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Number of Russia companies may face debt issues – Fitch

June 23, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

June 22 (Reuters) – Fitch Ratings said on Tuesday that a number of Russian companies may face debt restructuring problems in 2011-2012.

“The peak of credit taking came in 2008 and so the peak of refinancing falls in 2011-2012, and something will have to be done with the peak,” Nikolai Lukashevich, senior director and Fitch’s Head of Russian/CIS Corporates, said at a conference. “From the point of view of crisis impact, it cannot be said that the situation is fully resolved.”

(Reporting by Oksana Kobzeva; Writing by Lidia Kelly; Editing by Alfred Kueppers)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: cis, corporates, Debt Issues, Debt Problems, Debt Restructuring, face, Fitch Ratings, Nikolai, point of view, refinancing, reuters, Russia, Russian Companies

In China’s interest to revalue -IMF chief economist

June 17, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

June 16 (Reuters) – It is in China’s interest to revalue its currency, and from the point of view of the rest of the world, it should happen as soon as possible, the International Monetary Fund’s top economist was quoted as saying.

Bonds | Global Markets

“Some sectors in China are overheating and workers are demanding more pay. They (authorities) don’t want the inflation risk to grow,” IMF Chief Economist Olivier Blanchard said in Finnish business paper Kauppalehti on Wednesday.

“I don’t know when and by how much the yuan will be revalued, but I believe it is in their (China’s) interests. For the rest of the world it is important that it happens as soon as possible,” he said.

Blanchard also said it was clear the global economy was on a growth path.

“The real economy is recovering, of that there is no doubt. If anything the recovery has been stronger than we have forecast,” he said.

(Reporting by Brett Young; Editing by Neil Fullick)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: authorities, blanchard, bonds, Business Paper, chief economist, China Currency, Finnish Business, global economy, global markets, Growth Path, IMF, Inflation Risk, International Monetary Fund, Kauppalehti, no doubt, point of view, rest of the world, reuters, sectors, Yuan

NHAI to widen Delhi-Agra highway into six-lane road

May 27, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 27 — Drive along the National Highway 2, commonly known as the Delhi-Agra highway, is all set to get better. The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has signed an agreement with Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group-led Reliance Infrastructure to widen and improve 180-km long stretch of the highway. The project, which would cost Rs 2,960 crore, includes widening the road to six lanes and constructing service roads, pedestrian facilities and bus bays along the stretch. This will not only improve the drive along the highway, which is important from tourism point of view, but will also reduce travelling time between the Capital and the historic city, NHAI officials said. Senior NHAI officials said the concession period, during which the construction agency would charge toll from vehicles using the road, would be of 26 years and will also include the construction period.

As this road connects Delhi with Faridabad, Mathura and Agra, and also leads to Mumbai and other southern parts of India, more than 30,000 vehicles use this stretch every day and vehicular population on this highway grows by six per cent annually, an NHAI official said.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: agra, bays, concession, Construction Period, crore, dhirubhai ambani, Faridabad, Infrastructure, long stretch, mathura, National Highway Authority Of India, New Delhi, nhai, Pedestrian Facilities, point of view, population, Reliance, Service Roads, Tourism, Widening The Road

Compound that leaves its traces in smoker’s breath for 72 hours found

May 21, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Washington, May 21 (ANI): A team of Catalan researchers has discovered the presence of a compound called 2,5-dimethylfuran, which lingers in a smoker’s breath for 3 days.

This substance does not appear in the breath of non-smokers, unless they have been in direct contact with tobacco smoke for a long time. However, it may be detected in a passive smoker if he or she has been in direct contact with smoke for a long time.

“2,5-dimethylfuran cannot be detected in breath samples of non-smokers, meaning that the only way to know if a person has smoked in the last 72 hours is to use its qualitative determination”, Juan Manuel Sánchez, researcher with the Chemistry Department of the University of Girona (UdG) and co-author of the study, reports to SINC.

“Benzene, which is sometimes appears in the bibliography, is only useful when tobacco consumption is relatively high and in short periods –between 1 and 2 hours– after having smoked a cigarette, which means it is of no use from a practical point of view”, explains Sánchez.

