Vic: Victorian bushfire toll rises to 35: police

AAP General News (Australia)
02-08-2009
Vic: Victorian bushfire toll rises to 35: police

MELBOURNE, Feb 8 AAP - The death toll from Victoria's savage bushfires …

ARRL Sponsors National Deployment Public Demo of Emergency Communications

Wireless News
06-27-2011
ARRL Sponsors National Deployment Public Demo of Emergency Communications
Type: News

ARRL, a national association for Amateur Radio, announced that it is sponsoring the annual event "Field Day", taking place June 25- 26, where the public will have a chance to meet and talk with Amateur Radio experts and see for themselves what the Amateur Radio Service is about.

According to a release, over 35,000 Amateur Radio operators will be testing their emergency capabilities by setting up temporary radio stations in public parks, fields and unusual locations. Showing the newest digital and satellite capabilities, voice communications and even historical Morse code, "hams" across the USA will be holding public demonstrations of emergency communications abilities. When the Internet, cell phones and other forms of communications went down or were overloaded, the hams' skills saved lives and property. Thousands of local groups will be demonstrating Amateur Radio at various locations.
Over the past year, the news has been filled with reports of ham radio operators providing critical communications during emergencies across America including wildfires, winter storms, the spring tornadoes and other events worldwide. Amateur Radio often called "ham radio" - was often the only way people could communicate in the first hours of the crises. As the head of FEMA, Craig Fugate, said on May 3rd, "When everything else fails, Amateur Radio is often times our last defense."

Using only emergency power systems, their slogan, "When All Else Fails, Ham Radio Works" is more than just words as they prove they can send wireless messages in many forms without the use of phone systems, internet or other systems that can be compromised in a crisis.

The ARRL's Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) program provides emergency communications for thousands of state and local emergency response agencies and non-emergency community services too, all for free.

More Information:

arrl.org/field-day-info

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

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

FED:Lowe, Ridout to join RBA ranks

AAP General News (Australia)
12-05-2011
FED:Lowe, Ridout to join RBA ranks

By Andrea Hayward

CANBERRA, Dec 5 AAP - The latest appointments to the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA)
strike a balance of stability and fresh thinking, Treasurer Wayne Swan says.

Cabinet approved the appointment of Philip Lowe as the bank's deputy governor and Australian
Industry Group {AiG) chief executive Heather Ridout as a board member on Monday afternoon.

"I think their appointments will ensure the ongoing strength of the RBA board, which
of course continues to operate at a very difficult time in the global economy," Mr Swan
told reporters in Canberra on Monday.

The treasurer said it was up to Ms Ridout to decide whether she would continue working
as a lobbyist with the AiG.

She had been appointed because of her experience, talent and committed advocacy for
the business community rather than any views she held on particular issues, he said.

"She's got a very deep understanding of what's going on, not only in the wider economy
but most particularly in the manufacturing industry and I think she'll serve the country
well on the board."

Change to the federal government's Fair Work Act is one area about which Ms Ridout
has been outspoken and critical of Labor.

Mr Swan said she had been vocal on a range of issues but that was no impediment to
her being appointed to the board.

"She had a range of opinions to express [recently] and not all of them were ones that
were seen uncritical of the government," he said.

"There's been plenty of people who have sat on the board who have made comment from
time to time."

Ms Ridout is the fourth woman to be appointed to the board. She will boost the number
of women on the nine-person board to three. The others are Jillian Broadbent and Catherine
Tanna.

Ms Ridout said the appointment was an honour.

"I have an abiding interest and commitment to strong and balanced economic policies,
and to have the opportunity to serve Australia in this role will be a great privilege,"

she said in a statement.

She will replace Graham Kraehe, whose term expires in February.

Mr Kraehe had made a valuable contribution to the deliberations of the RBA, Mr Swan said.

"His experience and knowledge of business has been of considerable benefit to the board's
monetary policy deliberations," Mr Swan said.

Dr Lowe has been appointed for seven years. He will succeed Ric Battellino, who retires
from the RBA in February after 39 years.

