NSW: Jury in Liati trial told to ignore Einfeld guilty plea

AAP General News (Australia)
02-02-2009
NSW: Jury in Liati trial told to ignore Einfeld guilty plea

SYDNEY, Feb 2 AAP - A jury has been warned to ignore the guilty plea of former Federal
Court judge Marcus Einfeld, in the trial of a woman charged with related offences.

Angela Liati, 55, has pleaded not guilty in the NSW District Court to making a false
statement on August 23, 2006 with intent to pervert the course of justice.

The jury has been told Liati said she was with her friend Theahresa (Theahresa) Brennan
in Mr Einfeld's car on January 8, 2006.

Crown Prosecutor Lou Lungo said this was a false statement.

As the jury was empanelled on Monday, Judge Michael Finnane told jurors to ignore anything
they might have heard about Mr Einfeld's case when considering Liati's.

"Mr Einfeld is a very well known person in Australia," Judge Finnane said.

"His name is extremely well known, not just in legal circles. Consequently a lot of
interest was generated in the press.

"Some of you may have seen those opinions, some of those commentaries, and some of
those news articles.

"If you had, you must put them out of your mind ... this trial has nothing to do with him."

Judge Finnane warned the jurors they must not look up any information on Mr Einfeld
or Liati on the internet.

"I'm not giving you informal advice, I'm giving the direction of the law," he said.

The jury was told Mr Einfeld claimed before a magistrate that he had not driven the
vehicle on January 8, 2006, and that his American friend Professor Theresa Brennan was
behind the wheel.

Liati, who is defending herself, is expected to give her opening address to the jury
later on Monday.

AAP kaj/dl/wjf/apm

KEYWORD: LIATI

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

CHINA'S COAL BOSSES TURNING TO INTERNET MARKET

AsiaInfo Services
05-16-2011
China's Coal Bosses Turning to Internet Market

BEIJING, May 16, 2011 (SinoCast Daily Business Beat via COMTEX) -- A group of coal bosses, widely known as the new rich in China, are looking to turn to the fast-growing online service business to capitalize on the Internet boom.

A recent market investigation shows that the affluent coal bosses are casting their sight on Internet for investment in what is called a tentative business model reform.

"We will prefer e-commerce for an access to the online service market, now that most of the businessmen from Shanxi start their business from trading," said an ex-coal boss from Linfen, a city in the coal-rich Shanxi province, expecting to change his role into a new businessman after withdrawing from coal mining.

Nearly 30% of the coal bosses have dipped toe in the Internet market by far, making the new industry more favored than tourism, education, automobile, agriculture, and consumer products, according to the market investigation.

The Internet market stepped into a new blooming era last year, drawing a great deal of capital and precluding an initial public offering (IPO) spree abroad, pointed out Liu Xingliang, an expert in the Internet market, noting that it is reasonable for the new rich to rush into the high-tech businesses such as Internet at a time when they are kept out of the traditional industries like real estate development.

Such a frenzy comes after Huang Zhihua, a coal boss from Shanxi, made a winning start from investment in online service market. Mr. Huang, together with some of his counterparts, invested to set up Ayatuan.com, an online group purchase discount platform, for a debut in the online service market.

Ayatuan.com, based in Beijing, provides online group purchase discount services in a series of sectors such as catering & entertainment, leisure & bodybuilding, personal healthcare, ticket booking, education & training, and life services.

Nevertheless, the coal bosses will need to enrich their experience and enlarge talent reserve to get a foothold in the Internet market, a segment that changes swiftly, said Mr. Liu. Sensing uncertainties from the new arena, more than 60% of the coal boss investors are intended to make capital injection in groups.

"I'd suggest the coal bosses play no more than an investor, that is to say, they are not supposed to get too deep in business management," pointed out Mr. Liu, "business operation and management are expected to be left for the professional managers and executive team."

Source: www.eeo.com.cn (May 16, 2011)

KEYWORD: BEIJING INDUSTRY KEYWORD: Internet & Online Services & Media SUBJECT CODE: General Industry Information
General Industry Information
SinoCast China Business Daily news
SinoCast China IT Watch
IPO
Internet
online service
invest
coal boss
capital
management

Copyright 2011 AsiaInfo Services (via Comtex). All rights reserved

NSW:NSW govt to appeal taxi drivers' let off

AAP General News (Australia)
08-30-2011
NSW:NSW govt to appeal taxi drivers' let off

A decision to allow two taxi drivers charged with child sex offences to stay behind
the wheel will be appealed by the NSW government.

Transport Minister GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN has also flagged changes to the law which would
close any loopholes.

Ms BEREJIKLIAN says people convicted or charged of serious offences should not be driving taxis.

The two drivers have been charged with five counts between them of sexual assault of
a child under five, dating from the 1990s, sparking an automatic ban from Transport NSW.

But News Limited's reported the Administrative Decisions Tribunal overturned the ban,
saying both drivers were of good repute.

AAP RTV ab/tr/crh

KEYWORD: CABBIES (SYDNEY)

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

Army snipers fire on Libyan mourners, killing at least 15. Death toll believed to exceed 80 after Gaddafi's forces attack protesters. Egypt recognizes 'moderate' Brotherhood splinter group as party

OREN KESSLER and AP
Jerusalem Post
02-20-2011
Army snipers fire on Libyan mourners, killing at least 15. Death toll believed to exceed 80 after Gaddafi's forces attack protesters. Egypt recognizes 'moderate' Brotherhood splinter group as party
Byline: OREN KESSLER and AP
Edition: Daily
Section: News
Type: News

Security forces fired on pro-democracy demonstrators Saturday in Libya as Muammar Gaddafi's autocratic regime struck back against the wave of protests that has already toppled autocrats in Egypt and Tunisia.

At least 15 died when police shot into crowds of mourners in the country's second largest city, a hospital official said.
Libyans returned to the street for a fifth straight day of protest despite estimates by human rights groups of 84 deaths in the North African country - with 35 on Friday alone. In Benghazi, a focal point of unrest and Libya's second largest city, snipers fired on mourners as they attended the funerals of other protesters, a hospital official said. He spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal.

Before dawn, special forces had attacked hundreds of demonstrators, including lawyers and judges, who were camped out in front of a Benghazi courthouse.

"They fired tear gas on protesters in tents and cleared the areas after many fled carrying the dead and the injured," one demonstrator said by phone.

Authorities cut off the Internet across Libya, further isolating the country. Just after 2 a.m. local time in Libya, the US-based Arbor Networks security company detected a total cessation of online traffic. Protesters confirmed they could not get online.

Gaddafi is facing the biggest popular uprising of his autocratic reign, with much of the action in the country's impoverished east.

He has responded forcefully. A female protester in Tripoli, the capital city to the west, said it was much harder to demonstrate there. Police were out in force and Gaddafi was greeted rapturously when he drove through town in a motorcade on Thursday.

In neighboring Egypt, a moderate Islamic party outlawed for 15 years was granted official recognition Saturday by a court in a sign of increasing political openness after the fall of autocratic president Hosni Mubarak.

Al-Wasat Al-Jadid, or the New Center, was founded in 1996 by activists who split off from the conservative Muslim Brotherhood and sought to create a political movement promoting a tolerant version of Islam with liberal tendencies. Its attempts to register as an official party were rejected four times since then, most recently in 2009.

In 2007, Human Rights Watch accused Mubarak and his ruling National Democratic Party of using the law that governs the formation of political parties to maintain a virtual monopoly over political power in Egypt by denying opponents the right to form parties.

The founder of the newly recognized party, Abu Al-Ila Madi, said Saturday's ruling by the Supreme Administrative Court was "a positive fruit of the January 25 revolution of the freedom generation." Madi said his party would immediately get to work organizing its membership and opening branches to freely participate in Egypt's political life.

Israel's former head of Military Intelligence, Maj.-Gen. Amos Yadlin, said Saturday that Egypt's apparent democratization need not necessarily be cause for concern for Israelis.

In an interview with Channel 2 News, Yadlin said Israelis should not "grow anxious over developments in Egypt. A hostile government in Egypt would not necessarily go to war with Israel, and every Arab state has its own characteristics, and we must treat each instance individually.

"There is no way to prophesy the intentions of leaders or their public," Yadlin added. "Elections in Egypt could well bring about a regime that will continue to take a moderate stance toward Israel."

An official with Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood said Friday that any decision on the country's peace treaty with Israel was up to the Egyptian people, and the Islamist movement would not impose its view on them, Reuters reported.

