Dispute Credit History

Australia is enjoying a new baby boom and the nation's Treasurer Peter Costello, who three years ago urged couples to "have one for the country," is claiming part of the credit.

Australia recorded 265,900 births in 2006, the highest level in 36 years and the second highest number in the nation's history, slightly easing concerns about an aging population.

"We are seeing, albeit slightly, the fertility rate start to lift," Costello told reporters. "This is good for our future, and it'll be a great improvement in the way in which we cope with these long-term demographic changes."

But 2006 also recorded the highest number of deaths, with 133,900 people dying, up 2.1 percent on the previous year, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said.

With 132,000 more births than deaths, and preliminary net migration figures showing 147,700 people settled in Australia in 2006, the population was on track to hit 21 million by the end of June, the bureau said.

The Typology of Financial Scandals

In 1634, tulip bulbs were traded in a special exchange in Amsterdam. People used these bulbs as means of exchange and value store. They traded them and speculated in them. The rare black tulip bulbs were as valuable as a big mansion house. The craze lasted four years and it seemed that it would last forever. But this was not to be.The bubble burst in 1637. In a matter of a few days, the price of tulip bulbs was slashed by 96%!This specific pyramid investment scheme was somewhat different from the ones which were to follow it in human financial history elsewhere in the world. It had no "organizing committee", no identifiable group of movers and shakers, which controlled and directed it. Also, no explicit promises were ever made concerning the profits which the investors could expect from participating in the scheme - or even that profits were forthcoming to them.Since then, pyramid schemes have evolved into intricate psychological ploys.Modern ones have a few characteristics in common:First, they involve ever growing numbers of people.

Prefer cash to credit

With falling airfares and rising incomes, travel, even across borders, has become more affordable than before for middle-class Indians. Banks are also doing their two- bits to facilitate your movement and make some good money in the process. But what's good for banks might not begood for you.

Loans offered by banks for travel take the foreign trip today, repay the money in small, affordable instalments over the next four years might seem convenient, but they turn out to be very costly affairs. We are not being a spoilsport and suggesting you don't travel. We are suggesting you look at such travel loans as a means of last resort. Your first choice should be to pay for your trip yourself by breaking your bank deposits. All things considered, it works out far cheaper than the travel loans offered by banks.