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Weeks after sticky black balls washed up on the famed beaches of Sydney, Australia, scientists say they have partly solved the mystery behind the “disgusting” blobs. Initially thought to be tar balls, the golf-ball-size debris turned out to be something much different — a combination of decomposed cooking oils, hair and food waste, the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority (EPA) said Wednesday. Balls collected for testing in a laboratory at the University of New South Wales in Sydney. They said preliminary test results indicated that the blobs were tar balls formed when oil comes into contact with debris and water. Sydney Water confirmed there were no issues at the Bondi or Malabar water facilities, while Transport for NSW Maritime reviewed recent weather patterns but found no clear answers, according to the statement.

Persons: “, Balls, Jonathan Beve, ”, William Alexander Donald, Donald, we’re, ” Donald Organizations: New South, New South Wales Environment Protection Authority, University of New, Authorities, University of New South Wales Sydney, NBC News, Sydney Water, Transport, NSW Maritime Locations: Sydney, Australia, New South Wales, University of New South Wales, Bondi, University of New South, Victoria, Malabar

☆ Mysterious black balls that washed up on Sydney beach were foul-smelling mini ‘fatbergs’
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-07 | by ( Lex Harvey | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The mystery of the black balls that washed up on some of Sydney’s most iconic beaches last month has now been solved – and it’s more disgusting than you could ever imagine. Australian beachgoers were turned away from seven beaches last month after lifeguards spotted thousands of black spheres, prompting closures and clean-up efforts. People visit Coogee Beach in Sydney, Australia after authorities closed it to the public on October 16, 2024, following the sighting of mysterious black balls on its shores. These Sydney fatbergs were no ordinary fatbergs, however. The blobs contained everything from fecal matter to medication and recreational drugs, the scientists wrote.

Persons: ”, Jon Beves, Saeed Khan, William Alexander Donald, ” Donald, 9news, Fatbergs, Sydney fatbergs Organizations: CNN, University of New, UNSW, New South, New South Wales Environment, Protection Authority, Sydney, Getty, EPA, “ Authorities Locations: University of New South Wales, New, New South Wales, Bondi, Coogee Beach, Sydney, Australia, AFP, Birmingham, “

☆ Australia announced a sweeping plan to forgive 20% of student debt
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-04 | by ( Hannah Abraham | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese said he would cut student debt by 20% next year. AdvertisementThe Australian government on Sunday announced a sweeping plan to forgive 20% of student debt for around 3 million Australians. The debt relief is designed to promote "intergenerational equity," Albanese told Australian Broadcasting Radio on Monday, according to Bloomberg. AdvertisementHowever, Biden's efforts to grant broad student loan relief have hit several stumbling blocks. Biden's Education Department is continuing to work on debt relief proposals; if finalized, the latest one would benefit 8 million borrowers facing hardship.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, —, Albanese, it's, Andrew Norton, Richard Holden, Ayelet Sheffey, Biden's, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris Organizations: Service, Sunday, Labor, Australian Broadcasting Radio, Bloomberg, Australian National University, University of New, ABC News, Biden's, Department Locations: University of New South Wales

The rise of online betting has led the commercial gambling industry to balloon worldwide, posing a significant threat to public health, according to a new report. The report, published Thursday, comes from a public health commission on gambling convened by the medical journal The Lancet. The report highlighted the role online gambling has played in the rising availability of commercial gambling as a whole. Belgium, the Netherlands and Ontario, for example, have varying restrictions on gambling advertising, including online gambling. A 2015 paper found that online gambling could lead to the emergence or aggravation of gambling problems.

Persons: “ We’re, ”, Louisa Degenhardt, Heather Wardle, “, FanDuel, Alan Feldman, Feldman, Wardle Organizations: University of New, D.C, American Gaming Association, Pew, University of Glasgow, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Gaming Institute, MGM, Council for Responsible Gaming Locations: University of New South Wales, Sydney, U.S, Washington, Scotland, Belgium, Netherlands, Ontario, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Massachusetts , Illinois, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Las

☆ Saudi sovereign wealth fund allocates $5.2 billion in green bonds project amid diversification push
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-11 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The PIF became the first sovereign wealth fund to issue a green bond back in October 2022. The mammoth sovereign wealth fund, which oversees $925 billion in assets, has a capital expenditure requirement of $19.4 billion for what it deems "eligible green projects," according to the PIF's annual report. Saudi Arabia has a stated goal of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2060 and has poured billions of dollars into what it says are sustainable development projects. It describes a water sustainability project planned for Neom that will develop "a fully-circular system to achieve water positivity" enabling "100% wastewater recapture and energy-neutral recycling." Neom Green Hydrogen — a joint venture between Neom and Saudi firms ACWA Power, Air Products — will be the world's largest green hydrogen plant and will operate "entirely on renewable energy," according to the report.

