Cruise ship quarantines, Ebola outbreaks, diphtheria deaths in Australia — it can sometimes feel like we’re back in the middle of a global health scare. So how worried should we actually be? Joining us back in the studio is infectious diseases specialist Dr Fernando Gordíllo Altamirano.

Fernando is a medical doctor from Ecuador with a master’s degree in infection and immunity from the University of Sydney. At the Monash University-based Barr Lab, he’s tackling the global health threat of antimicrobial resistance. Specifically, he’s looking at bacteriophage therapy as a treatment strategy against multi-drug-resistant bacterial pathogens such as Acinetobacter baumannii.

The post Sat, 23rd May, 2026: Dr Fernando Gordíllo Altamirano, Hantavirus, Ebola and first recorded deaths in Australia from s in Australia from Diphtheria appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Our next guest knows the criminal underworld from the inside out. Rohan Pike spent years with the AFP investigating serious organised crime and he’s here to talk about the explosive rise of Australia’s illicit tobacco trade, a black market now linked to gang violence, fire-bombings and billions in lost tax revenue.

Is the situation with illicit tobacco out of control and what could be done about it?

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/how-australias-worldleading-tobacco-tax-is-fuelling-a-violent-black-market/news-story/fbc4714f9263d7a7606cfa21a399440b?utm

https://www.news.com.au/national/crime/australias-illicit-tobacco-trade-funding-organised-crime-and-deadly-gang-violence/news-story/58dc10f0660ff3e99f7fb239b5eacdda?utm_

https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/JulianHill/Pages/tougher-penalties-illicit-tobacco-offenders.aspx?

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Up next, live in the studio is friend of the station and friend of the programme, Aiv Puglielli, Member, Victorian Legislative Council (Victorian Greens).

Aiv Puglielli is a member of the Victorian Legislative Council representing North-East Metropolitan Region for the Victorian Greens. With a background in the arts as a composer and producer, Aiv brings a creative lens to politics and is an advocate for climate action, housing justice and community-led solutions. Aiv has worked across grassroots campaigns and in
parliament since 2022, focusing on progressive policies that protect the environment while supporting workers and local communities.

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Our next guest is Andrew Wilkie is one of Canberra’s most fiercely independent voices. The federal member for Clark in Tasmania is a former military intelligence officer turned whistleblower. He’s spent years taking on both major parties and is one of parliament’s strongest advocates for gambling reform, political integrity and accountability. Andrew Wilkie, great to have you with us.

Andrew Wilkie is the independent federal member for Clark in Tasmania and has served in the House of Representatives since 2010. A former Army officer and intelligence analyst, he became nationally known after resigning in protest over the Iraq War. In parliament he has built a reputation as a fiercely independent voice on gambling reform, government accountability, whistle-blower protections and political integrity.

The post Sat, 23rd May, 2026: Andrew Wilkie, MP; His take on the latest announcements from the Federal Government on Gambling appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Our next guest on Saturday Magazine, is Patrick Keyser, the father of Gemma O’Toole, one of 11 Australians detained by Israeli forces after joining a humanitarian flotilla attempting to reach Gaza this week.

The activists say they were trying to break what aid agencies describe as a catastrophic humanitarian blockade, with Gaza now facing mass starvation, collapsed hospitals, and a civilian death toll that has reached levels many international observers say are almost without precedent in modern conflict.

The flotilla was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters. Detainees allege beatings, humiliation, stress positions, sexual abuse, Tasering and deprivation of food and water. Israel denies the allegations.

Global outrage intensified after Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir released video of bound detainees kneeling on the ground while he taunted them and called them terrorists. Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong condemned the footage as ‘shocking and unacceptable’.”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/21/penny-wong-condemns-israeli-minister-over-shocking-and-unacceptable-treatment-of-flotilla-activists-ntwnfb?utm_source=chatgpt.com

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Bruce’s piece is essentially an argument that America has become dangerously desensitised to the behaviour of President Donald Trump.

He argues that Trump’s public conduct, language and social media behaviour now reveal a president in what he calls a “troubled state”, but that Republicans, the White House and much of the media have normalised it rather than confronting it.

Bruce’s latest article essentially argues that America has become dangerously desensitised to the behaviour of President Donald Trump.

He argues that Trump’s public conduct, language and social media behaviour now reveal a president in what he calls a “troubled state”, but that Republicans, the White House and much of the media have normalised it rather than confronting it.

Wolpe says Trump oscillates between moments of apparent discipline — like his recent summit with Xi Jinping — and then immediately reverts to erratic, grievance-filled behaviour once out of the diplomatic spotlight.

