Deutsche Telekom Linked to Co.

HANS GREIMEL, AP Business Writer
AP Online
07-05-2000
Deutsche Telekom Linked to Co.

BONN, Germany (AP) -- Shares in Deutsche Telekom AG shot up Wednesday as a new name surfaced in talk about the cash-rich company's continuing quest for an international takeover target.

This time it's telecommunications and Internet company Cable and Wireless PLC, a British giant with operations in nearly 70 countries.

The speculation follows on the heels of Telekom's reported overtures to the Westwood, Kan.-based Sprint Corp. and renewed rumors that it may again be courting Qwest Communications International Inc. after an earlier merger attempt failed this spring.

According to an advance copy of Thursday's German business magazine Focus Money, as well as the investment magazine Die Teleboerse, Telekom and Cable and Wireless are expected to sign a deal soon, but not before July 19.

Cable and Wireless, with a market value of roughly $50 billion, is seen as a good match for Deutsche Telekom and has long been a favorite merger candidate among analysts.

``If I had a penny for every time I heard that story, I'd be a rich man,'' said Ian Johnston, a telecom analyst with J.P. Morgan. ``Deutsche Telekom has a very active mergers and acquisition program and they could be in different discussions with 20 companies at the same time.''

The companies refused to comment on the media reports, but the news helped push shares of both higher. Deutsche Telekom rose 3 percent to 57.45 euros ($54.96) in Frankfurt trading, while shares of Cable and Wireless rose 7 percent to 1,246 pence ($18.81) in London.

Deutsche Telekom is also reportedly pursuing Sprint, a company that also fits well with the German company's strategy and is seemingly back in play with its proposed acquisition by WorldCom stymied by regulatory problems.

Telekom already owns 10 percent of the No. 3 U.S. long distance carrier, and analysts say it would be a good step forward for the Germany company.

``It's in Sprint's best interest to pursue other options, which may or may not include remaining independent,'' analyst David Burks said Wednesday. ``Given that they were willing to merge with WorldCom in the first place, we think they would be amenable to a partnership, i.e. a merger with another telecom company.''

Burks, a telecommunications analyst with J.J.B. Hilliard W.L. Lyons Inc. in Louisville, Ky., said Deutsche Telekom would be a suitable partner for Sprint, given its size and deep pockets.

``For all intents and purposes it would seem that Sprint's likely to be acquired by someone at some point sooner than later,'' he said. ``Probably sooner.''

Sprint spokesman Bill White said Wednesday that the company would not comment on any of the recent rumors because ``our merger proposal with WorldCom is still not terminated.'' WorldCom also declined to comment.

Deutsche Telekom has been on a cash-raising rampage this year -- gearing up for the next round of bidding for licenses to operate next-generation mobile telephones throughout Europe and prompting speculation about a major purchase.

It sold off its $3.1 billion stake in France Telecom, and is in the process of trying to sell its nationwide cable television network, in a drive to raise up to $15 billion. At the same time, Deutsche Telekom put its Internet subsidiary on the stock market and plans a public offering of its mobile division in the fall.

To cap it all, Deutsche Telekom last week launched a $14.5 billion bond offering -- the largest in corporate history.

Johnston said it was unlikely Deutsche Telekom would go for both Sprint and Cable and Wireless. ``But I think that Sprint would give them a more meaningful footprint in the United States,'' he added.

Another possibility for Telekom is Denver-based Qwest, which last week completed its acquisition of U S West.

Qwest chairman and chief executive Joseph Nacchio declined to comment on the speculation, most recently raised by a Wall Street Journal article Wednesday.

Nacchio suggested, however, that the industry will continue to consolidate into a few ``global multinationals.''

'' At some period of time we'll probably do something else and at some period of time somebody else may do something with us,'' Nacchio said at a Denver press conference. ``We'll run the business as we know it, achieve the synergy, keep our eyes focused and see how this market develops.''

