VIC:Bid to boost cycling in Victoria fails

AAP General News (Australia)
08-17-2011
VIC:Bid to boost cycling in Victoria fails

MELBOURNE, Aug 17 AAP - A plan to make cycling a major form of transport in Victoria
has failed, the auditor-general says.

The aim of the 2009 Victorian cycling strategy, introduced by the then Labor government,
was to grow bike riding into a leading form of transport.

Auditor-General Des Pearson said the strategy was hastily developed without a proper
understanding of current cycling trends or what was required to make it mainstream.

"Serious limitations in (the strategy's) ... development and implementation compromised
its potential to achieve its goal," he said in a report tabled to state parliament on
Wednesday.

Dr Pearson said there was too much emphasis on physical infrastructure and more time
should have been spent reducing incentives to drive and promoting cycling.

Despite recent growth, bicycles are used for just 1.6 per cent, or 184,000, of the
11.6 million trips made on a typical weekday in Victoria, according to 2007-08 figures.

Cycling accounts for between 10 and 27 per cent of all trips in Germany, Denmark and
the Netherlands.

Dr Pearson said cycling had grown in those countries due to extensive infrastructure
and promotion and measures to make driving more expensive and less convenient.

He noted cycling trips in inner Melbourne and the central business district have grown
by about 50 per cent during the last four years.

Dr Pearson said higher petrol prices and overcrowding on public transport had contributed
to cycling levels.

Bicycle Victoria spokesman Garry Brennan said the report showed the government needed
to do more to encourage cycling.

"While we have made haphazard progress so far, if cycling is to become truly mainstream
then much more concentrated effort has to be made by the government," he said.

AAP mj/gfr/dep

KEYWORD: CYCLING

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

Fed: Howard dismisses poll showing Rudd preferred PM

AAP General News (Australia)
02-20-2007
Fed: Howard dismisses poll showing Rudd preferred PM

CANBERRA, Feb 20 AAP - Prime Minister John Howard says a new poll showing Labor leader
Kevin Rudd as preferred prime minister just makes him want to work harder.

Mr Rudd already has played down the poll, which shows 47 per cent of voters would prefer
him as prime minister over Mr Howard on 37 per cent.

Mr Rudd's approval rating has soared to 68 per cent in the Newspoll published in The
Australian newspaper today.

Mr Howard said the poll would help him focus on the need to …

QLD:Facebook troll seeks bail until appeal

AAP General News (Australia)
04-20-2011
QLD:Facebook troll seeks bail until appeal

A Brisbane man who's been jailed for plastering child pornography over Facebook tribute
sites to two dead schoolchildren .. is seeking bail pending an appeal.

BRADLEY PAUL HAMPSON wants the Supreme Court in Brisbane to let him out until the Court
of Appeal assesses what he claims is an excessive three-year sentence.

Last month a Brisbane District Court judge ordered HAMPSON to serve 12 months behind
bars after he pleaded guilty to distributing and possessing child exploitation material
.. and using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence.

The 29-year-old posted offensive comments and pornographic images on social networking
pages honouring 12-year-old ELLIOT FLETCHER and eight-year-old TRINITY BATES.

ELLIOT died in February last year after being stabbed during a schoolyard fight.

TRINITY'S body was found in a drain near her Bundaberg home in the same month.

HAMPSON's bail hearing is listed for May 3.

AAP RTV cf/crh/jmt

KEYWORD: HAMPSON (BRISBANE)

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

William Mills Agency Rolls Out 2011 'Bankers as Buyers' Industry Survey

Wireless News
01-18-2011
William Mills Agency Rolls Out 2011 'Bankers as Buyers' Industry Survey
Type: News

William Mills Agency, an independent financial PR and technology public relations firm, released its annual financial services industry research survey, "Bankers as Buyers."

