Green growth claims are overstated – our study shows three reasons why
Real efforts have been made, and recent lines on the chart do go in the right direction. But what if they are wobbles, not turns.

How migration became a key to World Cup success
There is some evidence to suggest that national teams with more migrant players perform better on the pitch.

Victorians called burnout ‘overwork’ – and they cured it by holidaying in France
Victorians were acutely aware of the health problems which could come from devotion to the ‘gospel of work’.

Marjane Satrapi’s masterpiece Persepolis transformed the world’s understanding of Iran
First published in 2000, Persepolis created a transformative shift in comics, memoir and political storytelling. Its Iranian–French creator has died, aged 56.

The Fifa men’s World Cup 2026 could be too big for its own good
How recent expansion could dilute football’s most powerful brand.

Why sophrosyne, an ancient Greek virtue, matters more than ever in the age of AI
For the Greeks, sophrosyne was an ideal second to none. It’s just as important today, in an age of internet addiction and misinformation – but harder to come by.

How businesses with ties to Jeffrey Epstein saw norms – and even share prices – suffer
The more Epstein-connected directors a company had, no matter its size, the more likely it was to have governance problems.

When global trade becomes a weapon, how can African economies protect themselves?
Africa needs to navigate the tension between interdependence, economic security, and economic diversification.

Poetry can give voice to Ireland’s unspoken abortion stories
No poetry collection on the subject of abortion has come out of Ireland.

Ebola: vaccines alone won’t stop an outbreak – here’s what else is needed
Events in eastern DRC are a reminder that Ebola outbreaks are rarely controlled by vaccines alone.

Building more renewable energy sources means rethinking land use for agriculture and conservation
Generating solar power requires a lot of land – but which land should it be? And what else can be done on that land?

Child drownings spike during heatwaves – and it’s a serious climate justice issue
As the UK gets hotter, children will seek water to cool down. The real question is why so many have so few places to go.

UK Home Office to use AI age estimation on asylum seekers – how accurate is the technology?
Leading algorithms now achieve a mean absolute error of less than three years across all ages.

Heartbreaking historical tales, unsettling scenes and shortlisted non-fiction – what to read, watch and see this week
Our picks for this week include a film where internet folklore comes to life, books to lose yourself in and a eerie landscape exhibition.

How a simple blood test could help detect heart damage during breast cancer treatment
Researchers are investigating whether blood tests and heart scans can detect hidden heart damage during breast cancer chemotherapy.

What Pennsylvania’s AI chatbot lawsuit teaches us about the psychology behind medical trust
A Carnegie Mellon researcher explains the connection between our brains and AI chatbots – and what a new Pennsylvania lawsuit reveals about the dangers of AI.

Methane rocket fuel is easier to handle and convenient but, as Blue Origin saw, it can be very explosive
A physical chemist outlines the promises and risks associated with methane fuel and describes why SpaceX and Blue Origin use it in their superheavy rockets.

As an American, should you feel guilty about rooting against the US in the World Cup?
It’s one thing to pull for your national team when patriotism feels uncomplicated. It’s quite another when you aren’t feeling very proud to be an American.

What is ‘strategic autonomy’ – and why is everyone suddenly reaching for it?
The leaders of Canada, France, India and Turkey are among those looking to leverage their ability to say ‘no’ to Washington.

Yes, you really can be allergic to exercise – and the symptoms can be serious
Between 2.3% and 5% of all cases of anaphylaxis globally are triggered by exercise.

Friday essay: love, sex and intimacy in the time of AI
We are designed to smell each other – but the custom-made soulmates of AI are frictionless, and always available. What if we fall out of love with our own kind?

Why is Australia buying used submarines? A naval expert answers key AUKUS questions
Following news of Australia acquiring used Virginia-class submarines from the US, AUKUS has been in the headlines again, but how much of what you’ve heard is true?

Is Victoria really the ‘car theft capital’ of Australia? And if so, why?
At a time when vehicle theft claims are falling across most of Australia, Victoria is heading in the opposite direction.

Can you really drain your lymphatic system, and should you?
Social media is spruiking the health benefits of ‘lymphatic draining’. 2 lymphoedema experts explain what it is and whether it works.

AI at the World Cup: smarter tactics, healthy players, safer crowds – but new risks
This year’s World Cup will be the biggest ever – it also promises to be the most technologically advanced.

Australia now has access to Anthropic’s Claude Mythos. It may improve cyber safety – but not for everyone
The AI era has fundamentally changed the risks associated with poor cybersecurity practices.

From exporting spyware to surveilling activists – how democracies became the new digital authoritarians
Democracies can either defend rights in the digital age, or drift into complicity as the architects of a new, global authoritarianism enabled by AI.

NZ’s new forestry rules promise consistency. Will they also increase environmental risk?
As an overhauled rulebook for commercial forestry comes into force, there are concerns it could weaken safeguards as climate risks intensify.

Three new Ebola vaccines are being developed. An infectious disease expert explains
There is no approved vaccine to curb the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. But new funding offers hope.

What the hit new show Off Campus gets right in its portrayal of sexual violence
For decades, TV has had a ‘rape problem’. But Off Campus proves stories about sexual violence don’t need to be graphic to be powerful.

Australian unis have dropped again in global rankings. Here’s why we can’t just shrug it off
According to international assessments, Australian unis are ‘struggling’. Closer to home, some academics are questioning whether a uni degree is even worth it.

People are using AI to communicate without disclosing it. Is this morally wrong?
Not all deceptions are equal.

Kerbside parking is great for drivers – but terrible for everyone else. Could we get rid of it?
Australia largely has enough off-street parking to do away with unsightly kerbside parking – and free up space for bikes, pedestrians and scooters.

Politicians have long misunderstood the ‘working class’. The rise of the far right shows how mistaken they have been
Class has always mattered, and now labour parties around the world are finding out why.

National insecurity: what happens when countries start to lose their sense of identity?
Borrowed from psychiatry, the term “ontological security” describes how nations understand themselves and their place in the world – and how it can break down.

Starting kindergarten soon? Summer is a perfect time to support your child’s early literacy learning
The best part of having fun with rhymes and words, noticing letters and reading together is that interactions build both early literacy skills and family connections.

