Counterpoint

What is it about Vladimir Putin that has made him sometimes seem historically weak against the U.S. and Europe and yet be seen as a bare chested strong man at home? How many buttons do you push in a day and here did the idea of buttons originate from? Toilets', they can be smelly and uncomfortable but could you live without one? Millions do every day.We know that puppies and kittens and babies are cute. But is there more to the idea of cute than we realise?

How can Australian universities ensure that any partnerships they have with Chinese universities don't also involve the Chinese military? They use the Chinese Defence University Tracker! Why is Latin America imploding and what happens after the protests there and in Hong Kong die down? What happens next? The bin chicken is considered to be a pest to most Australians but not to the Ancient Egyptians. For them they were so much more.

Is soft power going hard? What's the story behind China's date-driven power expansion and should we be worried? The fascinating story of some forgotten Australians and the secret to happiness and success is Korean. It's called Nunchi and we can all learn how to do it.

With the world's population booming and with an estimated 2.5 billion people moving into urban areas by 2050, with 90% of that taking place in Africa and Asia, what should be done? Iran's influence in the Middle East is waning, can it get it back or is too late? The long history of eco-pessimism and the surprising need for conspiracy theories.

Is there a connection between the Belt and Road Initiative and debt diplomacy in the Pacific? What is India's Act East Policy and is there a bamboo ceiling in Australia? Could CRISPR help reduce biodiversity loss worldwide?