Headlines

Vietnam now a party of one under To Lam

As the curtain fell on the Vietnamese Communist Party’s five-yearly 14th National Congress, international observers focused on the headlines: General To Lam’s unanimous re-election as general secretary and his ambitious 10% GDP growth target. The surface narrative was of

Australia shouldn’t join Trump’s board of appeasers

Donald Trump clearly doesn’t do irony. How else can we describe inviting Vladimir Putin to join his so-called “Board of Peace”? At least “mad Vlad” will be in good company. It’s not clear if Ukraine’s nemesis will take part, but plenty of other aspiring despots, authoritarians