China narrows definition of “state secrets” to boost government transparency

April 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Beijing, Apr.30 (ANI): In an effort to boost transparency, China”s Parliament has narrowed the definition of “state secrets.”

Lawmakers approved the amended law at the end of the four-day bimonthly session of the National People”s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, or the top legislature, after three reviews, the first of which began last June.

State secrets have a clearer definition in the amended law. They are defined as information concerning state security and interests and, if leaked, would damage state security and interests in the areas of politics, economy and national defense, among others.

According to Xinhua, it also raises the level of government departments that can classify information a state secret.

The National Administration for the Protection of State Secrets and local bureaus above the county level are responsible for national and local classification, respectively. (ANI)

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Pakistan struggles with ‘power plan’

April 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Islamabad, April 25 — Confusion reigned supreme in Pakistan with some government departments remaining open while others staying closed on Saturday, following the prime minister’s decision that Pakistan’s public sector will have a 5-day week. The confusion comes as Pakistan struggles to bridge the gap between electricity production and consumption – and to try and reduce the number of blackouts the country faces each day.

On Saturday, schools were closed in some parts, while they were open in other areas. Banks remained open despite the Central Bank’s direction that they stay shut.

The measures have not gone down well with people. Muhammad Shah Abdali, a landlord in Sindh, says that on a “good day,” there is power for 6 hours.

“Otherwise we have blackouts for almost 22 hours”. Owing to protests, the government decided to curb consumption through a series of measures, which include closing markets by 8 pm and disallowing marriage halls to function for more than three hours in a day.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani unveiled his power conservation strategy earlier this week. The strategy also proposes a five-day week for the public sector, as against the normal six-day working week.

Private schools have rejected this proposal saying they “cannot be expected to change the classes to suit the whims of politicians.” In higher education institutions, a massive reshuffling of classes has, however, started.

The most vocal opponents to the power conservation measures are businessmen. “We would rather die than close my shop at 8 pm,” said Muhammad Firoz, a member of the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce, who claims that the government “is once again punishing the poor”.

The government says the move will save enough power to cut down power outages. So far, this has not happened.

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Research and Markets: India Oil and Gas Report – Q2 2010

April 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

DUBLIN–(Business Wire)–
Research and Markets
(http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/64737a/india_oil_and_gas) has
announced the addition of the “India Oil and Gas Report Q2 2010″ report to their
offering.

Business Monitor International’s India Oil and Gas Report provides industry
professionals and strategists, corporate analysts, oil and gas associations,
government departments and regulatory bodies. The latest India Oil & Gas Report
from BMI forecasts that the country will account for 13.23% of Asia Pacific
regional oil demand by 2014, while providing 10.26% of supply. Regional oil use
of 21.40mn barrels per day (b/d) in 2001 reached an estimated 25.63mn b/d in
2009. It should average 26.13mn b/d in 2010, then rise to around 29.23mn b/d by
2014. Regional oil production was just under 8.41mn b/d in 2001, and averaged an
estimated 8.46mn b/d in 2009. It is set to increase to 8.77mn b/d by 2014. Oil
imports are growing rapidly, because demand growth is outstripping the pace of
supply expansion. In 2001 the region was importing an average of 12.99mn b/d.
This total had risen to an estimated 17.17mn b/d in 2009, and is forecast to
reach 20.46mn b/d by 2014. The principal importers will be China, Japan, India
and South Korea. By 2014 the only net exporter will be Malaysia.

In terms of natural gas, in 2009 the region consumed an estimated 466bn cubic
metres (bcm) and demand of 616bcm is targeted for 2014. Production of an
estimated 383bcm in 2009 should reach 542bcm in 2014, but this implies net
imports falling from around 83bcm to 74bcm. This is thanks to many Asian gas
producers being major exporters. India’s share of gas consumption in 2009 was an
estimated 10.56%, while its share of production is put at 9.93%. By 2014 its
share of gas consumption is forecast to be 14.23%, with the country accounting
for 12.55% of supply.

