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Lee Duffield records impressions of Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev the Russian statesman who changed history. As a news correspondent he tracked the man’s progress across Europe as he tried to get support and negotiate a peaceful ending to the Cold War. … Read More »
Elections in Europe have shown up the extent of a pro-Russia sympathy, whether drawing on some traditional alignments in Eastern Europe or stirred up by the far-right.
The voting has put a dent in solidarity against the Russian President Vladimir Putin and his war of aggression against neighbouring Ukraine. … Read More »
The horror and brutality of the siege of Mariupol is demonstrating a futility to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia under Vladimir Putin.
A month after Russian forced crossed border on 24 February, it appeared that Putin might still get some kind of quick conquest – but any lasting great victory remains much more elusive. … Read More »
There was a spurious relief in the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February: no more need for pretending, or false diplomacy, even no need for talk about rights and wrongs.
It is back to the raw power days, Russian tanks in Budapest in 1956, then again in Prague in 1968. Attempts at political reform and opening to the West came to that.
Lee Duffield
The Australian Defence Minister, Melissa Price, on 9 November told the Submarine Association conference in Adelaide that the country’s nuclear-powered submarines would be built in South Australia.
It was one more ingredient thrown into a brewing of questions and contention since the sudden announcement of the nuclear plan, and immediate cancellation of the French contract for conventional submarines on 16 September. … Read More »
It came to France, scene of the epic battles of the Great War (1914-18), to host the celebration of its centenary on 11 November.
Lee Duffield says it also fell to the French President, Emmanuel Macron, to post a reminder about the ideal of civilisation which the savagery of that war had jeopardised. … Read More »
The long-awaited referendum in New Caledonia is approaching quickly.
In the final instalment of a three-part series, Lee Duffield in Noumea assesses some of the options and omens. … Read More »