Health/medical: Therapeutic nicotine is safe, effective

Therapeutic nicotine is safe, effective and can help reverse mental acuity deficits in smokers who are quitting, including commercial and private pilots
NiQuitin 4 mg lozenge helps reverse symptoms associated with nicotine withdrawal including difficulty concentrating, attention deficit, memory deficit and selective attention deficit

Philadelphia, PA. (ANTARA News/PRNewswire-AsiaNet) - The United States' Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced yesterday that it has removed a prescription anti-smoking pill from their approved list of safe medications for pilots and air-traffic controllers.

This announcement followed a new analysis of adverse event data from the non-profit Institute for Safe Medication Practices which linked the medication to mental confusion and other problems that could put passengers at risk. It's important to note this news does not include therapeutic nicotine which is deemed safe and effective.(1)

Further, recent research has found the NiQuitin/Nicabate 4mg lozenge has been clinically proven to help reverse nicotine withdrawal symptoms associated with quitting smoking including the following: difficulty concentrating, attention deficit, short-term memory deficit and selective attention deficit(2) -- some of the issues at the core of yesterday's report.

In 1994, the FAA requested the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) assemble an expert panel to examine the effects of smoking and tobacco addiction and withdrawal on pilot performance and airline safety. As part of the panel's conclusion, they found therapeutic nicotine to be safe, effective treatment option for pilots who smoke.(1) These recommendations stand to this day.

"Nicotine withdrawal is a serious issue for pilots who are in the process of quitting smoking, and today's news could have a dramatic impact on these individuals," said Jack E. Henningfield, Ph.D., Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Vice President Research & Health Policy, Pinney Associates, and consultant for GlaxoSmithKline Consumer
Healthcare.

"What they need to understand is that therapeutic nicotine such as the NiQuitin/Nicabate lozenge and patch is safe for quitters, including pilots who use it while flying,(1) and can help with the serious effects of withdrawal."

Smoking remains one of the leading causes of preventable death and disease and one of the most powerful and important addictions to break and many smokers can't do it alone. Evidence-based treatments, such as therapeutic nicotine offer a better chance of quitting versus cold turkey, where only 3-5 percent of smokers are successful long-term.(3)

Therapeutic nicotine including the NiQuitin lozenge and patch (brand name Nicabate in Australia) can help relieve withdrawal symptoms and cravings during smoking cessation. More than 110 studies involving approximately 40,000 smokers have demonstrated the safety of therapeutic even in populations with specific health conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, lung disease, and existing heart disease.(4)

GlaxoSmithKline's line of therapeutic nicotine products such as Nicorette gum (United States only), NicoDerm CQ patch and Commit lozenge, and NiQuitin and Nicabate brands outside of the United States, are easy to access in thousands of retail outlets and pharmacies worldwide. These products are designed specifically to break the daily addiction cycle by offering a gradual, controlled delivery of nicotine to the body, helping to relieve cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

About GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare is one of the world's largest over-the-counter consumer healthcare products companies. Its more than 30 well-known brands include the leading smoking cessation products, NicoDerm(R) CQ(R) and Commit(R), NiQuitin(R) and Nicabate(R), as well as many medicine cabinet staples such as Abreva(R), Aquafresh(R), Sensodyne(R) and Tums(R).

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare continues to develop innovative products to help all smokers find their best support system and achieve their goal of being cigarette free.

About GlaxoSmithKline

GlaxoSmithKline is one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and consumer healthcare companies. GlaxoSmithKline is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer.

NOTE: GlaxoSmithKline distributes Nicorette(R) gum, Nicoderm(R) patch and Commit(R) lozenge in the United States.

Outside of the U.S., its smoking cessation patch and lozenge are marketed as Nicabate(R) in Australia and NiQuitin(R) in other countries.

1. Fiore 1994, The effects of smoking and smoking withdrawal on flight performance.
2. GSK Data on file, Study S2540345 report Boyle et al 2006.
3. Fiore MC, Bailey WC, Cohen SJ, et al. Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence. Clinical Practice Guideline. Rockville, MD:
4. Stead LF, Perera R, Bullen C,Mant D, Lancaster T. Nicotine replacement therapy for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2008, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD000146. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD000146.pub3

U.S. Media Contacts:
Samantha Schwarz, GolinHarris
312 622 1124, sschwarz@golinharris.com Media contacts
outside of U.S.:
Claire Dixon EU , 44 20 8047 4296,
Claire.E.Dixon@gsk.com
Graham Read, Australia/New Zealand,
612 9684 0295, Graham.A.Read@gsk.com
Loic Andre, Colombia, 56 2 3829139,
Loic.Andre@gsk.com
Andrew Macmillen, Brazil, 54 11 4725 8925,
Andrew.N.Macmillen@gsk.com
Hader Perez, Mexico, 52 55 5483 8910,
Hader.A.Perez@gsk.com

SOURCE: GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare
CONTACT: U.S.: Samantha Schwarz of GolinHarris,
+1-312-622-1124, sschwarz@golinharris.com, for GlaxoSmithKline
Consumer Healthcare;
or outside of U.S.: Claire Dixon EU, +44 20 8047 4296,
Claire.E.Dixon@gsk.com,
or Graham Read, Australia|New Zealand, +612 9684 0295,
Graham.A.Read@gsk.com,
or Loic Andre, Colombia, +56 2 3829139,
Loic.Andre@gsk.com,
or Andrew Macmillen, Brazil, +54 11 4725 8925,
Andrew.N.Macmillen@gsk.com,
or Hader Perez, Mexico, +52 55 5483 8910,
Hader.A.Perez@gsk.com,

all of GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare

Technology: Altair Semiconductor to provide power efficient chipsets

Altair Semiconductor to provide power efficient chipsets to WILLCOM Inc. for next generation PHS Technology

Hod Hasharon (ANTARA News/PRNewswire-AsiaNet) - Altair Semiconductor (Altair), a fabless chip company developing the world's most advanced 4G mobile semiconductors for handheld devices, today announced it has been selected to supply the chipsets for wireless devices operating on WILLCOM Inc.'s (WILLCOM) next generation Personal Handyphone System ("XG-PHS") in Japan.

