Fed:Coalition rejects Green gas bill

AAP General News (Australia)
08-15-2011
Fed:Coalition rejects Green gas bill

An Australian Greens push to give farmers a greater say over coal seam gas exploration
and mining looks set to fail, with Opposition Leader TONY ABBOTT changing his tune on
a veto.

On Friday, Mr ABBOTT said farmers had a right to say no if they didn't want miners
to explore and extract coal seam gas on their land.

But today he's told reporters he won't be backing the Greens' bill, which would give
farmers the right to deny miners access to their land, and that land use decisions were
a matter for state governments.

Mr ABBOTT has made the comments while returning to Canberra today for the first session
of parliament after the winter break.

Green's leader BOB BROWN has admitted it would be an odd political alliance for the
Coalition to side with the Greens.

AAP RTV pjo/rl/sw

KEYWORD: CSG (CANBERRA)

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

NSW: November trial for accused terrorist Bilal Khazal

AAP General News (Australia)
02-02-2007
NSW: November trial for accused terrorist Bilal Khazal

SYDNEY, Feb 2 AAP - Accused terrorist Bilal Khazal has pleaded not guilty to inciting
violence and producing a book on how to wage a jihad.

The 35-year-old former Qantas baggage handler will face a NSW Supreme Court trial in
November to contest allegations he produced the book and incited terrorism.

Wearing a tradition Arabic white dish-dasha dress and sandals, Khazal today pleaded
not guilty to one count of making a document connected with terrorism and one count of
inciting another person to commit a terrorist act.

Khazal allegedly made the book - entitled Provisions on the rule of Jihad - short judicial
rulings and organisational instructions for fighters and mujahideen against infidels -
in September 2003.

NSW Supreme Court justice Anthony Whealy today continued Khazal's bail and set a trial
date of November 12.

The hearing is expected to last up to five weeks.

AAP lma/klw/evt/cdh

KEYWORD: KHAZAL

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

NSW:RSPCA condemns feral pig hunting trial

AAP General News (Australia)
04-18-2011
NSW:RSPCA condemns feral pig hunting trial

The NSW branch of the RSPCA is trying to muster public support for its call to halt
the use of dogs to hunt feral pigs in the state's forests.

The national animal welfare group's campaign comes after the Game Council of NSW placed
an invitation on its website for expressions of interest from "suitable hunters" to take
part in a trial .. using pig dogs to hunt feral pigs.

The trial would take place in the Nundle, Hanging Rock and Tomalla state forests in
the New England area .. with applications due by 5pm tomorrow.

RSPCA NSW says using dogs to hunt feral pigs is a barbaric form of recreational hunting.

The RSPCA is now urging members of the public to contact their local political representatives
.. including NSW Premier BARRY O'FARRELL .. to voice their disgust.

AAP RTV dmg/klm/af

KEYWORD: PIGS (SYDNEY)

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

Attorney Kevin Pomfret: Privacy Push Will Impact Geolocation Sector

Wireless News
01-10-2011
Attorney Kevin Pomfret: Privacy Push Will Impact Geolocation Sector
Type: News

LeClairRyan attorney Kevin Pomfret, an advisor in the developing fields of spatial law and technology, said its efforts to protect consumers' privacy on the Internet are likely to impact companies that collect, use or distribute geolocation data.

As a result, businesses should step forward to educate Congress and executive agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) about the breadth and scope of location-based technologies, as well as the industry's enormous potential, Pomfret said. In addition, the veteran attorney recommended that companies begin to identify and protect any geolocation data they collect or use that could be associated with an individual.
A number of privacy-related initiatives are currently underway in Washington that attempt to address geolocation, noted Pomfret, a Richmond-based partner in LeClairRyan and executive director of the Centre for Spatial Law and Policy. For example, Rep. Bobby L. Rush's privacy protection bill, the so-called "Best Practices Act of 2010," cites "precise geolocation information" as sensitive data subject to greater protection, and similar legislation is expected in the near future.

