Morning! It's Sunday, and here's our good news. We hope you love it!

We're trying to send this on Mondays or Fridays or Sundays. I hope you'll continue supporting us in our work.

And don't forget to subscribe or forward this newsletter to your friends. We would like to express our gratitude for your continuous support.

- Mencari News Team

🌟 THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHT

Tamworth’s Lachlan Slade Wins Caboolture PBR Buckle as Junior Riders Shine

Tamworth cowboy Lachlan Slade claimed his first victory of 2025 at the PBR Australia Caboolture Invitational, winning the coveted buckle with an 87.50-point ride. The event, held at a sold-out Queensland State Equestrian Centre Arena, also saw New South Wales rider Clint Glass and New Zealand’s Rylee Ward round out the podium. Despite the upset, national leader Kurt Shephard from North Queensland maintained his top ranking heading into the PBR Australia Grand Finals in Townsville.

The night was also a showcase for the next generation of bull riders, with 60 juniors from across the country taking part. Eleven-year-old Sonny Heffernan of Singleton became the first PBR Can-Am Junior Academy rider to reach 50 career rides, while Caboolture’s Bella Brinner stood out as the only female Junior Bull Rider. Bundarra’s Kassedy “Rooster” Carlon thrilled the crowd by winning the Senior Mini Bull buckle before breaking into a celebratory arena dance.

On the bulls’ side, Nirvana from Dittmann Bucking Bulls and Twist & Shout from Dunne Bucking Bulls shared honors for the highest-scoring bull, each posting 43.50 points. The notoriously tough Alpha Blokes Warden extended his unridden streak by tossing Brazilian contender Luan Crystian Camara in just 1.5 seconds. The Caboolture event highlighted both seasoned professionals chasing national glory and fearless juniors cementing the sport’s future.

🌍 MUST READS

• Six Australian cities and regions join the EU’s international urban and regional cooperation.

• Local news services need to adapt or face extinction: report

• Multi-storey modular classrooms for Victorian Schools

🏠 IN OUR COMMUNITY

Perth’s Carol Hanlon Champions Women’s Economic Empowerment at Asia-Pacific Conference

Carol Hanlon, CEO of Belmont BEC Inc. and TCFWA Inc., addressed more than 200 delegates from 28 countries at the BPW Asia Pacific Regional Conference in Putrajaya, Malaysia, held August 24-26. Recently named COSBOA’s National Small Business Champion, Hanlon shared insights from her five decades of small business leadership and mentoring that have supported more than 44,000 entrepreneurs since 1994.

Her presentations highlighted practical strategies for women’s economic empowerment, including fostering cross-sector partnerships between NGOs and social enterprises and advancing digital and AI skills programs for young women globally. Hanlon also provided updates from BPW International’s Business, Trade & Technology Committee, where she has served since 2021.

The conference, coinciding with BPW International’s 95th anniversary, showcased Hanlon’s impact from local grassroots programs in Perth to global networks spanning 125 countries. She announced new collaborations with women’s business groups in Myanmar, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea, reinforcing her commitment to scaling sustainable opportunities for women entrepreneurs across borders.

🔬 BREAKTHROUGH MOMENT

Study Finds Daily Aspirin Provides No Long-Term Heart Protection for Older Adults

A Monash University-led study has confirmed that daily low-dose aspirin offers no long-term cardiovascular benefit for healthy older adults and increases the risk of major bleeding. The research, published in the European Heart Journal, tracked more than 15,600 Australians and Americans aged 70 and older over a median of 8.3 years through the ASPREE and ASPREE-eXTension studies.

Lead author Professor Rory Wolfe said the findings showed aspirin not only failed to prevent heart attacks and strokes but was also linked to a 17% increase in major cardiovascular events during the post-trial follow-up. “Our findings suggest that individuals taking aspirin for possible primary prevention of cardiovascular events should discuss with their doctors possibly stopping the drug,” Wolfe said.

