Research and Markets: In The First Two Months Of 2010, China’s Bags & Travel Goods Made Of Fabric, Leather and Plastic Showed A 36 Percent Year-On-Year Improvement To $871.7 Million

DUBLIN–(Business Wire)–
Research and
Markets(http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/76c508/china_sourcing_rep)
has announced the addition of the “China Sourcing Report: Bags & Travel Goods”
report to their offering.

Suppliers of bags and travel goods in China are optimistic that export sales
will improve greatly in the year ahead, but growing production outlay is putting
pressure on profitability. In the first two months of 2010, Chinas shipment’s of
bags, luggage and wallets made of fabric, leather and plastic showed a 36
percent year-on-year improvement to $871.7 million.

In the same span, the quantity of bags increased 21 percent to 85.3 million
kilograms. Luggage volume also jumped 32 percent to almost 18 million kilograms.

Overseas revenue for all three categories in 2009 amounted to $4.9 billion.
Sales fell 10 percent. Although the resurgence may be driven by restocking, the
majority of suppliers expect revenue to increase more than 20 percent. Others
anticipate sales to climb at least 10 percent.

This report focuses on wallets, luggage, travel accessories, and business,
special-purpose, fashion and travel bags.

What you’ll get

* In-depth profiles of 37 major suppliers with a comprehensive look at their
manufacturing and export capability, verified contact details, and more this
information is not available anywhere else
* 163 full-color images that depict popular bag and travel goods export models,
complete with product descriptions, prices, minimum order requirements and
delivery times
* Verified supplier contact details of an additional 47 exporters, including
names, e-mails, telephone numbers and websites
* Supplier information in tabular format to help you compare companies at a
glance
* Results of the custom-designed supplier survey, which forecasts industry
trends for the next 12 months
* An extensive overview of the industry discussing the main challenges facing
suppliers
* An in-depth examination of the supplier base highlighting key characteristics
of different types of companies
* Details of the primary production centers
* An update of the latest trends in design, R&D, materials and components
* A review of the key factors that influence the price and quality of low-end,
midrange and high-end products
* Comprehensive pricing tables featuring export price ranges

Who should read this report

* CEOs, Directors, Presidents, Business Owners
* Export/ Import Managers, Sourcing Representatives, Sourcing Engineers, Supply
Chain Directors, Procurement Managers, Agents
* Sales Executives & Managers, Marketing Executives & Managers, International
Buyers
* Business Consultants, Investment Managers
* Anyone who needs to understand the China supply market

The following are some of the key developments we see in China’s bags and
wallets industry:

* Cost controls and efficiency measures remain in place to counter the rise in
material and labor expenses. These are helping companies maintain stable prices
under efforts to bolster sales. An example is maximizing the use of larger
leather cuts.
* Businesses that are unable to absorb higher expenses will increase prices by
at least 5 percent.
* Suppliers are adopting the CPSIA lead limit as buyers become more concerned
about the harmful substances in their purchases. Some manufacturers are
substituting PU leather for PVC, as the latter is processed with stabilizers
containing the heavy metal. Other exporters are exploring destinations where the
substance is not regulated.
* Reforms in the tanning industry are expected to improve material options for
midrange and high-end releases, thereby facilitating the upmarket shift for
makers of bags and travel goods.

The new guidelines encompass livestock development, hazardous waste disposal,
and recycling water. Clusters with shared resources will be established.

China suppliers produce wallets, luggage, travel accessories, and business,
special-purpose, fashion and travel bags. These are also the scope of this
report.

Each product category has its own section with details on the features and
prices of low-end, midrange and highend models.

The manufacturing and QC processes are discussed as well. Further, the section
elaborates on the industry composition, highlighting key characteristics of the
different types of companies.

The Industry Overview explains how suppliers are responding to the sudden surge
in orders from overseas markets amid a persistent shortage of labor and rising
material costs. Moreover, it illustrates the steps companies and the government
are taking to improve the quality of manufacturing inputs.

Roughly 80 percent of the bags and travel goods export manufacturing industry in
China is comprised of small and midsize companies.