WILLCOM, Japan's largest PHS technology operator, chose Altair after an extensive evaluation of chipset solutions from semiconductor suppliers around the world. Under the terms of the agreement between the two companies, Altair will supply its ALTx150 series ultra-low power and high performance chipsets to WILLCOM's authorized ecosystem of mobile handset and handheld device manufacturers.

"WILLCOM is the pioneer of PHS deployment in Japan and has an extraordinary track record for pushing the envelope on performance and service quality," said Oded Melmed, CEO and a co-founder of Altair. "WILLCOM's selection of Altair's chipset validates our development of highly flexible and power-efficient processors that allow us to address different 4G markets and technologies with a single semiconductor platform. We felt a relationship with WILLCOM would be highly strategic in the early stages of our initial feasibility study, conducted with Harel-Hertz Investment House, who we also worked with through the project negotiations."

WILLCOM, one of only two licensees of 2.5GHz mobile broadband spectrum in Japan, will deploy its next generation PHS network using orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing access (OFDMA) technology that is architected to achieve higher capacity and lower cost per bit compared to traditional 3 and 3.5G cellular technologies.

"In order to reach our goal to offer the highest capacity and best performing wireless network in the world, we needed to equip our device manufacturers with a flexible, low-power consumption chipset," said Yoshioki Chika, executive vice president of WILLCOM. "Altair's world-class multi-mode 4G chipset portfolio, and its underlying O2P processor architecture, which is capable of supporting a wide range of OFDMA standards, allow us to benefit from high volume pricing and field proven semiconductors. It is the perfect fit for our needs."

About Altair Semiconductor

Altair is the world's leading developer of ultra-low power, small footprint and high performance mobile semiconductors that take broadband bandwidth beyond notebooks and USB adaptors to un-tethered, battery-operated handheld devices. The company's products provide handheld device manufacturers with a highly power-optimized, robust and cost-effective solution. Altair is privately held and has raised a total of $26M in two rounds of financing.
For more information, visit http://www.altair-semi.com.

Altair's XG-PHS chipset for Willcom will be distributed through its agent in Japan, Internix Inc. For more information, visit http://www.internix.co.jp.

For enquiries on Altair's products please email altair@internix.co.jp.

About WILLCOM, Inc.

WILLCOM, Inc. is a leading mobile data telecommunications company, providing PHS services in Japan. In addition to data telecommunications, WILLCOM introduced the "WILLCOM Flat-Rate Plan" in May 2005, the industry's first fixed-rate voice communication service. WILLCOM has also introduced a series of other new services to the market, and currently has more than 4.60 million cumulative subscribers (as of April 2008). For more information (available in English and Japanese), visit WILLCOM's website at http://www.willcom-inc.com/.

Media Contacts: Todd Barrish / Amanda Lordy Dukas Public Relations 212-704-7385 Todd@dukaspr.com / Amanda@dukaspr.com Reader Contact Information Ha'harash Street, P.O Box 7158, Hod Hasharon 45240 Israel Tel: +972-9-7403045, Fax: +972-9-7403049
info@altair-semi.com http://www.altair-semi.com

SOURCE: Altair Semiconductor
CONTACT: Todd Barrish, Todd@dukaspr.com,
or Amanda Lordy, Amanda@dukaspr.com,
both of Dukas Public Relations, +1-212-704-7385, for Altair Semiconductor
Web site: http://www.altair-semi.com

Travel: Asian Oasis produces responsible trourism programs in Thailand

Bangkok - InfoQuest-AsiaNet/ - Asian Oasis has been recognized as one of the first travel operators in Thailand realizing the significance of responsible tourism. It is innovative in producing travel programs that not only provide unique and fulfilling travel experiences for its clients but also give back to the visited community and the environment.

The company works with villagers to promote sustainable and environmentally friendly tourism in remote areas, helping to improve their quality of life. Its award-winning community-based programs at Lisu Lodge and Lahu Outpost in northern Thailand are fine examples of the success of this vision.

As a result, the company expands its program to a new destination. Lanjia, meaning 'peaceful' in Hmong language, is an eco-friendly community-based lodge in Kiew Karn Village, Chiang Khong District in Chiang Rai Province. The village is currently supported by the Population and Community Development Association (PDA) under the Quality of Life Improvement for the Tribal Communities project. PDA is one of Thailand's most respected and diverse non-government organizations whose work covers various aspects of the community development.

Nestled on an ever-green hill overlooking the Mekong River and Laos, the village is inhibited by the peaceful Hmong and Lahu hill tribe villagers. The lodge is located in the villages area and constructed carefully to blend in with local architecture and environment. It consists of four local style thatched cottages. Each features a shared living area and four bedrooms, each equipped with a private bathroom and basic amenities.

The hosts at Lanjia are the proud Hmong and Lahu villagers who will look after visitors and all activities during their stay. Personally guided by a villager, guests will have an opportunity to visit the shamans house and observe various aspects of Hmong and Lahu cultures. Contributions from their stay will be used to support community projects that will improve their living conditions and to preserve their customs and traditions.

Additionally, the lodge is only a 20 minutes drive to the border checkpoint of Chiang Khong, providing visitors who plan to travel to Laos with the most convenient access. Community based tourism allows travelers to immerse themselves in another culture and connecting people from different social backgrounds. By treating indigenous people and the environment with respect, travelers gain memorable travel experiences, support the various cultures and add another source of incomes to the community.

