Working together to provide more opportunity for eBay PowerSellers and a new global distribution channel for manufacturers in China, eBay (NASDAQ:EBAY) and Global Sources Ltd. (NASDAQ:GSOL) have formed a strategic alliance to offer a new service, Global Sources Direct.

According to a new study released today from Kalorama Information, the U.S. market for home healthcare products will show steady growth through the end of the decade to pass the $7.5 billion mark by 2009. Home medical equipment and infusion products will lead the way as home healthcare continues to be a growing trend.

The situation is common to people starting on a referral networking campaign: you've been diligent in attending networking functions-making connections, getting your name before the public- and you have a mountain of business cards to prove it.

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. (NYSE:MSO) and Kmart Holding Corporation, a subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ:SHLD) , introduce Everyday Rooms(TM), an assortment of affordable, stylish, ready-to-assemble furniture, available exclusively at Kmart stores nationwide. Created by the experts at MSLO, the Everyday Rooms(TM) collection features 20 easy-to-assemble furniture pieces for the bedroom, kitchen, and living room. Inspired by classic American styles, the furniture is custom-designed to coordinate beautifully for easy, do-it-yourself decorating.

The Cosmopolitan Resort & Casino has begun leasing 300,000 sq. ft. of retail and restaurant space uniquely built-to-the-sidewalk of Las Vegas Boulevard. The property's center strip location takes advantage of the estimated 60,000 visitors that stroll the Strip at that location each today. By that same token, potential retailers and restaurateurs can capture that external audience and the internal audience provided by the resort itself.

Hilton International (HI) has signed two new management contracts for Beijing, including the first Conrad hotel in China and the first Scandic by Hilton outside Europe. Together with the existing Hilton Beijing, the three hotels will make Hilton history by offering for the first time, a complete lineup of HI brands in a single city.

BET Founder and CEO Robert L. Johnson today formally announced the appointment of Debra L. Lee, currently President and Chief Operating Officer, as his successor as the company's CEO effective immediately. Johnson takes the title of Chairman, with plans to retire from the company he founded in 1980 by January 2006. Lee will assume the title of Chairman and CEO following Johnson's retirement next year.

In a decision widely regarded as having a profound impact on the way in which business is conducted throughout the United States, the accounting firm Arthur Andersen LLP has prevailed in its appeal to the Supreme Court of a conviction on charges related to its work for Enron (Case No. 04-368, Arthur Andersen LLP vs. United States). In a unanimous opinion written by Chief Justice William Rehnquist, the Supreme Court reversed and remanded for further proceedings a Court of Appeals decision that had upheld Andersen's conviction for "corruptly persuading" employees to discard documents pursuant to terms of its document retention policy.

Asia Payment Systems, Inc. (BULLETIN BOARD: APYM) announced completion of technical development of its APAYcard transaction processing platform for use in China, and also announced commencement of live testing. "The completion of the technical work is a major milestone in our strategic plan," said Matt Mecke, President & CEO of Asia Payment Systems, Inc. "This is the culmination of a tremendous level of effort from our technical teams in both the US and China, and places us in a great position to grow our merchant base during the rest of 2005. We have been holding back several customers who have expressed their desire to use APAYcard in China.

American Girl, Inc., a division of Mattel, Inc., announced today that it has signed a lease to create a third American Girl Place(R) retail and entertainment site in Los Angeles. Like the company's phenomenally successful retail destinations in Chicago and New York, the 40,000-square-foot site located in The Grove shopping district, will feature engaging experiences in the store's Cafe and Theater, as well as all the beautifully made American Girl(R) dolls, books, and other playthings. The company plans to open American Girl Place Los Angeles in spring 2006.

Backbone Media, Inc., a Boston based Internet marketing company that specializes in integrated search engine optimization and website design services, announced a survey on business blogging (http://www.backbonemedia.com/blogsurvey/). The survey seeks to understand what results business bloggers have received from their blogs. Specifically the survey asks respondents what sales, PR and product development results they have seen from their blogging initiatives. Backbone Media, Inc. will develop a snapshot of what makes a successful blog, and then translate the industry snapshot into a working model for future company blogging initiatives

Haven't you always wanted to work for a company that you could brag to your friends about? The National Association for Business Resources (NABR) will be recognizing these companies at "Chicago's 101 Best & Brightest Companies to Work For" 2005 symposium and awards luncheon on Friday, June 10th at the Chicago Marriott Oak Brook in Oak Brook, Illinois.

Activision, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATVI) announced today that the company is currently in development on three titles and working closely with id Software on a fourth game for the Xbox 360(TM) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. Activision's lineup includes Call of Duty(R) 2, the sequel to Infinity Ward's 2003 blockbuster hit that won more than 80 Game of the Year awards; Neversoft Entertainment's Tony Hawk's American Wasteland(TM), an all-new title in the best-selling series; and the as-yet-unannounced new Neversoft Entertainment title. Activision will unveil Call of Duty 2 for Xbox 360 at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) being held Wednesday, May 18 - May 20 in Los Angeles, CA. For more information on Activision's Xbox 360 titles, visit the company's E3 booth #1224 in the South Hall.

Tribune Interactive and Classified, a division of Tribune Company (NYSE:TRB) , today announced the expansion of its LA-based Recycler.com to provide free classified listings to 12 additional cities. Tribune debuted the service in Dallas, Houston, Seattle, St. Louis, Indianapolis and New Orleans last week. The company will roll out Recycler.com to New York, Chicago, Baltimore, Orlando, Fla., Hartford, Conn. and Allentown, Pa. throughout the month of May.

The EIGERlab, a major center for micro-manufacturing R&D and meso/micro-scale machine tool development in the United States, announced it will host the industry's first hands-on Micro- Manufacturing Workshop July 12-13 in Rockford, Illinois. The workshop will include presentations from the industry's foremost researchers and demonstrations of a variety of micro-machining and micro-measurement techniques. Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to work in the EIGERlab Micro-Machining and Machine Tool Laboratory and participate real-time in the development of micro-part prototypes during the two-day session.