2007'02.04.Sun
Media Reminder -- Journalism Awards for Lung Cancer Reporting
July 26, 2006
LONDON, July 26 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- The Tempus
Journalism Awards, launched earlier this year by the Global
Lung Cancer Coalition (GLCC), is the first global initiative
to recognise excellence in lung cancer reporting.
There are still two months remaining before judging
begins -- so please continue to send in your submissions.
Remember, entries are invited from journalists whose
features, commentaries or programmes on lung cancer have
been published or broadcast between 1 September 2005 and 1
September 2006.
Entries must be received by 28 September to be
considered.
Award categories are:
- Best Medical Article
- Best Consumer Article
- Best Broadcast Piece
The winner of each award category will be announced
during Lung Cancer Awareness Month 2006 (November) and
receive a EUR7000 research grant towards further reporting
of the disease, as well as global recognition of their
outstanding excellence in journalism.
For more information, including full application
details, please visit http://www.tempusawards.com .
CLOSING DATE: Thursday 28 September 2006
For more information, please contact:
Amelia Baio
Tel: +44-20-7357-8187
Email: tempusawards@resolutecommunications.com
SOURCE Global Lung Cancer Coalition (GLCC)
PR
2007'02.04.Sun
Red Herring Releases Short-list of Finalists for The "Red Herring Asia 100" Awards
July 26, 2006
Leading Private Asian Technology Companies will Be Honored at Red Herring Asia "Meet Asia's Innovators" Summit Hong Kong, August 28-30, 2006
BEIJING, July 26 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Red Herring
announced today that it has narrowed the field of
contenders for its annual "Red Herring Asia 100"
list to 200 companies. Well over 600 privately held
technology companies were submitted to this year's edition
of the prestigious award, proving the reviving innovative
and entrepreneurial strength of the technology ecosystem.
The names of the 200 companies short-listed as
finalists for the "Red Herring Asia 100" can be
found online athttp://www.redherring.com/rhasia06 .
Following another rigorous review process, the
"Red Herring Asia 100" will be unveiled in the
coming weeks, and the Red Herring Asia "Meet Asia's
Innovators" Summit,will be hold on August 28-30 in
Hong Kong, during which the technology industry's
most-innovative CEOs, venture financiers, and corporate
strategists will gather to exchange deep insight into the
Asian technology scene.
"The level of entrepreneurial activity in Asia is
no longer surprising," said Joel Dreyfuss,
editor-in-chief of Red Herring. "The biggest shift is
the emergence of innovative and disruptive companies that
can play on the world stage."
The "Red Herring Asia 100" award, now in its
second year and open only to private technology companies
headquartered in the Asia Pacific region, is given to the
top 100 Asian tech companies on the basis of technology
innovation, management strength, market size, investor
record, customer acquisition and financial health. The CEOs
of the Top 100 companies are invited to present their
winning strategies at Red Herring Asia 100. Last year,the
winners like Suntech power, Vimicro has successfully access
to IPO,and verisilicon,ChinaInterActiveCorp,WangYou have
closed their new round of financing.
For the past months, hundreds of companies in the
telecomm, Web 2.0, software, hardware, biotech and energy
related industries from countries like Kazakhstan, Korea,
China, India, Japan and the Philippines have sent in their
submissions to qualify for the award. At Red Herring Asia
2006, both the finalists and winners of the Top 100 will
showcase their uniqueness and business potential.
The nominees were rigidly evaluated on both
quantitative and qualitative criteria such as financial
performance, technology innovation, quality of management,
execution of strategy, and integration into their
ecosystem. This unique assessment of their potential is
complemented by a review of the actual track record and
standing of a company, allowing Red Herring to see past the
"buzz" and make the list an invaluable instrument
for discovering and advocating the greatest business
opportunities in the industry.
"Meet Asia's Innovators"
Red Herring events such as Red Herring Asia 2006, have
long provided keen and prescient insights into the past,
present and future of global technology trends and
breakthroughs. Industry leaders, venture capitalists,
entrepreneurs and Red Herring's own business intelligence
team are brought together in the spirit of collaboration
and growth in an attempt to foster business alliances and
bring together entrepreneurs and investors. Participation
is always by invitation only, and all speakers are
registered participants. For registration and conference
update, please go to http://www.redherring.com/rhasia06 .
About Red Herring
Red Herring is a sophisticated insider's guide to the
business of technology, featuring unparalleled insights on
the emerging technologies driving the economy, from the
Internet to wireless communications and digital
entertainment. Red Herring reports on how innovation and
entrepreneurship are transforming business and how the
business of technology is transforming the world, providing
readers with a deep understanding of venture capital and
capital markets. Recognized as an essential resource in
today's fast-changing business world, Red Herring gets the
right answers before anyone else even thinks to ask the
questions. More information on Red Herring is available on
the Internet at http://www.redherring.com .
About Xinhua PR Newswire
As a strategic partner of Red Herring, Xinhua PR
Newswire has helped many of the 200 finalists increase the
global awareness of their companies by assisting them with
a cost effective means to distribute news and information
to over 24,000 media outlets and over a million investors
worldwide. Finalists, including SmartPay Jieyin, Jade
Technologies, Cgogo, Toodou and Yeepay, have all been using
Xinhua PR Newswire's services to keep the global media,
investment community and the general public abreast of key
developments. Backed by the unchallenged media network of
PR Newswire in 135 countries, Xinhua PR Newswire has been
the exclusive and trusted news disseminator for hundreds of
leading companies in the region.
The 200 companies short-listed as finalists for the
"Red Herring 100 Asia" are (in alphabetical
order):
Company Country
Industry
24/7 Customer India
Outsourcing
24X7 Learning India
Software
51.com China
Internet and services
51show China
Internet and services
9You China
Internet and services
abKey Singapore
Computing
ACL Wireless India
Communications
Actela Korea
Security
Advanced Radio Engineering India
Communications
Aidi Communications Japan
Semiconductors
Aigo China
Computing
Airoha Taiwan
Semiconductor
Allyes AdNetwrok China
Internet and services
Antig Taiwan Energy
AppLabs India
Software
ASKnLearn Singapore
Internet and services
Aurigo Software Technology India
Business software
Avesthagen India
Biosciences
Axstone Korea
Communications
Baihe Online Technology China
Internet and services
bbmao.com China
Internet and services
Bluebird Soft Korea
Computing
Britesoft Solutions Malaysia
Software
BuzzCity Singapore
Internet and services
CGen media China
Entertainment and media
Cgogo China
Internet and services
China Broadband Communications China
Communications
China Data Group China
Outsourcing
ChineseAll China
Internet and services
Chipnuts China
Semiconductor
CinemaChoice China
Internet and services
ClearTrail Technologies India
Communications
Clipcomm Korea
Communications
ColorME China
Internet and services
Comat Technologies India
Software
Comsenz China
Internet and services
Converge Labs India
Communications
Coruscant Tec India
Internet and services
Creative Mobile Korea
Communications
CSDN China
Internet and services
Daumsoft Korea
Internet and services
dianping.com China
Internet and services
DideoNET Korea
Communications
Dratek China
Internet and services
Drishtee Dot Com India
Software and services
DynaScan China
Entertainment and Media
EC Navi Japan
Internet and services
eDuShi China
Internet and services
eInfochips India
Semiconductor
Encore Software India
Software
Enovation Australia
Business software
Ensoltek Korea
Biosciences
ESQUBE India
Communications
Euglena Japan
Biosciences
Evalueserve India
Outsourcing
eWarna Malaysia
Internet and services
Exist Software Engineering Philippines
Business software
gammaStar China
Biosciences
Gbaopan.com China
Storage
Geotude Malaysia
Internet and services
GetData Australia
Security
GigaDevice Semi China
Semiconductor
Gmedia China
Communications
GNI Ltd. Japan
Biosciences
GoPets Korea
Entertainment and media
Gpans Korea
Security
Hansun Tech China
Internet and services
HiChina China
Internet and services
hoodong China
Internet and services
Huanxin China
Internet and services
Hurix Systems India
Software and services
Hutchison MediPharma China
Biosciences
I.T. UNITED China
Services
i1 China
Business software
IamEmo Australia
Communications
Icon Lab Korea
Communications
Ideamov China
Communications
Imagis Korea
Semiconductor
IndiaIdeas.com India
Internet and services
iNFOiSLIVE China
Entertainment and media
Infozech India
Communications
INKA Korea
Entertainment and Media
Innoviti Embedded India
Communications
Innoxius Singapore
Communications
InstaColl India
Business software
Intellicus Technologies India
Business software
iSoftStone China
Outsourcing
i-Sprint Innovations Singapore
Security
iVista India
Software and services
iWOW Singapore
Communications
Jade Technologies China
Semiconductors
Jataayu Software India
Communications
KaiTone China
Communications
LDK Solar Hi-Tech China Solar
Linguamatix Malaysia
Internet and services
Madhouse China
Internet and services
Majitek Australia
Computing
MakeMyTrip India
Internet and services
MassMedia Studios Australia
Internet and services
Mauj Telecom India
Communications
McubeWorks Korea
Communications
MetricStream India
Business software
Miartech China
Semiconductor
midas India
Communications
MindTree Consulting India
Outsourcing
Mobile2win India
Internet and services
MobilityOne Malaysia
Internet and services
Mofile China
Internet and services
Morpho, Inc Japan
Software
Mostitech Korea
Computing
MTEKSOFT Korea
Computing
MyZus India
Communications
Nano Carrier Japan
Biotech
Nano Fusion Japan Energy
Naukri.com India
Internet and services
Naviblog Japan
Internet and services
Nayio Media Korea
Internet and services
NeoAccel India
Communications
NetAlter India
Internet and services
Netinfinium Technologies Malaysia
Communications
NetMagic Solutions India
Outsourcing
Netpia Korea
Internet and services
new rock tech China
Communications
Newgen Software India
Software
n-Logue Communications India
Internet and services
Noah Education China
Computing
Novatium Solutions India
Computing
Oak Pacific Interactive China
Internet and services
Ocimum Biosolutions India
Biosciences
PayEase China
Internet and services
Peering Portal Korea
Software
Pentamicro Korea
Semiconductor
People Interactive India
Internet and services
Persistent Systems India
Software
Personal Computer to Network China
Software
Phi Microtech Japan
Semiconductors
PI R&D Japan
Electronics
Pinstorm India
Internet and services
PIVoD Technologies Australia
Entertainment and Media
POSDAQ Korea
Internet and services
Powai Labs India
Semiconductors
Pulse Australia
Internet and services
RAMSWAY Korea
Semiconductor
Rock Mobile China
Communications/wireless
Shanghai Hintsoft China
Internet and services
Shanghai Nanamimi China
Internet and services
Shanghai Sunway China
Biosciences
shenzhen horizon China
Internet and services
SiBiono GeneTech China
Biosciences
silk road China
COmmunications
SIMmersion Holdings Australia
Software
Singular ID Singapore
Nanotech
SkyWave Japan
Communications
SmartPay Jieyin China
Internet and services
SoftJin India
Semiconductors
SoftRun Korea
Computing
SoGua China
Internet and services
sss China
Internet and services
Str8Up China/USA
Internet and services
Sun Wah Linux China
Software
SunTec Business Solutions India
Software
Symbio China
Outsourcing
Syscan Digital Systems China
Internet and services
Taiwan Liposome Company Taiwan
Biosciences
TechnoDex Malaysia
Software
Teledata Informatics India
Software
TELiBrahma India
Communications-mobile
tenCube Pte. Ltd. Singapore
Handsets
Teruten Korea
Security
Thin Multimedia Korea
Communications
tianji.com China
Internet and services
Tmsuk Japan
Computing
Tomato LSI Korea
Semiconductors
Toodou China
Internet and services
Toonz Animation India
Entertainment and Media
Trinity Japan
Security
Trusted Delivery Singapore
Security
Ubicod Korea Media
and entertainment
Ultra Chip Taiwan
Semiconductors
Vembu India
Computing-storage
veredus laboratories Singapore
Biosciences
VietnamWorks Vietnam
Internet and services
WaaWoo Korea
Computing
WAPTX China
Internet and services
Wayz Japan Japan
Business software
Wealink China
Internet and services
Winitech Korea
Business software
WITS Interactive India
Internet and services
Worksoft Creative Software China
Services
WSO2 Sri Lanka
Business software
XCome Taiwan
Communications
XPlus China
Internet and services
xueda China
Internet and services
xunlei China
Internet and services
YASU Technologies India
Business software
YeePay China
Internet and services
YiCha Online China
Internet and services
YourAmigo Australia
Internet and services
zhongsou China
Internet and services
Zio Interactive Korea
Entertainment and media
For more information, please contact:
Asia
Tel: +86-10-8591-1166
USA
Tel: +1-650-3215544
SOURCE Red Herring
2007'02.04.Sun
Health Consequences of Excessive Solar UV Radiation
July 26, 2006
New WHO Report Shows Breakdown of Disease Caused by UV Radiation
GENEVA, July 26 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Ultraviolet
radiation from the sun causes a considerable global disease
burden, including specific cancers, a new World Health
Organization (WHO) report finds. Much of the UV-related
illness and death can be avoided through a series of simple
prevention measures.
(Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040610/CNTH001LOGO )
The report, Global Burden of Disease of Solar
Ultraviolet Radiation estimates that up to 60,000 deaths a
year worldwide are caused by too much exposure to
ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Of those 60,000 deaths, an
estimated 48,000 are caused by malignant melanomas, and
12,000 by skin carcinomas.
In total, more than 1.5 million DALYS
("disability-adjusted life years") -- a measure
of the loss of full functioning due to disease and death
are lost every year due to excessive UVR exposure. The
most serious consequence of excess UVR is malignant
melanoma, which has high cure rates only if detected early.
Up to 90% of the global burden of disease from melanoma and
other skin cancers are estimated to be due to UVR exposure.
The new WHO report is the first-ever systematic
examination of the global health burden due to UVR. It
investigates nine adverse health outcomes from excess UVR
exposure. The main three, which cause the greatest burden
of disease from UVR, are cutaneous malignant melanomas, and
non-melanoma skin cancers developing in different cell
layers of the skin (squamous cell carcinomas and basal cell
carcinomas). In addition, UVR causes sunburn, skin
photoageing, cortical cataracts (eye lens opacities),
pterygium (a fleshy growth on the surface of the eye),
reactivation of herpes of the lip (cold sores) and the rare
squamous cell carcinomas of the eye.
"This global assessment of the health risks of UV
radiation provides a good basis for public health action.
We all need some sun, but too much sun can be dangerous --
and even deadly. Fortunately, diseases from UV such as
malignant melanomas, other skin cancers and cataracts are
almost entirely preventable through simple protective
measures," said Dr Maria Neira, Director for Public
Health and the Environment at WHO.
The report notes that UVR does have beneficial effects,
mainly in the production of vitamin D following skin
exposure to the UVB (shorter wavelength) component of UVR.
Adequate vitamin D prevents the development of bone diseases
such as rickets, osteomalacia and osteoporosis. Moreover,
the possible beneficial effects on some cancers and immune
disorders are under investigation.
WHO notes, in most cases minimal casual exposure to UVR
should be sufficient to maintain vitamin D levels at a range
that avoids these health problems. The dangers are much
greater from over-exposure to the sun's radiation.
A few easy-to-implement sun safety measures could
prevent much of the cancer and other death and disease
burden due to UV radiation, WHO says:
-- Limit time in the midday sun
-- Use shade wisely: seek shade when UV rays are most
intense
-- Wear protective clothing including hats and
sunglasses
-- Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen of sun protection
factor 15+
-- Avoid sunlamps and tanning parlours; for youth
under the age of 18,
WHO recommends that they do not use them at all
-- Know the UV index: when the UV Index predicts
radiation levels of 3
(moderate) or above
-- sun safety practices should be taken
-- Protect children from the sun
More information on these measures can be found at
http://www.who.int/uv .
In conjunction with the launch of this new report, WHO
and the World Tourism Organization of the United Nations
(UNWTO) are joining forces to multiply global outreach
efforts to inform the public and reinforce measures to
prevent avoidable diseases. Through the UNWTO, WHO will be
distributing information, including its new UV flyer on
healthy sun habits, to all national ministries responsible
for tourism.
The report and executive summary -- Solar ultraviolet
radiation: Global burden of disease can be found on
http://www.who.int/uv/en/ .
For more information, please contact:
Ms Nada Osseiran,
Communications and Advocacy Officer,
Department for Public Health and Environment,
World Health Organization, Geneva
Tel: +41-22-791-4475
Fax: +41-22-791-4127
Email: osseirann@who.int
All press releases, fact sheets and other WHO media
material may be found at http://www.who.int .
