The 2026 US Midterm Elections: Ramifications for Australia

The Pentagon has assigned the USS Colorado as the first US nuclear-powered attack submarine to join a rotating force to be based in Western Australia. The 115-metre (380-foot) Virginia-class submarine, armed with land-attack missiles and sophisticated torpedoes, would sail to the new Australian base in late 2027, officials said on Tuesday. The deployment was a “significant milestone” in building up a joint US-Australia-UK deterrence in the Pacific under their Aukus defence pact, the allies said...

In parts of Southeast Asia, unsold homes are piling up as developers struggle to clear housing stock – yet young buyers hoping to land their first property still cannot find an affordable home. The paradox reflects a growing mismatch between the homes being built and what aspiring buyers can afford, according to analysts, who point to speculative investment, financing hurdles and poor locations as factors leaving properties empty even amid demand for affordable housing. In Vietnam, the problem...

If so, to what end? Panda and Putz discuss on the latest episode of the Asia Geopolitics podcast.

Regardless of the Sino-Vatican agreement, the practical, multifaceted ties between Taiwan and the Holy See have deepened over the past year.

Tashkent summoned the Iranian ambassador to lodge a protest regarding social media posts by Iranian diplomatic missions.

The Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who is likely preparing to secure a fourth term in power in 2027, has complained that officials cannot be trusted.

In the wake of the Pukpuk Treaty, Australia and PNG continued to deepen relations with a new rotation planned, defense infrastructure investment, and expanded ADF recruitment.

A Singaporean woman pleaded guilty on Monday to conspiring with a friend and the friend’s boyfriend to abuse four-year-old Megan Khung, and helping to dispose of the child’s body after she died following months of abuse. Nouvelle Chua Ruoshi, 36, pleaded guilty to three charges, including conspiracy to commit child abuse, intentional disposal of a corpse and methamphetamine consumption, The Straits Times reported. Three further charges for conspiracy to commit child abuse will be considered when...

However justified or inevitable it might be, this represents a major shift in how the U.S. has thought about intellectual property for the last three decades.

Since June, civil society groups and local media warned of PLA encroachments into Arunachal Pradesh. Hitherto, Delhi’s response was to deny and dismiss their claims.

The Philippines faces the highest climate-driven port damage costs in Southeast Asia, with annual losses projected to hit US$70.2 billion by 2100, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has warned. Analysts say the damage could cripple supply chains, drive up food prices and threaten livelihoods, urging Manila to adopt a more coordinated approach to flood protection rather than simply strengthening port infrastructure. In its latest report titled “Asia-Pacific Climate Report 2026: Coastal Risks on the...