UK car manufacturing rises 1.1%

THE number of cars built in the UK increased by 1.1 per cent in the first half of the year, to 764,390 units, figures have shown.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said growth was 4.6 per cent in the second-quarter of the year and 10.4 per cent in June.

Four out of five cars built in the UK are exported, but the SMMT said higher output for the home market, up 24.4 per cent, had boosted volumes.

"Car output in the UK grew during the first half of 2013, up 1.1 per cent, building on a strong 2012 when manufacturing performed above pre-recession levels," said Mike Baunton, SMMT interim chief executive.

"Subdued demand in some European countries has held back production levels this year, but it is encouraging to see a significant rise in volumes destined for UK buyers.

"Our industry is building and developing innovative, high-quality products that appeal to a global customer base and because of this, independent analysts are confident that car output will grow in the long-term despite economic concerns on the continent."

00.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

First test for PNG deal after boat arrives

A new approach to boat arrivals could save lives, Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare says. Source: AAP

MORE than 80 boat people are facing transfer to Papua New Guinea under the government's tough new asylum seeker plan, after their vessel was intercepted off Christmas Island.

A boat with 81 passengers and two crew on board was stopped by HMAS Bathurst on Saturday morning, with the mostly Iranian asylum seekers transferred to Christmas Island for health checks.

Immigration Minister Tony Burke confirmed they would be the first processed under the government's hardline approach, which will see those seeking asylum sent to Manus Island with no chance of resettlement in Australia.

Mr Burke said the 81 on board Saturday's boat arrival were a mix of single-adult males and family groups, but he could not confirm if there were any unaccompanied children.

Families and kids would be spared immediate transfer to PNG, because of the inadequate state of facilities on Manus Island, he said.

"As soon as I believe we're able to have appropriate accommodation and services, then transfer to Papua New Guinea will occur," Mr Burke said.

Interception of the vessel came as the government launched a nation-wide newspaper, radio and television blitz with the message: "If you come here by boat without a visa you won't be settled in Australia".

Mr Burke dismissed claims from refugee advocates that the government's policy was inhumane, saying there is nothing compassionate about allowing people to die at sea.

He also said he was "shocked" at those who said the advertising campaign was waste of taxpayers money.

"I want the message to get out, and I want there to be fewer people drowning on the high seas," Mr Burke said.

"I make no apology for that, and if the advice comes back that more advertising will help get that message out further I'll be authorising more."

Outflanked by the government's tough stance on asylum seekers, announced by Kevin Rudd on Friday, the coalition continued to question the prime minister's ability to deliver on the PNG asylum seeker deal.

Addressing the Liberal National Party state conference in Brisbane, Tony Abbott praised PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill as a "good man", but said "I will never subcontract out to other countries the solution of problems in this country".

"If you want solutions for this country you can't rely on the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, you've got to be able to rely on the Prime Minister of Australia, and I am someone the Australian people can rely on," the opposition leader said.

Coalition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison said: "The problem is not with the idea but with this government's inability to implement ideas".

Greens immigration spokeswoman Senator Sarah Hanson-Young labelled the agreement with PNG "a rush to cruelty as Kevin Rudd rushes to the polls".

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights said the plan would expose asylum seekers "to greater harm".

"Australia's obligations are not met by effectively engaging in the people trade itself: paying poor and needy countries to take asylum seekers and refugees who sought Australia's protection," president John Southalan said in a statement.

The United Nations refugee agency, the UNHCR, said it had not been involved in the agreement between Australia and the PNG, and that it was seeking more information about the deal.

The policy arrived on the same day that inmates at the Nauru immigration detention centre rioted over delays to their refugee claims, resulting in tens of millions of dollars worth of damage.

00.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

$A firms as traders overlook Detroit woes

THE Australian dollar is slightly firmer after a quiet day of trade.

At the close on Friday, the currency was worth 91.71 US cents, up from Thursday's 91.52 cents.

Bond markets gained strength after Detroit became the largest city in US history to file for bankruptcy, following decades of decline in the rundown heartland of American car manufacturing.

