NSW:NSW School Certificate to be abolished

AAP General News (Australia)
08-04-2011
NSW:NSW School Certificate to be abolished

SYDNEY, Aug 4 AAP - The NSW government says it will abolish the School Certificate
from next year.

NSW Education Minister Adrian Piccoli says the certificate is out of date.

"There has been some concern over the last few years that it has become somewhat irrelevant,"

Mr Piccoli told reporters on Thursday.

Students this year will still sit the test as usual, but in 2012 a different assessment
will be available.

"We are going to replace it with a leaving credential," Mr Piccoli said.

AAP gg/ra/wjf/jsh

KEYWORD: CERTIFICATE

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

Where thereEs a Will...

Will Smith has been named the most bankable star in Hollywood. The 'Seven Pounds' actor topped Forbes.com's Star Currency list, which ranks stars according to their financial power at the box office. Forbes said: "Will Smith stands alone as the only actor to score a perfect ten among industry voters in the Star Currency survey." John Burman, of Forbes Media, has praised Will's acting talents, saying: "He can move from doing the pop film to an 'Ali' to a 'Seven Pounds' to 'The Pursuit of Happyness', so he's able to play in all worlds and I think people just like watching him on screen." Will's last eight films have all opened at number one in the US box office, and worldwide his three top-grossing films alone have made more than $2 billion. Johnny Depp, Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio and Angelina Jolie all tied for second place in the survey, with a star currency score of 9.89. Factors used to determine stars' currency ratings included the box office success of their films, the ability to attract financing for a project and their appeal to different audience demographics. The results are based on surveys of 150 movie professionals including directors and producers, who were asked to rate over 1,400 actors. Other stars in the top 20 include Denzel Washington, Jack Nicholson, Matt Damon and Tom Hanks.

E 2009 Al Sidra Media LLC

Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company

FED:Swan blocks ASX takeover proposal

AAP General News (Australia)
04-08-2011
FED:Swan blocks ASX takeover proposal

Treasurer WAYNE SWAN has blocked a proposal to merge Australia and Singapore's stock
exchanges .. saying government policy welcomes foreign investment when it's in the national
interest but this deal doesn't fit the bill.

On Tuesday the Foreign Investment Review Board raised concerns about the proposed 8.4
billion dollar deal.

Today .. the treasurer has said if the merger went ahead .. the ASX would become a
junior partner and there's no clear evidence it would've enhanced the local operation.

He says the takeover won't maximise the benefits of the national superannuation pool
and Australia's reputation as a regional financial services centre.

The proposed takeover would risk seeing jobs and capital moving to Singapore and it
was unlikely to give Australian-listed companies better access to Asian capital markets.

Mr Swan was reluctant to comment about the possibility of the Singapore exchange returning
with a different offer.

But the treasurer remained open-minded about possible future mergers.

AAP saj/mb/jcd/nap/

KEYWORD: ASX (CANBERRA)

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

NSW:Government criticised for delay on revamp

AAP General News (Australia)
12-18-2010
NSW:Government criticised for delay on revamp

The New South Wales opposition claims the two year delay in creating a convention centre
in Sydney has cost the state almost one billion dollars in lost economic activity.

It's been announced today the 550 million dollar redevelopment of the entertainment
centre at Darling Harbour will be completed by 2015.

Shadow minister for planning BRAD HAZZARD says the government is playing a desperate
game of catch-up after a report in 2008 found the lack of convention and exhibition facilities
was costing Sydney half-a-billion dollars a year in lost economic activity.



Note to Eds changes keyword from Entertainment.

AAP RTV dmg/sw/

KEYWORD: EXHIBITION (SYDNEY)

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

FED:Flight Safety Foundation to brief African mining body

08-11-2010
FED:Flight Safety Foundation to brief African mining body

Two months after a plane crash killed the entire board of Western Australian miner
Sundance Resources .. the Flight Safety Foundation will brief a key African mining body
on an Australian initiative to boost Africa's patchy aviation safety record.

Foundation Asia-Pacific regional director PAUL FOX says the proposed international
aviation safety standard for the resources sector has the longterm potential to lift aviation
safety right across Africa.

That standard specifies minimum pilot competencies .. aircraft equipment and maintenance
levels and has already been formally endorsed by the Minerals Council of Australia.

Mr FOX will brief the South African Chamber of Mines occupational health and safety
policy committee in Johannesburg tomorrow (Thursday).





In the Sundance tragedy .. a chartered Spanish-built CASA 212 aircraft crashed in jungle
in the Republic of Congo on June 19 killing all 11 on board.

AAP RTV mb/wz

KEYWORD: AVIATION (CANBERRA)

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

POLLTAS BARTLETT (HOBART)

AAP General News (Australia)
04-01-2010
POLLTAS BARTLETT (HOBART)

Mr BARTLETT's emerged from a caucus meeting in Hobart with his newly-elected MPs to
say he'll honour his promise to allow Mr HODGMAN to form a minority government.

Mr BARTLETT says he has the unanimous support of his party.

AAP RTV pc/rt

KEYWORD: Tasmania's Labor Premier DAVID BARTLETT has announced he'll yield power to Liberal leader WILL HODGMAN.

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

Fed: Clean energy to soar after historic deal struck

AAP General News (Australia)
08-19-2009
Fed: Clean energy to soar after historic deal struck

Wind farms and solar panels are set to take over Australia .. after politicians agreed
on a historic deal to boost clean energy.

The Renewable Energy Target scheme forces electricity retailers to buy a portion of
their electricity from renewable sources.

