The Pakistani govenment is reportedly keen to release Raymond Davis, the American diplomat (according to Washington) or CIA/Blackwater agent (according to the Pakistani rumour mill) who shot dead two Pakistani youths, reports Shakira Hussein.
February, 2011
Is Mubarak escaping to exile in a plush German clinic?
As Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak’s leadership gets every more rocky, secret plans are being made for Mubarak to head off to a luxury health clinic in Germany for a “prolonged health check”, where he could resign as president and live safely in exile.
I’m not trying to say Gillard faked it. But…
I do not say that Andrew Bolt is trying to make his readers believe that Julia Gillard is a deceptive harpy who fakes her tears. But I do say it’s unfortunate that his readers seem to believe that anyway, writes Dave Gaukroger.
travel Why would someone with a lizard phobia visit Arch’s Iguana Farm?
The beauty of travel is that it encourages us to do exciting things. Bungee jumping in New Zealand? Okay. Eating fried spiders in Cambodia? Sure. Visiting an iguana farm when you have a lizard phobia? Er…
Fighting the flood levy
Crikey media wrap: Opposition leader Tony Abbott and his Treasurer Joe Hockey proposed their alternative to the flood levy yesterday: $2.065 billion in cuts from the budget. But have they caused needless damage to the Liberal Party?
Maybe Tony should have gone the biff
The silence as Tony Abbott stared at Seven News reporter Mark Riley after being questioned on a comment he made in Afghanistan (“shit happens”) after being briefed on the death in action of an Australian soldier was truly eerie. Maybe Abbott should have punched him out, writes Richard Farmer.
Another headline about Facebook privacy (or lack of it)
The most recent story about Facebook’s privacy regulation focuses on the unauthorised data scraping of 500, 000 facebook photographs by dating website lovely-faces.com, writes Shakira Hussein.
book reviews Digesting the classics: The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James
Henry James was one of the first authors to delve into deep explorations of consciousness and perception, and Portrait of a Lady is still a very interesting read these days - particularly in a feminist sense, writes Angela Meyer.
Come in Spinner: The pants on fire test
If so many US citizens believe in fantasies, and Pants on Fire ratings are needed for politics here and there, equally much of what people believe about PR and its history is wrong as well, writes Noel Turnbull adjunct professor media and communications RMIT University
Inspector Fahey and the politics of competence
John Fahey knows a thing or two about waste and mismanagement. But that’s not why Julia Gillard put him in charge of the “Reconstruction Inspectorate”.
Why pot really is making kids sick: the new scientific link
Cannabis use accelerates the onset of psychotic illnesses, according to a new study. Meta-analysis of data collected over 30 years, from over 20,000 patients, concludes the “age at onset of psychosis for cannabis users was 2.7 years younger than for nonusers”.
Rundle: sneaking past security with Bianca and the Wikikids
When we last left our hero, he was languishing in a Norfolk mansion with a Glasgow Rolex on his ankle, trapped in a Christmas photo-shoot wearing hunting brogues.
We’re not selling to Fairfax: Kohler
Business Spectator and Eureka Report chief Alan Kohler has scotched rumours that his business is about to be sold to Fairfax Media.
Australia’s power of climate veto
It’s one of the ironies of Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd’s push to have Australia occupy one of the temporary seats on the United Nations Security Council, that the vote may come down to how poor countries judge Australia’s performance on climate change, writes Giles Parkinson, of Climate Spectator.
Highly paid Asciano chief has left the building
One of Australia’s most controversial and highly paid chief executives, Mark Rowsthorn, has left his role heading transport company Asciano.
Irish Labour eyes a national investment bank
Ireland is only the second country after smaller Iceland to have been bankrupted by its banks and bankers, with considerable assistance from weak politicians and corrupt businessmen.
Sudan and the sweet smell of secession
The final results of the south Sudanese independence referendum were officially announced on Monday and almost 99% of southern Sudanese voted for secession, writes Rafiq Copeland from northern Africa.
Keane: I confess — I’m a member of Anonymous
Yup, apparently your trusty (or completely untrustworthy, depending on your taste) Crikey Canberra correspondent is supposedly a member of Anonymous.
When governments know less than their citizens
The traditional asymmetry of information between people and their governments has been upended in recent months. It’s unlikely to ever be restored.
Protesters find their voice — and protect the library — in Alexandria
Speaking out against the President and Egyptian government has been problematic at the best of times but it is probably safer now than ever before with all eyes on their every move, writes Vickie Smiles, from the Egyptian city of Alexandria.
Sub-hub hubbub as staff braces for mind-numbing NewsCentral
Sydney-based News Limited staff are bracing for the worst following the botched implementation of the company’s controversial NewsCentral subbing arrangements.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: A lack of policy scrutiny and debate
Crikey readers have their say.
Daily Proposition: Trace your family tree
Tracing a family tree can be a surprisingly involved process. People with a common name may have an interesting time, records may only exist in far-flung corners of the world, and it’s potentially an expensive endeavor. But it’s worth it, says Matt Smith.
