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☆ 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

☆ Mars could be driving ‘giant whirlpools’ in the Earth’s deep oceans, new study finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Laura Paddison | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Mars may be around 140 million miles away from Earth, but the red planet is influencing our deep oceans by helping drive “giant whirlpools,” according to new research. The sediments revealed that deep-sea currents weakened and strengthened over 2.4 million-year climate cycles, according to the study published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications. For the Earth, this interaction with Mars translates to periods of increased solar energy — meaning a warmer climate — and these warmer cycles correlate with more vigorous ocean currents, the report found. The authors describe these currents, or eddies, as “giant whirlpools” that can reach the bottom of the deep ocean, eroding the seafloor and causing large accumulations of sediments, like snowdrifts. Deep-sea sediments build in continuous layers during calm conditions but strong ocean currents disrupt this, leaving a visible stamp of their existence.

Persons: Adriana Dutkiewicz, sedimentologist, ”, Dietmar Müller, Müller, “, ” Müller, Joel Hirschi Organizations: CNN, Nature Communications, University of Sydney, Atlantic, National Oceanography

☆ A daily step goal may cut disease and death risk in even otherwise sedentary people, study finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Kristen Rogers | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Ten thousand steps per day have long been known as the magic number needed to lower risk of disease and early death. What researchers didn’t know was whether the amount could have the same effect even for people who are sedentary most of the day. Get 10,000 steps a day to potentially counteract the impacts of being too sedentary, a new study suggests. You’re not supposed to be sitting at a computer for 12 hours a day and barely moving,” Freeman said. “Exercise is great for you, and it is truly the magic elixir that hits virtually every disease we take care of,” Freeman said.

Persons: ”, Matthew Ahmadi, Maskot, University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins, who’d, David Katz, Katz, Andrew Freeman, wasn’t, ” Freeman, Freeman, doesn’t, You’re, “, — Organizations: CNN’s, CNN, British, of Sports Medicine, University of Sydney’s, University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre, True Health Initiative, Jewish Health Locations: Australia, United Kingdom, Denver

☆ Australia Authorities Say More Sydney Sites Tainted With Asbestos
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian authorities on Saturday said asbestos had been discovered in more places in Sydney including housing estates as the New South Wales government continues a weeks-long scramble to remove the toxic material from mulch used in public spaces. Since then, in what is the biggest investigation by the state's Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) in decades, 32 city sites have returned positive results for bonded asbestos, the agency said in a statement on Saturday. The EPA said new sites where asbestos had been detected were a public school and park in the city's north, and two residential estates under construction in Sydney's south-west. The University of Sydney had also been identified as potentially tainted and would be tested this weekend, it said. The rate of positive results is around 10 percent," the EPA said.

Persons: Sam McKeith, Matthew Lewis Organizations: SYDNEY, New South, Environmental Protection Authority, EPA, University of Sydney, Authorities, Sydney Gay, Mardi Locations: Sydney, New South Wales, Sydney's

☆ Indonesia election: Over 200 million will head to the polls across vast nation in world’s biggest election day
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —More than 200 million eligible voters will head to the polls in Indonesia on Wednesday, in what is billed as the world’s biggest single-day election. Mascots depicting presidential candidate and Indonesia's Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto (L) and vice presidential candidate Gibran Rakabuming Raka (R) in an election event on February 5, 2024. He has strong links with Islamic political groups, and his vice-presidential pick, Muhaimin Iskandar, is the leader of Indonesia’s largest Muslim political party, the National Awakening Party. A presidential candidate needs a simple majority of at least 50% of total votes and 20% of votes in more than half of the country’s 38 provinces to win. The use and abuse of AIWith more than 210 million Internet users, Indonesia boasts one of the world’s largest digital populations.

Persons: Suharto’s, Prabowo Subianto, he’s, Suharto, ” Kenneth Roth, Ganjar, Mahfud, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Adek Berry, Anies Baswedan, Muhaimin Iskandar, Anies, –, Basuki Tjahaja, Joko Widodo, Jokowi, Prabowo, Gibran, Jokowi’s, ”, Adrian Vickers, Vickers, “, Yusof, Maria Monica Wihardja, ” Wihardja, Sayyidatiihayaa, Satya Bumi, ” Sayyidatiihayaa, Ulet Ifansasti Organizations: CNN, Human Rights Watch, Princeton University, Indonesian Democratic Party of, Indonesia's Defence, Getty, Former Jakarta, Islamic, National Awakening Party, University of Sydney, Prabowo, Lembaga, Transparency International, Indonesia Locations: Indonesia, United States, Central Java, Jakarta, Indonesia’s, AFP, Chinese, Indonesian, Ogan Ilir, South Sumatra, Nusantara, Borneo