Persons: Prince Mohammed bin Salman's, Philip Oldfield Organizations: Saudi, Public Investment Fund, Renewable Energy, Green, Sustainable Water Management, United Nations Sustainable, University of New, ACWA Power, Air Products Locations: Saudi Arabia, Saudi, University of New South Wales, Neom

☆ Scientists discover hidden ancient forest on treeless island
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-27 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —No trees have grown on the windswept Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean for tens of thousands of years — just shrubs and other low-lying vegetation. “It’s very sort of windswept and barren.”The Falkland Islands are a British-ruled overseas territory over which Great Britain and Argentina fought a brief war in 1982. But the story of this hidden forest goes back even further in time than the researchers initially thought. “The Falkland Islands are currently covered by grasslands and lack native trees,” Donovan added. However, the islands are unlikely to see a return to a forest landscape anytime soon, Thomas said.

Persons: Zoë Thomas, “, ”, Thomas, Michael Donovan, wasn’t, ” Donovan, Haidee, Chris Turney, what’s, Donovan Organizations: CNN, UK’s University of Southampton, Britain, Falklands, Antarctic, University of Southampton, Chicago’s, Australia’s University of New, Southern Locations: Falkland Islands, Stanley, Falkland, British, Great Britain, Argentina, Australia’s University of New South Wales, Patagonia, Antarctica, Westerly, Islas, South America

☆ China and Russia are ramping up joint military drills. What’s their end goal?
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-17 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

China sent several warships and 15 aircraft to waters off Russia’s Far East coast for Ocean-2024, according to the Russian military. The latest Russia-China military drills fit a pattern of more than a decade of enhanced military coordination between the two countries, experts say. The joint drills also raise questions about whether the two nuclear-armed powers, which are not treaty allies, could act together in any potential future conflict. Russian military sailors attend the opening ceremony for a joint naval exercise in the South China Sea in July. But observers say that despite the growing coordination within joint drills, it’s unlikely there is a clear end goal past sending a strong signal – at least for now.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, Xi Jinping, Sergei Bobylev, Xi, ’, “ They’re, ”, Alexander Korolev, Washington’s, Carl Schuster, Korolev, it’s “, Elizabeth Wishnick, “, Russia –, James Char, Schuster Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Kremlin, Canadian, Putin, NATO, Sputnik, Reuters, Soviet, Center for Strategic, International Studies, CNN, Russian, CSIS, University of New, US Navy, Pacific Command’s Joint Intelligence Center, Russian Defense Ministry, Beijing, South China, Pacific Security Affairs Division, CNA, India, Nanyang Technological University’s Institute of Defense, Strategic Studies, China, Navy Locations: China, Hong Kong, United States, Moscow, Russia, Ukraine, East, Ocean, Russian, Japan, Alaska –, South China, Beijing, Washington, Taiwan, Soviet Union, Communist China, Alaska, Pacific, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Asia, Germany, Philippines, South, Iran, lockstep, Nanyang, Singapore

☆ To Lam Confirmed as Vietnam’s Top Leader Until at Least 2026
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-02 | by ( Damien Cave | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

President To Lam of Vietnam, best known for implementing a sweeping anticorruption drive, will become the country’s next Communist Party general secretary, the government’s Politburo announced on Saturday. General secretary is the top job in Vietnam’s political system of collective leadership, and Mr. Lam was named to the post temporarily in July, after the death of Nguyen Phu Trong, who had been general secretary since 2011. The appointment gives Mr. Lam the chance to consolidate his position within the party before it holds its congress in 2026 to select the country’s top leaders for the following five years. “He might be the starting horse in the race for 2026, but he has to go through a particular process,” said Carl Thayer, a Vietnam expert and emeritus professor of politics at the University of New South Wales, Canberra, Australia. He added: “There is a lot of space in there for people to oppose him.”

