Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s key focus while in the United States was pushing for the G20 to become a “driving force” for economic cooperation. He got his way. The G20 summit has agreed the body will supersede the G8.
September, 2009
Carney: Rudd picks up where Costello left off on G20
In some ways, getting the G20 front and centre for global economic decision-making was a bipartisan Australian effort. It started with Peter Costello as Treasurer, backed up by Kevin Rudd, with some help from Barack Obama, says Shaun Carney.
When board games hit the big screen
Television Without Pity looks at the long list of films based on board games that Universal has in the works — like Monopoly and Battleships — and makes a few suggestions of its own. Us? We’d like to see Aussie classic Test Match on the silver screen.
America’s big bullet shortage
America’s bullet-makers are working round the clock to feed gun nuts’ appetite for ammunition, but they just can’t keep up with the increased demand since Obama took office. Wonderful.
How Twitter ruined NASA’s big day
NASA was all set to make its big announcement that water has been found on the moon, until some spoil-sports on Twitter let it all spill early. More proof the internet has killed the media embargo?
CSIRO serves up a muddled meal
After copping flak for its previous meat-heavy diets, the CSIRO is now trying to please greenies and vegos as well with a confused new set of dietary recommendations that will probably annoy everybody.
Why I fist-bumped the Dalai Lama
The mayor of Memphis, Tennessee, Myron Lowery recently met the Dalai Lama. The traditional greeting is to bow your head with your hands in prayer — but Lowery opted instead for a “fist-bump” and an enthusiastic “Well, hello … Dalai!” He explains why.
Breakfast Media Wrap: A footy betting scandal to greet the finals
The pick of Saturday morning’s media
Who will be the next Rock and Roll Hall of Famer?
The nominees for next year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction have be announced. The list of potentials is a fairly mixed bag, including the Red Hot Chili Peppers, ABBA, The Stooges, Genesis and LL Cool J.
PHOTO GALLERY: worst haircuts of the future
There is one reason we’re glad that the future hasn’t evolved in the way that filmmakers had envisioned, says Mark Graham: really bad sci-fi hair.
PHOTO GALLERY: Passive-aggressive kitchen notes
The Crikey bunker kitchen has seen its fair share of passive-aggressive post-its (because some people can’t wash dishes. You know who you are), but these ones take the cake. (Don’t really take the cake, though. IT’S MINE!)
Starbucks brews cheap crowdsourced
campaign
To promote its new instant coffee brand — they call it “ready brew” — Starbucks is using customers’ photos. You could call it product marketing by social media, or you could just call it cheap, says Sarah Gilbert.
Sustainable caviar? Something smells fishy…
A Latvian company claims to be producing the world’s first “sustainable caviar”, in which the highly-prized fish eggs are gently massaged out of live sturgeon, instead of cutting them open and leaving them for dead. But is it worth the AU$220 price tag?
Aussie films left in the dark
‘Quirky’ was key in the Australian film industry for awhile (think Muriel’s Wedding), while now the buzz is around ‘dark’ films. Luckily all classic films are dark, writes Lynden Barber.
Move over Web 2.0: the Web Squared era has begun
Until recently, we were always “entering the era of Web 2.0”. It must have been a pretty short era, though, because Tim O’Reilly, the man who first coined the term, has just declared it over. Apparently, we’re now entering the era of “Web Squared”.
Brazil puts the heat on Honduras
The ousted Honduran president Manuel Zelaya has returned and is in hiding, while the coup continues and the world’s media misreports events. It’s no wonder free elections are impossible.
Why is Australia suddenly sucking up to Cape Verde?
What trade interests could Australia possibly have in the tiny African islands of Cape Verde? Bananas? Volcanic rock? Or maybe Australia has a more underhanded reason for making them our new BFFs, suggests Chris Uhlmann.
On the edge: the newest book-selling trend
Coloured page-edging looks to be the latest gimmick for publishers desperate to catch our eye, writes Andrew Tijs, from blue to black to red (for Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series obviously).
You voted Armenian? Azerbaijan questions citizens over Eurovision
After people in Azerbaijan were questioned by police after voting for a song by neighbouring Armenia in this year’s contest, Eurovision Song Contest organisers are cracking down on countries who violate voter privacy.
Fox: the most, and least, trusted name in news
In a new study about trust in news media, Americans named Fox News as the most trustworthy source of TV news. They also named it the least trustworthy. Confused? Mediaite explains.
The Italian Mafia’s new standover men: crocodiles
Because sometimes guys in suits carrying violin cases just aren’t scary enough: an Italian Mafia boss has been using a 1.7m crocodile to shake-down people for protection money.
Crikey Says: Seriously, no one will buy Ten
Surely there would never be an auction for control of one of Australia’s most iconic media assets and no buyers turn up, right? Wrong. It’s a watershed moment for Australian media.
What the white balloon injunction meant to our local community
Just how powerful can a white balloon be? Let me tell you the story of our regional campaign in which a white balloon has become a rallying point for the community, writes Ilena Young.
