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Sandvik: Interim Report Second Quarter 2010

July 21, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

STOCKHOLM–(Business Wire)–
Sandvik (STO:SAND):

CONTINUED RECOVERY

· Order intake SEK 23,179 M
· Invoiced sales SEK 20,603 M
· Operating profit SEK 3,471 M
· Operating margin 16.8%
· Cash flow from operations SEK +2,626 M

Accounting policies

This interim report was prepared in accordance with IFRS, applying IAS 34,
Interim Financial Reporting. The same accounting and valuation policies were
applied as in the most recent annual report. New standards and interpretations
effective from 1 January 2010 have not had any significant impact on Sandvik`s
financial statements.

The phrase “Minority interest” has been changed in the financial statements to
the new designation “Non-controlling interest” according to revised IFRS 3
Business Combinations and amended IAS 27 Consolidated and Separate Financial
Statements.

The company’s auditors have not conducted a special review of the Q2 2010
report. The Sandvik Group`s interim report for the third quarter 2010 will be
published on 29 October 2010.

A combined presentation and teleconference will be held on 20 July 2010 at 14.00
CET at Operraterassen in Stockholm. Information is available at
www.sandvik.com/ir.

Sandviken 20 July 2010

Sandvik Aktiebolag (publ)

Lars Pettersson

President and CEO

Sandvik discloses the information provided herein pursuant to the Securities
Market Act. The information is submitted for publication on 20 July 2010 at
08.00 am CET.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://www.cisionwire.com

Sandvik
Jan Lissåker, Investor Relations
tel. +46 26 26 10 23
e-mail info.ir@sandvik.com

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Aktiebolag, business wire, Controlling Interest, e-mail, Financial Statements, Ifrs 3 Business Combinations, Interim Financial Reporting, interim report, Investor Relations, Mail Info, Minority Interest, operating margin, operating profit, Pettersson, Publ, Report Second Quarter, Sandviken, securities market, significant impact, Stockholm Information

NetApp Scores First-Ever Energy Star Label for Data Centers

July 20, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

The new Energy Star for Data Centers certification has started off with a bang, with the first facility to earn the label earning 99 out of 100 possible points for its certification.

NetApp’s RTP data center, which opened in 2009, far surpassed the needed score of 75 points to earn the EPA’s Energy Star rating for data centers, which opened for business in early June.

The facility, which is used primarily for research into storage efficiency and cloud computing services, incorporates a number of green solutions to data center energy efficiency. The data center runs at an average temperature of 74 degrees Fahrenheit and it uses outside are cooling for two-thirds of the year, both of which allow the company to dramatically cut down on cooling costs.

NetApp also built the facility to use less energy in distributing cooling. Rather than using raised-floor systems to fan cool air up into servers, the data center uses overhead air distribution to let the cooling system drop cold air into racks.

All told, the green design of the data center has a significant impact on NetApp’s carbon footprint, as well as its customers’: The energy efficiency of the facility saves more than 95,000 tons of CO2 emissions every year.

The RTP data center has also been used as a showcase for other companies and organizations looking to incorporate green technologies inito their data centers. NetApp says that 500 groups have toured the facility since it opened.

Though the Energy Star for data centers certification is newly launched, two members of the Environmental Defense Fund’s Climate Corps program last week laid out three ways to improve the rating, including a way to incorporate a data center’s location into its overall Energy Star score and the need for the EPA to work with utilities around the country to encourage incentives for data center efficiency.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Air Distribution, average temperature, co2 emissions, Cold Air, Computing Services, cool air, cooling system, energy efficiency, Energy Star Label, Energy Star Rating, Environmental Defense Fund, Fahrenheit, Green Solutions, incentives, Netapp, new energy, Rtp Data, significant impact, Storage Efficiency, Three Ways

Israel natgas plan faces delay over study, budget

July 19, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

July 18 (Reuters) – Israel’s plan to begin production from its new offshore natural gas field by 2012 hit a snag after cabinet ministers did not provide funds for a survey into the location of a terminal, officials said on Sunday.

A two-year budget passed by Israel’s cabinet on Friday had sweeping cuts and did not allocate 25 million shekels ($6.5 million) the Infrastructure Ministry requested for a crucial study to determine the spot of a receiving terminal.

“A final schedule for the study on the offshore alternative has not yet been reached, but it seems that such a study will take more than a year,” the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry was moving ahead with plans to issue a tender for conducting the study, but the failure to allocate funds casts further doubt on whether the consortium that owns Tamar will reach the target production date of 2012.

The study will include the option of an offshore gas receiving terminal along with seven onshore locations to choose from, a ministry official said.

The onshore options have met with stiff resistance from local residents who fear for their safety.

The Infrastructure Ministry warned the timetable will have an immediate and significant impact on Israel’s energy market.

U.S.-based Noble Energy (NBL.N) leads the consortium that includes a number of Israeli partners and said last month the project was on schedule. The group raised its reserve estimate at the Tamar field by 15 percent to 8.4 trillion cubic feet (238 billion cubic meters).

Noble owns 36 percent of Tamar while Isramco Negev (ISRAp.TA) owns 28.75 percent and Delek Group (DELKG.TA) has a 31 percent stake through two units that have equal shares — Avner Oil Exploration (AVNRp.TA) and Delek Drilling.

