2007'02.11.Sun
Former vice chairman of China Securities Regulatory Commission, Laura Cha joins TCS Board of Directors
November 03, 2006
Six out of eight directors on the company's board are independent
MUMBAI, India, Nov. 3 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Tata
Consultancy Services, the leading global IT services and
consulting company announced that at a meeting of the board
of directors held today, Laura M Cha was appointed as an
Independent Director.
Mrs. Cha is a member of the Executive Council of the
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and
Non-Executive Chairman of HSBC Investment Asia Holdings
Limited.
Between 2001 and 2004, Mrs. Cha served as the
vice-chairman of China Securities Regulatory Commission
(CSRC), the first person to be invited from outside
Mainland China to serve in the Central government of the
People's Republic of China. Her efforts were focused on
improving the corporate governance of Chinese listed
companies and the process of public issuance of shares in
China. She is currently the vice chairman of the
International Advisory Council of the CSRC.
Before joining CSRC, Mrs. Cha had 10 years experience
at Hong Kong's capital markets regulator, the Securities
and Futures Commission, and was appointed deputy chairman
in 1998. She is also an Independent Non-Executive Director
of Johnson Electric Holdings, Baoshan Iron and Steel Co.,
and Hong Kong Exchange and Clearing Ltd. She is also a
Non-Executive Director of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking
Corporation as well as China's Bank of Communications. She
is a member of the International Council of the Asia
Society in New York and senior advisor to Investor AB, a
Swedish conglomerate. Mrs. Cha has been awarded a Silver
Bauhinia Star in 2001 by the Hong Kong Government for her
public service.
"With her experience as a regulator and policy
maker, Laura Cha's presence on the TCS board adds a new
dimension to our strong, independent board," said S.
Ramadorai, CEO and MD at TCS. "Laura's experience and
counsel will be a great asset for the TCS leadership team
as the company continues to expand globally at a fast
pace."
With the addition of Laura Cha to the board of
directors, TCS now has six independent directors -- former
chairman of Deutsche Telecom, Ron Sommer; Harvard
professor, Clayton Christensen; former HSBC chief, Aman
Mehta; former Indian cabinet secretary, Naresh Chandra;
head of Glaxo Smithkline, Asia, V. Thyagarajan. The two
non-independent directors of the company are Ratan Tata,
Chairman and S. Ramadorai, CEO and Managing Director.
About Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS)
Tata Consultancy Services Limited (TCS) is the world
leading information technology consulting, services,
business process outsourcing and engineering services
organization that envisioned and pioneered the adoption of
the flexible global business practices that today enable
companies to operate more efficiently and produce more
value. TCS achieved this by creating and perfecting a
unique method of global deployment and delivery of high
quality, high value services and products in IT consulting
and business process outsourcing. Known as the
"Global Delivery Model," this strategic services
delivery concept has reshaped the IT services industry.
More than 95% of TCS customers reward the company's
reliability, passion, creativity, and unique ability to
handle the broadest range of their IT needs by continually
extending and deepening their partnerships with TCS. With
over 70,000 of the world's best trained IT consultants
located in 35 countries, TCS is uniquely positioned to
deliver its flexible world class services seamlessly to any
location. TCS reported consolidated revenues of $2.97
billion (U.S.) in the fiscal year 2005-2006. The company
is listed on the National Stock Exchange and Bombay Stock
Exchange in India. For more information:
http://www.tcs.com .
For more information, please contact:
Adrian Lee
Tel: +65-6424-6367
Email: Adrian.Lee@fleishman.com
SOURCE Tata Consultancy Services Ltd
PR
2007'02.11.Sun
Corning Breaks Ground on LCD Glass Finishing Facility in China
November 03, 2006
Company was First to Announce it Would Locate a Substrate Facility on the China Mainland
CORNING, N.Y., Nov. 3 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Corning
Incorporated (NYSE: GLW) announced today that its wholly
owned subsidiary in the People's Republic of China hosted a
groundbreaking ceremony for a new liquid crystal display
(LCD) glass substrate finishing facility.
(Logo:
http://211.154.41.99:9080/xprn/back/upload/story_attchment/20061026172020-74.jpg
)
Corning was the first TFT-LCD glass substrate supplier
to announce that it would locate a production facility on
the China mainland. The facility, located in the Beijing
Economic Technological Development Area, is expected to
open in the first half of 2008.
"The plant that will be built on this site will
become a dynamic symbol of our commitment to the growing
Chinese TFT-LCD industry," said Wendell P. Weeks,
president and chief executive officer, Corning
Incorporated. "It's also a key element in our
strategy to grow with our customers, while we support one
of this country's most important industries," Weeks
said during his address to the many officials, customers,
media and employees gathered for the celebration.
Other Corning leaders who spoke at the ceremony were
Clark S. Kinlin, chief executive officer, Greater China;
James P. Clappin, president, Corning Display Technologies;
and John P. Bayne, president, Corning Display Technologies
China.
"Corning's investment enhances our position as a
leading supplier of the most pristine LCD glass substrates
in the world," said Clappin. "We are committed
to the LCD industry in China and to growing with our
customers in this important region of the world
market."
Historically, Corning has been first to enter the
LCD-producing regions that we serve, beginning with glass
finishing and then assessing the need for other operations
at a later date, based on market and customer demand.
According to industry analysts and Corning's own market
analysis, requirements for LCD glass grew approximately 60
percent worldwide in 2005. Driving the demand for glass
are the facts that an increasing number of CRT screens are
being replaced by LCDs, and the penetration level of flat
panel displays used for desktop monitors and televisions
are also increasing. LCD TVs are continuing to grow in
popularity, representing 11 percent of the global TV market
in 2005.
About Corning Incorporated
Corning Incorporated ( http://www.corning.com ) is a
diversified technology company that concentrates its
efforts on high-impact growth opportunities. Corning
combines its expertise in specialty glass, ceramic
materials, polymers and the manipulation of the properties
of light, with strong process and manufacturing
capabilities to develop, engineer and commercialize
significant innovative products for the telecommunications,
flat panel display, environmental, semiconductor, and life
sciences industries.
Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements
that involve a variety of business risks and other
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially. These risks and uncertainties include the
possibility of changes or fluctuations in global economic
and political conditions; tariffs, import duties and
currency fluctuations; product demand and industry
capacity; competitive products and pricing; manufacturing
efficiencies; cost reductions; availability and costs of
critical components and materials; new product development
and commercialization; order activity and demand from major
customers; capital spending by larger customers in the
liquid crystal display industry and other businesses;
changes in the mix of sales between premium and non-premium
products; facility expansions and new plant start-up costs;
possible disruption in commercial activities due to
terrorist activity, armed conflict, political instability
or major health concerns; ability to obtain financing and
capital on commercially reasonable terms; adequacy and
availability of insurance; capital resource and cash flow
activities; capital spending; equity company activities;
interest costs; acquisition and divestiture activities; the
level of excess or obsolete inventory; the rate of
technology change; the ability to enforce patents; product
and components performance issues; changes in key
personnel; stock price fluctuations; and adverse litigation
or regulatory developments. These and other risk factors
are identified in Corning's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only
as of the day that they are made, and Corning undertakes no
obligation to update them in light of new information or
future events.
For more information, please contact:
James E. Terry
Media Relations
Corning
Tel: +1-607-974-7343
Lydia Lu
Media Relations, China
Tel: +86-21-5467-4666 x1900
Email: lulr@corning.com
Kenneth C. Sofio
Investor Relations
Tel: +1-607-974-7705
Email: sofiokc@corning.com
SOURCE Corning Incorporated
2007'02.11.Sun
Microsoft and Novell Announce Broad Collaboration on Windows and Linux Interoperability and Support
November 03, 2006
Companies Also Announce a Patent Agreement Covering Proprietary and Open Source Products
REDMOND, Wash., and WALTHAM, Mass., Nov. 3
/Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) and
Novell Inc. today announced a set of broad business and
technical collaboration agreements to build, market and
support a series of new solutions to make Novell and
Microsoft(R) products work better together. The two
companies also announced an agreement to provide each
other's customers with patent coverage for their respective
products. These agreements will be in place until at least
2012. Under this new model, customers will realize
unprecedented choice and flexibility through improved
interoperability and manageability between Windows(R) and
Linux.
(Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO )
"They said it couldn't be done. This is a new
model and a true evolution of our relationship that we
think customers will immediately find compelling because it
delivers practical value by bringing two of their most
important platform investments closer together," said
Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft. "We're excited to
work with Novell, whose strengths include its heritage as a
mixed-source company. Resolving our patent issues enables a
combined focus on virtualization and Web services
management to create new opportunities for our companies
and our customers."
Under the agreement, Novell is establishing clear
leadership among Linux platform and open source software
providers on interoperability for mixed-source
environments. As a result, Microsoft will officially
recommend SUSE Linux Enterprise for customers who want
Windows and Linux solutions. Additionally, Microsoft will
distribute coupons for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server
maintenance and support, so that customers can benefit from
the use of an interoperable version of Linux with patent
coverage as well as the collaborative work between the two
companies.
"Too often technology companies ask their
customers to adapt to them. Today we are adapting to our
customers," said Ron Hovsepian, president and CEO of
Novell. "Microsoft and Novell are enabling customers
to take advantage of each other's products where it makes
sense in their enterprise infrastructure. We jointly
believe that our business and patent agreements make it
possible to offer the highest level of interoperability
with the assurance that both our companies stand behind
these solutions."
Agreement Has Broad Scope
The two companies will create a joint research facility
at which Microsoft and Novell technical experts will
architect and test new software solutions and work with
customers and the community to build and support these
technologies. The agreement between Microsoft and Novell
focuses on three technical areas that provide important
value and choice to the market:
-- Virtualization. Virtualization is one of the most
important trends in
the industry. Customers tell Microsoft that
virtualization is one way
they can consolidate and more easily manage rapidly
growing server
workloads and their large set of server
applications. Microsoft and
Novell will jointly develop a compelling
virtualization offering for
Linux and Windows.
-- Web services for managing physical and virtual
servers. Web services
and service-oriented architectures continue to be
one of the defining
ways software companies can deliver greater value to
customers.
Microsoft and Novell will undertake work to make it
easier for
customers to manage mixed Windows and SUSE Linux
Enterprise
environments and to make it easier for customers to
federate Microsoft
Active Directory(R) with Novell eDirectory.
-- Document format compatibility. Microsoft and Novell
have been focusing
on ways to improve interoperability between office
productivity
applications. The two companies will now work
together on ways for
OpenOffice and Microsoft Office system users to best
share documents,
and both will take steps to make translators
available to improve
interoperability between Open XML and OpenDocument
formats.
"As a result of this collaboration, customers will
now be able to run virtualized Linux on Windows or
virtualized Windows on Linux," said Jeff Jaffe,
executive vice president and chief technology officer at
Novell. "Customers continually ask us how they can
consolidate servers with multiple operating systems through
virtualization. By working together, Novell and Microsoft
enable customers to choose the operating system that best
fits their application and business needs."
The patent cooperation agreement enables Microsoft and
Novell to give customers assurance of protection against
patent infringement claims. It gives customers confidence
that the technologies they use and deploy in their
environments are compliant with the two companies' patents.
As part of this agreement, Microsoft will provide a
covenant not to assert its patent rights against customers
who have purchased SUSE Linux Enterprise Server or other
covered products from Novell, and Novell will provide an
identical covenant to customers who have a licensed version
of Windows or other covered products from Microsoft.
"Both companies had to think creatively about how
to create an intellectual property bridge between the two
worlds of open source and proprietary software," said
Brad Smith, senior vice president and general counsel of
Microsoft. "This bridge is built on respect for the
innovations of each company and the open source community,
and a passion for what we can deliver for our customers
together."
Customer and Partner Reaction
Microsoft and Novell announced the new alliance at an
event attended by several customers and partners.
"We applaud Novell and Microsoft in their efforts
to provide greater Windows and Linux
interoperability," said Paul Otellini, president and
chief executive officer of Intel Corporation.
"Customers want solutions that meet their individual
needs, and higher levels of software interoperability give
them the ability to more easily make the best
choices."
"Windows and Linux are extremely important to our
enterprise customers and the industry, and AMD strongly
supports both," said Hector Ruiz, chairman and chief
executive officer of Advanced Micro Devices. "This
agreement by Novell and Microsoft helps customers bridge
the gap between these platforms, giving them greater
flexibility in doing what works best for them. This is a
great example of vendors working together to resolve
complexity so their customers don't have to."
"This technology and business collaboration
provides a model that allows Microsoft and Novell to
develop new solutions to enable open source and proprietary
software to work better together in a mixed-source
environment," said Shane Robison, executive vice
president and chief strategy and technology officer at HP.
"We applaud these two companies for doing the hard
work to build a bridge between Windows and Linux."
"IBM encourages more industry endorsement of
mixed-source solutions that promote open standards,"
said Steve Mills, senior vice president and group executive
at IBM Software. "Microsoft support for
interoperability with the industry-standard OpenDocument
Format is most welcome. Open documents give customers
choice and help unlock broad industry creativity, allowing
access to a new generation of innovative applications. Our
view continues to be that interoperability and choice are
key values that customers demand and deserve."
"We are pleased to see that Novell and Microsoft
have come together to address customer needs with
heterogeneous operating environments," said Kevin
Kettler, CTO at Dell Inc. "As an industry leader in
the IT market, we are excited to see the technology
investments being made around virtualization and
interoperability by both companies with this
agreement."
"SAP has been the first enterprise application
vendor to run our apps on Linux, while we have more
Windows-based deployments than any other platform,"
said Shai Agassi, president of Product and Technology at
SAP. "Today's announcement means that customers can
now choose their preferred operating system for each part
of their SAP implementation with the confidence that the
systems will have strong interoperability and be supported
by SAP, Novell and Microsoft -- both companies being strong
SAP partners."