To prove their theory, the researchers collected breath samples of 100 smokers and 104 non-smokers, who were first asked to answer a questionnaire on their habits.

The results confirm that the presence of 2,5-dimethylfuran is associated with the act of smoking.

The study appears in the journal Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Analytical And Bioanalytical Chemistry, benzene, breath samples, chemistry department, cigarette, co-author, Dimethylfuran, direct contact, Girona, Passive Smoker, point of view, Qualitative Determination, questionnaire, researcher, Short Periods, smokers, Tobacco Consumption, tobacco smoke, traces, Udg

Pak’s stunning defeat in Sydney Test under ICC’s anti-match fixing unit’s scanner

May 21, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

London, May 21 (ANI): Pakistan’s strikingly below par performance during the Australia tour in January-February is now under the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) anti-corruption unit’s scanner.

Pakistan had lost the Sydney Test by 36-runs despite taking a handsome lead in the first innings, and it is this loss which has caught the the ICC’s attention.

Chairman of the ICC’s anti-corruption and security unit (ACSU) Lord Condon confirmed that investigations were on to probe the alleged involvement of some of the Pakistani cricketers in the scandal.

“That has been an ongoing investigation since the time.It is a match and series that worried us, we spent a lot of time talking to the players and PCB. The challenge is finding where is the solid fact,” Condon said during a press conference here.

“What you have there is a lot of strife within the team and Pakistan politics with rivals camps making allegations. We are satisfied that was a totally dysfunctional tour from a Pakistan point of view. The dysfunctionality in the dressing room led to players not performing well, to maybe players potentially underperforming deliberately,” he added.

Referring to wicket keeper Kamran Akmal’s shoddy show during the Sydney Test, in which he dropped three easy catches and missed a straightforward run out chance, Condon said his performance is particularly being investigated.

“What we are trying to establish is whether that was because rival camps wanted to do down captains or potential captains. Or whether they were doing something more serious, for a financial fix,” The Daily Times quoted Condon, as saying.

Condon, however, pointed that it was difficult to completely eradicate the menace of match fixing.

“My prediction is you will never totally eradicate it from cricket. There will always be that temptation. But we had a cadre of modern players who know the risks and are playing for the right reasons,” he said. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Akmal, allegations, Australia Tour, corruption, dressing-room, Dysfunctionality, international cricket council, Lord Condon, Match Fixing, pakistani cricketers, point of view, Rival Camps, rivals, scandal, Security Unit, strife, Stunning Defeat, temptation, test match, wicket keeper

Prakash Karat on ways to tackle Maoist menace

May 19, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Guwahati (Assam), May 19 (ANI): Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) General Secretary Prakash Karat has said that socio-economic issues need to be tackled first, while dealing with the Maoist menace in the country.

Prakash Karat said the problem posed by Maoists has to be looked from the socio-economic point of view besides counter operations by security forces.

“Steps must be taken in the Maoist affected regions to see that the tribal people”s socio economic problems are also solved. We can tackle the problem by this approach. There is no doubt that the whole country condemns the sort of Maoists violence, said Karat.

“We must also go forward to see how they can be isolated and they can be defeated,” he added at a meeting, which was attended by Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar.

Apart from Maoist extremism, Karat also spoke about the issue of price rise.

The CPI-M leader also expressed his views on the cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL) tournament, asserting that black money and politics is getting involved in it. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Assam, Black Money, Chief Minister, communist party of india, communist party of india marxist, cpi, Economic Issues, Economic Point, economic problems, general secretary, ipl, maoist, maoists, money and politics, no doubt, point of view, Prakash Karat, Premier league, security forces, Violence

Cynthia Nixon describes lesbian lover as “a short man with boobs”

May 11, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Melbourne, May 11 (ANI): Cynthia Nixon has candidly described her lesbian fiancée, Christine Marinoni, as “basically a short man with boobs”.

“A lot of what I love about her (Christine Marinoni) is her butchness. I”m not saying I fell in love with her in a sexually neutral way. I love her sexuality – it”s a big part of what I love about her – but I feel like it was her.

