Fed: Gates touches down for high level discussions

AAP General News (Australia)
02-22-2008
Fed: Gates touches down for high level discussions

By Sandra O'Malley, Diplomatic Correspondent

CANBERRA, Feb 22 AAP/Agencies - US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has touched down
in Canberra for the first senior level discussions in Australia between the Rudd government
and the Bush administration.

Despite the change in government following last year's federal election, Mr Gates expects
it to be very much business as usual between Australia and its most important ally.

"We anticipate there will be a great deal of continuity. We have a lot of common interests.

We need to initiate an …

SA:MP's case raises issues with social media

AAP General News (Australia)
04-28-2011
SA:MP's case raises issues with social media

Attorney-General JOHN RAU says the case of a South Australian MP charged with child
porn offences has raised issues over the internet and social media flouting evidence laws.

The MP has been charged with four child pornography offences and will appear in court next month.

He can't be named in the SA media because of provisions regarding sex offences in the
state's Evidence Act.

But Mr RAU says this hasn't stopped his name appearing on a range of internet sites
and on some Facebook and Twitter feeds .. potentially hindering police investigations.

However he wouldn't comment on whether the revelations on the internet had compromised
the MP's ability to receive a fair hearing .. should his case go to trial.

AAP RTV tjd/nap

KEYWORD: MP (ADELAIDE)

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

NSW:4th NRL betting accused denies charges

AAP General News (Australia)
08-25-2011
NSW:4th NRL betting accused denies charges

The fourth man charged over the NRL betting scandal has pleaded not guilty to trying
to dishonestly obtain almost 50 thousand dollars.

The pleas were entered by GREGORY ADAM TAIT'S lawyer today in Sydney's Downing Centre
Local Court.

38-year-old TAIT is charged with attempting to dishonestly obtain a financial advantage
from betting agency Centrebet on August 20 last year, the day before a match between the
Bulldogs and North Queensland.

He's is charged with the same offence against the New Zealand Racing Board.

Police have alleged TAIT placed bets on the first scoring option in the match, and
arranged for a woman in New Zealand to place bets on the same scoring option on his behalf.

Magistrate JANE CULVER adjourned the matter to October 20 at the same court.

AAP RTV mss/tr/wf

KEYWORD: TAIT (SYDNEY)

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

NSW:Man's disappearance suspicious: Police

AAP General News (Australia)
02-14-2011
NSW:Man's disappearance suspicious: Police

SYDNEY, Feb 14 AAP - A Sydney man who went missing under suspicious circumstances more
than six months ago has not used his bank accounts or travelled overseas, police say.

Mohammed Ayman Abouhait, 30, from Lakemba in Sydney's southwest, was last seen in Tregear,
in the city's west, in July.

His unit was ransacked in August last year and his blue Subaru WRX was found in Guildford
West last month.

Police have now set up Strike Force Optimum to find Mr Abouhait, who commonly uses
the name Ayman.

Campsie crime manager Detective Inspector John Betell said NSW police and family, concerned
for his welfare, were appealing for the public's help to find him.

He said Mr Abouhait was last seen with a man of Asian appearance on July 25, 2010.

"Police believed the two men arrived at Boronia Road, North St Marys, in an older model
white or burgundy-coloured Toyota Camry," he said.

"This car was last sighted parked in Wilkes Crescent, Tregear.

"Mr Abouhait was reported missing to police on July 30 after attempts by his girlfriend
and family members to contact him failed."

Police say he has not travelled overseas or accessed any bank accounts - and he did
not attend his mother's funeral in August.

Mr Abouhait is described as being of Mediterranean/Middle Eastern appearance with an
olive complexion, about 180cm-185cm tall, of medium build, and has brown eyes, dark hair
and a trimmed beard.

He was last seen wearing a grey and black hooded zipped jacket with an Asics logo.

Anyone with information that could help police investigating Mr Abouhait's disappearance
is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

AAP lxs/klm/cdh

KEYWORD: ABOUHAIT UPDATE (PIX AVAILABLE)

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

FED:Rooftop protest ends at detention centre

AAP General News (Australia)
08-31-2010
FED:Rooftop protest ends at detention centre

By Lisa Martin

BRISBANE, Aug 31 AAP - Accused Indonesian people smugglers have ended a rooftop protest
at a Darwin immigration detention centre.

The Indonesian boat crew, who are facing people smuggling charges, set mattresses on
fire and brandished poles on a roof at the centre on Sunday.

On Monday, 117 detainees continued the protest, with police called in to negotiate
with the group, some of whom had climbed back onto the roof.

Immigration department spokesman Sandi Logan said the situation had eased overnight
and the centre was calm on Tuesday.

"All the protesters have come down off the roof and are in a secure area within the
facility," he told AAP.

"Police remain on site. The protesters agreed to negotiate with police and detention
centre staff and were escorted to a secure area within the facility.

"They were offered food and water."

Australian Federal Police are yet to say if they will charge the protesters.

The detention centre at the Coonawarra Naval Base currently houses 487 detainees, including
151 alleged Indonesian people smugglers.

AAP lpm/tnf/apm

KEYWORD: RIOT

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

Main stories on ABC 702's 0500 news

AAP General News (Australia)
04-23-2010
Main stories on ABC 702's 0500 news

- Former Melb Storm CEO refusing to talk about breaches to salary cap; Melb Rebels
to discuss matter in meeting today; Fed sports minister says hugely disappointing to see
cap abused to such extent;

- Series of grenade attacks in Bangkok overnight kills three and injures dozens of
others, including one Australian man;

- Greens say not good enough for gov't to abandon home insulation scheme; Milne says
gov't needs to move to better scheme;

- Obama urges Wall St bankers to support tighter regulation of financial markets;

- Police treating fatal house fire north of Brisbane as suspicious;

- Fire at psych hospital at Cumberland hosp at Westmead; reopened after ventilated;

- British Labour accuses conservatives of conducting smear campaign of Lib Democrats
leader Clegg;

- Weather;

AAP RTV psm/

KEYWORD: MONITOR 0500 ABC (SYDNEY)

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

Vic: Fines for festive revellers who refuse to leave pub

AAP General News (Australia)
12-09-2009
Vic: Fines for festive revellers who refuse to leave pub

MELBOURNE, Dec 9 AAP - People who misbehave in Melbourne's pubs and clubs during the
festive season will face on-the-spot $234 fines under new laws.

The No Excuses campaign which starts on Wednesday aims to tackle drunken violence in
the city in the lead-up to the busy Christmas/New Year season.

The campaign is one of several initiatives Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle spoke
about on Wednesday to tackle city safety.

"We've done work to make sure that we have one more weapon in our arsenal," he told reporters.

"That's the No Excuses fine, if you are asked by a licensee to leave a premises and
you refuse to comply, you will be hit with a $234 fine," he said.

Police would be called to issue a fine to anyone who refused to comply.

"Unfortunately there have been problems in that area, but this puts the responsibility
back on the patron," Mr Doyle said.

Another initiative includes re-opening a safe community village at St Pauls Cathedral
that will provide refreshments to late night revellers while they wait to catch a taxi
or Nightrider bus.

"We don't want to forsake our 24/7 laneway bar culture, we want this to be one of the
world's cities that's vibrant and alive, but we also want it to be safe."

The fines would involve bar staff contacting police if a patron refused to leave.

AAP gr/szp/gfr/maur

KEYWORD: BEHAVIOUR

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

JI's reappearance a cause for concern

Andrin Raj
New Straits Times
07-29-2009
JI's reappearance a cause for concern
Byline: Andrin Raj
Edition: Main/Lifestyle
Section: Main Section

JEMAAH Islamiyah has been blamed for the recent twin bombings in Jakarta. The attacks highlight the swift need to disable the terrorist organisation before it can cause more destruction across Southeast Asia, writes ANDRIN RAJ.

The recent bombings of the Ritz-Carlton and J.W. Marriott hotels in Jakarta was not surprising, as the re-emergence of Jemaah Islamiyah has been evident for the last year and a half.
The escape of Mas Selamat Kastari from Singapore was part of the re-emergence of JI in Southeast Asia. That he managed to swim from Singapore to Johor Baru should have been a warning to the authorities in the region. Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines remain JI targets.

