Silvertips Select Karamnov in CHL Import Draft

Everett, WA - June 27, 2007: Everett Silvertips VP/General Manager, Doug Soetaert, has selected Vitali Karamnov in the 1st round (60th overall) in the 2007 CHL Import Draft on Wednesday afternoon. The Moscow, Russia native was the captain for Team Russia at the 2007 Under-18 World Championships and the 2006 World Junior-A Challenge
During the 2006-2007 season, Karamnov recorded 27 goals and 26 assists for 53 points in 50 games for Dynamo Moscow. At the Under-18 World Championships in Finland, the 6'1, 180 pound center tallied 3 assists in 7 games to help Russia win the gold medal. At the 2006 World Junior-A Challenge in Yorkton, SK, Karamnov posted 2 goals and 2 assists in 4 games to help Russia win the bronze medal.
NHL Central Scouting had Vitali ranked 19th among all European Skaters in their final rankings but was not drafted in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. According to Central Scouting, Karamnov is a skilled two-way center with good skating skills and soft hands. He has a good hockey sense and passes the puck well. Vitali is very defensively reliable and does what it takes for the team to win.
Karamnov's father, Vitali Karamnov Sr. played in 92 career NHL games with the St. Louis Blues and tallied 32 points. He was a 3rd round pick (62nd overall) of the Blues in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft.
The CHL, which governs the three Major Junior leagues, (WHL, OHL, QMJHL) annually, holds an Import Draft. This draft allows Major Junior teams to select players who are of junior age (17-20) and are playing outside of North America, and are thereby given an opportunity to play in the CHL. Each junior team is allowed only two import players per year on their active rosters.

Japan, U.S. begin talks on easing beef restrictions

Japan and the United States began two-days of working-level talks Wednesday in Tokyo to discuss import restrictions on U.S. beef.
The focus is whether Japan will consider easing the limit on beef from cattle aged 20 months old or younger, a measure stemming from concern about mad cow disease.
Officials and experts from both sides will use scientific data to examine whether it is safe to import meat from older American cattle, including cattle under 30 months old. The two countries plan to compile a report as early as next month based on the results of their discussions, the officials said.
The meeting comes after the World Organization for Animal Health, which is known as the OIE and deals with safety standards for preventing mad cow disease, gave the green light last month for the U.S. to export beef regardless of the age of the cattle.
Japanese officials have said any possibility of Japan's easing the age limit would be based on scientific study and in response to public health concerns.
The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry and the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry are taking part in the talks with representatives of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Japan banned U.S. beef after the first U.S. case of mad cow disease, the brain-wasting condition also known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, was discovered in America in December 2003. The ban was briefly lifted in 2005, and finally removed last July.

Japan, U.S. hold beef import talks

TOKYO - Japan and the U.S. began a two-day meeting on U.S. beef imports Wednesday to exchange views as the U.S. calls for an easing of Japan‘s tough import restrictions.
In May, the World Organization for Animal Health ruled that the United States was a "controlled risk nation" — a country that can export beef from cattle of any age. The U.S. has cited that report in urging Japan to review its policy.
Japan is also expected to submit an interim report on its own study of mad cow disease detected in cows 21 and 23 months old in the meeting of agriculture officials of both countries, according to Katagai. Japanese foreign ministry and health officials also take part.
Japan banned American beef imports in December 2003 after the first case of mad cow disease — or bovine spongiform encephalopathy — was found in the U.S.
Tokyo eased the restrictions again last July, but allowed only meat from cows 20 months old or younger to enter Japan. Japan also bans meat with certain bone or spinal material attached.

