James Arbuthnott

Taranaki Maunga settlement a rare chance to bridge Crown-Māori gulf There are moments of grace and unity as Parliament completes the work of generations of Taranaki Māori, to admit the atrocities of the past and acknowledge the mountain as a living totem for the futur...

Taranaki Maunga settlement a rare chance to bridge Crown-Māori gulf

Image of cover of book Annihilation by Michel Houellebecq, reviewed by James Arbuthnott in the Newtown Review of Books.

Today's review:
James Arbuthnott on Michel Houellebecq's latest - and possibly last - novel, Annihilation:
newtownreviewofbooks.com.au/michel-houel...
@macmillanaus.bsky.social
@jamesjourno.bsky.social
#Houellebecq
#BookReview
#BookSky 💙📚

Orcas start wearing dead salmon hats again after ditching the trend for 37 years Orcas off the coast of Washington State are balancing dead fish on their heads like it's the 1980s, but researchers still aren't sure why they do it.

www.livescience.com/animals/orca...

LÁSZLÓ KRASZNAHORKAI Herscht 07769. Reviewed by James Arbuthnott - Newtown Review of Books László Krasznahorkai’s latest novel encompasses physics, the music of JS Bach, and an obsessive correspondence with the German chancellor.

"as anxiety-inducing as it is philosophical, told in his unique melancholic style... [with] lengthy meditations on Bach and impending catastrophe.."

A review of László Krasznahorkai's new novel Herscht 07769 for Newtown Review of Books. via New Directions
buff.ly/3XnWjrU

‘A break from the heat’: Americans most affected by climate crisis head midwest Unbearable heat and worsening storms prompt residents of states such as Florida to move elsewhere

‘A break from the heat’: Americans most affected by climate crisis head midwest

Violence over water is on the rise globally. A record number of conflicts erupted in 2023 From the Middle East to Latin America, incidents of water-related violence have been rising. New data from the Pacific Institute show 2023 was a record year.

www.latimes.com/environment/...

‘Forever chemicals’ across Sydney’s drinking water catchment PFAS have been detected in the catchment area at levels within Australia’s drinking water guidelines but above US safety thresholds. They’re even in wildlife such as platypuses.

www.smh.com.au/national/nsw...

New details of horrific cruelty emerge as premier backs greyhound racing An explosive report by greyhound racing’s former chief vet alleges a litany of welfare issues ranging from appalling animal distress to the discovery of burned and frozen carcasses.

www.smh.com.au/national/nsw...

www.smh.com.au/national/thi...

It’s Time to Give Up on Email Four steps for getting over a very bad relationship

It’s Time to Give Up on Email: Four steps for getting over a very bad relationship by @ibogost.bsky.social

Evergrande is the teetering domino that can tumble its real estate peers Property prices in China could take yet another hit from deconstruction of the indebted developer

Evergrande is the teetering domino that can tumble its real estate peers

https://on.ft.com/3SA46jP

Australian capital city rents up 13% over year as further hikes predicted for 2024 amid housing shortage Housing advocates call for urgent reform to address growing crisis as capital rents hit average of $600 a week Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast Australia’s record shortage of rental properties will continue to drive prices up for tenants, analysts say, with a new report revealing combined capital city rents rose 13.2% year-on-year. Data from PropTrack, the property analytics division of REA Group, has revealed national rental prices rose 11.5% over the past year, with combined capital city rents up 13.2% to an average of $600 a week, driven by large increases in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup Continue reading...

Australian capital city rents up 13% over year as further hikes predicted for 2024 amid housing shortage

Canva planning US$1b secondary stock sale: @theinformation.bsky.social www.theinformation.com/articles/can...

Ex-Goldman banker sentenced to 3 years for insider trading with squash partner News, analysis and comment from the Financial Times, the worldʼs leading global business publication

Ex-Goldman banker sentenced to 3 years for insider trading with squash partner

https://on.ft.com/3MqkUq0

An up to $1 billion fine may end the scandal that has captivated Wall Street Morgan Stanley is in talks with the Justice Department and SEC and likely won’t have to plead guilty to a crime over its block-trading practices, people familiar with the matter said.

Morgan Stanley may pay as much as $1 billion and promise to tighten its internal controls to resolve a long-running U.S. probe into how it handled private stock sales.

Microsoft accused of damaging Guardian’s reputation with AI-generated poll Publisher says poll speculating on cause of woman’s death that appeared next to Guardian article caused ‘significant reputational damage’

Yeesh www.theguardian.com/media/2023/o...

Antony Catalano looks for a way into the Southern Cross Austereo deal The Australian Community Media owner has long harboured ambitions of creating a regional media giant with exposures across print, online and television.

The Australian Community Media owner is currently sounding out Southern Cross Austereo chief executive John Kelly as part of a move to pry the door open to a deal of his own.

Australia has quietly become a force in tech's next $1 trillion market Unlike artificial intelligence, which is mostly developed in America, Australia is well-positioned to be a leader in quantum computing.

“The most important thing I keep trying to advocate is that this is an area where Australia actually gets a seat at the big kid’s table,” Biercuk said. “All we need to do is just get over our fucking selves and realise we can actually do this.”

What's Gina Rinehart's next move in lithium after derailing the Liontown takeover? US giant Albemarle may have walked away from Liontown Resources, but what's Gina Rinehart's next play?

New from me: Mining industry sources told Capital Brief they expect Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting Group to work with Mineral Resources Limited to ensure Liontown Resources Limited's lithium processing stays in Australia rather than moves offshore.

via @johnbuckley.bsky.social

Australian media giants set for Meta standoff as $100m in deals expire Publishing executives are losing confidence in their ability to renew lucrative deals with social media giant Meta without government intervention.

Publishers are privately concerned about renewals of the agreements amid a rapid retreat from news by Meta. That is, unless the government 'designates' the company under the code, a move that would force it to strike deals with publishers to display or link to news content on its platforms

Woolworths shopping around in Australian dollar bond market Woollies has mandated two Japanese banks and two Australian lenders to manage a potential new bond issue.

The $46 billion ASX-listed retailer held calls with bond investors on Tuesday and is expected to distribute indications of interest (IOIs) in the coming days as it looks for financing via a seven and a half-year bond issue, according to three sources who have seen distribution documents.

Australian critical minerals miners battle China price squeeze Miners say the Australian government wants to become a "circuit breaker" by replicating China's rare earths industry.

Miners say the Australian government wants to become a "circuit breaker" by replicating China's rare earths industry

Behind Canva's big bets on AI and enterprise Canva is not yet a public company, but with the success of so many VC funds riding on it, it almost operates under the pressure of one.

"Canva is not yet a public company, but with so many Australian VCs invested in it and set to realise enormous gains when that IPO happens, it almost operates under the pressure of one in the local ecosystem."

Where Australia's top think tanks stand on the Voice Corporate Australia has showed its hand and largely swung behind the Voice. But what about our top think tanks?

Here's how eight think tanks are positioning themselves on The Voice.

Finally arriving at Bluesky

Evergrande sold yacht this year, say sources, as creditors sharpen focus on offshore assets | Reuter... China Evergrande Group sold its luxury superyacht for about $32 million earlier this year, said two sources, further shrinking the developer's offshore assets as its cash crunch worsened and it scramb...

www.reuters.com/world/china/...

US restructuring shop Kroll plots Australian expansion Executives from Kroll's Sydney office have met with rival firms, triggering speculation it's on the hunt for acquisitions.

Industry sources said restructuring work is now picking up as loans struck during the early stages of COVID approach maturity and lenders ask for their money back, with borrowers facing a more difficult restructuring environment.