NSW:Brain-injured man won't face murder trial

AAP General News (Australia)
08-18-2011
NSW:Brain-injured man won't face murder trial

By Margaret Scheikowski

SYDNEY, Aug 18 AAP - A Korean national who was bashed to death in a Sydney factory
had told a friend "the old man" would be responsible if he went missing, a judge has been
told.

Jong Hwa Park, 32, had also said it worried him most that he had to "sleep in the same
area as him", according to a crown case statement tendered to the NSW Supreme Court on
Thursday.

Justice Elizabeth Fullerton was conducting a hearing into the mental fitness of Do
Hyun Chong, 69, who had shared a residence above the factory with the victim.

He is charged with murdering Mr Park on May 17, 2009, at King's Smelter scrap metal
factory at Wetherill Park, in Sydney's west.

The victim died of multiple blunt force injuries which police believed were caused
by a solid metal pole.

Mr Chong was the business partner of a brother-in-law of Mr Park, who had arrived in
Australia less than two months before his death to supervise various aspects of the company.

Two months after Mr Park's death, Chong sustained serious injuries, including a fractured
skull and brain injury, when his vehicle swerved into the path of an oncoming truck.

Months later he was charged with the murder.

After considering medical, psychiatric and other material, the judge concluded Chong
was mentally unfit to face trial and will hand down her reasons at a later date.

She directed he be kept at the aged care and rehabilitation unit at the Long Bay jail
hospital and that he be referred to the Mental Health Review Tribunal.

The crown statement said police investigators were informed that Chong had been suspected
of stealing of $150,000 of the company monies and the directors planned to come to Australia
to deal with issues related to him.

Mr Park's sisters also indicated he had complained about having a "hard time" with
Chong, whom he called "the old man".

He allegedly said Chong verbally abused him and was difficult to live with.

The statement said Mr Park had communicated with a friend on Cyworld, similar to Facebook
but in Korean, and told him of his concerns about "the old man".

"I am worried too ... how crazy he will turn ... because he knows that the head office
is now aware he has taken the money," he allegedly said.

He also reportedly said, "I am in a bit of danger."

When his friend asked, "Wouldn't he know that you were the one who had informed them?",
Mr Park replied, "Exactly," according to the statement.

AAP mss/tr/jl/de

KEYWORD: CHONG

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

Qld: One dead, two critical following smash

AAP General News (Australia)
02-22-2007
Qld: One dead, two critical following smash

BRISBANE, Feb 22 AAP - One man has died and two people are in a critical condition
following a highway crash south of Brisbane.

A 53-year-old man died after the Toyota Lexcen sedan he was driving was in collision
with a Ford Fairlane on the Mount Lindsay Highway at North Maclean around 7pm (AEST) last
night.

Two passengers in the Lexcen, a 52-year-old woman, from Beaudesert, …

FED:Villawood riots to be reviewed: Bowen=4

AAP General News (Australia)
04-21-2011
FED:Villawood riots to be reviewed: Bowen=4

Mr Bowen said rioting could never be excused.

"I understand, certainly, the frustration of asylum seekers but there is no justification
ever for this kind of violent action," he said.

As well as attacking firemen, Mr Bowen said he'd heard reports protesters had threatened
and intimidated other detainees.

The immigration minister said he understood those who'd had their asylum claims rejected
were unhappy with that outcome.

"(But) Australia does not make its visa decisions based on protest action, we base
it on the information we have available to us."

Mr Bowen also rejected claims that residents were angry over a planned detention centre
at Pontville near Hobart in Tasmania.

He said the overall response was positive and it had been welcomed by the local mayor.

"The response from the broad Pontville community I think since that announcement a
couple of weeks ago has been encouraging.

"I expected it to be controversial ... we should sit down with those local members
and talk through their concerns."

MORE cj/jcd/jnb

KEYWORD: DETAINEE BOWEN 4 CANBERRA

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

FED:Skipper reaches settlement

AAP General News (Australia)
02-01-2011
FED:Skipper reaches settlement

A Vietnamese skipper acquitted of people smuggling has finally reached a legal settlement
with the Australian government for destroying his boat.

It comes more than seven years after VAN TOL TRAN'S boat was apparently judged unseaworthy
and sunk by customs officials.

Three federal court judges ruled last year there was no lawful basis for destroying the vessel.

Customs won't comment on details of the settlement with Mr TRAN .. whose conviction
for transporting 53 asylum seekers to Australia was quashed in 2005.

Mr TRAN argued he was taking extended family members home when the boat was stopped.

AAP RTV cj/jmt

KEYWORD: TRAN (CANBERRA)

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

National Newslist for Tuesday Aug 24

AAP General News (Australia)
08-24-2010
National Newslist for Tuesday Aug 24
AAP's National Newslist for Tuesday (not for publication). This is a guide only and stories
are subject to change. AAP's news editors can be contacted on 02 93228611/8610.

POLL10
- Julia Gillard, Tony Abbott in Canberra.

- Four seats still in doubt as counting continues.

