy the land and cause pollution.

A large petrochemical plant and power station were also planned, he said.

"The government has repeatedly said mining and farming can co-exist, but who's going
to eat a lettuce that's covered in coal dust?"

Spokesman for the Haystack Road farmers, Jeff Bidstrup, said Tarong Energy doesn't
want to mine the coal for which they have a mineral development licence.

"They just want to sell the deposit to the highest bidder, so giving them the licence
was just basically printing money.

"It's a money grab by the government, and selling some of our best agricultural land."

The farmers said there were dire warnings about future global food shortages and agricultural
land should be maintained.

"If in 30 or 40 years time if we decide we don't need food and we need coal more, the
coal will still be there.

"If we mine the country now the prime (agricultural) country's gone."

Mr Bidstrup said the needed to be an integrated plan for land use in the vast Surat
basin coal fields.

President of rural lobby group AgForce, John Cotter, said mining and agriculture had
co-existed for 150 years.

Mr Cotter said mining will destroy agricultural land.

"It's time we had a good hard look at how this is going to be in the long term," he said.

AAP stg/ht/apm

KEYWORD: CANINET QLD

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

What Australian newspapers say on Monday, December 22, 2008

AAP General News (Australia)
12-22-2008
What Australian newspapers say on Monday, December 22, 2008

SYDNEY, Dec 22 AAP - David Hicks has promised, one day, to tell his story about "the
hell that was Guantanamo Bay" and he is entitled to have his say, but not for profit,
The Australian says in its editorial today.

As a sign of his goodwill and to fulfil his duty, Mr Hicks should tell the full story
of his recruitment and training to the Australian Federal Police in his exit interview,
it says. "In the interests of terrorism prevention, he should not be allowed to duck this
responsibility.

"Judging by his court hearing, he could have much to tell about guerilla warfare, explosives,
weaponry, surveillance, commando tactics, grenade and sniper training.

"Full co-operation with authorities would be the best way Mr Hicks could show his determination
to start a new life."

The Sydney Morning Herald says Labor has been housing a growing number of boat people
everywhere on Christmas Island but in the new $400-million, 800-bed detention centre built
for the job.

With the number of boat people reaching 164, Minister for Immigration Chris Evans has
relented and opened the detention centre, which is a big improvement on the odious "Pacific
solution" devised by Alexander Downer that warehoused asylum-seekers outside Australian
territory and Australian law.

"That this facility has become necessary was both inevitable and predictable."

The Keating government introduced mandatory detention with bipartisan support, and
it still has bipartisan support, the newspaper says.

"Tough rhetoric does not maintain the integrity of Australia's borders. Immigration
detention centres exist not merely to detain but to deter."

Sydney's The Daily Telegraph says about 80 police stations are equipped with Tasers,
but they are not carried by officers on duty.

Moreover, many officers are not even trained in Taser use, despite working at a Taser-equipped
station.

It's now to bite the bullet on Taser use, the newspaper says.

"Authorities must start a rapid training program for officers in Taser-equipped stations
and, moreover, Taser use should be expanded to include equipping police cars and officers
with the devices."

Tasers have been used by police in many countries from as long ago as the early '90s.

Their functioning and effectiveness are well known and require little further study.

Melbourne's Herald Sun welcomes news that the Victorian government has promised to
get tough on rave-party organisers after the GHB overdoses on Saturday night.

St John Ambulance treated more than 30 of about 2000 revellers at the X-Qlusive party
at Festival Hall. Twelve were taken to hospitals, and 13 made their own way to emergency
departments.

The debacle suggests an especially dangerous batch of the drug is on our streets, the
newspaper says.

"Not for nothing, GHB is known colloquially as GBH - "grievous bodily harm" - because
that is what it can cause.

"The ruthless criminals who cook and peddle it think nothing of the harm it can do."

Melbourne's The Age says the Howard government's immigration policy - exercised via
offshore detention centres such as Nauru, and at other places such as Baxter and Villawood
- wrought a profoundly adverse impact on detainees, as well as besmirching the country's
human-rights reputation.

The Rudd government has made several important policy changes that, while not overturning
mandatory detention, at least has made it less punitive, as well as shifting the premise
from adversarial to more humanitarian grounds.

"The government has also abolished temporary protection visas, eased mandatory detention,
and shut down the processing centres on Nauru and Manus Island.

