Aon Terrorism Threat Map Shows Shift in Sphere of ConflictLONDON and CHICAGO - The Next Generation: the re-emergence of traditional ideologies A shift in Islamist terrorist activity from the Middle East to South Asia is the primary feature of the Aon 2009 Terrorism Threat Map, launched today by Aon Crisis Management. The map shows a trend towards fewer terrorist attacks in the Middle East but increased activity in Pakistan, India and Afghanistan, with Thailand and Nepal also showing higher levels of activity. New Benchmark Set for Online PrivacyMELBOURNE, Australia - Effective Measure Extends its Lead in Online Privacy Effective Measure today announced plans to roll out a new industry leading visitor opt out mechanism that promises a new benchmark in visitor privacy. AIMSPRO is Awarded TGA Orphan Status for the Treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral SclerosisLONDON - Privately owned UK biotech company Daval International Limited (www.davalinternational.com) has been informed by Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) that its innovative anti-inflammatory agent AIMSPRO(R) has been awarded Orphan Status for the treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Dutch Appeals Court Orders Royal Dutch Shell to Begin Paying US$381 Million Settlement to Pan-European/Global Investor GroupAMSTERDAM - Binding declaration covers largest securities fraud settlement on record in Europe - Shell to pay foundation representing 150+ institutional investors in nineteen countries stemming from company’s prior misstatements of proven oil & gas reserves; US law firm Grant & Eisenhofer represents international investor group Foreign Exchange News: A Sterling Rise on Properties AbroadLONDON - 34% Return on Properties Bought in Europe in Sterling Terms in the Last Two Years - Number of Transactions Exchanging Euros for Pounds Soars Really Simple Systems Hosted CRM Opens North American OfficeTORONTO - UK’s Largest Hosted CRM Systems Vendor Opens Toronto Office to Challenge US CRM Competitors With on Demand Simple CRM, Support New Business and Sustain Global Growth NCO Group Acquires Complete Credit Management LimitedHORSHAM, Pennsylvania - NCO Group, Inc. (”NCO” or the “Company”), a leading provider of business process outsourcing services, announced today that its pan European subsidiary, NCO Europe Limited, completed the acquisition of Complete Credit Management Limited (”CCM”) from Severn Trent Services Group. CCM is a leading supplier of credit management and specialized collection services focusing predominantly on the utility sector in the United Kingdom. Northern Trust Strengthens OTC Derivative ServicesCHICAGO - Enhanced post-trade processing including reconciliation and confirmation services Northern Trust announced today that it has strengthened its global platform for over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives processing through an agreement with Markit, a financial information services company, to enhance post-trade processing including reconciliation and confirmation services for OTC derivatives. Strauss Group Reports Solid Start to 2009 with Growth in Sales and Pro-forma Net ProfitTEL AVIV - Financial highlights: - Sales in Q1 totaled NIS 1.52 billion, an increase of 1.2%; Organic growth, net of exchange rate impacts, totaled 6.3%. - Q1 reported operating profit reached NIS 135 million, compared to NIS 125 million in the same quarter last year; Operating profit for Q1, on a pro-forma[1] basis, totaled NIS 135 million compared to NIS 137 million last year. - Q1 reported net profit totaled NIS 74 million, compared to NIS 84 million in Q1 2008; Net profit, on a pro-forma basis, reached NIS 80 million compared to NIS 65 million last year. CA Brings Smart Enterprise Exchange to IndiaMUMBAI, India - First Exclusive Event for CIOs and Senior IT Executives to be Held in Bangalore July 03, 2009 Danny Wallace Joins Global Fight Against MSLONDON - Former Man Utd star Danny Wallace is helping to shine the spotlight on the condition that ended his career early by joining together with the MS Society to support World MS Day. Merck Serono to Support First International Thyroid Awareness WeekGENEVA, Switzerland - Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, today announced that in the frame of the first International Thyroid Awareness Week, from May 25 to 31, the company in cooperation with Thyroid Federation International (TFI) will launch an awareness campaign, also supported by the European Thyroid Association (ETA) and the Latin American Thyroid Society (LATS), to raise awareness of thyroid dysfunctions and their consequences, in approximately 40 countries worldwide. Together with the international patient organization TFI, Merck Serono will provide information on these under-diagnosed diseases through professional educational sessions and distribution of information to the public. These materials will be distributed in several languages and are available online for download. New Findings Provide Additional Insights into the Management of Anaemia and Secondary Hyperparathyroidism in Chronic Kidney Disease PatientsMILAN - Data presented from large-scale observational studies provide new insights into the day-to-day management of two major complications of CKD: anaemia and secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT).(1), (2), (3), (4) China Dominates the Global Aluminium IndustryLONDON - Roskill Information Services - The Economics of Aluminium (9th Edition) - www.roskill.com/reports/aluminium The Dark Side of ‘Cheap’ Online Hotel DealsSYDNEY - So you think you’ve found a “cheap” online hotel deal. Then came the hitch of booking fees, taxes and other sneaky fees. For some unexpected reason you now need to cancel your reservation only to learn that your “special” hotel rate was non-refundable. Sometimes “cheap” online hotel deals just don’t turn out that cheap after all. Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces Announces a Premium HotelPANAJI, Goa - Vibrant Experiences With Charming Hospitality! Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces announce their new premium hotel, “Vivanta by Taj - Panaji, Goa”, slotted in the “upper upscale” segment. Keeping the spirit of Goa, the hotel located in Panaji, addresses the needs of Goa’s expanding business environment, and offers contemporary experiences for the sophisticated and cosmopolitan customer. Vivanta also gives Leisure guests coming into Goa an opportunity to sample the culture & charm of this historic city before or after their sojourn to the beaches. Combined with the Taj’s strong presence in both North & South Goa, Vivanta Panaji gives full coverage and multiple choices to this key tourist market for both domestic as well as international travellers. Unit Clothing Mask Up to Combat Swine FluBRISBANE, Australia - Australia’s fastest growing action sports label, Unit Clothing is teetering on the edge of controversy once more following the launch of a campaign to promote its ‘Age of Panic’ theme. Souptoys Virtual Toys for Children Set FreePERTH, Australia - To the delight of kids around the globe, the virtual toy box known as Souptoys is now available for free. NEVO(TM) Sirolimus-Eluting Coronary Stent Yields Superior Results to Taxus(R) Liberte(R) Stent in Pivotal Clinical TrialBARCELONA, Spain - New Approach to Coronary Stenting Shows Superior Results in Key Six-Month Safety and Efficacy Endpoints All Parties Support CTI ProgramJAKARTA, Indonesia - The heads of state and government from six countries, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, The Philippines, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Solomon Island, and Timor Leste, officially signed a Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) Leaders’ Declaration on Friday, May 15, 2009, in Manado. In addition to the Declaration, in the opening of the CTI Summit, all heads of state or government also agreed to formally launch a program on Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Securities and Adaptation to Climate Change (CTI-CFFC), and by acclamation stated to adopt a Regional Plan of Action (RPOA). Stockholm Royal Seaport Selected for Newly Launched Climate Positive Development ProgramSTOCKHOLM - New Clinton Climate Initiative Programme to Demonstrate Economic, Environmental Strategies for Sustainable Urban Growth BPC Limited and StatoilHydro to Reopen Bahamian Energy Exploration With Offshore Joint VenturePERTH, Australia - Venture Marks First Major Bahamian Exploration Project in 22 Years Energy exploration company, BPC Limited (THE COMPANY: (AIM: ‘BPC’)) today announced a new offshore joint venture with Norway’s StatoilHydro (OSE: ‘STL’, NYSE: STO) to launch the first major exploration project in Bahamian waters since 1986. New Survey Shows Seven Out of Ten Women Were too Embarrassed to Discuss Vaginal Dryness and Pain With Their PhysicianLONDON - The majority of post-menopausal women are uncomfortable talking about vaginal dryness and pain and are reluctant to seek medical help, according to results from a new international survey presented today at the European Congress on Menopause in London. Results from the survey show that over a third (39 percent) of post-menopausal women experience these symptoms of vaginal atrophy and 40 percent of women who have recently experienced vaginal dryness and pain said it