NSW:Dog mauls Sydney toddler

AAP General News (Australia)
08-07-2011
NSW:Dog mauls Sydney toddler

SYDNEY, Aug 7 AAP - A two-year-old girl attacked by a dog in a park in Sydney's south
west is receiving hospital treatment for facial injuries.

The girl was walking through a park in Nicholas Street, Lidcombe, about 7.30pm on Friday
with her mother and a sibling when the the dog struck.

It was described as a dark-coloured, medium sized animal with a muscular build.

Police say the dog was immediately led away by a young man who did not stop to speak
to the girl's mother.

The child was taken to Auburn Hospital with an injury to her right eyelid, as well
as puncture wounds to the right side of her face.

Inquiries are continuing and anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers
on 1800 333 000.

AAP bc/it

KEYWORD: DOG

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

Fed: Kiwi PM cancels Whispering Jack's Anzac Day performance

AAP General News (Australia)
02-17-2005
Fed: Kiwi PM cancels Whispering Jack's Anzac Day performance

MELBOURNE, Feb 17 AAP - John Farnham's performance at the 90th anniversary Anzac service
at Gallipoli looks to have been cancelled thanks to New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark.

Farnham's management team had spent five months organising for him to perform at Anzac
Cove, but Ms Clark is reported to have vetoed his appearance because she believed it was
inappropriate.

Ms Clark is also reported to have rejected Kiwi music legends Neil and Tim Finn for
the same reason.

Farnham's manager Glenn Wheatley told the Herald Sun the star had been looking forward
to the performance.

"John was extremely disappointed," the paper quoted him as saying.

Office of War Graves director Gary Beck said the change in the program was an attempt
to give the event a more sombre tone.

"We've got young people who've been to beer festivals, to Dublin, to bullfights and
we're trying to change their mood, to educate them what Gallipoli is about," the Herald
Sun quoted Mr Beck as saying.

"It was more that singing wasn't appropriate rather than John Farnham. I'd love to
see him there one year, he's a great Australian."

New Zealand government spokesman Ian Kennedy said he did not believe Ms Clark had personally
objected to the program, which was not yet finalised.

"I am authorised to say that New Zealand's prime minister has never heard of Johnny
Farnham," he said.

Mr Kennedy said final decisions on the program would be made by Ms Clark and Prime
Minister John Howard this weekend.

AAP apw/cdh

KEYWORD: FARNHAM

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

FED:Broderick to head ADFA inquiry

AAP General News (Australia)
04-11-2011
FED:Broderick to head ADFA inquiry

CANBERRA, April 11 AAP - Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick will lead
an examination of the treatment of women at the Australian Defence Force Academy, Defence
Minister Stephen Smith says.

She will carry out the inquiry on behalf of the human rights commission.

"This will be an important step in commencing a far-reaching cultural appraisal and
on-going change program for Defence," Mr Smith said in a statement.

MORE jcd/apm

KEYWORD: CADET SMITH UPDATE

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

QLD:Aurukun killer loses appeal

AAP General News (Australia)
12-21-2010
QLD:Aurukun killer loses appeal

BRISBANE, Dec 21 AAP - A man who stabbed his partner to death has had his appeal against
his conviction refused.

Bill Morris Walmbeng was found guilty in the Cairns Supreme Court in May of murdering
his de facto partner at the remote Aboriginal community of Aurukun in 2008.

He was sentenced to life imprisonment.

During the trial the court was told he stabbed her seven times with a knife, rupturing
her organs and causing her death.

In November, Walmbeng took his case to the Court of Appeal in Brisbane, where he argued
the jury's verdict was unreasonable when considered against the evidence.

In a written judgment handed down on Tuesday, the Court of Appeal rejected this submission
by ruling it was open to the jury to find Walmbeng guilty of murder.

AAP cf/crh/jlw

KEYWORD: WALMBENG

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

QLD:Bad weather holding up barge

AAP General News (Australia)
08-13-2010
QLD:Bad weather holding up barge

By Tony Bartlett

GOLD COAST, Aug 13 AAP - Authorities hope the weather will ease enough on Friday to
allow a desalination plant barge, which was blown onto a Gold Coast beach earlier this
week, to be towed into port.