Israel’s budget still needs approval by parliament in three votes. (Writing by Ari Rabinovitch; Editing by David Holmes)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Avner, cabinet ministers, Cubic Feet, Cubic Meters, david holmes, energy market, Israeli Partners, Isramco, ministry official, Natgas, Negev, Noble Energy, Offshore Natural Gas, oil exploration, onshore, reuters, significant impact, snag, stiff resistance, target production

2010 e-tailing Group and PowerReviewsSocial Shopping Study Reveals Trends Shaping the Future of Ecommerce

June 8, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Study Shows Customer Reviews are Foundational Element of Social Commerce
Strategy; Points to Evolving Importance of Facebook in Online Shopping
CHICAGO & SAN FRANCISCO–(Business Wire)–
The e-tailing group and PowerReviews today release the 2010 Social Shopping
Study`s final wave of findings. The study asked more than 1,000 consumers who
shop at least four times per year and spend $250 or more annually online how
social media impacts their buying decisions. The data clearly points to three
key social shopping trends that will shape the future of Ecommerce.

Trend #1: Consumers trust the basic social media tools — When asked which
community and social media tools have the greatest impact on buying behavior, 71
percent of respondents rated user-generated customer reviews as having the
highest “good to significant impact” on buying behavior, followed closely by Q&A
(57 percent) and community forums (47 percent). In addition, compared to 2007,
shoppers are reading more customer reviews to be confident judging a product,
with consumers reading 8 or more up 77 percent over 2007 and 16 or more up 140
percent.

Trend #2: Consumers seek a variety of voices — Further authenticating the
growing importance of social media in the online shopping process, the study
reveals that “friends” and like-minded consumers are more influential than
experts. When asked which online voices have the greatest influence on purchase
decisions, 55 percent cited Facebook “friends,” while another 55 percent noted
“people like you” (55 percent) as having the greatest impact. Experts (51
percent); brands (38 percent), retailers (35 percent) and influential bloggers
(26 percent) followed.

Trend #3: Facebook is the social platform with the greatest potential — While
the role of social media sites in the online shopping decision-making process is
still in its infancy, the study points to the growing importance of Facebook.
After basic social shopping tools – including reviews, Q&A and forums – Facebook
features show the most potential to impact buying behavior. 31 percent cite the
Facebook wall (friends talking about products) as having significant influence
over buying decisions, while another 25 percent note Facebook fan pages as most
powerful. What`s more, the viral force of Facebook is considerable, as nearly
half of respondents reported having upwards of 100 “friends,” while 42 percent
of respondents frequently read and/or update their Facebook pages.

“Consumers are clearly in control of their shopping experiences and these
findings provide valuable and practical lessons for retailers and brands to
engage and benefit from the social conversation,” said Pehr Luedtke, CEO of
PowerReviews. “Retailers and brands need to build the foundation for trust
through the most important social tools: reviews, Q&A, and forums. They need to
provide a collective voice by integrating a variety of perspectives, including
Facebook friends and `people like you.` And, as consumers` expectations continue
to rise, retailers and brands need to present the content in an easy-to-find and
easy-to-consume way.”

Last month PowerReviews and the e-tailing group revealed research around how
consumers are using social media to shop and interact with brands and retailers
online. The study found that people strongly prefer to do their own research
online versus speaking to a knowledgeable sales associate in-store. According to
respondents, online research is preferred for three reasons: its ability to save
time (79 percent report saving somewhat to much more time doing their own online
research), increase confidence (83 percent are somewhat to much more confident
about making a purchase decision when doing their own research) and provide
credible information (82 percent are somewhat or very satisfied with product
information available online).

“The findings of our social shopping study not only prove that people prefer to
do their researching online vs. in-store. The supporting data also shows us that
the retail industry and consumer expectations are at a fundamental and exciting
crossroads,” said Lauren Freedman, president of the e-tailing group. “The
ever-evolving importance of social is certain to grow exponentially from a
shopping perspective given that it`s still so early in the game.”

About the e-tailing group

The e-tailing group, inc. serves as the multi-channel merchant`s eye, bringing a
merchant`s sensibility to evolving the multi-channel shopping experience. A
Chicago-based consultancy, they provide practical strategic perspectives and
actionable merchandising solutions to merchants selling online as well as to
enabling technology firms. For more background about this research study or
additional information on the e-tailing group, inc. please contact Lauren
Freedman at LF@e-tailing.com or visit the e-tailing group website
www.e-tailing.com.

About PowerReviews

PowerReviews is the leading provider of customer reviews and social commerce
solutions to retailers and brands. The company’s innovative tag-based approach
to collecting, organizing, structuring and analyzing user-generated content
significantly boosts product sales and customer engagement. Recognized as the
customer reviews Solution Leader in the Internet Retailer Top 500 survey,
PowerReviews works with over 1000 retailers and brands on over 3000 websites,
including Staples, Drugstore.com, Gardener`s Supply, Diapers.com, Callaway and
Jockey. In addition to its Enterprise solution, PowerReviews offers an on-demand
solution for small- and medium-sized businesses called PowerReviews Express
(www.powerreviewsexpress.com). PowerReviews also operates the leading reviews
and recommendation site for consumers, Buzzillions.com (www.buzzillions.com).
PowerReviews blog is at www.blogs.powerreviews.com.

the e-tailing group
Lauren Freedman, 773-975-7280
President
lf@e-tailing.com
or
TidalWave PR for PowerReviews
Lisa Tarter, 415-203-2462
lisa@tidalwavepr.com