Mr Swan said Mr Battellino had made an invaluable contribution to the RBA and Australia's
economic stability over four decades.

"He of course has been at the bank in a period of great turmoil in the international
economy in recent years," he told reporters in Canberra.

The fact that Australia, unlike most other developed economies, had avoided a recession
was testament to the hard work of Mr Battellino and the RBA more generally, Mr Swan said.

On Tuesday Mr Battellino will sit in on his last RBA board meeting as it decides whether
to lower the cash rate for the second consecutive month amid growing concerns about stability
in the eurozone.

Dr Lowe started at the RBA in 1980, and has served as the Head of Financial Institutions
and Infrastructure Division at the Bank for International Settlements between 2000 and
2002.

Between 2004 and 2009, Dr Lowe oversaw the RBA's work on issues related to financial
stability and payments system policy.

He has served as the economic assistant governor since April 2009 and has been the
chief economic adviser to the governor and the Reserve Bank board.

Dr Lowe holds a PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of
Commerce (Honours) in Economics/Econometrics from the University of NSW.

AAP ah/tab

KEYWORD: RBA 2ND WRAP

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

VIC:Horror crash survivor off critical list

AAP General News (Australia)
04-01-2011
VIC:Horror crash survivor off critical list

One of the naval recruits who survived a horror crash that killed two of his colleagues
earlier this week has been removed from the critical list.

The 19 year-old was airlifted from the crash site at Crib Point .. south of Melbourne
.. to Royal Melbourne Hospital in a critical condition.

A hospital spokesman says the young man is now stable.

Meanwhile .. an 18-year-old and 26-year-old who were taken to The Alfred hospital remain
in a critical but stable condition.

The 20-year-old driver and a 22-year-old passenger were killed when their station wagon
hit a concrete power pole just before before midnight on Tuesday .. all five men were
from the HMAS Cerberus training base.

Police have said excessive speed appears to have contributed to the crash.

AAP RTV mok/ees/sw

KEYWORD: TOLL VIC (MELBOURNE)

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

VIC:Carl didn't deserve bashing death: Roberta

AAP General News (Australia)
12-10-2010
VIC:Carl didn't deserve bashing death: Roberta

GEELONG, Vic, Dec 10 AAP - The former wife of underworld figure Carl Williams said
he didn't deserve to be killed in the way he was.

Williams was bludgeoned to death in April in Barwon Prison where he was serving four
life sentences for murder.

"Carl didn't do anything wrong to anyone to be bludgeoned to death the way he was,"

Ms Williams said.

Giving her evidence via video, Ms Williams said her former husband had been happy to
be in the same unit in Barwon Prison as Matthew Johnson, the man who allegedly murdered
him.

Ms Williams also told the Geelong Magistrates' Court of an incident in which her then
husband shot at her.

When asked about the incident she had raised in her autobiography, she said they had
argued over another woman at a time in 2000 when she was pregnant with their child.

"He got a little bit annoyed and shot at my car," Ms Williams said.

Ms Williams, who was divorced from Carl Williams at the time of his death, is eight
months pregnant.

The committal hearing before Magistrate Rosemary Carlin is continuing.

AAP mh/pmu/dep/de

KEYWORD: JOHNSON

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

WA:Landowners to discuss gas hub in Broome

AAP General News (Australia)
08-03-2010
WA:Landowners to discuss gas hub in Broome

PERTH, Aug 3 AAP - Traditional owners in the Kimberley are meeting in Broome to debate
whether to resume negotiations over a $30 billion gas hub at James Price Point.

The meeting follows a Federal Court decision in Perth dismissing legal action by native
title claimant Joseph Roe against the Kimberley Land Council (KLC).

Mr Roe had sought to prevent the KLC from representing native title claimants in negotiations
over the proposed hub 60km north of Broome.

The Goolarabooloo man and other claimants oppose the liquified natural gas plant being
built at James Price Point which they say is an important sacred area and crossing point
of songlines.

