There is a new space race underway, and while the US, China and Russia are the dominant players, a number of other countries and companies are vying for a piece of the lucrative space pie. Leading Australian strategist Alan Dupont and space law specialist Dr Cassandra Steer argue that Australia has the potential to be a much bigger player in the new space age, but at the moment we’re being left behind.

Solicitor Bernard Collaery and his client Witness K are seen as heroes in East Timor. The longer the Australian Government pursues the prosecutions of those two people, the more they alienate East Timor, lawyer Ian Cunliffe argues. That's a problem, because we need a good relationship with that country, given China's interest in it. And then there's the missed opportunity for helium in that oil and gas deal.

The AFP and FBI have been lauded this week for their successful sting operation, known as Operation Ironside. It was enabled by the existence of Australia’s controversial Telecommunications Assistance and Access Act (TOLA), which gives law enforcement access to encrypted communications. The Prime Minister has seized the opportunity to push for more powers to intercept communications, but could these be a step too far?

The monthly segment The Pick where guests who deal in foreign affairs discuss what they are listening to, watching and reading to keep them informed of international relations, as well as what they engaged in to relax. Guests this month are Alex Oliver director of research at the Lowy Institute and Rory Medcalf, head of the National Security College at the Crawford School of Public Policy.

Martin Indyk has spent the last four decades thinking and working towards better arrangements within the Middle East, being posted twice as the US Ambassador to Israel and being involved in peace talks under various US Presidents. He describes diplomacy as the art of moving political leaders to places they are reluctant to go. In this discussion, he talks about the current state of politics in both Israel and Palestine, the lack of trust and political will to find a solution. He also discusses the US diplomat Henry Kissinger and his desire for order as he distrusted peace. Martin is writing a book on Herny Kissinger, The Master of the Game which will be published in October this year.

Batteries big and small are the key to Australia's transition to renewables, and could be an important part of making us a renewable 'superpower'. Giles Parkinson, founder of the independent energy website RenewEconomy, and Dr Adam Best, Principal Research Scientist at CSIRO Manufacturing, join us to discuss the latest in battery development and how batteries might take Australia from "analog to digital".

Naomi Osaka’s withdrawal from the French Open this week has raised questions about the intersection of elite sport, traditional media, and athletes’ mental health. Two of the ABC’s most respected sporting commentators, Warwick Hadfield and Tracey Holmes, join us to discuss whether this will be a transformational moment, for tennis, and for elite sports more broadly.

We're pulling out our troops and closing our embassy in Kabul. There’s a growing chorus of voices – including from within the military establishment – saying that Australia is compounding the errors already made in Afghanistan. So what are our ethical, or moral obligations. And is it too late to put things right?

Claims to have reached the summits of the highest mountains in the world are being disputed. It is a badge of honour to have climbed all 14 of the world’s '8000 metre' mountains. Only 44 people say they have done this. But it's possible no-one has been to all 14 summits. Some in the mountaineering world are calling for more honesty and transparency.

What's it like to be a diplomat based in Australia? And how do you straddle significant changes in foreign policy with such a fundamental recent change in the White House? Sharon discusses the challenges in foreign affairs and what has changed during her time, including the treatment of women.

Sharon Hudson Dean is the US Consul General based in Sydney. This is her second posting to Australia in her 28 years as an American diplomat. She has also held positions in Zimbabwe, Russia, South Africa, Nepal and Latvia.