We need to put an end to proof-of-work cryptocurrency mining, unless all the world's electricity supply is moved to renewable sources.

*What Latin American feminists can teach American women about the abortion fight.*

The US seems to be ending its public concessions to China's demands about Taiwan, which the US adopted in 1972 as part of its historic reconciliation with China. For instance, going out of its way to state that it does not support independence for Taiwan.

In the 1970s it made sense for the US to make these concessions. China was not then a threat to the US, or even to Taiwan; on the contrary, it offered the US some support on international disputes. The concessions did no harm and brought good consequences.

All that has changed. China is indeed a threat to Taiwan, and is allied with Russia. The US actually supports Taiwan's resistance to China's plans for conquest. For the US to tie itself in knots by explicitly limiting its support for Taiwan is a commitment to dishonesty.

It may still be wise for the US not to support Taiwan's independence, but it can refrain from supporting that by saying nothing about the point.

*Lifting zero-Covid policies in China could risk 1.6m deaths, says study.*

I admire the spirit of the zero-Covid strategy -- ready to go to the mat to prevent a massive outbreak. If it succeeds, it will greatly reduce the harm caused by the disease in China. They ought to be somewhat less rigid about many details -- that is Communist authoritarianism at work.

However, if it can't possibly succeed, it is better to make a careful plan for changing the strategy, than to keep trying it and failing and stay in lockdown ad infinitum.

The campaign to ban swastikas (and other symbols of hate ideologies) has spread to Australia.

Nazis today are a real threat to democracy, but there are lots of twisted messages and symbols they can spread their ideology with, with never a swastika.

What makes them powerful and dangerous is the system that facilitates any sort of disinformation and scatterbrained hatred. To attack their symbols with censorship is a misguided counterblow. It hits the wrong target, freedom of speech.

If we abandon the overriding principle of freedom of speech, we will have no strong defense to stop right-wing Nazi-lovers (such as the billehitter) from banning our own symbols and expressions of our ideas.