This month we are working hard on a new initiative, a P&I podcast series called Pearlcast. Pearlcast will kick off with a topic close to our hearts, the 50th anniversary of the dismissal of the Whitlam Government.

We have three of the most authoritative sources in the nation taking part: our editor-in-chief John Menadue – the living link to the scandal and the nation’s top public servant at the time; Jenny Hocking, author of The Palace Letters and the nation’s preeminent dismissal historian; and Brian Toohey, the journalist who has dug deepest into the darkest side of the events.

All of us, no matter our political convictions, will remember where we were when we heard that Whitlam had been sacked. Fifty years later, we still don’t have all the facts. Menadue, Hocking and Toohey will shed new light on the events of those tumultuous days. I will be your host for Pearlcast, which will run in the lead-up to 11 November, along with a suite of articles packed with revelations and all the personalities and intrigue from those who know, during the most extraordinary event in Australian political history.

Also this week I’m particularly pleased we have six very talented young Australians writing for us. As part of the Global Voices program, these young women prepare pithy policy briefs and take them to the UN General Assembly. They tackle highly topical issues, from our obligations under international law, extremism and social media, to better ways to tackle family violence against migrant women.

I think you’ll agree that these six individuals are already genuine leaders. Their stories will run all week, and we look forward to catching up with the writers when they return home.

Many of you were appalled to hear last week that the National Press Club cancelled Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Chris Hedges’ appearance, which had been confirmed for 20 October. You can read Hedges himself on the deeply disappointing episode. Many letters of protest have gone to the NPC, and many are on our letters page. We understand Hedges will make an extra Sydney address, in place of the NPC speech. We will make the booking link available.

The shamefully small number of Australians studying China and Chinese is bad for Australia as we navigate new geopolitical realities and try to maintain and develop mature relations in our region. Colin Mackerras and Michael Read argue that our declining China capacity is doing us damage.

We will continue watching closely as the ceasefire deal progresses between Palestine and Israel, and keep you informed.

Until next week.