Category: Evening Report

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elspeth Tilley, Professor of Creative Communication, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University

In today’s CO₂ news, global atmospheric carbon is at 429.46 parts per million. That’s one point lower than yesterday and 79 above the recommended planetary boundary.

That’s not something we hear routinely in news bulletins, of course. But such numeric snapshots – what’s up, what’s down and overall trends – are very familiar from daily reports of everything from stock markets to sports.

Might there be an argument for applying the same format to planetary health? Some media organisations already think so, including updates on atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels in their regular coverage. But the practice remains far from mainstream.

It makes sense for news outlets to report this way, however, because humans understand trends better than abstractions or hard-to-visualise phenomena.

A brief summary of share price movements, for example, may not be the full financial story. But it does provide a regular barometer of likely changes to things that affect us – like fuel prices, mortgage payments or retirement savings.

The data is often easily available to news outlets, easy to visualise graphically, simple to slot in alongside weather and sport, and audiences are used to it.

Familiarity is the key. Stocks, weather and sports scores are “ritualised media information” – habits that shape our collective awareness. They help our brains judge an issue’s importance by how often it appears in our information environment.

Media scholars have shown how an issue’s visibility influences public opinion and government attention. Numbers crystallise this “agenda-setting” process, prompting questions about why those numbers are rising or falling, which policies influence them, and who is responsible.

In other words, what gets reported and how it’s reported matter. Societies prioritise what they notice most, and they can manage what they measure.

Connecting climate to everyday life

The fact we haven’t ritualised the reporting of atmospheric carbon readings – a key measure of global warming – isn’t because we lack data.

The Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii has tracked atmospheric CO₂ since 1958. The Stockholm Resilience Centre provides measures of CO₂ as well as forest cover, ocean acidification and Arctic ice.

It might be argued such numbers aren’t as relevant to people’s everyday lives as interest rates and stock markets. But that’s increasingly not the case. Environmental statistics help track changes that do and will affect us.

Links between climate change and extreme weather, rising insurance costs, transport disruptions and food prices are intricate and changeable. Daily atmospheric CO₂ reports compress the complexity of a multifaceted problem into something we can grasp more readily.

Of course, there’s a risk the very numbers that focus our minds could narrow them. Climate communication research shows repeated negative news can cause “climate fatigue”.

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Read more: Climate doomism is bad storytelling – hope is much more effective at triggering action

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But it doesn’t all have to be bad news. While atmospheric carbon levels are 150 parts per million above the preindustrial average, there are also good numbers to report, such as the drop in chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) since the Montreal Protocol in 1987.

Climate fatigue is caused less by too much climate news, and more by reporting that frames climate change as an irreversible catastrophe, leaving people feeling overwhelmed and powerless.

Climate communication experts recommend pairing realistic updates with news of visible action such as policy shifts, community adaptation, technological change or Indigenous stewardship.

There is now a small but growing group of “good news” outlets doing just this: Reasons to be Cheerful (founded by artist and musician David Byrne), Positive News and Fix the News report numbers related to tangible initiatives such as new hectares of forest reserve or revived populations of threatened species.

Normalising environmental awareness

To help prevent people tuning out repetitive data that changes slowly, reporting can frame the numbers in different ways – how fast they’re moving compared with past decades, the distance from specific carbon budget goals, and whether they’re moving faster or slower than predicted.

Contextual stories can connect the data to regional consequences and human stories of local climate action success. That casts the CO₂ updates as indexes of active response rather than passive observation.

For public broadcasters with mandates or charters to provide public interest journalism, the fit is obvious.

Regular CO₂ news would also balance the default reporting of economic indicators that can be perceived as prioritising markets over ecosystems. Presenting environmental numbers in the same way helps normalise attention to ecological stability.

And by realistically connecting those numbers to hot-button issues like the cost of living and healthcare, climate awareness becomes less about ideology or “climate wars” and more about the practical challenges of maintaining a habitable planet.

– ref. Share prices, sports results … CO₂ levels? The case for reporting climate stats every day – https://theconversation.com/share-prices-sports-results-co-levels-the-case-for-reporting-climate-stats-every-day-278202

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/03/27/share-prices-sports-results-co-levels-the-case-for-reporting-climate-stats-every-day-278202/

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Olga Oleinikova, Associate Professor and Director of the SITADHub (Social Impact Technologies and Democracy Research Hub) in the School of Communication, University of Technology Sydney

“I didn’t come here to get rich. I came because I had no other way to keep my son safe and care for my displaced family”.

Anna is a 28-year-old woman from eastern Ukraine. She fled the country in 2023 after Russian troops invaded. Two years later, she agreed to become a surrogate in Georgia for wealthy foreign couples.

We met Anna, who was already pregnant, in a quiet apartment that had been rented for her by a surrogacy agency on the outskirts of the capital, Tbilisi.

Our multidisciplinary team was in Georgia to conduct a pilot research project examining the small country’s rapidly expanding surrogacy industry.

We conducted in-depth interviews with Ukrainian women to better understand their motivations for entering surrogacy arrangements, their experiences within the system, and the social, economic, and legal factors shaping their decision-making and wellbeing.

We also analysed publicly available policy and regulatory documents from the government to examine how the sector operates. We paid particular attention to emerging regulatory challenges, gaps in oversight and the state’s efforts to balance economic opportunity with ethical and human rights considerations.

The shifting geography of surrogacy

Surrogacy laws vary widely around the world. Some countries, including Australia, prohibit commercial surrogacy. Others allow it under specific conditions. These differences create cross-border markets, where intended parents travel abroad to access services that are restricted, expensive or unavailable at home.

Before Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine was one of the world’s largest commercial surrogacy hubs. Estimates suggest between 2,000 and 2,500 babies were born each year through surrogacy arrangements.

War disrupted the industry. Clinics closed or relocated. Travel became dangerous. Media outlets reported on intended parents struggling to reach newborns and surrogates displaced by fighting. Georgia became a safe alternative.

International surrogacy has been legal in Georgia since 1997. That’s when the country adopted legislation allowing both gestational (a woman carrying an embryo not genetically related to her) and traditional surrogacy (a woman carrying an embryo for another couple using her own egg). The first children were born through gestational surrogacy around 2007.

The country’s clear legal framework – recognising intended parents as the child’s legal guardians from birth and granting no parental rights to the surrogate – has been a key factor in its appeal.

Costs are also significantly lower than in the United States. As independent international surrogacy consultant Olga Pysana told us:

In the last year, surrogacy in Georgia cost approximately US$55,000 to $85,000 (A$78,000 to A$120,000), whereas surrogacy in the United States can cost as much as US$250,000 (A$350,000).

With international demand surging in the 2010s, Georgia (a small country of 3.7 million people) quickly became unable to meet the needs of so many parents with local women alone. So clinics began recruiting potential surrogates from abroad, including from Ukraine, Central Asian countries, Russia, Belarus, Thailand and the Philippines.

Mobile surrogates

Several of the women we interviewed had previously worked with Ukrainian agencies. After the invasion, recruiters contacted them again – this time offering placements in Georgia.

Displacement has produced a new and economically vulnerable workforce. We describe these women as “mobile surrogates”: women who move across borders to provide reproductive labour in response to war, economic crises or changing surrogacy laws. “If there was no war, I would never have left,” Anna told us.

Most of the women we interviewed had lost homes, jobs or partners. Many were supporting children and extended family members across borders. Anna had worked in a shop before the war, then cleaned houses in Poland. “Surrogacy in Georgia pays in nine months what I would earn in years,” she said.

Our research found that surrogates are typically paid around US$20,000 (A$35,500) in instalments. For families displaced by war, this amount of money can cover rent, relocation costs and schooling.

But the arrangements come with strict contractual conditions. Women may face limits on travel, their diets and daily routines. Some live in shared apartments organised by agencies.

Independent legal advice is rare. Anna signed a contract in a language she did not fully understand, but felt she had little alternative: “I just needed something stable. I couldn’t keep moving from place to place”.

Georgia’s legal framework says little about labour standards, housing conditions or long-term health support for surrogates after birth. The result is an imbalance: strong protections for intended parents, and weaker safeguards for the women carrying babies.

A draft bill was introduced in 2023 aimed at curbing paid surrogacy for foreigners, due to growing concerns about the commercialisation of the industry and potential exploitation of surrogate mothers. However, it is still pending. As of early 2026, surrogacy remains legal in Georgia for foreign heterosexual couples.

Three trends we are seeing

First, reproductive markets are highly responsive to crises. When Ukraine’s industry became unstable, demand shifted rapidly to Georgia. Global fertility markets operate like other transnational industries: when one site contracts, another expands.

Second, economic inequality shapes who participates. Displacement and financial insecurity increase women’s willingness to enter demanding reproductive arrangements.

Third, the surrogates bear the brunt of regulatory ambiguities and associated risks and challenges. This includes dealing with contracts and medical procedures in languages they don’t understand.

Reform is needed

In Georgia, clearer labour protections are essential: minimum housing standards, transparent payment schedules, and mandatory, independent legal advice in a language surrogates understand. Health coverage for the women should also extend beyond birth.

The major markets for surrogacy services, including China, the US, Australia, Israel, Germany and others, should also review how their citizens engage in overseas surrogacy. This includes stronger regulation of agencies marketing abroad and clearer ethical guidance for intended parents.

Finally, greater international coordination is needed. Shared standards for cross-border surrogacy would improve transparency and accountability in a rapidly expanding and loosely regulated global market.

As demand grows, the central question is not whether cross-border surrogacy will continue, but whether it can be governed in ways that safeguard fairness, transparency and the rights of the women whose bodies sustain it.

– ref. ‘I didn’t come here to get rich’: new research on the lives of Ukrainian women in Georgia’s surrogacy boom – https://theconversation.com/i-didnt-come-here-to-get-rich-new-research-on-the-lives-of-ukrainian-women-in-georgias-surrogacy-boom-276173

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/03/27/i-didnt-come-here-to-get-rich-new-research-on-the-lives-of-ukrainian-women-in-georgias-surrogacy-boom-276173/

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adi Imsirovic, Lecturer in Energy Systems, University of Oxford

Despite reports of negotiations between the US and the Iranian regime, the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed to most oil tankers, with only a small number of vessels being allowed to pass. The result is a loss of roughly 11 million barrels per day (mbd) of oil and petroleum liquids to the global market. This represents just over 10% of global supply.

