Bristol January 2010

The announcement yesterday that the government was to extend the car scrappage scheme by an extra month has extended the period of increased new car sales until the end of March. The scrappage scheme, which has been running since the 18th May last year, was originally intended to boost the failing new car industry by allowing cars of 10 years or older to be scrapped in return for a £1000 subsidy towards a new car. The deal was that the dealership would also reduce the price by £1000 (or more) giving the much touted figure of £2000.

The original calculations on the VAT arrangements of this scheme seem to have been flawed to some extent, now correctly calculated, this has led to a windfall return from the treasury. This has allowed the scheme to be extended to the end of March or ‘until the money runs out’ a government spokesperson said yesterday.

The scheme has had its fair share of nay-sayers and proponents since it began but there can be no denying the effect it has had on the new car market. Sales of new cars were up by 29.8% in January 2010 despite the weather and the increase in VAT. This rise, according to figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), means that for the last seven months year on year sales of new cars have risen steadily. Given the economic conditions this has to be hailed a major success for the industry and government intervention in it.

The Bristol Vehicle Dismantlers, United Vans, Said today ‘Although in these gloomy times good news is welcome news, the fact that these cars are obliged to be dismantled or crushed means that some very roadworthy vehicles have been scrapped that otherwise would have been still driving around. Every time a vehicle has its life terminated early we have another unit of mixed metals, plastics and fluids to dispose of sooner rather than later. A side of vehicle dismantling that our industry is working very hard to improve. We here at United Vans will continue to use ‘vans wanted‘ signs and adverts as our way of increasing our range of secondhand van spares and van parts, rather than rely on government initiatives to temporarily increase the amount of scrapped vehicles coming our way.’

The overall impact of the scheme does seem to be, on balance, a positive one but the fact that the scheme is coming to an end means that the environmental issues associated with it will be put to rest. The car industry as a whole, having been given a boost, perhaps can return its attention to the whole life cycle of the vehicle including its final demise and recycling. For now though those of you that have bought under this scheme please take care of your new purchase and it will be a very long time before it needs to dismantled and disposed of in a clean and environmentally friendly way.

For Further Information Please Contact:

United Vans.
T: 01761 452177
F: 01761 453993
sales@unitedvans.com
www.UnitedVans.com

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AAA: Motorists need to be cautious about driving through Work Zones

Washington, July 8 2009 - This year’s summer driving season could well mean increased construction activity due to extra funding for transportation projects. The nation’s largest motoring organization the AAA has warned users to use caution when driving through and approaching these work zones. The 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will mean that states and highways across the country will see major regeneration and building work leading to an increased number of workzones and construction work.

“It’s important for the driving public to be aware of the increased construction activity and to adjust to changing driving conditions and work zones when they encounter them, especially during this peak travel period.” Comment Robert L. Darbelnet, AAA President and CEO.

835 people were killed last year in work zone related accidents and it’s estimate that the vast majority (80%) of deaths are motorists themselves, not construction workers. The Federal Highway Administration has warned motorists to expect a work zone on average every 100 miles while travelling on the national highway system.

Staying Safe

The AAA recommends a few simple tips to avoid problems when coming into contact with these work zones.

• Plan your journey in advance to minimise your contact with work zones entirely. Not only can this provide you added safety but it could also save hours off your journey times as you can also avoid any associated traffic problems.  The AA TripTik(R) Travel Planner is free for all users and stays up to date with all the latest traffic and travel news.
• Stay Alert – Keeping aware of your situation while driving through a work zone is incredibly important, as is obeying the directions of any member of the emergency services and road crew flaggers. As always, a minimal distraction environment both inside and outside of the vehicle is advised.
• Slow down - Reducing your speed can help you react more easily to problems on a work site. Almost all construction sites will have been reduced in work zones while workers are present, but as well as obeying whatever the temporary speed limit may be, it’s also wise to maintain a safe distance between construction equipment and other road users.

About the American Automobile Associati

The AAA is the largest leisure travel and motoring organization in the United States, providing over 51 million members with travel insurance and automotive related services. The not for profit organization was founded over 100 years ago and is the national leader in road safety and security for all American road users.