The Company said 2011 marks the eighth year that the agency has compiled the survey, which includes commentary and contributions from industry analysts, bankers, credit union executives and fintech companies.
Featured contributors to this year's "Bankers as Buyers" include: Aite Group; Bradway Research; CCG Catalyst Consulting Group; Celent, Cornerstone Advisors, Crone Consulting, LLC; FinServ Strategies; IDC Financial Insights, Javelin Strategy & Research; Meredith Whitney Advisory Group, LLC; Sawyers & Jacobs, LLC; and TTV Capital, among others.

"As the financial services industry enters this period of mounting stresses (changing technology, regulation, and customer demographics), financial services companies will have to respond to these pressures," said Sean Banks, Principal of TTV Capital and a contributor to this year's survey. "Much of that response will be through innovation and the adoption of new technology in order to achieve process automation, the implementation of new products, and access to new markets. Many unique investment opportunities will emerge from this rapidly evolving market. Entrepreneurs will use this period of sector disruption to fill voids created by traditional approaches and will drive value and growth in the sector as a whole."

Some key findings of this year's "Bankers as Buyers" survey, as described by the Company, include:

-National mortgage loan delinquencies to drop nearly 20 percent (to 4.98 percent) by the end of 2011 (representing a drop from 6.21 percent in 2010);

-Financial institution spending expected to increase by about two percent to just under $51 billion;

-The top 100 financial institutions will invest more than $100 billion/year implementing risk governance frameworks by 2012;

-Regulatory compliance the top technology concern voiced by community bankers, with 60 percent indicating increased IT spending to support compliance;

-Mobile banking outpacing Internet banking, with number of smart phones to outnumber PCs by 2012;

-More than one-third of bankers plan to deliver up to 25 percent of IT services over the cloud by the end of 2012;

-90 percent of financial services firms expect to have dedicated social media budgets by 2012.

"'Change' is the overlying theme for much of this year's 'Bankers as Buyers' survey - how financial institutions will use technology to address regulatory change; the impact of IT and computing industry change; and perhaps most of all, changes in how consumers prefer to interact with their institutions," said Scott Mills, APR, president of William Mills Agency. "As we emerge from the doldrums of the Great Recession, we are seeing financial institutions begin to invest in the technology and infrastructure that will support their business in an evolving market. We are grateful for the collective participation of many of our industry's respected thought leaders and look forward to continuing to bring this important information to the marketplace."

William Mills Agency promotes companies that sell a variety of products or services in a number of highly specialized vertical markets with a focus in the financial industry.

More information:

www.williammills.com

((Comments on this story may be sent to newsdesk@closeupmedia.com))

Copyright 2011 Close-Up Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
n/a

WA:Barnett tips Abbott to form government

AAP General News (Australia)
08-22-2010
WA:Barnett tips Abbott to form government

By Lloyd Jones

PERTH, Aug 22 AAP - West Australian Premier Colin Barnett has tipped Opposition Leader
Tony Abbott to form a minority government on the election figures as they stand.

Labor had thrown away its chance for a second term, the premier told reporters in Perth
on Sunday.

"I would think on the figures as they stand now, that Tony Abbott will be able to form
a government.

"That is not certain but it is the most likely outcome at this stage," Mr Barnett said.

"Labor basically squandered its opportunity for a second term, they threw it away and
I just find that quite extraordinary."

Mr Barnett said a key vote winner for the coalition in the resource states was Mr Abbott's
clear commitment to ditch Labor's mining tax.

"That is one of the major reasons why the result for the Liberal Party and the National
Party was so strong in Queensland and Western Australia and parts of NSW."

Mr Barnett said he hoped the independents would form some sort of alliance to support
an Abbott-led government, backing it on supply and no-confidence motions.

He said he talked to Mr Abbott by phone on Sunday morning and they discussed how the
coalition might bring the independents into an alliance.

"Obviously he was very excited but not ahead of himself and still waiting on the final figures."

In WA, the state's independent-minded Nationals staged a surprise takeover of the regional
seat of O'Connor with Tony Crook defeating long-time Liberal incumbent Wilson Tuckey.

