Monthly Archives: January 2009

Barack Obama has ordered the first military action of his presidency, ordering missile attacks against villages in Pakistan. The attacks are believed to have killed at least 18 people. Intelligence officials claimed that some of those killed were al-Qaida militants. … Continue reading →

Senior government advisers are in line for pay increases of up to $11,700 despite Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s appeal for wage restraint. Mr Rudd urged workers last week to “restrain wage claims” to help deal with the economic crisis. Special … Continue reading →

The Pope has welcomed a Holocaust-denying bishop back into the Catholic Church. Richard Williamson told Swedish television in 2008 that “I believe there were no gas chambers…I think that 200,000 to 300,000 Jews perished in Nazi concentration camps…but none of … Continue reading →

Quote of the Moment: “Life begins at confection.” Comment on the American Life League press release (story below).

An American anti-abortion group has accused a doughnut company of promoting abortion, because of their offer of a free doughnut to customers. Krispy Kreme ran a promotion tied to the inauguration of new President Barack Obama, by offering a “free … Continue reading →

The Labor Party has broken a promise that refugee detention centres would be transferred from private operators to the public sector, and has extended the contract of a company who they accused of turning detainees into “broken human beings.” The … Continue reading →

Victorian police have offered $13.75 million in rewards to solve some of the state’s worst crimes, but have paid nothing in ten years. The Age newspaper reported that Victoria Police has confirmed it does not have a current list of … Continue reading →

One hundred Victorians who worked as extras in Paul Hogan’s latest film say they were ripped off, losing a total of $32,000. The Warrnambool residents signed away their right to be paid for their work on the film Charlie and … Continue reading →

A newly appointed Australian Navy submarine commander has said that forcing female sailors to wear bikinis would attract “the right demographic of young men.” Commander Tom Phillips, appointed to the helm of Collins class submarine HMAS Farncomb last year, told … Continue reading →

For the first time, a senior Bush administration official responsible for reviewing practices at Guantanamo has publicly stated that a detainee was tortured. Retired former judge Susan Crawford told the Washington Post that the treatment of suspected terrorist Mohammed al-Qahtani … Continue reading →