Co-author Dr. Andrew Tonkin added that while some individuals may still benefit, patients must weigh the risks and consult their GP. The results reaffirm the original 2018 ASPREE trial, which also found higher bleeding risk without cardiovascular benefit in older adults taking aspirin.

💡 HUMAN OF THE WEEK

Scottish Brothers Set World Record With 139-Day Pacific Row to Cairns

Three brothers from Edinburgh have set a world record after completing the fastest unsupported row across the Pacific Ocean, arriving in Cairns, Australia, on Saturday after 139 days at sea. Jamie, Ewan, and Lachlan Maclean rowed more than 9,000 miles nonstop from Peru, becoming the first team ever to complete the crossing from South America to Australia.

The brothers endured storms, injuries, equipment failures, and even a near-tragedy when Lachlan was thrown overboard during a night shift before being pulled back to safety. Their feat broke the previous record of 159 days set in 2014 and drew global attention, with stars such as Ewan McGregor, Mark Wahlberg, and Flea offering encouragement.

The voyage was part of a fundraising effort for their Maclean Foundation, which supports clean water projects in Madagascar. So far, they have raised more than £795,000 of their £1 million target, which aims to provide clean water for 40,000 people. Reunited with family and fans in Cairns, the brothers said the experience gave them a new appreciation for life’s basics and vowed to continue their campaign.

Celebrated Western Aranda artist and Charles Darwin University Visual Arts student Hayley Panangka Coulthard will showcase her cultural heritage through traditional ceramics in a new Alice Springs exhibition opening this weekend.

The exhibition, titled "Kaltjinthama – Kaltjerrama [Teaching – Learning]," features new works created during her formal university studies, demonstrating how art serves as a powerful vehicle for storytelling and cultural knowledge transmission. A member of the acclaimed Hermannsburg Potters since 2009, Coulthard has developed her craft under the mentorship of senior artists and has emerged as a two-time Wynne Prize finalist (2022, 2023).

The exhibition represents more than artistic achievement—it embodies cultural preservation and education in action. Coulthard, who recently graduated with CDU's Edgar Dunis Award for Outstanding Achievement by a First Nations Student in Arts, is now pursuing her Certificate IV in Visual Arts while using locally harvested clay from her Country around Ntaria.

Her work exemplifies the collaborative approach between CDU's Alice Springs campus and established Indigenous arts organizations, with the university providing a supportive environment for experienced artists to explore new techniques while maintaining their cultural connections. The exhibition opens Sunday, June 8th from 6-8pm at Watch This Space in Alice Springs, offering the community an opportunity to experience authentic Indigenous artistry and cultural expression.

⚡ QUICK WINS

• Aerobic Exercise After Stroke Safely Boosts Brain Health and Prevents Cognitive Decline, New Study Finds. A new Monash University study published in JAMA Network Open found that aerobic exercise programs starting two months after a stroke are completely safe and can help protect stroke survivors' brain function and memory while reducing their risk of developing dementia.

• Dutch Disability Foundation Wins Inaugural F1 Allwyn Global Community Award and €100,000 Prize. A Dutch foundation called Stichting HandicapNL won the first-ever F1 Allwyn Global Community Award and €100,000 for their work making sporting events and festivals accessible to people with disabilities across the Netherlands.

• Tokyo Hosts Major Tourism Promotion Events in Sydney and Melbourne to Boost Australian Travel Interest. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government held special tourism promotion events in Sydney and Melbourne during August 2025, featuring Japanese cultural workshops, food experiences, and business networking to encourage more Australian travelers to visit Tokyo.

• Aerobic Exercise After Stroke Safely Boosts Brain Health and Prevents Cognitive Decline, New Study Finds. A new Monash University study published in JAMA Network Open found that aerobic exercise programs starting two months after a stroke are completely safe and can help protect stroke survivors' brain function and memory while reducing their risk of developing dementia.