This costs more than coal-fired power and the extra cost is passed through to consumers
.. with electricity bills expected to go up about 80 cents a week.

Investors have dozens of plans for new wind farms ready to go once the scheme is implemented
.. and it'll also mean a new rebate for rooftop solar panels of up to seven thousand 750
dollars.

AAP RTV ca/sb/wf

KEYWORD: CLIMATE (CANBERRA)

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

NSW: NSW jobless rate hits

AAP General News (Australia)
04-09-2009
NSW: NSW jobless rate hits

By Nick Ralston, State Political Reporter

SYDNEY, April 9 AAP - NSW's unemployment rate has hit a 10-year high with latest figures
revealing that almost 16,000 people lost their jobs in the past month.

Figures released on Thursday show unemployment in NSW rose to 6.9 per cent in March,
up from 5.9 per cent the month before.

The national figure for March was 5.7 per cent, with 34,700 jobs lost across Australia.

Almost half of those loses occurred in NSW where jobs slumped by 15,900 in March.

NSW Treasurer Eric Roozendaal said the figures were a "stark reminder" of what the
global financial crisis is doing to the economy in Australia, and in particular to NSW.

"NSW, as the economic engine room of the country, with the largest finance and services
sector, was the first to feel the impact of the global financial crisis," he told reporters.

"We are continuing to feel that impact, particularly in those sectors."

Despite the alarming figures, Mr Roozendaal indicated the NSW government would not
announce any new, major job-related incentives before the June state budget.

He said the state government was already embarking on a number of initiatives to protect
jobs, including a $56.9 billion infrastructure spend over the next four years.

NSW was also working hard to help deliver the federal government's stimulus package,
Mr Roozendaal said.

"We'll be looking at other avenues within the forthcoming budget to support jobs in
NSW," Mr Roozendaal said.

"Our priority will be jobs, and building on jobs in NSW."

NSW Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell said the latest figures showed 360 jobs were
lost in NSW every day that Nathan Rees has been premier.

Mr O'Farrell said this was in stark contrast to Mr Rees' claims that his government
was creating jobs.

"These are disastrous figures for NSW. They are terrible news for families across this
state," he told reporters.

"And it's made worse by a premier who pretends that he's creating jobs.

"These figures blow the whistle on Nathan Rees, who is pretending to be out there creating jobs."

Mr O'Farrell again called on NSW to devise its own state-based stimulus package like
all the other states in Australia had done so.

The coalition has already said it would like to see a cut in payroll tax, economic
infrastructure to be brought forward and the cutting of infrastructure lead times.

AAP nr/hn/ss

KEYWORD: JOBS NSW UPDATE

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

NSW: Warrants issued after Sydney kava bust

AAP General News (Australia)
12-05-2008
NSW: Warrants issued after Sydney kava bust

Customs investigators in Sydney have seized four tonnes of kava .. an intoxicating
powder made from the root of the kava plant.

Kava is used as a social and ceremonial drink among Pacific Islanders and in remote
communities of Australia.

Pacific Islanders are allowed to bring in up to two kilos of kava .. in recognition
of its traditional use .. but large scale importations are banned.

No charges have been laid yet.

AAP RTV cjb/hn/crh/ka

KEYWORD: KAVA (SYDNEY)

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

FED: Threat of locust plague prompts action plan

AAP General News (Australia)
08-01-2008
FED: Threat of locust plague prompts action plan

SYDNEY, Aug 1 AAP - Farmers and government departments are gearing up for the locust
season with plans to control the pests before they hatch in south-eastern Australia.

Landholders already plagued by drought have reported significant locust egg laying
in the NSW Riverina area and central-north area of Victoria.

The Australian Plague Locust Commission (APLC) is working with the NSW and Victorian
departments of primary industries to head off a disaster.

"The result could be a significant hatching of plague locusts in October and early
November, which could add another threat to crops and pastures that have just survived
on limited rainfall in these areas," APLC director Chris Adriaansen said in a statement
today.

The plan will include aerial surveillance, ground-based control of the hatchlings and
aerial spraying.

Landholders are urged to help the operation by taking their own ground-based actions
to head off a plague.

AAP vpm/evt/goc/cdh

KEYWORD: LOCUSTS

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

Fed: No rain forecast for Canberra NYE

AAP General News (Australia)
12-30-2007
Fed: No rain forecast for Canberra NYE

Canberrans should be able to leave their umbrellas at home tomorrow night as the severe
storms that lashed the capital last New Year's Eve aren't expected to reappear.

The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast fine and mostly sunny conditions for tomorrow
and Tuesday .. with tops of 32 and 33 respectively.

Last year .. the ACT suffered some of its worst storms over the new year period which
left a trail of devastation .. including flooded homes .. shattered roofs and damaged
vehicles.

But this year the weather is looking far more conducive for outdoor celebrations and
thousands are expected to fill the city centre.







Fireworks are planned for 9pm and midnight and will be launched from City Hill in the
centre of Canberra.

Bands will be playing in Civic Square to the theme Vegas Fever .. and they include
a Bee Gees cover band and locals Vince Gelonese and the Fuelers.

Just across the road in Garema Place .. the Bass in the Place Dance Party will be returning
for the teenagers and young at heart.

AAP RTV kc/crh

KEYWORD: EVE ACT (CANBERRA)

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

Qld: Power out after Gold Coast hit by strong winds

AAP General News (Australia)
08-21-2007
Qld: Power out after Gold Coast hit by strong winds

BRISBANE, Aug 21 AAP - About 1,000 homes and businesses on Queensland's Gold Coast
lost power after strong winds swept through the area today.