Wildfires are reversing America’s progress on ozone pollution
The US had been reducing surface-level ozone, a harmful pollutant and the main component of smog, but that changed as wildfire activity picked up around 2015.

US mortgage rates are staying high – and the Fed can do very little about it
Investors’ inflation expectations, much more than the central bank, are among the factors that affect the cost of home loans.

Ocean conservation needs strong relationships, not just targets
There is no shortage of global objectives and targets driving ocean conservation. However, protecting oceans depends on the communities that steward them.

Zelenskyy’s honouring of wartime nationalists is straining Ukraine’s alliance with Poland
Two years after Canada’s parliament unwittingly gave a standing ovation to a veteran of a Nazi SS division, Ukraine’s own president is honouring figures from the same dark chapter of wartime nationalism.

How common is sex-selective abortion in Australia, really?
On first glance, this might appear to be a defensible measure. But there’s little evidence these abortions are occurring.

Why Australia needs stronger laws to stop dangerous products being sold online
Can consumers be confident the products we buy online now are safe? Not really. Changing the law to catch up with other countries would help.

Australia is facing a new 12.5% US tariff over anti-slavery claims. Are they actually right?
Using tariffs to make nations act on forced labour is questionable. Yet there is substance behind the US allegations – including that Australia hasn’t done enough.

UN report warns AI could soon use 3% of world’s electricity and more water than we need to drink
As AI models become cheaper and more attractive, they will likely encourage new uses and higher volumes of use – erasing any efficiency gains.

Game changers: how a stroke of paint transformed basketball, and the athletes who play it
For decades, basketball was dominated by super tall players crowding around the basket for easy shots. Then things changed with a stroke of paint.

Beast: Australia’s first MMA film, starring Russell Crowe, is cheesy yet oddly comforting
The new Stan sports drama is brimming with cliches. But there are some standouts among the cast.

Exoskeletons for people with cerebral palsy are now a reality – but there’s still much to figure out
A new review on exoskeleton therapy for cerebral palsy reports some promising findings.

What would it take for Pauline Hanson to become prime minister?
It’s certainly not impossible for the One Nation leader to take the country’s top job – but there are several hurdles she’d have to jump to get there.

What we still get wrong about how people from non-Western backgrounds recover from trauma
Western PTSD treatments typically focus on talking to a therapist about your feelings and emotions. But this doesn’t actually help everyone.

Hidden in plain sight: the race to discover new species before they’re gone
Even now, in an age of satellites and genome sequencing, the Earth still holds secrets.

What’s a living wake? The end-of-life ritual that lets you say goodbye on your own terms
Whether you call it a living funeral or a ‘bon voyage party’, a growing number of Australians are choosing to celebrate their lives before they die.

Is Israel planning to reoccupy the Gaza Strip? This is what’s happening behind the ‘yellow line’
Two million Palestinians are being squeezed into a smaller pocket of Gaza, while Israel is preparing the ground for a longer-term occupation.

Why a US ‘freeloading’ claim has put the heat on NZ’s independent foreign policy
Defence Minister Chris Penk has inadvertently highlighted a major tension between increased defence spending and New Zealand’s nuclear-free policy.

Police to review anti-racism guidance after Henry Nowak murder – why they’re right to do so
Police Minister Sarah Jones said the current guidance gives the ‘wrong impression’.

Focus apps are failing neurodivergent minds, new research finds
Many focus apps fail to consider neurodivergent strengths, such as the ability to hyperfocus.

Canada’s ‘major projects’ should not come at the cost of the environment
Impact assessments prevent harm before it occurs. Circumventing the process before we understand the risks is misguided and a gamble with our collective future.

In a world divided, teachers need to connect with each other
We need to reduce workplace isolation to support teachers’ collegial capacity to mitigate loneliness, bolster engagement and contribute toward more equitable school environments.

The Regency period was queer and trans. ‘Bridgerton’ barely scratches the surface
The Netflix show is missing a richer and more accurate history of queer and trans life during that period in history.

An unfinished reckoning with police violence: Community data shows ongoing systemic racism
Racialized communities are systematically over-represented in police use-of-force data across 17 cities and regions. And this is rooted in ongoing racism in policing.

The graduate job market is grim right now – but the data says university is still worth it
The employment benefit of a degree is large.

Australia’s economy slows as households tighten their belts, while AI investment surges
If GDP per person falls again in the June quarter, Australia would enter a ‘per capita’ recession – signalling the average Australian is going backwards.

What is ‘clean eating’ and how can it affect wellbeing?
For some people, healthy eating can become an obsession that has a devastating impact on their health and relationships.

How much water and power will AI data centres use in Australia? Ironically, we don’t have the data to know
Don’t panic about AI data centres and water – it’s energy we should worry about

Babies with older siblings have a higher infection risk, but are less protected through vaccination
New research reveals maternal vaccination drops with each pregnancy. This means later-born children are less protected but at higher risk of infectious illness.

Can ‘grip strength’ exercises actually help you live longer?
This sounds far-fetched. But what does the science say?

One Nation surges to first on primary votes in two new polls
Both Redbridge and YouGov polls have Pauline Hanson’s party ahead of the government, before preferences.

From ‘USA94’ to now: how soccer has changed since the last American World Cup
More matches, smaller nations, significant rule changes – the 2026 World Cup will be vastly different to the 1994 version in the US.

Indigenous digital colonisation: How the internet is affecting the lives of Indigenous peoples in the Amazon
While technology can promote inclusion and access to information, it can also lead to dependency and affect the cultural identity of indigenous communities.

Indonesia has ‘kidnapped’ Pesta Babi star to cover up ecocide, claims ULMWP
Asia Pacific Report Indonesia has kidnapped and threatened Mama Yasinta Moiwend (Mama Sinta), one of the Marind tribe women featured in the controversial documentary Pesta Babi (Pig Feast), into denying the film and its message, claims a West Papuan advocacy group. Pesta Babi, which focuses on the Merauke sugarcane megaproject and was premiered in New

How flu overtook COVID as Australia’s deadliest respiratory virus
In the second half of 2025 influenza killed more Australians a month than COVID. Here’s how it happened.