"One of the key challenges in government is IT
interoperability," said Thomas Jarrett, secretary of
the Department of Technology and CIO of the state of
Delaware. "We commend Microsoft and Novell for their
collaboration and their efforts to build bridges in the
interoperability area, which will help government to better
serve our customers, our business community and our
citizens."
Good for the Open Source Community
Novell officials noted that one of their priorities in
working toward the agreement with Microsoft was making sure
the agreement made sense for the open source community. As
part of today's agreement, Novell and Microsoft are
announcing three important commitments. First, Microsoft
will work with Novell and actively contribute to several
open source software projects, including projects focused
on Office file formats and Web services management. Second,
Microsoft will not assert its patents against individual
noncommercial open source developers. And third, Microsoft
is promising not to assert its patents against individual
contributors to OpenSUSE.org whose code is included in the
SUSE Linux Enterprise platform, including SUSE Linux
Enterprise Server and SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop.
"Today's announcement by Microsoft and Novell
marks a significant milestone in the adoption of
Linux," said Stuart Cohen, CEO of Open Source
Development Labs. "By choosing a course of
co-opetition, Microsoft acknowledges the critical role that
open source plays today in an enterprise IT infrastructure.
We appreciate the role Novell is playing to help bridge the
gap between Microsoft and the open source community. We are
glad to see these two companies collaborating to further
diminish the legal threat posed to developers and customers
by patent assertions. This is good for customer confidence
in Linux, the open source community and the broader IT
ecosystem."
Additional Announcement Details
Like many commercial transactions, the financial terms
of the agreement are not being disclosed at this time.
Under the technical collaboration agreement, the
companies will create a joint research facility and pursue
new software solutions for virtualization, management and
document format compatibility. These are potentially huge
markets -- IDC projects the overall market for virtual
machine software revenue to be more than $1.8 billion by
2009, and the overall market for distributed system
management software to be $10.2 billion by 2010 -- and the
companies believe their investment in interoperability will
make their respective products more attractive to
customers.
Under the patent cooperation agreement, both companies
will make upfront payments in exchange for a release from
any potential liability for use of each other's patented
intellectual property, with a net balancing payment from
Microsoft to Novell reflecting the larger applicable volume
of Microsoft's product shipments. Novell will also make
running royalty payments based on a percentage of its
revenues from open source products.
Under the business collaboration agreement, the
companies will pursue a variety of joint marketing
activities to promote the adoption of the technologies they
are collaborating on. In addition, Microsoft will purchase a
quantity of coupons from Novell that entitle the recipient
to a one-year subscription for maintenance and updates to
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server. Microsoft will annually make
available approximately 70,000 of these coupons to
customers, with a mix of priority and standard support
services. By providing its customers with these coupons,
Microsoft is enabling companies to benefit from the use of
the new software solutions developed through the
collaborative research effort, as well as a version of
Linux that is covered with respect to Microsoft's
intellectual property rights.
The parties are assessing the accounting treatment for
the agreements and will provide information as required in
the course of their filings with the SEC.
For more information on SUSE Linux Enterprise from
Novell, see http://www.novell.com/linux .
For more information on Microsoft Windows, see
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass .
About Novell
Novell, Inc. (Nasdaq: NOVL) delivers Software for the
Open Enterprise(TM). With more than 50,000 customers in 43
countries, Novell helps customers manage, simplify, secure
and integrate their technology environments by leveraging
best-of-breed, open standards-based software. With more
than 20 years of experience, 4,700 employees, 5,000
partners and support centers around the world, Novell helps
customers gain control over their IT operating environments
while reducing costs. More information about Novell can be
found at http://www.novell.com .
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in
software, services and solutions that help people and
businesses realize their full potential.
NOTE: Microsoft, Windows and Active Directory are
either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft
Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Novell and SUSE are registered trademarks and Software
for the Open Enterprise is a trademark of Novell, Inc. in
the United States and other countries. *Linux is a
registered trademark of Linus Torvalds.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned
herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
If you are interested in viewing additional information
on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass on Microsoft's corporate
information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles
were correct at time of publication, but may since have
changed. For additional assistance, journalists and
analysts may contact Microsoft's Rapid Response Team or
other appropriate contacts listed at
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.mspx .
For more information, please contact:
Rapid Response Team
Waggener Edstrom Worldwide
Tel: +1-503-443-7070
Email: rrt@waggeneredstrom.com
Jeff O'Mara
Microsoft
Tel: +1-415-608-3847
Email: jomara@microsoft.com
Bruce Lowry
Novell
Tel: +1-415-383-8408
Email: blowry@novell.com
SOURCE Microsoft Corp.
2007'02.11.Sun
MEDIA ADVISORY: Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer to Deliver Industry Announcement Today
November 03, 2006
Details of the Announcement Will be Provided During a Press Conference
What: Microsoft Corp. CEO Steve Ballmer will deliver an
announcement during a press conference
today in
San Francisco.
When: 2 p.m. PST
Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006
Where: JW Marriott Hotel San Francisco
500 Post St.
San Francisco, CA 94102
Teleconference
Information: Listen-only news conference:
United States: 888-566-6508
International: +1-517-308-9169
Pass code: 1626850
Webcast: A live webcast of the event will be available
at
http://www.microsoft.com/events/executives/webcasts.mspx
After the conference has ended, the video will be
available for streaming at the same link for at least
six months.
Transcript: A written transcript of the news conference
will be
available on the PressPass Web site
( http://www.microsoft.com/presspass ) two hours after
the conference call has ended.
News Conference
Satellite
Coordinates: B-Roll will be available via a satellite
feed. For more
information and satellite
coordinates, please contact
wctvseattle@wctv.com
Audio Replay
Information: An audio replay of the news conference
will be available
approximately one hour after the
conference call has
ended, and will be available online
for 30 days. Click
the link below to access the
downloadable file:
https://www.mymeetings.com/mm/ims/d.php?o=2231509
Pass code: 1626850
NOTE: Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft
Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned
herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
For more information, print and online media only:
Rapid Response Team, Waggener Edstrom Worldwide,
503-443-7070,
rrt@waggeneredstrom.com
For more information, broadcast media only:
Media Relations, Worldwide Communications &
Television, 425-452-5400
wctvseattle@wctv.com
NOTE TO EDITORS: If you are interested in viewing
additional information on Microsoft, please visit the
Microsoft(R) Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass
on Microsoft's corporate information pages. Web links,
telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of
publication, but may since have changed. For additional
assistance, journalists and analysts may contact
Microsoft's Rapid Response Team or other appropriate
contacts listed at
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.mspx .
SOURCE Microsoft Corp.
2007'02.11.Sun
Piper Jaffray to Co-Host China Life Sciences Event in Shanghai
November 03, 2006
SHANGHAI, China, Nov. 3 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Piper
Jaffray will host its first China Life Sciences Event on
Wednesday, Nov. 15 in Shanghai. The event is co-hosted by
O'Melveny & Myers LLP and Deloitte Touche.
The China Life Sciences Event, which showcases some of
the most innovative companies in the life sciences sector,
will provide investors and corporate executives a unique
venue in which to hear first-hand about prospects,
opportunities, risks and challenges in this growing
health-related market segment.
The conference agenda includes presentation topics
covering the growth of life sciences companies, attractive
opportunities for institutional investors, pertinent
considerations for companies in this sector and the
changing life sciences climate in China.
Keynote addresses will be presented by Gerald Chan,
chairman of the Morningside Group and Ren Dequan, former
deputy commissioner of the State Food and Drug
Administration (SFDA). Other presentations will highlight
perspectives from venture and private equity investors, an
analysis of the U.S. capital markets and updates from
biopharmaceutical and medical device company executives.
Additional topics will include: intellectual property
protection and enforcement, the regulatory approval
process, strategic alliances and strategies for mergers and
acquisitions.
Companies scheduled to participate in the China Life
Sciences Event include: Aura Partners, BioVeda Capital,
Bridge Pharmaceuticals, Capital BioChip, China Medipharm,
China Medical, ChongQing JingShan, Curis, Eli Lily,
Fidelity Ventures, Green Valley, Hutchinson MediPharma
Limited, IDG Technology Venture Investment, Lifetech
Scientific, Medsphere, Microport Medical Co., Ltd.,
Morningside Group, Otsuka China, Pfizer, Profex, SAIF
Partners, SIG Capital Limited, Simcere Pharmaceuticals,
Sinocro Partners Limited, Summit Life Sciences, Sunway
Biotech Co., Ltd., TongJiTang and WI Harper Group.
Company and investor participation in the China Life
Sciences Event is by invitation only. Piper Jaffray clients
interested in attending should contact their Piper Jaffray
representative.
About Piper Jaffray
Piper Jaffray Companies is a leading, international
middle market investment bank and institutional securities
firm, serving the needs of middle market corporations,
private equity groups, public entities, nonprofit clients
and institutional investors. Founded in 1895, Piper
Jaffray provides a comprehensive set of products and
services, including equity and debt capital markets
products; public finance services; mergers and acquisitions
advisory services; high-yield and structured products;
institutional equity and fixed-income sales and trading;
and equity and high-yield research. With headquarters in
Minneapolis, Piper Jaffray has 25 offices across the United
States and international locations in London, Madrid and
Shanghai. The firm's UK operating subsidiary, Piper
Jaffray Ltd., is authorized and regulated by the Financial
Services Authority and is a member of the London Stock
Exchange. Piper Jaffray & Co. is the firm's principal
operating subsidiary. (NYSE: PJC) (
http://www.piperjaffray.com )
Since 1895. Member SIPC and NYSE.
For more information, please contact:
Susan Beatty
Media Relations, of Piper Jaffray
Tel: +1-612-303-5680
Email: susan.l.beatty@pjc.com
SOURCE Piper Jaffray
2007'02.11.Sun
MBF Completes Conversion to Perot Systems' Payer PERADIGM(TM) System
November 03, 2006
MBF Customers Benefit From Streamlined Claims Processing and Payments in Real Time
PLANO, Texas, Nov. 3 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Perot
Systems Corporation (NYSE: PER) and MBF, Australia's
largest privately owned and managed private health insurer,
today announced the successful conversion of MBF's 1.72
million customers to Payer PERADIGM(TM), Perot Systems'
leading core administrative system.
Customer service consultants at MBF's network of 68
member centers are now using Payer PERADIGM following
completion of its national rollout to MBF's operations in
all of Australia's states and territories.
"MBF is following a strategy of growth and
diversification, and we recognized early on that advanced
technology to support our core private health insurance
business would be a prerequisite for success," said
Helen Longland, general manager, MBF Business
Transformation. "The replacement of our 25-year-old
legacy system represented MBF's biggest ever investment in
new technology. We now have a system that enhances customer
service, streamlines claims processing, and provides agility
and flexibility for timely delivery of new products in
Australia's highly competitive health insurance market.
"
Perot Systems was the first to offer payers a core
administrative system that combined the power of services
oriented architecture with new Web-based services to help
health plans become more efficient and consumer-centric.
Perot Systems continues to extend the capabilities of Payer
PERADIGM to support U.S.-based public health plans from
Medicaid and Medicare, including Part D prescription drug
coverage, to a variety of private international and
U.S.-based plans.
"Perot Systems provided strong support throughout
the project and contributed significantly to its overall
success. Their technology and expertise has had a positive
impact on MBF's strategy to achieve operational excellence
and efficiency," Longland continued.
Perot Systems has worked with MBF since 2003, and the
two companies began nearly 18 months ago on the transition
of the MBF customer base to the Payer PERADIGM system. The
conversion, involving 1.72 million people for whom MBF
provides private health funding, was completed in early
October 2006.
"From the beginning, our goal has been to help MBF
better connect with, and provide service to, its
customers," said Jim Mapes, Payer Solutions group
leader and PERADIGM Payer Software CEO. "With Payer
PERADIGM, MBF now has the scale and flexibility to serve
its diverse members. We are delighted that MBF is
benefiting from the services oriented architecture of the
Payer PERADIGM technology platform, and are pleased to be a
part of this important and historic success."
Australia has a mixed public-private healthcare system
in which the public and private health sectors perform
complementary and sometimes interconnecting roles.
Medicare, a mainly taxpayer-funded universal health
insurance system, makes available basic health services to
all Australians. The private health sector, financed
largely by private health insurance, provides an
ever-increasing range of sophisticated medical procedures
undertaken in many cases by doctors who work in both the
public and private sectors.
Approximately nine million Australians (about 43% of
the population) have private health insurance in addition
to their universal access to Medicare-funded medical and
hospital care.
About MBF Australia Limited
MBF Australia Limited is comprised of a group of
companies and is following a strategy of growth and
diversification in which it has added financial services
and lifestyle management to its core private health
insurance offering. MBF was established in 1946 with start
up funds provided by nearly 1,000 Australian doctors who
each contributed the present day equivalent of 20
Australian dollars. In 2005-2006, MBF's turnover from its
health, financial and lifestyle management services
exceeded $A2 billion and the group achieved a net profit of
$A181 million. MBF operates in all Australian states and
territories with a 19% market share of Australia's national
private health insurance market. In recent years, MBF has
expanded its activities to address the 'lifestyle
protection' needs of its customers and has added life
insurance and financial planning for retirement to its
product range.
MBF is a leading advocate of the contribution of the
private health sector in the delivery and funding of health
services at a time of demographic change and population
ageing.
About Perot Systems
Perot Systems is a worldwide provider of information
technology services and business solutions. Through its
flexible and collaborative approach, Perot Systems
integrates expertise from across the company to deliver
custom solutions that enable clients to accelerate growth,
streamline operations and create new levels of customer
value. Headquartered in Plano, Texas, Perot Systems
reported 2005 revenue of $2.0 billion. The company has
more than 20,000 associates located in North America,
Europe, and Asia. Additional information on Perot Systems
is available at http://www.perotsystems.com .
