Monthly Archives: July 2014

Thousands of people have turned up to ‘Bust the Budget’ rallies being held across the country.

More than 2000 people have turned out in Sydney’s CBD to protest the federal government’s budget. The protest – billed as Bust the Budget – began forming shortly after 12 midday on Sunday at Sydney Town Hall. Rally-goers, waving trade union flags and budget-protest placards, are converging on St Andrews square on George st.

Greens leader Christine Milne told reporters on the scene the protest was borne out of frustration against planned federal cuts to health and welfare spending.'(Tony Abbott) is making life harder for people,’ Ms Milne said.’He’s making life a misery for people who are unemployed and searching for work.

The Greens leader said incoming senators need to listen to the community and block budget measures.’You need to join with us in busting the budget,’ she said.

‘Tony Abbott is a crash or crash through prime minister. We have to make sure that in response to this budget we make sure he crashes.’Several of the government’s budget measures, including the $7 GP visit co-payment, changes to jobless benefits, a higher pension age and deregulation of university fees have been criticised as unfair.

Ms Milne said the Greens will not support the GP co-payment scheme.Treasurer Joe Hockey has said the criticism has ‘drifted to the 1970s class warfare lines’ and his budget was about equal opportunity, not equality of outcome. ‘Our duty is to help Australians to get to the starting line, while accepting that some will run faster than others,’ he said in June.

Unions NSW secretary said Sunday’s protest said there had not been such continuous outrage against a budget in 30 years. ‘People are going to come here to town hall and make it very loud and clear what they think about what happened on May 13,’ he said. He urged incoming senators to vote the budget down. Similar rallies are expected in cities across the country on Sunday.

source: skynews.com.au

Replacement goalkeeper Tim Krul was the unlikely hero for the Netherlands, coming on just for the penalty shootout and making two fine saves to eliminate Costa Rica from the 2014 World Cup.

Minnow Costa Rica’s incredible World Cup run is now over but it pushed Netherlands to the brink in their World Cup quarter-final.

Netherlands will now meet Argentina in the semi-finals.

source:news.com.au

A grab taken from a propaganda video released on July 5, 2014 by Al-Furqan Media allegedly shows the leader of the Islamic State jihadist group, Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, aka Caliph Ibrahim, addressing Muslim worshippers at a mosque in the militant-held northern Iraqi city of Mosul.

BAGHDAD — A man purporting to be the leader of the Sunni extremist group that has declared an Islamic state in territory it controls in Iraq and Syria has made what would be his first public appearance, delivering a sermon at a mosque in Iraq’s second-largest city, according to a video posted online Saturday.

The 21-minute video that is said to show Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, the head of the Islamic State group, was reportedly filmed on Friday at the Great Mosque in the northern city of Mosul. It was released on at least two websites known to be used by the organization and bore the logo of its media arm, but it was not possible to independently verify whether the person shown was indeed Baghdadi.

There are only a couple known photographs of Baghdadi, an ambitious Iraqi militant believed to be in his early 40s with a US$10-million bounty on his head. Since taking the reins of the group in 2010, he has transformed it from a local branch of Al-Qaeda into an independent transnational military force, positioning himself as perhaps the preeminent figure in the global jihadi community.

Baghdadi’s purported appearance in Mosul, a city of some 2 million that the militants seized last month, came five days after his group declared the establishment of an Islamic state, or caliphate, in the territories it seized in Iraq and Syria. The group proclaimed Baghdadi the leader of its state and demanded that all Muslims pledge allegiance to him.

In the video, the man said to be Al-Baghdadi says that the mujahedeen have been rewarded victory by God after years of jihad, and they were able to achieve their aim and hurried to announce the caliphate and choose the Imam, referring to the leader.

It is a burden to accept this responsibility to be in charge of you, he adds. I am not better than you or more virtuous than you. If you see me on the right path, help me. If you see me on the wrong path, advise me and halt me. And obey me as far as I obey God.

Speaking in classical Arabic with little emotion, he outlines a vision that emphasizes holy war, the implementation of a strict interpretation of Islamic law, and the philosophy that the establishment of an Islamic caliphate is a duty incumbent on all Muslims.

