Russian missiles slamming into apartment buildings in Mariupol say otherwise,
Hyperbole? Lying? Take your pick.
The first thing to determine about the Bucha massacre; Did the Bucha killings actually take place and in the manner described?
Or was this massacre faked, or 'staged'? – as the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has publicly alleged.
With all the claims and counter claims swirling around, I am reminded of the Douma gas attack in Syria, or even further back, the Katyn massacre of captured Polish officers during WWII. To this day the Russians claim the German's did it. The Germans (and the Poles) claim the Russians did it.
What is uncontested about the Katyn Forest, is that a massacre took place there, The captured Polish officers were massacred by someone.
What is contested about the Bucha massacre, is that it ever took place at all.
….Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has described the scenes outside Kyiv as a “stage-managed anti-Russian provocation.”
If it is determined that the Bucha Massacre was not 'staged' or faked, as the Russian Foreign Minister has alleged. That in fact, this massacre of civilians did occure: Then the next question to determine; who committed it?".
At this far remove at the other end of the world, the weight of evidence presented to us, is that the massacre of civilians in Bucha was committed by the Russian forces during their occupation of the town.
….The Kremlin has categorically rejected accusations that Russian forces were responsible for killing civilians in Bucha, suggesting images of corpses lining the streets were “fakes”.
….Russian “experts at the Ministry of Defence have identified signs of video fakes and various fakes”
Jenny if you are going to use past form(of denial) to predict current culpabilities you may have to widen your range(in the interests of fairness)
Between 1943 and 1945, members of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army massacred thousands of Poles throughout Volhynia, a region that was in Nazi-occupied Poland and is part of present-day Ukraine. Polish historians say the death toll could be as high as 100,000, while Ukrainians say it’s between 20,000 to 30,000. In 2016, Poland’s Parliament recognized the killings as genocide, a term that Ukraine rejects.
When it comes to denial, the apologists for Russian and imperialism and Assad fascism need to look at themselves.
Amid the fog of war and the competing narratives over the atrocity committed in Bucha. I know one thing for sure;
Apologists for Russian aggression and Assad fascism like yourself, will argue endlessly over the reality, or not, of one single act of atrocity. Just as you did over the gas attack on Douma in Syria.
But one thing you won't do Francesca, is address the undeniable evidence of the genocidal nature of the war itself.
I recognise the genocidal nature and cruelty of all wars, and I recognise and call out the propaganda that attempts to make us believe that our "enemies"are monsters but we are kind and just.
You state " To this day " the russians claim the germans killed the poles etc not quite true considering in 1990 Yeltsin released the execution orders signed by stalin to the new polish president Lech walesa .
You state " To this day " the russians claim the germans killed the poles….
Yes and I stand by my statement.
Since Yeltsin's day, under Putin's rule, the admission by Russia of Russian culpability for the Katyn Massacre is being rolled back.
Russia removes memorial to Katyn Massacre in new attack on historical truth
08.05.2020
Halya Coynash
……Russian officials, acting on an order from the prosecutor's office, have removed plaques commemorating victims of the Terror and Polish officers executed by the NKVD in 1940, while the Soviet Union was still collaborating with Nazi Germany. This may have been a regional initiative, but it is very much in line with Russia’s aggressive attempts under President Vladimir Putin to blur or rewrite the darkest pages of Soviet history.
Two memorial plaques, erected in 1991, were removed from the former NKVD building in Tver on 7 May….
Glad you amended your original statement jenny i think its as well to remember that the soviet bear has been known to recover its memory from time to time .The world is bleak and depressing enough without painting it black cover to cover .
I don't think there is any doubt that the Russians committed the atrocities. As I pointed out yesterday, satellite images at the time of Russian occupation have been geolocated to where bodies have been found.
If anything, this type of event is actually working against the Russians because it is motivating other countries to get in behind Ukraine.
For example, here is a great interview with Roberta Metsola, president of the European Union. She has just met with Zelenskyy. Well worth spending the 7 minutes to watch it.
According to her, the Ukranians are fighting on behalf of Europe, and she wants to make sure that Russia is never again able to attack European countries.
On a side note, she seems to be an outstanding politician, of a calibre far higher than anyone we have in New Zealand.
Also, after having taken an interest (or obsession) in this conflict, I have been very impressed with the quality of news and investigative journalism on the likes of DW and France 24. Makes our stuff seem very fluffy and weak. Having said that, they are able to have channels that are just full time news, unlike us here.
While we we wait for actual proof of culpability to this horrific event from actual professionals in this field, (trial by a biased media is proof of nothing)…don't you find it somewhat incongruous that no MSM have covered this horrific event (please be aware that the video is extremely disturbing, viewer discretion is advised) at all..why is that you think?
A satellite image of Bucha in Ukraine appears to show bodies lying in the street nearly two weeks before the Russians left the town.
The image from 19 March, first reported by the New York Times and confirmed by the BBC, directly contradicts Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's claim that footage of bodies in Bucha, that has emerged in recent days, was "staged" after the Russians withdrew.
The satellite image shows objects that appear to be bodies in the exact locations where they were subsequently found by Ukrainian forces when they regained control of the town north of Kyiv.
I am not going to get into armchair speculation on this matter….you and others on this site would do well to remember this old adage "The first casualty of war is the truth"…as I keep trying to remind people, all western MSM have declared war on Russia, they have picked a side, that is just a plain fact,,,therefore they have negated their positions as impartial news outlets…..so everything they report has to be regarded, by anyone who is actually concerned with the truth… as suspect, am I wrong?
The exact same logic applies to the Russians. The same people who six weeks ago were solemnly assuring the world there would be no invasion of Ukraine.
Yet here we are. In politics you can debate facts, ideas and nuance all you want. In war you pick a side and fight for it – or get crushed.
You have clearly picked the side of boundless cruelty.
No RedLogix, unlike you I haven't picked a side….if I were in the Ukraine (but not a Russian speaking Ukrainian in the Donbass) I would be fighting the Russian today you can be sure of that….however I am not in the position, so I (and you) have the luxury of being able to appraise the conflict from a much wider perspective.
I believe that it is exactly because we are in this privileged position to observe and appraise the conflict from this distance, that it is essential for us to remain neutral, try and negotiate our way through the fog of war, and remain steadfast in our efforts to seek out only the facts and truth…that’s all I am trying to do here.The only reason why it sometimes look like I am pro Russia is because I am pushing back against the obvious propaganda that our media spews out daily…but you can be sure that if I were in Russia, I would be doing exactly same vigorous critiquing of their propaganda on some Russian version of TS.
I know that remaining neutral is impossible for you, that is your choice and I respect that, but please respect my position of neutrality.
“Whatever the source, address the content” …I would agree in normal times, however as western MSM have willfully become a propaganda arm of the Ukrainian govt, exactly where does one even start to address the content, when that is the starting point? ….That is the problem, a very serious problem, don't you agree?
Think about it, we have now ended up with not one western MSM source that we can rely on for news of Ukraine, doesn't that bother you?…this is exactly why I so often bang on about 'Fair and Balanced Reporting' in our media as a primary problem in our search for the truth.
You've already decided the western media are propaganda tools so clearly the link wasn't for you.
Maybe leave it to those inclined to seek another perspective and concentrate on the juxtaposition of that rapid decision with the one that wants to wait and see about russian war crimes in Bucha.
So we can assume by your none answers to my questions, that you find MSM content on Ukraine to be, on the whole, fair and balanced then?
“those inclined to seek another perspective”…you see that is the problem…that ‘perspective’ you mention is the main one most people are exposed to…so if it extremely biased as I maintain…then that is a problem..no?
I'm self moderating so need need to wait for a discussion around what you, or I, think constitute balance.
So, as I'm not arguing with you or attempting to change your mind about anything, the best case outcome is people head off down their own rabbit holes and sift the truth out for themselves, with an eye to probability and credibility.
Tricledown , did you miss the fact that prior to the invasion Zelensky's pollings were trailing in the 20s and as far as his efforts against corruption go, he's sponsored by the most corrupt oligarch Kolomoisky, and he himself was shown up hiding wealth offshore .