For further information, please contact Asian Oasis Co. Ltd
at info@asian-oasis.com or call +66-2-655 6246
www.asian-oasis.com

SOURCE: Asian Oasis Co. Ltd.

Logistics & Transportation: DHL India wins Frost & Sullivan Award

DHL India conferred the Frost & Sullivan's 'Best International Logistics Service Provider in India' and 'Best Brand Awareness in the Indian Logistics Industry' Award for 2007

Mumbai, India (BUSINESS WIRE) - DHL India has been awarded the `Best International Logistics Service Provider' and the `Best Brand Awareness in the Indian Logistics Industry' for the year 2007 by Frost & Sullivan. This award is in recognition of its outstanding performance in customer experience and satisfaction for the year 2007.

Frost & Sullivan has been conducting studies on the logistics industry in India among various industry verticals to understand customer expectations with regard to their logistics service providers; also to benchmark current performance of the industry against these expectations. This year, a total of eight verticals were considered namely, Retail, Consumer Durables, Fast Moving Consumer Goods, Automotive, Automotive Components, Pharmaceuticals and Information Technology.
Opinions from top industry participants from each vertical were taken into consideration.

Respondents were asked to rate each of their logistics service providers on various parameters such as general parameters, transportation, warehousing, 3PL and freight forwarding. Apart from these parameters, direct questions pertaining to brand awareness and best international service provider were asked. Best Brand Awareness and Best International Service Provider scores were based on top-of-the-mind responses for a service provider.

In both these categories, DHL topped with the highest score. The company scored on key parameters like ability to deliver on time, damage control of materials at warehouse and transit, consignment tracking facility and transparency in processes.

While presenting the award, Anand Rangachary, Managing Director, Frost & Sullivan, South Asia & Middle East, said, "DHL India focuses on select industry verticals providing customers the benefit of working with the specialist and not just a logistics provider. DHL operates with the aim of building partnerships and works closely with customers, often shoulder-to-shoulder with the management teams of the customer organization. Know-how of the people coupled with industry-leading solutions provide DHL with a real competitive advantage."

Craig Grossgart, Country Manager - DHL India, on receiving the award said, "We are delighted to receive this award from Frost & Sullivan. It is a vindication of our efforts to bring world class express service to our customers in India and be their First Choice. The DHL brand in India is now synonymous with reliability, speed and unmatched expertise. Our product innovations and customized solutions have contributed to our leadership position."

Speaking on the growth and on DHL India plans, Mr Craig Grossgart said, "Logistics is the barometer of the economic growth of a country and India is on a fast growth path. With our global expertise, and our consistent investments in India, DHL is poised for greater heights in customer service and operational excellence."

About DHL:

DHL is a global logistics service provider. The company has formed a new venture in India ? DHL Lemuir Logistics, which consolidates its position as the leader in International Freight Forwarding, Supply Chain Management, Project Transport and Custom Brokerage. DHL focuses on select industry verticals providing benefit of being a specialist. Industry verticals catered include automotive, industrial, life sciences healthcare, chemical, retail, consumer goods, fashion, technology, aerospace and industrial projects.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, partners with clients to accelerate their growth. The company's TEAM Research, Growth Consulting and Growth Team Membership empower clients to create a growth-focused culture that generates, evaluates and implements effective growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan employs over 45 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment community from more than 30 offices on six continents. For more information about Frost & Sullivan's Growth Partnerships, visit http://www.frost.com.

Frost & Sullivan
Ravinder Kaur, +91 44 42044760 Corporate Communications - South Asia
F: +91 44 24314264 ravinder.kaur@frost.com
or Nimisha Iyer, +91 22 4001 3404 Corporate Communications - South Asia and Middle East
F: +91 22 2832 4713 niyer@frost.com

Kellogg Company Supports China Earthquake Relief Efforts

Battle Creek, Michigan (ANTARA News/PRNewswire-AsiaNet) - Kellogg Company today announced a $250,000 donation to the American Red Cross to assist with earthquake relief efforts in the Sichuan province in southwestern China. The contribution is being made by Kellogg's Corporate Citizenship Fund and will be designated to support the efforts of the Red Cross Society of China.

"There is a lot of work ahead as people mobilize to rebuild their lives and communities," said Hans Shin, president, Kellogg Asia. "Our organization is pleased to support these efforts with both monetary and food donations."

With 2007 sales of nearly $12 billion, Kellogg Company (NYSE: K) is the world's leading producer of cereal and a leading producer of convenience foods, including cookies, crackers, toaster pastries, cereal bars, frozen waffles, and meat alternatives. Kellogg products are manufactured in 18 countries and marketed in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information, visit the Kellogg Company web site at www.kelloggcompany.com

SOURCE: Kellogg Company
CONTACT: Kellogg Company Media Hotline, +1-269-961-3799,
Media.Hotline@Kellogg.com
Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp
483375.html
Web site: http://www.kelloggcompany.com

Medical/Technology: DiaGenic appoints SRL Ranbaxy Pathology for India marketing

DiaGenic appoints SRL Ranbaxy Pathology laboratories for marketing Diagenic's early breast cancer test in India India's and South East Asia's largest pathology laboratory chain predicts major demand

Oslo, Norway - DiaGenic ASA (OSO:DIAG) and SRL Ranbaxy Ltd. today announced that they have signed a commercial agreement to commence marketing DiaGenic's breast cancer test in India.

This development follows rapidly from a presentation at The Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology Societies of India (FOGSI) annual meeting in New Delhi in February where the interim results of a large Indian clinical study on this test were presented.

DiaGenic has developed a patient friendly diagnostic test for early detection of breast cancer in which a woman merely has to give a small blood sample, which is then subjected to sophisticated laboratory analysis to detect changes in gene expression.

