It’s just a matter of days before PlayStation Vita is set to make it’s Australian debut. The game maker ‘Sony’ announced in October that the game would be released in Australia on February 23.

As the date gets closer, game aficionados, are waiting anxiously for the game’s release. There are two versions of the game set to be released, and the prices have also been announced. The WiFi version will sell for $346.00, the second version, the 3 version will sell for $450.00. Many experts in the field, have reported that these are extremely competitive prices, and believe that sales will be brisk. The experts went on to say, that the lead up to the games release, can result in extremely high sales, the first week of release. According to Sony spokesman, Micheal Ephraim, the game, is made and designed with state of the art features. He went on to say that the game will offer it’s users a never before, “revolutionary” experience. Ephraim who is in charge of the Australia and New Zealand markets, says he is extremely excited about the games release in Australia. He said the game offers it’s users the ability to connect to social media, giving it’s users the ability to connect to others, HE said this is truly a front runner in games on the go.

Consumers who are hoping for the best deal are advised to shop around. Some consumers who hope to buy the PlayStation Vita at bigger retailers like Target or K-Mart may have to wait a while. According to reports big retailers, are not planning on have the game in stock on the game’s Australia launch day of February 23. It has been suggested that these larger retailers will hold off on stocking the PlayStation Vita, due to their long held strategy have stocking lower prices items.

It is believed that these larger retailers will eventually stock the game as the prices typically come down substantially after a release date. Sony was quick to respond to the larger retailer’s claims. Sony claims, that they never intended to launch the game to larger retailers at first. Their plan from the beginning was to make game available to speciality game retailer. The strategy employed here, is that Sony believes that game will most likely draw, the most active game players, and will have increased popularity as the game becomes more widely known. Sony representatives, say they have a very carefully planned strategy for these hand-held games. They believe they will steadily grow new fans and users, and as it does, the game will be available in larger retail outlets. They are expecting continues growth, as they have with other such games.

Commander inspector Brent Register commented “this is not a quick process and will take some time to complete,” in regards to how the balloon caught on fire, landed, and what was the reasoning for their deaths. Wairarapa’s Early Morning Balloons company are the ones who have prepared the hot air balloon flight and have left the following statement, “We deeply regret to advise there has been a tragic accident involving the early morning balloon based in Carterton with the loss of 11 lives. This tragedy will affect many families and our thoughts and sympathies lie with the family and friends of these passengers and pilot, whose lives have been tragically ended.”

It is said there were many witnesses at the scene as the events unfolded. Emergency services were called onto the scene but could not help, as the balloon was losing control.

Sparks of the power line have also started a fire within the basket before the balloon itself flared up and dropped speedily to the ground. Many of the bodies of the victims are reported to be so badly burned that it is difficult to provide any identification at this point in time. One resident, Don Cunningham has told a news outlet that the conditions for flying that day were perfect with still winds. He then told reporters, “”I saw the canopy going down and then I heard some screaming and shouting and then suddenly a big pall of smoke.”

Wairarapa is New Zealand’s destination for recreational hot air balloons. The annual festival entitled “Balloons over Wairarapa” is held in early March. This disaster is the world record for the biggest loss of life in the air in New Zealand. This is also the second incident before the February Christchurch earthquake of 2011, which claimed 181 lives. This balloon incident is not the first hot air balloon tragedy. In 1989, two air balloons collided into each other resulting in 13 fatalities in the town of Alice Springs, Australia.

With their baggage already loaded, Air Australia passengers were patiently waiting to board a flight when they were handed a company press release. The shocking news they received was that the budget airline had filed for voluntary administration and that the company’s entire fleet was grounded indefinitely. Air Australia had been selling tickets online until the day before and had shown no signs that they were struggling financially until this unexpected press release.

The sudden filing left 300 workers unsure of their future with the company and over 4,000 passengers stranded overseas without valid tickets to fly. Other airlines such as Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar are pitching in to try and help some of the stranded passengers get home, but it is proving a big task. Passengers who take their Air Australia tickets to a Qantas or Jetstar desk will receive a ticket for equal value on their airlines. Virgin Australia are offering discount flights from Denpasar to airports in Australia for just $199 U.S.

Those stranded overseas are being advised to contact their travel insurance companies to try and get new tickets with other airlines. It is likely that passengers who paid for tickets with credit cards will receive full refunds of their flight costs, but those who paid in cash will be left out of pocket. This is because Air Australia has no money available to offer refunds to those who paid in cash.

Authorities are calling for a full investigation into the sudden nature of the company’s filing and into the Australian aviation industry as a whole. Questions are being raised as to how an airline can be allowed to operate without proving it can be profitable and live up to its commitments. Australia’s Prime Minister, Julia Gilliard, has stated that the airline should do whatever it can to help the stranded passengers and its staff, who are currently standing down and waiting for news. Ms. Gilliard also suggested the company face a review by the fair work ombudsman amid claims of low pay.