For 2009 as a whole, BMI has assumed an average OPEC basket price of US$60.70
per barrel (bbl), a 35.5% decline year-on-year (y-o-y). For 2010, they expect to
see a significant oil price recovery to US$83.00/bbl for the OPEC basket price,
gaining further ground to US$85.00 in 2011 and to US$90.00/bbl in 2012 and
beyond.

In 2010, BMI is forecasting global premium unleaded gasoline prices to average
US$97.00/bbl, up from US$70.22/bbl in 2009. BMI is assuming an average global
jet fuel price for 2010 of US$97.58/bbl, compared with US$70.63/bbl in 2009. For
gasoil, the 2010 price estimate is for an average of US$97.40/bbl, compared with
US$70.50/bbl in 2009. The 2010 naphtha price average, estimated at US$81.58/bbl,
compares with US$59.07/bbl in 2009.

Indian real GDP growth is assumed by BMI to have been 6.1% in 2009, down from
6.7% in 2008. BMI is now assuming an annual average of 7.7% growth in 2010-2014.
State oil firm Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) is charged with maximising
domestic oil production, which in 2009 averaged an estimated 755,000b/d. Thanks
to its efforts and those of UK-based Cairn Energy, BMI see production peaking at
around 950,000b/d by 2012. Oil consumption is forecast to increase by 4-5% per
annum to 2014, implying demand of 3.87mn b/d by 2014. The import requirement
would therefore be approximately 2.97mn b/d by the end of the forecast period.
Gas consumption is set to rise from an estimated 49bcm in 2009 to 88bcm, with
domestic supply up from around 38bcm in 2009 to at least 68bcm by 2014.

Between 2009 and 2019, BMI are forecasting an increase in Indian oil production
of 12.58%, with crude volumes peaking in 2012 at 950,000b/d, then falling
steadily to reach 850,000b/d in 2019. Oil consumption between 2009 and 2019 is
set to increase by 49.35%, with growth slowing to an assumed 3.0% per annum
towards the end of the period and the country using 4.53mn b/d by 2019. Gas
production is expected to rise from an estimated 38bcm in 2009 to a possible
90bcm by 2019. With demand growth of 172.3%, India is likely to be importing up
to 44bcm per annum of gas by the end of the period, largely in the form of LNG.
Details of BMIs 10-year forecasts can be found later in this report, which
provide regional and country-specific projections.

India now ranks second, having overtaken Vietnam, in BMIs updated and expanded
Upstream Business Environment Rating, with a strong resource position being
offset somewhat by extensive state involvement, a limited competitive landscape
and only a moderate risk environment. The country sits just one point in front
of Vietnam, but well ahead of Malaysia and China. It is 11 points behind
Australia and is therefore unlikely to challenge for the top slot. The country
ranks second, three points behind China, in BMIs updated Downstream Business
Environment Rating, reflecting its status as a high-growth energy market with
strongly positive population and demand trends, plus a low level of retail site
intensity. It is two points ahead of Singapore, with scope to pull further away
from the more mature Asian energy economy. With independent forecasts and
competitive intelligence on India’s oil and gas industry.

Key Topics Covered:

Executive Summary

SWOT Analysis

India Energy Market Overview

Composite Scores

Business Environment

Industry Forecast Scenario

Competitive Landscape

Company Monitor

Glossary Of Terms

Companies Mentioned:

* Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC)
* Indian Oil Corporation (IOC)
* Hindustan Petroleum Company Ltd (HPCL)
* Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL)
* Reliance Industries
* Oil India Ltd (OIL)
* GAIL (India)
* Cairn India
* BP
* BG Group
* Shell
* Total
* Oilex
* GSPC
* Eni
* Essar Oil
* Hardy Oil & Gas

For more information visit

http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/64737a/india_oil_and_gas

Research and Markets
Laura Wood, Senior Manager
press@researchandmarkets.com
U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907
Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

Copyright Business Wire 2010

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NSW workplace injury rates nothing to boast about

April 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment

A day after the New South Wales Government boasted about a reduction in the number of workplace injuries the state’s auditor-general has revealed it has relaxed its approach and injuries are on the rise.