At first glance, a 10% disruption may not sound catastrophic. But in oil markets, even a 10% imbalance between supply and demand can have very large economic effects.

To understand the scale of the disruption, it is useful to compare it with the height of the COVID pandemic in 2020. During global lockdowns, empty roads, grounded aircraft and deserted bus and railway stations became normal as travel and economic activity collapsed. At that time, global oil demand fell by about 8mbd, the largest demand shock in history.

Today’s situation is the opposite. Instead of a collapse in demand, the world is experiencing a large supply shock. But the impact on everyday life could end up looking similar: reduced travel, higher transport costs, slower economic activity and pressure on household budgets.

The reason is that both oil supply and oil demand are very inflexible in the short term. People still need to drive to work, goods still need to be transported and aircraft still need fuel. When supply falls suddenly, prices must rise significantly to force demand down.

For now, the release of emergency oil stocks is helping to cushion the initial impact, particularly in developed economies. Members of the International Energy Agency (IEA) are required to hold emergency stocks equivalent to at least 90 days of oil consumption, and several countries also maintain strategic petroleum reserves.

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Read more: These are shaky times for oil markets. An expert explains what a prolonged war will mean for prices

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Countries such as the US, China and Japan can therefore offset supply disruptions for a limited period. However, these reserves are not a long-term solution. If the conflict continues for months rather than weeks, stockpiles will be depleted.

The situation is much more serious for developing countries. Many countries in Asia, Africa and South America hold very limited commercial reserves and are much more vulnerable to supply disruptions and price spikes. For these economies, elevated oil prices quickly translate into higher food prices, inflation and economic instability.

The first shortages would probably appear not in petrol, but in diesel and jet fuel. Gulf oil producers are major exporters of middle distillates, and their crude oil grades produce large quantities of diesel and jet fuel when refined.

Diesel is particularly important because it fuels trucks, ships, construction equipment and agricultural machinery. So a diesel shortage affects food supply, construction, mining and global trade – not just transport. Petrol shortages would follow as crude oil supply tightens further, and eventually shortages would spread across all petroleum products.

Oil is not just used for transport fuel. It is also a key input into petrochemicals for the production of plastics, fertilisers, chemicals, synthetic materials and many industrial processes. This means the effects of a major oil supply disruption spread across the entire economy.

Shortages or price increases could affect everything from food production and packaging to electronics, construction materials and clothing. The economic effects of an oil shock are therefore much broader than simply higher petrol prices.

Protectionism could make everything worse

One of the biggest risks during a supply crisis is export restrictions and protectionism. Governments often try to protect domestic consumers by freezing prices and banning exports of fuel or crude oil, but this usually makes the global shortage worse.

Government price freezes only discourage production and supply, and encourage consumers to keep burning fuel. Protectionism is even worse. There are already signs of this happening – some countries (China, for example) are restricting exports of petroleum products such as diesel and jet fuel. When countries hoard fuel, global markets become tighter and prices rise even further.

The biggest risk would be if the US restricted oil exports in order to protect domestic consumers. The US is now the world’s largest oil producer, producing more than 20mbd of oil and petroleum liquids. But it is also one of the world’s largest consumers. However, it still exports significant volumes, particularly to Europe.

The US has banned oil exports before. In 1975, following the Arab oil embargo (when in 1973 Arab states refused to supply oil to countries, including the US, that had supported Israel in the Yom Kippur war), the US banned exports of crude oil. The ban was lifted only in 2015. If such a ban were introduced today, it would be likely to cause major supply shortages and price increases, especially in Europe.

If the Strait of Hormuz remains closed for a prolonged period, or if the conflict escalates further, global losses of exports from the Persian Gulf could approach the 20mbd of oil and petroleum products.

Under these circumstances, the economic and social effects could be severe. Transport could become more expensive and less frequent, air travel would be severely curtailed, inflation would rise and economic growth would slow significantly. In extreme scenarios, the disruption to daily economic life could resemble the COVID period (and probably worse). But this time it would be caused by a shortage of energy.

For now, markets are relying on emergency stock releases and hopes of a geopolitical de-escalation. But if not, the world economy could face an unprecedented energy shock, with far-reaching and unpredictable consequences.

– ref. Could this energy crisis be worse for the global economy than COVID? – https://theconversation.com/could-this-energy-crisis-be-worse-for-the-global-economy-than-covid-279284

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/03/27/could-this-energy-crisis-be-worse-for-the-global-economy-than-covid-279284/

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brent Keogh, Lecturer in the School of Communications, University of Technology Sydney

The release of the first FIFA World Cup 2026 song Lighter by American country artist Jelly Roll, Mexican singer Carín León and Canadian producer Cirkut, has left an odd taste in the mouth of fans, like waking up in the back of a Chevy truck after accidentally downing a bottle of bargain-bin bourbon.

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As the United States, Canada and Mexico prepare to host the World Cup in June, the change in genre from “world-infused” pop to Bible Belt-style country-rock reflects the awkwardness of the tournament being hosted in an increasingly isolationist America.

Themes of unity and diversity

Since the early 1990s, FIFA World Cup songs and anthems have usually reflected something of the local flavour of the host country while simultaneously promoting the ideals of global unity.

For example, the 2022 song Hayya Hayya promotes the ideal that “we are better together”. It vibrates with the rhythmic complexity of North African folk traditions, before moving into a more commercial reggae groove.

[embedded content]

Jennifer Lopez and Pitbull’s 2014 song, We are One, incorporates Brazilian inflections in an otherwise characteristically in-your-face Pitbull dance track. Nevertheless, the global sentiment remains: “it’s your world, my world, our world today, and we invite the whole world, whole world to play”.

Similarly, Jason Derulo’s 2018 World Cup track Colors (also a Coca Cola promotional song), celebrates national pride – “I’m going to wave my flag” – while also declaring “there’s beauty in the unity we’ve found”.

Where is the excitement?

Though Lighter is a collaboration between the three host countries, it marks a significant musical shift from the characteristic European, Latino and “World” inflected pop of previous songs.

There have been other stylistic shifts in the past. The 2006 World Cup track was Time of Our Lives, a slow operatic pop ballad by Il Divo and Toni Braxton.

But Lighter isn’t another example of this. It isn’t a ballad – yet it still lacks the high energy buzz of fan favourites such as Shakira’s Waka Waka (2010 South Africa World Cup), Santana’s Dar Um Jeito (We Will Find a Way) (2014 Brazil World Cup) and Ricky Martin’s The Cup of Life (1998 France World Cup).

The usual rhythmic vitality of a World Cup song is stripped back to a country-rock dirge with an odd, almost tokenistic Spanish bridge – an offering that might more appropriately feature in a Trolls World Tour. Fans are not having it.

As one user in the YouTube comments asks: “La emoción, la pasión y el ritmo mundialista, dónde está todo eso?” (“The excitement, the passion and the World Cup rhythm, where is all that?”).

[embedded content]

Roll between the Lord and the Devil

Lighter has also been criticised for its religious allusions. One listener bemoans: “It’s a football tournament, but let’s make a song about church choirs, Chevy trucks, chains and muddy boots”.

Although past World Cup songs have contained religious allusions, Lighter’s odd sense of the sacred is more like trying to pass off a Lord Elrond action figure as a statue of Saint Anthony.

The song is replete with the forced language of a sinner’s conversion (“chains don’t rattle no more”, “lay my burdens down”), as analogous to the flow-state of a footballer, free from whatever personal or collective trials that might have been holding them back.

As in many a good country song, the protagonist is involved in a cosmic battle for his soul.

Jelly Roll is “praying [his] way out of […] hell”. He even has a run in with the Devil, although he doesn’t trade his soul for musical talent. Rather, he escapes the Devil’s attempts to “catch” him as his boots have left the ground.

You could be forgiven for questioning whether this song was about football at all, or whether it is more reflective of Jelly Roll’s own personal conversion story (he has recently been open in proclaiming his faith in Jesus).

In Lighter, the collective “we” of previous World Cup songs has been replaced with the individualistic “I” – the local taking precedence over the global.

[embedded content]

The elephant in the room

Now, to be fair, there are some aspects of Lighter that align with the values of its predecessors. One key theme of the song is the sense of the fight, of overcoming obstacles, and gaining individual freedom. This aligns with FIFA’s stated purpose of the song, which it says was “created for the most inclusive FIFA World Cup in history”.

However, with ICE agents likely to be haunting football stadiums like dementors – and strained relationships between the US and neighbours such as Venezuela, Mexico, Canada and Cuba (not to mention Iran) – it is questionable whether FIFA’s goals of inclusivity will be felt and realised.

Instead, Jelly Roll and Carín León’s country-rock tune seems to more accurately reflect the current US administration’s isolationist approach to global foreign policy: we know we’re in the world, but we’d rather not be.

Perhaps the next World Cup song in 2030 will bring back the excitement, passion and rhythm that fans love, and reiterate the globalist ideals of the game. For now, Lighter remains a missed penalty shot.

– ref. A Bible Belt track without a pulse – it’s no surprise fans hate the 2026 FIFA World Cup song Lighter – https://theconversation.com/a-bible-belt-track-without-a-pulse-its-no-surprise-fans-hate-the-2026-fifa-world-cup-song-lighter-279111

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/03/27/a-bible-belt-track-without-a-pulse-its-no-surprise-fans-hate-the-2026-fifa-world-cup-song-lighter-279111/

Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. –

OBITUARY: By Aubrey Belford, Australia and South Pacific regional editor of OCCRP

The Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) is deeply saddened to announce the passing of Dan McGarry, the organisation’s Pacific editor, who died yesterday in Brisbane, Australia, at the age of 62.

A veteran journalist and a pillar of the Pacific media community, Dan was instrumental in establishing and leading OCCRP’s investigative efforts across the region.