Mas Selamat, the JI leader of "Mantiqi 1" of Singapore, which covers Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, is a close aide of Noordin Mohammad Top, the JI operations leader in Southeast Asia, still at large.

Noordin remains a key figure in JI and remains part of the larger Southeast Asian terrorist organisation.

JI is the only terrorist organisation in the region with a clear and structured operational modus operandi. It recruits its members from the Southeast Asian region.

Since the Sept 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, authorities have crippled most of the terrorist cells in the region. JI moved much of its training operations to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Mas Selamat's one-year disappearance would have given him the opportunity to plan new attacks with his accomplice Noordin, without whom these attacks could not have occurred. Mas Selamat in Malaysia would have had access to "sleeping cells" in the region.

The Internet would have enabled correspondence with Noordin, currently believed to be in Indonesia. As much as these are monitored, the authorities are aware of the difficulties of tracing Internet mail.

Mas Selamat's capture in Malaysia earlier this year is a key element of the recent bombings in Jakarta. Terrorist groups have to plan such major strikes in advance.

When the authorities in Malaysia captured Mas Selamat, they also detained several JI members, some of whom were new recruits.

The information elicited from them may only have been part of a bigger plan. Evidence gathered by the Indonesian authorities indicates that the bombs were of homemade explosives, similar to those made by bomb experts such as Noordin and Malaysian-born Azahari Hussein, who was killed in a shoot-out with police in Malang, Central Java, in late 2005.

Noordin is currently the most senior JI member and commands authority in such attacks. These bombings could have been assisted by Mas Selamat in the initial planning. Thailand and the Philippines must also be vigilant and ready to address this threat. In forestalling these threats, the authorities should expect the unexpected.

The Ritz-Carlton and Marriott bombings were the work of suicide bombers. Closed-circuit television footage revealed a suicide bomber with a backpack in front of his body. This indicated loopholes in security procedures, and suggested the complicity of insiders.

Suicide bombers are known to work with two accomplices in proximity. The "escort" is the person the authorities should identify; the suicide bomber is dead. The other is usually a photographer who would be taking snapshots of the incident from a safe distance.

This is characteristic of a JI operation and should be taken seriously, as more attacks are likely in the near future.

Indonesia has some 360 "extremist organisations" operating legally. Evidence gathered in 2002 around Indonesia showed "extremist" rallies taking place regularly all over Indonesia.

This intensified after the 9/11 attacks, when members of these organisations wore military outfits and rallied in support of al- Qaeda, with pictures of Osama bin Laden on T-shirts.

JI is classified as a terrorist organisation by the US but not in Indonesia, where it is difficult for authorities to curtail religious groups. A plan to pass a law addressing the existence of extremist organisations has been pending for some time, but has not made any appreciable progress.

The Indonesian authorities should address these issues immediately. Not doing so might undermine the political foundations of Indonesia.

* The writer is a terrorism analyst with the International Association for Counter-Terrorism and Security Professionals. The views expressed here are his own

(Copyright 2009)

NSW: Crane threat called off

AAP General News (Australia)
12-29-2008
NSW: Crane threat called off

A leaning crane on a building site in Sydney's east has been declared safe .. after
both WorkCover and police agreed it isn't dangerous.

Residents at five heritage listed apartment blocks and a boutique hotel in Springfield
Avenue in Potts Point were evacuated about 11.15 this morning (AEDT) because of concerns
it might fall.

The alarm was raised by a resident who told emergency service operators the crane was leaning.

Residents and hotel guests have returned to their buildings.

AAP RTV bc/evt/crh

KEYWORD: CRANE (SYDNEY)

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

WA: Iron ore producers support new electricity hub

AAP General News (Australia)
08-20-2008
WA: Iron ore producers support new electricity hub

Industry groups and the state opposition have come out in support of West Australian
government plans for a major electricity grid system across the Pilbara.

Premier ALAN CARPENTER says an interconnected power hub for the Pilbara region can
produce six thousand megawatts by 2015.

Currently .. many mining companies produce their own electricity on site .. using gas
or diesel generated power.

Opposition Leader COLIN BARNETT supports the idea of an integrated power system ..

but says it's laughable the government is proposing a stable and secure energy supply
AFTER the Varanus Island gas crisis.

Meanwhile .. The Association of Mining and Energy Companies says such a hub is likely
to benefit smaller players .. with its director MEGAN ANWYLL saying working together is
the only way to open up the region to smaller players.

But Industry representatives privately say major mining giants like Rio Tinto .. BHP-Billiton
and Woodside may be hard pressed to take part in an integrated supply system.

AAP RTV jp/was/ldj/de/wz/af

KEYWORD: POLLWA POWER (PERTH)

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

National Newslist for Sunday, April 13, 2008

AAP General News (Australia)
04-13-2008
National Newslist for Sunday, April 13, 2008
Good Morning News Editors and Chiefs of Staff
AAP's National Newslist for today (not for publication):
This is a guide only and stories are subject to change.

AAP's news editors Joanne Williamson and Nalita Ferraz can be contacted on 02 93228611/8610.

CANBERRA:
- Prime Minister Kevin Rudd arrives back in Canberra after 18-day overseas trip; expected
to attend 2020 Youth Summit
- Treasurer Wayne Swan says ailing global economy will make Rudd government's first budget
tight; International Monetary Fund calls for strong action and close cooperation to combat
the financial crisis battering the world economy
- Nationals leader Warren Truss gives glowing assessment of embattled Opposition Leader
Brendan Nelson; frontbencher Andrew Robb says there is no general push within the federal
opposition to oust Nelson as leader
- Truss says a merger with the Liberals is on the cards in Queensland but doubts that
other states are prepared to make that move
- Second day of 2020 Youth Summit
- Sports Minister Kate Ellis again urges pro-Tibetan activists not to disrupt the Canberra
leg of the Olympic torch relay; Voice of Tibet Australia group says the protests that
have dogged the relay were fantastic
- Chasing more on reports that federal government may be on the verge of introducing a
national FuelWatch scheme

SYDNEY:
- Premier Morris Iemma unveils financial rescue package to help struggling families cope
with interest rate rises and higher living costs (press conference 1000 AEST)
- New nationwide survey reveals thousands of bike riders are riding at night without proper lights
- Man to face court today charged with attempted murder following a shooting incident
at Doonside in Sydney's west
- Man arrested at a Sydney naval base, and charged with sexual assault and robbery
- Five people injured in a head-on smash involving a car and a van on NSW's central coast

MELBOURNE:
- Victorian Liberal state council meeting continues
- Victorian traders have achieved the highest accuracy rate in a nationwide audit of shop prices
- Three people hospitalised with minor burns after backyard explosion in small port town
east of Melbourne
- Man bashed and robbed of mobile phone and car in attack at a Melbourne railway station car park

BRISBANE:
- Premier Anna Bligh calls for a national education curriculum
- Queensland's 2020 Summit delegates meet at state parliament today to discuss next weekend's
summit in Canberra, 1030
- Five men rescued after boat sank in waters off Mackay
- Police officer struck with a block of wood and colleague bitten on the hand in incident
on Brisbane's southside
- Body of man found at scene of housefire in north Queensland
- Police investigate death of man whose body was found lying on a road at the Gold Coast
- Man charged after allegedly stalking and harassing a woman for two weeks after raping
her on the Gold Coast

FINANCE:
- Markets preview
- Monitoring business programs
- Baby boomers retirement story (embargoed until 0001 AEST Monday)

SPORT:
AFL
MELBOURNE - Wrap of news and Snapshot of AFL 4th round
AFL 4th rd matches:-
MELBOURNE - Hawthorn v Adelaide, Aurora Stadium, 1310
MELBOURNE - Carlton v Collingwood, MCG, 1410
PERTH - Fremantle v Richmond, Subiaco Oval, 1640AEST
Follow ups from North Melbourne v Melbourne, Sydney v West Coast, Port Adelaide v Brisbane

LEAGUE
SYDNEY - Wrap of NRL news following round 5 Sunday matches, plus Snapshot of round to date.