Fact Sheet
July 2006
Global disease burden from solar ultraviolet radiation
Introduction
Everyone is exposed to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from
the sun. Small amounts of UV radiation are beneficial to
health, and play an essential role in the production of
vitamin D. However, overexposure to UV radiation is
associated with a variety of health problems, most notably
skin cancer and eye cataracts. WHO has recently assessed
the global disease burden that can be attributed to solar
UV radiation. This information provides an important basis
for national and international UV public health and health
protection programmes to assist people to avoid
inappropriate sun exposure.
UV Radiation
UVR reaching the earth's surface is largely composed of
long-wavelength UVA with a small amount of the shorter
wavelength UVB. Most UVB and the very short wavelength UVC
is filtered out by the atmosphere. UV radiation levels are
influenced by:
-- Sun elevation: the higher the sun in the sky, the
higher the UVR
level, with an increase in UVB relative to UVA.
Thus UVR levels
vary with time of day and time of year.
-- Latitude: the closer to equatorial regions, the
higher the UVR
levels.
-- Cloud cover: UVR levels are highest under cloudless
skies. However,
even with cloud cover, UVR levels can be high due to
scattering
within the atmosphere.
-- Altitude: at higher altitudes, the atmosphere is
thinner and the air
mass is decreased; less UVR is absorbed.
-- Ozone: ozone present in the atmosphere absorbs some
of the UVR that
would otherwise reach the earth's surface. Ozone
depletion leads to
increased UVB levels with little impact on UVA
levels.
-- Ground reflection: grass, soil and water reflect
less than 10% of
UVR; fresh snow reflects as much as 80%; dry beach
sand about 15%
and sea foam about 25%.
UVR can neither be seen nor felt. Therefore UVR
measurements are necessary to determine precisely the
extent of ground level (ambient) UVR. UVR measurements such
as the global solar UV index (see http://www.who.int/uv )
add up all the solar UVR, taking account of its ability to
cause skin damage. If measurements are not available, an
approximation of ambient UVR levels can be based on
geographic latitude.
For individuals, the UVR exposure additionally depends
on factors such as behaviour and use of sun protectants,
e.g., clothing, hats, sunscreen and sunglasses, during
outdoor (including occupational) activities. A person's
skin type is also important. Fair skinned people suffer
from sunburn much more readily than dark-skinned people.
Health consequences of excessive UVR exposure
Using evidence systematically collected from the
scientific literature, WHO has identified nine adverse
health outcomes that are clearly caused by UVR exposure.
An assessment of the global disease burden, comprising both
mortality and morbidity, was completed for these health
outcomes. The nine diseases assessed were:
-- Cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM): Melanoma of the
skin is a
malignant cancer of great severity. Although
treatment is improving,
melanoma still carries a significant risk of death.
Between 50% and
90% of the burden of disease from melanoma estimated
in the WHO
report is due to UVR exposure.
-- Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin (SCC): This is
another type of
malignant skin cancer which generally progresses
less rapidly than
melanoma and is less likely to cause death or
ongoing disability.
Of the total SCC disease burden, 50-70% is
attributable to UVR
exposure.
-- Basal cell carcinoma of the skin (BCC): This skin
cancer appears
predominantly in older people and grows slowly by
local spread. The
incidence and mortality of BCC were estimated to be
50-90%
attributable to UVR exposure.
-- Squamous cell carcinoma of the cornea or conjunctiva
(SCCC): This is
a rare tumour of the surface of the eye. Some
50-70% of the disease
burden due to SCCC is attributable to UVR exposure.
The following conditions are also the consequence of
excess UVR, but there is considerable uncertainty about the
overall burden of disease estimates, since few data are
available on incidence and/or UV-attributable fraction:
-- Photoageing: Chronic sun damage is associated with
the development
of skin conditions called solar keratoses. On rare
occasions, these
are pre-malignant conditions. The burden of disease
due to solar
keratoses is 100% attributable to UVR exposure.
-- Sunburn: Sunburns may be severe and blistering, and
the resulting
disease burden is 100% attributable to UVR exposure.
-- Cortical cataract: Cataract is an eye disease where
the lens becomes
increasingly opaque, resulting in impaired vision
and eventual
blindness. Long-term sun exposure to the eye
increases the risk of
developing a specific cataract type called cortical
cataract. Five
percent of all cataract-related disease burden is
directly
attributable to UVR exposure.
-- Pterygium: This is a wing-shaped fleshy growth on
the surface of the
eye. 40-70% of the disease burden is attributable
to UVR exposure.
-- Reactivation of herpes of the lip (RHL): Excessive
UVR exposure
causes immunosuppression and reactivation of the
herpes simplex
virus ("cold sores"). 25-50% of the
disease burden is attributable
to UV exposure.
Estimates of global UV disease burden
WHO uses disability adjusted life years (DALYs) to
measure the health detriment associated with a particular
health outcome. DALYs combine the life years lost due to
premature mortality associated with the disease and the
number of years lost due to disability. Thus, one DALY is
equivalent to one lost year of life in full health.
The following table summarizes the DALYs and mortality
attributable to excessive UVR exposure for the nine
diseases listed above and calculated for the year 2000.
The upper and lower estimates indicate the variation that
depends on actual assumptions and values used in the
calculations. Globally, around 1.5 million DALYs (0.1% of
the total global burden of disease) are lost every year due
to excessive UVR exposure. The estimates concerning sunburn
and reactivation of the Herpes Simplex virus (cold sores)
are regarded as particularly uncertain. Therefore summary
DALY estimates are also presented excluding these health
problems.
DALYs (000)
Disease Upper Lower
Upper Lower
estimate estimate
estimate estimate
CMM 621 345
58,645 32,581
SCC of skin 83 59
9,474 6,767
BCC of skin 52 29
2,921 1,623
Solar keratoses 8 8
0 0
Sunburn 294 294
0 0
Cortical cataract 529 529
0 0
Pterygium 35 20
0 0
SCCC 2 1
0 0
RHL 68 34
0 0
Total 1,692 1,319
71,039 40,970
Total (excluding sunburn
and RHL) 1,330 991
71,039 40,970
In terms of mortality, only the three skin cancers
contribute to deaths that can be attributable to excessive
UVR exposure. Between 41,000 and 71,000 deaths, with a
best estimate of around 60,000 were attributed to excessive
UVR exposure in 2000.
Regional differences
The main health effects contributing to the UVR-related
disease burden differ by region:
In the WHO European region, with a predominantly
fair-skinned population, melanoma is by far the largest
cause of UVR-attributable disease burden. Similar results
are found in some countries of the WHO Western Pacific
region, notably Australia, Brunei, Japan, New Zealand and
Singapore. In most of the Americas, melanoma represents
the greatest UVR-attributable disease burden, but sunburn
also contributes significantly.
In the WHO African Region, the main burden of disease
attributable to UVR is cataract. Even though cutaneous
malignant melanoma is uncommon in deeply pigmented
populations, it accounts for the second greatest burden of
disease in this region.
Cataract also causes the greatest UVR-associated
disease burden in some countries of the WHO American region
such as Bolivia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Nicaragua, and
Peru and in the Eastern Mediterranean Region notably in
Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Iraq. Similarly, in WHO
South East Asia Region, in countries like Indonesia,
Thailand, India, and Bangladesh, cataract is the most
important cause of disease. In several Western Pacific
countries including China, Malaysia and the Philippines,
sunburn and cataract are the leading UV-related ill health
effects, followed by melanoma.
Beneficial effects of UVR exposure
UVR exposure has beneficial effects, mainly in the
production of vitamin D. Adequate vitamin D prevents the
development of bone diseases such as rickets, osteomalacia
and osteoporosis. Possible beneficial effects on some
cancers and immune disorders are under intense scientific
investigation. Populations living at low latitudes (who
have not evolved a diet high in vitamin D) and deeply
pigmented populations particularly rely on UVR to produce
adequate Vitamin D levels.
For the purpose of a theoretical assessment of the
effect of lack of UV, WHO has conducted model calculations.
If zero exposure to UV leading to widespread and profound
Vitamin D deficiency were assumed, more than 3.3 million
DALYS would be lost annually from diseases related to
Vitamin D deficiency. Importantly, this is not the current
situation. Although research suggests that many people may
have lower vitamin D levels than might be optimal, these are
not in the range that causes the above-mentioned bone
diseases. Indeed, rickets and osteomalacia are uncommon
diseases. In most circumstances, minimal casual exposure
to UVR is sufficient to maintain vitamin D at a level that
avoids these health problems.
Over-exposure to UVR, rather than under-exposure,
therefore remains the primary public health concern. The
detailed and appropriate sun exposure advice to avoid
diseases of excessive UVR exposure and of vitamin D
deficiency is best framed by local health authorities,
taking into account the skin type of local populations and
ambient UVR of the region.
Prevention of UVR overexposure -- WHO recommendations
-- Limit time in the midday sun: The sun's UV rays are
the strongest
between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m( = 2 hours each side of
the solar noon). To
the extent possible, limit exposure to the sun
during these hours.
-- Use shade wisely: Seeking shade when UV rays are the
most intense is
recommended, however, shade structures such as
trees, umbrellas or
canopies do not offer complete sun protection. The
shadow rule: "Watch
your shadow -- Short shadow, seek shade!"
serves as a simple aide-
memoire.
-- Wear protective clothing: A hat with a wide brim
offers good sun
protection for eyes, ears, face, and the back of
your neck. Sunglasses,
with adequate side protection that provide 99 to 100
percent UV-A and
UV-B protection will greatly reduce eye damage from
sun exposure.
Tightly woven, loose fitting clothes will provide
additional protection
from the sun.
-- Use sunscreen: Liberal application of a
broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF
15+ and re-application every two hours, or after
working, swimming,
playing or exercising outdoors, can help protect the
skin from UVR.
The application of sunscreens exposure should not be
used to prolong
sun exposure but rather to protect the skin when
exposure is
unavoidable.
-- Avoid sunlamps and tanning parlours: Sunbeds damage
the skin and
unprotected eyes and are best avoided entirely. WHO
recommends that
youth under the age of 18 do not use them at all.
-- Know the UV index: The UV index is a measure of UV
radiation (see
http://www.who.int/uv ). The higher the UV index,
the higher the risk
of skin and eye damage. Use the UV index to plan
sun-safe outdoor
activities. When the UV Index predicts radiation
levels of 3 (moderate)
or above, sun safety practices should be taken.
-- Protect children: Children are generally more
susceptible to
environmental hazards than adults. During outdoor
activities, they
should be protected from high UV exposure as above,
and babies should
always remain in the shade. The promotion of sun
protection in schools
is particularly important to make children aware of
the risks of
overexposure and how to avoid it. WHO has developed
special programmes
to address this issue. For more information see
http://www.who.int/UV .
Prevention of vitamin D deficiency
The risks of vitamin D deficiency due to under-exposure
to UVR have been much publicized recently. Considerable
research is currently underway to better understand these
risks and appropriate levels of sun exposure. Populations
who have very low sun exposure, such as institutionalized
individuals (e.g. prisoners), deeply pigmented persons
living in low UVR settings (e.g. at high latitude) or those
who, for religious or cultural reasons cover their entire
body surface when they are outdoors, should, in
consultation with their doctor, consider a vitamin D
nutritional supplement. For the large majority of people
worldwide, prevention of overexposure to UVR (using the
above advice) remains the main health concern.
WHO's role
WHO, through the global INTERSUN project, has been
providing scientific information and practical advice on
the health impact and environmental effects of UVR exposure
since 1995. INTERSUN conducts activities aimed at reducing
the global burden of disease from excessive UVR exposure.
Other international organizations (UNEP, WMO, IARC and
ICNIRP), and several WHO collaborating centers are actively
involved in INTERSUN.
For further information:
The full report "Solar ultraviolet radiation --
global burden of disease from solar ultraviolet
radiation" is available online under
http://www.who.int/uv .
Additional information on INTERSUN, the global UV
project as well as on practical tools and resources is
available at http://www.who.int/uv/intersunprogramme/en/ .
Information requests should be sent to mediainquiries
at mediaenquiries@who.int or phone: +41 22 791 22 22; fax:
+41 22 791 48 58 .
All press releases, fact sheets and other WHO media
material may be found at http://www.who.int .
SOURCE World Health Organization
2007'02.04.Sun
/C O R R E C T I O N -- Analysys International /
July 26, 2006
In the news release, "Analysys International Says
the Keys to Chinese SPs' Survival Rely on Optimizing
Marketing and R&D Spending," issued yesterday,
July 25, by Analysys International over Xinhua PR Newswire,
we are advised by the company that the second paragraph,
under the section titled "News Background,"
should read "Affected by the news, stocks of listed
companies including Tom Online, Kongzhong.net, Sohu, Sina,
and Linktone, all dropped" rather than "Affected
by the news, stocks of listed SPs including Tom Online,
Kongzhong.net, 51job.com, Sohu, Sina, and Linktone, all
dropped," as originally issued inadvertently.
Complete corrected release follows:
Analysys International Says the Keys to Chinese SPs'
Survival Rely on Optimizing Marketing and R&D Spending
BEIJING, July 25 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Analysys
International, a leading Internet based provider of
business information about technology, media and telecom
(TMT) industries in China, says Chinese SPs' revenue will
be affected by mobile carriers' and MII's policies to a
certain degree; however, optimizing marketing and R&D
spending should be the key to reduce the impact brought by
the related regulations.
News Background
China Mobile recently notified value-added service
providers (SP) of its policy changes for all mobile value
added services (including SMS, MMS and WAP) subscriptions
on its Monternet platform, which include an extended trial
period, double reminder and unified unsubscription
channels.
Affected by the news, stocks of listed companies
including Tom Online, Kongzhong.net, Sohu, Sina, and
Linktone, all dropped.
Quick Analysis
Mobile value-added services are the major revenue
source to these listed companies. Affected by mobile
operators' regulation and MII's policies, the market faces
adjustment. The industry now has higher requirements to
SPs, which will speed up the survival-of-the-fittest market
rule. Those SPs who lack core competency will be washed
out; while those leading SPs will further expand market
shares and increase market influences.
Currently the market leaders occupy the market shares
mainly by their channel and product advantages. And now,
more SPs will fight for the limited market share and
profit. Analysys International says SPs should establish
new marketing channels as well as improving applications
combined with handset marketing resources and innovation of
TV media resources; on the other hand, SPs should look for
new channels through direct marketing or creating other
Internet services marketing channels.
Affected by the regulations, R&D and marketing
spending on the traditional services, including SMS, WAP
and MMS, will go down. SPs should look for new services
that would bring revenue. Analysys International says
R&D spending on new services will increase, such as
mobile search and location services.
Currently, SPs' cost expenditure mainly consists of
personnel expenses, marketing expenses, R&D and daily
spending. As revenue goes down, it is necessary to reduce
costs and optimize the spending on marketing and R&D.
About Analysys International
Analysys International is the leading Internet based
provider of business information about Technology, Media
and Telecom industry in China. We provide data,
information and advice to 50,000 clients worldwide
representing 1,500 distinct organizations, deliver over 150
consulting engagements a year, and hold more than 20 events
that draw in over 8,000 attendees. Our clients include
executives from companies as technology vendors, vertical
information technology users, as well as professionals from
professional service companies, the investment community and
government agencies. Our mission is simple and clear: we
help our clients make better business decisions. For more
information, please visit our web site at
http://english.analysys.com.cn .
