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As we review 2025, the temptation is to look for neat summaries and settled conclusions.

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I am 25 – wars shaped my consciousness and memory
Refaat Ibrahim

I am 25 – wars shaped my consciousness and memory

From childhood to adulthood, Refaat Ibrahim recounts a life marked by repeated war, displacement and loss – a personal testimony of a generation growing up under siege in Gaza.

The meltdown of the Trump presidency: his oath was a betrayal - part one
Mark S Pirie,  Christopher Tang

The meltdown of the Trump presidency: his oath was a betrayal - part one

A Supreme Court ruling, an unauthorised war and open defiance of legal limits point to a presidency no longer constrained by institutions – but defined by them being ignored.

The anti-Zionism of Sir Isaac Isaacs
Derek McDougall

The anti-Zionism of Sir Isaac Isaacs

Sir Isaac Isaacs warned in the 1940s that Zionism risked deep and lasting conflict. Decades on, those arguments about justice and prudence remain sharply relevant.

Australia’s six pathways to the war with Iran: Part 1
Richard Tanter

Australia’s six pathways to the war with Iran: Part 1

Australia is already deeply involved in the US–Israel war on Iran, through intelligence, military deployments and long-standing strategic commitments.

Another High Court rebuke on immigration laws – and a warning on rushed policymaking
Greg Barns

Another High Court rebuke on immigration laws – and a warning on rushed policymaking

A new High Court ruling has struck down the Albanese government’s restrictions on former immigration detainees – exposing the risks of rushed, politically driven lawmaking.

The weaponisation of antisemitism is making Jews less safe
John Menadue

The weaponisation of antisemitism is making Jews less safe

Revulsion at Israel’s actions in Gaza is driving a global rise in antisemitism, while efforts to conflate criticism of Israel with hatred of Jews are deepening the danger.

A bold plan to fix Australia’s research and innovation system – but will it deliver?
Roy Green

A bold plan to fix Australia’s research and innovation system – but will it deliver?

A major review calls for sweeping reform of Australia’s research and innovation system – but questions remain about delivery, priorities and impact.

From hubris to holy war – the dangerous logic behind the Iran conflict
John Jiggens

From hubris to holy war – the dangerous logic behind the Iran conflict

The language and beliefs driving the US–Israel war on Iran point to escalation, not restraint – with global consequences.

Bill Shorten’s university proposal breaks the deadlock – but design will decide its value
Will Brehm,  Ben Spies-Butcher

Bill Shorten’s university proposal breaks the deadlock – but design will decide its value

Bill Shorten’s proposal for a university fund tackles a long-standing funding problem – but its impact will depend on how it is designed and delivered.

Wartime resilience already exists in multicultural Australia
Carl Gopalkrishnan

Wartime resilience already exists in multicultural Australia

As fuel and supply pressures build, multicultural Australia offers practical lessons in restraint, cooperation and resilience – but policy has yet to catch up.

Private health insurance isn’t working – and the numbers show it
Claudia Weisenberger

Private health insurance isn’t working – and the numbers show it

Premiums are rising far faster than official increases, coverage is narrowing and hospitals are under strain – Australia’s private health model is failing.

Read our series

A Year in Review 10 Anti China Media Watch 20 Australia in Our Region 14
Best of 2025 136 Gourley on Government 12 History 1
Review 11 The Dismissal at 50 28 The UN at 80 4
Year in Review 2 Young Global Leaders 6

Latest on Palestine and Israel

I am 25 – wars shaped my consciousness and memory
Refaat Ibrahim

I am 25 – wars shaped my consciousness and memory

From childhood to adulthood, Refaat Ibrahim recounts a life marked by repeated war, displacement and loss – a personal testimony of a generation growing up under siege in Gaza.

The anti-Zionism of Sir Isaac Isaacs
Derek McDougall

The anti-Zionism of Sir Isaac Isaacs

Sir Isaac Isaacs warned in the 1940s that Zionism risked deep and lasting conflict. Decades on, those arguments about justice and prudence remain sharply relevant.