"The decision on the treaty does not belong to the Brotherhood, it belongs to the entire Egyptian people," said Essam Al-Erian, a spokesman for the Islamist group, in an interview with Al-Arabiya television.

In Jordan, meanwhile, clashes broke out Friday between government supporters and opponents at a protest calling for more freedom and lower food prices, injuring eight people in the first reported violence in weeks of demonstrations.

It was the seventh straight Friday that Jordanians took to the streets to demand more say in decision-making.

The Amman protest drew about 2,000 people, including hardline leftists, Muslim conservatives and students calling for reduced power for the king and the chance to elect members of the cabinet.

Students from the growing "Jaayin" or "I'm Coming" movement chanted: "We want constitutional reforms. We want a complete change to policies."

Jordan's king enjoys absolute powers, ruling by decree and he can appoint and dismiss Cabinets and parliament whenever he wants.

"We want a complete overhaul of the political system, including the constitution, the parliament dissolved and new free and fair elections held," said movement member and teacher Amani Ghoul, insisting the protests will continue until their demands are met.

In Yemen's capital of Sanaa, riot police opened fire on thousands of protesters, killing one anti-government demonstrator and injuring five others on a 10th day of revolt against President Ali Abdullah Saleh, a key US ally who has been in power for three decades.

As on other days earlier this week, protesters marching from Sanaa's university were met by police and government supporters with clubs and knives who engaged in a stone-throwing battle with the demonstrators. At one point, police fired in the air to disperse the march.

A medical official said one man was shot in the neck and killed. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press. The death was the seventh this week in Yemen.

In a meeting with civic leaders, Saleh said Yemenis have the right to express themselves peacefully and that the perpetrators of the unrest were trying to seize power by fomenting instability.

"The homeland is facing a foreign plot that threatens its future," Saleh said, without elaborating.

Saleh, a key US ally in fighting al-Qaida terrorists, has tried to blunt discontent by promising not to seek reelection when his term ends in 2013.

But he is facing a restless population, with threats from al- Qaida militants who want to oust him, a southern secessionist movement and a sporadic armed rebellion in the north. To try to quell new outbursts of dissent, Saleh pledged to meet some of the protesters'demands and has reached out to tribal chiefs, who are a major base of support for him.

Popular unrest was felt in other Arab states as well. In Iraq, several thousand people marched in the city of Sulaimaniyah to protest the shooting deaths of two anti-government protesters earlier in the week.

In Oman, some 300 people marched peacefully in Muscat, the capital of a Gulf nation with close military ties to the United States. They demanded political reform, including the resignation of several government ministers, but pledged their loyalty to the hereditary monarch, Sultan Qaboos Bin Said.

And in Algeria, police thwarted a rally by thousands of pro- democracy supporters in the capital Algiers, breaking up the crowd into isolated groups to keep them from marching. An opposition lawmaker was hospitalized with a head injury after he was clubbed by police. The march comes a week after a similar protest brought thousands of protesters and riot police into the streets.

Protesters seek sweeping political reform, including the ouster of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika and an end to the state of emergency imposed in 1992 to put down an Islamic insurgency. Critics complain of massive corruption, high unemployment and social inequality.(c) Copyright Jerusalem Post. All rights reserved.

Illustrations/Photos:
Caption: DEMONSTRATORS GATHER yesterday near the White House in
Washington in a show of solidarity with Libyan protesters. Muammar
Gaddafi's forces fired on mourners leaving a funeral for protesters
in the eastern city of Benghazi, killing at least 15 people.

(Copyright 2011 The Jerusalem Post)

QLD:Lovers lane murder suspect seeks bail

AAP General News (Australia)
12-03-2010
QLD:Lovers lane murder suspect seeks bail

A bail hearing is underway for a Brisbane man .. charged with strangling his 22-year-old
girlfriend to death near a popular lovers' lane site in March.

In the Brisbane Supreme Court today .. 22-year-old RHYS AUSTIN's facing charges of
murdering BIANCA GIRVEN.

Ms GIRVEN .. then the mother of a 21-month-old baby boy .. was allegedly strangled
after going with AUSTIN to a park near the Mount Gravatt lookout after the couple had
attended the inner-city Full Moon Festival.

AUSTIN's lawyer KENNETH FLEMING has told the court his client suffers from paranoid
schizophrenia and jail isn't the best place for his treatment.

Mr FLEMMING says the case against his client is circumstantial and there's no motive for murder.

The hearing continues this afternoon.

AAP RTV lpm/jmm/tm

KEYWORD: AUSTIN (BRISBANE)

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

Fed: Australia's emissions will continue to rise after ETS delay

AAP General News (Australia)
04-27-2010
Fed: Australia's emissions will continue to rise after ETS delay

By Cathy Alexander

CANBERRA, April 27 AAP - Australia's greenhouse gas emissions will soar after the federal
government shelved plans to tackle climate change.

Labor went to the last election promising to start an emissions trading scheme (ETS)
- which limits the carbon pollution blamed for global warming - this year.

Now, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has reneged, announcing on Tuesday the scheme would
start in 2013 at the earliest.

That means it's business as usual on climate change. Action on emissions will take
place later, and may have to be harsher and more costly when it does start.

Australia's emissions have been rising for decades and, without a major climate-busting
scheme, are forecast to rise for years.

Government data says emissions will increase 20 per cent between 2000 and 2020 without
emissions trading.

Mr Rudd described climate change as the greatest moral challenge of our time before
the last election.

But he went cool on global warming on Tuesday, pushing back emissions trading until
2013 at the earliest.

"The opposition decided to backflip on its historical commitment to bringing in a carbon
pollution reduction scheme, and there's been slow progress in the realisation of global
action on climate change," Mr Rudd told reporters in Penrith, in Sydney's west.

"These two factors together inevitably mean that the implementation of a carbon pollution
reduction scheme in Australia will be delayed."

An ETS acts as a tax on emissions, encouraging firms and individuals to pollute less
by hitting them in the hip pocket, especially for coal-fired electricity.

Australia's ETS has been shelved amid confusion around how it works, and the stalling
of climate action by other countries - particularly the US - in the wake of December's
failed Copenhagen summit.

The delay in the ETS may be a reprieve for heavy-polluting industries like coal-fired
power stations, aluminium smelting and steel production. They won't have to pay to pollute
for some time.

The ETS would have pushed up electricity prices and, to a lesser extent, gas and petrol
prices. That won't happen soon.

But the delay also pushes back the start of action to bring down emissions. Australia
has promised to cut emissions by between 5 and 25 per cent by 2020.

Any reduction will now start later and take place over a shorter period of time.

That may mean a bigger shock to the economy. Some experts say delaying action to reduce
emissions means it costs more to do it.

The delay in emissions trading may also affect international climate talks.

Australia has joined a list of countries who have backed away on global warming in
recent months. Each delay is being cited by other countries in justifying their own delays.

The US, the biggest historical polluter, is struggling on climate change as its own
ETS is stalled in the Senate.

Mr Rudd's decision to delay the ETS was welcomed by some business groups, but conservationists
are up in arms.

Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Peter Anderson said the
delay was "a step in the right direction".

But Tony Mohr from the Australian Conservation Foundation said the delay was bad news
for the environment and for business, which would not have certainty over a carbon price
for some time.

The delay was "dangerous" because it sent the wrong signal to other countries, and
it would mean Australia's emissions would rise further, Mr Mohr said.

AAP ca/sb/ht

KEYWORD: CLIMATE WRAP

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

NSW: Teenager charged over man's stabbing

AAP General News (Australia)
12-14-2009
NSW: Teenager charged over man's stabbing

SYDNEY, Dec 14 AAP - A teenager has been charged with attempted murder following a
stabbing in Sydney's northwest, police say.

The 55-year-old victim was involved in an argument with a group of men outside a restaurant
on Cox Road, North Ryde, about 10.30pm (AEDT) on December 5.

One of the men allegedly produced a knife and stabbed him in the stomach several times.

He drove himself to Ryde Hospital and was later transferred to Royal North Shore Hospital,
where he underwent surgery.

An 18-year-old Baulkham Hills man was interviewed by Ryde police on Friday.

He was charged with attempted murder and refused bail to attend Ryde Local Court on February 4.

Police investigating the stabbing have also arrested a 17-year-old male at his home
in North Ryde.

He was charged with affray and refused bail to appear in court on December 20.

