Those expecting a backlash against China over its arrest of four Rio Tinto employees are still waiting, writes Alan Kohler.
July, 2009
Revealed: Steve Fielding’s ETS amendment proposal
Bernard Keane has obtained a copy of the amendment that Senator Fielding proposes to move in the Senate on the emissions trading scheme.
Something’s rotten in the state of radio
Nothing people do in radio seems to make much difference to generally dismal ratings compared to other media — are they going about it the wrong way? Asks advertising agency director Ray Beattie.
To whom it may concern: On the pain of childbirth
How can statements about childbirth, pain and preparing for motherhood be ‘innocent’? asks DW from Nottingham.
Morning Market Report: A big day at home and abroad
The market is up 73, while the Dow shot up 256, and China’s economy expanded almost 8% in the second quarter.
Ashes 09: Why Lords is a carnival of ex-wing commander types
Impossibly optimistic MCC member Jonathan Este says the Lords test will be an old boys’ reunion.
Hu is the broadsheets’ Schapellian moment
Stern Hu is the broadsheets’ own Schapelle, almost perfectly designed to push the buttons of the commentariat in the same way as your ordinary punters had their buttons pushed by the Corby saga.
Gannett profits from slashing
The first quarterly results from major US media company Gannet has produced a surprise profit, wrung from cost cuts that included 1400 jobs being cut.
Medvedev ‘outraged’ at activist’s murder
Russian human rights activist Natalia Estemirova has been murdered while investigating government-backed militias in Chechnya. She worked with activists Anna Politkovskaya, shot dead in 2006, and Stanislav Markelov, also dead.
The mysterious night shiners of the northern hemisphere
A spectacular “storm” of mysterious night shiner clouds has been rippling in electric blue waves across the skies of Europe and North America this week.
Crikey Says: Ministers run riot: remembering QLD under Beattie
The conviction of Gordon Nuttall, a senior member of Peter Beattie’s Government, reinforces the sense that Queensland Labor under Beattie was ready to tolerate appalling standards in ministers.
Parallel importation: devilish Dymocks detail
Dymocks have led the charge to abolish the parallel import restrictions. But would this really make their books cheaper? asks Michael James.
Stokes v Packer: Consolidated Media cage match
It was Kerry Stokes’ turn to up his stake in Consolidated Media yesterday, after James Packer boosted his holding the day before.
The envelope please: Rio’s winning way with public relations
For global mining behemoth Rio Tinto, it appears red envelopes extend beyond Feng Shui into the realm of cash for comment.
Saved! Chinese growth nudges 8%
China’s latest growth figures will be greeted with quiet thanks in Australia where our economic and monetary policy is based to a large degree on a Sino rebound.
Crikey readers’ pets: part 2
Send First Dog on the Moon pictures of your pets and he publishes them, often with nasty comments. For background reading, see Readers’ pet gallery Part 1.
Australia: an environmental joke
Australia is becoming a laughing stock. The country blessed with some of the most abundant renewable energy resources on earth is rapidly squandering our poll position in the race to a clean energy future, writes John Hepburn.
Model down!
If a model fell on a runway and a photographer was there would anyone see her collapse? Oh yes. This is what schadenfreude looks like.
Fielding: Punching or posturing?
Family First Senator Steve Fielding again explains his decision to “fight” in the Senate on the issue of climate change. He loves that graph — and seems to seriously misunderstand the hypothesis he claims it disproves, says Pure Poison
The right to die with your lover
British conductor Sir Edward Downes chose to die last week, alongside his terminally-ill wife, at an assisted-suicide facility in Switzerland. Should the right to assisted suicide be used in such a case? asks Nina Shen Rastogi.
One man’s fight for digital bullion
Douglas Jackson, founder of E-Gold, a pioneering digital currency, is under house arrest for money laundering-related crimes and more. But he’s determined to start again. Kim Zetter chats to the flawed visionary.
Britain pushes Blair for EU Presidency
After rejecting the Euro and backing Bush over Brussels, Tony Blair could become the first President of the European Union.
Australian literature not endangered, just cringeworthy
It’s cultural cringe, not parallel imports, that will dampen the Australian book industry, argues Tim Wilson.
