A year of political and financial upheaval across the world has helped contribute to a global decline in confidence in government and CEOs, according to a recently-published study of public trust.

The Home Office clashed openly with judges on Monday when it criticised a decision to free on bail within days the radical Islamist cleric Abu Qatada, who is accused of posing a grave threat to British national security.

The decision by Mr Justice Mitting will see Abu Qatada, once described as Osama bin Laden's righthand man in Europe, walk out of Long Lartin maximum security prison in Worcestershire after more than six and a half years in detention without trial - the longest period in modern times.

In November 1974, the embattled leader of the Liberal Party, Billy Snedden, offered the memorable if unfortunate comment that his colleagues would walk ''through the Valley of Death on hot coals'' in support of his leadership.

As it turned out, their interest in the Valley of Death was less than Snedden had anticipated. In March 1975, he was ousted by his backbench colleagues in favour of Malcolm Fraser, who led the opposition to a landslide victory in the election held on December 13 1975 following the dismissal of the Whitlam government.

Is the Labor leadership issue a bizarre beat-up entirely confected by the news media? Certainly not. Is it an unstable and shifting situation, which may lead to a challenge, and which is notoriously difficult to report? Absolutely. Here are some of the dilemmas:

Gina Rinehart's descent upon Fairfax will be welcomed by all right-thinking Australians. As everyone knows, great wealth automatically confers great wisdom, a clarity of vision light years beyond the feeble witterings of the rest of us. With a fortune of $20 billion or so, there is no one wealthier than La Rinehart.

Shadow Immigration Minister Scott Morrison, known for his hardline approach to border protection, is also the former chief executive of Tourism Australia, a one-time Liberal moderate and a devout Pentecostal. So what maketh the man?

We all thought it would be so much better. Having dispatched John Howard, it seemed we were on the cusp of something fine. When I think back to those long, long months of campaigning in 2007 – when Labor took the fight right into Howard’s own backyard of Bennelong – a lot of us dreamed a different dream.

February 4th marks the anniversary of a war America won — but doesn’t care to crow about. When the memory only produces shame and regret, you can understand why. 

How often have you heard someone suggest a magic solution to all our political problems? If only we had fixed four-year federal terms! Why don’t we ban politicians from breaking election promises? Let’s have conscience votes on everything! Increase politicians’ salaries! Cut politicians’ salaries!

Three immovable realities are leading Labor MPs to an unpalatable decision to restore their dumped leader. 

You wouldn't think that poker machines and ethanol have much in common. But the actions of the O'Farrell government in recent weeks have managed to tie them together quite neatly.

The Minister for Hospitality, George Souris, quietly put through a regulation last month that did Clubs NSW a big favour.

WASHINGTON — The international hackers group known as Anonymous turned the tables on the F.B.I. by listening in on a conference call last month between the bureau, Scotland Yard and other foreign police agencies about their joint investigation of the group and its allies.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/04/us/fbi-admits-hacker-groups-eavesdropping.html?_r=1&hp