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Latika M BourkeWriter-At-Large

Latika M Bourke is The Nightly’s Writer-at-Large in London, specialising in geopolitics and is an Expert Associate at the Australian National University’s National Security College. She spent eight years in the Canberra press gallery and previously worked for The Sydney Morning Herald, ABC and 2UE. Latika hosts Latika Takes: The Podcast.

Email Latika M BourkeX @latikambourke
In an exclusive interview, Anthony Albanese praised his three years in office as the most stable first-term government “potentially in the whole post-war period”.

The NightlyAlbo reveals shock third term plans in exclusive interview

In part two of Anthony Albanese’s exclusive interview with The Nightly, the PM tells Latika M Bourke he’ll seek a third term if re-elected on May 3 and flagged a major cabinet reshuffle.

Latika M Bourke

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s reluctance to address economic strategy could be an open attack point for the Coalition and Peter Dutton.

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OpinionComments
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Albo’s economic uncertainty offers Dutton an attack point

LATIKA M BOURKE: Day 11 of the Federal election campaign and one thing is certain: Albo has no clear answers for what he will do in the coming years. He is certain only that there will be uncertainty.   

Latika M Bourke

Latika M Bourke

The Nightly can reveal that CCP submarine research vessel the Tan Suo Yi Hao is positioned inside Australia’s exclusive economic zone off the SA coast.

Federal election 2025VideoComments‘I’d prefer it wasn’t there’: Albo’s odd ‘spy’ ship welcome

Anthony Albanese says it’s okay for China to use deep-sea research ships off Australia’s coast, adding he ‘would prefer that it wasn’t there’ but that the ADF do the same thing in the Taiwan Strait.

Latika M Bourke

Anthony Albanese has been warned by a top Labor strategist that an early campaign move has put seats at risk.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
Federal election 2025Comments
The West Australian exclusive
‘Voters dumped’: Top Labor strategist issues Albo warning

LATIKA M BOURKE: A top Labor strategist says Anthony Albanese has put a huge number of seats ‘at risk’ with an early campaign move, warning voters have ‘dumped’ the PM and primary support is haemorrhaging.

Latika M Bourke

Opposition leader Peter Dutton may have been given a free kick on defence spending, writes Latika M Bourke.

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Federal PoliticsComments
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Defence dilemma a free kick to combat ready Coalition

LATIKA M BOURKE: Chalmers’ failure to hike national security spend in line with US expectations shows Labor doesn’t want a national security election. That’s a boost for Dutton.

Latika M Bourke

Dumped British MP Jonathan Ashworth has warned of the perils of voting for independents.

The Nightly‘Jack s..t’: Axed MP’s stark warning on independents

A high-profile former British MP, who was ousted by a Gaza independent in the UK election, has issued a stark warning to Aussie voters.

Latika M Bourke

Britain and France are bringing together a Coalition of the Willing.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
EXCLUSIVEComments
The West Australian exclusive
Australia should stand beside the Coalition of the Willing 

Latika M Bourke: Russia paved the way for Australia by involving North Korean troops in the Ukraine, former ambassador says.

Latika M Bourke 

US President Donald Trump told President Volodymyr Zelenskiy "You are gambling with World War III". (AP PHOTO)

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Donald TrumpVideoComments
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Why Europe may hold key to calming ugly White House spat

LATIKA M BOURKE: The Oval Office shouting match between Donald Trump, JD Vance and Ukraine’s President was ugly and catastrophic. And it will take a strong voice from Europe to help stabilise tensions now.

Latika M Bourke

There’s concerns that Donald Trump’s aggressive foreign policy approach to his allies may ultimately cost him in the long run against China’s growing influence.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
World PoliticsComments
The West Australian exclusive
Could disruptor-in-chief Trump be disrupting his own agenda?

LATIKA M BOURKE: The US President’s former national security adviser has raised concerns that the Trump Administration’s aggressive foreign policy with allies could eventually sabotage itself against China. 

Latika M Bourke

Trump is playing puppet master with Europe

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World PoliticsComments
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Trump plays puppet master with an increasingly angry Europe

LATIKA M BOURKE: With one phone call, Donald Trump hijacked the agenda in Europe without leaving the Oval Office, angering European leaders who find themselves on the back foot in Russian-Ukraine negotiations

Latika M Bourke

Australia should not become complacent to Trump tariffs.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
Donald TrumpComments
The West Australian exclusive
Business warns not to be complacent in face of Trump tariffs

One of Australia’s leading business figures says Australia cannot afford to assume Donald Trump won’t also target Australia with taxes on exports to the United States. 

Latika M Bourke

How will the Trump administration balance the geopolitical puzzle involving Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping and Volodymyr Zelensky.

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World PoliticsComments
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Team Trump has ruled out Ukraine joining NATO, so what now?

The President-elect campaigned on a vow to end the conflict within his first 24 hours of being back in the White House. So what are the implications of his decision to revise that timeframe?

Latika M Bourke