“It wasn”t something in me that was waiting to come out. It was like, ”This person is undeniable”. How can I let this person walk by? Christine would probably kill me for saying this, but my daughter said one time that if you really had to break this down, (it looks like) she would be butch and I would be femme … but really once you get to know us it”s really the opposite,” The Daily Telegraph quoted the star as telling Advocate.

Nixon said her former publicist did not want her to come out of the closet.

“He just kept saying, ”It”s your life, and it”s private, and that”s it.” And we kept asking, ”That”s the whole thing? We never move past that? We”re at the playground with the kids, and pictures are taken of us, and we say, ”No, she”s my friend?””

Nixon said being gay was a political stance.

“If anybody, prior to my meeting and falling in love with Christine, had asked me about what I think about sexuality, I would have said I think we”re all bisexual. But I had that point of view without ever having felt attracted to a woman. I had never met a woman I was attracted to (before Christine). And maybe if I”d met her when I was 20, I would have fallen in love and only dated women. But maybe if I”d met her at 20, I wouldn”t have responded at all. Who knows?,” she added. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Advocate, butch, Christine Marinoni, cynthia nixon, daily telegraph, falling in love, gay, lesbian lover, Man Boobs, Melbourne, met, playground, point of view, Political Stance, publicist, sexuality, Short Man, woman

Telephone therapy ‘as good as face-to-face consultations’ to beat the blues

May 11, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Washington, May 11 (ANI): Telephone consultation can be as effective as face-to-face discussion in the treatment of clinical depression, a new study suggests.

Experts from Brigham Young University conducted a trial run, which included 30 people newly diagnosed with major depression.

Instead of eight scheduled visits to the clinic, the participants covered the same material during a series of phone calls with the therapist.

The length of calls ranged from 21 to 52 minutes. The patients did not receive antidepressant medication.

After six months, it was noted that 42 percent of participants had recovered from depression. For comparison, similar therapy conducted in person has a 50 percent recovery rate.

Diane Spangler, a BYU psychology professor and a coauthor on the study, said: “Offering a phone or webcam option for psychotherapy does appear warranted from an efficacy point of view. It’s more user- friendly – no commutes, more flexibility of place and time – and has no side effects.”

However, one-third of eligible participants declined the option for telephone consultations, choosing to directly interact with the psychotherapist.

Researchers suggest that for people who are comfortable with phone calls, therapy could soon be cheaper, more convenient and minus awkward waiting rooms.

The BYU researchers cited a previous antidepressant drug trial that happened to include a telephone counseling component.

In that trial, the added benefit from phone counseling matched the results attained by the new BYU study.

The study has been published in the June issue of Behavior Therapy. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: added benefit, Antidepressant Drug, Beat The Blues, behavior therapy, brigham young, brigham young university, clinical depression, coauthor, efficacy, Eligible Participants, major depression, Phone Calls, Place And Time, point of view, psychology professor, psychotherapy, Spangler, Telephone Consultation, Telephone Consultations, waiting rooms

Growth areas tax may pass Upper House

May 6, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

The Victorian Government has hinted its controversial growth areas tax might pass through the Parliament within days.

The Opposition and minor parties had blocked the new tax, which would fund infrastructure in Melbourne’s growth areas.

The legislation was referred to a cross-party parliamentary committee, whose members are prohibited from speaking publicly.

But the treasurer, John Lenders, told Parliament, the committee has negotiated a compromise.

“I’m delighted that the disputes resolution committee is also suggesting a way forward on the GAIC (Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution) legislation,” he said.

“That is a compromise from everyone’s point of view, because that actually lets us deal with the urban growth boundary issues.”

“I think that is a credit to all involved.”

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: boundary issues, compromise, Disputes Resolution Committee, Growth Areas, Infrastructure, John Lenders, legislation, Melbourne, Minor Parties, opposition, parliament, parliamentary committee, point of view, state parliament, tax, upper house, Urban Growth Boundary, urban-development-and-planning, Victorian Government

Twenty20 as serious as Test cricket, asserts Clarke

April 30, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Sydney, April 29 (IANS) Australia’s Twenty20 captain Michael Clarke Thursday called Twenty20 as important as Test cricket and has asked Cricket Australia (CA) to include Twenty20 specialists like batsmen David Warner and David Hussey in their contract system.

