Facebook is king in Papua New Guinea (PNG) but its reign may soon be over. This week Communications Minister Sam Basil, a regular Facebook user himself, announced that PNG would shut down the social media site for …
Discussions surrounding the European Union’s 2021–2027 budget are intensifying, owing to many European policymakers’ insistence that regional development funds be disbursed only to member states that are in compliance with EU rules. Under the Copenhagen Criteria, …
Australia took an important step in countering the criminal use of digital and cryptocurrencies when legislation regulating digital currency exchanges under Australia’s Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) Act 2006 came into effect on 3 April. …
Out went the old guard, and in came the old guard, in Malaysia’s elections on 9 May. Locals and foreigners celebrated this event as a new political awakening. It’s a sign of how far things are …
If American strategic policy is re-entering a period of democratic change and uncertainty, then how should steadfast allies such as Australia respond? This post represents some initial thoughts, to which I hope others will contribute …
Sea state The United States has rescinded an invitation to China to participate in the biennial Rim of the Pacific exercise. The move is in response to Beijing’s continued militarisation of disputed islands in the …
The fact that three separate families—including the children—perpetrated the attacks in Surabaya two weeks ago is obviously horrifying. But Islamic State’s (IS) use of women and children isn’t unprecedented. Governments must be aware of this …
Hugh White is right—the Australian government needs a consistent policy and message on China. The last 10 years the message from both sides of politics has been that Australia need not choose between its strategic relationship …
Australia and New Zealand are reaching for fresh thoughts about the South Pacific. Canberra offers the Islands economic and security ‘integration’ and a ‘step-up’ in engagement. The new government in Wellington promises to ‘shift the …
The world Yet another devastating school shooting occurred in the US last week, this time in the Texan city of Santa Fe. This long read re‑visits Concord High, where in 1985 Louis Cartier walked into his school …
It’s a game changer. In the next few years, there’ll be year-round access to our polar real estate. Last Friday the Minister for the Environment and Energy Josh Frydenberg and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop announced …
On 9 May, Malaysia’s political canvas was redrawn with a single election. By returning the 92-year-old Mahathir Mohamad to the job of prime minister, voters ended 61 years of uninterrupted rule by the United Malays National Organisation …
ASPI has released its annual The Cost of Defence budget brief, the first of the post–Mark Thomson era. As in previous years, this edition seeks to demystify the defence budget, as well as explore some …
Just days ago, the planned summit in Singapore between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong‑un seemed to be hanging by a thread. Talks are still on track, but the North Koreans have …
This is the 10th in our series ‘Australia in Space’ leading up to ASPI’s Building Australia’s Strategy for Space conference in June. The global space industry has undergone a major transformation since astronauts first walked on the …
The beat Facial recognition failure A new report claims that the use of facial recognition technology by London police has been a failure, with the wrong person identified nine times out of 10. The Met Police …
Julie Bishop was playing a dangerous game when she privately blamed the Australian media’s ‘negative reports’ for adversely affecting Australia–China relations during her meeting with her Chinese counterpart on the sidelines of the G20 in Argentina …
Brent Clark, now former CEO of Naval Group Australia, has joined the debate on the pump jet propulsion system. He follows Gerard Autret and Sean Costello, Naval Group’s Herve Guillou, Rear Admiral Greg Sammut, Andrew …
The world’s leading democracy, the United States, is looking increasingly like the world’s biggest and oldest surviving autocracy, China. By pursuing aggressively unilateral policies that flout broad global consensus, President Donald Trump effectively justifies his …
This is the ninth in our series ‘Australia in Space’ leading up to ASPI’s Building Australia’s Strategy for Space conference in June. The most important skill, which underlies all creativity and all scientific discovery, is the ability …