Air Australia is a relatively new airline, having been formed three months ago as part of charter firm Strategic. Signs of hardship for the company had been noted over the past few weeks including late fee payments to Air Services Australia and for terminal leases at Perth Airport. The airline, however, denied claims of any financial problems just 48 hours prior to it entering voluntary administration. It is still hoped that administrators may find a way to save the airline along with its employees and to make reparations to those customers who have been affected by the fleet’s grounding.

The price of the war was cost almost 800 billion dollars. Many people believe we should have spent that money back home in the United States and that may have kept our economy from collapsing. Others feel strongly that we have been able to protect the US from another terrorist strike partly because of our actions in the original strike and the killing of Saddam Hussein.

The attacks and fighting is by no means over as the Iraqi people still have a lot of work to do to keep peace over there, however American involvement is with the warfare has officially come to an end.

Around 4,000 troops will remain in Kuwait until early next year. In case of an insurgency uprising these troops will be able to rapidly respond and move back into the region if needed. As the US Troops withdraw it is imperative for the Iraqi Army to continually seek out and destroy terrorists who are still in the area.

Violence in the region is at a much lower level then it was during the height of the warfare, however terrorist acts and bombing is still a regular part of the Iraqis day to day life. Only time will tell if the Iraqi people can keep control of their Country or of they will continue to be bombarded by terrorists looking to overtake and control the Country.

With the US troops gone it is now a question of regional stability as to whether the Iraq people will flourish or be subject to increasing amounts of warfare. It will take time to see if the Country can be able to withstand attacks and reign as a Democratic Country. For now however most people on all sides seem glad that the Americans troops were finally able to leave the war.

The impending birth was announced back in August. Senator Wong, was unsure of whether to announce the birth or tell anyone for that matter; which is understandable, as some in the Australian community are in fact opposed to gay marriage and birth. She made sure to announce as well, that the birth was not a political statement.

A new addition to the family for this thrilling holiday season. For those of you who have not yet been informed, Penny Wong, is the first member of the Australian Cabinet to openly admit her preference for the same sex. In fact, Penny Wong, was not the mother of the child, but her partner in life, Sophie Allouache.

Ms. Allouache is currently recovering from the stresses of child birth. According to the reports, she is in good condition and well on the road to a healthy recovery.

The birth came after a recent debate in the Australian labor parties on gay rights. Ms. Wong led the debate at the Australian national conference only a week before the birth.

Many have speculated that this is a possible political move on the couples part; however, federal Finance Minister Wong has denied any such implications on the notion of a politically related birth. Senator Wong stated to the media, “Like any family welcoming a new addition, we are looking forward to spending time at home together and ask for our privacy to be respected at this time.” Senator Wong, was stressing over the birth and the implications it may cause in the political realm, but she wanted a family for personal reason.

Penny Wong, has publicly requested that her right to privacy be respected during this time. She is looking forward to spending time with her family in private.

The Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard, expressed her regards in response to the baby. She congratulated her Minister on the addition to her family.

However, not everyone has been as welcoming to the new birth. As is the case of Tony Abbott, one of the outspoken opponents to gay marriage. He and members of similar thought, believe that children should be born into this world to a mother and a father.

Earlier the US President had insisted that the U.S. did not fear China but later announced the security agreement. For its part, China reacted rapidly by forewarning that the growth of the U.S. into the continent was inappropriate and more analysis would be essential.

President Obama noted that the deployment was “significant,” and said it would develop stronger cooperation between the two countries. United States officials stressed the pact was not trying to build a permanent American existence in the country.

“It also allows us to meet the demands of a lot of partners in the region that want to feel that they’re getting the training, they’re getting the exercises, and that we have the presence that’s necessary to maintain the security architecture in the region,” Obama said.

During his news conference with Prime Minister Gillard, the president evaded inquiries about whether the security pact was geared at slowing China. But he said the U.S. would continue to convey clear communication that China should acknowledge responsibilities associated with being a world power. “It’s important for them to play by the rules of the road,” he said. And he reiterated that the U.S is not apprehensive of China’s prominence.

The U.S. and smaller Asian countries are apprehensive about China’s dominance over vast areas of the Pacific which are considered to be international waters, and reigniting old territorial disputes. Last year China’s defense spending increased sharply to nearly $160 billion, and its military tested a new stealth jet fighter and inaugurated its first aircraft carrier.

President Obama’s is at the second stop on a nine-day tour of the Asia-Pacific region. The President made the remarks after hosting an economic summit in Honolulu and making a ten hour flight to Australia. The travel required that he cross the international dateline. The president said he was having a little trouble with the time change, “I’m trying to figure out what time zone I’m in here.”

President Barack Obama addresses the Parliament on Thursday. Before returning to the U.S. he will fly to the sight of where the Marines will be deployed next year.

The RBA raised interest rates 7 times during the period between October of 2009 and November of 2010. The recent action by the RBA provoked dissent from world economists and caused the Australian dollar to drop in price. The Australian dollar dropped from $1.054 to $1.0484 in American dollar value right after the report that the RBA had lowered interest rates in Australia. The governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, Glenn Stevens, explained that the lower Australian interest rates should help the depressing world financial conditions. The governor of the RBA added further that the RBA is planning on cut the interest rates further and that the recent cut is just the beginning of future cuts in interest rates.