AAP bc/evt/jl

KEYWORD: STOMACH

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

WA: WA firefighting experts head to Canada

AAP General News (Australia)
08-05-2009
WA: WA firefighting experts head to Canada

Six West Australian forest fire experts are heading to Canada to help battle wildfires
in British Columbia.

WA Environment Minister DONNA FARAGHER says five officers from the Department of Environment
and Conservation and one from the Forest Products Commission will fly from Sydney to Vancouver
tomorrow.

She says they'll stay near the Whistler Blackcomb ski resort for six weeks.

They'll join 24 other fire experts from across Australia and New Zealand.

AAP RTV was/ka

KEYWORD: CANADA FIRES WA (PERTH)

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

Qld:Creditors of the Raptis Group meet on the Gold Coast on Wed

AAP General News (Australia)
02-11-2009
Qld:Creditors of the Raptis Group meet on the Gold Coast on Wed

BRISBANE, Feb 11 AAP - Creditors of the Raptis Group, once one of Queensland's richest
developers, are hoping for a clearer picture of their position on Wednesday.

A creditors meeting is being held on the Gold Coast - until now they've been given
no estimate on how much in the dollar they're likely to get back.

Administrators are working on plans to breathe new life into Raptis - the parent of
more than 90 other companies - through a deed of company arrangement.

The Raptis Group went into voluntary administration for the second time in its history
late last month, on the back of a worsening financial crisis.

Signs had not been good for months after construction was halted on the $700 million
Hilton Hotel development at Surfers Paradise, the first hotel to be built on the Gold
Coast since 2000.

AAP bart/jpm

KEYWORD: RAPTIS

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

Cyc: McConnell, Starr finish early

AAP General News (Australia)
08-23-2008
Cyc: McConnell, Starr finish early

BEIJING, Aug 23 AAP - Australians Daniel McConnell and Dellys Starr finished their
Olympic mountain bike races early today as searing heat made for brutal conditions.

French star Julien Absalon successfully defended his Olympic title and German Sabine
Spitz also rode strongly to win the women's race at Laoshan.

Under race rules, McConnell and Starr were pulled from their races with two laps left
because of the 80 per cent rule which means riders that are too far behind are pulled
out.

They were given finishing places - McConnell was 39th out of 48 and Starr was last out of 26.

Starr was suffering heat stress but recovered quickly without the need for an intravenous drip.

This was the Olympic debut for the two Australians and today's racing also ended the
Beijing Games cycling schedule.

AAP rhv/tdw

KEYWORD: OLY08 CYC AUST LEAD

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

What Australian newspapers say on Friday, April 18, 2008

AAP General News (Australia)
04-18-2008
What Australian newspapers say on Friday, April 18, 2008

SYDNEY, April 18 AAP - Ideas have been thin on the ground in the oceans of newsprint
devoted to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's 2020 Summit, says today's editorial in the Australian
Financial Review.

Participants in the Canberra event, says the paper, have been scrambling over each
other to plant their 2020 standards in the national capital's unpromising soil.

"But virtually all the good ideas we hear have been around for many years, waiting
for governments - state and federal - with the wit and courage to put them into practice,"

says the paper.

"This applies to health reform, climate and water policy, education and training, social
inclusion and indigenous affairs, tax and economic policy, federation and national security."

The Fin Review says it wishes the summiteers well and hopes for some moments of inspiration
amid all the furious agreement.



The Australian says Kevin Rudd's child centre vision has raised the uncomfortable prospect
that the 2020 Summit will be little more than a celebration of motherhood.

This impression, says the paper, is bolstered by Maxine McKew's suggestion that the
summit focus on the difficulty of looking after children during school holidays.

Both issues - better facilities for young children and improving the work-home life
balance - will strike a chord with many voters, says The Australian.

"It is difficult to criticise either without appearing to be hard-hearted. But you do
not need a two-day summit of critical thinkers to put them on the political agenda," the
paper says.

Perhaps, says The Australian, this is why the Prime Minister has cast the net wide
in his bid to "unleash the national imagination from beyond the ranks of politics and
the public service" to build "a national consensus around a common vision with common
goals to aim for within the vision".

The Australian expectations of the 2020 Summit are not very high.

"The gabfest is probably best viewed in the context of a new government wanting to
be seen to be listening to the community, in the same way it is holding cabinet meetings
outside Canberra," the paper says.



The main editorial in Melbourne's The Age newspaper says Prime Minister Rudd's announcement
about a national childcare scheme on the eve of the 2020 Summit "raises questions about
what he really expects to happen there".

"Mr Rudd's childcare proposal, although sketchy on details, already looks suspiciously
like policy," says The Age.

"And it is policy that touches on the concerns of several of the summit's individual
subject areas: communities and families, productivity, the future of the economy and,
not least, governance, because its successful implementation will require a co-ordination
of effort by all three tiers of government.

"So if Mr Rudd intends to present this `proposal to the summit, it will presumably
have to be considered by all of these separate forums.

"Will it take precedence over discussion of other proposals that the participants may
have assumed they would be able to raise from the floor? the paper asks.

"And are there any other proto-policies disguised as 'proposals' that the Prime Minister
or other ministers intend to raise?

"If the answer to either or both of these questions is 'yes', the so-called open debate
about options for the future will in fact become a sounding board for the Government's
undeclared agenda.

"Options will be few, debate truncated and openness non-existent."



A Sydney Morning Herald editorial, meanwhile, says South Africa's President Thabo
Mbeki owes the world an explanation for his extraordinary support of Robert Mugabe's regime
in Zimbabwe.

Until polling day, says the Herald, Mr Mbeki could rightly claim some of the credit
for pressuring Mr Mugabe to allow the people's voice to be heard.

But from the moment Mr Mugabe signalled his intention to ignore the popular vote and
retain power by fair means or foul, Mr Mbeki has colluded in the treachery.

"Mr Mbeki's African National Congress has long acknowledged that support from the West
played a crucial role in the South African freedom movements's triumph over apartheid
in 1994, says the Herald.

"Now, when Africans in a neighbouring country are starved and tortured by a dictator
every bit as tyrannical as anything the apartheid regime ever produced, Mr Mbeki stands
with the dictator.



The lead editorial in the Herald Sun says Melbourne commuters deserve better security
at railway stations.

It follows reports of a big spike in the number of assaults and incidents of unruly
behaviour at unstaffed railway stations.

"Passengers have sometimes had to run a gauntlet of youths spitting and throwing rocks,"

the editorial says.

"This rise in violence and vandalism appears to coincide with an increase in patronage
at some of the city's busiest stations."

The Rail, Tram and Bus Union has identified 56 stations in Melbourne as places of
drug and alcohol abuse, vandalism, graffiti and rock-throwing, the editorial says.

"People have responded to Victorian government calls to use trains to travel to and
from work to cut down the congestion on the roads," it says.

"But they are entitled to travel safely, and this alarming report will encourage transport
unions to call for the most dangerous stations to be staffed.

"There is a compelling case for the Victorian government to tell train operator Connex
to do so, and quickly.

"Passengers have waited too long for improvements to train services and deserve to
feel secure when they do catch a train."



Under the headline "Messaging gone mad", an editorial in the Brisbane Courier Mail
says it's no surprise that British researchers have found that internal emails reduce
time spent on productive work.

Of equal concern, says the paper, is the impact emails and other electronic communication
has on productive leisure.

How often, it asks, is a restaurant meal, a social outing or even a night in front
of the television interrupted by the warble of a BlackBerry or the buzz of a mobile phone?

"More importantly, how often does the message matter? asks the Courier.

"The researchers suggest workplaces ban messages that can be delivered directly by,
perhaps, walking across an office. The same should apply out of the office. Text or email
if it matters. Otherwise keep your counsel"!



Finally, a mini editorial in the Sydney Daily Telegraph notes that the Federal Government
is planning to spend $16 billion buying 100 INVISIBLE stealth fighters from the US.

"How will they count them? the paper asks.

AAP it/

KEYWORD: EDITORIALS

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

FED; PwC $10 million sexual harassment case to start in May

AAP General News (Australia)
12-13-2007
FED; PwC $10 million sexual harassment case to start in May

A 10 million dollar sexual harassment case brought against accounting giant PricewaterhouseCoopers
.. has been set down for hearing in Sydney next May.

Former PwC partner CHRISTINA RICH is suing the firm .. claiming she was sexually harassed
.. discriminated against .. victimised and bullied.

