Following the collapse of Afghanistan’s military and the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul, the US and its allies are accelerating efforts to evacuate their citizens and Afghan refugees. Brendan Nicholson speaks to Peter Jennings about how the security situation deteriorated so rapidly, the short- and long-term security risks for the country, as well as how China might look to engage with the Taliban.

Governments across the globe are grappling with how to deal with disinformation-for-hire operations and cyber-enabled foreign interference. The challenges posed by disinformation are explored in a new ASPI report, Influence for hire: the Asia–Pacific’s online shadow economy ^[1]. Jake Wallis, Ariel Bogle and Albert Zhang discuss the dangers of a manipulated information environment in the region and how policymakers should respond.

Teagan Westendorf speaks to Ariel Bogle about her new report, Buying and selling extremism: new funding opportunities in the right-wing extremist online ecosystem ^[2]. They discuss the de-platforming of extremists and the different ways the far right is raising money.