☆ Dementia and sport: These rugby players represented their country in their 20s, by their 40s, they had early onset dementia
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Amy Woodyatt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +17 min

Popham’s wife, Mel, would have a conversation with her husband and an hour later he would have “no recollection,” he tells CNN Sport. Richard Boardman, the lawyer representing the claimants, told CNN Sport that this is causing an “existential threat” to the game. “As far as the brain is concerned, it doesn’t matter what sport is played,” Michael Grey, a neuroscientist at the University of East Anglia, told CNN Sport. Nowinski, a WWE wrestler turned neuroscientist, told CNN Sport that head injury protocols need to go beyond treating concussion. The paper, which looked at 412 Scottish former international male rugby players aged 30 and above and 1,236 members of the public who had been matched for age, sex and socioeconomic status, found that the rugby players’ risk of a dementia diagnosis over time was just over twice as high.

Persons: Alix Popham, Mel, ”, Popham, ” Popham, I’ve, Alix Popham of Wales, Pat Riordan of, Stu Forster, Lenny Woodard, Woodard, “, “ I’d, I’d, ” Woodard, Brook Joyner, Richard Boardman, ” Michael Grey, Chris Nowinski, Scott McIntyre, Nowinski, ” Ann McKee, ” Boardman, Roger Goodell, University of East Anglia Boardman, Grey, –, ” Steve Borthwick of, Alun Wyn Jones, Paul Harding, ” Grey, McKee, it’s, aren’t, we’re, shouldn’t, weren’t, ” Alix Popham Organizations: CNN, CNN Sport, rugby, Rugby, Alix Popham of Wales offloads, Pat Riordan of Canada, Wales, Getty, World Rugby, Rugby Football Union, RFU, Welsh Rugby Union, WRU, Springer, University of East, National Football League Players, Wrestling Entertainment, WWE, Washington Post, Boston University CTE Center, British Medical, Exercise, NFL, NFL.com, University of East Anglia, RBS, Nations, University of Glasgow, Boston University, University of Sydney, Scottish, ’, “ Rugby, England Rugby, Boston University’s CTE, CTE Locations: France, Wales, England, Canada, Nantes, Europe, University of East Anglia, American, Woodward, Boston

☆ Japan's Message for Donald Trump: Don't Cut a Deal With China
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +8 min

Trump, who reached a trade agreement with Beijing in 2019 that later expired, has not mentioned any potential deal with China during his campaign for the 2024 nomination. Two Japanese foreign ministry officials said they fear that Trump may be prepared to weaken U.S. support for nearby Taiwan in pursuit of a deal with China. A Trump aide told Reuters that no recent meetings have taken place between Trump and Japanese officials. "If he is going to cut a deal with China, Japan needs to try and get ahead of the curve and understand its potential role to support its interests in both the U.S. and in China," said Machida. Robert O'Brien, Trump's former national security adviser, also has connections with Japanese officials, two of the sources said.

Persons: John Geddie, Tim Kelly, Yoshifumi, America's, Donald Trump, Fumio Kishida, Joe Biden's, Trump, Xi, Kim Jong Un, they're, Ado Machida, Machida, Shinzo Abe, Aso, Japan's, Shigeo Yamada, Mike Pence, Jim Mattis, Mike Pompeo, Michael Green, Bill Hagerty, Yamada, Hagerty, Robert O'Brien, Trump's, O'Brien, Shigeru Kitamura, Biden, Tsuneo Watanabe, John Bolton, Watanabe, Yukiko Toyoda, Kaori Kaneko, Sakura Murakami, David Brunnstrom, Tim Reid, Ben Blanchard, Laurie Chen, Liz Lee, David Crawshaw Organizations: Trump, Republican, Group, North, Reuters, Fox News, U.S, Steel, Japan's Nippon Steel, U.S ., Liberal Democratic Party, . Studies, University of Sydney, Japan's U.S, Taiwan, Peace Foundation Locations: TOKYO, Japan, Asia, China, Beijing, Tokyo, Iowa, New Hampshire, U.S, Taiwan, Washington, Trump, Taipei

The order by the Hong Kong High Court also is not a remedy for the crisis of confidence haunting China’s financial markets. Markets in both Hong Kong and Shanghai fell Tuesday while share prices of property developers sank. State-owned Chinese banks and other domestic entities own most of the debt owed by Chinese property developers. David Goodman, director of the University of Sydney’s China Studies Center, said he thinks China’s property debt burdens are unlikely to precipitate a major financial crisis. “The fact of the matter is that the Chinese financial system is not as open or as marketized (as in the United States),” he said.

