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As the country endures a mental health crisis, economic hardship and the erosion of trust in public health, the Australian Health Minister says there is nothing to be sorry about. · In September 2023, the Australian government announced an independent Inquiry into nation’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. · From the outset, critics predicted a whitewash. · The government had already walked back its promise to hold a Royal Commission. ·…

Reproductive rights, the conflict in the Middle East, student debt relief and inflation have dominated the US election so far. However, these issues represent only a fraction of the concerns weighing on minds across the world as election day nears. · As details emerge about Donald Trump's campaign and policies, apprehension grows in places acutely impacted by US foreign policy. · The central question in Europe is whether the US might leave…

Political commentator Bryce Edwards writes that the Auditor-General John Ryan’s recent decision to investigate ministerial conflicts of interest related to New Zealand’s Fast Track Act is casting light on how the government handles ethical risks. · Ryan, concerned about potential undue influence in fast-tracked project approvals, raised red flags earlier this year about gaps in the Act’s conflict management. · According to Edwards, political…

Researchers from the University of Otago argue that it’s time for New Zealand to make single rooms standard in all public hospitals. They contend providing patients with single rooms must be a basic care standard for future renovations and new builds. · Currently, shared rooms are common, often housing up to six patients, including men and women together, which raises safety and ethical concerns. · Cindy Towns, Angela Ballantyne, and Matthew…

In the push towards greater use of renewable energy, batteries and other energy storage systems have emerged as a critical component of the supply chain. As more countries adopt wind, solar and hydropower, how to store and deliver this energy reliably and consistently will be crucial. · The surging demand for renewable energy solutions and grid modernisation will drive the market to over $US186 billion by 2032. Power and propulsion solutions…

Australia and the United States have drastically reduced allowable limits of polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) (otherwise known as “forever chemicals” ) in drinking water, while New Zealand maintains its higher limits. · These are man-made chemicals that don’t break down and can build up in the environment and our bodies, often causing health risks. · In the US, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has capped PFAS at just 4 parts per…

Four years ago, The Economist magazine asked me to construct a model for forecasting the results of the US presidential election. My colleagues and I did a pretty good job of capturing the uncertainty — we predicted that Joe Biden would receive between 259 and 415 votes, and he gained 306. · This year, we’re back at it, for an even closer race. We currently estimate that the two candidates, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, have roughly equal…

Ridden by Jimmy Pike, the New Zealand-bred (but Australian-owned) wonder-horse beat Second Wind by two lengths to claim one of his greatest victories on the 4th of November 1930.  · The Melbourne Cup is the pinnacle of thoroughbred racing in Australasia and is widely regarded as the most prestigious two-mile (3200-m) handicap in the world. Having finished third in 1929, Phar Lap started as the shortest-priced favourite in the history of the…

Since April Fool’s Day falls in the middle of the Autumn Festival, we thought what better theme for this year’s competition! We hope you enjoy this theme – we know the judges are looking forward to judging the stories. Feel free to interpret the theme in whatever way you wish, but your story has to be a work of fiction. · We know the hard work that goes into each and every story, and we can’t wait to see the entries. As well as writing a great…

Western civilisation is crumbling before our very eyes, yet so few dare to acknowledge it. · This daunting reality is not a sudden occurrence but a mixture of complex issues that have been festering for decades. · The symptoms of this decline are evident in many aspects of today’s society, including the erosion of traditional values, the decline of religion, and the impacts of multiculturalism and mass immigration. · To truly grasp the…