Ansett Woes – Canberra Exhibition – Defence Pay rise – Israeli Retreat – China/US Relations – Expensive Texting
- ANSETT WOES: Air NZ has been doing some fast talking to keep Ansett in the air. Big money is needed to keep the aging
fleet flying. Ansett says their 767s have been grounded with impetuous haste. The Air NZ chairman says 4 to 5 billion
dollars needs to be spent in the next few years. Singapore Airlines already owns 25 per cent of air NZ and says taking a
larger stake won’t help the airline’s problems.
- CANBERRA EXHIBITION: An exhibition at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra supposed to mark the Anzac spirit has
caused controversy for its description of the Maori Wars.
- DEFENCE PAY RISE: The lower ranks of our defence forces will get a pay rise. 80 per cent of army, navy and airforce
personnell will get a pay rise of between 6 and 13 per cent.
- ISRAELI RETREAT: Israeli forces have pulled out of the Gaza strip, retreating after retaliating against Palestinian
mortar attacks. The Israeli attack, which sparked fears of all out war, was called excessive and disproportionate by the
United States and prompted outcries around the world.
- CHINA/US RELATIONS: China and the United States are set to start talks to rebuild relations after the spy plane
incident.
- EXPENSIVE TEXTING: More than 90,000 cell phone users will be refunded around $35,000 after Vodafone admitted
overcharging on text messaging.