NSW:Man shots himself dead in police station

AAP General News (Australia)
08-14-2011
NSW:Man shots himself dead in police station

Police can't explain how a man got a gun to shot himself in the head while inside a
police station in the NSW Riverina.

The 37-year-old man was arrested last night because of a domestic dispute in Wagga Wagga.

A police spokesman says the man sustained what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot
wound to the head while at the police station.

He died in hospital this morning after his life support was switched off.

Police superintendent PAUL HUXTABLE says it isn't known where the gun came from or
how it got in the back of the police vehicle.

But he says it was not a police gun.

AAP RTV lxs/af

KEYWORD: SHOT (SYDNEY)

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

Fed: Andrew G ready to take on gameshow guns O'Keefe and McGuire

AAP General News (Australia)
02-02-2007
Fed: Andrew G ready to take on gameshow guns O'Keefe and McGuire

By Michael Gadd, National Entertainment Writer

SYDNEY, Feb 2 AAP - Australian Idol presenter Andrew Gunsberg is ready to take on Eddie
McGuire and Andrew O'Keefe.

He hits TV screens again as host of The Con Test on Wednesday.

Bumper audiences already have tuned into O'Keefe's The Rich List on the Seven Network
and 1 vs 100 with McGuire on Nine, which air on Monday nights.

Now it's Network Ten's turn to send in troops for what has been dubbed 2007's battle
of the games shows.

"We should have some sort of challenge," says the host, better known as Andrew G, with
excitement.

"Maybe we could have a pronounce-off, Eddie, Andrew and me, that'd be heaps of fun."

Of course, he's joking. Or is he?

In contrast to the contestants on The Con Test who feign intelligence to bluff their
opponents out of $50,000, the host of Ten's new game show could simply be playing the
underdog card.

Either that, he's not foolish enough to take on the force behind O'Keefe and McGuire,
or he's just happy to be in the battle.

"It's pretty crazy that a couple of years ago I was hanging out with my good friends
at Channel V," he says.

"Now I'm piloting a game show ship up against Captain McGuire and Captain O'Keefe.

"It's just that I'm in the little tinny coming up the side of them ... with a Bacardi
and Coke in my hand."

The Con Test's format mirrors PokerFace, a show created and hosted in Britain by Anthony
McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, better known as Ant and Dec, the UK's version of Gunsberg
and his Idol offsider James Mathieson.

What sets it apart from other quiz shows is that while it's an advantage for contestants
to know the answers, it's more important to convince your opponents you do.

"You've got to be either really smart or really shifty," he says.

"If you're both, it's your show."

Each show begins with "the grilling", in which the contestants offer a glimpse of their
life story and are questioned by their rivals.

Sometimes they tell the truth, very often they don't as an intimidatory tactics.

The sledging and lies continue, and are encouraged, in the studio.

"The grilling is a lot like past life regression," Gunsberg says.

"They can talk themselves up or they can say they're a pizza delivery guy, and build
up a facade."

At the end of each round of five quickfire multiple choice questions, which are generally
more complex than anything offered up by McGuire on 1 vs 100, one contestant will leave
the show.

"We celebrate that fact," he says of the tricky questions.

"It's all part of the good old Aussie art of being suss."

At the end of each round a contestant will either "fold", believing the money they
already have earned from their correct answers is the best they can muster or because
they are convinced they are the lowest ranked contestant.

The contestants, not even the live studio audience, don't have a clue where they are
placed on the leaderboard.

If no one folds by pressing a big red buzzer during a 10-second countdown, the lowest
ranked player is sent packing with not a cent to their name.

Either way, they visit Gunsberg's co-host Brigitte Duclos in the "folding room" where
they are greeted by family and friends to find out whether they'd made the right decision.

This is often the most dramatic part of the show as the contestant's decision is often wrong.

As a debutant quizmaster, Gunsberg claims little advantage over the likes of O'Keefe,
whose 6pm game show Deal or No Deal is a hit, and McGuire, who had a winner in Who Wants
To Be Millionaire?