Persons: Lam, Nguyen Phu Trong, “, ”, Carl Thayer Organizations: Communist Party, government’s, University of New Locations: Vietnam, University of New South Wales, Canberra, Australia

☆ The US job market is fiercely competitive and student debt is a huge problem. I'm glad I left for Australia.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-21 | by ( Charissa Cheong | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

My parents, who still live in the US, always talked about how much we could save if I went to university in Australia. AdvertisementIn Australia, I've benefited from financial support from my parents and partner. I don't pay rent or utilities except for WiFi. I don't think my job outcome would have been as good if I were in the US. My parents plan on coming back to Australia when they retire, so I am very much looking forward to that.

Persons: —, Aolin Xu, I've, I, they're, Australia doesn't, Ernst & Young Organizations: Service, Business, University of New, UNSW, Australian, US, Ernst & Locations: Australia, Washington, Canada, America, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Bali, Malaysia, EY

☆ I left the US for Australia. Here are the differences I've spotted in the culture and job market.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-21 | by ( Charissa Cheong | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

AdvertisementIn Australia, I've benefited from financial support from my parents and partner. I don't pay rent or utilities except for WiFi. AdvertisementI also think that this culture has allowed me to feel less pressure to go out and I've performed better academically. I don't think my job outcome would have been as good if I were in the US. My parents plan on coming back to Australia when they retire, so I am very much looking forward to that.

☆ Ozempic reduces risk of serious illness and death in people with diabetes and kidney disease, study finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Deidre Mcphillips | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Diabetes is a key risk factor for kidney disease, which is one of the leading causes of death in the United States and worldwide; about 1 in 3 people with diabetes also has chronic kidney disease, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But new research shows that weekly injections of semaglutide cut the risk of severe outcomes from diabetic kidney disease by about 24%. The new study found even broader related benefits of semaglutide treatment among people with diabetic kidney disease. “Kidney disease attributed to diabetes, or diabetic kidney disease, is one of the most common and deadly complications of diabetes. Yet, unfortunately, there’s very low awareness around it,” said Dr. Katherine Tuttle, chair of the Diabetic Kidney Disease Collaborative for the American Society of Nephrology.

Persons: ”, Vlado Perkovic, “ Semaglutide, Martin Holst Lange, Katherine Tuttle, ” It’s, Tuttle, semaglutide, It’s, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, White, ” Tuttle Organizations: CNN, Diabetes, US Centers for Disease Control, New England, of Medicine, European Renal Association Congress, University of New, University of New South Wales Sydney, Novo Nordisk, American Society of Nephrology, Providence Inland Northwest Health, Health Sciences, University of Washington, CNN Health Locations: United States, University of New South, Danish, American

Katherine Moseby wanted to be clear: She does not hate cats. Very smart.”That was precisely the problem, said Dr. Moseby, the principal scientist and co-founder of Arid Recovery, a conservation nonprofit and wildlife reserve in South Australia. Cats are not native to Australia, but they have invaded nearly every corner of the country. But feral cats were absolutely out there, Dr. Moseby said, and they had a taste for the tiny, threatened marsupials that lived at Arid Recovery. Over the previous few nights, a “pest control contractor” — a robustly bearded sharpshooter equipped with an all-terrain vehicle and powerful spotlight — had been riding through the Arid Recovery reserve, shooting cats.

Persons: Katherine Moseby, Moseby, ”, — Organizations: University of New Locations: South Australia, Australia, University of New South Wales

☆ Toxic ‘forever’ chemicals found in excessive levels in global groundwater, study says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-08 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Potentially toxic chemicals called PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are found in surface and groundwaters around the world at levels much higher than many international regulators allow, a new study found. Groundwater can be contaminated by PFAS from food and consumer products added to landfills as well as from manufacturing facilities. Public concern led to a commitment by manufacturers in 2008 to phase out use of PFOA and PFOS, two of the most widely used chemicals. Generally PFAS concentrations are higher in urban areas or areas that used PFAS products extensively, O’Connell said, but it is also leached into the environment in ways that may not be obvious. “Another example is that PFAS used to be used in ski wax, so pristine environments, where people ski, have PFAS in their waters and soils,” he said.