‘It’s the same – it’s exactly the same,’ Clarke was quoted as saying in Daily Telegraph as Australia prepares for the World Twenty20, beginning Friday, in the Caribbean.

‘For me, it’s as serious as a one-day match or a Test match.’

‘There are blokes in this squad who haven’t played Test cricket. They haven’t played one-day cricket. It’s the ultimate for them.’

‘It’s become exactly the same as one-day and Test cricket. It’s a form of the game that we want to be the best in the world at. We’re not there yet, we’re improving, but this is a way for us to start.’

Clarke’s remarks are not likely to go well with the purists but he believes it has a growing relevance among the players.

‘There’s no such thing as a game of hit and giggle,’ he said. ‘That’s something that has changed. It used to be about putting on a show, entertaining the crowd.’

‘But from a player point of view, that is no longer the case.’

Clarke revealed he had approached CA executives about changing its contract.

‘I’ve told Cricket Australia that they should have contracts,’ he said. ‘I think there should be a Twenty20 contract introduced.’

‘I know once you play a certain number of Twenty20 games, you can get upgraded to a Cricket Australia contract.’

‘But players like David Warner and David Hussey … they’re here playing in a Twenty20 World Cup. They should be paid (under contract) for that.’

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: April 29, Blokes, captain michael, caribbean, Contract System, contracts, cricket australia, crowd, daily telegraph, David Hussey, david warner, Michael Clarke, point of view, purists, Putting On A Show, relevance, sydney, test cricket, test match, twenty20 world cup

Twenty20 seriousness on par with one-day cricket, Tests: Clarke

April 29, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

St. Lucia, Apr 29(ANI): Australian skipper Michael Clarke has made an astonishing claim that Twenty20 cricket has the same status as one-day and Test cricket.

“It’s the same – it’s exactly the same. For me, it’s as serious as a one-day match or a Test match. There are blokes in this squad who haven’t played Test cricket. They haven’t played one-day cricket. It’s the ultimate for them,” the Fox News quoted Clarke, as saying.

“It’s become exactly the same as one-day and Test cricket. It’s a form of the game that we want to be the best in the world at. We’re not there yet, we’re improving, but this is a way for us to start,” he added.

The 29-year-old further said that from a player’s point of view the shortest version of the game is no more a marketing vehicle to swell audiences and attract new fans.

“There’s no such thing as a game of hit and giggle. That’s something that has changed. It used to be about putting on a show, entertaining the crowd. But from a player point of view, that is no longer the case,” Clarke said.

Clarke also revealed that he has approached the Cricket Australia (CA) management over altering its contract system to include Twenty20 specialists.

“I’ve told Cricket Australia that they should have contracts. I think there should be a Twenty20 contract introduced. I know once you play a certain number of Twenty20 games you can get upgraded to a Cricket Australia contract,” he said. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: audiences, Blokes, Clarke St, Contract System, contracts, cricket australia, crowd, Fox News, game, marketing, Michael Clarke, Number Games, par, point of view, Putting On A Show, seriousness, skipper, St Lucia, test cricket, test match

Mickey Rourke to play Genghis Khan

April 27, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

London, April 27 (ANI): Hollywood actor Mickey Rourke will be playing the role of Genghis Khan in a new movie about the ruler of the Mongol warrior.

Writer and director of the movie ‘Conan The Barbarian’, John Milius will oversee the project, reports the Daily Express.

“John wrote the piece from the son and grandson”s point of view, how they saw this mythic figure from their family,” Rourke told the Orlando Sentinel newspaper.

“You see Khan in flashbacks, back when he was in his mid-40s. And back then, being in your mid-40s was being really old,” he added.

