The lunch box -30/10

Spring Lunchin’

It's that time of the year when the Spring Carnival in Melbourne captures the imagination of the country and the colour comes back into nature. It should be warming up - unless you're in Sydney where it's just raining. So we’re here to lighten your lunch with the tastiest bits of news for the day.

Channel latest

• Another day, another tragedy – this time Phoenix Toner has closed down
• Phil Cameron has landed in his new position following his departure from Lenovo – he is now with CA in an Asia-Pacific role
• Juniper has added to its Junos operating system in a bid to improve partner engagement

State of the market

• The market has recovered following strong gains on Wall St. At 12:24pm, the S&P/ASX200 was up 62.6 points
• The Aussie dollar has come back up and is trading at $US0.9139. Gold has risen to $1047.1 an ounce while oil has jumped 3.11 per cent to $79.9 a barrel

Product Wars: Aussie iPhone Apps

• Final results

• Winner - ABC iPhone App - 86%
• =2nd - iiQuota - 71%
• =2nd - Oz broadband speed test - 71%
• 4th - Pocket Weather AU - 70%
• 5th - Quickoffice Mobile Office Suite 1.2 - 60%

• Make sure to cast your vote in the new Product Wars: Best film/TV inspired gadget.

General news

• NBN Fail: The Government is failing its own standards, according its own advisory body
• Advertising: Ad agency claims it invented product placement on TV – in 2005
• Royal gaffe: Prince Edward claims death is good for award
• Gender wars: Dumped ABC host claims he was dumped to fill gender quota
• Aircraft Emergency: A Qantas plane has landed safely despite the pilot suffering an emergency health issue
• Pirates: Kidnapped Brits are reportedly fine after hijacked yacht found
• Banking: Millionaire factory profit falls
• Politics (1): Former WA Premier goes corporate
• Politics (2): Labor MP quits Parliament as her partner faces court for allegedly assaulting her
• Crime (1): Man jailed for 10 years after raping fellow “CouchSurfing” user
• Crime (2): Husband stabs wife in front of children
• Asylum seekers: Another boatload of asylum seekers intercepted by Australian Navy

Sport

• Melbourne Cup: Efficient fine: No injury concerns for Cup favourite
• Melbourne Cup: Cummings looking for starter through the Lexus Stakes: Dandaad or Naval Escort his big hopes
• Melbourne Cup: Danny O‘Brien news: Flemington trainer Danny O'Brien has been forced to take his non-preferred option by starting Vigor in the Group I Mackinnon Stakes
• Only one grand final rematch? Geelong and St Kilda will clash just once next season in a bid to draw big crowds
• Nick Stevens forced to retire: Injury concerns finished a reluctant AFL hero
• Central Coast Mariners looking to poach Phoenix: Wellington Phoenix Paul Ifill an attractive prospect

Entertainment

• Minogue stripped for cash: Dannii Minogue paid off debts with naked Playboy gig
• Doctor charged: Funnelled drugs to Anna Nicole Smith
• Swastika scandal: Taylor Swift shanghaied
• Shonky Qantas: Choice shames airline
• Wayward Pilots: Inquiry ensues
• Military drive: Jeep returns to army
• Cameron Diaz: Talks about The Box

  For the weekend:

  • Looking for somewhere good to eat this weekend? The Australian Good Food Guide is an obvious first place to look. This weekend, go and try something different, you might be pleasantly surprised!

  Tomorrow's weather:

  • Sydney: Fine. Mostly sunny. Min: 18, Max: 27
  • Melbourne: Shower or two. Min: 19, Max: 28
  • Brisbane: A few showers> Min: 15, Max: 26
  • Perth: Fine, mostly sunny. Min: 12, Max: 23
  • Adelaide: Dry. Mostly sunny. Min: 15, Max: 33
  • Hobart: Shower or two. Min: 12, Max: 21
  • Canberra: Shower/thunderstorm. Min: 13, Max: 27
  • Darwin: Fine, mostly sunny. Min: 25, Max: 35