The fall of El-Fashir on October 26, 2025 marked a turning point in Sudan’s civil war waged since April 2023. After an eighteen-month siege, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized the last major stronghold of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in Darfur and immediately carried out mass killings against unarmed civilians, including the reported execution […]
The announcement of Donald Trump’s proposed 20-point peace plan in October 2025 at first seemed to offer the tangible prospect of an end to the ongoing destruction in Gaza, with Hamas signing the agreement on October 9. Complying with the terms of the first phase of the agreement, Hamas returned all of the 20 remaining […]
The United Arab Emirates presents a compelling narrative of gender progress with its rapid modernisation, extensive educational achievements among women and international recognition for its national policies advancing gender parity. Yet the notion of patriarchal bargaining is critical to understanding the intricate forces that shape women’s empowerment and their capacity to assume leadership roles in […]
Since October 2023, Gaza has endured an unprecedented intensive military offensive, defined by massive bombardments, the systematic demolition of civilian infrastructure and the imposition of a siege. This war operates in a broader scenario of military impunity that increasingly challenges international law, whereby Israel simultaneously conducts extraterritorial strikes in Syria, Lebanon, Iran, and Yemen with […]
Iran’s threat perceptions, which centre the regime’s own survival, have been sharply triggered by Israel’s war in Gaza and the subsequent attacks on its soil. This has rendered its traditional forward defense strategy increasingly less viable amid the degradation of its long-time posture of regional deterrence. To safeguard its interests, Tehran is re-calibrating along two […]
The United Nations has described the current crisis in Sudan as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. The war that erupted on 15 April 2023 in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and a powerful paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has resulted in famine and allegations of genocide in the western Darfur region. […]
Iran’s forward defense strategy, coupled with strategic miscalculations, has led to a retrenchment of its role in Lebanon’s domestic politics; a curtailment which in turn has reduced Hezbollah’s power base. This weakening has resulted in a marked shift in the balance of power, tilting deterrence in favor of Israel, the US, and Hezbollah’s opponents within […]
As global dynamics continue to shift, the importance of countries in the Global South, such as those in Central Asia, is further elevated. This elevated importance helps explains the recent expansion of BRICS into Central Asia, and reflects the region’s growing economic and geopolitical significance. Central Asia, with its strategic location and abundant resources, has […]
When it comes to nuclear power, Australian and Kazakhstan share many similarities with both countries currently considering their nuclear futures. While Australian opposition leader, Peter Dutton continues to advocate for the development of a domestic nuclear power industry as part of his 2025 election campaign, Kazakhstan’s government is moving ahead with construction of its first […]
Earlier this year, in a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US President Donald Trump asserted the US would not only take over Gaza but transform it into what he described as the ‘Riviera of the Middle East’. His comments have been roundly criticised as tantamount to a violation of the Geneva convention, which […]
Only small numbers of Central Asia migrants make their way to Australia yet the experience in the broader Asia Pacific suggests that this could be a missed opportunity for Australia to benefit from skilled Central Asian migrants.
The strengthening of ties between Australia and Turkmenistan comes as domestic politics in the Central Asian states settles into a new pattern following last year’s leadership transition.