For further information please contact:

Troy Green
1000 AAA Drive, MS 75
Heathrow, FL 32746
Ph (407) 444-8000

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70% of UK Organisations hit by data breaches in the last year

LONDON, July 8 2009 - PGP Corporation, a global leader in business data protection and encryption has announced the results of the Ponemon Institutes third annual study into encryption trends in the UK. The study polled 615 enterprises and PSOs and has found that 70% of organisations have been the victims of at least one data breach over the last year, while 12% admitted to having more than five breaches in the same timeframe. Less than half (43%) of these breaches were actually announced to the public.

Of all the various industries the public sector suffered the most data loss incidents (3.38 per organisation) followed by financial services (3.11 per organisation), the education sector (2.73), private healthcare and pharmaceutical firms (2.65) and professional services (2.52). Media, Defence and Entertainment sectors did better, all reporting 0 breaches.

The organisations suffering from data loss the most are the ones most likely to have ignored the idea of a companywide strategy for data encryption. This is evident in the 12% of business to have suffered more than five losses – none of whom have any kind of strategy in place to combat the attacks.

The number of attacks is up around 60% from last year. Dr Larry Ponemon, Chairman of the Ponemon Institute commented:

“While the number of breaches is growing, there is increasing appetite for solutions that can alleviate the costly and time consuming task of managing encryption keys across the whole of the organisation.  On the whole, UK businesses are looking closely at platform-based encryption solutions – with built in key management capabilities – rather than point solutions supplied by multiple vendors. This doesn’t just make sense from a management or cost point of view.”

Recent research also conducted by the Ponemon Institute has found that the average data breach in the UK costs around 1.7 million pounds.

“This study underlines the critical importance of implementing an encryption strategy that encompasses all aspects of an organisation’s data, not to just meet privacy or data security regulations but to also protect against brand damage and loss of customer.” said Philip Dunkelburger, CEO and President of PGP Corporation.

About PGP Corporati

PGP Corporation provides email and data encryption software for enterprise data protection. The PGP encryption platform offers applications which allow organisations to meet their current security needs as well as giving them the ability to expand in the future as their security needs evolve. The company provides solutions for a range of products and services including email, laptops, desktops, IM, Smartphones, network storage, file transfers and backups.

For further information please contact:

Analyst and Media Contacts for PGP Corporati
Claire Ayles / Ben Roberts
Johnson King
+44 (0) 20 7401 7968
pgpteam@johnsonking.co.uk

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Urban Land Institute Announces New Chairman

WASHTINGON, July 1, 2009 - The global non-profit organisation the Urban Land Institute (ULI) has today announced that Jeremy Newsum will become the new Chairman for the 70 year old institute. Newsum will serve as the chairman of ULI on a voluntary basis until this two year term ends in 2001.

Newsum is the Executive Trustee of the Grosvenor Estate, a portfolio of businesses and estates including Grosvenor, which is an international properly group with assets of over $20 billion and interests around the world including London, Europe, Asia and Australia.

Newsum himself is 53 and has been a member of the ULI for over ten years. He lives in Cambridge, England and believes that his status as a British citizen will help further the goals of the ULI as an international organisation.

“My hope is that I, as a non-American, can help further promote the idea of ULI being international, and that I can act as a bridge between the Americas, Europe and Asia to stimulate a greater exchange of ideas and information.” said Newsum.

Newsum plans to continue the emphasis on the four key goals of the ULI, namely:

• Sustainability
• Connecting Infrastructure
• Workforce Housing
• Capital Markets

CEO of ULI Worldwide Richard Rosan believes that Newsum’s vast knowledge on international land use will be an “invaluable asset” to the organisati “Jeremy recognizes that urban regions worldwide are dealing with many of the same issues related to growth, such as population and demographic shifts, urbanization, and providing adequate housing and infrastructure,” he commented.

“He takes a very holistic, comprehensive approach to the land use business, and this will serve ULI very well as the economy works its way through the recession and beyond.”

About the Urban Land Institute (ULI): As a nonprofit organisation he Urban Land Institute is dedicated to education and research, funding entirely by its members. Its primary mission is providing leadership in responsible use of land to create and sustain worldwide communities. The Institute was established over 70 years ago and now enjoys a membership of over 35,000 people worldwide.

