SYDNEY, Sept.13--AsiaNet/InfoQuest SONY RECALLS... LONDON: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) Tuesday announced a voluntary recall of certain AC Adaptors supplied with the black slimline PlayStation 2. http://www.playstation.com http://www.yourpsp.com http://www.ps2ac.com BETTER SERVICES... BEIJING: In a progressive move for Beijing motorists, the China Automobile Association (CAA) and Red Book, the pre-eminent provider of vehicle identification and pricing in China, have joined together to provide a state-of-the-art service to CAA members. AGREEMENT REACHED... NEW YORK: Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, Inc. (CD&R), The Carlyle Group (Carlyle) and Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity (MLGPE), Monday announced that they have reached a definitive agreement with Ford Motor Company to acquire The Hertz Corporation (Hertz), the world's largest vehicle rental organization, in a transaction valued at $15 billion. http://www.cdr-inc.com http://www.carlyle.com http://www.ml.com DIABETES MANAGEMENT... ATHENS: The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Tuesday launches the first ever evidence-based Global Guideline for Type 2 Diabetes at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) congress. POWER AMPLIFIER... WARREN, N.J.: ANADIGICS, Inc., a leading supplier of wireless and broadband solutions, Monday introduced three new wideband CDMA (WCDMA) power amplifiers (PAs) that offer industry-leading power efficiency to extend battery life in mobile handsets and WCDMA-enabled notebook PC cards. http://www.anadigics.com CMBS TRANSACTIONS... LONDON: International law firm Sidley Austin Brown & Wood has, in the last few weeks, acted for the lead managers in three commercial mortgage backed securities [CMBS] transactions. http://www.sidley.com NEWS SERVICE... LONDON: ICIS, the world's largest information provider for the chemical and oil industry, Monday announced the launch of its breaking news service for the industry, ICISnews. www.icis.com/news SINGAPORE BUSINESS... SINGAPORE: Bloomberg Television, the global 24-hour business and financial network, is airing a week-long television series on the business and leadership of Singapore, beginning this week and running through September 18th. http://www.bloomberg.com GAMING AWARDS... SANTA CLARA, Calif.: NVIDIA Corporation, a worldwide leader in graphics and digital media processors, Monday announced that the following handheld partners will be supporting the International Mobile Gaming (iMG) Awards: Nokia, Orange Partner Programme and Alias. http://www.imgawards.com http://www.nvidia.com FANNIE MAE... WASHINGTON, D.C.: Fannie Mae will redeem the principal amount of two securities issues amounting to a total of US$125 million on Sept 22, 2005 at a redemption price equal to 100 percent of the principal amount redeemed plus accrued interest. http://www.fanniemae.com MERCEDES-BENZ PREMIERE... FRANKFURT/MAIN, Germany: The focus of the Mercedes-Benz press conference at the beginning of the 61st International Motor Show in Frankfurt was on the world premiere of the new S-Class. http://www.media.daimlerchrysler.com NEW EOS... WOLFSBURG, Germany and FRANKFURT, Germany: Dr. Wolfgang Bernhard, executive chairman of the Volkswagen Brand, on Monday unveiled the new Eos in front of nearly 1,000 media representatives in a spectacular start of the IAA 2005. http://www.volkswagen-media-services.com NEW FUNDING... BOCA RATON, Fla.: Penthouse Media Group Inc., the publisher of Penthouse Magazine, Tuesday announced that it has raised $48 million from private financing. http://www.penthouse.com FIREPROOFING TECHNOLOGY... HOUSTON, Texas: International Paint, an Akzo Nobel company, and one of the world's leading providers of high-performance coatings and fireproofing materials, has introduced Interchar technology, an advanced fireproofing material that delivers unprecedented fire protection and anti-corrosion benefits required to keep America's high-rise buildings and public structures safer. http://www.internationalpaint.com http://www.international-pc.com/pc/pressroom PEOPLESUPPORT PROMOTES... LOS ANGELES, Calif.: PeopleSupport, Inc., an offshore business process outsourcing (BPO) provider that offers customer management and accounts receivable management services for U.S.-based clients from its facilities in the Philippines, Monday announced the promotion of Parham Farahnik to Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing and the appointment of Joseph Duryea as Vice President of Sales for the company's customer management business. http://www.peoplesupport.com WORLD INDEX... SAO PAULO: Banco Itau Holding Financeira S.A. Monday announced its selection as a component of the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI), edition 2005/2006, with 316 other companies from throughout the world. http://www.itau.com PORTABLE APPLICATIONS... SAN JOSE, Calif.: Micrel Inc., an industry leader in analog, high bandwidth communications and Ethernet IC solutions, Monday launched the MIC5306, a new 150mA LDO with ultra-low dropout of 60mV. http://www.micrel.com PARLIAMENTARY HEARING... WASHINGTON, D.C.: On September 14, a group of democratically elected legislators from ten countries will hold a joint parliamentary hearing at the U.S. Congress on the future of outer space and in particular on the possible deployment of weapons in space, which will be webcast live to enable participation from journalists worldwide. http://www.e-parl.net (AsiaNet is a consortium of leading news agencies distributing unedited, translated news releases for worldwide clients. Visit www.asianetnews.net for full-text versions.)