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Thai exports seen on bullish track in H2 – cenbank

June 26, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

June 25 (Reuters) – Thailand’s bullish export growth during the first half of 2010 is expected to be sustained in the second half despite possible economic slowdown in key euro zone markets, Bank of Thailand Deputy Governor Bandid Nijathaworn said on Friday.

“Exports in May still showed encouraging growth even when we faced an uncertain domestic situation. The good trend should continue in the second half but to what extent will depend mainly on the global economy,” he said.

“Exports to economies in the EU may slow down, but they would be offset by our shipments to Asian markets,” the deputy governor told reporters. (Reporting by Boontiwa Wichakul; Writing by Vithoon Amorn; Editing by Robert Birsel

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Asian markets, Bank Of Thailand, cenbank, Deputy Governor, economic slowdown, Euro Zone, extent, global economy, H2, reuters, second half, Thai Exports, Thailand Export, trend

France says G20 wants budget deficit cuts

June 5, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

June 4 (Reuters) – Most Group of 20 leading economies believe that cutting budget deficits is a priority, French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde said on Friday.

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“There is majority who put budgetary consolidation as the top priority,” she told reporters.

Speaking on the sidelines of a G20 meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors, Lagarde said the European Central Bank had acted responsibly during the euro zone’s unfolding debt crisis and called the euro a credible currency.

The euro EUR=, weakened by concerns over the extent of a debt crisis that erupted when Greece was unable to roll over its debts, plumbed a four-year low on Friday against the dollar. (Reporting by Sophie Taylor and Huw Jones; Editing by Alan Wheatley)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Alan Wheatley, budget deficit, Budget Deficits, central bank governors, christine lagarde, consolidation, currency, Debt Crisis, debts, Euro Zone, extent, finance ministers, French Finance Minister, G20 meeting, Huw Jones, regulatory news, reuters, sidelines, sophie, top priority

Key Swiss report raps government over UBS crisis

June 1, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

May 31 (Reuters) – The Swiss government failed to take swift action to prevent a credit and tax crisis that endangered the survival of banking giant UBS (UBSN.VX)(UBS.N) in 2008-2009, a key parliamentary report said on Monday.

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The actions of UBS’ top management were not at the centre of the parliamentary inquiry. But the report called on financial regulator FINMA to find out to what extent UBS executives knew of the U.S. tax violations carried out at their bank.

FINMA said in a statement on Monday it would examine the conclusions of the report and state its position on the findings and recommendations by the end-2010 deadline. (Reporting by Lisa Jucca and Albert Schmieder; Editing by Hans Peters)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Albert Schmieder, conclusions, extent, financial regulator, giant, global markets, Jucca, Parliamentary Inquiry, Parliamentary Report, regulatory news, reuters, stocks, survival, swift action, Swiss Government, swiss report, top management, UBS, UBSN, Vx

Report card

May 27, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

This paper* analyses the somewhat contradictory behaviour between policy and performance in West Bengal:

While the regulatory regime has been simplified to a great extent on paper, in practice we found its secret presence at lower levels of the bureaucracy frustrating the emergence of a benign relationship between state and business. In fact regulation hazards turned out to be a major reason behind small firms desiring to operate from the unorganised sector. Further, infrastructural inadequacies, particularly power shortage, could be a major reason leading large-scale units not to expand their capacity but farm out to the unorganised sector. The business associations at every level, are unable to sort out these issues. Our findings also lead us to strongly suspect the apparently docile character of organised labour and their unions. In the guise of cooperative behavior, a consequence of the dictates of the top, organised labour in the state is showing an extreme path dependency arising out of uncertainty in the prospect of future gains. Consequently management is weary of technology-intensive investments that can lead to human asset specificity and in turn costly haggling.

* Deepita Chakravarty and Indranil Bose, Industrialising West Bengal?: The Case of Institutional Stickiness, Working Paper No 83, Centre For Economic And Social Studies, February, 2010

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Asset Specificity, bose, bureaucracy, Business Associations, Cooperative Behavior, dictates, emergence, extent, guise, inadequacies, labour, Path Dependency, Power Shortage, regulatory regime, Secret Presence, Social Studies, stickiness, uncertainty, unorganised sector, west bengal

Shyness ‘can lead to marital problems’

May 20, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Washington, May 20 (ANI): Here’s a piece of information for introverts: Shyness can negatively affect the quality of your marriage.

A key question in psychology, and everyday life is the extent to which a person”s personality determines the shape and quality of his or her social relationships.