Online ads are becoming harder to spot – but we’re not powerless to stop it
Increasingly, digital advertising is designed to dissolve into the flow of the content you consume online.

How to encourage a child to try new, scary things (without traumatising them in the process)
If your child has ever dug their heels in on the morning of school athletics day, or refused to speak in front of the class, you’re not alone.

Galloway Hoard exhibit in Sydney dives into the secrets of the Viking world
This mysterious Viking-age hoard lay buried for more than a millenium. Unearthed by an amateur metal detectorist, it is now on show in Sydney.

Hanson’s gas policy follows the far-right playbook: attack ‘elites’ and push for drilling
One Nation wants to differentiate itself from the Liberals on energy at a time when the parties increasingly overlap on social issues.

New season of The Conversation’s award-winning Curious Kids podcast launching this June
The podcast where kids ask questions direct to academics is back for a second season.

A lot of ‘recycled’ plastic is being burned overseas – and causing widespread pollution linked to health problems
As more countries ban waste imports, plastic waste generators like the US will need to find better solutions. A few states are putting more responsibility on producers.

Myanmar’s forgotten war: How the world is failing the test of the UN’s Responsibility to Protect
The war in Myanmar draws far less western attention than Ukraine or the Middle East. Why is such an enduring and intractable conflict being treated with so little urgency?

The push to standardize ESG scores could make corporate greenwashing easier, not harder
Tying executive pay to ESG metrics is now standard practice at most large companies. But new research finds that when the scoring methodology becomes predictable, it becomes easier to game.

Jacinda Ardern turns her own imposter syndrome into self-help wisdom for young readers
In this adaptation of her bestselling memoir, Jacinda Ardern turns inward toward the psychological terrain of her own self-doubt – and how to overcome it.

Breakthrough drug nearly doubles survival with advanced pancreatic cancer – an oncologist explains how daraxonrasib overcame an ‘undruggable’ disease
Around 97% of patients with advanced pancreatic cancer die within five years. Researchers have figured out a way to target the mechanism that makes these tumors so deadly.

Ebola may have spread beyond Africa. How are health authorities responding?
Three experts explain how the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola may have crossed continents.

Australia has been the victim of an AUKUS ‘bait and switch’
The change in the submarine delivery plan should come as no surprise – this deal has been unequal from the start.

Will the budget boost small firms? Not in the way we might think
Budget 2026 offered useful support for small firms. But building blocks are not the same as a productivity blueprint.

It costs a million dollars a day to keep low-risk defendants on remand. More prisons aren’t the answer
Budget 2026 spends $503 million on expanding prisons. But 41% of the prison population are people on remand and more than half are released once their case is heard.

Fish bones and scorching hair: new research shows how Aboriginal people fought smallpox
A smallpox epidemic in the 1830s brought a new and deadly disease to the southeastern frontier. Aboriginal people responded with three distinct techniques.

‘Do you want a player to die on court?’ – athlete wellbeing concerns heat up at the French Open
Sweltering conditions at this year’s French Open sparked fresh debate about whether the sport was doing enough to keep athletes safe.

Food industry exposé Fast Food Nation predicted today’s chronic illness epidemic, 25 years ago
A GP reflects on the lessons of Eric Schlosser’s ‘muckraking’ classic. A necessary health check on the world we’ve built, it urges us all to take back our agency.

The complex history of ‘pride’, from shame and sin to a symbol of protest and power
Tracing the history of this emotion can help us understand how it came to be empowering for LGBTQIA+ people – even as certain groups try and hijack it.

National wants to scrap sexual offender character references. Should NZ go further?
Countries including the US, UK, Canada use consistent sentencing guidelines. Is it time that New Zealand follows suit?

Three hours of free power a day sounds good – but is Australia’s scheme fair?
Three hours of free power isn’t a giveaway – it’s meant to help the grid use floods of cheap solar. To succeed, the new scheme has to be fair.

Marriage, divorce and parenthood all shape Canadians’ decisions to become self-employed — here’s how
Research tracking Canadians through marriage, childbirth, divorce and widowhood finds that entry into self-employment can be shaped as much by household circumstances as by individual ambition.

Stressing about your baby’s growth check? Here’s what you need to know
A single dot on a growth chart doesn’t mean much in isolation. Here’s what your nurse is looking for when checking your baby’s growth – and how they’ll support you.

Payday super is coming on July 1. Workers will be thousands of dollars better off long term
Unpaid super costs Australians around $6 billion. So how much is ‘payday super’ likely to boost your balance? And where can employees or employers get more help?

In Iran war’s shadow, Israel’s renewed Lebanon campaign risks repeating failed lessons – and occupations – of the past
Unable to defeat Iran, Israel shifts its focus to Lebanon, fearing U.S. negotiations with Tehran could limit operations against Hezbollah.

Militarization in Jammu and Kashmir is negatively impacting female education
The stark difference in women’s education statistics shows how Kashmiri girls and women are bearing a disproportionate brunt of militarized governance.

Tony Blair has taken aim at Keir Starmer – but some of his criticisms apply to New Labour too
Several of the UK’s current problems trace their roots back to Blair’s time in office.

What happened to Afghanistan’s female academics?
By December 2022, all universities in Afghanistan had closed their doors to women.

Should FIFA be doing more to protect soccer players from the World Cup heat?
The heat stress players may face during the 2026 FIFA World Cup could negatively affect their performance and pose a threat to their health.

Centuries-old logbooks reveal how bowhead whales are recovering from near-extinction
New research used whaling logbooks to explain why only two of the four bowhead whale populations are bouncing back from whaling, which was abandoned a century ago.

Battleground Vienna: Austrian intelligence officer convicted of spying for Russia belongs to a long tradition
The Austrian capital of Vienna has long been a hub of espionage.

Australia’s spent billions on renewable gases, with little to show. This is how to do it properly
If we’re serious about reducing Australia’s emissions, we need far more renewable gases. And soon.

‘Some people’s lives matter more than others’: local responders in Sudan feel ignored as the world focuses on other crises
Sudan is one of the most dangerous places in the world to deliver humanitarian assistance. It is also home to one of the most chronically underfunded.

