Sep 6--PRNewswire/AsiaNet READER'S MAKEOVER... MANILA: Reader's Digest, the world's most read magazine, will be overhauled, with new formats launched across 48 editions in 19 languages from the September 2001 issue, the publication has announced.PANCREATIC CANCER... MELBOURNE: Maori women have the highest rate of pancreatic cancer in the world even though the disease barely exists in the neighbouring Pacific Islands, a news release today stated. The Australasian College of Surgeons annual meeting heard yesterday that research into this type of cancer had been neglected in favour of more accepted cancers like breast and prostate that tended to afflict younger people.HISTORIC MONEY TRANSFER... KILLORGLIN: A historic money transfer between Western Union's biggest Irish agent and two Chinese banks - a donation to Beijing University, was today witnessed by Chinese Premier, Mr Zhu Rongji. Western Union's strategic alliance with the Agricultural Bank of China and the State Postal Bureau would see the opening of 10,000 new locations in the People's Republic of China by 2003, the company said. U.S/JAPAN NETWORK... TULSA: Broadband company, Williams Communications, said today that it would provide undersea network services between Japan and the U.S. The system would transmit Internet, voice and information data.CURABLE CANCER... MELBOURNE: Fifty per cent of cancer cases can be cured, according to the head of the world's biggest cancer centre, Professor Murray Brennan. Brennan, a native New Zealander, said this was good news considering one in three of the population would develop the disease.SINGAPORE: Virgin Mobile, a $US 1 billion joint-venture between SingTel and Virgin Group, today unveiled its senior management line-up for the Singapore market. The company would offer "no-nonsense, simple and good value" deals, under the Virgin hallmark of fun, a media release stated.FASTER NETWORK... TOKYO: Internet Initiative Japan Inc has accelerated its network, enhancing its customer service agreements, according to a media release. The "round trip" time has been reported at 30 milliseconds.WIRELESS INTERNET DEVICE... LA JOLLA: Danger Inc today launched its integrated wireless Internet solution - the Hiptop - a live device that will allow consumers to browse the Net, exchange messages and receive email with attachments, according to a company statement.PAYMENT SOFTWARE... DUBLIN: TrinTech Group today said Australia's St George Bank would engage its payment dispute resolution software - Payware Resolve - adopted via the company's Asia-Pacific re-seller, eFunds International Limited.PREFERRED TECHNOLOGY... DETROIT: Automotive component supplier, Covisint, today named online supply chain company, MatrixOne, as a preferred technology provider. The company's Value Chain portfolio would be integrated into Covisint's suite of products, according to a press statement.BURNS PREVENTABLE... MELBOURNE: Major burns causing disfigurement and intense pain could be avoided if people remembered to keep fresh batteries in household fire alarms, the annual meeting of the New Zealand College of surgeons heard today. New tissue engineering skills meant burns could be dealt with more effectively though, a press statement revealed. SOFTWARE COMPANY ACQUISITION... BROOMFIELD: McData Corporation today announced that it would acquire the network storage management software company, SA Navigator Inc, for $US 29.75 million. The deal would enhance the company's capabilities to deliver "core-to-edge" enterprise storage solutions, a news release said.DIGITAL RADIO... LONDON: A leading digital communications solutions developer, RadioScape Ltd, has announced a product that empowers consumer electronics manufacturers to produce digital radio products quicker and more economically.EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS: NEW YORK: Financial Technologies International today named former Merrill Lynch executive, Mr James J Dooley, as president and chief operating officer.HALF MOON BAY: VIP Tone today said it had expanded its global sales team with the appointment of Mr Alan Langston, to executive vice president of worldwide sales, and Mr Andrew Meisner, to vice president of business development for Australia and the Asia-Pacific.CARLSBAD: Callaway Golf Company today announced that Michael J Rider has been promoted to senior vice president.HAMILTON: W P Stewart & Co said today that Mr Salim Chaar has joined the company as deputy managing director-Administration from September 1, while Mr Rocco Macri would take the position of deputy managing director-chief financial officer with Ms Lisa Levey as deputy managing director-general counsel. (AsiaNet is a consortium of leading news agencies distributing unedited, translated press releases for worldwide clients. Contact: www.asianet.com.au for full-text versions).