Electricity provider Energex said almost 2,000 residences in the southern Gold Coast
region lost power when forecast winds of just over 90km/h struck between 11am and 11.30am
(AEST) today.

Half of those homes had since been restored to the network, and crews were early this
afternoon working to restore power to the rest.

"Conditions are being described as difficult, which means windy and wet," an Energex
spokesman said.

The Queensland SES is yet to receive any major calls for assistance, an SES spokesman said.

A low pressure system off the south-east Queensland coast continues to slowly push
strong winds and rain north towards Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.

The Bureau of Meteorology has recorded winds of over 100km/h in northern NSW today,
while on the Gold Coast gusts reached just over 90km/h.

A severe weather warning was still current this afternoon between Coolangatta and Fraser
Island with strong winds also expected to carry west to the Darling Downs and Granite
Belt districts.

On the NSW northern rivers, about 65 SES volunteers are working to repair leaking roofs
and damage from fallen trees and clearing debris from roads after strong winds and heavy
rain hit earlier today.

The full force of the weather cell is yet to reach Brisbane, where light rain has been
falling for several hours.

Residents requiring emergency assistance should contact the SES on 132 500.

AAP dmc/pjo/jl/jlw

KEYWORD: WIND QLD POWER

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

Fed: Govt considering funding AIDS campaign

AAP General News (Australia)
04-05-2007
Fed: Govt considering funding AIDS campaign

Health Minister TONY ABBOTT says the federal government's considering a new awareness
campaign against HIV .. in the face of rising infection rates.

On the 20th anniversary of the original grim reaper campaign .. about a thousand Australians
are contracting AIDS each year .. compared with 650 a year five years ago.

Mr ABBOTT says the health department has received news of an increase in infections
.. and has asked the Ministerial Advisory Council to make some recommendations.

His comments follow calls for another AIDS campaign to teach young people of the dangers
of unsafe sex and sharing needles .. amid fears Australians are becoming complacent about
the risk of HIV.

AAP RTV jb/sb/imc/tm

KEYWORD: AIDS AUST (CANBERRA)

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

NSW: Dangerous toys identified in pre-Christmas blitz

AAP General News (Australia)
12-05-2006
NSW: Dangerous toys identified in pre-Christmas blitz

SYDNEY, Dec 5 AAP - Inspectors have identified 129 dangerous toys on NSW shelves prompting
Fair Trading Minister Diane Beamer to issue a warning to shoppers.

The minister's pre-Christmas warning comes as the Department of Fair Trading released
a list of dangerous toys found in 65 shops and market stores in NSW.

Some of the toys had the potential to choke, drown, strangle or electrocute children.

Ms Beamer said inspectors had found 129 unsafe toys - up from 76 last year.

"All the dangerous items found during the survey were tested by Fair Trading and then
ordered to be removed from the shelves," Ms Beamer said.

She said she was concerned the majority of dangerous items were cheap battery-powered
toys for children under three.

"They are easily broken and young children should not have access to batteries," Ms Beamer said.

She said 91 toys were found to be designed for children under the age of three who
could more easily inhale or swallow small parts.

Thirty nine battery-powered toys were included on the list of 91.

The list included eleven projectile toys which were classified as a choking or eye injury hazard.

Ten laser pointers and two laser pointer guns with a potential to inflict serious eye
injuries also were included on the survey.

A swimming vest which did not provide sufficient buoyancy put children at risk of drowning
while three water yo-yo balls had cords which could lead to strangulation.

Other problem toys included three inflatable or novelty toys with dangerous polystyrene
beads and a mini-cutter with a retractable blade which was capable of cutting a young
child.

More than 2,500 of a children's table lamp had been recalled.

The Chinese-imported Night Light Cartoons lamps, distributed by Australian Discount
Retail Pty Ltd, were voluntarily recalled.

Ms Beamer said: "These table lamps are shaped in the form of cute colourful animal cartoon
characters including mice, cats and elephants but they carry the real danger of electrical
shock."

She also revealed many two dollar shops had been inspected as part of the Department's
Christmas blitz on electrical goods.

"While almost all the major stores and discount chains had a clean record, most of
the offenders were either small independent two dollar shops or market stalls," Ms Beamer
said.

Inspectors have visited more than 145 stores, 250 retail outlets and about 900 market
stores to check electrical articles and gas appliances on sale before the busy pre-Christmas
shopping period.

Fair Trading investigators have forced eight retailers to remove 14 items which did
not comply with legislation.

AAP krc/klw/imc/bwl

KEYWORD: XMAS TOYS

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

NSW: Three employees hurt trying to stop factory blaze

AAP General News (Australia)
04-29-2006
NSW: Three employees hurt trying to stop factory blaze

SYDNEY, April 29 AAP - Three employees have been hurt trying to stop a blaze at a furniture
factory in Sydney's west.

The three employees received burns and smoke inhalation after trying to hose down the
fire which started at the Lidcombe factory about 11am (AEST) today.

Two of the employees were taken to hospital by ambulance while the third was being
treated at the scene, a NSW Ambulance Service spokeswoman said.

About 20 firefighters attended the scene after an automatic fire alarm was triggered,
a NSW Fire Brigades spokesman said.

Fire crews managed to contain the blaze within 15 minutes but a section of the factory
housing heavy machinery was extensively damaged.

The cause of the blaze was not yet known but fire investigators were at the scene.

