A Russian police officer has been sacked after posting a video on YouTube exposing police corruption. Given what happens to many investigative journos in the country, we’d say he got off lightly.
November, 2009
More, not less, equality needed for economic growth
As Australia moves away from the GFC and focuses more on growth, our economic policies need to aim for equality. More equal incomes means a more stable economy, writes Trevor Cook.
Floating in the ocean: a rubbish pile the size of Texas
In the middle of the ocean, in areas of strong currents and little winds, exists giant whirlpools of swirling rubbish. The garbage patches are doubling in size every decade, with severe implications for marine life.
Fruit juice: it’s not as healthy as you’d think
In fact, it’s not healthy at all, say experts: it’s full of sugar and calories, offers relatively little nutritional value, and is likely contributing to the obesity epidemic. Yep, even the 100% stuff.
Aung San Suu Ki to be freed?
A senior Burmese diplomat has announced plans for the release of Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, following her latest 6 years of house arrest. But is this just another false alarm?
Video of the Day: The future of News: an interview with Rupert
Media mogul Rupert Murdoch sits down with Sky News to discuss Google, paywalls, financial regulations and the future of newspapers. Watch out for his bagging of Mark Scott, public broadcasters and Barack Obama…
Browse Google’s online magazine stand
Google has launched a virtual magazine stand to make browsing its free online archive of magazines far simpler. Revisit all your favourite back issues of , Timber Frame Homes, and of course Scouting magazine (plus some good ones, too)
The pollsters paradigm: the power of Newspoll
The Oz’s Newspoll has became the political poll of choice, often encouraging The Oz in its agenda setting. Yet, when last week’s poll indicated a substantial drop in Rudd’s popularity, Newspoll didn’t try to establish if it was an anomaly, writes Richard Farmer.
News Ltd blurs the line between ads and editorial
Several News Ltd publications are treading a very thin line between advertising and editorial by offering special product spruiks for high-paying advertisers — including an endorsement from the editor themselves.
Why the fall of the Berlin Wall didn’t really matter
Forget the fall of the Wall in 1989, says Niall Ferguson, the truly revolutionary, world-changing events took place a decade earlier: the USSR invaded Afghanistan, the UK elected Thatcher, China began opening up to the West, and Iran became an Islamic Republic.
Doctorow: It’s all a bluff to cut a deal with Bing or Ask.com 
Colebatch: Don’t let the mining boom blow up in our face
Asia’s growth is ensuring the continuation of the Australian mineral boom, but we need to train more workers — since immigration is not popular — and also protect our other industries, argues Tim Colebatch.
Gorbachev: The battle over climate change is the new Cold War
On the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and ahead of the Copenhagen climate summit, former Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev has a message for the leaders of today: climate change is your Wall.
Africa’s Middle Class: an untapped goldmine?
Does China know something the West doesn’t? Its leaders have been quietly wooing their African counterparts, hoping to gain a foothold in the continent’s emerging Middle Class market — flogging them cars, clothes, and, more significantly, cheap loans and tax credits .
Henderson: Pilger pontificates a history that didn’t happen
Gerard Henderson fights John Pilger’s damning speech about Australian society and our silence on big issues, accusing Pilger of rehashing conspiracies with no facts. “Most Australians do not share his left-wing interpretation of Australian history”.
Krugman: How the lunatic Right could bring down America
The Republican Party’s “lunatic fringe” — your Birthers, teabaggers, etc — isn’t really a fringe at all, says Paul Krugman: it’s taking control of the party. And if paranoid, far-right candidates win state office, the entire country could become “ungovernable”.
Howard’s ghost haunts refugee law
Australia does not have any legal responsibility for refugee claims for the Sri Lankans on board the Oceanic Viking because they were found in Indonesian waters, writes law professor Don Rothwell. But what happens when a situation doesn’t fit the law?
Sheedy to GWS: we picked this (sort of)
In a great, if not totally surprising move for the AFL, Sheedy is to be named coach of the Great Western Sydney side — and there will be no better front man for the AFL’s biggest ever challenge, writes Ashley Browne.
Inside Palin’s closed-door anti-abortion rally
Sarah Palin banned the media from a recent speech before a right-to-life group, but Politico snuck an operative in. Amongst the usual Bible-bashing and fist-pumping, she also floated an interesting conspiracy theory about the new design of US dollar coins.
Hockey: Why I’m a Christian even though I don’t agree with other Christians
MP Joe Hockey gives a damning view of literal interpretations of the Bible in Christianity in last night’s speech to the Sydney Institute. We need to embrace the diversity of religions and not commit acts of war because of it, he says.
Murdoch is a Marxist
A spectre is haunting the internet… Rupert Murdoch may be the pin-up boy of the bourgeoisie, but his news site paywall plans — based on the idea that if it costs money to produce something, it intrinsically has value — are decidedly Marxist, says Ian Douglas
Murdoch gives Google the finger
Rupert Murdoch says he’s going to remove News Corp media sites — like The Australian and the WSJ — from Google search results once the company’s big paywall goes up. Yeah, who needs new readers anyway?
Vanstone’s mob connections
Why did former Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone grant a Visa to an alleged member of the Italian mafia? Perhaps it has something to do with the tens of thousands of dollars his supporters have donated to the Liberal Party…
Australians scathing over Rudd’s Timor Sea inaction
This week’s Essential Report comes in steady at 59-41, but Rudd’s approval rating has taken a hit. The poll also found 75% of Australians believe the Government would have done much more to prevent damage caused by the Timor Sea oil spill if it had happened somewhere like the the Great Barrier Reef.