Dan joined OCCRP in late 2021 to help spearhead its first dedicated Pacific programme. A Canadian by birth, he spent more than two decades in the Pacific, eventually becoming a citizen of Vanuatu.

His deep love for the region was matched by an unparalleled knowledge of its political and social landscape, making him an essential voice for transparency and accountability.

“Words cannot convey how devastated we are by this loss,” said OCCRP editor-in-chief Miranda Patrucic. “Dan was so much more than an editor who worked with local journalists and helped build our reporting teams, including our media member centres Inside PNG and In-depth Solomons.

“He was beloved because he truly cared about the mission and the people he worked with. He possessed a bottomless well of patience and is irreplaceable as a mentor and leader.”

Dan’s life was defined by a multifaceted set of talents. Beyond his rigorous investigative work, he was a dramatic actor in theatre and television and a self-described “tech geek” who pioneered new ways to integrate technology into journalism.

When I moved back to Australia to start OCCRP’s Pacific programme, Dan’s name was the one everyone mentioned first. He had years of what was often a lonely experience fighting for press freedom and the public good in the region and he was instrumental in every single investigation OCCRP has done in the region.

He was formerly media director of the Vanuatu Daily Post.

He is mourned not just by his family, but also by the second family he built among the Pacific’s journalists.

Dan fell ill several weeks ago while on a work assignment in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. He was evacuated by jet ambulance to Australia for specialised medical care. Despite the best efforts of medical teams, he passed away peacefully with family by his side.

OCCRP remains committed to honoring Dan’s legacy by continuing the vital investigative work he championed and by providing ongoing support to his family.

Read some of Dan’s reporting

Korean Doomsday Sect Gets Rich in Fiji With Government Help

Chinese ‘Miracle Water’ Grifters Infiltrated the UN and Bribed Politicians to Build Pacific Dream City

Mystery Deepens as Second Narco-Sub Washes Ashore in Solomon Islands

Influencer Andrew Tate got Vanuatu Passport Around Time of Arrest on Rape Charges

Solomon Islands PM Has Millions in Property, Raising Questions Around Wealth

This article was first published on Café Pacific.

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/03/26/corruption-reporting-project-mourns-the-loss-of-dan-mcgarry-pioneering-pacific-editor-and-investigative-journalist/

Vanuatu Daily Post

The Vanuatu Daily Post is deeply saddened to learn of the sudden passing of Dan McGarry, our former media director. McGarry was a fearless investigative journalist, photographer, and software professional who made a lasting contribution to the development of the Daily Post.

He managed media content across the company’s publications, website, and social media platforms, while also shaping the wider media landscape in Vanuatu.

Before formally joining the organisation in 2015, he wrote regular columns under the pseudonym Graham Crumb.

Prior to joining the Daily Post, McGarry was part of the Pacific Institute of Public Policy (PiPP), an independent, non-profit, regionally focused think tank based in Port Vila. He also worked with Computer Network Services (CNS) as technical manager during its early years.

Reports indicate that McGarry, 62, fell ill following a trip to Papua New Guinea earlier this month and was evacuated to Brisbane.

He faced complications during recovery and remained in critical care in recent weeks. At the time of his passing, McGarry was serving as Pacific editor for the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).

McGarry was a leading voice in Pacific journalism, driven by a strong sense of justice and commitment to the public good.

He is survived by his wife and children. His passing leaves a profound gap in the media community.

The Vanuatu Daily Post extends its heartfelt condolences to his family during this difficult time and stands with them in mourning this loss.

Republished from the Vanuatu Daily Post.

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/03/26/former-vanuatu-daily-post-media-director-dan-mcgarry-leaves-legacy/

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

Crises “stress test” governments and countries. Memories remain vivid of COVID, which put immense pressures on the Australian economy, the federation and Commonwealth and state budgets.

The domestic crisis triggered by the Middle East war is well short of – and certainly less frightening than – the COVID emergency. But it is imposing major strains on supply chains, businesses, federal and state governments and the public.

The immediate “stress test” for the Albanese government comes from the hit to fuel. But the test is also wider, extending, for example, to how it handles its relationship with the United States and its volatile president.

The executive director of the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol, visiting Australia this week, warned, “the world is facing the greatest global energy security threat in history”.

The fuel crisis has raised issues for the government on multiple fronts, including over the level of Australia fuel reserves, how effectively ministers can negotiate to secure more supplies, and what plans to put in place to deal with the increasingly difficult days ahead.

The government has insisted Australia has enough supply – declaring the problems are soaring demand and distribution faults. Its messaging has been less than optimal, with Energy Minister Chris Bowen initially downplaying the crisis too much and on occasion sounding tetchy.

Australia has about a month’s worth of petrol, diesel and jet fuel. Over the years both sides of politics have been willing to run this stock at limited levels, although some experts say much larger reserves should have been in place.

At present, most of the scheduled ships bringing fuel supplies are arriving; the several that have been cancelled have been replaced and some extra deliveries added. The government has been in contact with other countries to try to ensure the supply chain holds.

In its initiatives, the government has appointed a national fuel coordinator, released fuel stock and changed fuel standards. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is investigating suggestions of anti-competitive behaviour and price gouging.

NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury says while the government was a bit slow to act in response to early price spikes in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, it has now done all it can.

Motorists, farmers, and transport and other businesses finding it hard to access fuel (especially diesel) are not comforted by reassurances that overall supplies are fine. They’re also impatient with exhortations to buy “only what you need”.

Across the country, hundreds of petrol stations are out of fuel, totally or partially (a complicated picture affected by regional and distributional factors).

So far, state and federal governments are holding off on drastic measures such as rationing.

Although Anthony Albanese has had one national cabinet meeting, there are loud calls for a “national” approach and for the federal government to be seen to be more in charge. Albanese has scheduled another national cabinet for Monday.

Whether and when the fuel crisis deepens or eases depends on factors out of Australia’s control – especially on what Donald Trump and Iran do from here on.

The crisis has impacts on the May 12 budget, both negative (pushing growth and job gains down) and positive (more revenue from war-driven profit windfalls in LNG and coal exports). Given the cost-of-living crisis, it is also bringing pressure on the government to take big policy decisions on fuel – notably, to lower fuel excise and impose a super profits tax to take advantage of increased gas exports.

At first blush, both proposals appear attractive. A closer look makes them less so, or at least more complex.

It might look fair to reduce excise, but it would complicate the inflation-fighting task of the Reserve Bank, and taking excise rates back up later would be unpopular.

The NRMA’s Khoury opposes cutting the excise on two grounds: that it would potentially reduce funds spent on roads, and that any reduction could be quickly swallowed by further changes in oil prices.

Anyway, the government is making it clear it is not intending to cut the excise.

Boosting the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax to capture super profits from gas exports would be a popular move supported by many on the left (the Greens) and the right (One Nation). And the tax does need changing. But there is a counterargument. Birol captured the dilemma.

“The real owners of these resources are the citizens of this very country. And I very much hope and expect that the citizens get the fair share for the richness of this country in terms of their resource endowments and their exports and the resulting revenues,” he told the ABC.

On the other hand, “one of the major assets of Australia is being a reliable and predictable country in terms of having the investors here investing in gas, minerals and others. I would be very careful not to take steps in order to cast a shadow on this predictability and reliability.”

Japan’s ambassador to Australia, Kazuhiro Suzuki, warned this week, “Japanese investors are saying, so if there’s a surprise, they just go to other countries”.

The US–Israeli attack on Iran drew immediate support from the Australian government. Now Albanese is making it clear he wants to see the war end quickly. Last week he said, albeit prematurely, “I’m hopeful that you can see an end point. The objectives of denying Iran the opportunity to have a development of a nuclear weapon have been secured.”

The government has dispatched an aircraft and accompanying personnel to the Middle East in response to a request that came formally from the United Arab Emirates. The government insists it is only participating in a defensive, not an offensive, way. It is a distinction many observers reject (and Iran has certainly done so).

Australia belatedly signed a statement from more than 20 countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan and Canada, flagging they would be willing to contribute to action to keep the Strait of Hormuz open (although this would be only after bombing ceased).

As the war has dragged on, the Albanese government has watched developments, and Trump’s capricious conduct, with growing alarm. The war has seen the Australian government walking a delicate path in alliance relations.

– ref. Grattan on Friday: Albanese government struggles under the ‘stress test’ posed by Middle East war – https://theconversation.com/grattan-on-friday-albanese-government-struggles-under-the-stress-test-posed-by-middle-east-war-278792

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/03/26/grattan-on-friday-albanese-government-struggles-under-the-stress-test-posed-by-middle-east-war-278792/

Radio 786

Anti-apartheid campaigner Terry Bell has died at the age of 84. A lifelong activist, journalist, and educator, Bell’s life was defined by his unwavering commitment to justice and democracy.

His early journalism career spanned several South African newspapers, where he also helped found the non-racial South African Journalists’ Union.

Bell was deeply involved in underground activism, editing the clandestine publication Combat. Detained under the 90-day law in 1964, he fled into exile in Zambia the following year. There, he worked as chief reporter for the Times of Zambia before being granted asylum in the UK.

In London, he studied international affairs, edited Anti-Apartheid News, and worked at the Daily Worker.

Bell’s activism took him across continents, from Zambia to New Zealand, where he helped launch the Anti-Apartheid Movement in 1972.

In 1979, he and his wife, Barbara, established the primary division of Somafco in Tanzania, drafting the ANC’s first primary school curriculum. Disillusioned by abuses within the ANC, the Bells resigned in 1982 and later supported striking miners in Britain.

Returning to South Africa in 1991, Bell settled in Cape Town, choosing not to rejoin the ANC. Instead, he advocated for democratic socialism, urging citizens to “Vote ANC, but build a socialist alternative”.

From 1992, he edited Africa Analysis and contributed incisive labour columns to Business Report, Fin24, and City Press.

He was also a regular contributor to Radio 786’s programming, and was a staunch voice advocating for the rights of Palestinians.

His writing combined sharp analysis with a deep empathy for workers and marginalised communities. Bell remained a freelance journalist and commentator until his final years, never ceasing to challenge injustice.

