A common view among politicians, the media, planners and health professionals is that urban sprawl is a key cause of the modern obesity epidemic. But don’t rush to quick conclusions, writes The Urbanist’s Alan Davies.
Politics / The World
Guy Rundle: Emergency Republican scenario includes another Bush
So it’s on. And if Gingrich wins he’ll take all Florida’s delegates, 50 in total, which will put him way ahead in the delegate count.
IMF paper positive about Australian banking system
What is disappointing about the reporting of the IMF working paper is the absence of any critical view.
Rundle12: down Florida way, Newt’s about to tear Mitt a fresh one afresh
They’re off the blocks in Florida today, for the fourth Republican primary (OK three primaries, one caucus) with a debate tonight in Tampa, and both Romney and Gingrich ripping each other new ones.
Carr: what Mitt Romney should have said in South Carolina
When quizzed about his vast personal fortune, Mitt Romney missed a great opportunity to promote himself as an investor in American companies, products and jobs, writes Bob Carr.
Croatia turn up late to EU party
Last weekend Croatia took to the polls to vote on whether the country could proceed towards accession into the European Union. With almost all votes counted, 66 percent of Croats supported membership, writes Keshia Jacotine.
While Labor fights in Qld, its young leader joins GOP campaign
The president of the Queensland branch of the Young Labor Party is a staunch supporter of conservative Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul, using leave from the AWU to campaign in the US.
The locals are adamant: cruise skipper ‘had head up his arse’
New questions are being asked about whether the blame for the disaster should be shared between captain Franco Schettino and the owner of the vessel, Costa Cruises, writes Josephine McKenna, a freelance journalist in Giglio.
Kohler: carried away in an Aussie dollar dance
Global hedge funds are starting to make big returns from borrowing in euros and investing in higher-yielding currencies such as the Australian dollar.
Rundle12: Gingrich’s secret weapon — Mitt Romney
This thing is absolutely on, and it may well go all the way to the last primary – June 26, Utah, which may well be Mormon Mitt’s ace-in-the-hole … or his last stand.
Crikey Says: Cue the Newt puns, the US primaries just got interesting
What was shaping up as a done deal for Mitt Romney, and quite frankly, a decidedly boring outcome for political junkies everywhere, just got interesting.
Fear and loathing in the GOP: Gingrich victory propels panic
Newt Gingrich’s thumping victory over Mitt Romney in the South Carolina primary has sent the GOP into the throes of panic, writes Paul Begala.
Essay: Cut the diplospeak and stop warmongering in the Middle East
Washington needs to normalize relations with Iran, openly repudiate the Israeli war drums, and finally accept the verdict of history in Iran adverse to its strategic ambitions, writes Richard A Falk.
Contrasting reactions to friendly fire in Afghanistan
France has suspended all operations with the Afghan army after four French troops were killed in friendly fire — a stark comparison to Julia Gillard’s reaction to three Aussies being shot last November, writes Richard Farmer.
Inside the casas of Mexico’s drug lords
Bullet riddled walls, flak jackets and opulent domed palaces with disco balls — the homes of Mexico’s drug cartels are an interesting mix of business and pleasure, writes Damien Cave.
Megaupload latest casualty in new round of cyberwars
The filesharing company Megaupload has been taken down by the US Department of Justice - which was immediately brought down itself.
As Capt Chicken sips espresso with mum, rescuers search for dead
As Captain Francesco Schettino kicks back with an espresso in Naples, an army is working to clean up the mess that he left behind, writes Jo McKenna from the Italian island of Giglio.
Rundle12: Mrs Gingrich throws campaign grenade at egomaniac man-baby ex
Newt Gingrich may not be able to get out of this one with his usual pious “I made mistakes” line, because this is so calculated in the telling that it reminds people Gingrich is a member of the elite he hates.
Obama’s job speech: when you wish upon a star…
On Thursday Barack Obama unveiled a major new plan to boost tourism and jobs but the GOP responded with laughter at his choice of location: Disneyland, reports Jennifer Epstein.
Surveilling discontent: Germany keeps a watch on the far-right
The German government has approved a plan to create a database of far-right extremists, as a response to the discovery of a neo-Nazi cell believed to be responsible for a string of murders.
Keane on SOPA: Big Copyright will continue to endanger basic rights
The copyright industry has rejected the opportunity to profit from online content and insisted on maintaining its analog business model.
Rundle12: up close and personal with Rick Perry
Why is Texas Governor Rick Perry still in the Republican race? A campaign stop in South Carolina demonstrated why even the man himself doesn’t seem to think he can win.
Crikey Says: Doing a Schettino
The captain of the Costa Concordia’s leadership qualities are not unlike the kind we’re seeing from European leaders at the moment.
SOPA: who did and didn’t join the blackout, and why
A legion of high profile American websites have joined the anti-SOPA blackout and created a massive amount of awareness, writes Will Oremus.