Truth in language alert, only one party has declared war – Russia, and in invading Ukraine it has in a sense done so against the international regime – the collective security of nations. Because it has nukes and a veto on the UNSC .. it thinks it it can do what it likes.
The idea that the western MSM, not any other MSM such as in China or Russia, cannot be relied on for truth is a definition of partisanship – not truth seeking.
And of course the central "fact" of the sovereign citizen movement and every other social media rabbit warren cult on earth is that it alone has the truth. That form of the force is with us is a secular variant of end of the world uber Zionism and related Christian and Moslem theocracy.
"The idea that the western MSM, not any other MSM such as in China or Russia, cannot be relied on for truth is a definition of partisanship – not truth seeking"…When exactly did I say or imply that?
I am happy use any western MSM and any other MSM sources when I believe they a useful.
BTW, The last part of your comment didn't make any sense…what were trying to say there?
" that many claim to the truth is with them and them alone. A definition of a cult"….that sounds a lot like western MSM….link me to one serious debate or discussion on western MSM from someone serious, pushing back against the 'Russiagate' conspiracy during the Trump era.
Note that western MSM only maintained one truth on that issue…I think you find the same 'single truth' narrative around the Douma gas attack incident…I could go on but you get the idea I am sure.
So if I apply your definition, Western MSM is a cult of some sort.
According to her, the Ukranians are fighting on behalf of Europe, and she wants to make sure that Russia is never again able to attack European countries.
It is much more likely the Ukranians are fighting on behalf of the US. After all, what were McCain, Biden and Nuland doing in Kyev around 2013 or 2014?
Why would Russia, these days, wish to attack European countries anyway?
Why would Russia, these days, wish to attack European countries anyway?
Funny question, given it's doing exactly that.
But assuming a good faith question, one particular stand-out feature of the vagaries of post-Soviet geography is Kaliningrad. Can you think of any reason some Baltic states lying between Kaliningrad and the rest of Russia might be shitting themselves at the moment, given the current Russian expansionist imperialism? What about Moldova and Transnistria?
And then there are the innumerable opportunities for border expansion, a little piece here or there…
Ukraine is not really part of Europe, though some of its citizens apparently would like it to be. This whole sorry mess grew out of the events in 2014 when Yanukovich, who was at the time the Ukrainian president, failed in his attempt to join Europe. Putin seems to have seen this attempt, after Yanukovich's ousting, together with a desire to join NATO, as an existential threat to Russia. Hence the invasion.
The invasion seems to have been a defensive move on Putin’s part. He ain’t no Napoleon Bonaparte.
Despite the blatant stupidity of that comment, it is however the only thing that bears any relevance to my response to your question as to why some definitely European countries (in addition to the country in eastern Europe called Ukraine) might be worried that the authoritarian kleptocracy controlling Russia might wish to invade their territory, too.
Russia, of course, famously spans two continents. But Ukraine is firmly in Europe, well west of the Urals.
What worries me is that RadioNZ seems to be cravenly followed the "plucky little Ukraine" line without questioning whether there is a factual basis for the reports coming out of the war. The NZ public deserve better.
Yes, fair points made in that article. That is why I think it is wise to seek sources that don't have a dog in the fight. Though, that is hard to find.
After reading all the stuff on here about the media bias, for one side or the other, maybe RadioNZ should not report anything about what is going on except to say "there is conflict in Ukraine." (Maybe there will be some who say even that is propaganda.)
If they carry a story about a number of deaths I suppose the information has come from someone. Who is to say the information is true? If they carry a story about anything to do with not all the information has come from someone. Who is to say the information is true?
I wonder where these lovely tenants will end up living now? I doubt the landlord will ever see any of the $10k owed. There should be a register of bad tenants and a bad landlords so people can avoid either renting to them or becoming their tenant.
They will probably end up being State housing tenants for life as no other landlord in their right mind would let them rent their house, and unfortunately you and me will end up paying for them.
"There should be a register of bad tenants and a bad landlords so people can avoid either renting to them or becoming their tenant"
Have you, or do you know anyone who has trying getting into a rental lately?….they have to jump through every hoop that the landlord can possibly make up…and then some more for good measure…but what single reference does the landlord have to provide to that hopeful tenant?
And because of tenants like these, that is exactly why there are so many hoops to jump through. Their "CV" would not make good reading and I wouldn't wish them on any landlord. The landlord is the one with a property at risk. The tenant risks nothing.
But I still believe there should also be a register of the bad landlords.
Nonsense. Hoops have existed for years – many of my Maori staff twenty years ago struggled to get rentals. It was called racism.
That they have increased (hoops that is) is not due to bad tenants – it's due to the bull-dozing of state houses, the massive increase in immigration without a building program to go with it, the massive subsidisation of landlords through accommodation supplement and tax breaks, reduced taxation of the wealthy freeing up capital, the realisation after the Canterbury Earthquakes by landlords they could get away with charging a fortune, the lack of rent controls, bloody-mindedness by some landlords like the one who told me he put all his rents up to piss off Jacinda, the loss of other government housing.
In short a deliberate and concerted effort to create a supply and demand shortage by capitalists. Bad tenants are the very least cause in the whole back to slum-lords and homelessness mess.
From the NY Times article:
“The images show dark objects of similar size to a human body appearing on Yablonska Street between March 9 and March 11″
yet:
” However, according to the Institute of War report, the Russians did not control the south of the city from March 9 to 11. Attention should also be drawn to the statement of the General Staff of Ukraine on Facebook on March 10, which reads «the enemy is trying to break through the defenses of Ukraine’s defenders in the areas of Poliske, Kukhari, Zhovtneve, Andriyivka, Kopyliv, Motyzhyn, Buzova, Horenychi, Bucha, Demydiv, and block Kyiv». Next, the Institute of War, in its Facebook post of March 11, states that all attempts by the Russian army to take Bucha have failed.” https://southfront.org/more-evidence-more-doubts-about-bucha-massacre/
'In 2016, Finnish journalist Jessikka Aro writing in Springer Link described SouthFront as "an allegedly citizen-sourced project that looks more like a suspicious information operation." Describing it as "a fascinating hybrid of revealingly detailed military intelligence and totally bogus stories," she said that the site's content centers on "the success of Russia's armed forces, and showing off Russia's weapons." '
Whatever the source, address the content
Article references the NYTimes article, Facebook entries of Ukrainian military and other verifiable sources.
It’s not an opinion piece
.If you dispute the validity of the references, offer counters to them or prove them to be false
Them thar facebook accounts prompted an FB phishing warning. Went as far as I could without logging in.
But despite that, nothing in your links actually contradicts the possibility that the people were killed in areas controlled by the Russians, or even the progress of events depicted in wikipedia (with considerable more precision than "in the area of [half a dozen major suburbs]").
What you, specifically, are saying is not what the sources for your article state.
Zhao Lijian: "….. in a contrasting move to its (the USA) pressuring of European countries to not buy Russian oil, the US increased crude oil supplies from Russia by 43 percent, or 100,000 barrels per day, over the past week and allowed its companies to import mineral fertilizers from Russia. The ongoing war and sanctions have incurred an influx of refugees, capital outflow and energy shortage in Europe, but enabled the US to have profited and made a fortune from that"
The US gets about 1 – 3% of its total crude oil from Russia. They get about 60-61% of oil from Canada.
The US public will not stand for gas prices even higher than they are (Witness how fast our own government folded after just 2 weeks).
Oil markets are now so roiled that even a partial oil sanction has driven India into the hands of Russia for perpetual oil supply. You can only mess with energy security so far.
The sanctions such as they are, are altering Russian export flows. But the trades are going to get very shadowy.
Price-sensitive refiners in India are buying Urals crude at a discount to Brent crude prices of $25 per barrel or more.
In China, both independent refiners and state oil companies are buying ESPO blend and Urals volumes.