He is dressed in black robes and a black turban – a sign that he claims descent from the Prophet Muhammad. He has dark eyes, thick eyebrows and a full black beard with streaks of gray on the sides.

At the beginning of the video, the man purported to be Al-Baghdadi slowly climbs the mosque’s pulpit one step at a time. Then the call to prayer is made as he cleans his teeth with a miswak, a special type of stick that devout Muslims use to clean their teeth and freshen their breath.

The camera pans away at one point to show several dozen men and boys standing for prayer in the mosque, and a black flag of the Islamic State group hangs along one wall. One man stands guard, with a gun holster under his arm.

Aymenn Al-Tamimi, an expert on militant factions in Syria and Iraq, said Al-Baghdadi has come under some criticism since unilaterally declaring the establishment of a caliphate, in part for not appearing before the people.

He had declared himself caliph, he couldn’t hide away. He had to make an appearance at some time, Tamimi said. Traditionally, a Muslim ruler is expected to live among the people, and to preach the sermon before communal Friday prayers.

The brazenness of his purported appearance – nearly unheard of among the most prominent global jihad figures – before dozens of people, and issued on a video only a day after its occurrence, suggested the Islamic State’s confidence in their rule of Mosul.

The fact that he has done this without any consequences in Mosul’s biggest mosque is a sign of (the Islamic State group’s) power within the city, said Al-Tamimi. He said it would likely boost the morale of Baghdadi’s fighters, and deal a blow to the group’s rivals.

A senior Iraqi intelligence official said that after an initial analysis the man in the video is believed to indeed be Baghdadi. The official said the arrival of a large convoy in Mosul around midday Friday coincided with the blocking of cellular networks in the area. He says the cellular signal returned after the convoy departed.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media.

A Mosul resident confirmed that mobile networks were down around the time of Friday prayers, and then returned a few hours later. He spoke on condition of anonymity because of fears for his safety.

Another aspect of the rule Baghdadi envisions was made clear in a series of images that emerged online late Saturday showing the destruction of at least 10 ancient shrines and Shiite mosques in territory his group controls.

The 21 photographs posted on a website that frequently carries official statements from the Islamic State extremist group document the destruction in Mosul and the town of Tal Afar. Some of the photos show bulldozers plowing through walls, while others show explosives demolishing the buildings in a cloud of smoke and rubble.

Residents from both Mosul and Tal Afar confirmed the destruction of the sites.

Sunni extremists consider Shiites Muslims heretics, and the veneration of saints apostasy.

Also Saturday, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki removed the chief of the army’s ground forces and the head of the federal police from their posts as part of his promised shake-up in the security forces following their near collapse in the face of the militant surge.

Military spokesman Lt. Gen. Qassim Al-Moussawi said al-Maliki signed the papers to retire Lt. Gen. Ali Ghaidan, commander of the army’s ground forces, and Lt. Gen. Mohsen Al-Kaabi, the chief of the federal police. Moussawi said both men leave their jobs with their pensions. No replacements have been named.

source: montrealgazette.com

An eighth-minute half-volley from Napoli forward Gonzalo Higuain proved to be enough to take Argentina through to the semi-finals of Brazil 2014 at the expense of Belgium side who failed to fire in Brasilia.

The Napoli striker capitalised on an error from Belgium skipper Vincent Kompany to put La Albiceleste ahead with their first shot on target. The Belgium captain lost possession and Lionel Messi capitalised, finding Angel Di Maria on the right. The Real Madrid man then gained a slice of luck as his attempted pass to Pablo Zabaleta deflected off Jan Vertonghen and into the path of Gonzalo Higuain, who shot home first time.

The remainder of the first half was an open affair, played at an extremely high tempo as Argentina’s front three of Higuain, Messi and Di Maria constantly looked to counter against an opposition looking to force an equaliser. However, the South Americans flow was interrupted when Di Maria went off with a thigh injury after firing a shot towards goal.

The change made Sabella’s side ever more reliant on Messi and the Barcelona star almost provided Argentina’s second when he blazed a free-kick just over the bar after being fouled by Marouane Fellaini on the edge of the box. Belgium’s best chance of the half came just before the break when Vertonghen’s inswinging cross from the left was headed narrowly wide by Kevin Mirallas.

