Gillard warns WA over education reforms

PRIME Minister Julia Gillard has warned state governments to expect no compromises at next month's Council of Australian Government Meeting (COAG), saying she is determined to come away with a deal on the Gonski education reforms.

Speaking at the community cabinet meeting in Perth, Ms Gillard said the "end game" had been reached in the debate between the federal and state governments on the proposed reforms, and she was not about to back down.

From a surprisingly welcoming audience of around 400 people, Ms Gillard was questioned on subjects as wide ranging as the Jandakot Airport to the return of the death penalty in Australia.

But it was on the debate with the states of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and the Gonski reforms that Ms Gillard showed her hard edge, saying she "deeply regretted" not being able to roll out an NDIS scheme in WA later this year.

Asked about what impediments the WA Premier Colin Barnett had put in the way of the Gonski reforms, Ms Gillard renewed her attacks on state governments threatening to withdraw funding from schools.

"We are going to keep the dialogue open, but we are not going to put more money into schools only for state governments to take money out," she said.

"We are prepared to talk to get this done, but it can't be against a backdrop of states taking money out.

"We are in the end game of this now, and I am very determined to go to the COAG in April and come out with better deal for Australian children."

Asked about the lack of co-operation from Mr Barnett on the NDIS, Ms Gillard said she did not believe there was "absence of will" to support the scheme in WA.

"What we are arguing about is the governance structure - he does not want services governed remotely from Canberra and neither do I," she said.

Taking just 12 questions over 45 minutes, Ms Gillard defended her position on the live export ban, which drew protesters from both sides to greet her arrival at Thornlie Senior High School.

Flanked by ministers including Stephen Smith, Gary Gray, Kate Lundy and Mark Dreyfus, Ms Gillard fielded all but two of the questions, espousing her views on asylum seekers, the impact of a lower Newstart payment for single parents and the rollout of the National Broadband Network (NBN) in Perth.

Communications minister Stephen Conroy confirmed the first homes to receive NBN coverage in Perth would be hooked up in June.

Ms Gillard will wrap-up her three-day tour of WA on Thursday morning.

20.08 | 0 komentar | Read More

European stocks slide on Cyprus tensions

European stock markets have mostly risen and the euro has recovered from four-month lows. Source: AAP

EUROPEAN stock markets retreated and the euro dropped under $US1.28 for the first time in fourth months owing to concerns about fallout from the Cyprus financial bailout, analysts said.

London's FTSE 100 index of leading companies fell 0.57 per cent to stand at 6362.96 points in late Wednesday morning deals, as Frankfurt's DAX 30 shed 0.89 per cent to 7809.71 points and in Paris the CAC 40 slumped 1.30 per cent to 3699.78.

Madrid tumbled 1.93 per cent and Milan lost 1.56 per cent.

Italian borrowing rates fell slightly in a 10-year debt auction on Wednesday, despite concerns over a political deadlock in the recession-hit country following inconclusive elections.

Stock indices were falling "as the ongoing issues in Cyprus continue to weigh on sentiment," said Alpari trading group analyst Craig Erlam.

In foreign exchange deals, the euro dropped to $1.2782 - the lowest level since November 21 - and compared with $1.2861 late in New York on Tuesday.

Gold prices slipped to $US1592.25 ($A1525.36) an ounce from $1598 Tuesday on the London Bullion Market.

The foreign exchange market "is concerned about medium-term contagion effects" of the Cyprus bailout, said Commerzbank analyst Thu Lan Nguyen.

Troubled eurozone nation Cyprus on Wednesday scrambled to finalise capital controls to avert a run on banks, a day before they are due to reopen after a nearly two-week lockdown while the island secured a huge bailout.

Meanwhile there are fears that the controversial terms of the bailout could be mirrored in any future financial rescues of indebted eurozone members.

Nicosia overnight on Sunday-Monday agreed a last-minute deal with its international lenders that will see it receive a $13 billion rescue package to help pay its bills.

And while the decision to tax bank savings above 100,000 euros ($A123,540) raised fears of a similar move in future rescues - reinforced by comments from the head of the Eurogroup of finance ministers - officials have since insisted that Cyprus is a special case.