She's seeking 10 million dollars from PwC for damage to her reputation .. loss of clients
.. lost earnings and counselling.

She's detailed a series of alleged sexual harassment incidents spanning from 1999 to 2004.

The company's denied the claims.

Opening addresses will be heard in the Federal Court on May 29.

AAP RTV mss/hn/tm/bart

KEYWORD: RICH (SYDNEY)

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

Fed: No employee will lose if AWAs are scrapped: Rudd

AAP General News (Australia)
04-30-2007
Fed: No employee will lose if AWAs are scrapped: Rudd

CANBERRA, April 30 AAP - Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd has promised no employee on an
Australian workplace agreement (AWA) will be worse off as a result of his pledge to scrap
the controversial contracts.

Mr Rudd offered the guarantee tonight while defending aspects of his industrial relations
(IR) policies.

He said he would release details closer to the election about what would happen to
the working arrangements of employees already on AWAs if Labor won office.

"When we put out our transitional arrangements, and that's still to come some time
down the track, let me make it very clear that we will ensure that anyone who's currently
on an AWA will be no worse off when it comes to their take-home pay and conditions," he
told ABC Television.

"We're confident we can engineer transitional arrangements along those lines."

Mr Rudd's promise follows concerns expressed by Western Australian Premier Alan Carpenter
about the impact a future federal Labor government's IR changes could have on the state's
mining sector.

Mr Rudd tonight rejected accusations Labor's proposed new industrial umpire, Fair Work
Australia, would be tilted in favour of the union movement.

He vowed not to stack Fair Work Australia and other public institutions, including
the ABC, with political appointees.

"I will not be prime minister of this country and appoint some endless tribe of trade
union officials or ex-trade union officials to staff the key positions in this body,"

he said.

"People will be appointed on their merit but I'm not going to turn this into an employment
agency for retired officials from the ACTU."

The Howard government had "prostituted" Australia's public institutions and Labor would
restore their integrity and independence, Mr Rudd said.

He defended his approach to industrial relations against big business bosses' claims
that Labor's policy would simply wind back the clock.

Labor would require secret ballots before strike action and prohibit industry-wide
industrial action, he said.

Mr Rudd gave Electrical Trades Union leader Dean Mighell a dressing down for describing
Prime Minister John Howard as "a skid mark on the bedsheet of Australian politics".

"His comments the other day attacking the prime minister, using filthy language, were
in my view unacceptable and not reflective of the sentiment of the Australian Labor movement,"

Mr Rudd said.

"That sort of approach is just outdated, wrong and belongs to a different century."

AAP dcr/cdh

KEYWORD: WORKPLACE RUDD

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

NSW: English cricket fans welcome the New Year in Sydney

AAP General News (Australia)
12-31-2006
NSW: English cricket fans welcome the New Year in Sydney

It's Sydney's night of nights .. famed for bringing New Year's cheer to people from
all corners of the world .. even to weary English cricket fans.

Spontaneous and not too spontaneous street parties have broken out along the Sydney
harbour foreshore as hundreds of thousands of people await the countdown to midnight.

And among them are partygoers from all over the world and Australia .. including the
odd Barmy Army member.

AAP RTV ab/krc/klw/wz

KEYWORD: EVE ENGLISH (SYDNEY)

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

NSW: Sydney Uni staff to hold mass meeting about AWAs today

AAP General News (Australia)
08-23-2006
NSW: Sydney Uni staff to hold mass meeting about AWAs today

SYDNEY, Aug 23 AAP - Staff at the University of Sydney will hold a mass meeting today
to call for an end to attempts by management to push staff onto Australian Workplace Agreements
(AWAs).

The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) said more than 150 people were expected
to attend the meeting at the university this afternoon.

NTEU state secretary Chris Game said staff were angry about government interference
in the university sector and pressure from the university to sign AWAs.

"We will get a significant number of our members at Sydney University turning up to
that meeting because the majority of them are fairly angry about the position taken by
the university, to be so aggressive in terms of marketing these AWAs," Mr Game said.

The NTEU said the university planned to develop 14 versions of non-negotiable AWAs
for different categories of staff, and would engage consultants from other industries
to manage and promote the AWA rollout.

Mr Game said the university also had indicated it wanted to streamline disciplinary
and dismissal procedures.

"(The want to) remove the ability of members to be represented when they're under disciplinary
procedures and also to remove any rights of appeal," he said.

"Also, the university has indicated they want to streamline the capacity of the university
to be able to dismiss staff."

Mr Game said the aim of the meeting was to inform staff about their rights and options
when asked to sign an AWA.

"We're hoping to achieve an increased awareness amongst the members and the overall
staff of the university that AWAs are a bad thing, they undermine the terms and conditions
of employment that have been secured for staff, and they should not sign an AWA," he said.

"Basically, what the university is offering is a contract that will see staff who take
up an AWA losing all of the protections they currently have under the enterprise agreement."

AAP acb/cmc

KEYWORD: UNI

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

NSW: Couple airlifted to safety after boat capsizes

AAP General News (Australia)
04-16-2006
NSW: Couple airlifted to safety after boat capsizes

SYDNEY, April 16 AAP - A Sydney couple has been airlifted to safety after their boat
capsized in Botany Bay.

The pair, from Rockdale in Sydney's south, were on their six-metre cabin cruiser today
when it was hit by a freak wave, throwing them into the water.

The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter was called at 11.20am (AEST) and found the
pair, both in their mid-50s, clinging to rocks near a beach.

The couple was treated for cuts and hypothermia by the chopper's medical crew before
being airlifted to a waiting ambulance, a helicopter spokesman said.

They were taken to Prince of Wales Hospital and are in a stable condition.

AAP ag/rj/nf

KEYWORD: CAPSIZE

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

Qld: 45,000 homes without power after storm hits Brisbane

AAP General News (Australia)
12-18-2005
Qld: 45,000 homes without power after storm hits Brisbane

Crews have worked through the night to restore power to about 45 thousand homes blacked
out by yesterday's thunderstorm over south-east Queensland.

The storm .. the 18th to hit the region in two months .. brought heavy rain .. winds
of up to 95 kilometres .. and two thousand lightning strikes from Beenleigh, Laidley,
Gatton and Toowoomba .. to Brisbane and the coast.

A 22-year-old man on Russell Island was hit .. but was able to return home after treatment
.. while a block of units and a home in Brisbane were unroofed .. cars damaged .. and
trees uprooted.

An Energex spokeswoman says the remaining couple of hundred homes without power in
Brisbane's northern suburbs and on Russell Island .. should have electricity by noon.

AAP RTV ch/jmt

KEYWORD: STORMS QLD (BRISBANE)

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

Fed: Cabinet to debate Telstra sale as parliament resumes

AAP General News (Australia)
08-14-2005
Fed: Cabinet to debate Telstra sale as parliament resumes

CANBERRA, Aug 14 AAP - The federal government's controversial plan to sell Telstra
should take a step forward this week with cabinet to debate the precise details of the
sale.

The Telstra sale plan is expected to be top of cabinet's agenda when it meets on Tuesday,
the same day parliament resumes for the second week of its spring session.

The debate by cabinet comes after Telstra's chief executive Sol Trujillo last week
urged the government to chip in to a $5 billion plan to roll out hi-tech services to the
bush.

Prime Minister John Howard has sent the plan off to be reviewed by government experts,
who will then advise cabinet.

However Communications Minister Helen Coonan has questioned why taxpayers should contribute
to the plan when Telstra should fix up problems with its existing network.

She has also appeared reluctant to meet Telstra's call to relax the amount of regulations
it is subject to.

Cabinet is expected to consider suggestions on how best to proceed with the sale based
on recommendations laid out in an 1,100 page scoping study.

The study has come up with a range of recommendations on the timing of the sale, its
structure and the type of shares to be offered.

However the likelihood of Senator Coonan sticking to her plan of introducing legislation
for the sale to parliament this month is diminishing.

Senator Coonan last month flagged the legislation could be ready by August, but this
week is the last parliament will sit for the month.

Last week Senator Coonan said while it was still possible the legislation could be
introduced in August there were many other issues with the sale that needed to be addressed.

The Telstra sale is also expected to feature heavily in outspoken Nationals senator
Barnaby Joyce's first speech to the Senate on Thursday.

Senator Joyce is so far standing by his threat to vote against the sale unless Telstra's
services in the bush improve.

