Medieval soldiers’ data marches onlineHistorians are set to benefit from the English exchequer’s “very modern obsession” with making sure its money was accounted for. 250,000 soldiers’ profiles from the Hundred Years War are now online.
July, 2009
Cloaks, daggers and keffiyehs: the Middle East’s most powerful spooks
Meet the five intelligence chiefs who wield the most power and influence in the Middle East, a region renowned for its “cutthroat espionage”.
Does the world need a UN army?
The growing demand for international peacekeeping forces in places like Somalia means it is time finally to bite the bullet and give the UN a permanent, standing military capacity, argues Gideon Rachman.
Japan faces political upheaval
With Japan’s Prime Minister Taro Aso dissolving Parliament for a new election, the country faces an end to the 54-year reign of the Liberal Democratic party. But with an opposition party that lacks a clear mandate or agenda, the future looks stormy for the land of the rising sun.
Iranian Basij militia member tells of violence, rape and executions
An anonymous member of Iran’s Basij militia has told the Jerusalem Post of his role in suppressing protesters during the recent post-election riots, as well as acts of physical and sexual violence conducted by the paramilitary group.
Now’s the time to raise taxes
Spending cuts could easily be substituted with tax rises, if only the British government could keep its nerve, argues Larry Elliot. With a budget deficit of 12% of GDP, it needs to do something.
Why can’t India grasp the Inconvenient Truth?
The idea that gradual, modest climatic change is automatically catastrophic for everyone is silly, says Bruce Walker. But things aren’t looking good for India. So why isn’t the government doing more?
For Sri Lanka, the war goes on
The gunfire may have ended in Sri Lanka, but for the 300,000 Tamils still being held in internment camp, the struggle goes on. If those in government don’t change their course, they will simply steer the country towards more bloodshed in the future.
Beautiful brainiacs
Jeremy Taylor rounds up the Hollywood starlets who’ve plucked greedily from the genetic pile, grabbing both beauty and brains.
David Simon: a blueprint for saving newspapers
TV producer and writer David Simon has a few humble suggestions for the publishers of The New York Times and The Washington Post to save them — and the rest of print media — from going under.
Free-to-air ad revenue plunges $300m
Australian advertisers spent $300 million less on free-to-air TV advertising last year than they did the year before — a drop of 7.8%. With the launch of more free-to-air digital and pay-TV channels coming this year, things may only get leaner.
Phone-hacking: beyond the page-7 lead
The Guardian recounts the farcical performance of News of the World apparatchiks in front of British MPs.
Kyle Sandilands and the art of Chinese takeaway
Ralph Magazine has invited us into the conjugal bed of singer Tamara Jaber. Which is only half the story, writes Helen Razer.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Lies, damn lies and the GFC
Who predicted the GFC? Where will we buy our Bendigo Advertiser now? Crikey readers weigh in.
Morning Market Report: A busy day for company news
A good day for both the local market and the Dow, up 24 and 67, respectively.
Bernanke’s hidden warning on US economy
Early reports on Fed chairman Ben Bernanke’s speech overnight ignored his warnings over continued sluggish growth in the recession-hit US.
Media briefs: John Howard? Yeah Yeah … Studio marketers defenseless against Twitter
A lovely John Howard photo/ad juxtaposition, Amazon turns Big Brother, free-to-air ad dollars are down and more news from the mediasphere.
Inflation rate lowest in a decade. No big deal
The recession we haven’t quite had continues to dominate the Australian economy. Today’s Consumer Price Index figures — just landed — show the lowest annual inflation rate since late 1999.
Diary of a Surgeon: The under-valued heroes of the health system
The Federal Government has recently approved and almost doubling of medical student numbers without much planning how they would gain the necessary clinical experience, and the so-called tsunami of students is now washing over the system.
Story poaching, News Ltd style
Yesterday, independent online Adelaide newspaper Indaily had a genuine scoop. Minutes later Adelaide Now had the same story on the News Ltd site — and when we say the same story, we mean the same story.
Tuckey and co: nine MPs Malcolm Turnbull should remainder
Presenting Crikey’s authoritative guide to conservative dead wood. Compiled by Bernard Keane.
Feds build 1000th home in three months… in Rudd’s electorate
Stimulus package housing is one thing, intervention housing quite another, writes Chris Graham.
The Opposition’s climate change brain explosion
Yesterday perfectly captured Malcolm Turnbull’s climate change problem. It’s hard to tell who’s his biggest enemy: Kevin Rudd or the self-serving conservatives in his own party.
For Wilson Tuckey’s Turnbull-bashing email, click here.
