Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s indefatigable 89-year-old president, is preparing his people for an election in the next few months but results may be a departure from the scandalous sleigh-rides to success he has enjoyed in the past. Continue reading
Results in indomitable Singapore’s by-elections, generally a sure-thing for the governing People’s Action Party (PAP), turned out to be a bookie’s nightmare. Continue reading
New Zealand wants to discourage boat people arriving unannounced to swell its immigration stream and is preparing regulations that would send them to controversial Australian detention centres in Papua New Guinea and Nauru. Continue reading
Ron Vernon at the DUCW Christmas party, December 2012
How do you sum up 52 years of a man’s life in a few short words? What words can you use?
When Jacqueline spread the horrible news of Robert’s passing, she heard so many adjectives to describe him, but one in particular seemed to sum up everything.
HE Ms Louise Hand
Australian High Commission, Ottawa
On behalf of all at the High Commission, I wish Australia’s friends in Canada a very happy Australia Day. Despite the arctic temperatures, we celebrated Australia Day in Ottawa with Dinner at the Movies—a special screening of the hit Australian movie The Sapphires.
2012, my first year in Ottawa, was an excellent year for relations between Canada and Australia. We continue to work together as international partners, and I think the world is a better place for it. I look forward to another good year in 2013.
Louise Hand PSM