For more information, please contact:
Jessica Wang
Overseas Media Manager
Analysys International
Tel: +86-10-6466-6565 x394
Fax: +86-10-6466-7103
Email: jessica_wang@analysys.com.cn
SOURCE Analysys International
2007'02.04.Sun
Luminary Micro Announces Availability of Thirteen New Stellaris(TM) 32-bit Microcontrollers Based on ARM(R) Cortex(TM)-M3 Core
July 26, 2006
Luminary Micro Has Delivered 19 Stellaris Microcontrollers to Market in Three Months as `ARM for $1.00' Eliminates Economic Entry Barriers to 32-bit Performance
AUSTIN, Texas, July 26 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Luminary Micro ( http://www.luminarymicro.com ), a fabless semiconductor company that designs, markets, and sells ARM(R) Cortex(TM)-M3 processor-based microcontrollers and was the first to bring ARM for $1.00 to embedded developers, announces today the availability of 13 new Stellaris(TM) family 32-bit microcontrollers (MCUs) and their associated development kits. All 13 devices are available immediately and offer up to 64K bytes of single cycle flash, 8K bytes of single cycle SRAM, speeds up to 50 MHz, and up to 8 analog-to-digital converter (ADC) channels at up to 1M samples per second sample rate. Two of the new devices also offer Quadrature Encoder Input (QEI) capabilities in the motion control unit. Stellaris MCUs are available in industrial temperature grade, with pricing ranging from $1.00 to $5.47 in 10K resale quantities, and Stellaris family development kits for the family are available for $249. Luminary Micro is ARM's lead partner for the Cortex-M3 processor with six previously announced Stellaris MCUs, including the entry-level LM3S101 MCU priced at $1.00. Luminary Micro's Stellaris family of microcontrollers are the only Cortex-M3 implementations available in silicon form. The rich feature set of each Stellaris device is ideal for applications such as building and home automation; factory automation and control; industrial control power devices; stepper motors; brushed and brushless DC motors; and AC induction motors. The devices also feature single cycle embedded Flash and SRAM, a low-dropout voltage regulator, integrated brown-out reset and power-on reset functions, analog comparators, up to eight channels of 10-bit ADC at up to 1M samples per second, SSI, GPIOs, a watchdog timer and up to seven general purpose timers, up to two UARTs, I2C, and up to six PWM waveform generators for motion control, and QEI, all available directly at the pins without multiplexing. A complete Stellaris family Product Selector Guide detailing features of each device can be found at http://www.luminarymicro.com/products/product_selector_guide.html . "19 Cortex-M3 processor-based microcontrollers in less than a year is a significant product development schedule from Luminary Micro," said Wayne Lyons, director, Embedded Solutions, ARM. "The Stellaris family is poised to take advantage of the diverse and growing worldwide market for MCUs and the Cortex-M3 processor is performing strongly in industrial and embedded markets. Performance and cost are critical barriers in MCU designs and Luminary Micro has surpassed our expectations with its delivery of the Stellaris family." Development Ease and Functionality The company's feature-rich development kit, which was announced in March with the first two Stellaris products, supports the entire Stellaris line. The development kit is a modular design with a unique daughterboard for each family member and a common motherboard. The kit comes ready-to-go with bundled software and tools designed to get users running in 10 minutes or less. In addition to the development hardware, the bundle includes Luminary Micro's comprehensive peripheral driver library with easy to use high-level APIs; comprehensive documentation, schematics, and example programs as well as all cables and jumpers. Users of more than one Stellaris family member can simply change out the daughterboard to accommodate new products -- additional daughterboard kits are available individually. The development kit carries the CE seal of compliance to the mandatory European requirements and is fully certified. The development kit also includes evaluation versions of popular software and hardware development tools. The software tools packages included are ARM's RealView(R) Microcontroller Development Kit, which incorporates the industry-proven Keil(TM) uVision development environment; CodeSourcery's Sourcery G++ GNU tools including the Eclipse debugger; and IAR Systems' Embedded Workbench development environment. The development kit also includes FreeRTOS.org(TM), Pumpkin's Salvo(TM) Lite, Micrium's uC/OS-II, and Express Logic's ThreadX(R) real-time operating systems. All of the real time operating systems are optimized for small-footprint applications, and all of the ports include extensive programming examples. Embedded Developers Prefer the ARM Architecture With an ARM-based embedded market that is currently shipping at a rate of greater than 1.5 billion processors per year, the ARM ecosystem of silicon, tools, software, hardware, systems, and support is the largest in the world. ARM's Cortex architecture offers designers access to an instruction-set-compatible family that ranges from $1 to 1 GHz, a breadth of instruction-set-compatible price and performance that no other architecture can match. Developed specifically for microcontroller applications, Cortex-M3 offers the following features: * Optimized for single cycle flash usage * Deterministic, fast interrupt processing -- never more than 12 cycles, only 6 cycles with tail-chaining * Three sleep modes with clock gating for low power * Single cycle multiply and multiply-accumulate instructions * Native ARM Thumb2 mixed 16-/32-bit instruction set -- no mode switching * Superior debug features including data watchpoints and flash patching * Atomic bit manipulation operations -- read/modify/write in a single instruction * 1.25 DMIPS/MHz (compare to ARM7 at 0.9 DMIPS/MHz and ARM9 at 1.1 DMIPS/MHz) With an entry price of just $1.00, the Stellaris product line allows for software standardization that eliminates future architectural upgrades or software tools changes. Now, for the first time ever, embedded microcontroller system designers can utilize 32-bit performance for the same price as their current 8- and 16-bit microcontroller designs. Surveys of embedded system designers highlight software tools as the single most critical factor when choosing a processor, and the ARM ecosystem is widely acknowledged to be unsurpassed in this respect. Luminary Micro's Chief Marketing Officer Jean Anne Booth adds that availability of the Stellaris family removes any argument for not upgrading to 32-bit. "The Stellaris family was specifically engineered to bring 32-bit performance to the 8/16-bit MCU space with a true microcontroller single-chip solution," Booth said. "With system cost parity for 8/16-bit MCU designs, and performance 2-4 times faster than an ARM7TDMI on microcontroller applications, the Stellaris family also offers embedded developers the opportunity to eliminate assembly code from their entire code base. "Thus the question is no longer `Why use 32-bit for my embedded application?' -- now the question is `Why not use Stellaris 32-bit for my embedded application?'" The Stellaris Family Stellaris family MCUs are based on the ARM Cortex-M3 processor, the microcontroller member of the ARM Cortex processor family. Stellaris is designed for serious embedded microcontroller applications, offering superior integration with an on-chip low dropout voltage regulator, on-chip power-on-reset and brown-out-reset functions, and an on-chip temperature sensor, which together save up to $1.28 in system cost. Additional features include: * Entire software code base is written in C/C++ -- no assembly language required, even in startup code and interrupt service handlers * Occupies half the flash code size of ARM7TDMI MCU applications * Real MCU GPIOs -- all can generate interrupts, all have programmable drive strength and slew rate control * No function pin muxing -- pins are dedicated to one peripheral, backed by GPIO, and simultaneous use of on-chip peripherals is not limited by pin sharing, so engineers are no longer forced to choose between on-chip peripherals * Advanced motion control support in hardware and software * Both analog comparators and ADC functionality on a single chip provide system options to balance hardware and software performance. All of the Stellaris family LM3S3xx, LM3S6xx, and LM3S8xx devices are packaged in 48-pin RoHS-compliant LQFP. A summary of Stellaris device features can be found on the Product Selector Guide at http://www.luminarymicro.com/products/product_selector_guide.html . Try Before You Buy! Luminary Micro offers a "Try Before You Buy" feature using VirtuaLabs technology, allowing instant, easy access to Luminary Micro development systems hardware and software using standard web browsers for evaluation, demonstration and training. The Stellaris VirtuaLabs contain real hardware and fully functional pre-configured software. Utilizing VirtuaLabs, embedded systems developers can write and debug code on ARM/Keil's RealView Microcontroller Development Kit, CodeSourcery's Sourcery G++ (GNU), or IAR Systems' Embedded Workbench development environments targeting their favorite Stellaris microcontroller. Users can also work with ports and examples of real-time operating systems such as FreeRTOS.org, Pumpkin's Salvo, Express Logic's ThreadX, and Micrium's uC/OS-II. The Stellaris VirtuaLabs allow embedded developers to start evaluating immediately from the comfort of their own desktop, without cost or obligation, simply by selecting any "Try Before You Buy" link on Luminary Micro's web site. Pricing and Availability Pricing for the 13 new microcontrollers ranges from $3.94 to $5.47 in 10K resale quantities. Full development kits, including applications software and evaluation versions of popular software tools, are available now for $249 each. The Rowley CrossFire evaluation kit for the Stellaris LM3S102 is also available for $149. Silicon, development kits, and evaluation kits are available through Luminary Micro's global sales channel including Mouser Electronics. Orders may be placed at http://www.luminarymicro.com or through Mouser at http://www.mouser.com/luminarymicro . Contact Luminary Micro at 1-512-279-8800 or email sales@luminarymicro.com for more information. About Luminary Micro and Stellaris Luminary Micro, Inc. designs, markets and sells ARM Cortex-M3-based microcontrollers (MCUs). Austin, Texas-based Luminary Micro is the lead partner for the Cortex-M3 processor, delivering the world's first silicon implementation of the Cortex-M3 processor. Luminary Micro's introduction of the Stellaris family of products provides 32-bit performance for the same price as current 8- and 16-bit microcontroller designs. With entry-level pricing at $1.00 for an ARM technology-based MCU, Luminary Micro's Stellaris product line allows for standardization that eliminates future architectural upgrades or software tools changes. Contact the company at 1-512-279-8800 or email press@luminarymicro.com for more information. Complete press kits including photos are available for download at http://www.LuminaryMicro.com/Press/25July06Launch . Stellaris and the Luminary Micro logo are trademarks of Luminary Micro, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. ARM and RealView are registered trademarks of ARM Limited. Keil and Cortex are trademarks of ARM Limited. All other brands or product names are the property of their respective holders. "ARM" is used to represent ARM Holdings plc; its operating company ARM Limited; and the regional subsidiaries ARM INC.; ARM KK; ARM Korea Ltd.; ARM Taiwan; ARM France SAS; ARM Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.; ARM Belgium N.V.; AXYS Design Automation Inc.; AXYS GmbH; ARM Embedded Solutions Pvt. Ltd.; and ARM Physical IP, Inc. For more information, please contact: Jean Anne Booth CMO Mobile: +1-512-917-3088 Tel: +1-512-279-8801 Email: JeanAnne.Booth@luminarymicro.com Karen Johnson Mobile: +1-512-632-9636 Tel: +1-512-858-9598 Email: Karen@karenjohnson.biz SOURCE Luminary Micro, Inc.
2007'02.04.Sun
Aleris International, Inc. Announces Schedule for Second Quarter 2006 Earnings Release and Conference Call
July 26, 2006
BEACHWOOD, Ohio, July 26 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Aleris
International, Inc. (NYSE: ARS) will issue its second
quarter 2006 results before the market opens on Tuesday,
August 8. That same day at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time Steven
J. Demetriou, Aleris International's Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer, and Michael D. Friday, the Company's
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will
host a conference call to discuss results.
The live conference call can be accessed by dialing
800-329-9097 or 617-614-4929 and referencing passcode #
39963935 at least 10 minutes prior to the presentation,
which will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. In
addition, the conference call will be broadcast live over
the Internet at http://www.aleris.com .
A replay of the conference call will be posted on the
Company's Web site at http://www.aleris.com . A taped
replay of the call will also be available by dialing
888-286-8010 or 617-801-6888 and referencing passcode #
82736773 beginning at 12:00 p.m. Eastern time, August 8,
until 11:59 p.m. Eastern time, August 22,2006.
About Aleris
Aleris International, Inc. is a major North American
manufacturer of rolled aluminum products and is a global
leader in aluminum recycling and the production of
specification alloy. We are also a leading manufacturer of
value-added zinc products that include zinc oxide, zinc dust
and zinc metal. Headquartered in Beachwood, Ohio, a suburb
of Cleveland, the Company operates 41 production facilities
in the U.S., Brazil, Germany, Mexico and Wales, and employs
approximately 4,000 employees. For more information about
the Company, please visit our Web site at
http://www.aleris.com .
(Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050504/CLW056LOGO )
For more information, please contact:
Michael D. Friday
Aleris International, Inc.
Tel: +1-216-910-3503
SOURCE Aleris International, Inc.
2007'02.04.Sun
IC Star MMS Enters Agreement With Sohu.com to Supply Entertainment Contents
July 26, 2006
HONG KONG, July 26 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Telecom Communications, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: TCOM) announced its subsidiary, IC Star MMS Limited ( http://www.icstarmms.com ) has entered into an agreement with Sohu.com Inc. ( http://yule.sohu.com ), one of largest internet portals in China. "Under the terms of the agreement of cooperation, IC Star will provide pictures, movies, videos, music and other infotaintment content products to SOHU entertainment channel," Liu Yan, COO of IC Star stated. About Telecom Communications, Inc. Telecom Communications, Inc. (TCOM) is a Total Solutions Provider that offers Integrated Communications Network Solutions and Internet Content Service in universal voice, video, data web and mobile communications for interactive media applications, technology and content leaders in interactive multimedia communications. It develops, markets and sells a universal media software solution for enterprise-wide deployment of integrated voice, video, data web and mobile communications and media applications. Telecom Communications, Inc. does business in Asia via its wholly owned subsidiaries, Alpha Century Holdings Ltd. ( http://www.subaye.com ), IC Star MMS, Ltd. ( http://www.icstarmms.com ) and 3G Dynasty Inc. ( http://www.skyestar.com ). Safe Harbor The statements made in this release constitute "forward-looking" statements, usually containing the words "believe," "estimate," "project," "expect," or similar expressions. These statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Factors that would cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, changing economic conditions, interest rates trends, continued acceptance of the Company's products in the marketplace, competitive factors and other risks detailed in the Company's periodic report Filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. By making these forward-looking statements, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release. For more information, please contact: Ms. Sandy Tang Telecom Communications, Inc. Tel: +852-2782-0983 Email: pr@tcom8266.com SOURCE Telecom Communications, Inc.
2007'02.04.Sun
Analysys International Says the Keys to Chinese SPs' Survival Rely on Optimizing Marketing and R&D Spending
July 25, 2006
BEIJING, July 25 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Analysys
International, a leading Internet based provider of
business information about technology, media and telecom
(TMT) industries in China, says Chinese SPs' revenue will
be affected by mobile carriers' and MII's policies to a
certain degree; however, optimizing marketing and R&D
spending should be the key to reduce the impact brought by
the related regulations.
News Background
China Mobile recently notified value-added service
providers (SP) of its policy changes for all mobile value
added services (including SMS, MMS and WAP) subscriptions
on its Monternet platform, which include an extended trial
period, double reminder and unified unsubscription
channels.
Affected by the news, stocks of listed SPs including
Tom Online, Kongzhong.net, 51job.com, Sohu, Sina, and
Linktone, all dropped.
Quick Analysis
Mobile value-added services are the major revenue
source to these listed companies. Affected by mobile
operators' regulation and MII's policies, the market faces
adjustment. The industry now has higher requirements to
SPs, which will speed up the survival-of-the-fittest market
rule. Those SPs who lack core competency will be washed
out; while those leading SPs will further expand market
shares and increase market influences.
Currently the market leaders occupy the market shares
mainly by their channel and product advantages. And now,
more SPs will fight for the limited market share and
profit. Analysys International says SPs should establish
new marketing channels as well as improving applications
combined with handset marketing resources and innovation of
TV media resources; on the other hand, SPs should look for
new channels through direct marketing or creating other
Internet services marketing channels.
Affected by the regulations, R&D and marketing
spending on the traditional services, including SMS, WAP
and MMS, will go down. SPs should look for new services
that would bring revenue. Analysys International says
R&D spending on new services will increase, such as
mobile search and location services.
Currently, SPs' cost expenditure mainly consists of
personnel expenses, marketing expenses, R&D and daily
spending. As revenue goes down, it is necessary to reduce
costs and optimize the spending on marketing and R&D.
About Analysys International
Analysys International is the leading Internet based
provider of business information about Technology, Media
and Telecom industry in China. We provide data,
information and advice to 50,000 clients worldwide
representing 1,500 distinct organizations, deliver over 150
consulting engagements a year, and hold more than 20 events
that draw in over 8,000 attendees. Our clients include
executives from companies as technology vendors, vertical
information technology users, as well as professionals from
professional service companies, the investment community and
government agencies. Our mission is simple and clear: we
help our clients make better business decisions. For more
information, please visit our web site at
http://english.analysys.com.cn .
For more information, please contact:
Jessica Wang
Overseas Media Manager
Analysys International
Tel: +86-10-6466-6565 x394
Fax: +86-10-6466-7103
Email: jessica_wang@analysys.com.cn
SOURCE Analysys International
2007'02.04.Sun
China Immunises Millions of Children Against Hepatitis B in Historic Collaboration Between Government and GAVI Alliance
July 25, 2006
WHO, UNICEF Helping China Battle Cause of Deadly Liver Cancer, Achieving Dramatic Increase in Delivery of Vaccines to Most Remote Provinces
BEIJING, July 25 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Since 2002,
China has immunised 11.1 million children in the country's
poorest and most remote western and central provinces
against hepatitis B, reducing their risk of developing a
deadly and common liver cancer, according to an
announcement made today by the Chinese government and the
GAVI Alliance.
Following a ceremony in Beijing, held to commend the
Chinese for their dramatic progress, GAVI and Chinese
health officials told journalists that the boost in
immunisations represents a 60 percent increase in hepatitis
B vaccine doses delivered to children in target provinces.
The children reached include newborns, who receive a
"birth dose" of vaccine plus two more doses at
one and six months of age, as well as previously
unvaccinated children under five, who must also receive a
full three-dose vaccine series.