The barge was torn from its moorings at the Tugun desalination plant and washed up
on the beach on Wednesday morning where it was pounded by rough seas before being refloated
later that night on the high tide.

It was towed to Brisbane and arrived on dark last night but the weather was too rough
to bring it into port.

Water Secure, the company which runs the desalination plant, says the barge is being
held off Cape Moreton and will be towed in as soon as the weather eases.

The 50-metre, 1000-tonne work platform, which has no motor, will be surveyed over the
next few days to make sure it hasn't been damaged.

It will then be towed back to the Gold Coast to work on repairs to the Tugun desalination
plant's outlet diffuser pipe, which returns salt water from the plant back into the ocean.

AAP bart/pjo/dep

KEYWORD: BARGE

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

Fed: Crew can feel ship breaking up, says marine expert

AAP General News (Australia)
04-05-2010
Fed: Crew can feel ship breaking up, says marine expert

SYDNEY, April 5 AAP - Crew onboard a stricken coal carrier leaking oil in the Great
Barrier Reef Marine Park can feel the ship breaking up under their feet, a marine expert
says.

Paul Burt said the Chinese-registered Shen Neng 1 - with 950 tonnes of heavy fuel oil
and 65,000 tonnes of coal on board - was so badly damaged there was a risk it would break
apart, causing a major catastrophe.

Authorities are battling to salvage the bulk coal carrier, which is stuck on a shoal
and leaking oil 70 kilometres east of Great Keppel Island.

An oil leak three kilometres long and 100 metres wide has spilt from the vessel since
it ran aground late Saturday afternoon.

"Basically the whole port side of the ship is structurally damaged quite badly so there
is a chance of it breaking up," Mr Burt told the Nine Network on Monday morning.

"Also the crew onboard are also saying they can feel the ship breaking up below their feet."

He said if the vessel does break up, it'll be a major disaster - for marine life and
the World Heritage-listed reef.

"... As of about five o'clock last night, there was about two tonnes of oil that have
been leaked from the ship. As to what happened last night we are totally unaware although
planes are on the scene right now.

"If it does break up, it's going to cause a major catastrophe, more than what it is
already. And, of course, it will have a major impact, not only on local marine life but
the Great Barrier Reef itself."

He said he would like to see the oil and coal removed from the vessel.

"We can look at pumping the oil out. That's the first thing I'd personally be looking at doing.

"Trying to remove the coal, trying to remove the laden, take the weight off the ship itself.

"It is a high impact crash onto the reef.

"These boats can move at well over 20 nautical miles an hour, which is a fair lump
when you are talking (about a ship that's) nearly a quarter of a kilometre long."

Responding to federal opposition calls for Defence to be called in, Mr Burt said he
did not know what they could do at the moment.

But, he said, questions needed to be answered.

"The vessel ... is approximately 30 kilometres off course. It is in a restricted zone.

These ships generally have pilots on them when they enter the Great Barrier Reef zone
when they come in to enter port.

"Queensland is littered with ports, for coal and of course oil ... and for sugar as
well. So, anyone who does venture in those areas generally has a pilot put on board, an
Australia pilot.

"This ship did not have a pilot and (was) way off course, so I think there's going
to be a lot of answers waiting, wanting to come forward out of this one."

AAP cdh/cjb

KEYWORD: CARRIER EXPERT

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

NSW: Major road partially closed after cyclist struck by vehicle

AAP General News (Australia)
08-22-2009
NSW: Major road partially closed after cyclist struck by vehicle

SYDNEY, Aug 22 AAP - A female cyclist has been struck by a vehicle on Sydney's southern
arterial road which has been closed northbound until further notice.

Police say the woman was struck about 6.30am (AEST) on Saturday in General Holmes Drive
near Sydney Airport.

She was travelling along the northbound route and was hit just north of the airport
tunnel. An ambulance is on the scene.

The northbound direction of General Holmes Drive has been closed off.

The woman's condition has yet to be determined.