In two studies, researchers explored the specific impact of shyness on marital quality.

In one of the studies, researchers Levi Baker and James K. McNulty found that shyness was linked both to more severe marital problems among newlyweds and to overall lower marital quality.

Shyer people reported more problems with issues like trust, jealousy, money, and household management.

In the second study, the researchers explicitly showed that it was prior shyness that was linked to marital difficulties later—even declines in marital satisfaction—and not early marital difficulties that were linked to later shyness.

The authors suggest that shyness makes it more difficult for people to enter into social relationships and, because shy people feel more social anxiety, they are less confident in dealing with the inevitable problems that marriage entails.

“There is hope even though shyness itself might be resistant to change. People can be taught to have more efficacy in how to resolve the specific marital problems they face. As a consequence, any marital difficulties prompted by personality can be prevented by explicit training on dealing with marital problems,” the authors said.

The study has been published in the journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: consequence, efficacy, everyday life, extent, household management, Inevitable Problems, James K, jealousy, levi, Marital Difficulties, Marital Problems, Marital Quality, Marital Satisfaction, marriage, mcnulty, Newlyweds, Personality And Social Psychology Bulletin, Social Anxiety, Social Psychology Bulletin, Social Relationships

The postman who stole 76,000 letters

May 13, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

London, May 13 (IANS) A British postman, who stashed away 76,000 letters and parcels in his home, had to leave his flat as there was no space to live in it.

Paul Noga, 38, nicked 76,000 letters, bank statements, birthday presents and parcels over a two-year period.

Stunned police officials found mail covering every surface of the flat when they raided his home, The Sun reported.

Noga torched up to 1,000 stolen packages and damaging hundreds more.

‘The mail was just lying around in the flat. It got to such an extent he had to move to his mother’s flat, where he now lives,’ Noga’s lawyer Shaun Routledge told Newcastle Crown Court.

Routledge sought a psychiatric report on the postman.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Bank Statements, Birthday Presents, crown court, extent, lawyer, London, mail, newcastle, Noga, Parcels, police officials, postman, Psychiatric Report, Routledge, Sun

Oz tourism body tells bikini clad meter maids to cover up

May 12, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Melbourne, May 12 (ANI): Australia’s meter maids are considering a proposal by the Gold Coast Tourism to move south, but have been told they need to cover up as their gold bikinis are “inappropriate” for business.

According to the Australian, Gold Coast Tourism spokesman Ben Pole said they were glad to help the maids, who had fallen on tough times after they were prevented from selling their calendars, keyrings and stubbie-holders.

However, if the authority were to begin sending them interstate, he said, they would need to fit in.

“If they’re providing information to visitors on the beachfront, it’s entirely appropriate for them to be wearing bikinis,” News.com.au quoted him as saying.

“If they’re at the Melbourne Convention Centre, that’s probably not appropriate attire,” he said.

Meter maid Pernilla Eriksson said the demand was “ridiculous”.

“Bikinis have been on the Gold Coast for over 50 years. Why wouldn’t you use them to promote the Gold Coast?” she stated.

Meter Maids chief Roberta Aitchison said she was keen to do a deal with the tourism authority.

“We will cover up to a certain extent, but we won’t cover up completely. Otherwise it’s a pointless exercise,” Aitchison, who is a former meter maid, said.

“We need to keep it sexy and summery and you don’t really do that in a corporate outfit – you do that in a bikini,” she added. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: aitchison, Australian Gold, bikini-clad, bikinis, calendars, Corporate Outfit, extent, Gold Coast Tourism, Melbourne Convention Centre, Meter Maid, Meter Maids, news com au, Pointless Exercise, proposal, Roberta, spokesman, Stubbie Holders, tough times, Tourism Authority, Tourism Body

Clinton says she shares a “great relationship” with Obama

May 10, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

New York, May 10 (ANI): US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton claims she shares camaraderie with former political opponent President Barack Obama. She also speaks of her amazement when offered the job.

“I ran hard against him, he ran hard against me,” she told CBS”” “60 Minutes”.

“He won. I lost. And then, he asked me to work for him on behalf of our country. Now? “We have a great relationship,” she insisted.

She says she was taken aback at being offered the position of Secretary of State and initially turned it down, “Just ridiculous, I absolutely did not believe it,” she said.

“When he raised it, I said, ””Well, there are so many other people you should consider. I really don””t think I wanna do that. I””m not interested in doing it,’” she added.

