COVID-19 has transformed surveillance. From shotgun temperature checks to sewage monitoring at the microbiological level, the manner in which biological metadata is being targeted, acquired, analysed, and reported has changed.

In normal times, a peace agreement in the Middle East is a rare event. The deal struck between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, brokered by US President Donald Trump, was a welcome surprise.

The 2020 US presidential election is a pivotal moment for global efforts to tackle climate change. No matter the result, Australia will face renewed pressure to do its share to reduce emissions.

The focus of last week’s elections was undeniably the presidency, but numerous down-ballot races and initiatives also made history.  With six states and Washington DC approving drug legalisation measures, America appears to be losing its war on drugs, and that’s a good thing.

As chief cabinet secretary in the Abe administration, Suga Yoshihide was adept at recommending the right people for the right cabinet posts. What do Prime Minister Suga’s cabinet picks tell us about his foreign policy?

Small, student-led protests against the current Thai government, the present constitution, and the monarchy began to occur across Thailand in the middle of this year.  The protests have grown dramatically in the past two months. Whether these protests will be fruitful in altering the current structure of governance remains questionable. 

This was the year that Vietnam was poised to make progress on its rise as a regional leader. Under the auspices of Vietnam’s ASEAN chairmanship, a breakthrough in global trade has been achieved despite rising protectionism and a global pandemic.

COVID-19 has hit Latin America with unimaginable force. In a region marred by structural inequalities and a huge gap between rich and poor, the pandemic could work, in practical terms, as a genocide of the poor.

25 August 2020 marks the third year of displacement for the people of Rakhine State, who continue to seek refuge in Bangladesh. The COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating the tough living conditions in the camps in Cox's Bazar and worsening any prospect of returning to Myanmar.

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit developing communities in ways which further highlight the need for data and evidence that can help them rebound better from the impact. Australia has an important role to play in supporting regional recovery.