Genghis Khan was the ruler of the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. He died in 1227 and was buried in an unmarked grave in Mongolia. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: 13th century, Conan The Barbarian, daily express, flashbacks, Genghis Khan, Hollywood, Hollywood actor, john milius, London, Mickey Rourke, Mid 40s, Mongol Empire, Mongol Warrior, mongolia, Mythic Figure, orlando sentinel, Orlando Sentinel Newspaper, point of view, ruler, Unmarked Grave

Unique ID project renamed as AADHAAR

April 26, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Apr 26 (ANI): The Union Government”s ambitious Unique Identity project aiming to give an exclusive 16-digit number to all its citizens was renamed ”AADHAAR”

The new logo was unveiled by Nadan Nilekani, Chairman of the Unique Identity Authority (UIDAI) of India on Monday.

Speaking on the occasion, Nilekani said the biggest challenge the country faces today is of an identity divide.

“Ultimately it all boils down to the lack of effective identity. And this has become a big divide, the identity divide has separated the people from haves and have-nots and therefore this is a huge challenge that we face,” said Nilekani.

The Unique Identification Number project was renamed ”AADHAAR” as an effort to reach out to the common man, who might find the term UID confusing.

Nilekani also informed that the UID project was very critical to address the challenges of inclusive growth and effective government spending.

“Both in terms of the fact that we want to improve and optimise the way we spend money in the government as well as from the point of view of the access for the poor the UID becomes a very very important thing,” he said.

“Now this is becoming more important because we are seeing a lot of migration. We have people coming in from villages into cities. Again they have lack of identity therefore they are not able to access public services,” Nilekani added.

He expressed confidence that the UID would address challenges of inclusive growth and government spending.

“Having identity we believe and having something like a UID (Unique Identity card) is very critical to address these challenges both of inclusive growth and government spending,” Niekani said.

The UID would have both personal and biometric information of a person, such as, name, sex, date of birth, nationality, marital status, current and permanent address, occupation, photo and fingerprints.

The UID cards will be given to every individual above 15 years, including NRIs and foreigners.

The first UID is expected to be given out in early 2011 and a target to provide 600 million UIDs in the next five years has been set by UIDAI.(ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: cards, challenges, citizens, common man, confidence, date of birth, digit number, fingerprints, Haves And Have Nots, India, marital status, migration, nationality, New Delhi, NRIs, occupation, Permanent Address, point of view, sex date, Union Government

Pak Taliban issues ‘last warning’ to media against showing it in bad light

April 24, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Peshawar, Apr.24 (ANI): The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has warned newspapers and television channels for the ‘last time’ for presenting only one side of the story of their struggle and supporting the armed forces.

An e-mail sent by a self-proclaimed spokesperson of the ‘Taliban Media Centre’ in North Waziristan, Muhammad Umar, blamed the media for working as an ally of the government, and said it is hiding the truth.

“Why is the media only conveying the army’s point of view? Is this proof that the media is also working as an ally for the government and the army? Or they are being forced to hide the truth?” The Daily Times quoted the e-mail, as saying.

“This email should be considered a last warning for the media of Pakistan. If the media doesn’t stop working as an ally of the government and the army, the Taliban would have to treat the media as they want to be treated,” it warned.

The e-mail was sent just hours after militants targeted an Army convoy in Dattakhel area of North Waziristan killing seven soldiers and injuring 25 others.

Six vehicles were destroyed in the attack in was said to have been carried out by supporters of a powerful Taliban commander Maulvi Saddiq Noor.

Noor belongs to the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group which had attacked a military convoy in Wecha Bibi area last year and killed 23 soldiers.

Confirming the ambush, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the convoy was going from Miramshah to Datakhel when it came under attack near Boya area of the restive region. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: ally, ambush, armed forces, e-mail, email, gul, Hafiz, inter-services, last time, last warning, Military Convoy, Muhammad Umar, North Waziristan, point of view, public relations, spokesperson, Taliban, taliban commander, television channels, ttp

Taliban warn Pak media against ‘ignoring’ their viewpoint

April 24, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

The Taliban have warned the Pakistani media for “the last time” against “ignoring” the group’s viewpoint and claimed that newspapers and television channels were hiding the truth and working as an ally of army.

Pakistani Taliban ‘spokesman’ Muhammad Umar issued the warning through an e-mail sent to journalists in Peshawar hours after militants attacked an army convoy in North Waziristan tribal region, killing seven soldiers and injuring 16 others yesterday.