NRL round 5 matches:
AUCKLAND - NZ Warriors v Bulldogs, Mt Smart Stadium, 1200AEST
CANBERRA - Canberra v Wests Tigers, Canberra Stadium, 1400
NEWCASTLE - Newcastle v Brisbane, EnergyAustralia Stadium, 1500
Preview for South Sydney v Cronulla
Follow ups from St George Illawarra v North Queensland, Penrith v Sydney Roosters

RUGBY
SYDNEY - Australian-angled wrap after round 9 of Super 14
Super 14 round 9 match:
PRETORIA - Bulls v Hurricanes, 0105AEST
Follow ups from Western Force v NSW Waratahs, Blues v Brumbies

GOLF
AUGUSTA, Georgia - Cover of Aussies in US Masters, third round.

TENNIS
TOWNSVILLE - Davis Cup, Asia-Oceania zone second round tie: Australia v Thailand, final
day (reverse singles), 1100.

NETBALL
ANZ Championship round 2 matches:
MELBOURNE - Melbourne Vixens v Qld Firebirds, SNHC, 1330
ROTORUA, NZ - Waikato Magic v Northern Mystics, 1530AEST

DIVING
HOBART - Olympic selection trials, Hobart Aquatic Centre, day 3

SWIMMING
MANCHESTER, England - Cover of Aussies as world shortcourse championships continue.

MOTORSPORT
ESTORIL, Portugal - Casey Stoner in third round of world MotoGP championship at Estoril.

TRIATHLON
ISHIGAKI ISLAND, Japan - Aussies in World Cup third round.

ROWING
SYDNEY - Final Olympic selection trials continue

RACING
SYDNEY - Follow up from Group one Rosehill Guineas meeting.

MELBOURNE - Follow up from Moonee Valley meeting
BRISBANE - Follow up from of Doomben meeting

AAP mn

KEYWORD: NATIONAL NEWSLIST

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

WA: Lead shipments given provisional go ahead

AAP General News (Australia)
12-10-2007
WA: Lead shipments given provisional go ahead

Western Australia's environmental watchdog has recommended lead concentrate be allowed
to be shipped through the port of Fremantle.

Magellan Metals .. the company at the centre of the Esperance lead contamination crisis
.. had applied to the Environmental Protection Agency to export the lead from its Wiluna
mine through Fremantle.

Magellan was stopped from shipping the product through Esperance after if was discovered
lead dust was escaping into the town .. and leading to high lead blood levels among parts
of the population .. including some children.

The EPA's today given its approval in principle for the export through Fremantle ..

subject to environmental conditions.

AAP RTV np/af/bart

KEYWORD: MAGELLAN (PERTH)

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

Fed: Minchin pays tribute to Vanstone

AAP General News (Australia)
04-26-2007
Fed: Minchin pays tribute to Vanstone

CANBERRA, April 26 AAP - Departing senator Amanda Vanstone made a significant contribution
to the Howard government in several difficult portfolios, government Senate leader Nick
Minchin said today.

Senator Minchin said his colleague, who today announced her resignation from politics,
was a valuable member of the coalition Senate ministerial team across a range of portfolios.

"Senator Vanstone was responsible for several difficult portfolios during her ministerial
career and was renowned for her robust political advocacy," he said in a statement.

"She made a significant contribution to the Howard government during her time as a
minister and I wish her well in her future endeavours.

"As a fellow South Australian, I pay tribute to Senator Vanstone's spirited advancement
of SA interests."

AAP mb/it/cdh

KEYWORD: VANSTONE MINCHIN

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

NSW: Main stories in today's Sydney newspapers=2

AAP General News (Australia)
12-27-2006
NSW: Main stories in today's Sydney newspapers=2

THE AUSTRALIAN

Page 1: Labor would push through tough welfare reforms if it won the federal election
to encourage disability pensioners to find work. Retiring Australian spin supremo Shane
Warne has become the first player to take 700 Test wickets. Tiffany Fahey, the daughter
of former NSW premier John Fahey, has been killed in a Sydney car accident. A local lawyer
has received death threats for representing a woman in a controversial appeal against
Malaysian authorities' refusal to accept her conversion from Islam to Christianity. NSW
Labor is on track to win the March election despite its recent woes, according to a new
poll.

Page 2: Recycled sewage would be best used in agriculture and industry but it could
also be used for drinking if treatment was to a high enough standard, says the parliamentary
secretary for the environment.

Page 3: Wild Oats XI is on track to defend its title in the Sydney to Hobart yacht
race, streaking out of Sydney Harbour in record time.

World: Islamic forces have retreated in Somalia following attacks by government and
Ethiopian troops (Mogadishu).

Finance: An estimated 2.3 million people visited a Myer store on Boxing Day.

Sport: Retiring Australian spinner Shane Warne bowled England's Andrew Strauss at the
MCG to become the first man to take his 700th Test wicket.

MORE sk/it

KEYWORD: MONITOR FRONTERS NSW 2 SYDNEY

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

Fed: DNA traces of soldier found on Kovco's gun

AAP General News (Australia)
08-18-2006
Fed: DNA traces of soldier found on Kovco's gun

DNA from a soldier who was on duty with Private JAKE KOVCO hours before he was fatally
shot in Iraq .. has been found on the gun that killed the Victorian soldier.

A forensic biologist has told the inquiry into Private KOVCO'S death DNA tests on his
9mm pistol found traces of genetic material belonging to another private .. codenamed
soldier 14 .. who was on duty with him on April 21 in Baghdad.

MICHELLE FRANCO said traces of Soldier 14's DNA was found on the pistol's slide ..

along with DNA belonging to Private KOVCO.

Other traces of DNA believed to be from Soldier 14 were also found on the pistol's
trigger .. hand grip and magazine.

Soldier 14 .. who was at the inquiry today with his lawyer .. had been on duty within
the Australian Embassy compound in Baghdad with Pte Kovco earlier that day.

AAP RTV bt/hn/bart

KEYWORD: KOVCO DNA (SYDNEY)

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

VIC: Main stories in today's Melbourne newspapers=2

AAP General News (Australia)
04-12-2006
VIC: Main stories in today's Melbourne newspapers=2

THE AGE

Page 1: Foreign Minister Alexander Downer's staff did not read crucial intelligence
reports sent to his office in 2000 which warned that a trucking company facilitating Australian
wheat sales in Iraq was an agent for Saddam Hussein's regime. Missing drug trafficker
Tony Mokbel has been hit with a $4 million tax bill as federal authorities begin a campaign
against Melbourne gangsters of the kind that brought down crime legend Al Capone. Some
descendants of wartime foes can march on Anzac Day, the Victorian RSL has ruled for the
first time.

Page 2: A 73-year-old Melbourne newspaper editor has claimed a seat in the Italian
Senate, which could help his centre-left party over the line to an election victory.

Page 3: Families across Australia may be able to sign up to a ban on pornography and
violent content with their internet service providers by the end of this year. Greens
leader Bob Brown will appear on stage as a special guest of character Dolly Putin during
the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

World: Italian politician Romano Prodi claimed victory early yesterday over his bitter
rival, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, in a hard-fought election that cemented deep
divisions in the economically beleaguered nation.

Finance: The Foster's group had its biggest one-day share gain in nearly six months
after the drinks company jettisoned its under-performing European brand to Scottish &
Newcastle for a one-off debt-reducing cash injection of $750 million.

Sport: Dan Cullen will fly out for Bangladesh today, harbouring thoughts of an unlikely
spin partnership with Stuart MacGill in the second test in Dhaka.



AAP kl/cmc

KEYWORD: MONITOR FRONTERS VIC 2 MELBOURNE

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

Fed: Governor-General to represent Aust at pope's funeral

AAP General News (Australia)
04-05-2005
Fed: Governor-General to represent Aust at pope's funeral

CANBERRA, April 5 AAP - The Malaysian prime minister's visit to Australia will prevent
Prime Minister John Howard from attending the funeral of Pope John Paul II on Friday.

Mr Howard today confirmed Governor-General Michael Jeffery and his wife Marlena would
represent Australia at the funeral in Vatican City.

"I am unable to attend the funeral due to the visit to Australia of the Prime Minister
of Malaysia, Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi," Mr Howard said in a statement.