But Justice John Gilmour on Monday dismissed Mr Roe's applications, saying he did not
have the right to take legal action on behalf of native title claimants.

Justice Gilmour ordered Mr Roe to pay costs and criticised him for delaying proceedings
and increasing costs with 11th hour applications.

Hundreds of traditional owners are expected to attend Tuesday's meeting in Broome convened
by the KLC to discuss the native title claim and the gas hub.

The gas hub is planned to process reserves from the Browse Basin.

In April 2009 the KLC signed a heads of agreement with Woodside and the West Australian
and federal governments approving the gas hub and $1.5 billion in benefits to flow to
indigenous communities over 30 years.

But in June this year the KLC suspended negotiations with Woodside and the state government
after division emerged within the Goolarabooloo/Jabirr Jabirr claimant groups.

That prompted WA Premier Colin Barnett, who had wanted an indigenous land use agreement
signed by the end of June, to threaten compulsory acquisition of the site.

Mr Barnett has not followed that through but the threat is likely to anger many at
Tuesday's meeting, including those in favour of the gas hub.

AAP ldj/scj/bwl

KEYWORD: BROWSE

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

Vic: Boy killed in alleged drink-drive crash as mum watches

AAP General News (Australia)
12-21-2009
Vic: Boy killed in alleged drink-drive crash as mum watches

A 25 year-old drunk driver who crashed through a front fence killing a six-year-old
boy is is in police custody .. but is yet to be charged.

Police allege the man was driving with a blood alcohol level of .109 .. more than twice
the legal limit .. when he lost control of his Holden Commodore on Crinigan Road in Morwell
at about seven o'clock last night.

The car crashed through a fence into a front yard where the boy was playing with his
mother and two teenage boys.

Intensive care paramedic TONY DAVIS says the scene was chaotic.

He says they found the boy lying conscious on the ground and rushed him to La Trobe
Hospital .. where he later died from serious head and abdominal injuries.

His mother and the two teenagers were also taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Major collisions police will attend the crash scene today.

AAP RTV df/gfr/sw/

KEYWORD: TOLL VIC (MELBOURNE)

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

NSW: Main stories in today's Sydney newspapers =3

AAP General News (Australia)
08-12-2009
NSW: Main stories in today's Sydney newspapers =3

The Australian.

Page 1: Australians lost in Kokoda crash. Stimulus has already paid off, says Treasurer
Wayne Swan. Arnhem Land leader Galarrwuy Yunupingu has withdrawn his support for the federal
government's intervention into remote Aboriginal communities.

Page 2: Imprisoned Australian Rio Tinto executive Stern Hu is expected to have been
officially arrested by Wednesday.

Page 3: Off-air radio stars leading Sydney radio ratings.

World: A strong earthquake off Japan's central Honshu coast has injured more than 60 people.

Finance: Steel prices in China are rising faster than expected.

Sport: Michael Schumacher has called off his much-anticipated comeback because of lingering
injuries from a motorcycling crash this year. (Formula One)

AAP bc/it

KEYWORD: MONITOR FRONTERS NSW 3 SYDNEY

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

NT: Climate change may not be man-made, farmers told

AAP General News (Australia)
04-01-2009
NT: Climate change may not be man-made, farmers told

By Tara Ravens

DARWIN, April 1 AAP - Farmers in the Northern Territory are calling on the federal
government to cease work on climate change policy until all scientists agree that global
warming is man-made and not part of a natural cycle.

The commonwealth is also being warned that the agriculture industry could become unviable
if the proposed carbon emission scheme pushes ahead.

At a conference in Alice Springs last week, the outgoing head of the Northern Territory
Cattlemen's Association Roy Chisholm said it was a fallacy that farmers were anti-environment.

"The wider community continues to be hoodwinked by the ill-informed into believing
that the pastoral industry flogs the land," he told a gathering of about 300 delegates
at the organisation's 25th annual conference.

"This is a belief founded on emotion, not fact.

"The truth is that the Northern Territory pastoral land base is in a healthy state,
and this is almost exclusively the result of sound land management practices."

