Greek Rotarian Volunteers Travel to India to Help Immunize Millions of Children Against Polio

ATHENS, Greece - Part of Rotary’s Global Effort to End Polio Worldwide

Rotary club members (Rotary District 2470) from Athens and the island of
Syros traveled to India, where they immunized children against polio — a
disease that still paralyzes and sometimes kills children in parts of Africa,
Asia and the Middle East. The 22-member team was in India from February 10 -
March 3.

InSightec Ltd. Announces US$15 Million Investment Round

TIRAT CARMEL, Israel - InSightec Ltd. reported today that it has closed an internal round of
financing totaling US$15 million from its existing investors.

Want a Hard Worker? Employ a Mum

BIRMINGHAM, England - Working mums work harder than other employees - with almost two-thirds of
companies recruiting mothers over other staff.

Unite Photo Opportunity - City Rally to Fight for Fair Access to Local Construction Jobs

LIVERPOOL, England - When: 10.00 am, Saturday 21st March 2009

- Where: Myrtle Parade/Bedford Street, Liverpool (see below)

Airport Competition at all Costs is not in Workers’ or Passengers’ Interests, Says Unite

LONDON - Unite the union today (Thursday) rejected the demand from the Competition
Commission that BAA has to sell Stansted and either Glasgow or Edinburgh
airports, in addition to the already agreed sale of Gatwick airport.

Occlutech Obtains Favourable Ruling in Proceedings Initiated by AGA Medical

JENA, Germany - Occlutech GmbH today announced that it had defeated a request for
insolvency, launched at the Amtsgericht Gera in Germany by its US competitor
AGA Medical.

Unite Baggage Handlers Challenge MPs to Weight-Lifting Test

LONDON - Date: Wednesday 25 March
Time: 12.30
Venue: Old Palace Yard, opposite House of Commons, Westminster

Pope Not Infallible on Condoms

WASHINGTON - The Vatican has yet again been forced to revise statements made by Pope
Benedict XVI as he embarked on a foreign trip. En route to Cameroon on March
17, the pope claimed that condom use would “aggravate the problem” of HIV.

Afghanistan: Ensuring Success

KABUL and DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Afghanistan faces a dangerous and challenging time. The Afghan people
long for security, economic empowerment and political stability. While these
goals seemed within reach in the years immediately after the fall of the
Taliban, the progress made is threatened today. Some voices around the world
are saying that we — Afghans — are not capable of building an effective
state, that we are not ready to pursue a democratic order, or that we are not
prepared to join the modern world. We reject these fallacies, but they are a
clear sign that the world is beginning to lose patience with Afghans. The
situation is serious — and we Afghans must acknowledge our shortcomings,
seek to learn lessons, and respond promptly and appropriately.

HiQ Network to Create up to 500 New Jobs Through Franchise Programme

BIRMINGHAM, England - Leading fast fit retailer HiQ today announced it is to create up to 500
new jobs as part of its ambitious national franchise programme.

/C O R R E C T I O N — Liquidnet/

NEW YORK - In the news release, Liquidnet Announces Trading Statistics for February
2009, issued 06-Mar-2009 by Liquidnet over PR Newswire, the Feb-09 Column
under Current Month, the line titled “Total U.S. trading volume (shares in
thousands)” should read “1,188,072″ rather than “11,188,072″ and the line
titled “Average U.S. execution size in shares” should read “53,277″ rather
than “253,277″ as incorrectly transmitted by PR Newswire. The complete,
corrected release follows:

Live Webinar - From Promise to Practice: Proven Strategies to Accelerate Your Campus-Wide Online Learning Initiative

MADISON, Wisconsin - The Dutch higher education market is one of the world’s most advanced in
lecture capture and Technical University of Delft leads the pack, recording
80 class hours that attract 10,000 views - each and every week. But the
widespread success of this ambitious campus program did not come without the
usual challenges.

Unite Reaction to Turner Report on Reform of FSA

LONDON - Rob MacGregor, Unite national officer, said: “Another review with more
rhetoric than substance will do nothing to reassure consumers or staff in the
financial services industry. Action is well over-due by those who oversee the
UK’s financial services sector in order to overhaul the flawed sector and
bring back trust.