AAP vpm/ht

KEYWORD: CYCLIST

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

NSW: Police car rammed in Sydney's west

AAP General News (Australia)
04-14-2009
NSW: Police car rammed in Sydney's west

SYDNEY, April 14 AAP - A man is under police guard in hospital after he allegedly rammed
a police car in Sydney's west overnight.

A 58-year-old driver was arrested on Monday night after allegedly ramming his white
Volvo sedan into a marked patrol car at Cranebrook at about 8.20pm (AEST).

It is alleged he also tried to ram a second police car.

After losing control of his vehicle, police arrested the man in nearby Laycock Street.

He was taken to Nepean Hospital by ambulance, where he is under police guard in a stable
condition.

Two male police officers sustained minor injuries in the incident but did not require treatment.

A crime scene was established and investigations are continuing by Penrith Local Area
Command detectives.

AAP bc/ss

KEYWORD: RAMMED

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

NSW: Hotel brawl proof of need for new pub laws: Rees

AAP General News (Australia)
12-08-2008
NSW: Hotel brawl proof of need for new pub laws: Rees

NSW Premier NATHAN REES says a brawl involving up to 600 people outside a western Sydney
bar is proof new regulations to curb alcohol-related violence are warranted.

Police had to call in the riot squad .. Pol Air helicopter and the dog squad to break
up the crowd outside Parramatta's Roxy Hotel at about 11.45pm (AEDT) yesterday.

Two security guards had to be taken to hospital after one was glassed in the brawl.

The Roxy Hotel is one of 48 pubs which must follow new regulations brought in by the
NSW government.

The laws include a 2am lock out and drinks must be served in plastic cups after midnight.

Mr REES says the brawl is proof strict measures are needed.

AAP RTV nr/evt/ka/fdf

KEYWORD: BRAWL REES (SYDNEY)

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

Fed: Al Masri did not apply for visa after 2002: Department

AAP General News (Australia)
08-05-2008
Fed: Al Masri did not apply for visa after 2002: Department

The immigration department says a Palestinian man .. shot dead in the Gaza Strip last
week .. six years after being denied an Australian protection visa .. did not seek sanctuary
this year.

AKRAM AL MASRI was the apparent victim of a feud between rival clans.

Mr AL MASRI had applied for a protection visa .. after arriving in Australia in June
2001 ... but his application was rejected.

It had been reported Mr AL-MASRI had applied for a visitor's visa in February this
year .. fearing he and his family would be killed .. but the Department of Immigration
and Citizenship says it has no record for a visa application.

AAP RTV ag/wz/psm/

KEYWORD: ALMASRI (CANBERRA)

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

Fed: RBA says households generally coping with rate rises

AAP General News (Australia)
02-11-2008
Fed: RBA says households generally coping with rate rises

By Colin Brinsden, Economics Correspondent

CANBERRA, Feb 11 AAP - Households may be griping over the latest round of interest
rate rises, but the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) says we are generally coping well
with the rising cost of borrowing.

It also says households are saving more of their incomes - at the highest rate in seven years.

The RBA raised its cash rate by a further quarter percentage point last week - its
11th consecutive increase since May 2002.

In its quarterly monetary policy statement released today it indicated that another
interest rate rise is likely in coming months because of the risk of inflation remaining
uncomfortably high.

"The household sector overall appears to be handling its debt-servicing obligations
well, with only a small share of households experiencing difficulties making their required
payments," the RBA said in its statement.

"The household saving rate has also been rising - net saving was around three per cent
of household disposable income in the September quarter, its highest rate in seven years."

It says the generally healthy state of finances has provided support to the housing
sector, especially the established housing market.

It notes that nationwide house prices increased strongly in 2007 with recent Australian
Bureau of Statistics data showing capital city house prices increasing 12 per cent over
the year.

"Nonetheless, recent data suggest housing credit growth and loan approvals slowed slightly
in late 2007 compared with the first half of the year," it said.

"These data would not yet reflect much of an impact from the November tightening in
the cash rate nor any impact from the latest cash rate rise and the additional increases
in bank lending rates early this year."