But Mr Chisholm expressed concerns about federal plans to push forward with a carbon
emissions scheme, despite the financial crisis.

He said local beef herds had "copped a belting" in recent years following a massive
destock from the Barkly region in 2008.

Herds in Alice Springs were greatly depleted due to ongoing adverse season conditions
which, coupled with the drought, complicated the stock movement.

"Government policy is determined to follow the climate change agenda in spite of the
recent economic downturn," he said.

"Policymakers have failed to recognise that this could cause the agriculture industry
to be unviable."

Mr Chisholm said more research needed to be done before there was an accepted consensus
on the causes of global warming.

"Until there is incontrovertible evidence that climate change is having the effect
on the earth that the government-paid scientists would have us believe, there must be
a hold on any further development of climate change policy," he told the conference.

"Governments need to cool their heels until the whole scientific community can agree
on whether climate change is actually being caused by man-made influences or whether a
natural life cycle is the culprit."

Mr Chisholm also slammed the proposed emissions trading scheme, which will put a price
on carbon pollution in order to reduce emissions by between five and 15 per cent by 2020.

"It is irresponsible for the federal government to introduce legislation and impose
penalties on business and industry, particularly the agriculture industry, which could
unhinge the economic viability of the food production of the Australian economy."

But this does not mean that farmers aren't green.

Mr Chisholm said farmers took land management and other environmental factors "very
seriously" because it was the lifeblood of the cattle industry.

"They are staunchly committed to protecting the land as a productive and healthy source,"

he said.

AAP tr/srp/de

KEYWORD: CLIMATE FARMERS

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

Fed: Defence optimistic about recruiting, retention

AAP General News (Australia)
08-29-2008
Fed: Defence optimistic about recruiting, retention

The defence department says it's had significant success in attracting new entrants
to the forces .. and hanging onto those already in the ranks.

It says a variety of strategies and programs have helped the forces grow to to more
than 53-thousand over the last 12 months.

Defence deputy secretary PHILIP MINNS has told a parliamentary committee .. there were
more than seven thousand full-time enlistments to the end of June.

AAP RTV mb/rl/tm/bart

KEYWORD: RECRUIT (CANBERRA)

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

WSFM 0800 Headlines

AAP General News (Australia)
04-24-2008
WSFM 0800 Headlines

Canberra relay vox .. due to start at 8:45 .. pro-Tibetan demonstrators heavily outnumbered
.. at least one arrest .. RON CLARKE has no problem with protestors.

Rock throwers could be jailed even if they don't hit their target.

Two cars set alight.

Fines for drunks and pubs.

SPORT: Dragons rule out swap with Sharks. Soccer - Vukovic. Man U Barcelona draw.

AAP RTV/bart

KEYWORD: WSFM 0800 (SYDNEY)

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

Vic: Convicted sex offender escapee found

AAP General News (Australia)
12-20-2007
Vic: Convicted sex offender escapee found

MELBOURNE, Dec 20 AAP - A convicted sex offender who escaped from a secure psychiatric
hospital in Melbourne has been found in Adelaide.

Sean Broaders, 44, has been on the run since Friday after absconding from Thomas Embling
Hospital in Heidelberg in Melbourne's north-east.

Broaders, who had shaved off his beard, was arrested by police in Gouger Street in
central Adelaide just before 9.30am.

He is now in hospital undergoing a medical assessment.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said Broaders would not face any charges and would be
returned to the care of the Thomas Embling Hospital, a secure hospital primarily for patients
from the criminal justice system needing psychiatric assessment or treatment.

Broaders is a known sex offender and has extensive convictions for sex offences.

He escaped from care after being escorted by two staff members to a medical appointment.

Upon returning to the hospital, he ran away from the transporting car.

AAP mi/gfr/jt/de

KEYWORD: BROADERS LEAD

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

Fed: Greens call for pension increase

AAP General News (Australia)
08-08-2007
Fed: Greens call for pension increase

CANBERRA, Aug 8 AAP - The Australian Greens have called on the government to cancel
tax cuts for higher income earners and use the money to increase the aged pension by $60
a fortnight.