"At the same time, however, the government has been careful to avoid justification
of Opposition claims of going soft on its immigration policy."

Brisbane's The Courier-Mail says Queensland premier Anna Bligh's determination to cut
spending in the face of falling state revenue does not appear to apply to a new range
of "mini-perks" the state's politicians -- especially ministers -- seem to not just require
but demand.

Why should taxpayers contribute $30 a month to pay for fresh supplies of bottled water
in ministerial limousines? Or the $435 annual Qantas Club partner membership fees for
the spouses of ministers so that they, too, can enjoy the lavish lounges and complementary
drinks and food?

The appropriateness and need for perks, mini or otherwise, should be questioned.

Politicians should ask restraint of themselves before they make the same plea to the
public. "At the very least, they should buy their own bottled water and put their hands
in their pockets for their own sandwiches."

AAP gr/rs

KEYWORD: EDITORIALS

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

Swm: Tough day in pool as Aussie world recod holders take silver

AAP General News (Australia)
08-15-2008
Swm: Tough day in pool as Aussie world recod holders take silver

Australia has had a tough morning at the Beijing Olympic swimming pool, missing out
on a title for the first time in six finals sessions.

LIBBY TRICKETT and LEISEL JONES both went into their events as world record holders
but came out with silver medals.

TRICKETT was just pipped by Germany BRITTA STEFFEN in the 100 metres freestyle after
swimming under her world record pace early on from lane eight after being the slowest
qualifier.

JONES had her 200m breaststroke world record smashed by American REBECCA SONI, who
relegated the Australian to second place with a time of 2 minutes 20.22 seconds.

JONES collapsed from shortness of breath shortly after the swim but recovered quickly.

Australia has won five gold medals this week in the pool and still need another two
to match the nation's best overseas haul from Athens with two more finals sessions to
go.

Australia's record haul at the pool is the eight titles won at the 1956 Melbourne Games.

AAP RTV tdw/nh/mo

KEYWORD: OLY08 SWM W100FR (BEIJING)

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

NSW: Five males in machette, bat attack at Sydney school =3

AAP General News (Australia)
04-07-2008
NSW: Five males in machette, bat attack at Sydney school =3

Five males were arrested shortly after police arrived at the scene, the spokeswoman said.

"A crime scene has been established and the school is in lockdown while those investigations
occur.

"Ambulances are in attendance treating those who were injured."

The spokeswoman said she could not comment on whether the five males were students,
or former students, of the school.

AAP dr/hn/srp/cdh

KEYWORD: BASEBALL 3 SYDNEY

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

WA: Labor to review unions' role in poor state performance

AAP General News (Australia)
12-04-2007
WA: Labor to review unions' role in poor state performance

Labor says it'll investigate whether the behaviour of West Australian militant unionists
played a role in the party's relatively poor performance in the state during the federal
election.

The party's national campaign director .. TIM GARTRELL .. has told the National Press
Club the review will examine what role the controversy surrounding the CFMEU'S WA secretary
.. JOE MCDONALD .. played in the result.

The swing to Labor in WA was 2.24 per cent .. compared to the national average of 5.59 per cent.

Mr MCDONALD was expelled from the ALP in October at the behest of KEVIN RUDD .. after
he said that JOHN HOWARD was "gone."

AAP RTV np/wf/tm

KEYWORD: POLL07 WA (PERTH)

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

NSW: Beyone arrives for five day tour

AAP General News (Australia)
04-21-2007
NSW: Beyone arrives for five day tour

American singer BEYONCE KNOWLES has arrived in Australia ahead of her five day tour.

The former Destiny's Child singer .. who's had solo success with songs Deja Vu and
Irreplaceable .. performs at the city's ACER Arena tonight .. after arriving in Sydney
this morning.

Dressed in a tight black jacket and jeans .. BEYONCE signed autographs for a handful
of fans before being whisked through a side exit by her personal security.

She will perform in Brisbane on Sunday evening .. in Adelaide on Tuesday with her
final show to be held at Rod Laver Arena at Melbourne Park on Wednesday night.

AAP RTV nr/ba/wz

KEYWORD: BEYONCE (SYDNEY)

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

Vic: Mains stories in today's 1200 3AW news

AAP General News (Australia)
12-20-2006
Vic: Mains stories in today's 1200 3AW news

MELBOURNE, Dec 20 AAP - Main stories in today's 1200 3AW news:

- The Victorian Court of Appeal has ordered Jack Thomas to be tried again on terrorism charges.