Bruce Wolpe is a Senior Fellow (non-resident) at the United States Studies Centre. Bruce is a regular contributor on US politics across media platforms in Australia. In recent years, Bruce has worked with the Democrats in Congress during President Barack Obama’s first term, and on the staff of Prime Minister Julia Gillard. He has also served as the former PM’s chief of staff.

Bruce is author of Trump’s Australia, an examination of Donald Trump’s possible return to the presidency and the issues presented to Australia (Allen & Unwin, 2023), The Committee, a study of President Obama’s legislative agenda in Congress (University of Michigan Press, 2018, 2d Edition September 2021) and Lobbying Congress: How The System Works (Congressional Quarterly Books, 1990, 1996).

https://www.theage.com.au/national/an-oyster-farmer-a-firefighter-a-kennedy-the-democrats-taking-the-fight-to-the-republicans-20260521-p5zzm3.html

https://www.axios.com/2026/05/22/trump-iran-meeting-resume-war-deal

The post Sat, 23rd May, 2026: Bruce Wolpe, Senior Fellow, US Study Centre, Has Trump finally lost it and why is nobody calling him out ? appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Our first guest is one of Australia’s sharpest political interviewers and commentators. She’s become a defining voice in Australian political journalism: incisive, relentless and never afraid to push politicians on the tough issues. You’ll know her from the ABC’s Afternoon Briefing, Radio National Breakfast and previously Q+A. Patricia Karvelas joins us now on the line now.

Patricia Karvelas is one of Australia’s leading political journalists and broadcasters. She hosts Afternoon Briefing on ABC News and is a regular voice across the ABC’s political coverage, including major federal budget and election broadcasts. Previously the host of Q+A and Radio National Breakfast, Karvelas is known for her incisive interviews, deep Canberra contacts and sharp analysis of Australian politics, media and public policy. Before joining the ABC, she worked as a senior political reporter and columnist with The Australian and other major news outlets. She is widely regarded as one of the country’s most influential political interviewers.

Macca and Kenny talk to PK about her insights into the latest in Australian politics

The post Sat, 23rd May, 2026: Patricia Karvelas, ABC’s Afternoon Briefing, Australia’s Current Political Climate. appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Nevena and Paul talk to Gavin Macleod, Executive Creative Director, Emotive; Bold New Safe Sex Campaign from Four Seasons Naked Condoms

Sydney, 12th May, 2026. STI rates are rising among young Australians, but the message about safe sex isn’t getting through.

Now, Four Seasons Naked Condoms is taking a radically different approach, launching a bold new campaign that turns the risks of unprotected sex into giant, cinematic monsters designed to be impossible to ignore.

As a heritage brand in Australia for decades, Four Seasons Condoms is on a mission to make the conversation around protection more approachable for Gen Z.

According to data from the Kirby Institute, Australia recorded more than 101,000 chlamydia cases in 2024, with around half among people aged 20–29, alongside rising rates of gonorrhoea. At the same time, research from La Trobe University shows condom use among young Australians is declining, with more than half not using one the last time they had sex.

“In general practice we see young patients presenting with sexually transmitted infections every single day” said Dr Lucy Herron, GP at Coogee Beach Doctors. “Chlamydia is very common and is a particular worry as it often has no symptoms but can cause a serious infection and even infertility if not detected early. Others, like gonorrhoea and syphilis, are unfortunately much more common than they were a few years ago. Really common infections like herpes have no cure at all, and can lead to annoying symptoms like irritation and pain, which can come and go for the rest of your life.”

Instead of traditional health messaging, the campaign uses humour and spectacle to bring those risks to life. The hero film begins with an intimate moment between two young adults, where a decision not to use a condom quickly spirals into chaos. A giant baby crashes through the city, followed by grotesque STI creatures representing gonorrhoea, chlamydia and syphilis tearing through streets and buildings, turning abstract risks into something visible and confronting.

“STI rates are rising, and traditional messaging isn’t cutting through,” said Michael Porter, Director at Four Seasons Condoms. “We wanted to create something people would actually watch and talk about, using entertainment to make the risks feel real.”

Women’s health advocate Grace Toombs and founder of Hey June Health said the approach reflects how younger audiences engage with the topic. “Sexual health shouldn’t feel awkward or taboo, but a lot of messaging still does. When you approach it through humour and culture, it opens the door for more honest conversations.”

AI filmmaking techniques were used to create the cinematic scale and surreal characters, bringing the concept to life in a way that would traditionally require blockbuster-level production.

The campaign rolls out nationally across Snapchat, supported by social and creator-led amplification and was created by independent creative agency Emotive in partnership with AI film production specialists, AiCandy Australia.

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