Approximately 80 percent of all suppliers are private locally owned companies,
and the rest have outside participation.

The provinces of Guangdong, Zhejiang and Fujian are the main production centers.
Reflecting this structure, 75 percent of suppliers profiled in this report are
private local businesses.

Nearly 46 percent of featured companies come from Fujian. About one-fourth are
based in Guangdong. Exporters from Zhejiang account for 11 percent of profiled
suppliers.

For more information visit

http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/76c508/china_sourcing_rep.

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

Two year kid smokes 40 cigarettes a day

London, May 27 (IANS) Ardi rizal is just a two-year-old boy, but is not less than a chain smoker.

Rizal who lives in a fishing village Musi Banyuasin, Indonesia, smokes at least 40 cigarettes in a day. He got addicted to smoking after his father gave him a fag when he was just 18 months, reports thesun.co.uk.

He weighs more than 25 kilograms and finds it almost impossible to run with other kids.

‘He’s totally addicted. If he doesn’t get cigarettes, he gets angry and screams and batters his head against the wall. He tells me he feels dizzy and sick,’ said her mother Daina.

Rizal smokes a particular brand and his habit costs his parents more than $5 a day.

The officials of the village have offered to buy the family a car if he quits.

However Rizal’s father Mohammed, a fishmonger finds no problem with his habit and believes his son is quite healthy.

‘He looks pretty healthy to me. I don’t see the problem,’ said Mohammed.

UP police arrests one for supplying arms to Maoists

Lucknow, May 21 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Police on Friday arrested one person from Sonbhadra District on suspicion that he was supplying explosives to the Maoists.

Sonbhadra is over 300 kilometers from Lucknow.

According to police one Ashok Kumar was arrested from Langdra area in the district.

The police recovered detonators, gelatin rods and commercial explosive ammonium nitrate.

Police added that Kumar is making contradictory statements about the explosives recovered from his possession.

According to the police, over 50-kilograms of ammonium nitrate, 25 detonators and 25 gelatin rods were seized from Kumar.(ANI)

Spanish scientists clone fighting bull

London, May 20 (ANI): Spanish scientists have unveiled the first-ever cloned fighting bull.

According to Vicente Torrent, a specialist in veterinary genetics, the newborn calf, named Got, is an exact replica of the muscular, horned bull that takes on matadors in bullrings, reports the Telegraph.

The calf weighs 24 kilograms.

Torrent hopes Got will exhibit the same fierce traits as his genetic predecessor, Vasito. (ANI)

Illegal opium cultivation on rise in Himachal Pradesh

Kullu (Himachal Pradesh), May 16 (ANI): Illegal opium cultivation has reportedly increased in Himachal Pradesh, as the towns of Kullu and Mandi have become centres of opium traders in the region.

The illegal cultivation of poppy and cannabis has increased here with each passing year, particularly in the regions bordering Shimla district.

This has posed as a threat to the credibility of the state government and the police, as critics are of the view that top brass in the police administration have failed to tackle this social hazard.

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has, however, said that besides awareness campaigns, efforts have been initiated to curb this menace.

“The state government is taking steps and we have started a movement to curb the cultivation of opium in the valley. The authorities are also taking help from the Narcotics Bureau to stop the illegal cultivation of opium,” said Dhumal.

The estimated land used for cultivation of opium in these areas is believed to be in the range of 175 hectares.

The estimated dry opium produced from this cultivated area is over 2000 kilograms, which is worth Rs four billion in the international market.

“The detection figures are on the rise. In 2009, first time Mandi crossed a triple digit figure of 110 cases with 112 kilograms of contraband. This year, the figure till March 31 had already crossed 100 cases,” said Sonal Agnihotri, Superintendent Of Police, Mandi District. (ANI)

Six convicted drug traffickers hanged in Iran

Tehran, May 8 (DPA) Six convicted drug traffickers were executed Saturday in Iran, official news agency IRNA reported.

The six were hanged in a prison in the city of Karaj, west of the capital Tehran, after their initial death verdicts were confirmed by the Supreme Court.