- More firefighters have been called in to help battle Victoria's bushfires as flames
move closer to towns.

- The federal government has been called on to explain what assistance system it is
considering for the car industry as it pleads for taxpayer-help.

- The Royal Children's Hospital is not convinced of the need for children to wear sunglasses
in the playground.

- AFL Carlton board hopeful Tom Elliott says negative comments about him made by president
Graham Smorgon have made him more determined to force change at the club.

- Coach Mark Williams has signed a new deal with AFL Port Adelaide, which will see
him through to the end of 2009.

- Experts say financial incentives would encourage Australians to donate more blood.

- Australia has joined with the United Kingdom and Canada in pressuring NATO to pull
its weight in Afghanistan.

- World tennis number two Rafael Nadal says Roger Federer will be hard to beat at next
month's Australian Open.

- Sydney-to-Hobart race officials think the fleet will encounter tough conditions this year.

AAP mj/GFR

KEYWORD: MONITOR 3AW 1200 MELBOURNE

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

Fed: Govt to come under pressure to help Pacific nations

AAP General News (Australia)
08-14-2006
Fed: Govt to come under pressure to help Pacific nations

The federal government will come under pressure from the World Bank to take in guest
workers from Pacific nations to curb their skyrocketing unemployment rates.

In a report to be launched today .. the World Bank warns that Pacific countries such
as the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu are facing economic disaster.

The Australian newspaper says according to the report .. the solution is for larger
economies of the region to give Pacific Islanders access to temporary unskilled jobs ..

to halt rising unemployment rates.

The paper says as the biggest nation in the region .. Australia is being looked upon
to help its struggling neighbours.

AAP RTV tr/psm/

KEYWORD: PACIFIC (SYDNEY)

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

NT: Crossin stunned by Katherine floods

AAP General News (Australia)
04-06-2006
NT: Crossin stunned by Katherine floods

DARWIN, April 6 AAP - Labor Senator Trish Crossin says she's never seen floods like
those that have swamped Katherine in the Northern Territory.

Residents are evacuating homes in Katherine's north, south and centre as floodwaters
from the swollen Katherine River seep into town.

At 1.30pm (CST), the river was 18.77 metres high, and slowly rising, the Bureau of
Meteorology said.

Senator Crossin, who became stranded in the town during a regional tour, estimated
that water was covering about a quarter of the town.

She said the area around the Tourist Information Centre was about 1.5 metres underwater.

"I've never seen water like this in my life," she said.

"It's a huge body of water (in the river) and it's fiercely strong."

She said she had visited one of the evacuation centres at MacFarlane Primary School.

"Mainly there is quite a number of indigenous people that have come into town to shop,
or for supplies, and who like me have got stuck here," Senator Crossin said.

"They are basically camped up at the school now because it's a place where they can
get some food, and there are showers and toilets."

Red Cross workers had told her people were still traumatised from the 1998 floods,
which devastated the town and killed four people.

AAP km/tnf

KEYWORD: FLOOD NT CROSSIN

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

Unity in cyberspace eludes Europe

Thomas Crampton
International Herald Tribune
12-09-2005
They couldn't agree on a single constitution, and now it looks like Europeans cannot agree on the best way to identify themselves on the Internet.On Wednesday, for the first time, residents of the 25-nation European Union were able to register Internet addresses ending in ''.eu.''The move, which lifts .eu to the same prominence as the Web site suffixes .com, .org and .net, is intended to allow the expression of a single European identity in cyberspace.But the arrival of .-eu is also dividing the Union. Some of those who run the domain names for individual EU countries are preparing a campaign to promote their own national addresses, arguing that .fr for France or .it for Italy conveys important cultural information.''In this case, there is an inherent competition between individual countries and the EU,'' said Alberto Perez, deputy director for international relations at Red.es, the government agency that manages the registration of Spain's .es suffix. ''Our duty is to promote our country's domain name, not the EU.'' EURid, a Brussels-based not-for-profit company overseeing the .eu domain name, dismissed the idea that there could be any rivalry with national domain names. ''We have no intention of being competitive,'' said Kurt Vincent, spokesman for EURid.The idea for .eu originated with the European Commission in 2000, back when the euro was about to be adopted by many EU members and plans for adding 10 countries to the Union were speeding along. Crossborder commerce was aggressively pushed by many in the business world, along with the euro, and a .-eu address was seen by some as helping ease EU-wide trade.But there was already widespread use of country-code domain names, like .de for Germany, which are often allotted by a government arm. The .de suffix for Germany, for example, accounts for 11 percent of all registered domains, while .uk for Britain accounts for another 5 percent.And some of the warm feeling of EU expansion has evaporated since the heady days of 2000, leading to the rejection of the proposed European Union constitution by France and the Netherlands this year.In response to the .-eu Internet address, Spain and up to five other national domain registries in Europe plan a marketing push in the coming weeks, said Giovanni Seppia, general manager of Centr, a Brussels organization that represents country-level registrars.Seppia said he could not provide details, leaving that up to the national registries. But, he said, ''Looking at the success of such campaigns in Spain and Mexico, I think they will have quick growth and challenge the .eu.'' For .eu, registration is open from now until April only for those with prior claims to a name through trademark or other means. Online registration companies pay EURid annual registration fees ranging from 35 to 85, about $40 to $100, through April. The EURid fee will then drop to 10, though registration companies may charge more.First-day sales through 4 p.m. Wednesday totaled nearly 100,000, with the vast majority coming from companies claiming trademarks, Vincent of EURid said.

