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Historian Paul Moon has cancelled his upcoming lecture at New Zealand’s National Library after a staff member relayed a request from the director to remove historian John Seeley’s quote describing the British Empire as being “acquired in a fit of absence of mind,” citing fears it could appear supportive of colonial conquest. · “Everything can be read as political,” they added. · The lecture, set for February, focused on British policies leading…

On December 6, 2024, a federal judge ordered the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to release documents related to the emergency use authorisation of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine. These documents had been hidden from public view. · The legal battle traces back to September 2021, when attorney Aaron Siri filed a lawsuit under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) on behalf of the Public Health and Medical Professionals for Transparency. The…

Widespread vaccination has helped decrease or virtually eliminate many dangerous and deadly diseases in the United States. Yet because vaccines have been so effective at removing threats, it’s sometimes difficult to appreciate just how significant they have been to public health. · “We’re very bad at measuring risk,” says epidemiologist René Najera, editor of The History of Vaccines, an online resource by The College of Physicians of…

Few places beat the Caribbean if you’re looking for a tropical getaway: the white sand beaches and warm waters are a great antidote to the winter blues. UK winter is peak season in the Caribbean, but with so many travellers looking to thaw out, it can mean crowded beaches and busy resorts. · Some of the most visited islands, like Jamaica, the Bahamas and Puerto Rico, offer a perfect location for a sunny getaway, but if you want something more…

Towards noon on December 13th, 1642, the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman sighted ‘a large land, uplifted high’. His vessel was probably off Punakaiki, so this may have been the peaks of the Paparoa Range. · Tasman sailed from Batavia (today’s Jakarta) in the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia) in August 1642. His expedition had two aims: to establish whether there was a southern sea route to Chile which could be used to prey on Spanish ships, and to…

Auckland Council’s vote to oppose the Treaty Principles Bill has opponents questioning why a local body is involved in a national issue. · On The Platform with Sean Plunket, Councillor Maurice Williamson expressed frustration, saying, “The treaty is an agreement between the Crown and Māori… we’re not the Crown. Why are we getting involved in something that has nothing to do with us?” · The council held a meeting where Committee Chair Richard…

In 2023, more than 300 million tonnes of plastics were produced worldwide from the by-products of the oil and gas industry. About 97 percent of these are non-biodegradable. · This is higher than the weight of the total global human population.  · Every day, the world dumps 2,000 garbage trucks full of plastics into oceans, rivers and lakes, disrupting marine life and threatening human health.   · If we don’t respond, stocks of accumulated…

At the restaurant of the Turf Valley Resort in western Baltimore, businessmen in golf attire perch at dimly-lit bar tables sipping bottled beer through the late afternoon. · It is a typical weekday scene at the luxury conference and golf complex, except that the conversation revolved around the arrest of Luigi Mangione. · Once best known in the area as a relative of the club’s owners, Mr Mangione’s name is now plastered across every newspaper…

Tickets went on sale for New Zealand’s new national Golden Kiwi lottery on December 12, 1961. All 250,000 tickets sold within 24 hours, with the £12,000 top prize (equivalent to nearly $570,000 today) four times that offered in previous lotteries. · A national ‘art union’ lottery operated in New Zealand from 1932, but the prizes were small. Many people continued to take part, illegally, in overseas lotteries. In an attempt to benefit from their…

This trifle will look smashing on your Christmas table! And is a fresh take on the original fruit and jelly version. Layers of custard and chocolate, studded with biscuits and piled high with cream and cherries, it looks stunning in a trifle dish but otherwise just use a glass bowl! · Ingredients · 500ml tub ready-made chilled custard · 100g plain chocolate (broken) · 400g chocolate brownies (use your favourite.) · 2 x 390g jars cherries…