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: bloggers, business wire, Commerce Strategy, Community Forums, Customer Reviews, facebook, infancy, Least Four Times, Media Tools, Purchase Decisions, respondents, San Francisco Business, Shaping The Future, shoppers, significant impact, Social Media Impacts, Social Platform, Strategy Points, Study Reveals That, voices

2010 e-tailing Group and PowerReviewsSocial Shopping Study Reveals Trends Shaping the Future of Ecommerce

June 8, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

About the e-tailing group

About PowerReviews

the e-tailing group
Lauren Freedman, 773-975-7280
President
lf@e-tailing.com
or
TidalWave PR for PowerReviews
Lisa Tarter, 415-203-2462
lisa@tidalwavepr.com

Factbox: BP moving ahead on containment cap

June 3, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

The company also is making plans to use equipment installed at the seabed for the top kill to enhance its containment efforts, and to interrupt containment efforts if a hurricane blows through the Gulf.

Here is an explanation of how the lower marine riser package (LMRP) cap is supposed to work, as well as other technologies BP is employing to attempt to bring the well under control:

LMRP CAP

* BP has begun sawing off extraneous pipes to clear the way to shear off the larger middle pipe from which two leaks are spewing. Underwater robots are doing the work with a diamond saw.

* The robots will then use huge shears to cut off the pipe that extends from the top of an LMRP that sits atop a failed blowout preventer. The saw will then shave off any jagged bits to provide a clear opening.

* BP will lower a containment cap with a grommet seal over the opening, while the leak continues, to capture about 80 percent of the oil and gas. The rest is expected to escape from the cap.

* The cap will be connected by pipe to a drillship at the water’s surface.

* The captured oil and gas is expected to be channeled to the ship, where the oil will be stored to bring ashore later for processing and the gas will be flared.

* BP expects the process to take four to seven days, although Chief Executive Tony Hayward said it would take four days.

* BP monitored pressure data from the failed blowout preventer during the top kill operation, and determined that cutting off the pipe at the top of the LMRP would not have a significant impact on the flow of the leak.

* U.S. government scientists estimated the flow could temporarily increase by as much as 20 percent.

* The cap effort is, in theory, similar to one involving a much larger 98-tonne containment dome that was placed at the end of the broken pipe in early May. That dome was also connected to the ship by pipe and was intended to corral and channel oil and gas to the surface.

Too much seawater got inside, mixed with natural gas at high pressures and cold temperatures, and formed ice-like hydrates that blocked oil from flowing up the pipe to the ship.

* The smaller cap and seal are designed to exclude seawater and avoid the hydrate problem.

ENHANCEMENT TO LMRP CAP PLAN

* BP will use seabed equipment installed to conduct the top kill to enhance the containment cap system.

* The top kill involved pumping heavy drilling fluid into the failed blowout preventer to try to smother the leak. Mud was pumped from a ship to a service rig, down to a manifold, which routed the fluid to “choke and kill” hoses connected to the blowout preventer.

* BP will try to reverse direction and pull oil and gas from the blowout preventer through the hoses and manifold to a vessel at the water’s surface.

*That system is expected to be ready by mid-June.

HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS

* BP also is planning a system to allow the drillship connected by pipe to the containment cap to suspend operations and move if a hurricane approaches.

* BP will install a pipe that extends about 300 feet below the drillship. Then a hose would connect the pipe to the containment cap.

* Described by BP as a “long-term option,” the system would allow BP to disconnect the hose from the pipe and move the ship out of a storm’s path, then return when weather calms to resume the operation.

* The system is expected to be implemented in late June or early July.

* The Atlantic hurricane season began June 1.

THE RELIEF WELLS

* Drilling continued on a relief well begun May 2 intended to intercept and cap the leaking well beneath the seabed. Drilling was suspended last week on a second relief well begun May 16 while the top kill was in progress, but that rig resumed drilling on Sunday. Both wells are expected to be finished in August.

BOP ON BOP:

* BP suspended drilling of the second well so that rig’s blowout preventer could be on standby to place atop the failed blowout preventer and plug the well if the containment cap system fails. BP said on June 1 that option has been sidelined “at the moment” with the focus on the LMRP cap and enhancement because the company lacks sufficient information about the state of the failed blowout preventer.

(Reporting by Kristen Hays; Editing by Eric Walsh)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: blowout, Blowout Preventer, bp, broken pipe, chief executive, Containment Efforts, drillship, Factbox, Government scientists, hayward, Leaks, oil and gas, pipes, seabed, seawater, seven days, Shears, significant impact, tonne, underwater robots

Infants ‘at risk for measles in first year’

May 19, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

London, May 19 (ANI): A new research has found that young infants have a gap in their protection against measles, from around two to three months old until they are vaccinated at 12 months of age.

This is because the level of antibodies infants get from their mother drops over time, leaving them susceptible until they are vaccinated, says the study.

These findings underline the importance of measles vaccination at around 12 months of age and support ongoing research into earlier vaccination.

The study involved 207 healthy women-infant pairs recruited from five hospitals in the Province of Antwerp, Belgium from April 2006.

Medical records were used to divide women into two groups: those who had been vaccinated against measles during infancy and those with naturally acquired immunity from measles infection earlier in life.