But Commonwealth Bank chief currency strategist Richard Grace said the Australian dollar, which is often tied to risk sentiment, appeared to be unfazed as credit ratings agency Moody's upgraded its outlook for the US from negative to stable.

"That would have offset an issue about Detroit. I don't think it's had a big impact at all," he said.

As the local session ended, the Australian dollar was worth 91.75 Japanese yen, down from Thursday's close of 91.82 yen, and 69.82 euro cents, down from 69.85 euro cents.

The Australian dollar reached an intraday high of 91.96 US cents in early afternoon trade.

The currency had earlier dropped against a resurgent greenback, following stronger than expected manufacturing data and a 24,000 drop in weekly jobless claims.

But Mr Grace said there was no one factor which helped the Australian dollar recover.

"It's been very, very quiet," he said.

"It's hard to pull out any particular catalyst for a direction. It really is."

Meanwhile, Australian bond futures contract prices have finished flat, with 10-year bonds recovering from heavy losses on the Detroit news.

At 1630 AEST the September 10-year bond futures contract was trading at 96.325 (implying a yield of 3.675 per cent), down marginally from 96.330 (3.670) on Thursday.

The September three-year bond futures contract was at 97.310 (2.690 per cent), up from 97.300 (2.700 per cent).

00.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

Cathy Freeman flies flag for diabetes

Athletics hero Cathy Freeman will run in a fun event on Sunday to mark the end of Diabetes Week. Source: AAP

ATHLETICS hero Cathy Freeman will be running for the lives of 1.5 million Australians with diabetes in a fun event on Sunday.

The Olympic gold medallist and former Australian of the Year says she is living proof that diabetes can affect anyone, regardless of how fit they are.

"I live with type 2 diabetes. As someone who exercises regularly and takes care of what I eat, it was a bit of a shock to find out about my diagnosis.

"It highlights how indiscriminate and common the condition is. Everyone should look out for the warning signs, know the risks and have regular checks with their doctor," says Freeman, who is 40-years-old.

She will be running in a 5km fun run in Melbourne on behalf of Diabetes Australia Victoria and healthcare company Abbott.

The run marks the end of Diabetes Week.

"Although I had immediate family members who are living with type 2 diabetes, I didn't realise that increased my risk," says Ms Freeman.

She was diagnosed with pre-diabetes in 2011 shortly before becoming pregnant with her first child, Ruby. She later developed type 2 diabetes.

"I'm proud to be running with more than 160 fellow Australians who are either living with or have family members or friends impacted by diabetes."

Freeman in 1992 became the first Aboriginal person to represent Australia at the Olympics.

The rate of type 2 diabetes for Aboriginal Australians is estimated to be three times higher than for other Australians.

Other risk factors include family history, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease.

Craig Bennett, CEO of Diabetes Australia Victoria, says around 280 Australians are diagnosed with diabetes every day.

"That is more than 100,000 Australians diagnosed every year. Reducing this number is vital."

00.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

NSW govt waters down its line on alcohol

THE NSW opposition and Greens have angrily declared the alcohol lobby the winner after the government released its new guidelines on alcohol promotion.

The guidelines ban the use of merchandise, interactive games or technology that appeals to minors.

They also provide for fines of $5500 for licensees who encourage drinking through free, heavily discounted or all-you-can-drink offers, as well as promotions that encourage irresponsible drinking.

However the government has dropped a planned ban on promoting advertising in places where minors frequent, on celebrities advertising alcohol to young people and on sex being used to sell alcohol.

A ban on promotions offering discounts on alcohol of more than 50 per cent has also disappeared from the draft compiled in August last year.

The opposition said lobbying from the alcohol industry resulted in a drastic watering down of what was supposed to have been a crackdown on irresponsible promotion of liquor.

The Greens claimed the Australian Hotels Association had been given "privileged access" by the NSW Government to rewrite the draft for the updated liquor promotion guidelines released on Thursday.

Acting Hospitality Minister Andrew Stoner said the guidelines would address the dramatic rise in the sale and promotion of alcohol online since the last guidelines were introduced in 2009.

"The new guidelines not only address the promotion of alcohol through supermarket vouchers and shopper dockets, but also the specific use of social media and interactive technology to promote alcohol consumption," Mr Stoner said.

