This week in Australian foreign affairs: Fifield on Israel, the end of Adamson’s term as DFAT Secretary, flights from India resuming, and more.

As violence escalates in West Papua, Indonesian political leaders have turned to the military to address what is a political issue, while West Papuan leaders call for dialogue without response. Neither approach is likely to end the half-century-long conflict.

It’s the long tail of the Idul Fitri holiday, the celebratory end of the fasting month for Indonesia’s 240 million Muslims. Although the Chinese government is officially atheist, it’s making the most of the season with some generous gestures.

The “new great game” between the great powers has reached the Southwest Atlantic and will influence the international geopolitics of the region. Antarctic geopolitics will not necessarily follow the same pattern.

The Scottish National Party’s (SNP) election outcome, coupled with a pro-independence majority in the parliament have intensified calls for a referendum. The undercurrent of the independence debate is less about antipathy towards the union, but rather its ineffectiveness.

Last year, the Eurovision Song Contest was cancelled for the first time in its then 64-year history. This year’s Eurovision is a socially distanced affair, with frequent COVID testing of participants.

Diplomatic practice is central in laying the groundwork for cooperation among state and non-state actors within an interest in cyberspace. However, diplomatic approaches towards cyberspace are fraught with complicated challenges.

Obama’s account of his movement from lower reaches of Democrat politics to the White House is compelling reading. It is well written, and best digested slowly, chapter by chapter, anecdote by anecdote.

When Australians think of international education and China, they typically consider the country as a source of international students — Australia’s largest. But China is now one of the leading host countries of international students in the world.

A conversation with Australia’s Ambassador to the People's Republics of China, Graham Fletcher, and Austrade’s General Manager for Greater China, Daniel Boyer.