Global Issues
Critical minerals, critical decisions
When we think of the renewable energy transition, we don’t typically associate it with inequality, human rights violations, and environmental destruction.Yet the reality is, as…
Bring women to the table to talk ocean sustainability
Oceans are essential to global food supplies. And collectively, the G20 nations constitute 45 per cent of the world’s coastlines and 21 per cent of its exclusive economic zones…
Child marriage in Southeast Asia: When a harmful practice becomes an international crime
Child marriage is a global problem that cuts across countries, cultures, and religions – and the ASEAN region is no exception. Child marriage is considered a form of forced…
Could BIMSTEC be the answer to the Myanmar question?
“BIMSTEC” is one of the many technical and not-quite-pronounceable acronyms that pepper conversation about diplomatic affairs. It stands for the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi…
The deadly consequences of misclassifying foreign fighters in Ukraine
The legal classification of an estimated 20,000 foreign fighters from 52 countries participating directly in the Ukraine hostilities is not just a question of semantics…
Does democracy still matter in the ‘New Cold War’ between the US and China?
Robin Niblett, a former director of British think tank Chatham House, has published a new book that has received high praise from notables such as Hillary Clinton, Kevin Rudd and…
Rising tensions over outer space – a new diplomatic hot zone
At the NATO Summit in Washington last week, leaders noted the rising threats in space. The technology orbiting the Earth is critical to the digital world and underpins both…
The uncertain future for Southeast Asia’s great sea nomads
For the past 4,000 years, the Moken people, a Southeast Asian seafaring group, have travelled between Thailand and Myanmar, spending most of their time on boats known as kabang,…
Japan’s 5G ambitions with the Quad
Japan appears to be using the Quad to pursue its ambitions to promote domestic 5G network players.5G, or “advanced telecommunications” and “critical and emerging technology” in…
Byte-sized diplomacy: Privacy is alive and clicking
Got a big question on technology and security for “Byte-sized Diplomacy”. Send it through here.Question: Is it possible to protect privacy in a world of networks and surveillance…