In addition, the FTC staff recently stated in its 123-page report, "Protecting Consumer Privacy in an Era of Rapid Change," that precise geolocation information is sensitive and subject to greater protection. The Department of Commerce also issued a report in December that cites location as a privacy concern.

As noted by Pomfret, GPS location-aware smart phones and other devices already collect enormous amounts of data about where people go, who they are and what they do. The level of available detail-- and potential privacy risks--will only increase with time, compounding existing concerns about such issues as "cyber- stalking," Fourth Amendment privacy rights and more, he said.

A business-minded law firm, LeClairRyan specializes in developing legal solutions to its clients' business challenges. LeClairRyan provides business counsel and client representation in corporate law and high-stakes litigation.

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

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

FED:Markets dread a hung parliament

AAP General News (Australia)
08-20-2010
FED:Markets dread a hung parliament

The biggest concern for financial markets heading into tomorrow's federal poll is the
prospect of a hung parliament .. and that's because the horsetrading over the outcome
could drag on for days.

Commonwealth Securities chief economist CRAIG JAMES says that no matter which party
wins .. investors want a clear result.

He says a hung parliament or a minority government could cause foreign investors to
trim their exposure to Australia .. putting downward pressure on the sharemarket and the
Australian dollar.

But Mr JAMES says a close .. but clear election outcome .. with one party winning a
three or four seat majority .. could prove a major positive because the government would
have to work hard on its performance.

AAP RTV cb/sb/ar/crh

KEYWORD: POLL10 ECONOMY (CANBERRA)

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

NSW: MP Ian West pleads not guilty to assault

AAP General News (Australia)
04-13-2010
NSW: MP Ian West pleads not guilty to assault

A New South Wales Labor MP has pleaded not guilty to assaulting a man at a community
meeting in Sydney's west.

Upper House MP IAN WEST is accused of hitting CRAIG FERGUSON .. the strata manager
of the Breakfast Point Country Club in Canada Bay .. after a meeting at the club in February.

In Burwood Local Court today .. WEST's lawyer entered a plea of not guilty to assault.

WEST was there .. along with supporters.

He's been excused from court when the matter comes up again in June.

AAP RTV sg/wjf/jmt

KEYWORD: WEST (SYDNEY)

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

Fed: Last two Vietnam war MIAs start final journey home

AAP General News (Australia)
08-30-2009
Fed: Last two Vietnam war MIAs start final journey home

By Max Blenkin, Defence Correspondent

CANBERRA, Aug 30 AAP - Australia's last two servicemen missing in action from the Vietnam
war have begun their final journey home.

The remains of Flying Officer Michael Herbert and Pilot Officer Robert Carver, both
lost in 1970, have been placed aboard a RAAF Hercules transport aircraft for the trip
from Hanoi, Vietnam, back to Australia.

Family members and former comrades of the RAAF's 2 Squadron observed the solemn ceremony
at Noi Bai Airfield as their caskets were carried aboard the aircraft.

The family members and former servicemen will accompany them on the journey home.

Parliamentary secretary Dr Mike Kelly said the aircraft would fly to RAAF Base Richmond,
northwest of Sydney, where they would be ceremonially received by current and former members
of 2 Squadron.

"Today, our last remaining Australian Defence Force members from the Vietnam War will
return home. After 39 years, Flying Officer Herbert and Pilot Officer Carver's family
and friends will finally be able to bring them home to lay them to rest," he said.

Flying Officer Herbert, 24, from Glenelg, South Australia, and navigator Pilot Officer
Carver, 24, from Toowoomba, Queensland, were lost when their Canberra bomber went missing
on a mission on November 3, 1970.

When the last of Australia's combat troops left Vietnam at the end of 1971, six remained
behind, the bodies missing in action in the jungles of South Vietnam.

The discovery of the bodies of Lance Corporal Richard Parker and Private Peter Gillson
in 2007 by the organisation Operation Aussies Home sparked renewed official interest in
finding and repatriating Australia's Vietnam missing.