Deputy opposition leader Linda Burney said the guidelines appeased the alcohol industry, including big retailers such as Coles and Woolworths.

"This set of guidelines has been watered down the point where it's actually a sop to the alcohol industry," Ms Burney told reporters.

Greens MP John Kaye said the AHA had been given "privileged access" to rewrite the draft guidelines.

Mr Kaye referenced a letter from the AHA to the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing which specifically asked for the removal of the ban on using celebrities and other youth role models from promoting alcohol.

Coles has previously said it had simply made representations regarding the guidelines as was appropriate in any robust debate on regulatory issues.

00.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

European stocks dip at open

EUROPE'S main stock markets have slid at the start of trading, with London's benchmark FTSE 100 index losing 0.20 per cent to 6,558.80 points.

In Frankfurt, the DAX 30 retreated 0.19 per cent to 8,239.38 points and in Paris the CAC 40 shed 0.24 per cent to 3,862.63 compared with Wednesday's closing values.

00.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

S Korea blames North for cyber attacks

SOUTH Korea has blamed North Korea for a crippling cyber attack last month against a number of government and news media websites.

The South's science ministry said hackers in the attack from June 25 to July 1 used at least one IP address that was used in earlier attacks blamed on North Korea.

"North Korea is believed to be behind the attack," senior ministry official Park Jae-Moon told reporters on Tuesday.

North Korea was blamed for major intrusions in 2009 and 2011 that targeted South Korean financial institutions and government agencies.

Seoul also accused Pyongyang's military intelligence agency of launching a major cyber attack in March, which shut down the networks of three TV broadcasters and crippled operations at three banks.

The malware used in last month's attack was found to be a variation of the one used in the March 20 cyber attack, Park said.

Almost all websites and servers of 69 government offices and private organisations targeted in the attack were now operating normally, Park said.

00.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

Large underwater cliff discovered off Qld

SCIENTISTS have uncovered a rare 800 metre underwater cliff off far north Queensland which could reveal the ancient past of the area.

The cliff was found during a recent expedition by one of Germany's largest research ships, the RV Sonne, which made a 3D map of 18,000 kilometres of the northern Coral Sea.

"It's really striking and unusual," James Cook University researcher Dr Robin Beaman, who has been studying the maps, said.

The cliff is located about 130km northeast of Cooktown on Cape York and runs 30km along the Queensland Plateau - a large submarine plateau off the eastern side of the state.

The top of the cliff lies 1800 metres below sea level and drops 2600m vertically into the Queensland Trough.

It's thought the cliff could record the layers of coral growth that formed on the Queensland Plateau before it subsided to its present depth over the past several million years.

"It's like a road cutting, when you drive through you can see the layers of the rock, but it's like a giant version of that," Dr Beaman said.

"We're very keen to go and have a look at it and study it."

It's likely the cliff will be home to an array of marine life.

The RV Sonne also mapped and collected samples from the seafloor of enormous canyons that border the Great Barrier Reef.

Sediments from the reef have been deposited in these areas over millions of years, so the samples could provide insight into the reef's history.

"Examining sediment cores is much like looking at tree rings to understand the changes to the environment during the life of a tree," Dr Beaman said.

He says it will also reveal the effects of climate change.

Dr Beaman says mapping the area will help scientists better understand the Coral Sea and Great Barrier Reef and ensure it's effectively protected.

"It shows there is still much to discover about the deep environments of the Coral Sea."

00.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

Plibersek angry over UK tobacco backdown

FEDERAL Health Minister Tanya Plibersek has criticised the UK government for abandoning plans to follow Australia's lead and introduce plain packaging for cigarettes.

It was disappointing the UK was taking "a step back" when other countries such as Ireland and New Zealand were pushing ahead.

"I think this does show the continued effort of big tobacco to prevent plain packaging," she told reporters in Canberra on Monday.

British Prime Minister David Cameron is under pressure to sack his Australian election strategist, former Liberal Party federal director Lynton Crosby, over his links to tobacco giant Philip Morris.