"I just look at Brigitte and we giggle that they're letting us do a game show," Gunsberg
says, before he admits he had a "filthy crush" on Duclos during her days as a Ten newsreader.

As for the return en mass of game shows to primetime, Gunsberg says it's like any trend.

"Why am I wearing skinny jeans? Why do I wear my hair like Greg Evans?" he asks. "Everything
comes back eventually."

"The big question is will I be remembered as the Graham Kennedy Blankety Blanks or
the Darryl Somers Blankety Blanks.

"Do you remember Darryl Somers hosting that show? He did you know."



* The Con Test premieres on Wednesday at 7.30pm on Network Ten.



AAP mdg/cjh/bwl

KEYWORD: CONTEST (AAP TV FEATURE) (PIX AVAIL) RPTG

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

VIC:Fix congestion, motor body tells Vic govt

AAP General News (Australia)
04-18-2011
VIC:Fix congestion, motor body tells Vic govt

MELBOURNE, April 18 AAP - Easing congestion on Victorian roads and improving road safety
must be at the top of the state government's agenda when it delivers its first budget
in May, Victoria's peak motoring body says.

To achieve this, the government needs to adopt a long-term, integrated transport plan
involving road and public transport projects, the RACV says.

Congestion cost Victorians $3 billion a year and the figure is predicted to double
by 2020, the RACV said.

"Congestion on Victorian roads is impacting greatly on the ability of road users to
get where they need to go in a reasonable time," RACV general manager Brian Negus said
on Monday.

"It's causing enormous frustration and really crippling our state.

"It also increases costs to Victorian businesses which are then being passed on to consumers."

Mr Negus said key projects included a high-speed rail link from Southern Cross Station
to Melbourne Airport and improvements to Hoddle Street and the metropolitan rail system
as well as an east-west link from Eastern Freeway to the Western Ring Road.

He called for upgrades to rural roads and a consistent approach to setting speed limits.

"There has been too much reliance in the past on lowering speed limits as a quick fix
for road safety but that has created enormous problems for road users, significantly increasing
travel times for those moving around Melbourne," he said.

He said key rural projects included the Shepparton Bypass and duplication of parts
of the Western and Princes highways.

"The projects required to improve roads and public transport over the next two decades
must be planned now," he said.

"A detailed implementation plan must be put in place to ensure these projects are delivered
over this period."

AAP bm/gfr/goc/

KEYWORD: ROADS

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

Wilmington Trust Schedules Earnings Release

Wireless News
01-05-2011
Wilmington Trust Schedules Earnings Release
Type: News

Wilmington Trust Corporation will announce fourth quarter and full-year 2010 earnings on Friday, Jan. 28, at 8 a.m. (Eastern).

According to a release, management will host a conference call to discuss results at 10 a.m. (Eastern) that day.
Dial in number: 877-407-8031 (United States and Canada); 201-689- 8031 (outside the United States and Canada). No pass code is necessary.

Internet access: Live audio-only webcast accessible at wilmingtontrust.com.

Replay information: Available until 11:59 p.m. (Eastern) on Friday, Feb. 11, by telephone: 877-660-6853 (United States and Canada); 201-612-7415 (outside the United States and Canada). Use account #286 and replay ID #363356 or online.

Wilmington Trust Corporation is a financial services holding company.

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

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

FED:Gillard escaped rate rise horror

AAP General News (Australia)
08-20-2010
FED:Gillard escaped rate rise horror

By Stephen Johnson

CANBERRA, Aug 20 AAP - Labor may be struggling in the opinion polls, but at least Julia
Gillard escaped the political humiliation of an election rate rise.

The Reserve Bank's decision to leave the cash rate on hold at 4.5 per cent was a relief
to more than just home borrowers battling $2000 monthly repayments.

The prime minister was also rejoicing on August 3, and exploited the occasion to belatedly
declare the economy would be the centrepiece of Labor's re-election bid.

Campaigning on the NSW central coast, Gillard used the halfway mark of the 35-day campaign
to call for another debate with Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.

