POLITICS AND ECONOMICS
AUSTRALIA
Political life
Rudd gears cabinet for jobs poll – The Australian
Arbib says it’s all about jobs, jobs, jobs – new Minister on what his job entails – The Australian
Arbib to be Labor’s man on the jobs – Sydney Morning Herald
Defence
Defence industry tsar Combet will command $100bn budget – the elevation of Greg Combet into Kevin Rudd’s ministerial line-up means Australia’s defence industry will have its first dedicated minister in the past 25 years. – The Australian
Privatisation
Bligh stares down ALP on $15bn sell-off – Brisbane Courier Mail on the Queensland ALP Conference
Racial hatred
Bashings undermine image blitz – Further attacks on Indian students in Melbourne have undermined a public relations blitz to defend Australia’s reputation as a safe place to study. – Melbourne Age
Education
Student plan unfair, says Coalition – Melbourne Age says Coalition will propose amendments to the Federal Government’s controversial overhaul of student income support so people who took gap years to become eligible for payments will still qualify.
Opinion
Suffering from a blast from the past – Daniel Flitton in the Melbourne Age writes that whether the attacks are merely opportunistic, as Victorian police chief Simon Overland maintains, or the work of bigots deliberately targeting Indian students, the outcome is the same: the image of Australia is taking a hammering on the world stage.
New blood and more protection for the PM – Glenn Milne in The Australian sees a ise and rise reshuffle of the baby faced political killers: Arbib, Bowen, Clare and Combet.
Kevin’s class of 07 gets early leg-up – Lenore Taylor on the Cabinet reshuffle in The Australian
PM goes to extremes in playing Mr Tough Guy – Hugh Mackay in the Sydney Morning Herald
President Rudd’s holiday reading – Phillip Coorey reports in the Sydney Morning Herald on some research on attitudes to Australia becoming a republic
ELSEWHERE
Elections
In Iran, disparate, powerful forces ally against Ahmadinejad – Los Angeles Times
Would Hezbollah win in Lebanon election lead to war with Israel? – Zvi Barel writing in Haaretz
Unity set to hold in Lebanon polls – Melbourne Age
European elections: Brown faces leadership battle amid Labour meltdown and BNP success; • BNP’s Nick Griffin elected to EU parliament; • Labour share of national vote could slump to just 16% – The Guardian
Gordon Brown readies for European election drubbing – London Times
BUSINESS
Chairman resists call to dump Rio boss – The Australian
MEDIA
Crikey’s simply, seriously credible – Crikey editor Jonathan Green writes in the media section of The Australian and because he authorises the weekly cheqaue I thought I’d better plug it
New health lobbyists gain in strength and the advertising industry is struggling to keep pace – The Australian
ENVIRONMENT
Fielding back from Washington with list for Wong – The Australian
LIFE
Celebrations
Socceroos into World Cup finals – Adelaide Advertiser
Verbeek and his Socceroos prove up to the test – Socceroo boss Pim Verbeek was not seen cracking open a champagne bottle, nor was he seen belting out the national anthem. But there was no mistaking his pride and happiness after his team took the point it needed to ensure World Cup qualification – Melbourne Age
Swine flu
Expert: hospitals missing true extent of swine flu infection – London Times
Six Brisbane Broncos Origin stars quarantined in swine flu scare – Fox Sports
Honours
Gongs for fashionista, battler, teacher – The Australian on the Queen’s Birthday honours list
My heart breaks at the appalling news about six football players in Brisbane coming down with swine flu. Indeed there is no justice at all in this world when these lovely brave young men have to forgo some footy matches.