Levels of measles antibodies were measured from blood samples taken during week 36 of pregnancy, at birth (cord blood), in all infants at 1, 3 and 12 months, and randomly at either 6 or 9 months.

Vaccinated women had significantly fewer antibodies than did naturally immune women. Similarly, infants of vaccinated women had significantly lower antibody levels than infants of naturally immune women.

The presence of maternal antibodies lasted a median time of 2.61 months – 3.78 months for infants of naturally immune women and 0.97 months for infants of vaccinated women.

At six months of age, over 99 percent of infants of vaccinated women and 95 percent of infants of naturally immune women had lost their maternal antibodies. And at 9 and 12 months, no positive samples were left in either group.

The researchers found no significant impact of breastfeeding, birth weight, educational level, caesarean section or day care attendance on the duration of maternal antibodies.

This study describes a very early susceptibility to measles in both infants of vaccinated women and women with naturally acquired immunity, say the authors.

If future studies show that measles vaccines can be offered with success at an age of less than nine months, policy makers could consider moving forward the routine measles vaccination programme.

The study has been published on bmj.com. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: 9 months, antibody levels, Antwerp Belgium, Birth Weight, blood samples, caesarean section, cord blood, day care, Educational Level, gap, immunity, infancy, Maternal Antibodies, Measles Vaccination, median time, medical records, Ongoing Research, significant impact, susceptibility, Week 36 Of Pregnancy

Stressful jobs up women”s heart disease risk

May 6, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Washington, May 6 (ANI): High-pressure jobs increase young women”s risk of heart disease, concludes a new study.

In the study, published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine, the research team assessed the impact of work pressure and degree of personal influence in the workplace on the heart health of 12,116 nurses, who were taking part in the Danish Nurse Cohort Study.

The nurses were all aged between 45 and 64 in 1993, when they were quizzed about their daily work pressures and personal influence, after which their health was then tracked for 15 years, using hospital records.

By 2008, 580 nurses had been admitted to hospital with ischaemic heart disease, which included 369 cases of angina and 138 heart attacks.

Nurses who indicated that their work pressures were a little too high were 25 percent more likely to have ischaemic heart disease as those who said their work pressures were manageable and appropriate.

But those who felt work pressures were much too high were almost 50 percent more likely to have ischaemic heart disease. After taking account of risk factors for heart disease, such as smoking and lifestyle, the risk fell to 35 percent, but still remained significant.

Poor job control in the workplace did not influence heart disease risk, while the amount of physical activity at work, which is known to affect health, had a small although significant impact.

When the findings were analysed by age, only the nurses under the age of 51 were at significant risk of heart disease.

In a separate analysis, the researchers looked at the impact of work pressures on the same group, but for just five years up to 1998.

Nurses who felt themselves to be moderately pressurised at work were 60 percent more likely to have ischaemic heart disease while those who said they faced excessive pressures at work were almost twice as likely to have it.

These findings held true even after taking account of other risk factors.

“It seems as if the effect of work pressure has a greater impact on younger nurses,” say the authors. “This is in agreement with findings from previous studies looking at age specific effects in both men and women.”

“The lower risk among the older nurses may be due to other risk factors that become relatively more important with increasing age. Furthermore, vulnerable individuals may have [already] left work,” they add. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: angina, Excessive Pressures, heart attacks, heart disease, heart disease risk, heart health, Influence Heart Disease, job control, nurse, Nurses, Occupational And Environmental Medicine, Personal Influence, physical activity, Poor Job, risk factors for heart disease, risk of heart disease, significant impact, Stressful Jobs, Work Pressures, young women

Indonesia says situation under control after attack on Indians

April 24, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Indonesian government on Friday said the situation at a dry dock, where thousands of local workers attacked their Indian colleagues after being called “dumb”, was under control, even as one of the four Indians injured in the incident remained in critical condition.

Around 41 Indians working for PT Drydock World Graha in Batam island were evacuated to the Barelang police station yesterday by a police patrol boat after some 10,000 Indonesian workers attacked them and torched 38 vehicles.

The local workers went on the rampage after an Indian supervisor allegedly called them “dumb.”

Four of the Indian workers were hurt in the brawl, with one of them reported to be in critical condition, the official Antara news agency said, without identifying them.

Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa said the riot at PT Drydock World Graha in the industrialised island of Batam was an “internal incident” and the company’s management had taken steps to localise it.

“It is merely an internal affair of the company. It was not a problem caused by a regulation,” Hatta said.

The situation returned to normal after hundreds of police and military personnel were deployed at the scene.

Hatta said the management of the dockyard company had taken steps to prevent the riot from spreading.

“At our meeting with a number of officials, including those from the Manpower and Transmigration Ministry earlier in the day, we came to the conclusion that the incident did not have a significant impact (on the region’s security conditions),” he said.

Hatta said the government must clarify the cause of the incident to the public. “We must clarify it transparently.”

He appealed to the media, especially the electronic media, not to repeatedly broadcast the incident so as not to create the impression that the unrest had not yet been resolved.

“I call on them not to repeatedly broadcast it,” he said.

Hatta said the dockyard company was employing 8,000 to 10,000 workers mostly through the outsourcing system.

“The number of regular workers is 2,000, including 100 expatriates of whom 28 are Indian nationals,” he said.

All the expatriates were legal workers who held work permits, he said.

Some police and military personnel have been stationed at the location to ensure public order and security, the report said.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: antara, Batam Island, critical condition, Dry Dock, economic affairs, electronic media, Graha, Hatta Rajasa, Indian Colleagues, Indonesian Government, Indonesian Workers, internal affair, military personnel, Patrol Boat, police patrol, police station, rampage, security conditions, significant impact, situation under control

Marine ecosystems under threat from ocean acidification

March 29, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

Washington, March 29 (ANI): Experiments by a team of scientists has determined that acidification of the oceans as a result of increasing levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) could have significant effects on marine ecosystems.

Postgraduate researcher Michael Maguire, together with colleagues at Newcastle University, performed experiments in which they simulated ocean acidification as predicted by current trends of CO2 emissions.

The group found that the decrease in ocean pH (increased acidity) resulted in a sharp decline of a biogeochemically important group of bacteria known as the Marine Roseobacter clade.

“This is the first time that a highly important bacterial group has been observed to decline in significant numbers with only a modest decrease in pH,” said Maguire.

The Marine Roseobacter clade is responsible for breaking down a sulphur compound called dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) that is produced by photosynthesising plankton.

This end product is taken up and used by numerous bacteria as an important source of sulphur.

A fraction of DMSP is turned into Dimethylsulfide (DMS) – a naturally occurring gas that influences the Earth’s climate.

DMS encourages the formation of clouds that reflect solar radiation back into space leading to a cooling of the earth’s surface.

Maguire’s group hypothesizes that the decline of the Marine Roseobacter clade through ocean acidification may alter the release of DMS into the atmosphere and affect the amount of available sulphur.

He believes this will have a significant impact on the ocean’s productivity and the overall global climate system.

“Ocean acidification will not only have large scale consequences for marine ecosystems but also socio-economical consequences due to changes in fish stocks and erosion of coral reefs,” he explained. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: acidity, atmospheric carbon dioxide, co2 emissions, coral reefs, current trends, Dmsp, erosion, fish stocks, Formation Of Clouds, Global Climate System, Group Of Bacteria, marine ecosystems, Michael Maguire, newcastle university, Ocean Acidification, Oceans, Postgraduate Researcher, significant impact, significant numbers, solar radiation

Backburn a ‘last ditch attempt’ to stop fire

March 26, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

The Parks Victoria ranger who ordered the lighting of a backburn minutes before the Black Saturday fire hit in Kinglake West has defended the decision.

The Bushfires Royal Commission is investigating whether the burn in Pine Ridge Road exacerbated the fire that destroyed the road.

Parks Victoria ranger Tony Fitzgerald said the backburn was a “last ditch attempt” in a “hopeless” situation.

He had been trying to remove fuel before the main fire hit, in the hope of reducing the intensity of the fire.

Counsel assisting the commission, Jack Rush QC, suggested Mr Fitzgerald must have known the burn was likely to have virtually no impact.

In response, Mr Fitzgerald said it was all he could think to do.

He said he lived nearby, that his children had played with the children who lived in the street and he thought if one house survived, the backburn would be worth it.

But the commission heard less than ten minutes after backburn was lit, it was engulfed by a crown fire, forcing the crew to flee the area.

Earlier, Kinglake West resident Craig Draper told the commission he has a “huge issue” with the lighting of the backburn.

Mr Draper said the winds were way too strong to even think about lighting a burn.

Mr Rush said fire investigators had concluded the backburn had no significant impact on the fire in Pine Ridge Road.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: bushfire, bushfires, craig, Crown Fire, Draper, Fire Investigators, flowerdale-3717, Hopeless Situation, intensity, Kinglake West, kinglake-3763, last ditch attempt, lighting, marysville-3779, Parks Victoria, Pine Ridge Road, Qc, royal-commission-victoria-2009-bushfires, royal-commissions, rush, significant impact, st-andrews-3761, strathewen-3099, Tony Fitzgerald, yea-3717

Union claims cost cutting as senior years cut

March 17, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

The State School Teachers Union suspects a plan to cut years 11 and 12 from 21 WA district high schools is part of a Government cost cutting exercise.

Year 11 and 12 subjects have already been cut at schools including Wyndham, Dalwallinu and Kelleberin, and the State Government intends to phase out courses at other country schools over the next three years.

The President of the State School Teachers Union Anne Gisborne says the decision will have a significant impact on students, parents and teachers in regional areas.

“I find it interesting that right now at this particular point when the education department is facing major problems with Buswell’s three per cent cuts, that they’ve decided to move in this direction.”

Years 11 and 12 subjects have already been cut at schools including Wyndham, Dalwallinu and Wagin, while courses at other country schools will be phased out over the next three years.

Students affected by the cuts can either study through the School of Isolated and Distance Education, travel to the nearest senior high school or attend a boarding college.

The Education Minister Liz Constable insists scrapping the courses is not about cost-cutting.

“In fact, it doesn’t save very much money at all but what it does do is give young people in Western Australia opportunities.”

The Minister says having fewer than 10 students in a year group is not appropriate.

“I’d think it’s most unfair for young people in a district high school where there’s very few students and we cannot provide the breadth and depth of subjects to find that they don’t have the same opportunities as youngsters in bigger centres.”

“The most appropriate schooling in Year 11 and 12 is at a senior high school, not at a district high school.”

Disadvantages

Affected students are being encouraged to go to the nearest senior high school but the Nationals MP Grant Woodhams says that is not always reasonable.

“You’re probably going to end up doing over 200 kilometres a day, some students.”

The Opposition’s education spokeswoman, Michelle Roberts, says cutting the classes will further disadvantage students in rural WA.

“We already know that accessing a good education is generally harder for country students, to progress to university is generally harder for country students, so what we should be doing is not increasing the hurdles.

Ms Roberts says the government should have focused on getting more teachers to rural WA.

“It’s this government, a government that professes to be supporting country people that’s actually removing the availability for students of doing those courses locally, now this is quite simply a cut to education in country areas.”

Before the school leaving age was raised to 17, district high schools only went up to Year 10.

The schools where Year 11 and 12 were cut this year are:

Wyndham District High School;

Dalwallinu District High School;
Mukinbudin District High School;
Narembeen District High School;
Quairading District High School;
Brookton District High School;
Corrigin District High School; and
Wagin District High School.

Schools where Year 12 is being offered this year but not Year 11 are:

Kojonup District High School;

Gnowangerup District High School;
Southern Cross District High School;
Wyalkatchem District High School;
Carnamah District High School (to maintain their VET program);
Dongara District High School;
Boddington District High School (continued negotiation between Boddington & Narrogin re VET);
Gingin District High School;
Wongan Hills District High School;
Jurien Bay District High School;
Lake Grace District High School; and
Mullewa District High School

Year 12 won’t be offered at these schools in 2011

Roebourne District High School is having its Year 11 and 12 courses phased out over 2010, 2011, and 2012.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: access-to-education, breadth, Buswell, Dalwallinu, dalwallinu-6609, Distance Education, Education, Education Department, education minister, Education Travel, gisborne, Liz Constable, parents and teachers, perth-6000, regional areas, school teachers, significant impact, teachers union, wa, Wagin, wagin-6315, Western Australia, Woodhams, wyndham-6740, year 11, year group, youngsters

Scenarios: Will Thailand’s government ride out the storm?

March 16, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

(Reuters) – Streams of Thai “red shirt” protesters converged on Monday on a military base housing Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to press him to call a new election, a demand he refused to meet.

World

While the protests by supporters of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra have had no significant impact on Thailand’s stock market so far, the size of the rally and simmering tensions highlight a deep political divide that could hurt growth, consumer confidence and the country’s long-term investment image.

Following are possible scenarios:

GOVERNMENT RIDES OUT PROTESTS; STOCK MARKET RISES

The ability of the “red shirts” to mobilize more than 150,000 rural people has delivered a strong message of public discontent but will probably fail to topple a government backed by the powerful military and establishment elite.

Failure to oust the government would prolong an uneasy status quo, but that has not affected financial markets much in recent weeks, with foreign investors continuing to pour money into relatively cheap Thailand and other regional markets.

However, the rally has illustrated the extent of the polarization, which has made investors think twice about expansion in Thailand over the longer term.

If another pro-Thaksin party eventually returns to power, it will probably face protests of its own, another intervention by the military or the kind of judicial intervention that put paid to pro-Thaksin governments in 2008.

While foreign investors are piling into Thailand’s stock market, foreign companies are less enthusiastic about capital investment and are forecast to cut investment pledges this year by 15 percent.

VIOLENCE ERUPTS BUT QUELLED; NEAR-TERM MARKET VOLATILITY

Violence breaks out, triggered either by “red shirts” or outside agitators keen to stir up trouble to discredit the movement.

This could cause near-term volatility in Thai stocks, with selling by small investors offset by buying by foreign investors focused on longer-term economic fundamentals in a region bouncing back from the financial crisis. Foreign investors helped to drive a 63 percent rise in Thai stocks last year despite violent riots in April. Bond yields could fall on expectations the Bank of Thailand would keep its benchmark rate at a record low of 1.25 percent longer than expected. Economists expect an increase around the middle of the year as the economy recovers.

The likely scenario would see security forces breaking up the rally, handing a public relations victory to the government and further denting the reputation of the “red shirts,” vilified after last year’s riots.

A measured response by the government could bring confidence to investors in the short term but, again, political divisions would continue to cloud the long-term investment outlook, with an election due to be called by the end of next year.

PROTEST CAUSES COALITION TO CRUMBLE; MARKETS TAKE HIT

The mild-tempered protest becomes more heated, piling pressure on the government, increasing tension in the capital and leading to the invoking of an emergency decree. This response could raise questions about the government’s stability and spark a flurry of behind-the-scenes negotiations among the political parties, with Thaksin sure to be involved.

Some of Abhisit’s already disgruntled coalition partners could break away, with money politics prevailing, leading to switches of allegiance to the pro-Thaksin opposition, the Puea Thai Party, which remains popular in the vote-rich countryside.

In this scenario, Puea Thai would table a no-confidence motion against Abhisit, which gets the backing of the house. Puea Thai would then lead a new coalition government.

Markets would fall on concerns about instability that could ensue, given the likelihood a Puea Thai-led government would anger the potent “yellow shirts” movement, increasing the risk of another pro-Thaksin government being toppled and a backlash by supporters of the new administration.

But this scenario remains unlikely due to the staunch backing Abhist enjoys from Thailand’s army, royal advisers and business elites. Coalition partners may not be entirely happy with Abhisit but the likely promise of bigger budgets for them to oversee will keep them onside.

