Swiss voters opt to keep military service

Switzerland is voting on a proposal to abolish mandatory service in its army. Source: AAP

SWISS voters have opted against abolishing the country's mandatory military service in a referendum.

The initiative by the Group for a Switzerland without an Army was rejected by more than two thirds of the voters on Sunday.

The pacifist group had advocated the introduction of a voluntary service, rather than adopting the example of other European countries that have switched to professional armies.

The government had spoken out against abolishing the current system, arguing that there would be a lack of volunteers and that this would endanger Switzerland's ability to defend itself.

23.53 | 0 komentar | Read More

Red Cross pleads for Syria donations

Red Cross Australia has made a plea to Australians to help Syrians displaced by the civil war. Source: AAP

THE CEO of Red Cross Australia has made a personal plea to Australians to "act on their compassion" and help Syrian civilians displaced by the country's humanitarian crisis.

Robert Tickner says the not-for-profit organisation's Syria Crisis 2012 Appeal has raised just over $200,000 in a year.

"It's a pretty small response so far," Mr Tickner told AAP.

"It's tiny compared to many comparable humanitarian crisis events in the past."

He described the ongoing civil conflict in Syria as a "forgotten tragedy" that rarely makes it home to the breakfast tables of the public.

"Even though we see so much on our TV screens, I think the challenge is to bring home the reality to Australians of just how much people are suffering," he said.

"Imagine if you lived in a street where most houses had been bombed, where your neighbours fled."

More than two million civilians have fled the war-torn country, with over half of them children, according the United Nations refugee agency.

Almost nine million Syrians need humanitarian assistance with more than four million desperately in need of food, Mr Tickner said.

"Australians are very compassionate people, but the challenge is to get people to act on that compassion," Mr Tickner said.

"Australia can really help a lot here."

The Australian Red Cross is raising money to support the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, which provides millions of Syrian civilians with medical supplies, food, water and shelter.

To make a donation visit www.redcross.org.au

23.53 | 0 komentar | Read More

Big 4 banks' satisfaction rating improves

AUSTRALIAN businesses are more satisfied with the big four banks than at any point in the last four years.

But satisfaction levels for National Australia Bank and ANZ continue to lag behind Commonwealth and Westpac.

The big four had an average rating of 7.3 out of 10 in August, according to the DBM Consultants Business Financial Services Monitor (BFSM).

It was the highest average satisfaction rating in the four year history of the BFSM.

"The figures for most of the major banks, not just the Commonwealth Bank, have risen since our research started four years ago," DBM Consultants Director Maria Claridad said.

The Commonwealth had the highest rating in August, with an average score of 7.6 out of 10, followed by Westpac on 7.4 out of 10.

Meanwhile, ANZ and NAB continued to lag behind on 7.0.

The BFSM surveys more than 20,000 businesses annually.

23.53 | 0 komentar | Read More

Mines will drain central Qld water: report

PROPOSED coal mines will drain the equivalent of two-and-a-half Sydney harbours of groundwater in central Queensland, a report says.

Released on Monday and commissioned by anti-mining group Lock the Gate Alliance, the report assesses mining proposals and analyses potential groundwater impacts in the Galilee basin in the state's central west.

Several mining companies have proposed more than 34 open cut and 11 underground coal mines along a 270 kilometre stretch of the cattle grazing country.

Authored by former senior Queensland government water bureaucrat Tom Crothers, the report says the mine projects combined will have an enormous impact on groundwater levels.

Mr Crothers suggests they could also interfere with the Great Artesian Basin.

The report says federal and state governments have failed to assess the cumulative impacts the mining projects will have on groundwater relied upon by farmers and towns.

"Groundwater drawdown will significantly reduce the ability for surrounding graziers and towns to supply their water needs," it says.

Mr Crothers estimates the mines would consume a total of 1354 billion litres over project life estimations of between 30 and 90 years.

This is the equivalent of two-and-a-half Sydney Harbours removed from underground storages. Towns affected include Jericho and Alpha, west of Emerald.

Lock the Gate Alliance spokeswoman Ellie Smith says mining approvals in the area should be suspended until the government undertakes further studies.

"Our communities depend on groundwater - it's our lifeblood," she said.

"The coal companies and our governments are treating us with contempt by rushing ahead to develop these damaging mines without even quantifying the true risk to the region's water resources."

23.53 | 0 komentar | Read More

Bangladesh garment workers, police clash

POLICE have fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse thousands of garment workers who blocked streets outside Bangladesh's capital to demand factory owners raise their minimum wage.

Police say at least 50 people were injured in Sunday's clashes outside Dhaka.

Police official Abul Kalm Azad said the workers were demanding that their minimum monthly wage be increased to 8114 takas ($A105), up from the current 3000 takas ($A40).

He said the workers attacked some factories and torched a van.

Factory owners are unwilling to increase the wage beyond 3600 takas, according to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association.

Bangladesh earns about $US20 billion a year from exports of garment products.

23.53 | 0 komentar | Read More