"Our goal is to protect all the babies at birth
from this virus," said China Minister of Health Gao
Qiang. "The China-GAVI Hepatitis B Immunisation
Project has propelled us forward on this path, covering
one-third of all children born in China since the project
began in 2002."
According to an estimate based on a 1992 national
hepatitis epidemiological survey, 120 million people in
China are chronically infected with hepatitis B (HepB).
Those infected are at risk of liver cancer or failure, and
can spread the disease to others. In the western
provinces, the campaign, with technical guidance from the
World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, has reached
almost 70 percent of newborns with a birth dose of vaccine
in 2005, up from 47 percent in 2002. Newborns are a key
target of the effort, since vaccination within the first 24
hours of life is the only way to protect an infant from
transfer of virus from an infected mother.
Since its inception, the campaign has averted over
200,000 future deaths due to the chronic consequences of
hepatitis B, mainly from cancer of the liver and cirrhosis.
Death typically comes decades after children are exposed to
the virus during childbirth or in their first years of life.
The breakthrough is the result of a five-year US$76
million project, co-funded equally by the Government of
China and the GAVI Alliance (formerly the Global Alliance
for Vaccines and Immunization). Known as the China
Ministry of Health/GAVI Hepatitis B Vaccination Project,
the GAVI-supported campaign has targeted newborns and
children under five across an area that encompasses 470
million people, including six million newborns every year.
It has reached babies born in hospitals, as well as those
born at home in mountain villages or in the tents of
nomadic herders on the vast steppes.
"This breakthrough was 20 years in the
making," said Julian Lob-Levyt, Executive Secretary of
the GAVI Alliance. "That is how long children in the
industrialised world have had a vaccine to fight this
virus, but, until recently, progress in emerging countries
and poor remote areas, such as western China, had been
painfully slow. China's success is a model for other
countries still struggling to stop the spread of the
hepatitis B virus and other vaccine-preventable
diseases."
According to preliminary data, provincial governments
have added to the funds provided by GAVI and the central
government, contributing more than US$10 million in
co-payments. Lob-Levyt noted as well that the support of
the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF has been
critical.
"Worldwide, GAVI's support has made it possible to
immunise 90 million children against hepatitis B and avert
an estimated 1.4 million deaths from this disease
alone," he added.
WHO and UNICEF are among the GAVI partners and other
key immunisation groups(*) in China that support the China
National Immunisation Programme efforts to reach all
children with life-saving vaccines and technologies, as
well as with polio eradication, measles control, and new
vaccine introduction. WHO and UNICEF have supported the
development and implementation of the China-GAVI project,
through the national Interagency Coordinating Committee and
project Operations Advisory Group.
(*) US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
Australian Agency for
International Development, World Bank, Government
of Luxemburg, the
PATH Children's Vaccine Program, the Japanese
International
Cooperation Agency, and the China Foundation for
Hepatitis Prevention
and Control.
GAVI's efforts are critical to achieving the Millennium
Development Goal on child health, which calls for reducing
childhood mortality by two-thirds by 2015. Of the more
than 10 million children who die before reaching their
fifth birthday every year, 2.5 million die from diseases
that could be prevented with currently available or new
vaccines. Since 2000, the catalysing efforts of the GAVI
Alliance have ensured that 90 million children in the
world's poorest countries were immunised against hepatitis
B.
New Laws, Home-Grown Vaccine, and Dedicated Partners
Progress in China has been the result of national
commitment to control this disease; strong partnerships;
new national laws; and a home-grown vaccine industry able
to supply the huge quantities of vaccine needed.
The Government of China and the GAVI Alliance embarked
on the five-year project in 2002, with the goal of reaching
75 percent of newborns with a birth dose of vaccine and 85
percent of children under the age of 12 months with all
three doses of HepB vaccine necessary to prevent infection.
GAVI financial support was used to purchase and distribute
55.39 million doses of hepatitis B vaccine and 145.6
million safe, auto-disable (AD) syringes. That financial
support was also designed to catalyse national action and
sustained commitment to HepB vaccination in China.
In 2002 the Chinese national government added hepatitis
B to all routine childhood immunisations (known as EPI
vaccines). Then, in March 2005, it passed a new regulation
stating that all EPI vaccines be given at no cost to
parents. The Ministry of Health also designated hepatitis
B as one of four high priority diseases for national
control and developed a national hepatitis B control plan
for 2006-2010, with the goal of reducing to less than one
percent the proportion of children under the age of five
who are carriers of the hepatitis B surface antigen.
The Chinese vaccine industry, which has produced HepB
vaccines since the 1980s and had a licensed vaccine since
1990, was also prepared to scale up. The GAVI-supported
project used this vaccine, purchased through a national bid
and tender process with international observers.
Reaching Babies with Safe Injections Wherever They are
Born
Success has also been bolstered by China's Safe
Motherhood Initiative, which urges mothers to give birth in
hospitals. In addition, unprecedented cooperation between
grassroots vaccination staff and child and maternal health
staff in hospitals has fostered the approach of
"whoever delivers the infant should give the
immunisation."
As a result, today more than 90 percent of the babies
in the project area hospitals receive their birth dose of
hepatitis B vaccine on time-within 24 hours of delivery.
The biggest challenges remain reaching babies born at
home in the most remote rural areas. Efforts to scale-up
immunisation there include increased coordination between
village doctors, vaccinators, midwives and mothers, as well
as regular vaccine deliveries to remote areas.
In addition, a key component of the project has been
ensuring safe injections through the use of auto-disable
(AD) syringes. By design, these syringes cannot be reused,
thus eliminating the danger of spreading multiple diseases
through injections given with dirty needles. As a result
of the project, today all childhood vaccines in the
targeted regions are delivered using AD syringes.
Challenges Remain
About three-quarters of the 1301 project counties have
reached the target of 85 percent of children receiving the
complete HepB vaccine series, and half have reached the
timely birth dose target. However, over one million babies
born each year in GAVI project counties are still not
receiving a timely birth dose.
In the project's final years, it will concentrate on
achieving those targets in every county, both through
reaching more babies born at home and by waging a
"catch-up" campaign to reach still unvaccinated
children. The project will also focus on enhancing
injection safety through wider use of AD syringes, and will
encourage the expanded use of AD syringes for all
immunisations given in China.
"Finally, long-term success depends on assuring
that no new financial barriers arise to block HepB
immunisation in the future," Lob-Levyt said.
"This is one of the greatest challenges, and the
solution lies not just within China, but with a global
community mobilised to ensure access to vaccine financing
for all developing nations."
The GAVI Alliance
An alliance of all the major stakeholders in
immunisation, the GAVI Alliance includes among its partners
developing country and donor governments, the World Health
Organization (WHO), UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine
industry in both industrialised and developing countries,
research and technical agencies, NGOs, and the Bill &
Melinda Gates Foundation. It is estimated that more than
1.7 million early deaths will have been prevented as a
result of support by GAVI up to the end of 2005.
GAVI's efforts are critical to achieving the Millennium
Development Goal on child health, which calls for reducing
childhood mortality by two-thirds by 2015. Of the more
than 10 million children who die before reaching their
fifth birthday every year, 2.5 million die from diseases
that could be prevented with currently available or new
vaccines
Notes to Editors:
The GAVI Alliance
THE NEED
Immunisation prevents millions of deaths every year and
reduces the costs of treatment and of disability caused by
infectious diseases. Immunisation also has the potential
to significantly boost economic growth(1). By improving
the health of a population, immunisation also improves its
education and work prospects.
Yet in many countries, efforts to increase immunisation
coverage are hampered by weak health systems, conflict, and
the high cost of some vaccines. As a result (according to
the most recent available data(2)):
-- More than 27 million children missed out on
immunisation during their
first year of life - leaving them vulnerable to
infectious diseases
both in childhood and during the productive adult
years (2004 data).
-- 1.4 million children under five died from
vaccine-preventable diseases
for which vaccination is already included in most
immunisation
schedules (2002 data).
-- More than 1 million children died from pneumococcal
disease,
meningococcal disease, and rotavirus diarrhoea --
diseases for which
vaccines are likely to become available in the near
future (2002 data).
THE RESPONSE
The GAVI Alliance is a public-private global health
partnership committed to saving children's lives and
protecting people's health through the widespread use of
vaccines.
GAVI was launched in 2000 to improve access to
immunisation for children in impoverished countries.
Governments in industrialised and developing countries,
UNICEF, WHO, the World Bank, the Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation, non-governmental organisations, vaccine
manufacturers from industrialised and developing countries,
and public health and research institutions work together as
partners in the Alliance.
Key to achieving the goals of the Alliance is a
dramatic increase in new funding for immunisation.
Building on the resources already provided by individual
partners in the Alliance, GAVI partners created The GAVI
Fund to help fill critical gaps in the overall global
effort and to maintain a significant source of new and
additional financial support from public and private
donors. GAVI resources help strengthen health and
immunisation systems, accelerate access to selected
vaccines and new vaccine technologies-especially vaccines
that are new or underused, and improve injection safety.
These areas will remain a crucial focus as the GAVI
Alliance moves into its second phase (2006-2015).
GAVI has been financed by ten governments to date --
Canada, Denmark, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, the
Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the
United States -- as well as the European Union, private
contributors, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
It provides multi-year grants to more than 70 of the world's
poorest countries. Grants are made based on a rigorous
application process in which country proposals are reviewed
by a panel of independent experts drawn from a wide
geographic base.
A total of almost US$ 3.3 billion has since been raised
in traditional funding from government and private sources,
including US$ 1.7 billion actually received. In addition,
commitments by France, Italy, Spain, the UK, Sweden, Norway
and Brazil have been secured through the new International
Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm), which will yield
more than US$ 4 billion in additional disbursements before
2015 and additional funds after 2015 as the debt is paid
off.
The resources that have been received have been used in
order to help countries with a GNI of US$ 1000 or less:
-- strengthen healthcare delivery systems;
-- boost coverage with established vaccines (against
diphtheria, tetanus,
pertussis, tuberculosis, measles and polio);
-- introduce underused vaccines where needed (hepatitis
B, Hib and yellow
fever);
-- ensure immunisation safety;
-- accelerate the development of, and affordable access
to, priority new
vaccines for developing countries (e.g. against
rotavirus, pneumococcal
disease and meningitis types A and C);
FUNDS DISBURSED
As of December 2005:
Total funds committed by GAVI over five years: more
than US$ 1.6 billion
GAVI has disbursed US$ 672 million (as of 30 September
2005) as follows: (3) (in US$)
-- Vaccines/supplies: 419 million
-- Accelerated development of priority new vaccines
(ADIPs): 32 million
-- Yellow fever vaccine stockpile: 11 million
-- Immunisation safety: 83 million
-- Immunisation services support: 120 million
-- Introduction of new vaccines 7 million
GAVI ACHIEVEMENTS
More than 1.7 million future deaths averted through
GAVI support(4)
It is projected that by end-2005, nearly 1.7 million
future deaths from Hib disease, pertussis and hepatitis B
will have been averted through GAVI support. Some of those
deaths would have occurred in childhood and others (e.g.,
from hepatitis B) in the most productive adult years.
Increasing routine immunisation coverage
In the countries receiving funding to help strengthen
immunisation services:
-- An additional 8.3 million children were immunised
with DTP3 by December
2004(5).
-- It is projected that approximately 13 million
additional children will
have been immunised with DTP3 by the end of 2005.
Support for underused vaccines
As of December 2005, it is projected that the number of
children immunised through the introduction of underused
vaccines in GAVI -supported countries will include(6):
-- hepatitis B vaccine:
approximately 90 million
-- Hib vaccine:
approximately 14 million
-- yellow fever vaccine:
more approximately 14 million
MAKING A DIFFERENCE:
HEPATITIS B VACCINE
With support from the GAVI Alliance:
-- More than more than 1 million future deaths (from
HepB, Pertussis and
Hib) have been averted through GAVI support as of
December 2004. It is
projected that this number will reach 3.6 million by
the end of 2008.
-- 56 of the more than 70 eligible countries have been
approved for
funding for hepatitis B vaccine so far - up from
only 7 before the
launch of GAVI.
-- 32 (57%) of the countries approved for funding for
hepatitis B vaccine
have opted to use combination vaccines - thereby
avoiding an increase
in the number of immunisation injections needed
during the first year
of life.
SAFE INJECTIONS
-- More than 1 billion single-use auto-disable syringes
have been supplied
for immunisation (as of December 2005).
SUSTAINABILITY
-- All the 15 countries where GAVI support for
injection safety has now
ended have already secured funding for continued
injection safety
support.
-- Of the countries receiving GAVI support for new
vaccines, 11 have
already begun co-financing their vaccine supply as
of 2005.
ACCOUNTABILITY
-- To date, 30 countries have successfully undergone an
external data
quality audit (DQA) to verify the accuracy and
completeness of their
administrative reporting system.
-- Of the 48 countries eligible for rewards for
increased DTP3 coverage
(as of December 2004), 27 have received at least one
reward. A further
21 have not yet received rewards (11 because they
failed a DQA and 10
due to weak performance).
STATUS OF COUNTRY SUPPORT:
-- Number of countries currently eligible for GAVI
support: 73 (as of June
2006)
-- Number of countries that have applied: 73 (as of
December 2005)
-- Number of countries that have had at least one type
of support
approved: 73 (as of December 2005)
NUMBER OF COUNTRIES SUPPORTED FOR:
-- DTP-HepB combination: 14
-- DTP-Hib combination: 1
-- DTP-HepB-Hib combination: 16
-- monovalent hepatitis B: 23
-- yellow fever: 15
-- immunisation services support: 53
-- immunisation safety: 69
References
(1) David Bloom, David Canning and Mark Weston,
"The Value of
Vaccination", World Economics (Vol. 6, No. 3,
July-September 2005
(2) WHO data.
(3) Includes some long-term funding not yet received
by countries.
(4) WHO estimate. Includes both deaths averted among
children under five
years and deaths from hepatitis B that would have
occurred in
adulthood.
(5) WHO estimates
(6) WHO estimates
For more information, please contact:
Jean-Pierre LeCalvez,
GAVI Alliance
Tel: +41-22-909-6520
Email: jplecalvez@gavialliance.org
Roy Wadia,
WHO China
Tel: +86-10-6532-7189 x681
Email: wadiar@chn.wpro.who.int
Charles Rycroft,
UNICEF China
Tel: +86-1364-129-0007
Email: crycroft@unicef.org
SOURCE World Health Organization
2007'02.04.Sun
AU Optronics Reports 2Q2006 Results
July 25, 2006
Second Quarter 2006 Unaudited Consolidated Financial Highlights
* Revenues decreased 8.1% QoQ to NT$60.90 billion
* Net income decreased 97.3% QoQ to NT$182 million
* Earnings per share (basic EPS) of $0.03 per common
share (US$0.01 per
ADR)
* Gross margin: 8.5%
* Operating margin: 2.2%
* EBITDA margin: 21%
HSIN CHU, Taiwan, July 25 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- AU
Optronics Corp. ("AUO" or the
"Company") (TAIEX: 2409; NYSE: AUO) today
announced unaudited results for 2Q2006. For the second
quarter ended June 30, 2006, AUO's consolidated revenue
totaled NT$60.90 billion (US$1.88 billion*), net income
NT$182 million (US$5.63 million), and basic EPS NT$0.03 per
common share (US$0.01 per ADR unit). For the first half
year ended June 30, 2006, AUO's consolidated revenues
totaled NT$127.15 billion (US$3.93 billion), net income
NT$6.83 billion (US$0.21 billion), and basic EPS NT$1.12
per common share (US$0.35 per ADS.)
Gross margin for the second quarter declined 8.2
percentage points to 8.5%. This brought operating margin
to 2.2% and EBITDA margin to 21%. Mr. Max Cheng, Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer of AUO noted that the
company's operation in the second quarter experienced faster
and larger than expected declines in Average Selling Price
in all product segments. However, 2Q2006 panel shipments
are aligned with the Company's guidance revised on June 6;
large-size panel increased 8.1% to 10.1 million while
small- and medium-size panel also rose by 14.3% post 18.1
million from last quarter. Panel Average Selling Price by
square meter, is weaker than the Company anticipated,
declined by about 14% sequentially, directly resulted in
the company's 2Q2006 profit. The higher-than-expected
panel pricing declines are mitigated by the reduction of
output in response to ease inventory pressure, the
best-cost control and better product mix.
On a sequential comparison, second quarter revenue
declined 8.1% and net income decreased 97.3%. On the
year-over-year comparison, second quarter results represent
a 31.7% increase in revenue, while net income experienced a
61.3% decrease to NT$182 million.
AUO's Executive Vice President, Dr. Hui Hsiung, also
noted that in the second quarter, the ratio of consumer
electronics display sales (TV display, mobile device
display and audio-video display) was approximately equal to
the information technology display sales (desktop display
and notebook PC display), reached 48% and 49% respectively.