"The Governor-General and Mrs Jeffery hope then to resume their earlier program to
attend the marriage celebrations for His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and Mrs Camilla
Parker Bowles which have been deferred to Saturday, 9 April."

Maj Gen Jeffery was to attend the wedding in London on Friday, but the service was
postponed to allow Prince Charles to attend the pope's funeral.

AAP pjo/mfh/sb/lb/tnf s

KEYWORD: POPE GG LEAD

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

unit-linked policy

unit-linked policy A life-assurance policy in which the benefits depend on the performance of a portfolio of shares. Each premium paid by the insured person is split: one part is used to provide life-assurance cover, while the balance (after the deduction of costs, expenses, etc.) is used to buy units in a unit trust. In this way a small investor can benefit from investment in a managed fund without making a large financial commitment. As they are linked to the value of shares, unit-linked policies can go up or down in value. Policyholders can surrender the policy at any time and the surrender value is the selling price of the units purchased by the date of cancellation (less expenses). Recent decades have also seen a widespread increase in unit-linked savings plans, both with and without life-assurance cover.

Cargo Portal Services On Schedule for January Business, Unisys and Industry Execs Say; Freight Forwarders View Demos and Provide Enthusiastic Feedback.

Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers

BLUE BELL, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 13, 2002

E-commerce in the air cargo industry took another step forward this month when senior staff from nine major freight forwarders were the first to see Cargo Portal Services (CPS) in live operation.

CPS is a comprehensive Internet portal that will allow freight forwarders to more easily book and manage a shipment through its lifecycle and effectively integrate their computer systems with those of the multiple air carriers, as well as reduce transaction costs.

The successful demonstration comes only five months after CPS was announced by Unisys Corporation, United Airlines Cargo, Northwest Airlines Cargo and Air Canada Cargo.

"This service provides a critical next step to the Cargo 2000 initiative by combining the booking function with the operational tracking of shipments," stated James Kagawa, vice president, Information Technology of Kintetsu World Express. "While other e-commerce ventures we have investigated only 'accept' bookings, Cargo Portal Services is a quality product, which gives global forwarders the integration capability we need to offer our clients."

The forwarder group agreed that the Web site design was intuitive and easy-to-use. Laura Sanders, vice president, Lynden Air Freight, said, "The screens are very user-friendly, and the workflow mirrors how we do business today. This will virtually eliminate our need for additional training, and it means that our branches will be able to use the Web site immediately after the launch in January."

The other forwarders at the advisory session were also enthusiastic about the service. "The site is flexible and can handle single bookings, multiple bookings, and mass uploads, so it fits what our large gateway operations need," said Rich Zablocki, managing director, International for Emery Forwarding. "And all of this is done without any integration costs for the forwarder."

Cargo Portal Services operates on any PC that can support a major browser, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator.

The forwarder advisory group also includes senior staff from BAX Global, Eagle Global Logistics (EGL), National Air Cargo, Geologistics and others among the top 10 global forwarders. In December, this forwarder group will be invited to begin using the system in preparation for the global public launch in January.

Unisys confirmed that it is in discussions with many other carriers who are interested in joining this carrier-neutral service.

For more information, please visit www.unisys.com/cargoportal.

About Air Canada Cargo

Air Canada is Canada's flagship air carrier providing air transportation services to some 150 destinations worldwide. Air Canada Cargo offers priority, airfreight and specialized air cargo transportation services.

Year 2002 investments in a new Toronto cargo terminal, Unisys based VIS cargo computer system, revamped product portfolio, and Cargo Portal Services, are all indicative of Air Canada Cargo's commitment to its customers.

About Northwest Airlines Cargo

Northwest is the world's fourth largest airline, operating passenger hubs in Detroit, Minneapolis, Memphis, Amsterdam, and Tokyo. Northwest operates 12 Boeing 747 freighters in the Pacific, serving all major Asian cities and seven US gateways. The combined cargo capacity of the passenger and freighter flights makes Northwest one of the top two cargo carriers in the Pacific.

About United Airlines Cargo

United Cargo offers nearly 1,900 flights a day to 134 destinations in 26 countries and two U.S. territories. The company accommodates shippers' needs worldwide using its cargo-friendly fleet of widebody aircraft including 44 Boeing 747s, 48 Boeing 777s and 54 Boeing 767s.

In addition, United Cargo continues to invest in products, technology and services, such as TD.Guaranteed, Global SP, e-commerce enhancements (www.unitedcargo.com), new facilities and bar-code scanning to meet the ever-changing needs of the shipping community. United is one the largest combination passenger/cargo carrier in the United States, flying more than 2.4 billion cargo-ton miles in 2001.

About Unisys

Unisys is a worldwide information technology services and solutions company. Our people combine expertise in systems integration, outsourcing, infrastructure, server technology and consulting with precision thinking and relentless execution to help clients, in more than 100 countries, quickly and efficiently achieve competitive advantage. For more information, visit www.unisys.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Any statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All forward-looking statements rely on assumptions and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations.

Statements in this release regarding anticipated values of contracts are based upon assumptions regarding future volumes of business, which are subject to change. The factors that could affect the company's future financial results are discussed more fully in the company's latest Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

RELEASE NO.: 1102/8208 http://www.unisys.com/about__unisys/news_a_events/11138208.htm

Unisys is a registered trademark of Unisys Corporation. All other brands and products referenced herein are acknowledged to be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

NEW RIVALS ALLOWING USERS FREE ACCESS TO THE INTERNET.(Business)

By now, whether it's $21.95 or $9.95, it seems to be an Internet fact of life: No one roams for free.

But the World Wide Web is still too new to presume that anything is set in stone, and monthly dial-up fees could become another Internet dinosaur if others keep giving away what America Online is trying to sell.

Last week, Gateway announced that it would throw in a free year of its Internet service with any computer purchase of more than $1,000.

But even more threatening to the stranglehold of the pay-for-service providers has been the early success of some new rivals that let you dial up for free.

More than a million British have signed on with a service named Freeserve, which began operating in September, but has already surpassed America Online as Britain's most popular Internet access provider.

NetZero, brought to the Web by the same venture capitalists who sparked an online stampede by giving away ad-rigged computers at Free-PC.com, has signed up 400,000 customers since it launched a free service in October.

That's just a fraction of the more than 2 million subscribers added since mid-November by AOL, the king of connectivity with 16 million subscribers.

But it's hardly a marginal development in an industry that made a relic of Netscape Communications, the very first Internet powerhouse, in less than three years.

In exchange for free Web access, these services want free access to your eyeballs - and a fixed portion of your computer screen - so they can show you a continuous parade of advertisements.

The Internet is already the glitter gulch of advertising, so an ever-present box or banner isn't a deal-breaker for most Web users.

If the free services are successful, Internet access could be reduced from a revenue-producing business to a mere marketing gimmick - a throw-in like PC software or rust-proofing for a pick-up truck.

But, because most of these new services have meager resources and little experience, some people wonder whether they'll get exactly what they bargained for.

``I would always pay for access, because I don't want problems,'' said David Meier, who normally loves a good cyber-bargain, guiding people to ``free stuff'' on the Internet with his y4i.com Web site. ``I don't want to worry about getting online or them being too busy, and I don't want that little box on my screen. I'd rather pay the 20 bucks a month.''

Even among those who seem happy with their switch to a free Internet service provider, or ISP, doubts persist.

In a recent e-mail to NetZero, which is based in Westlake Village, Calif., a new female subscriber said, ``I plan on canceling my troublesome $19.95 a month Internet account.''

However, fearful of companies ``that go out of business within a few months and leave the users or subscribers standing with a blank look on their face,'' the woman also felt compelled to ask, ``How long have you been operating, and if you DO go out of business anytime in the forseeable future, will you let all the users know well in advance?''

America Online, which charges $21.95 a month for unlimited Internet access, has no plans to get into a price war with these new services.

``This is certainly a very competitive industry, but we believe we offer the best value,'' said AOL spokeswoman Wendy Goldberg.

``We offer a community, a community we program an experience for.''

Meanwhile, there's plenty of doubt as to whether ad revenue alone can cover the huge costs of running an Internet service.

``If you're not funded big time, there's no way you can provide good service,'' said Ilan Klein, president of Vizooal Inc., a New York-based Internet marketing firm.

