Today's Headlines

an Aussie's viewpoint on Australia's first daily Internet newspaper
Since October 1995

Saturday 3rd February 1996

Search news archive by day
Search archive by text (NB - News Index)
Definitive Guide to Aussie webs
Global Web Builders Gold
The Kid's Locker Room
World Wide Websters

International:

A bomb hoax at Australian international cricket star Craig McDermott's home yesterday has sparked feelings of outrage. The fast bowler who has already received death threats in the mail and has been shaken by the bomb that killed nearly 100 people in Sri Lanka - where the Australian cricket team plan to play their first match in the World Cup later this month. The threatening call was made to the offices of the Queensland Cricket offices who immediately alerted the police. The Australian Federal police were called in to investigate the hoax.

Political - Federal Election 2nd March 1996:

As the Federal Election starts to raise a head of steam - let us not forget that by-election in the state Queensland seat of Mundingburra being held today. Full results will be posted tomorrow. If Labor lose it, it will result in a hung state parliament and will force another state election. This with only a month to go before the Federal Election! It sounds like the people of Queensland might become professional voters... we certainly are on the receiving end of a mound of political junk mail.
In the Federal Election arena Labor Prime Minister Paul Keating has been surprisingly subdued - possibly licking his wounds as Liberal leader John Howard had a dream start in the race for the Lodge (the Australian Prime Minister's official place of residence). Keating visited Tasmania dishing out a whack of promises including a Au$40 million hand-out for a new government funded ferry to help the islanders cross the Bass Strait to the Australian mainland.

Business:

The gold price shot through the US$417 mark yesterday ingiting a rush on Australian gold stocks. Local investors found a US$5 jump in the gold price when they got up on Friday - US fund buying causing the excitement. The country's biggest gold producer Posgold jumped 17c to Au$3.65 a share with Placer Pacific up 19c to Au$3.11 and Highland Gold up 10c to 96c.

Sport:

Sri Lanka's Cricket Board has ruled out a swich of venue in the World Cup. With the cancellation yesterday by two New Zealand rugby teams of a match to be played in Sri Lanka because of last week's bomb blast it is becoming entirely likely that the Australian Cricket Team will forgoe the match planned to be played there. It is becoming quite apparent that even members of the Sri Lankan team are requesting that matches be played in India instead as well but their cricket chief Ana Punchihewa is holding firm.

Social:

What an obvious expose in the latest research - the banks are profiteering in the margins between the mortgage rates and the interest that they pay back to people depositing money on fixed term periods with them. They are making an even bigger killing in cheque accounts that carry surplus funds, get paid no interest BUT actually get charged for the priviledge! The survey which covered all major banks and building societies is supported by the multi-billion dollar profit margins that these licence-to-print money strategies provide our financial institutions. No wonder they are hated so vehemently by the man in the street. In the 1980s when Australian banks were deregulated the people of Australia were promised a tightening of margins. This has not happened and, if anything, the gap has grown.

Personal trivia:

Another warm day yesterday out and about on the hustlings. 1996 is going to be a great year - the year of on-line services and we are finding that we will have to be very selective in our selection of clients to ensure that we do not take on too much or get involved in areas in this massive market that detract from our main game and goals.

Return to Australian National News of the Day
#
Web development, design, and storage by Global Web Builders - Email: global@gwb.com.au

See GLOBE International for other world news.
WA
anotd