Comment
PM stumbling around the international stage
Raoul Heinrichs Tony Abbott has lurched from one diplomatic disaster to another as he compounds rookie mistakes with our Asian neighbours.
Chasing holy grail of balance in news reporting
![Jonathan_Holmes](http://web.archive.org./web/20131106092524im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2013/08/06/4636918/Jonathan_Holmes-90x60.jpg)
Jonathan Holmes 4:24pm Is objectivity still a relevant goal now that bloggers rule the media landscape?
More food advice? I'm stuffed!
![Food advice](http://web.archive.org./web/20131106092524im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2013/11/06/4900198/rw-bread-th-20131106145112119060-90x60.jpg)
David Campbell 3:45pm Eat this, don't eat that. With so much conflicting advice, it can be hard to escape the food maze.
The real reason bookshops are dying
![Selection of books.](http://web.archive.org./web/20131106092524im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2009/07/15/633271/australian_books-90x60.jpg)
Christopher Bantick 2:07pm If readers see local stores as having an important cultural role, they must ensure they stay viable.
Never too old for wedding bells
![Wedding rings / BANDS Generic
NO CAPTION INFORMATION PROVIDED](http://web.archive.org./web/20131106092524im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2013/11/06/4899802/rw-wedding-th-20131106124606669572-90x60.jpg)
1:11pm Getting married in later life feels like a glorious new chapter – though it’s not without complications, says Max Davidson
Opinion
Missing votes a rare event in AEC's history
![Sally Young.](http://web.archive.org./web/20131106092524im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2013/10/01/4793590/Sally-Young-90x60.jpg)
Lessons need to be learnt, but Australians should still have faith in the system, writes Sally Young.
Indian cricket a bellwether for changes
![Matt Wade dinkus](http://web.archive.org./web/20131106092524im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2013/09/12/4741689/Matt%20Wade%20dinkus-90x60.jpg)
MATT WADE It's a year since Julia Gillard's Asian Century white paper focused national attention on future economic opportunities in our region.
Comment
Why a break with Cup tradition is a bad bet
![Andrew lemon dinkus](http://web.archive.org./web/20131106092524im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2013/11/04/4895448/Andrew%20lemon%20dinkus-90x60.jpg)
Andrew Lemon The spring racing carnival may be a business now, but its distinctive history is an asset that must be protected from the beancounters.
Iran's reforming president offers little hope
![Iranian President Hassan Rouhani](http://web.archive.org./web/20131106092524im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2013/11/05/4897651/rj-th-iran_20131105155622367830-90x60.jpg)
Shahram Akbarzadeh While Hassan Rouhani has made strides in foreign policy, there is a growing unease about his inaction on domestic freedoms.
It's a golden age for world news
![A man is seen looking at The Times newspaper's new website on a computer, in this posed picture, taken in central London on May 25, 2010. News International has launched new websites for its British daily and Sunday Times newspaper titles, offering a free trial period for customers. After the trial period customers will be asked to pay ?1.00 a day or ?2.00 for a week to access the sites. The Times' readership is currently 1.8 million and the Sunday Times has a readership of 3.2 million. AFP PHOTO/CARL DE SOUZA](http://web.archive.org./web/20131106092524im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2013/11/05/4896933/sc-thumb_press_20131105121244459037-90x60.jpg)
Bill Keller There's never been a better time for the curious global news junkie. But, yes, there's a 'but'.
Analysis
Tipsters offering different odds on economy
![Tim Colebatch dinkus](http://web.archive.org./web/20131106092524im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2013/09/16/4752380/Tim%20Colebatch%20dinkus-90x60.jpg)
TIM COLEBATCH Opinion Melbourne Cup day is a good opportunity to look at where our country is heading.
Opinion
Politics driving our car industry over a cliff
![Kim Carr dinkus](http://web.archive.org./web/20131106092524im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2013/11/04/4895449/Kim%20Carr%20dinkus-90x60.jpg)
Kim Carr The Liberals' mindset on manufacturing will have a catastrophic impact on jobs.
