|
|
|
|
There were scenes of jubilation in both Gaza and Israel after a ceasefire was approved between Hamas and the Netanyahu government to end two years of horrific violence.
There will be more celebrating in a few days if the remaining Israeli hostages are exchanged for Palestinian prisoners, as the first phase of the deal dictates.
But what then? As Marika Sosnowski writes, Hamas will soon find itself in a situation with negligible bargaining power – and many unanswered questions and vague details about the future of Gaza.
Sosnowski calls this a “strangle contract” – a highly coercive agreement that enables the more powerful party (in this case, Israel) to force the weaker party into agreeing to anything in order for them to survive.
The fear, she writes, is that war could soon return if Israel so chooses – all it needs is a pretext.
|
|
Justin Bergman
International Affairs Editor
|
|
Marika Sosnowski, The University of Melbourne
These types of ceasefires are highly coercive agreements that enable the more powerful party to force the weaker party to agree to whatever they want.
|
Best reads this week
|
Emma Shortis, RMIT University
Blood-and-soil style violent nationalism infuses everything the Trump administration is doing.
|
Peter Edwell, Macquarie University
More than 2,000 years ago, the depiction of living leaders on Roman coins caused similar ructions. It came at a time when the Roman republic was in trouble.
|
Deanna D'Alessandro, University of Sydney
Richard Robson was struck by an idea in 1989. Decades later, his story shows the importance of fundamental science.
|
Cameron Shackell, Queensland University of Technology
AI is showing some of the hallmarks of another technology’s rapid rise and fall back in the 1920s. These are the lessons we could learn.
|
Rachel Lamarche-Beauchesne, Torrens University Australia
In a big win for the anti-fur movement, Condé Nast has formalised a fur-free policy across its global titles, including Vogue, Tatler, Glamour and Vanity Fair.
|
TC Weekly podcast
|
Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
The multiculturalism expert says increased tensions since the October 7 attacks have raised ‘the tideline of hate speech’ in Australia.
|
Gemma Ware, The Conversation
Listen to Shimon Sakaguchi, one of the 2025 Nobel laureates in medicine, talk about his research on The Conversation Weekly podcast.
|
Our most-read article this week
|
Ian Towle, Monash University; Luca Fiorenza, Monash University
A new discovery could reshape how we interpret the fossil record of humans and their closest relatives.
|
In case you missed this week's big stories
|
-
John Hart, Australian National University
Trump use of the National Guard in several cities has been challenged by several governors. The case could end up before the Supreme Court.
-
Michael Toole, Burnet Institute
By August,15.8% of children aged under five were suffering from acute malnutrition.
-
Sebastian Maslow, University of Tokyo
The rise of Japan’s first female leader is being hailed as a transformative moment for Japan. But in truth it may be more adaptation than reinvention.
-
Michael Rose, University of Adelaide
Timor-Leste’s government has cancelled all online gambling licenses in response to the allegations, but many are calling for an independent investigation.
-
Myra Williamson, Auckland University of Technology
It has taken over 20 years, and the ICC is under intense pressure, but this week’s conviction of Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman is a major win for international law.
-
Sheila Skeaff, University of Otago
Most New Zealand adults consume more protein than the recommended amount. They could reduce meat without risking inadequate protein intake.
-
Amit Arora, Western Sydney University; Arosha Weerakoon, The University of Queensland
Adding fluoride to drinking water is a safe and effective way to prevent cavities. But some councils are removing it from their water supplies.
-
Robin Shields, The University of Queensland
Australian teachers are also reporting high rates of AI use in their work, according to the OECD’s latest Teaching and Learning International Survey.
-
Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra
A little under a year ago, Michelle Rowland, who was then communications minister, had to make a humiliating retreat, she now might just have to make another
-
Amy Hume, The University of Melbourne
Hollywood’s first AI ‘actor’ has officially launched her career. Is this the future of film, or is it a gimmick?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kristin R. Laurens, Queensland University of Technology; Lauren M. Piltz, Queensland University of Technology; Linda J. Graham, Queensland University of Technology
Suspending or expelling a student should be a last resort. But our study shows it is more common than it should be in NSW public schools.
|
|
Student expulsions
“After almost 50 years in teaching, I have seen a decline in student behaviour. By and large, the kids being suspended or expelled simply do not want to be in school. The authors state that boys are twice as likely to be suspended/expelled, my experience tells me the figure is much higher. Boys, in particular, are disengaged by the end of Year 7 and set out to make everyone's life a misery.
The authors state that "we can learn from the public school systems in Los Angeles, New York and Chicago". No, we cannot. That is how we got into this mess in the first place: importing the failed policies and practices of the American school systems.
If you want to improve the standards in our schools then allow our schools to put in place real consequences for bad behaviour and stop the helicopter parents interfering and threatening us with legal action every time we have the temerity to point out their child's shortcomings.”
Ryszard Linkiewicz, Woolooware NSW
We'd love to hear from you. You can email us with your thoughts on our stories and each day we'll publish an edited selection.
|
| |
|
|
|
The Conversation AU/NZ
Melbourne Victoria, Australia
•
Full Time
|
|
|
|
|
Featured Events, Courses & Podcasts
|
View all
|
|
|
| | |
