America's legendary ignorance about Africa persists
Sep 20, 2016 01:49 am UTC| Insights & Views
Fifty six years ago, John F. Kennedy made 479 references to Africa during the US presidential campaign. He observed that America had lost ground on the continent because of failures to meet the need and aspirations of the...

How Cold War anxieties still shape our world today
Sep 20, 2016 01:25 am UTC| Insights & Views
World War II led to the massive mobilisation of all the people and resources nations could bring to bear. This was total war on a global scale, producing a new sense among nations that their fates were interconnected. New...
The saga of Britain's arms sales to Saudi Arabia hits a disturbing new low
Sep 20, 2016 01:09 am UTC| Insights & Views
The recent parliamentary bunfight over UK arms export policy towards Saudi Arabia illustrates the governments boundless ability to mangle the meaning of simple words. Under the 2008 EU Common Position on arms exports,...

Merkel's party slumps in Berlin election, but don't count her out for 2017
Sep 19, 2016 09:03 am UTC| Politics
Angela Merkels CDU is having a tough time of late. The latest blow came via the Berlin state parliament election, where the party managed to cling on to second place but was dumped out of the citys government. This was...
Valerie Amos: 'academic freedom and freedom of speech must be protected and respected'
Sep 15, 2016 06:18 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics
This is an extract from a speech made by Valerie Amos for the Menzies Oration on Higher Education at the University of Melbourne on September 14, 2016. You will be aware of the student movement linked to the...
With 10,000 Syrian refugees resettled in the US, are more on the way?
Sep 15, 2016 02:09 am UTC| Insights & Views
On Sept. 12, a new cease-fire took effect in Syria. With a lull in fighting, some are hopeful for an end to the nations ongoing civil war. Yet, even if the war ends soon, rebuilding the country will take time. As many...
Putin, IS and military preparedness: Six essential reads
Sep 09, 2016 10:55 am UTC| Insights & Views
Editors note: The following is a collection of archival stories related to military preparedness, combating IS and Russian President Vladimir Putin. This week, presidential candidates Democrat Hillary Clinton and...