SYDNEY--28 Jul--AsiaNet/InfoQuestCLIENT ACQUIRED... BELLEVUE, Wash.: Corum Group is proud to announce the acquisition of itsclient, Surpac Minex Group, by Gemcom Software International. http://www.corumgroup.com CATARACT BLINDNESS TORONTO: Archbishop Tutu will launch a global campaign against treatableblindness when he visits Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa onAugust 8th where he is also expected to address the vicious cycle of povertyand disability. ALCAN PRESENTS... MONTREAL: Alcan Inc. invites the media to listen in on the company's 2006second quarter results presentation to analysts on August 2, 2006 between 10:00a.m. - 11:30 a.m. (EDT). www.alcan.com MERGER DISCUSSIONS... TOLEDO, Ohio, and PARIS: Owens Corning and Saint-Gobain Thursday jointlyannounced that they are in discussions to merge Owens Corning's ReinforcementsBusiness and Saint-Gobain's Reinforcement and Composites Businesses (a part ofthe entity known as Vetrotex) into a new company, to be called OwensCorning-Vetrotex Reinforcements. http://www.owenscorning.com WORLD SOLD-OUT... MIAMI: The World, the only existing residential community at sea is nowsold-out, James St. John III, President of ResidenSea, Ltd, the managementcompany behind the vessel, announced Thursday. http://www.aboardtheworld.com SPORTS ACADEMY... DOHA, Qatar: Triple world record holder and sporting icon Hicham El Guerroujhas joined the team at ASPIRE, the Academy for Sports Excellence based in Doha,to offer encouragement and inspiration for the next generation of athletichopefuls. http://www.aspire.qa STRIP POKER... DUBLIN: 200 poker buffs will be baring all in an attempt to become the firstever to win the title of World Strip Poker Champion this August 19th inLondon's swanky Cafe Royal http://paddypowerpoker.com http://www.paddypower.com/strippoker BEBI LAUNCHES... LONDON and SAN FRANCISCO: Bebo, the next generation social networking site,Thursday announced the launch of its advanced music offering, Bebo Bands. http://www.bebo.com Q2 RESULTS... HAMILTON, Bermuda: W.P. Stewart & Co., Ltd. on Thursday reported net incomeof US$9.6 million, or $0.21 per share (diluted) and $0.21 per share (basic),for the second quarter ended 30 June 2006. http://www.wpstewart.com NEW CUSTOMER... HORSHAM, Pa.: Astea International Inc., a global provider of servicelifecycle management (SLM) solutions, has added Tomlinson Boilers Pty Ltd.,Australia's leading boiler supply and service company, to its growing list ofglobal customers. http://www.astea.com RECORD PROFITS... SUMMIT, N.J.: Celgene Corporation on Thursday reported record second quarterrevenue and profits, driven by product sales. http://www.celgene.com LITIGATION SETTLED... SYDNEY: Sharman Networks Ltd. Thursday announced that an historic turningpoint has been reached for both technology and content industries with theglobal settlement of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc, et al., v. Grokster,Ltd and the Universal Music Australia Pty Ltd & Ors v. Sharman License HoldingsLtd & Ors copyright cases. www.sharmannetworks.com HIGHER PROFIT... LONDON: British American Tobacco released its interim earnings reportshowing that Group profit from operations was 6 per cent higher at 1,325million pounds. GEMALTO SECURITIES... AMSTERDAM, Netherlands: Gemalto Thursday said the securities to be issued inconnection with the exchange offer of Gemalto N.V. for the securities ofGemplus International S.A. have not been, and are not intended to be,registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 and may not beoffered or sold, directly or indirectly, into the United States except pursuantto an applicable exemption. http://www.gemalto.com RECORD SALES... SYDNEY: Santos Thursday reported record sales revenue of $1.3 billion forthe first half of 2006, an increase of 29% on the corresponding period for 2005. (AsiaNet is a consortium of leading news agencies distributing unedited,translated news releases for worldwide clients. Visit www.asianetnews.net forfull-text versions.)