Murder, rape, armed robbery and drug trafficking of quantities in excess of five kilograms are among crimes punishable by death in Iran.

Baruto bidding to become sumo’s 1st European champ, SUM

TOKYO (AP) Estonian Baruto wants to become sumo’s first grand champion from Europe. At 6-foot-6 (1.98-meters) and 410 pounds (186 kilograms), few are betting against him.

Baruto, whose real name is Kaido Hoovelson, was promoted to sumo’s second-highest rank of ozeki on March 31 and is hoping to reach the ultimate rank of grand champion in the near future. “I know my next step is to become a grand champion and I will try to do that this year,” Baruto said Wednesday at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan.

Mongolian Hakuho is the only wrestler currently competing at sumo’s top rank. Other than Mongolians, the only other non-Japanese grand champions were Hawaiian Akebono and Samoan Musashimaru.

The 25-year-old Baruto knows that promotion to grand champion will require winning multiple titles at the rank of ozeki. Bulgarian Kotooshu won the championship once, in 2008, but his career seems stalled at ozeki and few consider him a threat to reach sumo’s highest rank.

Baruto made his sumo debut in 2004 and was promoted to the elite division in 2006. The transition to Japan’s ancient sport, with its rigid seniority system, was not easy for Baruto.

“When I first came to Japan, I faced many challenges,” Baruto said. “In Europe, everyone is more or less equal regardless of age.

” Baruto’s family owned a cattle ranch and he became accustomed to hard physical labor as a child. He also worked as a nightclub bouncer to earn a living.

After winning a national judo championship in Estonia, Baruto was introduced to amateur sumo through his judo coach. In his first tournament in sumo’s top division, Baruto had 11 wins and four losses and won the Fighting Spirit Prize.

On the seventh day of the 2010 New Year tournament in January, Baruto defeated Hakuho for his first win over a grand champion in 19 attempts. He posted a 14-1 record at the March tournament in Osaka to secure his promotion to ozeki.

More wins over Hakuho will also help his chances of promotion. “Hakuho is big but light on his feet,” Baruto said.

“I need to develop more moves and work on my technique to beat him.”.

Oman army all set to use India’s INSAS rifles

Kolkata, April 22 — Assault rifle INSAS (Indian Small Arms System), built by the state-run Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), will soon be used by the Royal Oman Army. The indigenously built rifle was sent to Muscat in March and is currently undergoing trial for the Oman army. “Oman has informed us that the rifles have successfully passed the trial run. INSAS will, in all likelihood, be the standard assault rifle of the Royal Oman Army,” said an OFB deputy director-rank official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he is not authorised to speak to the media. The rifles were subjected to endurance tests for extreme desert temperatures and sandstorms and performed well in both conditions, sources in OFB and Ministry of Defence told Hindustan Times. Developed in OFB’S Ishapore factory, 45 km north of Kolkata, in 1998, it has three variants – an assault rifle, a light machine gun and a carbine. India will be supplying the 5.56 mm assault rifle to Oman. The weapon has been sent as part of the India-Oman comprehensive defence agreement of 2003. “If a deal is struck with Oman, the quantity and size of the deal will not be made public,” said Major General V.K. Narula, additional director general (public relations) of the Indian Army. Equipped with 20 or 30-round transparent magazines, the rifle has an effective range of 450 metres. The loaded weapon weighs around four kilograms.

In 1999, it served the army against Pakistan in the Kargil confrontation.

Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan claims responsibility for Kohat car bomb attack

Kohat (Pakistan), Apr 19(ANI): The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed responsibility for Sunday’s suicide car bomb attack in Northwestern Pakistan’s Kohat region.

At least seven people were killed and over 31 others were injured in the incident.

Nine security officials, including two personnel of the Frontier Constabulary and seven policemen, were among the 31 people injured in the attack.

TTP’s spokesman Qari Hussain said the vehicle had accidentally exploded near the Bilitang police station, adding that the actual target were security forces in the Kohat Cantonment, The Dawn reports.

Deputy Inspector of Police of Kohat region, Abdullah Khan, said around 250 kilograms of explosives were used in the attack on the police station.