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On the Net: http://www.sprint.com

http://www.telekom.de/english/index.htm

http://www.qwest.com

http://www.cwplc.com/ The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

Copyright 2000 The Associated Press All Rights Reserved

Qld: Cabinet to consider move on four year terms

AAP General News (Australia)
02-13-2000
Qld: Cabinet to consider move on four year terms

The Queensland Cabinet meets tomorrow to consider the question of introducing four-year
state parliamentary terms.

Premier PETER BEATTIE says Queensland needs to look at the proposal and that it could
be a possibility in the long term.

He says Queensland's the only state that doesn't have four year terms and it needs to "catch up".

But he says the proposal would have to be approved by a referendum.

In 1991, a move by the Goss Labor Government to bring in four-year terms was rejected
at a referendum.

AAP RTV dn/jfs/sub

KEYWORD: CABINET (WINTON)

2000 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Young Labor upset at Latham s education vision

AAP General News (Australia)
12-12-1999
NSW: Young Labor upset at Latham s education vision

SYDNEY, Dec 12 AAP - The New South Wales Young Labor conference today condemned former
federal opposition education spokesman Mark Latham for his proposals to restructure higher
education in Australia.

NSW Young Labor President Troy Bramston said delegates were outraged by Mr Latham's
vision for the nation's universities.

"He's proposed deregulation of university fees and a four-tier university structure,
which is a mix of universities being able to charge whatever they like and some being
free," Mr Bramston said.

"We are amazed that a Labor Party member like Mark Latham would come out and support
aspects of (Education Minister) David Kemp's higher education agenda."

The conference had described Mr Latham's proposal as "outrageous and badly conceived",
Mr Bramston said.

His suggestion that certain regional universities be free but large city universities
charge higher fees did not bode well for country Australians.

It would simply result in city students swamping regional universities to take advantage
of free education.

Mr Bramston said although Mr Latham no longer held the portfolio in the shadow ministry,
he was concerned about the proposals gaining publicity.

Mr Latham outlined his higher education vision in an article in The Australian Financial
Review last month.

He suggested a group of free universities with strong public budgets for depressed
regional areas, and a larger group of universities funded according to the existing system.

He also proposed a group of internationally-focused institutions with greater emphasis
on private revenue than public money, and a small group of private universities focusing
on the delivery of corporate education.

"In terms of equity and regional access, a mixed system has multiple advantages," Mr
Latham wrote.

"It gives policymakers a variety of means by which they can satisfy their equity goals
- scholarship, the HECS system plus free regional universities."

AAP sb/sub

KEYWORD: LABOR LATHAM

1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Cal State system starts program to issue emergency teacher credentials

Yang Yang
University Wire
06-28-1999
(University Times) (U-WIRE) LOS ANGELES -- The Cal State University system will start a program beginning in fall quarter 1999 that will issue emergency credentials to unaccredited teachers.

The 18-month program takes about 12 hours a week, including five Saturday seminars. Teachers do not need to attend regular university classes, since most of the courses are conducted via the Internet, video and audio tapes.

The state of California funds the $5 million dollar project. The cost for the program totals $4,568 per teacher. Currently, there are 1,000 teachers signed. When it officially kicks off in the fall quarter, CSU hopes to enroll another 1,500 teachers said Ken Swisher, a trustee on the CSU Board.

"The CalStateTEACH is a site-based program done system-wide, designed to get emergency credentialed teachers their full credentials," said Swisher.

Swisher said over the next 10 years there will be a demand for 250,000 more teachers. In California, there are currently 30,000 "emergency credential" teachers who have not received the training needed to become official. These instructors have only a BA degree, which allows them the status of being an "emergency" teacher. The CalStateTEACH program will train them to become official teachers with full credentials.

"These are good people. They just have not had the opportunity to learn all their teaching skills yet," said CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed.

Modeled after a similar model in Britain, Swisher said the CalStateTEACH program is the only program of its kind in the nation to be statewide.