Though the charismatic Obama finally managed to convince her otherwise, “He turned out to be very persuasive,” she said of Obama””s pitch.

Since then, Clinton has traveled to 54 countries, flying the equivalent of 16 laps around the globe.

“There was just so much when I walked in this door,” she said. “There was not only these really high expectations about the President and, to some extent, myself, about what that meant, but you just can””t say, ””Okay, we””re here … immediately adopt a new positive view toward us.”” It takes a lot of hard work to make that real,” New York Daily News quoted her as saying. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: amazement, Barack Obama, camaraderie, CBS, Cbs 60 Minutes, extent, globe, great relationship, High Expectations, Hillary Clinton, job, laps, lot, new york daily news, pitch, Political Opponent, secretary of state, shares, us secretary of state, york daily news

Hailstones damage mango crop in Maharashtra

May 6, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Aurangabad, May 6 (ANI): Farmers are lamenting the damage to their mango crops in various regions of Maharashtra due to hailstones and early rainfall.

Every year Aurangabad district exports around 70 tons of Kesar Mangoes to USA.
But earlier this week, due to hailstorms and unexpected rainfall, the mangoes have been damaged, and developed holes and bruises.

“Almost all the mango crops in this area have been affected by rain and hailstones. Some officials from the agriculture and revenue department came to inspect the crops,” said Vinayak Pathrikar, mango farmer.

The farmers fear that they will not be able to meet the export targets.

“The quality of the mango crops has now deteriorated for the purpose of export. That is why this year we won”t be able to achieve the export targets. Especially in Gangapur…and Aurangabad, hailstorms have damaged the crops to a large extent, especially the Kesar mango crops,” said Trayambak Pathrikar, Secretary, Mango Growers Association, Aurangabad.

Farmers receive Rs 70,000-75, 000 for every ton of mangoes exported to the US, and make an annual profit of Rs 4.5 million.

Kesar Mango has a unique sweet taste and is characterized by its golden colour with green overtones. The fruit is slightly smaller compared to the Alphonso variety. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: 5 million, Agriculture, aurangabad, bruises, crops, extent, farmers, Gangapur, golden colour, hailstorms, holes, kesar mango, Maharashtra, mango growers, Mangoes, Overtones, rain, rainfall, Sweet Taste, targets

Meet Yoga ”nazi”: the meanest yoga teacher in Big Apple

May 3, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

New York, May 3 (ANI): If you thought learning yoga was all about connecting with your inner calm, meet New York’s meanest yoga teacher Otto Cedeno, also popular as the yoga Nazi.

Owner of Bikram Yoga Union Square, Cedeno, 46, runs his class like a hard-nosed commander.

“My friends call me the yoga Nazi. I laugh,” the New York Post quoted Cedeno as saying.

Those, who happen to break one of his many rules, find themselves in yoga detention.

And his many pet peeves include—No water for about the first third of the 90-minute class; wash off all makeup (it leaves streaks on rented towels); no loose-hanging clothes; and hair must be pulled back.

Cedeno often singles out people in incorrect positions, to the extent that he bullies students lying on their backs in the purposefully restful Corpse Pose.

“As a beginner, I was scared that he would single me out for not trying,” said Park Slope resident Kim, 26.

The worst part for Erick Romero, 25, is Cedeño”s kickboxer mentality.

“He goes around and kicks people”s feet into alignment. He doesn”t say anything and just shoves his foot into your heel,” said Romero.

But Cedeno, who was a Broadway dancer before capitalizing on the popularity of yoga, says he”s not trying to be mean.

His practice appeals to “A-type personalities” who respond to a little abuse.

And towards people who raise a finger on whether he”s even teaching yoga at all, Cedeno is unrepentant.

“I”m not in the business of being nice,” he said. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: alignment, Bikram Yoga, clothes, Corpse Pose, dancer, erick, extent, makeup, mentality, nazi, new york post, Park Slope, personalities, popularity, Romero, streaks, Teaching Yoga, towels, Union Square, yoga teacher

Red-haired and freckly people most likely to use sunbeds

April 29, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

London, Apr 29 (ANI): Red-haired people with freckles are among the most likely to use sunbeds, it has been claimed.

Nina Goad, from the British Association of Dermatologists, said: ””People with very pale skin will never tan through UV exposure, they will only ever burn. If you are very pale and you want a tan, you will most likely find self tan products far more effective.

””Pale skinned people are also at far higher risk of skin cancer than other groups, so it is alarming that they are the most inclined to use sunbeds. This shows the pressure on pale skinned people to tan and the lengths that people will go to for a bronzed look.””

