AU Edition - Today's top story: Airport runway collisions and near-misses are happening more frequently, 22 years of data show August 26, 2026 AU Edition   Last week, air traffic controllers at Sydney Airport mistakenly gave two commercial planes permission to use the same runway at the same time. Luckily, one plane stopped when its crew saw the other plane. This was the fourth close call at Australia’s busiest airport in as many weeks. Understandably, many people are now wondering whether such occurrences are becoming more frequent – and whether it’s still safe to fly. Aviation expert Graham Wild crunched 22 years’ worth of data to examine the broader pattern around Australia. His new independent analysis shows runway collisions and near-misses are happening more frequently. The exact cause of this trend is unknown, but Wild says it’s an issue that warrants attention. And in sad news, overnight we heard that country music legend Dolly Parton passed away. We will have coverage later this morning, and will certainly be playing her music today.   Drew Rooke Deputy Science + Technology Editor   Today's newsletter supported by Black Inc Books   Airport runway collisions and near-misses are happening more frequently, 22 years of data show Graham Wild, Australian Defence Force Academy; UNSW Aviation safety is in the spotlight after four incidents at Sydney airport in almost as many weeks. Israel is cementing its control over the West Bank and East Jerusalem while the world is distracted Martin Kear, University of Sydney Every action Israel takes in the occupied territories makes a future Palestinian state more unlikely. Parents are increasingly abusive towards teachers and principals. How can schools respond? Carolyn Wade, Griffith University; Paul Kidson, Australian Catholic University Some private schools have introduced behaviour contracts for parents. Meanwhile, some states let principals ban abusive parents from public school grounds. View from The Hill: Pragmatism holds Albanese to bad GST carve up, but Productivity Commission remains burr under saddle Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra The government is so far turning a blind eye to the Productivity Commission’s scathing GST review. But that’s not stopping the commission from making its case. Aldi is famous for its ‘dupes’. Where’s the line between clever lookalike and copyright breach? Wellett Potter, University of New England Copyright can only protect the expression of an idea, not an idea, concept or style itself. We finally have some encouraging news on Great Barrier Reef water quality Zoe Bainbridge, James Cook University; Rebecca Bartley, CSIRO Sediment and nitrogen runoff carried by rivers is a major challenge to the Great Barrier Reef. Science confirms efforts to improve water quality are paying off. A new saliva test for endometriosis is in trials. What this and other new endo tests mean for you Mathew Leonardi, McMaster University; Adelaide University ; Narges Kalani, McMaster University Could new tests shorten the long road to an endometriosis diagnosis? The promise is compelling, but the evidence is not there yet. The Suburban Rail Loop will play a major role in the 2026 Victorian election. Why is it so controversial? Jago Dodson, RMIT University It is an unenviable position for a government to have potentially misallocated tens of billions of dollars to poorly selected infrastructure. Can you teach yourself to detect AI writing? Maybe Celeste Rodriguez Louro, The University of Western Australia There’s no single giveaway. But there are patterns. Politics + Society NZ election poll watch: right still leads left, but Opportunity could deny it a majority Adrian Beaumont, The University of Melbourne With just over two months until the election, polls have settled into a new normal, with no clear frontrunner evident. Algorithms are choosing who sees what political ads. NZ urgently needs transparency Katherine Jensen, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Political parties might choose their election ads but increasingly it’s tech companies’ algorithms that decide who sees them. Russia’s volunteer soldiers may face tougher job prospects after returning from Ukraine: study Sergey Alexeev, University of Sydney; UNSW If prospective recruits come to expect a job-market cost after voluntary war service, Russia may find it harder or more expensive to attract volunteers. Aussie players are smashing transfer records. Does this benefit or harm Australian soccer? Steve Georgakis, University of Sydney Several Socceroos have earned huge new deals at European clubs. These moves can both boost and harm Australian soccer as a whole. Health + Medicine Can you eat too much tinned tuna? Lauren Ball, The University of Queensland; Emily Burch, Southern Cross University Tinned tuna is affordable, high in protein and doesn’t need cooking, making it a convenient and nutritious lunchtime staple. Here’s how much you can eat. Business + Economy Wage growth is higher in Australia. Could this regulatory fix help Kiwi workers catch up? Alan Toy, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau With inflation outpacing wage growth, NZ incomes are effectively going backwards. Australia’s collective bargaining rules could offer a remedy. Environment + Energy Floating wetlands a promising way to decrease wastewater emissions: new research Lukas Schuster, RMIT University; Martino Malerba, RMIT University; Professor Peter Macreadie, RMIT University The first full-scale trial of its kind, this floating wetland cut greenhouse gases by nearly a third over two years. Arts + Culture OzAsia Festival to end after 20 years, in a huge blow for Asian-Australian art and culture Boram Lee, Adelaide University OzAsia is more than a festival, and its loss will be felt at a time when Asian-Australians need inclusion more than ever.