For more information, please contact:
Sharon Lakes
Perot Systems Corporation
Tel: +1-972-577-6012
Email: sharon.lakes@ps.net
David Jones
MBF Australia Limited,
Tel: +61-2-9323-9947
Email: David.Jones@mbf.com.au
SOURCE Perot Systems Corporation
2007'02.11.Sun
WHO To Unveil Global Anti-Counterfeiting Plan
November 03, 2006
GENEVA, Nov. 3 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- On 15 November,
the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners will
officially launch the first ever International Medical
Products Anti-counterfeiting Taskforce (IMPACT) and unveil
the global plan to combat counterfeit medical products.
(Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040610/CNTH001LOGO )
At its first official meeting in Bonn, Germany, IMPACT
will release the most recent estimates of the number of
counterfeit products currently circulating on the world's
markets, launch pilot programmes in three countries, and
present a tool to strengthen countries' legislative
capacity to deal with medical counterfeiting.
IMPACT is focused on five action areas embracing the
different national and international sectors related to
counterfeiting. These are: legislative and regulatory
infrastructure; regulatory implementation; enforcement;
technology; and risk communication.
"Without changes and improvements in those key
areas, we will not succeed in the fight against
counterfeits," said Dr Howard Zucker, WHO Assistant
Director-General for Health Technology and Pharmaceuticals.
"Counterfeit medicines must be tackled not only
through global efforts but also by a truly collaborative,
cross-cutting approach involving medicine regulatory
authorities, health professionals, enforcement officials,
law-makers and industry."
Counterfeit medicines are dangerous products. They
promote drug resistant strains of disease and can worsen
medical conditions or cause death. They are present on all
markets and are increasing as counterfeiters' methods become
more sophisticated, infiltrating official channels of
distribution as well as using illegal web sites to sell
their wares.
Counterfeits are of greater concern in countries with
weak regulatory control mechanisms. These are often the
countries with the highest burden of disease, the poorest
populations and the greatest need for reliable medicines.
The IMPACT initiative was first proposed by WHO at a
meeting in Rome in February this year. WHO Member States
and all major stakeholders in the global community welcomed
the plan to tackle the growing public health threat. The
taskforce was created in record time and is now ready to
begin work.
The global taskforce is made up of WHO Member States,
on a voluntary basis, and more than 20 other major
stakeholders, including Interpol, the World Customs
Associations, patients' and medical organizations, the
World Bank, the World Trade Organization and the
International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers
Associations.
The meeting is hosted and co-organized by the German
Ministry of Health.
For more information on the task force and the meeting,
please view:
http://www.who.int/medicines/services/counterfeit/en/index.html
All press releases, fact sheets and other WHO media
material may be found at http://www.who.int .
Journalists wishing to attend the Bonn meeting may send
an e-mail to: pressestelle@bmg.bund.de, Tel:
+49-(0)-3018-441-2312, Fax: +49-(0)-3018-441-1245
For more information, please contact:
Daniela Bagozzi
Communications Officer
WHO
Tel: +41-22-791-45-44
Mobile: +41-79-475-54-90
Email: bagozzid@who.int
SOURCE World Health Organization
2007'02.11.Sun
Beverage Partners Worldwide (BPW) Joint Venture to Refocus on Black Tea Platform
November 03, 2006
VEVEY, Switzerland and ATLANTA, Nov. 3
/Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- The Coca-Cola Company and Nestle
today announced both companies have agreed to refocus the
activities of their Beverage Partners Worldwide (BPW) joint
venture on black tea beverages. The transaction, which is
subject to certain regulatory approvals, is expected to
close early 2007.
Both partners believe a concentrated focus on black tea
beverages by the joint venture throughout its territory will
accelerate the growth and bolster the market presence of
BPW. The green tea-based functional drink Enviga, recently
launched in the U.S. and scheduled for rollout in Europe in
2007, will also be marketed through the existing joint
venture.
This agreement means The Coca-Cola Company and Nestle
will independently develop, produce and market
ready-to-drink coffee and non-black tea based beverages.
Both companies recognize the significant potential of these
rapidly growing segments and will expand their offerings in
these categories by identifying innovative new products and
creating a broader choice for consumers.
Beverage Partners Worldwide (BPW), a fifty-fifty joint
venture held by Nestle and The Coca-Cola Company, was
created in 2001, following a period of 10 years during
which Nestle and The Coca-Cola Company cooperated in a
joint venture called Coca-Cola and Nestle Refreshments
(CCNR).
For more information, please contact:
Nestle
Media
Francois-Xavier Perroud
Tel: +41-21-924-2596
Investors
Roddy Child-Villiers
Tel: +41-21-924-3622
The Coca-Cola Company
Media
Dana Bolden
Tel: +1-404-676-2683
Investor Relations
Ann Taylor
Tel: +1-404-676-5383
SOURCE The Coca-Cola Company; Nestle
2007'02.11.Sun
Startech Environmental Receives Downpayment for New Plasma Converter Facility China
November 02, 2006
WILTON, Conn., Nov. 2 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Startech
Environmental Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board: STHK), a
fully reporting company, announced that it has received the
15% downpayment from GlobalTech Environmental Corporation,
the Company's exclusive distributor for the Peoples
Republic of China, to start the production of the 20,000
pound-per-day Plasma Converter System to be located in
heavily-industrialized Northeast China. The downpayment
does not include the $250,000 distributor-fee paid to the
Company by GlobalTech. This first-of-its-kind Startech
facility in China, scheduled to go on-line in 2007, will be
processing hazardous PCBs (Polychlorinated Byphenyls) and
POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants).
"In 2050 every second human being will die from
cancer due to contamination in food, water and the
environment," according to the World Health
Organization in talking about POPs.
Steve Landa, Startech VP, said, "These are very
nasty industrial materials. The Plasma Converter System
destroys each and every one of these materials totally and
irreversibly. The Converter is ideally suited to completely
and safely destroy POPs, PCBs and other hazardous products
no matter how persistent and no matter what the form or the
chemical composition."
Pat Quinn, GlobalTech Chief Executive Officer, said,
"In addition to this first system on the ground in
China for hazardous waste, we also have many other
important projects in contract development for which we
already have executed Letters of Intent and also Agreements
in China.
"Just on Waste-to-Alternative Fuels alone, we have
a 100-TPD Tires and Refinery Tank Bottoms project in
Northern China, an initial 100 TPD project for Black Coal
in Mongolia, 250 TPD for Tires in Hunan Province, and 500
TPD for Tires in Nanjing. We also have waste-to-hydrogen
projects in South Korea and hazardous waste projects in the
Philippines."
Joseph F. Longo, Startech President, said, "With
20 percent of the world's population, and the challenges of
its white-hot industrialization, China has put environmental
stewardship and sustainable development very high on its
list of priorities.
China is a very important market for the Company; one
we've been working on for the past five years."
What Are POPs and Why Harmful
The 8th International Forum on Hazardous Chemicals and
Pesticides was held in Sophia in late May 2005. The Forum
brought together governments, UN agencies, industrial
companies, international government organizations,
non-government organizations and private sector
stakeholders to develop and to implement a solution for the
threat to the world of POPs, obsolete pesticides and
hazardous chemical waste.
An immediate focus is to establish Environmentally
Sound Management (ESM) practices on cleaning up obsolete
stockpiles of pesticides for Central European and the EECCA
Countries (Eastern European countries, Caucasus and Central
Asia).
POPs means Persistent Organic Pollutants. They include
materials such as:
Aldrin
Chlordane
DDT
Dieldrin
Endrin
Heptachlor
Hexachlorobenzene
Mirex
Toxaphene
Every human in the world carries traces of POPs in his
or her body. They damage the nervous and immune systems,
cause cancer and reproductive disorders, and interfere with
normal infant and child development.
They all share four properties:
1-- they are highly toxic;
2-- they are stable and persistent;
3-- they evaporate and they travel long distances
through the air and
through water ... and, worst of all,
4-- they accumulate in the fatty tissue of humans and
wildlife ...
especially in a woman's breast ... even in a
mother's milk.
"In addition to producing death and sickness
through direct contact, many highly toxic chemicals and
pesticides persist for years in the environment, where they
cause long-term damage to human health and to nature",
said Klaus Toepfer, executive director of the United
Nations Environment Program, "These substances travel
readily across international borders to even the most
remote region, making this a global problem that requires a
global solution."
He also said, "A growing body of scientific
evidence indicates that exposure to very low doses of
certain POPs -- which are among the most toxic substances
ever created -- can lead to cancer, damage to the central
and peripheral nervous systems, diseases of the immune
system, reproductive disorders and interference with normal
infant and child development.
Another concern behind the initiative is the growing
accumulation of unwanted and obsolete stockpiles of
pesticides and toxic chemicals, particularly in developing
countries. Dump sites and toxic drums from the 1950s,
1960s and 1970s are now decaying and leaching chemicals
into the soil and poisoning water resources, wildlife and
people.
These highly stable compounds can last for years or
decades before breaking down. They circulate globally
through a process known as the "grasshopper
effect." POPs released in one part of the world can,
through a repeated (and often seasonal) process of
evaporation, deposit, evaporation, deposit, be transported
through the atmosphere to regions far away from the
original source.
In addition, POPs concentrate in living organisms
through another process called bioaccumulation. Though not
soluble in water, POPs are readily absorbed in fatty
tissue, where concentrations can become magnified up to
70,000 times the background levels. Fish, predatory birds,
mammals and humans are high up the food chain and therefore
absorb the greatest concentrations. When they travel, the
POPs travel with them. As a result of these two processes,
POPs can be found in people and animals living in regions
such as the Arctic, thousands of kilometers from any major
POP source.
What are PCBs
PCB is the abbreviation for a family of manufactured
industrial products called polychlorinated biphenyls, and
PCBs come in many forms. They are complex molecular
products comprised principally of chlorine and carbon
atoms.
The major use of PCBs has been in industrial electric
equipment especially in transformers, capacitors, voltage
regulators and electromagnets. In operation, these devices
produce undesirable heat and PCBs help to remove that heat
while operating as an effective non-flammable dielectric
(an electrical insulator). PCBs have also been used in
hydraulic systems, as plasticizers and as additives in
lubricants. Among PCBs' important industrial
characteristics are its chemical stability and its
resistance to degradation. It is these very robust
characteristics that make PCBs so persistent and
troublesome in the environment.
PCBs are dangerous and harmful, and PCB concentrations
have been found in water, soil, animals, plants and the
food chain all over the world, even in the polar ice caps
... a testament to the atmospheric transport of global
contamination.
Concentrations have also been detected in the fatty
tissue of humans, animals and fish. PCB biomagnifications
concentrations have even been found accumulated in
"mother's milk."
Why Are PCBs So Harmful
PCBs are pernicious materials that enter the body
through the lungs, digestive system and even through the
skin, and tend to accumulate in the fatty tissues of the
body. The World Wildlife Fund reports that, "PCBs
interfere with many biological functions, including the
immune system, the nervous system and several endocrine
systems, and fetuses appear to be particularly vulnerable
to these actions. Chronic low level PCB exposures can
cause liver damage, reproductive abnormalities, immune
suppression, neurological and endocrine system disorders,
retarded infant development, and stunted intellectual
function.
About Startech -- an Environment and Energy Company
Startech Environmental is an environment and energy
industry company engaged in the production and sale of its
innovative, proprietary plasma processing equipment known
as the Plasma Converter System(TM).
The Plasma Converter System safely and economically
destroys wastes, no matter how hazardous or lethal, and
turns them into useful and valuable products. In doing so,
the System protects the environment and helps to improve the
public health and safety. The System achieves closed-loop
elemental recycling to safely and irreversibly destroy
Municipal Solid Waste, organics and inorganics, solids,
liquids and gases, hazardous and non-hazardous waste,
industrial by-products and also items such as
"e-waste," medical waste, chemical industry waste
and other specialty wastes while converting many of them
into useful commodity products that can include metals and
a synthesis-gas called Plasma Converted Gas (PCG)(TM).
Among the many commercial uses for PCG, it can, for
example, be used to produce "green power," and
Alternative Fuels such as ethanol and other alcohol fuels,
synthetic diesel fuels and also hydrogen for use and for
sale.
The Startech Plasma Converter is essentially a
manufacturing system producing commodity products from
feedstocks that were previously regarded as wastes.
Startech regards all wastes, hazardous and non-hazardous,
as valuable renewable resources.
For further information, please visit
http://www.startech.net or contact Steve Landa at (888)
807-9443, (203) 762-2499 EXT 7 or sales@startech.net
Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements,
including statements regarding the Company's plans and
expectations regarding the development and
commercialization of its Plasma Converter(TM) technology.
All forward-looking statements are subject to risk and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those projected. Factors that could cause
such a difference include, without limitation, failure of
the customer to obtain appropriate financing for the
project, general risks associated with product development,
manufacturing, rapid technological change and competition as
well as other risks set forth in the Company's filings with
the Securities and Exchange Commission. The
forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as
of the date of this press release. The Company expressly
disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly
any updates or revisions to any such statement to reflect
any change in the Company's expectations or any change in
events, conditions or circumstances on which any such
statement is based.
For more information, please contact:
Joseph F. Longo
President, Startech Environmental Corp.
Tel: +1-203-762-2499
SOURCE Startech Environmental Corporation
2007'02.11.Sun
Xinhua Far East Upgrades the Issuer Credit Rating of China Aviation Oil (Singapore) to A- from BBB+, the Rating Outlook Remains Stable
November 02, 2006
HONG KONG, Nov. 2 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Xinhua Far
East China Ratings (`Xinhua Far East") today upgraded
the issuer credit rating of China Aviation Oil (Singapore)
Corporation Ltd ("CAO" or "the
Company", SGX China Avi Oil) from BBB+ to A-. Its
rating outlook remains stable.