"It's very clear Lynton Crosby has been a key adviser in this move to dump plain packaging in the UK," Ms Plibersek said.

British newspapers are reporting that Mr Crosby's lobbying firm works for Philip Morris.

Ms Plibersek said data was unavailable on whether the introduction of plain packaging in Australia had hit cigarette sales.

But she is confident it's working.

Since Australian laws came into effect in December last year, tobacco companies have launched a challenge with the World Trade Organisation.

British American Tobacco Australia senior corporate affairs manager Scott McIntyre said early figures show the legal tobacco market has remained stable since plain packs were introduced in Australia.

"There has been no initial impact on legal tobacco sales in the first six months due to plain packaging as smokers are still purchasing cigarettes just like they were before," he said in a statement.

He said it was early days and to assess the situation properly more time was needed to see if there were any trends.

02.31 | 0 komentar | Read More

More than 5700 missing after India floods

Indian authorities estimate more than 5700 people are missing, presumed dead, after the floods. Source: AAP

A TOTAL of 5748 people missing after last month's floods in northern India are presumed dead, authorities say.

Anyone still untraced would be declared dead to allow the government to start paying their families compensation, Uttarakhand state Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna.

"We will issue the list later today," he said in state capital Dehradun on Monday.

The government would pay 500,000 rupees ($A9218) for each victim, he said.

Heavy monsoon rains in mid-June caught thousands of pilgrims visiting Hindu shrines in the Himalayan region, tourists and locals, triggering devastating landslides and flash floods.

The earlier confirmed death toll was around 900.

Piyush Rautela, director of Uttarakhand's disaster management division, said the exact number may never be known.

"Many of the bodies may have been washed away by raging rivers or buried under debris," he said.

Nearly 109,000 people were rescued in land and air operations by the military.

The early monsoon rains flooded 4200 villages, and were estimated to be the heaviest in the region in 88 years.

Rautela said the administration was still providing relief materials including food and medicine to people in remote areas, as well as rebuilding roads and bridges destroyed by floods.

02.31 | 0 komentar | Read More

Malian troops to open Bastille Day

TROOPS coming from Mali and 12 other African countries will march with the French military in an unusual Bastille Day parade in Paris, to honour their efforts against terrorism.

Beyond the triumphal display on the Champs-Elysees on Sunday, including flyovers by fighter jets, the realities in Mali suggest that President Francois Hollande's first military intervention has had mixed results.

The mission he launched in January helped the Malian government retake control of much of the country from al-Qaeda-linked extremists who had seized northern Mali and threatened the capital.

The country is heading for elections July 28, but tensions involving rebel Tuaregs in the north linger, along with political instability.

00.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

PM swamped by supporters in Cairns

PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd is sure to smell good during his visit to Papua New Guinea after buying six bars of soap from a Queensland market.

Gripping papayas, bread and other goods, his supporters pushed their way through a large crowd to catch a glimpse of the country's leader during his visit to Cairns on Sunday.

As he made his way through Rusty's Market in the CBD he stopped at Maria Dougan's soap stall.

"He asked me what I'd charge for the one soap and I told him it would be $2 or he could purchase six for $10," she told AAP.

"I have to say I was a bit starstruck, so we didn't talk about anything else. I was a bit shocked by all these people."

Ms Dougan called the prime minister a gentlemen and said he had a lot of support.

Shortly after shaking Mr Rudd's hand Lenita Taru, who lives in Cairns but is from PNG, said the prime minister had a good spirit.

"He's a good man for the people, he listens to their cries," she said.

"He comes down to our level and says your problem is my problem, that's why we love him."

But not everyone was happy to see him.

Local woman Val, 68, had to be restrained briefly by bodyguards after lunging at Mr Rudd, saying he wasn't doing enough to stop illegal immigrants coming to Australia.

"He's letting illegal immigrants into the country and they're bludging off us," she later told AAP.

"Every time Labor comes into power they get us in the red, every time Liberals get in we're in the green."

Mr Rudd heads to PNG later on Sunday to hold talks with Prime Minister Peter O'Neill about law and order issues in some of PNG's major cities.

00.51 | 0 komentar | Read More