Global Issues
Ending the climate wars: the public’s mandate
The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, released this week, represents the most authoritative and comprehensive summary of current global science on climate…
A new battlefield: the need for regulations to govern Near Space
The recent take down by the US military of a Chinese weather “spy” balloon over its national airspace has cast a spotlight on the need for regulation of the “Near Space” zone…
Could Indonesia legally stop transit by nuclear-powered AUKUS subs?
Indonesia, a nation that controls vital maritime chokepoints, finds itself at the epicentre of an unfolding geopolitical drama. As rivalry builds between the United States and…
Indonesia’s nickel superhighway
Indonesia currently has the most significant nickel deposit in the world, putting it in a prime position to build advanced industries such as renewable energy, in which rare…
A jurisdiction over the high seas
After nearly two decades of discussion and negotiation, on 5 March the United Nations announced a new agreement on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological…
Greening the World Bank
The World Bank is the single most important global development agency – in terms of financing, knowledge production, and setting the international policy agenda. Negotiations…
Beijing and the birth rate: a question of human rights for women
As China grapples with population decline, the pressure on women in China is only increasing. Under paramount leader Xi Jinping, women’s rights continue to deteriorate as the…
Why do we travel to unsettling places?
When visiting the demilitarised zone between the Koreas, there is the option to have your own North Korean defector as a tour guide. Tasteless? Or a good way to find employment…
Vietnam’s challenge to wean off coal
Northeast of Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is Quang Ninh province, home of the famous UNESCO World Heritage site, Ha Long Bay. Tourism is part of Vietnam’s economic success story…
Russia in Ukraine: accountability and global order on the precipice
The Munich Security Conference this year took on a new character. The meeting, held last weekend, involving leaders from across Europe and elsewhere debated the greatest…