interferes with their sex life, yet seven out of ten would not discuss the problem with their physician (only 30 percent of women would consider talking to a gynaecologist, and only 29 percent would consider talking to a GP). SoftBank SELECTION to Launch English Version of ‘Jigsaw Art’TOKYO - BB Softservice Corp., a Tokyo-based planner and developer of application service in the SoftBank Group, announces that it will release an English version of ‘Jigsaw Art’ application software for iPhone(TM) 3G/iPod touch offered by ‘SoftBank SELECTION,’ in 18 countries in the world on May 15, 2009 at the AppStore. Northern Trust Named Global Custodian of the YearLONDON - Awards held in association with FT Business publications - Pensions Week and Pensions Management Safenames Unites Top English Premier League Clubs in Successful UDRP Joint FilingMILTON KEYNES, England - Safenames, an online brand protection services company and global domain name registrar, successfully recovered multiple domain names for five revered members of the English Premier League. In the fiercely contested English Premier League, it is rare if not unimaginable that the clubs would unite, but in order to address the shared problem of online trademark infringement cases that illegally profit from famous and beloved brands; the decision to form an alliance was simple. Morningstar Studies Mutual Fund Investor Experiences Across 16 Countries, Gives the U.S. the Only ‘A’ and New Zealand a ‘D-’CHICAGO - Morningstar, Inc. (Nasdaq: MORN), a leading provider of independent investment research, today released results of a study that measures the experiences of mutual fund investors in 16 countries in North America, Europe, and Asia. Morningstar’s evaluation of investor-friendly practices in fund markets worldwide identified the United States as the best market for fund investors based on such criteria as investor protection, transparency, fees, taxation, and investment choices. New Zealand scored the worst. Study results were unveiled at the Morningstar UK Investment Conference in London today. AXA Group 1Q09 Activity IndicatorsPARIS - Resilient revenues Total revenues were down 2% to EUR27,598 million On a comparable basis, revenues were down 5%: - Life & Savings down 7% to EUR16,453 million - Property & Casualty up 1% to EUR9,113 million - Asset Management down 34% to EUR762 million Positive insurance net inflows Life & Savings: EUR +3.3 billion P&C: +296,000(1) net new personal contracts Asset Management: EUR-17.4 billion Enhanced Solvency(2) March 31, 2009 Solvency I ratio slightly above 2008 year-end level of 127% Rio Tinto Alcan Granted CDN$175 Million Loan From the Government of Quebec to Further Construction of AP50 Pilot ProjectMONTREAL - Rio Tinto Alcan has been granted a loan from the Government of Quebec totalling up to CDN$175 million to further the construction of its AP50 pilot plant in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region. Saxo Bank Collects Five 1st Prizes in Euromoney FX Poll 2009LONDON and COPENHAGEN - Saxo Bank, the online trading and investment specialist, won a total of 27 awards in Euromoney’s annual FX Poll, and was also placed 23rd in the world for overall market share for the second year, reflecting a solid performance by the Bank during a turbulent economic year. Statement From Michael Hansen, CEO of Elsevier’s Health Sciences Division, Regarding Australia Based Sponsored Journal Practices Between 2000 and 2005PHILADELPHIA, Pennysylvania - Elsevier, one of the world’s leading publishers of scientific, technical, and medical (STM) information products and services, announced today that Michael Hansen, CEO of Elsevier’s Health Sciences Division, issued the following statement in light of recent allegations of improper Australia based sponsored journal publication practices between 2000 and 2005: Brightcove Partners With sevenload to Provide New Online Video Distribution & Monetization OpportunitiesHAMBURG - Brightcove customers gain access to one of the leading global social media networks for videos and Web TV content www.configuremyphone.com Launches to Help Australians Get the Most From Their Mobile PhonesSYDNEY - Problems Getting Email on Your Mobile, Sending Pictures or Browsing the Web? - it’s Over! Tata Interactive Systems’ Program Short-Listed for Training Journal AwardsMUMBAI - A Process Training program Developed by Tata Interactive Systems (TIS) was recently short-listed in the “Best e-learning program” category at the Training Journal (TJ) Awards 2009. Avure Technologies Acquired by Milestone Partners From The Gores GroupKENT, Washington - Sale Positions Company to Accelerate Execution of Its Successful Growth Strategy |