2005 Copyright International Herald Tribune. http://www.iht.com

Maine-based sailor nears milestone ; Bruce Schwab is expected to become the first American to complete the solo Vendee Globe race.

DEIRDRE FLEMING Staff Writer
Portland Press Herald (Maine)
02-23-2005
Maine-based sailor nears milestone ; Bruce Schwab is expected to become the first American to complete the solo Vendee Globe race.
Byline: DEIRDRE FLEMING Staff Writer
Edition: Final
Section: FRONT
Memo: VENDEE GLOBE SKIPPER WHO: Bruce Schwab, skipper of Ocean Planet. WHAT: Schwab will appear at the Portland Boatbuilders Show to share his Vendee Globe experience. WHEN: March 18-20. WHERE: Portland Yacht Services, Building 3. WHAT ELSE: Schwab's first post-race U.S. appearance will be at Brunswick High School on March 17. For more information about the Vendee Globe, go to www.vendeeglobe.org/uk/ home or www.oceanplanet.org/op/index.cfm.

Before Bruce Schwab set sail for France for the start of the Vendee Globe last fall, he changed the home port of his boat, Ocean Planet, from Oakland, Calif., to Portland.

Today or Thursday, Schwab is expected to sail into Les Sables d'Olonne, France, becoming the first American to complete the solo around-the-world race. A crowd of Mainers will be there to greet him.
The single-handed race has been held every four years since 1989. Schwab, who has wanted to enter the race for years, spent a year preparing Ocean Planet in Portland Harbor.

Phineas Sprague, owner of Portland Yacht Services, which housed Ocean Planet for a year, said Schwab's finish in the race ranks him among Maine's great sailors.

Dodge Morgan of Harpswell is the only other American sailor to have sailed single-handedly around the world without stopping.

And, Sprague said, Schwab's grass-roots approach to the Vendee Globe made him a cult hero.

Unlike the rest of the 20 sailors who started the race, Schwab lacked a major sponsor. He relied on donations and help from many in Maine's maritime industry.

Schwab won't be the first to finish the race. French sailor Vincent Rio already won, and his countryman, Jean Le Cam, took second. Schwab is still expected to finish in the top 10. Seven skippers dropped out of the arduous race.

Most skippers had budgets three and four times Schwab's, said Sprague. "It's like a soapbox derby boat chasing a bunch of Jaguars around the world," he said.

Sprague left Maine last week to greet Schwab in France, and will join Schwab on the boat as he sails into the French harbor.

The Vendee (pronounced VON-day) Globe cost Schwab's nonprofit Made in America Foundation $2 million, and he remains $450,000 in debt, he said. In addition, he was unable to buy insurance to protect his investment.

"If I had insurance, I could race completely differently," Schwab said. "To race around the world with a mound of debt and no insurance, that's pretty loony. Several people's life savings were (at stake)."

Schwab has shared his feat with the public.

Ocean Planet teamed up with Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences in Maine to make the race an educational tool for students by posting journal entries and nautical information on the Internet.

The Ocean Planet Web site taught about ocean waters and the challenges of the journey.