The interim results from the Indian study showed that the gene set, previously identified in Scandinavian and US cohorts, also had similar good diagnostic and predictive performance in the Indian population.

The test is not affected by ethnic variation or menopausal state of the patient, allowing for widespread use to diagnose breast cancer at an early stage.

SRL Ranbaxy Limited is the largest clinical reference pathology laboratory network not only in India but also in South East Asia, with vast experience in launching new innovative diagnostic tests, including advanced molecular diagnostic tests.

These tests are supported by more than 350 doctors and scientists working 24x7 to ensure first class service for the demanding customer.

With its Quality Assurance systems that have been repeatedly accredited by the very best of National and International bodies like NABL, Govt. of India and College of American Pathologists, USA, it has the unique distinction of serving more than five million customers annually.

The entry of the DiaGenic test addresses a significant medical need in India, where breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among women.

The lack of a coordinated national screening program means that breast cancer is typically detected at a much later stage in India, resulting in much higher mortality rates.

Nearly one hundred thousand women died last year from breast cancer.

The disease is also on the rise, with an estimated 250 thousand new cases by 2015.

A key problem has been the detection of only 10% at an early stage, which lags far behind Western countries where this detection rate reaches as high as 65%.

The DiaGenic breast cancer test offers a unique set of advantages over existing diagnostic methods.

The use of venous blood as the test sample is both discreet and patient friendly.

The DiaGenic test detects breast cancer in pre-menopausal women with good accuracy whereas mammography is problematic due to higher breast density in younger women, which obscures the mammographic image.

This is especially important in India, where breast cancer is seen at a significantly lower age than in Western countries.

Finally, the disease itself, if present, can be discovered at an early stage, thus paving the way for effective intervention and improved survival rates in affected women.

There is more than 90% chance of surviving breast cancer if detected at an early stage whereas the mortality rate reaches 90% if this disease is caught at a very late stage.

Sanjeev K. Chaudhry, CEO of SRL Ranbaxy predicts high demand for the DiaGenic test: "Awareness of breast cancer is growing in India and with SRL Ranbaxy reaching out to serve the maximum number of Gynecologists and Oncologists in the country, it would enable them to actively promote the cause of women's health in India, with increased care and concern.

"We believe the DiaGenic test will provide the perfect incentive for women to take charge of their health and undergo regular check-ups. SRL Ranbaxy will put in place intensive and extensive market facing strategies to ensure rapid growth in the market, both locally and internationally, and will invest substantial amounts and efforts to inform the market on the availability of this new innovative test. "

DiaGenic CEO Erik Christensen, MD PhD, commented: "We are delighted to partner with SRL Ranbaxy, which has distinguished itself as the leading diagnostics service provider in India. With a network of nearly 40 Labs cum Wellness Centres and more than 750 collection centers across India, they will be able to ensure the test is widely accessible. The growing awareness of breast cancer in India combined with the key advantages of the DiaGenic test should be well received by clinicians and the public alike."

The clinical research study and commercial entry of the new breast cancer test in India was coordinated by DiaGenic's Indian partner, PAC Med Biotech Pvt. Ltd. of Kolkata.

All laboratory services will be undertaken in India and provided by LabIndia Instruments Pvt. Ltd. The launch is scheduled within the coming months and will be available to the public at SRL Ranbaxy's labs and collection centers throughout India.

Corporate Enquiries:DiaGenic ASAErik Christensen, CEO Tel +47 95939918
Email: erik.christensen@diagenic.com or Media Enquiries:
Hayhurst Media for DiaGenic ASARichard Hayhurst Tel +44 (0)
7711821527 Email: richard@hayhurstmedia.com

Technology: Stars in Asia Pacific's ICT industry honoured

29 titles, 25 companies named the region?s best at the 2008 Frost & Sullivan Asia Pacific ICT Awards

Singapore (BUSINESS WIRE) - Honoring Asia Pacific's finest in the ICT (information and communications technology) industry, Frost & Sullivan today hosted the 2008 Frost & Sullivan Asia Pacific ICT Awards. The awards, in its fifth consecutive year, was held at the St. Regis in Singapore.

The Awards seek to recognise companies and individuals that have pushed the boundaries of excellence - rising above the competition and demonstrating outstanding performance in the ICT industry across the region for base year 2007.

This year, the awards saw both global as well as emerging companies claiming the 29 coveted titles offered within four distinct categories ? enterprise vendors, telecom vendors, service providers and the best of the best.

Nitin Bhat, Asia-Pac Senior Vice President for the ICT Practice at Frost & Sullivan says, "While Asia Pacific continues to be one of the fastest growing ICT markets globally, the diversity of the region entails customised strategies for success in each given country. A focus on innovative business models to suit emerging economies; strategies for new revenue streams through service bundling and blending in developed economies; and the increased focus on market segmentation in mature sectors have been some of the common themes across this year's award recipients."

Among the celebrated recipients who took home more than one award were Huawei Technologies, Avaya, Alcatel-Lucent and Telstra. Huawei received the prestigious Vendor of the Year Award along with Broadband Equipment Vendor of the Year, while Avaya clinched two awards for Contact Center Applications Vendor of the Year as well as Enterprise Telephony Vendor of the Year.

Alcatel-Lucent repeated its feat of bagging the NGN Infrastructure Vendor of the Year title for the fourth time, in addition to being named the Optical Vendor of the Year. Mr Solomon Trujillo, CEO of Telstra was selected as the CEO of the Year in the Service Provider category.

Telstra also received the Wireless Data Service Provider of the Year Award.