- Three country independents expect long first face-to-face meeting since election, expect
to talk to Gillard and Abbott on Wednesday.

- New Greens MP Adam Bandt plans to meet independents.

- Australian Industry Group keen to chat with the three independents.

- Constitutional law experts say concerns over GG's family link to Bill Shorten are inflated.

- Greens candidate in Denison says he still has small chance to win the Tas seat.

- Counting continues in crucial seat of Hasluck which could determine who form government.

US JOHNSON AUST
- Australians who wear a brand of contact lenses manufactured by J&J being urged to discontinue
use in a worldwide recall.

COURTS
BRISBANE
- Inquest to begin into death of girl, 4, in remote north-west Queensland Aboriginal community.

EDS: Unfortunately, due to cost, we are not there.

- Court case continues for man accused of helping his friend commit suicide.

MELBOURNE
- Mention for Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton charged over a burnout he performed outside
the Australian Grand Prix
- Application by Omar Chaouk, whose father Macchour was gunned down this month.

- Pre-sentence hearing for a couple who carjacked a vehicle with three children inside.

SYDNEY
- Trial of Keli Lane for murder of her newborn baby continues.

- Probable committal hearing for Hassan Sam Ibrahim, charged with kidnapping a 15-year-old boy.

ADELAIDE
- Man found guilty of manslaughter for killing a person at a New Year's Eve party to be sentenced.

- Sentencing submissions for a man who went on the run with his dog to avoid having his
pet put down.

PERTH
- Alcoa appears in court on a charge of causing harmful pollution in a WA town.

- State coroner investigating deaths of four men in police chases after records showed
officers broke pursuit speed guidelines.

- High-profile Dutch crime journalist Peter de Vries appears in court on charge of failing
to obey a police move-on order after he tried to talk to an alleged murder suspect in
Perth.

CANBERRA
- GG hosts group training apprentices 1030.

SYDNEY
- Checking reports police investigating a series of alleged unexplained payments made
into the bank accounts of missing 6yo Kiesha Abrahams' mother and stepfather in the weeks
before she disappeared.

- Two security guards stabbed in an attack in Sydney's south-west may have been robbed;
another has his a pistol and cash stolen at St Marys.

- Body discovered on the NSW far north coast may be that of an 85yo man missing for over a month.

- Protest to coincide with High Court challenge to asylum seeker exclusion zone.

- Launch of Foodbank Australia distribution of 800 tonnes of pasta and 100,000 cans of
pasta sauce to families in need.

- Pilots call for Jetstar boss to stand down over plans to outsource pilot jobs to Singapore.

MELBOURNE
- Attempted abduction of 11yo boy from the front yard of his Melbourne home.

- Vic Premier John Brumby to take part in Principal for a Day - doorstop.

BRISBANE
- Bligh's ministers to face more questions about her future amid new calls for rethink
on assets sale.

- Treasurer Andrew Fraser presser. 1030.

- Some mining operations to be banned on Qld's best agricultural land under state govt plan.

- Police chiefs from across the Pacific meet in Brisbane to discuss disaster response
and transnational crime. Presser with AFP commissioner Tony Negus.

- Jessica Watson to be named Tourism Queensland's sailing ambassador.

- Police investigate sexual assault of woman in north Queensland.

ADELAIDE
- 33yo woman charged with attempted murder after a man was stabbed at hotel.

- SA govt to shorten the rock lobster fishing season to ensure the fishery is sustainable.

- Riverland communities to receive $12 million to help overcome the impacts of the drought.

HOBART
- Tasmanian parliament resumes.

MEDICAL
- Major study of the impact of alcohol misuse in Australia has put the annual cost of
excessive drinking at $36 billion, along with a massive human toll.

- Launch of cervical cancer screening initiative.

- An Australian academic and anti-tobacco campaigner has called out Bill Gates for his
"inconsistent" philanthropic partnership with a tobacco company executive, who is also
the world's second richest man. (Embargoed to 1000 AEST, Wednesday).

ENTERTAINMENT
- Outwatching for more on Matthew Newton
- Kylie Minogue livens up sleepy English village by putting on a surprise gig at a pub.

- Melbourne restaurant Cutler & Co named restaurant of the year at Gourmet Traveller Restaurant
Awards.

- Miss Universe pageant in Las Vegas.

INTERNATIONAL
AUCKLAND - Fiji has made ground restoring sacked judiciary, but Australia and NZ are slowing
down process, says Fiji's Chief Justice.

AUCKLAND - Australia should follow NZ's lead and get tough on alcohol restrictions, head
of Alcohol and Other Drugs Council of Australia David Templeman.

AUCKLAND - Seeking update on Chaudhry case in Fiji.

HONIARA - Australian police officer working in the Solomon Islands has been fined for
dangerous driving but his drink driving charges were dropped through lack of evidence.

HONIARA - Military and police forces in the Solomon Islands are preparing for a major
operation on Wednesdays when the tiny Pacific country learns who will be the new government
and prime minister.