Russian off-the-radar transactions will grow and they make it hard to calculate the current market disruption with great precision: the revenue loss for Russia isn't going to be as big as hoped.
The US is generating enough pressure to be noticeable, but not so much that Russian accelerates a full geopolitical re-alignment of India into the Russia-China-Iran-Kazakhstan-Donbas oil power that is emerging.
This world does not need energy markets more destabilised than they are. So the US has smaller oil levers to operate than would be obvious.
Equally, it's very clear that only the US and Europe are really standing up to Russia at all – in energy or anything else.
Putin and Lavrov can forget their holidays in Rotorua, and making supplies of potassium more expensive for NZ agriculturalists is really going to stick it to the Muscovites
With the Tauranga by-election on May 19th, Climate Change plan coming out a week after that, and the Tauranga by-election on June 18th, government and National get the closest thing possible to a live straw poll.
What can Labour do now to turn their fortunes around?
That is an absolutely uncharacteristic post from you it makes no sense please consider immediate medical attention as I am afraid your your blood oxygen may be way too low – this is not an attempt to harass or criticize I am concerned for your well being please seek medical help now
Labour could promise every Tauranga citizen a million dollars each, dropped into their bank account the day after the bi-election – provided that the Labour candidate is elected…
And they would still lose.
This is not a poll on the government's performance. This is a bi-election is a safe blue seat.
The inevitable loss will mean nothing in the greater scheme of things.
With the Tauranga by-election on May 19th, Climate Change plan coming out a week after that, and the Tauranga by-election on June 18th … What can Labour do now to turn their fortunes around?
Well, for a start … stop wasting public money on 2 by-elections in the same electorate just a month apart. Seems just a little bit … extravagant … and vaguely indecisive.
Still, each to their own, I spoze.
[To be brutally honest, I’ve long favoured monthly by-elections in every geographical seat as a way of making politics much more interesting … so this would certainly seem to be a move in the right direction by the Govt]
The new builds in the CBD in CHCH a high proportion already went to investors between 50-90 %,A high proportion went into short term accommodation.
A more sustainable outcome was to make them legalise their activity,change the rating,and increase their opex costs with building act requirements such as WOF.
Only need 10% of inventory to move back into the residential market,and that would increase the listed rental stock in CHCH by 25%.
It might guarantee more new builds, not necessarily new rentals.
I say it might, because it depends on the market.
I will agree in that with a market at a high and interest rates sure to rise (prevent the market rising further) there is less prospect of build and profit. And more of have the equity to build and rent out because there is market demand for a place to live by those who cannot buy at these prices.
In the USA equity firms are buying up houses to rent out for the return. NZ Super Fund and Kiwi Saver may do the same.
Investing in new builds at the peak of the market, when interest rates are rising … is a game for those with equity and who can hold and earn rent income.
I would agree with Soper, it was clearly not a job that Bloomfield would have found tempting enough to stay on for. A year working with Little and then the 2023 election challenge to the administration (political attacks on the Maori Authority etc) and potential of having to work with National (and risk of being removed). So much easier to take a sabbatical, do some advisory/consulting work and wait for post 2023.
Sure the normal – better qualified older white men not having a job and younger women of colour having jobs is par for the course for those of his generation and ambition to remain in control. It's equal part legacy white man privilege and colonialism – no wonder he just loves Winnie, one who knew his place.
A year working with Little and then the 2023 election challenge to the administration (political attacks on the Maori Authority etc) and potential of having to work with National (and risk of being removed). So much easier to take a sabbatical, do some advisory/consulting work and wait for post 2023.
Spare me the nonsense. The man is exhausted and so are the other senior health officials. They don't want their lives snuffed out early with exhaustion-induced heart attacks and the like.
In short, Bloomfield and senior colleagues are burnt out after 2 years of 12 hour days and 7 day working weeks. There is no conspiracy. Nor is there bad blood. He's made up the drivel about Ardern in an attempt to further vilify her.
Imo, he's gone too far this time and the Press Council should take action against him.
If you feel that strongly about it why don't you complain? Or have you already done so? If you aren't willing to go to the trouble of doing so then your statement is merely another of the "Someone outa do something" variety.
It is now (and has been since 2017) the New Zealand Media Council. The things you have to do in making a complaint are described here. I don't believe it costs anything to make a complaint but there are are a number of things you will have to do before they take the complaint up.
The war in Ukraine is reaching an interesting point.
From a strategic perspective, I think the Russians would be better to regroup, and reinforce the areas they have taken, and ensure they have a good solid foundation to base further attacks on.
However, Putin has put the pressure on his forces by declaring a victory by May 9th.
Therefore, in order to achieve something worth the effort, the Russians will have to go on the offensive again. This is likely to involve attempting to encircle Ukrainian forces in the east which are well dug in, and then try and take the whole Dombas region.
One option is to try and take the strategically important Sloviansk. The problem with that strategy is that Sloviansk is incredibly well defended, from what I have read. And I expect more Ukranian forces and assets no longer required up North will be deployed there. Therefore, as we have seen in Mariupol which is still fighting, this will be an incredibly hard nut to crack.
Another option is for the Russians to avoid Sloviansk by looping around it. But the Spring rains are coming, thus turning fields into a quagmire and confining tanks etc to the roads. Also, this strategy involves the problems of maintaining logistic supplies over a long distance. The problem that has plagued the Russians all along. This is going to allow the Ukrainians to continue to ambush convoys with a similar outcome to what the Russians have been experiencing thus far.
So, I think, rather than going on the offensive too much, at the moment, the Ukranians are best to dig in and let the Russians sustain more losses trying to attack defensive positions as they try and make gains to meet the progress that Putin is expecting.
Should be interesting times ahead. I hope the Ukranians are supplied with more long range missiles and the like that will allow them to target Russian artillary and ships that have been causing so much damage to civilian areas recently. And I hope they are provided with more long-range anti-aircraft capability to take on Russian bombers.
While the Ukranians are calling for more tanks, I am not sure that this is such at necessity at the moment as they will be affected by boggy fields as much as the Russians.
The death and destruction is absolutely appalling and unforgivable. But on another level the strategist in me finds the abstract lines on a map quite interesting.
So far as the death and destruction is concerned, a good thing is that Ukraine is trying to evacuate citizens from population centres in the east that are likely to be in the line of Russian fire. So hopefully there shouldn't be lots of civilian casualties in those areas as we have seen before.
BTW I started watching that series you recommended ÿday "Secret City''. It looks really good and relevant to our strategic situation down here.
… concentrate more on suffering and death from warmongers
I totally agree.
Vietnam war: 2,000,000 civilian deaths
Iraq war: 208,167 civilian deaths
Yemen War: Estimated 111,000, up to a quarter children.
Afghanistan war: 46,319 civilian deaths
Drone strikes since 911: >22,000 at least, possibly as high as 48,000
What will be interesting is how soon and where the Russians deploy from Izium. That will give a good idea of their tactics. From sources I have seen, the Russians are heavily bombarding Ukrainian dug in positions in the east which suggests they may be planning to try and break through soon.
I am sure that Putin will declare a win on May 9th regardless. I guess the problem for the Russians is, if they go for the slow build-up option, it gives the Ukranians a lot more time to get tooled up with better equipment and get trained in more modern systems the West can provide.
My take on this now is that the West has changed its perspective a bit. Rather than trying to set up an insurgency after a Russian take over, the strong performance of the Ukranians means the West wants to try and prevent Russia from being able to claim a win in Ukraine as this would just embolden Putin to keep on going.
9 May is the date Russia holds its victory parade ie the date Russia won the 2nd ww. 12000 plus troops and all the modern weapons on show. What's not for Putin to love.
The Ukrainians need more Armour for it's Combined Arms TTP's, yes it's the muddie seasons & once the ground dries out its going to be a fluid Battle Zone.
The Ukranian Armoured Corps has been very quiet so far, but what I've seen so of the Ukrainian Armoured TTP's they are 1k times better than the Russians.
Sloviansk Pocket is going to the next crucial battle for the Ukrainians, if they can hold without only major losses.