AAP ved/rj

KEYWORD: FACTORY

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

U.S. and Google face off over Web scrutiny

Katie Hafner and Matt Richtel
International Herald Tribune
01-21-2006
In its brief history, Google has made ''Don't be evil'' an operating principle, even as it has come to endure criticism over its forays into businesses beyond Web searches and its compliance with China's efforts to censor the Web. Now, the company has become an opponent of U.S. government in a battle against pornography. The U.S. Justice Department asked a federal judge Wednesday to compel Google to turn over records on millions of its users' search queries as part of the government's effort to uphold an online pornography law.Google has been refusing the request since a subpoena was issued last August, even as its three main competitors agreed to comply, according to court documents made public in the past week. Google asserts that the request is unnecessary, overly broad, would be onerous to comply with, would jeopardize its trade secrets and could expose identifying information about its users.The dispute with Google comes as the government is moving aggressively on several fronts to obtain data on Internet activity to achieve its law-enforcement goals, from domestic security to the prosecution of online crime. Under the anti-terrorism law known as the USA Patriot Act, for example, the Justice Department has demanded records on library patrons' Internet use.Those efforts have encountered resistance on privacy grounds.The government's move in the Google case, however, is different in its aims. Rather than seeking data on individuals, it says, it is trying to establish a profile of Internet use that will help it defend the Child Online Protection Act, a 1998 law that would impose tough criminal penalties on individuals whose Web sites carried material deemed harmful to minors.The law has faced repeated legal challenges. Two years ago, the Supreme Court upheld an injunction blocking its enforcement, returning the case to a district court for further examination of Internet-filtering technology that might be an alternative in achieving the law's aims. The government's motion to compel Google's compliance was filed on Wednesday in U.S. District Court in San Jose, California, near Google's headquarters. The subpoena and the government's motion were reported on Thursday by The San Jose Mercury News.In addition to records of a week's worth of search queries, which could amount to billions of search terms, the subpoena seeks a random list of a million Web addresses in Google's index.Charles Miller, a spokesman for the Justice Department, said on Thursday that three Google competitors in Internet search technology America Online, Yahoo and MSN, Microsoft's online service had complied with subpoenas in the case.Miller declined to say exactly how the data would be used, but according to the government's legal filings, the data would help estimate the prevalence of online material that could be deemed harmful to minors and the effectiveness of filtering software in blocking it.Opponents of the pornography law contend that such software could protect minors effectively enough to make the law unnecessary.The government's motion calls for Google to comply with its subpoena within 21 days of court approval. Although the government has modified its demands in talks with Google since last year, Google made it clear on Thursday that it would continue to fight. ''Google is not a party to this lawsuit, and their demand for information overreaches,'' said Nicole Wong, the company's associate general counsel, referring to government lawyers. ''We had lengthy discussions with them to try to resolve this, but were not able to, and we intend to resist their motion vigorously.''Philip Stark, a statistics professor at the University of California at Berkeley hired by the Justice Department to analyze search-engine data in the case, said in legal documents that search-engine data provides crucial insight into the information that exists on the Internet. ''Google is one of the most popular search engines,'' he wrote in a court document related to the case. Thus, he said, Google's databases of Web addresses and user searches ''are directly relevant.''But Danny Sullivan, editor of Search Engine Watch, an online industry newsletter, questioned the need for such a subpoena.''Is this really something the government needs Google to help them with?'' he said. ''They could go create their own searches.''Google appears to be acting alone in its resistance.MSN declined to speak directly to the case but released a statement saying it generally ''works closely with law enforcement officials.''Mary Osako, a Yahoo spokeswoman, said the company had complied with the subpoena ''on a limited basis.'' Andrew Weinstein, a spokesman for AOL, said that company gave the Justice Department a generic list of anonymous search terms from a one-day period.Susan Crawford, a professor at Cardozo School of Law in New York, said she could understand why the companies complied.''There's this real perception that if you're not with us you're against us,'' she said. ''So the major companies will cooperate with enormously burdensome requests just to avoid future vengeance being wreaked on them'' by the Justice Department.''Google and its rivals have also been criticized for their business practices in China, where Google and MSN have filtered keywords like ''human rights'' and ''democracy'' out of their search-engine results.While its court filings in resisting the Justice Department subpoena have emphasized the burden of compliance and threat to its trade secrets, Google also pointed to a chilling effect on its customers.''Google's acceding to the request would suggest that it is willing to reveal information about those who use its services,'' it said in an letter to the Justice Department in October. ''This is not a perception Google can accept. And one can envision scenarios where queries alone could reveal identifying information about a specific Google user, which is another outcome that Google cannot accept.''For its part, the Justice Department said the data received from Google's rivals showed that the search query information did not contain ''any additional personal identifying information'' and that trade secrets would be protected under procedures put in place by the trial court.''Google thus should have no difficulty in complying in the same way as its competitors have,'' the motion said.Critics of the effort to subpoena Google say the immediate issue is not pornography or privacy, but whether the government has established its need for the information.''The government's attitude, apparently, is that it's entitled to information without justification,'' said Aden Fine, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union, which has led the fight against the 1998 pornography law. ''Like everyone else in litigation, they need to justify their request for information.''

2006 Copyright International Herald Tribune. http://www.iht.com

Italian Pasta NightCHANNAHON — The second annual Italian Pasta Night, ...

Italian Pasta Night

CHANNAHON — The second annual Italian Pasta Night, sponsored by Channahon Music Boosters, will be from 4-7:30 p.m. March 16 at Channahon Junior High, 24917 W. Sioux Drive.

Tickets cost $8 for adults and $6 for students and seniors. Children under 3 are admitted free.