FINANCE
ECONOMICS:
SYDNEY - The Australian Office of Financial Management (AOFM) plans to issue $200 million
of August 2020 Treasury Indexed Bonds.

EQUITIES:
SYDNEY - Perpetual Ltd full year results
MELBOURNE - Foster's Group Ltd full year results
MELBOURNE - Ridley Corporation Ltd full year results
SYDNEY - Origin Energy Ltd full year results
SYDNEY - Whitehaven Coal Ltd full year results
SYDNEY - Mirvac Group full year results
SYDNEY - Aevum full year results
SYDNEY - Oil Search Ltd first half results
SYDNEY - Australian Worldwide Exploration Ltd full year results
SYDNEY - Seek Ltd full year results
SYDNEY - Macquarie Radio full year results
BRISBANE - Flight Centre Ltd full year results
SYDNEY - Sonic Healthcare Ltd full year results
SYDNEY - Aristocrat Leisure Ltd first half result
SYDNEY - Charter Hall Group full year results
SYDNEY - GPT first half results

Also Stocks, Dollar and Finance Briefs to come.

SPORT
AFL
MELBOURNE - Wrap of AFL news.

MELBOURNE - Wrap of news from the AFL Tribunal.

MELBOURNE - Media conference with Carlton coach Brett Ratten, 1245 Visy Park.

MELBOURNE - Media conference with St Kilda coach Ross Lyon, 1350 Moorabbin.

LEAGUE
MELBOURNE - Melbourne Storm CEO Ron Gauci, head coach Craig Bellamy and captain Cameron
Smith at 1015 presser, AAMI Park, for "major announcement".

SYDNEY - NRL teams named for penultimate round.

SYDNEY - Follow up from Sydney Roosters v Gold Coast.

SYDNEY - Manly media interviews for Jason King, Brent Kite and Matt Cross and coach Des
Hasler, 1100, Narrabeen.

RUGBY
CAPE TOWN - Wallabies centre Matt Giteau says the battle for second in the Tri-Nations
series will be the furthest thing from players' minds during the Test against South Africa.

SOCCER
MELBOURNE - Media conference with Melbourne Heart striker John Aloisi, 1130 Scotch College.

MANCHESTER, England - Manchester City recorded its biggest victory over Liverpool in 73
years by winning 3-0 on Monday in the English Premier League.

CRICKET
BRISBANE - Australian cricket team news.

CYCLING
MELBOURNE - Cycling Australia national performance director Shayne Bannan names the men's
team for the upcoming world road cycling championships in Geelong, 1600.

BASKETBALL
VILLEURBANNE, France- Matt Nielsen helped Australia edge France 67-66 in a warm-up game
on Monday ahead of the world basketball championships in Turkey next weekend.

GOLF
PANAMA CITY, Florida - Disgraced golfer Tiger Woods was divorced from his Swedish wife
Elin Nordegren on Monday.

YOUTH OLYMPICS
SINGAPORE - Cover of Aussies at Youth Olympics.

TENNIS
MONTREAL - Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki easily beat Vera Zvonareva 6-3, 6-2 on Monday
in the final of the rain-hit WTA Rogers Cup, one of the final tune-up events for the US
Open.

RACING
SYDNEY - Final field for Saturday's $1 million Golden Rose at Rosehill.

SYDNEY - Cover of AJC meeting at Hawkesbury.

MELBOURNE - Preview Sandown races Wednesday.

BRISBANE - Preview Eagle Farm races Wednesday.

AAP bwl

KEYWORD: NATIONAL NEWSLIST

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

The main stories on today's 1700 ABC 702 news

AAP General News (Australia)
04-16-2010
The main stories on today's 1700 ABC 702 news

SYDNEY, April 16 AAP - Main stories in today's 1700 ABC 702 news:

- The Prime Minister is now facing stiff opposition from New South Wales over his hospital
take-over plan

- Airports around the country are dealing with international delays caused by an Icelandic
volcanic ash cloud over northern Europe

- The state government will take public school teachers to the arbitration commission
over their planned boycott of tests

- The state opposition says people in regional areas will be hit most by increased gas prices

- Queensland's Liberal National Party has expelled a party member over racist comments
on US president Barack Obama

- A New South Wales truck driver is facing up to 20 years in jail over the sexual abuse
of a 13-year-old girl

- A Sydney man has been charged with 57 offences linked to identity fraud

- The Fair Work Ombudsman will investigate underpaid pink batt workers

- Voluntary redundancies are being called for

- Thai security forces have fail to catch protesters in a hotel

- A suicide bomber has killed six people in Pakistan

- FINANCE: The share market closes lower

- SPORT

AAP RTV wz

KEYWORD: MONITOR 1700 ABC 702

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

Vic: Fire destroys mannequin factory

AAP General News (Australia)
12-02-2009
Vic: Fire destroys mannequin factory

MELBOURNE, Dec 2 AAP - Fire investigators will sift the wreckage of a mannequin factory
in Melbourne looking for evidence of what caused the blaze that gutted the building.

Smoke could be seen for kilometres as the factory in inner-west Collingwood, which
was full of flammable liquids, went up in flames on Wednesday despite the efforts of 60
firefighters.