Then the Ukranian Military have a chance of doing some serious damage to the Russians especially if the Ukrainian Forces manage to bump the Russians out of the Kherson.
Yes, Anne, reading Soper's cynical bitter column on Dr Bloomfield makes one almost sorry for his new baby growing up with a parent/parents like that. I can never understand why the Herald has a stable full of columnists like Soper, mostly older males. What joyless, miserable people they all are.
It only took a couple of reads of Soper, to never again bother with Soper. And yes, there's a whole pack of them, and they're not worth the time either. Their task is supplying anger in soundbites, daily ammo to 'own the libs' in the form of some moronic bumper sticker.
Don't feed the professional trolls. What they say isn't controversial, it's horse shit.
Bloomfield has had to negotiate NZ through the biggest catastrophe since WW2.
The herald stable of treasonous poisonous traitors have no empathy for Ashley Bloomfeild who has had the biggest burden on his shoulders of any single person since WW2.
Regarding the political right's scorn over Ashley Bloomfield's resignation.
They had good reason to hate Bloomfield, because he repeatedly told them what they didn't want to hear, stood by it and resisted all their attempts to undermine his work.
The political right have few principles and don't like it when their opponents stand fast.
And as far as Jacinda is concerned there is also a certain amount of misogynistic jealousy too. Some elements hate it that we have a female PM who is a real leader.
The convergence of they stole the election and mistrust of liberal democracy vaccine mandates – the white race Christian identity movement of Putin (eastern Tsar) of the GOP and the crusade for totalitarian kingdom come power.
At events across the United States, it is not unusual for participants to describe encountering the divine and feel they are doing their part to install God’s kingdom on earth. For them, right-wing political activity itself is becoming a holy act.
“Christians are the ones that are responsible for granting you and myself the right and authority over government,”
“I lay the key of David upon you,” Anthony Kern, a candidate for the Arizona State Senate who was photographed on the Capitol steps on Jan. 6, 2021, proclaimed to the crowd from the stage, paraphrasing a biblical passage about power given by God. “That means the governmental authority is upon you, men and women.”
SPC, it’s the rise of Christian Nationalism, and the splitting of the American church into a militaristic, heretical cult enslaved to Republican propaganda vs the traditional faith and progressive churches who actually know what the Gospel teaches.
The Maga/Q nuts are ideologically similar to Putin’s crazed regime of Russian nationalism, they are spawned from the same toxic brew of paranoia, white supremacy, and personality cult of a dictator supposedly chosen by God. And the enemy is inhuman, satanic, utterly corrupt, and cheating the true believers out of their rightful inheritance. Only a “final solution” can cleanse the earth of this (shadow projection of themselves) great evil
It matters not where the defaults occur, they destroy liquidity and reduce the propensity for credit creation…..and 400k for drilling hands, really! bloody hell thats ridiculous especially in an industry that has lost billions to date.
As the price rises more fields become economic.Without the transport constraint of of oil from large tankers (freight margin around 13bbl) their is a higher local premium.
IEA has announced a further 60 million bbls from strategic reserves,(megan woods to wave our futures contract around soon) ,tends to remove the margin players long positions.
We as part of the IEA are also supposed to have started a conservation campaign,seems to have been overlooked.
Jacinda Ardern needs to have a few stern words to Poto Williams after this interview.
"Williams said she was "not over the detail" despite 1News having sent the details to her office, and described it as an "operational matter to the police".
Luckily for Poto, Helen Clark is not the PM else she would probably be packing up her office today. Poto needs to get over the detail. She's the minister.
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Buzz from the Beehive Reactions to news of the government’s readiness to make urgent changes to “the resource management system” through a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) suggest a balanced approach is being taken. The Taxpayers’ Union says the proposed changes don’t go far enough. Greenpeace says ...
I’m starting to wonder if Anna Burns-Francis might be the best political interviewer we’ve got. That might sound unlikely to you, it came as a bit of a surprise to me.Jack Tame can be excellent, but has some pretty average days. I like Rebecca Wright on Newshub, she asks good ...
Chris Trotter writes – Willie Jackson is said to be planning a “media summit” to discuss “the state of the media and how to protect Fourth Estate Journalism”. Not only does the Editor of The Daily Blog, Martyn Bradbury, think this is a good idea, but he has also ...
Graeme Edgeler writes – This morning [April 21], the Wellington High Court is hearing a judicial review brought by Hon. Karen Chhour, the Minister for Children, against a decision of the Waitangi Tribunal. This is unusual, judicial reviews are much more likely to brought against ministers, rather than ...
Both of Parliament’s watchdogs have now ripped into the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s political economy and beyond on the morning of Tuesday, April 23 are:The Lead: The Auditor General,John Ryan, has joined the ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah SpengemanPeople wait to board an electric bus in Pune, India. (Image credit: courtesy of ITDP) Public transportation riders in Pune, India, love the city’s new electric buses so much they will actually skip an older diesel bus that ...
The infrastructure industry yesterday issued a “hurry up” message to the Government, telling it to get cracking on developing a pipeline of infrastructure projects.The hiatus around the change of Government has seen some major projects cancelled and others delayed, and there is uncertainty about what will happen with the new ...
Hi,Over the weekend I revisited a podcast I really adore, Dead Eyes. It’s about a guy who got fired from Band of Brothers over two decades ago because Tom Hanks said he had “dead eyes”.If you don’t recall — 2001’s Band of Brothers was part of the emerging trend of ...
Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
Tree sap can be a sticky, unsightly mess on your car’s exterior. It can be difficult to remove, but with the right techniques and products, you can restore your car to its former glory. Understanding Tree Sap Tree sap is a thick, viscous liquid produced by trees to seal wounds ...
The amount of paint needed to paint a car depends on a number of factors, including the size of the car, the number of coats you plan to apply, and the type of paint you are using. In general, you will need between 1 and 2 gallons of paint for ...
Jump-starting a car is a common task that can be performed even in adverse weather conditions like rain. However, safety precautions and proper techniques are crucial to avoid potential hazards. This comprehensive guide will provide detailed instructions on how to safely jump a car in the rain, ensuring both your ...
Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund — When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayers’ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund — and ...
Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’. ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University Three weeks from now, some of us will be presented with a mountain of budget papers, and just about all of us will get to hear about them on radio, ...
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Bucha killings.
Fool me once…..
Hard path to justice in Bucha atrocities
Russia’s Defense Ministry said Sunday that “not a single civilian has faced any violent action by the Russian military,”
https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/war-crimes-watch-hard-path-justice-bucha-atrocities-83866892
Russian missiles slamming into apartment buildings in Mariupol say otherwise,
Hyperbole? Lying? Take your pick.
The first thing to determine about the Bucha massacre; Did the Bucha killings actually take place and in the manner described?
Or was this massacre faked, or 'staged'? – as the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has publicly alleged.
With all the claims and counter claims swirling around, I am reminded of the Douma gas attack in Syria, or even further back, the Katyn massacre of captured Polish officers during WWII. To this day the Russians claim the German's did it. The Germans (and the Poles) claim the Russians did it.
What is uncontested about the Katyn Forest, is that a massacre took place there, The captured Polish officers were massacred by someone.
What is contested about the Bucha massacre, is that it ever took place at all.
If it is determined that the Bucha Massacre was not 'staged' or faked, as the Russian Foreign Minister has alleged. That in fact, this massacre of civilians did occure: Then the next question to determine; who committed it?".
At this far remove at the other end of the world, the weight of evidence presented to us, is that the massacre of civilians in Bucha was committed by the Russian forces during their occupation of the town.
Jenny if you are going to use past form(of denial) to predict current culpabilities you may have to widen your range(in the interests of fairness)
Ukraine to this day is denying the full scale of its actions
I see your massacre and raise you a Holodomor https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holodomor
Millions Murdered
When it comes to denial, the apologists for Russian and imperialism and Assad fascism need to look at themselves.