A much anticipated event in the annual calendar of the ICT industry, the awards has become a benchmark of success among organisations across the region's ICT sector. Nominations are made by a team of Frost & Sullivan experts based on the companies' actual market performance indicators. Measurement criteria include revenue growth, market share and growth in market share, leadership in product innovation, breadth of products and solutions, major customer acquisitions, subscribers and growth in subscriber base, ARPU (average revenue per user) and growth in ARPU, data strategy and next-generation service strategy.

The short-listing along with a detailed evaluation of the nominees is presented to a panel of judges who deliberate on the deserving recipients for each of the contested title.

Supporting partners for the awards are Comverse, Huawei, Oracle, NetGain Systems, Contact Recruitment, and Robert Walters. The official broadcast partner for the Awards is CNBC Asia Pacific. Questex titles - Enterprise Innovation, Telecom Asia, Network World Asia, Wireless Asia and Global Telecom Directory are official media partners, together with Business Today.

About the Frost & Sullivan Asia Pacific ICT Awards The Frost & Sullivan Asia Pacific ICT Awards is held annually to recognize outstanding performance by companies and individuals in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry in Asia Pacific. The awards are presented to companies that demonstrate best practices and superior performance in areas such as market leadership, innovation and business strategies.
It has, over the years, attracted some of the leading names in technology on a single platform to compete for the most coveted titles in ICT. Benchmarked against the highest standards of measurement criteria, the recipients of these awards indeed represent the best-in-class in Asia Pacific. For more information on the awards, research and judging process, and
past recipients, please visit www.ict-awards.com

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, partners with clients to accelerate their growth. The company's TEAM Research, Growth Consulting and Growth Team Membership empower clients to create a growth-focused culture that generates, evaluates and implements effective growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan employs over 45 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment community from more than 30 offices on six continents. For more information about Frost & Sullivan's Growth Partnerships, visit http://www.frost.com.

Frost & Sullivan
Neethiya Sadagopal, +65-6890-0966
neethiya.sadagopal@frost.com
or Surbhi Dedhia +65-6890-0926 surbhi.dedhia@frost.com

Business: Project Management to be a critical enabler for globalization

New Delhi (ANTARA News/PRNewswire-AsiaNet) - Kris Gopalakrishnan (CEO and MD, Infosys), Raj Kalady (MD, India, PMI) and many other thought leaders share their perspective and highlight trends in Project Management at the Project Management Leadership (PML) Conference 2008 by QAI.

On the occasion of their 4th International Project Management Leadership (PML) Conference, 2008, (http://www.qaiasia.com/Conferences/PML08/index.htm), QAI (www.qaiasia.com) brings the industry's thought leaders to share their perspective on the future of Project Management. The conference will be held at Bangalore on the 30th and 31st of May.

According to data shared by Raj Kalady (Managing Director, Project Management Institute, India),a recent government report (Quarterly Report by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India) shows that, of a total of 866 government projects currently on the anvil, 297 are running behind schedule and more than Rs 24,000 crore (US$ 6 billion) will be spent additionally because of the delay - in some cases of over 16 years.

Additionally, The Economic Survey this year shows that over 260 infrastructure-related projects are behind schedule. All this shows that there is a critical need of Project Management at various levels in all industries.

Kris Gopalakrishnan, CEO and MD, Infosys Technologies, commenting on the domain says, " Project Management as a profession must step up to the new challenges created by globalization, increased use of technology, explosion of information, competition and therefore faster time-to-market.
Project Management is required not just in IT but in all sectors where growth is rapid and predictability, repeatability and adaptability are key to remain relevant.

Ability to scale Project Management capability both in terms of quality and quantity as well as the ability to operate in a flattening world will determine who stays ahead in the race."

On a similar note, Raj Malady, says "Mature project management practices close the gap between strategy and results. As India globalizes and is on an ambitious growth trajectory, with rapid developments taking place in both the private and public sector, India needs project management professionals who know how to compress schedules to meet the urgent needs of a developing economy. A key to this is utilizing standardized professional project management practices to build capacity and capabilities to achieve breakthrough results."

Commenting on the same, Navyug Mohnot (CEO, QAI) says "Projects have been managed even long before distinctive management processes were identified. Now, with the advancement in the Body of Knowledge, even complex projects are being managed across multiple geographical locations and distributed environments.

The progress seen by this profession has led to the emergence of Project Management as a critical element in this era of globalization."

The Project Management Leadership (PML) Conference is a platform for addressing the growing concerns of Project Management. It is a unique forum for exchanging, learning and accelerating implementation of best practices in the domain of Project Management. This conference brings together speakers of international repute from leading organizations and Gurus from all over the world will be speaking at the event. They will give meaningful insights on new areas of Project Management, People, Communication and the "How To's of the Project Management". They will also present the emerging trends in the domain of Project Management. PML is sponsored by Serena (http://www.serena.com/), PPM Studio (http://www.www.semanticspace.com), I-plan (http://www.iplanenterprise.com/), Collabnet (http://www.collab.net/) , Digite' (http://www.digite.com/) and supported by various PMI and SPIN chapters.

About QAI:

QAI is a leading global consulting organization set up in Orlando, USA in 1980. QAI addresses 'Operational Excellence' in IT, BPO and Knowledge intensive service organizations. QAI helps organizations do a better job of Project Management, Quality Management, Process Management, Human Capital Management, Innovation Management etc.

QAI, today has regional bases across the globe in the US, Singapore, China, Malaysia, UK and India which help to innovatively distribute and manage engagements across multiple locations. QAI facilitates enhanced competitiveness through multi-faceted interventions leading to Business Improvement through Consulting, Training, People, Process and Assessments, Benchmarking, Certification, Conferences, Resource provisioning through Quality Outsourcing and e-Learning.

