discount equipment for subscribersMARTIAL NEWS UNDER CYBER ATTACK 

BY Luke Robbins

MARTIAL News suffered a vicious and sustained cyber attack that saw the popular newspaper offline for eight weeks.

The attack started at the beginning of December and continued into January with more than 1400 separate malware and virus attacks on the paper's website and company computers and systems.

Editor Phil Doherty said: "No long after we announced that we would be launching a new southern edition of Martial News we came under a heavy assault.

"Unfortunately, although our defence systems eliminated ninety-nine percent of the attacks, at least one got through, not only affecting the website itself but also destroying our operating computers and servers.

"This meant we were unable to produce the December and January editions.

"It’s too early to tell who is behind the assault but we have had a similar attack on our website before after we announced we were expanding into the North West of England.

"Whoever is behind this is wasting their time in the long run because we are relentless in our pursuit of our aims and will not stop."

The new southern edition has now been delayed but will be up-and-running this year. New websites are under development and a prototype is already running.

We are currently looking for people from the Midlands and the south of England who would like to contribute to the new southern edition.

Phil added: "Once we have the southern edition up-and-running we plan to move the brand into North America and in the long term into all the English-speaking world.

"We are also planning mainstream news publications and will be looking to join forces with other media companies to help expand brands outwards.

"One of the main reasons why Martial News is so popular is because it uniquely concentrates on news as opposed to features and also because we do not concentrate on anyone and everyone regardless of how big their clubs or organisations are. If you only have three members or 3000 you get treated the same by Martial News.

"We have some fantastic friends amongst the martial arts community - both in the traditional and combat sports worlds - who have supported us through thin and thin and we would like thank them all for their ongoing friendship."

If anyone would like to contribute to Martial News simply email the editor at:

phil.doherty@martialnews.co.uk

GB TAEKWONDO APPOINTS PR COMPANY FOR EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

A PR and media company has been appointed by GB Taekwondo for the Euro Championships.

Tree Communications will handle the association's PR for the event being held in Manchester at the beginning of May.

Sarah Gormley, owner and director of Tree Communications, said: "I'm excited that we've secured the opportunity to work with the GB Taekwondo team ahead of the London Olympic Games 2012 and will assist with the marketing communications for the European Championships – another first for Manchester."

Steve Flynn, commercial director for GB Taekwondo, said: "We're delighted to be working with Sarah and her team at Tree Communications during what is going to be an incredibly exciting and busy year for GB Taekwondo. 

"Tree's expertise will be invaluable as we build up to the prestigious European Taekwondo Championships in Manchester which itself provides a great opportunity to showcase this dynamic sport, just ahead of the London 2012 Olympics."