📷 PHOTO OF THE WEEK

A major highlight in Sydney was the s pecial program " Tokyo Gastronomy Talk " presented by renowned food expert Adam Liaw, widely known from " The Cook Up with Adam Liaw and Adam & Poh ’ s Great Australian Bites. " Liaw shared insights into the depth and innovation of Tokyo ’ s culinary scenes and served original dishes inspired by Tokyo ’ s street food culture, including gyudon (beef bowl) and " curry rice..

💭 QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Get more from Miko Santos in the Substack app

Available for iOS and Android

Get the app

Truth matters. Quality journalism costs.

Mencari directly funds the investigative reporting our democracy needs. For less than a coffee per week, you enable our journalists to uncover stories that powerful interests would rather keep hidden. There is no corporate influence involved. No compromise. We provide unbiased reporting at critical moments.

BECOMING A PAID SUBSCRIBER

Do you appreciate the newsletter but aren't ready to subscribe? Grab us a beer or snag the exclusive ad spot at the top of next week's newsletter.

Morning! It's Sunday, and here's our good news. We hope you love it!

We're trying to send this on Mondays or Fridays or Sundays. I hope you'll continue supporting us in our work.

And don't forget to subscribe or forward this newsletter to your friends. We would like to express our gratitude for your continuous support.

- Mencari News Team

🌟 THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHT

Japanese Scientists Develop Revolutionary Plastic That Dissolves in Seawater Within Hours

Researchers from the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science and the University of Tokyo have developed a groundbreaking biodegradable plastic that completely dissolves in seawater within 2-3 hours, offering a potential solution to ocean plastic pollution.

The innovative material, created using two ionic monomers that form salt bonds, maintains the strength and flexibility of traditional petroleum-based plastics while being highly vulnerable to salt water. Unlike conventional plastics that persist in marine environments for decades, this new polymer breaks down into nutritious compounds that ocean bacteria can safely consume, addressing environmental concerns without creating harmful microplastics or chemical leaching.

The nontoxic, non-flammable plastic has already attracted significant interest from the packaging industry, though the research team has not yet announced detailed commercialisation plans. Led by researcher Takuzo Aida, the development represents a major advancement in sustainable materials science, as the plastic also biodegrades in soil containing trace amounts of sodium within weeks of burial.

The breakthrough comes at a crucial time when scientists have determined that levels of plastic waste in the ocean, while still concerning, are actually 3,000% lower than previously estimated, making comprehensive solutions more achievable. Aida emphasised the researchers' environmental responsibility, stating that scientists have a duty to ensure future generations inherit the best possible planet.

🌍 MUST READS

• Fahrenheit Global Fire Engineers Win 2025 Fire Protection Project of the Year for Cootamundra Plant Innovation.

• Australian Universities Develop AI System That Detects Contaminated Construction Wood with 91% Accuracy

• Australia Achieves Nationwide Container Return Coverage as Tasmania Joins, Recycling 13+ Billion Bottles

🏠 IN OUR COMMUNITY

Monash University Launches First Community-Based Dance Trial for Autistic Children in Victoria

Monash University researchers have launched Australia's first community-based dance intervention trial specifically designed for autistic children, which is a major departure from traditional clinical treatment models.

The AllPlay Dance program, co-created by Professor Nicole Rinehart from Monash's School of Psychological Sciences and Dr Olivia Millard from Deakin University's School of Communication and Creative Arts, is actively recruiting children aged 7-12 with formal autism diagnoses across Victoria.

The trial addresses a critical gap in autism support, recognising that up to 80 percent of autistic children experience significant mobility difficulties that create barriers to participation in everyday activities like catching balls or maintaining balance.

The innovative study aims to demonstrate whether community-based dance classes can significantly improve motor functioning while simultaneously enhancing cognitive, social, and emotional outcomes for participants.

Conducted at Monash's state-of-the-art Brain Park facility and Deakin University dance studios, the programme represents a departure from expensive, time-consuming clinical interventions to accessible community-based solutions.

Built on a sustainable 10-year funding model involving industry, government, and philanthropic partners, AllPlay Dance aligns with NDIS objectives to help children with disabilities live ordinary lives within their communities. The research team will evaluate not only developmental improvements but also program acceptability and long-term family engagement in community dance activities.

🔬 BREAKTHROUGH MOMENT

Sydney Scientists Discover Hidden Cause of COVID-19 Organ Damage in World-First Breakthrough

Australian researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery that fundamentally changes our understanding of why COVID-19, heart attacks, and strokes cause devastating organ damage. Published in the prestigious journal Nature, this world-first study by Sydney scientists reveals that red blood cells—not traditional blood clots—are the hidden culprits behind organ failure in critically ill patients.

In low-oxygen situations, the inner layer of blood vessels dies in a process called necroptosis, which causes nearby red blood cells to burst and release sticky pieces that act like glue, blocking the smallest blood vessels and cutting off oxygen to important organs.

This discovery, led by Professor Shaun Jackson at ThromBio Sydney, explains why many COVID-19 patients and intensive care patients worldwide continue to suffer multi-organ failure even when traditional blood-thinning treatments are used.

The research examined autopsy tissues from COVID-19 patients in New York and found this "RBC Endo-seal" mechanism was widespread not only in COVID cases but also in patients who died from heart attacks and strokes. The findings open the door to revolutionising care and pave the way for revolutionary new treatments that could target red blood cell damage instead of traditional clotting pathways, potentially transforming long-term outcomes for intensive care patients globally.

💡 HUMAN OF THE WEEK

Indigenous Artist Hayley Coulthard Showcases Western Aranda Culture Through Clay at Alice Springs Exhibition

Celebrated Western Aranda artist and Charles Darwin University Visual Arts student Hayley Panangka Coulthard will showcase her cultural heritage through traditional ceramics in a new Alice Springs exhibition opening this weekend.

The exhibition, titled "Kaltjinthama – Kaltjerrama [Teaching – Learning]," features new works created during her formal university studies, demonstrating how art serves as a powerful vehicle for storytelling and cultural knowledge transmission. A member of the acclaimed Hermannsburg Potters since 2009, Coulthard has developed her craft under the mentorship of senior artists and has emerged as a two-time Wynne Prize finalist (2022, 2023).

The exhibition represents more than artistic achievement—it embodies cultural preservation and education in action. Coulthard, who recently graduated with CDU's Edgar Dunis Award for Outstanding Achievement by a First Nations Student in Arts, is now pursuing her Certificate IV in Visual Arts while using locally harvested clay from her Country around Ntaria.

Her work exemplifies the collaborative approach between CDU's Alice Springs campus and established Indigenous arts organizations, with the university providing a supportive environment for experienced artists to explore new techniques while maintaining their cultural connections. The exhibition opens Sunday, June 8th from 6-8pm at Watch This Space in Alice Springs, offering the community an opportunity to experience authentic Indigenous artistry and cultural expression.

⚡ QUICK WINS

• Beach Safety Study Shows Surfers Save Lives at 95% of Unpatrolled Australian Beaches. A groundbreaking La Trobe University study found that Australian surfers provide over 70,000 water rescues and 25,000 first aid assists annually, making them crucial unpaid lifesavers at the 95% of beaches without professional supervision.

• Australian GPs Launch Crazy Socks for Docs Day to Combat Mental Health Stigma Among Medical Professionals. Australian general practitioners participated in Crazy Socks for Docs Day on June 6, 2025, to raise awareness about the mental health stigma affecting both doctors and patients, while calling for reforms to mandatory reporting laws that discourage medical professionals from seeking mental health treatment.

• University Electrification Milestone: UNSW Ditches Gas for Renewable Energy Across All Sydney Colleges. UNSW Sydney has become the first Australian university to fully transition from gas to renewable electric energy across all Sydney campus facilities, preventing 700 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually while improving operational efficiency and air quality as part of its 2050 net zero commitment.

📷 PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee President, Andrew Liveris (centre) is seen participating in the school “war cry” with students at The Southport School on the Gold Coast, Thursday, June 5, 2025. The Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee met with local Gold Coast school students from The Southport School and St Hilda’s School.