"The negative sentiment is also enhanced by rumours that this format will be adopted as a template for any further bailout schemes," said Currencies Direct trader Amir Khan.

"Although top officials deny any such move in the future, markets are still wary that this format will leave the banks with fewer deposits and in turn will allow them to lend less, shrinking growth."

Elsewhere on Wednesday, in indebted eurozone member Italy, the government raised three billion euros in bonds due to mature in 2023 at a rate of 4.66 per cent, compared with 4.83 per cent at the last similar auction on February 27.

Italy also raised 3.91 billion euros in five-year bonds at a rate of 3.65 per cent, slightly higher than the 3.59 per cent level in the previous comparable sale.

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Govt urged to guarantee cancer treatment

HEALTH professionals are expected to tell a senate committee hearing that no cancer patients should be impacted by cuts to federal funding for chemotherapy drugs.

The senate hearing, to be held in Sydney on Thursday, will look at the supply of chemotherapy drugs in relation to patient access to treatment, cost to pharmacists and suppliers, and the cost to the private and public hospital systems.

It will hear from cancer patient advocacy groups, oncologists, pharmacists and hospital bosses.

In a joint statement, Cancer Voices Australia and Private Cancer Physicians of Australia (PCPA) said the committee would be urged to guarantee treatment for cancer sufferers.

"The majority of those presenting at the senate hearing are expected to call on the Government to guarantee that no cancer patient is impacted upon by its failure to ensure chemotherapy services are properly funded," the statement reads.

"Right now, there are more than 40 regional cancer clinics at risk of closing or reducing their services."

If that happened, some cancer patients would have to travel long distances for treatment or be put on a public hospital waiting list, according to the statement.

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Kerry and Karzai strike upbeat note

US Secretary of State John Kerry vowed to stick by Afghanistan despite hostility towards US troops. Source: AAP

US Secretary of State John Kerry has held a second round of talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul after the two put on a public show of unity in a bid to repair damaged ties.

Kerry visited Afghanistan as the United States ceded to a key long-standing demand of Karzai by delivering full control of Bagram prison, where Taliban and al-Qaeda suspects are held north of Kabul, to Afghan forces.

Karzai had turned the fate of Bagram and its hundreds of detainees into a rallying cry for his push to take back sovereignty as the bulk of US-led combat troops prepare to leave by the end of 2014 after more than a decade of war.

The militant threat facing Afghanistan was on Tuesday again underlined when seven suicide bombers targeted a police base in the eastern city of Jalalabad.

All the attackers and five officers died in the assault, for which the Taliban claimed responsibility.

After a series of fiery anti-US outbursts from Karzai in recent weeks, both he and Kerry were keen to make a public display of friendship and stress that relations were back on track.

"Bagram prison was handed over to the Afghan government ... Finally after many years of effort we have reached a deal," Karzai told reporters at a joint press conference late Monday.

Kerry said: "The US is committed to an enduring partnership ... The US supports a strong and united Afghanistan.

"We are committed to Afghanistan's sovereignty and we will not let al-Qaeda or the Taliban shake this commitment."

Earlier this month, Karzai accused Washington of working in concert with the Taliban and his spokesman described the NATO coalition's war effort as "aimless and unwise", triggering fury from Afghanistan's foreign backers.

Responding to a storm of protest over the collusion allegations, Kerry said he was confident that Karzai "does not believe that the United States has any interest except to see the Taliban come to the table to make peace".

For his part, Karzai said: "I was interpreted as saying the US and Taliban are colluding, but I did not use this word."

Afghan forces are gradually taking on responsibility for battling the Taliban as most of the 100,000 foreign troops prepare to exit by the end of 2014.

Karzai is due to step down at elections next year, 13 years after he came to power with US backing when the hardline Taliban regime was ousted in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks of 2001.

During his trip, Kerry emphasised the importance of a credible poll in 2014, and paid tribute to Afghan MPs, rights activists and election officials.

"You're engaged in a remarkable effort and the whole world is watching," he told them on Tuesday before he flew out of Kabul.

The war in Afghanistan is increasingly unpopular in the United States, and the latest outbursts from Karzai led many US commentators to call for Washington to take a tougher stance towards Kabul.

