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A Curia poll commissioned by Family First shows that 52% of New Zealanders support a proposed law defining a woman as an adult human biological female and a man as an adult human biological male, regardless of gender identity. · Only 29% oppose the law, while 19% remain unsure. · Support is strongest among men (65%), with women more divided at 39% support and 35% opposed. Support increases with age: 48% among those aged 18–39, 52% for ages…

In a major policy shift, President Donald Trump has signed an executive order halting federal funding for “dangerous” gain-of-function (GoF) research. · The order defines such work as “scientific research on an infectious agent or toxin with the potential to cause disease by enhancing its pathogenicity or increasing its transmissibility.” · Sitting behind the Resolute desk, flanked by key health officials, Trump signed the order with his…

How to make roasted pumpkin so much more fabulous with very little effort? A dash of maple syrup for extra caramelisation. Kick of fresh chilli. Plus a sprinkle of feta and shower of walnuts! Serve as a side, a meal, pile on toast or crostini. It’s delicious any which way · A lovely autumn side dish or lunch salad that can also be made with kumara. · Ingredients · - 1kg pumpkin — peeled and cut into 2.5cm cubes - 1 red onion — cut into thin…

America has misjudged China horribly before. Hyperpower hubris turned the Korean War into a direct conflict between US and Chinese troops. · President Harry Truman thought he had free licence to hurl parts of the US Eighth Army across the 38th parallel in October 1950 and roll back the whole of communist North Korea. Advisers assured him that the infant regime of Mao Tse-tung was too weak to intervene, and too ill-equipped to make much…

Paediatric gender dysphoria has rapidly emerged as one of the most divisive and urgent issues in medicine today. In the past decade, the number of children and adolescents identifying as transgender or nonbinary has soared. · In the US alone, diagnoses among youth aged 6 to 17 nearly tripled—from around 15,000 in 2017 to over 42,000 by 2021—signalling a seismic shift not only in culture but in clinical practice. · Children diagnosed with…

Were I asked, “What is a fairytale?” I should reply, “Read Undine: that is a fairytale; then read this and that as well, and you will see what is a fairytale.” Were I further begged to describe the fairytale, or define what it is, I would make answer, that I should as soon think of describing the abstract human face, or stating what must go to constitute a human being. A fairytale is just a fairytale, as a face is just a face; and of all…

Ferrari has been on a roll of late. The Italian carmaker has a waiting list that extends until 2026. That hasn’t stopped it from working on its very first electric car, slated for release later this year. · But apparently, there’s more to come. Industry-wide rumors have long suggested that Ferrari might have its sights set on bringing back the manual transmission in its cars, after a 13-year gap. · This has now been confirmed, as the brand's…

On May 5th,1898, War threatened sleepy Hokianga as government troops marched towards armed Māori ‘rebels’. · This was the climax of widespread Māori opposition to dog registration. Most Māori had little involvement with the cash economy and owned many dogs, especially for hunting. They saw the annual ‘dog tax’ of 2s 6d per dog as discrimination. · In April 1898 a relative of Hōne Tōia of Te Mahurehure told officials that his people would not…