Indiana Bans Internet Music Software After Heavy Use Slows Network.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University has banned students from using an Internet search tool for the popular MP3 music program due to persistent cyberspace traffic jams.

University computing officials set up a filter last month that began blocking the use of Napster, an Internet tool for searching out and playing music in the MP3 format.

The Napster application for MP3, which allows users to instantly hear music over the Internet, had become so popular that at times its users accounted for 55 percent of the traffic on the university's computer network, says Mark Bruhn of the university's Information and Technology Services.

The heavy use slowed down other users and was beginning to interfere with research and work-related use on the network.

"This is 55 percent that can't be used for something else," Bruhn says.

Napster is a popular Internet tool for searching out and playing music in the MP3 format, which makes music files smaller and easier to distribute over the Internet while still delivering CD-quality sound. It allows Internet users to download music and play it on their computers or special MP3 players.

Indiana joins a growing number of universities that are confronting bandwidth traffic problems by banning the use of Napster. Northwestern, North Carolina State and the University of Texas have all set up filters preventing students from using Napster over their networks.

Napster users function as an online community, making MP3 files in their own computers available to each other using Napster applications. When a user searches online for an MP3, Napster seeks out the request amongother users. The search continues until the user commands Napster to quit looking.

"Even if you click on the 'x' in the upper right corner of the screen, the search will continue," he said. "Some people don't know this."

The Napster filter will block anyone using Napster from accessing the Internet through IU's connection, including those dialing in from off campus.

New Electronics and Communications Data Have Been Reported by S. Balasubramaniam and Co-Authors.

According to the authors of a study from Waterford, Ireland, "Currently, a large number of activities on Internet redesign are being discussed in the research community. While today's Internet was initially planned as a datagram-oriented communication network among research facilities, it has grown and evolved to accommodate unexpected diversity in services and applications."

"For the future Internet this trend is anticipated to continue even more. Such developments demand that the architecture of the new-generation Internet be designed in a dynamic, modular, and adaptive way. Features like these can often be observed in biological processes that serve as inspiration for designing new cooperative architectural concepts. Our contribution in this article is twofold. First, unlike previous discussions on biologically inspired network control mechanisms, we do not limit ourselves to a single method, but consider ecosystems and coexisting environments of entities that can cooperate based on biological principles," wrote S. Balasubramaniam and colleagues.

The researchers concluded: "Second, we illustrate our grand view by not only taking inspiration from biology in the design process, but also sketching a possible way to implement biologically driven control in a future Internet architecture."

Balasubramaniam and colleagues published their study in IEEE Communications Magazine (Biological Principles for Future Internet Architecture Design. IEEE Communications Magazine, 2011;49(7):44-52).

For more information, contact S. Balasubramaniam, Waterford Institute Technology, TSSG, Bio Inspired Network Research Unit, Waterford, IRELAND.

Publisher contact information for the journal IEEE Communications Magazine is: IEEE-Institute Electrical Electronics Engineers Inc., 445 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ 08855-4141, USA.

Keywords: City:Waterford, Country:Ireland, Region:Europe, World Wide Web, Electronics and Communications

This article was prepared by Internet Networks & Communications editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2011, Internet Networks & Communications via VerticalNews.com.

THAILAND: MAKE HUMAN RIGHTS A PRIORITY; POLITICAL PARTIES SILENT ON RIGHTS DURING ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

Bangkok -- The following information was released by Human Rights Watch:

Thailand's political parties and newly elected members of parliament should make human rights a priority following general elections scheduled for July 3, 2011, Human Rights Watch said today.

During the election campaign, parties and candidates paid little attention to the country's deepening human rights crisis, particularly the lack of accountability for the violent confrontations in April and May 2010 that left at least 90 people dead. Other major concerns are the increasing repression of the media, and killings in the south and in the "war on drugs."

"The violence and abuses since 2010 demand that Thai political parties put forward a strong human rights agenda," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "But while speaking broadly about the need for reconciliation, they have failed miserably to present any concrete plans on how to reverse the continuing repression of basic rights."

Human Rights Watch called on all elected officials, whether in the majority or minority, to tackle the serious human rights problems facing the country. The government, the army, and the various political movements continue to trade accusations about responsibility for the loss of life and destruction of property during the 2010 upheavals, but the government needs to step forward to investigate and prosecute those responsible.

There has been no accountability for serious human rights violations, Human Rights Watch said. Human rights defenders have been murdered and "disappeared" without a single successful prosecution of those responsible. Thousands of extrajudicial killings and other serious abuses connected to the government's anti-drugs and counterinsurgency operations remain unresolved. Government interference with the media has resulted in enforced and self-imposed censorship. People holding dissident opinions, including those on the internet, have been subjected to harsh punishment.

"Holding elections will not make Thailand's human rights problems go away," Adams said. "For the country to move forward, Thai political parties will need to present concrete measures to end abuses, stop censorship, and eliminate impunity."

Lack of Accountability for Politically Motivated Violence

Thailand suffered political violence during 2010 that left at least 90 people dead and more than 2,000 injured and resulted in extensive damage from arson attacks in central Bangkok and several provincial capitals. Research by Human Rights Watch found that a number of factors contributed to these deaths and injuries, including excessive and unnecessary use of lethal force by government security forces, attacks by armed elements within the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), known as the "Red Shirts," and incitement to violence by some UDD leaders (see Human Rights Watch report "Descent into Chaos").

Human Rights Watch called on all sides of the political divide to actively support and participate in credible, independent, and impartial inquiries into politically motivated violence and abuses. Holding all those responsible to account is needed to end the vicious cycle of violence and impunity in Thailand.

The government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva established the Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand (TRCT) to investigate and report on the 2010 political violence. However, the commission was not given all-important subpoena power, which is necessary to obtain evidence and question reluctant witnesses, particularly police officers and soldiers. The commission has been unable to obtain complete information about security force deployment plans and operations, autopsy reports, witness testimony, photos, or video footage from the now disbanded civilian-military Center for the Resolution of Emergency Situations (CRES). Other official inquiries, such as those conducted by the National Human Rights Commission and the Senate, have made little progress.

While the government has charged many protest leaders and UDD rank-and-file members with serious criminal offenses, very little progress has been made by the Justice Ministry's Department of Special Investigation and the police to prosecute soldiers and government officials implicated in abuses.

There have also been few serious investigations into alleged criminal offenses committed by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), known as the "Yellow Shirts," during the violent 2008 protests. Cases of senior PAD leaders and members have stalled before reaching trial, as have efforts to seek compensation for damages caused by their protest. At the same time, authorities made little progress to hold legally accountable the politicians identified as responsible for ordering police to use excessive force to disperse the PAD protesters rallying in front of the Parliament on October 7, 2008.

Crackdown on Media Freedom and Freedom of Expression

The Thai government has used vague and overbroad criminal laws to repress media freedom and freedom of expression. Using sweeping powers of the emergency decree proclaimed on April 7, 2010, Thai authorities shut down more than 1,000 websites, a satellite television station, online television channels, publications, and more than 40 community radio stations, most of which were considered closely aligned with the UDD.

Even after the state of emergency was lifted in December 2010, media outlets of the UDD continue to be targeted. On April 26, 2011, armed police officers joined officials from the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) to raid 13 community radio stations in Bangkok and surrounding provinces associated with the UDD. The stations were forced off the air in response to a complaint filed by the army that they were broadcasting material deemed offensive to the monarchy.

Thai authorities use the Computer Crimes Act and article 112 of the penal code on lese majeste (insulting the monarchy) to enforce online censorship and persecute dissidents, particularly those connected with the UDD, accusing them of promoting anti-monarchy sentiments and threatening national security. The National Human Rights Commission estimates that there were more than 400 lese majeste cases in 2010, nearly a threefold increase from the 164 cases in the previous year.

Abuses in the Southern Border Provinces

Since January 2004, Thailand's southern border provinces of Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat have been the scene of a brutal internal armed conflict. More than 90 percent of the 4,000 people killed have been civilians, from both the ethnic Thai Buddhist and ethnic Malay Muslim communities. The Pejuang Kemerdekaan Patani insurgents in the loose network of National Revolution Front-Coordinate use violence to drive out the Thai Buddhist population, keep Malay Muslims under control, and discredit the Thai authorities.