He is also concerned about the government's plan to abolish compulsory university student
union fees and workplace reforms.

Debate on the push to abolish compulsory student union fees will resume in the lower
house this week.

And more than 500 trucks are expected to converge on Canberra as part of a protest
by the Transport Workers Union against the government's workplace reforms.

The union says the convoy will be the largest mobile demonstration against the planned
changes to industrial relations laws.

AAP bt/oek/jlw

KEYWORD: PARLY PREVIEW

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

Endeavors Technology To Promote On-Demand Streaming Applications and Enterprise Collaboration Solutions With HP.

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

Irvine, Calif. & Cambridge, U.K.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 22, 2003

Endeavors Technology, developer of Web-enabling solutions for enterprise network infrastructures, today announces its participation in an HP program aimed at facilitating cross intranet and Internet streaming of applications on-demand to the desktop, and corporate deployment of secure collaboration solutions.

The Irvine, Calif. company has joined HP's Developer and Solution Partner Program (DSPP), gaining early access to HP's emerging Web services technologies and proactive marketing programs. As a DSPP partner, Endeavors will leverage HP's programs to develop, promote and deliver new enterprise network solutions. These include Endeavors' on-demand Web-applications delivery solution, instant messaging software for secure cross-platform communications between popular IM platforms, and its Magi Enterprise collaboration product for secure device-to-device interaction on corporate knowledge.

A flagship product of Endeavors is Magi Application Express. The solution allows IT managers to stream rich multi-megabyte applications from central servers to desktops and other devices in seconds. It also enables IT managers to maintain currency in applications used at the client level within and beyond their network infrastructures, eliminates the need to regularly deploy security software patches and updates across network devices, and helps them to tightly manage licensing agreements with any software vendor.

Fundamental to Endeavors' vision of businesses interacting securely and directly on corporate knowledge from any location at any time from any device, is developing and marketing world class automated on-demand application delivery products. These solutions help businesses achieve new levels of productivity without disruption to existing enterprise network infrastructures.

"Our work with HP enhances Endeavors' ability to deliver the security, mobility and resource efficiencies needed by enterprises today to harness the full power of Web-driven technology," said Bernard Hulme, chairman and CEO of Endeavors Technology.

About Endeavors Technology Inc.

Endeavors Technology Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tadpole Technology plc (LSE:TAD)(www.tadpole.com), which has offices in Irvine (Calif.), and Cambridge, Edinburgh and Bristol (U.K.). Endeavors' Magi technology transforms today's Web into a highly secure inter- and intra-enterprise collaboration network for the delivery and interaction of files, Windows applications and instant messaging. For further information on Endeavors' Web software, call 949/833-2800, e-mail to info@endeavors.com, or visit the company's Web site www.endeavors.com.

Copyright(c)2003 Endeavors Technology Inc. Magi and Magi Application Express are registered trademarks of Endeavors Technology. All other companies, products and services mentioned in this document are trademarks of their respective owners.

Market Axess Launches Trading Platform and Adds Credit Suisse First Boston and Lehman Brothers as Strategic Partners.

Combined Market Share In Target Global Credit Products Establishes

Leadership Role

NEW YORK, Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ --

Market Axess today launched the world's most comprehensive fixed income trading platform and announced the addition of Credit Suisse First Boston and Lehman Brothers as strategic partners. Market Axess is transforming fixed income markets by creating the market standard global trading platform for connecting institutional investors with leading securities dealers.

With the addition of two more global fixed income leaders, Market Axess' combined market share in its target credit products totals approximately 40%. At launch, the platform has 750 corporate bond issues, and over $5 billion in available inventory.

The Market Axess model offers the following benefits:

-- Efficiency - Faster, customized access to information and trade

execution

-- Research - Includes more than 3,000 research reports

-- Product range - Comprehensive and growing range of global fixed income

products

-- Market share - Market Axess dealers have approximately 40% share across

target fixed income markets

-- Price competitiveness - Simultaneous price discovery across dealers

-- Liquidity - Commitment of dealer capital to provide institutional

investors with a central trading place

-- Improved price transparency - Commingled new issue and secondary

markets

-- Exportable audit trails and trade confirmations

Market Axess, Chief Executive Officer Richard McVey, stated, "Our market leading dealer partners are bringing solutions to the fixed income market that benefit all participants. The power of aggregation of product capabilities and liquidity delivered over the Internet makes Market Axess an essential destination for all institutional investors."

Lehman Brothers and Credit Suisse First Boston Join Market Axess Board

Lehman Brothers and Credit Suisse First Boston will actively influence Market Axess' global strategy through their involvement in the Board of Directors. They join Bear Stearns, Chase, Deutsche Bank and LabMorgan, the e-finance unit of J.P.Morgan on the global Board. Other Market Axess equity holders include ABN Amro and UBS Warburg.

"Market Axess is an ideal delivery mechanism for our entire credit content. We aggressively embrace the Market Axess model because we feel it is consistent with serving the needs of the institutional constituencies who have expressed desire for aggregation of research, more price transparency and trading protocol which provide for crisp market executions," said Rick Rieder, Co-Head of Global Credit for Lehman Brothers.

Stephen Hester, Head of the Fixed Income Division at Credit Suisse First Boston, stated, "CSFB is pleased to be involved in the creation of a powerful electronic trading platform for global fixed income products. By creating global linkage between market makers and investors, Market Axess will help us all change the way fixed income markets operate."

Products

Market Axess' target markets include U.S. and European high grade corporate, high yield, emerging market, agency and municipal debt. An important capability of the Market Axess platform is the aggregation of dealer research. Currently, Market Axess includes more than 3,000 research reports. Market Axess participating dealers comprise two-thirds of the All-America Fixed-Income research teams included in the recent edition of Institutional Investor.

Craig Mitchell, Senior Vice President for American General, an institutional investor that manages approximately $62 billion in fixed income assets and an institutional client of the Market Axess system stated, "Market Axess is the solution we have been looking for to organize and consolidate credit market information. The platform allows investors to more efficiently utilize the services offered by the participating dealers. This is a step forward in improving liquidity in the fixed income markets. A broad service, multi-dealer site is a win for clients."

About Market Axess

Market Axess (http://www.marketaxess.com) is an Internet-based multi-dealer research and distribution platform for credit products that offers institutional investors access to comprehensive and market-leading range of securities, price competitiveness and seamless trade processing.

The firm has partnered with MoneyLine, a leading Internet provider of financial content, data and trading systems, to build the execution engines and Multex.com through its MultexEXPRESS ASP to customize investment research delivery.

An investigation of factors influencing e-commerce.(Report)

1. INTRODUCTION

The recent reports show that e-commerce has continued to evolve since 2001. The basis for the steady increase in e-commerce sales will be discussed later throughout the paper. The retail sector accounts for 78% of all e-commerce (Winters, Davie, Detlefsen, 2010). The Internet's evolution has been astonishing. Currently, the Internet is primarily a source of communication, information, and entertainment, but increasingly it is becoming a potential vehicle for commercial transactions. There is also the growing ease of accessibility to the Internet with wireless connections and mobile devices, anytime, anywhere.

Table 1 shows the strong continuous growth of e-commerce. The data indicate strong presence of e-commerce "percent changes from the same quarter a year ago" in U.S retail sales. The percent change in e-commerce retail sales is well above total retail sales showing the future direction and growth potential of e-commerce.

2. FACTORS INFLUENCING ONLINE PURCHASING BEHAVIOR

Studies indicate that people shop online for the convenience factor- being able to shop at any time of day virtually anywhere in which the Internet could be accessed. According to Rox (Rox, 2007). the following are the top reasons people shop online:

1. It's always open

2. To save time and multitask

3. Easier to comparison shop and search for low prices

4. Easy to find what you're looking for

5. Additional product information and feedback is available for research

6. Don't have to fight the crowds or weather

According to a Nielsen Online Service online shopping's primary appeal is its convenience. The ability to shop anytime during the day was reported as the top reason people chose to shop online (81%), followed by saving time (77%), and the ability to comparison shop (61%) and find things easily (56%) (Rox 2007). Two of the lower ranked reasons for shopping online were low prices (46%) and low shipping costs (24%) (Bausch, McGiboney, 2007).

The graph below is another indicator of how retail e-commerce sales, as a percent of total quarterly retail sales, has steadily increased from 2001 to 2010. The steady growth shows e-commerce's strong future prevalence in the retail sector.

