Current News 28th Nov 2025
Which city had a major fire in apartment buildings over the last couple of days?
Hong Kong
What is the name of Australia’s security alliance with the United States that was established in 1951? Acronym
ANZUS
What type of conflict involves a state fighting actors within its own borders?
Civil war
What is sovereignty?
The authority of a state to govern itself without external interference.
Which country is currently considered the world’s largest economy by GDP (nominal)?
The United States
Headline: 'Trump could attack this nation. These flashpoints explain why' Which nations is this article alluding to?
Venezuela
Which region is the current main strategic focus of Australian (and U.S allegedly) foreign policy?
Indo-Pacific
What is an example of a non-state armed group?
ISIS, Taliban, or Boko Haram.
What is a non-state actor?
An actor that influences global politics but is not a country (e.g., NGOs, corporations, terrorist groups).
Which country consistently ranks as the world’s most influential soft power state due to culture, media, and alliances?
United States
Which new laws will likely be amended this week in Australia?
Environmental protections (conservation)
What partnership did Australia join with the US and UK in 2021, focused on nuclear-powered submarines? AND what is the acronym of the loose security agreement between Australia, U.S, India and Japan?
AUKUS and The QUAD
How does globalisation challenge state sovereignty?
It reduces the control states have over borders, information, economies, and non-state actors, weakening traditional decision-making power.
What does “unipolarity” mean?
A global power structure dominated by one superpower.
Which country is often ranked as Europe’s most powerful state due to its economic strength.
Germany.
Name three of the five Ukrainian regions that Russia currently controls all or most of.
Kherson, Crimea, Zaporizhia, Donesk, Luhansk
Name the Australia foreign minister AND Defence minister
Penny Wong and Richard Marles
What is an example of a security challenge that is non-military
Pandemic, climate change
What is multilateralism?
When three or more states cooperate on an issue, usually through international organisations (e.g., the UN).
Which country has the world’s highest defence spending as a percentage of GDP among major powers?
Russia (among major powers; some small states spend more, but not major powers).
What new service is France making mandatory?
Military conscription
What regional organisation does Australia participate in that focuses on economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific?
APEC
Why do modern proxy wars often occur during major power competition?
Powerful states avoid direct conflict as nuclear war is so destructive
What is the “social contract”?
The theory that people give up some freedoms to the state in exchange for protection and order.
Q: Name three emerging powers (often called “rising powers”) that are projected to have significant global influence by 2050.
India, Brazil, Indonesia (sometimes also Nigeria or Mexico depending on the sources).