Announcing the International Ibsen Scholarships 2009

SKIEN, Norway - The International Ibsen Scholarships were initiated in 2007 by the
Norwegian government.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Clears Way for Multi-Center Clinical Trial of IDEV Technologies’ SUPERA Peripheral Stent

HOUSTON - Novel Stent Platform Designed for Radial Strength, Flexibility

IDEV Technologies Incorporated, (IDEV) an emerging leader in the
development and marketing of minimally invasive technologies, announced today
that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an
investigational device exemption (IDE) for a multi-center clinical trial of
its SUPERA stent, a novel stent platform designed for the treatment of
peripheral artery disease (PAD) in the superficial femoral artery (SFA). PAD
affects more than 8 million people in the U.S. alone and, by the age of 65,
12-20 percent of the population will develop PAD, according to the American
Heart Association.

Careers Guidance Could Scupper Apprenticeships Expansion

LONDON - ATTN: Education, Careers & Politics Correspondents

The UK’s Apprenticeship renaissance could stall if careers information
and guidance is not overhauled warns a major new report, Progression through
Apprenticeships, published today.

Stafford Hospital is a Classic Example of the Government’s ‘Flawed’ NHS Privatisation Policy

LONDON - Stafford Hospital is a classic case of the government’s ‘flawed’
privatisation agenda for the NHS, Unite, the largest union in the country,
said today (Wednesday, 18 March).

PetroAlgae Wins Sustainable Biofuels Award at World Biofuels Markets Event

BRUSSELS - In a gala event including the world’s foremost leaders in biofuels,
PetroAlgae (OTC Bulletin Board: PALG) last night was presented the
Sustainable Biofuels Technology Award in the Technology Supplier category at
the 2009 World Biofuels Markets in Brussels.

Uttoxeter Workers Make one More Push to Save the Fox’s Factory

LONDON - WHEN: 1.30pm on Friday, 20th March, 2009
WHERE: Northern Foods, 2180 Century Way, Thorpe Park, Leeds, LS15 8ZB
PICTURE: Giant postcard which says ‘Don’t take the biscuit, keep Fox’s
Jobs at Uttoxeter’

RISI Details Wood Chip Supply & Demand Changes at 75th Forest Resources Association Event

BOSTON - RISI analyzed the economic health of North American timber markets this
weekend at the Forest Resources Association’s annual meeting in Hilton Head,
SC. RISI stated that North American supply and demand for sawmill residual
chips has taken some twists over the past year, with lumber demand tanking,
pulp and paper nose-diving since the fourth quarter, and biomass development
running steady throughout. Furthermore, the rapid expansion of higher-cost
in-woods chip production steadily increased through 2008 to meet pulp demand,
which was strong until third quarter.

Notification of Legal Proceedings - GHCL Limited Convertible Bonds

LONDON - This is a notification to holders of US$70,000,000 1 per cent Convertible
Bonds due 2011 issued by GHCL Limited (ISIN XS0229495782) (the “Bonds”):
Bondholders who hold a qualifying supermajority of Bonds issued under a Trust
Deed dated 21 September 2005 and between GHCL Limited and The Bank of New
York have retained the law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges, One South Place,
London, EC2M 2WG, and intend to file proceedings (”Proceedings”) in the
English court for a declaration that the Bonds have become due and payable as
a result of events of default having occurred under the Conditions of the
Bonds by virtue of certain of GHCL Limited’s subsidiaries being placed in
administration and subsequently selling substantially all their assets, and
certain of GHCL Limited’s subsidiaries being placed into a reorganisation
proceeding under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code.

Wind Energy Gives Europe a Competitive Advantage, Says EU Energy Commissioner

MARSEILLE, France - “Wind energy can replace a large proportion of the polluting and finite
fuels we currently rely on,” explained Andris Piebalgs, EU Energy
Commissioner, at the opening session of the European Wind Energy Conference
and Exhibition (EWEC) organised by the European Wind Energy Association
(EWEA) this morning. “It makes good sense to invest in indigenous sources of
power which hedge against unpredictable fossil fuel prices and in which
Europe has a real competitive advantage”.

