Western countries demand Russia follows international law – so why don’t they?

With a passion that recalls the aftermath of the Second World War, politicians and commentators are demanding a global order that takes seriously the rules of...

American exceptionalism: the poison that cannot protect its children from violent death

I had always been afraid of America. Once, in Alaska, we had dinner with a man my father was working with, and he had actually uttered...

Ghana’s debt: the pros and cons of borrowing abroad versus at home

A government which decides to borrow – either because it has programmed a budget deficit or needs to refinance maturing debts – faces two, non-mutually exclusive...

11,000 litres of water to make one litre of milk? New questions about the freshwater impact of NZ dairy farming

Water scarcity and water pollution are increasingly critical global issues. Water scarcity is driven not only by shortages of water, but also by rendering water unusable...

China’s population is about to shrink for the first time since the great famine struck 60 years ago. Here’s what it means for the world

The world’s biggest nation is about to shrink. China accounts for more than one sixth of the world’s population. Yet after four extraordinary decades in which...

US will soon redeploy troops in Somalia: the mission and key goals

If you cry while watching movies, it is probably a sign of your emotional strength

You have probably found yourself weeping quietly, or even suddenly sobbing uncontrollably, while watching a movie. Common culprits include Marley and Me, The Color Purple, Schindler’s...

How self-publishing, social media and algorithms are aiding far-right novelists

Far-right extremists pose an increasing risk in Australia and around the world. In 2020, ASIO revealed that about 40% of its counter-terrorism work involved the far...

Overturning Roe v. Wade would have wide-reaching implications beyond U.S. borders

After after a U.S. Supreme Court opinion indicating Roe v. Wade could be overturned was leaked earlier this month, there has been a lot of discussion...

Roadside safety messages increase crashes by distracting drivers

Road signs often display safety messages in an attempt to reduce road crashes. (Callum Blacoe/Unsplash) Behavioural interventions involve gently suggesting that people reconsider or change specific...