Brazil's John of God is a "spiritual healer" who performs surgeries without anaesthesia. Millions have experienced his unique healing methods, but now hundreds of women say he sexually abused them.
Academic rigour, journalistic flair
Analysis and Comment
It is often thought that the Tampa incident won John Howard the 2001 election, but an analysis of polling from the time shows the September 11 attacks had a far bigger impact on voting intentions.
University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor Deep Saini and Michelle Grattan talk about the week in politics.
Maria Ressa's case is important because of what it says about the way governments are increasingly using the "rule of law" to silence the legitimate work of journalists.
Bishop's claim she'd reconsidered her plans on the basis she believed the government will be re-elected doesn't wash. She was always expected to bail out – it was a matter of when she'd say so.
For years, the benefits of justice reinvestment programs have been championed. Now the ACT is actually investing in it, and the federal government should do the same.
Soft power is a country's ability to gain influence through attraction. Australia's soft power in the Pacific began waning when it axed the Australia Network in 2014. And China is filling the gap.
New Zealand's decision to block Huawei from its 5G cellular networks due to security concerns is likely to be just the first of many that challenge Wellington's relationship with Beijing.
Research shows there are now more ministers responsible for regional issues across Australian governments than ever before.
Cyber attacks are a real and increasing threat to Australia, and the law lags a long way behind in both protection and recourse.
It's reasonable to take Cormann at his word about missing that the change hadn't been processed. Even accepting this, however, the affair looks bad for Cormann, who failed the “Caesar's wife” test.
The Victorian Sentencing Advisory Council's new report reveals that most cases of animal cruelty handled by the law are in fact animal neglect.
After waiting eight months for the government response to a major report on regional Australia, the outcome has been underwhelming, sticking to the same old ideas.
A Queensland Galaxy poll taken at the smae time shows a healthier lead for Labor - but more polls are needed to determine any trends in voting ahead of the federal election.
The US is negotiating a peace agreement with the Taliban, so it can safely withdraw its troops. But how can peace last in Afghanistan if women aren't at the negotiating table?
Twenty-five years ago, an Irish nun handed a report to the Catholic Church that detailed sexual abuse against nuns by priests worldwide. It was ignored. But now nuns are finally sharing their stories.
A refugee law expert on a week of ‘reckless’ rhetoric and a new way to process asylum seeker claims.
The Conversation44 MB (download)
Today on Trust Me, I'm An Expert, a refugee legal expert busts myths about how proposed medical transfer rules would work, and described some of this week's border security rhetoric as 'reckless'.
Deep Saini and Michelle Grattan talk about the week in politics.
The Uyghurs are a Muslim minority group living China's Xinjiang region. It is now estimated over one million Uyghurs have been arrested and imprisoned in China's vast network of "re-education" camps.
If the government really intends to “reopen” Christmas Island in any major way, it could find itself spending a lot of money there on few if any people.
Some targets seem easier to meet than others, while some are just plain unreliable. Here are four things we've learnt from the last decade of Closing the Gap policy.
A bill to allow for asylum seeker on Nauru and Manus Island to be transferred to Australia for medical and psychiatric treatment has passed both Houses. How will it change things for those detained?
The government doesn't need to extend jurisdictions, or boost enforcement powers to prosecute corporations that have behaved dishonestly. The law for prosecution is there already.
While the Constitution was brought into play in the debate on this bill, it actually has little to say on the matter – and the government can still govern despite its passing.
The government will turn up the dial by announcing “contingency plans” against fresh arrivals. Morrison is already moving on to the claim that Shorten couldn't be trusted to be strong on turnbacks.
Australia's immigration department doesn't keep a record of the number of people applying for asylum at airports. This means there is no oversight over the treatment of those seeking protection.
Reformers have tried to modernise Iran for decades but have failed mainly due to the country's powerful theocracy. And then there are those who want to overthrow the regime altogether.
The latest polls show Labor holding a solid lead over the Coalition, while seat polls show that Tony Abbott may struggle to retain his Sydney seat.
As a police officer, I was involved in many pursuits, investigated serious accidents and later became a researcher. Here's what I've learned about how police make decisions in a pursuit.
Just as with Kevin07, formerly Coalition-friendly independents gave life-long centre-right voters a way to break ranks without feeling like they were being disloyal. Zali Steggall is doing the same.
A barrister may report confidential client communications to police where their client has threatened the safety of another person, but going beyond such discrete instances is ethically fraught.
At least one child is killed by a parent in Australia every fortnight. The latest report from the Australian Institute of Criminology shows the nature of filicide in Australia.
If the government feels it is on the rack over the amendments, Labor also is in an awkward position, and at least one of the independents finds herself in the spotlight.
Deep Saini speaks with Michelle Grattan about the week in politics.
