Do Australian banks have double the return on equity of banks in other developed economies?
May 22, 2017 13:03 pm UTC| Insights & Views Economy
The banks in Australia have a return on equity which is about twice, if not more than that, what you see particularly in other parts of the advanced developed economies of the world. Treasurer Scott Morrison, ABC Insiders,...
What's at stake in China's plan to blow up islands in the Mekong
May 22, 2017 13:02 pm UTC| Insights & Views
Its the largest freshwater fish in the world and, once upon a time, these fish swam the great lengths of the mighty Mekong River from southern China, through Burma, Laos, Thailand, and Cambodia, all the way to the rivers...
A report says that Mexico is the second-deadliest conflict zone in the world – it's just not true
May 22, 2017 12:59 pm UTC| Insights & Views Life
According to a report published in early May, Mexico has become the second-deadliest conflict zone in the world in 2016. The claim came from a press release for the 2017 edition of the Armed Conflict Survey (ACS) by the...

How WannaCry caused global panic but failed to turn much of a profit
May 22, 2017 12:57 pm UTC| Insights & Views Technology
The recent WannaCry cyber-attack led to panic across the globe, showing just how important it is for organisations to have secure operating systems. This was not even the most sophisticated malware around. Numerous...
How UKIP’s decline could provide a major boost for Theresa May
May 22, 2017 12:55 pm UTC| Insights & Views Economy Politics
The British prime minister Theresa May called a snap general election in the expectation that it will deliver her a substantially increased parliamentary majority. This in turn would give her the strong and stable...
How Big Tobacco is losing the fight to stop plain packaging of cigarettes
May 22, 2017 12:53 pm UTC| Insights & Views Law
You may already have seen the tobacco packs currently sold in the UK: a dark, murky green colour with large graphic health-warning images and scary messages aimed at informing current and potential smokers about the...

Dismal wages growth makes a joke of budget forecasts
May 22, 2017 12:51 pm UTC| Insights & Views Economy
Vital Signs is a weekly economic wrap from UNSW economics professor and Harvard PhD Richard Holden (@profholden). Vital Signs aims to contextualise weekly economic events and cut through the noise of the data affecting...