Terry Bell’s life reminds us that resistance, even in exile, can shape nations and inspire generations.

Republished from Radio 786 in Cape Town, South Africa.

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/03/26/activist-journalist-terry-bell-a-life-defined-by-unwavering-commitment-to-justice-and-democracy/

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Margaret Murray, Senior Lecturer, Nutrition, Swinburne University of Technology

“Boy kibble” is the latest food trend that has young men (and some women) preparing simple meals that – you guessed it – look like dog food, or “kibble”.

Typically, boy kibble is made up of rice and minced or ground meat, usually beef, along with various other optional ingredients.

Social media loves it because it’s cheap, easy to make and high in protein.

But is it healthy? Let’s break down the nutritional content and see what else you can add to boost nutrients and flavour.

What’s the appeal?

Boy kibble is especially popular among young men and those who want to build muscle. It is a high-protein meal, meaning it can help support muscle maintenance and growth.

But boy kibble is also a simple recipe with only a few, relatively affordable, ingredients that can be adjusted according to personal needs and preferences.

The dish can be cooked in bulk and portioned out for multiple meals in advance. It’s also quick to prepare and doesn’t require advanced cooking skills.

And while it may look like dog food, the unassuming dish single-handedly overcomes many of the barriers young adults commonly report to healthy eating, such as lack of time to prepare food, the cost of healthy food, and a preference for convenience.

How healthy is boy kibble?

The two main ingredients in boy kibble are white rice and minced meat. Mince is the main source of protein in the meal and is also a source of fat, iron, zinc, phosphorus, potassium, selenium and some B vitamins.

The white rice is a source of carbohydrates but is very low in any other nutrients.

These two ingredients do provide some nutrients on their own, potentially hitting macronutrient targets. For example, a dish of boy kibble likely provides enough protein to meet the recommendation for young adults to maintain their muscle mass: eating more than 0.24 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight at each meal (this is roughly 22g of protein for a 90kg adult).

But for a main meal, it is important to also be getting fibre and other vitamins.

Luckily, there are many easy ways to bulk up the nutrients in your boy kibble, while also adding flavour.

How can I boost nutrition?

The simplest way to boost vitamins, fibre and other beneficial compounds is by adding vegetables.

You can still keep it low-key. This could look like adding mixed frozen vegetables, frying off onion and garlic with the meat, or serving with a quick stir fry of broccoli, capsicum and spinach.

Choose your favourite vegetables and go for a few different colours for maximum nutrition and health benefits.

Canned beans, such as kidney beans, are also a great addition or alternative to meat, as they provide protein and fibre.

Another simple switch to increase fibre and mineral content is to use brown rice instead of white rice.

Herbs and spices can add flavour to your meal, and also have the benefit of containing various health-promoting compounds.

The positives

Yes, boy kibble is a very basic recipe. But as an expert in nutrition, I am optimistic. It’s promising to see young men engaging with food planning, preparation and cooking – all essential skills for supporting health and wellbeing.

Confidence in cooking ability and preparing meals at home are both associated with overall healthier dietary patterns among young adults, which can last a lifetime.

And it’s very easy to turn basic boy kibble into a nutritious and delicious meal that is still simple, practical and affordable.

But there can be downsides

Research shows that, among young adults, body ideals that are reinforced by peer and media influence can contribute to body dissatisfaction and disordered eating and exercising. This includes behaviours focused on muscle building.

When muscle building is motivated by appearance and aligning with body ideals, it is more likely to lead to risky behaviours such as restricted eating or excessive exercising, compared to when this behaviour is motivated by improving health, longevity and strength.

From a nutritional perspective, focusing too much on any single nutrient – including increasing protein intake – can lead to an imbalanced diet, overlooking other important nutrients.

Viewing meals as purely functional can also detract from the enjoyment and pleasure of eating. Research shows if you enjoy eating, you are more likely to eat well. So enjoying the food you eat may help with sustaining healthy eating habits.

The takeaway

Boy kibble can be a nutritious, convenient and affordable meal – that is even better if you enjoy it. But while your dog may eat kibble every day, for humans variety is key.

A dash of creativity on the “bowl” dinner idea can spice up your weekly menu rotation: a taco bowl, burrito bowl or poke bowl usually involves rice with fish or meat, but these also pack in plenty of veggies, herbs, spices and interesting textures, and may include yoghurt or cheese too. Bowl dinners are delicious, nutritious, and can easily be adapted to suit your tastes and budget.

For even more variety, you could also try using a boiled or baked jacket potato – skin on – as a base with different toppings.

– ref. What is the ‘boy kibble’ trend? And is it healthy? A nutrition expert explains – https://theconversation.com/what-is-the-boy-kibble-trend-and-is-it-healthy-a-nutrition-expert-explains-277955

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/03/26/what-is-the-boy-kibble-trend-and-is-it-healthy-a-nutrition-expert-explains-277955/

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rand Low, Associate Professor of Quantitative Finance, Bond University

Gold has long enjoyed a reputation as a financial “safe haven” during stormy times. But over the past few months of geopolitical chaos and market panic, the precious metal has moved more like a roller coaster than a steady ship at anchor.

In late January, the gold price surged to an all-time high near US$5,600 per ounce – effectively double what it was a year earlier. It’s lost about 20% since then, sliding sharply while major conflict broke out in the Middle East.

To be clear, gold is still at lofty heights by historical standards, up almost 300% over the past decade. Much of this surge has been driven by “financialisation”.

Put simply, more ways of investing in gold on paper – with complex financial products called derivatives and funds that track its price – have seen a boom in speculation by institutional and retail investors.

But this year’s wild swings in price should shatter any remaining illusion that gold is always a safe haven. To understand why, we need to look at how modern financial markets work – and in particular, why an oil shock is different to other crises.

Umbrellas and storm shelters

To protect their wealth, investors often seek assets that are either “hedges” or “safe havens”.

A hedge is an investment that generally moves in the opposite direction to the rest of the market on average over a normal, long-term period.

Think of a hedge like holding an umbrella above your head every single day. You’ll stay drier than everyone else when it rains, but you’ll also block out on some of the sunshine (potential gains) when it doesn’t.

A safe haven, on the other hand, is an investment that generally moves in the opposite direction to the rest of the market only during sudden periods of extreme stress or crashes.

It’s like a storm shelter you only run to during a hurricane.

Where does gold fit?

In a 2016 research study, colleagues and I found gold had some of the qualities of a safe haven, particularly for share markets in Australia, the United States, Germany and France.

During the 2008 global financial crisis, gold was the most stable commodity among the precious metals we studied. Its price did drop, but it avoided the catastrophic losses seen in other precious metals.

It had similar safe haven qualities in 2011, when ratings agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P) downgraded the US’ AAA credit rating to AA+ for the first time in history and many global stock markets fell.

Importantly, those market shocks came out of the financial system itself (a banking system failure and a credit downgrade).

Today, the world faces something fundamentally different: a massive energy shock due to interrupted oil supplies and major damage to oil and gas facilities in the Middle East.

Why an oil shock is different

Traditional finance textbooks will tell you that when a war breaks out, inflation spikes or stock markets crash, investors typically engage in what’s called a “flight to quality” – fleeing riskier assets and moving their money somewhere seen to be safer (such as gold).

In a 2025 research paper, colleagues and I offer a more nuanced view. Crucially, we incorporated data from more recent periods of stock market turbulence, including the COVID pandemic, where gold’s safe haven properties were more muted.

We found gold is still a go-to choice for investors moving out of riskier investments. But it is not an untouchable storm shelter.

Instead of standing completely separate from the panic during a crisis, gold absorbs some of the volatility from both the stock market and energy markets, which can cause its price to fall.

Ripple effects

Why? For one, market chaos means some large investors may be forced to sell gold to cover other losses or meet financial obligations, such as margin calls (where a lender demands funds to cover the falling value of an asset).

For other large investors, the recent price rally may have created an opportunity to sell high and take profits, or rebalance their investment portfolios.

But there is also the fact gold does not have as much essential intrinsic value as something like oil. There is not much industrial demand for it compared to other commodities.

In a severe crisis, forced to chose between a commodity like oil and gold, what does global industry really need? Oil.

Rock, paper, gold

The different ways people are investing in gold is another important factor. Over several decades, gold has become increasingly “financialised”.

Now, it can be bought and sold with ease on “paper” via speculative, complex financial instruments called derivatives, or in increasingly popular exchange traded funds which track the price of gold.

With these funds, you aren’t buying gold itself. You’re buying an asset whose price is designed to track the price of gold in some way.

Today, a massive rise in speculative investment means that commodity prices depend on far more than real-world supply and demand.

Because global investors now hold gold derivatives and conventional stocks at the same time, the risk of exposure to common market shocks has drastically increased.

– ref. Gold is meant to be a ‘safe haven’ in uncertain times. Why is it crashing amid a war? – https://theconversation.com/gold-is-meant-to-be-a-safe-haven-in-uncertain-times-why-is-it-crashing-amid-a-war-279095

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/03/26/gold-is-meant-to-be-a-safe-haven-in-uncertain-times-why-is-it-crashing-amid-a-war-279095/

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katherine M. Robertson, PhD student, The University of Melbourne

Parks are vital public spaces. This is especially true if you’re a parent with energetic children, or an office worker searching for a peaceful lunch spot.

But parks are also ideal environments for infectious diseases to spread, particularly through critters who carry harmful pathogens. This is because, unlike other public spaces, they are designed to connect humans and nature.

There’s a long list of diseases that may be found in parks. They range from those caused by direct contact with infected animals to others spread by mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas. Some of these diseases cause only mild symptoms, while others can have severe or life-long consequences.

Our new study looks at how we interact with parks and green spaces, and how this may increase our exposure to disease.

The good news is, there are ways we can reduce this risk.

What’s the link between parks and disease?

If you regularly visit parks, our research suggests there are several factors that may increase your exposure to disease. Here are three.

Domestic pets

Our study shows domestic animals, such as cats and dogs, are a substantial disease threat. One reason is when they poo in parks and public gardens, they often contaminate soil and water sources.