Time to consider electronic voting
![George Williams dinkus](http://web.archive.org./web/20131106092524im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2013/09/12/4741660/George%20Williams%20dinkus-90x60.jpg)
GEORGE WILLIAMS The 2013 federal election has been a disaster for the electoral process. The loss of 1375 WA Senate votes was the final straw.
Comment
The lucky country? Try selfish and deluded
![John Watson dinkus.](http://web.archive.org./web/20131106092524im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2013/09/17/4755717/John%20Watson%20dinkus-90x60.jpg)
JOHN WATSON Opinion Cutting $4.5b from our foreign aid budget suggests we're happy to live in a world of obscene disparities.
Racing must act to make all horses winners
![Horse racing](http://web.archive.org./web/20131106092524im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2012/01/18/2899287/th-------HORSE-90x60.jpg)
Lawrence Pope The fun of the spring carnival is diminished by the cruel treatment of too many horses.
What is the job of our navy ships?
![Hugh White dinkus](http://web.archive.org./web/20131106092524im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2013/09/16/4752376/Hugh%20White%20dinkus-90x60.jpg)
HUGH WHITE To get it right on navy spending, we must first decide what we want the navy to be able to do.
Comment
Imagine if we were smart, not just tough
![Rob Hulls dink, dinkus](http://web.archive.org./web/20131106092524im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2013/11/03/4892311/Rob%20Hulls-90x60.jpg)
Rob Hulls Rehabilitation and crime prevention reap benefits for everyone, not just the criminals.
Comment
Box-ticking stance on integrity won't suffice
![Neville Tiffen dink, dinkus](http://web.archive.org./web/20131106092524im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2013/11/03/4892310/Neville%20Tiffen-90x60.jpg)
Neville Tiffen When integrity and corruption issues arise, they don't just disappear and life moves on.
Right up our street
![Bruce Guthrie dinkus](http://web.archive.org./web/20131106092524im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2013/09/17/4755732/Bruce%20Guthrie%20dinkus-90x60.jpg)
BRUCE GUTHRIE Collins Street is Australia's most memorable mile, so why isn't it celebrated?
Comment
A rite of spring to unite us in silly behaviour
![Ian Rose](http://web.archive.org./web/20131106092524im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2013/10/19/4844496/Ian%20Rose-90x60.jpg)
Ian Rose Have a mindful flutter on the one day that sets our hearts aflutter.
Comment
Navel-gazing with Team Kevin
![Bianca Hall](http://web.archive.org./web/20131106092524im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2013/09/21/4767147/Bianca%20Hall-90x60.jpg)
Bianca Hall Any reading of the social landscape tells us women are only good for one thing: to be used sexually.
Comment
A world where sexual violence sells
![dink](http://web.archive.org./web/20131106092524im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2013/10/05/4807249/Melinda%20Tankard%20Reist-90x60.jpg)
Melinda Tankard Reist Mainstream culture has a lot to answer for.
The shame that is Abbott's foreign aid policy
![Tony Abbott](http://web.archive.org./web/20131106092524im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2013/11/06/4899447/320Abbott1-90x60.jpg)
MARK BAKER For a PM who won his office on the back of a deeply parochial agenda, it is striking that Tony Abbott has spent much of the time during his first weeks in the job immersed in the turbulent waters of international affairs.
Back to grassroots
![quentin-bryce-dinkus](http://web.archive.org./web/20131106092524im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2013/11/01/4888470/quentin-bryce-dinkus-90x60.jpg)
Quentin Bryce Women share a lack of recognition of their equal worth and their equal capacity to contribute to a just, peaceful and prosperous society.
Hey, you with the phone: listen up!
![dink.](http://web.archive.org./web/20131106092524im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2013/09/20/4765996/Wendy%20Squires-90x60.jpg)
Wendy Squires It is known as 'phubbing' - snubbing someone by looking at your phone instead of paying attention.