Persons: Brock Silvers, haven't, Silver, ”, Seng, David Goodman, —, Soo Organizations: Evergrande, Hong Kong High, Kaiyuan, ”, Sunac China Holdings, F Properties, Shanghai, Swiss Re Institute, Swiss, University of Sydney’s China Studies Center Locations: BANGKOK, Hong Kong, China, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, United States, U.S, Singapore

☆ Lolita style, explained: Why the Japanese-born, Victorian-inspired street style enchants women around the world
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Scottie Andrew | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Her youthful obsession realized in front of her, Ella was inspired to buy her first piece of Lolita fashion in 2015, from the popular Lolita e-tailer Angel Pretty. While Lolita style is named after Vladimir Nabokov’s eponymous teen in the controversial 1955 novel, the overlap ends there. Even 1950s-style American prom dresses, with their extravagant skirts and bodices, influence contemporary Lolita fashion, he said. The skirt's fullness, achieved through the use of a petticoat, is a key characteristic of Lolita fashion. Ella says her personal Lolita style is a blend of classic and sweet, with a healthy dose of prints and patterns.

Persons: Ella hadn’t, waltzed, ”, Ella, Lauren, Shelby Knowles, Pretty, ” —, She’s, it’s, Michelle Liu Carriger, Bianca, Kandace, Vladimir Nabokov’s, Masafumi, Monden, accessorized, Lolitas, Marie Antoinette, Brigitte Bardot, Jane Birkin, ” Monden, ” Liu Carriger, lacy Lolita, Kei, don’t, Liu Carriger, Nghi, Mary, Jane heels, substyles Organizations: CNN, American, UCLA’s School of Theater, Film, Television, University of Sydney, New, Asahi Shimbun, Pink House Locations: California’s Bay, Japan, America, San Francisco , California, US, Oakland , California, Australia, British, Otaru, Hokkaido, Tokyo, Lolitas, California

☆ A Simple Way to Save Premature Babies
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Roni Caryn Rabin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

Preterm babies are those born before 37 weeks of gestation. In preterm infants, delayed clamping leads to improved circulation, less need for blood transfusions and a lower incidence of serious complications, such as necrotizing enterocolitis, or inflammation of the digestive tract. Worldwide, some 13 million premature babies are born every year, and almost a million of them die within a month of birth. A low-cost, low-tech intervention like delayed cord clamping has the potential to save many lives. Many preterm babies in the United States are born by cesarean section and require resuscitation.

Persons: Anna Lene Seidler, “, Seidler, Anup Katheria, Katheria Organizations: American College of Obstetricians, University of Sydney, National Center for Health Statistics, Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women Locations: Australia, Britain, India, Iran, United States, San Diego

☆ Best ways to counter the harmful effects of sitting, according to research
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Sitting too much may send you to an early death, likely from chronic diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and more, according to research. “The question is, if you have a restorative or recharging sleep, is that better than sitting on the couch eating and watching TV? While the study found swapping sitting for sleep improved health, benefits were not equal, the authors said. More vigorous exercise is best, but standing, walking and even sleeping is better than just sitting, experts say. “Since most songs average at least 3 minutes, you can dance off the negative impact of too much sitting.

Persons: ”, Andrew Freeman, ” Freeman, Mark Hamer, ” Hamer, Emmanuel Stamatakis, Kobus, “, Jo Blodgett, James Leiper, ” Leiper, that’s, Dana Santas, ” Santas, Santas Organizations: CNN’s, CNN, BMI, Jewish Health, Institute of Sport, Health, University College London, University of Sydney, British Heart Foundation Locations: waistlines, Denver, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Spain, Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States

☆ The U.S. has a vested interest in continuing to support Israel but there's outrage, academic says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailThe U.S. has a vested interest in continuing to support Israel but there's outrage, academic saysEyal Mayroz, lecturer at the University of Sydney, discusses the United States' role in the Israel-Hamas war.