Two weeks on, Abbott has declined to share the stage with Gillard for a formal debate
on the economy.

But the messages haven't changed.

Labor says its $52 billion worth of stimulus measures in 2008 and 2009 saved Australia
from the horrors of the global financial crisis.

Four days before the election, a group of 50 economists signed a letter saying Labor
saved Australia from a deep recession.

Still, the endorsements have failed to allay electoral perceptions of taxpayer money
being squandered.

The coalition has relentlessly hammered away at cost blow-outs in the school building
and home insulation schemes.

While Australia's jobless rate shot up to 5.3 per cent in July, it is still way below
the US level of 9.5 per cent.

Australia may also have the lowest debt in the developed world - less than six per
cent of gross domestic product - but coalition cries of Labor debt, waste and mismanagement
have gained political traction.

Labor has responded by promising to have the budget in surplus by 2013.

The coalition is also promising a surplus within three years, and released its costings
on Wednesday showing a $6.2 billion balance - nearly double the $3.5 billion forecast
by Labor.

They have vowed to get the budget back in the black by selling Medibank Private and
scrapping the $43 billion national broadband network.

The opposition is also determined to block Labor's 30 per cent minerals resource rent
tax, which Treasury estimates will generate $10.5 billion in its first two years from
July 2012, depending on commodity price fluctuations.

Even before the election, the coalition argued that Labor spending was putting pressure
on interest rates.

But releasing the minutes of its August meeting, the Reserve Bank expected inflation
to remain within the two to three per cent target band during the next year, before economic
growth surged to "above average" levels of four per cent.

Economists saw this as a sign that rates would remain on hold in the short term.

Monthly repayments on an average $300,000 home loan are $500 less than they were at
the 2007 election, when a rate rise turned voters against former prime minister John Howard.

Cost-of-living pressures may have eased, but the polls show many swinging voters still
see Labor as the party that can't manage the economy.

AAP saj/rl/psm/jlw

KEYWORD: POLL10 ECONOMY (AAP BACKGROUNDER) RPT

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

VIC: We're optimistic but we'd like a little more: poll

AAP General News (Australia)
04-13-2010
VIC: We're optimistic but we'd like a little more: poll

By Jeff Turnbull

MELBOURNE, April 12 AAP - Australian workers are optimistic about the economy and their
future as the country pulls out of the global financial crisis, according to a new survey.

It found that 56 per cent of Australian respondents believe their managers have been
effective in guiding their organisation through the downturn, compared to 48 per cent
globally.

But there is still a gap between what workers expect in their jobs and what their employers
are delivering.

The 2010 Global Workforce Study, carried out by Towers Watson, surveyed 20,000 workers
from 22 countries on their attitudes and workplace trends, with an input from about 1000
Australians.

The study showed the majority of Australian workers would be happy for stability in
their job over advancement and can see themselves working for no more than three different
companies in their lives.

But they feel let down in what their bosses are offering: 66 per cent would welcome
the opportunity to develop their skills and abilities but only 40 per cent feel they are
given the chance.

The poll showed 64 per cent would like substantially higher pay but only 29 per cent
think they can get it in their current jobs.

Lesley Brown, leader of Towers Watson's employees survey practice in Australia, says
employees give their loyalty in return for job security linked with a career path and
skill development.

"The results indicate there is a gap between the expectations of employees and what
they receive from their organisations," she told AAP. "What is good news in Australia
is that the gap is not as great as it is globally."

Ms Brown said the survey indicated Australian workers were more positive about their
futures than compared to their global peers.

The next 12 months, with the economy on the improve, would give companies the opportunity
to close that expectation gap.

"They can do that by focusing on those things important to their business," Ms Brown said.

One red light for bosses is that only 49 per cent of workers think they can be trusted.

Trustworthiness topped the list of characteristics most employees want in their leaders.

"What we saw in the survey was that employees were looking to their leaders to be trustworthy
and that was a critical indicator for them for leaders," she said.

The survey also showed Australians are ready to take on more responsibility for their
financial future.

