SYDNEY, Aug. 23 -- AsiaNet MALAYSIA OFFICE... KUALA LUMPUR: In a new era of cooperation between Malaysiaand the United States, The Asia Foundation, the premiernon-profit organization devoted to Asia's development since1954, has announced that it has reopened its Malaysia office inKuala Lumpur. http://www.asiafoundation.org SINGAPORE OFFICE... SINGAPORE: Kelly Scientific Resources, the world's largestdedicated scientific staffing company, has opened its firstoffice in Asia. The new Singapore location joins forces withmore than 30 international branches to service the scientificindustry throughout the world. http://www.kellyservices.com http://www.kellyscientific.com NZ IDOL... SYDNEY: Nik Carlson remains Centrebet's NZ Idol favouritedespite being in last night's bottom three. However,Centrebet's odds on the Masterton man winning the show are outto 3.75 (from 3.00). Auckland's Keshia Paulse andInvercargill's Steven Broad are Centrebet's major marketmovers. http://www.centrebet.com DERIVATIVES FORUM... SHANGHAI: Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the Shanghai FuturesExchange and the Shanghai Stock Exchange have announced thatthey will jointly host the "China Financial Derivatives Forum"in Shanghai, from September 26-27, 2005. http://www.cme.com http://www.sse.com.cn http://www.china.cme.com PROSTATE CANCER... INDIANAPOLIS: THS International, Inc., announces that theadvanced HIFU Sonablate 500 system, designed for the minimallyinvasive treatment of prostate cancer, was introduced to theleading urologists in Australia at the National Prostate CancerConference last week. http://www.hifu.net.au http://www.thsinternational.com ELECTION ODDS... SYDNEY: Centrebet's odds on Don Brash becoming primeminister have blown out to a campaign high. National is 2.70(from 1.83 on July 25) with Centrebet to govern after theSeptember 17 election. Politics punters chose the day on whichNational unveiled its tax policies to back Labour again. http://www.centrebet.com WINNERS ANNOUNCED... MILAN: Eurand, a specialty pharmaceutical company, and theControlled Release Society have announced the winners of the2005 Eurand Award Program, which honors innovation in oral drugdelivery. The winners presented their research at the 32ndAnnual CRS Meeting in Miami, Florida. http://www.eurand.com GOURMET MOONCAKES... HONG KONG: In time for the Mid-Autumn Festival which fallson 18 September this year, The Peninsula Hotels is once againfeaturing its celebrated Peninsula Connoisseur range of gourmetmooncakes -- a long-time favourite in Hong Kong -- in itsPeninsula Boutiques and selected retail outlets throughoutAsia, including nine top department stores in Taiwan. SETTLEMENT ANNOUNCED... MOUNTAIN VIEW: Benitec Ltd. and Promega Corporation haveannounced the settlement of their contract dispute pending inthe US District Court of Delaware, Benitec Australia Ltd. v.Promega Corporation, et al. (Case No. 04-174-JJF). http://www.benitec.com http://www.promega.com http://www.pi.csiro.au/rnai (AsiaNet is a consortium of leading news agencies distributing unedited, translated news releases for worldwide clients. Visit www.asianetnews.net for full-text versions.)