In the southern oceans, low-pressure storms brought crossing seas that would "swat" Ocean Planet. The boat would right itself, but during the swells Schwab was thrown about and risked injury.

Schwab could anticipate storms by using satellite technology and avoided the worst of them when he could. He still sailed Ocean Planet through waves as high as 30 feet.

"You don't know if the hull is cracked or you've ripped the rudder out or broke a piece of rigging," he said.

He also had to decide whether to venture south, closer to Antarctica and closer to icebergs, or stay north and take a longer route.

"The guy in front of me said one day he saw an iceberg the size of (England's) Wembley Stadium. That's pretty serious stuff," Schwab said.

During his voyage, Schwab also sent e-mail, worked on his computer, played his guitar and watched movies on DVD.

After the race, Schwab plans to search for a major sponsor for Ocean Planet so the sloop can be kept and used for education - and sail back to Maine.

"I'm really proud that we didn't have a big brand name. It says `Ocean Planet.' That is a concept. People bought into that, people all over the country," Schwab said from a satellite phone last week.

In March, Schwab will make appearances in Maine. He then is expected to sail Ocean Planet from France to Maine, arriving in Portland Harbor in May.

Staff Writer Deirdre Fleming can be contacted at 791-6452 or at:

dfleming@pressherald.com

Illustrations/Photos:
Caption: Bruce Schwab photo Bruce Schwab sails Ocean Planet about
300 miles off the coast of Portugal on Tuesday. He spent a year in
Portland Harbor preparing the boat for the race.

Copyright 2005 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.

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UCBH Holdings, Inc. Enters Into Stock Purchase Agreements to Acquire Substantially All of the Remaining 75% of Outstanding Shares of Bank of Canton of California.

Business Editors

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 28, 2002

Transaction Expected to Close in Fourth Quarter 2002

UCBH Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:UCBH), the holding company of United Commercial Bank (UCB(TM)), today announced that it has entered into stock purchase agreements with certain Bank of Canton of California (BCC) shareholders to acquire substantially all of the remaining 75% of the outstanding shares of privately-held BCC.

This announcement follows UCBH's July 3, 2002 announcement of the receipt of definitive agreements from certain other BCC shareholders for UCBH to acquire 25% of the outstanding shares of BCC. The acquisition of substantially all of the outstanding shares of BCC has been approved by the Board of Directors of UCBH and is subject to approval by applicable bank regulatory agencies. UCBH intends to merge Bank of Canton into UCBH's subsidiary, United Commercial Bank, immediately upon the completion of the acquisition.

Under the terms of the agreements announced today, UCBH will purchase substantially all of the remaining 75% of the outstanding shares of BCC for approximately $169 million in cash. As announced on July 3, 2002, UCBH plans to issue approximately 1.3 million shares for the 25% portion of the outstanding shares of BCC. The total transaction is anticipated to close in the fourth quarter of 2002.

Senior management teams at both institutions believe that the customers of both BCC and UCB will benefit through increased banking services and additional locations and that potential opportunities for employee development and career growth will result from combining the two institutions.

"Finalizing our negotiations and executing the stock purchase agreements with substantially all of the Bank of Canton of California shareholders represents a significant milestone for our Company," said Thomas S. Wu, chairman, president and chief executive officer of UCBH Holdings, Inc. "We remain confident that the acquisition of BCC and the merger of BCC with UCB will enhance the strengths of both institutions.

"Combining the knowledge and experience of both organizations will create a new standard of banking excellence within the ethnic Chinese communities of California. The valued customers and employees of both banks will play important roles in the success of this merger. Both management teams are fully committed to working closely together to optimize the benefits of this merger for our customers and employees."

"As we expect the transaction to close during the fourth quarter of 2002, we project that it will have no impact on our 2002 earnings. However, we anticipate that the transaction will provide a minimum of 5% earnings accretion for the full-year 2003. Accordingly, for the year ending December 31, 2003, UCBH now projects earnings of $2.39 or more per share. The increase from the previous guidance of $2.28 per share reflects the BCC acquisition," concluded Mr. Wu.

About UCBH Holdings, Inc.