"Some of that is likely to have been driven by government and business initiatives
over the last decades," Ms Brown said.

"They are looking to become more self reliant and getting the knowledge and information
they need to succeed.

AAP jxt/rs

KEYWORD: WORKERS

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

QLD: Child threatened by dingo on Fraser Island

AAP General News (Australia)
08-29-2009
QLD: Child threatened by dingo on Fraser Island

BRISBANE, Aug 29 AAP - A wild dingo has been put down after threatening a three-year-old
boy on Fraser Island off south-east Queensland.

The child had been playing on the beach at Eurong, on the island's eastern side, in
a family group of seven people on Friday when confronted by a female dingo.

The dingo lunged at the child and displayed "very aggressive behaviour", according
to a Department of Environment and Resource Management statement issued on Saturday night.

A passing Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) ranger managed to drive the dingo away.

"The child was not injured but the family told QPWS staff that they were very shaken,"

the statement said.

"In line with the Fraser Island Dingo Management Strategy, the dingo was located last
night (Friday night) and humanely destroyed.

"This is a concerning incident and emphasises that dingoes are wild, native animals
that should be interfered with as little as possible."

Fraser Island dingoes were responsible for five attacks on humans last year.

Earlier this month a four-year-old boy was attacked while walking along a beach with
his family at Hook Point.

In 2001 a nine-year-old boy was mauled to death by two dingoes at Waddy Point.

People visiting the island are urged to obey dingo safety information and supervise
children at all times.

AAP djp/ash

KEYWORD: DINGO

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

Qld: John Mickel elected new Speaker of Qld Parliament

AAP General News (Australia)
04-21-2009
Qld: John Mickel elected new Speaker of Qld Parliament

Labor's JOHN MICKEL has been elected the new Speaker of the Queensland Parliament.

The state's 89 MPs have been sworn in today .. with Premier ANNA BLIGH officially becoming
the nation's first elected female state leader.

Member for Logan Mr MICKEL beat Nationals leader MIKE HORAN for the role as Speaker.

Mr MICKEL will replace former Townsville MP .. Labor's MIKE REYNOLDS.

Parliament will open for business shortly after three.

AAP RTV jmm/pjo/ka

KEYWORD: PARLY QLD (BRISBANE)

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

SA: Foley says the SA budget will slide into deficit

AAP General News (Australia)
12-16-2008
SA: Foley says the SA budget will slide into deficit

ADELAIDE, Dec 16 AAP - South Australia's budget will slide into deficit this financial
year due to the global financial crisis, Treasurer Kevin Foley says.

Mr Foley, who'll deliver an economic statement on Friday, said the government was looking
at a modest deficit because of the financial turmoil's impact on the state's finances.

But he said measures would be outlined on Friday to limit the size of the deficit by
the end of the current financial year.

"We are facing a deficit," Mr Foley told ABC radio on Tuesday.

"We have seen a substantial deterioration in the income we receive from both the Commonwealth
through the GST, from our own source revenue and we are seeing a substantial slowdown
in home construction and home sales.

"The sharp deterioration in economic activity has meant that it's very difficult, if
nigh on impossible, to adjust the levers quickly enough to avoid a deficit this budget
year.

"But what I am hoping to do is to forecast a position where we will be returning to
solid surpluses in the not too distant future."

Mr Foley said he would not reveal details of Friday's economic statement and would
not comment on the possibility of tax increases.

"I don't see tax increases as the answer to the problem but I'm not going to give details
of what's in the document ahead of my release of it on Friday," he added.

AAP tjd/it/mn

KEYWORD: CRISIS SA

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

Oly: Wrap of Aussies in action at Beijing today

AAP General News (Australia)
08-11-2008
Oly: Wrap of Aussies in action at Beijing today

LIBBY TRICKETT and JESSICAH SCHIPPER spearhead Australia's Olympic swim campaign today
.. in the quest for their nation's second gold medal of the Beijing Games.