The vehicle hit a tractor parked near the wall of the police station, and damaged the police station’s building, a nearby school and four vehicles.

The attack came less than 24 hours after two suicide bombers dressed in burqas struck a refugee camp killing at least 41 and wounding more than 60 peoples.

The bombers struck minutes apart on Saturday (April 17) in the Kacha Pukha camp on the outskirts of the garrison city of Kohat, a registration centre for people fleeing Taliban violence and Pakistani army operations close to the Afghan border. (ANI)

Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan claims responsibility for Kohat car bomb attack

Kohat (Pakistan), Apr 19(ANI): The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed responsibility for Sunday’s suicide car bomb attack in Northwestern Pakistan’s Kohat region.

At least seven people were killed and over 31 others were injured in the incident.

Nine security officials, including two personnel of the Frontier Constabulary and seven policemen, were among the 31 people injured in the attack.

TTP’s spokesman Qari Hussain said the vehicle had accidentally exploded near the Bilitang police station, adding that the actual target were security forces in the Kohat Cantonment, The Dawn reports.

Deputy Inspector of Police of Kohat region, Abdullah Khan, said around 250 kilograms of explosives were used in the attack on the police station.

The vehicle hit a tractor parked near the wall of the police station, and damaged the police station’s building, a nearby school and four vehicles.

The attack came less than 24 hours after two suicide bombers dressed in burqas struck a refugee camp killing at least 41 and wounding more than 60 peoples.

The bombers struck minutes apart on Saturday (April 17) in the Kacha Pukha camp on the outskirts of the garrison city of Kohat, a registration centre for people fleeing Taliban violence and Pakistani army operations close to the Afghan border. (ANI)

Lashkar-e-Jhangvi claims responsibility for Quetta hospital suicide attack

Lahore, Apr.17 (ANI): The banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) has claimed the responsibility for Friday’s suicide attack in a Civil Hospital in Quetta in which 11 persons, including a senior police official and a television cameraman were killed and over 30 others injured.

An unnamed person, speaking on behalf of the terror outfit took the responsibility for the ghastly attack, The Daily Times reports.

A member of parliament from the Pakistan People”s Party (PPP), Nasir Ali Shah, was also among the scores injured in the attack outside the emergency ward of the hospital in the provincial capital.

Police said over 15 kilograms of explosives were used in the blast.

The blast was so powerful that it caused extensive damage to the emergency ward of the hospital and some nearby buildings.

Television reports said that gunshots were also heard after the blast. (ANI)

Lashkar-e-Jhangvi claims responsibility for Quetta hospital suicide attack

Lahore, Apr.17 (ANI): The banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) has claimed the responsibility for Friday’s suicide attack in a Civil Hospital in Quetta in which 11 persons, including a senior police official and a television cameraman were killed and over 30 others injured.

An unnamed person, speaking on behalf of the terror outfit took the responsibility for the ghastly attack, The Daily Times reports.

A member of parliament from the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Nasir Ali Shah, was also among the scores injured in the attack outside the emergency ward of the hospital in the provincial capital.olice said over 15 kilograms of explosives were used in the blast.

The blast was so powerful that it caused extensive damage to the emergency ward of the hospital and some nearby buildings.

Television reports said that gunshots were also heard after the blast. (ANI)

Quetta hospital suicide attack death toll rises to 11

Quetta, Apr.16 (ANI): The death toll in the Civil Hospital suicide blast here has increased to 11 with the death of a senior police official and a television cameraman.

A member of parliament from the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) was also among the scores injured in the attack outside the emergency ward of the hospital in the provincial capital.

“Eleven people, including two senior police officials, were killed in the attack and another 47 wounded,” The News quoted police and hospital sources, as saying.

A senior police official confirmed that the explosion was triggered by a suicide attacker.

Police said over 15 kilograms of explosives were used in the blast.

The blast was so powerful that it caused extensive damage to the emergency ward of the hospital and some nearby buildings.