However, it says growth in housing construction has remained relatively subdued following
several years of weakness.

"The shortfall in supply of new dwellings relative to underlying demand remains evident
in the rental market - vacancy rates are close to historical lows in most cities, and
rents have continued to accelerate."

AAP cb/sb/jm/de

KEYWORD: HOUSEHOLDS RBA

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

Qld: Main stories in today's Brisbane newspapers

AAP General News (Australia)
08-24-2007
Qld: Main stories in today's Brisbane newspapers

BRISBANE, Aug 24 AAP - The main stories in today's Brisbane Courier Mail:

Page 1: Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd announced a multi-billion dollar health funding
plan that could lead to a takeover of every state-controlled public hospital. 18 Indonesian
sailors bound for the APEC summit in Sydney, scrambled ashore at Rainbow Beach in southeast
Queensland early yesterday as their ship was beached by stormy weather.

Page 2: A court has been told that Robert Farquharson, the father accused of driving
his three young sons to their death in a dam outside Melbourne in 2005, refused to call
an ambulance after flagging down a passing car.

Page 3: A Queensland industrial relations commissioner, Robin Bechly,
took an $11,000 taxpayer-funded trip to the LawAsia conference in Hong Kong only three
weeks before retiring with a lucrative redundancy.

World: Spanish state-run TV has dropped live coverage of bullfighting, on grounds the
deadly duel between matador and beast is too violent for young viewers.

Finance: Under the Australian Securities and Investments Commission's new disclosure
regime, unlisted and unrated debenture issuers will have to meet eight benchmarks, to
avoid the losses caused by the collapses of Westpoint, Fincorp, ACR and Bridgecorp. AMP
chief executive Andrew Mohl yesterday announced earnings of $78 million and that he would
retire at the end of the year.

Sport: Former Cowboys skipper Travis Norton said it was time for the Johnathan Thurston-led
North Queensland side to strike fear into its rivals the Knights, playing in in Newcastle
tonight.

AAP ec/it

KEYWORD: MONITOR FRONTERS QLD

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

NSW: Three more deaths take NSW Easter road toll to nine

AAP General News (Australia)
04-09-2007
NSW: Three more deaths take NSW Easter road toll to nine

Eds: Clarifies motorcyclist was female, not male, on updated advice from police.



SYDNEY, April 9 AAP - Police have appealed to NSW drivers to change their ways after
three more deaths pushed the state's Easter road toll to nine, compared to last year's
10 deaths for the holiday period.

Two people were killed in a head-on collision between two vehicles in the state's north-east
at 3pm (AEST) today.

The male driver of one vehicle and a female passenger in the other vehicle died at
the scene of the collision on the New England Highway, about 30km south of Uralla, police
said.

The highway was blocked in both directions and was expected to remain closed until
at least 7pm (AEST).

In southern NSW, a female motorcyclist died and three other people were injured, one
critically, when her bike and a four-wheel drive collided on the Snowy Mountains Highway
about 30km east of Cooma at 2.15pm (AEST), police said.

The four-wheel drive then rolled onto a utility, in which the 40-year-old male driver
was badly injured. He was taken to Canberra Hospital in a critical condition.

A woman and a child from the four-wheel drive were taken to Cooma Hospital in serious
but stable condition.

No further details were immediately available on either accident.

Police today urged motorists to adjust their attitude, after booking 8,706 people for
speeding since Thursday and charging more than 590 people with drink-driving offences.

"It is time for an attitude adjustment that might just save your life, your family
and others," said Police Traffic Services Commander, acting Chief Superintendent Dave
Evans.

A 25-year-old man was clocked at 127km/h in a 50km/h zone on Gladstone Avenue at Mount
St Thomas, near Wollongong, yesterday.

A 15-year-old boy was caught doing burnouts in a residential street at Koonawarra,
also near Wollongong.

The boy was charged with negligently driving an unregistered vehicle while unlicensed
and uninsured, and the vehicle was confiscated.



(EDS: AAP's Easter road toll figures are for the period 0001 April 5 to 2359 April
9 (AEST). Some states and territories may have different periods.)