This also reflected AUO's balanced deployment and well
management in terms of the development of its all product
segments. Although the industry experienced seasonal
weakness true to form, the shipments of AUO's all product
segments represent increase among the peers. Particularly,
the shipments of TV, notebook PC and mobile phone segments
all hit historical high for the single quarter.
* Amounts converted by an exchange rate of
NTD32.33:USD1 as of June 30,
2006.
Conference Call & Webcast Notice:
AUO's quarterly review conference call will be held at
8:00 pm Taiwan Time (GMT +8:00) on Tuesday, July 25th,
2006. The conference call will be available via webcast
http://www.auo.com .
Safe Harbour Notice
AU Optronics Corp. ("AUO" or the
"Company") (TAIEX: 2409; NYSE: AUO), the world's
third largest manufacturer of large-size TFT-LCD panels,
today announced its unaudited consolidated results of
operations for 2Q 2006. Except for statements in respect
of historical matters, the statements contained in this
Release are "forward-looking statements" within
the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of
1933 and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of
1934. These forward-looking statements were based on our
management's expectations, projections and beliefs at the
time regarding matters including, among other things,
future revenues and costs, financial performance,
technology changes, capacity, utilization rates, yields,
process and geographical diversification, future expansion
plans and business strategy. Such forward looking
statements are subject to a number of known and unknown
risks and uncertainties that can cause actual results to
differ materially from those expressed or implied by such
statements, including risks related to the flat panel
display industry, the TFT-LCD market, acceptance and demand
for our products, technological and development risks,
competitive factors, and other risks described in the
section entitled "Risk Factors" in our Form F-3
filed with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission on July 8th, 2005.
ABOUT AU OPTRONICS
AU Optronics Corp. ("AUO") is the world's
third largest manufacturer* of large-size thin film
transistor liquid crystal display panels
("TFT-LCD"), with approximately 15.1%* of global
market share and generated revenue of NT$217.4billion
(US$6.75 bn)* in 2005. TFT-LCD technology is currently the
most widely used flat panel display technology. Targeted
for 40"+ sized LCD TV panels, AUO's next generation
(7.5-Generation) fabrication facility production is
scheduled for mass production in 4Q 2006. The Company
currently operates one 6th-generation, three
5th-generation, one 4th-generation, and three
3.5-generation TFT- LCD fabs, in addition to four module
assembly facilities and AUO Technology Center specializing
in new technology platform and new product development.
AUO is one of few top-tier TFT-LCD manufacturers capable of
offering a wide range of small- to large- size
(1.5"-46") TFT-LCD panels, which enables it to
offer a broad and diversified product portfolio.
* As shown on DisplaySearch Quarterly Large-Area
TFT-LCD Shipment Report
dated June, 2006. This data is used as reference
only and AUO does not
make any endorsement or representation in connection
therewith. 2005
year end revenue converted by an exchange rate of
NTD32.2039:USD1.
For more information, please contact:
Yawen Hsiao
Corporate Communications Dept.
AU Optronics Corp.
Tel: +886-3-500-8899 x3211
Fax: +886-3-577-2730
Email: yawen.hsiao@auo.com
SOURCE AU Optronics Corp.
2007'02.04.Sun
Global Payments and HSBC Finalize Joint Venture in the Asia-Pacific Region
July 25, 2006
ATLANTA and HONG KONG, July 25 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
Global Payments Inc. (NYSE: GPN), a leader in payment
processing services, announced today it has completed the
formation of a joint venture with The Hongkong and Shanghai
Banking Corporation Limited to provide payment processing
services to merchants in the Asia-Pacific region. The
joint venture, Global Payments Asia-Pacific Limited, will
provide merchant acquiring services to over 45,000 merchant
outlets across ten countries and territories: Brunei, Hong
Kong, India, Macau, mainland China, Malaysia, Maldives,
Singapore, Sri Lanka and Taiwan.
(Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010221/ATW031LOGO)
"We are honored to have been chosen by HSBC for
this important joint venture. Having the ideal partner for
payment card processing makes our prospects for success in
this dynamic and growing region even more compelling,"
said Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of
Global Payments, Paul R. Garcia.
"This joint venture will strengthen our
capabilities in the merchant acquiring business as Global
Payments Asia-Pacific will benefit from HSBC's large and
extensive footprint in the region as well as Global
Payments Inc.'s technological expertise. I am personally
pleased to lead this exciting and innovative venture in the
rapidly-expanding Asia-Pacific payments market," added
Ian Courtnage, Managing Director of Global Payments
Asia-Pacific Limited.
Under the terms of the agreement announced in September
2005, Global Payments paid HSBC US$67.2 million in cash to
acquire a 56 percent ownership interest in the joint
venture. HSBC controls the remaining 44 percent and
contributed its existing Asia-Pacific merchant acquiring
channel in ten countries and territories to the joint
venture. In addition, HSBC and Global Payments have
entered into a ten-year marketing alliance in which the
bank will refer its customers, in the ten Asia-Pacific
countries and territories, to the joint venture for
merchant payment processing.
Global Payments expects this transaction will be
non-dilutive to earnings per share. Over the long term,
the company anticipates strong revenue growth and earnings
accretion from this transaction, as the joint venture
endeavors to further penetrate mainland China, India and
the other joint venture regions, in addition to maximizing
operating efficiencies. The company will further discuss
this transaction and the related financial impact during
its fourth quarter and year end fiscal 2006 earnings
conference call on July 28, 2006.
Global Payments Inc. (NYSE: GPN) is a leading provider
of electronic transaction processing services for
consumers, merchants, Independent Sales Organizations
(ISOs), financial institutions, government agencies and
multi-national corporations located throughout the United
States, Canada, Latin America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific
region. Global Payments offers a comprehensive line of
processing solutions for credit and debit cards,
business-to-business purchasing cards, gift cards,
electronic check conversion and check guarantee, check
verification and recovery, as well as terminal management.
The company also provides consumer money transfer services
from the U.S. and Europe to destinations in Latin America,
Morocco and the Philippines. For more information about
the company and its services, visit
http://www.globalpaymentsinc.com .
This announcement and comments made by Global Payments'
management during the forthcoming earnings conference call
may contain forward-looking statements pursuant to the
"safe-harbor" provisions of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward
looking statements involve risks and uncertainties such as
product demand, market and customer acceptance, the effect
of economic conditions, competition, pricing, development
difficulties, foreign currency risks, costs of capital,
continued certification by credit card associations, the
ability to consummate and integrate acquisitions, and other
risks detailed in the company's SEC filings, including the
most recently filed Form 10-Q or Form 10-K, as applicable.
The company undertakes no obligation to revise any of these
statements to reflect future circumstances or the occurrence
of unanticipated events.
For more information, please contact:
Investor Relations Contact:
Jane M. Elliott (formerly Forbes)
Tel: +1-770-829-8234 Voice
Email: investor.relations@globalpay.com
Media Relations Contact:
Phyllis McNeill
Tel: +1-770-829-8245 Voice
Email: phyllis.mcneill@globalpay.com
SOURCE Global Payments Inc.
2007'02.04.Sun
Mercury Hires UBS Co-Head of Asia Real Estate Research
July 25, 2006
GREENWICH, Conn., July 25 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
Mercury Real Estate Advisors LLC, an affiliate of Mercury
Partners LLC ("Mercury"), a global real estate
investment management firm based in Greenwich, CT, with
offices in Hong Kong and Singapore, sent the following
letter today to its institutional investors.
Mercury Real Estate Advisors LLC
100 Field Point Road
Greenwich, Connecticut 06830
July 24, 2006
Dear Friends and Fellow Investors:
We are very pleased to announce the addition of Mr.
Charles H. K. Neo as a Senior Managing Director of Mercury
Real Estate Advisors LLC ("Mercury"). Charles
joins us from UBS AG, where he worked for the last six
years and most recently served as the Executive Director
and Co-Head of Asian Real Estate Research. He is joining
our senior portfolio management team, in our newly
established Singapore office, to oversee our rapidly
growing Asian real estate investment activities.
During his career, Charles has been recognized numerous
times for his expertise, being named the No. 1 Analyst for
Singapore real estate by Asia Money for the period
2003-2005, and the No. 2 Analyst for Asia real estate by
Institutional Investor for 2006. Also during his tenure,
UBS was successful in achieving the top market share in the
region, raising more than USD $1.2b of equity capital for
REITs in Asia. Finally, he published a report entitled
"Can Asian REITs recycle capital for half the world
population?" in October 2005 that is highly regarded
as one of the best thematic pieces written on Asian real
estate.
Charles is considered by many as a pioneer in covering
the Asian real estate sector. He brings a passion and an
in-depth knowledge of the Asian real estate sector that is
unique in the investment realm. His expertise and insights
will be a valuable addition to our team, a competitive
advantage for our firm and a wonderful asset for our
investors. Furthermore, Charles will immediately bolster
our ability to continually unearth deep value real estate
securities -- a pursuit which has been the cornerstone of
our global investment strategy. This unique strategy not
only differentiates us from our competitors but enables us
to deliver attractive risk-adjusted returns to our
investors.
We continuously seek to add exceptional individuals to
our global platform who are passionate and proven in their
chosen pursuits -- in Charles we have found a partner that
is both of those and more. We are delighted that Charles
has chosen to join Mercury and look forward to a long and
fruitful partnership -- a partnership that will further
enhance our investment activities and presence in the
region. If anyone would like to discuss the addition of
Charles, feel free to contact either of the undersigned at
(203) 769-2980.
Sincerely yours,
MERCURY REAL ESTATE ADVISORS LLC
David R. Jarvis Malcolm F. MacLean IV
Chief Executive Officer President
For more information, please contact:
Malcolm F. MacLean IV
Mercury Real Estate Advisors LLC
Tel: +1-203-769-2980
Web: http://www.mercuryrealestate.com
SOURCE Mercury Real Estate Advisors LLC
2007'02.04.Sun
Pierre-Pascal Urbon Joins Managing Board of SMA Technologie AG
July 25, 2006
NIESTETAL, Germany, July 25 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
Pierre-Pascal Urbon joined the managing board of SMA
Technologie AG, based in Niestetal, Germany, as of July 1,
2006. He will be responsible for the areas of
internationalization and corporate development. He has been
working for SMA Technologie AG since 2005 and is responsible
for important successes the company has been able to achieve
through its expansion to the Korean, Italian and Spanish
markets. Before joining the company, Pierre-Pascal Urbon
worked for an investment bank with international
operations.
Other board members include the founders of SMA
Technologie AG, Gunther Cramer, Peter Drews, and Reiner
Wettlaufer. "We have expanded our board in order to
exploit the apparent growth opportunities in Europe, the
U.S., and Asia. We are very pleased that we have found a
competent and internationally experienced professional for
this position," said Gunther Cramer.
Printable images are available at:
http://www2.sma.de/en/general/press/photo-archive/sma-general/
For more information, please contact:
Allison Vossing
International Press Relations
Solar Technology
Tel: +49-561-9522-118
Fax: +49-561-9522-103
Email: Allison.Voessing@SMA.de
SMA Technologie AG
Hannoversche Strasse 1-5
34266 Niestetal - Germany
Tel: +49-561-9522-0
Fax: +49-561-9522-100
Web: http://www.SMA.de
SOURCE SMA Technologie AG
2007'02.04.Sun
CNH Reports Second Quarter 2006 Net Income of $147 million, up $33 million from the Second Quarter 2005
July 25, 2006
- Strong retail demand for CNH products continues
- Equipment Operations gross margin up 2.7 percentage
points
- Significant reduction in Equipment Operations net
debt
- Full-year 2006 outlook unchanged, with an expected
range of diluted
EPS of $1.30 to $1.40 before restructuring
LAKE FOREST, Ill., July 25 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- CNH
Global N.V. (NYSE: CNH) today reported second quarter 2006
net income of $147 million, up 29% compared to net income
of $114 million in the second quarter of 2005. Results
include restructuring charges, net of tax, of $7 million in
the second quarter of 2006, and $4 million in the second
quarter of 2005. Second quarter diluted earnings per share
were $0.62, compared with $0.49 per share in 2005. Before
restructuring, net of tax, second quarter diluted earnings
were $0.65 per share, compared with $0.50 per share in
2005.
"CNH's renewed focus on customers and dealers is
delivering increasingly better results," said Harold
Boyanovsky, CNH president and chief executive officer.
"Our Equipment Operations gross margin improvement has
continued into the second quarter, up 2.7 percentage points
compared with last year, and we are firmly on track to meet
our targets for the year."
Highlights for the quarter included the following:
-- CNH's agricultural equipment brands, Case IH and New
Holland introduced
five new products in the quarter, and its
construction equipment
brands, Case and New Holland Construction introduced
six new products.
-- Pricing was higher than all economics and currency
related cost
increases, resulting in another quarter of positive
net recovery for
both Agricultural and Construction Equipment
Operations. Pricing was
strongest in the Americas.
-- Manufacturing efficiencies generated additional
margin improvements by
lowering production costs.
-- Research and development spending increased 25% from
the same period in
2005, reflecting CNH's investments in product
innovation and quality.
-- Equipment Operations reduced net debt in the quarter
by $484 million,
to $137 million at June 30, 2006. Positive cash
flow from operating
activities, including a $157 million reduction in
working capital, was
the principal contributor to the improvement.
-- Case IH's logo was prominently displayed on the nose
of the winning
Ferrari at the Indianapolis Formula One Grand Prix
race and at the
Grand Prix of Canada in Montreal, to the delight of
Case IH dealers and
customers throughout the world.
EQUIPMENT OPERATIONS -- Second Quarter Financial
Results
Net sales of equipment, comprising the company's
agricultural and construction equipment businesses, were
$3.5 billion for 2006, compared to $3.4 billion for the
same period in 2005. Net of currency variations, net sales
increased by 2% over the prior year.
Agricultural Equipment Net Sales
-- Agricultural equipment net sales were $2.3 billion,
down 1% from the
prior year and down 2% excluding currency
variations.
-- Excluding currency variations, sales in Latin
America were up 16%,
sales in Rest-of-World markets were up 8%, and in
Western Europe up 2%.
Excluding currency variations, sales in North
America declined by 9%,
in line with the company's actions to reduce working
capital by under-
producing retail unit sales of major agricultural
products by 15%, to
reduce inventories in a declining industry
environment.
-- Case IH introduced the new JX95 Straddle version
utility tractor in
North America, the Patriot 350-200 cv sprayer and
the 2399 Extreme
combine in Latin America.
-- New Holland won the prestigious National Agri
Marketing Association
"Best of NAMA" award for its brand
campaign. In North America, New
Holland introduced two new models of higher
horsepower Class II
Boomer(TM) Compact Tractors (under-40 horsepower),
two field sprayers
and a new air hoe drill.
-- Total retail unit sales of CNH's agricultural
tractors and combines
increased by approximately 7% compared to last year.
Worldwide
production of agricultural tractors and combines was
approximately 4%
lower than retail, following the company's normal
seasonal pattern to
decrease company and dealer inventories during the
spring selling
season.
Construction Equipment Net Sales
-- Net sales of construction equipment were
approximately $1.2 billion, an
increase of 12% compared to approximately $1.1
billion last year, and
up 11% excluding currency variations.
-- Excluding currency variations, sales in Latin
America were up 51% and
in Rest-of-World markets up 17%. Sales were up 11%
in Western Europe
and up 4% in North America.
-- In North America, Case Construction Equipment
introduced two new models
of Compact Track Loaders, smaller-sized machines
that round out the
line launched in 2005. Debuting in the second half
will be a new Tier 3
compliant excavator, two models of wheel loaders,
three models of
crawler dozers and two new articulated trucks. In
Europe, during the
quarter, Case launched the CX700 hydraulic
excavator, a direct response
to customer requests for a high-production
heavy-duty machine between
the existing CX460 and CX800 models.
-- Looking to the second half of 2006, pilot control
options will be
available on New Holland Construction skid steer
loaders and compact
track loaders, and three new wheel loader models are
scheduled to be
launched to the public.
-- While total retail unit sales of CNH's major
construction equipment
products increased by approximately 8% compared to
last year, worldwide
production was substantially the same as in 2005.
Gross Margin
Equipment Operations gross margin (defined as net sales
of equipment less cost of goods sold) for agricultural and
construction equipment was $686 million, up 20% compared to
$574 million last year. As a percent of net sales, gross
margin was 19.6%, up 2.7 percentage points from 2005.
-- Agricultural equipment gross margin increased in
both dollars and as a
percent of net sales compared to the prior year.
The improvement was
explained by positive price recovery and increased
manufacturing
efficiencies, which more than offset the impact of
company actions to
reduce dealer and company inventories.