Television reports said that gunshots were also heard after the blast. (ANI)

Research and Markets: China Sourcing Report: Jewelry & Watches 2010 – In 2009, Overseas Sales Declined By 2 Percent Year on Year to $2.2 Billion

DUBLIN–(Business Wire)–
Research and Markets
(http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/9448b5/china_sourcing_rep) has
announced the addition of the “China Sourcing Report: Jewelry & Watches – 2010″
report to their offering.

Chinas fashion jewelry and watch industry has positive projections for the year
ahead, even while rising material costs threaten to curb profitability. In 2009,
overseas sales declined by 2 percent year on year to $2.2 billion. Export volume
decreased at the same rate to more than 184.5 million kilograms of fashion
jewelry and 577 million timepieces.

A surge, however, was seen in December, with revenue registering 39 percent
higher than the previous corresponding period. Rebounding demand in foreign
markets and higher prices caused by elevated metal rates both contributed to
growth.

Companies expect orders to continue increasing throughout 2010. Among the
suppliers surveyed for this report, 94 percent are optimistic of a boost in
overseas sales. About one-third of them are even projecting exports to climb
more than 20 percent.

The following are some of the key developments we see in Chinas fashion jewelry
and watch industry:

* The majority of companies are absorbing additional costs to be able to
maintain prices. Those that cannot accommodate a further cut in margins will be
limiting upward adjustments to 10 percent, under efforts to remain competitive.
* Suppliers are continuing to improve efficiency and material sourcing
strategies to create savings. These include automating steps such as drilling
and polishing, and negotiating for favorable rates from component providers.
* R&D efforts are focused on increasing the variety of low-end models, which
will incorporate locally sourced parts and trimming.
* In response to new legislation on lead, nickel and phthalate levels, testing
capability is being improved. The elimination of cadmium, however, will depend
on a buyers readiness to pay for more expensive nontoxic metal alloys. China
suppliers produce anklets, bangles, bracelets, brooches, chokers, earrings,
necklaces, pendants, rings, and classic, fashion, multifunction and sports
watches. These are also the scope of this report.

Each product category has its own section with details on the features and
prices of low-end, midrange and high-end models.

The manufacturing and QC processes are discussed for the key products as well.

Further, the section elaborates on the industry composition, highlighting key
characteristics of the different types of companies. The Industry Overview
illustrates the recovery from the 2008 financial crisis. It also explains how
suppliers are dealing with major challenges such as rising material costs and
concern over harmful substances in metal alloys.

This section also reviews the major export and manufacturing hubs for each
product category.

The jewelry and watches export manufacturing industry in China is comprised of
small and midsize businesses.

At least 70 percent of all suppliers are private locally owned companies, and
the rest have foreign participation.

The provinces of Guangdong, Zhejiang and Fujian are the main manufacturing
centers for fashion jewelry and watches. Guangdong is the largest hub,
contributing 60 percent to national exports. Zhejiang is the second-biggest
center for fashion jewelry, accounting for 22 percent of shipments in the line.
For watches, Fujian is a distant second to Guangdong, with exports making up
only 3 percent of total overseas sales. Reflecting this structure, 84 percent of
suppliers profiled in this report are private local businesses. More than
one-half of featured companies come from Zhejiang, 29 percent from Guangdong and
10 percent from Fujian.

This report covers anklets, bangles, bracelets, brooches, chokers, earrings,
necklaces, pendants, rings, and classic, fashion, multifunction and sports
watches.

What you’ll get

* In-depth profiles of 31 major suppliers with a comprehensive look at their
manufacturing and export capability, verified contact details, and more this
information is not available anywhere else
* 121 full-color images that depict popular jewelry & watches export models,
complete with product descriptions, prices, minimum order requirements and
delivery times
* Verified supplier contact details of an additional 14 exporters, including
names, e-mails, telephone numbers and websites
* Supplier information in tabular format to help you compare companies at a
glance
* Results of the custom-designed supplier survey, which forecasts industry
trends for the next 12 months
* An extensive overview of the industry discussing the main challenges facing
suppliers
* An in-depth examination of the supplier base highlighting key characteristics
of different types of companies
* Details of the primary production centers
* An update of the latest trends in design, R&D, materials and components
* A review of the key factors that influence the price and quality of low-end,
midrange and high-end products
* Comprehensive pricing tables featuring export price ranges

