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Friday, July 3, 2026
News and Views from the Global South
AUSTRALIA: Wary of Asia Pacific’s Modernising Militaries
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has warned that Australia needs to prepare for "the increased militarisation" of the Asia-Pacific.INDIA/AUSTRALIA: Sticking to Uranium Export Ban – For Now
The Rudd government has reiterated its refusal to sell uranium to countries which have not signed up to the Nuclear non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), such as India, despite supporting the decision by the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) to back the United States-India nuclear cooperation agreement.SOUTH PACIFIC: Cherry Picking Labour
Doubts remain over the "development" potential - promoted by the government and farmers - of a recently-announced scheme which will see Pacific islanders handed temporary working visas to pick Australian fruit.
ENVIRONMENT-AUSTRALIA: Top Expert’s Emissions Target Slammed
The Rudd government’s hand-picked climate change advisor’s recommended targets for reducing Australia’s greenhouse gas (GhG) emissions have been widely denounced by environmentalists and leading scientists.AUSTRALIA: Winning ‘Hearts and Minds’ in Afghanistan?
Responses by defence officials in the wake of a recent inquiry into claims that Australian soldiers mistreated detainees in Afghanistan undermine efforts to win the battle for hearts and minds in that war-ravaged country.SOUTH PACIFIC: Climate Change Refugees Look to Australia, N.Z.
With the apparent effects of global warming already being felt among Pacific island nations, Australia and New Zealand are being urged to do more to prepare for ‘climate change refugees’.RIGHTS-INDONESIA: Spy Boss’ Trial May Reveal More on Munir Murder
The current trial of former top Indonesian spy Muchdi Purwopranjono may be another stepping stone on the road to justice in relation to the sensational 2004 murder of human rights activist Munir Said Thalib.AUSTRALIA: Combined Effort to Tackle Human Trafficking
A new collaborative approach among Australian government, police and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) is being developed to tackle the scourge of human trafficking.EAST TIMOR/INDONESIA: 'Restorative Justice' Is Justice Denied?
East Timor’s most prominent independence leaders - currently holders of the young nation’s two highest political offices - may now be the main obstacles to obtaining justice for victims of the 1999 referendum-related violence.
AUSTRALIA: ‘Refugee Detention Reforms Fine – More Needed’
While refugee advocates have welcomed recent changes to the government’s policy of mandatory detention of unauthorised arrivals to Australia, they argue that reforms should go further.MEDIA-AUSTRALIA: TV Network Denies Censor Role in China
An electronic paper trail indicates that one of Australia’s leading television networks may be involved in dissuading foreign media in China against covering "forbidden" topics.
AUSTRALIA: Road to Olympic Success Paved With Gold
While Australia is expected to feature prominently during medal presentations at this month’s Beijing Olympics, success will have come at a price.AUSTRALIA: Court Upholds Free Speech at Major Catholic Event
While young Catholics from around the world have converged on Sydney to rejoice in their faith during this year’s World Youth Day, others are celebrating the removal of a controversial regulation which would have made protesting during the event a risky venture.ENVIRONMENT-AUSTRALIA: New Plan to Undermine Japanese Whaling
Australia is hopeful that its proposal for a new multi-national whale research program - in which whales are not killed - announced at the recent International Whaling Commission meeting in Chile will place considerable pressure on Japan’s controversial whaling programme.AUSTRALIA: Indigenous Voices Lacking in Gov’t Intervention
While the Australian government insists that important progress was made in the first year of its controversial "emergency response" in the Northern Territory - ostensibly to protect indigenous children from abuse - activists are calling for affected communities to be consulted.AUSTRALIA: Food At Risk From Bee Pest
Australia’s food security is under threat from a tiny parasite with the potential to devastate the nation’s bee and pollination industries.AUSTRALIA: Concerns For Refugees Despite Better Treatment
While Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s government has been promoting recent improvements in its treatment of refugees and asylum seekers during national Refugee Week serious concerns regarding the health, welfare and safety of those seeking protection in Australia remain.
AUSTRALIA-IRAQ: Troops Withdraw, Howard Comes Under Fire
The withdrawal of Australian combat troops from Iraq is coinciding with a push to have the man responsible for the country’s participation in the "coalition of the willing", former prime minister John Howard, indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes.AUSTRALIA: Olympics Terror Threat a Bogy – Experts
With less than two months to go before the Beijing Olympics begin, analysts have rejected claims that terrorism is a major threat to the Games, despite recent reports from China of militant activity.ENVIRONMENT-AUSTRALIA: Pulp Mill Doomed as Bankers Back Off
Recent developments in the ongoing saga of the controversial and yet-to-be-built pulp mill in Tasmania’s Tamar Valley may have swung the issue in favour of the mill’s opponents.EAST TIMOR: No Justice for Victims of 1999 Killings
Those responsible for violence related to the 1999 referendum on independence in East Timor - in which more than 1,000 people are believed to have died - are not expected to face justice, according to a leading expert.« Previous Page — Next Page »
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