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Insights & Views

Fri, Dec 19, 2025 09:33 AM All times are UTC

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Why do plastic containers always come out wet from the dishwasher? Science has the answer

| Insights & Views

Its annoying to open your dishwasher after the cycle is finished only to find half of the dishes still wet. Instead of being able to stack them away, you end up with a full drying rack. And youve probably noticed its...

NZ has no dedicated database to track losses from weather disasters – without it, we’re planning in the dark

| Insights & Views

Following the Trump administrations abrupt cuts to USAID funding last month, the online international disaster database EM-DAT (normally funded by USAID) went dark for a week. EM-DAT collates data on the occurrence and...

‘I felt like I was the one in trouble.’ Collecting evidence after sexual assault can be scary for children – and the system needs to improve

| Insights & Views

The 72 hours after the sexual assault of a child can be a crucial window for police to collect biological evidence and document signs of bruising or injury. But this procedure known as a forensic medical examination can...

After a century of Monday to Friday, could the 4-day week finally be coming to Australia?

| Insights & Views

The reality of shorter working hours could be one step closer for many Australians, pending the outcome of the federal election. The Greens, who could control crucial cross bench votes in a hung parliament, have announced...

Here’s what’s different about Slinda, the single-hormone contraceptive just added to the PBS

| Insights & Views

From May 1, the oral contraceptive Slinda (drospirerone) will be listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). This means the price will drop for the more than 100,000 Australian women who currently use it from...

The next round in the US trade war has the potential to be more damaging for Australia

| Insights & Views

On April 2 the United States is set to implement a new wave of tariffs under its Fair and Reciprocal Trade Plan. Details of the plan that will impact all US trading partners are not yet known, but the US administration has...

Americans can’t stop Aussie kickers on college football fields – so they’re trying in court

| Insights & Views

The National Rugby League has recently made headlines for trying to crack the American sporting landscape by hosting matches in Las Vegas. But the NRLs great rival, the Australian Football League (AFL), has been the...

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Economy

Oil Prices Steady in Asia but Headed for Weekly Loss on Supply Glut Concerns

Oil prices were mostly steady during Asian trading on Friday, but both major benchmarks were still on track to record a second consecutive weekly decline as persistent concerns over a global supply glut continued to...

New Zealand Business Confidence Hits 30-Year High as Economic Outlook Improves

New Zealands business confidence surged sharply in December, reaching its highest level in three decades, according to the latest ANZ Bank Business Outlook survey released on Friday. The data highlights growing optimism...

BOJ Poised for Historic Rate Hike as Japan Signals Shift Toward Monetary Normalization

The Bank of Japan (BOJ) is widely expected to raise interest rates to a three-decade high, marking another milestone in its gradual exit from ultra-loose monetary policy. At the conclusion of its two-day meeting on Friday,...

Austan Goolsbee Signals Potential for More Fed Rate Cuts as Inflation Shows Improvement

Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago President Austan Goolsbee said Thursday that recent inflation data has been encouraging, raising the possibility of additional interest rate cuts next year if current trends continue....

Japan Inflation Holds Firm in November as BOJ Nears Key Rate Hike Decision

Japans consumer price inflation remained largely steady in November, reinforcing expectations that the Bank of Japan (BOJ) will proceed with a long-anticipated interest rate hike as it seeks to control persistent price...

Politics

Trump Administration Reviews Nvidia H200 Chip Sales to China, Marking Major Shift in U.S. AI Export Policy

The U.S. government under President Donald Trump has launched a formal review that could pave the way for the first-ever shipments of Nvidias H200 artificial intelligence chips to China, according to multiple sources...

Trump Signs Order to Ease Federal Marijuana Rules, Signaling Major Policy Shift

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing federal agencies to loosen regulations on marijuana, a move that could mark one of the most significant changes in U.S. cannabis policy in decades. The...

Fernando Haddad Confirms He Will Not Run for Office in 2025, Signals Possible Exit as Brazil’s Finance Minister

Brazilian Finance Minister Fernando Haddad confirmed on Thursday that he will not run for public office next year, putting an end to months of speculation surrounding his political future. Speaking at a press conference,...

Trump Administration Proposes Sweeping Limits on Gender-Affirming Care for Children

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has moved to significantly restrict childrens access to gender-affirming care, marking one of the most far-reaching actions yet by the Trump administration...

Trump Expands U.S. Travel Ban to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Sparking Economic Fears in the Caribbean

Washingtons decision to expand U.S. travel restrictions to include Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica is raising serious concerns across the Caribbean, where access to the United States plays a vital role in tourism,...

Science

Jared Isaacman Confirmed as NASA Administrator, Becomes 15th Leader of U.S. Space Agency

The U.S. Senate has officially confirmed billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman as the new NASA administrator, making him the 15th leader in the agencys history. The confirmation, which took place on Wednesday, marks...

Senate Sets December 8 Vote on Trump’s NASA Nominee Jared Isaacman

The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee announced it will vote on December 8 on President Donald Trumps renewed nomination of private astronaut and tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman to lead NASA. Isaacman, known for his...

NASA Cuts Boeing Starliner Missions as SpaceX Pulls Ahead

NASA has significantly scaled back Boeings Starliner program after years of technical issues and delays, announcing that the next Starliner mission to the International Space Station (ISS) will fly without astronauts. The...

Blue Origin’s New Glenn Achieves Breakthrough Success With First NASA Mission

Blue Origins massive New Glenn rocket marked a major milestone as it completed its first mission for paying customers, sending two NASA satellites toward Mars and successfully landing its reusable booster at sea. The...

Cogent Biosciences Soars 120% on Breakthrough Phase 3 Results for Bezuclastinib in GIST Treatment

Cogent Biosciences (NASDAQ: COGT) shares skyrocketed over 120% after the biotech company announced groundbreaking results from its Phase 3 PEAK trial evaluating bezuclastinib in combination with sunitinib for patients with...

Technology

TikTok U.S. Deal Advances as ByteDance Signs Binding Joint Venture Agreement

TikTok has taken a major step toward securing its future in the United States after its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, announced it has signed binding agreements with three major investors to form a new joint venture...

Oracle Stock Surges After Hours on TikTok Deal Optimism and OpenAI Fundraising Buzz

Oracle Corporation (NYSE: ORCL) shares surged sharply in extended trading on Thursday, reflecting renewed investor optimism fueled by reports of a potential U.S. TikTok transaction and fresh fundraising discussions...

Apple Opens iPhone to Alternative App Stores in Japan Under New Competition Law

Apple has announced a major shift in its App Store policies in Japan, opening iPhones and other Apple devices to alternative app stores in order to comply with new competition laws aimed at reshaping the countrys...

Micron Technology Forecasts Surge in Revenue and Earnings on AI-Driven Memory Demand

Micron Technology delivered record first-quarter results and issued a bullish forecast for the current quarter, driven by rising memory prices and strong demand linked to artificial intelligence workloads. The upbeat...

Oracle Stock Slides After Blue Owl Exit Report, Company Says Michigan Data Center Talks Remain on Track

Oracle shares fell more than 4% on Wednesday after a Financial Times report claimed that Blue Owl Capital, Oracles largest U.S. data center partner, decided not to support a planned $10 billion data center project in...