TRICKETT goes into the women's 100m butterfly final as fastest qualifier .. with teammate
SCHIPPER third fastest .. attempting to add to the lone gold won so far by 400m medley
world record holder STEPHANIE RICE.

SCHIPPER may be considered an outsider .. but she has the added incentive of a place
in the Australian women's 4x100m medley relay team .. which is a firm gold medal favourite.

She says the medley relay is the toughest to get into .. and to be part of that team
would be awesome.



BRENTON RICKARD is Australia's other contender in the Water Cube Olympic pool today
.. chasing a medal in the men's 100m breaststroke final .. something no Australian has
done since PHIL ROGERS in 1992.



Meanwhile .. at the Beijing shooting range .. where two-time gold medallist MICHAEL
DIAMOND narrowly missed a bronze in yesterday's men's trap event .. it'll be the women's
turn .. with Australian hopes on 31-year-old STACY ROIALL .. who's ranked 14th in the
world.

Australians BEN BURGE and MATTHEW INABINET will also compete in the 10 metre air rifle.



Over-achieving single sculler PETER HARDCASTLE faces his make-or-break Olympic moment
when he lines up for the rowing quarter-finals.

HARDCASTLE must finish in the top three of his heat to go through to the final 12 for
the semi-finals on Wednesday.



The women's basketballers are tipped to notch a second victory tonight .. after brushing
aside Belarus in their opening game .. and should do the same to a rebuilding Brazilian
outfit.



LLEYTON HEWITT takes to the court in the men's tennis singles .. weather permitting
after rain interruptions yesterday .. with ALICIA MOLIK in the women's singles.



The men's hockey team takes on Canada .. and the women's water polo side comes up against
Greece .. while Australia take a sizeable lead into the cross-country stage of the equestrian
eventing competition in Hong Kong.

AAP RTV dc/jds/psm/

KEYWORD: OLY08 AUST (BEIJING)

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

Fed: All the news fit to print... for fools

AAP General News (Australia)
04-01-2008
Fed: All the news fit to print... for fools

The media's been full of fools today .. on the one day of the year when the date is
as important as the story.

Google's contribution to April Fool's Day headlines was the announcement of a new feature
giving computer users access to news in advance .. including share prices and sports results.

RICHARD BRANSON's Virgin Blue airline has run newspaper ads offering half-priced fares
for passengers willing to stand .. with free calf massages on flights longer than two
hours.

And Sydney's radio 2UE has reported the Pope will conduct a special gay and lesbian
mass .. when he visits for World Youth Day.

AAP RTV dc/tm

KEYWORD: FOOL (SYDNEY)

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

SA: NSW man arrested for stealing $85,000 from Adelaide bank

AAP General News (Australia)
08-30-2007
SA: NSW man arrested for stealing $85,000 from Adelaide bank

A New South Wales man accused of using a fake driver's licence to steal 85 thousand
dollars from an Adelaide bank has been arrested in Sydney.

South Australian Police will seek the extradition of the 50-year-old when he appears
before Campbelltown Magistrates Court later today.

The man was arrested this morning in a raid by Macquarie Fields detectives at his home
in Sydney's west.

He faces a string of identity crime offences .. including assuming a false identity
.. five counts of deception and six counts of dishonest dealing in documents.

The man's accused of presenting a forged NSW drivers licence at the King William Street
branch of the Commonwealth Bank in Adelaide on July 31.

The name on the licence was a signatory to a Sydney-based company account.

He allegedly transferred 70 thousand dollars from the company account to another ..

opened with a false name two weeks before .. and withdrew another 15 thousand dollars
in cash.

Within the next two hours .. a fake South Australian driver's licence was presented
at three other Commonwealth Bank branches .. in an attempt to withdraw more money from
the company account.

Police say when staff asked for further ID the man left the bank .. leaving behind
the fake NSW licence.

AAP RTV tkc/sl/imc/bart

KEYWORD: LICENCE (ADELAIDE)

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

Qld: Tattersall's to keep Golden Casket competitive: Beattie

AAP General News (Australia)
04-16-2007
Qld: Tattersall's to keep Golden Casket competitive: Beattie

BRISBANE, April 16 AAP - An agreement allowing gaming firm Tattersall's Ltd to manage
Golden Casket Lottery Corporation will keep the Queensland lottery operator competitive,
Premier Peter Beattie says.