The upgrade was prompted by success of the Company's
restructuring plan, effective from March 27, 2006, which
resulted in improved operating performances and a stronger
balance sheet. In light of the Company's monopoly in its
core business areas, ongoing support from shareholders and
improving risk management controls, CAO should continue to
benefit from booming growth in the aviation oil sector,
which should help maintain its credit profile.
Under the restructuring plan, China Aviation Oil
Holding Company ("CAOHC"), BP Investment Asia
limited ("BP") and Aranda Investments Pte Ltd
("Aranda"), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary
of Temasek Holdings (Private) Limited, took 50.88%, 20% and
4.65% stakes respectively in the Company. Apart from the
support already provided by CAOHC, Xinhua Far East believes
that the introduction of BP and Aranda as shareholders
should further strengthen CAO's management capability,
especially in respect to its jet fuel procurement business
and oil products business.
Based on an assessment of actual and contracted sales,
CAO's total tender volume for 2006 is forecast to be 4.6
million metric tonnes ("MT"), which would
represent a 51% increase from the 3.04 million metric
tonnes recorded for the same period of 2005. A total of
approximately 1.14 million MT of jet fuel was purchased in
2Q 2006 and 2.06 million MT in 1H 2006, an increase of 83%
and 69% respectively, compared to the same period in 2005.
It should be noted that in June 2006 the Company
returned to trading on a principal basis, instead of on an
agency basis. This not only indicates normalization of the
Company's business model, but also allows it to enjoy
greater flexibility and, probably, a higher profit margin
in its jet fuel procurement business moving forward.
Xinhua Far East forecasts that the recurrent cash flow
contribution from Shanghai Pudong International Aviation
Fuel Supply Company Ltd ("SPIA"), 33% of which is
held by the Company, should be relatively stable in the
coming years. While ongoing reform to China's jet fuel
pricing mechanism will likely place stresses on its profit
margin, soaring aircraft movement volumes at Shanghai
Pudong Airport, the only international airport in Shanghai,
should more than offset any negative effect on overall
earnings.
Indeed, SPIA contributed investment income of S$8.4
million in 2Q 2006 and S$17.9 million in 1H 2006 compared
with S$8.3 million in 2Q 2005 and S$17.5 million in 1H
2005. Given SPIA has no significant forecast capital
expenditure nor acquisition plans, Xinhua Far East believes
that it will continue to maintain a high dividend payout
ratio, allowing CAO to enjoy a stable cash dividends from
SPIA.
In summary, the sound operations of the restructured
CAO will continue to be bolstered by the favorable market
environment, which will allow CAO to progressively reduce
its debt burden and enhance its debt service capabilities
over the next couple of years.
Even so, Xinhua Far East notes that CAO has a heavy
reliance on its parent company, and faces certain
uncertainties in prices and market reform in the PRC's
aviation sector, factors which constrain CAO from obtaining
a higher rating at this time.
CAO mainly engages in the business of the procurement
of jet fuel and investment holdings. It has a 33% stake in
Shanghai Pudong International Aviation Oil Supply Company
Ltd and currently has a monopoly on the import of jet fuel
into mainland China. In 2004, CAO incurred significant
losses of S$864.8 million, due to a net loss on options
trading.
For the rating report summary, please visit
http://www.xinhuafinance.com/creditrating .
About Xinhua Far East China Ratings
Xinhua Far East China Ratings (Xinhua Far East) is a
pioneering venture in China that aims to rank credit risks
among corporations in China. It is a strategic alliance
between Xinhua Finance (TSE Mothers: 9399), and Shanghai
Far East Credit Rating Co., Ltd. Shanghai Far East became a
Xinhua Finance partner company in 2003 and the first China
member of The Association of Credit Rating Agencies in Asia
in December 2003.
Capitalizing on the synergy between Xinhua Finance and
Shanghai Far East, Xinhua Far East's rating methodology and
process blend unique local market knowledge with
international rating standards. Xinhua Far East is
committed to provide investors with independent, objective,
timely and forward-looking credit opinions on Chinese
companies. It aims to help investors differentiate the
credit risks among the corporations in China, thereby,
cultivating their awareness and promoting information
disclosures and transparency in China market.
For more information, see
http://www.xfn.com/creditrating .
About Xinhua Finance Limited
Xinhua Finance Limited is China's unchallenged leader
in financial information and media, and is listed on the
Mothers board of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (symbol: 9399)
(OTC ADRs: XHFNY). Bridging China's financial markets and
the world, Xinhua Finance serves financial institutions,
corporations and re-distributors through four focused and
complementary service lines: Indices, Ratings, Financial
News and Investor Relations. Founded in November 1999, the
Company is headquartered in Shanghai with 20 news bureaus
and offices in 19 locations across Asia, Australia, North
America and Europe.
For more information, please visit
http://www.xinhuafinance.com .
About Shanghai Far East Credit Rating Co., Ltd
Shanghai Far East Credit Rating Co., Ltd. is the first
and leading professional credit rating company with
comprehensive business coverage in China. It is an
independent agency established by the Shanghai Academy of
Social Sciences with the mission to develop internationally
accepted standards for capital market in China. The company
is a pioneer in conducting bond-rating business in China.
For years, it has been authorized by the Shanghai branch of
the PBOC to undertake loan certificate credit rating.
Since establishment, it has rated over 1,000 corporate
long-term bonds and commercial papers, based on the
principles of objectivity, fairness and independence. The
company has also maintained over 50% market share in the
loan certificate-rating sector in Shanghai for three
consecutive years. With its strong local presence and
knowledge, it provides investors with unique and the most
insightful credit opinion.
For more information, see http://www.fareast-cr.com .
For more information, please contact:
Hong Kong
Joy Tsang
Corporate & Investor Communications Director
Xinhua Finance
Tel: +852-3196-3983
+86-21-6113-5999
+852-9486-4364
Email: joy.tsang@xinhuafinance.com
US
Ms. Ishviene Arora
Taylor Rafferty (IR/PR Contact in US)
Tel: +1-212-889-4350
Email: ishviene.arora@taylor-rafferty.com
SOURCE Xinhua Far East China Ratings
2007'02.11.Sun
Brazil Moves Aggressively With HD Radio(TM) Rollout
November 02, 2006
Brazilian Broadcasters Form Alliance to Promote HD Radio Broadcasting
COLUMBIA, Md., Nov. 2 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- iBiquity
Digital Corporation, the developer and licenser of digital
HD Radio technology, today announced that Brazilian
broadcasters have formed the "Brazilian Alliance for
Digital Radio" to support the deployment of HD Radio
technology. The announcement is the latest development in
the country's rapid adoption of the HD Radio system. There
are 16 radio stations in Brazil broadcasting with HD Radio
technology to a coverage area of 30 million people.
The Brazilian Alliance for Digital Radio is composed of
the nation's major broadcast groups including the Brazilian
Association of Radio and Television Broadcasters (ABERT)
and the Association of Broadcasters of Sao Paulo (AESP).
"With close to 2,500 affiliated radio stations
already supporting the technology, we felt the need to
establish an alliance for broadcasters to work collectively
on promoting HD Radio," said Acacio Costa, Coordinator
of the Brazilian Alliance for Digital Radio. "We are
also working closely with receiver manufacturers to support
their product development and entry into the market."
"iBiquity is working with broadcasters and
equipment manufacturers to ensure the successful rollout of
HD Radio in Brazil," said Robert Struble, President and
CEO of iBiquity Digital. "As the largest country in
South America and a worldwide force in radio and
television, Brazil has earned a reputation as a global
leader in broadcasting. We believe Brazil's adoption of HD
Radio technology will send a powerful message about the many
benefits of this system -- both for broadcasters and
listeners -- and inspire other countries to move forward
with the adoption of the technology."
Beyond Brazil and the United States, countries
deploying or testing HD Radio technology now include:
Australia, Canada, France, Indonesia, Mexico, New Zealand,
Philippines, Poland, Switzerland, Thailand and Ukraine.
About iBiquity Digital
iBiquity Digital Corporation is the developer of the HD
Radio(TM) system, which is powering the AM/FM digital radio
revolution. This transformational technology allows AM and
FM stations to broadcast digital signals in tandem with
their analog signals, providing broadcasters with a
platform to offer multiple channels of programming on the
same frequency (multicasting); crystal-clear sound;
services like real-time weather and traffic; and scrolling
text. Over 1,000 U.S. HD Radio stations are on the air,
available to 90% of Americans, with more than 400 offering
multicast channels.
For more information, please contact:
Vicki Stearn
iBiquity Digital
Tel: +1-410-872-1565
Email: stearn@ibiquity.com
SOURCE iBiquity Digital Corporation
2007'02.11.Sun
Future of Sexual and Reproductive Health at Tipping Point According to Global Study
November 02, 2006
GENEVA, Nov. 2 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- The first-ever
global study of sexual and reproductive health -- to be
published in the medical journal The Lancet starting this
week -- shows a picture of declining financial support,
increased political interference and an overall reluctance
to tackle threats to sexual and reproductive health.
(Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040610/CNTH001LOGO )
The evaluation, coordinated by the World Health
Organization (WHO), shows that the level of disability and
premature death due to sexual and reproductive health is
huge and increasing. Unsafe sex is the second most
important cause of illness and death in developing
countries and ninth in developed countries.
The analysis reveals a picture of growing unmet needs
and neglect. More than half a million women die as a
result of complications in pregnancy and childbirth every
year. Access to contraception has increased worldwide but
there are still an estimated 120 million couples who do not
get the contraceptives they would like or need. An
estimated 80 million women have unintended or unwanted
pregnancies each year. 45 million end in abortion. WHO
figures quoted in the survey show that there are 19 million
unsafe abortions carried out each year, resulting in around
68 000 deaths and millions of injuries and permanent
disabilities.
"These statistics represent an appalling catalogue
of human tragedy," says Joy Phumaphi, WHO Assistant
Director-General for Family and Community Health. "Far
from making progress we seem to have been going backwards
since the notion of reproductive health was born in Cairo
in 1994. The issue is dropping down the international
agenda and governments seem to be reluctant to tackle this
most fundamental threat to health and well-being."
Several examples of this decline are quoted in the
study. Between 1995 and 2003, donor support for family
planning fell from $ 560 million to $ 460 million.
According to the survey, family planning services in Africa
need an extra US $ 70 million just to achieve the mid range
of fertility projections recommended by the United Nations.
Additionally, funding for contraceptive development has
declined compared to microbicide research for HIV/AIDS.
As well as surveying the statistical evidence on the
increase in sexual and reproductive ill-health, the series
highlights the importance of understanding sexual
behaviour.
The survey of data from 59 countries shows that
contrary to common belief, there is no universal trend to
earlier first sexual intercourse. However, later marriages
mean that there are more opportunities for premarital sex,
which is resulting in high rates of unintended pregnancy,
unsafe abortions and sexually transmitted infections among
the young.
According to Dr Paul Van Look, Director of Reproductive
Health and Research at WHO, "Sexual behaviours and
norms vary enormously around the world and unfortunately
many people, including politicians and even health
professionals, are uncomfortable dealing with such matters.
This survey sounds an urgent alarm that if we do not
address sexual and reproductive health openly and directly
the toll of death and disability will remain with us for
many years to come."
Given the diversity of sexual and reproductive
behaviours revealed by the study, the authors call for a
mix of prevention strategies and caution against quick
fixes and a "one size fits all" approach. They
call for greater efforts to tackle the links between sexual
and reproductive ill-health and poverty, gender inequalities
and negative social attitudes.
The Lancet Series on Sexual and Reproductive Health
will be published in the coming weeks. The series will
focus on issues such as adopting a public health approach
to sexual and reproductive behaviours to reduce death and
disability from unsafe sex, the impact of unsafe abortions,
and the need to prioritize sexual and reproductive health,
family planning and contraception to achieve the Millennium
Development Goals.
For further information, please contact:
Christopher Powell,
Communications Officer
Tel: +41-22-791-2888
Mobile: +41-79-217-3425
Email: powellc@who.int
All press releases, fact sheets and other WHO media
material may be found at http://www.who.int .
SOURCE World Health Organization
2007'02.11.Sun
Subaye.com Generated 10,000 Enterprise Video Users in October, Each User Will Pay a Monthly Fee of $60 Starting November 2006
November 02, 2006
HONG KONG, Nov. 2 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Telecom
Communications, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: TCOM), the Total
Solutions Provider, announced today that its subsidiary,
Subaye.com corporate video sharing channel launched in
October, has generated more than 10,000 enterprise video
users to uploads, storage, sharing and publishing 20 day
period. It is currently averaging over 500 new users each
day.
"The Subaye.com enterprise video service revenue
generating monthly fee of $60 for each business user starts
on November 1. We believe this new service offering will
add one more substantial revenue stream for us, forecasted
to be 100,000 users in 2007," said Y.F. Su, Vice
President of TCOM.
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 ), 3G Dynasty Inc. (
http://www.skyestar.com ) and Guangzhou TCOM Computer
Technology Limited.
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: +852-782-0983
Email: pr@tcom8266.com
SOURCE Telecom Communications, Inc.
