Australia will work with international partners and the private sector to shut down cybercrime safe havens and improve our neighbours' cyber resilience.

It is said ballistic missile defence cannot cover the vast Australian landmass. But technology has advanced rapidly.

Monetary policy appears to have lost its guiding compass; unemployment has fallen but inflation and wage pressures have not increased.

Unfortunately, the South cannot escape the North’s shadow. When the North falls apart, the world will look to South Korea to clean up the mess.

Our complicated relationship with China and the implications of President Trump for Australia have eclipsed thoughtful reflection on the Australia-Japan relationship.

Despite the joys of connectivity, nothing substitutes for simply being there; for having the time and money to go into the field.

The case for openness is compelling, but also more nuanced than many proponents tend to make it.

There is a sense that the Syrian war is effectively over bar the fighting.

There now seems little likelihood that the process will meet its ambitious goals.

Angela Merkel's return to power, Shinzo Abe's snap election, buffer states in Asia and more.

Next Monday is a public holiday in Australia, so posting will be light.

China closing North Korean businesses should not be seen as a shift in approach.

Australia must send a clear message of accountability to deter these crimes.

What a relief to have a politician talking serious economics.

Cox's Bazar will be a testing ground for the 'preventing violent extremism' concept.

What Trump's border wall won't accomplish, Qatar's migrant construction workers, the US-Australia refugee swap and more.

Ambitious reform plans go to the core of the regime's power. Little wonder the pace is slowing.

The release of 'First they Killed my Father' is well timed to advance fears of a return of the past.

Could Japan, India and North Korea become buffer states between the US and China?

Andrew Leigh has written a clear and compelling reminder of the challenges in remaining open.

How can Australia, New Zealand and other democracies defend against foreign influence activities?

The Bougainville independence referendum, due in 2019, may not go ahead.

There is clearly a need to for the ADB consider new approaches. But the huge amount of unfinished work across Asia should remain a priority as well.

The news media has reported casualty claims later found to be spurious but paid little attention to the sources of these claims.

Hobbyist drones have moved air power away from government control and passed it to the people.

Abe will be counting on uncertainty from North Korea to make Bill English-style conservative familiarity more attractive to the Japanese electorate.

Only the EU is in a position to pick up the banner of the Western world.

When Theresa May appointed Boris Johnson Foreign Secretary it was viewed by some as unexpected proof that she had a sense of humour.

For Merkel, this was a hollow victory. The results will prompt introspection among the old parties.

"Intelligent disagreement is the lifeblood of any thriving society."

Duncan Green reviews Naomi Hossain’s new book, the Gates’ advocacy for US development assistance continues, and more.

The allure of a referendum on Kurdish independence has overridden the practical implications and very real risks.

It is difficult to see how the Administration can renege on JCPOA, but the damage may already have been done.

The people of Beijing are the embodiment of flexibility and adaptiveness.

The Lowy Institute Media Award, Kim Jong-un's statement, lessons from PNG's elections and more.

North Korea has apparently reached the limit of what it can achieve with underground nuclear testing. 

Kim Jong Un’s statement reinforces my fear that Kim believes North Korea needs to go on the offensive.

This week's links also include Myanmar tensions online, Cyber Week in Singapore, trolls in Korea, and WeChat's big admission.

Forgotten amid the protests is that the substance of the US-Malaysia relationship has been of significant value to both countries.

The UNHCR assisting the voluntary return of Somali refugees from Yemen, the relationship between migration and sustainable development, and more.

In much of the recent commentary, the ratio of fact to indignation appears unreasonably small.

This week's column also looks at the APEC sunshine effect in PNG and the future for Australia's services exports.

Not all of PNG’s electoral problems could be solved before 2022, but a thorough examination of the lessons learned from 2017 is the way to start.

Whoever ends up Prime Minister after Saturday’s contest will occupy the apex of a different New Zealand political landscape.

This week's links also include updates on the asylum seekers and refugees on Manus and a possible revival of the ABC's shortwave radio services.

Myanmar's de facto leader has made it clear she is a politician, not a democratic icon.

It is nothing short of outrageous that so many of our media outlets dedicate little serious treatment to the world.

In language and in tone, Trump's debut speech at the UN General Assembly felt like the international affairs equivalent of his inaugural address.

Much more active capital-flow management would reduce the likelihood of crisis.

To Deakin, The fault line in Australia’s relations with Great Britain was apparent as early as the 1880s.