[GRAPHIC OMITTED]

An aspect that may go unnoticed when determining factors that may influence online shopping behavior is generational differences. Generation differences in attitudes and ideas can impact purchasing behavior. Generation Y (those born between 1976 and 1994) were raised in a media-saturated and brand-conscious world (Lester, Forman, Loyd, 2006). The Internet is their most preferred medium of choice, and they are able to use it with ease. Generation Y will switch their loyalty in an instant to marketers who can manage to get ahead of the style curve. Their market savvyness and minimal susceptibility to brand images leaves marketers faced with a difficult challenge when attempting to appeal to this group. Consumers place high expectations on vendors when making a purchase. Vendors must be superior to other vendors in alternative shopping modes in order to be noticed and contacted by customers. Characteristics important in electronic transactions include (i) Reliability, (ii) Convenience in terms of services offered, and (iii) Perceived price competitiveness and easy access of information offered by Web vendors in comparison to alternative shopping modes.

Reliability refers to a "willingness to rely on an exchange partner in whom one has confidence." If an e-tailer is perceived as honest, consistent, competent, fair, responsible and helpful, people will feel more confident in participating in electronic commerce. The perceived convenience of shopping includes time, space and effort saved by a consumer and ease of placing and cancelling orders, returns and refunds and timely delivery of orders (Swaminathan, Lepkowska-White, Rao, 2006). Perceived price competitiveness refers to the ease of obtaining price comparisons, which increases competition across suppliers. The endless source of information on the Web can enhance the experience with detailed product information and reviews (Swaminathan, Lepkowska-White, Rao, 2006).

3. FACTORS DETERRING ONLINE PURCHASING BEHAVIOR

On the contrary, the Internet represents a unique selling medium that does not allow consumers to use their senses during their purchasing. Sense of touch is one of the primary reasons why apparel sales on the Internet are comparatively slow (Pendle, Stiles, 2008). According to the NPD Group, some 85% of shoppers were deterred from purchasing clothing online in 2007 because they could not try the product on (Pendle, Stiles, 2008). There are several issues that make it difficult for the online retailer to sell products. They include:

* Consumers are reluctant to exchange personal information, such as credit card details, and email addresses with retailers

* Consumer loyalty is hard to earn and retain

* Online return policies are often not consumer-centric and deter buyers

* The costs associated with customer acquisition are often high and without guaranteed retention

According to Pendle and Stiles, the following are factors contribute to lost online sales revenue, which was estimated to be over US $3 billion in 2007 (Pendle, Stiles, 2008).

3.1. Personal information exchange

While US consumers find shopping online convenient, they do not like using their credit card to make online purchases. "According to the Pew Internet & American Life Projects' survey conducted in September 2007, 78% of respondents felt shopping online was convenient; 68% felt shopping online saved then time; and 75% did not like using their personal credit card online" (Pendle, Stiles, 2008).

3.2. Customer Loyalty

Online sales (in particular online sales of apparel) have expanded considerably since 2005. A recent study conducted by iMarketing News revealed that during 2006, consumers making online apparel purchases predominately bought from specialty stores (Pendle, Stiles, 2008). Conversely, overall consumer loyalty is said to be decreasing with 61% of consumers showing brand loyalty in 2005, and only 46% in 2006 (Pendle, Stiles, 2008).

3.3. Online returns policies

According to a May 2007 article in the New York Times, consumers return as much as 30% of merchandise purchased online. This amounted to almost US $7 billion for e-tailers in 2007, and this percentage is expected to increase in the future unless online shopping is to become more effective (Pendle, Stiles, 2008). It is important that any online business has a customer-centric return policy in place that encourages buying with confidence rather than deterring would-be buyers.

Online retailers continue to search for ways to improve customer's experiences with their sites. 3D tools and other innovative technologies are available to make the shoppers' experience more rewarding and enjoyable and even give them more of a realistic feel for shopping (Pendle, Stiles, 2008). Two of the biggest problems faced by consumers are that images are only two-dimensional, and that often sizing charts are ineffective. Online businesses need to improve their websites' capabilities and allow consumers to view more than one garment, for example viewing a blouse and a skirt together as a consumer would in a bricks-and-mortar store if the consumer wanted to buy an outfit. Some e-tailers offer a 360 degree viewing and zoom technology which helps with purchasing decisions, however, a great deal more is needed to improve the overall consumer experience online.

4. SECURITY AND PRIVACY CONCERNS

A consumer survey on e-commerce shows that concern for privacy is the leading concern of e-commerce. Research indicates that the intent to purchase rather than merely browsing online increases in direct association with a sense of security and comfort (Swaminathan, Lepkowska-White, Rao, 2006). While security is a concern, privacy is the overriding issue with consumers. The security dimension assesses the degree to which the consumer believes that the site is safe regarding payment methods such as financial risk that refers to the uncertainty of incurring monetary losses while interacting on a website (Roman, 2007). The privacy dimension, on the other hand, is very similar to the concept of information risk in which uncertainty is associated with providing personal information on a website and the risk of such information being exposed. Luckily for online retailers, convenience overrides concerns of privacy (Swaminathan, Lepkowska-White, Rao, 2006).

Consumers must have trust and confidence in the e-tailer to feel comfortable sharing personal information over the Web. Many consumer concerns regarding the inherent safety of financial transactions online have been resolved through the development of sophisticated encryption programs. Still, many consumers require additional assurance that their information will be protected. Security concerns include, retailer disclosures, information risk, product risk, familiarity with the retailer and the product

The above security concerns cause consumers to be hesitant and cautious of online transactions due to privacy concerns regarding use of information, anonymity, the perception of direct marketing, privacy laws, and control over their personal information. "Online retailers have to make concerted efforts to allay these fears by offering clear guidelines to consumers on their online security and privacy policies, limits of consumer liability in the case of fraudulent transactions, and offer alternate payment mechanisms through toll-free phone numbers, customer representatives, etc." (Swaminathan, Lepkowska-White, Rao, 2006).

5. FACTORS INFLUENCING E-COMMERCE

Retailers will be expected to satisfy shoppers better if they can understand and address their motivations. Studies reveal a paradigm shift in Americans shopping behavior, demanding an innovative and engaging experience in-store and online. While products are no longer the differentiator among retailers, they must take steps to stand out by focusing on the overall quality of the experience (Chang, Yuan, Hsu, 2010). By creating a process that involves consumers in the design and development of a product, a company can ensure that the product meets the consumers' needs, and allows for a sense of ownership among the customers, thus leading to customer loyalty (Chang, Yuan, Hsu, 2010). E-tailers can continue to evolve and expand their customer base by continuing to develop creative experiences with online purchasing. Social networking is quickly growing, especially among the female demographic. Traditional e-commerce lacks the social aspect that a trip to the local mall fulfills (Chang, Yuan, Hsu, 2010).

According to Creating the Experience Economy in E-Commerce, customization and personalization are key attributes to ensuring a positive experience. "The more personalization a business manages to create, the more the customer will be prepared to spend." (Chang, Yuan, Hsu, 2010). This can include personalization of the website, product suggestions, and even customized products which create a sense of ownership among customers and lead to intense customer loyalty. There are several such examples of this, including (i)Customizing sneakers on Nike.com, (ii) Designing house interiors on e-interior design services, (iii) Contributing to Youtube being a part in the global community, and (iv) Online gaming.

Companies that focus on the customer's experience are offering a platform that allows people to immerse themselves through their positive experiences with their brand (Chang, Yuan, Hsu, 2010). Social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter allow for a sense of community and personalization as well- an experience that people enjoy. Many companies are using these social networking sites to gain awareness and reach.

An E-study conducted by BizRate Research found that free shipping without conditions is one of the biggest draws to pull browsers in to become buyers (Rox, 2007). This study also found the three-quarters of businesses offer periodic free shipping with conditions, free shipping upgrades, or discounted shipping throughout the year. Another way to increase the draw of online shopping is to offer online-only sales and promotions. The major draw will continue to be the convenience aspect, which will keep consumers coming back for more.

6. FUTURE OF E-COMMERCE

Recent studies have shown that the majority of online shopping is done by men, who tend to have a more favorable perception of online shopping (a quick alternative to physically going to the store). E-tailers can begin to develop what is known as "social e-shopping" to gain a competitive advantage within the female market. A case study in the UK revealed that young women who enjoyed the social aspect of the traditional shopping malls- interactions with friends, socializing, feedback, etc, lack this fulfillment when using e-commerce sites (Dennis, Morgan, Wright, Jayawardhena, 2010). When the women used a site that was more social-network orientated, their level of satisfaction, enjoyment, and attitudes towards buying on-line increased. The social e-shopping sites allow for customers to create groups, lists, style-files and meet people (shopping friends) while shopping multiple sites at once (Dennis, Morgan, Wright, Jayawardhena, 2010).