QAI clients include IBM, Accenture, Wipro, Prudential, Genpact, American Express, Sony, TataMotors and 200 others across 30 countries. For more information, log in to http://www.qaiworldwide.org or http://www.qaiasia.com

CONTACT: Pooja Bhalla poojab@qaiindia.com Phone: +91(0)9811155798

SOURCE: QAI

Health/Medical: Global Study reveals differences in standard of care

Global Study reveals differences in standard of care for osteoporosis across the world

Barcelona (ANTARA News/PRNewswire-AsiaNet) - In Europe, Less Screening and Treatment, and an Apparent Higher Prevalence of Hip Fracture Than in North America and Australia

In a first-of-its-kind study in osteoporosis, one in four women surveyed from Europe, North America, and Australia reported having one or more bone fractures since the age of 45 years. Among women considered to be at high risk for a fracture, only 26 per cent reported use of bone-saving drugs, with use reported significantly less frequently in Europe than in North America and Australia.

Identifying important regional differences is just one aim of a landmark observational study, the Global Longitudinal Registry of Osteoporosis in Women (GLOW), which will monitor the health of over 60,000 older women (more than or equal to 55 yrs) worldwide for 5 years. Baseline results were presented today at the 35th European Symposium on Calcified Tissues.

For women enrolled in GLOW, fractures after the age of 45 were more prevalent in Europe than in the United States, Canada and Australia. For hip fracture specifically, a prior hip fracture was reported more frequently by women in Europe (2.1 per cent) than by women in the United States (1.7 per cent) or in Canada/Australia (1.4 per cent). These potential differences will be further explored in follow-up years of the study.

"We need to understand the cause for the regional differences we observe in fracture prevalence," said Dr Robert Lindsay, Professor of Clinical Medicine at Columbia University and GLOW executive committee co-chair. "One aim of GLOW is to learn from those countries that are having the greatest success at preventing fractures and to recommend best practices that will improve the bone health and lives of millions of patients around the world."

To be eligible for this multi-national study, a woman had to be aged 55 years or older and had to have visited a primary care physician for any health reason in the two years prior to the study. Since patient recruitment for GLOW was not linked to osteoporosis, the study is meant to provide a view to the bone health and quality of care of "typical" community-dwelling women in multiple geographies.

In Europe, 51 per cent of GLOW participants reported having a bone density test, a valuable tool for diagnosing osteoporosis. This contrasts to other geographies where testing frequency was reported at 79 per cent. Among women considered to be at high risk of fracture, only 20 per cent of European women were taking a bone medication versus 30 per cent of North American/Australian women.

"Despite reliable screening methods and multiple therapeutic options being available, osteoporosis remains largely under-diagnosed and under-treated," said Professor Pierre Delmas, Professor of medicine and rheumatology at University of Lyon, France, and GLOW executive committee co-chair. "Without some improvements, the burden of fractures on our families and
on our healthcare systems will only grow with the aging population."

Osteoporosis-related fractures are an international public health problem responsible for increased mortality, functional impairment and additional health care costs(i),(ii). Direct costs of osteoporotic fractures in Europe alone are expected to rise from EUR31.7 billion in 2000 to EUR76.7 billion by 2050 (iii). In women over 45 years of age, osteoporosis accounts for more days spent in a hospital than diabetes, heart attack or breast cancer(iv).

Hip fractures are the most serious of osteoporosis-related fractures, causing chronic pain, reduced mobility, disability, loss of independence and an increased risk of death(i),(ii). An estimated 179,000 men and 711,000 women in Europe suffer a hip fracture each year(iii).

GLOW is a prospective, longitudinal, observational study of women 55 years of age and older who visited a primary care physician during the two years prior to the study. Over 60,000 women have been recruited through 700 primary care physicians in 17 cities in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. GLOW will gather information on osteoporosis risk factors, treatment approaches, patient behaviour, and fracture outcomes with an annual patient survey over a 5 year period.

Results reported herein are from analysis of approximately 50,200 baseline surveys. Patients were categorized as high risk for fracture based on a fracture index score of less than or equal to 5, according to Black et al(v).

Bone medications included bishosphonates, raloxifene, strontium ranelate, parathyroid hormone (1-84), teriparatide, tibolone, and calcitonin.

GLOW is being conducted by The Center for Outcomes Research (COR), University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS), with the support of an unrestricted research grant from The Alliance for Better Bone Health. The Alliance for Better Bone Health is a collaboration between sanofi-aventis and Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals.

Available for comment: Dr. Robert Lindsay Executive committee co-chair, GLOW, Professor of Clinical Medicine, Columbia University and Chief of Internal Medicine at Helen Hayes Hospital, West Haverstraw, NY, USA

---------------------------------
[i] Osteoporosis in the European Community: A call to action. Report by the International Osteoporosis Foundation.
(c) Copyright 1999-2007 IOF. Accessed 06.02.08, available from: http://www.iofbonehealth.org/publicationseu-policy-report-of-2001.html

[ii] Keene GS, Parker MJ and Pryor GA. Mortality and morbidity after hip fractures. BMJ. 1993 (6914):307;1248-50

[iii] Kanis JA and Johnell O. Requirements for DXA for the management of osteoporosis in Europe. Osteoporosis Int.
2005:16; 229-38

[iv] Kanis JA, Delmas P, Burckhardt P, Cooper C and Torgerson D. Guidelines for diagnosis and management of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis Int. 1997:7; 390-406

[v] Black DM, Steinbuch M, Palermo L, et al. An assessment tool for predicting fracture risk in postmenopausal women.
Osteoporosis Int. 2001:12; 519-528

For further information:
Helen Crow, Ketchum, Tel: +44(0)7787-533-023, Email: helen.crow@ketchum.com;
Nicki Barwise, Ketchum, Tel: +44(0)7766-828-849, Email: nicola.barwise@ketchum.com

SOURCE: University of Massachusetts Medical School

Business: Asia Pacific background screening firms join with the National Association

Asia Pacific background screening firms join with the National Association of professional background screeners to form local group

Singapore (ANTARA News/PRNewswire-AsiaNet) - In a sign of the growing importance of background screening services in the Asia Pacific region the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (USA) is working with several background screening firms in the region to create an international alliance. These key companies in the business are coming together to form a local presence to act as a guide for this relatively new, but increasingly important recruiting concept.