Dogs Pick Highly-touted Swiss Goalie In Import Draft

SAINT JOHN, June 27, 2007 - A top-ranked goaltender which one respected scouting organization describes as an NHL star in the making became the Saint John Sea Dogs choice at the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) import draft today.
Swiss backstop Robert Mayer, 6'0 and 189 pounds, played last season at both the junior and professional levels for EHC Kloten Flyers in Switzerland. The 17-year-old's star rose significantly at the Under-18 World Championships this past April in Finland where he was named the best goaltender in the tournament.
The Sea Dogs had the 3rd pick overall in the import draft.
Jacques Beaulieu, general manager and head coach of the Sea Dogs, said he is thrilled to have Mayer in the fold.
"We worked very hard for this pick," he said. "We actually brought Robert in to see the city and to see the organization. We have added a lot of depth in our goaltending and we feel strongly that Robert is going to be a high NHL pick and is going to play a lot of games for us over the next couple of years."
Mayer's agent, Scott Russell, said his client is "extremely excited" about coming to both the CHL and the Sea Dogs, particularly with 2007-2008 being his NHL draft year.
"He's a very unique, special player," said Russell. "The fans are going to absolutely love this kid. He's highly-focused and he knows what he has to do this coming year."
At the World Under-18's, Mayer turned heads with a stunning 92.41 save percentage and a goals against average of 2.17 in five games played. He was named player of the game in a win against Sweden and was selected most valuable player of the tournament for Team Switzerland.
The scouting review, Red Line Report, is eloquent in its praise of Mayer, using such phrases as "very complete" and "very composed."
"This fabulous underage goaltender was easily the best goalie at the World U-18s and would be a top eight overall pick if available to the NHL this year (2007 NHL entry draft)," stated Red Line.
The addition of Mayer to the Sea Dogs goaltending tandem comes in the wake of several other high-profile off-season signings. Defenceman Simon Despr�s and forward Steven Anthony were considered the top-two picks at the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) draft held earlier this month in Drummondville, QC.
Wayne Long, president of the Sea Dogs, said the adding of Mayer to the hockey club "shows our commitment to winning. The excitement in the city continues to build which is being demonstrated by the growing interest in season tickets for next year."

Rockets Announce First Round Pick in 2007 CHL Import Draft

Kelowna, BC: With the seventh overall selection in the 2007 CHL Import Draft, the Kelowna Rockets have chosen forward MILAN KYTNAR of Slovakia.
Kytnar, 6'0" 183, is a native of Topolcany, Slovakia and was picked by the Edmonton Oilers in the 5th round, 127th overall, in this past weekend's NHL Draft. A centerman, Kytnar is described by NHL Central Scouting as "... a hardworking, 2-way player with good hands that are particularly quick in the face-off circle."
This past season, Kytnar scored 91 points in 53 games in the Slovakian Junior League while posting an eye-popping +78 rating. Later in the season he also played 26 games in the Slovakian Senior League (second division) where he scored 5 goals and 13 points.
As well, he was the Captain of Team Slovakia at the recently completed World Under-18 Championships held in Finland. He was also the tournament's second leading scorer. It was in Finland where Rockets' President and General Manager, Bruce Hamilton, saw Kytnar perform.
"Certainly, in my mind, he was the best player on the Slovakian team," said Hamilton. "He reminds me a bit of Tyler Spurgeon with his style only he's probably a better skater than Tyler. He works the puck down low in the offensive end very effectively and he loves to take the puck to the net and make plays."
"When the Oilers took him in the NHL Draft, I was afraid that might tip off some other teams and we wouldn't get him," continued Hamilton. "We were watching anxiously and hoping he'd slide to us and he did."
"Today's a good day for our organization. We got the guy we targeted. And, I've seen him play so he's not an unknown commodity."
The Rockets next selection in the Import Draft (43rd overall) will take place at 1:30 PDT this afternoon.