The remains of Lance Corporal John Gillespie were recovered in 2007, followed by the
discovery of Lance Corporal David Fisher last year.

That left only the remains of the two airmen, always regarded as the most difficult
to retrieve because there was little idea where their aircraft crashed.

But in April this year, a search conducted by the Army History Unit found wreckage
in thick jungle on a hillside in remote Quang Nam province, near the border with Laos.

Excavation of the site last month uncovered the remains of the two men.

Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science Greg Combet thanked all those
who worked tirelessly to bring them home.

"This is an excellent result. The cooperation of the Vietnamese authorities has been
exceptional and highly valued by the team and the government of Australia," he said.

The Hercules carrying their remains will land at RAAF Richmond late tomorrow afternoon.

Private family funerals will be held later in the week in Adelaide and Toowoomba.

AAP mb/cdh

KEYWORD: BOMBER (PIX AVAILABLE)

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

NSW: Man denies murdering much older live-in lover

AAP General News (Australia)
04-21-2009
NSW: Man denies murdering much older live-in lover

By Margaret Scheikowski

SYDNEY, April 21 AAP - A jeweller accused of murdering his much older lover hysterically
screamed "Mario is not dead, Mario is not dead" while being held by police, a jury has
been told.

Friend Raymond Carter said he was called to the police station where Philip Wan Por
Leung was being held, but could hardly get a coherent word out of his friend.

Other than repeatedly sobbing "Mario is not dead", Leung said only that he and 72-year-old
Mario Guzzetti had argued while Leung was making a carrot juice.

"Mario kept at me," he allegedly said.

Leung, 48, has pleaded not guilty in the NSW Supreme Court to murdering Mr Guzzetti
on April 7, 2007, at the home they shared at Alexandria, in inner Sydney.

Prosecutor Nanette Williams said the crown alleged Leung struck Mr Guzzetti a number
of times and applied significant pressure to his neck area.

She said she expected the crown medical witness would say the cause of death was "blunt
force head and neck injury".

Mr Carter, who had previously been in a relationship with Leung, said he was close
to both men, who were "very kind and loving" to each other.

He said Leung had never attacked or hit Mr Carter, and he had never seen him be violent
or throw anything.

"The most violent thing Philip would do was slam the door," he said.

Mr Carter said Leung had been a talented jeweller, portrait artist and wood carver,
but was crushed when he lost sight in one eye in 2005, affecting his work.

He had never heard Mr Guzzetti complain that he was going to end his relationship with
Leung and the three of them had tentative plans to travel to China later in 2007, he said.

Enzo Guzzetti, who came from Italy to give evidence, said his older brother had "never
hurt anyone" and had been a good, compassionate person who loved the opera and reading.

In her opening address, Ms Williams said Mr Guzzetti met Leung in about 2004, and the
men were listed as joint tenants of Mr Guzzetti's Alexandria home.

Ms Williams said a friend of the couple would give evidence saying Mr Guzzetti told
him he wanted to sell the house and end the relationship with Leung.

The court was told a neighbour would give evidence that on the morning of the death,
she heard a sound like a shelf falling with pots and pans on it.

"She then heard a sound like a singing note which lasted for about 10 seconds after
which there was silence," Ms Williams said.

"About 10 minutes later she heard what she described as hysterical screaming and crying.

"She identified the source as being the accused."

The trial is continuing before Justice Stephen Rothman.

AAP mss/hn/ht/apm

KEYWORD: LEUNG (PIX AVAILABLE)

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

NT: Aboriginal interests key to new Native Title system

AAP General News (Australia)
12-16-2008
NT: Aboriginal interests key to new Native Title system

By Tara Ravens

DARWIN, Dec 16 AAP - Aboriginal communities would be better served by a native title
system that guarantees they benefit from mining and industry, a Northern Territory MP
says.

The federal government has released a Native Title discussion paper which will look
at options for improving the system, in particular issues relating to mining and infrastructure
payments.