Carryouts will be available.

For tickets, contact Kellie Mason at 815-467-1742. For Information, contact Carrie Capecci at 815-467-9258, or e-mail channahonmusicboosters@gmail.com.

Curves deal for Gold's clients

JOLIET — Curves of Joliet is offering a deal to clients of the abruptly closed Gold's Gym in Joliet.

Todaythrough Saturday, women can show their Gold's Gym membership at the Curves locations at 1007 Essington Road and 1704 W. Jefferson St. to join for no service fee or receive a 75 percent service fee discount until March 19.

Also, Curves on Essington Road is holding a weight management class at 11 a.m. Saturday. Everyone is invited to attend this free presentation.

Call 815-725-5588 to reserve a seat.

Bolingbrook food, clothing pantry

BOLINGBROOK — The Power Connection food pantry is open from 10 a.m. to noon Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 999 Remington Blvd., Suite F.

For a $10 donation, participants can fill up a bag and select from fruits, vegetables, desserts, breads and also receive selected meat items.

The new clothing pantry is open during the same hours.

No income verification required. Call 630-679-6899 or visit the website at www.thepowerconnection.org.

Job search techniques review

NEW LENOX — Join Will County Workforce staff for a review of basic job search techniques, including using the Internet and networking to enhance your job search.

The event will be at 10:30 a.m. March 22, in Meeting Room B at the New Lenox Library, 120 Veterans Parkway.

For more information contact, Adult Services at 815-485-2605.

The Nature Conservancy Selects ClickAction to Send Newsletters to Subscribers.

ClickAction Extends eMarketing Services to Non-Profits; Allowing Online

Communities to Prosper Through Powerful Email Marketing Technology

PALO ALTO, Calif., Dec. 19 /PRNewswire/ --

ClickAction(TM) Inc. (Nasdaq: CLAC), a leader in permission-based email marketing/e-messaging, announced today that they would provide The Nature Conservancy (www.tnc.org), the world's largest private, international conservation group, with ClickAction ERM and newsletter delivery services to their more than one million members.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990916/SFTH025 )

The Nature Conservancy is a private, international, nonprofit organization established in 1951 to preserve plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. To date, the Conservancy has been responsible for the protection of 11.7 million acres in the United States and Canada, and has helped through partnerships to preserve nearly 60 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada and the Pacific.

The Nature Conservancy will be utilizing the ASP version of ClickAction Email Relationship Management (ERM) for a multitude of purposes. The newsletters will be used to communicate with Conservancy donors, inform those interested in protecting the environment about Conservancy programs and increase member involvement in Conservancy initiatives.

"The Nature Conservancy, like many organizations, seeks a greater level of engagement with its constituents," said Donna Cherel, Vice President, Director of Membership for The Nature Conservancy. "Timely, customized communication will help The Nature Conservancy to more effectively fulfill its mission."

"The Nature Conservancy has a 1+ million membership base and we are honored that such a prominent organization chose ClickAction's email marketing service," said Joe Cortale, executive vice president for ClickAction. "ClickAction ERM will allow The Nature Conservancy to provide its members and subscribers with invaluable information and to reach out to future generations of supporters."

About ClickAction

ClickAction Inc. is a leading provider of email marketing/e-messaging services that help businesses retain and grow profitable, one-to-one customer relationships. ClickAction Email Relationship Management (ERM) is a comprehensive service that enables marketers to conduct targeted permission-based email campaigns, collect and profile customer data, and access real-time results in an entirely Web-hosted environment. The service easily integrates with legacy databases, advancing the real-time management of customer data across all channels. ClickAction has developed thousands of email campaigns for over 225 world class clients and partners including: Brooks Brothers, Nabisco, Adforce/CMGI, Sara Lee, Vicinity, Boise Cascade Office Products, and Dean and Deluca. ClickAction is a founding member of RECA, the Responsible Electronic Communication Alliance, and is a member of TRUSTe, an independent, non-profit organization whose mission is to build users' trust and confidence in the Internet. For more information, visit www.clickaction.com.

Forward-Looking Statement

To the extent that any of the statements contained herein relating to the Company are forward-looking, such statements are based on current expectations that involve a number of uncertainties and risks. Such uncertainties and risks include, but are not limited to, the development of new products and services, the enhancement of existing products and services, the dependence on principal customers and partners, competitive pricing pressures, product volume and mix, timing of orders received, introduction of competitive products and services having technological and/or pricing advantages, and overall dynamics of the industry and consolidation. For further information, refer to the risk factors included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 1999 and the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2000, each as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Navajo Banking Summit Tackles Tough Issues, Explores New Horizons.(Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News)

Mar. 27--WINDOW ROCK, Ariz.--The Navajo Nation Bank Summit plunged into rugged terrain, tackling tough issues of limited waivers of sovereignty and federal and state regulatory control, while offering a fresh vision of Indian banks as a means of reversing Indian economies.

The Banking Summit 2000 explored banking options offered by the Internet, micro-banking, retail, commercial, savings and loan, and thrifts.

Eloise Cobell, chairwoman of the board of directors of Blackfeet National Bank, described the difficulties and triumphs in establishing the first Indian bank in Indian country.

"We came to terms with the fact that if we want to have a bank, we will have to do it ourselves," Cobell said in the keynote banquet address.

Establishing the bank was possible because of education programs from elementary schools to community colleges that led the Blackfeet people to be bankable, she said. Ultimately, the bank and its education component led to the establishment of 200 businesses.

