BEVERLY HILLS, California, January 3 /PRNewswire/ --

Pop singer Alisa Apps shuns the idea of signing with major record label and decides to go her own way. Apps, who just launched her website and singing career 10 days ago, announced that she is not seeking to be signed with a major record label.

Her fantastically successful YouTube campaign started 10 days ago and has fans raving.

Alisa started with "Will somebody PLEASE sing Jingle Bells with me???" Within 2 days she had 90,000+ views.

CHICAGO, January 3 /PRNewswire/ --

- Global conferencing leader aligns with Sustainable Development International and United Nations Environment Program for worldwide communications initiative

InterCall, the world's largest conferencing provider, is now a Platinum sponsor of Climate Action, a joint development of Sustainable Development International and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) promoting environmentally-responsible business.

WILMINGTON, North Carolina, January 2 /PRNewswire/ --

- Strengthens global leadership in drug development

PPD, Inc. (Nasdaq: PPDI) today announced the appointment of Sebastian Pacios, M.D., as senior vice president of clinical operations for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). In this role, Dr. Pacios will oversee Phase II-IV clinical development for PPD's operations in these geographic regions.

PARIS, January 2 /PRNewswire/ --

- SurgiLance Safety Lancets Selected as Product of Choice

MediPurpose has been awarded its first tender by the Tours University Hospitals of France. MediPurpose will supply its SurgiLance safety lancets to nine hospitals over a two-year period beginning in January 2008 and continuing through December 2009.

MediPurpose was selected over other providers based on criteria that demanded:

-- safe, simple and effective product action -- easy cap removal and immediate blood sampling capability -- sufficient blood volume for required tests -- a well-identified product with effective packaging

HOLMDEL, New Jersey, January 2 /PRNewswire/ --

Sparta Systems, Inc. (Sparta), the maker of TrackWise(R), and the market leader in enterprise quality and compliance management software announce that BioReliance, a leading contract services organization for the biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical industries, deployed TrackWise to handle key quality management activities.

HAIFA, Israel, January 2 /PRNewswire/ --

- Company Also Outlines Additional Announcements

Oil Refineries Ltd. (TASE: ORL) (the "Company"), Israel's largest oil refiner, has announced the convening of a Special General Meeting.

Notice is hereby given that, on February 6, 2008, at 10:00 a.m., an Annual General Meeting of the Company's Shareholders shall convene at the Company's offices at 7 Abba Hillel Street, Ramat Gan, Israel, for the purpose of approving the following resolution:

On the Agenda:

Approve the increasing of the compensation of the members of the Company's Board of Directors, excluding the Chairman of the Board, and external directors.

Details Relating to the Resolutions on the Agenda: