Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Rudd Would Rather Face This In Australia
This is what Mr Rudd is asking Australians to face in Australia, by pulling our (needed) forces out of Iraq.
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* Rudd announces his IR plans :Rip up the needed AWA's for people that don't earn a lot of money. This ridiculous 'plan' which sounds like it is do nothing, but is really quite costly follows on from his Hospitals policy whereby he promises to spend $2Billion on efficiency that won't see an extra nurse or doctor. The health plan won't even address problems stemming from o/s doctors killing patients so that States save money.
* Five Sydney men held on bomb plot threat.
* Horse flu forces APEC security cancellation
* World's largest diamond found
World's biggest diamond found
ReplyDeletefrom news.com.au
THE world's biggest diamond has been found in a mine in South Africa's North-West province, local radio reported.
The stone was twice the weight of the previous record-holder, the Cullinan Diamond, which weighed about 3106 carats when found in Gauteng province in January 1905, SAfm public radio said.
The Cullinan was cut into several smaller stones, which now adorn the British crown jewels.
The stone found on Monday was to be taken to Johannesburg under tight security, according to SAfm.
No further details were immediately available.
Fortress Randwick: Security lockdown at racing mecca
ReplyDeleteBy Ray Thomas, Racing Editor
RANDWICK racecourse was transformed into a biologically secure fortress yesterday amid fears the equine influenza virus had infiltrated the home of the nation's top thoroughbreds.
Racing NSW stewards ordered Randwick trackwork be abandoned at 7am and the course locked down.
The extraordinary security measure came as four racehorses - three from leading trainer Gai Waterhouse's stable - were tested for possible EI infection.
Thankfully, the horses were given the all-clear after testing negative last night.
But the EI crisis sweeping NSW - 51 horses have so far been confirmed as having the virus - resulted in stringent restrictions being put in place at the racecourse. These include guards at all entrances and a ban on service vehicles entering the premises.
Chief steward Ray Murrihy said last night while the lockdown order had been lifted, there were strict orders regarding trackwork procedures and racehorse movement on and off Randwick racecourse.
"Trackwork can resume (this morning) although under strict guidelines," Mr Murrihy said. "There are security guards at all exits, biosecurity measures in place and no service vehicles will be allowed access to the course.
"Trainers have to comply with regulations regarding the movement of their horses on and off the track and will monitor the temperatures of all their horses closely.
"No staff from Centennial Park will be allowed access to Randwick racecourse, either."
Racing NSW chief executive Peter V'Landys yesterday called on the federal and state governments to make monies available from the natural disaster relief funds to help racing industry participants who have been deprived of income.
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"We're concerned about our 50,000 participants throughout the state," Mr V'Landys said.
"They're all out of income. Jockeys can't earn an income unless they're riding.
"You've got stablehands, catering staff, totalisator staff - there are a lot of small firms."
A ban on all horse movements throughout NSW remains indefinitely, as the highly contagious disease takes a wider grip on rural and city areas.
Speaking on behalf of the industry last night, Gai Waterhouse said she was "delirious" at her horses' negative tests.
"This is great news for the racing industry," she said.
Sydney racing's first lady was dragged into the EI scare when three of her horses were found to have elevated temperatures at trackwork.
A fourth racehorse was also suspected of contracting the disease, forcing unprecedented action by racing officials.
The Government placed an indefinite ban on race meetings and the movement of horses in the state as the EI outbreak continues to spread.
Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald said more than 400 horses on 53 properties were showing symptoms of the virus, with 51 horses confirmed as carrying the disease.
The outbreak has shut down the multi-billion dollar industry since Saturday - costing at least $100 million so far.
Bush to say Iraq is front line against Iran
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US President George W. Bush tomorrow will describe Iraq as the front-line against Shiite extremism championed by Iran and the Sunni extremism of Al-Qaeda, an aide said today.
Mr Bush was due to level the charge in a speech to the American Legion veterans group, the second of two presidential addresses meant to bolster support for the war in Iraq ahead of a critical September 15 progress report.
"The president will talk about Sunni extremism and Shia extremism. Neither represents Islam. They represent a brutal and heartless ideology of death and destruction," a senior aide said in a preview of the speech.
"Sunni extremism is embodied by Al Qaeda and its many affiliates. Shia extremism by Iran and its support of Hezbollah, Hamas, the Taliban and its pursuit of nuclear technology," the official said on condition of anonymity.
"Iraq is at the heart of where these two extremisms must be dealt with," the official said as Mr Bush travelled here for a political fundraiser.
"Al Qaeda in Iraq and Iranian armed and supported Shia militias continue to undermine the Iraqi struggle for security and stability and continue to kill Americans forces," the official said.
Mr Bush will plead for patience from lawmakers pending an assessment on the war from the US commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, and the US ambassador to Baghdad, Ryan Crocker, the official said.
Mr Bush is to deliver the speech in Reno, Nevada.
Five men arrested over alleged bomb plot in Sydney
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FIVE men were arrested today over a plot to bomb ATM and bank safes.
Police officers allege the men ordered enough chemicals to make 40kg of nitroglycerin explosives from the Northern Territory, sparking a national security scare.
Federal police officers were also involved in the operation.
Chief Superintendent Peter Dein from the Counter Terrorism Command said police had ruled out any link between the plot of manufacturing explosives and the forthcoming APEC summit.
He said the men were not accused of planning a terrorist attack.
"The motive appears to be a plan to make some money to blow up devices, that contain large amounts of money such as ATMs and a safe or two," Supt Dein said.
"It all centred around Sydney."
The five men were arrested in southwestern Sydney early this morning.
Police have arrested a 20-year-old from Yagoona, two men, age 20 and 26 from Lakemba, a Greenacre man, 20, and a 24-year-old man from Kingsgrove.
It is expected they will be charged with conspiracy to possess an explosive device with intent to damage property.
Police pulled off this morning's dramatic arrests after substituting chemicals in the shipment from the Northern Territory, ensuring there was no danger to the public.
They are expected to appear in Central Local Court this afternoon.
Police horses pulled from APEC crowd duty
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THERE will be no mounted police patrolling the APEC summit in Sydney next week because all NSW police horses have been quarantined due to an outbreak of equine flu.
Plans to bring in horses from interstate have also been abandoned, but police said while there would be an impact on their ability to deal with protesters, the protection of visiting dignitaries would not be compromised.
Six NSW police horses had tested positive to equine influenza and all horses at an inner-Sydney police depot were under quarantine, the NSW Government said today.
Police said a total of eight horses were showing signs of the disease and as a consequence all mounted police horses had been quarantined and would not be part of the APEC security detail.
A decision had been taken to isolate all 36 horses due to the fast-moving and contagious nature of the virus, police said.
Once the last horse had recovered they will remain in quarantine for a further 30 days.
"While we are disappointed, we couldn't take any risks with our horses by taking them into crowds and allow the infection to spread even further than it already has," Major Event and Incidents Group Commander Garry Dobson said.
Deputy Commissioner Andrew Scipione said police had contingency plans to deal with the operational impact of losing the mounted division for APEC.
"It won't stop us being able to protect dignitaries, the public or police at any planned protest," Mr Scipione said.
"We have prepared for a range of circumstances and are confident the appropriate plans are in place to deal with any violence.
"The police presence will be backed up by the new water cannon that has been purchased by the state Government for use in crowd control," he said.
Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald said authorities suspected the horses had been infected by police riders, some of whom had been at the Hunter Valley riding event believed to be the source of the outbreak.
"It looks as though a couple of the police riders attended that Maitland event, that may have been the source, that's what I've been informed," Mr Macdonald said on Macquarie Radio.
The minister said no police horses had attended the event but the infection might have been transferred from the riders' clothing.
At least 58 horses in NSW, on nine different properties, are now infected with equine influenza.
Another 615 horses are in quarantine.
Rudd reveals his IR blueprint
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LABOR will keep strict conditions preventing union bosses barging into workplaces and remove the award structure for staff on more than $100,000 if it wins government.
Outlining the next phase of its industrial relations policy today, the Opposition has indicated it will also keep a lid on secondary boycotts by ensuring they remain regulated by the Trade Practices Act.
The updated industrial policy follows extensive consultation with business after the top end of town raised numerous concerns when Labor released its workplace strategy at its conference in April.
Assuming an October or November election, Labor intends to move fast to begin putting in place transitional arrangements for its plan to do away with Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs).
It wants to have legislation putting in place the transition scheme by the end of this year.