AAP wjf/jt/cdh

KEYWORD: TOLL NSW NIGHTLEAD

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

Qld: Libs reject leadership speculation

AAP General News (Australia)
12-07-2006
Qld: Libs reject leadership speculation

BRISBANE, Dec 7 AAP - Queensland Liberal Party deputy leader Mark McArdle says there
are no moves afoot to depose leader Bruce Flegg.

Party sources have speculated Liberal MPs are planning to dump Dr Flegg over the summer
parliamentary break.

Dr Flegg replaced former leader Bob Quinn a week before the start of the state election
campaign and was heavily criticised by some sections of the party for his inept campaigning.

Mr McArdle said Dr Flegg had the support of all seven of his parliamentary colleagues.

"Categorically there is no movement to replace Dr Flegg," Mr McArdle said.

"He has the full support of the parliamentary party.

"Bruce will retain the leadership as long as he wishes to do so - it is a nonsense
to suggest anything to the contrary."

AAP pjo/sc/evt/nf

KEYWORD: LIBERALS QLD

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

NSW: Japanese student to be extradited to Queensland

AAP General News (Australia)
08-01-2006
NSW: Japanese student to be extradited to Queensland

SYDNEY, Aug 1 AAP - A female Japanese PhD student who has applied for asylum in Australia
was to be extradited from NSW to Queensland today on charges of making death threats against
court employees.

Megumi Ogawa, 39, who has been studying in Australia since 1999, is accused of threatening
to kill a man and a woman who work for the Federal Court.

She allegedly made the threats during more than 150 phone calls to Federal Court staff in May.

Ogawa was remanded in custody during a brief appearance in Sydney's Central Local Court
today following her arrest on an extradition warrant at midday yesterday.

Crown Prosecutor Lara Gallagher told Magistrate Allan Moore that Ogawa was on bail
for a previous matter when she committed the alleged offences.

Ms Gallagher did not reveal details of the previous allegations and would not elaborate
on the matter to reporters outside the court.

Ogawa was to be escorted by Queensland police to Brisbane on a 2pm flight today.

Ogawa was released on a bridging visa from Villawood Immigration Detention Centre on
Friday. She had been detained there since May, having lost her student visa after an enrolment
dispute with the University of Melbourne.

But her deportation was delayed last week after she lodged an application for asylum
- a visa usually reserved for those fleeing persecution.

The Federal Court today delayed a decision on whether to block her deportation until August 3.

Ogawa, whose address is listed on court papers as the University of Queensland, is
accused of using a carriage service to threaten Tim Conrad and Jane Mussett in May.

According to court papers filed at Central Local Court today, she is also accused of
using a carriage service to menace or harass between April 14 and May 18 this year.

She will be formally charged with those offences upon her return to Queensland.

Mr Moore today remanded Ogawa in custody to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court tomorrow.

AAP kjd/kaj/klw/it/sp

KEYWORD: OGAWA

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

Fed: Odyssey House says Howard misses point on mental health

AAP General News (Australia)
02-10-2006
Fed: Odyssey House says Howard misses point on mental health

Odyssey House has accused politicians of missing the point .. by seeking a tougher
line on marijuana as part of a mental health reform package.

Chief executive DAVID CROSBIE says he's frustrated because he's got funding to treat
people for alcohol or drug-related problems .. but the service can't get funding for a
mental health nurse.

He says most clients with major drug problems also have major mental health problems
.. and they're dealing with homelessness and unemployment.

But he says when counsellors try to work holistically .. they're told they're not funded
for that.

AAP RTV hmg/dk/rj/bart

KEYWORD: COAG MENTAL ODYSSEY (MELBOURNE)

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

NSW: Pedestrian killed in collision with motorcycle

AAP General News (Australia)
08-30-2005
NSW: Pedestrian killed in collision with motorcycle

SYDNEY, Aug 30 AAP - A female pedestrian has been killed and two people on a motorcycle
have been hospitalised after a collision in Sydney's west last night.

The 68-year-old Parramatta woman was walking along Pitt Street in Parramatta about
7pm (AEST) when a silver BMW motorcycle collided with her, police said.