All employees got away safely, but paramedics treated six people for a range of problems
from throat irritation to airway problems and a 20-year-old man who suffered an asthma
attack.

"Everyone got out safely - that's all that matters," Craig Rayner, co-owner of Creative
Colour, told AAP.

He watched his factory burn with tears in his eyes, as firefighters fought the heavy
smoke and flames.

Mr Rayner said he wasn't sure what started the fire around 12.20pm (AEDT), but it was
filled with storefront materials and mannequins.

Over 15 fire trucks were called in to battle the blaze in Wellington Street, which
was finally put out at around 2pm.

Thick smoke from the fire drifted into the city centre as police blocked off nearby roads.

Police at the scene warned nearby residents to stay back because the smoke could be toxic.

Residents and workers were advised to close windows and doors as smoke travelled kilometres
from the fire.

Christina Bucci, spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, said investigators
would be on-site late on Wednesday to try to find out how the fire started.

"At this stage, there is nothing to indicate it was suspicious," she said.

AAP jxt/pmu/jl

KEYWORD: MANNEQUIN WRAP (PIX AVAILABLE)

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

NSW: Man charged after running away from fatal crash scene

AAP General News (Australia)
04-25-2009
NSW: Man charged after running away from fatal crash scene

SYDNEY, April 25 AAP - A man has been charged after allegedly running away from the
scene of a fatal car crash.

Police said a woman died after she was hit by a Holden Commodore station wagon as she
was getting out of her car on the Old Pacific Highway at Berowra, in Sydney's north, about
12.40pm (AEST) on Friday.

A police officer performed cardio-pulmonary resuscitation on the woman, who was seriously
injured and unconscious, until ambulance personnel arrived.

The 52-year-old Thornleigh woman suffered serious leg and internal injuries.

She was airlifted to Royal North Shore Hospital where she later died.

Police said the Commodore driver ran off into the bush at Berowra and residents called
police after seeing a man in their backyard.

A 23-year-old Swansea man has been charged with negligent driving occasioning death,
failing to stop and assist after his vehicle impacted and caused death, driving unlicensed
and driving an unregistered vehicle.

He has been refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court on Saturday.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.

AAP krc/sn

KEYWORD: CAR

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

Vic: Road blitz nabs drink drivers

AAP General News (Australia)
12-20-2008
Vic: Road blitz nabs drink drivers

Police have caught 43 people drink driving as part of its Christmas blitz on Melbourne's
roads overnight.

Booze and drug buses were set up around inner Melbourne and tested more than three
thousand drivers.

Police say they held grave fears for Victorian drivers over Christmas after what they
have been seeing on the roads.

AAP RTV mok/ka/

KEYWORD: BLITZ (MELBOURNE)

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

Ten: Federer, Serena out of Olympics singles

AAP General News (Australia)
08-15-2008
Ten: Federer, Serena out of Olympics singles

The Olympic tennis tournament has seen two major upsets in singles quarter-finals tonight.

World No.1 and top seed ROGER FEDERER suffered a 6-4 7-6 (7-2) defeat at the hands
of JAMES BLAKE, the American eighth seed who has lost all previous eight encounters with
the long-time world number one.

And in the women's draw, SERENA WILLIAMS' bid for a first Olympic singles gold medal
is over after she lost 6-3 4-6 6-3 to Russian fifth seed ELENA DEMENTIEVA.

AAP RTV djw/nh

KEYWORD: OLY08 TEN WILLIAMS (BEIJING)

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

EUR:Timetable not principle will guide PM's decision on Olympics

AAP General News (Australia)
04-06-2008
EUR:Timetable not principle will guide PM's decision on Olympics

KEVIN RUDD says he hasn't made up his mind whether he'll be at the Beijing Olympics
.. and it entirely depends on timing constraints.

The prime minister says he's told China he's not in a position to confirm whether he'll
be in Beijing in August .. but he says the decision won't be based on matters of principle
.. like Tibet.

Chinese President HU JINTAO invited Mr RUDD to the Olympics when they met at APEC last year.

Mr RUDD heads to Beijing on Wednesday as part of his world trip.

AAP RTV so/jec/

KEYWORD: RUDD TIBET (LONDON)

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

NSW: Man dies after car leaves M4 and hits tree

AAP General News (Australia)
12-03-2007
NSW: Man dies after car leaves M4 and hits tree

SYDNEY, Dec 3 AAP - A man has died after his car veered off a motorway into a tree
in western Sydney.

NRMA CareFlight said the 41-year-old man, from Faulconbridge, west of Sydney, died
after his car left the M4 at Prospect and hit a tree at about 1pm (AEDT) today.

The man was freed from the wreckage of the car and taken to Westmead Hospital but was
pronounced dead on arrival.

The man appeared to have suffered a heart attack, which caused him to lose control
of the vehicle.

Westbound lanes of the M4 were temporarily closed to allow the NRMA CareFlight helicopter
to land.

