SYDNEY, Oct. 14--AsiaNet/InfoQuest NZ IDOL... SYDNEY: Centrebet punters are betting as if odds-on favourite Nik Carlson is a sure thing to win NZ Idol. http://www.centrebet.com VISION CURRICULUM... WASHINGTON, D.C.: Special Olympics and Lions Clubs International Thursday launched the Global Vision Care Curriculum during World Sight Day celebrations in Hyderabad, India. http://www.specialolympics.org http://www.lionsclubs.org AUCTION RESULTS... WASHINGTON, D.C.: Fannie Mae Thursday announced the auction results of 10-year Reopening Benchmark Notes. http://www.fanniemae.com HK SUBSIDIARY... NEW YORK: Medley Global Advisors (MGA), a policy intelligence firm providing independent market and industry intelligence to the world's leading investment banks, asset managers and hedge funds, Thursday announced the opening of its Hong Kong subsidiary, Medley Advisors Asia, LLC. http://www.medleyadvisors.com SMELTER CLOSURE... PARIS: Alcan Inc. Thursday announced it has begun discussions with its local stakeholders over a project regarding the definitive and progressive closure process of its Lannemezan, France, aluminum smelter. EARTHQUAKE REPERCUSSIONS... TORONTO: The major earthquake that devastated northern Pakistan and Kashmir will have important and potentially devastating political repercussions on the entire region, according to award-winning international affairs columnist and TV commentator, Eric Margolis. BENCHMARK NOTES... WASHINGTON, D.C.: Fannie Mae on Thursday priced its US$3 billion 3-year Benchmark Notes which will mature on October 15, 2008. http://www.fanniemae.com KEYNOTE SPEAKER... LOS ANGELES, Calif.: Recently appointed President of The Americas for Ford Motor Company, Mark Fields, will deliver the Motor Press Guild (MPG) keynote address on January 4, 2006, at the Los Angeles Auto Show. CVRD NOTES... RIO DE JANEIRO: Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (NYSE: RIO) (CVRD) Thursday announced that it plans to offer forty-year notes in the international capital markets through its wholly owned subsidiary Vale Overseas Limited. http://www.cvrd.com.br CONFERENCE CALL... HAMILTON: In conjunction with its Third Quarter 2005 earnings release, W.P. Stewart will hold a conference call on 27th October, 2005. http://www.wpstewart.com TRAFFIC GROWS... FRANKFURT AM MAIN: Following two very successful vacation months when the five million passenger mark was exceeded for the first time, Frankfurt Airport (FRA) almost reached this monthly record again in September 2005 - when 4,959,193 passengers used the FRA global air transportation hub. http://www.fraport.de PEPSICO DONATES... PURCHASE, N.Y.: PepsiCo Thursday announced it will contribute U.S $2 million (Rupees 120 million) to assist victims of last week's earthquake in Pakistan. http://www.pepsi.com (AsiaNet is a consortium of leading news agencies distributing unedited, translated news releases for worldwide clients. Visit www.asianetnews.net for full-text versions.)