Who should read this report

* CEOs, Directors, Presidents, Business Owners
* Export/ Import Managers, Sourcing Representatives, Sourcing Engineers, Supply
Chain Directors, Procurement Managers, Agents
* Sales Executives & Managers, Marketing Executives & Managers, International
Buyers
* Business Consultants, Investment Managers
* Anyone who needs to understand the China supply market

Key Topics Covered:

* INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
* Supplier summary
* Export statistics
* Main production centers
* Supplier demographics
* Jewelry
* Watches
* Supplier survey
* Export prices, export sales, target markets, capital expenditure, challenges,
capability, R&D focus
* SUPPLIER PROFILES
* Supplier locations
* Industry composition
* Exporter ranking
* Supplier matrix
* Production checklist
* Supplier profiles
* PRODUCT GALLERY
* Top-selling export products
* ADDITIONAL SUPPLIERS
* Key products, contact details

Methodology:

To produce this report, Global Sources surveyed a wide range of suppliers.
Rather than focus simply on high-profile makers, we compiled a representative
sample of large, midsize and emerging manufacturers. All profiled companies are
export-oriented professional suppliers that may or may not be clients of Global
Sources.

The selection of suppliers is designed to reflect the composition of the
industry in China in terms of geographic spread, business type and company
ownership.

For in-depth company profiles, our research teams interviewed senior executives
and export managers who discussed their recent performance and provided price,
R&D, production and export forecasts for the next 12 months.

The interviews were done in person, by phone or e-mail.

In each case, companies were required to answer specific questions designed to
verify their manufacturing and export credentials, including their production
and export statistics, and a breakdown of exports by product type and market.
Our production checklist details the product-specific manufacturing capability
of each supplier.

All profiled suppliers participated in a survey designed to provide insight into
product and price trends, and challenges facing the industry in the next 12
months. All survey questions are single choice. Results were calculated based on
the actual number of valid responses to each question.

For more information visit

http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/9448b5/china_sourcing_rep

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

Peruvian loses appeal against drug trafficking conviction

A Peruvian man jailed in Queensland over a conspiracy to import almost 90 kilograms of high-grade cocaine has lost an appeal against his conviction and 24-year jail term.

A Supreme Court jury in Brisbane last year convicted Jorge Velarde Silva of conspiring to bring 89 kilograms of cocaine into Australia from Mexico on board the yacht Sparkles Plenty.

The conspiracy, which involved two other men, ran into trouble when the yacht almost sank in Moreton Bay.

Velarde argued his trial judge made mistakes and his sentence was manifestly excessive.

But the Court of Appeal has ruled there were no grounds to overturn the conviction and the sentence emphasised the need for deterrence.

Power fully restored but the costs spiral

John Cummings could only stand by and watch as workers at his IGA Glengarry supermarket threw out more than 200 kilograms of cut beef and 500 kilograms of chicken.

Then went 50 two litre ice cream tubs, 60 cartons of milk and about 15 cartons of frozen vegetables along with other perishable items.

His was only one business among many that were badly affected by the power being knocked out in last week’s storm.

Western Power says 158,000 customers including houses, schools and universities, were hit by power outages.

It took the company four days to fully restore what the storm knocked out in minutes.

While Mr Cummings was counting the cost, Ken Brown was at the centre of the recovery effort.

As Western Power’s General Manager System Management it was his task to get the power back on as soon as possible and he needed all hands on deck.

“We geared up to make sure we had emergency crews available,” he says.

With lightning strikes lasting through the night, Mr Brown says the recovery effort was slowed because there was a heightened level of risk affecting maintenance crews.

“The number one issue is safety so that any wires that are down must be fixed as soon as possible or at least made safe. We try and get as many hazards out of the way before restoring.

The storm caused about 900 hazards which caused high voltage areas to automatically shut down.

“500 were house wires down and the other 400 were trees in mains, leaning poles, arcing wires,” Mr Brown says.