AAP sk/hn/apm

KEYWORD: TOLL NSW

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

Vic: Optometrist fined $88k in landmark OWS court action

AAP General News (Australia)
04-20-2007
Vic: Optometrist fined $88k in landmark OWS court action

The federal government's workplace watchdog has won a landmark case against one of
Australia's oldest optometrist businesses .. over unpaid award entitlements for workers.

Australian Ophthalmic Supplies .. trading as Merringtons .. was found to have denied
six current and former employees more than 17 thousand dollars in wages and entitlements
at a court hearing last year.

Yesterday Melbourne Magistrates' Court ordered the firm to pay 88 thousand dollars
in penalties .. the largest single case won by the Office of Workplace Services.

The company was found to have made 22 breaches of several industrial awards in what
the OWS said had been a long-running action.

Magistrate KATE HAWKINS said Merrigntons' industrial strategy was a deliberate attempt
to avoid their award obligations.

AAP RTV sjm/ce/bart

KEYWORD: MERRINGTONS (MELBOURNE)

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

SA: Dajka vows to compete at Olympics after escaping jail term

AAP General News (Australia)
12-19-2006
SA: Dajka vows to compete at Olympics after escaping jail term

Troubled cyclist JOBIE DAJKA (pron: DYE-ka) has vowed to ride at the 2008 Olympics
.. after escaping a jail term for a list of charges including assault and theft.

The former world keirin champion has been convicted in an Adelaide court .. of assaulting
national cycling coach MARTIN BARRAS .. been placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond
.. and fined for several other offences.

In June last year Cycling Australia suspended DAJKA's licence to compete for three
years as a result of the assault.

But outside the court .. DAJKA's said the sport's governing body has reinstated his
licence effective from today.

DAJKA .. who was kicked off the Athens Olympic team for lying to an doping inquiry
about injecting legal substances .. says all his offences stemmed from alcohol abuse.

The 23-year-old will return to competition in Tasmania's Christmas carnival and says
he has no doubt he'll win Australian selection next year.

DAJKA's been ordered to write an apology to BARRAS .. and he says he'll soon contact
the national coach.







DAJKA has also been given a three-month suspended jail sentence in the Holden Hill
Magistrates Court .. after pleading guilty to three counts of driving while disqualified.

The 25-year-old also pleaded guilty to nine other counts including theft .. breaching
a bail agreement and other traffic offences .. for which he's been fined more than two
thousand 600 dollars.

Magistrate JONATHON HARRY has told DAJKA his behaviour had been self-destructive.

AAP RTV sl/els/rt

KEYWORD: DAJKA (ADELAIDE)

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

Fed: Climate not humans killed Australian mega fauna, scientists

AAP General News (Australia)
08-12-2006
Fed: Climate not humans killed Australian mega fauna, scientists

Scientists say giant Australian marsupials the size of four-wheel drives .. are more
likely to have been killed off by drought than human hunters.

The extinction of the giant kangaroos .. marsupial lions .. and wombat-like diprotodons
.. which roamed Australia in prehistoric times .. has long been debated.

Many believe they were killed off by humans .. but state-of-the-art dating techniques
have shown the mega-fauna were extinct for 10 thousand years before humans came onto the
scene.

A team of scientists .. led by the University of Melbourne's MATT CUPPER .. made the
discovery at the Lake Menindee archeological site in NSW.

Their findings will be published in the international journal Quaternary Research this month.

AAP RTV jmw/srp/bart

KEYWORD: MEGAFAUNA (MELBOURNE)

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

Fed: Economist calls for tax deductions, returns to be scrapped

AAP General News (Australia)
04-06-2006
Fed: Economist calls for tax deductions, returns to be scrapped

A leading economist wants annual tax returns scrapped as part of an ambitious overhaul
of the tax system.

As Treasurer PETER COSTELLO continues to drop hints about tax cuts in next month's
budget .. Access Economics co-founder GEOFF CARMODY urged him to do more than tinker around
the edges.

Mr CARMODY .. a governor of the Australian Tax Research Foundation .. also wants an
increase in the tax-free threshold .. a rise in the Medicare levy .. and a cut in the
top rate of tax.

The changes could be at least partially paid for by scrapping work-related tax deductions
.. which would save enough money to cut the top tax rate from 47 cents in the dollar to
39 cents.

It would also mean most Australians would not have to lodge a tax return.

Mr COSTELLO is widely expected to announce more tax cuts in the May 9 budget .. on
the back of a forecast 11-point-five billion dollar surplus.

AAP RTV mfh/so/wz/crh

KEYWORD: TAX (CANBERRA)

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

FED: Underwater bombs to be detonated as part of Aust experiment

AAP General News (Australia)
08-05-2005
FED: Underwater bombs to be detonated as part of Aust experiment

A series of underwater bombs will be exploded in Western Australia to check if the
blasts set off an international monitoring system for nuclear weapons.

The Australian newspaper reports today Geoscience Australia plans to detonate up to
20 bombs west of Exmouth in the middle of next year.