According to the survey of 1064 adults from across the UK, conducted for the British Association of Dermatologists, only one in four people who like to tan used cosmetic products to do so, reports The Telegraph.

Around 70 percent said they sunbathed while 4 percent used sunbeds.

””It is ironic that in trying to meet an ideal of beauty, people are actually seriously damaging their skin.”” said Goad. ””The truth is, to a greater or lesser extent according to skin type, sun exposure increases the risk of premature ageing, including wrinkles and sunspots, and more importantly potentially disfiguring or life-threatening skin cancer.””(ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: adults, British Association Of Dermatologists, Cosmetic Products, extent, freckles, goad, London, Nina, Pale Skin, people, premature ageing, risk, self tan products, skin cancer, Skin Type, sun exposure, sunspots, Telegraph, Uv Exposure, wrinkles

Real’s Van der Vaart out for three weeks

April 27, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Real Madrid and Netherlands midfielder Rafael van der Vaart will be out for at least three weeks after damaging a thigh muscle at Real Zaragoza on Saturday, the club said on Monday.

Van der Vaart, who was replaced by Raul after a quarter of an hour of Real’s 2-1 victory at the Romareda, is an important part of the Dutch squad that will compete at the World Cup in South Africa starting in June.

A scan had revealed the extent of the damage, Real said on their website (www.realmadrid.com), and Van der Vaart could miss all four of the club’s remaining league matches, at home to Osasuna on May 2, at Real Mallorca on May 5, at home to Athletic Bilbao on May 9 and at Malaga on May 16.

The Netherlands begin their World Cup campaign against Denmark on June 14. Cameroon and Japan are also in Group E.

(Reporting by Iain Rogers, editing by Justin Palmer; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Athletic Bilbao, Cameroon, Dutch Squad, extent, June 14, least three weeks, malaga, midfielder, Rafael Van Der Vaart, raul, real madrid, Real Mallorca, Real Zaragoza, Realmadrid, rogers, South Africa, Thigh Muscle, victory, website www, World Cup Campaign

‘Fully fit’ Akhtar eyeing England tour for comeback

April 24, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Apr.24 (ANI): Controversial Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar might have been rejected as a spent force by critics, but the bowler is determined to make a come back in the national squad and is eyeing the forthcoming Test series against England for a return to the international stage, according to his domestic teammate Saeed Anwar Jr.

Anwar , who plays for Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) along with Akhtar, said the “Rawalpindi Express” has been training hard for the past few months and has improved his fitness level to a great extent.

“I know it”s fashionable to say Shoaib Akhtar is finished and that he”s no longer able to play professional cricket but I disagree. I”ve never seen Shoaib working as hard as he has been these past few months, his fitness is greatly improved and he”s totally focused on making a come back,” Anwar Jr. told Cricistan.com.

He said Akhtar’s recent six-wicket haul in a domestic match shows that he has recovered from his knee operation and is raring to go, adding that the 34-year old pacer is targeting the forthcoming England tour for a comeback.

“England holds a lot of happy memories for Shoaib and it”s the upcoming tour of England that he”s targeting for his return to the international fold,” Anwar Jr. said.

Chief selector Mohsin Khan has already made it clear that if Akhtar continues to perform at the domestic level he could considered for recall.

“The best part about Shoaib and his latest comeback bid is that he appears to be really positive. He is really disciplined on the field. He is working hard and appears to be really focused. I’m getting really good vibes from him,” Khan had said earlier.

When asked whether the selection committee would consider Akhtar’s name if he is declared fully fit, Khan said he would love to have a ‘match-winner’ like him back in the Pakistan team provided he continues to bowl well and prove his fitness. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: anwar, Comeback Bid, Cricket, england tour, extent, forthcoming test, Good Vibes, happy memories, international stage, Khan Research Laboratories, knee operation, match, mohsin khan, pacer, Pakistan team, rawalpindi, selection committee, teammate, test series, wicket haul

BCCI bosses bending rules for their convenience: Muthiah

April 23, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

New Delhi, April 22 (IANS) Former Indian cricket board president A.C. Muthiah Thursday lashed out at the present set-up, saying the board circumvented its own regulations to allow its secretary N. Srinivasan to bid for an Indian Premier League franchise.

Muthiah said there was a clash of interest as Srinivasan is the owner of India Cements that bought the Chennai Super Kings.

He also said Srinivisan has no right to call the governing council meeting.