Mooseheads take Czech forward Knotek in import draft

The Halifax Mooseheads got their man in the Canadian Hockey League import draft on Wednesday.
The Mooseheads selected 17-year-old Czech forward Tomas Knotek sixth overall, giving them yet another offensive threat to bolster their hopes for a championship next season.
"We identified him a while ago, with our scouts in the Czech Republic, as the player we wanted and we’re glad we got him," said Mooseheads general manager Marcel Patenaude.
"He’s a very talented centre that is able to create a lot on offence. He’s a good passer (with) good skill. He’s that type of player; very intelligent."
Knotek played for HC Kladno in the Czech Under-20 (Junior) Extraliga last season, leading his team in scoring with 20 goals and 49 points in 38 games. He was also a member of the Czech team at the 2007 World Under-18 Championship in Finland in May where he scored one goal in six games.
The six-foot-one, 170-pound Knotek is also a former teammate and from the same city in the Czech Republic as Halifax star forward Jakub Voracek. Voracek gave his countryman a solid endorsement.
"Jakub knows him pretty well and his family knows him well. He had a lot of good things to say about the way he plays," Patenaude said. "He’s a Kladno kid and they have a great program there. A lot of great players have come out of Kladno so we’re very happy. Our scout put him first for Czech players."
Patenaude hopes Knotek will compete for a spot on one of the team’s scoring lines but didn’t want to project too much because the team already has a wealth of high-end forwards returning. But with that said, as long as the reports about Knotek are accurate, he should be able to step in and contribute right away.
"That’s always hard to establish but what I hear from our scouts, his agent (Allan Walsh) and from Jakub, he’s very talented and let’s hope he’ll shine here in Halifax," Patenaude said.
The Mooseheads have a long relationship with Walsh, who always delivers when he promises that his player will report. Patenaude said Walsh has arranged for Knotek to spend the summer in Montreal training as well.
"He’s serious about being a hockey player and that’s a good sign," Patenaude said. "He’ll be here for sure."
Kladno is currently rated 57th by Red Line Report for players eligible for the 2008 NHL draft.
The Cape Breton Screaming Eagles grabbed goaltender Marek Benda from the Czech Republic with their first pick in the draft (30th overall) and took Czech defenceman Jan Piscacek with their second pick (51st overall). Benda was rated as the ninth-best goaltender (130th overall) by Red Line Report for the 2007 NHL draft but was passed over. He played for HC Karlovy Vary of the Czech Under-20 Extraliga last season. Piscacek, a six-foot, 190-pound 18-year-old, played for HC Kladno last year.
The Screaming Eagles traded their second-round import pick (111th overall) and a fourth-round pick in the 2008 QMJHL draft to the Quebec Remparts for the 30th overall pick. The Remparts also scrambled to acquire another second-round import pick from the Rimouski Oceanic after Russian twins Ruslan and Roman Bashkirov informed them on Tuesday they would not return for a second season.