The government lifted the 40 per cent personal tax income threshold from $75,000 to
$80,000 in this year's federal budget.

Senator Brown said Prime Minister John Howard should cancel the tax cuts, which would
take effect from July 2008, and use the money to increase the aged pension.

"Pensioners are having to face the tough end of that increase in living, the cost of
rentals, the food, the transport, and they deserve a lift," Senator Brown said today.

"We're proposing that pensioners should get an extra $60 a fortnight.

"That would be more than paid for by canning the tax cuts for the mega-rich, for people
over $75,000, which is in this year's Costello budget."

AAP sld/sb/apm/bwl

KEYWORD: PENSIONS BROWN

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

NSW: ATM stolen from southern highlands shopping centre

AAP General News (Australia)
02-15-2007
NSW: ATM stolen from southern highlands shopping centre

SYDNEY, Feb 15 AAP - An ATM has been stolen in a ram raid at a shopping centre in the
NSW southern highlands.

Police said a Ford utility was driven into the glass entrance of an arcade at Wingecarribee
Street, Bowral, at 2.45am (AEDT) today.

The offenders managed to dislodge the ATM from the wall and loaded it into a silver
van that was last seen heading along Lamond Lane.

Local police found the ute which is being forensically examined.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Bowral Police Station on 4862 9299 or Crime
Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

AAP nr/klw/it/jlw

KEYWORD: ATM

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

SA: Don Chipp showed passion and compassion says Kanck

AAP General News (Australia)
08-29-2006
SA: Don Chipp showed passion and compassion says Kanck

ADELAIDE, Aug 29 AAP - Democrats founder Don Chipp brought great passion and genuine
compassion to Australian politics, the party's South Australian parliamentary leader Sandra
Kanck says.

"He exhibited great courage, both personal and political, when he walked away from
the Liberal Party to help found the Australian Democrats," Ms Kanck said.

"Yet perhaps his greatest legacy was breaking the stifling grip the Labor-Conservative
duopoly held on politics.

"By demonstrating that an alternative party could be successful and influential in
the political processes, he changed forever the heart of Australian politics."

Mr Chipp, 81, died in a Melbourne hospital yesterday after a long battle with Parkinson's
disease.

AAP tjd/evt/br

KEYWORD: CHIPP KANCK

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

NSW: Man undergoes surgery after Sydney hit and run

AAP General News (Australia)
04-22-2006
NSW: Man undergoes surgery after Sydney hit and run

SYDNEY, April 22 AAP - A man is undergoing surgery after being involved in a hit and
run in Sydney's north-west.

The 21-year-old pedestrian was walking along Victoria Street at Castle Hill just before
2.30am (AEST) today when he was hit by a car.

The driver drove off, leaving him injured on the roadway, until a taxi driver came
to his aid and called an ambulance.

The Castle Hill man was taken to Westmead Hospital where he is undergoing surgery.

As well as losing his spleen he suffered serious arm injuries.

Anyone who saw the incident is urged to contact the Metropolitan Crash Investigation
Unit or Crimestoppers.

AAP af/jas

KEYWORD: HIT

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

VIC: Main Stories in today's Melbourne newspapers

AAP General News (Australia)
08-20-2005
VIC: Main Stories in today's Melbourne newspapers

MELBOURNE, Aug 20 AAP - The main stories in today's Melbourne newspapers:

HERALD SUN

Page 1: Melbourne will host the biggest arts festival ever seen in Australia as part
of the Commonwealth Games; Police will investigate Gust Korp's bid to negotiate media
deals two weeks before his brother Joe killed himself, according to sources; Schapelle
Corby was last night clinging to new hope her 20-year prison sentence was about to be
halved.

Page 2: Detectives were last night interviewing a man over a sexual assault in an inner
city suburb.

Page 3: A runaway Melbourne businessman has been blamed for a ruthless fraud against
the dying wife of a former federal minister.

World: The Queen of England's late sister, Princess Margaret, is set to be portrayed
as a promiscuous drug user and drunk in a television drama.

