Sydneysiders woke up to red skies this morning due to a dust storm sweeping NSW. But that’s are nothing compared with this footage from Broken Hill yesterday: watch as the picture fades to black.
September, 2009
weird weather Video of the Day: That’s not a dust storm; this is a dust storm
A mysterious military’s new secret weapon: jetpacks!
Jetpacks! Are they finally here? An unnamed government has signed on to a multi-million-dollar deal to buy 500 jetpacks from a New Zealand manufacturer for “search and rescue purposes”. Just to repeat: jetpacks!
Food fight: Subway vs. McDonald’s
The Golden Arches may be synonymous with fast food, but soggy-sandwich chain Subway has just announced it will have more stores around the world than McDonald’s by the end of the year. So why is Maccas still out-earning them? Bigger isn’t always better.
Top nine ways to get ReTweeted on Twitter
Want people to retweet your babble on Twitter? Avoid the “now im watching the game lol” tweets and link to something interesting. And writing “please retweet” actually does work.
Are dust storms hazardous to your health?
Dust storms, like the one affecting Sydney this morning, can contain everything from plant pollens to dried animal faeces and chemicals, says Ben Harris-Roxas, a health impact assessment expert. Should people stay inside?
The potential health impacts of dust itself are important – usually by exacerbating existing asthma.
Chess wars LIVE: Kasparov vs. Karpov: the rematch
It’s blood on the checkerboard as the world’s greatest chess grandmasters, Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov, rematch their epic 1984 World Chess Championship battle. The Guardian are following all the action, as it happens, with a liveblog. Naturally.
Why slums are good for the environment
Slums may seem dirty and polluted, but according to environmentalist and author Stewart Brand, they’re also hotbeds of green innovation, help lower the levels of unsustainable farming, and empower women in their communities.
Shanahan: It’s Turnbull’s time to shine
By calling on Malcolm Turnbull to make amendments to the ETS, PM Kevin Rudd gives him the chance to gain leadership credibility. But, Turnbull needs to be careful, warns Dennis Shanahan.
Debunking the myth that fast food is cheaper
Much of the obesity epidemic is blamed on fast food being cheaper than home-made, but cook Sally Sampson blows this myth wide open, whipping up her own pizzas, Whoppers and Egg McMuffins for a fraction of the price — not to mention the calories.
Wong: Dear Malcolm, it’s time to stop dawdling
Environment Minister Penny Wong has written an open letter to Opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull today, telling him she needs to see his amendments to the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. ASAP.
More Clinton secrets revealed
More revelations have been leaked from the new book of secret interviews with former US President Bill Clinton, including spats with Al Gore, a smear campaign against Hillary, and terse words with Henry Kissinger on health care.
Environment shouldn’t be a ball in political game
The latest Newspoll tells the real double dissolution story: the electorate wants an Emissions Trading Scheme but it doesn’t want an early election over it.
Wong tells Turnbull: Put up or shut up on emissions trading
Penny Wong has given the Opposition a stern ultimatum: finalise your ETS changes within four weeks, or there’s no room for negotiation — and face the possibility of a double dissolution election.
Costello: Early election a gift to the Greens
PM Kevin Rudd doesn’t really want a double dissolution, because he’d prefer the Opposition to pass the ETS scheme and share the blame of future problems, writes Peter Costello.
Obama’s thunder stolen
Obama’s words on climate action were important at the UN climate summit, but all eyes are on China to take the lead on making a real impact to global emissions.
UN climate summit liveblog
The Guardian’s blow-by-blow account of the UN climate summit and the resulting commentary.
Is China’s climate pledge all just hot air?
China’s President Hu Jintao addressed the UN General Assembly for the first time in 40 years, making a much-hyped commitment to act on the country’s carbon emissions. But unfortunately, says Jonathan Watts, his speech was pretty light-on for substance and specifics.
World leaders talk the talk on climate change
Barack Obama, Hu Jintao and other major world players have all paid lip service to the importance of acting on climate change at the UN’s climate summit. Now for the hard bit…
graph pr0n 
Rich pickings: luxury firms retreat to the elite
This videographic from The Economist shows why the producers of luxury goods — who briefly flirted with the cashed-up aspirational middle class — are likely to retreat to their traditional super-rich clients.
No frills airlines won’t cut corners on planet
Low-cost carriers are often seen as an environmental scourge. But Ryanair and easyJet have just agreed at the United Nations forum to help halve the industry’s emissions by 2050 (with a couple of conditions).
Breakfast Media Wrap: Blaming the demon drink as hospital admissions jump
The pick of this morning’s media
The Media Monitors’ Top 20
It seems that racking off somewhere to save the world/the university sector is the way to get plenty of coverage these days, writes Patrick Baume.
Political economy: Australia in the doldrums?
Henry Thornton takes the nation’s economic temperature and discovers there’s so substitute for reports direct from the coalface.
The Harris and Noonan Fairfax tickets
Two leading journalists and editors have announced their intention to nominate for the Fairfax Board. The underlying implication: readers and journalists have had enough, says Margaret Simons.