Amid the fog of war and the competing narratives over the atrocity committed in Bucha. I know one thing for sure;
Apologists for Russian aggression and Assad fascism like yourself, will argue endlessly over the reality, or not, of one single act of atrocity. Just as you did over the gas attack on Douma in Syria.
But one thing you won't do Francesca, is address the undeniable evidence of the genocidal nature of the war itself.
As the dead lie beneath the rubble of Borodyanka, the gruesome toll could be worse than Bucha
I recognise the genocidal nature and cruelty of all wars, and I recognise and call out the propaganda that attempts to make us believe that our "enemies"are monsters but we are kind and just.
Yes. Things would get interesting if the dead turned out to be known Russian sympathisers.
You state " To this day " the russians claim the germans killed the poles etc not quite true considering in 1990 Yeltsin released the execution orders signed by stalin to the new polish president Lech walesa .
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katyn_massacre#Post-communist_investigations
Yes and I stand by my statement.
Since Yeltsin's day, under Putin's rule, the admission by Russia of Russian culpability for the Katyn Massacre is being rolled back.
After 80 Years, The ‘Katyn Lie’ Lives On In Russia
https://www.rferl.org/a/after-80-years-the-katyn-lie-lives-on-in-russia/30470317.html
Glad you amended your original statement jenny i think its as well to remember that the soviet bear has been known to recover its memory from time to time .The world is bleak and depressing enough without painting it black cover to cover .
I don't think there is any doubt that the Russians committed the atrocities. As I pointed out yesterday, satellite images at the time of Russian occupation have been geolocated to where bodies have been found.
If anything, this type of event is actually working against the Russians because it is motivating other countries to get in behind Ukraine.
For example, here is a great interview with Roberta Metsola, president of the European Union. She has just met with Zelenskyy. Well worth spending the 7 minutes to watch it.
According to her, the Ukranians are fighting on behalf of Europe, and she wants to make sure that Russia is never again able to attack European countries.
On a side note, she seems to be an outstanding politician, of a calibre far higher than anyone we have in New Zealand.
Also, after having taken an interest (or obsession) in this conflict, I have been very impressed with the quality of news and investigative journalism on the likes of DW and France 24. Makes our stuff seem very fluffy and weak. Having said that, they are able to have channels that are just full time news, unlike us here.
While we we wait for actual proof of culpability to this horrific event from actual professionals in this field, (trial by a biased media is proof of nothing)…don't you find it somewhat incongruous that no MSM have covered this horrific event (please be aware that the video is extremely disturbing, viewer discretion is advised) at all..why is that you think?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaFU7VMj1jA
Satellite image of bodies site contradicts Russian claims
I am not going to get into armchair speculation on this matter….you and others on this site would do well to remember this old adage "The first casualty of war is the truth"…as I keep trying to remind people, all western MSM have declared war on Russia, they have picked a side, that is just a plain fact,,,therefore they have negated their positions as impartial news outlets…..so everything they report has to be regarded, by anyone who is actually concerned with the truth… as suspect, am I wrong?
The exact same logic applies to the Russians. The same people who six weeks ago were solemnly assuring the world there would be no invasion of Ukraine.
Yet here we are. In politics you can debate facts, ideas and nuance all you want. In war you pick a side and fight for it – or get crushed.
You have clearly picked the side of boundless cruelty.
No RedLogix, unlike you I haven't picked a side….if I were in the Ukraine (but not a Russian speaking Ukrainian in the Donbass) I would be fighting the Russian today you can be sure of that….however I am not in the position, so I (and you) have the luxury of being able to appraise the conflict from a much wider perspective.
I believe that it is exactly because we are in this privileged position to observe and appraise the conflict from this distance, that it is essential for us to remain neutral, try and negotiate our way through the fog of war, and remain steadfast in our efforts to seek out only the facts and truth…that’s all I am trying to do here.The only reason why it sometimes look like I am pro Russia is because I am pushing back against the obvious propaganda that our media spews out daily…but you can be sure that if I were in Russia, I would be doing exactly same vigorous critiquing of their propaganda on some Russian version of TS.
I know that remaining neutral is impossible for you, that is your choice and I respect that, but please respect my position of neutrality.
Sort of why I wanted this sorted out via diplomacy.
But I am not capable of neutrality after one side starts a war – multi-lateral collective security of nations.
That Russia has nukes and a UNSC veto is the only reason there is not a plan for foreign troops to occupy the Kremlin and remove Putin by force.
Just adding more info to balance the page for readers.
I think “Whatever the source, address the content” is a good call.
“Whatever the source, address the content” …I would agree in normal times, however as western MSM have willfully become a propaganda arm of the Ukrainian govt, exactly where does one even start to address the content, when that is the starting point? ….That is the problem, a very serious problem, don't you agree?
Think about it, we have now ended up with not one western MSM source that we can rely on for news of Ukraine, doesn't that bother you?…this is exactly why I so often bang on about 'Fair and Balanced Reporting' in our media as a primary problem in our search for the truth.
You've already decided the western media are propaganda tools so clearly the link wasn't for you.
Maybe leave it to those inclined to seek another perspective and concentrate on the juxtaposition of that rapid decision with the one that wants to wait and see about russian war crimes in Bucha.
So we can assume by your none answers to my questions, that you find MSM content on Ukraine to be, on the whole, fair and balanced then?
“those inclined to seek another perspective”…you see that is the problem…that ‘perspective’ you mention is the main one most people are exposed to…so if it extremely biased as I maintain…then that is a problem..no?
I'm self moderating so need need to wait for a discussion around what you, or I, think constitute balance.
So, as I'm not arguing with you or attempting to change your mind about anything, the best case outcome is people head off down their own rabbit holes and sift the truth out for themselves, with an eye to probability and credibility.
The truth is out there.
Adrian we know you have sympathies for Russia.
But complete destruction of suburbs bodies of civilians bound tortured and shot.
This is Putin our modern day megalomaniac.
Not Russia but a megalomaniac dictator.
You can ignore all the photos,videos etc.
But ever since Zelensky was elected by an overwhelming majority Putin has had it in for him.
Zelensky was a comedian fed up with corruption turned politician as a joke.
Tricledown , did you miss the fact that prior to the invasion Zelensky's pollings were trailing in the 20s and as far as his efforts against corruption go, he's sponsored by the most corrupt oligarch Kolomoisky, and he himself was shown up hiding wealth offshore .
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/oct/03/revealed-anti-oligarch-ukrainian-president-offshore-connections-volodymyr-zelenskiy
Truth in language alert, only one party has declared war – Russia, and in invading Ukraine it has in a sense done so against the international regime – the collective security of nations. Because it has nukes and a veto on the UNSC .. it thinks it it can do what it likes.
The idea that the western MSM, not any other MSM such as in China or Russia, cannot be relied on for truth is a definition of partisanship – not truth seeking.
And of course the central "fact" of the sovereign citizen movement and every other social media rabbit warren cult on earth is that it alone has the truth. That form of the force is with us is a secular variant of end of the world uber Zionism and related Christian and Moslem theocracy.
"The idea that the western MSM, not any other MSM such as in China or Russia, cannot be relied on for truth is a definition of partisanship – not truth seeking"…When exactly did I say or imply that?
I am happy use any western MSM and any other MSM sources when I believe they a useful.
BTW, The last part of your comment didn't make any sense…what were trying to say there?
In every comment about western media in 2 above.
What I said, I was not trying, was that many claim to the truth is with them and them alone. A definition of a cult.
" that many claim to the truth is with them and them alone. A definition of a cult"….that sounds a lot like western MSM….link me to one serious debate or discussion on western MSM from someone serious, pushing back against the 'Russiagate' conspiracy during the Trump era.
Note that western MSM only maintained one truth on that issue…I think you find the same 'single truth' narrative around the Douma gas attack incident…I could go on but you get the idea I am sure.
So if I apply your definition, Western MSM is a cult of some sort.
So you define cult as what you are against, rather than note the common characteristics of them …
According to her, the Ukranians are fighting on behalf of Europe, and she wants to make sure that Russia is never again able to attack European countries.
