Australia and New Zealand are increasing their activities related to outer space. Still, they are not the only countries in the region doing so.

Artificial Intelligence is becoming an increasingly significant technology. This brings risks due to the unpredictability and unknowability of future systems.

A necessity for coping with these conflict-ridden times is to increase capacity for peacebuilding. For Australia, those best placed to facilitate overseas peacebuilding efforts are its diplomats.

The death of Mahsa Amini triggered protests across Iran. These protests highlight the anger that Iranians hold toward their government and its regime.

Like so many other areas of international and regional multilateral endeavour, the frameworks for managing global nuclear affairs have serious gaps. Russia’s intervention in Ukraine has again demonstrated the weaknesses but also some of the strengths of this global nuclear order.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo was often praised for his government’s “womenomics” policy. However, there is a lack of evidence that this policy helped gender inequality in Japan.

The world is very clearly in transition. Change and decay is all around us, often accompanied by violence, threatened revolution, and sweeping political change.

On 11 August, the newly elected Colombian president, Gustavo Petro, announced the reinstatement of diplomatic relations with Venezuela. This is a vital step in improving the bilateral relationship.

This week in Australian foreign affairs: Albanese hosts Sogavare in Canberra, Wong condemns North Korea’s missile launch over Japan, rejection of court ruling against Professsor Sean Turnell, Stephen Smith to be next UK High Commissioner, and more.

Consumed by the war in Ukraine, Russia isn’t holding up a collective defence bargain for Central Asia and the Caucasus. The annexation of eastern Ukraine will make Russia even less attractive as a security ally.