Domestic pets may also carry roundworms, a long tube-shaped parasite that infects an animal’s intestines. Research suggests we often find more roundworms in parks where cats and dogs are present.

This is particularly dangerous for children under four. These young children often eat dirt, a common practice known as geophagy, which increases their risk of ingesting infected eggs that are commonly found in soil.

Food waste

Food-related waste, such as uncovered rubbish bins, are another source of disease risk. If not properly discarded, food waste can attract rodents and foxes. This can turn our beloved BBQ and picnic areas into potential disease hotspots.

Food waste may also attract other animals, such as dingoes, which we don’t usually find in cities and suburbs. These animals carry different pathogens and may expose parkgoers to new diseases.

Insects and parasites that carry disease

Mosquitoes and ticks are common disease vectors, or living organisms which carry disease from one infected person or animal to another. In parks and green spaces, mosquitoes are the main concern. This is because they often breed in stagnant water, such as shallow ponds and lakes.

The role of humans

Animals, insects, and parasites aren’t the only source of disease in parks. Humans spread pathogens too.

We do this through common, but potentially harmful, behaviours. These include not picking up our pet’s poo and not properly disposing of food waste.

Of particular concern is the practice of feeding birds. Bird feeding increases contact between humans and high numbers of birds. And scientists are worried this may have implications for public health.

This, alongside the fact it can negatively impact bird health, is why authorities generally discourage bird feeding.

So, what can we do?

Parks are vital for our physical and mental health because they allow us to spend more time in nature. So we shouldn’t just avoid them, even if they may harbour disease.

Instead, we should design parks with features that reduce infectious disease risk.

Fencing is one example. Putting fences around playgrounds can limit children’s exposure to ticks. Fences help prevent tick exposure by keeping animals, which often carry ticks, separate from children. We can also construct more off-leash dog areas to keep dogs from contaminating the soil with their poo or urine. And putting mulch or rubber, instead of sand, underneath playgrounds means cats are less likely to treat them as litter boxes.

We can also place predatory fish, such as the Australian smelt and Pacific blue-eye, in water bodies. This will help control mosquito populations, as the fish eat mosquito eggs and larvae before they can mature. Planting more native flora may also be beneficial, with research suggesting invasive plants encourage mosquitoes to breed more.

To address problematic human behaviour, public education is key. We need clear messaging around the importance of not feeding wildlife. We must also urge pet owners to clean up after their pets, and parents to discourage their kids from eating dirt.

Putting parks in perspective

It’s unlikely the next pandemic will come from your local park or community garden. But there’s still the chance you’ll be exposed to diseases through your everyday interactions in these spaces.

For centuries, humans have carefully designed urban spaces to help manage infectious disease risk. The construction of sewage networks in 19th century London is just one example.

So while our research is new, the idea of designing more disease-resistant cities is not. It’s time to apply it to the parks we all know and love.

– ref. Parks are sanctuaries but can also harbour disease – here’s how to protect yourself – https://theconversation.com/parks-are-sanctuaries-but-can-also-harbour-disease-heres-how-to-protect-yourself-276283

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/03/26/parks-are-sanctuaries-but-can-also-harbour-disease-heres-how-to-protect-yourself-276283/

ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on March 26, 2026.

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Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/03/26/er-report-a-roundup-of-significant-articles-on-eveningreport-nz-for-march-26-2026/

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Carolina Rossini, Professor of Practice and Director for Program, Public Interest Technology Initiative, UMass Amherst

The verdict in a Los Angeles courtroom on March 25, 2026, may become one of the most consequential legal challenges that Big Tech has ever faced.

This is an inflection point in the global debate over Big Tech liability: For the first time, an American jury had been asked to decide whether platform design itself can give rise to product liability – not because of what users post on them, but because of how they were built. The jury found that Meta and Google knew the design or operation of Instagram and YouTube was or was likely to be dangerous when used by a minor, and that the platforms failed to adequately warn of that danger.

As a technology policy and law scholar, I believe that the decision will likely generate a powerful domino effect in the United States and across jurisdictions worldwide.

The jury awarded the plaintiff US$3 million in damages and recommended to the court an additional $3 million in punitive damages. The jury split responsibility for the award between the companies: 70% from Meta and 30% from Google. A Meta spokesman stated that the company disagrees with the verdict and is evaluating its legal options.

Separately, a jury in New Mexico on March 24 found that Meta knowingly harmed children’s mental health and concealed what it knew about child sexual exploitation on its platforms.

The case

The plaintiff in the Los Angeles case is a 20-year-old California woman identified by her initials, K.G.M. She said she began using YouTube around age 6 and created an Instagram account at age 9. Her lawsuit and testimony alleged that the platforms’ design features, which include likes, algorithmic recommendation engines, infinite scroll, autoplay and deliberately unpredictable rewards, got her addicted. The suit alleges that her addiction fueled depression, anxiety, body dysmorphia – when someone see themselves as ugly or disfigured when they aren’t – and suicidal thoughts.

TikTok and Snapchat settled with K.G.M. before trial for undisclosed sums, leaving Meta and Google as the remaining defendants. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified before the jury on Feb. 18.

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The stakes extend far beyond one plaintiff. K.G.M.’s case is a bellwether trial, meaning the court chose it as a representative test case to help determine verdicts across all connected cases. Those cases involve approximately 1,600 plaintiffs, including more than 350 families and over 250 school districts. Their claims have been consolidated in a California Judicial Council Coordination Proceeding, No. 5255. This means potential awards could run into the billions of dollars.

The California proceeding shares legal teams and evidence pool, including internal Meta documents, with a federal multidistrict litigation that is scheduled to advance in court later this year, bringing together thousands of federal lawsuits.

Legal innovation: Design as defect

For decades, Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act shielded technology companies from liability for content that their users post. Whenever people sued over harms linked to social media, companies invoked Section 230, and the cases typically died early.

The K.G.M. litigation used a different legal strategy: negligence-based product liability. The plaintiff argued that the harm arises not from third-party content but from the platforms’ own engineering and design decisions, the “informational architecture” and features that shape users’ experience of content. Infinite scrolling, autoplay, notifications calibrated to heighten anxiety and variable-reward systems operate on the same behavioral principles as slot machines.

These are conscious product design choices. The plaintiff contended – and the jury agreed – that the platforms should be subject to the same safety obligations as any other manufactured product, thereby holding their makers accountable for negligence, strict liability or breach of warranty of fitness.

Judge Carolyn Kuhl of the California Superior Court agreed that these claims warranted a jury trial. In her Nov. 5, 2025, ruling denying Meta’s motion for summary judgment, she distinguished between features related to content publishing, which Section 230 might protect, and features like notification timing, engagement loops and the absence of meaningful parental controls, which it might not.

Here, Kuhl established that the conduct-versus-content distinction – treating algorithmic design choices as the company’s own conduct rather than as the protected publication of third-party speech – was a viable legal theory for a jury to evaluate. This fine-grained approach, evaluating each design feature individually and recognizing the increased complexities of technology products’ design, represents a potential road map for courts nationwide.

What the companies knew

The product liability theory depends partly on what companies knew about the risks of their designs. The 2021 leak of internal Meta documents, widely known as the “Facebook Papers,” revealed that the company’s own researchers had flagged concerns about Instagram’s effects on adolescent body image and mental health.

Internal communications disclosed in the K.G.M. proceedings have included exchanges among Meta employees comparing the platform’s effects to pushing drugs and gambling. Whether this internal awareness constitutes the kind of corporate knowledge that supports liability is a central factual question for the jury to decide.

There is a clear analogy to tobacco litigation. In the 1990s, plaintiffs succeeded against tobacco companies by proving they had concealed evidence about the addictive and deadly nature of their products. In K.G.M., the plaintiff here is making the same core argument: Where there is corporate knowledge, deliberate targeting and public denial, liability follows.

K.G.M.’s lead trial attorney, Mark Lanier, is the same lawyer who won multibillion-dollar verdicts in the Johnson & Johnson baby powder litigation, signaling the scale of accountability they are pursuing.

The science: Contested but consequential

The scientific evidence on social media and youth mental health is real but genuinely complex. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) does not classify social media use as an addictive disorder. Researchers like Amy Orben have found that large-scale studies show small average associations between social media use and reduced well-being.

Yet Orben herself has cautioned that these averages might mask severe harms experienced by a subset of vulnerable young users, particularly girls ages 12 to 15. The legal question under the negligence theory is not whether social media harms everyone equally, but whether platform designers had an obligation to account for foreseeable interactions between their design features and the vulnerabilities of developing minds, especially when internal evidence suggested they were aware of the risks.

First, a manufacturer has a duty to exercise reasonable care in designing its product, and that duty extends to harms that are reasonably foreseeable. Second, the plaintiff must show that the type of injury suffered was a foreseeable consequence of the design choice. The manufacturer doesn’t need to have foreseen the exact injury to the exact plaintiff, but the general category of harm must have been within the range of what a reasonable designer would anticipate.

This is why the Facebook Papers and internal Meta research are so legally significant in K.G.M.’s case: They go directly to establishing that the company’s own researchers identified the specific categories of harm – depression, body dysmorphia, compulsive use patterns among adolescent girls – that the plaintiff alleges she suffered. If the company’s own data flagged these risks and leadership continued on the same design trajectory, that would considerably strengthen the foreseeability element.

Why it matters

Even if the science is unsettled, the legal and policy landscape is shifting fast. In 2025 alone, 20 states in the U.S. enacted new laws governing children’s social media use. And this wave is not only in the U.S.; countries such as the U.K., Australia, Denmark, France and Brazil are also moving forward with specific legislation, including mandates banning social media for those under 16.

The K.G.M. trial represents something more fundamental: the proposition that algorithmic design decisions are product decisions, carrying real obligations of safety and accountability. If this verdict causes that framework to take hold, every platform will need to reconsider not just what content appears, but why and how it is delivered.

This is an updated version of an article originally published on March 6, 2026. It was updated to include the jury’s verdict.