For further information please contact:

1025 Thomas Jefferson Street, N.W.
Suite 500 West
Washington, D.C. 20007
Phone: 202-624-7000
Fax: 202-624-7140
http://www.uli.or

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Fandango: Harry Potter Advance Tickets are Soaring

LOS ANGELES, July 1^st - Despite not opening for nearly another two weeks in US theatres, the advance ticket sales for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince are amazingly strong, with ticket and entertainment site Fandango reporting that sales of the film are currently amounting to 28% of overall sales on the site.

The site has also surveyed around 2,000 people planning to see the new Harry Potter film with these results:

• Only a third of the respondents are children – a full half are between 18-34 years old
• 40% plan to see the film in both standard cinemas and in the IMAX format
• 86% have read all the Harry Potter books while 83% have seen of the films in a theatre.
• Around half have stated the release date change from November 2008 to July 2009 has not affect their interest in the film, while around a third (32%) are even more excited than they were before.

People buying tickets for the film via Fandango will also now received a free download of the song ‘Friends and Love’ which is feature on the soundtrack of the film itself. You can find details of the promotion at: www.fandango.com/promo/harrypotter.

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince is based off the sixth Harry Potter book of the same name. The film is 153 minutes long making it the fourth longest of the series.

About Fandango:

Selling tickets to more than 16,000 movie screens across America, Fandango is the top movie and entertainment destination on the internet today. The site allows users to quickly select a film and book tickets in advance, choosing their own time and date for the performance. The service is available at http://www.fandango.com and through 1-800-FANDANGO. Fandango is a unit of Comcast Interactive Media.

For further information please contact:

harry.medved@fandango.com
http://www.fandango.com

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Core Services: Disaster recovery and protection is “Vital”

MORRISTOWN, NJ. July 30, 2009 - Core Services Corporation (”Core Services”) has seen a large increase in the amount of people asking for their Data Recovery solutions in the last month, but the company’s Vice President of Operations Bimal Doshi says that many companies are treating disaster recovery with a reactionary rather than a proactive attitude and that this could cost businesses a lot of time and money.

“”Jumping on the bandwagon of the latest fear–whether it is hurricanes, fires, rolling blackouts or sabotage–is probably not the best approach to creating an ERP Disaster Recovery plan,” Said Doshi.

“Companies should really take a thoughtful, collaborative approach to develop a plan that covers all possible threats. It’s vital to have an iron-clad Business Continuity plan that provides the necessary game plan to recover from a disaster–regardless of cause–within the crucial time period required to resume internal production and service to customers.”

Doshi went on to explain that a prudent IT manager will set up Oracle Disaster Recovery before problems occur, noting that the planning stage and set-up of technology is crucial to the overall success of a data recovery operation after any disaster scenario. He advised: “Planning can be a risk-mitigating exercise in that many harmful incidents can be prepared for and prevented, and Core Services recommends an end-to-end disaster recovery test at least once every 6 months.”

Core Services offer a range of solutions to the Disaster Planning and Recovery market designed towards Oracle systems. Good planning isn’t simply a case of a backup power supply or a secondary server stored off site – it’s about using a range of technology to promote the best possible result if and when your business goes offline.

With nearly 20 years of experience, Core Services use a range of different backup solutions based on a company’s own individual situation and budget. These can include anything from standard backup and standby to more advanced tasks like Remote Mirroring and even Virtual Tape libraries.

Impact of Disasters:

In the Digital World, just about every business has become available to its customer base 24/7 thanks to the internet. Although this provides some great opportunities it can also lead to a huge reliance on technology to get the job done well and on time. The overall cost of system interruptions will vary from company to company, but those who rely on a strong web presence to sell their products and services could risk losing thousands of potential customers.

Here are some of the common effects a company will face when their systems go down:

• Lack of an internet website or E-commerce services jeopardises not only sales but also online reputation.
• E-mail and possible phone communication can go down, leaving customers totally in the dark about the status of your business and their orders.
• The ability to manage your company internally – everything from cash-flow and banking to the payment of salaries and suppliers – will be severely damaged, if not lost entirely.

“When disaster strikes, the domino effect of systems going off-line can quickly lead to total business failure because of this dependence.” Said Jim Bistis, CEO of Core Services.