"We can achieve what we want to achieve, if we put our hearts to it," said Cobell, lead plaintiff in the ongoing federal lawsuit alleging misuse of trust funds by the Interior.

John "Rocky" Barrett said there are six tribally owned banks, owned by nine tribes. He is chairman of the board of the First National Bank of Shawnee, with $60 million in assets.

Barrett, chairman of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation in Shawnee, Okla., said his tribe doubled its returns on investments since withdrawing trust fund dollars from the "inept Bureau of Indian Affairs" that invested their dollars in failing enterprises.

"The Navajo Nation is the mightiest of all the tribes in the United States,"Barrett said, urging establishment of a Navajo bank.

Barrett said Internet banking is growing for his tribe, and encouraged Navajos to consider it.

Navajo President Kelsey Begaye said it is time for his Nation to step forward. "We need to begin to dream and dream big and take risks. It is time for us to really look at the issue of spending money to make money."

Noting that bordertown businesses receive a flood of Navajo dollars and offer enticements for loans with high finance rates, he said, "We need to turn this around and make our money work here for us."

Begaye said the Navajo Nation is preparing to introduce amendments in Congress to speed up the ability of Navajos to obtain business site leases.

"I've learned in my life that a lot of things are possible. I learned that a sheepherder from Kaibeto can become president of the Navajo Nation."

The summit opened with a clash of opinions over the role of sovereignty and federal and state regulatory agencies in the creation of Indian banks.

Thomas Cargill, professor of economics at the University of Nevada-Reno, stirred controversy reminding participants, "There is no way in the world that the feds or the states will allow you to use your sovereignty to avoid or go around the regulatory agency. "You may be able to tweak it a little, but I doubt it."

Cargill stressed the need for Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. insurance, the need to start small, and said economies on tribal lands pose an obstacle.

"You don't have the economy base that is going to attract financial institutions. You don't have the money."

Cargill said banking worldwide is competitive and swiftly changing, producing a climate in which failure is possible. "It is going to take quite a lot of work to develop and make it profitable."

From the audience, Percy Deal of Hardrock Chapter, said, "The economy of the Navajo Nation cannot support a bank," agreeing that public confidence is a major concern.

"We are a nation that lives by hard cash. There's more money in people's pockets than there is in the banks," Deal said. "I'm afraid a bank will eat up the people's money."

Ed T. Begay, speaker of the Navajo Nation Council, supported creation of a bank. But, he said the Nation's credit services department told the council that outstanding personal and home loans have a high level of delinquent payments. Begay was concerned collections are weak with millions in outstanding loans.

"We need to ensure that if and when the Navajo bank is established that it performs like a bank, and not as a grant-making institution."

Tony Skrelunas, executive director of Navajo Division of Economic Development, said Indian tribal sovereignty is a constant concern for non-Indians pursuing businesses in Indian country. Of primary concern to the non-Indian business world is the trust status of the tribal lands and the risk of loss of investments.

Businessmen are concerned over whether tribal or federal courts will have jurisdiction to rule in disputes and how foreclosures will be processed and lead to a return of investments, he said.

Skrelunas said business issues, including sovereign immunity, have been discussed with Assistant Secretary of Interior Kevin Gover. "He is committed to supporting us."

The Navajo economic development division plans to submit a plan to the Navajo Nation Council to invest in the Native American National Bank being organized. The bank, to be based in Denver and offer loans to tribes and corporations, has two-thirds of its initial goal of $30 million in investments.

"We can't do it all. We have to start somewhere," Skrelunas said. Cargill, however, discouraged the wholesale banking route. He said Indian economies need the flow of local bank cash from personal and retail loans to circulate money in the local economy. He recommended a retail bank that offers thrift, savings and money managing opportunities for local people.

"Wholesale banking is just supporting other banks."

Cargill said it is unrealistic to expect to avoid the role of a state regulatory agency in the approval of a new bank.

John H. Beirise, CEO of the Native American National Bank, disagreed. "Once the Comptroller of Currency grants a charter, the states don't object."

The issues of sovereignty and the Navajo Budget and Finance Committee's proposal to offer limited waivers of sovereign immunity in business contracts, disturbed Navajos attending the summit.

After the session, Loretta Miller of Crownpoint, N.M., said, "The federal government is always going to have their hands on us." While encouraging the establishment of a Navajo bank, Miller questioned if the federal government would retreat from treaty responsibilities if Navajos become truly self-sufficient and economically viable.

Marley Shebala, a Navajo-Zuni Pueblo news reporter in the audience, was more direct. She challenged Cargill during the session saying, "You are assuming sovereignty is a problem."

To see more of Indian Country Today, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.indiancountry.com

(c) 2000, Indian Country Today, Rapid City, S.D. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

Invitel Holdings A/S Announces Financial Results of Magyar Telecom B.V. for the Quarter and Six Months Ended June 30, 2011 and Investor Call.

LONDON -- Please replace the release with the following corrected version due to multiple revisions to the comments from Martin Lea.

The corrected release reads:

INVITEL HOLDINGS A/S ANNOUNCES FINANCIAL RESULTS OF MAGYAR TELECOM B.V. FOR THE QUARTER AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2011 AND INVESTOR CALL

Invitel Holdings A/S ("Invitel Holdings") announced today the financial results of Magyar Telecom B.V. for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011.

SECOND QUARTER 2011 RESULTS

The results for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 reflect the consolidated financial results of Magyar Telecom B.V. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company").

The reporting currency is euro, however the functional currency of continued operations is the Hungarian forint, being the currency of the primary economic environment in which the Company operates.