– ref. Jury finds Instagram and YouTube addictive in lawsuit poised to reshape social media – platform design meets product liability – https://theconversation.com/jury-finds-instagram-and-youtube-addictive-in-lawsuit-poised-to-reshape-social-media-platform-design-meets-product-liability-277066

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/03/26/jury-finds-instagram-and-youtube-addictive-in-lawsuit-poised-to-reshape-social-media-platform-design-meets-product-liability-277066/

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James L. Flexner, Senior Lecturer in Historical Archaeology and Heritage, University of Sydney

The Mangareva Islands are about 1,600 kilometres southeast of Tahiti in French Polynesia. They get their name (which means “floating mountains”) from the way the sea spray breaking on the surrounding coral atolls, or motu, causes the ancient volcanic peaks to appear as if they are floating above the waves.

Today, the islands are home to about 2,000 people, many of whom work on the pearl farms in the idyllic turquoise lagoon. Dotted across the islands are the remains of dozens of remarkable pieces of architecture: homes built from coral.

As part of a larger project studying the transformations of everyday life in 19th-century Mangareva, my archaeology research team has documented dozens of these coral houses, including on the islands of Aukena, Akamaru, Mangareva and Taravai.

Now, in a new paper published in the journal Antiquity, we have established the first precise construction timeline for these coral houses.

The results reveal new patterns in how Pacific societies shaped their built environment after European contact – and how that colonial legacy continues to shape life today.

Colonisation changed community life in the Pacific

French Catholic missionaries set up an outpost in Mangareva starting in 1834.

In addition to learning the habits of prayer, attending religious services and reading the bible, Mangarevan people also changed their day-to-day lives. Among the many changes were a complete transformation of people’s domestic spaces.

Traditional buildings of wood and thatch were replaced within a few decades by a new kind of stone cottage.

The missionaries often recorded specific dates for their constructions, above all the cathedral in Rikitea, churches throughout the islands, and the main Catholic schools.

However, for the largest category of buildings from this time, houses, we usually don’t have any information about construction dates, who built them, and who lived there.

A precise dating method

During fieldwork in October 2024, I noticed that one of the coral blocks that had fallen from the wall of the ruined house we were excavating had branch corals that looked very fresh, almost like they were just cut from the living reef.

We used an advanced technique known as uranium-thorium (U-Th) dating to understand the age of these branch corals – and the structures built from them.

Unlike the more well-known radiocarbon dating, where the error ranges are measured in decades, U-Th dates are super precise, narrowing down the date when the corals died, leaving behind the hard exoskeleton, to within a few years.

Also unlike radiocarbon, which isn’t very reliable for materials less than about 400 years old, U-Th works right up until the present.

We took a “control” sample from a building with known dates, the 1850s boys’ school from Aukena, as well as samples from an additional eight houses, plus a coral watch tower.

We also sampled a branch coral from a pit layer in the same house where I first noticed the “fresh” looking branches from the coral blocks.

At the time, we were thinking that the pit held the remains of a feast held just before the house was built. Overlapping dates in our U-Th results confirmed this hypothesis.

Mysteries of ‘old coral’

After testing the samples, we were surprised to notice several dates that were older than expected.

Some of the corals apparently died before the 1830s when missionaries arrived. Some even pre-dated European contact in the 1790s.

A similar problem is known from radiocarbon dating, called the “old wood” problem where the date of the death of an organism might be centuries or even decades before the event an archaeologist is hoping to date. Did we have an “old corals” problem here?

There are two potential explanations.

An archaeologist visiting Mangareva in the 1930s noted piles of coral rubble he believed were the remains of marae, once sacred structures that were overthrown during the missionary period. This raised the possibility that this ancient coral was repurposed for new buildings.

Another possibility for this kind of coral, from the scientific genus Acropora, is that some branches die off away from the area of active growth on the reef over a period of years or decades but retain their “fresh” look.

This might be the more likely scenario, as our “too old” dates were years or decades, but not centuries, too early. But we also can’t completely rule out the marae theory.

We still have a lot to learn about how people used coral for buildings in the past, and possibly to learn about how coral reefs rebounded, or not, after decades of human exploitation. This last point could be important for thinking more carefully about our own relationships to coral reefs in the present.

– ref. ‘Coral houses’ are dotted throughout the Pacific. Now scientists know exactly when they were built – https://theconversation.com/coral-houses-are-dotted-throughout-the-pacific-now-scientists-know-exactly-when-they-were-built-278893

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/03/26/coral-houses-are-dotted-throughout-the-pacific-now-scientists-know-exactly-when-they-were-built-278893/

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kimberley Reis, Senior Lecturer, School of Engineering and Built Environment, Griffith University, Griffith University

Most of our food travels many thousands of kilometres across Australia to reach our kitchens. We are highly dependent on a vast web of long-haul trucks to move food between growers, massive food distribution hubs and large supermarkets.

Of course, trucks need fuel – and lots of it. As war in the Middle East leads to diesel price spikes in Australia, food prices will rise too. Already, the National Farmers’ Federation has said it expects food prices will rise “within weeks”.

And as the COVID pandemic showed – where supermarket shelves were emptied after widespread panic buying – it’s not just war that can reveal weaknesses in a system too heavily reliant on available diesel and long supply chains. These problems are also laid bare when natural disasters strike, roads are cut off and trucks can’t get food to supermarkets.

Meanwhile, Australia’s current strategy of releasing fuel reserves may only end up delaying food price hikes, as the war in the Middle East plays out in unknown ways.

This shock to our food system is not the first, and it won’t be the last.

Focusing on band-aid solutions that prop up the current system undermines our long-term capacities for resilience. We need a plan B for when plan A – the current system – isn’t working.

We need a place-based approach

A place-based approach to food systems asks the question: what could work for our own local (or regional) area?

This approach normalises access to locally or regionally grown food, and acknowledges that what works in one area might not work in another.

Access to shorter food supply chains can include things such as policies to promote:

• smaller, regional produce processing and distribution hubs
• local abattoirs
• local canneries
• cultivation and protection of regional food bowls, rather than building housing on them
• direct food sales from cooperatives
• promoting school and home gardens.

Allowing people to participate in the system – or even co-produce food – helps build community resilience to economic shocks and access food beyond just supermarket shelves.

This could include things such as:

• joining a community-supported agriculture group, in which a community of people pledge money to buy produce from a farm before it’s harvested and offers certainty to local farmers
• buying what you can from farmer’s cooperatives and markets
• participating in a community food garden
• buying locally grown produce online, which has become easier in the wake of the pandemic
• participating in fruit and veggie box collectives.

A place-based approach also means focusing on what’s in season in your region and acknowledging that this means you might not, for instance, be able to get mangoes in autumn in southern Victoria.

Having a back-up plan

Governments need to encourage people to have a contingency for tough times, when the long supply chain supermarket system is disrupted.

For communities, this can mean asking yourself what’s your plan if you can’t get food from the supermarket. It might mean taking time to work out where the local suppliers are, what food is in season in your area, and how you can support local farming co-operatives.

Being able to access food reliably from local and regional places is common sense; it means we don’t have all our eggs in one basket.

For businesses, a more strategic approach to local procurement – by preferencing the purchase of locally produced food – means your business can stay open when the food supply chain system is under pressure.

Governments need a plan to shorten food supply chains

Shorter food supply chains means ensuring people can get food within, for example, a 400-kilometre radius. Federal, state and local governments have a role to play in finding policies to support this. This can include promoting and supporting things such as:

• farm gate sales and shops
• pick-your-own produce on farm sites
• community, school and home gardens, and
• purchasing groups.

One example, which I was involved in, was a local farm co-run by students with the Mini Farm Project, on school grounds at Loganlea State High School in Queensland. The students farmed food, donated food to local charities, and learned about self-sufficiency.

Governments obviously have a range of competing priorities. But smart policy-making means embedding access to place-based food initiatives across multiple policy areas, such as climate change, education, urban development and community-building projects.

A system that can withstand shocks

Sudden shocks – such as war, pandemics and severe weather events – reveal the folly of having a food supply chain so absolutely reliant on the price of crude oil.

A major part of our vulnerability to these shocks is our unquestioned and ongoing dependence on government to come in and prop up the system.

The federal government recently announced it would undertake national assessment of Australia’s food supply chains, which will “focus on diesel supply chains, and will then expand to other critical agricultural inputs, including crop protection products and fertilisers”.

This is a start but it fails to solve the problems sustainably.

Place-based approaches to food systems offers opportunities to change the dynamics around how we relate to our food.

– ref. Time to buy local: war fuel price shocks reveal the folly of a long food supply chain – https://theconversation.com/time-to-buy-local-war-fuel-price-shocks-reveal-the-folly-of-a-long-food-supply-chain-278786

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/03/26/time-to-buy-local-war-fuel-price-shocks-reveal-the-folly-of-a-long-food-supply-chain-278786/

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Susan Baidawi, Associate professor, Monash University

Across Australia, there is growing concern about young people not offending independently but allegedly being recruited, coerced and manipulated by adults into committing crime. Recent examples include:

In Australia, data on child criminal exploitation remains absent.

However, it’s a problem governments across the globe are scrambling to find effective solutions to.

What is child criminal exploitation?

Child criminal exploitation has been defined as circumstances where a person or group takes advantage of a power imbalance to “coerce, control, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18 into any criminal activity”.

These adult perpetrators entice children – through drugs, money or social approval – to commit crimes.

At times threats or violence are used to force children’s compliance.

Criminal exploitation of girls more often occurs via a “boyfriend model”, where the offer of a normal romantic relationship disguises grooming, abuse and criminal exploitation.

Adults exploit children and young people primarily to shield themselves from prosecution. But secondary motivations include the desire for power and dominance, and expansion of networks for organised crime.

Why children are targeted

While child criminal exploitation can take many forms, the “county lines” model in the United Kingdom is among the most documented.

This involves urban drug networks recruiting children to transport and sell drugs and weapons in regional areas.

In other contexts, children are groomed or manipulated to steal cars, transport weapons, conduct burglaries, or act as lookouts.

While this type of exploitation is not new, social media and encrypted messaging apps such as Telegram have made it easier for adult exploiters to access children and shield themselves from prosecution.