About Core Services:

An Oracle Certified Partner, Core Services has been providing Oracle-based solutions to business for nearly 19 years. The company has clients worldwide whose IT systems are enhanced by Core Service’s consultation and hosting services. Core Services also offers Disaster Recovery and Planning services in addition to its consulting business.

For further information please contact:

Jennifer A. Lasida
Director of Marketing and Events
Core Services Corporation
+1 281-394-2360
jlasida@coreservices.com
http://www.coreservices.com/

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Jackson GI Prebiotics Increase Lifespan by a Third

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, June 25 - A peer reviewed study that has been published in the British Journal of Nutrition shows that Prebiotics increase lifespan by 33% as well as controlling body weight, cholesterol and triglycerides.

The controlled study was conducted on rats. The rats fed with Prebiotics had an 80% chance of survive to 24 months. That chance dropped sharply to 50% in the control group that were not fed the Prebiotics. Material weight loss was also observed versus the control group.

The prebiotic used was a blend of two – inluin and oligofructose- that have shown consistent health benefits in the past, especially when compared to single-prebiotics such as plain inulin.

“The implications of this study are somewhat staggering. While the research doesn’t quite yet justify a claim that Prebiotin lengthens human life, the study is nevertheless dramatic in that it clearly demonstrates the colon is a health- and life-giving organ we must nourish and cherish, not just a waste disposal system,” Commented Jackson GI Chairman and Founder Frank W. Jackson, M.D.

Prebiotics are a class of fibres which nourish beneficial bacteria in the digestive system while not giving the same sustenance to bad bacteria.

Kristian Chronister, CEO of Jackson GI Medical said: “This latest study strongly suggests that a very potent overall health benefit is the net result of adding prebiotics to the diet.”

About Jackson GI Medical

Jackson GI was founded by Frank W. Jackson, M.D., as a company dedicated to providing dietary supplements which focus on digestive help and providing medically credible solutions. The company backs promotes their products with third party research and provides a no-hype approach for customers, backing up their products with educational resources and years of experience.

For Further Information Please Contact

Kristian Chronister
717-525-7457
http://www.jacksongi.com/

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Majority of Americans are for Ban on Torture

COLLEGE PARK, Maryland, June 25 - Six of every 10 Americans believe that we should have a international convention the states “governments should never use physical torture” in order to get information for a person. 38% believe that such a ban is too restrictive according to a new poll from research firm Knowledge Networks.

The majority oppose nearly all methods used for extracting information and coercing those detained even in a situation where receiving such information could prove critical to stopping a terrorist attack on US soil. Respondents were presented with an example of a detainee who could have “information about a possible terrorist attack on the US that may prove critical to stop the attack.” and were presented with various common methods for extracting such information.

Majorities opposed forcing the detainee to take stressful positions (56%), using threatening dogs (64%), exposing the detainee to extreme heat and cold (66%), making the detainee go naked (71%), holding the detainee’s head under water (78%), punching or kicking the detainee (80%), and applying electric shocks (81%).

Sleep deprivation did receive minor support (52%) but putting a hood over the detainees head and playing loud music both had divided views.

Even many of the respondents who believe that an all out international convention banning torture would be too restrictive also believe that the international norm against it should not be changed to allow governments to use physical torture (21%)

Steven Kull, director of WorldPublicOpinion.org said: “Though other polls have shown most Americans do not want to indict Bush administration figures for the interrogation methods used, a large majority does want to retain the international norm that bans torture.”

About the Poll

The poll consisted of 805 Americans and was conducted between May 27 and June 4 2009 with a suggested margin of error of +/- 3.5%.

Knowledge Networks used a nationwide panel to conduct the poll which is randomly selected from the adult population of the country and provided internet access if needed. The web survey is comprised of a probability based panel that is designed to be representative of the US population as a whole.

About Knowledge Networks

Providing consumer information for the 21^st century, Knowledge Networks was founded in 1998 by two Stanford University Professors. The company is now one the top 25 US research firms in terms of revenue. The company helps business to grow by delivering unique insights into their customer base through a combination of information platforms, industry expertise and analytic insight.