PROTESTS TURN VIOLENT, PM DISSOLVES PARLIAMENT; MARKETS

FALL

Violence ensues, security forces are unable to control the crowd and a state of emergency is declared. Bangkok is paralyzed, government buildings are targeted. A crackdown by the military causes many casualties.

Abhisit is no longer able to govern and announces parliament has been dissolved. He serves as a caretaker until new elections.

This scenario, highly unlikely, could prompt mass selling by local and foreign investors fearful of heightened instability and the potential for more stalemate and unrest.

Faced with the possibility of a pro-Thaksin government winning the election, and the strong chance of another intervention by Thaksin’s powerful opponents, foreign investors would prefer other regional markets with recovering economies and shun Thailand.

(Editing by Alan Raybould and Jerry Norton)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Agitators, Capital Investment, Consumer Confidence, financial markets, Foreign Investors, Judicial Intervention, long term investment, market volatility, military base, polarization, public discontent, regional markets, reuters, Ride Out The Storm, significant impact, stock market, Ter, Term Volatility, Thai Stocks, Thaksin Shinawatra

Liquor laws ‘putting Newcastle pubs out of business’

March 16, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

The Australian Hotels Association (AHA) says Newcastle’s entertainment industry is being put out of business by tough liquor licensing laws.

In 2008, 14 Newcastle hotels were hit with 1:00am lockouts, early closing and restrictions on the number of drinks sold.

Since then, nine of the hotels have gone into receivership and been sold.

Sally Fielke from the AHA says that if the measures are introduced statewide, it will have a devastating effect on the New South Wales economy.

“It wiped off $22 million-odd in value to these hotels but probably more importantly it caused a reduction in employment of almost 25 per cent across the board in this industry,” she said.

“For Newcastle [this] is devastating and to flow that on potentially across the state would just have dire consequences.”

However, the New South Wales Police Association has rejected the claim that the hotels are being put out of business by the laws.

Its Secretary Peter Remfrey says the restrictions are fairly moderate, and it is unlikely that they are responsible for sending the pubs broke.

“These sorts of changes are reducing trading hours from five am to three am, so they’re very modest changes to trading hours,” he said.

“It doesn’t add up to us that that’s the reason for these pubs going broke.

“Contrast [this] of course with the report from the New South Wales Bureau of Crime that proves beyond doubt that the measures introduced in Newcastle have made a significant impact on alcohol-related violence.”

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Limited impact tipped from valuation shift

March 11, 2010 By vani Leave a Comment

A senior State Government official says a new system of land valuations should have little impact on residential property owners.

The Government has agreed to start using “site valuations” from next year in line with other states.

The change has been made after negotiations with developer and business groups,

Director General of the Department of Environment and Resource Management John Bradley says the new valuation should be comparable if no earth or drainage works have been carried out on a residential property.

“It’s only where your property’s required some improvement where there’ll be any difference at all,” he said.

“That is why we say this move to site valuation is not expected to have any significant impact on the valuations of residential property in Queensland.”

Evan Hall from lobby group The Tourism and Transport Forum has welcomed the new approach to land valuation says he wants to study the detail.

“This is a method that is used in all other states – it is tried and tested and the industry understands it,” he said.

“That means they are going to have a great deal more predictability about what their land tax will be in the future.

“The Government has assured us they are more than happy to consult on how that legislation would impact on tourism businesses but the site valuation method that they are proposing is on the whole a good method.”

Mr Hall says the forum wants to make sure there are no huge adjusment costs in moving to a new land tax arrangement.

“But it is fairer and it is simpler and it is gonna take out a lot of the heat of the land tax valuations,” he said.

“It really ideally should not make much difference at all to the land tax bill that each tourism business would get.

“What it is going to do is provide certainty that you are not going to have wild fluctuations from one year to the next.”

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Business Groups, Department Of Environment, Drainage Works, fluctuations, government official, John Bradley, Land Valuation, Land Valuations, lobby group, new approach, predictability, Queensland, Residential Property Owners, Resource Management, significant impact, state government, Tax Arrangement, tourism business, Tourism Businesses, Valuation Method

Brit primary school kids read to dogs to improve literacy

July 10, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, July 9 (ANI): Kids at a primary school in England are being egged on to read to dogs in the classroom to make better their skills – because the pooches do not laugh or get impatient when they stammer.

St. Michael’s Primary School in Bournemouth, Dorset, launched the pioneering scheme in April to help the seven- and eight-year-olds to improve their literacy by reading out to dogs like Yorkshire Terriers, Labradors, and Shetland sheepdogs.

And, according to Martin Ford, the teacher who helped introduce the scheme organised by the Caring Canines charity, the dogs had helped make a “significant impact.”

“The children always looked forward to their sessions and it certainly helped with motivating them to read both at school and at home. There was also a real sense of ownership and pride from the children towards their dogs. Any way to get the children to read is a positive way,” the Telegraph quoted Ford as saying.

Julie Lankshear, from the charity, said: “Ours are special dogs that are good with children. The scheme works because the dogs are non-judgmental; they won’t laugh at stammers or get impatient.

Lankshear added: “They will sit with the child enjoying their time and their reward is to be stroked and played with afterwards. The children who benefit most are those with low self-esteem and often it is not their reading skills that are poor, but their confidence. Reading to the dogs gives them confidence and enables them to communicate.”

But Nick Seaton, the chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, appeared less convinced with the tactic.