UCBH Holdings, Inc. is the holding company for United Commercial Bank, the leading California bank serving the ethnic Chinese community. The Bank has 30 offices located in the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, Stockton and Greater Los Angeles, as well as a representative office in Hong Kong, SAR, providing a wide range of consumer banking services to individuals and commercial banking services to small- and medium-sized businesses and professionals in a variety of industries. United Commercial Bank offers a full range of lending activities, including residential and commercial real estate, construction, commercial credit facilities, working capital loans, international trade finance services, and online banking services for businesses and consumers. The Bank also maintains an interactive Internet banking and community portal, www.ibankUNITED.com, in both English and Chinese. For additional information, visit the web site for UCBH Holdings, Inc. located at www.ucbh.com.

About Bank of Canton of California

Bank of Canton of California, headquartered in San Francisco, had assets of approximately $1.45 billion as of June 30, 2002. BCC operates eight offices in the San Francisco Bay Area as well as four offices in Greater Los Angeles. The BCC management team has grown its earnings at an annual rate in excess of 25% over the past four years. Founded in May 1937, BCC has a rich history in the Chinese community within San Francisco. The institution, established to serve the ethnic Chinese market in San Francisco, later expanded to serve the Chinese population in the Los Angeles market. BCC offers a full complement of commercial and consumer banking services. Bank of Canton also sponsors the Pacific Heritage Museum in San Francisco's Financial District. For additional information, visit the web site for BCC located at www.bankcanton.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this release, including without limitation, statements containing the words "believes," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," and words of similar import, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable law. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of UCBH or UCB to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the following: general economic and business conditions in those areas in which UCBH or UCB operates; demographic changes; competition; fluctuations in market interest rates; changes in business strategies; changes in governmental regulation; changes in credit quality and other risks and other uncertainties including those detailed in the most recent quarterly and annual reports filed by UCBH with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Given these risks and uncertainties, undue reliance should not be placed on such forward-looking statements. UCBH and UCB disclaim any obligation to update any such factors or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future events or developments.

UGS' e-Factory Business Unit Forms Partnership with ESG to Provide Consultancy Services for Virtual Manufacturing.

CYPRESS, Calif., and SOUTHFIELD, Mich., May 3 /PRNewswire/ --

UGS (NYSE: UGS), a leading supplier of collaborative product development software to the manufacturing industry, and The Engineering Services Group (ESG), a leading supplier of comprehensive engineering and productivity improvement solutions, today announce a partnership that provides their mutual customers with a comprehensive suite of software and services to fully implement a "virtual manufacturing" environment. The partnership combines UGS' innovative e-Factory software solutions with ESG's full-service consulting engineers and professionals, resulting in a high-quality, comprehensive solution for the manufacturing industry that leverages the strengths of both organizations.

"UGS' e-Factory solutions provide the most innovative technology for process planning, factory modeling, factory visualization, ergonomics and Internet project collaboration," says Andreas Saar, director of UGS' e-Factory line of business. "By partnering with ESG for their manufacturing engineering expertise and knowledge, our mutual customers can extend overall capabilities and strengthen the deployment capabilities of our solutions."

"As a certified UGS e-Factory user, ESG is committed to providing solutions that fulfill the evolving needs of today's manufacturers," says Bob Kelley, vice president of ESG. "This partnership fulfills our commitment by providing ESG customers access to UGS' factory modeling and analysis technology for faster, more efficient development of manufacturing process designs."

About ESG

Headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, ESG is a leading supplier of integrated manufacturing solutions to the global automotive and industrial marketplace. ESG offers total facility productivity improvement solutions in Strategic Consulting, Manufacturing Process Development, Equipment Design, Project Services, and Technical Staffing in support of entire manufacturing operations. The firm's consistent focus on client satisfaction and quality has resulted in continued growth, repeat business, and recognition within the business community, including acknowledgement as one of the fastest growing privately held firms in the United States. Furthering its growth commitment, ESG also operates a Regional Office in Greenville, South Carolina. For more information please contact ESG at (248) 945-2000.

About UGS

UGS (NYSE: UGS) is one of the world's fastest growing and most successful software and services companies, dedicated to helping manufacturers optimize their product lifecycle process. UGS' rich heritage and financial strength have been established by consistently providing the industry's best product development applications for over 25 years. Today, UGS is distinguished as the leading supplier of Internet-based product life cycle collaboration solutions as well as the company that is creating the de facto industry standards for the digital product. With offices in over 30 countries around the globe, UGS is the vendor of choice for open solutions that seamlessly weave into any environment and create unprecedented value for the world's most demanding customers. In addition, UGS is the first company in its industry to earn the ISO 9001/TickIT certification. For more information please contact UGS at (800) 498-5351 or via the World Wide Web at http://www.ugs.com .