When to rescue food and when to chuck it out, according to a nutritionist
From brown bananas to soggy salad, we often let food get past its prime. Here are some tips to salvage what you can.

Activism, complicated sexualities, and rural Oklahoma: what to stream this Pride Month
From Queer as Folk to Reservation Dogs, this is a Pride Month special edition of what we’re streaming.

Israeli forces capture Lebanon’s Beaufort Castle, a Crusade-era site once held by the Knights Templar
This has historically been a very strategic site, especially during the Crusades.

Are our cars spying on us? A cybersecurity expert explains how to stay safe
Australia’s spy agency has issued a stark warning about the privacy and national security risks of ‘connected cars’.

Pauline Hanson attracting women voters? It’s part of a global far-right trend
Riding high on new opinion polling, Pauline Hanson is one of the women leading the charge for the far-right all over the world.

French Constitutional Council approves changes to New Caledonia’s electoral roll
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk The French Constitutional Council has validated an adjustment to New Caledonia’s restrictions for their forthcoming provincial elections due to be held on 28 June 2026. The adjustment will now allow more than 10,000 people to cast their votes in the French territory’s local elections. The ruling

Trees and greenery can cool cities by as much as 18°C – but only if it’s the right type
A new study has shown that more vegetation is not automatically better.

Kāpū Tī with Antony: Confessions of a fringe City Centre local
By Antony Phillips in The Vertical For this edition of Kāpū Tī with Antony, I sit down with journalist and academic, Dr David Robie. A professor of journalism who has worked in Aotearoa and abroad, David is a Central Aucklander and regular visitor who is highly engaged in the City Centre. We sit down for…

Almost 20% of Australian students don’t finish school – these 3 things can help them stay
There are 3 key things high schools can do right from the start to support students to stay until Year 12.

Men film themselves sexually abusing sedated women and share it with other men online. Why?
Thousands of men around the world, including in Australia, have formed online communities to trade in rape content and advice. They do it to impress one another.

Australia’s banking system locks many Muslims out of first home buyer schemes. Here’s how to fix it
Many Muslim Australians who observe the Islamic prohibition on interest cannot get government help to buy their first home unless they compromise on their faith.

Talking about trauma doesn’t always help. Brain scans show one reason why
Therapies aimed at reframing negative thoughts may not work for some people with PTSD. New research shows it may be because their brains work differently after trauma.

Cities are making it rain more – but not as much as scientists thought
A new study shows it does rain more in cities, but the trend over time has been exaggerated by changes in satellites.

Feral horse numbers in Australia’s alps are on the rise again. It’s time to act
A mild summer led to breeding. And a dry winter could concentrate feral horses around fragile alpine waterways.

Why Melbourne’s obsession with black clothing actually makes sense
In the words of fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto: ‘Above all black says this: I don’t bother you – don’t bother me!’

Can Wegovy move the needle on NZ’s obesity crisis, or simply treat its symptoms?
The popular new drug can bring dramatic weight loss for some patients. But for NZ, tackling a rising obesity epidemic is likely to require much broader change.

Canada should invest in nature as critical infrastructure
We are all familiar with the built infrastructure we rely on every day. However, we don’t think as much about the critical value of nature.

Smart sensors could help Canada tackle its $58-billion food waste problem
By improving how freshness data is measured and shared, Canada can waste less food, lower costs for households, reduce emissions and build a more resilient food system

Poop tests and blood tests join colonoscopy as options for colorectal cancer screening
The American Cancer Society updated its colorectal cancer screening guidelines to reflect advances in technology and increase access to screening.

Pro-Palestine groups plan coordinated protests in Fiji and NZ over Israel’s first Pacific embassy
Asia Pacific Report Pro-Palestine activist groups plan to simultaneously protest against the opening of the first Pacific embassy by Israel with pickets in the Fiji capital Suva and the New Zealand cities of Auckland and Wellington next week. Fijians for Palestine and the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA) are planning these coordinated protests in opposition

I’ve been studying racist costume parties for a decade, and colleges are failing at educating the students about why they’re wrong
A series of racist costume parties at Bowdoin shows the contradiction colleges have to navigate – encouraging open, reasoned debate, while creating a safe campus for all students.

What’s wrong with how US and Uganda plan to stop Ebola spreading
Geography may not provide meaningful protection once an outbreak is already underway.

Blue Origin rocket exploded on launchpad, throwing the future of NASA’s Artemis program into question
NASA has several contracts with Blue Origin as part of its Artemis program – this setback for the company could delay the program.

Why students still face a postcode lottery in university wellbeing support
Engagement in mental health frameworks is voluntary – but in Wales, that’s changing.

Thinking about selling clothes on Vinted? The steps you can take to make this a greener option
Reselling clothes might seem like a green option, but it is not as simple as it sounds.

The Scottish electoral system has delivered its most disproportional result yet
Pro-independence MSPs now make up 57% of the parliament.

A rare bipartisan housing victory faces a bigger problem – Americans still can’t afford housing
If signed into law, the legislation would be the first major housing bill to pass in decades.

Chinese American teens experience depression, anxiety at higher rates than peers – here’s why their parents may miss the warning signs
After my niece died by suicide, I began researching how Chinese immigrant families feel about their children’s mental health and why they often avoid care.

Sonny Rollins the last great of the jazz era dies
He was the Saxophone Colossus

Peter Murrell embezzled SNP donations – why do so many voters stay loyal to the party?
Voters in Scotland still tend to back a party along constitutional lines.

My unsung hero of science: William Adams, the Bombay bureaucrat whose vision of a solar future was dashed by colonial conservatism
William Adams was convinced that solar energy could change the world. The problem was, he needed more sun to demonstrate it.

Ibuprofen for joint pain: what you really need to know
Ibuprofen is one of the most purchased medicines in the UK.

Colorado voted to end forced prison labor in 2018 – so why are incarcerated people in the state still working for less than $2 an hour?
Many jails and prisons are dependent on incarcerated labor to keep costs low.

Scientists used a method from ecology to identify whether icy moons could hold conditions for life
Future missions may be able to take only a small, damaged sample from space back to Earth. A simple analysis tool could help determine whether its contents suggest the presence of life.