For Further Information Please Contact

For more information on the poll please visit http:///www.worldpublicopinion.org

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UK Defence Industry is Poised to Grow During Recession

LONDON, UK, June 25 - The Defence Industry in the UK will remain tightly insulated from global recession thanks to its reliance on long term spending that keeps it separate and practically immune from short term economic damage caused by ‘boom and bust’ economic cycles. The UK will be able to sustain spending levels of defence into the foreseeable future, unlike several smaller countries who will find even their defence budget crippled.

“Defence technology and product expertise have strong parallel opportunities in commercial aviation and homeland security, they are well positioned to offset decline in one segment by limiting exposure to a particular market,” said James Cooper a Research Analyst from research firm Frost & Sullivan.

The possibility of acquisition of Tier 2 and 3 defence companies which offer high margins and gross profit and a limited amount of exposure to program losses all offer the potential for growth in current market conditions. Access to longer term income is ensured due to national governments increasingly using defence companies as financing partners.

The UK industry should also be well poised to benefit from growth elsewhere as the countries like India continue to grow their defence budget, which will surpass the UKs for the first time in 2009. Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Marko Lukovic stated: “The UK defence industry should tap into important growth markets like India which is expected to spend $100 billion on defence procurement alone during the next ten years.”

Strong opportunities also exist for companies who are willing to transition their expertise into different markets. Lockheed Martin and Raytheon are already competing on IT contracts for UK services such as the NHS, Home Office and Post Office, amongst others.

Companies interested in learning more about Frost & Sullivan’s analysis of the UK Defence Sector should email Monika Kwiecinska (details below) with their full name, company name, title, telephone number, email, website details and country.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost and Sullivan have partnered with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment community for over 50 years, from over 30 offices spread across six continents. As a Growth Partnership Company, Frost & Sullivan provide services and consulting to create effective growth strategies based on growth services and consulting. The company has over 1,800 analysts that cover more than 300 markets worldwide.

For Further Information Please Contact

Monika Kwiecinska
Corporate Communications – Europe
P: +48 22 390 4127
E: monika.kwiecinska@frost.com
http://www.frost.com

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Take Video With You With RealPlayer Plus SP

SEATTLE, June 24, 2009 – RealNetworks has today unveiled new software that will allow people to take their favourite online video content with them, wherever they go. RealPlayer Plus SP is the first product to completely remove all of the problems normally associated with portable video devices such as incorrect formats, long download times and difficult conversion processes.

Rob Glaser, CEO of RealNetworks said: “RealPlayer Plus SP makes it easy for anyone to get online video onto their mobile phones and other favourite portable devices,” said Rob Glaser, CEO of RealNetworks. “Since 1995, the RealPlayer has been at the centre of people’s online audio and video experience. RealPlayer Plus SP now un-tethers that video experience so people can enjoy video on the go.”

Once users have found all the clips you want from various user generated sites, online portals or even your own personal video collection, all they need to do is select the make and model of their phone, media player or games system and RealPlayer SP does the rest.

RealPlayer SP will work with a huge range of devices including all the of most popular game systems and mobile phones such as the Palm Pre, iPhone, iPod and Blackberry devices. It will convert across a range of formats such as h.264, Mpeg4, RealVideo, Windows Media and Quicktime.

Michael Gartenberg, vice president of Strategy and Analysis at LA market research firm Interpret llc stated: “Consumers have embraced mobile devices as being more than capable of providing a rich, media-intensive experience. Understanding video formats and management, however, is still far too difficult for most consumers. RealPlayer Plus SP helps solve that problem with abundant support for multiple formats and devices, allowing consumers to move content where they choose with only two clicks.”

The Beta version of the software can be downloaded for free from www.realplayer.com. For a one-time price of only $39.99, customers will be able to access features such as HD video conversion and DVD burning and playback.

About RealNetworks

Formed in 1995, RealNetworks have consistently lead the digital entertainment market offering a range of services to internet user, including streaming content online games and an award winning digital music service. RealNetworks develops entertainment solutions for PC, mobile and portable systems and were the first company ever to set up the downloading and recording of internet video with their RealPlayer software. RealNetworks is a registered trademark of RealNetworks, Inc.

For further information please contact

RealNetworks, Inc.
2601 Elliott Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121, USA
Telephone: 206-674-2700
advertising@real.com
http://www.realnetworks.com