For decades, retailers and researchers understood that shopping is not just for obtaining tangible products, but also about the experience and entertainment. Two types of shoppers exist Utilitarian and Hedonic. Utilitarian shoppers can be characterized as those who shop with a purpose, while hedonic shoppers view shopping as an outlet to fulfill their emotional and social needs. A recent study revealed that young women both utilitarian and hedonic shoppers preferred the social e-shopping site to the traditional e-shopping (Dennis, Morgan, Wright, Jayawardhena, 2010). The study demonstrated the potential edge that competitors can gain through this new concept of incorporating social aspects in their websites, attracting more young women to purchase and use their sites over traditional e-commerce sites.

The future of social e-shopping has vast potential in today's world. E-tailers may be able to improve the usefulness of their e-shopping websites by incorporating image interactivity systems allowing customers to visualize themselves wearing clothes or trying on make-up with virtual mirrors collaborating with websites such as My Virtual Model and EZface. Social e-shopping can be publicized through virtual marketing, blogs, Facebook, Twitter, etc. The ease of use of social e-shopping can be improved by systems to ensure a single log-on and payment account for all participating retailers, verses having to log on separate to each individual store. A survey from the National Retail Federation, concludes that online shoppers have traditionally been bargain hunters focused primarily on price and free shipping, but today's online shopper has "deeper pockets and greater technological sophistication" (Dealerscope, 2011). "Today's online shopper will spend 24.6% more than average adults ($858.49 for online shoppers vs. $688.87 for all adults), and this group is apt to make non-gift purchases for themselves (61.4% of online shoppers vs. 57.1% of adults)" (Dealerscope, 2011).

7. CONCLUSION

Internet retail sales represent a vital and steadily growing portion of commercial sales. As online shopping becomes safer and more secure, this alternative shopping avenue is becoming increasingly attractive for consumers today- especially with added convenience and unlimited options at their fingertips on the World Wide Web with the use of mobile devices.

Privacy, security, and retailer reliability will remain a concern to consumers; the level of these concerns is what can be improved upon as time goes on. Creating a memorable experience online will help e-commerce sites attract more shoppers online and retain them with the low loyalty that exists. Customization is proven to enhance customers experience as the future of e-shopping, social e-shopping, will be attractive to those that prefer the emotional aspects that come with traditional shopping and a well-rounded shopping experience. Marketers must focus on creating a memorable experience for the consumer in addition to addressing and minimizing privacy concerns in order to turn browsers into buyers in cyber space.

REFERENCES:

Bausch, S., McGiboney, M. Convenience, Not Price, Drives Online Holiday Shopping, According to Nielsen Online Pre-Holiday Survey. November 20, 2007. http://www.nielsenonline.com/pr/pr_071120.pdf

Chang, W., Yuan, S., Hsu, C. Creating the Experience Economy in E-Commerce. July 1, 2010. http://cacm.acm.org/magazines/2010/7/95069-creating-the -experience-economy-in-e-commerce/

Dealerscope. New Online Tools And Featuers Drive Sales. 1 Jan. 2011: ABI/INFORM Global, ProQuest. http://libdb.sjfc.edu:2500/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/ pqdweb?did=2246907621&sid=14 &Fmt=3&cli entId=4463&RQT=309&VName=PQD

Dennis, C., Morgan, A., Wright, L., Jayawardhena, C. The Influences of Social E-shopping in Enhancing Young Women's Online Shopping Behaviour. Westburn Publishers Ltd. Journal of Customer Behaviour, Volume 9, Issue 2, Summer 2010, pp. 151-174.

Lester, D., Forman, A., Loyd, D. Internet Shopping and Buying Behavior of College Students. Services Marketing Quarterly, Volume 27, Issue 2 January 2006, pp123 -138.

Pendle, F., Stiles, R. Global market review of online apparel retailing--forecasts to 2014: 2008 edition: The difficulties and considerations of online selling. Just--Style : Global market review of online apparel retailing. 1 July 2008. ABI/INFORM Global, ProQuest. http://libdb.sjfc.edu:2500/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/ pqdweb?did=1521889641&sid=11 &Fmt=3&cli entId=4463&RQT=309&VName=PQD

Roman, Sergio. The Ethics of Online Retailing: A Scale Development and Validation from the Consumers' Perspective. Journal of Business Ethics 72.2 (2007): 131-148. ABI/INFORM Global, ProQuest. http://libdb.sjfc.edu:2500/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/ pqdweb?did=1239584061&sid=7& Fmt=6&clie ntId=4463&RQT=309&VName=PQD

Rox, H. Top Reasons People Shop Online May Surprise You, Nov. 26 2007. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/459412/ top_reasons_people_shop_online_may.html?c at=3

Swaminathan, V., Lepkowska-White, E., Rao, B. Browsers or Buyers in Cyberspace? An Investigation of Factors Influencing Electronic Exchange. June 23, 2006 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1083-6101.1999.tb00335.x/ abstract

Winters, T., Detlefsen, R., Davie, W. US Census Bureau News. November 17, 2010. http://www.census.gov/retail/mrts/www/data/pdf/ec_current.pdf

Farrokh Mamaghani, St. John Fisher College, Rochester, New York, USA

Table 1. Estimated Quarterly U.S. Retail Sales: Totaland E-commerce (1) (Estimates are based on data from theMonthly Retail Trade Survey and administrative records.)                           Retail Sales      E-commerce                      (millions of dollars)     as a                                             Percent of      Quarter          Total    E-commerce     TotalAdjusted3rd quarter 2010(p)   978,731     41,525        4.22nd quarter 2010(r)   971,384     39,941        4.11st quarter 2010      960,469     38,719        4.04th quarter 2009      940,708     38,141        4.13rd quarter 2009(r)   923,211     36,540        4.0Not Adjusted3rd quarter 2010(p)   980,226     38,843        4.02nd quarter 2010(r)   989,229     37,385        3.81st quarter 2010      896,741     36,680        4.14th quarter 20O9      985,649     45,199        4.63rd quarter 2009      926,265     34,031        3.7                                                Percent Change                          Percent Change       From Same Quarter                        From Prior Quarter        A Year Ago      Quarter          Total    E-commerce    Total    E-commerceAdjusted3rd quarter 2010(p)     0.8        4.0         6.0        13.62nd quarter 2010(r)     1.1        3.2         7.5        14.71st quarter 2010        2.1        1.5         6.3        14.34th quarter 2009        1.9        4.4         2.1        14.63rd quarter 2009(r)     2.1         49        -7.8        1.6Not Adjusted3rd quarter 2010(p)    -0.9        3.9         5.8        14.12nd quarter 2010(r)    10.3        1.9         7.6        14.11st quarter 2010       -9.0       -13.8        6.8        14.24th quarter 20O9        6.4        32.8        2.0        15.03rd quarter 2009        0.7        3.9        -8.0        1.6(p) Preliminary estimate. (r) Revised estimate.

Cambio to Wow Canadian Teens.

AOL Canada Ramps up Efforts to Deliver Canadian Fan Base to Cambio - an Online Entertainment Site Dedicated to Providing Unique Programming for Teens and Young Adults

TORONTO -- AOL Canada introduces Canadian teens to Cambio, an online entertainment destination that allows fans to connect with their favorite celebrities and combines original programming with interactivity to offer "entertainment 2.0" for teens. The website, launched last July in the United States, is the result of a partnership between AOL, The Jonas Group and MGX Lab.

Cambio features up to the minute news on today's brightest stars and original online specials and series including Live Chats with fan favorites Demi Lovato and Joe Jonas; live streaming of Red Carpet Events such as Disney's Prom Premiere; and an inside look at the childhood homes of top celebrities, like Matthew Morrison, in Cambio Goes Home.

The goal of Cambio is to offer a next-generation online network that fuses exclusive video, information, social interaction, and compelling entertainment taking teens from Fans to Friends.

Cambio resonated as a premium advertising opportunity for Toronto agency, J3 and they turned to Neutrogena([R]) to be a partner in this endeavour. As a result, this summer, Cambio is partnering with Neutrogena for their Canadian campaign "One Less Stress" and will feature video interviews with celebrities on topics that matter to them and on how they cope with stress in their busy lives.

