As we approach the 75th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Genocide Convention), it is important to reflect on it from an Australian perspective. Australia’s ratification of the Convention in 1949 has and continues to have very significant impacts both domestically and with respect to foreign policy.

After months of speculation, three political parties have officially announced their candidates for the 2024 presidential election in Taiwan: the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), the Kuomintang (KMT), and the Taiwan People's Party (TPP).

The Australia–China Youth Dialogue (ACYD) was founded in 2010 by a group of creative, boundary-pushing students who felt they could have an impact in the Australia–China space. After 13 years it continues to reflect a real interest in deepening mutual understanding and opportunity between the two countries.

Pedro Sánchez, Spain’s incumbent prime minister, was sworn into office for the third time on 17 November 2023. He once again heads a minority coalition government. This time, it includes the prime minister’s Socialist Party (PSOE) and Sumar (Sum or Add Up), a new leftwing political platform launched by Yolanda Díaz, the incumbent and continuing labor minister and second deputy prime minister.

In an attempt to rebrand the Middle East as a techno-futuristic oasis for global exchange and innovation, the host's of this years COP28 has attempted a bold movement toward nuclear energy production. Once the black sheep of clean energy, fission may be poised for a reawakening.

In just two years, Javier Milei, a political outsider and best known for his YouTube and TikTok virals, managed to create his own political party and defeat the most powerful political machine in Argentine history. Milei's resounding success can be explained by three main factors.

Although suffering a political backlash in the 2020 and 2022 presidential elections, Trumpism and Bolsonarism remains alive and well. The sweeping victory of Xavier Milei in Argentina, and with Geer Wilders at a striking distance from power in the Netherlands, the stage is set to re-energise far-right political ideals globally. 

Krishnan Nayar’s big history exemplifies our general willingness to take positions on national histories and political arrangements without bothering to study them first. This quasi-Marxist polemic brushes over history and leaves the reader unfulfilled. 

Australians are increasingly at risk of disinformation campaigns, many of which have rapidly escalated on social media platforms like TikTok in recent years. A serious discussion needs to be had on the unfettered influences these platforms can have and how their worst effects can be mitigated. 

This week in Australian foreign affairs: Strategic Partnership with the Philippines; upcoming second AUKUS Defence Ministers’ Meeting; $12 million for HIV prevention initiative; and more.