America's new House speaker should concern many, and in particular, women. His beliefs are not merely old fashioned, they are borderline dystopian.

Although Pacific island countries contribute the least to global warming, they are at the frontline of climate change and live with the effects of it on a daily basis. The most substantial impacts of climate change include loss of coastal infrastructure and land, more intense cyclones and droughts, failure of subsistence crops and coastal fisheries, loss of coral reefs and mangroves, and the spread of diseases.

This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese’s official visit to China; Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ Meeting; Wong in Japan; and more.

King Charles III has been positively met in Kenya, despite a renewed reparations movement in the country. While the slave trade has been long abandoned, its history lives on strongly in the former colonial countries.  

Today, the Indonesia-led Archipelagic and Island States Forum (AIS) has become the world’s fastest-growing climate and island-centric multilateral bloc. With some initiative, Australia could join the AIS Forum and project Canberra’s growing regional and global climate leadership through the Forum. 

The Western societies have shown a great deal of solidarity with Ukraine. 20 months after the invasion, however, there are some worrisome tendencies that need to be addressed should the collective West want to avoid the Ukraine fatigue for its own sake. 

The changing geopolitical landscape means we need a more inclusive approach to defence. Harnessing the creativity and capital of the private sector and deepening AUKUS strategic collaboration are two important ways forward.  

The mark left by the Chinese government's COVID-19 policies is still visible today, despite the silencing of the people's protest. While there is no stomach for force change from the government, nor is there any desire to return to the way things were. 

The end of MINUSMA is bad news of Mali’s civilians, who are increasingly targeted by Malian forces and mercenary groups in counter-terrorism efforts. These forces are likely to further fuel the expansion of jihadist violence.

The Biden administration has made strong progress in promoting women’s representation in important top national security positions. At the lower level, more needs to be done to increase full gender parity.