Federal Labor MP Warren Snowdon, from the NT seat of Lingiari, on Tuesday said it was
vital that any makeover of the system protects the rights of Aboriginal people.

"The native title system should ensure that current and future generations of indigenous
owners benefit from mining and industry," he said.

"It clearly needs to be more flexible and better cater for different communities, different
needs and different companies."

Mr Snowdon called on territorians to bring their experiences to the table and secure
future employment opportunities.

"Territorians (need to) share their ideas on everything from how to make agreements
more sustainable, through to thoughts on the role of government," Mr Snowdon said.

"Native title and property rights are central to any efforts to develop remote economies,
and the legislation should truly support opportunities for indigenous people."

Mr Snowdon said although mining operations were a significant contributor to the NT
economy, they had so far failed to bolster remote communities.

"They have never met their potential in addressing entrenched disadvantage in the indigenous
communities they neighbour, and whose country they work," he said.

Submissions to the discussion paper close on February 13 next year.

AAP tr/it/bwl

KEYWORD: NATIVE TITLE

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

Fed: NT election swing a message to all fgovernments - Iemma

AAP General News (Australia)
08-11-2008
Fed: NT election swing a message to all fgovernments - Iemma

NSW Premier MORRIS IEMMA says the swing against Labor in the Northern Territory election
is NOT a direct backlash against the federal Labor government.

Prime Minister KEVIN RUDD says the swing against the territory government at Saturday's
poll sounds a warning to federal Labor.

But Mr IEMMA says it's a warning for all governments across Australia that they must
deliver results for their electorate.

He says the warning also applies to councillors in NSW ahead of local government elections
in September.

AAP RTV nr/tdb/hn/af/bart

KEYWORD: POLLNT IEMMA (SYDNEY)

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

QLD: Brough confirmed he will challenge for QLD president

AAP General News (Australia)
04-02-2008
QLD: Brough confirmed he will challenge for QLD president

Former Howard government minister MAL BROUGH has confirmed he'll challenge for the
presidency of the Queensland Liberal party.

The Australian newspaper reports that Mr BROUGH .. who is on holidays in Scotland ..

has also called for Liberal party members to have the final say on a merger with the Nationals.

Federal Opposition Leader BRENDAN NELSON has previously said he hopes Mr BROUGH would
consider taking the job.

AAP RTV krc/crh

KEYWORD: LIBERALS QLD BROUGH (SYDNEY)

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

Vic: Wheatley to appeal length of tax evasion sentence

AAP General News (Australia)
08-31-2007
Vic: Wheatley to appeal length of tax evasion sentence

Jailed music promoter GLENN WHEATLEY is set to appeal the length of his prison sentence
for tax evasion.

Fairfax newspapers report WHEATLEY plans to seek leave to appeal his minimum 15-month
jail term .. imposed in the Victorian County Court in June .. as manifestly excessive.

County Court judge TIM WOOD found WHEATLEY had illegally hidden 318-thousand dollars
by using a Swiss accounting firm .. and overseas transactions .. to conceal his income.

Supreme Court Justice ALEX CHERNOV will consider granting WHEATLEY leave to appeal
in a hearing a week from today.

If WHEATLEY is successful .. a panel of three judges in the Court of Appeal will hear his case.

AAP RTV jrd/psm/

KEYWORD: WHEATLEY (MELBOURNE)

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

NSW: Man sues after fall leaves him quadriplegic

AAP General News (Australia)
04-17-2007
NSW: Man sues after fall leaves him quadriplegic

A case involving a man who fell from a tree and became a quadriplegic after changing
his mind about committing suicide is set to continue in the New South Wales Supreme Court
today.

TIMOTHY WALKER is suing the Wentworth Area Health Service for negligence .. claiming
not enough was done to treat his depression before the accident.

The court's been told Mr WALKER fractured his spine .. and was left quadriplegic after
falling from the tree in the backyard of his Blue Mountains home in March 2001.

25-year-old Mr WALKER told the court he was making his way down from the 10-metre tree
when he fell to the ground.