Mideast giants mulling coal import for power

DUBAI/LONDON: They hold over 30% of global oil and nearly 8% of gas reserves, but at least four Gulf Arab states are considering importing coal for power generation as they struggle to meet domestic demand.Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman and Bahrain are all looking at the possibility of building coal-fired power plants, analysts and industry sources said. The region’s electricity needs are soaring as petrodollars feed rapid economic expansion.“It’s absurd in a way but there is not enough gas,” said Mark Lewis, Managing Director of Energy Market Consultants.“They have a serious problem in power generation and are having difficulties balancing their systems. Coal is a well known technology and could be built fairly quickly. It’s probably quicker than the lead times for importing gas.”Coal was unlikely ever to make up a large part of power generation capacity in the Gulf, but it may help meet some of the rocketing demand, analysts said.It would also make commercial sense if producers can export the oil they might otherwise burn for power and import coal more cheaply, analyst said.“This merely reflects the existing commercial realities,” said one analyst. “Oil is more expensive than coal. It’s a kind of carbon-arbitrage.”The Middle East’s coal reserves are negligible, according to the BP Statistical Review. Coal traders and producers said South Africa was the most economic source of coal for the Gulf.According to data from the World Coal Institute, benchmark London Brent light crude cost five times more than coal last year. Gas was about four times the price of coal. Even adjusting for the lower amount of energy in coal, coal is still far cheaper a fuel source than oil.Gulf countries have other motives for limiting the burning of gas in power plants. In their drive to diversify economies and create jobs, the region’s oil and gas producers have encouraged the growth of energy-intensive industries such as petrochemicals and aluminium.The high cost of bringing shipping into the Gulf, due to the war-risk premium for insurance in the volatile region, would make coal plants outside the Gulf more economic than any inside it, industry sources said.Oman was the most likely of the four countries to actually build a coal-fired plant, they said. It is mulling a plant at Raysut, on the Gulf of Oman and outside of the Strait of Hormuz.Fujairah would be the top site for a UAE coal-fired power plant, as it too lies outside the Strait, sources said.The Paris-based International Energy Agency, adviser to 26 oil consuming countries, said in a report earlier this month that Saudi Arabia was looking at building a plant on its west coast, on the Red Sea.Saudi Electricity discounted coal as one of the fuels it would use to boost generation capacity in the world’s largest oil exporter to 54,000 megawatts by 2015, up from 36,000MW at the end of last year.Still, industry sources said the Saudi government, like its neighbours, would consider all options including coal to avoid a power supply crunch.Saudi Electricity has asked industrial users to change working shifts to non-peak power demand hours as it looks to avoid a repeat of last year’s blackouts.The Gulf states’ move to coal-fired generation echoes a process already underway in Russia.Russia is a major exporter of oil, gas and coal to the Atlantic and Pacific markets. Russia has for many years relied on gas for the bulk of its power generation but this year the government announced that it would shift to predominantly coal-fired generation over the next several years.This will enable Russia to increase its generation capacity substantially and maximise exports of gas which is more expensive than coal.Tight gas supplies have already led some of the Middle East’s cement producers to turn to coal to fire furnaces.In the UAE’s northern emirates of Fujairah and Ras al-Khaimah, cement makers are expected to import around 500,000 tonnes of South African coal during the next six months, up from almost nothing during the past several years.

T-Birds Select Finnish Goalie In Import Draft

Seattle, June 27, 2007 - The Seattle Thunderbirds selected goalie Riku Helenius with the 46th overall selection in the 2007 CHL Import Draft Wednesday afternoon.
Helenius was selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round, 15th overall, of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. He signed a professional contract with the Lightning at the conclusion of his 2006-07 season.
"We spoke to Tampa Bay a year ago about adding Helenius to our team but the player was not ready to come at that time," said T-Birds General Manager Russ Farwell. "There is a good chance this year he could come over and we felt we would take that chance because this combination would give us the best 1-2 goalie combination in our division."
"Our division has very strong goaltending again this year, but this would set us up perfectly," continued Farwell. "Jacob DeSerres has taken a step towards being one of the top goaltenders in his age group and Riku will give us the perfect starter for Jacob to develop with."
"If we are able to recruit Helenius he will probably play in the world junior tournament and we will have quality goaltending right through that period."
The Western Hockey League (WHL), along with the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) and the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), are the three leagues that take part in the CHL Import Draft.
An Import Player is defined as a player whose parent (s) do not reside in Canada or the United States as of January 11 preceding that year's CHL Import Draft. If a CHL club has no Import Players, they are eligible to draft two Import Players, if they have one import, they are allowed to draft one, and if they have two Import Players they are not eligible to participate in the draft.
T-Birds Training Camp starts August 26 at Kingsgate Ice Arena in Kirkland.
Season tickets are currently on sale for 2007-08 at KeyArena. Fans purchasing 2007-08 season tickets will have the highest seating priority for the 2008-09 season as the Thunderbirds open the new Amiga Center at Kent. Priority can be established right now by calling 206-448-PUCK (7825) or for more information go to www.seattlethunderbirds.com.