💭 QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Get more from Miko Santos in the Substack app

Available for iOS and Android

Get the app

Truth matters. Quality journalism costs.

Mencari directly funds the investigative reporting our democracy needs. For less than a coffee per week, you enable our journalists to uncover stories that powerful interests would rather keep hidden. There is no corporate influence involved. No compromise. We provide unbiased reporting at critical moments.

BECOMING A PAID SUBSCRIBER

Do you appreciate the newsletter but aren't ready to subscribe? Grab us a beer or snag the exclusive ad spot at the top of next week's newsletter.

Morning! It's Monday, and you'll be surprised to see this email. Hey guys, as subscribers to Mencari News, we've just launched another newsletter that's all about good news. We hope you love it!

We're trying to send this on Mondays or Fridays. I hope you'll keep supporting us in our work.

And don't forget to subscribe or forward this to your friends. Just wanted to say a quick thank you for your ongoing support.

- Mencari News Team

🌟 THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHT

Premature Twins Given 'No Chance' Survive Thanks to Revolutionary Co-Sleeping Cot at Glasgow Hospital

Premature twins Macie and Marcus Lee have defied devastating medical predictions after becoming the first babies to benefit from a revolutionary co-sleeping cot at Glasgow's Royal Hospital for Children.

Born at just 29 weeks gestation, with Macie weighing 2lbs and Marcus only 1lb 3oz, the twins were initially given "no chance" of survival by medical professionals. The innovative co-sleeping cot allowed the siblings to remain side-by-side throughout their neonatal care while still receiving individualized medical treatment, including adjustable heat support and tilt functionality for reflux management.

After 12 weeks of specialized care in the neonatal unit, both twins made remarkable progress and were able to go home healthy. The success has inspired their family to launch a fundraising campaign, with great-grandfather Peter Prior cycling 106 miles to raise money for additional co-sleeping cots.

Medical staff credit the technology with not only supporting the twins' physical development but also providing crucial emotional comfort to both the babies and their family during the critical early weeks. The breakthrough represents a significant advancement in neonatal care, demonstrating how innovative medical equipment can improve outcomes for the most vulnerable patients.

🌍 MUST READS

• Mary Kay Awards $10,000 in STEM Grants to Young Innovators at 2025 International Science Fair.

• Top Australian Children's Authors Launch 'Your Next Read' Junior Fiction Series at Sydney Writers' Festival

🏠 IN OUR COMMUNITY

More than 10,000 ways to say thank you to Queensland nurses from the Rapid Relief Team

The Rapid Relief Team (RRT) has wrapped up a massive May of International Nurses Day events, visiting hospitals across Queensland to say a special thank you to health workers.

RRT volunteers have prepared and served almost 1,000 meals to nurses at Warwick Hospital, Bundaberg Hospital, Maryborough Hospital, and Hervey Bay Hospital to show their appreciation.

During May, 326 RRT volunteers put on 29 International Nurses Day events across Australia, with volunteers preparing and serving 10,239 meals.

RRT Operations Manager Mick Dunn said the theme for International Nurses Day 2025, ‘Our nurses, our future’, was all about taking care of the health and wellbeing of nurses.

“RRT has held dozens of International Nurses Day events this month that have been all about taking care of these amazing people who selflessly do so much for others,” Mick said.

“These events allow nurses to take a well-earned break and enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner, on us – and we’ve been serving our Signature Burgers, veggie burgers, bacon and egg rolls, fresh barista-made coffee, and lots of other treats.

“Volunteers showed their gratitude by serving delicious meals, the nurses get to share a fun bite to eat with their colleagues – and everyone really enjoys these International Nurses Day events.”

Nurses at every event were grateful for the “delicious” food and for the kind gesture, with many saying it lifted their spirits and made their days.

The Rapid Relief Team is the charitable arm of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church. Established in 2013, the RRT has more than 16,000 volunteers around the world who support community events and assist emergency services in times of disaster and crisis by providing meals and other support.

For more information on RRT, please go to www.rrtglobal.org/.

🔬 BREAKTHROUGH MOMENT

A new model for more targeted conservation in a changing climate

A novel approach has been created by Monash University to assist conservationists in finding more focused and efficient strategies to save ecosystems and wildlife.

More wildlife is being driven from their natural habitats by climate change, and conservationists are finding it increasingly difficult to lessen the effects on both the species that have already established themselves there and their new settling sites. By offering a framework to forecast how species will react to the changing climate and how they might interact with other wildlife in their new habitats, the Monash-led research has created a model to assist conservationists in proactively addressing negative impacts.

To determine whether a species will be able to establish itself, this involves determining whether the environmental conditions are suitable for new arrivals and whether they find their preferred food sources.

The lack of data for many species, particularly on their interactions with other species, is a significant barrier to conservation that the model seeks to address. The model can simulate the possible interactions and habitat preferences of a species for which there are either no or very few observations available by using data and observations from similar species.

This is done based only on the species' morphological similarities or degree of relatedness. This makes it possible to model interactions in species communities where a new species may emerge due to range shifts or unintentional human dispersal, for which there is typically no information available on interactions with other species or the environment.

The model could be used in situations where captive-bred endangered species are returned to the wild or populations of endangered species are relocated to a new location, as well as situations where ecosystems and endangered species need to be shielded from the effects of invasive species, according to Dr. Matthias Dehling, Senior Research Fellow at Monash School of Biological Sciences and Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future.

💡 HUMAN OF THE WEEK

Alaska Hiker Trapped Under 700-Pound Boulder for Three Hours Near Anchorage Glacier

Near a glacier south of Anchorage, 61-year-old hiker Kell Morris was caught under a 700-pound boulder for three hours. His wife Jo Roop, a retired Alaska State Trooper, helped release him.

⚡ QUICK WINS

• UNSW Scientists Create Plant-Based Cheese That Melts and Stretches Like Real Dairy. UNSW Sydney chemical engineers have developed a breakthrough plant-based cheese using pea protein and natural polysaccharides that melts, stretches, and browns like traditional dairy cheese, potentially revolutionizing Australia's $13 billion plant-based food market by 2030.

• Monash University Study Reveals Critically-Ill Kidney Patients Need Higher Antibiotic Doses During Dialysis. Monash University researchers discovered that critically-ill patients with acute kidney injury receiving dialysis treatment require significantly higher doses of the life-saving antibiotic colistin to effectively combat multidrug-resistant infections, according to a groundbreaking study published in Clinical Microbiology and Infection.

• UNSW's AI Legal Platform 'Hear Me Out' Wins 2025 Australian Web Awards for Innovation. UNSW Sydney's free AI-powered legal platform "Hear Me Out," which helps Australians navigate over 300 complaint bodies for human rights and consumer issues, has been awarded Most Innovative Website at the 2025 Australian Web Awards, marking a breakthrough in accessible legal technology.

📷 PHOTO OF THE WEEK

NASA's Marshall Space Flight Centre in Huntsville, Alabama, sees a supermoon on Aug. 19. Full Moon is a supermoon and Blue Moon until Wednesday, Aug. 21. The Moon is 90% of its closest point to Earth, making supermoons the biggest and brightest full Moons of the year.

Despite not being blue, the third full Moon in a season with four is called a “Blue Moon.” Huntsville is known as the “Rocket City” because NASA Marshall manages vital propulsion systems and hardware, launch vehicles, engineering technologies, and cutting-edge science.

💭 QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Get more from Miko Santos in the Substack app

Available for iOS and Android

Get the app

Truth matters. Quality journalism costs.

Your subscription to Mencari directly funds the investigative reporting our democracy needs. For less than a coffee per week, you enable our journalists to uncover stories that powerful interests would rather keep hidden. There is no corporate influence involved. No compromises. Just honest journalism when we need it most.

BECOMING A PAID SUBSCRIBER

Not ready to be paid subscribe, but appreciate the newsletter ? Grab us a beer or snag the exclusive ad spot at the top of next week's newsletter.