There are many reasons that the Republic of Ireland is now facing the humiliating prospect of turning to the IMF and EU for aid, writes Keshia Jacotine, an honours student at Monash University in Irish politics.
Columns / Crikey Clarifier
Dumb questions for smart people.
Crikey Clarifier: what exactly is a property bubble?
A bubble occurs when the price of an asset class rises well beyond its intrinsic value.
Locusts — who are they and why are they here?
You’d think the heavy winter rains in Australia’s south-east that broke a drought and filled a struggling river system would have been welcomed by all. But the Big Wet has been the equivalent of mood lighting and a Barry White record for one of our most feared pests — the Australian plague locust.
Crikey Clarifier: how does sunscreen work?
Sunscreen. Does it work or is skin cancer still a risk? asks Crikey intern Nick Johns-Wickberg.
Crikey Clarifier: the Mexican drug trade
We know them as faraway characters on trashy TV shows: cavorting by luxurious pools, getting shot at by their enemies and, if it’s a bad day, floating face down in murky rivers. But according to a Sydney Morning Herald report today, Mexican drug lords have infiltrated Australia. That’s right, the cocaine your local junkie is […]
Hung parliaments around the world
Australia is in political limbo. To address the concerns Crikey takes a look at other hung parliaments around the world — and the only previous federal one in Australia — to see exactly how everyone else coped or is coping.
Crikey Clarifier: the history of the informal vote in Australia
Crikey intern Jasmin Pfefferkorn unravels the history and use of the informal vote.
Could your marriage be annulled?
A review of marriage celebrants has found many reciting the marriage vow incorrectly. The legalities mean this could technically render marriages void, explains Crikey intern Jasmin Pfefferkorn.
Crikey Clarifier: what do South Korea’s war games mean for the region?
The United States and South Korea have just wrapped up a four-day naval exercise in the Sea of Japan in response to the March 27 North Korean torpedo attack on the South Korean warship Cheonan. Crikey asks Craig Snyder from Deakin University to explain.
Will ‘Choc Finger’ foiling mean we pay more for coffee and chocolate?
For those of us who live on caffeine and sugar, it’s exactly the news we didn’t want to hear. Coffee and cocoa prices soaring to record highs on the commodities market, so are these prices here to stay?
Crikey Clarifier: what to expect if your home is compulsorily acquired
When it comes to the responsibility of the government to inform you of its decision to remove your right to live where you want, government officials should ensure that they do the job right on the day, and not run away because the media showed up to cover the happy event, writes Ben Hagemann.
What is cloud computing?
The cloud computing revolution is real. But is it really “a radical new business model that purports to slash technology costs by up to 80%”? Let’s check the facts.
Oh Canada, what is a refugee sponsorship program?
Despite Tony Abbott’s strong rhetoric, the opposition leader laid out a plan to increase refugee numbers through a refugee sponsorship program. What does it mean?
Can sneezing really help treat depression?
MP Andrew Robb said he’d look at the sun to make himself sneeze to release endorphins and help his depression. But does looking at the sun make you sneeze, and more importantly, does it change your mood?
Crikey Clarifier: the war comes out of the cold
How did 11 people living seemingly normal lives start Saturday at the little league game and end up surrounded by the fluoro-yellow letters “FBI?” Crikey intern Michael Carter clarifies the tale.
The danger of aviation in Africa
What happened to the Sundance Resources miners while flying over West Africa? Ben Sandilands looks at the shreds of evidence in reports, and the context of Africa’s dangerous aviation game.
Where the hell did that water spout come from?
Lennox Heads has been declared a natural disaster zone by NSW Premier Kristina Kaneally, after a tornado tore through the town yesterday. But how does a tornado happen and why so quickly?
Why Facebook users are quitting, including me
If Facebook doesn’t clean up its act, it could well be forced to. More than 30,000 people deleted their Facebook account on Monday’s international Quit Facebook Day. Why?
Why Google’s reputation went whiffy over Wi-Fi
Google is under investigation in at least four countries following a “mistake”, which led to wireless communications being recorded illegally and other dodgy antics. What went wrong?
What sparked the attack on the cartoonist?
Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks was attacked last week for depicting the prophet Mohammed as a dog. Why the sensitivity? Academic and broadcaster Waleed Aly explains everything to Crikey intern Matt de Neef.
Apple versus Adobe
Apple’s battle with software giant Adobe — over Apple not allowing iPhone’s to use Adobe Flash — has potentially billions of dollars worth of implications on the entire mobile computing market. So what’s the fight about?
Did Obama’s Nuclear Security Summit achieve anything?
A two day talkfest on nuclear security was held in Washington this week. Does that mean we’re all safer from a nuclear attack now? Crikey intern Elizabeth Redman asked international relations expert Professor Richard Tanter.
What happens when a ship lands on a coral reef?
How did the Chinese cargo ship Shen Neng 1 run aground in a protected area of the Great Barrier Reef? And how will it be rescued? Crikey intern Elizabeth Redman spoke to Master Mariner Richard Morris.
The regulation of counselling
With the recent media and government focus on the regulation of counselling and psychotherapy, we thought it timely to learn what these terms actually mean. Psychologist Stephen Andrew and Psychotherapist Zoë Krupka explain.
DNA evidence — it’s not foolproof
A slew of recent cases has brought DNA profiling into question as criminal evidence. Crikey intern Nicole Eckersley talks to an DNA criminology Jeremy Gans about just how accurate those swabs are.