Wheat Kings Opt For Russian

Toronto, Ontario -- The Western Hockey League's Brandon Wheat Kings used their first round selection (49th overall) to select highly touted Russian defenceman Nikolai Lukyanchikov in Wednesday's Canadian Hockey League Import Draft.
A 5'11" 185 lb. blueliner, the undrafted Lukyanchikov is expected to join left-winger Daniel Bartek on this year's roster.
As a member of Kapitan Stupino of the Russian Senior Hockey League this past season, Lukyanchikov scored four goals and nine points in 36 regular season games. As well, he had one goal and recorded a +4 ranking at this year's World Under 18 Championships in Finland.
"Nikolai is a good offensive defenceman," Brandon Wheat Kings' coach and general manager Kelly McCrimmon said after making the selection. "He moves the puck well and has good hockey sense."
Lukyanchikov is only the third Russian to be chosen by the Wheat Kings in the history of the Import draft. Brandon drafted Oleg Tverdovsky in 1994, before taking a chance on Igor Musatov last June.
Recent first round import picks of the Wheat Kings have included the likes of Norwegian blueliner Ole-Kristian Tollefsen, Finnish forward Sami Sandell, Jakub Sindel of the Czech Republic and Swiss sniper Juraj Simek, who scored 28 goals and 57 points in 58 games for Brandon last season.
The WHL's newest team, the Edmonton Oil Kings, had the first pick in today's proceedings and used it to select 6'2" 198 lb. center Tomas Vincour of the Czech Republic. The Ontario Hockey League's Erie Otters and the Saint John Sea Dogs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League used the second and third picks overall to grab goalkeepers. While Erie opted for 18-year old Jaroslav Janus of Slovakia, the Sea Dogs selected 18-year old Robert Mayer of the Kloten Flyers.
What made this year's draft interesting is the fact that only 45 European players were chosen at this year's NHL Entry Draft in Columbus. That was well down from the record 123 picked by NHL teams in 2000. Of that total, only nine Russians were selected.

Kings of the imports

The Edmonton Oil Kings have the pick of the litter heading into this morning's CHL Import Draft.
But there's more to the draft than just taking the best European hockey player available.
"We talk to their agents as to whether their client is willing to come over and play," said Oil Kings general manager Bob Green. "We also sometimes have agents submit a list of kids to us that are willing to come over. It can be quite a process."
The Oil Kings have the top pick in the draft this morning.
Green would not divulge who the team was going to select, but he did indicate it will be a forward and a younger one at that.
"Because we're looking at a younger guy, it's tough to say if he's going to impact our lineup right away," Green said.
"Like a lot of Europeans there's an adjustment period for them to learn a new language, learn a new lifestyle, all those things. That sometimes affects them on the ice at times early in their career.
"We think the younger guy we're looking at is a high-end talent. He'll have the ability to grow into our team a little bit and certainly be a really good player in a year or so."
As an expansion team who'll begin play in the Western Hockey League this season, the Oil Kings were awarded the first pick over the rest of the major junior hockey teams in the country.
All teams are allowed to have two European players on their roster. However with the Oil Kings having selected Robin Figren in the WHL expansion draft, they are only interested in taking one European player this morning.
Figren, 19, a native of Stockholm, Sweden, played with the Calgary Hitmen last season, scoring 10 goals and adding 17 assists in 62 games.
There has been some interest from other CHL teams in the top pick and have approached the Oil Kings about a trade. But the Oil Kings plan on keeping their spot in the draft.
"Certainly from our standpoint we want to get a real good player and we want to take advantage of having the first pick overall," Green said.
"Having the first pick overall is the only way you can guarantee you're going to get the guy that you want. That's probably the way we're looking at it and we'll probably stay with it."
One of the players mentioned as a possibility to be taken by the Oil Kings is Milan Kytnar, 20, whom the Edmonton Oilers selected in the fifth round (127th overall) in last weekend's NHL Entry Draft. However, he doesn't really fit into the Oil Kings plans.
"Certainly he was someone that came up on our radar a little bit," Green said.
"But in the end we were probably looking at someone a little younger than he is and probably more poised to be a factor three years down the road, because of where our team is going to be at."
Another top player is Mikhail Stefanovich of Belarus. He had four goals and an assist at the 2007 World Junior Hockey championships.
However, unlike other drafts, there is no consensus top pick when it comes to the European draft.
"It really depends on how you key with that. Some teams that are looking at being really good next year are probably looking at an older guy," Green said.
"Teams that are building are probably looking at younger guys. I think you're trying to get the best player that fits where you're at with your team right now."

