Taiwan’s new president was once a ‘hothead’. Can he beat back China?
For years, it has been the biggest question in geopolitics. Who will win the struggle for world domination? China? Or the United States? American president Joe Biden has dubbed it the “fight to win the 21st century”. But behind the grandiose rhetoric, there is one tiny country stuck in the middle …
Gina Rinehart and the portraits that captivated the world
It’s not everyday that an Australian artwork gets thrust into the global spotlight, let alone becomes a punchline on a hugely popular American late night talk show. But all that changed last week, after news broke that Australia’s richest woman demanded that her portrait be taken down from the wal…
Iran’s president has been killed. What does it mean for the Middle East?
Iran state media confirmed on Monday that president Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash on a foggy mountain side in a hard-to-reach corner of north-west Iran. Was his death an accident, or not? And might it escalate the ever-growing tensions between Iran, and Israel, its sworn enemy, which so…
David McBride: Heroic whistleblower, or, something else?
Defence force whistleblower David McBride was jailed last week for more than five years for leaking documents to the ABC. His information formed the basis of what became known as the Afghan Files, which aired allegations war crimes were committed by Australian soldiers in Afghanistan. McBride has b…
Inside Politics: Has the government written an election winning budget?
The government handed down its third federal budget this week, and it was the usual blizzard of figures. Treasurer Jim Chalmers gave us hand-outs, grand plans for the future and some heroic predictions on inflation figures. Today, chief political correspondent David Crowe and national affairs e…
Netanyahu and Hamas know this war is unwinnable. So how does it end?
As global outcry continues for the war in Gaza to end, after more than seven months, Hamas and Israel have reached an impasse. Recent ceasefire talks failed. And both sides are struggling. Much of Hamas’ fighting forces have been killed. And Israel’s main ally, the United States, just made the rem…
Budget 2024 - are you a winner or a loser?
It was always going to be a particularly tricky federal budget. Amid a cost-of-living crisis, the Albanese government had been tasked with providing relief to Australians, but without causing inflation to rise. Which would have the dreaded impact of leading to yet another interest rate rise. So, d…
Why is Elon Musk fighting with Australia's internet watchdog?
In the case of Elon Musk versus Australia’s E-Safety Commissioner, the billionaire owner of social media platform X had a win in court on Monday. A temporary order that forced the site to remove videos of the stabbing of a bishop in Sydney last month, was lifted ahead of a trial showdown between t…
The book banned in Sydney - and why it's a warning for Labor
About two weeks ago, a council in Sydney’s west voted to ban books about same-sex families. A former mayor and current councillor led the charge, brandishing a book he said his constituents complained about. Though he hadn’t read the book himself, he claimed residents wanted their kids kept safe f…
Inside Politics: Treasurer Jim Chalmers promises relief and reform in upcoming budget
The Federal government will hand down its third budget on Tuesday, May 14. Treasurer Jim Chalmers has promised the budget will be about cost of living relief and also reform. The Treasurer says people should also expect ambitious investment from the government on housing supply. Today, in a specia…