2007'02.11.Sun
The9 Limited to Report Third Quarter 2006 Unaudited Financial Results on November 15, 2006
November 02, 2006
SHANGHAI, China, Nov. 1 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- The9 Limited (Nasdaq: NCTY), a leading online game operator in China, announced today that it will host a conference call and webcast on Wednesday, November 15, 2006 at 8:00 PM, U.S. Eastern Time (corresponding to Thursday, November 16, 2006 at 9:00 AM, Beijing Time), to discuss The9's third quarter 2006 unaudited financial results, which will be released shortly after the close of the U.S. market on the same day. The press release will also be made available on The9's Investor Relations section of its website located at http://www.corp.the9.com . Conference call details: Investors, analysts and other interested parties will be able to access the live conference by calling +1-617-786-2903, password "77700488." In the U.S., members of the financial community may also participate in the call by dialing toll-free +1-800-299-9086, password "77700488". A replay of the call will be available through November 22, 2006. The dial-in details for the replay: U.S. toll free number +1-888-286-8010, International dial-in number +1-617-801-6888; Password "78251888". Webcast details: The9 Limited will also provide a live webcast of the earnings call. Participants in the webcast should log onto the Company's web site http://www.corp.the9.com 15 minutes prior to the call, then click on the icon for "The9 Limited Q3 2006 Earnings Conference Call" and follow the instructions. About The9 Limited The9 Limited is a leading online game operator in China. The9's business is primarily focused on operating and developing MMORPGs for the Chinese online game players market. The9 directly or through affiliates operates licensed MMORPGs, consisting of Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft(R), MU(R) and Mystina Online(R) and its first proprietary MMORGP, "Joyful Journey West", in China. It has also obtained exclusive licenses to operate additional MMORPGs in China, including Granado Espada(R), Soul of The Ultimate Nation(R), Guild Wars(R), and Hellgate: London(R). In addition, The9 is also working on the development of a 3D fantasy MMORPG game, "Fantasy Melody Online". For more information, please contact Ms. Dahlia Wei Senior Manager, Investor Relations The9 Limited Tel: +86-21-5172-9990 Email: IR@corp.the9.com Website: http://www.corp.the9.com SOURCE The9 Limited
2007'02.11.Sun
Hedge Funds Increase Use of Unit Trusts
October 31, 2006
Favorite Vehicle of Japanese Investors Expands to New Markets, Says Walkers
GEORGE TOWN, Grand Cayman, Oct. 31 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/
-- Walkers, the global offshore law firm of choice for
investment managers, financial organizations, and
international law firms, said today that hedge fund
managers are increasing their use of unit trusts in
structuring hedge funds. While these vehicles have been
favoured by Japanese investors for years, fund managers in
other markets are now incorporating them into new funds to
attract Asian investors.
"As the number of hedge funds continues to break
records, fund managers are looking for innovative ways to
structure funds, and unit trusts are becoming an
increasingly popular option," Ingrid Pierce, head of
Walkers' Commercial Trusts Group, said. "We are
seeing more applications for hedge funds -- from use by
pension funds to convergence with private equity and mutual
funds. The unit trust structure is extremely flexible and
can be tailored to suit the client's demands. The overall
increase in the use of unit trusts is indicative of the
maturity of the hedge fund market, which now has a much
broader investor base as Japanese investors becoming
increasingly active in global markets. Unit trusts are a
great vehicle to encourage these investors."
According to a recent survey by the Daiwa Institute of
Research, almost two-thirds of Japanese pension funds are
investing in hedge funds. Japan saw an almost 13 percent
jump in the number of pension funds using alternative asset
managers over the last year. The Daiwa report stated that
Japanese pension fund managers liked the diversification
that hedge funds allowed in their investment portfolios.
Given the appeal of the unit trust for Japanese investors,
the use of these trusts in fund structures signals further
growth in this area. According to analysts, Japanese
investors have about $USD 50billion in hedge fund assets.
"While we continue to see our Japanese clients
using unit trusts, we are also seeing more complex
structures. We fully expect this trend to continue,"
Carol Hall, a partner in Walkers' Hong Kong office, said.
"Arrangements such as the 'master feeder' structure,
continue to be popular and are a flexible means of adding
on to existing structures to accommodate other investor
groups. With these multi-level funds, it's critical that
investors and trustees are working with attorneys who
understand the issues and ramifications of these types of
structures."
Compared to the numbers in the Cayman Islands, there
are only a small group of administrators in Asia that are
prepared to act as trustee in a unit trust structure
because of the attendant fiduciary obligations. In recent
years there have been a number of high profile hedge fund
collapses which have highlighted the concern for service
providers who provide trustee services, said Walkers.
"We predict that we will see more changes being
requested to unit trust structures to address the concerns
of trustees in particular. It remains to be seen how the
courts will interpret the role of the manager who is party
to a bilateral trust deed under which it assumes
obligations that traditionally were assumed by a trustee.
However, it is clear that the safeguards being sought by
trustees and their affiliated administrators are a
commercial fact of doing business using a unit trust
structure in Asia," said Ms. Hall.
About Walkers and Walkers SPV
Based in the Cayman Islands with offices in the British
Virgin Islands, Dubai, Hong Kong, Jersey, and London,
Walkers offers high-level skills across the legal spectrum.
Walkers was named by HedgeWorld Limited as the top law firm
for hedge funds by total assets of funds and assets of
non-U.S. funds, as well as the 2006 Who's Who Legal Law
Firm of the Year: Cayman Islands, the PLC Which Lawyer?
Yearbook 2006 Leading Cayman Islands Law Firm, The Lawyer's
2006 Offshore Law Firm of the Year, and one of two firms
honored as "Offshore Legal Team of the Year" by
the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) in
2006.
Walkers acts for a wide range of clients including
major financial institutions, investment banks, leading law
and accounting firms, major corporations of all kinds,
partnerships, trust companies and other fiduciaries
representing almost every country in the world. The firm's
aim is to provide clear, concise and practical advice based
on an in-depth knowledge of the legal, regulatory and
commercial environment in the Cayman Islands, the BVI, and
Jersey. Walkers is experienced in all types of
international and cross-border transactions and welcomes a
close working relationship with clients and other
professional advisers.
Walkers SPV Limited is a licensed trust company and
mutual fund administrator, wholly-owned by Walkers, with a
branch office in Tokyo. It provides experienced and expert
management and administration of Special Purpose Vehicles
(SPVs), Directorship and Trustee services to
Cayman-domiciled investment funds, as well as registered
office and secretarial services for many companies and
partnerships of all types.
For more information on Walkers or Walkers SPV, visit
us on the Web at http://www.walkersglobal.com or contact us
by e-mail at info@walkersglobal.com. To contact Walkers by
phone, call our Cayman Islands office at +345-949-0100 or
our Hong Kong office at +852 2284 4566.
For more information, please contact:
Melissa Maslar Arnoff
Levick Strategic Communications
Tel: +1-202-973-1336
Mobile: +1-202-276-0070
Email: marnoff@levick.com
SOURCE Walkers
2007'02.11.Sun
Chinese Consumer Electronics Manufacturer Malata Names Tele Atlas Preferred Digital Map Provider
October 31, 2006
LAS VEGAS, Oct. 31 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- SEMA Show
2006 -- Tele Atlas (FSE: TA6, EUNV: TA), a leading global
provider of digital maps and dynamic content for navigation
and location based solutions, announced today at the SEMA
Show that it has been selected by Malata to provide the
digital map data and dynamic content for the company's PG
series of personal navigation devices (PND) and PDG series
of portable DVD PNDs.
Malata manufactures electronics products for consumers
in Asia, Europe and the U.S. Its expanding personal
navigation products line is sold in major European and U.S.
retail outlets. With the addition of highly accurate and
content-rich Tele Atlas maps, Malata expects its devices to
gain significant market share in 2007.
"Tele Atlas' strong position in the global
personal navigation market and its renowned retail channel
support helped secure its position as Malata's preferred
digital map provider," said Sean (ShaoCheng) Wong,
General Manager of Malata. "We are excited to grow
this part of our business, and expect the strong
combination of the best data and the best priced devices
will win with consumers."
Tele Atlas Senior Vice President of Asia Pacific
Business Development Ad Bastiaansen said that Malata's
reputation for building high quality devices and its
attractive market positioning will help expand the personal
navigation market globally. "Our agreement also
complements our recent strategic moves in the region. China
is a key market for Tele Atlas. Working with Malata helps us
secure a strong foothold in the country and strengthens our
position as the leading digital map data company in
Asia."
About Tele Atlas
Tele Atlas delivers the digital maps and dynamic
content that power the world's most essential navigation
and location based services. The information is the
foundation for a wide range of personal and in-car
navigation systems, mobile and Internet map applications
that help GPS system users find the people, places,
products and services they need, wherever they are. Tele
Atlas also works with business partners that deliver
critical applications for emergency, business fleet and
infrastructure services. Founded in 1984, the company
employs approximately 2,300 full-time staff and contract
cartographers at offices in 20 countries around the world
and uses a sophisticated network of professional drivers,
mobile mapping vans and more than 50,000 data sources to
regularly update its maps. Tele Atlas is listed on the
Frankfurt Stock Exchange (TA6) and on Euronext Amsterdam
(TA). For more information, visit http://www.teleatlas.com
.
About Wanlida Group (Malata)
Wanlida Group Co., Ltd, headquartered in Xiamen, China,
was established in 1984 and is focused on researching,
developing and marketing digital audio and video products.
The company has nearly 10,000 employees, has been named one
of the "Electronic One Hundred" enterprises in
China and holds ISO 9001 and ISO 14000 certification. The
company's Malata division employs more than 1,000 people in
its research and development teams in Xiamen and Shenzhen.
Malata's personal navigation devices (PNDs) and portable
DVD PNDs are exported to more than 30 countries.
For more information, please contact:
Erin Delaney
Tele Atlas
Tel: +1-617-570-6352
Email: erin.delaney@teleatlas.com
SOURCE Tele Atlas
2007'02.11.Sun
Thelen Reid & Priest LLP and Brown Raysman Millstein Felder & Steiner LLP to Merge
October 31, 2006
SAN FRANCISCO AND NEW YORK, Oct. 31 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/
-- Thelen Reid & Priest LLP, a national leader in
construction, energy, and project finance, and Brown
Raysman Millstein Felder & Steiner LLP, a pioneer in
technology law and a firm with one of the country's premier
real estate finance practices, have agreed to merge, forming
a firm with more than 615 lawyers. The name of the combined
firm will be Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner LLP,
and the merger will take effect December 1, 2006.
The merger will combine Thelen Reid's unparalleled
reputation in such traditional areas as construction,
energy, and litigation with Brown Raysman's nationally
recognized practices in technology, outsourcing,
intellectual property, e-commerce, media, and
communications. The merger will also provide clients with
access to a broad base of integrated services, including
the combination of Thelen Reid's leading finance practices
in the areas of energy, infrastructure, and project
finance, together with Brown Raysman's real estate finance
practice, which closed $25 billion in loans in the past
several years for leading Wall Street financial
institutions, money center banks, and hedge funds.
The combined firm will rank in the top 50 on the Am Law
100 and have a national footprint, with offices in major
markets of the United States. The firm will have a total
of eight offices -- seven in the United States and a
recently opened office in Shanghai -- and a well-balanced
national platform with 242 attorneys in California and 371
lawyers on the East Coast, including 255 in New York.
The management structure of the new firm will include
an Office of the Chair. Stephen V. O'Neal and Julian S.
Millstein will serve as Co-Chairs, and Thomas E. Hill will
become Managing Partner of Operations.
"I can't imagine a better fit," said Thelen
Reid Chairman Stephen V. O'Neal. "While Brown Raysman
has an excellent reputation as a leading technology,
intellectual property, media and communications firm, what
is less known is that Brown Raysman also has one of the
premier real estate finance practices in the country, which
complements our strengths in myriad ways."
Brown Raysman's Julian S. Millstein, a founder of the
firm, said joining with Thelen Reid will create a new firm
that is well-positioned for further expansion. "This
combination gives us the presence we have wanted on the
West Coast and in Asia for our technology, media, and IP
practices, and the platform we need to service and grow our
real estate finance practice," Millstein said.
About Thelen Reid
From its beginnings in San Francisco more than 80 years
ago, Thelen Reid & Priest has grown to national
prominence as an Am Law 100 firm with profits per partner
in 2005 of $850,000. Since the firm's founding, it has
served a distinguished roster of clients, including many
Fortune 500 companies, leading privately owned enterprises,
public institutions, and partnerships. The firm's domestic
and international clients are from a wide array of
industries, including aerospace, banking, energy,
construction, e-commerce, financial services, healthcare,
insurance, manufacturing, media, mining, retailing,
software, technology, and transportation.
Thelen Reid is a recognized leader in the construction,
infrastructure, and energy industries and has been rated as
a leading project finance law firm.
About Brown Raysman
Founded in 1979, Brown Raysman Millstein Felder &
Steiner LLP has built on its international reputation as a
leader in the area of technology and intellectual property
law to become a full-service law firm. Today, the focus of
the firm extends from technology, media, outsourcing, and
intellectual property law to real estate finance, leasing
and construction, and corporate transactional work, as well
as securities, private equity, mergers and acquisitions,
commercial and IP litigation, communications, bankruptcy,
and employment law.
For more information, please contact:
Kevin Livingston
National Manager of Public Relations
Thelen Reid & Priest LLP
Tel: +1-415-369-7224
Email: klivingston@thelenreid.com
SOURCE Thelen Reid & Priest
2007'02.11.Sun
Xinhua FTSE Index will Continue to Calculate and License Indices
October 31, 2006
Restriction of Information not in Line With Prime Minister Wen Jiabao's statement "Information in the Areas of Commerce, Finance and the Economy Will Flow Freely Without any Restrictions"
SHANGHAI, China, HONG KONG and LONDON, Oct. 31
/Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -¨C Xinhua FTSE Index (XFI), the
leading China index provider, announced that the company
has decided to appeal the case to a higher court following
the court ruling in Shanghai received today and reiterated
that the company will continue to calculate its suite of
indexes for the domestic and international investment
community regardless of the expiry of the contract with SSE
InfoNet.