The South Americans created the first opportunity of the second half when Higuain kept the ball in play and hit a low drive towards goal. The ball ricocheted off the heel of Daniel van Buyten and out for a corner. Higuain should then have made it two when he forced Kompany into another error, allowing him a clear run on goal. The Real Madrid man just had Courtois to beat, but clipped the crossbar with his effort.

Wilmots made a double substitution on the hour mark with Romelu Lukaku and Mertens replacing Divock Origi and Mirallas. Yet it was two of their original starting 11 who combined to go close. Fellaini outjumped Basanta in the box and headed Vertonghen’s superb cross narrowly wide.

Argentina were given a scare when Ezequeil Garay almost diverted Kevin De Bryune’s low ball into his own net, but Sergio Romero was alert to the danger. A committed defensive display, plus the efforts of defensive midfielders Lucas Biglia and Javier Mascherano limited Les Diables Rouges to a handful of half-chances as their hopes of emulating the team’s showing at Mexico 1986 ebbed away.

Indeed it was a quick break from Messi which almost produced the game’s second goal in added time, but Courtois stood his ground superbly to keep his record of clean sheets intact against the Barcelona man.

And so Argentina reached the semi-finals, with another single goal win enough just as it had been in their four previous encounters at Brazil 2014. They will now face the winners of Netherlands-Costa Rica in Sao Paulo on Wednesday.

source:fifa.com

Who will Argentina and Belgium look to as they fight for a place in the final four?

Lionel Messi will look to take another step to the World Cup final later today, but which Belgium players can stop him?

We look at the three key men Alejandro Sabella and Marc Wilmots will rely on in Brasilia and see what they must do to ensure it is their team in the semi-final

Argentina

Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi, in this game, as in any other that he plays, holds the key. Messi is the only player on the pitch with the capabilities of winning this football game alone. Messi has carried Argentina up to this point, and I strongly believe that he is going to carry Argentina the whole way to winning the World Cup. Expect the lightning quick drop of a shoulder, and before you know it Messi will have scored a trademark goal.

Angel Di Maria

Undoubtedly one of the best players in Europe this season, Di Maria is part of the Argentina engine room, his pace and quality in midfield is a real plus for the side. His quick distribution to Messi will be of vital importance, if Argentina can allow for some rapid build-up play and Di Maria can find Messi in space on the counter attack it will be very difficult for the Red Devils. As we saw against Switzerland too, when needs must Di Maria can be the man to finish off an important attack.

Marcos Rojo

Marcos Rojo may have been unknown to many before this World Cup but he has certainly made a big impression in Brazil. The 24 year old left-back plays for Sporting Lisbon in Portugal, but his recent performances have seen him heavily linked with a summer transfer to Liverpool. Rojo has done on the left for Argentina what his team-mate Pablo Zabaleta is renowned for doing on the right. He has bombed forward at will, linking up with the Argentine attackers, and adding another dimension to Argentina’s play, so much so that they have crossed the ball into the box more than any other team during this World Cup. Rojo also headed home the winner in a 3-2 group stage win against Nigeria.

Left back Marcos Rojo has been one of Argentina’s biggest attacking threats

Belgium

Eden Hazard

Undoubtedly Belgium’s most dangerous attacking threat, Eden Hazard really needs to step up at this World Cup. He has bags of ability but none of it has been on show. Hazard has the pace to hurt Argentina, their defence is by no means the best in the world, and he is capable of both getting in behind the back four, and of beating full-backs in one-on-one scenarios. In those positions, he can supply his team-mates in the middle, or even cut in himself, as we see him do so often for Chelsea. Hazard really does have star quality, but he needs to show it against Argentina in order to try and help the Belgians progress.

