The need for speed: test riding China’s new rail networkThe Chinese love and admire their trains and ride them in the millions. They now have a $32 billion high-speed line between Shanghai and Bejing and experiencing it is quite something, writes Simon Winchester.
September, 2011
Kabul attack a devastating blow to security credibility
Kabul has been calm for the last few months, but a shock attack this week near the city’s nerve centre has destroyed any faith Afghans had in their security forces, writes Jean MacKenzie.
The imperfect brilliance of Google Translate
It might make some blaring boo-boos from time to time but the genius of Google Translate as a communications tool is not to be underestimated, writes David Bellos.
Unlocking the skeletons in Jackie O’s closet
On the night of JFK’s inauguration, Jackie O was roused from bed by a hit of Dexadrine. This is just one revelation exposed in newly surfaced interview tapes, reports Eleanor Clift.
Mike Smith: the big-talking British banker leading ANZ’s push into Asia
When Mike Smith lines you up, he doesn’t miss. The plain-speaking ANZ CEO has a propensity to run his mouth off when things don’t agree with him. He’s not your typical boring banker, writes Tom Cowie.
theatre reviews 
Transparency — York Theatre, Sydney
Suzie Miller’s Transparency is a cleverly constructed homegrown drama about a man with a deep dark secret, writes Lloyd Bradford Skye.
film reviews The Smurfs movie review — Smurfing awful
Any movie that follows the creative template outlined by Alvin and the Chipmunks has more than a few wrongs to right. And there is an awful lot wrong with director Raja Gosnell’s big screen adaptation of The Smurfs, writes Luke Buckmaster.
PM’s carbon bill met with empty rhetoric from opposition
Crikey media wrap: Carbon tax: it’s been the biggest issue of Julia Gillard’s prime ministership and yesterday she introduced the historic bill into parliament.
Sarah Palin plays the ol’ waiting game
Staying out of the formal race does not appear to be doing Sarah Palin any harm in her efforts to become the Republican Party presidential nominee. She is currently the third most popular choice, writes Richard Farmer.
Australia is falling behind in affordable medicines
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) has served Australians well for many years but recent policy changes are undermining the universality of this important health program, writes Jennifer Doggett.
Australia and technology: a high-flying cloud
When it comes to cloud computing will Australia aspire to its once-traditional back-office role?
The morality of offshore
processing
Determining what our moral obligations are toward asylum seekers can be confusing, because it’s not about personal morality.
Maley: EU banks to the slaughter
European bank stocks were hammered overnight, as investors worried about the hefty losses they would suffer in the increasingly likely event of a Greek debt default, writes Karen Maley, of Business Spectator.
Bid to hush-up report on serious near miss between jets
There is a clear inference of conspiracy between the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) and the federal government to hush-up a serious near miss between airliners in Australian airspace.
Ten years on, 9/13 a milestone for minorities
Today is the 13th day of September — 10 years after an important milestone for the United States and the West. Ten years ago our way of life and our freedoms, our liberal democracy and our rule of law were all assaulted and violated. It is time to stop and reflect.
Paywalls: don’t expect papers here to be in a rush
When will Australian newspapers begin the great experiment of erecting paywalls around content online? It seems it may be a little later than we thought.
Conversion or convergence … or just Hockey schtick?
Aided and abetted by The Australian’s Peter van Onselen, opposition Treasury spokesman Joe Hockey again has made a goose of himself.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Aesop would love our asylum-seeker dilemma
Crikey readers have their say.
Morning Market Report: Markets rebound on Italy’s China debt request
Italy has asked China to make “significant” purchases of Italian debt.
Media briefs: PM’s NotW scoop … talkback in ratings surge … new The Week ed …
In today’s Media Briefs: Front Page of the Day … Coulson favoured chancellor in coverage of scandal during time as editor … 3AW and 2GB surge in radio ratings … The Week appoints Alison Wright as new editor and more …
Power Shots: Power Shots: lobbying cash … NSW political donations … Russian jet skis …
Still money to be made in political peddling. Political donations may be on the nose (at least in NSW), but don’t be fooled: influence peddling is alive and well. Recent Coalition victories in NSW and Victoria have been a boon for lobbyists with conservative credentials. Treasurer-turned investment banker Peter Costello recently become a key investor in […]
Political snippets: A simple solution for Tony Abbott
I don’t understand the suggestion by some commentators that Labor has presented Tony Abbott with a difficult decision over legislation designed to overturn the recent High Court decision on asylum seekers.
Video of the Day: World’s largest water balloon fight
What does the world’s largest water balloon fight look like? There’s a lot of people. A lot of balloons. A lot of mess.