The WA Nationals have indicated they will not be dictated to by the federal coalition
and want WA's Royalties for Regions program extended to a federal level.

The program redirects government spending from major population centres into rural
areas funded with 25 per cent of WA's mining and petroleum royalty revenue.

Mr Barnett said he did not know if a royalties for regions program could be done at
a federal level.

"Maybe part of this might be some greater support for regional areas of Australia and
I think everyone would agree with that."

The premier said he told Mr Abbott that Mr Crook would need to be seen as a special
case, lying somewhere between an independent and a National.

Mr Barnett said he expected a fairer deal from Mr Abbott than from Labor on WA's share
of the GST and on a national hospitals plan.

AAP ldj/goc/

KEYWORD: POLL10 BARNETT UPDATE (PIX AVAILABLE)

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

Vic: Dumping Nixon would delay recovery: Cameron

AAP General News (Australia)
04-15-2010
Vic: Dumping Nixon would delay recovery: Cameron

Victorian Police Minister BOB CAMERON says a change of leadership would delay the bushfire
reconstruction effort.

The state government says it's not reconsidering CHRISTINE NIXON's job as head of the
reconstruction authority .. despite her controversial evidence in the past week at the
bushfire royal commission.

The former police chief is under intense pressure to quit .. after telling the commission
she left the emergency coordination centre early on Black Saturday for a pub dinner with
friends.

Mr CAMERON has told ABC radio .. continuity of leadership is critical .. and anything
which slows down the rebuilding isn't going to help anyone.

AAP RTV ees/jxt/ajw/

KEYWORD: BUSHFIRES BLACK CAMERON (MELBOURNE)

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

Fed: Abbott wins ballot

AAP General News (Australia)
12-01-2009
Fed: Abbott wins ballot

TONY ABBOTT is the new federal Liberal leader after a party room vote.

Opposition Whip ALEX SOMLYAY says Mr ABBOTT has won the vote 42 to 41 from MALCOLM TURNBULL.

JOE HOCKEY was knocked out in the first round of voting.

JULIE BISHOP remains deputy leader.

Mr SOMLYAY says Mr TURNBULL gave a gracious speech and wished Mr ABBOTT all the best.

Mr ABBOTT's told reporters he's a bit overwhelmed .. and he'll front a news conference shortly.

The only Liberal MP not present for today's vote was FRAN BAILEY who's sick.

AAP RTV kms/rl/jmt

KEYWORD: LIBERALS RESULT (CANBERRA)

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

Fed: No budget speculation from Wong on water

AAP General News (Australia)
04-23-2009
Fed: No budget speculation from Wong on water

ADELAIDE, April 23 AAP - The federal government will stand by its funding commitments
in regard to the River Murray and securing Australia's water supplies, Federal Water Minister
Penny Wong says.

But the minister has declined to comment on whether or not the upcoming federal budget
would include a boost to spending on water infrastructure.

Senator Wong said the government had pledged to provide $12.9 billion for water buy-back
schemes and other measures and remained committed to providing those funds.

"That commitment has been very clear from the election," she told reporters in Adelaide
on Wednesday.

"In relation broadly to budget matters, I don't intend to engage in any speculation."

AAP tjd/ht

KEYWORD: BUDGET09 WONG

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

NSW: Plane crash knocks Casula residents for second time

AAP General News (Australia)
12-18-2008
NSW: Plane crash knocks Casula residents for second time

By Caroline Berdon

SYDNEY, Dec 18 AAP - Residents of the Sydney suburb of Casula say the loss of two women,
whose plane crashed into a house, is a terrible shock so soon after a horrific local murder.

The two women died when their light plane crashed into the rear of an unoccupied house
in the south-western suburb, after a mid-air collision with another light aircraft on
Thursday.

The second plane landed safely. Its pilot and passenger suffered only minor injuries.

The planes are owned by two different flight training schools.

Residents of Flame Tree Street, where the plane hit the house, said they were "shocked"

by the tragedy, just two days after Casula was rocked by the murder of service station
worker Melissa Cook.