The governor of the RBA was quoted as saying that the board has been holding off on making a new money policy until it felt that the worries over inflation had been balanced by the recent downturn in world financial matters and that trying to get a renewed growth would be desirable to check any further inflationary worries. The Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, has also issued a statement in support of the Reserve Banks cut in interest rates and has encouraged the country’s banks to pass on the savings to their customers. The cut in interest rates is expected to help mortgage holders in Australia and to see a savings of more than $50 a month on their mortgage payment.

In world matters, the cut in Australian interest rates had the effect of causing the New York stock market, to falls by 276 points. While the Dow Jones fell, the stock market in Australia saw a sell off of 1.5 % on the afternoon following the reported cut by the Reserve Bank of Australia in interest rates.

As the horrible scene of tradgedy was unfolding after the quake, thousands of people took to the streets amidst screams of panic and horror with shovels and any type of object that could help to move the fallen debris in the hopes of saving more people that may be burried underneath the destroyed buildings.

Although the earthquake hit Turkey, one of the most devastated areas was the city of Ercis, a city which is close to the Iranian border and has a population of around 75,000 people. 55 miles north in the city of Van, even more devastation transpired, making Van the second hardest hit area after Ercis.

Of the 85 people who are said to have died in the earthquake, most of the casualities are being reported from Ercis, in which 59 of the 85 confirmed dead have been found. Add another 25 casualities in the city of Van, and it’s plain to see where most of the devastation has taken place. People in the area are desperately trying to reach missing loved ones by cell phones, but many calls are going unanswered which is making officials believe that the death toll might even be higher.

Besides the deaths involved, there are many more injured people. Medical aid is being brought in to help to ease the suffering of those who have been injured, and people are pulling together to help each other through this horrible tradgedy. Many survivors are planning to spend the night camping outside, since most residences have been ruined or made uninhabitable, with luckier ones having friends or relatives to stay with for their nightly arraingements. Hopefully in the coming hours resources will be provided to help those suffering in camps outside because it is getting colder and the electricity is out.

After the quake, there has been a report of at least 10 aftershocks in the 10 hours after the massive quake with one even reaching a magnitude of 5.9. Clearly, the entire area is worried the massive destruction and possiblity of even more widespread deaths to be found in the coming hours, and the entire scene is one of destruction and despair. As one onlooker said, “We can hear screaming from under the debris. We need to get those people out!” And hopefully, they will get out so that no more suffering may take place for the poor people of Turkey.

He supplemented his income by offering private tutoring to children in the small town of Motihari, where he lives with his wife. He told viewers that his family was so poor they could not afford a television set, and he often went over to the neighbor’s house to watch the game show, which has been on the air for 11 years.

As they watched him consistently answer questions correctly, they encouraged him to try out for the game show. His trip to Mumbai, where the show is filmed was his first plane ride and his first trip to a big city, according to Kamar.

Kamar’s brother Sudhir says that he was so well prepared for the show because Kamar consistently listens to the BBC’s Hindi broadcast. He loves to learn and is an avid collector of information about just about any subject.

After answering all of the questions correctly, Amitabh Bachchan, the shows host and an Indian movie legend, presented Kamar and his wife of 5 months with a check for 50 milion rupees.”You have created history. Your grit and determination has made you come so far in this show,” Bachchan stated upon presentation of the check to a weeping Kamar and his wife.

As for plans for the money, Kamar has stated that he wishes to pay off his parents’ debts, buy a brand new home for his wife, purchase his dilapidated ancestral home, and give his brothers startup cash so they can start their own businesses.

We figure he will also want to buy a TV so he can watch his favorite game show. Another thing he plans on buying? Books. “I love reading,” Kamar said. “Before winning this amount, I couldn’t buy many books, but now, I will make a huge library.” He has plans to build a library in the city of Motihari, so children from poor areas can read and educate themselves.

He also hopes to take a preparatory course for the grueling civil service exam, which would provide Kamar with a stable and prestigious lifetime job.

The table below is an example of the savings you could make with Novated Leasing. The table is designed around an annual salary of $60,000 with a car valued at $30,000. You can see from the table there is a saving of $2,144 with packing a Novated Lease over a one year timeframe.

What a Novated Lease can save and where do the figures come from?

If you want to know more about all these savings, check out a Novated car Lease calculator and enter your details to find out what you’ll pay, what you’ll save and how it all works out. The calculator which is linked in this section will give you all the relevant information so you’ll know what to budget for.

Calculators simply work out the saving by using a tried and tested formula. They work out the payments by going through all of the totals and dividing them into the monthly or sometimes weekly segments for the duration of the lease.

Why is this better than other leases?

Simply put novated leasing beats all other forms of leasing because it’s all tied into your salary and in some circumstances (like with fully managed novated leases where fuel, mantainance, roadside and rego are included) customers wont pay GST (goods and services tax) on the ongoing costs. For this reason and because novated leasing is an ATO approved salary packaging service (Australian Tax office) the novated lease really is the thinking persons car finance product.

Novated car lease table