The weaponisation of antisemitism is making Jews less safe
John Menadue

The weaponisation of antisemitism is making Jews less safe

Revulsion at Israel’s actions in Gaza is driving a global rise in antisemitism, while efforts to conflate criticism of Israel with hatred of Jews are deepening the danger.

ABC’s National Forum fails its first test on antisemitism
Vivienne Porzsolt

ABC’s National Forum fails its first test on antisemitism

The ABC’s new flagship forum failed to interrogate key claims and perspectives on antisemitism, leaving major gaps in a critical national debate.

Mary Kostakidis case heads to court after mediation fails
Paul Gregoire

Mary Kostakidis case heads to court after mediation fails

A failed mediation means a high-profile discrimination complaint over social media posts about Israel will now be decided in court.

Why did Dennis Richardson walk away from the antisemitism commission?
Mike Gilligan

Why did Dennis Richardson walk away from the antisemitism commission?

Dennis Richardson’s resignation from the antisemitism royal commission has been widely portrayed as a setback, but the episode raises deeper questions about the inquiry.

Antisemitism: “It’s a trick. We always use it.”
Peter Slezak

Antisemitism: “It’s a trick. We always use it.”

Public debate about genocide in Gaza is increasingly dominated by claims of antisemitism. The result is a political climate where outrage at Israel’s actions is recast as prejudice.

Iran war – controlling the narrative
Paul Heywood-Smith

Iran war – controlling the narrative

Claims that groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah are simply terrorist organisations reflect a political narrative that obscures the context of occupation and resistance.

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

Sanctioned Rubio to take part in Trump’s China trip
Dewey Sim

Sanctioned Rubio to take part in Trump’s China trip

The US secretary of state, previously sanctioned by Beijing, is expected to accompany Donald Trump on a visit to China as both sides prepare for high-level talks.

China’s tech ambitions, Nepal’s political upheaval and the BTS comeback – Asian Media Report
David Armstrong

China’s tech ambitions, Nepal’s political upheaval and the BTS comeback – Asian Media Report

Five-year-plan stresses AI, Xi-Trump summit still on track, K-pop sensation’s global comeback, landslide win in Nepal elections, security risks self-radicalise online, and Manila drops Nobel laureate charges.

If China is Iran's 'most powerful ally,' then Australia must be China's
Fred Zhang

If China is Iran's 'most powerful ally,' then Australia must be China's

A media analysis asks why China hasn’t defended Iran. But the real puzzle is why anyone assumes Beijing has a military obligation to do so.

John Menadue

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More from Pearls and Irritations

The government is sanitising Australia’s involvement in the Iran war
Sue Wareham

The government is sanitising Australia’s involvement in the Iran war

ACT justice system on the brink from chronic underfunding
Andrew Fraser

ACT justice system on the brink from chronic underfunding

From ‘Mission Accomplished’ to 'We’ve won but haven't won enough' – the marketing of forever wars
Kellie Merritt

From ‘Mission Accomplished’ to 'We’ve won but haven't won enough' – the marketing of forever wars

ABC’s National Forum fails its first test on antisemitism
Vivienne Porzsolt

ABC’s National Forum fails its first test on antisemitism

A war without clear objectives is turning against Trump
Michael Keating

A war without clear objectives is turning against Trump

AI's inclination to 'go nuclear'
Connie Peck

AI's inclination to 'go nuclear'

Australia’s great wealth transfer divide isn’t between generations
Kasy Chambers

Australia’s great wealth transfer divide isn’t between generations

Iran war may accelerate a new Middle East security order
Eugene Doyle,  Chas Freeman

Iran war may accelerate a new Middle East security order

AUKUS: So many questions, so few answers
Doug Cameron

AUKUS: So many questions, so few answers

Five steps to prevent the Iran war from becoming a global catastrophe
Jeffrey D. Sachs,  Sybil Fares

Five steps to prevent the Iran war from becoming a global catastrophe

The Budget needs real tax reform, not tinkering
Crispin Hull

The Budget needs real tax reform, not tinkering

Mary Kostakidis case heads to court after mediation fails
Paul Gregoire

Mary Kostakidis case heads to court after mediation fails

Latest letters to the editor

The common good

Dr Michael FURTADO — Brisbane, Qld.

