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Welcome back to ASPI suggests, where we kick off this week\u2019s reading, listening and viewing suggestions with the confirmation of eight candidates vying for the top job at the United Nations\u2014half of whom are women. From 12\u201314 April, the candidates had two hours to state their case to the General Assembly (and the rest of the world as each session was <\/span>broadcast live<\/span><\/a>). <\/span>The Australian<\/span><\/i> has a short piece <\/span><\/a>on the specifics of what\u2019s likely to be the world\u2019s most challenging job interview, while <\/span>TIME<\/span><\/i> takes a more in-depth look at <\/span>each candidate’s background and platform<\/span><\/a>. Watch this space for more on the Secretary-General race\u2014one of the good burghers of Australia, Kevin Rudd, is\u00a0<\/span>yet to announce<\/span><\/a> his highly-anticipated\u00a0candidacy… <\/span><\/p>\n Also on the UN, we thoroughly recommend checking out the<\/span> brand new report<\/span><\/a> that came out of last October\u2019s Challenges Annual Forum, written by ASPI\u2019s Lisa Sharland. The report discusses findings from a number of recent UN reviews on peace operations, peacebuilding, women, peace and security and the UN\u2019s sustainable development goals. <\/span><\/p>\n The Strategy Bridge<\/span><\/i>, now a well-established forum for military-related chat, recently unfolded a <\/span>sharp series on the topic of military leadership in the 21st century<\/span><\/a>. The editors roamed far-and-wide to pull together a collection of <\/span>15 pieces<\/span><\/a> from a range of well-versed professionals both inside and outside of the US military. Insights and ideas abound.<\/span><\/p>\n As the Permanent Court of Arbitration prepares to hand down its decision in the landmark Philippines v China<\/em> case, CNAS researchers Mira Rapp-Hooper and Harry Krejsa have released a report <\/span>exploring a range of potential rulings and the impact that each might have on China, ASEAN and the US, as well as on future arbitration<\/span><\/a>. The research concludes:<\/span><\/p>\n \u2018The Tribunal\u2019s ruling will likely usher in a period of heightened regional tensions as the relevant players jockey to maximize the political mileage they can derive from the decision. With any hope, however, all will place this much-awaited ruling in its historical and geopolitical context, and acknowledge that it is an early step toward longer-term clarity in the South China Sea that may not yield immediate tangible changes. Indeed, the ruling\u2019s greatest political value will come if it sets meaningful precedent and is embraced by the region as legitimate and useful. This may, in turn, help to catalyze future cases that reduce the vexing disputes in the South China Sea.\u2019<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n If you\u2019re in need of a slightly larger dose of maritime security info than usual, be sure to check out the National Bureau of Asian Research and the Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA\u2019s <\/span>brand spanking new collaboration<\/span><\/a>, the <\/span>Maritime Awareness Project<\/span><\/a>. MAP aims to deliver expert analysis and news on maritime security issues in the Asia\u2013Pacific and to help observers of the South and East China seas to better understand each dispute.<\/span><\/p>\n When considering the most likely hotspot for maritime conflict, few would pick the Baltic Sea. However, after several Russian Sukhoi Su-24 aircraft made some startlingly low passes over the USS <\/span>Donald Cook<\/span><\/i> earlier this week, many (including the ship\u2019s crew) have been left with their mouths agape. <\/span>The Pentagon has slammed<\/span><\/a> the manoeuvres, which saw the grounding of the ship\u2019s helicopter operations while a <\/span>series<\/span><\/a> of <\/span><\/a>videos<\/span><\/a> shot by crew <\/span>show<\/span> the dangerous proximity of the Sukhois to <\/span>Donald Cook<\/span><\/i>. <\/span>Foreign Policy <\/span><\/i>also <\/span>offers some complementary analysis <\/span><\/a>on the lack of subtlety in Russian approaches to\u00a0international relations.<\/span><\/p>\n While we\u2019re on the verge of declaring a moratorium on all things Trump here at <\/span>The Strategist<\/span><\/i> HQ, there\u2019s almost no escaping The Donald\u2019s spectre when it comes to the US\u2013Mexico border fence. Happily, <\/span>The Atlantic<\/span><\/i> has a safe space for all of us, with their <\/span>photo essay on an art project by Ana Teresa Fern\u00e1ndez<\/span><\/a>. The Mexican-born American artist led a team to paint three large sections of the fence sky blue, effectively \u2018removing\u2019 parts of the imposing barrier. Neat idea.<\/span><\/p>\n Podcasts<\/b><\/p>\n Intel wonks should definitely <\/span>check out the latest offering<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(51 mins) from the International Spy Museum\u2019s podcast series, Spycast. This week\u2019s episode includes an interview with former CIA IO and daily intelligence briefer David Priess on the history of the President\u2019s Daily Brief, the most tightly managed intelligence briefing in the world\u2014a subject which he recently published a book on.<\/span><\/p>\n CSIS\u2019s CogitAsia podcast series has an excellent listen\u00a0for Southeast Asia watchers\u2014an in-depth look at the rise of Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of Myanmar\u2019s National League of Democracy, and the internal and external challenges that her party must face after its 1 April inauguration. Listen <\/span>here<\/span><\/a> (32 mins).<\/span><\/p>\n Videos<\/b><\/p>\n CSIS\u2019 Zbigniew Brzezinski Annual Prize acknowledges the \u2018importance of geostrategic thinking with a transcending moral purpose\u2019. The inaugural recipient was Robert Gates, US Secretary of Defense from 2006 to 2011. In delivering some <\/span>short remarks before a wide-ranging Q&A<\/span><\/a> (1 hour), Gate\u2019s offered his realist view of American role in promoting democracy and human rights abroad, the blending of \u2018tough-minded realism with high-minded idealism\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n Events<\/b><\/p>\n Canberra: As part of their <\/span>Power, Ethics & World Order Seminar Series<\/span><\/i>, the ANU\u2019s Department of International Relations will next week host Simon Adams, executive director of the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, who will take the temperature of the R2P initiative in the UN Security Council. Register <\/span>online<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n