New Liberal president Abbott tells party it must build bigger membership in time of ‘existential crisis’
New Liberal federal president Tony Abbott has sought to rally the party, pitching a new direction for the Liberals.

Dealing with the heat
Scientists are working on some innovative projects to help tackle life in hot climates.

AI godbots: religious leaders warn of ‘alarming consequences’ when machines speak in the name of God
Researchers interviewed almost 30 religious leaders across all six major religious faiths in the UK to find out how AI was affecting them.

I’m a doctor who helped rename PCOS to PMOS – a 10-year process of listening to 14,000 patients and health professionals speak on how to improve care
Polycystic ovary syndrome is an inaccurate name for a condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Its new name can help address missed diagnoses and fragmented care.

When ICE ramped up enforcement, US-born workers didn’t see any economic gains
Contrary to the belief that an immigration crackdown would lead to more jobs for US-born workers, ICE enforcement hasn’t produced economic gains for Americans.

PFAS leave fingerprints in your blood – researchers are figuring out how forever chemicals transform in your body to read these clues
Your body likely contains an accumulation of various PFAS types, making it difficult to trace them to their sources.

Friday essay: How to Sell a Genocide exposes the double standards of reporting on Gaza
Almost all major human rights organisations agree the destruction of Gaza meets the legal definition of genocide. Yet liberal news outlets still do not use the word.

With Grouse House TV, Aunty Donna make a bid to usher in the future of independent Australian comedy
With their new independent streaming platform, Aunty Donna prove the future of ‘cooked’ Australian comedy is online.

‘He’s Māori!’ Hāhona Ormsby – a New Zealander in the Israeli prison system nightmare
SPECIAL REPORT: By Eugene Doyle I interviewed several of the New Zealanders who, as members of the Global Sumud Flotilla to Gaza, were taken hostage by the Israelis in international waters near Cyprus last week and moved to Israel. The sadism and savagery of their mistreatment — clearly designed to intimidate and stop further attempts

Why Donald Trump’s latest plan for peace is a non-starter
Sooner or later in every armed conflict, someone will trot out the well-worn aphorism that “Truth is the first casualty of war.” And certainly, in the Iran war truth beat a hasty retreat as soon as the…

There are different type of fitness. An exercise expert explains
What actually is ‘fitness’? Research suggests it’s not as straightforward as you might think.

Budget investment in health signals continued austerity without long-term vision
Some new spending initiatives in health should add value, but the budget lacks a long-term vision for building cross-party consensus on improving healthcare.

Rare male red pipefish carrying eggs on its trunk spotted in Sydney
Photographs have provided the first-ever evidence of a brooding red pipefish, resolving a 40-year mystery.

Too hot, too humid: why the sustained heatwave in India and Pakistan is so dangerous
Sustained, sweltering heat is hitting India and Pakistan hard – and humidity is making the situation even more dangerous.

Gina Rinehart and Southern Cross Austereo: what do billionaire media buyouts mean for democracy?
The mega-wealthy buying into Australia’s increasingly concentrated media industry is nothing new – and it is a critical issue for democracy.

As global fuel risk rises, NZ Budget 2026 puts roads first – again
Budget 2026 increases road spending – while offering limited support for public transport, emissions cuts and climate resilience.

Samoan nationals could face death penalty over ‘Coconut Cartel’ killing in Vietnam
By RNZ Morning Report and Margot Staunton, RNZ Pacific senior journalist The bank accounts of two New Zealanders have been frozen as police probe an extraordinary international case of two alleged Samoan hitmen who confessed to murdering a Sydney gang boss. Joseph Vaa, 27, admitted on Vietnamese television to gunning down suspected “Coconut Cartel” ringleader

Palestinian journalists from Gaza ‘treated inhumanely’ by Israeli army and Shin Bet, accuses RSF
Pacific Media Watch Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has accused the Israeli army and internal security agency Shin Bet of repeatedly perpetrating inhumane acts against Palestinian journalists from Gaza. The Paris-based global media freedom monitoring and advocacy movement says it has interviewed five Gazan journalists who were imprisoned in Israel after the 7 October 2023 attack

Africa at the World Cup: 10 teams, local coaches and tactical depth usher in a new era
Africa is finally ready to disrupt the global football status quo.

We analysed 14 million Reddit posts to reveal a striking shift in how we talk about mental health
Social media platforms are shaping how we collectively think about mental health, a new study shows.

Public trust in Australian police is declining. COVID sparked it – but there’s more to the story
New research has found why so many Australians no longer trust police. There are solutions, though.

Backlash is often swift when authorities try to plan retreat from the coast. There’s a better way
Research shows we need to air grievances, find areas of agreement between warring factions and allow affected people and planners to debate what’s fair.

Not A Souvenir: Tony Albert exhibit turns racist Aboriginalia into a powerful act of truth-telling
Showing now at Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art, Not a Souvenir forces us to confront Australia’s colonial kitsch culture.

Mosquitoes learn to link the smell of DEET with a blood meal – new study
Teach mozzies to link the smell of DEET with food, and they might seek it out. So what does this mean?

NZ’s ‘light-touch’ approach to voluntary carbon and nature markets may unlock finance but risks credibility
Voluntary carbon markets have been dogged by controversy, lack of credibility and growing concerns about greenwashing.

Trump administration pledges $100M in aid for Cuba, but only if Catholic or other faith-based groups distribute it
The timing of the offer was thorny because it coincided with the US indictment of former Cuban President Raúl Castro.

Jeff Bezos says poetry without rhyming is easy – but it’s not that simple
Contrary to popular belief, poetry doesn’t have to rhyme – and rhyme is not a marker of quality, or ease. Some of the world’s most famous poetry proves it.

What is the Sex Discrimination Act and how does it protect people?
The Sex Discrimination Act is in the news following the high-profile ‘Giggle v Tickle’ court case. Here’s how the act came to be and how it works.

Healthy soil can protect land from soaring heat. But our map shows where soil is suffering
The good news is degraded soil can regain some of its lost heat protection. We can help ‘re-insulate’ the ground with practical farming methods.

Why do I get so tired while driving?
Driving is a complex task, neurologically speaking. Two experts explain what driving does to your brain, and how you can stay alert on the road.