After learning he was a quadriplegic .. Mr WALKER says he felt like he'd lost his life.

The accident happened 11 days after Mr WALKER was discharged from the Pialla Unit ..

a psychiatric wing of the Nepean Hospital.

AAP RTV lma/ka/was/imc/crh

KEYWORD: WALKER (SYDNEY)

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

NSW: Labor worried about debt in the Qantas deal

AAP General News (Australia)
12-15-2006
NSW: Labor worried about debt in the Qantas deal

SYDNEY, Dec 15 AAP - Labor has sought guarantees over the Qantas takeover, particularly
about job security and the airline's national security role.

But federal Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd is also worried about the airline's future
viability, given the debt levels of the consortium which has made a successful takeover
bid.

"It's a very competitive business worldwide, but subject to huge external shocks,"

Mr Rudd told the Seven Network today.

"Take for example things like national security shocks, terrorist attacks, also things
like if there are outbreaks of communicable diseases around the world.

"How does a company cope when those big things happen and (it is) loaded up with debt."

Qantas Airways yesterday accepted an $11.1 billion takeover bid from an international
consortium subject to a national interest test by the Foreign Investment Review Board.

The buyers have pledged not to break up the national carrier.

Qantas chief executive officer Geoff Dixon also said the airline would still be available
to transport Australians from the world's trouble spots.

But ahead of the board's decision, and despite the Qantas pledges, Mr Rudd still wants
some guarantees.

He wants assurances that Qantas will remain based in Australia and about its commitment
to local staffing.

"(There are) 35,000 people employed by Qantas across the country, and at present it
is one of the largest, if not the largest, provider of apprenticeships," Mr Rudd said.

Worries about Qantas maintaining regional services and a national security role also
feature on Labor's list.

Mr Rudd said Qantas has been relied on by past governments to get Australians out of
strife in the world's trouble spots.

AAP pc/jt/nf

KEYWORD: QANTAS LABOR

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

Tas: Beazley calls for mini-budget

AAP General News (Australia)
08-06-2006
Tas: Beazley calls for mini-budget

Opposition leader KIM BEAZLEY says Australia needs to cut wasteful spending and invest
in skills .. infrastructure and participation.

The Labor leader has called for the government to issue a mini-budget to address inflationary
pressures and place downward pressure on interest rates.

Mr BEAZLEY'S call follows last week's interest rate rise .. the third since JOHN HOWARD
promised to keep them at record lows.

The Labor leader says the government is spending billions of dollars on self-promotion
.. a war in Iraq and consultants to create its industrial relations reform.

Mr BEAZLEY says the government cannot afford to wait for inflationary pressures to abate.

And .. Mr BEAZLEY wants the government to give more petrol price monitoring power to
the ACCC consumer watchdog.

AAP RTV rgr/wz

KEYWORD: ECONOMY BEAZLEY (HOBART)

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

WA: WA Premier stands firm on uranium mining ban

AAP General News (Australia)
04-02-2006
WA: WA Premier stands firm on uranium mining ban

West Australian Premier ALAN CARPENTER is standing firm on his government's opposition
to uranium mining .. despite federal government moves to sell uranium to China.

He says the issue of uranium wasn't raised when he met Chinese Premier WEN JIABAO today.

Mr CARPENTER says his government opposes uranium mining because of concerns about safety
.. and disposal of waste.





Premier WEN is expected to sign an agreement with the federal government in the next
few days .. opening the way for Australia to supply uranium to China's nuclear power industry.

AAP RTV jh/wjf

KEYWORD: URANIUM CARPENTER (PERTH)

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

Fed: Nationals won't contest plum Senate role

AAP General News (Australia)
08-01-2005
Fed: Nationals won't contest plum Senate role

By Maria Hawthorne, Chief Political Correspondent

CANBERRA, Aug 1 AAP - The Nationals have decided not to contest the deputy presidency
of the Senate, heading off a potentially ugly squabble with the opposition.

