Australia

The Oz politician who had leg-breaking surgery to be taller!

The Oz politician who had leg-breaking surgery to be taller!Melbourne, Apr 29 : Hajnal Ban, one of Queensland''s youngest politicians, has confessed that she spent nine months in Russia to go under a bone-breaking growth surgery to increase her height because she used to be insecure about her size.

Bal, the 31-year-old Logan councillor, had each of her legs broken in four places for the leg-lengthening procedure.

She stayed in the Russian hospital as she grew about 1mm a day to increase her 154cm frame to 162cm.

Oz PM to send 450 troopers to beef up Afghan security

Kevin RuddCanberra (Australia), Apr. 29 (ANI): Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has announced that his government will send 450 extra troops to beef up security in troubled Afghanistan.

However, there will be no combat troops among the latest contingent. The extra troops will assist in military training, governance and reconstruction, Rudd said, adding "Australia concurs with the United States that the current civilian and military strategy is not working."

Australia captures two more asylum-seeker boat

AustraliaSydney- Two boats carrying more than 70 asylum-seekers were intercepted by Royal Australian Navy patrol boats Wednesday off Australia's north coast. The seizures bring to 10 the number of boats to arrive this year. Only seven boats arrived last year and Australian officials are worried that many more will come bringing mostly Afghan and Middle Eastern illegal immigrants.

Home Affairs Minister Bob Debus said the latest batch would be sent to the immigration detention centre on Australia's Indian Ocean territory of Christmas Island for health and security checks.

PET plastic bottles maybe harmful for health

Melbourne, April 29 : Drinking out of water bottles made from PET plastic may pose a human health risk, reveals a new study.

According to lead researcher Martin Wagner, Goethe University, Frankfurt, a questionable finger could be raised on the safety of the PET plastic water bottles.

The study found that estrogenic compounds trickle into the water in bottles made from PET (polyethylene terephthalate).

And some yet-to-be-identified chemicals in these plastics seemed to have the potential to meddle with estrogen and other reproductive hormones.

Australia ups Afghan troop commitment

Australia ups Afghan troop commitmentSydney  - Australia on Wednesday answered a call from the US White House and pledged to increase its military personnel in Afghanistan from 1,100 to 1,550.

However, it may be disappointing for US President Barack Obama, who phoned Prime Minister Kevin Rudd last week, that most of those newly deployed will be there to help build bridges, guard installations or train the Afghan National Army rather than fight the Taliban militants.

Australia decrees powers to quarantine swine flu victims

Australia decrees powers to quarantine swine flu victimsSydney - Australians suspected of having swine flu could be forcibly detained under a new quarantine measure decreed by the government.

"It would also increase the powers of the chief health officer, who would have the ability to detain an infected person if they are putting others at risk," New South Wales Health Minister John Della Bosca said in a statement Wednesday explaining the new powers.

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