Commendable as it is, the 'common good' has a poor history in democratic institutions, the strength of which depends on vigorous debate designed to take policy battles off the street. Common good inclinations, encouraging collaborative initiatives described as corporatist, often miss out on this realisation as opponents strive towards agreement around the centre. Catholic political parties, following 'Quadragesimo Anno', were 'common good' entities, which classically failed to address complex social problems facing global polities at the time. In the US, Congress agreed to an unprecedented suspension of the Constitution to enable President Roosevelt to push through his much-needed New Deal....
The moral error of exceptionalism

Hal Duell — Alice Springs

In 2007 a groundbreaking work by John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt burst onto the world. The Israel Lobby was the book's title, and for the first time the fact of an overpowering force at work behind the scenes in US foreign policy became mainstream. Underpinning that force is the moral error of exceptionalism. It means we do not all stand equal before the law. Historically it means we study the Holocaust but memory hole the Nakba. In the present it gives us Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and Iran. These are war crimes and crimes against humanity, perhaps quaint...
Reform taxation to strengthen social cohesion

Chris Young — Surrey Hills, Vic

Inheritance perpetuates financial inequality. With current taxation and policy settings this inequality is set to grow substantially over coming decades. This will encourage social instability as society is divided more permanently into the haves and have-nots. There are two ways in which this situation can be alleviated. Firstly, government must remove those taxation benefits designed to benefit those who already have capital wealth – negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount. Had government not foregone taxation revenue through granting those concessions, and invested equivalent amounts directly into social housing instead, our society might look very different today....
Fuel security crossroads

Julia Paxino — Beaumaris, Victoria 3193

Australia is at a crossroads of fuel security. Recent reporting by Isobel Roe shows the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet is considering new levies on gas companies and reforms to resource taxation in response to the Middle East war. While taxing profits may provide short-term relief, it does not address the core issue. Australia remains dangerously dependent on imported fuel, leaving us exposed to global shocks, price spikes and supply disruptions, as seen in recent surging demand and panic buying. We have a choice in how we respond. We can look backward and consider rebuilding...

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Arts 150 China 1271 Climate 1505 Commendations 24 Defence 2503 Economy 2925 Education 738
Employment 39 Finance 4 Health 1557 History 83 Immigration 994 Indigenous Affairs 390 Israel Palestine 1545
Media 1918 Pearlcast 4 Podcast 43 Policy 275 Politics 19481 Racism 19 Religion 1253
Review 63 The Human Future 78 Our Top Five Each Week 2512 USA 718 World 1680

Latest from Al Jazeera

Iran attacks cut 17% of Qatar’s LNG capacity for up to 5 years: QatarEnergy
CEO Saad al-Kaabi says QatarEnergy may have to declare force majeure on long-term contracts for up to five years.
European nations, Japan to join ‘appropriate efforts’ to open Hormuz Strait
Countries are looking for ways to contain record-high prices as oil, gas crisis deepens.
Death toll surpasses 1,000 in Lebanon as Israeli bombardment continues
At least 40 medical workers among those killed as rights groups urge Israel to end attacks on Lebanon health facilities.
Hegseth says no ‘timeframe’ for war on Iran as Pentagon asks for $200bn
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hints war funding may change, leaving timeline decisions to President Trump.
Drone attack from Sudan kills 17 people in Chad as war spills over border
Local resident says casualties include mourners at funeral and children playing nearby.
Why are Iran’s South Pars gasfield, Qatar’s Ras Laffan, so significant?
Israel's strike on South Pars and Iran's attack on Ras Laffan escalate energy crisis, deepen regional tensions.