UGS, Unigraphics Solutions, Parasolid, Solid Edge, Unigraphics, ProductVision, iMAN, GRIP, managedServices, EAI, e-Factory, FactoryCAD, FactoryFlow, Sense8, VisFactory, VisConcept, VisConference, VisMockup, VisProducts, VisVSA, VSA, e-Vis, LightningStart and RAPIDiMAN are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of Unigraphics Solutions Inc. All other trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks belong to their respective holders. The information within is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Unigraphics Solutions Inc.

CONTACT: Jim Phelan of UGS, 314-344-5290, or jim.phelan@ugs.com ; Rick Scimeca of Engineering Services Group, 248-945-2051, or rscimeca@engsvcs.com .

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Celadon's Truckers B2B, Inc. and NTE Announce e-Business Agreement.

Business Editors

INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 6, 2000

Celadon Group, Inc., (Nasdaq:CLDN) today announced that its Truckers B2B majority-owned subsidiary completed an agreement with the National Transportation Exchange to provide the Truckers B2B members with an Internet-based transportation trading exchange.

Truckers B2B, Inc., through NTE's real-time market exchange, will provide the Truckers B2B members with a neutral environment that uses market-based pricing to match Truckers B2B members' driver capacity with NTE member shippers' demand. Members will be able to improve their ability to sell ground transportation capacity, potentially adding incremental revenue and profits. The agreement with NTE will provide Truckers B2B members with the industry's only comprehensive, real-time transportation exchange. The service is expected to be available to Truckers B2B members within the next thirty days.

"Reaching an agreement with one of the nation's premier business-to-business, e-commerce transportation exchanges adds an important service piece to Truckers B2B's total product and service offerings," stated Bob Helms, President and Chief Executive Officer of Truckers B2B, Inc. "We believe that NTE offers the most effective online transportation marketplace currently available, and Truckers B2B can now offer its members this service that is so important to running their day-to-day operations."

"We are pleased to have been selected by Truckers B2B as its preferred transportation trading exchange," said James Davidson, NTE's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Truckers B2B is taking another important step in driving additional value for its members. The alliance gives us the opportunity to extend our reach to carriers, offering them bottom-line contributions that capitalize on innovative and collaborative e-logistics solutions."

Truckers B2B is an Internet-based Business-to-Business Membership program that provides savings to thousands of small and medium-sized trucking companies on fuel, tires, trailers -- virtually everything a trucking company needs. With discounts and rebates from leading vendors, Truckers B2B brings volume buying power to smaller trucking companies and private fleets. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Celadon E-Commerce, Inc., Celadon Group is the majority owner of its Truckers B2B subsidiary. Please visit our company's website at: www.truckersb2b.com or www.celadontrucking.com.

The National Transportation Exchange (www.nte.net) offers one of the nation's leading online marketplaces to drive productivity and profitability for both buyers and sellers of ground transportation capacity. The business-to-business, e-commerce company enables manufacturers, retailers, third-party logistics providers and others that make freight shipments to quickly buy available trucking capacity from carriers. The exchange is dynamic and neutral, using market-based pricing, member-specific requirements and value-added services to create mutually beneficial supply chain economies. Privately held and based in suburban Chicago, NTE recently was named one of the top 100 companies in the world by Red Herring magazine.

Through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Celadon E-Commerce, Inc., Celadon Group is the majority owner of TruckersB2B.com. Please visit the company's websites at: www.truckersB2B.com or www.celadontrucking.com.

The discussion set forth above as well as oral statements made by officers of Celadon Group relating thereto, may contain forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such comments are based upon information currently available to management and management's perception thereof as of the date of this press release. Actual results of Celadon Group's operations could materially differ from those forward-looking statements. Such differences could be caused by a number of factors including, but not limited to, potential adverse effects of regulation; changes in competition and the effects of such changes; increased competition; changes in fuel prices; changes in economic, political or regulatory environments; changes in the availability of a stable labor force; the ability of Celadon Group to hire drivers meeting company standards; changes in management strategies; environmental or tax matters; and risks described from time to time in reports filed by Celadon Group with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers should take these factors into account in evaluating any such forward-looking statements.

For additional information on Celadon Group, Inc. free of charge via the Internet, please go to http://www.tirc.com/invest/celadon/index.htm