In a release issued yesterday the State Government proclaimed that the number of workplace injuries for public sector employees had dropped by 14 per cent since 2002.

It was referring to the final results from a injury management strategy called Working Together, which ran until 2008.

The auditor-general Peter Achterstraat concurs with the government’s figures but he says that since the program finished claims across the public sector have gone up by 15 per cent.

Mr Achterstraat also says the average cost of claims for public sector workers is 19 per cent higher than the private sector.

“A lot of good things happened between 2005 and 2008 when there was a clear focus on injury management. Injuries were down and costs were down,” he said.

“But since 2008 government departments seem to have taken their foot off the accelerator and the incidence rate of accidents is increasing.”

The Government says it will now re-start the Working Together strategy in a bid to reduce workplace injuries.

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EPA defends water inquiry role

March 31, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The head of Tasmania’s environment watchdog has clarified his role in the panel investigating water toxicity claims on the east coast.

The panel examining possible tree toxins in the George River was convened by the Environment Protection Authority Chief, John Ramsay.

Last week, national law firm Slater and Gordon said Mr Ramsay was in “an invidious position” because the panel would review tests by two government departments which Mr Ramsay has previously lead.

Mr Ramsay has confirmed that he served as secretary of both the Health Department and the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment but he says his role is merely to convene the panel’s five experts.

He says the independent panel will investigate and report to the State Government.

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Councils consider green power viability

March 31, 2010 By Leave a Comment

A Sunshine Coast councillor is hoping south-east Queensland councils will commit to buying green power in the next year.

A report prepared for a south-east Queensland council of mayors committee found there would be enough demand from the nine member councils to make a green power industry viable.

Sunshine Coast councillor Keryn Jones says a wind farm has been approved near Kingaroy, which could become operational with the council of mayors’ business.

“The demand could be generated by the councils bonding together, especially if we could get the water businesses on board,” she said.

“Also we could probably try and get some government departments on board as well and that would stimulate enough demand for those big projects.

“Essentially [with] big projects, you get so much better economy of scale.

“The difference between a one megawatt power plant and a 100 megawatt is a 20 per cent reduction in cost per unit.”

Cr Jones says it would take about five years for wind-generated power to reach price parity with coal-fired energy.

“Everyone can sit around and say we’re going to wait until that price parity point’s reached – until green power is as cheap as black power,” she said.

“But if you do that the demand doesn’t get stimulated to get the projects out of the ground.

“So there’s basically a bit of a short-term investment, paying a little bit more for the green power, but then you’ve got the pay off almost forever because you’re buying cheaper green power than coal-fired power will be.”

The council of mayors’ environment and sustainability committee is discussing buying green power in bulk and has commissioned a study.

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Railways ad places Delhi in Pakistan

March 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Kolkata, Mar 20 (ANI):In yet another blunder by government departments, an advertisement issued by the Indian Railways has placed New Delhi in Pakistan and Kolkata in the Bay of Bengal.

The Easter Railway issued the advertisement to newspapers during a flag off ceremony of the “Maharaja”s Express.”

Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee was to flag off the Maharaja’a Express trail at Kolkata Station on Saturday.

A box inside the advertisement panel showed the train route from Kolkata to New Delhi via Gaya, Varanasi, Bandhabgarh, Khajuraho, Gwalior and Agra.

As the faded background of the outline of a small map of India showed Kolkata in the Bay of Bengal and Delhi in Pakistan.

Eastern Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Samir Goswami accepted the mistake and apologised for the same.

He also informed that the Easter Railways has suspended the advertising agency.

Meanwhile, the advertising agency claimed that the route alignment had been given for the benefit of passengers.

“The map and the alignment are an artist”s impression and not to scale. It is never our intention to create a controversy,” the advertising agency said.

In January, the Union Women and Child Welfare Ministry had issued an advertisement containing former Pakistan air force chief’s photograph. (ANI)

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U.S. Jobs Boost as thebigword Expands

March 2, 2010 By Leave a Comment

LEEDS, England–(Business Wire)–
One of the world`s biggest and fastest-growing translation and interpreting
companies, thebigword, has announced a major expansion in the United States with
the creation of up to 350 jobs.

