The Latest Breaking News from The Conversation

Yes, it’s the economy, stupid. But One Nation is outflanking the government on messaging, too

Labor is no doubt dreading the likelihood of further interest rate rises, despite Treasurer Jim Chalmers talking up the economy.

The Conversation · Sep 11

How to talk to your kids about edgy or violent porn in an age-appropriate way

Recent reports of a 16-year-old Sydney girl’s tragic death by “sexual choking” have understandably been met by calls for increased safety education for young people.

The Conversation · Sep 11

Needling for change: the surprisingly political history of knitting

From fistfights in the corridors to tractors driven up its front steps, New Zealand’s parliament has seen plenty of odd and unruly behaviour by sitting MPs.

The Conversation · Sep 10

‘It’s a strange time to be a man’: in The Castle, Jon Ronson investigates the plight of unanchored men

The ABC’s now-defunct current affairs show Q+A makes an early appearance in Jon Ronson’s The Castle: Adventures in a World of Unravelling Men.

The Conversation · Sep 10

A new video game lets you play out the battle at Gallipoli. Is it trivialising the tragedy of war?

The recent release of BlackMill Games’ Gallipoli: Ottoman Fronts has been met with some pointed questions, including whether the video game is “mimicking the war”.

The Conversation · Sep 10

Can people truly walk away from terrorism? Inside the slow work of rehabilitation

As we reflect on 25 years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks that killed almost 3,000 people, terrorism remains an ongoing yet evolving threat that defies easy answers.

The Conversation · Sep 10

How western consumption becomes the Global South’s environmental nightmare

Industrialized countries send millions of metric tonnes of used clothing, electronic equipment and other products to the Global South, and with them, the environmental and health costs tied to producing, consuming and disposing of those goods.

The Conversation · Sep 10

Islamic economics has questioned endless growth for centuries. What can it teach us today?

As climate change and widening inequality intensify, economists are increasingly questioning whether endless economic growth is compatible with a healthy society and a finite planet.

The Conversation · Sep 10

The long shadow of 9/11 and the retreat of an independent New Zealand foreign policy

Twenty-five years ago today, the world’s strongest military state found itself powerless to prevent attacks on its homeland by al Qaeda, a small transnational terrorist group.

The Conversation · Sep 10

The Pentagon is using polygraphs to hunt leakers, but the tests are more theater than fact

In August 2026, government investigators subjected roughly 50 military officers and civilian employees on the Joint Staff to polygraph tests as part of an inquiry into press leaks about the Iran war and depleted U.S. munitions, according to The New York Times. The newspaper described the scope of the investigation…

The Conversation · Sep 10