Ms Cook, 29, was shot in the chest by her violent ex-husband John Kudrytch at a Casula
BP service station. Kudrytch later killed himself.

"Yesterday we had the tragedy at the BP service station. It is definitely shocking,"

said a resident, who wanted to be identified only as Rob, who lives 200 metres from the
crash site.

"The whole street is full with emergency crews and police officers. There's a lot of
residents from the area having a look."

Another resident Kiran Chokkanna, who lives on Flame Tree Street, said the loss of
two lives in the crash was "a great shock" after Tuesday's shooting murder.

"I saw a lot of ambulances and lot of police cars, and a chopper landed there," he said.

"It was a great shock, because a few days back there was an incident in Pine Road, the shooting.

"Because of the noise, at first I thought it (the crash) was a shoot out."

Joey Bernal, who lives on nearby Box Road, said he heard police cars and ambulances
and thought "it was another crime scene".

"I feel bad about it," he said. "Casula is a quiet suburb."

AAP cjb/wjf/tnf/bwl

KEYWORD: PLANES RESIDENTS

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

NSW: Letter of apology means little to church sex abuse victim

AAP General News (Australia)
08-13-2008
NSW: Letter of apology means little to church sex abuse victim

SYDNEY, Aug 13 AAP - An apology from the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney to sexual abuse
victim Anthony Jones is "window dressing" in the face of bad publicity, Mr Jones says.

The former Catholic educator was indecently assaulted by a priest, Terrence Goodall, in 1982.

He has accused Cardinal George Pell of being "deceitful" in his handling of the allegations
that led to Goodall being convicted of indecent assault in 2005.

In 2003 Dr Pell wrote to Mr Jones saying the complaint was unsubstantiated and no one
else had contacted the church with complaints about Goodall, but he has since admitted
being mistaken when he wrote that letter.

At a press conference last month Dr Pell admitted he had wrongly characterised his
personal dismissal of rape allegations as the finding of a church investigation.

Yesterday Mr Jones received a one-page letter from Dr Pell offering an apology for
his February 2003 letter and proposing a meeting between the two men.

"I am writing to you personally so that you know directly from me that the commitments
I made publicly in relation to you in light of the information that came to my attention
following my press conference on July 8, 2008, were genuine," Dr Pell wrote.

"At the press conference I was asked if I was prepared to apologise to you. I said
then, and I wish to repeat to you directly, that I do apologise to you for my letter to
you in February 2003, which was poorly drafted and, I regret, open to interpretation which
I did not intend."

Today, Mr Jones said he would meet Dr Pell on his terms, but added that the contents
of the letter did not mean "a great deal".

"The problem is the truth is still not being told," he told AAP.

"Cardinal Pell is being deceitful, dishonest and protecting the church and this is
nothing but window dressing because they have come under so much pressure over this."

Mr Jones said past offers from Dr Pell for the pair to meet had come with the condition
that the facts and details of the assault would not be discussed.

"Unless he's prepared to do that, to sit down and hear me and discuss the facts and
debate the detail, then there's no point in meeting," he said.

"The facts are well and truly established, they have been well aired in the media."

Mr Jones said his lawyer would reply to Dr Pell's letter, outlining the grounds on
which he was prepared to meet the cardinal.

AAP ad/wjf/maur/bwl

KEYWORD: ABUSE JONES

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

VIC: Main stories in today's Melbourne newspapers

AAP General News (Australia)
04-04-2008
VIC: Main stories in today's Melbourne newspapers

MELBOURNE, April 4 AAP - The main stories in today's Melbourne newspapers:

HERALD SUN:

Page 1: Motorists could pay less to use CityLink at off-peak times in a bid to ease
Melbourne's congestion crisis.

Page 2: Motorists could pay as much as $9 to drive through the proposed 18km road tunnel
in the city's inner north.

Page 3: Victoria spent less on its police force than any other state and record levels
of violence have led to fears of a "Blade Runner-style" society.