Tattersall's is set to buy all the shares of Golden Casket from the Queensland government
for $530 million as it seeks more geographic diversity in its operations.

Golden Casket is the exclusive lottery operator in Queensland and represents the first
major domestic acquisition for Tattersall's since it merged with Queensland-based wagering
firm Unitab Ltd in October 2006.

Mr Beattie said the agreement would create Australia's leading lottery provider, with
annual sales of more than $2 billion across five states and territories - half of all
lotteries sold across Australia.

He said the deal would keep Golden Casket competitive.

"Unless we're part of a national pool then in the end the return to Gold Casket customers
and clients will shrink," he said.

"It's like any area, it's like with TAB - unless you're part of a national pool then
you become less competitive."

Mr Beattie said punters would not notice any difference under the arrangement.

Another $150 million in surplus cash held by Golden Casket will also be returned to
the government under the deal.

Deputy Premier and Treasurer Anna Bligh said the government would use the proceeds
to fund the new $700 million Children's Hospital in Brisbane, an election promise made
last year.

"This hospital was due to be funded by borrowings and debt," she said.

"This means that it can be funded outright, so the Queensland taxpayer gets a new state
of the art ... Queensland children's hospital without having to dip into their pockets
to pay for borrowings."

Under the deal, Golden Casket's head office will remain in Queensland and a national
lottery centre will be established in Queensland to oversee Tattersall's lottery business.

The Queensland government will retain ownership of the lottery licence and the Golden
Casket brand.

Golden Casket will be appointed as the licensed lottery operator until 2072 and will
have royalty-free, exclusive use of the Golden Casket brand.

Ms Bligh said the state would continue to receive lottery taxes.

AAP rm/lc/lh/mn

KEYWORD: TATTERSALLS BEATTIE

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

Qld: Woman injured in train derailment

AAP General News (Australia)
12-14-2006
Qld: Woman injured in train derailment

An elderly woman has been injured in a train derailment at a Brisbane railway station.

Police say the train came off the tracks at Chelmer station in Brisbane's south-west
about 3.20pm (AEST).

The woman sustained minor injuries and was treated by ambulance officers.

AAP RTV jvb/sc/ibw

KEYWORD: TRAIN QLD (BRISBANE)

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

NSW: The NSW Snow Report for Sunday, Aug 6

AAP General News (Australia)
08-06-2006
NSW: The NSW Snow Report for Sunday, Aug 6

SYDNEY, Aug 6 AAP - The NSW Snow Report for Sunday, August 6

THREDBO: A crystal clear morning with a light breeze about the peaks. A late afternoon
cloudy change forecast. A good cover of snow across the open trails. Advanced riders head
to Off-Piste, intermediate the Cruiser and beginners Friday Flat. 13 lifts to open.

PERISHER: Winds are light and the sun is shining. Some light and dry snowdrifts on
the higher runs. Groomed runs firm and ready to cruise. Perisher, Blue Cow and Smiggins
Hole top picks. 47 lifts to open.

CHARLOTTE PASS: Fine and sunny morning with cloud increasing. A chance of isolated
showers falling as snow above 1300m. Wind may increase from moderate to fresh as the weak
cold front approaches. Skiable cover is rated moderate. Morning skiing and boarding will
be on a hard packed surface that will soften as the day warms. Four to Five lifts operating.

SELWYN: Fine and sunny start to the day before increasing cloud during the afternoon
with the chance of isolated showers. Moderate to fresh south to southeast winds. No fresh
snow but cover is extensive. Snow tipped to be firm and fast this morning. Access to 80
per cent of the rideable terrain. Eight lifts open.