When comparing the financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 to the financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2010, the reported results in euro have been affected by the difference between the average EUR/HUF exchange rates. The Hungarian forint appreciated against the euro by 3% with an average EUR/HUF exchange rate of 266.33 during the quarter ended June 30, 2011 compared to the average EUR/HUF exchange rate of 274.38 during the quarter ended June 30, 2010. This change in exchange rates had an impact on Hungarian forint denominated earnings when converted into euro.

The Company's revenue from continued operations was EUR 51.7 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 which represents an 11% increase compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2010. Segment gross margin increased by 9% from EUR 39.0 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2010 to EUR 42.6 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2011. Operating expenses increased by 25% from EUR 9.9 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2010 to EUR 12.4 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2011. Income from continued operations decreased by 42% to EUR 4.5 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 from EUR 7.8 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2010. Net income/loss of continued operations was loss of EUR 5.9 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 compared to loss of EUR 17.6 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2010.

Residential Voice - Residential Voice segment gross margin was EUR 11.8 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2011, representing a decrease of 19% compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2010. The decrease was mainly due to a decrease in the number of subscribers inside our historical concession areas, as well as a decrease in the number of lower margin carrier select customers and traffic outside our historical concession areas. In functional currency terms, ResidentialVoice segment gross margin decreased by 21%.

Residential Internet - Residential Internet segment gross margin was EUR 7.2 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2011, representing an increase of 11% compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2010. The increase was primarily due to the increase in IPTV gross margin. In functional currency terms, Residential Internet segment gross margin for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 increased by 7% compared to the prior year.

Corporate - Corporate segment gross margin was EUR 12.8 million for quarter ended June 30, 2011, representing a decrease of 2% compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2010. The decrease was mainly due to the reduction in the traditional voice business and price erosion due to competition. In functional currency terms, Corporate segment gross margin decreased by 4%.

Wholesale - Wholesale segment gross margin was EUR 6.8 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2011, representing an increase of 36% compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2010.

Cable - Our Cable gross margin was [euro]4.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011. Cable segment was introduced as at March 1, 2011 and relates to the revenue generated by FiberNet.

Segment gross margin is a non-GAAP financial measure, which is used by management to evaluate the performance of the business segments. The following table represents the reconciliation of segment gross margin to income from continued operations:

					Quarter ended June 30,
(euro in millions)					2011					2010
Residential Voice					11.8						14.5
Residential Internet					7.2						6.5
Corporate					12.8						13.0
Domestic Wholesale					6.8						5.0
Cable					4.0						-
Segment Gross Margin					42.6						39.0
Network operating expenses					(5.5)						(4.9)
Direct personnel expenses					(3.0)						(3.1)
Operating expenses					(12.4)						(9.9)
Depreciation and amortization					(15.2)						(13.0)
Cost of restructuring					(2.0)						(0.3)
Income from operations					4.5						7.8

RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2011

The results for the six months ended June 30, 2011 reflect the consolidated financial results of Magyar Telecom B.V. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company").

The reporting currency is euro, however the functional currency of continued operations is the Hungarian forint, being the currency of the primary economic environment in which the Company operates.

When comparing the financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2011 to the financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2010, the reported results in euro have been affected by the difference between the average EUR/HUF exchange rates. The Hungarian forint appreciated against the euro by 1% with an average EUR/HUF exchange rate of 269.38 during the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to the average EUR/HUF exchange rate of 271.5 during the six months ended June 30, 2010. This change in exchange rates had an impact on Hungarian forint denominated earnings when converted into euro.

The Company's revenue from continued operations was EUR 99.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 which represents a 0% change compared to the six months ended June 30, 2010. Segment gross margin decreased by 3% from EUR 84.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010 to EUR 81.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011. Operating expenses increased by 33% from EUR 18.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010 to EUR 24.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011. Income from continued operations decreased by 62% to EUR 8.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 from EUR 22.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010. Net income/loss of continued operations was income of EUR 18.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to loss of EUR 18.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010.

Residential Voice - Residential Voice segment gross margin was EUR 23.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011, representing a decrease of 18% compared to the six months ended June 30, 2010. The decrease was mainly due to a decrease in the number of subscribers inside our historical concession areas, as well as a decrease in the number of lower margin carrier select customers and traffic outside our historical concession areas. In functional currency terms, ResidentialVoice segment gross margin decreased by 19%.

Residential Internet - Residential Internet segment gross margin was EUR 14.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011, representing an increase of 6% compared to the six months ended June 30, 2010. The increase was primarily due to the increase in IPTV gross margin. In functional currency terms, Residential Internet segment gross margin for the six months ended June 30, 2011 increased by 5% compared to the prior year.

Corporate - Corporate segment gross margin was EUR 25.2 million for six months ended June 30, 2011, representing a decrease of 5% compared to the six months ended June 30, 2010. The decrease was mainly due to the reduction in the traditional voice business and price erosion due to competition. In functional currency terms, Corporate segment gross margin decreased by 5%.

Wholesale -Wholesale segment gross margin was EUR 13.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011, representing a decrease of 13% compared to the six months ended June 30, 2010.

Cable - Our Cable gross margin was [euro]5.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011. Cable segment was introduced as at March 1, 2011 and relates to the revenue generated by FiberNet.