Persons: Eyal Mayroz Organizations: University of Sydney Locations: Israel, United States

☆ Australia-China: After seven years of strain, leader Albanese heads to Beijing
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Stakes are high for the four-day visit, which begins on Saturday and will see Albanese meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang and make stops in Beijing and Shanghai. Albanese’s trip also carries symbolic overtones, marking 50 years since the first official visit by an Australian leader to Communist China after the two countries established ties. James Bugg/Bloomberg/Getty ImagesUS relations loomAlbanese is heading to Beijing less than two weeks after he met with US President Joe Biden in Washington. As he aims to repair ties with China, Albanese will need to walk a line between these interests and China’s suspicions about the aims of these blocs, analysts say. “Beijing came to learn that the weaponization of trade did not force a close US ally to back down,” said Collinson.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Anthony Albanese, Albanese, Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Scott Morrison’s, Jingdong Yuan, ”, Cheng Lei, Yang Hengjun, Yang, ” Albanese, Elena Collinson, teeters, ” Collinson, James Bugg, Joe Biden, “ Albanese, Yuan, Xi, Biden, Collinson, “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, China’s Foreign Ministry, University of Sydney, Reuters, Huawei, Albanese’s Labor, Canberra, Albanese’s, University of Technology Sydney’s, China Relations Institute, Trans, Pacific, Bloomberg, Getty, Albanese, China, China - Asia Security, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Economic Cooperation, Australia Locations: Hong Kong, China, Beijing, Shanghai, Australia, Washington, Seoul, Communist China, Asia, Pacific, Darwin, Pacific Islands, South, University of Technology Sydney’s Australia, Europe, Yarra, Victoria, South China, United Kingdom, Japan, India, Sydney, Stockholm, San Fransisco

☆ Why China and Australia Are Reconciling. Sort of.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Damien Cave | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Since 2017, Australia has played David to China’s Goliath: rejecting Chinese pressure to adopt Huawei technology, calling out Chinese political interference, and demanding an inquiry into Covid-19’s origins, even as Beijing blocked Australian imports ranging from coal to wine. Now, with Australia’s prime minister, Anthony Albanese, landing in Beijing on Saturday for a three-day visit and a meeting with China’s leader, Xi Jinping, reconciliation is advancing — but with limits. Mr. Albanese’s trip represents a small step back to economic and diplomatic stability after a long march into distrust. China’s coercive tariffs are disappearing. “It won’t be easily erased because what came with it was a whole other set of assumptions and fears.”

Persons: David, China’s Goliath, Anthony Albanese, Xi Jinping, ”, James Curran Organizations: Huawei, University of Sydney Locations: Australia, Covid, Beijing

☆ Australian Voice referendum: Australians vote No in referendum that promised change but couldn't deliver
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

“It is as Australians together that we must take our country beyond this debate without forgetting why we had it in the first place. “This is a referendum we should never had had because it was built on a lie that Aboriginal people do not have a voice,” he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Yes campaigner Marilyn Trad told CNN that volunteers making calls to prospective voters had to break the news to some – this week – that there was indeed a referendum. The result means no constitutional change, but the referendum will have lasting consequences for the entire nation, according to experts. “So that power, to change, to modernize, to update the constitution has been put in the hands of the Australian people.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, ”, Warren Mundine, –, Martin Ollman, MC Hammer, John Farnham, “, Marilyn Trad, Kevin Argus, Argus, Mick Tsikas, Australia’s, Pat Dodson, ” “ We’ve, ” Maree Teesson, Teesson, Paula Gerber Organizations: Australia CNN —, Nations, Australian Electoral Commission, CNN, Sky News, SBS, Torres Straight Islanders, Torres Strait, ”, First Nations, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Constitutional, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, RMIT, House, National Press Club, Aboriginal, Matilda Center for Research, Mental Health, University of Sydney, Law, Monash University Locations: Brisbane, Australia, Canberra, Old

☆ Some of America's richest people are just not paying their taxes — and millionaires alone could owe up to $34 billion
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

New IRS data shows that some of America's highest earners are just not paying taxes. Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon requested data from the IRS on taxpayers who are not filing returns. Nearly 1,000 taxpayers making over $1 million aren't paying up and could owe billions. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe average American taxpayer pays $16,615 in income taxes annually — but for some of the wealthiest Americans, that number is zero. Nearly 1,000 taxpayers who make over $1 million annually didn't file taxes multiple times from 2015 to 2020, according to an IRS memo viewed by Insider.