The Afghan leader in past weeks has also demanded US special forces leave the flashpoint province of Wardak and banned international troops from university campuses, both due to unproven harassment claims.

Washington was concerned that the handover of Bagram to Afghan forces would allow suspected Taliban and al-Qaeda detainees to return to the battlefield.

But a final agreement was sealed on Saturday and a handover ceremony was held at the jail shortly before Kerry landed in Afghanistan.

20.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Mirren up for best actress Olivier award

HELEN Mirren has received another accolade for her royal performance as Queen Elizabeth II - a best-actress nomination at Britain's Olivier theatre awards.

Mirren is nominated for The Audience, alongside Hattie Morahan for A Doll's House, Billie Piper for The Effect and Kristin Scott Thomas for Old Times.

Best-actor nominees announced on Tuesday include Rupert Everett, James McAvoy, Mark Rylance, Rafe Spall and Luke Treadaway.

Nominees for musicals include Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton for Sweeney Todd, Alex Bourne and Hannah Waddingham for Kiss Me, Kate and Heather Headley for The Bodyguard.

Poignant drama The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time has eight nominations and jaunty musical Top Hat seven for the prizes, which celebrate London theatre, opera and dance.

Winners will be announced April 28.

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Ntaganda tells ICC he is innocent

CONGOLESE war crimes suspect Bosco Ntaganda has made his first appearance before the International Criminal Court, telling a judge he was innocent of charges ranging from murder and rape to using child soldiers.

The man known as The Terminator appeared on Tuesday with a shaved head, thin moustache and wearing a black suit and dark blue tie after arriving in The Hague on Friday following his surprise surrender in Rwanda.

"My name is Bosco Ntaganda, I only have the two names, the names given to me by my parents," he said when presiding judge Ekaterina Trendafilova asked him to identify himself.

"As you know, I was a soldier in the Congo," he said. "I was born in Rwanda but I grew up in the Congo. I am Congolese."

"I was informed of these crimes but I plead not guilty," Ntaganda said before Trendafilova cut him short.

"I do not want to interrupt you. The purpose of the initial appearance is a very limited one," the judge said. "You will have ample opportunities to make your point as thoroughly and necessary to the chamber."

The judge set September 23 as the date for a hearing to confirm the charges against Ntaganda, who was allegedly involved in the murder of at least 800 people in villages in the volatile DR Congo's Ituri region.

During that hearing, prosecutors must convince the court's judges they have enough evidence to take him to trial.

Ntaganda reportedly walked into the US embassy in Kigali and asked to be sent to the ICC, possibly fearing for his life as a fugitive from former comrades.

The first ever suspect to voluntarily surrender to the ICC, Ntaganda is wanted for war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed a decade ago when he was a warlord in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Tuesday's brief appearance was to verify Ntaganda's identity, read the alleged crimes and his rights under the court's founding document, the Rome Statute.

Set up just over a decade ago, the ICC is the world's only permanent criminal court to try genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

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Rodwell overwhelmed, thankful for freedom

AUSTRALIAN Warren Rodwell says he's overwhelmed by the effort put into his release from 15 months as a hostage in the Philippines.

Facing media in Manila for the first time since he was freed, Mr Rodwell said he was very happy to be there.

"There was a great sense of helplessness and hopelessness," he told reporters.

"I'm certainly overwhelmed to know the amount of effort and compassion that has been put into this operation."

He offered "heartfelt thanks" to the Filipino and Australian governments and everyone who worked to release him from the hands of al-Qaeda-linked group Abu Sayyaf.

He also told reporters he was getting stronger.

Earlier on Monday, his sister Denise Cappello and brother Wayne Rodwell also thanked authorities.

Ms Cappello wished the Philippine national police success in tracking down and capturing Mr Rodwell's abductors.

"We hope they are brought to justice so others don't have to experience what Warren has just been through," she said.

Wayne Rodwell said the family had held on to hope of his brother's safe release throughout his ordeal.

The family's immediate concern was for his health, as he would require medical support, along with time and space to recover, he said.

The pair thanked Al-Rasheed Sakkalahul, vice-governor of the Philippine island province of Basilan, saying that without his help Warren would not be free.

