A new cold war is sweeping across Europe – with global repercussions
Joseph Camilleri

A new cold war is sweeping across Europe – with global repercussions

The last three and more years have seen the bloodiest war on European soil for the better part of 80 years.

IDF actions in Gaza directly contradict Jewish ethical tradition
Paul Komesaroff,  Jeremiah Kenner

IDF actions in Gaza directly contradict Jewish ethical tradition

The Israeli response to the Hamas attacks on 7 October 2023 has been massive and all-encompassing.

Thai Government in turmoil over embarrassing call – Asian Media Report
David Armstrong

Thai Government in turmoil over embarrassing call – Asian Media Report

In Asian media this week: Party quits Thailand’s governing coalition. Plus: Cambodia named a global cyberscam hub; Japanese PM empty-handed after Trump meeting; US tariff regime a critical test for ASEAN; New efforts to ease two-Koreas tensions; Indonesia revises history of anti-Chinese riots.


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Australia’s trade survival depends on beating Trump’s tariff contagion
James Curran

Australia’s trade survival depends on beating Trump’s tariff contagion

How does Canberra cope in a world that threatens to spin off into competing blocs and help shape a world that preserves multilateralism, even if the United States is not a constructive part of it?

News Corp’s China obsession: why beating the drum is easier than thinking
Fred Zhang

Anti-China Media Watch

News Corp’s China obsession: why beating the drum is easier than thinking

Introducing our new columnist Fred Zhang, who brings you his take on the way the Australian media reports and/or mis- and under- reports on China.

AUKUS submarines would be obsolete before Australia gets them
Paul Malone

AUKUS submarines would be obsolete before Australia gets them

Before the drawings have been completed, new detection technology has already made RN SSN AUKUS obsolete.

Beyond the rhetoric: Youth and anti-corruption efforts in Indonesia
Garry Rosario da Gama

Beyond the rhetoric: Youth and anti-corruption efforts in Indonesia

If Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo was known for his Nawacita (nine goals), his successor Prabowo Subianto is introducing Astacita — an approach centred on eight strategic agendas, one of which focuses on eliminating corruption.

Australia must turn promising refugee pilots into bold policy to meet the moment
Steph Cousins

Australia must turn promising refugee pilots into bold policy to meet the moment

Today, on World Refugee Day 2025, close to one in ten Australians is a refugee or descendant of someone displaced.

Centrifugal forces have been unleashed in Iran
Eugene Doyle

Centrifugal forces have been unleashed in Iran

The US-Israeli surprise attack on Iran is literally and figuratively designed to unleash centrifugal forces in the Islamic Republic.

What if the UN Charter fails? A world without rules is closer than we think
Meg Schwarz

What if the UN Charter fails? A world without rules is closer than we think

“We the peoples of the United Nations are determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind…” — Preamble to the UN Charter, 1945

Speaking out from within: Jewish voices confront Israeli aggression
Raghid Nahhas

Speaking out from within: Jewish voices confront Israeli aggression

As Israel's military campaign in Gaza reaches unprecedented levels of destruction, a global wave of protest has emerged.

Latest on Palestine and Israel

IDF actions in Gaza directly contradict Jewish ethical tradition
Paul Komesaroff,  Jeremiah Kenner

IDF actions in Gaza directly contradict Jewish ethical tradition

The Israeli response to the Hamas attacks on 7 October 2023 has been massive and all-encompassing.

Speaking out from within: Jewish voices confront Israeli aggression
Raghid Nahhas

Speaking out from within: Jewish voices confront Israeli aggression

As Israel's military campaign in Gaza reaches unprecedented levels of destruction, a global wave of protest has emerged.

Now is the time for humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza
Mara Kronenfeld

Now is the time for humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza

Israel recently launched a brutal new offensive in Gaza, followed by an expanded ground offensive, killing and injuring thousands of beleaguered Palestinians.

Stop Netanyahu before he gets us all killed
Jeffrey D. Sachs,  Sybil Fares

Stop Netanyahu before he gets us all killed

We could soon see several nuclear powers pitted against each other and dragging the world closer to nuclear annihilation.

Imposing meaningful sanctions against Israel is not difficult
Margaret Cassar

Imposing meaningful sanctions against Israel is not difficult

For decades, the Israeli Government has revealed itself impervious to pressure from international bodies like the United Nations and the International Criminal Court of Justice.