A significant percentage of the new jobs will be created in the company`s New
York office on Wall Street and the remainder will be recruited throughout the
United States.

The announcement follows major U.S. public- and private-sector contract wins
with a leading investment bank and large Government departments, which have
helped increase revenues by more than 40 per cent, with a predicted $78 million
turnover this year.

Much of the growth has been in thebigword`s `Over the Phone Interpreting` (OPI)
service, which enables people who speak different languages to talk over the
`phone via an interpreter. Its expansion in this sector now positions thebigword
to become the world`s second-largest interpreting company and by the end of
summer 2010, its workforce is expected to reach 1,500 plus 7,700 linguists.

Chief Commercial Officer at thebigword, Josh Gould, says: “The interpreting
industry is critical to the daily business of the U.S. Government and the
majority of the top global 1000 companies. thebigword has emerged as a
responsible business, driving down price whilst increasing quality standards,
which can only be good news for our customers”.

“Some sectors of the language services industry have attacked thebigword for our
aggressive pricing policy but we`re defiant in our quest to make interpreting
more accessible to businesses and world governments whilst protecting our most
important assets, our linguists who provide the service 24/7/365.

“Price reductions are being achieved by our investment in technology and our
partnership with global telecoms specialists, Avaya,” says Gould.

thebigword`s policy of organic expansion, which has delivered 93 per cent
compound growth in the past two years, has given the company a strong capital
base in an environment where competitors are losing market share or engaging in
high-risk mergers.

Josh Gould acknowledges that acquisition may be the best way forward, but only
for the right business at the right price. “We`re likely to look at strategic
acquisitions in the region of $10-20 million,” he says.

Lexicon PR Ltd
Sue Baker
Email: sbaker@lexiconpr.com
International: +44 1943 830 626
Mobile: +44 7801 355 788

Copyright Business Wire 2010

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Chinese govt. office “too busy to fuss with” public

August 25, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Beijing, Aug. 24 (ANI): A Chinese citizen who filed an online complaint to a government department was told: “Our office is too busy to fuss with you. Come to the office and face us.”

The shocking reply from the city landscaping office in Yingcheng, Hubei province came albeit a new set of regulations binding government departments to promptly respond to Internet complaints.

The reply has left netizens absolutely outraged about the attitude of government department.

“I can’t believe officials talk so naively these days. This is almost uncivilized language. To tell you the truth, I’m pretty disappointed to see this kind of response from Chinese officials,” China Daily quoted Wu Hai, as saying.

“This is such a disgrace for officials in China,” wrote another netizen.

The Yingcheng government’s reply came after a local resident named “Freezing Smile” suggested that local officials should visit a deserted landscaping site left uncared for along a pedestrian street in the city.

It was posted to the Letters to the Mayor section on the official government website.

“Will the Party and local residents be satisfied with such an inactive government institution like our landscape office?” the post said.

Under public pressure Sunday, the government in Yingcheng apologized and promised to punish the officials responsible.

“Leaders of the city’s landscape office have filed a written explanation to the Party and the city government. They apologize to all netizens and have already repaired the pedestrian street that the residents have complained about,” a statement from Yingcheng government said.

Official government websites normally run a section that allows residents to file online complaints that have ranged from reports of pollution to corruption appeals.

Officials are required to reply to each online complaint and may get warned or blacklisted if they fail to do so. (ANI)

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More intellectuals to be involved in process of governance: PM

July 11, 2009 By Leave a Comment

On Board special flight, July 11 (ANI): Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has said that Nandan Nilekani’s appointment has been widely welcomed and there would be involvement of more and more top intellectuals in process of governance.

Addressing a press conference onboard after attending the G8-G5 summit at L’Aquila in Italy, Dr. Singh said, “I would like to involve more and more intellectuals in the process of governance in our country. In due course of time, we could enlarge this process. We need all the wisdom, knowledge and experience.”

“There is enormous reserve of wisdom, knowledge and experience outside the political system. It has to be harnessed in the service of Indian people. It will be my effort to do so at a pace which it does not have side effect,” he added.