World: Zimbabwe's President, Robert Mugabe, has admitted to his family and advisers
that he has lost the most important election of his 28-year rule.

Finance: Australia now has a 20 to 25 per cent chance of falling into a recession over
the next 18 months, according to a leading economic forecaster.

Sport: AFL club North Melbourne will use detailed "heat maps" containing data that
will show Hawthorn forward Lance Franklin's lead patterns in a bid to shut down the goal
spearhead in tomorrow's match against the Hawks.

MORE jrd/wf

KEYWORD: MONITOR FRONTERS VIC

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

VIC: Sudanese boy found after day of riding trains and trams

AAP General News (Australia)
12-02-2007
VIC: Sudanese boy found after day of riding trains and trams

MELBOURNE, Dec 2 AAP - Transit police have found an eight-year-old Sudanese boy who
was missing for almost 15 hours in Melbourne's south-west.

Lukudu David, from Sudan, was last seen by his mother at 9am (AEDT) yesterday morning
at his Tarniet home.

Victoria Police spokesman Senior Constable Wayne Wilson said Lukudu had spent the entire
day riding on trams and trains.

He was found at 11.30pm (AEDT) last night at Flinders Street station, looking lost
as transit police tracked him down as a missing person, Sen-Constable Wilson said.

Lukudu was reunited with his family soon afterwards.

AAP jat/rs

KEYWORD: DAVID FOUND

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

Fed: Detail still needed on Labor's IR policy

AAP General News (Australia)
04-19-2007
Fed: Detail still needed on Labor's IR policy

Key details of Labor's new industrial relations platform remain unknown .. ten days
out from the party's national conference.

KEVIN RUDD announced the new policy .. which includes the re-introduction of unfair
dismissal laws but the removal of Labor support for industrial action .. on Monday.

But the opposition leader's refused to give more detail .. saying it would be announced
between now and the election .. expected late this year.

AAP RTV pv/wf/crh

KEYWORD: WORKPLACE (CANBERRA)

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

SA: Shed destoryed in overnight fire

AAP General News (Australia)
12-18-2006
SA: Shed destoryed in overnight fire

ADELAIDE, Dec 18 AAP - A shed and car have been destroyed causing $60,000 damage in
Adelaide's south overnight, police say.

Police said a passing motorist alerted the owners of the Happy Valley property that
their shed was on fire at about 3am (CDT) today

Fire crews could not save the shed or the car parked inside.

Police said the blaze was not suspicious and was caused by an electrical fault.

AAP tkc/ks/de

KEYWORD: SHED

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

ACT: Police release images of possible witnesses to fatal attack

AAP General News (Australia)
08-10-2006
ACT: Police release images of possible witnesses to fatal attack

CANBERRA, Aug 10 AAP - Police are searching for six possible witnesses to a fatal attack
outside a Canberra nightclub.

Detectives investigating the death of 23-year-old Nato Seuala today released surveillance
footage of the people outside the city's Cube nightclub.

Mr Seuala, from the northern suburb of Ngunnawal, was stabbed in the head and stomach
outside the club at 4.45am on July 15.

He died in hospital three weeks later.

The nightclub's owner, 32-year-old Maurizio Gianpier Rao, from Kaleen, has been charged
with murder.

Police said they hoped the images of the six people, lifted from closed circuit television
footage, would provide further clues about the attack.

"None of these people are believed to be involved in the stabbing incident or the assault,
but they may have witnessed something in passing by the Cube nightclub around about the
time of the incident," Detective Acting Superintendent Brett McCann said.

The six people pictured in the footage include two men and two women, with the remaining
two unidentified.

Five other men have been charged in relation to the incident.

Three have been charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, one with attempting
to pervert the cause of justice, and one with being an accessory after the fact to grievous
bodily harm.

Police are not expecting to lay any further charges but hope the images released today
would help the investigation.

"At this stage we're satisfied, on the information we have, that that is the number
of people that were involved," Supt McCann said.