He said: “It’s an amusing idea, but if the child makes a mistake the dog can’t correct it. It is simply a distraction from effective teaching. I think that while gimmicks like this maybe enjoyable they are unlikely to raise standards effectively.” (ANI)

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Partner issues significantly influence women’s sexual activity

June 27, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, June 26 (ANI): It’s not just age, partner’s health and interest in sex too have significant impact on sexual activity among middle-aged and elderly women, say researchers.

During the study, the team from University of California, San Francisco and Kaiser Permanente examined 2,000 women, aged 45 to 80 years old, 43 percent reported at least moderate sexual desire, and 60 percent had been sexually active in the previous three months.

Among sexually inactive women, the most common reason was lack of interest in sex with 39 percent of the respondents saying the same.

Thirty-six pct said lack of a partner, 23 pct agreed to physical problem of partner while 11 pct said lack of interest by partner.

Only nine percent were inactive from personal physical problems.

According to the researchers, sexual activity was defined as any activity that was arousing, including masturbation.

“Our findings indicate that a substantial portion of women are interested and engaged in sexual activity as they age,” said lead author Alison Huang, MD, assistant professor in internal medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.

“Clinicians should consider a woman’s overall health when addressing concerns about sexual inactivity.

However, treatment directed solely at improving women’s sexual functioning, such as medications, may not substantially affect their activity if partner issues also are not addressed,” Huang added.

The study appears in Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. (ANI)

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Families of British embassy staff leave violent-torn Iran

June 23, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, June 23 (ANI): The ongoing violence in Iran is forcing families of British embassy staff to leave the country.

At least 12 relatives were packing bags last night.

The British Foreign Office has advised its nationals to avoid going to Iran, where 17 protestors have died in violent protests.

“The ongoing violence has had a significant impact on the families of our staff who have been unable to carry on their lives as normal. We are withdrawing dependants until the situation improves,” The Sun quoted a Foreign Office spokesman, as saying.

The action came as riot police fired bullets over hundreds of protesters in Tehran, and let off tear gas shells while helicopters hovered overhead.

Embassy staff will stay on for now but were warned to stay away from the demonstrations, and staff levels will be reduced if the situation worsens.

As the trouble escalated in the streets, a woman witness said: “There is a massive, massive, massive police presence.”

It was a sign President Majmoud Ahmadinejad is taking a tougher stance following the country’s disputed election.

Embassy chiefs fear further violence after a 27-year-old woman was shot dead.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has warned of a “confrontation” if protests continued.

In a small concession, the Guardian Council admitted the election vote was flawed and more people had voted than were eligible.

It, however, insisted that Ahmadinejad would still have won – and refused to change the result.

Defeated Mir Hossein Mousavi urged supporters to defy police threats, by saying: “The country belongs to you.” (ANI)

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Stroke affects physical, emotional bonding between couples

June 19, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, June 19 : Suffering a stroke can have a significant impact on the physical, psychological and emotional bonding between a couple, say researchers.

A new study conducted by researchers from Northern Ireland showed that sexual relationships were significantly affected after a stroke, gender roles became blurred and feelings like anger and frustration were stunned by a lack of independence and ongoing fatigue.

“All the participants perceived stroke as a life-changing event,” said Hilary Thompson, who is based at Mullinure Hospital, Armagh, and carried out the research with Dr Assumpta Ryan from the School of Nursing and Institute of Nursing Research at the University of Ulster.

“They faced a continuous daily struggle to achieve some sense of normality and that required huge amounts of physical and mental effort,” she added.

The findings revealed a reduction or total loss of sexual desire after suffering a stroke. Some felt that this was down to medication and fear of another stroke.

Most of the females also lost interest in their appearance, regardless of their age.

The attack also led to consistent irritability, anger, agitation and intolerance

“I”m normally easy going, but now the slightest little thing sets off the temper” said a patient , adding that his wife would “probably say I”ve turned into a miserable pig.”

The patients also felt frustrated at not being able to perform routine daily activities.

They are being discouraged from doing things they could do before their stroke, which made the survivors feel demoralised, and affected their confidence.

The survivors were also reluctant to resume social activities.

“There is no doubt that strokes have a profound effect on relationships and our research showed many of the physical, psychological, social and emotional issues a stroke can raise” said co-author Dr Ryan.

“It is important to point out that stroke can happen at any age and many of the survivors who took part in our study were relatively young,” Ryan added.

The study appears in the Journal of Clinical Nursing.

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It’s worth nagging your children

May 28, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Sydney – Parents and teachers who despair of children not knuckling down to schoolwork ought not to give up nagging them about how short-term pain brings long-term gain.

“If you think you have no impact, stick with it because you do,” said Sydney University researcher Andrew Martin. “At all stages of secondary school, teachers and parents have a significant impact.”

Martin said his study of 3,450 pupils at Australian high schools dispelled the notion that the gang the child hangs around with has more influence than teachers or parents.

The study looked at motivation, engagement, homework completion rates, happiness at school, attendance records and educational aspirations. It was published in Teachers College Record, a US journal.

“Parents and teachers who might feel powerless during adolescence have a bigger influence on academic motivation than they think – sometimes up to three times the impact of peers,” Martin said.

However, when it comes to social and emotional well-being, peers have a bigger impact than parents or teachers.

A child might be doing well at school, but might not be all that happy at school. The former is likely to reflect the influence of parents and teachers while the latter is likely to reflect the influence of peers. (dpa)

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