The Australian
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Polly Simons
Writer, critic and editor with more than 10 years of experience writing for publications including Australian Book Review, The Daily Telegraph, The Australian and Time Out (Sydney and Melbourne).Now a …
View PortfolioKerry Parnell
I am an award-winning British-based journalist and editor who writes for the UK and Australian markets. A columnist and contributor for The Sunday Telegraph and News Corp Australia, I also …
View PortfolioQuincy Malesovas
Quincy is a writer based in Melbourne and bred in the US. She specialises in SEO-driven website copy, corporate blogs, food journalism and personal narrative. Her work can be found …
View PortfolioLatest Articles
Single malts, triple the enjoyment
In the world of alcohol, trends come and go but whisky (or in Ireland, whiskey) is a rare exception, holding a timeless appeal that spans palates and generations. Seamus Carroll, buyer at The Whisky Club, knows this first-hand. “I fell in love with whisky the same way so many people …
Boogie woogie workouts
“Shake it, Helen,” one squawked manically at her friend as a muzak cover version of Shakira bounced around the Summer Hill Community Centre in Sydney. It was a Zumba class, a cocktail of Latin dance styles: mambo and merengue shaken with salsa and samba. With more than 12 million devotees, …
Foreign investors are overlooking a quiet Chinese revolution
The business community has misunderstood the importance of the "negative list" system being applied in China's new Free Trade Zones.
Green light flashes for foreign investment in China
China has announced a major overhaul of its foreign investment regime, in what will amount to the single largest reform to foreign investment in China since the beginning of the "opening and reform" era over thirty years ago.
Mixed legacy for Hong Kong's Umbrella Movement
While protesters' demands have not been met, their voices have been heard clearly, not just by Beijing, but by each other.
Taiwanese voters' challenge to Beijing
The view that the Taiwanese election results were primarily a result of the "China factor" has gotten a lot of play in the media, but it's not right.
The 'foreign forces' China fears the most
The role of 'foreign forces' in Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests has Beijing deeply worried. But it's not the US or other foreign nations they're most concerned about.
Hong Kong edges towards an end game
Protest leaders seem to have accepted the inevitability of a forced end to their demonstration, but it's unlikely this will also mean the end of their movement.
Hong Kong's protesters will be tomorrow's leaders
Student protesters in Hong Kong are gaining a political education that will prepare them to be future leaders of the island.
Hong Kong's weak leaders threaten business confidence
Questions are intensifying about the long-term impact of the protests on business confidence in Hong Kong but so far the administration does not appear to have any strategy to resolve the current crisis beyond simply hoping it all goes away.
The unexpected leaders of Hong Kong’s protests
Occupy Central was intended as a well-organised protest beginning on October 1. But a student strike originally meant as a curtain raiser quickly morphed into the main event.
Teleworking is a trend with benefits
WHETHER you call it teleworking, telecommuting, anywhere working or simply working from home, there’s no doubt the idea of working outside the office is gaining momentum. “We’ve been talking about it for a very long time,” says Dr Yvette Blount, research coordinator of Macquarie University’s Australia Anywhere Working Research Network, …
Alibaba’s benevolent dictatorship
Alibaba's corporate governance arrangements suggest an insecure and paranoid founder, intent on maintaining control of his company at all costs.
Alibaba’s long road home
Alibaba's decision to list in the US appears to be a loss for HK. But there is a possible 'face saving' resolution that could yet see the online retail giant make its homecoming.
China takes the fetters off outbound investors
China is effectively removing the fetters for outbound investment, with a stroke making Chinese bidders more competitive in international M&A transactions.
China cracks down on foreign business
As China moves from manufacturer to consumer, foreign firms are coming into direct competition with domestic players. Plenty of evidence suggests they're getting treated unfairly.