-- Construction equipment gross margin also increased
in both dollars and
as a percent of net sales. Positive price recovery,
better volume and
mix and manufacturing efficiencies contributed to
the improvement.
Industrial Operating Margin
Equipment Operations industrial operating margin
(defined as net sales of equipment, less cost of goods
sold, SG&A and R&D costs) was $324 million, or 9.3%
of net sales, up 31% compared to $248 million or 7.3% of net
sales in 2005. The improvement was driven by the higher
gross margin, noted above. Increased investments in
SG&A and in R&D to increase product innovation by
brand and to improve product quality were partial offsets.
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA for Equipment Operations (defined as
net income excluding net interest expense, income tax
provision (benefit), depreciation and amortization and
restructuring) was $329 million, or 9.4% of net sales, up
20% compared to $274 million in 2005, or 8.1% of net sales.
Interest coverage, on a last 12 months basis (defined as
adjusted EBITDA for the past 12 months divided by net
interest expense for the past 12 months) was 4.3 times for
the period ended June 30, 2006, compared with 3.1 times for
the similar period ended June 30, 2005.
FINANCIAL SERVICES -- Second Quarter Financial Results
Financial Services operations reported net income of
$49 million, up 11% compared to $44 million last year,
reflecting the impact of higher balances of receivables
under management. Financial Services recorded higher credit
losses than in 2005, primarily related to its agricultural
equipment receivables in Brazil.
CNH Year-to-Date Financial Results
CNH's net income for the first six months was $190
million, up 47% compared to $129 million for 2005. Results
include restructuring charges, net of tax, of $10 million in
2006, and $8 million in 2005. First half diluted earnings
per share were up 47% to $0.81, compared to $0.55 per share
in 2005. Before restructuring, net of tax, diluted
earnings per share were $0.85, compared with $0.58 per
share in 2005.
EQUIPMENT OPERATIONS -- Year-to-Date Financial Results
Net sales of equipment, comprising the company's
agricultural and construction equipment businesses, were
$6.4 billion, compared to $6.2 billion in 2005. Net of
currency variations, net sales increased by 4% over the
prior year.
Adjusted EBITDA for Equipment Operations was $486
million, or 7.5% of net sales, up 20% compared to $404
million in 2005, or 6.5% of net sales.
FINANCIAL SERVICES -- Year-to-Date Financial Results
Financial Services operations reported first half 2006
net income of $101 million, up 9% compared to $93 million
last year, reflecting the impact of higher balances of
receivables under management. Financial Services recorded
higher credit losses than in 2005, primarily related to its
agricultural equipment receivables in Brazil.
NET DEBT AND OPERATING CASH FLOW
Equipment Operations Net Debt (defined as total debt
less cash and cash equivalents, deposits in Fiat affiliates
cash management pools and intersegment notes receivables)
was $137 million at June 30, 2006, compared to $719 million
at December 31, 2005 and $824 million at June 30, 2005. Net
debt to net capitalization was 2.5% at June 30, 2006, down
from 12.5% at December 31, 2005. As of June 30, 2006, CNH
had 235.7 million common shares outstanding.
In the quarter, net debt decreased principally because
of $582 million of cash generated by operating activities,
including positive net income and reduced working capital.
Working capital (defined as accounts and notes receivable,
excluding inter-segment notes receivable, plus inventories
less accounts payables), net of currency variations,
decreased by approximately $157 million in the quarter. At
incurred currency rates, working capital at June 30, 2006
was $2.1 billion, substantially unchanged from December 31,
2005 and down more than $300 million from June 30, 2005.
On June 20, CNH's wholly owned subsidiary, Case New
Holland, Inc. commenced an exchange offer for its recently
issued 7.125% Senior Notes due 2014, for 7.125% Senior
Notes due 2014 that have been registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The exchange offer,
initially set to expire on July 21, 2006, has been extended
until July 26, 2006. Any original notes not tendered prior
to the expiration of the exchange offer will remain
unregistered securities, subject to the conditions of the
144A market.
Financial Services Net Debt increased by approximately
$973 million to $5.0 billion at June 30, 2006 from March 31,
2006, reflecting increases in the receivables portfolio,
mostly in North America.
AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT MARKET OUTLOOK FOR FULL YEAR
2006
CNH believes that worldwide industry unit retail sales
of agricultural tractors will be 5 to 10% higher than in
2005, driven by an expected 20 to 25% increase in
Rest-of-World markets. Industry unit retail sales of
under-40 horsepower tractors in North America are expected
to be approximately the same as in 2005. Sales of over-40
horsepower tractors in North America also are expected to
remain the same or slightly higher than in 2005, but with
industry sales of 40 to 100 horsepower tractors up
slightly and sales of over 100 horsepower tractors down.
Agricultural tractor markets in Western Europe and Latin
America could be down as much as 5%.
Worldwide industry unit retail sales of combine
harvesters may be down 5 to 10%. North American, Western
European and Rest-of-World markets could be down as much as
5%. Industry sales in Latin America are expected to be down
35 to 40%.
CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT MARKET OUTLOOK FOR FULL YEAR
2006
CNH believes that worldwide industry unit retail sales
of construction equipment will be stronger than in 2005.
Worldwide industry sales of heavy construction equipment
are expected to increase about 10%, led by increases of 10%
in North America and 10 to 15% in Rest-of-World markets.
Industry unit sales in Western Europe and in Latin America
could be up as much as 5% compared with 2005.
Worldwide industry unit retail sales of light
construction equipment could be up 5 to 10%, with Western
Europe up 5 to 10% and Latin American and Rest-of-World
markets up 10 to 15%. In North America, industry sales are
expected to be up as much as 5% compared with full year
2005.
CNH OUTLOOK FOR FULL YEAR 2006
CNH expects its net sales of equipment to increase in
the range of 2 to 5%. Continuing pricing and margin
improvement initiatives at Equipment Operations will drive
better results. Profitability at Financial Services is
expected to be up slightly. Results of CNH's joint
ventures are expected to better than in 2005. The benefit
of this improvement at Equipment Operations will be
partially offset by an increase in CNH's effective tax
rate, as previously stated.
CNH anticipates that 2006 diluted earnings per share,
before restructuring, net of tax, should be in the range of
$1.30 to $1.40, compared with $0.95 per share for 2005.
Full-year restructuring costs, net of tax, are expected
to be slightly higher than in 2005, as CNH recognizes the
balance of the costs related to the planned manufacturing
rationalization in Europe.
The company's previously announced $120 million
contribution to its U.S. defined benefit pension plan was
made in April, 2006. After considering this contribution,
Equipment Operations now expects slightly better cash
generation from working capital reductions during the year,
and to reduce its net debt by approximately $400 million, as
compared with year-end 2005 levels.
CNH management will hold a conference call later today
to review its second quarter results. The conference call
Webcast will begin at approximately 8:30 a.m. U.S. Central
Time; 9:30 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time. This call can be
accessed through the investor information section of the
company's Web site at http://www.cnh.com and is being
carried by CCBN.
CNH Case New Holland, a majority-owned subsidiary of
Fiat S.p.A. (FIA.MI; NYSE: FIA), is a world leader in the
agricultural and construction equipment businesses.
Supported by more than 11,000 dealers in 160 countries, CNH
brings together the knowledge and heritage of its Case and
New Holland brand families with the strength and resources
of its worldwide commercial, industrial, product support
and finance organizations. CNH Global N.V. stock is listed
at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CNH). More
information about CNH and its Case and New Holland products
can be found online at http://www.cnh.com .
Forward looking statements. This press release includes
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All
statements other than statements of historical fact
contained in this press release, including statements
regarding our competitive strengths, business strategy,
future financial position, budgets, projected costs and
plans and objectives of management, are forward-looking
statements. These statements may include terminology such
as "may," "will," "expect,",
"could", "should," "intend,"
"estimate," "anticipate,"
"believe," "outlook,"
"continue," "remain," "on
track," "goal," or similar terminology.
Our outlook is predominantly based on our
interpretation of what we consider key economic assumptions
and involves risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to differ. Crop production and commodity prices are
strongly affected by weather and can fluctuate
significantly. Housing starts and other construction
activity are sensitive to interest rates and government
spending. Some of the other significant factors for us
include general economic and capital market conditions, the
cyclical nature of our business, customer buying patterns
and preferences, foreign currency exchange rate movements,
our hedging practices, our and our customers' access to
credit, actions by rating agencies concerning the ratings
on our debt and asset backed securities and the ratings of
Fiat S.p.A., risks related to our relationship with Fiat
S.p.A., political uncertainty and civil unrest or war in
various areas of the world, pricing, product initiatives
and other actions taken by competitors, disruptions in
production capacity, excess inventory levels, the effect of
changes in laws and regulations (including government
subsidies and international trade regulations),
technological difficulties, results of our research and
development activities, changes in environmental laws,
employee and labor relations, pension and health care
costs, relations with and the financial strength of
dealers, the cost and availability of supplies from our
suppliers, raw material costs and availability, energy
prices, real estate values, animal diseases, crop pests,
harvest yields, government farm programs and consumer
confidence, housing starts and construction activity,
concerns related to modified organisms and fuel and
fertilizer costs. Additionally, our achievement of the
anticipated benefits of our profit improvement initiatives
depends upon, among other things, industry volumes as well
as our ability to effectively rationalize our operations
and to execute our brand strategy. Further information
concerning factors that could significantly affect expected
results is included in our Form 20-F for the year ended
December 31, 2005.
We can give no assurance that the expectations
reflected in our forward-looking statements will prove to
be correct. Our actual results could differ materially from
those anticipated in these forward-looking statements. All
written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to
us are expressly qualified in their entirety by the factors
we disclose that could cause our actual results to differ
materially from our expectations. We undertake no
obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking
statements.
CNH Global N.V.
Estimates of Worldwide Retail Industry Unit Sales
Performance(1)
Worldwide N.A. W.E.
L.A. ROW
'06 B(W) '06 B(W) '06 B(W)
'06 B(W) '06 B(W)
First Quarter 2006 Industry Unit Sales Revised Estimate
Compared with
First Quarter 2005 Actual
Agricultural Equipment:
Agricultural Tractors:
- Under 40 horsepower n/a 6% n/a
n/a n/a
- Over 40 horsepower n/a 4% n/a
n/a n/a
Total Tractors 21% 5% 2%
(7)% 50%
Combine Harvesters (9)% 9% (8)%
(37)% 13%
Total Tractors and
Combines 20% 5% 2%
(11)% 49%
Construction Equipment:
Light Construction Equipment:
Tractor Loaders & Backhoes 5% (1)% (15)%
21% 23%
Skid Steer Loaders 6% 2% 3%
67% 23%
Other Light Equipment 22% 48% 14%
78% 19%
Total Light Equipment 15% 15% 10%
33% 20%
Total Heavy Equipment 20% 25% 4%
28% 25%
Total Light & Heavy
Equipment 17% 18% 8%
31% 23%
Second Quarter 2006 Industry Unit Sales Preliminary
Estimate Compared
with Second Quarter 2005 Actual
Agricultural Equipment:
Agricultural Tractors:
- Under 40 horsepower n/a (2)% n/a
n/a n/a
- Over 40 horsepower n/a (3)% n/a
n/a n/a
Total Tractors 10% (3)% (3)%
(7)% 37%
Combine Harvesters (3)% (2)% (2)%
(46)% 8%
Total Tractors and
Combines 10% (3)% (3)%
(9)% 36%
Construction Equipment:
Light Construction Equipment:
Tractor Loaders &
Backhoes (2)% (16)% (15)%
43% 17%
Skid Steer Loaders (5)% (10)% 3%
5% 10%
Other Light Equipment 15% 23% 9%
23% 18%
Total Light Equipment 6% (1)% 6%
31% 16%
Total Heavy Equipment 6% (1)% 4%
6% 13%
Total Light & Heavy
Equipment 6% (1)% 5%
17% 14%
2nd Half 2006 Industry Unit Sales Forecast Compared
with 2nd Half 2005
Actual
Agricultural Equipment:
Agricultural Tractors 0-5% 0-5% (0-5)%
0-5% 5-10%
Combine Harvesters (10-15)% (5-10)% (0-5)%
~(35)% (20-25)%
Construction Equipment:
Total Light Equipment ~5% 0-5% 5-10%
(0-5)% 5-10%
Total Heavy Equipment 5-10% 10-15% ~5%
~(10)% 5-10%
Full Year 2006 Industry Unit Sales Forecast Compared
with Full Year 2005
Estimated Actual
Agricultural Equipment:
Agricultural Tractors 5-10% FLAT (0-5)%
(0-5)% 20-25%
Combine Harvesters (5-10)% (0-5)% (0-5)%
(35-40)% (0-5)%
Construction Equipment:
Total Light Equipment 5-10% 0-5% 5-10%
10-15% 10-15%
Total Heavy Equipment ~10% ~10% 0-5%
0-5% 10-15%
(1) Excluding India
CNH GLOBAL N.V.
CONSOLIDATED SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
(Millions, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
June 30,
December 31,
2006
2005
BALANCE SHEETS
Total assets $18,777
$17,318
Short-term debt $1,638
$1,522
Long-term debt, including current
maturities $5,163
$4,765
Total liabilities $13,441
$12,266
Shareholders' equity $5,336
$5,052
Three Months Ended
Six Months Ended
June 30,
June 30,
2006 2005
2006 2005
INCOME STATEMENTS
Revenues:
Net sales $3,497 $3,394
$6,447 $6,217
Finance and interest income
and other 207 177
418 357
Total $3,704 $3,571
$6,865 $6,574
Net income $147 $114
$190 $129
Per share data:
Basic earnings per share $0.62 $0.58
$1.00 $0.64
Diluted earnings per share $0.62 $0.49
$0.81 $0.55
Dividends per share $0.25 $0.25
$0.25 $0.25
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Net cash from operating activities
$206 $(120)
Net cash from investing activities
(556) (78)
Net cash from financing activities
161 107
Other, net
38 3
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash
equivalents
(151) (88)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning
of period
1,245 931
Cash and cash equivalents, end of
period
$1,094 $843
Note:
For a complete set of CNH's condensed consolidated
financial statements,
please go to http://www.cnh.com .
For more information, please contact:
Thomas Witom
News and Information
CNH Global N.V.
Tel: +1-847-955-3939
Albert Trefts, Jr.
Investor Relations
CNH Global N.V.
Tel: +1-847-955-3821
SOURCE CNH Global N.V.
2007'02.04.Sun
Imaging Expo China / Interphoto Shanghai 2006 a Resounding Success
July 25, 2006
SHANGHAI, China, July 25 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
Shanghai International Exhibition Co., Ltd. announces that
the second Imaging Expo China / Interphoto Shanghai, held
at the INTEX Shanghai from July 13 ¨C 16, 2006, drew to a
close with great success.
69,500 people from 39 countries visited the China
International Imaging and Photographic Equipment Fair and
the 10th China-Shanghai International Wedding Photographic
Equipment Exhibition. Among them, 29,000 were attending
the China International Imaging and Photographic Equipment
Fair including 21,000 trade visitors and 1,650 visitors
from overseas.
There was strong international media coverage of the
event, with over 50 journalists from as far as the U.S. and
Europe. This attests to the growing importance of the China
market for overseas exhibitors, and the relevance of Imaging
Expo China / Interphoto Shanghai as an international
platform for the imaging and photographic industry. Mr.
Wang Lie, Vice Chairman of the Council for the Promotion of
International Trade Shanghai Sub-Council pointed out that
"as one of the leading trade Imaging exhibitions in
China, Imaging Expo China / Interphoto Shanghai is a big
event in the imaging and photographic equipment industry.
Cooperated by China and Germany, it will be an ideal
platform for enhancing the communication and cooperation
among overseas and domestic colleagues."
In his opening speech, Mr. Oliver P. Kuhrt, Executive
Vice President of Koelnmesse said, "It's the only
event that offers visitors a comprehensive overview of what
China's imaging suppliers have to offer."
The event is a result of the collaboration between
Koelnmesse GmbH and Shanghai International Exhibition Co.,
Ltd. (SIEC), which brought together the biggest names and
widest product ranges in the imaging and photographic
industry including Canon, Kodak, Noritsu and Fuji, among a
total of 160 international companies. Also, leading
domestic companies including Benro, Dec, Jinbei, Judefu,
Yongjiang, Doli, Ning Xia Xiao Niu and Sophia participated
too. The fair also showcased its largest ever German
Pavilion, with over 200 square feet of booth space. The
organizers were happy to welcome three new companies from
Germany: Linos Photonics GmbH & Co. KG, Hensel
Studiotechnik GmbH & Co. KG, and Pentacon GmbH.