‘Srinivasan is an interested party and I filed a case against him for conflict of interest. He is a secretary and a holder of franchise. He has no right to call for a meeting,’ Muthiah said.

‘I feel to a larger extent the members of the BCCI have consciously allowed themselves to be exploited by certain groups by amending the byelaws of the society. BCCI should ensure all those who have some stake or interest either directly or indirectly should be kept away,’ the former board chief said.

‘The original framework regulation was that no administrator can take part in any commercial interest concerning the BCCI. When I filed the case, they retrospectively amended this clause excluding the IPL. These amendments have been done to suit some of the franchises, especially him (Srinivisan).’

‘They are all responsible for this mess because they are just amending the regulations for their own interests,’ he said.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: amendments, BCCI, board president, C Muthiah, clash, commercial interest, conflict-of-interest, convenience, extent, franchises, Governing Council Meeting, india cements, indian cricket board, interested party, ipl, league franchise, members, New Delhi, Premier league, stake

Bullock ‘delays divorce to work out amicable deal with James’

April 17, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Washington, April 17 (ANI): Sandra Bullock has delayed filling divorce papers as she wants to make everything clear to her estranged husband Jesse James before their split becomes legal, it has emerged.

James is facing allegations of being involved with five women. There’s said to be 15 Jesses’ mistresses in total.

While Sandra had her suspicions about Jesse during the marriage, she never imagined the extent of his cheating, the source said.

But now Bullock is delaying the divorce process, as she wants to work out and finish a deal with Jesse before filling the papers, Radar Online.com reports.

“She will definitely be filing divorce papers, but wants to make sure everything is lined up perfectly first so it doesn’t get messy,” the source told RadarOnline.com. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: allegations, April 17, divorce papers, Divorce Process, extent, Filing Divorce, five women, James Washington, jesse james, marriage, mistresses, radar, sandra bullock, suspicions

Minister has serious concerns about mine site

April 13, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

The WA Mines Minister Norman Moore says he will not permanently close down a BHP Nickel mine in the WA Goldfields town of Leinster despite a number of serious incidents at the site.

45-year-old Wayne Ross died in the latest incident when the truck he was driving plunged 18 metres down an incline at the company’s Perseverance mine.

Mr Moore says he has voiced his concerns to BHP about its safety record, but does not intend to shut the mine permanently.

“This particular mine is a difficult mine and it operates, provides employment to people,” he said.

“To the extent that the Government is able, we put in place requirements of companies to ensure they have a safe workplace.”

The death yesterday is the third serious industrial incident at the Leinster operation in ten months.

The same site was temporarily shut down last year after two rock falls left three employees trapped underground for several hours.

The State Opposition Leader Eric Ripper wants a royal commission into the matter.

“We’ve got to bring it all out into the open and have fierce public scrutiny,” he said.

Mr Moore has dismissed that idea, but says he has made his concerns known to BHP executives.

“If you look at BHP’s record over the last couple of years, it hasn’t been good at all and they’re very aware of my concerns about that.”

The mine remains closed while the investigation into the incident continues.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: extent, Leinster, nickel, Norman Moore, opposition leader, perseverance, public scrutiny, safety record, serious concerns, state opposition, Wa Goldfields, Wayne Ross

Patel patient too frail for surgery, court hears

April 13, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

A Queensland court has been told that Jayant Patel should not have operated on a patient because he was too frail.

Former Bundaberg surgeon Patel has pleaded not guilty to unlawfully killing three patients and causing grievous bodily harm to a fourth.

The Supreme Court in Brisbane heard that James Phillips, 46, died two days after Patel removed part of his oesophagus after throat cancer was found in 2003.

The court heard that Mr Phillips had existing health problems including renal failure, heart disease, blood pressure problems and previous blood infections.

Renal specialist Dr Peter Miach told the court he would not have operated on Mr Phillips because he was too frail.

Dr Miach, who was treating Mr Phillips for end-stage renal failure, said he would have consulted with numerous specialists before even considering surgery.

And Dr Miach said he would have expected Patel to consult him about his intention to perform an oesophagectomy on Mr Phillips.

“To what extent would you have expected a surgeon who was going to undertake an operation on your patient to discuss it with you?” prosecutor Ross Martin, SC, asked.

“I would have expected it 100 per cent,” Dr Miach replied.

“That’s the done thing when you have a complex patient.”

The trial has previously heard Patel should not have operated on Mr Phillips because of Bundaberg Hospital’s limited intensive care capacity.