Half-messiah's revolution hits nerve
![Russell Brand](http://web.archive.org./web/20131106092524im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2011/04/15/2307676/russell-brand-th-90x60.jpg)
MARTIN FLANAGAN Russell Brand is entertaining and daring and possibly also serious. This week he called for a revolution.
Victims wait as fashion juggernaut rolls on
![dink.](http://web.archive.org./web/20131106092524im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2013/09/20/4765995/Suzy%20Freeman-Greene-90x60.jpg)
Suzy Freeman-Greene How to reconcile fashion's euphoric promises with this mean-spirited picture?
Remembering why I love spring racing
![Konrad Marshall](http://web.archive.org./web/20131106092524im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2013/09/24/4774872/Konrad%20Marshall-90x60.jpg)
Konrad Marshall If racing is not in my nature, then it is in my nurture. This is why I adore spring racing.
A rosy future awaits, if we survive until then
![Danny Katz](http://web.archive.org./web/20131106092524im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2013/09/13/4746976/Danny-Katz-90x60.jpg)
DANNY KATZ Sometime in the future, sarcasm will turn out to be the highest form of wit. Many of us are eagerly looking forward to that.
Comment
In truth, the spying game is a necessary evil
![Paul Monk](http://web.archive.org./web/20131106092524im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2013/10/31/4880622/Paul%20Monk-90x60.jpg)
Paul Monk However unpalatable, eavesdropping on our neighbours is vital for our own protection in a world of confusion and mistrust. There's just no way around it.
Analysis
Equality more than just a matter of language
![Waleed Aly dinkus.](http://web.archive.org./web/20131106092524im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2013/09/17/4755731/Waleed%20Aly%20dinkus-90x60.jpg)
WALEED ALY Symbolism is important when it comes to the divisive issue of same-sex marriage.
Analysis
Coalition friction: it's a tension it doesn't need
![Josh Gordon dinkus.](http://web.archive.org./web/20131106092524im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2013/09/17/4755892/Josh%20Gordon%20dinkus-90x60.jpg)
JOSH GORDON Denis Napthine might have to make some tough decisions as many MPs reach retirement age.
Dangerous words precede dangerous deeds
![Nick Dyrenfurth](http://web.archive.org./web/20131106092524im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2013/10/31/4878674/rw-nick-th-20131031150907938751-90x60.jpg)
Nick Dyrenfurth The brutal, unprovoked assault of a Jewish family of five in Bondi shows us that now is not the time to water down anti-discrimination laws.
Today's Editorials and Letters
The Age
Long may The Cup runneth over
![editorial](http://web.archive.org./web/20131106092524im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2013/05/01/4236825/The-Age-editorial-90x60.jpg)
The Cup may be Melbourne's race, but the event indubitably belongs to the wider world.
NOVEMBER 6
Lifting trade restrictions would go a long way
![letters](http://web.archive.org./web/20131106092524im_/http://images.theage.com.au/2013/05/01/4236823/The-Age-letters-90x60.jpg)
While the foreign aid cuts are mean-spirited, I believe John Watson overstates their impact.
Editors' picks
The shame that is Abbott's foreign aid policy
MARK BAKER For a prime minister who won office on a parochial agenda, it is striking that Tony Abbott has spent much of his first weeks in the job immersed in international affairs.
We can surpass even our most inspiring neighbours
Australia needs the best and brightest immigrants, provided they are willing to abide by our way of life.
Blame the victim attitude yet another blow
AMY GRAY The proposed changes to Victoria's rape laws are not enough to provide justice.
What did we learn from the war in Afghanistan?
JAMES BROWN Australia, unlike other countries, has not publicly reviewed its military mission. It's time to ask critical questions about how we fought the war.
Culture of hysteria
hijacks our language
JOHN WATSON Understatement was a way to keep things in perspective. Now everything's a disaster!
On sexism, media must heal themselves
LISA WILKINSON Today's media landscape, particularly for women, is so focused on the glossy and glamorous.
Mothering lessons for the girl who cried bear
It's only now, as a parent, that I understand the story my mum used to tell about me.