"However information provided by these people or anyone else who may have heard or
seen anything subsequent to the incident would also be of significant value to police."

Detectives today also released a photograph of Mr Seuala in an effort to jog the memories
of possible witnesses to the attack.

AAP rp/sb/grc/nf

KEYWORD: CLUB (PIX AVAILABLE)

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

Cyber Gear offers franchising opportunities in GCC.

M2 PRESSWIRE-15 July 2002-Cyber Gear: Cyber Gear offers franchising opportunities in GCC (C)1994-2002 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

RDATE:07142002

Dubai, UAE -- PRN -- Cyber Gear (www.cyber-gear.com), the leading e-business company based in Dubai announced today the launch of franchising opportunities for organisations in the region wishing to enter the internet industry. According to CEO of Cyber Gear, Sharad Agarwal, "We plan to set up e-business centers in the region based on a solid business model with multiple revenue streams. While development of e-business and B2B solutions remains the core business, the revenue streams from niche portals in the Middle East will add substantially to bottomline results for the franchisees.

Cyber Gear will provide the branding, technical know how and training, access to multinational clients in the region who have been doing business with Cyber Gear for several years and an ideal platform for jump starting a profitable e-business entity"

About Cyber Gear

Since 1996, Cyber Gear has been a pre-eminent force in the web design and e-business industry. Positioned as an industry leader, Cyber Gear provides state-of-the-art internet solutions to a large number of multinational and local organisations in the Middle East. Cyber Gear clients include British Airways, Disney Middle East, FedEx, Shell, Gillette, KPMG, NFO World Group, Xerox, Towry Law, Al Futtaim Investments, Etisalat, Galadari Brothers, Al Ghurair Centre, BurJuman Centre, Sahara Centre, Al Fahim Group and Bin Hamoodah Group.

Cyber Gear`s regional portals include:

* www.MiddleEastPostBox.com for Email marketing and SMS messaging with an `opt-in` database of over 600,000 subscribers

* www.MiddleEastEvents.com, dedicated portal for event and conference management companies

* www.MiddleEastDirectory.com, the largest English language search engine in Middle East

* www.Click2Advertising.com, the first internet advertising agency in Middle East that employs DoubleClick`s DART technology

* www.PressReleaseNetwork.com, a global press release distribution and online media monitoring service

CONTACT: Sharad Agarwal, CEO, Cyber Gear LLC Tel: +9714 3312627 Fax: +9714 3318812 e-mail: info@cyber-gear.com WWW: http://www.cyber-gear.com

((M2 Communications Ltd disclaims all liability for information provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data prepared by named party/parties. Further information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at http://www.presswire.net on the world wide web. Inquiries to info@m2.com)).

Microforum Enters into Letter of Intent to Acquire New York-Based Blue Hypermedia.

TORONTO, June 19 /CNW-PRN/ -

Microforum Inc. (TSE:MCF) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a preliminary non-binding Letter of Intent to acquire Blue Hypermedia, Inc. (Blue.com), a premier New York-based web development firm and new media production company. The purchase price is expected to be US$14 million, payable as to US$4.9 million cash and the balance in common shares based on a 15 day weighted average share price preceding the closing date. The common shares may not be resold in the marketplace for a period of one year from the closing date. The Letter of Intent is subject to a number of conditions including completion of due diligence, receipt of audited financial statements, entering into definitive documentation, and receipt of regulatory and director approval. The transaction is expected to close towards the end of July, 2000.

Founded in 1996 and based in the Soho district of New York City, Blue.com is a full-service e-business and creative web solutions company providing award-winning creative services, consulting and technical development to a broad range of high profile clients. Key clients include: The New York Times, Anheuser Busch, iMotors.com, Cigna, and The MTVI Group. Long time Silicon Alley favorites, Blue.com and its three founders have been featured in various print, television and online productions in recognition of their ``next- generation'' web development capabilities. Blue.com has been profitable since its inception.

