Hilarious. But disappointing it’s not ‘all weather’. 😉

Fifa is an enormous criminal enterprise which has unilaterally enclosed world football and now charges fees and accepts bribes to access it. Its main responsibility, the oversight and awarding of the World Cup, is a relatively small task that in no way justifies the number of staff it has or the billions of pounds the organisation extorts from sponsors, hosts and broadcasters. And, above all, Fifa is beyond reform. It needs to be abolished completely and replaced by a new world football body.

Happy Christmas eve & China military power report day to all who celebrate. Hope you've all been opening your "purged CMC members & PLA generals of 2025" advent calendar.
media.defense.gov/2025/Dec/23/...

New Storm Shadow and missile cooperation to boost jobs as UK and France reboot defence relationship A new ‘Entente Industrielle’ will support thousands of UK jobs across projects including air-to air missiles

“a newly signed declaration will state for the first time that the respective deterrents of [UK & France] are independent but can be co-ordinated, and that there is no extreme threat to Europe that would not prompt a response by both nations.” www.gov.uk/government/n...

The most important number in the 2025 Lowy Poll. 21 years undefeated! Thanks Australia!

Assistant Professor in Political Science - Singapore job with NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE | 393132 The Department of Political Science at the National University of Singapore invites application for one full-time tenure-track position ...

Job at NUS in Singapore - junior, tenure-track, and international relations. www.timeshighereducation.com/unijobs/list...

Diplomacy in the Age of Uncertainty: Navigating Geopolitical Crossroads with Michael Kovrig - Canadian International Council Title: Diplomacy in the Age of Uncertainty: Navigating Geopolitical Crossroads with Michael Kovrig Date: May 14, 5:30pm Format: In-person, remarks and moderated armchair discussion. Description: Join ...

If you're in Ottawa, I'll be talking about my latest research for the International CrisisGroup on China-West strategic rivalry and Indo-Pacific geopolitics with Jonathan Berkshire Miller on May 14. Thanks to the Canadian International Council for hosting. Join us if you can!

Bursting the Solomon Islands stability bubble A mass cabinet exodus sets up another leadership change amid shifting Chinese influence in the Pacific nation.

“The opposition can club together to oust a sitting prime minister but then splinter over the divisive question of choosing an alternative leader,” writes Jon Fraenkel in The Interpreter.
https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/bursting-solomon-islands-stability-bubble

UK and EU to finalise plans for defence pact Prime minister and European Commission president expected to hold talks on sidelines of London energy summit

“Sir Keir Starmer and Ursula von der Leyen will on Thursday finalise plans for a new UK/EU defence pact and an agreement on the sensitive area of fishing rights, paving the way for negotiations on a broader economic deal.” on.ft.com/4irTLjB

"I want to say in very clear words that these terrorists and those who conspired towards this attack will get a punishment bigger than they can imagine."
This is stronger rhetoric than I have heard before, after earlier attacks.

OUT NOW Maritime Affairs Issue 11 | Securing Our Data: Subsea Cables and Maritime Security in Southeast Asia by @cynthia-mehboob.bsky.social & @fitbintim.bsky.social.
www.latrobe.edu.au/__data/asset...

As much as anything, a positive and welcome sign of commitment to free trade at a time of rampant protectionism. www.beehive.govt.nz/release/upgr...

New Zealand extends NZDF training, intelligence and logistics deployments in support of Ukraine through to December 2026. www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-...

Source: Tom McIlroy’s excellent new book on “the painting that changed a nation”. Highly recommended.

In 1973, Gough Whitlam responded to criticism about the price paid for Jackson Pollock’s abstract expressionist masterpiece “Blue Poles”, by joking it would at least help offset the US’s “adverse balance of payments” with Australia.

The Once and Future World Order: Why the West Needs to Work with 'the Rest' | Te Pokapū Take Rautaki Aotearoa / Centre for Strategic Studies | Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington A public lecture by the 2025 Sir Howard Kippenberger Visiting Chair in Strategic Studies.

Looking forward to having Amitav Acharya as the 2025 Sir Howard Kippenberger Visiting Chair in Strategic Studies at the Centre for Strategic Studies @vicuniwgtn.bsky.social @davidcapie.bsky.social! Do join us (& register) for his exciting public lecture on 3 April! www.wgtn.ac.nz/strategic-st...

NZ’s India engagement gathering pace.

It'll be interesting to see if planes full of returning illegal immigrants plus the imposition of tariffs on Indian goods and services temper Delhi's enthusiasm for the return of Trump. PS. He still doesn't understand how tariffs work. www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/t...

Informative chapter on maritime security in New Zealand by @davidcapie@bsky.social

NZ may cut funding to Kiribati Kiribati could lose out on more than $100 million in aid after leaving Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters high and dry. Peters spoke to Corin Dann.

Interview with Winston Peters about review of NZ aid to Kiribati followed cancelled visit. Stresses need for “accountability”. Also asked about his recent call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and latest Trump pronouncements. www.rnz.co.nz/national/pro...

Secretary Rubio’s Call with New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Peters - United States Department of State The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce: Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters today. The Secretary and the Depu...

State Dept readout of call between Marco Rubio and Winston Peters.

“The Secretary praised New Zealand’s commitment to defending our shared values and its proactive stance in aligning with like-minded partners to address these challenges.” www.state.gov/secretary-ru...

NZDF celebrates successful launch of a second satellite payload A second New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) payload, hosted on a United States research satellite, has been successfully launched into orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon-9 rocket.

“A second New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) payload, hosted on a United States research satellite, has been successfully launched into orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon-9 rocket.”

www.nzdf.mil.nz/media-centre...

Military numbers unlikely to increase after defence review Budgetary and recruitment constraints will affect the size of the armed forces but a ‘homeland defence force’ could result in greater co-operation with emergency services

"Admiral Sir Ben Key, the head of the navy, is understood not to have asked for more sailors in his submission to the review, believing that in 20 to 30 years destroyers and frigates will be autonomous." www.thetimes.com/uk/defence/a...

“In a show of enhanced cooperation and interoperability between Australia and New Zealand, a senior member of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) has become Deputy Air Commander Australia (DACAUST) of RAAF as of January 13.”

www.defence.gov.au/news-events/...

It’s hard to overstate how far Republican standards have sunk. In Trump I, John Ratcliffe’s nomination for DNI was withdrawn because he was considered inexperienced. He looks like Dean Acheson compared to Hegseth, who received rave reviews from Wicker & co today. Astonishing.

Today is the day! Delighted that this is out! Co-authored with Amitav Acharya @yalepress.bsky.social 1/n
yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300...

'A good direction': Departing US Ambassador talks trade, AUKUS, and climate Ambassador Tom Udall has been in New Zealand since 2021.

Farewell interview with departing US Ambassador to New Zealand Tom Udall. Touches on security ties, including AUKUS, trade and possible tariffs, climate and his interest in indigenous issues. www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...

Jesus really has saved Pete Hegseth. He's now waxing lyrical about female engagement teams & how great they were in Iraq. He's about five minutes away from whipping out a copy of Carol Cohn and discussing the scourge of gendered language in defence.

Terrific seminar from Amitav Acharya & Manjeet S. Pardesi on their reconceptualisation of Indo-Pacific, ably chaired by ISEAS’ Ian Storey. Their forthcoming book “Divergent Worlds” is going to be a must read.

Penny Wong to represent Australia at Trump’s inauguration www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/penny...