Persons: Sen, Ron Wyden, —, they're, they've, Wyden, Danny Werfel, you'll Organizations: IRS, Service, Finance, Congressional Republicans, Treasury Department, Department of, Treasury, Harvard University, University of Sydney, Biden, Republican Locations: Oregon

Talks between Chevron and the workers' unions broke down last week without a deal, and the industrial action is scheduled to escalate to two weeks of 24-hour stoppages on Thursday. Chevron would have to demonstrate a sustained attempt to negotiate with unions for the tribunal to rule in its favour, he added. Strikes could actually demonstrate workers were so committed to bargaining that they were willing to stop work and forgo wages, she added. "Strike action is a legitimate form of action, workers have the right to do this," she said. Any party involved can contest a FWC ruling and seek judicial review, Charles Power, partner at law firm Holding Redlich said, although a court would not again hear the facts of the case.

Persons: Australia's, Steve Purvinas, Purvinas, Shell, Shae, McCrystal, Charles Power, Redlich, Lewis Jackson, Renju Jose, Alasdair Pal, Miral Organizations: Reuters, Chevron, Handout, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, CAN, Virgin Australia, Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers ’ Association, Virgin, Offshore Alliance, Shell, University of Sydney, Thomson Locations: Wheatstone, Western Australia, Federal, Shell, Woodside, Inpex, Sydney

A view of Chevron-operated Gorgon project on Barrow Island, Australia, as seen in this undated handout image obtained by Reuters on September 8, 2023. “Unfortunately, following numerous meetings and conciliation sessions with the Fair Work Commission, no agreement has been reached as the unions are asking for terms significantly above the market," a Chevron spokesperson said in a statement. "Until we have some case law, until we get some Fair Work Commission decisions on how the laws work, we don't know (how long the process will take)," said Shae McCrystal, a professor of labour law at the University of Sydney Law School. A subsidiary of airline Virgin Australia made the only other application under these laws in June, local media reported. No talks are scheduled between unions and Chevron, according to the FWC website.

Persons: Shae McCrystal, Roushni Nair, Lewis Jackson, Jamie Freed, Michael Perry Organizations: Reuters, Chevron, Handout, REUTERS, Fair, University of Sydney Law School, Virgin Australia, Offshore Alliance, Thomson Locations: Chevron, Barrow Island, Australia, Chevron Australia, Melbourne, U.S, Bengaluru, Sydney

The Osprey is an especially complex aircraft with a troubled history. With two rotor blades above extended wings, it takes off like a helicopter and can fly like a fixed-wing aircraft — which means that pilots need expertise in both. Last year, nine Marines were killed in two separate crashes. One Osprey aircraft crashed in June during a training mission near Glamis, Calif., killing five. Another crashed in a valley in Beiarn, Norway, killing all four on board.

Persons: Peter Dean, “, Dean Organizations: Marine Corps, Ospreys, Marines, Osprey, United States Studies, University of Sydney Locations: North Carolina, Glamis, Calif, Beiarn, Norway

☆ Australia closes dual-study visa loophole for foreign students
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Students walk past stalls during the orientation week at The University of Sydney, in Camperdown, Australia February 15, 2023. International students can undertake additional courses along with their core studies called the "concurrent study" rule, which is designed to help prepare them for the job market through short courses. But the government said recent investigations have identified that many were misusing this rule to ditch their university courses and permanently switch to cheaper courses. The government will also increase the amount of savings international students will need in order to get a student visa. From Oct. 1, foreign students will need to show evidence of A$24,505 ($15,693) in savings, up 17% increase on current levels, to take into account higher living expenses.

Persons: Stella Qiu, Jason Clare, Clare, Renju Jose, Michael Perry Organizations: The University of Sydney, REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Camperdown, Australia, Sydney

☆ After Thais Vote to Move Forward, the Old Guard Just Shifts Its Grip
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Sui-Lee Wee | More About Sui-Lee Wee | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

As the second-largest economy in Southeast Asia and an ally of the United States, Thailand was once a powerful player in the region. More recently it has suffered from a period of prolonged economic stagnation, brought about by nine years of military rule under Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the general who seized power in a coup in 2014. For the first time, disaffected young Thais questioned publicly the relevance of the country’s powerful monarchy, a topic previously considered taboo. Move Forward capitalized on this anti-royalist, anti-military sentiment, which became the bedrock of the party’s progressive platform. It announced more than 300 policy proposals, including shrinking the military budget and breaking up big business.