“Traffic lights were out, sewerage pumping stations and communications areas so we were trying to get those back as fast as we could,” he says.

He says this was the most severe storm he had been faced with in more than 15 years and it was the largest event in terms of resources and logistics.

To ensure the public didn’t touch fallen powerlines which could still be live, police and 35 specialist Western Power staff were sent to the locations and waited for emergency crews to come and fix the fallen lines.

More than 500 workers from Western Power were involved on the ground in the recovery effort.

Contractors, crews and resources were brought in from country Western Australia and about 30 people from Victoria to help with the recovery effort.

Mr Brown says the recovery effort went well given the scale of the operation but Western Power will be doing a full debrief to see what needs to be done for the next big storm.

Mounting costs

Back at the supermarket, the costs were mounting.

Mr Cummings estimates more than $15,000 of meat alone had to be thrown out and he says because people didn’t have power, they weren’t buying perishable items like milk and frozen goods.

“Sales were poor. People were eating hand-to-mouth because they had no fridge and they couldn’t cook because they had no power.”

He is still waiting to hear whether insurance will cover the store’s losses.

Mr Cummings estimates the supermarket industry lost sales somewhere between $100 million and $150 million.

In the meantime, Mr Cummings and Perth supermarkets have a new set of challenges with customers’ back pockets further affected by a limited supply of some fresh fruit and vegetables because the storm wiped out some crops.

The damage bill from last week’s storm has spiralled to more than $650 million after nearly 90,000 claims were made to insurance companies.

The initial cost of the storm was $100 million but the Insurance Council of Australia says that figure has kept rising.

The revised estimate comes a day after the State Government announced changes to the way hail-damaged cars are classified by insurers.

Under the temporary changes, people can continue driving their car once it has been written off if the damage is deemed cosmetic.

Lead “burrito” sarcophagus near Rome may hold a gladiator or a Christian dignitary

Washington, March 30 (ANI): A team of archaeologists has suggested that a burrito-like 1,700-year-old sarcophagus found in an abandoned city near Rome could contain the body of a gladiator or a Christian dignitary.

Found in a cement-capped pit in the ancient metropolis of Gabii, the coffin is unusual because it”s made of lead.

Only a few hundred such Roman burials are known.

“Even odder, the 800 pounds (362 kilograms) of lead fold over the corpse like a burrito,” said Roman archaeologist Jeffrey Becker.

Most lead sarcophagi look like “old-fashioned cracker boxes,” molded into a rectangular shape with a lid, he said.

The coffin, which has been in storage since last year, is about to be moved to the American Academy in Rome for further testing.

But, uncovering details about the person inside the lead coffin will be tricky.

For starters, the undisturbed tomb contained no grave goods, offering few clues about the owner.

What”s more, x-ray and CT scans-the preferred methods of coffin analysis-cannot penetrate the thick lead, leaving researchers pondering other, potentially dangerous ways to examine the remains inside.

“It”s exciting as well as frustrating, because there are no known matches in the record,” said Becker, managing director of the University of Michigan”s Gabii Project.

“Unlocking the lead coffin”s secrets could ultimately offer new insights into a powerful civilization that has lain forgotten for centuries,” he said.

Mysteries about Gabii society make the newfound lead coffin especially intriguing.

Lead was a high-value metal at the time, so a full sarcophagus made out of the stuff “is a sure marker of somebody of some kind of substance,” Becker said.

Past lead burials found throughout Europe have housed soldiers, elite members of the Christian church, and even female gladiators.

In fact, many lead coffins contain high-ranking women or adolescents instead of men, according to Jenny Hall, a senior curator of Roman archaeology at the Museum of London, who was not involved in the new study.

“However, the newfound sarcophagus” tentative age may make the gladiator scenario unlikely,” said Bruce Hitchner, a visiting professor in classical archaeology at All Souls College at the UK”s University of Oxford.

“The coffin dates back to the fourth or fifth centuries AD, while the gladiator heyday was centuries earlier,” said Hitchner.

Becker”s team hopes to find out more about the person inside the lead sarcophagus.