Segment gross margin is a non-GAAP financial measure, which is used by management to evaluate the performance of the business segments. The following table represents the reconciliation of segment gross margin to income from continued operations:

					Six months ended June 30,
(euro in millions)					2011					2010
Residential Voice					23.9						29.2
Residential Internet					14.2						13.4
Corporate					25.2						26.4
Domestic Wholesale					13.0						15.0
Cable					5.5						-
Segment Gross Margin					81.8						84.0
Network operating expenses					(10.6)						(10.0)
Direct personnel expenses					(6.2)						(5.8)
Operating expenses					(24.8)						(18.7)
Depreciation and amortization					(28.6)						(26.4)
Cost of restructuring					(3.0)						(0.6)
Income from operations					8.6						22.5

Net cash provided by continued operations, which includes interest paid but excludes capital expenditure and debt repayments, was EUR 16.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011.

COMMENTS FROM MARTIN LEA

Commenting on the financial results, Invitel Holdings' President and CEO Martin Lea said, "We have still not seen any material improvement in the economic or general trading conditions during the second quarter. The traditional residential voice business has continued to decline, however we are very pleased to have seen an increased level of growth in the residential Internet segment during Q2. In the corporate market in Q2 we have seen a slight reduction in the rate of decline in the traditional voice business and at the same time an encouraging small level of growth in the data business, as new customer acquisition and service development has off-set competitive price erosion. In addition to this, our underlying Wholesale data business has continued to perform very well during the course of the quarter."

Mr. Lea went on to say, "The integration of the FiberNet business is progressing well and is in line with our plans and expectations."

CONFERENCE CALL

On August 2, 2011 (at 14:00 UK time, 15:00 CET, 9:00 AM ET), the CEO and CFO of Invitel Holdings will host a conference call to discuss the second quarter 2011 financial results of Magyar Telecom B.V.

A copy of the presentation materials will also be published on Invitel's website at http://english.invitel.hu/ under "Investor Relations" prior to the call.

You can participate in the conference call by dialing 800-4626-6666 (UK toll free), +1-201-689-8049 (International) or +1-877-407-9210 (U.S. toll free) and referencing "Invitel Holdings".

A webcast of the call and the presentation materials will be available on Invitel's website at http://english.invitel.hu/ under "Investor Relations". The webcast will be archived for 30 days. In addition, a replay of the call will be available two hours after the call has ended and through August 16, 2011 at 11:59 PM ET. To access the replay of the call, please dial +1-877-660-6853 (U.S. toll free) or internationally dial +1-201-612-7415 and enter account (286) followed by the replay access code (375520).

ABOUT INVITEL HOLDINGS A/S

Invitel Holdings A/S is the number one alternative and the second-largest fixed line telecommunications and broadband Internet Services Provider in the Republic of Hungary, delivering voice, data and Internet services to residential and business customers.

Forward-Looking Statements and Legal Information

The information above includes forward-looking statements about Invitel Holdings A/S and its subsidiaries. These and all forward-looking statements are only predictions of current plans that are constantly under review by Invitel Holdings. Such statements are qualified by important factors that may cause actual results to differ from those contemplated, including those risk factors detailed in Invitel Holdings' SEC filings, which may not be exhaustive. For a discussion of such risk factors, see Invitel Holdings' filings with the SEC including but not limited to, its 2009 Annual Report on Form 20-F. Invitel Holdings operates in a continually changing business environment, and new risk factors emerge from time to time. Invitel Holdings cannot predict such new risk factors, nor can it assess the impact, if any, of such new risk factors on its business or events described in any forward-looking statements. Invitel Holdings has no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of future events or circumstances. In addition, because the Company has deregistered its common stock and is no longer subject to certain reporting obligations with the SEC, the Company no longer intends to file or furnish any updates with the SEC.

Magyar Telecom B.V.
Financial Highlights
(in millions of euro)
Statements of Operations
			Quarter ended June 30, 2011					Quarter ended June 30, 2010
Residential Voice			13.4						16.4
Residential Internet			8.8						8.1
Corporate			16.4						16.6
Domestic Wholesale			7.9						5.3
Cable			5.2						0.0
Total Revenue			51.7						46.4
Segment Cost of Sales			9.1						7.4
Income (loss) from Operations			4.5						7.8
Interest Expense			9.8						10.6
Foreign exchange gains (losses), net			(0.0)						(20.6)
Gains (losses) on derivative financial instruments			(0.4)						2.5
Net income (loss) from Continued Operations			(5.9)						(17.6)
Net income (loss) from Discontinued Operations			(0.5)						10.9

Magyar Telecom B.V.
Financial Highlights
(in millions of euro)
Statements of Operations
			Six months ended June 30, 2011					Six months ended June 30, 2010
Residential Voice			27.1						33.7
Residential Internet			17.4						16.5
Corporate			32.3						33.9
Domestic Wholesale			15.7						15.7
Cable			6.9						0.0
Total Revenue			99.4						99.8
Segment Cost of Sales			34.4						31.6
Income (loss) from Continued Operations			8.6						22.5
Interest Expense			19.4						22.3
Foreign exchange gains (losses), net			(1.7)						(14.6)
Gains (losses) on derivative financial instruments			(0.4)						(5.0)
Net income (loss) from Continued Operations			18.9						(18.1)
Net income (loss) from Discontinued Operations			0.0						19.6

Magyar Telecom B.V.
Financial Highlights
(in millions of euro)
Balance Sheets
			June 30,					December 31,
			2011					2010
Current Assets			94.5					140.0
Property, Plant and Equipment, net			349.8					303.0
Total Assets			503.9					485.9
Total Current Liabilities			44.9					39.7
Long Term Debt			327.3					351.0
Total Shareholders Equity			114.8					78.1
Total Liabilities and Shareholders Equity			503.9					485.9