The driver of the motorcycle, a 35-year-old Villawood man and his passenger, a 28-year-old
woman from Gladesville were thrown from the bike.

All three were treated at Westmead Hospital, where the 68-year-old later died from her injuries.

The Villawood man had a possible hand fracture and hip injury while his passenger injured
her neck and left knee.

AAP na/rs


KEYWORD: TOLL NSW

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

Mom thinks daughter’s closet door was opened by her college mentor

Dear Abby: My daughter recently told us she is attracted to women. I feel she has been unduly influenced by her mentor/professor at her college, as she quoted this woman several times when she "came out."

My daughter has always been quiet and shy. She finds it difficult to make eye contact with anyone. How am I to accept this, especially since I feel her mentor took advantage of the situation? I am finding it difficult to function at all. I love my daughter very much. This just hurts.

Mom At A Loss in Oregon

Dear Mom at A Loss: I understand this has been a shock for you, and for that you have my sympathy. It is possible that your daughter has always been quiet and shy because she was wrestling with who she is, so the fact that she told you her feelings is a good thing.

Because you are hurting, it would be helpful for you to talk to other parents of lesbians and gays. They can help you through this period of adjustment. You can find support by contacting PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) by calling (202) 467-8180 or logging onto pflag.org. If you do, you'll be better able to support your child.

Dear Abby: My husband and I have been married eight years and have two children. Our marriage has had its share of ups and downs, but we always manage to survive the bad times.

My problem is my husband sleeps on the couch 95 percent of the time instead of in our bed. He makes excuses such as he "fell asleep watching TV," or "the kids were sleeping in our bed" — even when they weren't. He even goes to sleep on the couch after we have had sex.

I don't like sleeping by myself every night, and I have tried to explain how upsetting this is to me. My little girl has even asked why Daddy sleeps on the couch. Any suggestions?

Missing my Snuggle, Melbourne, Fla.

Dear Missing your Snuggle: Yes. Have you asked your husband why he's not in bed with you anymore? Your statement that he leaves for the couch after you have had sex could indicate that one or both of you may have a sleeping disorder that prevents him getting enough rest. But you'll never find out unless you can get him to level with you about what the problem is.

Dear Abby: My darling wife died not long ago. I'm still grieving. Please tell me what to do when women show up as if I'm available to date. They're not shy. I'm not interested in anyone, especially since my wife just passed away. I am still emotionally attached to her, and I don't want that feeling to fade.

Abby, these women are forward and aggressive. I can't believe how some of them dress. I miss my wife. I truly loved her and continue to do so.

I know in time I'll meet someone, but I'm not ready to jump out there because my heart still belongs to my wife. I welcome your advice, Abby.

Huntsville Widower

Dear Widower: Please accept my deepest sympathy for the loss of your beloved wife. Because you wrote to me in longhand rather than via the Internet, I'm assuming you are an older gentleman. Available men in your demographic are hard to find, which is probably why you're under siege by the casserole brigade. Actually, it's a compliment that they're lining up. However, because you're not ready to move in that direction, politely tell the women you prefer to be left alone right now to sort out your feelings. And, if anything changes, you will let them know.

CHINADOTCOM, STOCKHOUSE MEDIA STRIKE STRATEGIC ALLIANCE.

(Full text of a statement. Contact details below.)

HONG KONG, April 13 PRNI HK-AsiaNet - chinadotcom corporation (Nasdaq: CHINA) (Website: http://www.corp.china.com), the leading pan-Asian integrated Internet company, today announced strategic investment, content and technology agreements with StockHouse Media Corp. (http://www.stockhouse.com), a global online content and community group that provides proprietary and aggregated financial news and information. This alliance will allow the hongkong.com portal to deliver financial news content by leveraging on its existing operational and cost infrastructure.

chinadotcom corporation will hold a five percent equity of StockHouse and become a regional development partner in the company. Under a separate content and technology alliance, StockHouse has agreed to provide financial news and personalized portfolio tracking services to chinadotcom corporation's portal network -- starting with the hongkong.com web site.