Game changers: how a rainy week led a frustrated Don Bradman to reinvent cricket
One-day internationals revolutionised cricket and remarkably, they started by accident.

Samoan police investigate after pair admit killing ‘Coconut Cartel’ ringleader in Vietnam
By Margot Staunton, RNZ Pacific senior journalist Samoa police have launched an investigation into a bizarre international case involving two Samoan men who have appeared on Vietnamese television confessing to the murder of a Sydney gang leader in Ho Chi Minh City. The Samoa Observer reported that Joseph Vaa, 27, admitted gunning down suspected “Coconut

How ‘big meat’ shapes science to give steak a healthy glow up
Is meat healthy or not? The answer can depend on who funded the research, according to a new study.

After you upload your data to the cloud, where does it go? The challenge of dual-use technologies
Data sovereignty is not just a technical issue — it is a collective challenge that all Canadians need to start taking seriously.

In a sea of hype, here are the AI ‘nothingburgers’ you don’t hear about
The industry is rife with AI non-events that were wildly promoted and highly anticipated, but failed to deliver.

‘Like drinking from a firehose’ – what it’s like to be the human in the AI loop
For legal reasons, organisations require a human reviewer of generative AI outputs. But this human oversight must be valued and budgeted for in the transition to AI.

How Iran uses billboards as wartime propaganda – we selected 5 to explain what they mean
The provocative images in the most visible parts of Tehran are intended to be photographed, posted and shared widely on social media.

Australia’s old environment laws were a box-ticking exercise. Sadly, the new ones could be too
These long-delayed laws took three years, a new Environment Minister and a slew of compromises to be passed.

Trade wars and soaring airfares are reshaping how Canadians travel this summer
Canada’s tourism industry enters the summer riding one of the strongest years on record, but high airfares, rising fuel costs and a troubled geopolitical climate could change this year’s outlook.

How to deal with disappointment – by an expert in this misunderstood emotion
In our professional and personal lives, disappointment is an emotional signal worth learning to read.

Miles Davis’s Kind of Blue is the highest selling jazz record of all time – he thought it was a failure
He wasn’t quite able to create the sound he wanted.

School trips aren’t always accessible for autistic children – but they can bring huge benefits
School trips offer rich learning experiences, but autistic children are not always able to access them fully.

Territorial integrity and self-determination still dominate the Falklands discussion – but oil may change that
Sovereignty isn’t up for debate, but there might there be other reasons to find a more collaborative approach in the South Atlantic.

What it’s like to travel with a weak passport: ‘There’s no dignity’
Travelling with a weak passport requires more effort, time and money.

As Calgary’s poet laureate, I’m interested in poetry as a form of civic listening
Poetry will not fill potholes. However, poet laureates can help cities attend to memory, grief, language and a sense of belonging.

Sun safety this summer: from UV apps to sun protection tips that actually work
Sun safety is not just for beach holidays. Checking the UV index and building small habits into your day can help protect your skin.

Scientists have scrapped the worst-case climate scenario – because action is making a difference
Removing the worst-case climate future for Earth isn’t failed science, as climate sceptic Donald Trump claims. It’s a sign climate action has made a difference.

Interest rates look set to hold, after inflation and fuel costs fell in April. But it’s unlikely to last
With fuel prices still much higher than before the Middle East war began, the risks of further spikes in inflation and more rate rises this year have not gone away.

Metal fans love rebels – until they’re queer. Caleb Shomo’s coming out exposes a deep hypocrisy
Tabloids are trying to frame the Beartooth frontman’s coming out as gay as a scandal. This moment says a lot about LGBTQIA+ representation in metal.

Special poll has Labor barely winning majority as One Nation continues to gain
A Redbridge MRP poll has Labor winning 76 seats. The Coalition would secure just 12 seats in the House of Representatives compared to One Nation’s 53.

Why do I wake up so tired after vivid dreams?
Some mornings it can feel like we’ve had a busy night of dreaming.

Politics with Michelle Grattan: Keith Wolahan on when Liberals should preference One Nation
The moderate Liberal, who lost his seat last year, said his party was now ‘fighting for its existence’ – and can’t ignore the need to work with One Nation.

Kidnapped Kiwi Gaza flotilla detainee condemns brutal Israeli treatment
Asia Pacific Report One of the three New Zealanders on the Global Sumud Flotilla who were among the hundreds kidnapped by the Israeli military illegally on international waters this month and abducted to Israel has described his brutal treatment after returning home. Speaking in a TV3 news report last night, Hāhona Ormsby (Ngāti Maniapoto), 56,

World’s largest study of child sexual abuse perpetrators reveals why they abuse
A study of almost 700 perpetrators from across the world sheds light on why some men sexually abuse children.

A ‘supereruption’ transformed NZ 350,000 years ago. We now know how it happened
New research into the ancient Whakamaru supereruption reveals how multiple underground magma systems combined to unleash one of Earth’s most explosive events.

Pacific nations shaping future of seabed mining rules, says ISA chief
RNZ Pacific The head of the United Nations body mandated to develop regulations for seabed mining in international waters says Pacific countries are playing a big role in shaping the regulations that will govern the future industry. International Seabed Authority (ISA) Secretary-General Leticia Carvalho was in Fiji last week conducting training for Pacific Island nations

What is trauma? The more we talk about it, the more it means
Trauma is everywhere in mainstream vocabulary and online, but its meaning has never been hazier. Has the concept been de-stigmatised or diluted? And does it matter?

Auction sales are sliding, banks are tightening loans. But is the budget really the only factor?
National auction clearance rates are now lower than usual. But a closer look at the data reveals some of these housing trends began months ago.

The Backrooms: how a teenager’s creepy YouTube series became the year’s most anticipated horror
The Backrooms horror legend began as an anonymous 4chan post in 2019. Now it’s an A24 film by director Kane Parsons – just 20 years old.

We need a new anti-corruption commissioner. Here’s how to pick the right one
The resignation of Paul Brereton reflects flaws in how we set up our integrity agencies. Here are 3 ways to ensure these bodies are truly independent.

For 44 years, Australia has subsidised diesel use. Is it time to stop?
Australia could direct revenue towards electrification, not further diesel consumption.