Divock Origi

Divock Origi is another fantastic young Belgian footballer, except unlike his team-mates, Origi isn’t as well known. That will soon change, though, as Origi has been building a reputation for himself in Brazil. He came as a squad player but in the eyes of coach Marc Wilmots he may have already eclipsed Romelu Lukaku, as Wilmots opted to start with Origi as his lone striker for the last-16 clash with the USA. Origi is tall, quick and powerful, he is a confident player who hasn’t been afraid to shoot at goal from anywhere. He can hurt Argentina in a number of ways and if Belgium’s midfield can perform he will certainly get the service to do so. Lionel Messi has not scored past Thibaut Courtois in seven matches

Thibaut Courtois

For Belgium to progress, Courtois will need to play well, very well. In fact, if Lionel Messi has a great game then Courtois needs to perform better than he ever has before; and Messi is in that sort of mood. However, the Argentine has not scored in seven matches against the 6ft 6in keeper. The gangly Belgian keeper has really been on form for Atletico Madrid, and looks set to return to his parent club, Chelsea, next season. If he can be the shot stopper Atletico fans know him as against Argentina, then Belgium may progress, and Courtois may return to Chelsea, a happier man.

source: independent.co.uk

Brazil forward Neymar has been ruled out of the World Cup after fracturing a vertebra in his back in the closing stages of the 2-1 quarter-final win over Colombia in a major blow to the host nation.

Neymar, who has scored four goals in the tournament, will miss the semi-final against Germany in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST) and the final should they progress. He is expected to be out for several weeks.

“Unfortunately, he’s not going to be able to play,” said Brazil team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar.

“It’s not serious in the sense that it doesn’t need surgery, but he’ll need to immobilise it to recover,” Lasmar said after the player was taken straight to hospital from the stadium in Fortaleza.

Neymar, Brazil’s poster boy and one of the world’s most marketable players, has been driving his country’s bid for a sixth world title with his goals and creative talent.

He went down after a challenge by Colombia’s Juan Zuniga in the 88th minute and looked to be in considerable pain after what turned out to be a cracked third vertebra.

“It’s a normal action, I tried to shadow him,” defender Zuniga told reporters. “I was not thinking of hurting him. I was defending my country’s colours.”

“On the pitch I’m defending my shirt, my country, but I didn’t expect him to fracture a vertebra. He is a great talent for Brazil and for the world,” Zuniga said.

Neymar was taken straight to hospital as Brazilians across the country cheered their team’s success on home soil before the news of his injury put a damper on celebrations.

“We’ll miss him,” teammate Oscar said. “Whoever comes in in his place has to play as part of the team and beat Germany.

“The best thing we do is play as a team and I just hope that whoever comes in plays well,” the attacking midfielder said.

The 22-year-old, who plays for Spanish club Barcelona, had to be carried off on a stretcher and was replaced by defender Henrique for the final minutes of the game.

Brazil captain Thiago Silva, who will also miss the semi-final after being booked, refused to blame Zuniga for the injury.

“Zuniga is not a bad guy. But at that moment he wasn’t very prudent, he could have held up a bit, fouled in a different way.”

He said now was the time for Brazil players to come closer together and show even more solidarity on the pitch.

“In those times it is when the team shows its strength,” he said.

“Neymar is a very important guy for our group, we depend a lot on him. But potentially, this situation can mark a revolution for us, like ‘let’s win the Cup for Neymar’. This could help bring together the team even more,” he said,

Many Brazil fans had gathered outside the Fortaleza hospital, shouting “Forca Neymar” (be strong Neymar) as the player was being wheeled into the building.

Neymar also received support from the country’s president, Dilma Rousseff, who tweeted: “Like all Brazil I am one of those cheering from the sidelines for our star Neymar to get better.

source: smh.com.au

David Luiz celebrates after scoring Brazil’s second goal in the World Cup quarter-final against Colombia. Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

It was another epic thriller and the thought does occur that Brazil are in danger of wearing us all out if they continue scraping at everyone’s nerves this way.

It is both enthralling and exhausting and now they must clear their heads and get ready to do it all over again. They are, to borrow the line from Luíz Felipe Scolari, two steps from heaven, and they absolutely refuse to do it the straightforward way.

They had to survive some dreadfully fraught moments after James Rodríguez had scored his 80th-minute penalty but, terrifying as it became, they deserve their place in Tuesday’s semi-final against Germany. Brazil had played in the first half in the way the world wants Brazil to play. They had to find other qualities in that edgy finale but the defining image will be of David Luíz’s victory run after a once-in-a-lifetime free-kick.