Nilekani left Infosys on July 9 to serve as the chairperson of the Unique Identification Authority of India, in the rank of a cabinet minister under invitation from Dr. Singh.

In January, the Government of India has notified the creation of the National Authority of Unique Identity.

The ambitious plan of unique identification has been allocated Rs 100 crore in the interim budget of 2009-10.

The unique identification number aims at eliminating the need for multiple identification mechanism prevalent across various government departments, and it will ensure that each Indian citizen will carry a permanent identifier from birth to death. By Naveen Kapoor (ANI)

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Pak intelligence claims arresting top Taliban leader’s son

May 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Peshawar, May 16 (ANI): Pakistan intelligence authorities have claimed arresting a son of the Taliban’s Swat chapter spokesperson Muslim Khan.

According to sources, Mudassir,Khan’s son, was arrested while he was trying to appear in a recruitment examination for a post in the Airport Security Force (ASF).

However, officials have not confirmed the report, The News reports.

Interestingly, several family members and close relatives of a number of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leaders are serving in government departments despite the fact that the outlawed group has challenged the government’s writ.

Sources also revealed that a number of TTP operative’s family members are studying in public sector institutions across Pakistan. (ANI)

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Kashmir boat rally to create awareness on water pollution

May 15, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Srinagar, May 15 (ANI): A boat rally was held in Kashmir to make people aware of river pollution on Thursday.

Organized by the Tourism Department of the State in collaboration with the Rafting Association of Kashmir, the rally sought to persuade the people not throw polythene and other such polluting stuff into water bodies.

“These water bodies are the pride of our state. It is our duty to take care of these water bodies. We need people’s support in doing this. Government departments like the Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Tourism Department, Lakes and Waterways Development Authority are all trying to protect these water bodies from pollution. We are trying stop the usage of polythene in our state,” said Farooq Shah, director of the state’s tourism department.

The participants in the rally said we want to tell the people that they should not pollute the river by throwing stuff like polythene.

Jhelum River, which originates from Vernag, 80 kilometres of Srinagar, runs through the city and ultimately drains into the Indus River in Pakistan.

Encroachments, most of them going on for decades, are choking the river.

A swift-flowing and muddy-looking river, Jhelum supports scores of families living in houseboats.

Apart from the houseboats, Jhelum is surrounded by many old monuments and settlements, which have altered the river’s natural environs. (ANI)

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Water crisis in Padampur

May 4, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Padampur (Orissa), May 2 (ANI): Padampur in Orissa is facing a severe water crisis as mercury soars over the Indian subcontinent.

The water supply to the town comes mostly from the Ong River. But following a dry spell, the river has dried up causing acute water shortage.

“There is a lot of problem because of the water shortage. The water tankers provided by the government departments have given us some relief or else there would be no water anywhere. People are quarrelling over water. Sometimes, we don’t get water at all. There is a lot of trouble,” said Parvati Gohil, a resident.

On normal days, the Padampur subdivision water requirement is 11 lakh litres and the supply is as per the demand. But due to the summer season, the demand has soared and the supply is not enough.

The ground water level has shrunk from 160 feet to 230 feet.

The administration is distributing water to the residents from the bore wells near the town.

“It has not rained since September 2008. The Ong River has dried completely. There are around three or four deep bore wells outside town. So, we lift water from there in tankers and supply it in the town,” said Pravat Bhoi, Sub Collector, Padampur.

The government had a plan to meet water shortage, but it hasn’t materialized so far. (ANI)

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China has long way to go on health reforms

April 12, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Beijing – Chinese authorities released a long-awaited health reform action plan last week, but it is only the first step in a long march towards curing endemic problems marring the country’s medical system, analysts say. Over the next three years, 850 billion yuan (124 billion dollars) will be spent on lowering the costs of medicines, building and renovating hospitals and clinics, training medical staff, and improving and expanding the current medical insurance scheme.

Acknowledging the size of the task ahead, the government has appointed vice-premier Li Keqiang to head a taskforce comprising 16 government departments to coordinate the implementation of the proposed reforms.

This shows not only the government’s commitment, but also an understanding that only a top leader can motivate and unite all departments.