Filled with exciting events such as captivating
showcases of the latest products by exhibitors, a
Photography Exhibition and a Special Activities Zone, where
two creative visitors walked away with digital cameras for
taking the best photos with the models, the show garnered
tremendous response from visitors and exhibitors alike.
Overall, exhibitors were satisfied with the result of
the show, and they expect good post-fair business. Several
suppliers have already announced that they will be attending
the fair again in 2007.
During the fair, organizers teamed up with GfK and
Photo Imaging News to host seminars focusing on the
`international imaging market' and the `Asian imaging
market and its future development,' while Fujifilm China
and Kodak showcased the latest trends in photofinishing and
studio technology.
Celebrities also graced the event this year. Prof.
Luigi Colani, one of the most famous international product
designers was invited by Carl Zeiss to visit the show.
Prof. Colani designed the world's first monocoque sportscar
BMW 700 in 1959, and has since designed for major consumer
brands from Europe to Japan to China. Asian movie star and
photography enthusiast, Mr. Simon Yam, also took time out to
attend the show. His latest film was `Lara Croft Tomb
Raider: The Cradle of Life' and is now the spokesperson for
MICRODIA.
Mr. Oliver Kuhrt summed up the exhibition by saying,
"Visiting Imaging Expo China / Interphoto Shanghai is
a must for those who wish to get to know the Chinese
imaging market," adding that "the offerings at
Imaging Expo China/ Interphoto Shanghai cover the entire
spectrum of the imaging workflow. In other words, we have
rapidly laid a solid foundation in terms of quantity and
quality, and we intend to build on this foundation in the
years to come."
The next Imaging Expo China / Interphoto Shanghai will
be held in July 2007.
About Shanghai International Exhibition Co., Ltd.
(SIEC)
Shanghai International Exhibition Co., Ltd. (SIEC) is
jointly invested by Shanghai World Expo (Group) Co., Ltd.
and the Council for the Promotion of International Trade,
Shanghai. The SIEC was founded on July 1st, 1984 with the
approval of the Ministry of Foreign Trade & Economic
Cooperation and the People's Government of Shanghai
Municipality.
The SIEC is a full member of Union des Foires
Internationales (UFI). The SIEC has held 500 international
exhibitions of various themes and sizes. It also has
successfully held a number of solo exhibitions at national
level.
"AUTO SHANGHAI," "SHANGHAITEX,"
"CHINA CYCLE," "FASHION SHANGHAI,"
"ELE/PT COMM CHINA" are among the first eight
exhibitions approved excellent by THE EVALUATION COMMITTEE
OF SHANGHAI CONVENTIONAL & EXHIBITION INDUSTRIES.
For more information, please contact:
Tina Ji, Lina Zhang, Project Manager
Add: 8/F, OOCL Plaza, 841 Yan An Zhong Road,
Shanghai 200040, China
Tel: +86-21-6279-2828
Fax: +86-21-6545-5124
Email: info@siec-ccpit.com
Web: http://www.siec-ccpit.com
SOURCE Shanghai International Exhibition Co., Ltd.
2007'02.04.Sun
Analysys International Says China's Web2.0 Market Will Reach RMB165 Million in 2006
July 24, 2006
BEIJING, July 24 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Analysys
International, a leading Internet based provider of
business information about technology, media and telecom
(TMT) industries in China, says China's Web2.0 market,
including Blog, SNS, P2P Streaming, Category Information,
Personal Portal, WiKi services, etc., will reach RMB165
million in 2006 and will reach RMB2.1 billion by the end of
2008.
According to the report "China Web2.0 Market
Annual Report 2006," recently released by Analysys
International, current Web2.0 service providers mainly
depend on limited revenues from advertising and mobile
value-added services. The traffic-based advertising model
lacks value innovation. The profit model of Web2.0
requires innovation.
Web2.0 represents the future development trend;
however, there are still many issues to be solved,
including user base and structure, users' using habits and
advertisers' recognition. Analysys International says as
the Internet industry gradually warms up, the Web2.0 market
will grow much faster in the future. Analysys International
forecasts by the end of 2008, the market will grow
explosively, with market size reaching RMB2.144 billion.
In 2006, the market will reach RMB165 million.
(http://english.analysys.com.cn/admin/images/1460_1.jpg)
Analysys International says Internet SPs should track
and study users' consumption experience, and try to
introduce new products and services constantly. To new
comers, the key to obtain investments is to become leaders
or potential leaders in a segmented field, and have mature
management team and effective market development strategy.
For more information about this subject, please check
the website: http://english.analysys.com.cn .
About Analysys International
Analysys International is the leading Internet based
provider of business information about Technology, Media
and Telecom industry in China. We provide data,
information and advice to 50,000 clients worldwide
representing 1,500 distinct organizations, deliver over 150
consulting engagements a year, and hold more than 20 events
that draw in over 8,000 attendees. Our clients include
executives from companies as technology vendors, vertical
information technology users, as well as professionals from
professional service companies, the investment community and
government agencies. Our mission is simple and clear: we
help our clients make better business decisions. For more
information, please visit our web site at
http://english.analysys.com.cn .
For more information, please contact:
Jessica Wang
Overseas Media Manager
Analysys International
Tel: +86-10-6466-6565 x394
Fax: +86-10-6466-7103
Email: jessica_wang@analysys.com.cn
SOURCE Analysys International
2007'02.04.Sun
/F I N A L C O R R E C T I O N -- World Health Organization/
July 24, 2006
In the media advisory, "Chinese Government, GAVI
Alliance to Announce Dramatic Progress in Hepatitis B
Immunisation in China," issued on July 17, by the
World Health Organization over Xinhua PR Newswire, we are
advised by them that the event time should run from "3
p.m. to 4:30 p.m." and not "2:30 p.m. to 4
p.m.", or "3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.", as
previously stated. As a result, the embargo time has also
changed. Complete, corrected advisory follows:
MEDIA ADVISORY: Chinese Government, GAVI Alliance to
Announce Dramatic Progress in Hepatitis B Immunisation in
China
Beijing Press Briefing to Focus on Crucial Programme to
Deliver Millions of Doses of Hepatitis B Vaccine to Avert
Thousands of Deaths
-- The Information in this Document is Embargoed for
Release Tuesday 25 July, at 3 p.m., UTC + 8 Hours, or 07:00
GMT (Time of the Announcement) --
IMPORTANT: Journalists are kindly requested to let the
organisers know at the very latest by Friday, 21 July
whether they plan to attend the 25 July event. This is in
order to facilitate entry into the Ministry of Health
building for the briefing. Those who do not RSVP by the
deadline may be denied access. Thank you for your kind
understanding.
RSVP: Roy Wadia or Justin Ross, WHO China (
RossJ@chn.wpro.who.int ), or Charles Rycroft, UNICEF China
( crycroft@unicef.org ).
Officials from the Chinese government and the GAVI
Alliance will gather in Beijing on Tuesday, 25 July at 3
p.m. at the Ministry of Health of China to discuss the
country's aggressive efforts to immunise millions of
children in remote and impoverished regions against
hepatitis B, a chronic disease whose complications are
responsible for thousands of deaths every year.
Consecutive translation will be provided.
WHEN: Tuesday, 25 July, 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
WHERE: China's Ministry of Health, Beijing, Room
108
WHO: Gao Qiang, Minister of Health
Julian Lob-Levyt, Executive Secretary of the
GAVI Alliance
(formerly the Global Alliance for Vaccines
and Immunization)
In China, there are an estimated 120 million people
infected with hepatitis B (HepB). Immunising infants and
young children is the best way to prevent the disease,
which routinely leads to life threatening liver problems
later in life, decimating future generations. Working with
GAVI, UNICEF and the World Health Organization over the last
three years, China has immunised millions of children
against HepB and, in the process, prevented thousands of
premature deaths.
At the 25 July briefing, speakers will describe the
challenges and successes flowing from a five-year $76
million project to provide HepB immunisations to newborns
and children under five across China's western and central
provinces, an area that encompasses 470 million people.
The programme reaches babies born in hospitals, as well as
those born at home in mountain villages or in the tents of
nomadic herders on the vast steppes.
Organisational Web sites:
The GAVI Alliance: http://www.gavialliance.org
WHO: http://www.who.int and
http://www.wpro.who.int/china
UNICEF: http://www.unicef.org and
http://www.unicef.org/china
Ministry of Health of China: http://www.moh.gov.cn
For more information, please contact:
Charles Rycroft, UNICEF China
Tel: +86-136-4129-0007
Email: crycroft@unicef.org
Roy Wadia, WHO China
Tel: +86-10-6532-7189 x681
Email: wadiar@chn.wpro.who.int
Justin Ross, WHO China
Tel: +86-10-6532-7189
Email: rossj@chn.wpro.who.int
Jean-Pierre LeCalvez, GAVI Alliance,
Tel: +41-22-909-6520
Email: jplecalvez@gavialliance.org
SOURCE World Health Organization
2007'02.04.Sun
Jabil Unveils New Corporate Logo
July 24, 2006
SHANGHAI, China, July 24 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Jabil
Circuit (Shanghai) Ltd. recently became the first Jabil
plant in China to unveil the new Jabil corporate logo. The
change comes after 40 years in the electronics manufacturing
services where Jabil has evolved its service offerings and
today provides customers with design, manufacturing, system
assembly and after-market services.
Jabil is recognized as one of the leading global
technology solutions providers to some of the world's
largest electronic product companies and currently employs
over 13,000 Chinese nationals in their 5 plants throughout
China. There are 12 Jabil plants in Asia and operations
are headquartered in Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
Quick Facts
-- US$10.2 billion in revenue (Fiscal 2006 Estimate)
-- 65,000 employees
-- Operating 48 sites in 20 countries
-- Fortune 500 company
-- US$8 billion in purchasing with 5000 suppliers
-- Only EMS with investment grade credit recognized by
Moody's, S&P &
Fitch
The New Jabil Logo
The new Jabil logo greets guests and visitors at the
main entrance of the Jabil Shanghai facility.
(Photo: http://xprn.xfn.info/photos/Jabil_Logo.jpg )
For more information, please contact:
Aileen Han
Tel: +86-21-6485-8585 x1069
Mobile: +86-137-8898-5859
Email: Aileen_Han@Jabil.com
SOURCE Jabil Circuit (Shanghai) Ltd.
2007'02.04.Sun
Massive Order Announcements and Significant Product Launches Underscore
July 24, 2006
Highly Successful Farnborough International Airshow
FARNBOROUGH, England, July 24 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
The Farnborough International Airshow (FIA) closed today
after a highly successful week in which over US$38 billion
of business was announced together with major new product
and programme launches.
FIA 2006 was one of the biggest in recent memory with
1480 exhibitors from 35 countries taking part. Some 75
defence delegations from 43 countries attended, along with
40 civil aerospace delegations from 15 countries. Trade
show attendance figures during the week are expected to top
the 2004 level of 133,000.
Trevor Sidebottom, Managing Director of Farnborough
International Limited, the airshow organiser said today:
"We have had a truly fantastic airshow this year. From
the scale of business announced, the high calibre of the
visitors attending and the fact that companies are using
our airshow to make significant product or partnership
announcements, there is no doubt that Farnborough
International Airshow is the world's pre-eminent business
to business airshow."
International aerospace companies used the airshow to
announce significant new business worth in excess of US$38
billion. Orders have been announced from across the
aerospace spectrum, covering civil and defence products,
aero-engines, the supply chain, the MRO sector, training,
equipment and services.
New products on display at the airshow included the
Airbus A380, the Raytheon ASTOR Sentinel surveillance
aircraft, a host of new business jet types and the Bell
Boeing V-22 Osprey. Bell Boeing used Farnborough
International Airshow to launch an international sales
drive for the aircraft.
The most significant new product launch this week was
the new Airbus A350XWB airliner, which by the end of the
week had secured its first order. The rotary winged sector
was very busy with the X-Hawk Fancraft from Bell Helicopter
and Urban Aeronautics of Israel, the new AugustaWestland
AW149 multi-role helicopter and two new variants of the
Sikorsky Black Hawk being announced.
Raytheon of the USA unveiled its AT-6 Joint Airborne
Weapons System -- a light attack version of the T6B
turboprop trainer, Honeywell launched its Synthetic Vision
System for a business jet with the first to be installed
next year on the Gulfstream range of aircraft, and Lockheed
Martin used the airshow to reveal details of its
all-composite long-range high altitude P-175 Polecat UAV.
Several new collaborative ventures were launched at the
airshow, among them being Pratt & Whitney's new
strategic alliances for possible powerplants for future
medium range twinjets and Bombardier's partnership
agreement with Shenyang Aircraft for the manufacture of
Dash 8-400 fuselages. Of great UK significance was the
announcement of the Team Complex Weapons strategy by Lord
Drayson, Minister of State for Defence Procurement under
the auspices of the Defence Industrial Strategy.
From Farnborough International Limited, organisers of
Farnborough International Airshow. For more details see
http://www.farnborough.com .
For more information, please contact:
David Dorman
PR Advisor
Farnborough International Ltd
Tel: +44-1252-380256 or +44-7831-135526
Email: ddaviddorman@aol.com
Shirley-Ann Leitch
Communications Manager
Farnborough International, Ltd
Tel: +44-778-6018797
Email: shirley-ann.leitch@farnborough.com
SOURCE Farnborough International Airshow
2007'02.04.Sun
Bloomberg Trading Platform for Sri Lanka Bonds Active
July 24, 2006
NEW YORK, July 24 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Bloomberg, the
global data, analytics and news provider, announced that the
Bloomberg E-Bond platform for Sri Lanka Government Bonds is
active on the BLOOMBERG PROFESSIONAL(R) service.
With Bloomberg E-Bond, Sri Lanka Primary Dealers now
benefit from a flexible, commission-free dealing, trade
capture and reporting mechanism, while seamlessly offering
global investors and market oversight entities a real-time
view of price quotations and market activity for Sri Lanka
Government Securities. Bloomberg E-Bond for Sri Lanka
Government Securities is available to qualified users of
the BLOOMBERG PROFESSIONAL(R) service via the functions
LPBT < GO > and LPSM < GO >.
The 12 participating Sri Lanka Primary Dealer firms on
Bloomberg E-Bond include Bank of Ceylon, Capital Alliance
Limited, Ceylinco Shriram Securities Limited, Commercial
Bank of Ceylon Limited, Employee Provident Fund, First
Capital Treasuries Limited, HNB Securities Limited, NSB
Fund Management Company, National Wealth Corporation
Limited, People's Bank, Sampath Bank and Seylan Bank Asset
Management Limited.
Pubudu Champike of People's Bank commented, "With
Bloomberg E-Bond, in addition to the ability to enter my
own orders, I can also ask for quotes from other dealers.
The best bids/offers in the market are displayed
prominently as well as the market depth. This price
transparency and immediate trade reporting greatly enhances
the efficiency of the Sri Lanka Government
Securities."
"The price discovery mechanism will help improve
liquidity in the secondary market," said Vasantha
Kumar, Chairman of the Association of Primary Dealers
("APD"). "By using a world class platform
with world class technology, Bloomberg E-Bond immediately
puts Sri Lanka in the forefront of electronic bond trading,
and the fact that Bloomberg E-bond does not charge
commission for trades makes it all the more
attractive."
The APD will consider any secondary player's
application to join the E-Bond favorably in a bid to
improve market efficiency. "Ultimately, what is good
for everyone can only be great for the market," said
Ajith Fernando, CEO of Capital Alliance Limited.
About Bloomberg E-Bond
Bloomberg E-Bond, available to qualified users of the
BLOOMBERG PROFESSIONAL(R) service via the main menu
function EB < GO >, is a global electronic trading
system for bonds and treasury bills. Bloomberg E-Bond
offers a unique multi-dealer Request For Quote
("RFQ") and anonymous quotation bulletin board,
along with Straight-Through-Processing ("STP")
features and real-time market activity displays. The
Bloomberg E-Bond platform offers trading in bonds and
treasury bills without transaction fees and will play a key
role in fostering price transparency and liquidity in
financial markets in Asia.
With Bloomberg E-Bond's RFQ module, market-makers are
able to request for market quotes from multiple
counterparties and are able to effectively handle multiple
transactions at any given time in an active market.
Another module of Bloomberg E-Bond allows dealers to
send orders in response to anonymous quotations. This
module can be used separately from the RFQ module and
contains an individual counterparty credit database set by
each dealer which reveals the identities of the
counterparties to a proposed trade.