It is much more likely the Ukranians are fighting on behalf of the US. After all, what were McCain, Biden and Nuland doing in Kyev around 2013 or 2014?
Why would Russia, these days, wish to attack European countries anyway?
Funny question, given it's doing exactly that.
But assuming a good faith question, one particular stand-out feature of the vagaries of post-Soviet geography is Kaliningrad. Can you think of any reason some Baltic states lying between Kaliningrad and the rest of Russia might be shitting themselves at the moment, given the current Russian expansionist imperialism? What about Moldova and Transnistria?
And then there are the innumerable opportunities for border expansion, a little piece here or there…
Ukraine is not really part of Europe, though some of its citizens apparently would like it to be. This whole sorry mess grew out of the events in 2014 when Yanukovich, who was at the time the Ukrainian president, failed in his attempt to join Europe. Putin seems to have seen this attempt, after Yanukovich's ousting, together with a desire to join NATO, as an existential threat to Russia. Hence the invasion.
The invasion seems to have been a defensive move on Putin’s part. He ain’t no Napoleon Bonaparte.
Despite the blatant stupidity of that comment, it is however the only thing that bears any relevance to my response to your question as to why some definitely European countries (in addition to the country in eastern Europe called Ukraine) might be worried that the authoritarian kleptocracy controlling Russia might wish to invade their territory, too.
Russia, of course, famously spans two continents. But Ukraine is firmly in Europe, well west of the Urals.
Maybe you should read Chris Trotter's latest article tsmithfield.
https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/2022/04/forgetting-to-remember-news-coverage-of.html
What worries me is that RadioNZ seems to be cravenly followed the "plucky little Ukraine" line without questioning whether there is a factual basis for the reports coming out of the war. The NZ public deserve better.
Yes, fair points made in that article. That is why I think it is wise to seek sources that don't have a dog in the fight. Though, that is hard to find.
After reading all the stuff on here about the media bias, for one side or the other, maybe RadioNZ should not report anything about what is going on except to say "there is conflict in Ukraine." (Maybe there will be some who say even that is propaganda.)
If they carry a story about a number of deaths I suppose the information has come from someone. Who is to say the information is true? If they carry a story about anything to do with not all the information has come from someone. Who is to say the information is true?
Trotter gets it right on Ukraine again here.
https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/2022/04/bloody-anniversaries.html
I wonder where these lovely tenants will end up living now? I doubt the landlord will ever see any of the $10k owed. There should be a register of bad tenants and a bad landlords so people can avoid either renting to them or becoming their tenant.
Christchurch tenants ordered to pay landlord $10,000 after damage, meth use, robbery, abandonment – NZ Herald
They will probably end up being State housing tenants for life as no other landlord in their right mind would let them rent their house, and unfortunately you and me will end up paying for them.
Great, more poverty porn from the Herald…yuk.
"There should be a register of bad tenants and a bad landlords so people can avoid either renting to them or becoming their tenant"
Have you, or do you know anyone who has trying getting into a rental lately?….they have to jump through every hoop that the landlord can possibly make up…and then some more for good measure…but what single reference does the landlord have to provide to that hopeful tenant?
And because of tenants like these, that is exactly why there are so many hoops to jump through. Their "CV" would not make good reading and I wouldn't wish them on any landlord. The landlord is the one with a property at risk. The tenant risks nothing.
But I still believe there should also be a register of the bad landlords.
Nonsense. Hoops have existed for years – many of my Maori staff twenty years ago struggled to get rentals. It was called racism.
That they have increased (hoops that is) is not due to bad tenants – it's due to the bull-dozing of state houses, the massive increase in immigration without a building program to go with it, the massive subsidisation of landlords through accommodation supplement and tax breaks, reduced taxation of the wealthy freeing up capital, the realisation after the Canterbury Earthquakes by landlords they could get away with charging a fortune, the lack of rent controls, bloody-mindedness by some landlords like the one who told me he put all his rents up to piss off Jacinda, the loss of other government housing.
In short a deliberate and concerted effort to create a supply and demand shortage by capitalists. Bad tenants are the very least cause in the whole back to slum-lords and homelessness mess.
About those satellite images:
https://southfront.org/more-evidence-more-doubts-about-bucha-massacre/
From the NY Times article:
“The images show dark objects of similar size to a human body appearing on Yablonska Street between March 9 and March 11″
yet:
” However, according to the Institute of War report, the Russians did not control the south of the city from March 9 to 11. Attention should also be drawn to the statement of the General Staff of Ukraine on Facebook on March 10, which reads «the enemy is trying to break through the defenses of Ukraine’s defenders in the areas of Poliske, Kukhari, Zhovtneve, Andriyivka, Kopyliv, Motyzhyn, Buzova, Horenychi, Bucha, Demydiv, and block Kyiv». Next, the Institute of War, in its Facebook post of March 11, states that all attempts by the Russian army to take Bucha have failed.”
https://southfront.org/more-evidence-more-doubts-about-bucha-massacre/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SouthFront
'In 2016, Finnish journalist Jessikka Aro writing in Springer Link described SouthFront as "an allegedly citizen-sourced project that looks more like a suspicious information operation." Describing it as "a fascinating hybrid of revealingly detailed military intelligence and totally bogus stories," she said that the site's content centers on "the success of Russia's armed forces, and showing off Russia's weapons." '
Whatever the source, address the content
Article references the NYTimes article, Facebook entries of Ukrainian military and other verifiable sources.
It’s not an opinion piece
.If you dispute the validity of the references, offer counters to them or prove them to be false
Them thar facebook accounts prompted an FB phishing warning. Went as far as I could without logging in.
But despite that, nothing in your links actually contradicts the possibility that the people were killed in areas controlled by the Russians, or even the progress of events depicted in wikipedia (with considerable more precision than "in the area of [half a dozen major suburbs]").
What you, specifically, are saying is not what the sources for your article state.
Why am I not surprised…..
Zhao Lijian: "….. in a contrasting move to its (the USA) pressuring of European countries to not buy Russian oil, the US increased crude oil supplies from Russia by 43 percent, or 100,000 barrels per day, over the past week and allowed its companies to import mineral fertilizers from Russia. The ongoing war and sanctions have incurred an influx of refugees, capital outflow and energy shortage in Europe, but enabled the US to have profited and made a fortune from that"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxgFX-J0ZQ4
Will be interesting if these claims pan out.
https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/PET_MOVE_IMPCUS_D_NUS_NRS_MBBL_M.htm
The US gets about 1 – 3% of its total crude oil from Russia. They get about 60-61% of oil from Canada.
The US public will not stand for gas prices even higher than they are (Witness how fast our own government folded after just 2 weeks).
Oil markets are now so roiled that even a partial oil sanction has driven India into the hands of Russia for perpetual oil supply. You can only mess with energy security so far.
So have they increased their oil imports from Russia by 43% or not…I guess that is the question, regardless of what overall percentage it is?
The sanctions such as they are, are altering Russian export flows. But the trades are going to get very shadowy.
Price-sensitive refiners in India are buying Urals crude at a discount to Brent crude prices of $25 per barrel or more.
In China, both independent refiners and state oil companies are buying ESPO blend and Urals volumes.
Russian off-the-radar transactions will grow and they make it hard to calculate the current market disruption with great precision: the revenue loss for Russia isn't going to be as big as hoped.
The US is generating enough pressure to be noticeable, but not so much that Russian accelerates a full geopolitical re-alignment of India into the Russia-China-Iran-Kazakhstan-Donbas oil power that is emerging.
This world does not need energy markets more destabilised than they are. So the US has smaller oil levers to operate than would be obvious.
Equally, it's very clear that only the US and Europe are really standing up to Russia at all – in energy or anything else.
Oh come on Ad
Putin and Lavrov can forget their holidays in Rotorua, and making supplies of potassium more expensive for NZ agriculturalists is really going to stick it to the Muscovites
Pretty simple Francesca:
United we stand, divided was fall.
Nothing to stop us falling united in a great economic collapse either.
Two comments above you were saying nothing would make a difference.