The government's counterinsurgency campaign has been characterized by extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention, and torture. In some instances, these abuses were reprisals for insurgent attacks on the Thai Buddhist population and security personnel. State agencies at all levels, including the newly created Southern Border Provinces Administration Center, have failed to hold abusive officials accountable. No member of the security forces, either from regular or volunteer units, has been prosecuted for human rights abuses in the southern border provinces.

Thai authorities have also failed to resolve satisfactorily any of the enforced disappearance cases, including the "disappearance" and presumed murder of the prominent Muslim lawyer Somchi Neelapaijit by a group of police officers in March 2004. The Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situation, enforced in the southern border provinces since 2005, gives government officials and security personnel effective immunity from prosecution for most acts committed while enforcing the decree.

Abusive "War on Drugs"

Thailand continues to face a boom in the use and trafficking of methamphetamines. For that reason, harsh measures against traffickers are politically popular. During the 2003 "war on drugs" campaign of then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's government, thousands of people across Thailand were killed and many more were arbitrarily arrested.

The 2007 Independent Committee for the Investigation, Study and Analysis of the Formulation and Implementation of Narcotic Suppression Policy found that the policy formulation and assessment of the "war on drugs" were driven by all-out efforts to achieve the campaign's political goals rather than respecting human rights and due process of law. The committee recommended further inquiry into the killings of 2,819 people during the "war on drugs." Prime Minister Abhisit's government announced support for reopening those cases. But his government then made almost no progress in bringing those responsible to justice, or in ending systematic police brutality and the abuse of power in drug suppression operations.

There are also concerns regarding the policy that subjects drug users to compulsory treatment at facilities run by the military and the Interior Ministry. Each year, 10,000 to 15,000 people are sent to such centers, where drug treatment is based on boot-camp-style physical exercise. Most people sent there experience withdrawal from drugs with little or no medical supervision or medication.

Demandforce Announces Availability of Demandforce D3 Software in Canada.

CNW/ - Demandforce, Inc., a leader in demand generation for small business, announces the availability of its award winning marketing and communication software, Demandforce D3, to the Canadian automotive aftermarket. Canadian automotive repair facilities will now be able to automate business processes such as bringing back lost customers, generating more reviews and surveys, automating appointment reminders and newsletters, and driving social media strategy, all while decreasing the cost of doing business. This announcement marks a significant milestone for Demandforce as it continues to innovate and introduce its product into new international markets.

Demandforce helps auto repair facilities implement best practices to drive car count from both new and existing customers, increase average repair order values, and measure performance and customer satisfaction. Demandforce provides the tools to help auto shops build their online reputation, including sending up-to-date business information and certified customer reviews to major search engines and Internet directories. The Demandforce platform also provides an avenue for auto facility customers to request appointments through the online scheduling interface, 24/7.

"We rolled Demandforce out in all five of our locations because we saw the benefits it was bringing to other general repair facilities in the United States," said Gary's Automotive owner, Gary Calagoure. He continued by highlighting the value brought to his shop, "Demandforce helps me achieve three major objectives: bringing more customers into the shop more frequently, doing more general repair work, and better understanding what's working for my business." Similar to other auto repair facilities using the Demandforce system, Gary's has seen increased revenue, improved customer relationships, and increased shop efficiency.

"Our Canadian expansion highlights the needs of all repair facilities to better manage their existing customers, attract new business, and leverage technology to build a stronger bottom line," said Patrick Barry, Vice President Marketing at Demandforce. "As a company, we will continue to provide an industry leading product to our clients across the globe helping them to benefit from our innovative technology."

About DemandforceFounded in 2003, Demandforce helps small businesses thrive in the Internet economy. The Demandforce D3 software-as-a-service application is used by thousands of customers to grow revenue, keep clients coming back, and manage operations more effectively. Demandforce's flagship product, Demandforce D3, connects Demandforce clients to over 50 million consumers via email communications, text messaging and online services. Demandforce has achieved 22 quarters of over 80% year-over-year quarterly growth and is led by a management team with over a decade of experience developing and delivering web-based applications that drive real, tangible business value. Demandforce, Inc is headquartered in San Francisco, CA. To learn more visit www.demandforce.com.

Keywords: Advertising, Automobiles, Automotive, Marketing, Software, Technology, Transportation.

This article was prepared by Computer Weekly News editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2011, Computer Weekly News via VerticalNews.com.

eTycoon Ryan Moran Stuns The Online Business Community.

Tycoon Ryan Moran has stunned the online business world by releasing his very own method for creating multiple streams of income by purchasing and selling income producing virtual assets. The online business world has been enamoured by his tenacity, business guile and chutzpah at having released his very lucrative method for flipping websites.

The whole online business community had been waiting with baited breath for the release of eTycoon which is a multimedia led master class on flipping websites for profit. Ryan Moran himself has been very forthcoming in believing that "once people flip their own website for the first time using eTycoon, they will never want to build their own websites again."

According to Rylan Clayne, a renowned Internet Marketer who was given exclusive access to the entire eTycoon master class: "Ryan Moran is a young genius with a flair for online business. I particularly like his Flip Finder software which automatically finds the best websites to purchase for the lowest price possible. Ryan has over delivered with this course." Rylan Clayne has produced a full eTycoon Review which can be found at: http://www.rylanclayne.com/etycoon/etycoon-review

To celebrate the release of this seminal eTycoon course based on website flipping Rylan Clayne has also prepared what he calls "the ultimate eTycoon Bonus package that will only be available for the first 25 people."

To find his eTycoon Bonus package, visit: http://www.rylanclayne.com/etycoon/etycoon-bonus

Keywords: Internet, Multimedia, Online, Software.

This article was prepared by Computer Weekly News editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2011, Computer Weekly News via VerticalNews.com.

New AppTitude Release with Application Intelligence Drives Business Decisions; AppTitude Integration with System Center, Active Directory Enables True Enterprise Business Decision Making, Saving Time, Cost and Risk.

M2 PRESSWIRE-April 19, 2011-: New AppTitude Release with Application Intelligence Drives Business Decisions; AppTitude Integration with System Center, Active Directory Enables True Enterprise Business Decision Making, Saving Time, Cost and Risk(C)1994-2011 M2 COMMUNICATIONS

RDATE:19042011

LONDON, UK -- App-DNA, the global leader in application intelligence, today released a new version of the AppTitude application intelligence software that takes application compatibility automation to the next level by combining application insight with business detail. The new AppTitude version 5.0 uniquely integrates with Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager and Active Directory to combine information about users and end point devices with the AppTitude application testing and application remediation information. Now AppTitudeenables enterprise IT teams to test and remediate applications, integrate user and device information, model delivery options, and automate application preparation. The end result is better business decisions, saving time, cost and risk in managing application compatibility for Windows 7, Internet Explorer, Microsoft App-V, Citrix XenDesktop and VDI projects.

The pioneer in application testing and remediation, App-DNA takes a unique approach, exposing and storing over 68,000 unique datapoints per application, allowing a deep understanding of their characteristics without the need for repetitive testing. AppTitude helps enterprises determine the best forward path for each application based on user and delivery requirements.

AppTitude 5.0 introduces three key concepts to improve application management:

1) Integrate: Application Intelligence is the unique integration of application testing and remediation information with user and device information from System Center Configuration Manager and Active Directory to best determine the forward path for application delivery.

2) Model: Analyse different deployment scenarios and their impacts to make the right budget, staff, and delivery decisions.

3) Automate: Streamline and accelerate testing, remediation and packaging for target platforms, including end to end App-V package creation as well as integration with commercial packaging solutions.

The biggest obstacle to deploying a new platform is application compatibility. You may like what you see, but if the apps your business depends on dont work, then you cant migrate. Weve come a long way in the past half-decade Ive been doing app compat. Originally, we had a hard time just determining how much budget to request, and most of the work was manual. Now, not only is automation helping significantly, but if you look at the direction that App-DNA is moving towards, theyre starting to model complete desktop scenarios and incorporating critical data from existing systems like System Center and Active Directory. My customers dont have OS deployment projects they have desktop modernisation projects. Once you start to model complete scenarios and manage your entire software portfolio for business value, you unlock both platform and business agility. And thats where things start to get seriously awesome for our customers. IT becomes a partner and an enabler, not just a cost centre, said Chris Jackson (The App Compat Guy) a Principal Consultant at Microsoft.

