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Joke of the week

Joke of the week PM John Howard went to a primary school to address a group of children about tragedies. Before he started, he asked the children to give him an example of a tragedy. Several students raised their hands and he selected a little

Skateboarders defy council ban

By Sunny Wignall HOBART — The lack of youth rights has been highlighted by the city council's decision to ban skateboarding in the central business district. On July 8, the Mercury reported that skateboarding would be banned within the CBD.

Rally to stop exam changes

By Mathew Munro HOBART — Around 300 people attended a rally on August 6 at the University of Tasmania to protest the administration's move to reduce "swot vac" (the exam study period) from nine days to four, and to hold three exam sessions per

Russian nuclear bosses mount pogrom against protesters

By Renfrey Clarke MOSCOW — Five anti-nuclear protesters were hospitalised, and at least 30 more were left bruised and bloodied, after hundreds of thugs on July 29 staged an organised attack on a blockade outside the soon-to-be-completed Rostov

Suharto moves to silence critic

Suharto moves to silence critic By James Balowski On August 5, the private secretary of one of Indonesia's best known statespersons was brought to trial for "insulting" President Suharto. Thirty-four-year-old Buyung Rachmat Buchori is being

Telstra workers face uncertain future

LEO WALLIN works in Telstra's commercial and consumer business unit as a customer sales representative. He spoke to 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly's JAMES VASSILOPOULOS about Telstra's new work regime and the enterprise bargaining proposal. Wallin says working in

Nurses continue fight for pay and conditions

Nurses continue fight for pay and conditions By Bronwen Beechey MELBOURNE— Victorian nurses voted on August 6 to close 20% of hospital beds as part of their long-running dispute with the state government over pay and staffing. All public

'Corporate dirty secrets laws' spread through US

By Peter Montague US corporations are successfully pursuing a new strategy to evade environmental laws and regulations. The New York Times describes the strategy: "Urged on by a coalition of big industries, one state after another is adopting

Looking out: All in pieces

All in piecesAll in pieces By Brandon Astor Jones and Sarah Connor "First there [is] the children's house of make believe,Some shattered dishes underneath a pine,THe playthings in the playhouse of the children,Weep for what little

Crackdown continues in East Timor

By James Balowski While attention has been focused on South African President Nelson Mandela's recent meeting with jailed Fretilin leader Xanana Gusmao, and Mandela's offer to "contribute" to UN-sponsored negotiations between Portugal and

Citipower workers: 13 weeks and still fighting

By Bronwen Beechey MELBOURNE — The dispute between electricity supplier Citipower and the Electrical Trades Union has entered its 13th week. ETU members voted on August 5 to stay out until the issue of job security has been resolved. The

High school walk-out called

High school walk-out called By Aimee Lipscombe and David Steinberg MELBOURNE — Resistance is calling on high school students to walk out of class and join the education national day of action rally at the Museum at 1pm on August 20.