What a moment as well for Thiago Silva, scoring the opening goal after all the scrutiny surrounding his crying habits over the last few days. It ended as a bittersweet occasion for Silva, who will be suspended from the semi-final after one booking too many. There was also the disconcerting sight of Neymar being taken off on a stretcher after taking a knee to the back, but Silva was immense as the pressure strayed towards intolerable

His goal arrived in the seventh minute and served as a reminder to Colombia that, however refined they might be, any team that defends this generously at this level cannot expect to get away with it. Neymar swung over a corner from the left and the first group of players leaping for the ball were all a few inches too short. Silva had anticipated what might happen and was making his way to the far post. Carlos Sánchez, the nearest opponent, did not react and Silva jutted out his knee to score from inside the six-yard area. And no, this time there was not even a quiver of the bottom lip.

The din when Brazil score is a rare noise: more an ambient scream than a gutteral roar. The noise was still ringing in our ears when Juan Cuadrado’s deflected shot flew narrowly wide a few minutes later. Then Hulk had two decent chances in quick succession and already it was absolutely clear the occasion was going to be every bit as breathless, captivating and borderline hysterical as we could have dared to imagine.

David Luíz could be seen whipping up the crowd’s frenzy, hair bouncing, eyes boggling. The truth is the Estádio Castelão did not need any encouragement. When everything was going well it was a shrieking, whistling pit of yellow bias. When Colombia had the ball and Rodríguez was finding space, it was an anguished, plaintive howl. Put together, it made a rare and exhilarating combination of colour and noise. And then there was David Luíz, the footballer Gary Neville once described as being operated by a kid’s remote control, setting off on a 60-yard run, slaloming and kicking his way past opponents, and very nearly beating every single player who had the temerity to get in his way. José Mourinho would have substituted him. The Castelão roared its approval. It was bedlam.

Brazil will feel they had enough chances in the opening half to have soothed the crowd’s nerves. Hulk did just about everything but score. Maicon, preferred to Dani Alves as the attacking right-back, showed how daft it is for English audiences always to associate him with one miserable night against Gareth Bale. Oscar played with a licence to roam, rather than being permanently attached to the wing. Neymar, in the battle of the No 10s, was more prominently involved than Rodríguez and Colombia would have been in serious trouble bar some desperate defending, some fine goalkeeping from David Ospina and the sometimes careless finishing of their opponents. Brazil looked like a side that had heard the criticisms of Careca and Cafu and various other former Seleção players and wanted anyone who had questioned their competitive courage to withdraw the accusation.

Fernandinho seemed too keen to spread the message at times, chopping down opponents with enough regularity to make it feel almost ludicrous that he managed to go the entire evening without a booking.

They did not let their opponents settle and perhaps that was a significant factor in why Colombia struggled for so long to find the fluency of previous appearances. The heat was sapping and the tempo did eventually slow. Yet the game was still played at a remarkable, lung-splitting pace, albeit broken up too often by the referee’s whistle.

Carlos Carballo, the Spanish official, incensed Colombia with some decisions but Silva has only himself to blame for that moment, in the 64th minute, when he blocked Ospina from taking a quick kick and then stroked the loose ball into the net. The yellow card he picked up for his troubles was his second of the competition and that could hurt Brazil on Tuesday.

A few minutes later the Colombian captain, Mario Yepes, scuffed in a shot from a goalmouth scramble only for the goal to be disallowed for an offside in the build-up. But then came the moment when the pressure was released. Rodríguez had fouled Hulk and David Luíz struck the free-kick like someone kicking an inflatable on a windy beach. The ball lurched and swerved through the air and then suddenly dipped beneath the crossbar and the most expensive defender on the planet was off, sprinting to the corner flag, veins bulging.

Rodriguez’s sixth goal of the tournament, after Júlio César had brought down the substitute Carlos Bacca, changed the complexion again. Nobody, however, should question Brazil’s nerve now.

source: theguardian.com

Bill Shorten with University of Melbourne vice-chancellor Glyn Davis at the conference yesterday. Picture: Stuart McEvoy Source: News Corp Australia

LABOR has vowed to stand firm in the face of Tony Abbott’s declaration that key budget measures will be reintroduced into the Senate if they are not passed the first time.