When enterprises take on a desktop deployment initiative from Windows 7 migration to VDI project - they need to ensure the high-profile project is a success and delivers the expected business impact. App-DNA customers embracing the idea of forward path decision making are going beyond their expected results and seeing tremendous cost savings alongside end-user satisfaction, explained Paul Schnell, Chief Technology Officer for App-DNA.

This new integration with System Center Configuration Manager and Active Directory, essential in so many enterprises, clearly explains the impact of applications and their best delivery options.

About App-DNA

App-DNA is the pioneer of Application Intelligence, using insight about applications to guide decisions about application migration, management and business impacts.Clients include Exxon Mobil, Target and CSX, as well as top integrators and outsourcers including Dell, HP and IBM. App-DNA is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, a member of the Microsoft System Center Alliance, CitrixReady Partner, CitrixTechnology Partner and was named Best in Show at the Citrix Synergy conference.

Read more: View from the Fishbowl blog Twitter @appdna and visit http://www.app-dna.com

Media Contacts: Jessica Humphrey/ Nick Spencer NSPR for App-DNA Jessica@nspr.co.uk/ nick@nspr.co.uk 01276 487 008

((M2 Communications disclaims all liability for information provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied by named party/parties. Further information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at http://www.presswire.net on the world wide web. Inquiries to info@m2.com)).

Strong SafeNet(TM) Sales Result in Third Quarter Revenue Growth for IRE

BALTIMORE, Nov. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Information Resource Engineering Inc. (Nasdaq: IREG), a leading provider of encryption-based Internet security systems, today reported that the Company had a 51% increase in revenues for the period ending September 30, 1997 compared to the same period in 1996. For the three months ended September 30, 1997, revenues were $4,039,359 compared to revenues of $2,673,524 for the same three months in 1996. The Company reported a net loss of $789,113 in the third quarter of 1997 compared to a loss of $1,586,207 for the same quarter in 1996. The loss per common share was $.14 in the third quarter as compared to a loss of $.29 per share in the third quarter of 1996. Revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 1997 were $10,926,088 compared to revenues of $11,069,759 for the same period in 1996, with losses of $3,131,261 and $2,735,396, respectively. The loss per common share for the first nine months of 1997 and 1996 was $.57 and $.52, respectively.

"Since the third quarter of 1996, IRE has increased sales without significantly increasing expenses," explained IRE Chairman Anthony Caputo. "As a result, both revenues and gross margins, now at 57%, are improving, driving IRE closer to profitability."

"The IRE SafeNet(TM) Internet security product family continues to save clients significant capital, allowing them to use the Internet for business," Mr. Caputo further commented. "The State of Maryland, Credit Management Solutions, Inc. and Interbanking S.A. in Argentina are using these products today to enable electronic business, saving them AND their clients time and money."

"In order to move IRE products to the broad market, we announced in October, the debut of the SafeNet Partner Program. An indirect sales channel, the SafeNet Partner Program gives the enterprise corporation a single source solution to shifting their business on-line. Major VARs, ISPs and Systems Integrators are tasked with selling the SafeNet product line and reducing sales expenses traditionally associated with a direct sales strategy."

"IRE is now an organization comprised of 3 primary areas -- product, OEM, and service sales. We are better equipped to respond to the growing network communications market. The addition of Crypt/IC to our SafeNet product line will further broaden the scope of our offering. Slated for availability in the first half of 1998, Crypt/IC is an ideal solution for major software, computer and communications manufacturers looking to offer hardware-strength security at software margins and prices."

"As we continue to integrate powerful security -- IRE security -- into products for the enterprise, we should see an expansion in using these products to create virtual private networks (VPNs). As organizations worldwide realize the Internet can, in fact, be a safe place to conduct business, IRE will be there to provide the critical component -- security."

About IRE

A leader in the network security industry since the Company's inception in 1983, IRE provides comprehensive network security systems worldwide for remote access, electronic commerce and distributed business communication applications. Using advanced encryption technology, IRE's broad product solutions protect sensitive data transmissions on computer networks, such as the Internet.

Organizations using IRE products include J.P. Morgan & Company, Chase Manhattan Bank, Bank of New York, and Banc One. IRE systems are installed at a number of major international organizations including Euroclear Operations Centre in Brussels, the Central Bank of Sweden, and the Post Office Savings Bank of Singapore. The United States Treasury Department, TRW and the Federal Bureau of Investigation also use IRE Secure Communications Systems to protect sensitive data. IRE has its U.S. headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland and its branch offices worldwide.

SafeNet is a trademark of Information Resource Engineering, Inc.

Statements in this release concerning IRE's future prospects are "forward- looking statements" under the Federal securities laws. There can be no assurance that future results will be achieved, and actual results could differ materially from forecasts, estimates, and summary information contained in this news release. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are included but are not limited to those listed in IRE's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                                  Three Months Ended      Nine Months Ended                                    September 30,           September 30,                                   1997       1996       1997        1996     Revenues               $4,039,359  $2,673,524  $10,926,088  $11,069,759     Net loss                 (789,113) (1,586,207)  (3,131,261)  (2,735,396)     Loss per common share        (.14)       (.29)        (.57)        (.52) 

Weighted average number of

common shares

      outstanding            5,462,528   5,434,616    5,461,239    5,254,455 

SOURCE Information Resource Engineering, Inc.

     -0-                             11/06/97 

/CONTACT: Roberta Thuman of Information Resource Engineering, 410-931-7583 or rthuman@ire.com/

(IREG)

CO: Information Resource Engineering, Inc. ST: Maryland IN: CPR SU: ERN

JO -- DCTH034 -- 9621 11/06/97 16:02 EST http://www.prnewswire.com

Alan G. Merten Elected to the Board of Directors of The Indus Group Inc.

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 16, 1996--The Indus Group, Inc. (NASDAQ NM: IGRP), which recently emerged from the "quiet period" associated with its Initial Public Offering, announces that effective December 15, 1995, Dr. Alan G. Merten has joined its board of directors. Dr. Merten is the Anne and Elmer Lindseth Dean and Professor of Information Systems at the S. C. Johnson Graduate School of Management of Cornell University, where he has been since 1989. Effective July 1, 1996, Dr. Merten will become the fifth President of George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.

Dr. Merten was first introduced to The Indus Group, Inc. in 1991 by its President and CEO, and Cornell alumnus, Robert W. Felton. Mr. Felton was a founder and member of the Advisory Council of the Personal Enterprise and Entrepreneur Program and last year chaired the council of that program.

Dean Merten recollected, "From my earliest encounters with INDUS, I was impressed with the energy, vision, and culture that has propelled The Indus Group so quickly from start-up into the public forum. INDUS is a textbook case of a collection of creative individuals who put a plan in place and deliver on it. They have put into motion a corporate culture that both challenges and empowers individuals to grow professionally without the bureaucracy that customarily evolves as organizations grow so quickly," Dr. Merten said.

Responding to his recent acceptance of a seat on the INDUS board of directors, Dr. Merten continued, "I am proud of my association with The Indus Group while at Cornell University and personally look forward to using my experience to help forge business practices that fit the culture and assist the new public company as it continues to grow and expand."

At a recent board of directors meeting in Philadelphia, Mr. Felton added his comments welcoming Dr. Merten to the board. "We are delighted to add an external board member with global vision and an outside perspective in how technology can be used in solving today's business challenges. To boldly move forward on our charted course to become the industry leader of enterprise management software solutions to the process industry worldwide, INDUS needs visionaries like Dr. Alan Merten to share their experience, creative energy, and integrity."

Dr. Merten is recognized as one of the most respected educators in the nation. He serves on the Board of Directors of Comshare, Inc., Tompkins County Trust Company, Common Sense Trust, Washington Campus, and National Multi-Cultural Institute's Advisory Council, as well as numerous other professional memberships and associations.