The trial continues.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Blood Infections, blood pressure problems., brisbane, dr peter, End Stage Renal Failure, extent, grievous bodily harm., health problems, heart disease, intensive care, intention, james phillips, jayant patel, mr phillips, oesophagectomy, oesophagus, prosecutor, Queensland Court, ross martin, throat cancer

IMF offers Greece help, talks set for April 12

April 12, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

(Reuters) – The International Monetary Fund is ready to contribute financing for Greece through a multi-year stand-by loan arrangement and will hold talks on the matter in Brussels on April 12, IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn said on Sunday.

He said an earlier announcement by euro zone member countries to provide debt-strapped Greece with emergency financing if needed marked “an important step” and will also safeguard financial stability in the euro area as a whole.

“The IMF stands ready to join the effort, including through a multi-year stand-by arrangement, to the extent needed and requested by the Greek authorities,” Strauss-Kahn said in a statement. “An IMF team will hold discussions in Brussels on April 12 with the Greek authorities, the European Commission and the ECB.”

Euro zone finance ministers earlier agreed on a giant 30 billion euro ($40 billion) emergency aid package for Greece but stressed that Athens had not asked for the plan to be activated yet.

(Reporting by Lesley Wroughton; editing by Gunna Dickson)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Athens, Brussels, Dominique Strauss Kahn, ecb, emergency aid package, Euro Zone, European Commission, extent, finance ministers, financial stability, Greece, Greek Authorities, imf team, International Monetary Fund, lesley, loan arrangement, managing director, member countries, reuters, Wroughton

IMF set for talks on Greek aid on April 12 – IMF

April 12, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

WASHINGTON, April 11 (Reuters) – The International Monetary Fund is ready to contribute financing for Greece through a multi-year stand-by loan arrangement and will hold talks with Greek and European officials in Brussels on April 12, IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn said on Sunday.

Bonds

“The IMF stands ready to join the effort, including through a multi-year stand-by arrangement, to the extent needed and requested by the Greek authorities,” Strauss-Kahn said in a statement. The talks in Brussels will include the European Union and European Central Bank.

Euro zone finance ministers earlier agreed on a giant 30 billion euro emergency aid mechanism for Greece but stressed that Athens had not asked for the plan to be activated yet. [nLDE63A0BO]

(Reporting by Lesley Wroughton)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: April, Athens, bonds, Brussels, Dominique Strauss Kahn, emergency aid, Euro Zone, European Officials, European Union, extent, finance ministers, giant, Greece, Greek Authorities, Imf Chief, International Monetary Fund, lesley, loan arrangement, reuters, Wroughton

No decision yet on forest job cuts

April 10, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Forestry Minister Ian Macdonald says he will soon reveal the extent of planned job cuts in Forests New South Wales.

Greens’ MP Ian Cohen has asked the Minister to clarify whether he is going to sack 70 workers and replace them with private contractors.

Mr Cohen says the sackings will make poor compliance standards worse in understaffed State Forests.

He says private contractors do not have the expertise or appropriate training which will lead to more logging.

Mr Cohen says the decision could possibly see the privatisation of State Forests.

“I think inevitably that will be the direction it will take. We see the pruning off of jobs in this public sector and the effort being undertaken by less trained private operators and private contractors,” he said.

“I would say the Minister and the Treasurer would be salivating at the idea of selling off this particular bureaucracy.”

But Mr Macdonald is not saying how many jobs could go.

“Well the department from time to time looks at its resource base and staffing levels and enters into discussions about making some savings,” he said.

“They’ve entered into a discussion with the union but no decision’s been made. I’ll make the final decision and I won’t make any decision that undermines the department’s capacity.

“There’s no proposal that would undermine the capacity of the department to perform all of its functions whether it be our environmental works, safety and economic and meet its obligations under its wood supply agreement … there’s no question, there’d never be an undermining of that.

“I just stress again no decisions have been made.”

Mr Macdonald says he expects to reveal the extent of redundancies soon.

He has not said how much money the department wants to save.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Australia, bureaucracy, Coffs Harbour, Compliance Standards, Environmental Works, extent, final decision, Forest Job, Forestry, forests, government-and-politics, Greens, Mr Cohen, Mr Macdonald, New South Wales, nsw, Poor Compliance, private contractors, Private Operators, privatisation, privatisation-and-deregulation, public sector, redundancies, Resource Base, sackings, State Forests, states-and-territories, unemployment, Wagga Wagga, work