What makes a difference in this world is courage and planning. That's what unity feels like.
??
Can't recall saying nothing would make a difference
The purpose of Russian propaganda to twofold
1. to demonise Ukrainians as unworthy of life and self-determination
2. to convince us that the cost of upholding international norms – collective security of nations comes at too high a cost.
What's the purpose of western propaganda?
With the Tauranga by-election on May 19th, Climate Change plan coming out a week after that, and the Tauranga by-election on June 18th, government and National get the closest thing possible to a live straw poll.
What can Labour do now to turn their fortunes around?
'Post makes no sense Ad
Budget 2022 will be delivered on 19 May.
Budget policies will feed into the Tauranga election.
Two RBNZ mps statements before the election,lets not forget who really makes economic policy in the real world.
That is an absolutely uncharacteristic post from you it makes no sense please consider immediate medical attention as I am afraid your your blood oxygen may be way too low – this is not an attempt to harass or criticize I am concerned for your well being please seek medical help now
2022 Budget policies will feed into the Tauranga election.
Labour could promise every Tauranga citizen a million dollars each, dropped into their bank account the day after the bi-election – provided that the Labour candidate is elected…
And they would still lose.
This is not a poll on the government's performance. This is a bi-election is a safe blue seat.
The inevitable loss will mean nothing in the greater scheme of things.
The by election is on Saturday June 18. Does that help?
Ad, Labour has zero chance of winning in Tauranga. Why would that prove anything other than the status quo ? Straw poll? for Straw Men?
.
Well, for a start … stop wasting public money on 2 by-elections in the same electorate just a month apart. Seems just a little bit … extravagant … and vaguely indecisive.
Still, each to their own, I spoze.
[To be brutally honest, I’ve long favoured monthly by-elections in every geographical seat as a way of making politics much more interesting … so this would certainly seem to be a move in the right direction by the Govt]
To be brutally honest for someone who follows polls you have a dim view of democracy.
No, big believer in liberal democracy …unlike the affluent & autocratic Woke.
Keep it up Greens! Rent Freeze now, then Rent Control. Stick it up the bludging landlords.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300560111/green-party-pushes-for-rent-controls-hoping-house-and-rental-prices-will-fall?fbclid=IwAR1gQm4G8p8mZk16ojwxmApK2tlZiIO5uhQYy2AW4d4oTpJR1tGgqBjPWPk
And here is one way to deliver homes rather than just more misery.
All a Labour or National government would have to do is get rid of the Bright Line test for all new builds.
Watch the new rentals shoot up.
The new builds in the CBD in CHCH a high proportion already went to investors between 50-90 %,A high proportion went into short term accommodation.
A more sustainable outcome was to make them legalise their activity,change the rating,and increase their opex costs with building act requirements such as WOF.
Only need 10% of inventory to move back into the residential market,and that would increase the listed rental stock in CHCH by 25%.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/128264975/airbnb-slams-christchurchs-new-house-sharing-rules-as-most-restrictive-in-australasia
It might guarantee more new builds, not necessarily new rentals.
I say it might, because it depends on the market.
I will agree in that with a market at a high and interest rates sure to rise (prevent the market rising further) there is less prospect of build and profit. And more of have the equity to build and rent out because there is market demand for a place to live by those who cannot buy at these prices.
In the USA equity firms are buying up houses to rent out for the return. NZ Super Fund and Kiwi Saver may do the same.
Investing in new builds at the peak of the market, when interest rates are rising … is a game for those with equity and who can hold and earn rent income.
I don't know about "bludging landlords". However many seem to have been sucked into unwise investments by the interest deductibility subsidy.
Accommodation Supplements = Billions funneled to landlords
Read Soper's latest out of curiosity:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/barry-soper-why-there-was-no-point-sticking-around-for-ashley-bloomfield/OSLFTGIDSO5WL5VXVO57X6D2BM/
A bitter, bombastic, misogynistic, jealousy ridden racist rant of bile.
Feel free to add any further appropriate adjectives….
It was not as bad as I expected.
I would agree with Soper, it was clearly not a job that Bloomfield would have found tempting enough to stay on for. A year working with Little and then the 2023 election challenge to the administration (political attacks on the Maori Authority etc) and potential of having to work with National (and risk of being removed). So much easier to take a sabbatical, do some advisory/consulting work and wait for post 2023.
Sure the normal – better qualified older white men not having a job and younger women of colour having jobs is par for the course for those of his generation and ambition to remain in control. It's equal part legacy white man privilege and colonialism – no wonder he just loves Winnie, one who knew his place.
Spare me the nonsense. The man is exhausted and so are the other senior health officials. They don't want their lives snuffed out early with exhaustion-induced heart attacks and the like.
You and Soper should team up.
Do you know what sabbatical means?
What a sad reaction – me too tribalism us or them at its worst.
A realistic counter to the twisted conspiracy weaved by Soper:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/464787/ashley-bloomfield-s-resignation-he-felt-the-pressure-along-with-the-rest-of-us
In short, Bloomfield and senior colleagues are burnt out after 2 years of 12 hour days and 7 day working weeks. There is no conspiracy. Nor is there bad blood. He's made up the drivel about Ardern in an attempt to further vilify her.
Imo, he's gone too far this time and the Press Council should take action against him.
"Press Council should take action against him".
If you feel that strongly about it why don't you complain? Or have you already done so? If you aren't willing to go to the trouble of doing so then your statement is merely another of the "Someone outa do something" variety.
It is now (and has been since 2017) the New Zealand Media Council. The things you have to do in making a complaint are described here. I don't believe it costs anything to make a complaint but there are are a number of things you will have to do before they take the complaint up.
https://www.mediacouncil.org.nz/complaints/
Well, are you going to do it , or are you just going to complain here? Let us know how you get on won't you?
Yeah… knew that little line would come up. I know how to make complaints alwyn but it is up to the Press Council to police their own.
If I want to bawl someone out on this site I will do so. After all, you make quite a habit of it.
Now read the RNZ link @ 8.2 and get a handle on the facts of the case (warts n' all) rather than the Soper fiction.
I too agree with a lot of Soper's article. Why would Bloomfield wait around when his job was going to be changing.
Also, the prospect of working with Andrew Little would not be very tempting.
"I too agree with a lot of Soper's article."
You would wouldn't you. 😯
The war in Ukraine is reaching an interesting point.
From a strategic perspective, I think the Russians would be better to regroup, and reinforce the areas they have taken, and ensure they have a good solid foundation to base further attacks on.
However, Putin has put the pressure on his forces by declaring a victory by May 9th.
Therefore, in order to achieve something worth the effort, the Russians will have to go on the offensive again. This is likely to involve attempting to encircle Ukrainian forces in the east which are well dug in, and then try and take the whole Dombas region.
One option is to try and take the strategically important Sloviansk. The problem with that strategy is that Sloviansk is incredibly well defended, from what I have read. And I expect more Ukranian forces and assets no longer required up North will be deployed there. Therefore, as we have seen in Mariupol which is still fighting, this will be an incredibly hard nut to crack.
Another option is for the Russians to avoid Sloviansk by looping around it. But the Spring rains are coming, thus turning fields into a quagmire and confining tanks etc to the roads. Also, this strategy involves the problems of maintaining logistic supplies over a long distance. The problem that has plagued the Russians all along. This is going to allow the Ukrainians to continue to ambush convoys with a similar outcome to what the Russians have been experiencing thus far.
So, I think, rather than going on the offensive too much, at the moment, the Ukranians are best to dig in and let the Russians sustain more losses trying to attack defensive positions as they try and make gains to meet the progress that Putin is expecting.
Should be interesting times ahead. I hope the Ukranians are supplied with more long range missiles and the like that will allow them to target Russian artillary and ships that have been causing so much damage to civilian areas recently. And I hope they are provided with more long-range anti-aircraft capability to take on Russian bombers.
While the Ukranians are calling for more tanks, I am not sure that this is such at necessity at the moment as they will be affected by boggy fields as much as the Russians.