Fredy Bush, Co-chairman of XFI, said, "We have
other contractual arrangements in place which allow us to
calculate indices in China. In addition, obviously, index
providers such as MSCI, S&P/CITIC, Dow Jones do not
need a contract in China to calculate China equity indices
and license investment products. We believe we should be
treated in the same way as these index providers."
"Despite this ruling, XFI's business operation
will not be affected in any way. XFI will move to appeal
the case as we maintain our stance that there had been no
violation of our contract with SSE InfoNet. We are
disappointed at the ruling," added Bush. "We own
our indices and have the right to license others to develop
derivatives. XFI regrets that its contract with SSE Infonet
will not be renewed, and that strenuous efforts on its part
to settle the ongoing court action have not been
successful."
XFI receive the stock data necessary to calculate the
China equity indices from a 10-year agreement signed
between Shanghai Securities News, a wholly owned subsidiary
of Xinhua News Agency and Xinhua Financial Network (a wholly
owned subsidiary of Xinhua Finance Limited), the partner
company of FTSE in the joint venture Xinhua FTSE Index. The
agreement was signed in 2001 in Hong Kong and is governed by
HK law.
The overall climate in China is moving toward one of
openness and transparency. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao,
speaking at a conference in London in September 2006
reinforced his goal that the Chinese government will ensure
foreign media and information providers enjoy reporting
freedom and rights. "Information in the areas of
commerce, finance and the economy will flow freely without
any restrictions" he confirmed.
Bush said, "China accession to WTO ensures the
continuous opening of China's market and fair competition
here. It is of great significance to China being part of
the global economy. XFI is merely seeking the right to
compete on a level playing field with other organisations
and to continue to offer index products to the
market."
Since 2001, XFI has operated within China and
internationally, to develop highly successful indexes which
meet the needs of investors and have contributed to the
ongoing development of Chinese equity markets. It remains
committed to continue to playing a part in the healthy
development of China's markets.
More information about Xinhua FTSE Index Ltd and its
product suite is available at http://www.xinhuaftse.com or
from press offices below.
About Xinhua FTSE Index
Established in late 2000, Xinhua FTSE Index (XFI), a
joint venture between Xinhua Finance Limited and FTSE, came
into being to facilitate the creation of real-time indices
for the Chinese market. The indices can be used as a basis
for the trading of derivatives, index-tracking funds,
Exchange Traded Funds and as performance benchmarks. The
combination of FTSE's expertise in international indexing
with Xinhua Finance's strong presence and capabilities in
China creates a level of expertise in the Chinese market
that is unprecedented. Providing the combined coverage for
the Shanghai and Shenzhen exchanges, all of the Xinhua FTSE
indices are designed according to internationally proven
index methodology to ensure products are transparent, clear
and consistent. For daily data and further information,
please visit http://www.xinhuaftse.com .
About FTSE Group
FTSE Group is a world-leader in the creation and
management of indices. With offices in London, Frankfurt,
Hong Kong, Madrid, Paris, New York, San Francisco, and
Tokyo, FTSE Group services clients in 77 countries
worldwide. It calculates and manages the FTSE Global
Equity Index series, which includes world-recognised
indices ranging from the FTSE All-World Index, the
FTSE4Good series and the FTSEurofirst Index series, as well
as domestic indices such as the prestigious FTSE 100. The
company has collaborative arrangements with the Athens,
AMEX, Cyprus, Euronext, Johannesburg London, Madrid, NASDAQ
and Taiwan exchanges, as well as Nomura Securities, Hang
Seng and Xinhua Finance of China, FTSE recently signed an
agreement with Dow Jones Indexes to develop a single sector
classification system for global investors.
FTSE indices are used extensively by investors
world-wide for investment analysis, performance
measurement, asset allocation, portfolio hedging and for
creating a wide range of index tracking funds. Independent
committees of senior fund managers, derivatives experts,
actuaries and other experienced practitioners review all
changes to the indices to ensure that they are made
objectively and without bias. Real-time FTSE indices are
calculated on systems managed by Reuters. Prices and FX
rates used are supplied by Reuters.
About Xinhua Finance Limited
Xinhua Finance Limited is China's unchallenged leader
in financial information and media, and is listed on the
Mothers board of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (symbol: 9399)
(OTC ADRs: XHFNY). Bridging China's financial markets and
the world, Xinhua Finance serves financial institutions,
corporations and re-distributors through four focused and
complementary service lines: Indices, Ratings, Financial
News and Investor Relations. Founded in November 1999, the
Company is headquartered in Shanghai with 20 news bureaus
and offices in 19 locations across Asia, Australia, North
America and Europe. For more information, please visit
http://www.xinhuafinance.com .
For more information, please contact:
Hong Kong/Shanghai
Joy Tsang
Xinhua Finance
Tel: +852-3196-3983
+86-21-6113-5999
+852-9486-4364
Email: joy.tsang@xinhuafinance.com
Beijing
Catherine Song
Xinhua FTSE Beijing office
Tel: +86-10-5864-5275
Email: catherine.song@xinhuafinance.com
London
Sandra Steel
FTSE Group
Tel: +44-207-866-1821
Email: sandra.steel@ftse.com
SOURCE Xinhua FTSE Index
2007'02.11.Sun
SITA Survey Finds Asia Pacific's Airlines Embracing Self-Service Air Transportation
October 31, 2006
SINGAPORE, Oct. 31 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- SITA's 8th
Annual Airline IT Trends Survey carried out in conjunction
with Airline Business magazine, indicates that Asia
Pacific's airlines are embracing self-service air
transportation, shifting to a traveler-centric model to
facilitate passenger movement.
The survey shows just how rapidly airlines in the
region are deploying self-service technology and how
quickly passengers are adopting it. There has been growth
in Asia Pacific airlines selling e-tickets, from 22% in the
2005 Airline IT Trends Survey, to 50% of this year's
respondents. This is expected to rise to 76% by 2007 and
94% (compared to the global figure of 90%) by 2008. Just 4%
of airlines in the region issue no e-tickets compared to 9%
last year.
Bar coded boarding passes are also on the rise with 60%
of airlines expecting to issue them by the end of this year
and that number will rise to a leading 88% (compared to
global 79%) by the end of 2007. This will facilitate
self-service check-in, whether online or via kiosk. These
two initiatives alone are saving the industry billions of
dollars.
Web check-in has now been implemented by 50% of
airlines and this will increase to 77% by the end of 2007,
ahead of the 72% globally.
By the end of 2007, the number of passengers using
check-in kiosks is expected to rise from the now 22% to
29%. The survey also found that only 28% of self-service
kiosks are common-use i.e. can be used by customers of
multiple airlines, but this is expected to rise to 41% by
the end of 2007.
Francesco Violante, SITA CEO, said, "The speed at
which the industry is moving towards a self-service
passenger model is clearly borne out by the technology
investment priorities of airlines. 80% of airlines
responding to the survey see projects with proven payback
and cost savings, such as on-line booking, bar-coded
boarding passes and self-service check-in as their highest
priority, up from 50% last year," added Violante.
This year's survey indicates that aviation will become
the world's first totally IP (Internet Protocol)-enabled
industry, putting the power of the worldwide web at the
service of the airlines and passengers.
The survey results released today reveal that 82% of
airline locations worldwide now have IP connectivity,
rising to 89% by the end of 2007 and 93% by the end of
2008. In parallel, 78% of airline systems are now
IP-enabled and will reach 83% by the end of 2007 and 87% by
the end of 2008.
Paul Coby, SITA chairman, said, "This year's
Airline IT Trends survey provides the clearest evidence yet
that the airlines will be the world's first fully
web-enabled industry. IP is the underlying communication
technology that enables many new applications, such as
online reservation systems, so it has brought a radical
change to air travel ever since SITA developed the first
internet booking engine just over ten years ago. It is also
driving the self-service business model, which is both
convenient for passengers and helps airlines keep ticket
prices down."
The survey also establishes for the first time that the
average IT headcount at Asia Pacific airlines is the highest
globally with 2.2% compared with 1.8% of the global airline
workforce. In terms of percentage of revenues spent on IT,
the region has one of the lowest at 2.1%.
58% of respondent airlines in the region have higher IT
headcount than five years ago and 54% expect to increase IT
headcount over the next three years.
The on-line booking revolution, which saves airlines
enormous amounts of money on distribution costs, continues
to gain pace in the region. 19% of tickets are currently
sold on-line (compared to 10% in 2005), leaving room for
improvement as airlines seek to eliminate commissions on
ticket sales.
Just 8% of airlines sell no tickets through web-based
channels, and call centre ticket sales are at 14% compared
to 12% in 2005. The rise in online ticket sales is an
indicator of further pressure on the traditional travel
agent.
The major issues highlighted by Asia Pacific airlines
with regard to on-line sales were the complexity of airline
pricing/fares -- 40%, and the desire not to upset
traditional channels -- 16%.
Violante also pointed to greater optimism among
airlines globally about the savings to be derived from
business to business e-commerce. "The trend for the
last few years has been a decline in expectation of savings
from B2B investments, but this has now reversed with
airlines anticipating savings in the order of 13% compared
to traditional processes, up from the 10% we recorded in
our last survey."
The survey also provides further confirmation of the
region's appetite for inflight passenger communications.
Airlines using SITA-owned OnAir onboard mobile
communications solutions include Singapore Airlines, Asiana
Airlines, EVA Air, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas Airways, bmi
and Ryanair. The percentages of airlines in the region
expecting to offer inflight communication channels by the
end of 2008 are: internet access -- 66%; email -- 62%; SMS
-- 50%; and mobile phones -- 46%.The Airline IT Trends
Survey 2006 provides a detailed snapshot of where the
airline industry stands in embracing new technology, gives
trends on where investments are being made, pointers on
future developments and challenges. It can be ordered
through http://www.flightglobal.com .
About SITA
SITA is the world's leading service provider of IT
business solutions and communications services to the air
transport industry. SITA manages complex communication
solutions for its air transport, government and GDS
customers over the world's most extensive communication
network, complemented by consultancy in the design,
deployment and integration of communication services. Its
extensive range of airline and airport applications and
services includes airport operations and integrated baggage
services, common use and desktop services, flight operations
and air-to-ground communications and end-to-end airline
distribution and fares services.
SITA has two main subsidiaries: OnAir, which is leading
the race to bring in-flight mobile telephony to the market,
and CHAMP Cargosystems, the world's only IT company solely
dedicated to air cargo. SITA also operates two joint
ventures providing services to the air transport community:
Aviareto for aircraft asset management and CertiPath for
secure electronic identity management and they sponsor the
Internet's top level domain reserved exclusively for
aviation -.aero.
SITA covers 220 countries and territories and the head
office is in Geneva, Switzerland. SITA reported aggregated
revenues of $1.554 billion (£á1.295bn) for the year 2005.
Further information can be found at
http://www.sita.aero .
For further information, please contact:
Susanna Leong
Regional Marketing Consultant
SITA
Tel: +65-6548-2872
Mobile: +65-9366-9931
Email: Susanna.Leong@sita.aero
SOURCE SITA
2007'02.11.Sun
Microsoft Cracks Down on Counterfeit Software Auctions Worldwide
October 31, 2006
Latest Enforcement Efforts Help rid Auction Sites of Dangerous Software.
REDMOND, Wash., Oct. 31 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Less
than one week after IDC released a study* sponsored by
Microsoft Corp., detailing the risks of using counterfeit
software, and six weeks after Microsoft released its own
forensic analysis of counterfeit discs, Microsoft announced
a series of criminal and civil actions taken against alleged
dealers of counterfeit software around the world. Today's
announcement marks the largest enforcement effort by
Microsoft and the first time the company has focused its
efforts worldwide to bring legal action against online
dealers. The 55 legal actions include 15 in the United
States, 10 in Germany, 10 in the Netherlands, five in
France and five in the United Kingdom, as well as
proceedings in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Korea, Mexico
and Poland.
(Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO )
The cases are against sellers who allegedly have
misused their eBay or other auction-site accounts to sell
counterfeit software to unsuspecting consumers and
businesses. Many of the defendants received warnings for
infringing behavior before the legal action, including
written cease and desist orders and/or removal of their
auctions by the online host. In each case subsequent
investigation and/or test purchases revealed copyright and
trademark infringement by the defendant seller.
Many of the allegedly infringing sellers were
identified through tips submitted from consumers through
Microsoft's Windows(R) Genuine Advantage (WGA) program. As
part of the WGA, consumers can verify whether their
Microsoft(R) software is genuine, and in the process
receive product downloads, Windows updates and other
special offers. The WGA program is designed to
differentiate the value of genuine Windows software from
non-genuine, and to educate consumers about the potential
risks associated with counterfeit software. More program
information is available at
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine .
"Counterfeit software is defective and dangerous
because counterfeiters tamper with the genuine software
code, which leaves the door open to identity theft and
other serious security breaches," said Matt Lundy, a
senior attorney at Microsoft. "It is simply not worth
putting your personal and confidential information at risk
to save a few dollars on software; it can cost much more in
the long run. For our part, Microsoft is committed to taking
the necessary legal action to protect consumers worldwide
from the dangers of counterfeit software."
Microsoft launched the Genuine Software Initiative
earlier this year, and since then has intensified its
efforts to protect consumers and channel partners from the
risks of counterfeit software through an increased focus on
education, engineering and enforcement. "Every year,
millions of consumers are victimized by unknowingly buying
counterfeit software," said Joe Peterson, corporate
vice president of the Market Expansion Platforms Group at
Microsoft. "This is a serious problem that requires a
significant commitment to help solve. We're making that
commitment as we invest in efforts to show people what to
look for and what to avoid, innovations to better protect
the software, and legal action to protect consumers when
necessary."
