Editor's note

It has all the ingredients of a potential Cold War: two powerful countries engaged in intense geopolitical rivalry, mixed with militarised competition and dangerous nationalism. Only this time, as Nick Bisley writes, it’s not the USSR and the US, but China and the US. The risks of the current rivalry escalating into a new Cold War are real, unless the two countries step down from the escalatory cycle they are on.

And we’ve got genuinely good news on the state of the government’s finances. Ten years after the global financial crisis, Professor Warren Hogan declares the budget deficit as good as eliminated. He says the budget outcome released on Tuesday shows us back to where we were before the crisis and ready to fight the next one.

Amanda Dunn

Section Editor: Politics + Society

Top story

The US and China find it extremely difficult to see the world from the other’s perspective. AAP/EPA/Roman Pilipey

The risks of a new Cold War between the US and China are real: here’s why

Nick Bisley, La Trobe University

Cold War 2.0 may not be fanciful: The US and China are plainly entering a period of significant geopolitical rivalry, and each has ambitions that are mutually incompatible.

The hard work’s been done and the latest Treasury team is taking the credit. Mathias Cormann and Josh Frydenberg. Mick Tsikas/AAP

Battle won. Our budget woes are behind us

Warren Hogan, University of Technology Sydney

The budget deficit is as good as dead. For practical purposes we are back to normal with financial firepower recharged for the next crisis.

Science + Technology

Health + Medicine

Cities

  • Why trackless trams are ready to replace light rail

    Peter Newman, Curtin University

    For 40 years the author has argued that trains and trams are better than buses. New 'trackless trams', which take innovations from high speed rail and put them in a bus, have changed his mind.

  • An open letter on rental housing reform

    John Watson, The Conversation

    Residential tenancy reforms are before the NSW parliament, but a key reform is missing. In this open letter, housing academics call for an end to landlords' power to terminate leases with 'no grounds'.

Arts + Culture

Environment + Energy

  • How did the fish cross the road? Our invention helps them get to the other side of a culvert

    Jabin Watson, The University of Queensland; Craig E. Franklin, The University of Queensland; Harriet Goodrich, University of Exeter; Jaana Dielenberg, The University of Queensland; Rebecca L. Cramp, The University of Queensland

    Our new invention tackles one of the greatest impediments to fish migration in Australia: culverts, those tunnels or drains often found under roads.

  • Antarctica’s ‘moss forests’ are drying and dying

    Melinda Waterman, University of Wollongong; Johanna Turnbull, University of Wollongong; Sharon Robinson, University of Wollongong

    Mosses are the only plants that can withstand life in East Antarctica's frozen landscape. But a new study shows that life is getting even harder, as ozone loss and climate change make conditions even drier.

Business + Economy

Politics + Society

 

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