Finance: Patrick Corp shares had the biggest one-day gain in three years yesterday
after the market reacted to growing speculation that Toll Holdings would make a takeover
bid.

Sport: Struggling paceman Jason Gillespie will accept being axed if, as expected, Australia
casts him into the Ashes wilderness next week.

MORE

KEYWORD: FRONTERS VIC

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

surveillance

surveillance n. Keeping watch on a suspect. The Police Act 1997 provides a formal system for authorization of intrusive surveillance operations by chief police officers. A team of independent commissioners oversees the arrangements and investigates complaints. Police and customs officials are also required to seek prior approval from a commissioner for authorizations in particularly sensitive cases – such as those involving legal privilege, for example – except in cases of emergency. See also electronic surveillance.

NASDAQ AT YEAR'S LOW POINT

Investors irked by poor earnings and unnerved by the presidential election limbo sent stocks sharply lower with the Nasdaq composite index falling to a new closing low for the year. The Nasdaq ended down 171.36, or 5.35 percent, at 3,028.99. The Dow Jones industrial average finished down 231.30, or 1.70 percent, at 10,602.95. The broader Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 34.16 to 1,365.98, a loss of 2.44 percent.Advisers Reject Internet Names: Advisers to an Internet naming organization narrowed recommendations for new domain names by dropping ".kids," ".xxx" and other proposals as unworkable.

QinetiQ chooses TrustLogic for groundbreaking defence communications system pilot project.

M2 PRESSWIRE-24 October 2001-Conclusive Logic: QinetiQ chooses TrustLogic for groundbreaking defence communications system pilot project (C)1994-2001 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

RDATE:24102001

QinetiQ, Europe's largest science and technology organization, has chosen Conclusive's TrustLogic Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) management software as the central element for an advanced IP-based command, control and communications (C3) system pilot project.

The project is being run by QinetiQ's Secure E-business Department and will demonstrate how a shared public network like the Internet can be used for securely communicating classified operational orders via web-based forms that are fully protected during transmission and while "at rest" by a combination of public key technologies.

The ultimate goal for this proof-of-concept is to demonstrate how a flexible, Internet-based workflow system that can be quickly configured to support secure messaging and C3 workflow applications between a variety of domestic and international military, intelligence and law enforcement organisations.

Some of the specific TrustLogic capabilities to be showcased during the trial include:

* Validation of user certificates through Certificate Revocation List (CRL) checking and Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP) support.

* Role-based encryption and signing of all required, discrete XML elements of inbound messages.

* Encryption of outbound XML-formatted messages under the appropriate users' key.

* Verification of all signatures on a message upon receipt.

* Encryption of XML messages while "at rest" in the messaging application's message database.

* 'Persistent encryption' of the message on a client device, even if it is locally cached or saved.

* Complete "audit" logging of all events surrounding each message, including the actual signed and encrypted messages themselves, in a cryptographically secure database.

The pilot will feature a web-enabled message storage and retrieval system, complete with e-mail notification of authorised recipients and interfaces for the integration of related workflow applications.

Initially, the trial will focus on showing how public key cryptography can be effectively employed for user access and authentication to the messaging system, as well as the protection, control and logging of its associated messages.

Malcolm Etchells, Conclusive's Director of Business Development for Europe, commented, "The QinetiQ pilot project will demonstrate the viability of using an IP-based network for securely drafting, approving and releasing operational orders at different levels of classification, as well as for controlling their dissemination to all appropriate recipients."

He continued, "Our TrustLogic enterprise security middleware was selected by QinetiQ to enable the full range of 'intelligent' PKI management capabilities necessary to meet this demanding requirement. Its ability to provide XML field-level digital encryption and signing, detailed audit logging of all communications, as well as to selectively apply other public key cryptography services and data protection technologies, will ensure the necessary levels of end-to end-security for this mission critical application."