Bill Shorten told the Economic and Social Outlook conference “if Tony Abbott imagines that he can arrogantly force his unfair budget through the Senate by division and bullying, or by repetition, he is wrong’’.

Mr Abbott told the conference on Thursday night that he ­believed his budget would eventually be passed because Labor had no ­alternative to tackle the budget challenges facing the nation.

“Eventually — if not at the first attempt or even the second — this budget will pass, because no one has put up a credible alternative,’’ the Prime Minister said.

As Mr Abbott has sought to claim the mantle of a reforming Prime Minister, the Opposition Leader said Labor was also committed to reform.

Mr Shorten said he was a reformer “because I believe in the things that have to be done to make people’s lives better’’.

“But I am also a conserver — a conserver because I want to save what is great about our nation.

“That’s the essential choice Australia faces: what do we want to reform and improve?

“Healthcare, education, aged care, equality for women, indigenous rights, the lives of people with disability, our environment.

“And what do we want to save?

“Nothing less than the essential model that has made Australia great, defined us, and made us different.’’

Mr Shorten said Labor’s reforms on the 1980s and 1990 under the Hawke-Keating governments were not inevitable.

“They depended on political courage and policy resolve, on ­patient and careful explanation, on coalition-building and leadership from within the union movement, Labor and business,’’ Mr Shorten said.

Mr Shorten took aim at the Prime Minister’s planned paid parental leave scheme, arguing it was “extravagant”.

Labor was conscious of making sure that scarce taxpayer resources were distributed fairly, on the basis of need.

He also took aim at the damage that broken promises inflicted on the faith of the Australian people in the system. “Every time a politician breaks a promise and denies their breach of faith, the Australian people lose a bit more belief in the mainstream of Australian politics,’’ Mr Shorten said.

source: theaustralian.com

John Conomos.

Former Toyota Australia executive chairman, John Conomos has been appointed chairman of the Melbourne company that owns the miRoamer Internet radio application, which is likely to be installed in millions of General Motors vehicles from next year.

Mr Conomos, who headed Toyota Australia for decades and was the first non-Japanese executive to be appointed a managing director of the parent company, will become chairman of Connexion Media, a company attempting to raise between $3 million to $6 million in a small public float ahead of a stock exchange listing.

Connexion owns the miRoamer internet radio application which is one of two such applications chosen by General Motors (GM) for use in web-enabled vehicles in the United States and Europe.

George Parthimos, who worked for Telstra earlier in his career, is the founding director of Miroamer and will be chief executive of Connexion.

GM has already announced it will start selling internet-connected vehicles in North America next year, while in Europe authorities have made it mandatory a built-in SIM card be installed in all vehicles. The giant German Volkswagen Group has also signed an agreement for use of the miRoamer app.

The miRoamer application is essentially an in-vehicle infotainment service that allows users to listen to AM and FM radio stations from anywhere in the world, and is integrated into the GM in-car systems.

GM is currently running certification and compliance tests on the two Internet radio apps it plans to offer.

If car owners approve, the miRoamer platform would be able to amass all sorts of information about the vehicles in which it operates.

Insurance companies would be able to analyse driving patterns in particular cities or for particular models and dealers could be alerted if a vehicle needed servicing.

source: Neos Kosmos

The Greek flag is among those considered to be of the highest quality in the maritime world, with the vessels on the Greek register being among the most cutting-edge in the global seas.

This is evident in the US Coast Guard’s recognition of Greece as a Quality Flag State for another year (2015) on the strength of the exceptional performance recorded in inspections of Greek vessels at various ports. In the last three years the rate of Greek-flagged ships to be detained was below 1 per cent, which is a key condition for the US authority to issue the Quality Flag State qualification.

The Greek register therefore maintains its position as a member of the Qualship 21 program that started in 2001 and is aimed at introducing a system for the assessment of quality and for the supply of incentives for ships bearing non-US flags and travelling to American ports.

Source: ekathimerini