@geoffwinestock.bsky.social
Ex journo. Interests: language, literature, Japan, Russia, Palestine, French new wave cinema, climate, men and women, children, parents….
Ukraine’s valiant defence of Pokrovsk is nearing its end
economist.com/europe/2025/...
from The Economist @johnquiggin.bsky.social We chatted about this six months ago.
economist.com/europe/2025/...
from The Economist @johnquiggin.bsky.social We chatted about this six months ago.
Ukraine’s valiant defence of Pokrovsk is nearing its end
Russia suffers huge casualties, but its new drone-powered assault is working
economist.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Ukraine’s valiant defence of Pokrovsk is nearing its end
economist.com/europe/2025/...
from The Economist @johnquiggin.bsky.social We chatted about this six months ago.
economist.com/europe/2025/...
from The Economist @johnquiggin.bsky.social We chatted about this six months ago.
Prunella Scales is of course best known for Fawlty Towers but in her later years she did wonderful book readings. Just listened to her reading Catherine Gaskell’s Cranford. She reads the complex 19th prose effortlessly and with a perfect ear for class and character.
October 28, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Prunella Scales is of course best known for Fawlty Towers but in her later years she did wonderful book readings. Just listened to her reading Catherine Gaskell’s Cranford. She reads the complex 19th prose effortlessly and with a perfect ear for class and character.
Why build a ball room when noone knows how to waltz any more? What will it be used for?
October 23, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Why build a ball room when noone knows how to waltz any more? What will it be used for?
Oops! After the defection of Komeitou she may not get to be PM. Her battle to find a new coalition is fascinating for Australia not just because she’s a woman but because she could do hawkish things like rearm, change the peace clause in the constitution and introduce proper national secrets laws.
With its first female PM, Japan’s ready to march to a different beat
Sanae Takaichi likens herself to Margaret Thatcher but given her background in heavy metal music, perhaps she’s more Iron Maiden than Iron Lady.
www.smh.com.au
October 15, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Oops! After the defection of Komeitou she may not get to be PM. Her battle to find a new coalition is fascinating for Australia not just because she’s a woman but because she could do hawkish things like rearm, change the peace clause in the constitution and introduce proper national secrets laws.
I am not making a podcast.
October 12, 2025 at 7:31 AM
I am not making a podcast.
Another one that comes straight from SMH Pitchbot. @nytpitchbot.bsky.social
Are Lachlan and Sarah Murdoch expanding their Bellevue Hill property empire?
Nobody will officially say who bought a $21 million trophy home next door to the Murdochs’ palatial Sydney residence. But all signs point in one direction.
www.smh.com.au
October 9, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Another one that comes straight from SMH Pitchbot. @nytpitchbot.bsky.social
Prefacing posts with ”So let me get this straight” is an over-used device.
October 8, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Prefacing posts with ”So let me get this straight” is an over-used device.
They’re kicking the deer. Borrowing from Trump, a right-wing candidate to be Japan’s next prime minister accuses foreign tourists of kicking and punching the sacred deer in Nara. Local police say it’s fake news.「ボランティアや旅館から聞いた」秘書が説明 高市氏のシカ蹴る発言
September 25, 2025 at 9:43 PM
They’re kicking the deer. Borrowing from Trump, a right-wing candidate to be Japan’s next prime minister accuses foreign tourists of kicking and punching the sacred deer in Nara. Local police say it’s fake news.「ボランティアや旅館から聞いた」秘書が説明 高市氏のシカ蹴る発言
The military expert of Russian independent @meduza.io site Dmitry Kuznetsov says that the Abrams tanks Australia sent to Ukraine played a crucial role driving Russians out of Sumy. Interesting since some questioned why tanks were being sent at all. open.spotify.com/episode/6OSP...
Армия РФ переходит к тактике ударов по «центрам принятия решений»? А дроны в Польше — проверка НАТО на прочность? Обсуждаем с Дмитрием Кузнецом
open.spotify.com
September 15, 2025 at 1:02 PM
The military expert of Russian independent @meduza.io site Dmitry Kuznetsov says that the Abrams tanks Australia sent to Ukraine played a crucial role driving Russians out of Sumy. Interesting since some questioned why tanks were being sent at all. open.spotify.com/episode/6OSP...
As a financial journalist I was often fooled into believing that commercial disputes were about principle. This is another case where despite all the crap about political disagreements inside the dynasty it was all actually about money.
Arise, King Lachlan! A new era for the Murdoch media empire has begun
In the end the solution was simple. Rupert Murdoch fired his most trusted munition: the money gun.
www.smh.com.au
September 9, 2025 at 2:34 AM
As a financial journalist I was often fooled into believing that commercial disputes were about principle. This is another case where despite all the crap about political disagreements inside the dynasty it was all actually about money.
Great work by ASIO but what exactly did Iran hope to gain by burning down a synagogue in Melbourne?
August 26, 2025 at 6:16 AM
Great work by ASIO but what exactly did Iran hope to gain by burning down a synagogue in Melbourne?