"The alliance with and investment in StockHouse is another important step in our mission to create quality information and service channels specifically for the region," said Rudy Chan, Chief Executive Officer of hongkong.com corporation.

"Significantly, the deployment of the StockHouse channel to hongkong.com marks the start of a programme of re-positioning initiatives specified in the company's GEM-listing prospectus.

"StockHouse has built a solid reputation for providing investors all over the world with timely financial news and insight into the stock markets, as well as a range of portfolio tracking tools. This content and technology alliance will enable both companies to work together bringing these valuable services to the online communities of Asia," he added.

StockHouse will provide ticker messages and breaking stories on stocks, initially from the Australian, Canadian, Hong Kong and U.S. stock exchanges to chinadotcom's portal network. Users will be able to monitor and track their investments' performance, meet other investors in syndicated chat-rooms and receive regular newsletters.

"We are confident that our network and content partnership with chinadotcom corporation will contribute to building StockHouse's brand with Asian audiences, while providing the group's online subscribers with the information they need to make informed investment decisions," said Ms. Pamela Ip, Managing Director, StockHouse Media (HK) Ltd.

Added Jeff Berwick, President and Founder of StockHouse, "We are also very proud of the investment partnership with chinadotcom corporation and expect it to be a fruitful one as we use the funds to expand throughout Asia."

StockHouse already has editorial offices and Websites in Australia, Canada, the U.K., and U.S. Its Hong Kong web site and services went live in January, with an official launch to be held this month. Singapore will follow during the second quarter, with Japan and Korea before the year-end.

Commented Vicky Hung, Senior Vice President, Portals Hongkong & Taiwan of chinadotcom corporation, "This is another significant building block in the construction of our pan-Asian business. Once again, we are leveraging our operational and cost infrastructure by partnering with an organization that has proven expertise and a strong track record. Leveraging our existing infrastructure lowers the costs involved with making this partnership a success. In addition, our experience across Asia, combined with StockHouse Media Corporation's expertise in the online finance sector, are the sort of ingredients necessary to develop relevant and compelling services as a means to attract and retain online users. We believe this is the key to building a successful business that has strong revenue growth."

About StockHouse Media Corporation

StockHouse Media Corporation owns and operates an international network of popular online investment communities.

The Company provides global financial content aggregation from over 400 sources, original editorial, interviews with business leaders, a comprehensive equities database and the Internet's first syndicated message forums. StockHouse has over 130 employees in seven offices spanning several countries including the United States, Canada, Hong Kong, Australia and the United Kingdom. For more information about StockHouse Media Corporation, please visit http://www.stockhouse.com

About chinadotcom corporation

chinadotcom corporation is the leading pan-Asian Internet company built on an integrated operating and investment business model. The company provides a full range of Internet services that 1) build e-business strategies and solutions (Web Connection), 2) distribute content via its portal network (china.com, cww.com, hongkong.com, and taiwan.com), and 3) sell services through online advertising (24/7 Media Asia).

chinadotcom corporation also invests in synergistic Internet companies throughout the Asia-Pacific region that add value and depth to its services and portal channels. chinadotcom corporation's investment strategy is largely based on three types of investments. The first, incubation, through chinadotcom corporation's Jump Start program, supports seeding of new companies and incubates Internet start-ups. The second, acceleration, builds on existing businesses and accelerates the growth of existing on-line services. The third, partnership, enables chinadotcom corporation to join with established Internet companies to accelerate and expand their entry into the Asian market. To date, through chinadotcom's investment program, the company has invested in more than 30 Internet companies around the world.

chinadotcom corporation is committed to enabling digital communities to realize their full potential, thereby facilitating the development of the Internet in China and across Asia. The company has over 1000 employees in 24 offices across 10 Asian markets, including Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan.

In Mainland China, the company has 12 offices and over 350 employees. Major corporate shareholders include America Online Inc., Mitsui & Co. Ltd., Nortel Network Corporation, New World Infrastructure Limited and 24/7 Media Inc. For more information about chinadotcom corporation, please visit http://www.corp.china.com.