The newly organized group will be based in Singapore with representation from Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, and New Zealand. The focus of their efforts will be to tackle some of the issues that are typical to this industry, like legitimacy of background screening firms, protecting the interests of both the candidates and the clients, establishing best practices, and introducing certification programmes for the screening companies.

The group is focused on meeting the needs of today's fast paced and challenging work environment of Asian businesses that are expecting high quality services, consistent practices and high standards.

In addition, working together background screening firms expect to create awareness about the importance of background screening services in Asia Pacific.

Wayne Tollemache, chair for the chapter and regional managing director for one of the regions' leading provider of background screening services, First Advantage, says, "The timing could not be better as many organizations continue to look to tap in to and learn from the experiences in the US.
Having the support of the NAPBS in Asia Pacific will be extremely beneficial and help to ensure that all service providers in this young and rapidly developing industry are delivering to a high set of benchmarks. Our goal is to provide a conduit for networking and share screening customs and best practices from with the region and globally."

To support the local group's efforts they will be reaching out to background screening companies across the region to join the alliance with the NAPBS association.

About The National Association of Professional Background Screeners

Founded in 2003 as a non-profit trade association, The National Association of Professional Background Screeners was established to promote ethical business practices, promote compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA which is the primary legislation governing background screening in the US) and foster awareness of issues related to consumer protection and privacy rights within the background screening industry. As the voice of the industry The National Association of Professional Background Screeners represents over 500 companies related to the employment screening industry including several international background screening firms. The organization believes it is important that companies understand the importance of doing proper background checks.

For more information about the Asia Pacific Alliance with NAPBS and Membership, please contact:

Chairman: Wayne Tollemache First Advantage Asia Pacific +65-6534-3262 wayne.tollemache@fadv.com
Malaysia: Marc Davey Verify Screening +601-2337-7772 marc.davey@verifyscreening.com
Singapore: Dave Mattinson Control Risks Screening +65-8182-1658 Dave.Mattinson@controlrisks-screening.com
Australia: Summa McCosker Peoplecheck +612-4926-5715 summa@peoplecheck.com.au
New Zealand: James Sutherland Resume Check +64-9524-3940 james@resumecheck.co.nz

SOURCE: NAPBS

Business: CeMAT 2008: Germany is top exporter of intralogistics technologies

Berlin (ANTARA News/PRNewswire-AsiaNet) - Germany is one of the world's top investment locations and the largest exporter of intralogistics technologies. The leading intralogistics trade fair CeMAT 2008 is taking place in Hannover, Germany from May 27-May 31. It will feature 1,100 exhibitors from all over the world. Visitors will be able to learn about investment possibilities and industry developments in the host country.

Intralogistics describes the internal flow of materials between different logistics nodes in a company. Germany is Europe's largest intralogistics market and the third largest worldwide. According to the industry association VDMA, German intralogistics sales for 2007 approached EUR20 billion, an increase of 17% over the previous year. Germany is also the world's largest exporter of intralogistics technologies. In 2006, its exports approached EUR10 billion, 20% more than the
previous year and a total nearly twice as great as the second-place country.

The increasing need to move equipment and goods faster in a globalized economy is forcing businesses to seek solutions from intralogistics companies, creating demand for new market entrants. For example, the largest single-country export client of German intralogistics companies is the United States with estimated sales of over EUR1 billion in 2007.

Emerging markets also play a growing role in the German intralogistics sector. Sales to China jumped to an estimated EUR475 million in 2007, an increase of over 30% compared with 2005. Exports to Russia exceeded an estimated EUR500 million in 2007, an increase of 40% over 2005. In total, the 27-member EU is the largest market for intralogistics services from Germany.

Furthermore, companies choose Germany because of its educated workforce. Over 90% of German employees in the intralogistics sector, a workforce that approaches 100,000 individuals, have either a professional qualification or a university degree.

Invest in Germany is the inward investment promotion agency of the Federal Republic of Germany. It provides investors with comprehensive support from site selection to the implementation of investment decisions. Invest in Germany can be found in the "Logistics Network" booth A16 in hall 12.

Invest in Germany GmbH
Headquarters:
Friedrichstasse 60,
10117 Berlin,
Germany,
T: +49-30-200-099-0,
F: +49-30-200-099-111,
office@invest-in-germany.com,
http://www.invest-in-germany.com;
Media Contact:
Eva Henkel,
T: +49-30-200-099-123,
F: +49-30-200-099-111,
henkel@invest-in-germany.com
SOURCE: Invest in Germany

Business in Asia Today - May 26, 2008

AUSTRALIA'S MURCHISON METALS LAUNCHES MERGER OFFER
Sydney (ANTARA News/Asia Pulse) - Murchison Metals Ltd (ASX:MMX) has launched a merger offer for the Midwest Corporation Ltd (ASX:MIS), which is already the target of a $A1.37 billion ($US1.31 billion) takeover bid from Chinese steel maker Sinosteel Corporation.
In a statement to the stock exchange, Midwest said the merger proposal aimed to create a dominant iron ore producer in the mid-west region of Western Australia.
Murchison has proposed a merger via a scheme of arrangement, offering one share and an option on issue for every 0.575 Midwest shares.