Bloomberg E-Bond is now being implemented across Asia,
including Indonesia with 25 participating firms, Singapore
with 11 firms, the Philippines with 24 firms, and Sri Lanka
with 12 firms. In addition to a secondary market trading
platform, Bloomberg also offers its Bloomberg Auction
System to qualified participants, allowing government debt
issuers to conduct their primary market auctions via the
same platform. Consolidating primary and secondary market
trading mechanisms can reduce the costs borne by dealers
for participation and integration for Straight-Through
Processing ("STP") purposes. With Bloomberg's
widely distributed technology, including the use by many
Primary Dealers of the Bloomberg position-keeping and
risk-management system (TOMS), Bloomberg E-Bond offers STP
with no transaction fees and minimal implementation and
integration costs for banks. As Bloomberg E-Bond is
adopted by more countries that seek to develop more
cross-border flow, the efficiencies of the platform should
continue to grow in value.
About Bloomberg
Bloomberg is the leading global provider of data, news
and analytics. The BLOOMBERG PROFESSIONAL(R) service and
Bloomberg's media services provide real-time and archived
financial and market data, pricing, trading, news and
communications tools in a single, integrated package to
corporations, news organizations, financial and legal
professionals and individuals around the world.
Bloomberg's media services include the global BLOOMBERG
NEWS(R) service with more than 2,000 professionals in 126
bureaus worldwide; the BLOOMBERG TELEVISION(R) 24-hour
business and financial network produced and distributed
worldwide on ten separate channels in seven languages; and
BLOOMBERG RADIO(SM) services which provide up-to-the-minute
news on XM, Sirius and WorldSpace satellite radio around the
world and on WBBR 1130AM in New York. In addition,
Bloomberg publishes Bloomberg Markets(R) magazine and
BLOOMBERG PRESS(R) books for investment professionals. For
more information please visit http://www.bloomberg.com .
For more information, please contact:
Judith Czelusniak
Bloomberg LP
Tel: +1-212-617-4273
Email: jczelusniak@bloomberg.net
Victoria Moore
Bloomberg LP
Tel: +1-212-617-7814
Email: vmoore2@bloomberg.net
SOURCE Bloomberg
2007'02.04.Sun
CNH Announces Extension of Senior Notes Exchange Offer
July 24, 2006
LAKE FOREST, Ill., July 24 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- CNH
Global N.V. (NYSE: CNH) today announced that its wholly
owned subsidiary, Case New Holland Inc., has extended the
expiration date of its offer to exchange up to $500,000,000
in aggregate principal amount of its registered 7.125%
Senior Notes due 2014 for its outstanding unregistered
7.125% Senior Notes due 2014.
The exchange offer, which was originally scheduled to
expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on July 21, 2006,
will now expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on July
26, 2006. Through 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on July
21, 2006, $499,350,000 in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding 7.125% Senior Notes due 2014 have been tendered
to the exchange agent by the holders thereof.
The exchange agent for the exchange offer is Wells
Fargo Bank, N.A., Corporate Trust Services, MAC N9303-120,
Sixth & Marquette Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55479.
For information call +1-800-344-5128.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell
or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the senior
notes, nor will there be any sale of the senior notes in
any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would
be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under
the securities laws of any such state.
CNH Case New Holland, a majority-owned subsidiary of
Fiat S.p.A. (FIA.MI; NYSE: FIA), is a world leader in the
agricultural and construction equipment businesses.
Supported by more than 11,000 dealers in 160 countries, CNH
brings together the knowledge and heritage of its Case and
New Holland brand families with the strength and resources
of its worldwide commercial, industrial, product support
and finance organizations. CNH Global N.V. stock is listed
at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CNH). More
information about CNH and its Case and New Holland products
can be found online at http://www.cnh.com .
For more information, please contact:
Thomas Witom
News and Information
CNH Global N.V.
Tel: +1-847-955-3939
Albert Trefts
Jr., Investor Relations
CNH Global N.V.
Tel: +1-847-955-3821
SOURCE CNH Global N.V.
2007'02.04.Sun
Coty Inc. Announces Exclusive Agreement With Global Icon Kylie Minogue
July 24, 2006
NEW YORK, July 24 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Coty Inc., the
world's largest fragrance company, announced today that it
has signed beloved international pop star Kylie Minogue to
an exclusive licensing deal to develop and market a line of
fragrances and ancillary products.
This is the first entrance into the personal fragrance
market by the Australian-born Miss Minogue, a truly
international singer with 12 albums sold throughout the
world and more than 40 worldwide hits. Miss Minogue is an
incredible timeless pop star with number one hits over
three consecutive decades.
The line of eau de toilette, eau de parfum and
ancillary products will be launched in broad distribution
in fall 2006 in Australia, the UK and Ireland and
subsequently throughout Europe and Asia.
Commenting on the partnership with Miss Minogue, Coty
Inc.'s Chief Executive Officer, Bernd Beetz, said,
"Kylie Minogue's incredible appeal among women
transcends borders and ages. Her successes as a performer
and a businesswoman, combined with her grace and
perseverance in the face of personal adversity, have not
only made her a role model but also have forged a
tremendous bond with her fans."
Steve Mormoris, Senior Vice President, International
Marketing for Coty Inc. said that, "Kylie Minogue's
involvement in the project was tremendous. She showed a
real passion for and dedication to the development of the
fragrance, as she wanted to capture a true reflection of
her personality. Kylie Minogue represents the many
contrasting qualities of today's modern woman. She is
sensual yet sweet, sexy and charming. She is delicate as
well as strong, seductive, glamorous and playful and so
much more. The scent reflects Kylie Minogue's multi-faceted
personality."
Miss Minogue commented that "the launch of my new
fragrance coincides with a new chapter of my life. I chose
Coty as my fragrance partner because their passionate and
intimate approach to fragrance is similar to my passion as
an entertainer. Sharing that same vision of fragrance made
the partnership easy, smooth and exciting."
About Coty Inc.
Coty Inc. was created in Paris in 1904 by Francois Coty
who is credited with founding the modern fragrance industry.
For over 100 years, Coty Inc. has delivered innovative
products to consumers in 91 markets worldwide.
Today, Coty Inc. is the world's largest fragrance
company and a recognized leader in global beauty with
annual net sales of $2.9 billion. Driven by an
entrepreneurial spirit, passion, innovation and creativity,
Coty Inc. has developed an unrivaled portfolio of over 35
designer, celebrity and lifestyle brands.
The Coty Prestige brand portfolio is distributed in
prestige and ultra-prestige stores and includes designer
brands -- Calvin Klein, Cerruti, Chloe, Jette Joop, Jil
Sander, JOOP!, Kenneth Cole, Marc Jacobs, Nikos, Vera Wang
and Vivienne Westwood; celebrity brands -- Desperate
Housewives, Jennifer Lopez and Sarah Jessica Parker; and
lifestyle brands -- Baby Phat, Chopard, Davidoff,
Lancaster, Nautica and Phat Farm.
The Coty Beauty brand portfolio is more widely
distributed and includes designer brand -- Pierre Cardin;
celebrity brands -- Celine Dion, David and Victoria
Beckham, Isabella Rossellini, mary-kateandashley and Shania
Twain; and lifestyle brands -- adidas, Aspen, Astor, Calgon,
Chupa Chups, Esprit, Exclamation, Jovan, Miss Sixty, Miss
Sporty, Rimmel, Stetson, the healing garden and Vanilla
Fields.
For additional information about Coty Inc., please
visit http://www.coty.com .
For more information, please contact:
Maria La Gamba
Tel: +1-212-479-4335
Email: maria_lagamba@cotyinc.com
Web: http://www.coty.com
SOURCE Coty Inc.
2007'02.04.Sun
Gomez Opens New Full-Service Office in China to Directly Support Burgeoning Asian Internet Market
July 24, 2006
Internet Application Performance Management Company Makes Substantial Software Development, Sales and Support Commitment to Region
BEIJING, July 24 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- In a quest to
help customers aggressively seize fertile business
opportunities in Asia, Internet application performance
management leader Gomez, Inc., today announced it has
opened a new full-service office in Beijing. The facility
will initially employ engineering and product development
staff, with direct sales and support staff to be hired in
the coming months to serve the entire Southeast Asia
region.
Headed by Yuan Cheng, general manager of Gomez China
Operations, the new office will triple Gomez's product
development personnel by year-end and position the company
to steadily build direct sales, service and other staff to
serve customers such as eBay and MSN. The economy of
China, the business hub of Southeast Asia, has been growing
at an average of 10 percent annually. The country has more
than 123 million Internet users, more than 77 million of
whom are on broadband, and potential growth is staggering
with 90 percent of the population still unwired.
Gomez CEO Jaime Ellertson said the entire company is
eager to help new and existing customers achieve peak
Internet performance in Asia. "It's a rapid growth
market in an ever-flattening world and offers us access to
Beijing's prodigious pool of engineering talent,"
Ellertson said. "Our expanding infrastructure and new
capabilities for product development, sales and customer
service will be essential for companies entering and
expanding in this region."
Yuan Cheng's local knowledge, experience, customer
focus and engineering pedigree make him the ideal leader of
Gomez's Asian effort, according to Ellertson. Cheng is a
graduate of the number one engineering school in China,
Tsinghua University, and holds a doctorate degree from MIT.
Prior to joining Gomez, Cheng managed the BroadVision
Commerce product at BroadVision, establishing an offshore
engineering team for that company.
"Optimal Internet application performance is
critical for companies to maximize revenues, minimize
costs, reduce risk and sustain a strong brand," said
Yuan Cheng. "Gomez's commitment to Beijing and Asia
will make these goals achievable." The Gomez China
office is located at: Suite B206, Jingmeng High-Tech
Building No. 5-2 Shangdi Donglu, Haidian district, Beijing,
China 100085. Tel.: +8610-51557620. The company is
recruiting for a number of engineering, software
development and technical support positions as posted at: (
http://www.gomez.com/company/careers.html ). Qualified
candidates are invited to send resumes to
resumes-china@gomez.com .
About Gomez
Gomez is the leading provider of web application
performance management solutions. Utilized by 500
companies worldwide, including 8 of the top 10 most visited
sites worldwide, 6 of the top 10 retailers, 8 of the top 15
financial services firms, and 4 of the top 10 industrial
companies, Gomez products and services help companies
achieve and maintain peak performance of their Internet
applications. Founded in 1997, Gomez provides performance
measurement, benchmarking, and competitive insight through
24/7 real-time alerting, problem identification, and web
site monitoring from over 12,000 locations worldwide.
Gomez is Network Computing magazine's "Editor's
Choice" for best Internet performance monitoring
service. For more information, please visit
http://www.gomez.com .
Gomez, Gomez.com, Gomez Performance Network, and Gomez
WorldView are trademarks and/or service marks of Gomez,
Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their
respective owners.
For more information, please contact:
Corporate Contact:
Cathy O'Leary Hayes
Gomez, Inc.
Tel: +1-781-778-2775
Email: cohayes@gomez.com
Agency Contact:
Darby Johnson
Beaupre & Co. Public Relations, Inc.
Tel: +1-603-559-5809
Email: djohnson@beaupre.com
SOURCE Gomez, Inc.
2007'02.04.Sun
Special Olympics Launches Public Service Announcements for 2007 Games
July 21, 2006
Special Olympics Global Ambassador Yao Ming joins launch to help promote environment of support, inclusion and acceptance for people with intellectual disabilities
BEIJING, July 21 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- The 2007
Special Olympics World Games Executive Committee launched a
series of public service announcements (PSA) today at the
Beijing Millennium Monument. Through these PSAs, themed
"Our Children", the 2007 Special Olympics World
Games Executive Committee is reaching out to people from
all walks of life to encourage support and participation
for the 2007 Special Olympics Games.
(Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040302/LNTU017LOGO
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060410/CNM006LOGO )
Secretary-general of the 2007 Special Olympics World
Games Steering Committee, and Deputy Secretary-general of
the Shanghai Municipal Government, Mr. Yao Mingbao said,
"The SO athletes appearing in this video clip are
ordinary members of the society, yet they represent a group
that needs more care and support from others. In sports,
they realize their own values and display to us their
courage, confidence and perseverance that reflect the SO
spirit. I hope and I believe that this promotion campaign
will further enhance the public awareness of social
responsibilities and engage more people in SO movement and
the welfare cause of people with intellectual
disabilities."
Yao Ming, the 2007 Special Olympics ambassador and
well-known basketball player, along with ten other Chinese
celebrities, attended the press conference to support
Special Olympics. Together with Special Olympics athletes,
the celebrities kicked off the PSA launch ceremony.
The "Our Children" PSAs, created and produced
by 4A advertising company Grey Global, focus on depicting
the potential of Special Olympics athletes and
demonstrating their resilience and the self-confidence
gained from participation in Special Olympics. Based on
real life stories of athletes, each of the three PSAs
features a Special Olympics competition.
The 2007 Summer Olympics Games will be held in Shanghai
in October 2007. With over 170 countries expected to
participate, the Games will be China's largest
international sports event to date.
The 2006 summer Special Olympics PSAs will be released
to the public soon.
For more information, please contact:
Helen Shu,
Corporate Communications Manager
Ogilvy Publication Relations Worldwide
Tel: +86-21-2405-1642
Fax: +86-21-2405-1628
Email: Helen.Shu@ogilvy.com
SOURCE Special Olympics
2007'02.04.Sun
/C O R R E C T I O N -- World Health Organization/
July 21, 2006
In the media advisory, "Chinese Government, GAVI
Alliance to Announce Dramatic Progress in Hepatitis B
Immunisation in China," issued on July 17, by the
World Health Organization over Xinhua PR Newswire, we are
advised by them that the event time should run from
"3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m." and not "2:30 p.m. to
4 p.m.", as originally stated. As a result, the
embargo time has also changed. Complete, corrected
advisory follows:
MEDIA ADVISORY: Chinese Government, GAVI Alliance to
Announce Dramatic Progress in Hepatitis B Immunisation in
China
Beijing Press Briefing to Focus on Crucial Programme to
Deliver Millions of Doses of Hepatitis B Vaccine to Avert
Thousands of Deaths
-- The Information in this Document is Embargoed for
Release Tuesday 25 July, at 3:30 p.m., UTC + 8 Hours, or
07:30 GMT (Time of the Announcement) --
IMPORTANT: Journalists are kindly requested to let the
organisers know at the very latest by Friday, 21 July
whether they plan to attend the 25 July event. This is in
order to facilitate entry into the Ministry of Health
building for the briefing. Those who do not RSVP by the
deadline may be denied access. Thank you for your kind
understanding.
RSVP: Roy Wadia or Justin Ross, WHO China (
RossJ@chn.wpro.who.int ), or Charles Rycroft, UNICEF China
( crycroft@unicef.org ).
Officials from the Chinese government and the GAVI
Alliance will gather in Beijing on Tuesday, 25 July at 3:30
p.m. at the Ministry of Health of China to discuss the
country's aggressive efforts to immunise millions of
children in remote and impoverished regions against
hepatitis B, a chronic disease whose complications are
responsible for thousands of deaths every year.
Consecutive translation will be provided.
WHEN: Tuesday, 25 July, 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
WHERE: China's Ministry of Health, Beijing, Room
108
WHO: Gao Qiang, Minister of Health
Julian Lob-Levyt, Executive Secretary of the
GAVI Alliance
(formerly the Global Alliance for Vaccines
and Immunization)
In China, there are an estimated 120 million people
infected with hepatitis B (HepB). Immunising infants and
young children is the best way to prevent the disease,
which routinely leads to life threatening liver problems
later in life, decimating future generations. Working with
GAVI, UNICEF and the World Health Organization over the last
three years, China has immunised millions of children
against HepB and, in the process, prevented thousands of
premature deaths.
At the 25 July briefing, speakers will describe the
challenges and successes flowing from a five-year $76
million project to provide HepB immunisations to newborns
and children under five across China's western and central
provinces, an area that encompasses 470 million people.
The programme reaches babies born in hospitals, as well as
those born at home in mountain villages or in the tents of
nomadic herders on the vast steppes.
Organisational Web sites:
The GAVI Alliance: http://www.gavialliance.org
WHO: http://www.who.int and
http://www.wpro.who.int/china
UNICEF: http://www.unicef.org and
http://www.unicef.org/china
Ministry of Health of China: http://www.moh.gov.cn
For more information, please contact:
Charles Rycroft, UNICEF China
Tel: +86-136-4129-0007
Email: crycroft@unicef.org
Roy Wadia, WHO China
Tel: +86-10-6532-7189 x681
Email: wadiar@chn.wpro.who.int
Justin Ross, WHO China
Tel: +86-10-6532-7189
Email: rossj@chn.wpro.who.int
Jean-Pierre LeCalvez, GAVI Alliance,
Tel: +41-22-909-6520
Email: jplecalvez@gavialliance.org
SOURCE World Health Organization
広告
ブログ内検索
アーカイブ
カウンター