Another wall in the BRICS?

The announcement last week by the BRICS grouping (comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) that invitations had been extended to Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates made for …

Why the first hundred days in office matter

After years of anxiety about democratic backsliding, the next few months will tell us a lot about the state of popular government around the world. In October, Argentina will elect a new president to succeed …

For whom the BRICS toll

Last week’s BRICS summit—bringing together the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa—was touted as a pivotal event that could change the contours of international relations. Some compared it to the Bandung conference …

The threat spectrum

Planet A Climate change played a role in the severity of last week’s wildfires in Maui, Hawaii, where average temperatures have increased by 2°C since 1950. Other factors such as thinning clouds, La Niña and …

Ukraine’s diplomatic offensive gathers pace

Temperatures soared in Kyiv last weekend. Stuffy apartments were swapped for leafy dachas and crowds flocked to the Dnipro River’s sand beaches. Yet despite the heat, Ukrainians are keeping a careful eye on the calendar—as …

India explores the next space frontier

History was made this week when India made the first-ever landing on the moon’s south pole. A 26-kilogram rover called Pragyan (‘wisdom’) arrived in lunar orbit aboard India’s Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft and was carried to the …

Australia must do more about Iran 

The government’s sudden decision to refer to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza as ‘occupied Palestinian territories’ is in marked contrast to its relative silence on Iran and other issues in the Middle …

Australia’s space future in the north

Australia is a lucky country when it comes to the potential opportunities for space launch. Its geography means that sites close to the equator, which are sparsely populated and enjoy stable weather patterns, are ideal …

Australia, the TPNW and nuclear weapons

The Labor party avoided an open stoush over nuclear weapons at last week’s national conference. But it would be wrong to imagine the issue’s gone away. Nuclear weapons are becoming more prominent in a more …

China’s homegrown crisis

China’s economic reality, until recently, was nothing short of extraordinary. The nation’s annual economic output soared from under US$500 billion to US$18 trillion between 1992 and 2022, with years of double-digit growth pushing annual GDP …