London Property Prices Increase Despite Economic Slowdown

LONDON - House prices in prime areas of London increased by 0.94% in February, the
fourth successive month of rises, according to Primelocation.com’s monthly
house price index.

The Pope is Wrong on Condoms

WASHINGTON - Jon O’Brien, president of Catholics for Choice, issued a response to Pope
Benedict’s statement on condom use.

“Renaissance US Growth Trust Backs China”

LONDON - To view the full Multimedia News Release, please click:

www.lansons.com/press/renaissance/renaissance-press-release.htm

One Week Remains for Media Accreditation for the International Olympic Committee’s Evaluation Commission Visit

CHICAGO - Media applying for accreditation to cover the International Olympic
Committee (IOC) Evaluation Commission Visit in Chicago, April 2-8 have one
week to submit their accreditation application. The accreditation period will
close on Monday, March 23. Media traveling to Chicago and staying at the
Sheraton have until Friday, March 20 to reserve a room at the media hotel.

Frost & Sullivan Observes That Petrodollars go a Long way in Times of Economic Uncertainties

DUBAI - After the 2002 surge in oil prices, most oil-exporting countries started
setting up dedicated investment funds exclusively for the oil surplus they
had earned. They were further encouraged when in 2006, the price of oil
increased from an average of $28 per barrel to $80 per barrel.

Average Student Debt Could Reach GBP 50,000 by 2027

LONDON - Increased University Fees Could Stretch Parents Purse Strings to the
Limit

- Child Trust Fund Offers Ray of Hope in Meeting Rising Costs

Unite is “Deadly Serious” About Halting Cuts to Voluntary Sector Funding in Scotland

LONDON - LONDON, March 17 /PRNewswire/ –

When: 11 am, Tuesday 17th March
Where: Scottish Parliament, outside the main entrance, Edinburgh, EH99
1SP.

UN Advisor Says Canadian Government Must Recognize the Right to Water to Deserve UN Security Council Seat

OTTAWA, Canada - Maude Barlow, senior advisor on water to the President of the United
Nations General Assembly and Council of Canadians chairperson, says the
Harper government’s goal of a seat on the UN Security Council should be
denied until Canada formally recognizes water as a human right.

‘Not for Profit’ job Losses ‘Worse Than’ Charity Commission Figures

LONDON - CHARITY and SOCIAL AFFAIRS Correspondents

LONDON, March 17 /PRNewswire/ –

Unite, the largest union in the country, believes that the picture for
charities, particularly job losses, is bleaker than the latest Charity
Commission research reveals.

The First BA in Value Studies and a New European Approach to Liberal Education

BERLIN - In October 2009, the European College of Liberal Arts - in
Berlin, Germany - will launch the first Bachelor of Arts in Value Studies
worldwide, an interdisciplinary programme that represents a new form of
liberal education.

Platts Launches New Americas Crude Marker to Capture U.S. Gulf Coast Values

HOUSTON - Platts, a leading global energy information provider, today confirmed it
will launch a major new crude oil price assessment to capture the
representative value of crude oil in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, the main hub
for refining, production, importing and handling of crude oil in the United
States. Platts’ decision to begin publishing the new price assessment follows
a period of extensive consultation with oil market participants.

Apprenticeships: A Mystery to Teachers

LONDON - Teacher understanding of Apprenticeships must radically improve for the
Government programme to achieve its full potential, according to new research
by independent education foundation, Edge.

Shire Files Lawsuit Against Barr Laboratories for Infringement of FOSRENOL(R) (Lanthanum Carbonate) Patents

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania and DUBLIN, Ireland - Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPGY) announces that it has
filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of New
York against Barr Laboratories, Inc. (”Barr”) for infringement of three of
Shire’s patents: U.S. Patent No. 5,968,976 (”‘976 Patent”);U.S. Patent No.
7,381,428 (”‘428″); and U.S. Patent No. 7,465,465 (”‘465″).