New Study Details Broader Effects of Software Piracy
According to the new study from IDC, acquiring and
using counterfeit product keys, pirated software, key
generators and crack tools for Windows XP and the Microsoft
Office system may increase the risk of exposure to viruses,
worms and other damaging code, including spyware, Trojan
horses and modified code. In addition, IDC's study noted
that purchasing software through online auctions often
results in the acquisition of counterfeit software
containing tampered-with code or other known
vulnerabilities. The study can be found at
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/update/wga/default.mspx
.
The IDC study comes on the heels of a forensic analysis
of counterfeit Windows XP disks conducted by Microsoft in
June 2006, which found that 34 percent of the disks could
not be installed on a computer, and another 43 percent
contained additional programs, or binary code, that are not
part of genuine Microsoft Windows. The tampered code,
according to Microsoft, could result in trouble such as
denial-of-service attacks, bypassed password protections
and application memory corruption.
John Gantz, senior vice president of IDC, said that
IDC's new study and other existing evidence should serve as
a warning to consumers. "Our research confirmed that
searching for and finding counterfeit software on the
Internet can be the cyberspace equivalent of driving a car
with defective tires," Gantz said. "It is more
important than ever for users to educate themselves about
these dangers. Our findings underscore the simple fact that
there are real costs in the form of increased risks to
security and personal data that can easily outweigh any
perceived savings from using counterfeit software."
Also reported in the study, Microsoft intervenes in
about 50,000 eBay software auctions a year that are deemed
to be infringing copyright. In tests conducted by Microsoft
of 115 copies of physical media purchased on eBay, 39
percent were found to be counterfeit, and another 12
percent contained software that was either counterfeit or
had been tampered with. Overall, the study found, the
chances of purchasing genuine, legally licensed Microsoft
software on eBay is less than 50 percent.
IDC estimates that the cost for an organization to
recover from even a single incident of malicious software
on a single workstation can run more than $1,000 (U.S.).
The cost of lost or compromised data can run into the tens
of thousands of dollars per incident for many businesses.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in
software, services and solutions that help people and
businesses realize their full potential.
* IDC, "The Risks of Obtaining and Using Pirated
Software," Oct. 23, 2006
NOTE: Microsoft and Windows are either registered
trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United
States and/or other countries.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned
herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
If you are interested in viewing additional information
on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass on Microsoft's corporate
information pages. Web links, telephone numbers and titles
were correct at time of publication, but may since have
changed. For additional assistance, journalists and
analysts may contact Microsoft's Rapid Response Team or
other appropriate contacts listed at
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/contactpr.mspx .
For more information, please contact:
Rapid Response Team of Waggener Edstrom Worldwide
Tel: +1-503-443-7070
Email: rrt@waggeneredstrom.com
SOURCE Microsoft Corp.
2007'02.11.Sun
New Survey Reveals Startling Ignorance About Europe's Number One Cancer Killer -- Lung Cancer
October 31, 2006
BASEL, Switzerland, Oct. 31 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
Seventy percent of European patients battling lung cancer
had never regarded the disease as a threat prior to
learning of their condition, according to results from a
new pan-European public and patient survey announced on the
eve of Lung Cancer Awareness Month. This ignorance about
lung cancer is also indicative of a chronic lack of
awareness about the disease. For example, forty percent of
the general public surveyed wrongly assume that breast
cancer is the most common cancer when in fact, lung cancer
is. Furthermore, not only is it the most common form of
cancer, it is the single biggest cancer killer in Europe,
claiming approximately 342,000 lives each year -- that is,
937 deaths every day.[1]
Importance of early diagnosis
Early diagnosis is crucial to improving outcomes for
lung cancer patients. It is therefore worrying that close
to half of lung cancer patients polled admitted their
diagnosis was discovered by chance during a visit to the
physician for another reason. Localized cancers (i.e.,
cancer that has not spread to any surrounding tissue)
detected at an early stage may be successfully treated
using surgery and radiation -- up to 70 percent of patients
survive for at least five years after diagnosis if treated
at this stage, with a proportion of these patients being
cured.[2]
"Lung cancer is often forgotten or simply
misunderstood," explains Dr. Jesme Fox, Medical
Director of The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation and
secretary of the Global Lung Cancer Coalition. "If
there is one thing that people need to know about lung
cancer, it's that early diagnosis saves lives. In
particular, high risk groups, such as smokers, need to take
action if they think something is wrong. Don't ignore
symptoms -- see a doctor quickly."
As symptoms often present late, the majority of lung
cancer cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage when the
cancer has already spread to other parts of the body.[2]
Fewer than five percent of advanced lung cancer patients
are still alive five years after diagnosis, and most die
within six months.[2] Of the lung cancer patients surveyed,
86 percent were being treated with chemotherapy, with 83
percent enduring debilitating side effects and a
compromised quality of life from their treatment. However,
recent treatment advances are fuelling hope amongst
patients for a better quality of life. The vast majority of
lung cancer patients surveyed expressed a desire for
treatment that would improve their general well-being, aid
their ability to continue living normal lives and enable
them to spend time with their families.
Recent advances in lung cancer treatment
"Treatment options for lung cancer patients have
come a long way in the last ten years," says Professor
Giuseppe Giaccone, Professor of Oncology and Head of the
Department of Medical Oncology at Vrije Universiteit
Medical Center, Amsterdam. "A diagnosis of lung cancer
does not have to mean the end of optimism. There are
nowadays many more treatment options available."
Although this may be the case, only 14 percent of
European lung cancer patients are benefiting from newer
treatments, despite the common belief that patients should
receive the best option in care.
Recent advances in the treatment of lung cancer have
widened therapeutic options. Two of the newest treatments
for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients are
Tarceva(R) and Avastin(R). NSCLC is the most common form of
lung cancer, accounting for approximately 80 percent of all
cases.[2] Tarceva, an oral treatment for NSCLC patients who
have failed at least one prior chemotherapy regimen, works
differently than conventional chemotherapy by specifically
targeting tumor cells. It avoids the typical side-effects
of chemotherapy. Avastin, an innovative treatment that
works by starving the tumor of the blood supply that is
critical to its growth and spread, has recently filed for
approval in the EU and was approved in combination with
chemotherapy (carboplatin plus paclitaxel) in the US for
the treatment of previously untreated patients with
advanced NSCLC[i] in October this year.
About the survey
The survey consisted of two arms: one involving the
general public and another involving lung cancer patients
only. The survey was conducted online amongst 1,250 members
of the general public and 150 lung cancer patients in
France, Spain, Italy, Germany and the UK. Respondents from
the general public were an even spread of genders and ages
(all respondents were at least 30 years old) and were
screened to ensure they were not suffering from and had
never suffered previously from lung cancer. All patients
surveyed were currently receiving treatment for their
condition.
Notes to Editors
Survey highlights
Low Awareness (results of general public survey)
-- Given the severity of lung cancer, it is surprising
to see that 70% of
Europeans are not concerned about developing lung
cancer
-- 39% of respondents know of someone who currently
suffers or has
recently suffered from lung cancer
-- Over a quarter of respondents (26%) have a family
member who has ever
suffered from lung cancer
-- 81% of respondents do not know the treatment that
their family member
received for their lung cancer
-- 40 % of Europeans believe breast cancer to be the
most prevalent form
of cancer, yet in truth lung cancer is Europe's
number one cancer
killer as well as the most common form of cancer
Low Awareness (results of patient survey)
-- 50 % of lung cancer patients live with symptoms for
up to a month
before seeking professional advice. Symptoms
include:
-- Shortness of breath and / or wheezing[3]
-- Chronic cough[3] and / or repeated bouts of
bronchitis[4]
-- Hoarseness of voice[3]
-- Coughing up blood[5]
-- Weight loss and loss of appetite with no known
reason[3]
-- Chest pain[3]
Current Treatment
-- A majority of the general public are unaware of the
severity of a lung
cancer diagnosis, with only 42% of respondents
agreeing that lung
cancer is the most deadly form of cancer. In fact,
most patients are no
longer alive within 12 months of diagnosis due to
symptoms which often
do not present themselves until the advanced stages
of the disease[2].
-- 83 % of lung cancer patients experienced adverse
side effects with
current treatments
-- Approximately 40 % of those surveyed had
reservations about receiving
chemotherapy because of the side effects associated
with it
-- 61 % of the general public believe that patients
should receive the
best available treatment
-- Patients with lung cancer are looking for a lung
cancer treatment that
extend their lives, improves their general
well-being and ability to
perform daily tasks
About Tarceva
Tarceva is a novel therapy for patients with locally
advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
after failure of at least one prior chemotherapy regimen.
It is an oral tablet taken once a day and has the potential
to treat many types of solid tumors. Tarceva has been
approved in the European Union since September 2005 and in
the US since November 2004. Tarceva works differently to
chemotherapy by specifically targeting tumor cells and
inhibiting their formation and growth. It is a small
molecule that targets the human epidermal growth factor
receptor (EGFR) pathway. The epidermal growth factor, also
known as HER1, is a key component of this signaling
pathway, which plays a key role in the formation and growth
of numerous cancers. Tarceva blocks tumor cell growth by
inhibiting the activity of a specific enzyme, tyrosine
kinase, which is part of the EGFR inside the cell. This
prevents continued cell growth. Tarceva is the only
EGFR-inhibitor to have demonstrated a survival benefit in
lung cancer. Currently most people with lung cancer are
treated with chemotherapy which can be very debilitating
due to its toxic nature. Tarceva works differently to
chemotherapy by specifically targeting tumor cells, so
avoiding the typical side-effects of chemotherapy.
About Avastin
Avastin(R) (bevacizumab) is the first monoclonal
antibody in a first-line setting to be shown to prolong the
life of patients with advanced NSCLC. Avastin targets
angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels within and
around a tumor, starving the tumor of the blood supply that
is critical to its growth and spread throughout the body.
Avastin was approved in the EU in January 2005 and in
the US in February 2004 for the first-line treatment of
patients with metastatic colorectal cancer in combination
with intravenous 5-FU-based chemotherapy. It received
another approval in the US in June 2006 as a second-line
treatment for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer in
combination with intravenous 5-FU-based chemotherapy.
Avastin received approval in the United States for the
treatment of previously untreated, non-squamous NSCLC in
October 2006, and a dossier for the approval of Avastin in
metastatic NSCLC with histology other than predominant
squamous cell was submitted to the European authorities in
August this year.
About Roche
Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of
the world's leading research-focused healthcare groups in
the fields of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. As a
supplier of innovative products and services for the early
detection, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease,
the Group contributes on a broad range of fronts to
improving people's health and quality of life. Roche is a
world leader in diagnostics, the leading supplier of
medicines for cancer and transplantation and a market
leader in virology. In 2005 sales by the Pharmaceuticals
Division totalled 27.3 billion Swiss francs, and the
Diagnostics Division posted sales of 8.2 billion Swiss
francs. Roche employs roughly 70,000 people in 150
countries and has R&D agreements and strategic
alliances with numerous partners, including majority
ownership interests in Genentech and Chugai. Additional
information about the Roche Group is available on the
Internet ( http://www.roche.com ).
Additional information
-- Lung Cancer:
http://www.roche.com/med_mbackgrlungcancer.pdf
-- Roche in Oncology:
http://www.roche.com/mboncology-e.pdf
-- Roche Health Kiosk, Cancer:
http://www.health-kiosk.ch/start_krebs
-- Avastin: http://www.avastin-info.com
-- Tarceva: http://www.tarceva.net
References:
[i] Unresectable locally advanced, recurrent or
metastatic non-squamous,
non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
1. Boyle P and Ferlay J. Cancer incidence and
mortality in Europe, 2004.
Annal Oncol:16;481-488, 2005
2. Wilking N and Jonsson B. A Pan-European comparison
regarding patient
access to cancer drugs. Karolinska Institute in
collaboration with
Stockholm School of Economics, Stockholm, Sweden,
2005
3. Stewart BW and Kleihues P. World Cancer Report.
IARC Press, Lyon,
pp.183-87, 2003
4. Al-Wadei HA, Takahasi T, Schuller HM. PKA-dependent
growth stimulation
of cells derived from human pulmonary
adenocarcinoma and small airway
epithelium by dexamethasone. European Journal of
Cancer 41(17):
2745-53. Nov, 2005
5. Hamilton W, Peters TJ, Round A, Sharp D. What are
the clinical
features of lung cancer before the diagnosis is
made? A population
based case-control study. Thorax, 2005
For more information, please contact:
Nina Schwab-Hautzinger
Roche
Tel: +41-61-688-1365
Patty Lee
Roche
Tel: +41-61-687-5273
SOURCE Roche
2007'02.11.Sun
Shire Launches New Trial for First Renal Anaemia Treatment Produced in Human Cell Lines
October 31, 2006
BASINGSTOKE, England, Oct. 31 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
Shire today announced the start of a new Phase IIIb
clinical trial to evaluate two new dosing schedules of
DYNEPO(R) (epoetin delta), the first commercial
erythropoiesis-stimulating agent produced in a human cell
line. DYNEPO is used in the treatment of anaemia in
patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD[*]). Anaemia
becomes more common and severe as a patient's kidney
function declines.(1)
Patients with anaemia have reduced haemoglobin levels.
DYNEPO has previously been shown to be as effective as
epoetin alfa in increasing and then maintaining haemoglobin
levels in the target range (10-12 g/dL) in patients with
anaemia associated with CKD when initially given three
times per week by the intravenous route.(2,3) It is also
effective when given twice per week via the subcutaneous
route.(3,4) This open-label, randomised study will
investigate the efficacy and safety profiles of different
starting doses of DYNEPO administered by subcutaneous
injection, which are at a lower frequency (once weekly and
once every two weeks) than those currently approved for
subcutaneous administration.