Persons: Mario Tama, ”, David Andrews, Andrews, ” Andrews, “, Denis O’Connell, O’Connell, ” O’Connell Organizations: CNN, US Environmental Protection Agency, Health Canada, EPA, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, Medicine . Studies, Environmental, Agency, Toxic Substances, Disease, Nature, University of New, Geological Survey, NSF, National Sanitation Foundation Locations: Mount Everest, Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney

☆ Mars could be creating 'giant whirlpools' deep within our planet's oceans
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Mars may be 140 million miles away, but its gravitational pull could be impacting Earth's oceans. Scientists at the University of Sydney in Australia believe the red planet's tug is creating "giant whirlpools" in the oceans called eddies, which can shift the deep-sea floor. This, they claim, is part of a 2.4-million-year climate "grand cycle" on Earth that has been ongoing for at least 40 million years. The red planet's orbit and ours are locked in an intricate dance, and every so often, these line up so that Mars' gravitational pull on Earth is just a little more intense — this is called resonance. This information is crucial when refining models helping us see how our planet's intricate climate will progress over time.

Persons: Adriana Dutkiewicz, NASA's, Dietmar Müller, Malin, Matthew England, Benjamin Mills, wasn't, Mills Organizations: Service, University of Sydney, Business, NASA's Goddard Space, geosciences, Nature Communications, Mars NASA, JPL, Systems, University of New, New, University of Leeds Locations: Australia, Japan, New, University of New South Wales, Sydney

☆ AI experts are roasting the NYT list of 'who's who' in AI for having zero women
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The New York Times list of "who's who" in AI has been slammed for featuring zero women. "Godmother of AI" Fei-Fei Li criticized the list, writing, "It's not about me, but all of us in AI." AdvertisementThe New York Times' profile of "who's who" in AI, published Sunday, has drawn criticism for featuring zero women. "You literally erased all the heavy hitting women of AI and but included people who are more 'influencers,'" wrote Daneshjou. AdvertisementThe New York Times did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, sent outside regular business hours.

Persons: Fei, Fei Li, —, Kara Swisher, Li, It’s, recup, asha, Dane, Wale, ari, Hass, Hoff, lon Musk Organizations: New York Times, Service, ust, ctu, rit, emi Locations: usk

☆ Scientists said the ozone hole was recovering. That good news was premature, one study claims
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Angela Dewan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

But in a new study published Tuesday, some scientists claim it may not be recovering at all, and that the hole may even be expanding. In a paper, published by Nature Communications, they found that ozone levels have reduced by 26% since 2004 at the core of the hole in the Antarctic springtime. They used historical data to compare that behavior and changing ozone levels, and to measure signs of ozone recovery. “Altogether, our findings reveal the recent, large ozone holes may not be caused just by CFCs,” Kessenich said. “Those events have been shown to have strongly decreased the ozone hole size,” he said, “so including those events would probably have nullified any long-term negative trend.”

Persons: ”, Hannah Kessenich, didn’t, ” Kessenich, —, Martin Jucker Organizations: CNN, Nature Communications, University of Otago, University of New, Science Media Center Locations: UN, Montreal, New Zealand, El, Southern, University of New South Wales, Australia

☆ Here's the 6 personality traits you need to found a successful startup
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Researchers used AI to determine the personality traits of 21,000 startup founders. They found that the success of a startup is linked to the personality traits of its founder. Here are the six personality traits you need to be a successful founder. AdvertisementAdvertisementA startup founder's personality traits may have a major impact on their company's success, a study published in Nature suggests. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe researchers found that these core personality traits were dramatically different to the wider population, the report says.

Persons: —, Paul X, McCarthy, It's, " McCarthy, Melanie Perkins, Steve Jobs, Richard Branson, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Page, Sergey Brin, Horacio Villalobos Organizations: Service, Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford, University of Technology Sydney, University of Melbourne, University of New Locations: Nature, University of New South Wales, Sydney

☆ Australia will be home to the world's tallest timber tower
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Tara Subramaniam | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Western Australia may soon be home to the world’s tallest wooden building, after authorities in Perth green-lit plans for a 191.2-meter-tall (627-foot) “hybrid” tower constructed using mass timber. The developers say 42% of the proposed tower will be constructed from timber, with the columns and core made of reinforced concrete. If completed, the high-rise will surpass the world’s tallest timber-concrete hybrid building, the Ascent tower in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which stands at 25 stories or 86 meters (284 feet), according to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Like Atlassian, the proposed C6 tower will combine laminated timber beams with a steel exoskeleton to support the the structure. Video Ad Feedback A short history of the world's tallest buildings 04:24 - Source: CNNBeyond using timber, Grange’s plan also includes green features such as a rooftop garden, an urban farm and resident access to 80 new fully-electric Tesla Model 3s.