Deep-sea sponges survive in complete darkness in ways we didn’t know before
Beyond the sunlit ocean lies a vast abyss where organisms have to recycle every scrap available.

Planes, trains and pandemics: Lessons from COVID-19 about travel risks posed by hantavirus and Ebola
Recent outbreaks of Hantavirus and Ebolavirus raise concerns about risks linked to travel, with responses varying between countries. COVID-19 offers lessons for effective approaches to public health.

Only 37% of Year 10 students meet our national standards for digital skills
Half of Year 6 students met or exceeded the national ‘proficient standard for ICT literacy’ in the latest round of testing.

Could aliens ever visit Earth? An aerospace scientist unpacks the challenges of interstellar spaceflight
To travel between solar systems, a spacecraft would need extremely sophisticated – if not impossible – technology.

Rising geoplitical tensions show why Canada’s agri-food trade strategy needs to change
Canada’s agricultural exporters face growing pressure from trade disputes that expose the risks of concentrating exports in too few markets.

Caitlin Johnstone: Yet another escalation in the empire’s war on activism and journalism
COMMENTARY: By Caitlin Johnstone The empire’s war on activism and journalism continues to escalate as the Trump administration targets leftwing streamer Hasan Piker and antiwar activist Medea Benjamin for the “crime” of bringing humanitarian aid to Cuba. This is yet another act of aggression in the same onslaught that has seen inconvenient truth-telling and expressions

Pope Leo warns of AI’s risks to humanity in his first encyclical
The pope has warned that AI is never truly neutral: it reflects the society that made it. He has called for ethical oversight – and protecting workers.

This election year budget is a political tightrope walk for Willis and National
National hasn’t achieved two of its three big fiscal policy promises from the previous election. Thursday’s budget will be a hard sell.

Cricket and soccer are Australian sporting giants. How can they be struggling financially?
Football Australia and Cricket Australia highlight how sport organisations can appear commercially successful while remaining financially fragile.

Is Beijing the world’s ‘living room’? China is enjoying the global stage, but there are limits to its influence
A parade of global leaders through Beijing is good for optics. But this visibility does not necessarily translate into global leadership.

Entanglement injuries cause prolonged suffering for whales and dolphins – early intervention is crucial
Entanglement is a major animal welfare issue for marine mammals. A successful rescue is not just whether an animal is cut free but whether it recovers from injuries.

Thousands of sheep and cows die in trucks and saleyards every year. They need better protection
This isn’t just a major animal welfare issue – it’s an economic one as well. And there are steps we can take to resolve it.

Gaza freedom flotilla – reluctance of the West to protest Israel’s thuggery enabled the abuse
The failure of Australia and Western governments to hold Israel to account has enabled the abuse of Gaza flotilla detainees, including New Zealanders, argues Jerusalem Peace Prize recipient Stuart Rees in Michael West Media. ANALYSIS: By Professor Stuart Rees If bullies notice that no one intervenes to stop their behaviour, they may interpret such non-intervention

PNG prime minister visits France, plans to open Paris embassy
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape was on an official visit to France last week, where he met French President Emmanuel Macron and held a number of important meetings to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Topping

Reddit short stories are popular in Hollywood – joining a long trend. Here are 5 of the best short stories on film
Online platforms like Reddit and Wattpad let writers test their skills for an audience – and provide a testing ground for Hollywood, too, through likes and upvotes.

In a tight NZ budget, will money go where it’s needed most – or to political priorities?
Higher inflation, tighter operating allowances and rising geopolitical uncertainty are turning this year’s budget into a test of national priorities.

Mali’s security crisis holds warnings for Nigeria: here’s why
Located in the same Sahel region and threatened by similar jihadist insurgents, Nigeria has some lessons to learn from Mali.

Global media networks simplify Ethiopia’s conflicts: insights from 5 years of data
Global media coverage tends to focus on just one of Ethiopia’s conflicts.

Iran war is exposing South Africa’s dependency on diesel: what went wrong
Diesel has become South Africa’s shadow infrastructure system by compensating for failures in electricity generation and freight rail.

Pakistan’s voter turnout decline: Why more women registered, but fewer cast ballots in 2024
Pakistan added millions of women voters in 2024, but declining turnout reveals deeper barriers to meaningful political participation.

New DNA analysis identifies more members of the ill-fated Franklin expedition
Researchers have revealed the identities of six sailors and shed new light on the expedition that went missing more than 170 years ago.

Errol Flynn’s biographer calls him the greatest heartthrob of his time – but racist and a rapist too
Most of Errol Flynn’s films now seem B-grade at best – but Patricia O'Brien’s biography of this Tasmanian devil is compulsive reading.

How community groups, activists and local media turned Camden into a model of police reform
Camden, New Jersey’s homicide rate in 2025 was four times the national average – still high, but a marked change from when it was 18 times the national average in 2012.

The sacred cloth at the center of the Hajj pilgrimage
As millions gather for Hajj, they will circle the Kaaba, which is draped in the black cloth known as the kiswah – a sacred object shaped by centuries of faith, politics and power.

You’ve been trying to get around Amazon – but it’s not that easy
For shoppers tying to avoid Amazon, its expansion into shipping and logistics for thousands of companies makes that choice more difficult.

Nuclear powers are expanding their arsenals instead of disarming. Australia doesn’t have to be complicit in this
A recent conference to review the most comprehensive nuclear weapons treaty fell flat due to ‘aggressive diplomatic’ tactics.

First video of immune cells eating live skin cancer in real time
Cells called macrophages can devour living cancer cells – and may hold the key for successful treatment.

Australia is forcing Chinese investors out of rare-earths projects. That creates other risks
Australia has to ensure it can build and run these expensive projects without Chinese investors’ participation.

When wars destroy heritage, women lose more than monuments – new research
For women in war zones, heritage sites can go beyond worship and history. They are places of gendered socialising.

Doing puzzles and joining clubs could help you age well: new research
Growing old isn’t always easy. But new research suggests staying curious and social may help you age well.

The Enhanced Games, or ‘steroid Olympics’, are on. They pose risks for athletes and those watching
New research dispels many of the myths Enhanced Games organisers are sprouting.

