Dr Denis Blight

Headwinds blow in from the Pacific • Hamish McDonald A muddled year in the region for Labor ends with the Pacific affairs minister disagreeing with his own government

insidestory.org.au/pacific-head...

Blustery headwinds with much huff and puff: well meaning but rambling selectively.

Genetically engineered fungi are protein-packed, sustainable, and taste similar to meat In a new study published in Trends in Biotechnology, researchers used a gene-editing technology called CRISPR to increase a fungus's production efficiency and cut its production-related environmental ...

phys.org/news/2025-11...

How did Australian universities go from free education to $50,000 arts degrees in 50 years? Australians think students are being asked to pay far too much for their degrees. Just under half (47%) of Australians surveyed by YouGov in June 2025 believe a worker on an average income should be a...

johnmenadue.com/post/2025/11...

DG Blight
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Working with PM Fraser - parting words - Part 5 - Malcolm Fraser John Menadue stayed on as the most senior public servant in the land, after the trauma of the Dismissal. In this five-part series he details what life was like working with PM Fraser. Given his closen...

johnmenadue.com/post/2025/11... %26 Irritations

Top Australian writers urge Albanese to abolish Job-Ready Graduates, calling their humanities degrees life changing Tim Winton, Helen Garner and Peter Garrett are just a few of the high-profile signatories to an open letter against Job-Ready Graduates – and for the humanities.

theconversation.com/top-australi...

I note Prime Minister Albanese’s references to the ‘economic miracle’ in China that has pulled 100’s of millions out of poverty. But seems have omitted reference to the single most important policy that contributed to this miracle: investment in agricultural research that delivered HYV of grains

I regard myself as a baby boomer: born early in 1945, I was conceived in mid 1944 when my father was on leave from the army. Unlike the writer, I enjoyed university education and full employment throughout my adult life. I married a genuine boomer born in 1949. We have two children.

Turkey is stepping up its influence in west Africa – what’s behind its bid for soft power Although symbolically visible in some places across the continent, Turkey’s presence remains a work in progress.

theconversation.com/turkey-is-st...

Australian international educators and policy makers might have much to learn from Türkiye as it steps up it influence in Africa. Having served as an Australian diplomat in Turkey and Africa and as an international educator I found this piece of great interest.

A good article which would be even better if it acknowledged the contribution made by international (including Chinese) investment in agricultural research leading to higher yielding varieties of grains as part of the Green Revolution.

After the 2025 election: Energy transition and restoration of Australian growth An historic election Australia has had insecure governments looking over their shoulders at political threat for one and a half decades. None of the Gillard, Abbott, Turnbull, Morrison and first term...

After the 2025 election: Energy transition and restoration of Australian growth johnmenadue.com/post/2025/05...

I note a measure of interest in my views on international student enrolments in Australian universities and colleges: the more high quality applicants the better, provided markets and governments respond to pressures on housing, transport and infrastructure.

In the end, only kindness matters. 🤍 #KindnessMatters

Kind hearts are the gardens,
Kind thoughts are the roots,
Kind words are the flowers,
Kind deeds are the fruits.
Take care of your garden,
and keep out the weeds.
Fill it with sunshine,
kind words and kind deeds.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Israeli army burns north Gaza’s Kamal Adwan Hospital after ‘barbaric’ raid Gaza’s Health Ministry calls on international community to stop Israel’s destruction after troops torch hospital.

Israeli forces have released images of a large number of its combat tanks, armoured vehicles and heavily armed soldiers storming the Beit Hanoon area in northern Gaza once again.

🔴 LIVE updates ⤵️ aje.io/ojrpnn

Beautiful Bougainvillea 💞😊🙏

Are there any international educators out there interested in a discussion about a more professional approach by providers - in Australia, Canada, the US and Britain and their agencies - that will make intrusive government intervention to manage the industry redundant?

Louise Nicol on LinkedIn: Three UK universities put on student visa ‘action plans’ We are sure these four institutions (three in #England & one in #Scotland) have done their upmost in terms of compliance & will be reinstated. That said we…

www.linkedin.com/posts/louise... Respected international education commentator Louise Nicol claims that the current fiasco over caps etc. could have been avoided if post study work rights which facilitated change of visa status claims had not been introduced by major receiving countries.

www.officeforstudents.org.uk/media/ly1buq...
British Universities suffer sustainability problems.

International student numbers in Australia will be controlled by a new informal cap. Here’s how it will work Immigration officials will manage student visa applications using a “prioritisation threshold”. Here’s what that means for international students, universities, private colleges and TAFEs.

theconversation.com/internationa...
But will it work? Probably at the margins especially for regional and smaller universities and colleges. But further complicating regulation may be required unless peak bodies encourage cohesion amongst institutions.

Why Treasury’s net migration forecast for 2023-24 blew out With Treasury's net migration forecast being vastly inaccurate, Dr Abul Rizvi analyses how and why the department missed the mark in its assessment.

Treasury again missed its forecast for net migration by a long way. Can it be sensible to continue to put responsibility for forecasting net migration in Treasury & responsibility for delivery in Immigration?

This sign in Thailand

@serrata.org

Live: Syrian president reportedly flees as rebels claim to enter Damascus Rebel forces in Syria say they have captured the city of Homs after earlier encircling the capital of Damascus, in a sign that President Bashar al-Assad's leadership is under severe threat. Follow liv...

www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12...

Murat Ersacı

BREAKING: California Governor Gavin Newsom asks his state legislature for a staggering $25 million to fund legal fights with the incoming Trump administration.

The fund will defend disaster relief, health care, reproductive access, and civil rights.

Like and share to stand with Governor Newsom!

The kerfuffle over international students & net overseas migration reflects a failure of practice by universities & colleges & of policy by governments. In my view, the more genuine international students the better: a policy & practice challenge for institutions & governments.