Much is at stake as negotiators meet in New York this week in hopes of aligning disparate transatlantic regulations.
Indigenous prisoners perform a welcome ceremony at the 2014 opening of Darwin’s $500 million prison, which is likely to be full by 2018.
AAP/Neda Vanovac
The Northern Territory stands out for having one of the highest imprisonment rates in the world - much higher even than in the US - and it’s hard to argue that this does the community much good.
Despite declining gun fatalities, there should be no room for complacency in Australia, with an estimated 260,000 illegal guns in Australia – including this MP5K 9mm machine gun, seized in Queensland in 2013.
Dan Peled/AAP
The rate of fatal shootings has fallen in Australia, the US and other nations in recent decades. Yet anti- and pro-gun ideology still makes it hard to have a sensible discussion about gun violence.
Iranians, who celebrated in the streets of Tehran following this month’s nuclear agreement, are keen to rebuild relations with the West.
EPA/Abedin Taherkenareh
By reaching out to Iran, Australia can help end a long stand-off with the West that prevented solutions to many of the world’s most dangerous problems, including Syria’s civil war and Islamic State.
Jubilation in the streets of Tehran after news of the deal which means sanctions will be lifted.
EPA/Abedin Taherkenareh
Iran is celebrating this historic deal – along with the rest of the world. But Iran’s religious leader can still throw a spanner in the works.
The US proposes to meet its climate targets through regulation, including reducing carbon emissions from coal power plants by a third below 2005 levels.
Cathy/Flickr
The United States’ post-2020 climate target raises many questions for this year’s global climate talks, and puts pressure on Australia to raise the stakes.
Pole position: the resource-rich Arctic matters like never before.
Duncan C
As the ice recedes and technology for recovering resources in extreme conditions improves, the Arctic could become the theatre for future global conflicts. Here’s the story so far.
When Raymond Odierno has beef, it’s best to listen.
EPA
Summer camps popular in the US are said to stop the summer “learning slide”, which is particularly important for low socio-economic children. But camps can also be quite expensive. So should we adopt the practice here?
North Korea is in a human rights spat with the US.
EPA
North Korea is outraged over an upcoming conference in Washington DC about its human rights abuses, to which it has not been invited. Pyongyang strongly denies that it has been alienating the human rights…
The second open enrolment period of the US Affordable Care Act, which was due to close on February 15 has been extended in most US states. Estimates vary, but around 10m people have already enrolled on…
A show of force. Will China assert itself?
Sam Ilić
Whether you fear or welcome a challenge to the world’s existing power structure, the main focus of attention is on when China will begin to translate its increasing influence into genuine global leadership…
Did the Saudis and the Americans do a deal over oil in 2008-09?
solkanar
What on earth is going on in the oil market? Does the recent 60% collapse in oil prices in six months really reflect shifts in underlying supply and demand for crude oil? I’m afraid not, as I have been…
Warning: this article contains spoilers. The Oscar nominations loom, and Bennett Miller’s quiet masterpiece Foxcatcher deserves recognition. The film is a genuine “state of the nation” story, something…
This is the area that holds strategic importance
Reuters/Balazs Koranyi
In a few short months the United States assumes Chair of the Arctic Council (AC). This is a two-year long opportunity to shape the future of the Arctic, an opportunity that will likely not come around…
The restoration of full diplomatic relations between the US and Cuba, announced simultaneously by Barack Obama and Raúl Castro yesterday, is a huge political breakthrough. The benefits to the Cuban economy…
Peep, peep: calling time on poor protections.
Steven Depolo
Think whistleblowing is a matter of telling the truth? Think again. “Successful” whistleblowing, where the protagonist actually manages to make themselves heard in the media and get the support of the…
Associate Professor in Islamic Studies, Director of The Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation and Executive Member of Public and Contextual Theology, Charles Sturt University