"This trial perfectly demonstrates the use of Internet technologies for command and control in military operations, where security is essential," comments Tim Dean the QinetiQ project officer. "Conclusive's TrustLogic software has PKI-enabled this application quickly and provided the PKI management, rules and audit trail that should be an important part of the stringent security requirements necessary for command, control and communications over the Internet."

Notes to Editors

About QinetiQ

QinetiQ, a wholly government-owned UK PLC, comprises the greater part of DERA -- the British Government's "Defence Evaluation and Research Agency".

Leveraging its breadth and depth of technical expertise, uniquely derived from many decades of experience in meeting UK defence needs, this science and technology powerhouse is a world leader in the creation and application of advanced technologies and solutions for both government and industry.

With a staff of over 8,000 in dozens of locations across the UK, QinetiQ delivers science-based solutions to a wide range of industries. From Aerospace, Defence, Electronics, Finance and Healthcare through Security, Space and Transport, QinetiQ is a leader in communications, information management, software and systems, sensors, materials, energy and propulsion technologies and applications.

For additional information, visit the QinetiQ web site at www.qinetiq.com

About Conclusive Logic

Conclusive Logic, an enterprise security middleware company, develops and distributes innovative software products and applications that enable organisations to leverage data encryption and related information security technologies to implement and manage electronic workflow and Web services more efficiently and securely than ever before. Its core R&D team has over 100 years of collective experience in the IT security industry, while its senior management and business development staff are globally recognised experts, dedicated to providing practical advice and proven, world-class security products to global 1000 companies, security agencies, defence establishments and governments throughout Europe and North America.

For additional information about Conclusive Logic and its products, contact the company at either +44 (0) 1628 590 500 (UK) or +1 (703) 734 3000 (US), or visit the Conclusive web site at www.conclusive.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)).

BizRate.com Flash Survey: More Employees Shopping Online at Work.

Business Editors/Technology Writers

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 25, 2000

It's Monday morning at the office ... does your boss know you're shopping online?

According to a recent Flash survey(a) by BizRate.com (www.bizrate.com), 70 percent of respondents shop online during the weekdays -- with 40 percent admitting to conducting the majority of their shopping on the Web on the weekdays between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Nearly three-quarters of those shopping at work assume their bosses are aware of their online activities.

"The combination of the longer work day and the added advantage of faster Internet connections at most corporate offices make shopping at work a growing phenomenon," said Seth Geiger, vice president of professional services at BizRate.com.

The truth behind Staff Shoppers:

 -- Mondays and Tuesdays are peak shopping days, according to 50 percent of surveyed shoppers  -- Peak hours: Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., according to nine percent of surveyed shoppers  -- More managers (30 percent) than staff (24 percent) approve of shopping online during work hours  -- More than half of surveyed shoppers work more than 40 hours a week 

About BizRate.com

Founded in 1996 and based in Los Angeles, BizRate.com (www.bizrate.com) is the No. 1 retail mall on the Web (according to Media Metrix, August 2000), connecting millions of buyers to thousands of sellers in a single, organized location.

Designed as a shopping hub, the site provides the best efficiencies for both online buyers and sellers. In the BizRate.com C3 Marketplace, shoppers have access to a powerful product search engine, single-click check-out, exclusive deals, "hot" product listings and gift guides to empower consumers to "shop smartly" across 19 popular store categories and thousands of merchants.

Through BizRate.com's rating system, compiled exclusively from point-of-sale and fulfillment surveys of participating merchants, shoppers can compare merchants across 10 service dimensions.

BizRate.com ratings appear on Consumer Reports Online and in Consumer Reports magazine, as well as on Microsoft Network, AltaVista, GO Network, Go2Net, Snap, Citibank, iChoose, Brodia and CNET. The BizRate.com C3 Marketplace is a featured addition to Fleet Bank Services online site.

BizRate.com experts are available to add commentary to your articles. To schedule an interview with a BizRate.com research expert, contact Lori Putnam, 310/305-3506, ext. 186, lputnam@bizrate.com or Julie Mathis, 323/866-6039, jmathis@mslpr.com

(a) Flash Survey conducted Aug. 28-29, 2000