By Amin Saikal, Emeritus Professor of Middle Eastern Studies, Australian National University; The University of Western Australia; Victoria University
Control over the Strait of Hormuz has become the main bone of contention between the US and Iran in their prolonged conflict.
In the face of Tehran’s determination to control the strategic waterway as a critical leverage of deterrence, US President Donald Trump has declared the end of the ceasefire, a renewed blockade of Iranian ports, and a return to war to degrade Iran’s defensive capabilities further and wrest control of the strait.
Trump has also announced a completely nonviable 20% levy on each tanker that passes through the strait – a move to counter Iran’s own plan…
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By Cesáreo Rodríguez-Aguilera de Prat, Catedrático de Ciencia Política, Universitat de Barcelona
For the US’ allies, Nato summits have largely become a matter of damage control and evading the wrath of Donald Trump. With Washington’s support no longer a given, the special relationship between the US and the European Union (EU) is under increasing strain.
The recent Nato summit, held on July 7-8 in Ankara, Turkey, took place without any prospect of a ceasefire in Iran or Ukraine.…
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By Kevin Rennie
They remain a remarkable example of Aboriginal innovation... and form one part of a growing body of work that challenges how hunter-gatherer Australian societies have long been perceived.
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By Meru Sheel, Professor of Infectious Diseases and Global Health, University of Sydney
The COVID pandemic feels like a long time ago. Now, we have widespread immunity from vaccination and natural infection. And getting COVID is less risky than it was five years ago.
But COVID can still lead to hospitalisation and deaths in older people, pregnant women and those with underlying chronic diseases, such as asthma or heart disease.
Each year in Australia, COVID…
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By Human Rights Watch
Click to expand Image The immigration detention center at the Immigration Bureau in Bangkok, Thailand, February 27, 2025. © 2025 Narong Sangnak/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (Bangkok) – The Thai government should not forcibly return detained Chinese dissidents to China, Human Rights Watch said today. At least four Chinese dissidents detained at the Suan Phlu Immigration Detention Center in Bangkok face possible deportation to China. The Chinese government has increasingly pressured Thai authorities ahead of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s scheduled visit to China from July 16…
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By Bill Swannie, Senior Lecturer, Thomas More Law School, Australian Catholic University
The court has found the cancellation of Jason Gillham’s concert by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra was not prohibited by Australian workplace laws.
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By Aaron Gilbert, Professor of Finance, Auckland University of Technology
For generations of New Zealanders, a lifetime of work has come with the promise of a secure and happy retirement.
Today, however, that notion of golden years spent in relative comfort is slipping out of reach for a growing number of struggling retirees. Without a serious policy rethink, younger New Zealanders may face an even tougher reality when their time to leave the workforce comes.
Despite…
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By Mark A Gregory, Associate Professor, School of Engineering, RMIT University
Domestic roaming could reduce the disruption – including to Triple Zero services – caused by a major outage on one mobile network.
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By Amelia Scott, Honorary Affiliate and Clinical Psychologist at the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, and Macquarie University Research Fellow, Macquarie University
Maybe you’re a new parent or someone who lies awake at night. If so, you may have started to worry you’re not getting enough sleep.
Sleep wearables don’t help. They can show your “sleep debt”, a running total of how far you’ve fallen behind.
But the word “debt” assumes your sleep works like a bank account. It assumes lost hours stack up, carry over, and you must eventually repay them in full.
But sleep doesn’t really work this way. And chasing “enough sleep” may not be helping.
What is a sleep debt?
Two…
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By Vaughan Cruickshank, Senior Lecturer in Health and Physical Education, University of Tasmania
Tom Hartley, Lecturer in Health and Physical Education, University of Tasmania
Only one team lifts the World Cup trophy. But the rewards, including prize money, mean many countries walk away satisfied.
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