(C) 1999 University Times via U-WIRE

Coroner to probe death of woman in outback

AAP General News (Australia)
02-03-1999
Coroner to probe death of woman in outback

A coroner's inquest will decide whether anyone was negligent over the death of a
20-year-old woman who died of heat stroke after her car broke down in Queensland's outback at
the weekend.

The body of MARIA ANN SOPER was found on Old Normanton Road near Julia Creek in the state's
remote northwest on Saturday, 20km from Dalgonally …

FED:Childcare changes start in 2012

AAP General News (Australia)
12-29-2011
FED:Childcare changes start in 2012

By Katina Curtis

CANBERRA, Dec 29 AAP - Childcare centres will be governed under a national framework
for the first time from January 1.

The first stage of the federal government's national quality framework starts in 2012,
with the rest of the scheme to be phased in by 2020.

From January 1, childcare centres must have one staff member for every four babies
younger than 24 months.

This changes from a 1:5 ratio currently in place in South Australia, Tasmania, the
ACT and the Northern Territory. The other states already have a 1:4 ratio.

Child Care Minister Kate Ellis said the operation of a single national regulatory body
would remove duplication and inconsistencies created by the operation of eight separate
systems.

The new year's legislative changes will bring a bonus for parents with teenage children
- as long as those kids stay in study.

An income-tested boost to Centrelink's Family Tax Benefit Part A will give parents
of 16- to 19-year-olds up to $214.06 extra a fortnight.

But to be eligible their children must be in full-time secondary school or a vocational
equivalent, such as a TAFE course.

As well, those students up to age 19 will count as a rent assistance child from January 1.

Payments to Australians on various pensions, study and youth allowances will be boosted
in line with the consumer price index from New Year's Day.

January 1 also brings further changes to youth allowance eligibility, with all regional
student applications being treated the same.

Previously, students from areas classified as inner regional had to meet more stringent
requirements than those from more remote areas.

Regional students will also be able to access special relocation scholarships of $4000
in their first year of study and $2000 in the second and third years.

As well, the youth allowance age of independence will be reduced to 22.

These changes will cost the government $265 million.

People who have already studied at university will be hit by a reduced discount for
paying off their Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) debts.

The discount for paying off the debt completely, or voluntarily contributing more than
$500, will halve to five per cent from January 1.

Uniform national occupational health and safety laws also come into effect from the
start of 2012.

The long-awaited legislation passed the federal parliament in November and all states
and territories were expected to bring their OHS laws into line by the end of 2011.

Two new bodies to regulate the offshore petroleum industry start work on January 1.

The National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority and the
National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator will be based in Perth.

Resources Minister Martin Ferguson said they would have have wide-ranging responsibilities
to ensure the industry is among the world's best and safest.

Other new programs beginning in 2012 include free hearing devices and rehabilitation
services for people aged under 26 with hearing difficulties, and a system of incentive
payments to encourage nurses to work in general practices.

To protect consumers, new standards for warranties against defect will apply from January 1.

And regulation of migration agents is being tightened to require them to demonstrate
they are a fit and proper person and have professional indemnity insurance.

Fees for some visas, including short stay sponsored business visas, are increasing
in the new year.

For tobacco products, new standards for graphic health warnings will come into effect.

AAP klc/klm/afr/was

KEYWORD: CHANGES FEDERAL

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

Fed: Humans not causing climate change, look at Hitler: MP

AAP General News (Australia)
02-25-2009
Fed: Humans not causing climate change, look at Hitler: MP

Eds: Adds picture advisory



By Cathy Alexander

CANBERRA, Feb 25 AAP - An opposition MP says humans are not causing climate change,
and pointed to Adolf Hitler as an example of how scientists can be wrong.

Liberal MP Dennis Jensen's comments come days after his leader Malcolm Turnbull promised
a greener climate change policy than the government's.

Dr Jensen cast doubt on the apparent scientific consensus that humans are affecting the climate.

"Albert Einstein was very much criticised by Hitler, and Hitler …