The Indus Group, Inc. develops, markets, implements, and supports a proprietary line of enterprise management software and implementation services for process industry customers throughout the world. Taking advantage of the client/server model of networked computing, PASSPORT Software Solutions contain "best business practices" which serve as the catalyst for changing core business functions for: electric utilities, oil and gas, chemical refining, forest products, and steel producing industries. Implementation is expedited with ABACUS, a proprietary methodology designed to assist customers in achieving the benefits of rapidly deploying business process improvements across their enterprise. -0- Note to Editors: INDUS, PASSPORT Software Solutions, ABACUS, PORTAL/G, PORTAL/95 and VIEWPORT are trademarks of The Indus Group, Inc.

CONTACT: The Indus Group

Suzanne M. Bouldoukian, 415/904-5000

Fax 415/904-4040

sbouldoukian@internet.indusgroup.com

FRAN HEALY DOWNLOADS HIS LIFE; THE TRACKS OF MY YEARS.

Fran Healy joined Travis in 1991 while at Glasgow School of Art.

The band's first album broke into the top ten but the second, The Man Who, racked up sales of three million, paving the way for indie balladeers like Snow Patrol and Coldplay.

These days, Healy does much of his music listening via the net and iPods.

'I love to waste half a day surfing on my Apple MacBook,' he says.

'I recently discovered the internet radio station LastFM, which is great at turning you on to music you might never have considered before.' Travis's recent album The Boy With No Name is crammed with plenty more trademark ballads, but Healy is unapologetic. 'I'm captured by any music with soul.

When I hear a song I connect directly with it. It becomes my song, no one else's.' Travis are currently touring and their single, 'Selfish Jean', is out on July 9

SONG THAT REMINDS ME OF GROWING UP IN GLASGOW Prince Charmingby Adam And The Ants (1981) I loved the Ants so much I'd nick chalk at school and draw a stripe across my nose to look like them.

FIRST RECORD I BOUGHT Best Of The Carpenters by The Carpenters (1981) The first records I bought weren't for me, they were for my mum. I particularly remember giving her this 'best of' album, which I bought in the Barras in Glasgow.

I BECAME AN OASIS FAN BECAUSE OF Live Foreverby Oasis (1994) I wasn't initially blown away by Oasis but I heard this on the radio and realised what all the fuss was about. To become friends with Noel Gallagher is an honour.

SONG THAT MADE ME BUY A GUITAR (Oh) Pretty Womanby Roy Orbison (1964) I first saw him on Jonathan Ross's show The Last Resort and I was dumbstruck at the sight of this guy in black suit, black tie, black shirt and sunglasses.

Afterwards I asked my mum for a guitar and that was it.

THE SONG THAT MADE ME A SONGWRITER Blueby Joni Mitchell (1971) My art teacher once played me this amazing song. This is an incredibly raw, emotional song about her break-up with singer Graham Nash.

I GOT THROUGH A BAD TIME LISTENING TO Another Sleep Songby GrahamNash (1973) I had a rough time in 2002 and listened to this one song the whole year. I met Graham purely by chance not long afterwards and it led to him joining us on stage to play this.

SONG THAT REMINDS ME OF ART SCHOOL Driveby REM (1992) I can still recall sitting outside KelvingroveArt Gallery in my Mini on a rainy day during my second year at college with this playing on the car's rubbish tape player.

I THINK OF MY WEDDING WHEN I HEAR Horse With No Nameby America (1972) Nora and I were married in Marylebone Register Office and this was played as we came through the door. I can't really tell you why she likes it so much. Our last album title, The Boy With No Name, owes something to it.

SONG THAT REMINDS ME OF MY FIRST CRUSH Crazy ForYouby Madonna (1985) I'd fallen in love for the first time and I remember lying in my bedroom crying at the lyric, 'Touch me once and you'll know it's true'.

MY FAVOURITE BEATLES SONG IS Yesterdayby The Beatles (1965) I've met Paul McCartney several times now and he's such a cool guy. He tells the story about waking up one morning with Yesterday in his head but thinking it was someone else's song.

SHE SHOULDN'T TAKE LIE LYING DOWN.(LIFE & LEISURE)

Byline: CAROLYN HAX Washington Post Writers Group

DEAR CAROLYN: My BF of 2.5 years told me last week that he had to entertain a friend's friend from out of town. The visiting gal is single, his age. My BF first said it was not a date, and that his guy friend just asked him to do a favor since she doesn't know anyone here. I said OK, but I was a little disappointed that he didn't even invite me. He said he thought about it, but that his friend said it would make the woman feel like a third wheel.

I pressed the issue a little further, and my BF finally admitted that his friend suggested he meet this gal because my BF has been wishy-washy about our relationship. He doesn't know if we're getting married, doesn't know what to do, etc.

I'm furious! He knows I'm mad, and he called me right after their dinner and repeatedly assured me there was no romantic element. Do I have a right to be mad and disappointed?

-- Very Mad DEAR MAD: No, you should be happy for him that he's dating again.

Of course you have a bloody right to be angry. And hurt, and confused, and stunned, and damned impressed with his chutzpah. I am.

I'm also a little freaked out by you. Do you have any discernible role in your own life? You're waiting for BF to marry you, you're waiting to be invited out, you're waiting at home while he dates -- after you busted him in a lie, you're asking permission to feel things. And you're inspiring waves of great wishy-washiness in your companion? Imagine.

Here's your new, unsolicited to-do list: Feel what you damn well please. Dig. Howl. Examine. Formulate a conviction. Run. Fall, hard. Tell a joke, blow the punch line and be the only one who laughs. Make an outrageous demand. Flirt. Donate. Wing it. Act. Register a convincing facsimile of a pulse. Watch your should-be-ex-BF go into shock.

CAROLYN: My fiance and I are having an ethical disagreement. What do you think about using the Internet to investigate a person you are just starting to date? We call it Googling. Specifically, I used Google and DejaNews to see what I could find about my fiance when we first started dating. While I didn't learn anything about him that I didn't already know, I did learn a few juicy details about his ex-girlfriend.

I feel that if you post information on the Internet, you do so knowing that the entire world has access to it. He feels there is some expectation of respectful privacy (i.e., she didn't post that information for me to see so I shouldn't go looking for it).

-- J.B. DEAR J.B.: Does the fact that I've trolled for data on myself, my husband, my dog (no hits), my parents, my siblings, most of my friends, some guy I was awful to in college and a high school ex-sort-of-boyfriend disqualify me from answering?

I'm siding with you, obviously, but not because your reasoning is any good. It works OK if you're talking about conscious decisions to post stuff, but what if someone uploads something chewy about you without your knowledge? Are you responsible because you let your life overlap with this other person's?

If it helps, your fiance's logic is worse. I'd like to see the system he proposes for determining which information was made public for whom.

Here's my brilliant argument: Search-engine snooping gets an ethical pass because I can't think of a good reason not to give it one.

Before there was an Internet, no one would have told a teenage girl she couldn't look some guy up in the phone book and take a late-night drive by his house, right? Part of all of our lives occurs in plain sight; people can and will take a gander, and daters probably should. The Internet just adds to their options.

With all of them, though, Golden Rule decency applies. Don't do any digging you wouldn't later admit to over dinner with the person, and don't give the Net the last word. Unless that last word is preceded by the words ``registered sex offender'' or ``self-published volume of poetry.''

CAROLYN: What responsibility do I have to this girl? We're friends, have hooked up a few times, have no official status for our ``relationship.'' We kiss (peck) on the lips and hug goodbye but rarely do more than that physically.

On St. Patty's Day, drunken debauchery in a bar with another random girl, nothing more than kissing. Do I owe it to the first girl to tell her or what?

-- Somewhere DEAR SOMEWHERE: Nope, you aren't ``official''; no need to report it. Honesty should serve a purpose, and I don't see one here.

But your guilt might prove useful. Could it be telling you that, amid all the unofficial hooking up, you've actually started to care?

Write to ``Tell Me About It,'' c/o The Washington Post, Style Plus, 1150 15th St., NW, Washington, D.C. 20071 or e-mail: tellme@washpost.com. Chat online with Carolyn each Friday at noon and Monday at 3 p.m. at www.washingtonpost.com.