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  • international

    Anxious and depressed about the state of the world? Good for you

    • Mark Beeson
    • 04 November 2024

    The Doomsday Clock remains at 90 seconds to midnight, the closest it’s ever been to calamity. In addition to the atomic scientists’ original concern about nuclear war, now climate change and the possible dangers of AI are parts of a potentially combustible mix. In short, there is much to fret about for anyone paying attention. 

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  • australia

    Is social media having a negative effect on pregnant women?

    • Rachel Dryer
    • 01 November 2024

    New research reveals a troubling link between heavy social media use and psychological distress during pregnancy, raising concerns about social media's impact on maternal mental health and urging a reassessment of societal pressures on expectant mothers.

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  • international

    Could a backlash to 'wokeness' hand Trump a second term?

    • Dotan Rousso
    • 31 October 2024

    Beyond economic and national security agendas, Trump’s appeal, more visceral than policy-driven, hinges on tapping into a collective disillusionment — one that sees progressive ideology as veering into an unforgiving orthodoxy.

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  • international

    'Tisn't the season to be jolly

    • Ken Haley, David Halliday
    • 31 October 2024

    In the most bitter of election seasons in America, thousands of votes will be won and lost by seeking to protect the civil rights of Israelis and Palestinians alike, although any kind of lasting peace will require greater effort than any U.S. political party has yet devoted to it.

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  • arts and culture

    In Juice, Tim Winton turns to mad dystopian climate fiction

    • Peter Craven
    • 25 October 2024

    In Juice, Tim Winton crafts a haunting world where climate apocalypse and moral ambiguity collide. This monolithic novel depicts a dystopian future scarred by climate change, with Winton’s intricate prose showcasing his mastery and leaving readers to grapple with its fierce ethical landscape.

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  • australia

    Faking friendship: The rise of the AI companion

    • Daniel Nellor
    • 25 October 2024

    An AI-driven companion designed to connect with people living with dementia raises important questions about companionship, care, and the human experience. Can an AI truly replace the role of a human caregiver, or are we compromising what it means to connect? 

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  • Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead worried

    • Warwick McFadyen
    • 31 October 2024

    Guildenstern and Rosencrantz find themselves deep in conversation on a sunny November afternoon, questioning the troubling climate of modern power. Can reason stand in a world so ready to yield?

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  • The things we leave behind

    • Gillian Bouras
    • 28 October 2024

    We worry about mortgages, family, and work, but a chance encounter with a Ukrainian refugee reveals a different kind of worry—one filled with uncertainty, displacement and fear. In a world that feels increasingly small, sometimes it takes a stranger to remind us of our place in it.

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  • A new film will recast light on an age-old problem

    • Ray Cavanaugh
    • 23 October 2024

      Set in the aftermath of World War II, Nuremberg has psychiatrist Dr Douglas Kelley seeking to unravel the psychological roots of evil by studying Nazi officials on trial at Nuremberg. His chilling findings led to unsettling conclusions about human nature, culminating in a tragic personal end that mirrored the darkness he encountered.

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  • 'I am tired but not defeated': A doctor's hope for Beirut

    • Ali Almohammed
    • 28 October 2024

      In war-torn Beirut, where schools now shelter families fleeing destruction, a doctor finds echoes of his own past displacement. Amidst the pain, he witnesses resilience, but also a deep fatigue, as families yearn for peace and normalcy. 

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  • Betting on lost causes

    • Andrew Hamilton
    • 23 October 2024

    In the spirit of Spring Racing, the United Nations promotes its own high-stakes race: World Disarmament Week and United Nations Day. Despite heavy odds and the relentless rise of nuclear threats, these efforts remain crucial for global peace. Can the underdog of diplomacy prevail in the face of overwhelming opposition?

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  • Bitter harvests: The killing of Yahya Sinwar

    • Binoy Kampmark
    • 23 October 2024

    The death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, architect of the October 7 attacks on Israel, has been hailed by Israeli and U.S. leaders as a significant victory and a turning point in the Gaza conflict. But as strikes continue, history suggests such assassinations often fuel further conflict, not lasting peace.

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  • Demonic youths and sacred children

    • Binoy Kampmark
    • 31 October 2024

    Two narratives dominate Australia’s view of children. The first casts them as dangerous, irredeemable offenders. The second, as vulnerable innocents threatened by risks online. Both anxieties reveal deep-seated tensions over safety, innocence, and societal responsibility.

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  • The gates to the secret house of death

    • Andrew Hamilton
    • 30 October 2024

      The traditions of All Saints Day and All Souls Day invite a rare reflection on death — a topic largely sidelined in contemporary Australia. Amid global events and various cultural spectacles, these days offer a quiet reminder to consider how we honour the dead and what that reveals about our values.

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  • 'I will stand with you'

    • Barry Gittins
    • 30 October 2024

    In 1968, Peter Norman won Olympic silver, but his lasting legacy was a stance for justice on the podium alongside Tommie Smith and John Carlos, where he wore an Olympic Project for Human Rights badge in solidarity. Yet his quiet protest led to lifelong exclusion at home, recognition arriving only posthumously.

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  • Our man in Rome

    • Andrew Hamilton
    • 14 October 2024

    The recent appointment of Mikola Bychok as Cardinal caught many Australians off guard. Few are familiar with the Ukrainian Catholic Bishop from Melbourne, and his elevation challenges conventional notions of national identity, prompting reflection on who we consider 'one of us' and highlighting the Ukrainian community in Australia.

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  • Pope Francis and the politics of Catholic conscience

    • John Warhurst
    • 02 October 2024

    During a recent interview on his Papal plane coming back from Singapore Francis made some pointed remarks in response to a veiled question from an American journalist about the US Presidential election contest between the Democrat Kamala Harris and the Republican Donald Trump. He chose to describe the choice as between the ‘lesser of two evils’ because Harris is pro-abortion rights and Trump is anti-immigration.

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  • Religious media battles the tides

    • Michael McVeigh
    • 26 September 2024

    There once might have been a distinction between ‘Christian journalism’ and ‘Christian PR’, however today those lines are far more muddied. The demise of the Australasian Religious Press Association might have been brought about by changing tides, but for those of us left it leaves one less lifebuoy to cling to.

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