Umar, who described himself as “a spokesman for the Taliban Media Centre” in North Waziristan, said: “Why is the media only conveying the army’s point of view? Is this proof that the media is also working as an ally for the government and the army? Or they are being forced to hide the truth?”

“This e-mail should be considered a last warning for the media of Pakistan. If the media doesn’t stop working as an ally of the government and the army, the Taliban would have to treat the media as they want to be treated,” he said.

Umar said the media could either be with “the terrorists or the truth.”

The Taliban have issued threats to the media in northwest Pakistan on several occasions in the past two years.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: ally, army, convoy, e-mail, journalists, last time, last warning, Muhammad Umar, North Waziristan, northwest, occasions, pak media, Pakistan, point of view, proof, Taliban, taliban spokesman, television channels, terrorists, viewpoint

‘US intends to give Indian investigators access to Headley’

April 17, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

The US intends to give Indian investigators access to David Coleman Headley, a key accused in the 26/11 terror attack, US Consul General at Mumbai Paul Folmsbee has said.

“The intention is that. The statement by President Barack Obama saying that they are looking at ways to make it happen clearly states our intentions,” Folmsbee told PTI when asked whether India would get access to Headley.

He said it was laudable that the US and India have been sharing ground intelligence. “Five or ten years ago one would have not imagined both the countries doing that. This is a great development,” he said.

On India’s concerns over massive hike in US aid to Pakistan, Folmsbee said the assistance was necessary to bring back stability to Pakistan.

“There is great instability in Pakistan. The US sees the need to help and support Pakistan to stabilise it,” said the US official, who has earlier worked in Pakistan as country director for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement programmes.

Folmsbee made it clear that the US relationship with Pakistan was not linked to India.

“That relationship is not linked to India which is also our partner. I do not think that is a significant issue personally. I think as we move into future we should think about bigger world, bigger India and stable Pakistan,” he said.

On Indo-Pak relations, Folmsbee said the two countries could see “new and greater partnerships”.

He admitted that India and the US have different views on Iran and it understands and respects New Delhi’s own relationship with Tehran.

“India as a sovereign country has to pursue policies which are in its national interest and so we have to respect India’s point of view and understand that it has its own relationship with Iran”, he said.

“US and India agree on many things and disagree on certain other things. I think Iran is one of those examples where we have different perspectives and we each respect the other country’s views,” Folmsbee said.

He said different views on Iran will not have any affect on bilateral relations of both the countries.

Folmsbee said that the relationship between the two countries has strengthened over the last few years and evolved into a strategic partnership.

“The greatest thing that I can see in the relationship between the two countries is people to people contacts which are strengthening the relationship in a great way,” the Consul General said.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Barack Obama, consul general, Country Director, David Coleman, different perspectives, indian investigators, indo-, intention, International Narcotics, law-enforcement, many things, Mumbai, national interest, New Delhi, Pakistan, point of view, Sovereign Country, tehran, terror attack, Us Consul

Wood blocked from airing nuke dump views

April 13, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Independent MLA Gerry Wood says he has been silenced by the Senate Committee examining a proposed nuclear waste facility in the Northern Territory.

Mr Wood says he was told he cannot speak at today’s hearing in Darwin because he failed to supply a written submission.

He says he made oral submissions at both the Canberra and Alice Springs hearings and was not previously required to register in writing.

“It just appears to me as though this inquiry has decided to invite a select number of people and silence anyone else that really wants to speak,” he said.

He believes he’s been barred from participating in Darwin because he disagreed with Senator Crossin at previous hearings.

“I would have thought that for the benefit of giving more than one side of the story it would have been good to hear another point of view,” he said.

Senator Trish Crossin says all speakers are required to make their intentions known to the Committee.

“We have no submission from Gerry Wood,” she said.

“Certainly not had a phone call from him and so it is not possible for a Senate Committee to plan and conduct its work if we don’t hear from potential witnesses.”

Traditional owners of the site proposed for a nuclear waste dump near Tennant Creek are today expected to tell the Senate Inquiry that their opposition was ignored when the site was nominated.