The Nationals had considered claiming the plum role for one of their own senators after
delivering control of the Senate to the government for the first time in 24 years.

That would have broken the custom established in 1981, when Malcolm Fraser's coalition
government lost its majority in the upper house, of choosing the deputy president from
the opposition benches.

That practice was ignored in 1996 when the new Howard government appointed Queensland
senator Mal Colston after he quit Labor to sit as an independent, voting with the government
on crucial bills.

Senator Colston quit the position the following year amid a travel rorts scandal.

Nationals Senate leader Ron Boswell said his party had decided not to challenge the custom.

"In the interest of a smooth running Senate and after discussions with my National
colleagues we have agreed not to seek the deputy presidency," Senator Boswell said in
a statement.

"We are a party small in number and we have decided to concentrate our efforts in representing
our constituents in rural and regional Australia, in small business and in Australian
families instead of in the running of the parliament."

However, the Liberal Party could still break with tradition and put its own candidate up.

Queensland Labor senator John Hogg has held the position since 2002 and opposition
Senate leader Chris Evans said Labor would be supporting his re-election.

"He has been a fine deputy president," Senator Evans said.

"Labor backs the custom and practice that the opposition supplies the deputy president.

"However, Labor recognises that the government has the numbers to determine who will
be the deputy.

"It will be up to them to decide if they follow the Senate customary practices and
support an opposition nominee."

Government Senate leader Robert Hill was not immediately available for comment.

AAP mfh/jo/sd

KEYWORD: SENATE NATS

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

AP Top News at 5:59 p.m. EST

AP Online
02-11-2005

23 Die in Bakery, Mosque Attacks in Iraq

A man and child lie injured in al-Yarmouk hospital after a bomb exploded in Dora, south of Baghdad, Iraq Friday, Feb. 11, 2005. The blast injured four after children playing in a rubbish dump moved the device. (AP Photo/Asaad Muhsin)

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) _ A vegetable truck rigged with explosives blew up Friday outside a Shiite mosque northeast of Baghdad, and gunmen sprayed automatic fire into a bakery in a Shiite district of the capital in sectarian violence that killed at least 23 people. The attacks occurred as election officials announced provisional final results from the Jan. 30 elections for provincial councils in 12 of the 18 provinces, showing Shiite religious groups winning handily over secular tickets in local races in much of the country.

U.S. Refuses One-On-One North Korea Talks

South Korean protesters shout slogans during an anti-North Korean rally in front of the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Feb. 11, 2005. South Korea urged the United States and its allies to be calm following North Korea's sudden declaration it is a nuclear power, reminding them that blustering and brinksmanship are nothing new in Pyonyang's toolbox of diplomatic tactics. (AP Photo/ Lee Jin-man)

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Arguing it had been burned before in one-on-one talks with North Korea, the Bush administration on Friday rejected an appeal for direct discussions on Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program. The White House urged resumption of six-nation talks designed to negotiate the elimination of the communist country's nuclear armaments.

Woman Makes Up Story About Tossed Baby

Broward County Sheriff Ken Jenne, left, and Dr. Johny Tryzmel, right, look at a baby Friday, Feb. 11, 2005, at the Broward General Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., that according to police, was dropped off by its mother Patricia Pokriots, Thursday, Feb. 10, 2005, at a Broward sheriff's substation in North Lauderdale. Pokriots, who claimed to have seen a baby being tossed from a moving car, fabricated the story as a cover to abandon the newborn and hide an unwanted pregnancy from her family, authorities said Friday. (AP Photo/Joe Rimkus Jr., Pool)

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) _ A woman who claimed to have witnessed a newborn being thrown from a moving car was the baby's mother and concocted the story as a way to abandon the child and conceal her pregnancy from her family, officials said Friday. "It's not as horrible as we first thought," Sheriff Ken Jenne said. "The baby was never thrown out of a moving car. This is the case of a disturbed woman who gave birth and did not want to keep her child."