The push for a smaller public service risks coming at a larger cost for New Zealanders
The government’s sweeping overhaul assumes AI, restructuring and job cuts can deliver a leaner, more efficient state. That is far from certain.

The world owes Cuba a debt – and the US a condemnation
COMMENTARY: By Jeremy Rose In 2015, the John Key government announced a cooperation agreement that would see NZ Aid pay for Cuban doctors to be taught English in New Zealand before their deployment to the Pacific Islands as part of the communist island’s Medical Brigades. Cuba, a country of just 11 million people that has

Health services for US veterans from Freely Associated States remain elusive
By Giff Johnson, Marshall Islands Journal editor/RNZ Pacific correspondent Securing essential healthcare services for US military veterans from three North Pacific nations remains a persistent challenge. Despite the US Congress specifically authorising in-country services by the US Veterans Administration for veterans of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), and Palau, the Trump

Nuns have always sat between freedom and control. Now they’re in the social media spotlight
Catholic nuns and religious sisters are gaining new visibility in digital spaces. These contemporary self-representations are connected to a complicated history.

Screening Indigenous people for this heart condition at 55 can prevent strokes and save lives
Indigenous people have a far higher risk of early stroke than non-Indigenous people. It’s often caused by atrial fibrillation, which may not have any symptoms.

To avoid future road, rail and renewable blowouts costing billions, Australia needs these 3 big fixes
From Snowy Hydro to Inland Rail, projects get announced early, then costs soar tens of billions higher. Yet there are proven ways to stop that happening.

27% of Australian students now have an adjustment for disability at school. Why are we seeing this growth?
New data shows more than one quarter of Australian students receive a disability adjustment. This is up from 18% in 2015.

India is a ‘country of countries’ – NZ business needs a regional strategy to make the trade deal work
Despite the promise of “1.4 billion potential customers”, India is a vast and complex market. No pan-India strategy can substitute for careful, focused planning.

Australia needs thousands more kerbside EV chargers. Here’s how to roll them out fast and fairly
Australia’s 20 million domestic cars – and almost all heavier vehicles – will eventually be electric. We need to prepare for this.

Australia has a problem with migration. The Liberals’ policy approach will do nothing to fix it
There are growing tensions in Australia’s migration policy. So far, the Albanese government has not tackled it – but the Liberals’ approach will not solve it either.

Kids need to play — and how cities are designed and resourced affects their access
If we want cities where all children can thrive, we need to create conditions where play is part of daily life, not something that must be scheduled or purchased.

Haka, waiata welcome for NZ’s Gaza flotilla activists after brutal ordeal at hands of Israeli military
Asia Pacific Report An emotional and inspiring welcome greeted two of Aotearoa New Zealand’s three Gaza Sumud Flotilla humanitarian activists who arrived home today after their ordeal at the hands of the brutal Israeli military and prison forces last week. About 60 whānau, supporters and well-wishers greeted Hāhona Ormsby and Mousa Taher with a waiata

Andy Worthington: The startling severity of Gaza flotilla activists’ rape allegations
COMMENTARY: By Andy Worthington It’s a sign of Israel’s swaggering sense of impunity, and of the grotesque depravity at the heart of their notions of supremacy, that their soldiers and those in charge of them thought that they could get away with inflicting severe physical abuse on the 430 members of the Global Sumud Flotilla,

Pesta Babi doco stirs West Papuan development debates and ‘crackdown’
Asia Pacific Report Pesta Babi (Pig feast), the controversial Papuan documentary film critical of a major development project impacting on the environment in the southeastern Melanesian region, is stirring public debate and a “crackdown” across Indonesia. The film caused a stir when it had its premiere in New Zealand in March and was described in

Flotilla activists tasered, sedated, sexually assaulted – Israeli prison service claims brutal abuse ‘justified’
SPECIAL REPORT: By Nadda Osman Activists freed from Israeli detention following the interception of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla have reported that they were subjected to physical and sexual abuse, say flotilla organisers — with at least 15 reporting sexual assaults, including rape. “At least 15 cases of sexual assaults, including rape. Shot with rubber bullets

Chambers backs Pacific police leaders confronting corruption challenges amid drug trade concerns
By Kaya Selby, RNZ Pacific journalist New Zealand Police Commissioner Richard Chambers says Pacific Island nations are addressing corruption among their police and customs officials. Chambers has concluded a trip to Suva, Fiji, for the inaugural Pacific Transnational Crime Summit, which brought together Pacific police chiefs, ministers and prime ministers to discuss what is now

‘It’s worse for Palestinians,’ says Australian flotilla activist about Israeli torture
Michael West Media Australian activist Zack Schofield says he was illegally detained by the Israeli military after the Global Sumud Flotilla was intercepted in international waters on Monday. Now released, Schofield alleges activists were subjected to violence, tasers, beatings and deprivation while in Israeli custody. The claims were made in an interview with Anadolu Ajansi

The network watching the world’s oceans is under pressure – just when it’s needed most
The Global Ocean Observing System informs weather forecasts and climate projections. But funding pressures could create data gaps leaving the world blind.

Shameen Suleman: Outrage over the flotilla activists but where were they for Palestinians?
COMMENTARY: By Shameen Suleman Britain. France. Canada. Italy. Spain. Belgium. The Netherlands. Poland. Australia. New Zealand . . .  The European Union. The United Nations . . . Suddenly they have found outrage because international activists aboard the flotilla were humiliated, abused and tortured by Israeli war criminals under National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s prison

Tony Abbott to be new federal president of the Liberal Party
The former prime minister has been nominated unopposed.

Keith Rankin Analysis – Retrenchment or Conjuring Trick?
Keynesian economics tells us that the most reliable circuit-breakers are exports and government spending. New Zealand's exports are booming, and have been for a while. But for New Zealand that's still far from enough; New Zealand needs a government spending circuit breaker as well.

Keith Rankin Analysis – Fantasy Finance
I cannot imagine the age for KiwiSaver entitlement staying at 65 – what today is loosely called the 'retirement age' – while the age of pension entitlement is raised to 67 or higher. Requiring people to wait until they are 67 before they can access their retirement savings may prove to be even more unpopular than raising the pension-entitlement age.