Health care topped the list of Chinese citizens’ concerns in a recent survey by the National Bureau of Statistics.

Until the 1980′s, health care costs in China were largely covered by the state. When this system was dismantled, medical fees sky-rocketed as under-funded hospitals struggled to keep up with demand.

Between 1985 and 2005, the annual disposable income of Chinese residents increased 20 times, but the amount they spent on health care increased by 133 times, according to Ministry of Health figures.

But reactions to the government’s new action plan have seen hope mixed with concern, as analysts question just how certain goals will be met.

“The release of the policy is only the first step in the march towards reform,” Peking University economics professor Liu Guo’an told the German Press Agency (dpa)

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Plane with seven people on board missing in Philippines

April 3, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Manila, April 2 (Xinhua) A small plane with five passengers and two crew members on board went missing shortly after take-off in northern Philippines Thursday, the country’s civil aviation authority reported.

The European-made twin-engine Islander plane RP-C764 lost contact after it left the airport of Tuguegarao in northern Cagayan province at around 8.55 a.m. Thursday (0055 GMT), the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said.

Though the plane was bound towards Macanacon airport in neighbouring Isabela province, some 30 minutes away, no landing was reported in any major airports in the northern Luzon region, CAAP Director General Ruben Ciron said in a press release.

‘Tuguegarao reported that the weather was fairly good when RP-C764 took off today (Thursday),’ he said, adding that a team was formed to investigate the incident while several agencies of the military and government departments were searching for the missing plane.

A military UH-1H ‘Huey’ helicopter will be dispatched to trace the route of the plane, Ciron said.

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Plane with seven people on board missing in Philippines

April 2, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Manila, April 2 (Xinhua) A small plane with five passengers and two crew members on board went missing shortly after take-off in northern Philippines Thursday, the country’s civil aviation authority reported.

The European-made twin-engine Islander plane RP-C764 lost contact after it left the airport of Tuguegarao in northern Cagayan province at around 8.55 a.m. Thursday (0055 GMT), the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said.

Though the plane was bound towards Macanacon airport in neighbouring Isabela province, some 30 minutes away, no landing was reported in any major airports in the northern Luzon region, CAAP Director General Ruben Ciron said in a press release.

‘Tuguegarao reported that the weather was fairly good when RP-C764 took off today (Thursday),’ he said, adding that a team was formed to investigate the incident while several agencies of the military and government departments were searching for the missing plane.

A military UH-1H ‘Huey’ helicopter will be dispatched to trace the route of the plane, Ciron said.

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CPI advocates reservation for lower castes in private sector

February 24, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Feb 24 (ANI): Ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections the Communist Party of India (CPI) General Secretary, A. B. Bardhan, on Tuesday said that his party would demand reservation for lower castes in the private sector.

“We are demanding to extend the horizon of the reservation in the private sector, as it is in the case of Government departments and allied institutions,” Bardhan said on the sidelines of a rally organised by National Conference of Dalit Organisation (NACDOR) here.

The CPI leader urged the rally to elect a party of their own choice but advised them to keep distance from Congress and BJP.

“We have decided that whoever you want to choose, it is entirely your own choice. But do not go for Congress or BJP. In the month of May, you will see a Government of non-congress and non-BJP parties,” Bardhan said.

Lok Sabha election are expected to be held sometime in May. (ANI)

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Chinese govt extends anti-porn campaign to mobile texts

January 25, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Jan 22 (ANI): Chinese government is leaving no stone unturned to curb spread of porn. It has expanded its anti-porn campaign to mobile phone messages.

After shutting down 1,250 porn websites, the government will now keep a check on text messages, reports the China Daily.

Seven government departments including the State Council’s Information Office, Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of Culture jointly launched the campaign at a meeting, aiming to outline future tasks of the move.

“We will incorporate ‘lewd’ messages spread via mobile phones into the crackdown,” they said.

The government has deleted more than 3.2 million items of online information alleged to contain porn and vulgar content by Wednesday since January 5.

And so far, 41 people have been detained for “promulgating porn online”. (ANI)

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