The plaque honours ordinary people who risked their lives in the Pacific, gathering intelligence and saving others, often at great personal cost. Many islanders died helping. John F Kennedy (later US President) among those saved.

The author argues that Indo-Pacific states are rejecting binary alignment. At Shangri-La Dialogue, many advocated for strategic autonomy, forming overlapping coalitions, and pursuing regional agency instead of siding with either the US or China.

US increasingly depends on space. Its adversaries are developing the capability to deny access while simultaneously using space to target and attack terrestrial forces. A hefty budget is required to develop appropriate electronic warfare capability.

The article challenges the oversimplified view that addiction is merely a trauma response. It emphasizes that while trauma can contribute to addiction, many individuals with substance use disorders do not have a trauma history.

The article explores how perceived speed can distort decision-making, causing individuals to favour immediate but less effective actions. Cognitive biases around time pressure can undermine performance in complex, high-stakes or ambiguous environments.

Perfectionism, the relentless pursuit of perfection, is widely encouraged by supervisors. This can actually lead to underachievement and burnout, lost productivity, increased turnover, and the systematic suppression of innovation and risk-taking.

Un-crewed systems—air, sea, and ground—are reshaping risk management in high-threat environments, where rapid innovation is essential. Ukraine plans a layered air drone wall, while robots manoeuvre along the front, with soldiers hidden underground.

Recent military operations have blurred tactical execution with strategic messaging by releasing operational visuals, drone footage, and mission graphics. This convergence shows warfare becoming performative—where operations inherently include communication as a key component.

The parade highlighted advances in drones, missiles, and artificial intelligence—yet questions remain about the ability to integrate these systems effectively. It also presented Xi, Putin, and Kim in a united front.

Research shows kindness improves trust, performance, and resilience in teams. Leaders who demonstrate empathy and compassion foster stronger relationships, higher morale, and better outcomes, especially in high-pressure, complex work environments.