AAP tr/cat

KEYWORD: SNOW NSW

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

ASIA: Families arrive for Nias memorial to Navy dead

AAP General News (Australia)
04-02-2006
ASIA: Families arrive for Nias memorial to Navy dead

The families of nine Australians killed in the Sea King helicopter crash on Nias a
year ago .. have arrived on the remote Indonesian island for a memorial service.

Twenty-eight relatives have made the journey on HMAS Tobruk .. to visit the site where
the helicopter crashed during a mercy mission to the earthquake-hit island.

They're accompanied by about 10 local soldiers .. while an Indonesian navy frigate
is positioned offshore near the Australian ship.

The Australian government warned yesterday .. of intelligence pointing to a possible
terrorist attack in Indonesia today.

AAP RTV rft/jmt

KEYWORD: INDON NIAS (NIAS)

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

Vic: Cyclist killed on highway

AAP General News (Australia)
12-04-2005
Vic: Cyclist killed on highway

A cyclist has died in a fatal collision on the Princes Highway near Traralgon .. in
Victoria's Gippsland.

Police were called to the accident at 4 pm (AEDT) .. and say the cyclist died at the scene.

The female driver of the car is assisting them with inquiries.

The major collision unit will be investigating the accident.





The cyclist's death brings Victoria's road toll for the year to 322 .. the same number
as at the same time last year.

AAP RTV kn/tm/ibw

KEYWORD: TOLL VIC (MELBOURNE)

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

actuals

actuals
1. (physicals) Commodities that can be purchased and used, rather than goods traded on a futures contract.

2. In futures contracts or forward dealing, the commodity underlying a contract.

3. Expenses or receipts that have actually occurred, as opposed to targets, budgets, or other projections.

eHow.com Ranks as the No. 1 How-to Site According to Nielsen//NetRatings Just Eight Months After Launch.

eHow.com Also Ranked as a Top 50 News and Information Site

SAN FRANCISCO, May 23 /PRNewswire/ --

eHow.com (www.ehow.com), the Internet's one-stop resource for getting things done, is the leading source for how-to information on the Web, having more than doubled its monthly traffic since November, according to Nielsen//NetRatings. Additionally, eHow is now a top 50 News and Information site on the Web according to Nielsen//NetRatings. eHow attained this top 50 position in just eight months since launching the site, a ranking that took more than a year for other leading dotcom companies to achieve.

"In just eight short months we've achieved the leadership position in the how-to space, and have established ourselves as a leading contextual commerce player," said Courtney Rosen, CEO and founder of eHow.com. "Our strong traffic growth is proof that we are filling a key consumer need -- how-to solutions for everyday problems."

"Our data shows that eHow is head and shoulders above the competition in terms of monthly visitor traffic," said Jarvis Mak, Internet Analyst at NetRatings. "In a space that also includes Learn2.com and ExpertCentral, eHow has distinguished itself as the number one how-to site on the Web."

Achieving additional milestones in its short time since its launch, eHow reports a database of original content containing more than 13,000 "eHows" or how-to solutions, categorized within more than 20 centers such as Home and Garden and Sports and Fitness. With this depth and breadth of content, the site is able to successfully answer more than 90 percent of all questions asked. In turn, eHow also connects consumers with more than 20,000 products or services the consumer will need to complete their how-to task.

About eHow.com

eHow.com, a privately held company headquartered in San Francisco, is the Internet's one-stop source for getting things done. Its investors include Hummer Winblad Venture Partners, Media Technology Ventures, GE Financial Assurance (a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Electric), Fingerhut (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Federated Department Stores), Freedom Communications, Presidio Venture Partners LLC, Scripps Ventures and select private investors. Its board members consist of Ann Winblad (Hummer Winblad Venture Partners), Peter Gardner (Media Technology Ventures), Doug Tinker (Kransco) and Courtney Rosen (eHow). The management team comprises executives from established technology and consumer brand companies such as Nestle, Visa, Gap Incorporated, Peoplesoft, Andersen Consulting, and Wells Fargo. For further information, visit www.eHow.com.