20 days out from ANZAC Day I'd concentrate more on suffering and death from warmongers, rather than abstract lines on a map from afar.
Agreed.
The death and destruction is absolutely appalling and unforgivable. But on another level the strategist in me finds the abstract lines on a map quite interesting.
So far as the death and destruction is concerned, a good thing is that Ukraine is trying to evacuate citizens from population centres in the east that are likely to be in the line of Russian fire. So hopefully there shouldn't be lots of civilian casualties in those areas as we have seen before.
BTW I started watching that series you recommended ÿday "Secret City''. It looks really good and relevant to our strategic situation down here.
I totally agree.
Vietnam war: 2,000,000 civilian deaths
Iraq war: 208,167 civilian deaths
Yemen War: Estimated 111,000, up to a quarter children.
Afghanistan war: 46,319 civilian deaths
Drone strikes since 911: >22,000 at least, possibly as high as 48,000
War is always horrible.
Zelensky is ignorant of history..
https://twitter.com/AP/status/1511365620310364169
It sort of depends whether the May date is real or not. The Russian tanks are viable in the east in the summer. And Ukraine has to prepare for that.
Sure Ukraine can lift siege by bombardment with better artillery and missile capability (range and numbers).
What will be interesting is how soon and where the Russians deploy from Izium. That will give a good idea of their tactics. From sources I have seen, the Russians are heavily bombarding Ukrainian dug in positions in the east which suggests they may be planning to try and break through soon.
I am sure that Putin will declare a win on May 9th regardless. I guess the problem for the Russians is, if they go for the slow build-up option, it gives the Ukranians a lot more time to get tooled up with better equipment and get trained in more modern systems the West can provide.
My take on this now is that the West has changed its perspective a bit. Rather than trying to set up an insurgency after a Russian take over, the strong performance of the Ukranians means the West wants to try and prevent Russia from being able to claim a win in Ukraine as this would just embolden Putin to keep on going.
9 May is the date Russia holds its victory parade ie the date Russia won the 2nd ww. 12000 plus troops and all the modern weapons on show. What's not for Putin to love.
The Ukrainians need more Armour for it's Combined Arms TTP's, yes it's the muddie seasons & once the ground dries out its going to be a fluid Battle Zone.
The Ukranian Armoured Corps has been very quiet so far, but what I've seen so of the Ukrainian Armoured TTP's they are 1k times better than the Russians.
Sloviansk Pocket is going to the next crucial battle for the Ukrainians, if they can hold without only major losses.
Then the Ukranian Military have a chance of doing some serious damage to the Russians especially if the Ukrainian Forces manage to bump the Russians out of the Kherson.
Russians
Yes, Anne, reading Soper's cynical bitter column on Dr Bloomfield makes one almost sorry for his new baby growing up with a parent/parents like that. I can never understand why the Herald has a stable full of columnists like Soper, mostly older males. What joyless, miserable people they all are.
It only took a couple of reads of Soper, to never again bother with Soper. And yes, there's a whole pack of them, and they're not worth the time either. Their task is supplying anger in soundbites, daily ammo to 'own the libs' in the form of some moronic bumper sticker.
Don't feed the professional trolls. What they say isn't controversial, it's horse shit.
Corporate cronies and psychophants.
Getting well paid to spread toxic untruths.
Bloomfield has had to negotiate NZ through the biggest catastrophe since WW2.
The herald stable of treasonous poisonous traitors have no empathy for Ashley Bloomfeild who has had the biggest burden on his shoulders of any single person since WW2.
Soper is our Lord haw haw.
Quite the shit list.
https://twitter.com/ashleygjovik/status/1511588538004873216
[…]
https://twitter.com/ashleygjovik/status/1511812771637194754
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1511588538004873216.html
Regarding the political right's scorn over Ashley Bloomfield's resignation.
They had good reason to hate Bloomfield, because he repeatedly told them what they didn't want to hear, stood by it and resisted all their attempts to undermine his work.
The political right have few principles and don't like it when their opponents stand fast.
Mike t L, Yes and they feel the same about Jacinda!! They have tried all old and new DP.
They hate she is still there, and hate she is leading a business delegation to Asia.
That gets right up their nose.
And as far as Jacinda is concerned there is also a certain amount of misogynistic jealousy too. Some elements hate it that we have a female PM who is a real leader.
The convergence of they stole the election and mistrust of liberal democracy vaccine mandates – the white race Christian identity movement of Putin (eastern Tsar) of the GOP and the crusade for totalitarian kingdom come power.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/06/us/christian-right-wing-politics.html
SPC, it’s the rise of Christian Nationalism, and the splitting of the American church into a militaristic, heretical cult enslaved to Republican propaganda vs the traditional faith and progressive churches who actually know what the Gospel teaches.
The Maga/Q nuts are ideologically similar to Putin’s crazed regime of Russian nationalism, they are spawned from the same toxic brew of paranoia, white supremacy, and personality cult of a dictator supposedly chosen by God. And the enemy is inhuman, satanic, utterly corrupt, and cheating the true believers out of their rightful inheritance. Only a “final solution” can cleanse the earth of this (shadow projection of themselves) great evil
Peak money arises as the Fed reduces QE,and doubles down on signaled rates increases.
A trillion dollars to be removed from US economy this year.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/fed-officials-weigh-shrinking-balance-180243725.html
A trillion plus whatever is removed by defaults.
More likely defaults in the large ne cities or california.Not so much in the Oilbelt with contract driller hands being offered 400k.
https://www.unitedvanlines.com/newsroom/movers-study-2021?#
It matters not where the defaults occur, they destroy liquidity and reduce the propensity for credit creation…..and 400k for drilling hands, really! bloody hell thats ridiculous especially in an industry that has lost billions to date.
Heavy diesel mechanics in mining in WA is offering 200k pa,plus fly in fly out to Perth 14 on 14 off,plus 12% super fully paid,free med etc.
Sustainable too.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/rural-news/2022-04-06/andrew-forrest-buys-cattle-stations-green-energy-production/100966340
True enough…(the numbers are a wee bit bigger now than i recall)….still 400K US and as said the industry has cost investors billions to date.
Thats confidence that sanctions will be effective and enduring…over confidence imo.
As the price rises more fields become economic.Without the transport constraint of of oil from large tankers (freight margin around 13bbl) their is a higher local premium.
Old pricing structure had them unprofitable under 50 USD a barrel….so say 60+ today….price has eased to low/mid 90s even while OPEC stands back.
IEA has announced a further 60 million bbls from strategic reserves,(megan woods to wave our futures contract around soon) ,tends to remove the margin players long positions.
We as part of the IEA are also supposed to have started a conservation campaign,seems to have been overlooked.
https://twitter.com/IEA/status/1511444829712039939?cxt=HHwWhoCyyZHE3fkpAAAA
Maybe the working from home part may be unpalatable to hospitality.
Hospitality has more problems than public servants working from home ….but i guess every little bit helps.
I think hospitality has more problems from landlords wanting market rent increases,when bums on seats are decreasing.
That old real estate bubble causing problems everywhere.
But dog forbid we mock and deride these folk and their economic anxiety.
https://twitter.com/stphnfwlr/status/1510663380314783744
Just say Space Force like Trevor Noah channeling Trump and then consider how children learn to imitate "adult" behaviour …
Anatomically correct puppets …
Timely reminder. Dr Dan Goyal:
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1511590788647604226.html
Jacinda Ardern needs to have a few stern words to Poto Williams after this interview.
"Williams said she was "not over the detail" despite 1News having sent the details to her office, and described it as an "operational matter to the police".
https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/04/06/kiwis-having-to-wait-longer-and-longer-for-police-help/
Luckily for Poto, Helen Clark is not the PM else she would probably be packing up her office today. Poto needs to get over the detail. She's the minister.
It is an operational matter.
That's a Costa issue. Poto can't control that and shouldn't interfere.
Rabid feral at US capitol bites 9
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-07/viral-capitol-fox-put-down-biting-nine-people-officials/100973484
I always try to avoid fox news.