Griffith University

Griffith University is an Australian public research university. Recent news highlights two distinct areas of its activity. Firstly, the Griffith Asia Institute is in the news for its report indicating a record US$213.5 billion in new deals signed under China's Belt and Road Initiative in 2025. This report, showing a 75% increase from the previous year, is significant due to the growing global influence of the Belt and Road Initiative and its impact on international infrastructure and economic development. Secondly, researchers associated with Griffith University have been involved in dating ancient rock art in Indonesia. Analysis of a hand stencil in a cave on Muna Island suggests it is approximately 67,800 years old, potentially making it the oldest known rock art in the world. This discovery challenges previous assumptions about the origins of human artistic expression and sheds light on early human migration patterns, particularly in the context of the peopling of Australia.