Vulnerable children and young people are the highest-risk targets. Particularly at risk are those:

• estranged from family
• neglected or homeless
• excluded from school
• who have learning problems and other disabilities
• who live in residential out-of-home care.

Ultimately, it is adolescents’ developmental characteristics – including their greater need for peer approval, impulsivity and risk-taking – that make them vulnerable to manipulation by older, experienced offenders.

What are authorities doing?

The lack of an agreed legal definition means the true scope of this issue in Australia is unknown.

However, police briefings, media reports and government analysis raise growing concern about adults, particularly organised crime networks, recruiting children into serious offending.

This mirrors international patterns.

In the UK, police and safeguarding agencies have documented a steady rise in identified cases over the past decade, particularly in drug supply and serious violence.

Authorities across Europe have reported similar patterns.

Despite being victims under laws that criminalise adult exploiters, these children are still regarded as “offenders” under increasingly punitive youth justice laws across Australia.

How are countries responding?

The most developed research and responses have emerged in the UK, where this exploitation is formally recognised within policy and practice frameworks.

Multi-agency panels bring together police, social services, education and health professionals to identify and respond to children at risk.

Importantly, children identified as exploited may be treated as victims of modern slavery under the UK’s legal framework. This shifts the emphasis from punishment to protection.

In Europe, collaborative approaches – including a new eight-country group involving Sweden, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Norway – are using multinational taskforces to coordinate policing efforts to identify and disrupt child criminal exploitation activities.

However, there is limited research to help determine the impact of these initiatives.

What could Australia do better?

Australia has an opportunity to be more proactive before child criminal exploitation becomes further entrenched.

A crucial first step is to develop a clear national definition and data collection framework. Without consistent terminology and standard monitoring, the scale of the problem and the impact of any interventions will remain obscured.

Second, responses must be embedded within child protection processes, rather than positioned solely as crime prevention.

Third, multi-agency collaboration must be strengthened. Formal information-sharing protocols between police, schools, child protection and community organisations would support earlier intervention.

Fourth, programs that enhance school engagement, provide education and support to families, and mentoring for children, will reduce children’s vulnerability.

Finally, we need to prioritise accountability for exploiters. Enforcement should focus on disrupting exploitative adult networks rather than punishing children.

Some of these approaches are being implemented in Victoria through recent youth crime policies. These include:

• proposed community workshops
• a planned digital campaign to support parents and young people to recognise signs of grooming
• increased maximum penalties for adult exploiters.

However, a more coordinated national policy, practice and research strategy is needed for Australia to effectively address this trend.

The key question

Child criminal exploitation challenges the often-simplistic narratives about youth crime. It requires us to understand local experience in the context of international trends.

The question is not whether child criminal exploitation will emerge as a defining contemporary youth justice issue – it already is.

The question is whether we will respond early and coherently enough to protect Australian children and communities.

– ref. What can Australia do about reports of child criminal exploitation? – https://theconversation.com/what-can-australia-do-about-reports-of-child-criminal-exploitation-277093

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/03/26/what-can-australia-do-about-reports-of-child-criminal-exploitation-277093/

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rob Nicholls, Senior Research Associate in Media and Communications, University of Sydney

Social media platforms Instagram and YouTube have a design defect which means they are addictive, a jury in the United States has ruled.

The Los Angeles jury took nearly nine days to reach its verdict in the landmark case brought by a woman known as KGM against social media platforms. It awarded US$3 million (A$4.3 million) in damages, with Meta (owner of Instagram) being 70% responsible and Google (owner of YouTube) 30%. The jury later awarded a further US$3 million in punitive damages.

Both TikTok and Snap settled on confidential terms before the six-week trial commenced.

This is Meta’s second big loss in the US courts this week, with a New Mexico jury finding the company guilty on March 24 of concealing information about the risks of child sexual exploitation and the harmful effects of its platforms on children’s mental health.

KGM’s case is the first of its kind, but won’t be the last: it is one of more than 20 “bellwether” trials due to go to court soon. These are essentially test cases used to gauge juries’ reactions and set a legal precedent.

As such, the verdict is set to have far reaching ripple effects. It could be big tech’s big tobacco moment, with thousands more similar cases waiting in the wings.

Machines designed to addict

KGM – now 20 years old – said she began using YouTube at age six and Instagram at age nine, and allegedly developed compulsive use patterns, including up to 16 hours in a single day on Instagram. The platforms’ design features, she argued, contributed to her anxiety, depression, body dysmorphia, and suicidal ideation.

Her case argued that Meta and YouTube made deliberate design choices – for example, “infinite scroll” – to make their platforms more addictive to children in order to boost profits. It alleged the companies borrowed heavily from the behavioural and neurobiological techniques used by poker machines and exploited by the cigarette industry to maximise youth engagement and drive advertising revenue.

KGM’s lawyer Mark Lanier told the jurors:

These companies built machines designed to addict the brains of children, and they did it on purpose.

Lanier cited an internal Meta study called “Project Myst”. This allegedly found that children who had experienced “adverse effects” were most likely to get addicted to Instagram, and that parents were powerless to stop the addiction.

He said:

The moment [KGM] was locked into the machine, her mom was locked out.

The jury heard that Meta’s internal communications compared the platform’s effects to pushing drugs and gambling. The jury found this internal awareness was the kind of corporate knowledge that supports liability.

In addition, a YouTube memo reportedly described “viewer addiction” as a goal, and an Instagram employee wrote the company was staffed by “basically pushers”.

Mark Lanier drew a direct parallel to tobacco litigation, arguing that where there is corporate knowledge, deliberate targeting, and public denial, liability follows.

[embedded content]

Pointing the finger at the family

Meta argued KGM faced significant challenges before she ever used social media, and that the evidence did not support reducing a lifetime of hardship to a single factor.

Meta’s lawyer highlighted KGM’s family dynamics as responsible for her mental health struggles, and argued social media may have actually provided a healthy outlet for her when she faced difficulties at home.

Meta’s chief executive Mark Zuckerberg gave evidence for the defence:

I’m not trying to maximise the amount of time people spend every month.

On safety tools Meta added in recent years Zuckerberg said:

I always wish we could have gotten there sooner.

In closing arguments, YouTube’s lawyer argued there was not a single mention of an addiction to YouTube in KGM’s medical records.

The companies centred part of their defence on Section 230 protections, arguing they cannot be held liable for content posted on their platforms.

However, the judge instructed the jury that the way content is delivered is a separate consideration to what the content is. This limited Meta and Google’s ability to rely on Section 230 protections.

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Read more: What is Section 230? An expert on internet law and regulation explains the legislation that paved the way for Facebook, Google and Twitter

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Challenging a legal protection

This was one of the first cases against big tech which was a jury trial – something companies have previously been keen to avoid.

For example, in June 2024, a few months ahead of a scheduled jury trial in the Department of Justice’s challenge to Google’s advertising technology monopoly, Google paid more than US$2 million (A$2.8 million) to the Department of Justice.

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Read more: Google loses online ad monopoly case. But it’s just one of many antitrust battles against big tech

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This was treble the damages claimed, plus interest.

In the US, a jury trial is only required when monetary damages are at stake. By paying the full damages amount upfront in that case, Google eliminated the damages claim and with it, the right to a jury.

Until now, US courts have largely denied motions that focused on design.

This includes infinite scroll and notification systems. The distinction between “platform design” and “content curation” has been central to how courts have analysed First Amendment arguments in this litigation.

The effect of the jury’s verdict in KGM’s case is to demonstrate the limitations of the Section 230 protection.

The first – but not the last

This is the first big tech case, on a global basis, that has examined addiction as a cause of damage. Other cases have focused on breaches of law.

For example, in the case in New Mexico against Meta, the jury concluded the company made false or misleading statements and engaged in “unconscionable” trade practices that exploited children’s vulnerability and inexperience. It identified thousands of individual violations, resulting in a total penalty of US$375 million (A$539 million).

KGM’s case paves the way for the many other actions seeking damages from social media platforms for the effects of addiction.

There is logic for these cases to be heard concurrently in a class action in the US. The verdict could also be used as the basis for both class actions and individual actions on a global basis.

Meta and Google have said separately they plan to appeal the verdict.

– ref. Meta and Google just lost a landmark social media addiction case. A tech law expert explains the fallout – https://theconversation.com/meta-and-google-just-lost-a-landmark-social-media-addiction-case-a-tech-law-expert-explains-the-fallout-278409

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/03/26/meta-and-google-just-lost-a-landmark-social-media-addiction-case-a-tech-law-expert-explains-the-fallout-278409/

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amanda George, Assistant Professor (Psychology), University of Canberra

Deaths on Australian roads have increased every year since 2020. This is despite the Australian government’s commitment to Vision Zero – having zero deaths or serious injuries on our roads by 2050.

Unfortunately, 1,317 road deaths were recorded in 2025, a 1.9% increase from 2024. Land transport accidents also remain a leading cause of death for children and young adults, and the third leading cause of injury hospitalisations.

To bring these stats down, we need to look at the entire system of road use – including the parts that don’t get benchmarked but perhaps should.

The ‘safe system’ principle

Part of Vision Zero is a stronger commitment to the Safe System approach. This means all parts of the road transport system work together to keep us safe. These include road users, vehicles, road quality and design, planning and speed.

But what exactly are “good roads”, “good vehicles” or “good drivers”? For some parts of the system, there are clear answers.

Vehicle quality and safety is benchmarked via the Australian New Car Assessment Program, ANCAP. Road safety is benchmarked via the Australian Road Assessment Program, AusRAP.

However, there’s no clear mechanism to benchmark human performance as road users. Sure, if we drive or ride a motorcycle, we must demonstrate certain competencies to be granted a licence. But afterwards, we don’t receive objective feedback on our performance as road users.

Our own judgements aren’t good enough. Many of us suffer to some degree from illusory superiority, and we have the general tendency to assess our own competencies on a task as “above average”. In one US study, 673 out of 909 participants (74%) thought they were better-than-average drivers.

Logically, most of us can’t be better than average at driving. This is where an assessment program for road users could come into play.

Towards a road user assessment program

Recent research from the Australasian College of Road Safety examined the novel proposal of a road user assessment program.