Persons: Prayuth Chan, Prayuth, Thais, “, It’s, ” Organizations: University of Sydney Locations: Southeast Asia, United States, Thailand, Australia

☆ Watch the last billion years of Earth's tectonic plate movement in just 40 seconds
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Aylin Woodward | Jenny Mcgrath | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

In 2021, geologists animated a video that shows how Earth's tectonic plates moved over the last billion years. But in 2021 a group of geologists offered up an easily digestible peek at 1 billion years of plate tectonic motion. Building a better model of Earth's platesThe Earth's plates move in a variety of ways and can cause earthquakes, mountains, and canyons. The top layer — between 5 and 50 miles thick — is the crust, which is fragmented into tectonic plates that fit together. The jigsaw puzzle of Earth's continents hasn't stopped shifting, of course.

Persons: Sabin Zahirovic, Pangea, Joshua Stevens, Dietmar Müller Organizations: Service, University of Sydney, U.S . Geological Survey, Geologists, NASA Locations: Antarctica, U.S, Sandwell, Africa, Europe

☆ Point of no return: Australians fight for the right to work from home permanently
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Byron Kaye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

You can actually finish work at five, rather than finishing at five spending 45 minutes trying to get home." When you have a jolt, you never return to the way the world was," said John Buchanan, head of the University of Sydney's Health and Work Research Network. That same week, the public sector union struck a deal the which lets Australia's 120,000 federal employees request work-from-home an unlimited number of days. By comparison, Canada's federal workers ended a two-week strike in May with a wages agreement that came without the WFH protections they wanted. Among employees with WFH experience, 19% wanted to return to the office full-time, the survey found.

Persons: David Gray, SYDNEY, Nicholas Coomber, Coomber, Jamie Dimon, Elon Musk, John Buchanan, We're, Jones Lang Lasalle, Melissa Donnelly, WFH, Mathias Dolls, Jim Stanford, Stanford, Byron Kaye, Miral Organizations: REUTERS, JPMorgan Chase, Twitter, University of Sydney's Health, Work Research, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, National Australia Bank, NAB, European Union, Community, Public Sector Union, CBA, ifo, Macroeconomics, Stanford University, Workers, Centre, Australia Institute, Thomson Locations: Melbourne, Southbank, Australia, New Zealand, Tokyo, New York, JLL.N, Hamburg

☆ How lifestyle exercise can lower your cancer risk, according to a new study
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Madeline Holcombe | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —As little as one or two minutes of vigorous exercise a day could lower your cancer risk, according to a new study. Participants reported not regularly exercising in their leisure time, and they wore accelerometers to track their VILPA, or vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity, the study said. Adults who incorporated about 4½ minutes of vigorous activity in short one- or two-minute bouts had more than 30% lower incidence rates of cancer, the study found. “The large majority of middle aged and older adults, more than 70-80% in most countries, are not regular exercisers in leisure time, or simply never do any exercise,” Stamatakis said via email. “Previous early-stage trials (showed) that VILPA leads to rapid improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness,” Stamatakis said in an email.

Persons: Emmanuel Stamatakis, “, ”, Stamatakis, Charles Perkins, Dana Santas, ” Stamatakis, Glenn Gaesser, Gaesser, Keith Diaz, Diaz, ” Gaesser, Santas, It’s, ’ ” Organizations: CNN’s, CNN, Charles, Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Columbia University Irving Medical Locations: Australia, New York City

☆ Quantum Tech Intended for National Security Is Testing U.S. Alliances
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Damien Cave | More About Damien Cave | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

According to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s critical technology tracker, China appears to be lagging more in quantum computers — which perform many calculations in one pass, making them faster than today’s digital computers that perform each calculation separately — while narrowing the gap in quantum sensing for navigation, mapping and detection. Chinese scientists have even said they are building a quantum-based radar to find stealth aircraft with a small electromagnetic storm, though quantum specialists outside China have questioned their claims. He and his start-up, with offices in Sydney, Los Angeles, Berlin and Oxford, are among a cutting-edge group of global quantum leaders who see hyperbole and statecraft in many Chinese quantum announcements and hope to capitalize on what technology-sharing partnerships like the AUKUS security agreement represent. “AUKUS, for us, is exceptionally important,” said Professor Biercuk, noting that Q-CTRL works on sensors and quantum computing. The company’s main software product, which “stabilizes the hardware against everything that goes wrong in the field,” Professor Biercuk said, is already being used by quantum developers in the United States, Canada and Europe, where precise sensor technology is also advancing.

Persons: Michael Biercuk, “ AUKUS, ”, Biercuk Organizations: Australian, University of Sydney Locations: China, American, Australia, Sydney , Los Angeles, Berlin, Oxford, United States, Canada, Europe

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