About Nielsen//NetRatings

Nielen//NetRatings, the audience measurement service from Nielsen Media Research and NetRatings, Inc., collects real-time data from more than 65,000 panel members in the United States. The U.S. panel sample consists of 57,000 at-home users and 8,000 at-work users. These panels collectively represent the largest representative media research sample of Internet users in the industry. Worldwide, in partnership with ACNielsen eRatings.com, Nielsen//NetRatings measures the Internet experiences of nearly 110,000 people. Nielsen//NetRatings uses unique technology capable of measuring both Internet use and advertising to provide the most timely, accurate and comprehensive Internet usage data and advertising information in the global marketplace. Nielsen//NetRatings leverages proprietary data-collection technology from NetRatings, Nielsen Media Research's 50 years of expertise in research and audience measurement, and ACNielsen's international leadership in supplying market research information covering more than 100 countries. For more information, please visit www.nielsen-netratings.com

Tech Briefs.

* GEAC BUYING CLARUS CORP.: Construction industry software vendor Geac Computer Systems has signed an agreement to acquire the financial and human resource management systems business of Clarus Corp., a $40-million company with approximately 300 customers across North America. The transaction is expected to close sometime around November. In a separate matter, earlier this year, Geac said that it plans to heavily recruit CPAs as advisors trained to recommend its software products to clients in the middle market.

* SOLOMON ENTERS APPLICATION SERVICES PROVIDER ARENA: Joining the ranks of rival accounting software vendor Great Plains, Solomon Software has launched an application service provider program to deliver its Solomon IV software to small and midsized companies. In an announcement to resellers at its annual conference, Solomon said that its ASP will enable customers "to outsource the management of their financial and business systems, and to simplify their in-house technology systems." Under the program, end users lease their accounting software and access it via the Internet from servers operated and updated by the vendor. Great Plains, Solomon's chief rival in the middle market, rolled out an ASP for its Dynamics software late last year. Solomon also has established a special program with tech leasing firm First Sierra Financials that will allow customers of its ASP both to apply for the service and obtain financing for it online.

* CENTURY BUSINESS SERVICES BUYS TECHNOLOGY FIRM: In one of its largest transactions yet, the accounting industry consolidator has acquired Tri-Tek Information Services Inc. and will make that $30-million, St. Louis-based technology services firm part of its CBiz Interactive Division. "Tri-Tek's wide range of information systems services complements our Web-site building, e-commerce and Internet capabilities, and significantly enhances our CBiz Interactive Division," said Fred M. Winkler, CBiz president and chief operating officer. Century, which ranked No. 7 on Accounting Today's Top 100 Firms list last year, had 1998 revenue of $363 million built primarily by acquiring accounting firms and other business services firms much smaller than Tri-Tek.

* AUSTRALIAN VENDOR PLANS BIG IN PRACTICE MANAGEMENT: Out to establish itself as a practice management software powerhouse, Australian accounting software vendor Solution 6 Holdings has signed a $30 million agreement to acquire CMS/Data Corp. from Hummingbird Communications Ltd. CMS is a vendor of software for professional services firms, whose 240 customers include accounting firms Deloitte & Touche and Grant Thornton. "For some time now, it has been clear that the accounting, consulting and legal industries, particularly amongst the larger firms, are converging. Solution 6 wants to ensure that we are first in the market to take advantage of the enormous opportunities that will present themselves," said chief executive Chris Tyler.

EPICOR ADDING ELECTRONIC COMMERCE TECHNOLOGY: Epicor Software Corp. plans to extend its Platinum ERA accounting/enterprise software line by developing an ERA.net-Commerce product that will support electronic commerce functions, such as Internet-based corporate procurement, product catalogs and electronic storefronts. The product, to be built on Microsoft's BizTalk framework, is scheduled for rollout by year's end. "Epicor has selected BizTalk as the foundation of our e-commerce strategy because of our shared vision to provide highly functional, rapidly deployable solutions to middle-market enterprises," said Epicor product marketing vice president Mike Pennell. "BizTalk provides a complete business-to-business framework that will allow our mutual customers to take advantage of opportunities in a rapidly changing Internet economy."