Elders from each of the five families from Muckaty Station will attend the inquiry, which will examine the suitability of the site, which was nominated by the Northern Land Council.

A spokeswoman for the group, Dianne Stokes, says she will reaffirm her people’s claim to the land.

“I’m coming here to reply to all the information … talk back to these people to what they said at the Senate Inquiry meeting up in Canberra,” she said.

“I want to tell them what I heard, it’s not true.”

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Alice Springs, Canberra, darwin, elders, Gerry Wood, Northern Territory, Nuclear Waste Dump, Nuclear Waste Facility, opposition, Oral Submissions, phone call, point of view, senate committee, Senate Inquiry, silence, speakers, spokeswoman, suitability, Tennant Creek, Trish

‘Underfunding’ behind prison stand-off

April 13, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

The union representing correctional service workers says a stand-off between prisoners and guards at Canberra’s jail on the weekend was a result of underfunding.

Thirteen prisoners staged a 23-hour protest when they climbed onto the roof of a building at the Alexander Maconochie Centre on Saturday.

It is believed staff shortages last week led to a series of lockdowns at the prison, some of which lasted a full day.

Vince McDevitt from the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) says the ACT Government is not funding the facility adequately.

“Look it’s a state-of-the-art facility that provides a myriad of services, they all come at a significant cost,” he said.

“Having said that, from an operational safety point of view we certainly believe there needs to be more money made available for better rosters and overtime.

“In the event of multiple unforseen absences, the jail doesn’t have the funding to backfill those vacancies and so the prisoners are locked down.”

Opposition spokesman Jeremy Hanson says the Government has mismanaged the jail.

“No one is happy with the way this place is being run, this is costing us $500 a day per prisoner,” he said.

“Now Jon Stanhope guaranteed to the public that this would be run at half that amount. It’s costing us twice the amount it should, where is the money going?

“It’s just an inability to run the thing.”

ACT Corrective Services is investigating the stand-off.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Absences, Act Corrective Services, Act Government, Alexander Maconochie, art facility, Canberra, Community And Public Sector Union, Cpsu, half that amount, Jon Stanhope, Mcdevitt, myriad, Operational Safety, Opposition Spokesman, overtime, point of view, prisoners, public sector union, Staff Shortages, vacancies

Emergency dept doctor search continues

April 8, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

The Blayney Health Council is meeting doctors today who may be able to fill the empty on-call position at the town’s emergency department.

More than 100 people attended a meeting in Blayney last night to voice concerns over being left without a doctor with emergency visiting rights for the past month.

Health council chairwoman Audrey Hardman says it will meet two doctors today who may be able to alleviate the situation.

“A doctor from Carcoar, she’s very anxious to help but of course the big problem is she also has surgeries in Bathurst at Kelso and the night surgery is the problem,” she said.

“The only problem we have is the fact that we don’t have a doctor there which is obviously from the community point of view very concerning, and we will pursue that line – we are working very hard to try and ensure that we will have a doctor to cover that section.”

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: audrey, Bathurst, Blayney, chairwoman, Doctor Search, emergency department, Emergency Dept, hardman, Health Council, Kelso, point of view, two doctors, Voice Concerns

Vic worse off under health takeover: AMA

April 8, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

The Australian Medical Association’s (AMA) Victorian branch has backed Premier John Brumby’s opposition to the Federal Government’s planned health takeover.

In a letter to the Premier, the AMA says the plan penalises Victoria for having the best- performing health system in the country.

AMA Victoria president Dr Harry Hemley says Victoria will be worse off under the plan.

“If we are to sign up as it is now, we would not get one extra dollar for the next four years into our hospital system,” he said.

“We would not receive one more episode of patient care or one more hospital bed for the next four years.”

Dr Hemley says the Premier is taking the right stand from the point of view of patient care.

“Things are going to get worse unless we can more beds and more services in our public hospitals,” he said.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: ama, Australian Medical Association, beds, Dr Harry, federal government, Health Medical, Health System, Hemley, john brumby, opposition, Patient Care, point of view, president dr, public hospitals, takeover, Vic, Victoria, Victorian Branch