"Neutrogena is proud to partner with Cambio to kick off our new 'One Less Stress' anti-acne campaign," says Jason Betik, senior brand manager of Neutrogena. "One Less Stress' is an initiative that inspires young women to share their thoughts and feelings about stress and the impact it can have on their skin. Celebrities are a very important key influencer in young women's lives and collaborating with Cambio for this campaign is a perfect match."

Cambio will run the "One Less Stress" campaign throughout the summer, driving traffic to the site by promoting through search and video ads, on other AOL.ca channels, social media, event sponsorship and social marketing.

"As always, our goal is to provide original, and in this case, entertaining content," says Laura Pearce, director of marketing, AOL Canada. "We want to make Cambio the destination, go-to site for Canadian teens as a place they can interact and engage with the celebrities they love."

Tune-in to Cambio this summer for features on Kris, Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian, Lil Jon, Pete Wentz, Cody Simpson, Scotty McCreery, Jason Derulo, Chelsea Kane, Allstar Weekend, Colbie Caillat and many more.

Follow us on Twitter at @cambioconnect

About Cambio

Cambio is a trustworthy, interactive online entertainment experience, connecting teens and young adults to their favorite celebrities and musicians. This iconic destination fuses information, social interaction, exclusive video and compelling entertainment content together to bring our passionate audience from fans to friends. Cambio is a joint venture between AOL, Jonas Group and MGX Lab. For more information, visit www.Cambio.com.

About AOL

AOL Inc. (NYSE: AOL) is a premier global media company with a suite of brands and products serving consumers, advertisers and publishers worldwide. The AOL Huffington Post Media Group is a leading source of news, opinion, entertainment, community and digital information comprised of a wide range of destination websites, including AOL.com, The Huffington Post, TechCrunch, Moviefone, Engadget, Patch, AOL Music, StyleList and MapQuest. The AOL Advertising.com Group includes Advertising.com, ADTECH, Pictela, Video, inclusive of goviral and 5min Media, Content Solutions and Sponsored Listings and serves a combined content and advertising market at scale through video, brand advertising, content and ad serving. AOL is focused on engaging consumers and providing online advertising services and solutions on both AOL Huffington Post Media Group destination websites and third party websites, in addition to serving consumer platforms including AOL Mail, AIM, about.me, and mobile experiences. AOL also operates one of the largest Internet subscription access services in the United States, which serves as another distribution channel for its consumer offerings.

About NEUTROGENA[R]:

A worldwide leader in premium, dermatologist-recommended skin, hair and cosmetics products, NEUTROGENA[R] Corporation has been providing Canadians with health and beauty improvements for over 40 years. The Company manufactures and markets a line of premium priced skin and hair care products that are distributed in more than 70 countries. NEUTROGENA[R] Corporation is a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, the world's most comprehensive and broadly based health care products company. Canadian headquarters are located in Markham, ON.

Web makes mockery of gagging orders.

Do you know the name of the actor who slept with the prostitute who slept with Manchester United soccer star Wayne Rooney?

How about the A-list celebrity being sued for $20 million for deliberately giving his partner a sexually transmitted disease in a one-night stand in Las Vegas?

Or, closer to home, the prominent local entertainer discharged without conviction for indecently assaulting a teenage girl, the comedian who pleaded guilty to performing an indecent act on a child or the former All Black who admitted assaulting his pregnant partner?

The names of all these celebrities have been suppressed by courts in England, the United States and New Zealand in the last few years.

But if you have access to Twitter and Facebook and a taste for celebrity gossip, you can usually find the answers _ assuming you don't already know them _ in a matter of minutes.

Social networking sites have made a mockery of name suppression laws around the globe, as Manchester United star Ryan Giggs found out this week.

The 37-year-old married footballer won a court order concealing his identity as he tried to stop a newspaper publishing a tell-all account of his alleged affair with Big Brother reality TV star and former Miss Wales Imogen Thomas.

But tweeters revealed his name weeks ago even though traditional media could not touch the story.

Eventually the floodgates opened when the Scottish Sunday Herald defiantly splashed Giggs' face on its front page and an MP named Giggs under parliamentary privilege in the House of Commons.

By then even Prime Minister David Cameron had conceded he and everyone else in Britain knew the footballer's name and the law was out of step with reality.

``It's not fair on the newspapers if all the social media can report this and the newspapers can't,'' he said.

``So the law and the practice has got to catch up with how people consume media today.''

New Zealand is grappling with the same issue after a string of blatant name suppression breaches on the internet, which circumvented gagging orders placed on traditional media.

One of the most controversial involved a prominent entertainer charged with indecency, after forcing a 16-year-old girl's face into his genitals.

In November 2009 Judge Eddie Paul found the entertainer had committed the offence but he permanently suppressed his name and discharged him without conviction on the grounds that the public stigma would be out of proportion to the ``moderate to low'' seriousness of his actions.

Within days a newspaper poll found most people knew the man's name through friends or the internet.

Prime Minister John Key admitted he knew it too.

The Government has since asked the Law Commission to investigate whether digital media should be placed under the same reporting restrictions as old media.

Professor John Burrows, the commissioner in charge of the review, says it will cover whether the so-called new media _ such as Twitter, Facebook and blogs _ should be regarded as news organisations for legal purposes.

It will then examine whether the existing law covers them and, if not, whether anything can be done about it.

He aims to produce an issues paper by November but warns it is more likely to set out the nature of the problems than offer firm solutions.

``The question may well be that even if you're not entirely able to stop publication, are there any ways in which you can limit the damage?''

Bloggers are not entirely immune from the law as anti-name suppression crusader Cameron Slater, better known as Whale Oil, found out last September when he was convicted of breaching eight suppression orders and naming a victim in a sexual abuse case.

The breaches revealed the identities of the prominent entertainer and an Olympic athlete charged with raping his ex-wife.

Kiwiblog writer David Farrar says widely read news blogs are clearly subject to legal restrictions.

The difficulty lies with social media users like tweeters who do not see themselves as publishing.

``You just see people's comments for a few hours and then they disappear. They actually are there forever but people do see Twitter very much as chat.''

He says historically the courts have not regarded telling another person about a suppressed name as a breach but social media could force the law to make more careful distinctions, especially for sites like Facebook.

``If your Facebook wall is open for everyone to see there's no doubt that's publishing.

``If it's restricted to just you and your friends, is that publishing? It probably is but it's less harmful.''

Twitter poses a similar problem. This month an anonymous user with more than 100,000 followers posted a list of British celebrities who have allegedly taken out ``super injunctions'' _ sweeping court orders which prevent the media even reporting the order's existence _ to block revelations about their private lives.

The list, which included Giggs, two actors and a celebrity chef, was forwarded to an estimated two million people.

Lawyers for two of the celebrities involved admitted they saw little point in suing, although one suspected a media organisation was behind the leak.

Many bloggers claim the real problem is misguided name suppression decisions, which tend to protect the rich, famous and powerful.

Justice Minister Simon Power has said this will be addressed in the Criminal Procedures Bill, which is due to become law this year.

Last year he warned: ``Being famous is not a good enough reason to be granted name suppression.''

The counter-argument is that many bloggers don't understand or choose to ignore the reasons behind name suppressions, which may involve protecting the victim's identity.

In the Giggs case, a judge ruled that the original injunction remained valid despite the Twitter breach because its main purpose was to protect the footballer and his family from media harassment.

Farrar predicts name suppression will still work most of the time as most people have no interest in knowing the names of sex offence victims or the messy details of family court sagas.

He believes the problem occurs when a big name is involved and the public suspects he or she is hiding something.

In those circumstances it is not only futile but counter-productive to try to gag the media _ as Giggs found out with a vengeance this week.

Telecom NZ: Mobile Internet is changing the way networks are being built.(SERVICES)

Telecom New Zealand's delegate to the World Mobile Congress has said that the increasing mobile Internet user base is changing the ways in which networks are being built. Telecom's retail chief executive, Alan Gourdie, said that the sharp increase in the uptake of mobile Internet has transformed the manner in which telecom operators perceive the development of their networks. He added that a great deal of focus is now being paid to metro site development, which plays a key role in enhancing the coverage of traditional networks.

These sites have been found to be more efficient and much cheaper than macro networks. The model makes use of wireless services as well as traditional radio networks.