Storm Select Swiss Winger In CHL Import Draft

(Guelph) The Guelph Storm Hockey Club announced today that they have selected Swiss forward Denis Hollenstein with the 32nd overall pick in Wednesday's Canadian Hockey League Import Draft.
The 18 year-old left winger played for Team Switzerland at the 2007 World Under-18 Division I Championship, where he picked up four points, two goals and two assists, in six games. For the past two seasons, Hollenstein has played for the EHC Kloten Jrs. of the Elite Jr. A League in Switzerland.
In April Storm Assistant GM/Assistant Coach Jason Brooks and General Manager/Head Coach Dave Barr traveled to Finland to watch some Under-18 Tournament Action. There they had the opportunity to watch Hollenstein play. Barr described the 6'0, 176 lbs forward as "a player who is easily identifiable because of his work ethic and skill level". The Storm GM/Head Coach expects him to play on the top two lines.
Rafael Rotter will be returning to the Royal City to fill the second import spot for the Storm. Rotter, a second round Import Pick in the 2005 CHL Import Draft, has played the previous two seasons in Guelph. In 123 games the Austrian native has recorded 27 goals and 82 assists for 109 points. He currently holds the Storm records for most career assists and points scored by a European born player. Last season, Rotter placed third in the Hardest Worker category of the OHL Coaches Poll.

High price of the free trade fantasy

SHEILA and I are just back from a refreshing trip to Europe. Sheila is "my Sheila of 58 years". The trip was refreshing because we tend to accept local views as though they were as white as the driven snow. Yet they are usually a little coloured. That is what these notes are about.
First port of call was Vienna, the place of my birth. Our daughter, Melita, who had been travelling with her husband, joined us and wanted to see where my family had lived and where I went to school. We took a taxi and, surprisingly, the driver had been to the same school as I, only decades later. The school looked the same to me, though it has been rebuilt. Vienna is full of tourists and has been a boom town since World War II.
Next were Salzburg, Paris and the Loire Valley. All doing well, but France has 10 per cent unemployment. A lot, but no more than we have when you count our category of "not in the workforce" and allow for our definition of "employment" as meaning just one hour of paid work per week.
The most interesting country for me was Ireland, never having been there before and having heard so much about its economic success over the past decade or so. Surely, here was a country that could afford to be a free trader and show us how it's done. Ireland used to be poor but managed to become highly successful in a short time and is now extremely competitive within the European Union.
Of course, living within Fortress Europe and being part of CAP (the Common Agricultural Policy) makes it easier to balance, or nearly balance, the current account (meaning, broadly, exports minus imports). Ireland's latest result is -0.8 per cent of gross domestic product, pretty good when measured against Australia's -6.3 per cent. How do they do it? Simple. Like the other countries in the EU, they control their imports. You can't import without a licence.
And another thing, I used to get red faced when having to admit to foreigners that Australia charged an import duty of 57.5 per cent on cars. Obviously, we were incompetent manufacturers. But it meant we made 80 per cent of our cars and imported 20 per cent.
Now our import duty has dropped to 10 per cent and we import 80 per cent of our cars. In spite of that, we are planning to drop the import duty to 5 per cent. Do we have suicidal tendencies? Do our politicians understand what is going on in the world?
I asked the Irish what import duty they levied on passenger cars. Would you believe 50 per cent? And the import duty on wine is 72 per cent. Are they ashamed of being such terrible protectionists? I found no trace of it. The same with other countries within Fortress Europe.

