SYDNEY--21 Nov--AsiaNet/InfoQuestOSAKA LAUNCHES... OSAKA: The Osaka Prefectural Government has launched a quarterly promotionalpublication in three languages to offer stimulating information about Osaka andits myriad charms, including its history, culture, industry, cuisine andentertainment, directly to people overseas, particularly those living in majormetropolitan areas of China and South Korea. http://www.pref.osaka.jp/koho/brand JUDGMENT AFFIRMED... LOS GATOS, Calif.: Monolithic Power Systems (MPS), a leading fablessmanufacturer of high-performance analog and mixed-signal semiconductors, Mondayannounced that the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit hasaffirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment that the accused MPSinverter controllers do not infringe O2 Micro's '615 patent on technology forCCFL inverter. http://www.monolithicpower.com FIRST INVESTMENT... HONG KONG: Darby Overseas Investments Ltd., the private equity arm ofFranklin Templeton Investments and a leading provider of private equity andmezzanine capital in the emerging markets, Tuesday announced that its DarbyAsia Mezzanine Fund II made its first investment, in Shayne InternationalHoldings Limited. ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING... LONDON and JOHANNESBURG: Fortent, a specialist in anti-money laundering,Know Your Customer, and fraud detection technology, Tuesday announced that theStandard Bank of South Africa Limited, the largest banking group in SouthAfrica, has successfully implemented Fortent's anti-money laundering (AML)system. http://www.fortent.com STUDENT PAYMENTS... SYDNEY: Custom House, one of the largest non-bank foreign exchange companiesin the world, Monday announced a new international student payment program thathelps universities, colleges, language schools, flight schools and othertraining facilities manage payments from an estimated 500,000 students studyingin Australia and New Zealand every year. www.customhouse.com TECHNOLOGY LICENCE... MONTREAL: VoiceAge Corporation, the world's premier supplier of speech andaudio codecs, Tuesday announced that Sony Computer Entertainment, the leadingglobal provider of consumer electronics and entertainment products, haslicensed audio compression technology from VoiceAge to dramatically enhancevoice communications in the multi-player online gaming experience ofResistance: Fall of Man. http://www.voiceage.com MOU SIGNED... BEIJING: The Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) and the Society ofAutomotive Engineers (SAE) of China Monday signed a memorandum of understanding(MoU) in Beijing to promote dialogue and collaboration between the NorthAmerican and Chinese automotive industries in the areas of technology,management and standards development. http://www.aiag.org NIKE ENDS... BEAVERTON, Ore.: NIKE, Inc. Monday announced that the company is ceasingorders with its hand-stitched soccer ball supplier, Saga Sports, based inSialkot, Pakistan, due to the contract factory's failure to correct significantlabor compliance violations. http://www.nikebiz.com DISTRIBUTION CONTRACT... LAHORE, Pakistan and ALAMEDA, Calif.: UTStarcom, Inc., a global leader inIP-based, end-to-end networking solutions and services, Monday announced adistribution contract with Maxim Telecom to meet the demand of the growingfixed and mobile markets in Pakistan. http://www.utstar.com FANNIE MAE... WASHINGTON, D.C.: Fannie Mae will redeem the principal amount of threesecurities issues amounting to a total of US$1,075 million on Nov 30, 2006 at aredemption price equal to 100 percent of the principal amount redeemed plusaccrued interest. http://www.fanniemae.com OPTUS TRIALS... LONDON: ITIS Holdings plc on Monday announced that Optus, one of the leadingAustralian mobile operators, is trialling ITIS' Cellular Floating Vehicle Datatechnology (CFVD) for a Sydney pilot project. http://www.trafficintel.com.au http://www.drivecam.com http://www.optus.com.au/aboutoptus http://www.itisholdings.com http://www.navtrak.com http://www.getmethere.co.uk http://www.keepmoving.com NEW ANALYSES... BASINGSTOKE, and SAN DIEGO: New data presented on Friday 17th November atthe American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Annual Meeting, show FOSRENOL is aneffective phosphate binder with a similar efficacy profile to standard therapy. http://www.shire.com NASVA SPONSORS... TOKYO: The National Agency for Automotive Safety & Victims' Aid (NASVA),which is dedicated to providing superior automobile safety, sponsored the WorldNCAP Seminar & World NCAP Meeting held October 31 to November 2, 2006 at theUnited Nations University in Tokyo, Japan. http://www.nasva.go.jp/mamoru/english/index.html MEI APPOINTS... TOKYO: MEI Conlux, a leading global manufacturer of unattended paymentsystems headquartered in Pennsylvania, USA, and Sakado, Japan, today announcedthe appointment of Nobuyoshi Yamanaka as Chairman of the Board of Conlux, itsJapan subsidiary. http://www.baincapital.com http://www.advantagegroup.co.jp http://www.meiglobal.com TOP FIVE... HONG KONG: Arrow Asia Pac Ltd. Monday announced that it was ranked 5th inthe 2006 InformationWeek China 100, a prestigious survey that ranks the mostinnovative users of information technology in mainland China. www.arrowasia.com JOINT VENTURE... SYDNEY: Seven Network Limited Monday announced the execution of definitiveagreements for the formation of a joint venture with Kohlberg Kravis Roberts &Co. (KKR). www.kkr.com (AsiaNet is a consortium of leading news agencies distributing unedited,translated news releases for worldwide clients. Visit www.asianetnews.net forfull-text versions.)