Playwright Arthur Miller Dies at 89

Playwright Arthur Miller, speaks at a news conference at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, Minn., July 3, 2002. (AP Photo/Janet Hostetter)

NEW YORK (AP) _ Arthur Miller, whose dramas of fierce moral and personal responsibility such as "Death of a Salesman" and "The Crucible" made him one of the 20th century's greatest playwrights, has died at the age of 89. Miller, died Thursday night of congestive heart failure at his home in Roxbury, Conn., surrounded by his family, his assistant, Julia Bolus, said Friday.

Abbas Heads to Gaza to Confront Militants

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, prays at a mosque in the Presidential headquarters in the West Bank town of Ramallah, Friday Feb. 11, 2005. After firing his top security commanders, Abbas plans to confront militant leaders in the Gaza Strip and demand they stop attacking Israelis, a strong sign the Palestinian leader is determined to enforce a fragile truce with Israel. (AP Photo/Nasser Shiyoukhi)

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP)_ Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas will meet Saturday with militant leaders to push them to honor a days-old cease-fire marred by mortar and rocket attacks on Israeli targets, according to an aide. The Islamic militant group Hamas said it would only stop attacks when it was satisfied Israel would release prisoners and stop pursuing militants.

Cleric-Backed Candidates Win in Riyadh

Saudi men line up at voting booths to fill out their ballots as others prepare to vote at a school in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Thursday Feb. 10, 2005. Municipal elections are the kingdom's first nationwide elections that largely conform to international standards. Women are barred from running or voting in the election. (AP Photo/Hasan Jamali)

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) _ Candidates backed by Islamic clerics won races in the Saudi Arabian capital in the kingdom's first regular balloting, an election observer said Friday. Suleiman al-Oqaili told a press conference at which the preliminary results were announced that he saw the seven Riyadh winners' names on a list circulated via cell phones and the Internet.

Poll Shows Optimism About Iraq

The public's confidence in President Bush's job performance and the nation's direction has slipped in the opening weeks of his second term. (AP Graphic)

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Americans are feeling a bit more optimistic about the future of Iraq, a bright spot for the administration in an Associated Press poll that indicates many are souring on President Bush's job performance. Half in the AP-Ipsos poll, 51 percent, said they think a stable, democratic Iraq is likely, up slightly from the 46 percent who felt that way before the Iraq elections.

Pregnant Ky. Woman Kills Attacker

FORT MITCHELL, Ky. (AP) _ A nine-months' pregnant woman fought off and killed a knife-wielding woman who may have been trying to steal the baby, police said Friday. Police said 26-year-old Sarah Brady acted in self-defense in killing Katherine Smith on Thursday. No charges were filed.

Stocks Surge: Dow Rises 46, Nasdaq Up 24

NEW YORK (AP) _ The Dow Jones industrial average moved into positive territory for the year on Friday as investors piled back into the market. Wall Street finished the week mixed, however, as tech stocks lagged the Dow components. A flood of buy orders from institutional traders, impressed with the market's ability to hold on to last week's gains, pushed stocks higher. Analysts said the market has nearly recovered from January's selloff, but remain split on whether the market has the potential to continue its run upward.

Mailman to End Deliveries in NBA

Utah Jazz forward Karl Malone signals his appreciation for the assist against the Detroit Pistons during the first quarter in this March 19, 2002 photo, in Salt Lake City. Malone, who for 18 seasons as a member of the Utah Jazz teamed with guard John Stockton to form one of the NBA's most legendary duos, will announce his retirement on Sunday, the Jazz said in a news release Friday. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac)

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) _ There will be no NBA career scoring record for Karl Malone. No championship ring, either. The Mailman is retiring, having come up short in his quest for both during his 19-year career. Malone, 41, will announce his retirement Sunday, the Jazz said Friday. He will hold a news conference at the Delta Center _ the arena where his 1997 and 1999 league MVPs are celebrated with signs below the upper deck.

Copyright 2005, AP News All Rights Reserved

allotted shares

allotted shares Shares distributed by allotment to new shareholders (allottees).

A measure of success.

