Fission and fusion are both nuclear reactions. But while one involves splitting atoms, the other involves fusing atoms together.

The government’s push for closer relations with the US could be undone by a Trump victory in November.

The polls predict the UK is headed for a change of government. If Labour wins, would much change for Australia?

The protracted deliberations over joining AUKUS pillar two suggest New Zealand is hoping questions of security, trade and domestic opinion will be solved in time. That’s unlikely.

We now know official New Zealand meetings to discuss ‘AUKUS Tier 2’ took place much earlier than previously disclosed – raising questions about the security pact’s underlying purpose.

Anthony Albanese will trek the Kokoda track on Tuesday and Wednesday, before attending the Anzac Day Dawn Service. The trek is a favourite with politicians.

Concern is rising that an in-principle decision has been made about New Zealand joining AUKUS pillar two, without public understanding or political mandate.

During a state visit to the White House, the US and Japanese leaders announce a suite of new agreements aimed at countering China’s growing power.

AUKUS is still a very new partnership, so expansion isn’t viewed as a priority until the envisioned technology sharing is proven to work.

Kim Beazley, a former Labor leader and Australia's ambassador in Washington joins us to talk about Donald Trump's denigrating comments about Kevin Rudd, AUKUS and the Australia-Chinese relationship.

Amid reports of a dip in US production of nuclear submarines and concerns about the future of the agreement under Donald Trump, some have questioned the viability of AUKUS. But they need not worry.

Potential economic gains are partly driving interest in joining pillar two of AUKUS. The risks and rewards need to be more widely debated before any decision is made.

Signing up to ‘pillar two’ of the AUKUS alliance sits uneasily with New Zealand’s distinctive worldview – and could aggravate its wider foreign policy challenges.

Global political unrest has highlighted the importance of a credible foreign policy. It may be time for the New Zealand government to consider the revitalisation of ANZAC and participation with AUKUS.

Australia’s allies are serious about the risk of research espionage - and one way or another, we need to catch up.