The paper says up to 1,000 kilograms of explosives will be used in a pattern designed
to send hydro-acoustic patterns to a listening post at Cape Leeuwin in the south, and
to others further away.

Geoscience Australia has deemed the experiment site, which is within Australia's economic
exclusion zone, is away from typical whale migration routes.

However, the relevant permits have yet to be obtained from the West Australian government
and environmental lobby groups are likely to oppose the experiment.

AAP RTV na/psm/

KEYWORD: BOMBS (SYDNEY)

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

poster

poster A placard or bill exhibited in a public place as an advertisement. Although there are over 200 000 legal poster sites in the UK, poster advertising accounts for less than 10% of the total advertising expenditure. Illegal attachment of posters or bills to empty shop windows, company hoardings, etc., is called flyposting. Flyposting is often undertaken at night by a small number of companies, all of whom jealously guard their regular territories. Flyposting is particularly popular with record companies, underground magazines, and some film companies.

Tiger roused.(News)

GOLF champion Tiger Woods has taken a swing at fake photographs circulating on the Internet which claim to show his Swedish girlfriend part-time model Elin Nordegren, 26, in the nude. 'She did some swimsuit modelling, but has never posed nude,' he wrote on his web site.

Tome tells how to kindly collect what's owed.(The Orange County Register)

Here are some recent arrival on the entrepreneurial bookshelf:

"How to Collect Debts and Still Keep Your Customers" by David Sher and Martin Sher, Amacom, $24.95:

One of the most common problems facing business owners is getting the chronically late-paying customer to pay up. The authors' (they're brothers who own AmSher Receivables Management in Alabama) stated objective in writing this book is to show business owners "how to collect the most money, as fast as you can, net of expenses, while maintaining the goodwill of the debtor."

Many owners create their own credit problems, this book says, by relaxing credit criteria, ignoring their own credit policies, putting off the late-payment collection process, remaining ignorant of delinquencies and more.

The rest of the book is devoted to reducing bad debts and improving collection techniques. One chapter is entitled, "How to make collections fun." They suggest creating competition, keeping score, awarding prizes.

"Cyber Rules: Strategies for Excelling at E-business" by Thomas M. Siebel and Pat House, Currency/Doubleday, $27.50:

The scramble is on to understand and capitalize on the phenomenal influence of the Internet. The World Wide Web is transforming business. And it's in its infancy. The co-authors, Thomas M. Siebel and Pat House, have learned about e-business at Siebel Systems, an application software company.

Among their rules for doing business in cyberspace are: Private "infotainment" will give way to global enterprises. Internet pioneers will reshape their industries. The Net will move from communities to customerization. The sales and marketing landscape will be redrawn.

The main question about books on e-commerce is whether anything that takes a year to three years to write, edit, publish and distribute can be relevant in a sector changing as rapidly as Internet business.

"Managing Smart" by Lynne Milgram, Alan Spector and Matt Treger, Cashman Dudley, $26.95:

Modern managers are under pressure to cut costs, maximize productivity and boost profits. This book addresses 325 ways in which managers can achieve those results. These tips range from making ethical decisions to approaches to benchmarking to recognizing an employee's hidden costs.

Authors Lynne Milgram and Alan Spector are medical doctors who have worked in management positions. Matt Treger is a business consultant.

"Global Business" by Lawrence E. Koslow and Robert H. Scarlett, Cashman Dudley, $26.95:

The details of international business are so numerous that the faint of heart turn away. But the process isn't impossible. This book breaks down the process into 308 areas from understanding the compelling reasons for taking your business international to understanding the politics in foreign countries.

Some topics are broad, such as determining what to license. Others are narrow, such as freight forwarders and the Euro. The book is especially for smaller, family-owned companies.

Author Lawrence Koslow has worked in the international divisions of Fortune 500 companies and previously owned his own international consulting practice. Author Robert Scarlett is chairman of the board for Durex Products in Texas, where he previously was president of the international subsidiary.

X X X

(Jan Norman writes about small businesses for The Orange County Register. Write her at The Orange County Register, P.O. Box 11626. Santa Ana, CA 92711; or email jannormanbiz(AT)earthlink.net)

X X X

Visit the Register on the World Wide Web at http://www.ocregister.com/

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.

(c) 2000, The Orange County Register (Santa Ana, Calif.).

Visit the Register on the World Wide Web at http://www.ocregister.com/

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.

South Bend Tribune, Ind., BizBuzz Column.

Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Mar. 26 -- Two Michiana men are among 12 people elected to the Recreational Vehicle/Manufactured Housing Hall of Fame in Elkhart.

The two are Mervin Lung chairman and chief executive officer of Patrick Industries Inc., Elkhart, and Walter Wells, president and chief executive officer of Schult Homes Inc. in Middlebury.

Lung has been engaged in the manufactured housing industry since 1941.

He founded Elkhart-based Patrick Industries in 1957. Among his accomplishments are the introduction of plaster drywall and pre-finished paneling to the manufactured housing industry.