The study is planned to enroll over 400 patients with
anaemia and CKD, who are either not on dialysis, who
require peritoneal dialysis or who require haemodialysis,
at over 50 centres across Europe. It will include patients
suffering from kidney disease as a result of diabetes
(diabetic nephropathy).
The primary endpoints of the study are to:
-- assess whether DYNEPO administered once per week is
as effective as when administered twice per week for
patients who have not previously been treated with an
erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (this will be assessed by
measuring haemoglobin levels at Week 24).
-- assess whether DYNEPO administered once every two
weeks is as effective as when administered once per week
for patients who have been previously treated with another
erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (this will be assessed by
measuring haemoglobin levels over Weeks 16 to 24).
Dr Iain Macdougall, lead investigator of the study and
Consultant Nephrologist and Honorary Senior Lecturer from
the Renal Unit in King's College Hospital, London
commented, "If the study demonstrates the efficacy of
the different dosing schedules of DYNEPO, it will allow
future flexibility in the frequency of subcutaneous
administration of the product. An interesting secondary
endpoint of this study is to also monitor diabetic
retinopathy, the progressive damage to the eye's retina, in
those patients with anaemia, diabetes and CKD."
CKD is a progressive condition that results in end
stage renal disease (ESRD). Approximately 1.8 million
people worldwide are undergoing treatment for ESRD, of whom
approximately 77% are on dialysis.(5) In Europe, the
prevalence of ESRD is estimated at 225,000, growing at 6
per cent per annum.(6)
"This new trial demonstrates Shire's continuing
commitment to the care of people suffering from CKD and
ESRD," commented David Milton, Senior Vice President,
Renal Business Unit Leader, Shire.
ABOUT DYNEPO
Erythropoietin is normally produced in the kidneys and
stimulates the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells
by promoting the development of stem cells into mature red
blood cells. Red blood cells (erythrocytes) contain
haemoglobin and are vital for oxygen transportation around
the body. If the kidney starts to fail, natural production
of erythropoietin declines leading to lower levels of
haemoglobin (anaemia). DYNEPO is the first
erythropoiesis-stimulating agent produced by
gene-activation technology in a human cell line; all others
are produced in animal cell lines -- either Chinese Hamster
Ovary Cells or baby hamster kidney cells. Anaemic patients
with CKD require treatment with an
erythropoiesis-stimulating agent such as DYNEPO in order to
increase red blood cell production. Currently DYNEPO is
given twice weekly if administered via the subcutaneous
route, and three times per week if administered
intravenously.
Notes to Editors
SHIRE PLC
Shire's strategic goal is to become the leading
specialty pharmaceutical company that focuses on meeting
the needs of the specialist physician. Shire focuses its
business on attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD), human genetic therapies (HGT), gastrointestinal
(GI) and renal diseases. The structure is sufficiently
flexible to allow Shire to target new therapeutic areas to
the extent opportunities arise through acquisitions. Shire
believes that a carefully selected portfolio of products
with a strategically aligned and relatively small-scale
sales force will deliver strong results.
Shire's focused strategy is to develop and market
products for specialty physicians. Shire's in-licensing and
merger and acquisition efforts are focused on products in
niche markets with strong intellectual property protection
either in the US or Europe.
For further information on Shire, please visit the
Company's website: http://www.shire.com .
References
(1) Locatelli F, Alijama P, Barany P et al. Revised
European Best Practice Guidelines for the
management
of anaemia in patients with chronic renal failure.
Section 1: Anaemia evaluation. Nephrol Dial
Transplant
2004a; 19 Suppl 2: ii2-ii5.
(2) M Smyth, KJ Martin, RP Pratt. Epoetin delta
(Dynepo(R)),
erythropoietin produced by a human cell line, is
as
effective as epoetin alfa in patients with renal
anaemia, including those with diabetic
nephropathy.
Poster presented at the 42nd Annual Meeting of
the European Association for the Study of Diabetes
(EASD), 14-17 September 2006, Copenhagen-Malmoe,
Denmark-Sweden.
(3) DYNEPO Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC). 8
June
2006. Shire plc. Available at URL:
http://www.emea.eu.int/humandocs/PDFs/EPAR/dynepo/H-372-PI-en.pdf
.
(4) JTC Kwan, M Smyth, RD Pratt. Human cell line
derived
erythropoietin (epoetin delta, Dynepo(R))
administered
subcutaneously is effective in the management of
anaemia
associated with chronic kidney disease. Poster
presented
at the 42nd Annual Meeting of the European
Association
for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), 14-17 September
2006,
Copenhagen-Malmoe, Denmark-Sweden.
(5) Grassmann A, Gioberge S, et al. ESRD patients in
2004:
global overview of patient numbers, treatment
modalities
and associated trends. Nephrol Dial Transplant
2005; 20:
2587-2593.
(6) Molowa DT. First annual nephrology survey. With a
focus
on Aranesp and Renagel. J.P.Morgan Securities Inc.
Equity Research. 13 February 2002.
[*] CKD is sometimes referred to as chronic renal
failure
For more information, please contact:
Jessica Mann
Media Shire
Tel: +44-1256-894-280
Claire Woods / Marilyn Ewan
Media PR agents for DYNEPO, Resolute Communications
Tel: +44-207-357-8187
SOURCE Shire PLC
2007'02.11.Sun
The world's first Chinese-English Email Portal Chinglish.com Live
October 31, 2006
Writing in Chinese online, sending it out in English, and vice versa, bridges the language barrier between China and the West
AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands, Oct. 31 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/
-- Chinglish.com is live. It is the world's first truly
bilingual Chinese-English internet portal with specialized
language tools. Messages can be written and translated
online in Chinese or English.
Bilingual webmail
Chinglish.com is the world's first bilingual e-mail
developed to meet the market demands of increased
communication between Chinese and English speaking
communities. One of the flagship features is a web-based
Chinese Input Method Editor (IME) that provides users the
ability to write e-mail in Chinese online. With its
innovative solution, Chinglish addresses the needs of
millions of international businesspeople, foreigners
studying Chinese, Chinese students studying abroad, and
Chinese tourists travelling to the West. Previously, these
users encountered situations where computers were not
equipped with a Chinese IME or not configured properly.
Language tools
Chinglish bilingual e-mail also boasts a variety of
other language tools, most notably automated translation.
Messages can be translated in real-time from Chinese to
English and vice versa. By offering translation and
Chinese IME within a webmail application, Chinglish.com
overcomes the communication barrier separating China and
the West.
Chinese and English: the major languages of the future
Marius van Bergen, CEO of Chinglish.com explains:
"Currently 300 million Chinese people are learning
English and 30 million non-Chinese speakers are studying
Chinese. These numbers will continue to grow and
Chinglish.com sees its mission in facilitating
communication between speakers of Chinese and English. I
would even venture to say that Chinglish.com has a unifying
role to play within the Chinese community itself, because it
supports simplified Chinese, which is used in the People's
Republic of China and Singapore, and traditional Chinese,
used in Taiwan and Hong Kong. As far as we are concerned,
international organizations will only have two official
languages of work in the future: Chinese and English. Our
portal can save billions of dollars in translation and
interpretation costs."
About Chinglish
Chinglish BV is a Dutch company that was founded with
venture capital in 2004 by Marius van Bergen. Chinglish's
mission is to promote linguistic and cultural exchange
between China and the West by creating a virtual internet
community in which Chinese and English coexist and enrich
each other.
For more information, please contact:
Tang Qian
PR Officer Chinglish BV
Tel: +31-40-2300790
Email: tangqian@chinglish.com
Web: http://www.chinglish.com
SOURCE Chinglish BV
2007'02.11.Sun
JDR Smart Solutions Expanding Offshore Service Capabilities
October 31, 2006
ROTTERDAM, the Netherlands, Oct. 31 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/
-- Field Service Center is being expanded with an
international crew of multi-skilled Field Service Engineers
(FSE) who will now be available for world-wide deployment 24
hours a day/7 days a week. The increasing importance of
short-time mobilisation being demanded by our customers
spurned the necessity of this new service department
expansion which will be comprised of cross
trained/versatile field engineers. Aiding in our quest to
provide ultra-fast response time a single service phone
number, providing world-wide assistance will be provided
for ease of access from anywhere in the world.
JDR currently has two fully trained FSE's and three
more engineers have now been recruited and are undergoing
an extensive training program, which consists of several
internal courses that include: termination training,
quality control, special testing and the latest on fibre
optic technology. In parallel the engineers will be trained
in a stringent health and safety program which complies with
the latest European offshore safety and medical standards
prior to certification as an FSE.
The broad services offered by the expanded Service
Center, will range from straightforward onsite cable
testing, complete system repairs, and the assembly and
integration of umbilicals, reelers and associated
equipment.
"Large service contracts made up of multi-million
dollar cable operations tend to put enormous pressure on
all concerned to run, operate and service these
installations. As a result, JDR's FSE are trained to remain
professional in these types of stressful situations where
everyone is depending on a good outcome. It's very
important to listen to what customers have to say to come
to a viable solution together. That way both JDR and the
customer will benefit from the situation and maintain a
close relationship", says Wilco Heikoop, JDR's Senior
Field Service Engineer.
Wilco continues, "Excellent quality and reliable
service are two of the most important attributes to
distinguish yourself from others in the market. Customers
will remember you as someone they can trust and will return
to you when they have another challenge that requires a
swift solution that fits their time requirements.
In due course we will earn back our investments in this
area. But not only Service keeps JDR in the position where
we currently are; high quality products are an absolute
must in these difficult work areas as well. During
operations, customers tell me that even under the worst
circumstances the cable-systems still do their job
perfectly, and I've got many examples to back their stories
up."
Onsite repair jobs have always had the highest priority
at JDR. Any and all necessary people required for
involvement remain on call at all times. With extensive
initial and on-going training programs, JDR keeps its
engineers motivated for challenging assignments that span
the globe. And finally, the Project Manager, who is
handling the order and maintains primary contact with the
customer, acts as internal backup for the FSE's on
assignment for any needed support while he is deployed.
This new Service Mobilisation Plan involves not only
the Rotterdam facility!
JDR Cable Systems (Tianjin) Ltd.
JDR has established a subsidiary in Tianjin (Beijing
area), in order to provide Service activities, such as
termination assembly/repair and testing cable system
applications. FSE's will be trained and assigned from that
facility as well. An experienced Service Supervisor from
the Netherlands, has been transferred there on a permanent
basis to set up and run the new facility.
More information on the China facility and FSE
expansion there will follow in due course.
About JDR SMART SOLUTIONS
JDR Smart Solutions is a global player in the design
and manufacture of speciality, custom engineered, dynamic
cable solutions used in sub-sea applications. JDR boasts
more than 80 years of design expertise and manufacturing
experience. JDR's technological strength and innovation in
cable design have been applied in many work areas, such as:
military defence, seismic exploration or scientific
projects. Forward thinking is imperative in a competitive
niche market. Clients gain from the benefits of JDR's
relentless search for innovative technologies creating
imaginative solutions for any kind of challenge.
The contact number for accessing the 24-hour service
team, based in The Netherlands, is +31(0)613-363-940
For more information, please contact:
Peter Brussee, Marketing Manager,
JDR Smart Solutions, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Tel: +31-102-586-800
Email: peter.brussee@jdrcables.com
SOURCE JDR Smart Solutions
2007'02.11.Sun
Catapult Communications DCT2000(R) Selected for 3G IMS Testing
October 31, 2006
Catapult Test System Enables IP Network Upgrade in Korea
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Oct. 31 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
Catapult Communications Corporation (Nasdaq: CATT) today
announced that it has been selected by Korea Telecom (KT)
to provide simulation and load testing capabilities for the
addition of IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) services to their
existing IP network. Catapult's distributor, Tricomtek
Co., Ltd., will provide local technical expertise to assist
Korea Telecom.
According to Bertrand Favier, Catapult Asia Pacific
Sales Director, "Korea Telecom carefully evaluated
various testing tools and determined that Catapult offers
the best products for testing the major elements of IMS,
including the Call Session Control Function (CSCF),
application server, presence server and network media
server. Our DCT2000 test system provides more than just
simple top-level traffic diagnostics; it also supports the
complex lower layer analysis essential for IMS testing.
The DCT2000 test system will help KT select the best
equipment for their network, optimize their network
operations, and ensure that their customers get the best
quality of service."
Dave Mayfield, Catapult President and COO, added,
"Korea is a very important telecom market and we are
pleased with this opportunity to support Korea Telecom's 3G
IMS program. Our distributor, Tricomtek, supported by our
Catapult Asia Pacific HQ office located in Shanghai, has
solid expertise in testing the kind of advanced networks
being deployed by KT. Our test systems are particularly
well suited for 3G testing and should prove invaluable as
the Korean and other markets move to IMS."
About Catapult Communications
Catapult Communications is a leading supplier of
advanced digital telecom test systems to global equipment
manufacturers and service providers, including Ericsson,
Lucent, Motorola, NEC, NTT DoCoMo, Nortel and Siemens. The
Catapult DCT2000(R) and MGTS(R) systems deliver superior
high-end test solutions for hundreds of protocols and
variants -- spanning 3G, VoIP, GPRS, SS7, Intelligent
Network, ATM, ISDN and other network environments. The
Company is committed to providing testing tools that are at
the forefront of the telecom technology curve.
Catapult is headquartered at 160 South Whisman Road,
Mountain View, CA 94041. Tel: 650-960-1025. International
offices are located in the U.K., Germany, France, Finland,
Sweden, Canada, Japan, China Australia and India.
Information about Catapult Communications can be found on
the Web at www.catapult.com.
For more information, please contact:
Robin Rickert
Tel: +1-650-960-1025
Email: robin@catapult.com
SOURCE Catapult Communications Corporation
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