Jun 06, 2002 (Marketing Magazine (NZ)

ABIX via COMTEX) -- E-metrics is a method of measuring the success of Internet marketing on web sites. Jim Sterne, a California-based author and consultant, says e-metrics is a measure of how effectively this marketing is being performed. Web site performance measurement should take into account factors such as downloading speeds of pages, response time to queries and transaction times for the site. Even if a web site owner has no electronic commerce operations, results for its online marketing success is important. E-metrics can assist in the conversion of new customer contacts into sales by ensuring web sites are re-designed to facilitate better customer contact, as demonstrated by the experience of a US retailer, Kinko.

Publication Date: June 2002

KINKO'S SERVICE CORPORATION

By Patrick Smith

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  INDUSTRY KEYWORD: Communication Services                   Business Services  SUBJECT CODE:     INTERNET MARKETING                    MARKETING RESEARCH                    WEB SITES                    CONSUMER SATISFACTION 

News Provided by COMTEX (http://www.comtexnews.com)

A federal judge in Virginia last week threw out a Henrico County law requiring cable companies to offer Internet rivals access to broadband pipelines.(Brief Article)

The law had been challenged by AT&T on grounds that local governments had no right to require cable firms to open up their networks. "This federal court decision signals that the proponents of forced access have yet to develop a persuasive rationale for their issue," AT&T officials said.

EDS to Create Regional Medicare Fraud Analysis Center.

New England-Based Information Analysis Center to Produce Reliable Evidence And

Stronger Cases Against Medicare Fraud, Abuse and Waste

PLANO, Texas, Dec. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- EDS (NYSE: EDS) today announced that the information technology services provider has won the job of providing the substantiating data and reliable evidence required to successfully prosecute or reprimand those who commit Medicare fraud in New England. The company was selected from a pool of five competing firms by the federal government to create the New England-based Benefit Integrity Support Center (BISC). The data analysis, research, and investigative work performed at the center will augment the fraud prevention efforts currently provided by Medicare insurance contractors operating in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

EDS will perform data analysis services for Part A Medicare transactions conducted in the six-state New England region. Part A transactions cover services provided by hospitals, nursing facilities and home health care agencies. The results of the analyses will be used to determine the factual basis of complaints of potential fraud made by Medicare beneficiaries, providers, and state and federal agencies. Investigative and law enforcement agencies depend on strong evidence to successfully pursue and address fraudulent behavior within the Medicare program.

"Accurate, reliable data is an important key to identifying and preventing health care fraud," said Don Picard, executive director for EDS' Health Care Financing Administration and Medicare relationships. "EDS will use existing capabilities in Hingham, Mass. to help create a center within a few months that will make major contributions to curtailing and preventing Medicare fraud in the New England region."

The BISC is being created under mandate by the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), the agency that administers the federally funded Medicare program. The EDS-led BISC will support the fraud detection efforts currently provided by Medicare contractors operating in the six states.

The assignment to establish the BISC was among the first released under the recently created Medicare Integrity Program. It is anticipated that early next year HCFA will release seven new assignments for competitive bid. Over the next five years HCFA is expected to award approximately $500 million in Medicare fraud prevention contracts to the 13 competing companies in the MIP Program Safeguard contracting pool.

EDS currently leads a team of companies in detecting fraud, abuse and waste in the Texas Medicaid program, where state officials have identified millions in misused funds since the contract began two years ago. The company is also using high-performing fraud detection technologies in Northern California's Medicare program and is introducing state-of-the-art fraud detection technology to the managed health care marketplace.

About EDS

EDS, a leader in the global information technology services industry for more than 35 years, delivers management consulting, electronic business solutions, and systems and technology expertise to improve the performance of more than 9,000 business and government clients in about 50 countries. EDS reported revenues of $16.9 billion in 1998. The company's stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange. Visit EDS via the Internet at http://www.eds.com.

Contact:

Delbra Bristol - EDS

(+1) (972) 604-6075

delbra.bristol@eds.com