Blue.com provides a full range of e-business solutions and services including: e-business consulting and online brand strategy, high-end creative content, animation and streaming media production, online advertising campaigns, web marketing, intranet and internal and technical development of sophisticated online applications and internet enabled solutions.

``The acquisition of Blue represents an integral component of Microforum's expansion into key markets in the United States'', stated Howard A. Pearl, President and CEO of Microforum. ``The quality of Blue's e-business solutions, particularly its award-winning creative design, combined with strong client relationships and an excellent brand in the `Blue' name, are key ingredients in this acquisition. We believe we can strengthen Blue's existing and future client relationships with Microforum's breadth of service offerings as well as additional technical depth from our resource base in Toronto and Halifax.''

``We are enthusiastic about Blue.com joining one of North America's leaders in e-business,'' stated Will Snyder, James Roven and Timothy Roven, the principals of Blue. ``As part of a larger organization, Blue.com will be able to undertake larger and increasingly more sophisticated e-business engagements and provide a greater range of services to an increasing number of national and international clients.''

About Microforum

Microforum Inc. (www.microforum.com) is a leading North American digital business transformation company providing a broad range of electronic commerce, Internet strategy and database services. Microforum is publicly traded on The Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol ``MCF'' and is headquartered in Toronto, with offices in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Chicago, IL, San Francisco, CA and Seattle, WA.

Forward-Looking Statements

Investors should take note that certain statements in this press release are forward-looking and may not give full weight to all of the potential risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements include statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties (e.g., the risk that the transaction may not close). Forward-looking statements are subject by their nature to risks and uncertainties, and actual results, actions or events could differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Any forward- looking statements speak only as of the date made. The Company is not undertaking to update any information in the foregoing reports until the effective date of its future reports required by the securities laws.

Health workers go to boot camp.

Computer training helps fill staffing gap

A hospital, a union-backed fund and the City University of New York are joining together in an attempt to boost the city's pool of workers trained in computer sciences.

The need for technology workers in health care is particularly acute, which motivated Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, the Hospital League/1199 Training and Upgrade Fund, and CUNY to create the pilot program. Unemployed laboratory technicians and employees whose jobs are at risk because labs are being automated will be taught the skills they need to become clinical systems analysts and programmers.

Future pilot programs will involve radiology and nursing staffers. The Hospital League/1199 fund will pay for the project.

A similar project is being developed by the training fund, the Bronx's Montefiore Medical Center and Lehman College, based on a radiology system that is widely used by hospitals to get reimbursement from insurers.

MEDSCAPE MARKETING

Medscape, a Manhattan health care Web company that went public two weeks ago, may be one avenue for local hospitals to get on the Internet.

The company co-brands a certain number of sites in a geographic region. Under such arrangements, there are free home pages for a hospital's doctors, co-branded under Medscape and the medical facility.

Doctors may also submit research papers for publication on its peer-reviewed Web site, says editor in chief Dr. George D. Lundberg. The peer-review process leads to a 20% acceptance rate for submissions.

While Medscape does not pay for these research papers, it does pay doctors to provide content to the site. If material is accepted after peer review, the information is attributed to the physicians and co-branded with their hospital.

Finally, Medscape invites "name-recognizable" experts to write up medical conferences for posting on the Web the following day. Medscape pays expenses and an unspecified "decent" honorarium, says Dr. Lundberg.

DOCS SUE AETNA

A group of New Jersey doctors filed a class-action lawsuit against Aetna U.S. Healthcare, alleging that the health maintenance organization owes them money because it has made late payments for several years. The case was filed in Camden County Superior Court.

NEW PRESIDENT

Dr. Allan Gibofsky took over last week as president and chief executive of Long Island College Hospital, a Brooklyn member of Continuum Health Partners. Peter Kelly had been acting president since Donald Snell stepped down after LICH joined Continuum last year.

Dr. Gibofsky, who also is an attorney, is a professor of medicine and public health at Weill Medical College, an attending rheumatologist at the Hospital for Special Surgery and an adjunct professor of law at Fordham University.