Why targeted measures on Israeli officials won’t stop the war in Gaza
Raghid Nahhas

Why targeted measures on Israeli officials won’t stop the war in Gaza

On 14 June 2025, five Western nations — Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Norway, and the United Kingdom — jointly imposed sanctions on two senior Israeli ministers: Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.

Australian society and the conflict for Palestine
Bob Bowker

Australian society and the conflict for Palestine

Australia’s symbolic actions on Palestine may not change the course of the conflict, but they matter deeply at home.

Sanctioning Ben-Gvir and Smotrich is but a tiny, sad step in ending the Gaza massacre
Gideon Levy

Sanctioning Ben-Gvir and Smotrich is but a tiny, sad step in ending the Gaza massacre

Alas and alack! Woe be unto us, for we have sinned: Five countries have imposed sanctions on Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. The war in Gaza will now stop immediately, and maybe the occupation, too, certainly the apartheid.


John Menadue's book on Israel's war against Gaza

Israel's war against Gaza

Media coverage of the war in Gaza since October 2023 has spread a series of lies propagated by Israel and the United States. This publication presents information, analysis, clarification, views and perspectives largely unavailable in mainstream media in Australia and elsewhere.

Download the PDF

Latest on China

News Corp’s China obsession: why beating the drum is easier than thinking
Fred Zhang

Anti-China Media Watch

News Corp’s China obsession: why beating the drum is easier than thinking

Introducing our new columnist Fred Zhang, who brings you his take on the way the Australian media reports and/or mis- and under- reports on China.

People of Pacific Rim say 'no' to US-China war
Bevan Ramsden

People of Pacific Rim say 'no' to US-China war

The Pacific and Pacific Rim countries have a geographical commonality. They are encircled by, or have a border with, the vast, blue, peaceful Pacific Ocean.

Australia’s defence and intelligence agencies are US outposts
Richard Broinowski

Australia’s defence and intelligence agencies are US outposts

More than ever, Australia should have the objective capacity to determine its own defence and intelligence requirements, instead of being heavily influenced by American interests and perspective.


John Menadue

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More from Pearls and Irritations


Latest letters to the editor

Climate hypocrisy

Amy Hiller — Kew

Oil Change International is right – with our vast coal and gas exports, Australia is a petro-state. Our hypocrisy in pretending to be a climate leader via a bid to host COP31 in 2026 is disappointing. But the bigger frustration is that we could be an electro-state, and we're squandering that opportunity because our leaders keep pandering to the fossil fuel lobby. Until environment ministers stop approving new coal and gas projects, our credibility with Pacific nations and other global climate leaders will remain weak.
Zionists are antisemites

Peter Hehir — Rozelle

A provocative title. But one with an undeniable truth at its core. Whilst almost all Zionists are Jews, the converse is most definitely not the case. Given the inhumane, racist and genocidal actions of the imposed Jewish settler state since 1948, being a Zionist isn't something about which an empathetic and decent human being can be proud. Indeed, the Zionists are quick to brand any critic of Israel’s actions as antisemitic. This ensures that the messenger is shot before the message is read. Such criticism is then immediately dismissed as antisemitism, inherently racist, and so of no value....
Clarifying Zionism

Alexander Donald — Cairns

The words from the Universities Australia definition of antisemitism: For most, but not all Jewish Australians, Zionism is a core part of their Jewish identity fail to acknowledge that many who define themselves as Zionist are horrified at what Israel has done to Palestinians. Instead, those words will be used to imply that they all support anything Netanyahu might decide to do. I have read many posts and articles by Jewish Australians that say they are Zionist because they support the existence of Israel, not because they support the slaughter of Palestinians. We should also remember the...
Progressive patriotism and vision

Wes Mason — Gisborne

Regardless of the efficacy of Albanese's stated positions at the NPC, I agree with John Menadue. But Patrick Gourley noted something in his article about the weasel words and waffle that has now become a staple of political oratory on both sides of politics. While Dutton's speech and delivery was completely boring and moribund, the PM's speech was laced with this rubbish. I'm sick of hearing politicians and others talk about actively responding or actively listening. Sorry, but what the hell does that mean? Is it assuring the targeted audience that they are not inertly listening or inactively doing...



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The bill gives terminally ill patients the right to end their lives, but the details have yet to be confirmed.