Persons: ” Grange, James Dibble, ” Dibble, Philip Oldfield, ” Oldfield, “, Oldfield, ” Organizations: CNN, Grange Development, Western, Tesla, University of New, University of New South Wales ’ School, Built Locations: Western Australia, Perth, Milwaukee , Wisconsin, South Perth, Sydney, Grange, “, University of New South

To get there, the country needs to rope in young scientists, startups, investors, and private industry partners, none of whom respond well to a closed-off approach, senior ISRO scientists said. Publicising ISRO scientists' achievements has given them more confidence and brought space startups to the door, asking for guidance as they plan private launches. A more responsive agency makes such partnerships more attractive, private space insiders say. "Private industry does not need help, they need predictability," said D S Govindrajan, president of Aniara Communications, which provides satellite services for emerging markets. Modi's government, heading for elections next year, is pushing the development of India's space industry.

Persons: Namrata Goswami, Narendra Modi, Sruthi Parupudi, Somanath, Govindrajan, Ashok Sharma, Somak Raychaudhury, Raychaudhury, Nivedita, Gerry Doyle Organizations: ISRO, Handout, REUTERS, Rights, Indian Space Research, YouTube, Thunderbird School of Global Management, Arizona State University, Aniara Communications, NASA, University of New, Australian Defence Force Academy, Indian, NewSpace India, Indian Space Association, Ashoka University, Thomson Locations: India, Indian, Ahmedabad, U.S, China, University of New South Wales, Canberra, Bengaluru

☆ Why all signs point to an Australian summer of heat and fire
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( Laura Paddison | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

On top of El Niño, there’s another climate fluctuation in the mix that amps up the likelihood of heat and drought. A fire rages in Bobin, 350 km north of Sydney, on November 9, 2019, during Australia's catastrophic Black Summer fire season. A combination of extreme heat and wind would likely fuel very intense fires “that will seem to come from nowhere,” he added. Whether summer heat will be unprecedented remains uncertain. “Increasing extreme heat is the clearest example,”he said, but it’s worsening the impacts of drought and extreme rain too.

Persons: CNN — It’s, El, ”, David Bowman, Steve Christo, ” Bowman, Karl Braganza, “, –, Peter Parks, Robb Webb, rainier, ” Braganza, Andrea Taschetto, Jason Evans Organizations: CNN, Sydney Marathon, University of Tasmania, Sydney, Getty, Australia’s, Meteorology, El, National Council, University of New Locations: Australia, New South Wales, AFP, Bobin, Sydney, Sydney’s, University of New South Wales

☆ Analysis: China may not fear a closer Russia and North Korea like the West
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

“China is too important for both North Korea and Russia, so for them it would be foolish to do something behind China’s back that it wouldn’t like,” he said. Shen Hong/Xinhua/Getty ImagesBalance of powerChina, which supported communist North Korea in the Korean War some 70 years ago, has maintained a complicated relationship with its rogue neighbor. “China would support a more capable North Korea in many respects – economically, militarily – and a North Korea that continues to serve as a troublemaker for the US,” said Li. “When you have a more assertive North Korea it will lead to some sort of incentive for the US and South Korea to seek China’s cooperation in terms of dealing with North Korea,” he said. But despite the potential gains, experts also say China is not immune to the risks that can come from a stronger Russia or a stronger North Korea.

Persons: Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong, ”, Alexander Korolev, China’s, Putin, Kim, what’s, Li Mingjiang, Xi Jinping, Shen Hong, it’s, Li, ” Yun Sun, Leif, Eric Easley Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Relations, University of New, North, Vostochny, Foreign Ministry, Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, “, Korean, Getty, United, US, China Program, Stimson, NATO, Ewha University Locations: China, Hong Kong, Russian, South Korea, Japan, Ukraine, United States, Europe, Moscow, Pyongyang, Russia, North Korea, Beijing, University of New South Wales, Australia, Ukraine –, Xi, Xinhua, United Nations, Korea, Washington, Sun, US, —, “ Beijing, Seoul, “

☆ AI Scams, Spam, Hacking, Are Ruining the Internet
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Shubham Agarwal | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

A report from Europol expects a mind-blowing 90% of internet content to be AI-generated in a few years. A report from Europol, the European Union's law-enforcement agency, expects a mind-blowing 90% of internet content to be AI-generated in a few years. And while AI bots have telltale signs now, experts indicate that they will soon get better at mimicking humans and evading the detection systems developed by Menczer and social networks. While misinformation has long been a problem with the internet, AI is going to blow our old problems out of the water. But security researchers have discovered that the AI bots in your apps and devices might steal sensitive information for the hackers.