The researchers” only hint so far is a small foot bone protruding through a hole in one end of the coffin. (ANI)

Security forces recover huge cache of ammunition in J-K

Srinagar, Mar 27(ANI): In a joint extensive surveillance and search operation, security personnel have recovered a huge cache of ammunition and RDX from a hideout in Jammu and Kashmir’s Sawjian sector in Poonch District.

The operations were conducted late on Friday evening.

The spot from where the arms were recovered is very close to the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch District.

“We launched this operation in Sawjian sector near Line of Control. We recovered nearly four kilograms of RDX, three magazines of AK-47 assault rifle, detonators and some grenades,” said Major Ajay Pathania.

“If this hideout had not been busted these explosives and ammunition might have fallen into hands of militants and these would have caused great destruction,” he added.

Among the assorted armament items seized were four kilograms of RDX, nine detonators, three magazines of AK-47 assault rifle and nine grenades. (ANI)

Thousand-year-old idol discovered in Tamil Nadu

Chennai, Mar 26 (ANI): An ancient idol of Lord Vishnu, believed to be 1,000 years old, was uncovered during the desilting of a temple tank in Tamil Nadu’s Kooram village in Dharmapuri District.

Workers of the Water Supply and Drainage Board found the idol while de-silting the tank of the famous Koorathazhvar Temple in Kooram village.

Temple authorities claim that there is also a 2,000-year-old idol of the God Kesava Perumal in the tank, as well as other 1,000-year-old Koorathazhvar idols.

All idols reportedly belong to the Pallava dynasty.

“The 2,000-year-old Lord Kesava Perumal idol, and the 1,000-year-old Lord Koorathazhvar idols are there in the temple tank. So far we have recovered one of the ancient idols and people are expecting a lot and do prayers for the idol for the blessing of the Lord,” said Krishnamachari, a temple official.

The idol discovered weighs about 200 kilograms and has a height of 3.5 feet.

Curious villagers have also come there to have a glimpse of the idol of Lord Vishnu.

“While de-silting the temple tank, we got the ancient Lord”s idol. We believe the Lord and we do offer prayers to that idol and so we also lit camphor and we believe that something good will happen for us through that,” said Sannathamman, a local.

People believed that the ancient idols heed their prayers and bless them with good fortune. (ANI)

Monster croc dies after harpoon at fishing spot

A huge saltwater crocodile has died while being removed from a popular fishing and camping spot on the Mary River National Park in the Northern Territory.

The Territory Department of Natural Resources and Environment said the 4.6 metre crocodile was spotted four times near the boat ramp at Shady Camp last weekend.

Parks and Wildlife ranger Tom Nichols said his team struggled to find the crocodile when they began a search in the area on Tuesday afternoon.

He said the crocodile proved “touchy” and difficult to catch during the day, as it kept submerging below the surface.

The rangers waited until dark so they could use a spotlight to find the big crocodile.

“We returned to the area around 8pm … and along with the rangers based at Mary River managed to harpoon the animal by 11pm,” Mr Nichols said.

“This crocodile just kept staying on the bottom of the water and gave us a bit of touch up on the boat a couple of times and then he went back down.

“He sat on the bottom and he didn’t sort of play up too much at all. This would have went on for a couple of hours.

“At the end of it, we pulled him up as a dead weight tangled around his snout.

“We pulled him up and it was just at a point where we realised he got a stomach full of water and that was it.”

He said it was unfortunate that the crocodile had died.

“Whether he stressed out we’re not quite sure,” Mr Nichols said.

“We hadn’t had the opportunity to tranquilise him yet, so it may have been stress or he may have just taken in too much water.

“In more than 20 years of experience capturing and removing crocodiles, this is only the fourth crocodile that hasn’t survived during its capture.”

He said it was a huge crocodile.

“He would have probably weighed up to 680 or plus kilograms. He was quite a large animal, very fat,” Mr Nichols said.

Mr Nichols said visitors and fishermen should be wary of crocodiles in the area.

“This time of the year is a popular fishing season, with the water still running out of the fresh water systems, but they should be aware that crocodiles are also in the same areas,” he said.