Stubborn inflation in Indonesia could undermine trust in the government
As healthcare, education and housing costs rise sharply across Indonesia, public frustration is increasingly colliding with political rhetoric that appears disconnected from everyday economic realities.
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14 May 2026
The war on Iran will likely end in American retreat
The US and Israel expected a rapid collapse of the Iranian regime, but the war has instead exposed the limits of American power, the rising cost of modern warfare and Iran’s capacity to impose regional consequences.
13 May 2026
Is Australia America’s 51st state in Asia?
Both Labor and the Coalition are deepening Australia’s alignment with the United States, even as doubts grow about AUKUS, the rules-based order and the risks of being drawn into a US-China conflict.
13 May 2026
The old economics is failing – and the World Bank knows it
By coming out in favour of industrial policy after many decades of advising against government intervention in the economy, the World Bank has taken an important step. But it still has much further to go to translate real-world evidence into better policy advice.
13 May 2026
War destroys more than lives – it destroys cultural worlds
War, displacement and colonisation do not only destroy lives and communities, but also the cultural worlds, histories and shared meanings that give people a sense of continuity and belonging.
12 May 2026
Australia’s ISIS cases test law, politics and fairness
Three women repatriated from Syria have been charged with serious offences under Australian law, but the response from political leaders risks undermining the right to a fair trial.
12 May 2026
The two-party system is breaking under the weight of capitalism
Election results in Britain and Australia point to a deeper crisis in the two-party system, as economic power drifts further beyond the reach of democratic control.
12 May 2026
On-again, off-again war/peace rhetoric: just epic insider trading?
Epic insider trading by those who likely know Trump's plans is one characteristic of the US war on Iran, with some observers suggesting the on-again off-again peace deals are deliberately choreographed for the markets.
10 May 2026
An acid test of Indonesia's democracy
An acid attack by four Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) soldiers on a human rights activist highlights growing tensions as President Prabowo reinstates military influence in Indonesia's civilian administration.
10 May 2026
India's farms dodged the Hormuz crisis, but its budget didn't
The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to commercial vessels on 17 April 2026 came as a great relief for India. But the blocking of the strait revealed both how exposed Indian agriculture is to a single waterway and how heavily the government must lean on subsidies to insulate farmers from the consequences.
9 May 2026
Modi’s power grip, Japan’s regional pitch, Suu Kyi’s house arrest – Asian Media Report
BJP’s historic state dominance, Takaichi’s ‘proactive’ Indo-Pacific role, AI’s emerging role in diplomacy, Pyongyang’s ‘normal nation’ push, Myanmar’s change without change, Taiwan’s national happiness win.
9 May 2026
Suu Kyi's house arrest: a small gesture by struggling regime
Myanmar's regime has made some gestures to stabilise its internal situation, moving Aung San Suu Kyi to house arrest, releasing other political prisoners and holding (widely disparaged) elections. This is unlikely to appease its opposition forces, who want the regime gone.
8 May 2026
Return from Syria of four Australian women is no threat, but our cruelty to their kids is shameful
The return of four Australian women and nine children from Syria after the conflict with Islamic State is no cause for alarm and should not be politicised. Now is the time for their rehabilitation and reintegration into the community.
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26 April 2026
The Trump–pope clash echoes a centuries-old struggle