Persons: HBO Max, haven't, ChatGPT, Christian Selig, Reddit, Martijn Pieters, He'd, NewsGuard, Gordon Crovitz, NewsGuard's, Filippo Menczer, NewsGuard's Crovitz, Christopher Cowell, Cowell, John Licato, Bing, Florian Tramèr, Toby Walsh, Walsh, Shubham Agarwal Organizations: HBO, Europol, Market, Indiana University's Observatory, Social Media, Facebook, Microsoft, Google, University of South, ETH Zürich, University of New, University of Oxford, Wired, Company Locations: Cambridge, Europol, Portland , Oregon, Etsy, University of South Florida, University of New South Wales, Ahmedabad, India

☆ In Israel, High Stakes for High Court: Democracy’s Fate
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-30 | by ( Emily Bazelon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

When the Israeli Supreme Court announced Wednesday that it would review a new law designed to curb its power, it set up a complicated choice for itself. Over the last few decades, attempts to weaken the courts around the world have become recurring signals that a democracy is in trouble. It’s more like a flashing red light, and how the judiciary responds can begin to decide how much damage is done. “What helps determine whether courts come back from the brink?” said Rosalind Dixon, a law professor at the University of New South Wales in Australia. “The mix of skills and strategic behavior of the court, and the degree of support it has from civil society and institutions and elites.”

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu’s, ”, Rosalind Dixon Organizations: Supreme, University of New Locations: Russia, Turkey, Venezuela, University of New South Wales, Australia

☆ Putin expected to meet Xi and Modi at SCO Summit following Wagner insurrection
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —All eyes will be on Vladimir Putin this week, with the Russian president expected to make his first appearance on the world stage since the Wagner insurrection threatened his steel grip on power. In the brief, chaotic insurrection, Wagner – a private mercenary group led by warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin – took control of key military facilities in two Russian cities. Participants of the 22nd meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) leaders' summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on September 16, 2022. By contrast, Putin managed to end the Wagner insurrection before it reached the capital, without bloodshed. Modi made headlines at last year’s in-person SCO summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, when he told Putin that now is not the time for war, appearing to directly rebuff the invasion.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Wagner, Putin, Wagner –, Yevgeny Prigozhin –, Prigozhin, Xi, India’s Narendra Modi –, –, they’re, ”, Derek Grossman, Grossman, ” Grossman, Murat Kula, “, Yasuhiro Matsuda, Matsuda, ” Matsuda, “ Xi Jinping, Alexander Korolev, That’s, won’t, Korolev, India’s Modi, Modi, Joe Biden, RAND’s Grossman, India’s Organizations: CNN, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, SCO, Kremlin, RAND Corporation, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Russia, NATO, Chinese Foreign Ministry, Institute for Advanced Studies, University of Tokyo, “ Russia, China –, Kazakhstan, University of New Locations: Russian, Beijing, Moscow, Belarus, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, US, Russia, China, Samarkand, Central Asia, Iran, Ukraine, Europe, Asia, University of New South Wales, Australia, India, Washington, Indian, Goa, Delhi

☆ Australia ushers in a new era of psychedelic medicine
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Australia may be the first country to regulate the therapeutic use of MDMA and psilocybin, but it isn’t alone in ushering in a new era of psychedelic medicine. In October 2022, Alberta became the first jurisdiction in Canada to regulate the use of psychedelic drugs. Combining psychotherapy with psychedelic drugs is thought to be necessary for a beneficial outcome. He said that psychedelic drugs resulted in “powerful altered states of consciousness that can be intensely therapeutic, but also intensely destabilizing. “If you have a regulated, insured, safe context, and a good psychotherapeutic relationship, and yes, there’s the potential for great benefit there.”However, Rucker stressed that psychedelic drugs were not “a chemical switch to make everything seem fine.

Persons: ”, haven’t, Colleen Loo, Loo, “, Cole Burston, Celia Morgan, Morgan, James Rucker, “ You’re, ” Morgan, ” Rucker, prescriber, Rucker Organizations: CNN, Goods Administration, US Food and Drug Administration, University of New, Black Dog Institute, The Royal, New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, Oregon Health Authority, Getty, University of Exeter, The New England, of Medicine, of Psychiatry, Neuroscience, King’s College London, Therapeutic Goods Locations: Australia, University of New South Wales, Sydney, RANZCP, Alberta, Canada, AFP, United Kingdom, The, psychopharmacology

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