Wells is a 38-year veteran of the manufactured housing industry. He is a longtime proponent of industry construction and safety standards. His company was cited as having developed the first two-story manufactured house that met federal Department of Housing and Urban Development code standards.

Michigan City Mayor Sheila Brillson announced that three Michigan City businesses have received Indiana's prestigious Half Century Business Awards.

The three businesses include Michigan City Paper Box Co., clothing manufacturer Jaymar Ruby Group and Lakeshore Foods Corp.

"Over the last decades, these businesses have provided jobs for our families, strengthened the local economy and contributed to many community organizations through volunteerism and community service," said Brillson.

Unfortunately, the Tire Rack's Internet Web site did not receive a 1999 Webby Award, the Oscar of the Internet.

The Tire Rack, a South Bend-based company that sells tires via mail order and over the Internet, had been nominated to receive the award based upon its growth as an Internet retailer.

Zimmer, a major manufacturer of prosthetic implants in Warsaw, has obtained a contract to supply its products to Premier Inc., one of the nation's largest alliances of hospital and health-care services providers.

Premier members operate 800 hospitals and 900 other health-care facilities. One of Premier's main purposes is to provide group purchasing of supplies and equipment for its members. It purchases some $10 billion worth of goods and services each year.

"We have participated in similar agreements in the past, but Premier's size makes this significant for us," said Brad Bishop, director of corporate communications for Zimmer.

Visit the South Bend Tribune Online at http://www.sbtinfo.com

Gary Heck Joins Cereus Board of Directors; Information Industry Consultant is Former AT&T and Pacific Telesis Executive.

ATLANTA, Jan. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Cereus Technology Partners, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: CEUS), an e-business solutions provider for B2B applications, announced today that Gary H. Heck has joined the company's Board of Directors. Heck, 55, is the managing partner and co-founder of PacifiCom, a 10 year old information industry consulting company based in Seattle.

From 1987 to 1989, Heck was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Telematic Products, a manufacturer of specialty computers for data services, which was owned by Executone Information Systems. He was brought in to turn the company around, and in 18 months he sextupled revenues and restored the company to profitability, enabling the parent to successfully sell it.

From 1983 to 1987, he founded and was Chief Executive Officer of PacTel Products Company and PacTel Communications, which were unregulated equipment subsidiaries of Pacific Telesis Corporation, one of the former Bell regional telephone companies, which is now part of SBC Corporation.

Heck was part of the transition team for the break-up of AT&T, where he held various positions from 1967 to 1982, including at Pacific Telephone.

About Cereus Technology Partners, Inc.

Cereus Technology Partners, Inc. offers a cost-effective and comprehensive suite of integrated business information technology solutions designed to meet

the challenges of middle market companies in a rapidly changing technological environment. The company's end-to-end solution consists of financial management, distribution, production, quality control, asset management, human resources management, sales force and marketing automation, and electronic commerce, strategy, marketing and development. The company manages its client relationships as a "one stop shop" single point of contact offering an array of technological services that enable its clients to conduct business over the Internet. Additional information can be accessed on the World Wide Web at www.cereus.net.

Citizens Holding Company Earnings Increase.

PHILADELPHIA, Miss. -- Citizens Holding Company (NASDAQ:CIZN) announced today results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011.

Net income for the three months ended June 30, 2011 was $1.854 million, or $0.38 per share-basic and diluted, up from $1.696 million, or $0.35 per share-basic and diluted for the same quarter in 2010. Net interest income for the second quarter of 2011, after the provision for loan losses for the quarter, was $7.079 million, approximately 8.6% higher than the same period in 2010, due mainly to a decrease in interest expense and a decrease in the provision for loan losses. The provision for loan losses for the three months ended June 30, 2011 was $683 thousand compared to $695 thousand for the same period in 2010. The decrease in the provision reflects management's estimate of inherent losses in the loan portfolio including the impact of current local and national economic conditions. The net interest margin increased to 4.29% in the second quarter of 2011 from 3.97% in the same period in 2010 primarily because of the decrease in yields on earning assets was less than the decline in rates paid on interest bearing deposits.

Non-interest income decreased in the second quarter of 2011 by $246 thousand, or 13.9%, while non-interest expenses increased $81 thousand, or 1.3%, compared to the same period in 2010. The decrease in non-interest income was due primarily to a decrease in fees received on deposits and other service charges and fees.

Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2011 increased 3.7% to $3.809 million, or $0.79 per share-basic and diluted, from $3.672 million, or $0.76 per share-basic and $0.75 per share-diluted, for the six months ended June 30, 2010. Net interest income for the six months ended June 30, 2011, after the provision for loan losses, increased 7.1% to $14.413 million from $13.456 million for the same period in 2010. Net interest margin increased to 4.28% in 2011 from 4.08% in 2010. The provision for loan losses for the six months ended June 30, 2011 was $927 thousand compared to the provision of $1.320 million in 2010. The decrease in the provision reflects management's assessment of inherent losses in the loan portfolio including the impact caused by current local and national economic conditions.