They suggested benchmarking – having a standard they can be measured against – should be available for road users as part of a safe system approach, just as it is for vehicles and roads.

Through interviews with road-safety experts (including two of us) and a forum of road safety researchers, professionals and advocates, the authors of the report identified five areas for feedback to road users:

• the road user’s skills and knowledge
• pre-trip preparation
• risk management (such as road positioning, speed, distraction, hazard perception and compliance)
• self-maintenance and monitoring, and
• what happens after an incident (that is, how we learn from crashes or near misses).

Do we need a separate program for this?

As drivers, we do already receive feedback from multiple sources. And several active safety systems exist in modern cars. Some of them, such as lane-keeping assistance, actively manipulate what the car does while we drive.

Such technologies are known as advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). These can provide us with warnings on the road, or can automate some aspects of driving. Evidence shows ADAS can reduce the frequency of crashes. Moreover, autonomous emergency braking is now compulsory in new cars sold in Australia.

But many of us drive vehicles without these features. This strengthens the argument for a uniform and easy-to-use feedback mechanism available to all road users, to improve road safety.

However, such a benchmark would be complex to develop and put into place. Who would implement this system? Should modern technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), play a role? If the program was voluntary, how would we encourage people to take part?

For now, these big questions might seem insurmountable, but we have some recommendations.

So what might the program look like?

Guided by the five recommended areas for feedback to road users, we envision a benchmark program for typical car drivers could use advances in AI and telematics.

AI tools which can monitor driver behaviours already exist. Telematics uses information from sensors, GPS and other diagnostics, and can provide information on driving performance, such as speed and braking.

Indeed, the use of telematics is rapidly expanding in Australia for freight vehicles. While more data is needed to evaluate the impact of telematics on driving performance, the potential is there, especially in combination with other sources of feedback.

Using this data could allow for better trip preparation, also incorporating users’ driving history (such as driving skills, habits, knowledge and preferences), as well as traffic information and weather conditions. Telematics is achieved via a device placed in the driver’s vehicle. Perhaps a similar approach could be used here.

Noting the complexity in giving feedback to drivers, we also propose a shift from calling it a road user assessment to a road user “assistant” program. This would reflect that any such system is designed to support the road user. If feasible, it could be potentially adapted to other road users, such as cyclists and pedestrians.

The development of past benchmarking systems for roads and vehicles has increased safety on Australian roads. However, these only go so far.

The missing factor that will benefit from benchmarking is us as road users. Perhaps then we can get closer to the ambition of Vision Zero.

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Acknowledgements: The authors would like to acknowledge collaboration with Roderick Katz of the Australasian College of Road Safety.

– ref. More people are dying on Australian roads. This program could make drivers safer – https://theconversation.com/more-people-are-dying-on-australian-roads-this-program-could-make-drivers-safer-276970

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/03/26/more-people-are-dying-on-australian-roads-this-program-could-make-drivers-safer-276970/

COMMENTARY: By Kellie Tranter

The actions of the Trump administration and its AIPAC-Israeli donors have reached new levels of immorality, illegality and unprecedented venality.

It is almost universally accepted that the US-Israel attack on Iran had no justification under international law: it was simply a war of aggression and thus the commission of perhaps the most serious crime under international law, precisely what the UN was set up to prevent.

Then we have the conduct of the war by the US and Israel, each pursuing its own agenda but completely lacking any coherent strategy.

From day one of the attack they have committed war crime after war crime, most recently in bombing civilian targets and now civilian infrastructure. The current escalation flowing from the attack near an Iranian nuclear power plant and on Iran’s electrical power grid demonstrates this and demonstrates equally clearly Iran’s current strategic and tactical advantages.

While all this is happening the US Empire is declining rapidly and the rogue state of Israel is experiencing in its own territory a taste of the death, injury and destruction that inevitably follows any war, yet they still both continue to escalate and to widen the war.

Now it emerges in the US that analyses of market activity including especially oil trades demonstrate a very high probability of massive insider trading that can only come from within the Trump White House coterie.

For example, market reaction to Trump’s Monday Truth Social post about having discussions with the Iranians caused the S&P market cap to rise by about two trillion dollars; the later Iranian announcement there were no discussions caused it to drop by about one trillion dollars and those market movements were anticipated by traders who made trades, literally last minute, to the value of about $500 million.

There have been similar shenanigans with the trade in oil, that market being highly sensitive to information about the likely future course of the war. Trump insiders know when a new policy tweet will be issued and what it will say.

And incredibly, the Epstein cabal play these games with human lives without compunction while grasping for unearned riches.

Innocent civilians of all ages are being slaughtered, countries are being physically and financially decimated and the entire world is spiralling into a deepening energy vortex with inevitably disastrous consequences, all while the actually crucial diplomatic and military decisions with profound geopolitical consequences are made by ignorant, incompetent, amoral, avaricious zealots pursuing immediate self-interest at the expense of the future of their countries, of people all over the world and indeed of the entire globe.

Kellie Tranter is a lawyer, researcher, and human rights advocate. This commentary was first published on her X account where she tweets from @KellieTranter

Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/03/26/epstein-cabal-play-games-with-human-lives-in-iran-while-grasping-for-unearned-riches/

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Susan Smith, Honorary Professor of Geography, University of Cambridge

It is impossible to capture seven decades of formidable intellect, wrapped into some 14,000 books and articles, in less than a thousand words. Yet German philosopher Jürgen Habermas staked his career on the power of dialogue and deliberation, so it is worth chiming in.

Habermas, who died on March 14 at the age of 96, was among the greatest thinkers of our time. He was unshakeable in his conviction that people have minds of their own, can hope for a better future, and have the capability, collectively and democratically, to bring that future to life.

Born in Düsseldorf in 1929, he escaped conscription to the Wehrmacht by a whisker. His later realisation that, as a child, he had been enveloped by “a politically criminal system” propelled him into a lifelong scholarly, political and personal campaign to rescue democracy and restore the future.

It was an uphill struggle of breathtaking proportions. If the best was still to come, the journey towards enlightenment would require “nothing less than a comprehensive theory of modern society and its underlying dynamics”.

That was the scholarly project, and few 20th century theorists could tackle it. Habermas led the way with sweeping interdisciplinary reach: historical understanding, geographical imagination, sociological insight, grasp of legal theory, sustained engagement with ethics, aesthetics, psychology, epistemology, theology and more. Any one of these approaches would have moved the dial, but in Habermas they came together with a powerful political message.

Variously described as a socialist, democrat, internationalist, and above all humanitarian, his philosophy – practical, perhaps pragmatic – was his politics. Its centrepiece was the formation, functioning and fragility of a public sphere – Öffentlichkeit – mediating between states and civil societies, promising an alternative to the authoritarian, totalitarian regimes he eschewed.

Bookended by two landmark works, Habermas’s lifelong conviction was that the formation of public opinion through rational, reasoned conversation was vital for the conduct and survival of parliamentary democracy. Both works are cautionary tales concerned equally with the forces stifling deliberative democracy and with the conditions in which it might flourish.

The first, the Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere (1962) finds the scope for informed, inclusive, critical debate compromised by the intrusion of calculative, commercial and bureaucratic interests. Six decades later, A New Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere and Deliberative Politics (2022) takes on the algorithms driving social media. These, he argued – by accident, design or vested interests – fragment the public sphere, undermining the possibility for collective action against environmental change, excessive inequality and more.

Meanwhile, anchored on the two-volume Theory of Communicative Action (1981), Habermas mounted a sustained effort to make the public sphere work.

What scholar in the humanities and social sciences in the last half century is untouched by this project? My own reckoning, for example, was his prequel on Knowledge and Human Interests (1968). Once you realise that knowledge is not a thing to be discovered but a practice constituted by competing interests, there is no going back.

We were all critical theorists then, on a self-reflective pilgrimage to more rational, fairer futures. Habermas stayed with us every step of the way, not least because he did not confine himself to scholarly books and articles. His journalistic output and other public interventions were equally prodigious. Consider, for example, some 12 volumes of talks, speeches and commentary gathered in his Kleine Politische Schriften.

There is, it must be said, a well-developed feminist critique – and re-visioning – of Habermas’ core ideas. Those very public spaces in which deliberative democracy thrives (if it does) have traditionally been occupied by men, and are generally exclusionary in other ways. Not that such challenges fazed Habermas, who regularly exchanged views with a wide range of public intellectuals. These debates were how he expected the future to unfold.

Hope for the future

For Habermas, hope has not always triumphed over experience. Early in his career he underestimated how tame “conversation” might seem to his students. In the middle years, he probably oversold the potential of intellectuals to steer public debate.

More recently, a trend towards democratic decline and strengthening authoritarianism might suggest that he fell into a classic “democracy trap”. Was it futile to hope that the mandate for fully enfranchised populations to choose their governments through regular free and fair elections would spread?

Habermas was, in fact, acutely aware that the capacity for deliberative democracy can never be taken for granted. However, he never gave up on its promise. On this, he wrote actively to the end, sometimes controversially.

Not everyone liked his style: one obituary describes him as “brilliant, influential and stupefyingly tedious”. But the more telling view is that his work “has given us a vocabulary in which the promises of dignity, autonomy, and emancipation are kept alive and true”.

All in all, Habermas’ achievements are a valorisation of everything that populism is not. He held fast to his conviction that deep knowledge and cogent arguments can win the day, that even the smallest gesture towards a better world is worth the effort.

That is why a recent reviewer could describe his final three-volume project – Also a History of Philosophy – as “a work of willed optimism”. And it is why, in his last work, a collection of biographical conversations – Things Needed to Get Better – Habermas still pins his hopes on critical dialogue and reasoned debate.

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– ref. Jürgen Habermas: a philosopher whose hopes for a better future are more important than ever – https://theconversation.com/jurgen-habermas-a-philosopher-whose-hopes-for-a-better-future-are-more-important-than-ever-279020

Evening Report: https://eveningreport.nz/2026/03/26/jurgen-habermas-a-philosopher-whose-hopes-for-a-better-future-are-more-important-than-ever-279020/