Monday, May 4, 2026
Media freedom is not a given and its absence frequently leaves communities and vulnerable individuals in danger. To mark World Press Freedom Day, we’ll be hearing from UN agencies, along with war correspondents and reporters who face major obstacles trying to do their job. The aim is to get a better understanding about what press freedom means in practice and why it is worth defending.
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By Amnesty International
An innovative new research briefing by Amnesty International breaks down the “virulent cocktail” of xenophobic, racist and misogynistic hate targeting racialized women and LGBTQI+ people in Canada. The Hate is Intersectional: Xenophobic Technology-facilitates Gender-Based Violence (TfGBV) against Racialized Women and 2SLGBTQIA+ People in Canada exposes a playbook of toxic tropes and tactics spreading across social media as anti-immigrant rhetoric rises both online and offline. Launching alongside […] The post Canada: Xenophobic, racist tropes drive online hate against racialized women and LGBTQI+ people …
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By Laura
While African capitals announce their national AI strategies and tech giants launch their “innovation hubs” across the continent, millions of households are still living without reliable electricity.
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By Paul Haskell-Dowland, Professor of Cyber Security Practice, Edith Cowan University
The ABC has revealed a major cybersecurity flaw in Bluetooth-enabled police tasers and body-worn cameras that means officers can be tracked.
The exposé shows how anyone can use simple software tools to detect the presence of a police officer carrying one of these pieces of equipment. Not only can you detect their presence, but it is possible to track their location over time – representing a potential threat, especially to those operating covertly.
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By Haidee Cadd, Research Fellow, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong
Jonathan Tyler, Lecturer, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Adelaide University
Lucinda Duxbury, PhD Candidate, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania
During the summer of 2019–2020, half of Australia’s third largest island was on fire. Kangaroo Island, also known as Karta Pintingga or Karti in local mainland Aboriginal languages, was one of the worst-hit places during the Black Summer fires. Two people lost their lives and almost all the remnant vegetation on the island burned.
In the…
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By Meredith Primrose Jones, Researcher, Oceania Cyber Security Centre, RMIT University
Many oil refineries have caught fire recently. Whether caused by drone strike or accident, the result is the same: more pressure on shaky energy systems.
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By Patrizia Biondi, Academic, Visual Arts, University of Sydney
The Venice Biennale is the most prestigious recurring event in contemporary art. What does it mean that the 2026 edition will take place without a jury?
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By Thomas Jeffries, Senior Lecturer in Microbiology, Western Sydney University
Authorities are racing to contain a suspected outbreak of a rare respiratory disease. A microbiologist explains what it is and how it spreads.
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By Xiujian Peng, Senior Research Fellow, Centre of Policy Studies, Victoria University
James Giesecke, Professor, Centre of Policy Studies and the Impact Project, Victoria University
China’s latest national accounts show the economy grew by about 5% through 2025 and into the first quarter of 2026, pointing to resilience despite ongoing trade tensions.
But the underlying picture is weaker: growth slowed last year and, while it has stabilised, it remains below pre-COVID levels.
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By Martin Kear, Lecturer, Department of Government and International Relations, University of Sydney
The Israeli prime minister is using the ‘Gaza playbook’ to decimate southern Lebanon, but it won’t eliminate the threat from the militant group.
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