Non-interest income decreased by $295 thousand, or 8.7%, and non-interest expense increased by $448 thousand, or 3.7%, for the six months ended June 30, 2011 when compared to June 30, 2010. The reduction in non-interest income was primarily due to a reduction in gains from sales of investment securities of $612 thousand. Non-interest expense increased mainly due to an increase in salaries and benefits in the amount of $195 thousand and an increase in other operating expenses.

Total assets as of June 30, 2011 increased to $845.253 million, up $27.020 million, or 3.3%, when compared to December 31, 2010. Deposits increased by $9.720 million, or 1.8%, and loans, net of unearned income decreased by $9.444 million, or 2.2%, when compared to December 31, 2010. The decrease in loans, net of unearned, was due to declining loan demand. Non-performing assets decreased by $1.357 million to $13.596 million at June 30, 2011 compared to December 31, 2010, because of a decrease in non-accrual loans and loans 90 days or more past due and still accruing interest offset by an increase in other real estate.

During the first six months of 2011, the Company paid dividends totaling $0.44 per share. This represents an increase of 4.8% over the dividends paid in 2010.

Citizens Holding Company (the "Company") is a one-bank holding company and the parent company of The Citizens Bank of Philadelphia (the "Bank"), both headquartered in Philadelphia, Mississippi. The Bank currently has twenty-one banking locations in ten counties in East Central and South Mississippi and has a Loan Production Office in Biloxi, Mississippi. In addition to full service commercial banking, the Bank offers mortgage loans, title insurance services through its subsidiary, Title Services, LLC, and a full range of Internet banking services including online banking, bill pay and cash management services for businesses. Internet services are available at the Bank's web site, www.thecitizensbankphila.com. Citizens Holding Company stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Market and is traded under the symbol CIZN. The Company's transfer agent is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company. Information about Citizens Holding Company may be obtained by accessing its corporate website at www.citizensholdingcompany.com.

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this release regarding the Company's financial position, results of operations, business strategies, plans, objectives and expectations for future operations, are forward looking statements. The Company can give no assurances that the assumptions upon which such forward-looking statements are based will prove to have been correct. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. The Company does not undertake a duty to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. The risks and uncertainties that may affect the operation, performance, development and results of the Company's and the Bank's business include, but are not limited to, the following: (a) the risk of adverse changes in business conditions in the banking industry generally and in the specific markets in which the Company operates; (b) changes in the legislative and regulatory environment that negatively impact the Company and Bank through increased operating expenses; (c) increased competition from other financial institutions; (d) the impact of technological advances; (e) expectations about the movement of interest rates, including actions that may be taken by the Federal Reserve Board in response to changing economic conditions; (f) changes in asset quality and loan demand; (g) expectations about overall economic strength and the performance of the economics in the Company's market area; and (h) other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks materialize, or should any such underlying assumptions prove to be significantly different, actual results may vary significantly from those anticipated, estimated, projected or expected.

Citizens Holding Company
Financial Highlights
(amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)
			Three Months			Six Months
			Ending June 30,			Ending June 30,
			2011			2010			2011			2010
Interest income and fees				$9,444				$9,452				$18,789					$19,327
Interest expense				1,682				2,241				3,449					4,551
Net interest income				7,762				7,211				15,340					14,776
Provision for loan losses				683				695				927					1,320
Net interest income after provision for loan losses				7,079				6,516				14,413					13,456
Non-interest income				1,520				1,766				3,094					3,389
Non-interest expense				6,250				6,169				12,640					12,192
Net income before taxes				2,349				2,113				4,867					4,653
Income taxes				495				417				1,058					981
Net income				$1,854				$1,696				$3,809					$3,672
Earnings per share - basic				$0.38				$0.35				$0.79					$0.76
Earnings per share - diluted				$0.38				$0.35				$0.79					$0.75
Average shares outstanding-basic				4,841,438				4,833,609				4,840,770					4,832,749
Average shares outstanding-diluted				4,854,237				4,856,197				4,849,826					4,865,631
									As of			As of
									June 30,			December 31,
									2011			2010
Balance Sheet Data:
Total assets										$845,253					$818,233
Total earning assets										765,351					741,383
Loans, net of unearned income										412,432					421,876
Allowance for loan losses										6,360					6,379
Total deposits										547,150					537,430
Long-term borrowings										94,617					84,760
Shareholders' equity										83,343					76,295
Book value per share										$17.23					$15.77
Dividends paid per share										$0.44					$0.85
Average Balance Sheet Data:
Total assets										$824,436					$839,212
Total earning assets										748,443					762,993
Loans, net of unearned income										415,197					437,563
Total deposits										533,232					556,798
Long-term borrowings										87,186					86,378
Shareholders' equity										79,323					78,776
Non-performing assets:
Non-accrual loans										10,301					10,932
Loans 90+ days past due and accruing										147					953
Other real estate owned										3,148					3,068
Net charge-offs as a percentage of average net loans										0.23%					0.37%
Performance Ratios:
Return on average assets										0.92%					0.85%
Return on average equity										9.60%					9.09%
Net interest margin (tax equivalent)										4.28%					4.04%