While we are at it, Australians pay 6.25 per cent interest, the Irish 4.2 per cent. Would you like to save 2 per cent on your mortgage? Do you think our runaway current account has something to do with it?
If in doubt, study the figures in the table, taken from The Economist magazine's Pocket World in Figures 2007 edition.
As a child I was told the fable of the wolf who said he did not like the taste of fruit, because it was too high for him to reach. We are like that because we keep losing mountains of money "on current account" and are saying it does not matter because the world's accounts will never balance.
Therefore, some countries must lose money. True enough. But why should we have to be the champion long-term losers? Would it not be better to be champion winners?
It is not that we are finding it hard to sell goods or services abroad. On the contrary, we are champion exporters. Especially lately, with the phenomenal demand from China and with India following suit.
But somehow we are determined to prove to the world that we are "free traders", even if it sends us broke. Very commendable, but is it sensible? Is it looking after the interests of our children and grandchildren? And in the midst of an unprecedented export boom, should we not be putting some export money aside for a rainy day?
History shows that excess demand is in time replaced by excess supply, because higher world prices stimulate more research and more production. Then, we will need all our export earnings to pay for essential imports because new substitute goods and extra supplies eventually reverse the market. Then, it will not help to control imports because we will need all our export earnings to pay for essential imports. Too late, then, to control imports.
It seems that in their endeavour to make us world competitive, our leaders ignore the effect of "purchasing power parity". That is the result of having exchange rates that are completely out of kilter. To have an Australian citizen working for you in Australia for a day costs about $100, including on costs. But you can buy a day's work from an able-bodied Chinese citizen in China for about $6. So the Australian would have to produce in 3½ minutes what the Chinese produces in an hour. Silly, isn't it?
Ernest Rodeck is patron of the Society for Australian Industry and Employment, a former national president of the Australian Institute of Management, and chief executive of Fler Co Ltd.

US pressures Japan to relax beef import restrictions

The United States will push Japan to further ease its restrictions on beef imports when talks begin today in Tokyo.
Japan ended all reinspections of US beef shipments two weeks ago after officials visited 28 meat packing plants and announced they were BSE compliant.
United States Agriculture secretary Mike Johanns is demanding Japan set a clear and aggressive timeline for the full re-entry of beef, after the World Organisation for Animal Health declared America's BSE risk under control.

Giants Acquire Import Defenseman

The Vancouver Giants have acquired Slovakian Defenseman JURAJ VALACH from the Tri-City Americans in exchange for the Giants' First Round Selection (55th overall) in today's Canadian Hockey League Import Draft.
The 6'6", 210 lbs, right-hand shot blueliner just completed his rookie season with the Americans, registering 7 goals and 23 assists in 58 regular season games to lead Tri-City's defense corp in scoring. Valach also represented his country at the most recent IIHF World Junior Championships in Sweden.

Winter Hawks select Czech Republic forward in import draft

The Portland Winter Hawks today selected 18 year-old forward Radim Valchar from the Czech Republic with the fourth overall selection in the first round of today's Canadian Hockey League Import Draft.
Valchar, 6-0, 180, had 19 goals and 23 assists equaling 42 points in 41 games playing junior hockey, leading his H.C. Vitkovice team in scoring in the Czech Republic last season. He added five goals and three assists in six playoff games. He played in the World Under-18 Championships for the Czech Republic, posting three goals in six games, leading his team in goals in the tournament. Valchar was rated as the # 70 European skater eligible for last weekend's NHL draft in Central Scouting Service's final draft rankings, but was not chosen in the draft.
"From the scouting reports, we felt Radim was our best chance at getting a player that could impact our team this coming season," said Winter Hawks' GM Ken Hodge. "His agent has indicated he is very interested in coming to North America to play. Since he is an 18 year-old, there is the opportunity for him to grow with us and impact us in 2008-09 as well."
The Winter Hawks also hold the 64th pick in the second round of today's draft, but have decided not to use that choice as they have now secured a commitment from Swedish forward Viktor Sjodin to return to the Hawks for the 2007-08 season. Sjodin, who will be a 19 year-old next season, had 13 goals and 12 assists with 79 penalty minutes in 68 games for Portland last year. He showed some character throughout the season with his willingness to play physical and battle through some nagging injuries. Sjodin was a seventh round draft pick of the Nashville Predators in 2006.
The Hawks will attempt to trade their later pick to another WHL team