Unless Lawyer X had next to no role in the defence of her clients, all the results of any trial where she represented them could be overturned. And this could mean release from prison with no retrial.
Research and News
The exit of Bishop underlines the Liberals' “woman problem”.
It comes after the decision by cabinet minister Kelly O'Dwyer to leave at the election.
The result will be a major fillip to government MPs, who are hoping the revival of the boats issue will swing public opinion in the Coalition's direct.
Bill Shorten said party political structures were perhaps more vulnerable than government institutions - and progressive parties particularly so.
Morrison told a news conference cabinet's national security committee had met early Tuesday to discuss the contingency planning already in train in anticipation of the bill's passage.
Morrison told a news conference cabinet's national security committee had met early Tuesday to discuss the contingency planning already in train in anticipation of the bill's passage.
The government has suffered a historic defeat in the House of Representatives, with Labor and crossbenchers passing the legislation facilitating medical transfers from Manus and Nauru by 75-74.
After Shorten was briefed by security officials and with enormous political pressure coming from the government, Labor moved back from its support of the bill as it has come out of the Senate.
The money includes $60 million - over the next three years - in grants for organisations to provide emergency accommodation for those escaping family violence.
Scott Morrison says the government will not shift from outright
opposition to the bill, which is based on a proposal originally coming from independent Kerryn Phelps but subsequently refined.
In a statement late Thursday, NAB said Thorburn would finish at the end of this month while Henry would leave the board once a new CEO had been appointed.
Morrison declares the amendments, based on a proposal from independent Kerryn Phelps, would leave the government powerless to stop the entry of a paedophile, rapist or murderer.
In a letter to Morrison, Shorten said both houses should be recalled on March 5-7 and March 12-14. The sitting calendar has only 10 sitting days before the election.
The Morrison government has promised to establish a compensation scheme paid for by the financial services industry as it seeks to avoid damage from the banking royal commission.
Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen will pitch to many workers' discontented with their lot, declaring in his first economic speech of the year that these people are being denied “a fair go”.
Scott Morrison and David Coleman said: “There are now only four asylum seeker children on Nauru and they have all been approved for departure to the United States of America with their families”.
More than 1500 sheep died across these voyages collectively from heat
stress, injury or disease – which was nevertheless under the official
“reportable mortality” rate.
Now that the US has pulled out Syria, is the war actually over?
To stem the tide of the current crisis before it totally overwhelms President Mnangagwa and the ruling Zanu-PF, he needs to immediately cease the brutal onslaught on civilians.
The prime minister has failed to present anything different to parliament. Here's what could happen now.
After her historic loss in parliament, the PM will hold cross-party talks to find a way out of the impasse. But will she really be listening?
History shows that Congress can play an important role in checking a president's power.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has transformed from a liberal into an authoritarian leader who uses the tools of democracy to attack civil society. Hungarians are protesting in the streets.
Beginning with President Chávez and continuing under President Maduro, Venezuela has evolved into a rampant kleptocracy.
With the rising influence of celebrity chefs around the world, do restaurants have responsibilities to promote more ethical forms of eating?
Don't be misled
Research and Expert Database
The Uyghurs are a Muslim minority group living China's Xinjiang region. It is now estimated over one million Uyghurs have been arrested and imprisoned in China's vast network of "re-education" camps.
The US has withdrawn from a major arms control treaty with Russia, and Russia followed suit. So, what was the treaty, and what happens now?
Twenty-five years ago, an Irish nun handed a report to the Catholic Church that detailed sexual abuse against nuns by priests worldwide. It was ignored. But now nuns are finally sharing their stories.
A refugee law expert on a week of ‘reckless’ rhetoric and a new way to process asylum seeker claims.
The Conversation44 MB (download)
Today on Trust Me, I'm An Expert, a refugee legal expert busts myths about how proposed medical transfer rules would work, and described some of this week's border security rhetoric as 'reckless'.
Some targets seem easier to meet than others, while some are just plain unreliable. Here are four things we've learnt from the last decade of Closing the Gap policy.
A barrister may report confidential client communications to police where their client has threatened the safety of another person, but going beyond such discrete instances is ethically fraught.
Reformers have tried to modernise Iran for decades but have failed mainly due to the country's powerful theocracy. And then there are those who want to overthrow the regime altogether.
Four scholars weigh in on President Donald Trump's State of the Union speech, exploring his statements on immigration, childhood poverty, the border wall and the investigations into his campaign.
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Most Read past week
- View from The Hill: Minister who watches the nation’s credit card overlooks his own
- Grattan on Friday: Bishop’s boots were made for walking
- The Catholic Church is headed for another sex abuse scandal as #NunsToo speak up
- Poll wrap: Labor’s lead narrows to just 51-49 in Ipsos, but is it an outlier?
- Words that matter. What’s a franking credit? What’s dividend imputation? And what’s ‘retiree tax’?
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