20.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Prince Harry to visit the US

PRINCE Harry is returning to the United States - but this time he's skipping Las Vegas.

St James's Palace said on Monday that the 28-year-old prince will travel to the US east coast as well was Denver and Colorado Springs, Colorado.

His trip will include trips to Arlington National Cemetery, Walter Reed National Medical Center and the competition between British and American veteran athletes in the Warrior Games in Colorado Springs.

He will also visit Hurricane Sandy victims in New Jersey.

Harry, who is third in line to the throne, made headlines on another US visit, when he was caught frolicking in the nude after what was alleged to have been a game of strip billiards in his Las Vegas hotel room.

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Labor's lousy week continues with Newspoll

THIS September's federal election is getting more lopsided with 30 Labor MPs likely to lose their seats, according to the latest Newspoll.

With Prime Minister Julia Gillard admonishing her own party for an "appalling" two weeks of self-indulgence, which culminated in an abortive leadership challenge, her personal standing has crashed to a 19-month low.

The government lost four experienced ministers in Chris Bowen, Martin Ferguson and Kim Carr, who all resigned, and Simon Crean, who was sacked after instigating the spill.

The Newspoll, taken over the weekend and published in The Australian on Tuesday, shows Labor's primary vote has crashed four points to a disastrous 30 per cent while the coalition has jumped six points to 50 per cent.

The Australian says that after taking into account preference flows, the government's support is eight percentage points below its level at the 2010 election - at 42 per cent - compared to the coalition's 12-month high of 58 per cent - a six-point rise.

If that sort of swing was repeated at the election 30 Labor MPs, including at least five ministers, would lose their seats.

In the preferred prime minister stakes, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott is streets ahead, 43 per cent (up five points) to 35 per cent (down seven) - the second time in three Newspoll surveys since February that he has been in front.

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Berezovsky death under investigation

Exiled Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky has been found dead in London, media reports say. Source: AAP

BRITISH police investigating the death of exiled Russian oligarch and Kremlin critic Boris Berezovsky say a search of his house by chemical, biological and nuclear experts has found "nothing of concern".

The 67-year-old who emigrated to Britain in 2000 after falling out with President Vladimir Putin was found dead in his mansion in the upmarket town of Ascot outside London on Saturday.

Police officers trained in detecting chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) material inspected the house as a precautionary measure, but have given it the all clear.

"I am pleased to say the CBRN officers found nothing of concern in the property and we are now progressing the investigation as normal," police superintendent Simon Bowden said.

He said Berezovsky's death remained "unexplained".

He survived one assassination attempt in 1995 in which a bomb decapitated his chauffeur, and openly expressed his fear that his life was in danger.

His friend and fellow Kremlin critic Alexander Litvinenko died an agonising death from radioactive poisoning in London in 2006, in what Litvinenko's widow has said was an assassination by Russian agents.

Berezovsky's wealth has diminished in recent years and last year he lost a bitter multimillion-pound legal battle with fellow British-based oligarch Roman Abramovich, the owner of Chelsea Football Club.

Berezovsky had sought more than STG3 billion ($A4.3 billion) in damages and accused Abramovich of blackmail, breach of trust and breach of contract in an oil deal.

Following his defeat in a London court, he was forced to agree to pay Abramovich STG35 million in legal costs, although there is speculation the final bill will be far greater.

The judge in the case described Berezovsky as "an unimpressive, and inherently unreliable, witness".

Berezovsky was a close confidante of former Russian president Boris Yeltsin and one of a handful of businessmen who became billionaires following the privatisation of Russian state assets in the 1990s.

But he fell out with Yeltsin's successor, Putin, and fled Russia in 2000 just in time to escape arrest on fraud charges.

Forbes' Russian-language website published an interview he gave to a journalist Ilya Zhegulev, in which Berezovsky said his "life no longer makes sense" and that all he wanted to do was return to Russia.

Zhegulev said the interview had taken place on Friday, but had not been recorded.

The tycoon's friend Demyan Kudryavtsev dismissed speculation that Berezovsky had killed himself.

"There are no external signs of a suicide," he told the Prime news agency in Russia.

"There are no signs that he injected himself or swallowed any pills. No one knows why his heart stopped."

20.07 | 0 komentar | Read More