Vietnamese break Qatari laws, jeopardize labor export

Around 600 Vietnamese guest laborers are now jailed in Qatar for fighting, theft, drinking and distilling wine, Vietnamese newspaper Nguoi Lao Dong Friday quoted an official as saying.
Of the 7,000 migrant workers Vietnam has sent to Qatar since late last year, around 400 of them have been expelled by Qatari authorities for crime, said head of the state labor export company Sovilaco’s Middle East department Pham Anh Thang.
Thang said that Vietnamese workers were involved in a slew of fights with their Nepalese colleagues.
Qatari police also caught a group of Vietnamese distilling 60 liters of liquor last April. Drinking is a serious problem for most of Vietnamese laborers, according to Thang.
Additionally, many Vietnamese have also been caught stealing bronze wires and other materials from construction sites.
Though striking is illegal in Qatar, strikes by Vietnamese factory and construction workers have also occurred.
Consequences
Due to the Vietnamese’s legal problems, employers in Qatar are hesitating to receive Vietnamese workers. But the same employers have also admitted that Vietnamese workers post some advantages over laborers from other countries, such as high-level compulsory education, quick wits, and easy adaptability to working conditions.
Last March and April, Qatari firms canceled two 200-man contracts with Sovilaco, said Thang. He predicted that losing the Qatari market would be inevitable if no appropriate measures are taken to tackle the problem.
Qatar is a profitable environment for Vietnamese, as skilled workers are paid salary rates of US$375 - $625 a month and $250 - $375 for normal labor.
Close co-ordination among state agencies, diplomatic missions abroad and labor export companies will be needed to manage the situation. Labor export firms also need to train and consult their workers in line with the new countries’ laws and customs to make for smother transition.
The
Around 600 Vietnamese guest laborers are now jailed in Qatar for fighting, theft, drinking and distilling wine, Vietnamese newspaper Nguoi Lao Dong Friday quoted an official as saying.
Of the 7,000 migrant workers Vietnam has sent to Qatar since late last year, around 400 of them have been expelled by Qatari authorities for crime, said head of the state labor export company Sovilaco’s Middle East department Pham Anh Thang.
Thang said that Vietnamese workers were involved in a slew of fights with their Nepalese colleagues.
Qatari police also caught a group of Vietnamese distilling 60 liters of liquor last April. Drinking is a serious problem for most of Vietnamese laborers, according to Thang.
Additionally, many Vietnamese have also been caught stealing bronze wires and other materials from construction sites.
Though striking is illegal in Qatar, strikes by Vietnamese factory and construction workers have also occurred.
Consequences
Due to the Vietnamese’s legal problems, employers in Qatar are hesitating to receive Vietnamese workers. But the same employers have also admitted that Vietnamese workers post some advantages over laborers from other countries, such as high-level compulsory education, quick wits, and easy adaptability to working conditions.
Last March and April, Qatari firms canceled two 200-man contracts with Sovilaco, said Thang. He predicted that losing the Qatari market would be inevitable if no appropriate measures are taken to tackle the problem.
Qatar is a profitable environment for Vietnamese, as skilled workers are paid salary rates of US$375 - $625 a month and $250 - $375 for normal labor.
Close co-ordination among state agencies, diplomatic missions abroad and labor export companies will be needed to manage the situation. Labor export firms also need to train and consult their workers in line with the new countries’ laws and customs to make for smother transition.
The Vietnam’s Overseas Labor Management Department will compile regulations demanding that labor companies have permanent representatives in destination countries to mediate such matters.
Vietnam is now considering cutting its 50 labor export companies down to 30 for easier management.
Vietnam is now considering cutting its 50 labor export companies down to 30 for easier management