So much coverage about Trump on Ukraine repeats the nonsense he really wants to stop the war if only to get a Nobel. But surely his only concern is how this charade plays in US politics. His constant u-turns allow him to avoid a split between his no-war MAGA base and traditional republicans.
August 23, 2025 at 6:18 AM
So much coverage about Trump on Ukraine repeats the nonsense he really wants to stop the war if only to get a Nobel. But surely his only concern is how this charade plays in US politics. His constant u-turns allow him to avoid a split between his no-war MAGA base and traditional republicans.
Incredibly expressing remorse over Japan’s actions during WW2 is still controversial.
Japan PM Ishiba expresses 'remorse' on WWII surrender anniversary
Japan marked the 80th anniversary of its WWII surrender with PM Shigeru Ishiba expressing "remorse" for the first time since 2013. About 4,500 officials and families observed a moment of silence.
www.euronews.com
August 16, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Incredibly expressing remorse over Japan’s actions during WW2 is still controversial.
SMH Pitchbot: www.smh.com.au/money/planni...
If inflation is under control, why does your budget feel so stretched?
The numbers are pointing to the rate of price rises sitting at where the Reserve Bank wants it, but that doesn’t mean we get to see the benefits straight away.
www.smh.com.au
August 2, 2025 at 3:59 AM
SMH Pitchbot: www.smh.com.au/money/planni...
Well done Kevin Rudd. I know Trump’s very random and who knows what he was thinking but as ambassador he must deserve some of the credit for the good tariff outcome.
August 1, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Well done Kevin Rudd. I know Trump’s very random and who knows what he was thinking but as ambassador he must deserve some of the credit for the good tariff outcome.
Instead of recognising Palestine why not just put sanctions on Israel?
July 31, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Instead of recognising Palestine why not just put sanctions on Israel?
www.smh.com.au/politics/fed... Another classic case of how Trump’s boasting about his (modest) victories makes it harder to make concessions to him.
‘Make agriculture great again’: Trump administration claims win on Australian beef
The government insists the move to allow US beef into Australia is the result of a biosecurity review rather than trade talks, but the Trump administration undercut that on Thursday.
www.smh.com.au
July 24, 2025 at 3:44 AM
www.smh.com.au/politics/fed... Another classic case of how Trump’s boasting about his (modest) victories makes it harder to make concessions to him.
Could someone tell @justinwolfers.bsky.social and @pkrugman.bsky.social that bilateral free trade agreements do not always eliminate all tariffs. Often they retain tariffs in sensitive sectors such as agriculture. So for instance the US does have something to talk about with Korea or Japan.
July 11, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Could someone tell @justinwolfers.bsky.social and @pkrugman.bsky.social that bilateral free trade agreements do not always eliminate all tariffs. Often they retain tariffs in sensitive sectors such as agriculture. So for instance the US does have something to talk about with Korea or Japan.
Dumb question but why is it so much worse for Iran to have the bomb than North Korea or Pakistan?
June 17, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Dumb question but why is it so much worse for Iran to have the bomb than North Korea or Pakistan?
How can I stop replaying Aziz Behich’s goal against Japan? So sweet.
June 6, 2025 at 3:36 AM
How can I stop replaying Aziz Behich’s goal against Japan? So sweet.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05... Odd. The US is apparently concerned the tanks are too lightly armoured but why did the reporter not ask the Ukrainians? Surely they know best what they need.
US officials question use of Australia's retired tanks as vehicles go to Ukraine
American officials remain privately frustrated over Australia's decision to donate retired Abrams tanks to Ukraine, even as the vehicles finally begin the long sea journey to the battleground.
www.abc.net.au
May 19, 2025 at 3:46 AM
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05... Odd. The US is apparently concerned the tanks are too lightly armoured but why did the reporter not ask the Ukrainians? Surely they know best what they need.
Reposted
American officials remain privately frustrated over Australia's decision to donate retired Abrams tanks to Ukraine, even as the vehicles finally begin the long sea journey to the battleground.
US officials frustrated Australia sending tanks to Ukraine
American officials remain privately frustrated over Australia's decision to donate retired Abrams tanks to Ukraine, even as the vehicles finally begin the long sea journey to the battleground.
www.abc.net.au
May 19, 2025 at 1:58 AM
American officials remain privately frustrated over Australia's decision to donate retired Abrams tanks to Ukraine, even as the vehicles finally begin the long sea journey to the battleground.
I am baffled by all the pundits saying Greens’ policy on Gaza cost them votes in inner city seats. Almost no Jewish voters live in those seats and most like me are disgusted by Bibi’s policies.
May 7, 2025 at 12:49 PM
I am baffled by all the pundits saying Greens’ policy on Gaza cost them votes in inner city seats. Almost no Jewish voters live in those seats and most like me are disgusted by Bibi’s policies.
I’m going for Ralph Fiennes.
April 21, 2025 at 8:54 AM
I’m going for Ralph Fiennes.
I asked Google AI what was funny about Irish people or French people or English people but it wouldn’t answer. Is that because political correctness or because AI has no sense of humour?
April 14, 2025 at 6:44 AM
I asked Google AI what was funny about Irish people or French people or English people but it wouldn’t answer. Is that because political correctness or because AI has no sense of humour?