DENTSU TO SET UP ONLINE ADVERTISING AGENCY JV IN INDIA
Tokyo (ANTARA News/Asia Pulse) - Dentsu Inc. (TSE:4324) will co-establish an Internet advertising agency in India with a major local player in that field, becoming the first Japanese firm to create an ad agency in that country, where online advertising is growing rapidly.
Japan's largest ad agency will partner with Connecturf India Pvt. Ltd. to form a unit headquartered in Mumbai that will be capitalized at about Y30 million ($A303,168). Dentsu's local subsidiary is to take a 51% stake, with Connecturf to hold the remainder.

DAEWOO ENGINEERING WINS US$264 MLN ORDER FROM OMAN
sEOUL (ANTARA News/Asia Pulse) - Daewoo Engineering & Construction Co. (KSE:047040) said today it had won a 277 billion won (US$264 million) order from the Omani government to build a ship repair yard and dry dock complex in southeastern Oman.
The deal, signed with Oman's Ministry of National Economy, calls for Daewoo Engineering & Construction to complete the construction of the ship repair yard and dry dock complex by December 1, 2011, in Duqm, a port city about 450 kilometers southeast of the country's capital, Muscat, South Korea's biggest builder said in a regulatory filing.

INDIA'S SPICE TO INVEST UP TO US$300 MLN IN TWO TELECOM CIRCLES
New Delhi (ANTARA News/Asia Pulse) - Spice Communications (BSE:532863), in which Telekom Malaysia (KLSE:TLMM) holds 49 per cent stake, will invest up to US$300 million in its existing circles in Punjab and Karnataka, a senior official of the company said here.
"We have to augment capacity of our existing operations. In Punjab and Karnataka, we will invest US$200-300 million," Dilip Modi, group President for global operations, told reporters here on the sidelines of an Assocham conference here.
"As we get spectrum for the four circles we have license for, we will invest more, but that also will depend on the active infrastructure sharing we will be having," he said.

NBC UNIVERSAL TAKES 26 PCT STAKE IN INDIA'S NDTV FOR US$150 MLN
New Delhi (ANTARA News/Asia Pulse) - India's leading news and infotainment group NDTV (BSE:532529) on Saturday said NBC Universal has picked up 26 per cent stake in NDTV Network for US$150 million.
The two companies have successfully concluded a strategic partnership initiative for the NDTV Networks business, NDTV said in a statement.
As per the agreement, NBC Universal now has an effective indirect stake of 26 per cent in NDTV Networks Plc through the subscription of shares worth US$150 million, it added.

WOODSIDE ENERGY TO SEEK OIL, GAS IN EAST SEA
Seoul (ANTARA News/Asia Pulse) - Australia's Woodside Energy Ltd (ASX:WPL) has begun seeking oil and gas in the East (Japan) Sea with a South Korean company, the government said on Sunday.
The Ministry of Knowledge Economy said the energy company and the state-run Korea National Oil Corp. (KNOC) will jointly explore for resources in block zones 8 and 6-1.
It said that the search, which officially kicked off earlier, will be conducted by the deep water seismic survey ship CGG Veritas Duke that arrived in Pohang late last week.

ONE HUNDRED BRIDGES TO BE BUILT IN TURKMENISTAN
Ashgabat, Turkemenistan (ANTARA News/Asia Pulse) - One hundred bridges worth 1.15 trillion manat (US$$80.7 million) are scheduled to be built on Turkmenistan's motorways, transportation officials announced recently.
Among them, 77 bridges will be built along the Archman-Turkmenbashi stretch of the Ashgabat-Turkmenbashi motorway, and 23 bridges along the Annau-Mary stretch of the Ashgabat-Mary motorway.
According to a decree signed by the Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov last week, the bridges should be commissioned by March 2010.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA TO START BUILDING US$9.6 MLN DESALINATION PLANT
Adelaide (ANTARA News/Asia Pulse) - Construction work will begin on a $A10 million ($US9.58 million) pilot desalination plant for South Australia, Premier Mike Rann says.
The pilot plant will test water quality, filtration and pretreatment technology required for the major $A1.1 billion ($US1.05 billion) plant the government has slated to provide a quarter of Adelaide's water supply.
Premier Mike Rann said the pilot plant at Port Stanvac, south of Adelaide, on Gulf St Vincent, should be in operation by July and that the major project should be up and running by the summer of 2011-2012.

HSBC REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO PURCHASE OF KOREA EXCHANGE BANK
Seoul (ANTARA News/Asia Pulse) - British banking giant HSBC Holdings Plc said today it was committed to buying South Korea's fifth-largest lender Korea Exchange Bank (KEB) from Lone Star Funds, following a report that HSBC may pull out of the deal. "HSBC is committed to the acquisition, but we can't wait forever... We are hopeful that the government will take appropriate action," Simon Cooper, head of the South Korean unit of HSBC, said, adding that the bank's rationale for the takeover had not changed.
The Financial Times reported that HSBC was considering walking away from the US$6.2 billion purchase of KEB if the deal did not receive regulatory approval within weeks.
The report comes about a month after HSBC agreed with the U.S. buyout fund to extend a deadline to buy KEB by three months, until July 31.

WESTPAC, ST GEORGE BANK MOVE CLOSER TO MERGER
Melbourne (ANTARA News/Asia Pulse) - St George Bank Ltd (ASX:SGB) and the Westpac Banking Corporation (ASX:WBC) have taken a significant step forward in their merger plan after St George said its board would recommend the A$17 billion (US$16.275 billion) bid to shareholders.
The endorsement came after St George and Westpac signed an merger implementation deal that reflects the key commercial terms that have been agreed upon by both boards and under which the merger proposal will be put to a vote of St George shareholders.
"The St George board intends to recommend to its shareholders Westpac's offer of 1.31 Westpac shares for each St George share," St George chairman John Curtis said today in a statement.

Source:
Business in Asia Today - MAY 26, 2008
published by Asia Pulse

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