Belated moves to supply air defence systems to Ukraine (presumably to protect its energy infrastructure).
Leaders of the G7 group of rich nations have said they will back Ukraine for "as long as it takes" in the wake of Monday's major Russian missile strikes.
The group, which met for emergency virtual talks, said it would keep on giving military and humanitarian aid.
Nato also said it would stand with Ukraine for as long as necessary.
"We will continue to provide financial, humanitarian, military, diplomatic and legal support and will stand firmly with Ukraine for as long as it takes," the group said in a statement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked the G7 for further air defence capabilities.
The Following cities in Ukraine hit by Russian missiles
[deleted unattributed copypasta]
Do I need to name all the idiots on this site who claim that Ukraine and its supporters are the aggressor?
[the only sources I can find via google for that list are a meme website and a pro-putin twitter account that has no reference. Neither of those are acceptable sources for claims of fact. You also failed to link to where you copied from. You absolutely know that all quotes have to be linked, and I’m sick of having to chase this up. Stop treating TS as if it’s FB. Two week ban (double your last ban) – weka]
The air bombardment came with the appointment of Surovikin, known for the bombing of Aleppo (when commander of their aerospace forces) and atrocities in Idlib in Syria (when in army command). He later became a General with command of the 5th southern district.
His combat roles were in Afghanistan 1980’s Moscow 1991 and Chechnya 2004.
One has to wonder why they continue fighting Are they lunatics? Their buildings are being turned to rubble, their civilian populations are being either killed or forced to seek refuge in neighboring countries What is it all for? To regain territory whose inhabitants have made it pretty clear, since 2014, that they do not want to be part of Ukraine?
Russia's interests seem pretty clear. They need to hold Crimea, which seems to be an important defensive outpost for Russia. They also probably need to re-establish land access to Crimea. They had that access, via Ukraine, when the latter was friendly to Russia, but that seems to have changed, since 2014, with Ukraine looking Westward and seeking to join NATO.
I look at the situation much the same way as I would look at a chess game, and I see that the Ukrainians are doing rather well. I see also that the Russians have refrained from playing the nuclear gambit – up until now anyway.
To regain territory whose inhabitants have made it pretty clear, since 2014, that they do not want to be part of Ukraine?
The 1991 referendum to leave the USSR was as below. Post that leaving Russia started moving more Russians into the area – similar in approach to Israel and China. Take over the space with your own people then say it is yours.
The 2014 referendum was as dodgy as hell.
The referendum was illegal under the Constitution of Ukraine. It is not recognized by most countries, mainly due to the presence of Russian forces. Thirteen members of the United Nations Security Council voted in favor of a resolution declaring the referendum invalid, but Russia vetoed it and China abstained. A United Nations General Assembly resolution was later adopted, by a vote of 100 in favor vs. 11 against with 58 abstentions, which declared the referendum invalid and affirmed Ukraine's territorial integrity. As the plebiscite was proclaimed, the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People called for a boycott of the referendum.
"One has to wonder why they continue fighting Are they lunatics? Their buildings are being turned to rubble, their civilian populations are being either killed or…."
Britain V Nazi Germany 1940 just as well they didn't listen to defeatists then either
One has to wonder why they continue fighting Are they lunatics?
Yup, they should let Putin annex Ukrainian territory without a fight like they did in 2014 because that will placate him and he won't invade and annex more Ukrainian territory and attack Ukrainian cities and kill even more Ukrainians like he did in 2022.
The nuclear gambit is the one where you throw away all chances of winning by throwing the board over, right? I can't imagine why they haven't tried that.
"We are not scared, we are just very very angry" – Ukrainians respond to major missile attacks on Kyiv
So far, 10 people have been reported killed in the missile and drone attacks, whilst 60 have been injured. The strikes hit civilian areas as well as key infrastructure like Kyiv’s thermal power plant (TPP). But Kyiv’s war-hardened citizens are not going anywhere.
“We are not scared; we are just very very angry. These are fucking terrorists. This is not normal,” Kris, a humanitarian worker, told her more than 21,000 Instagram followers…..
……Queues formed outside the shops as people cancelled their plans for the following days. Despite the sombre mood, Kyiv’s unity and community spirit constantly exceed the pressure of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s attacks.
“We had a little party during the air siren,” Kris jokes. “I was chatting in the queue with grannies and teenagers at the coffee shop. We were all talking about what an arsehole Putin is.”……
…..“Not even a nuke will kick me out of Kyiv,” she says.
This sentiment is shared by Nikita and his girlfriend Anna, who also refuse to leave Kyiv, despite the threat of more strikes in the future. “They can shell everything. Why leave for nothing when we can stay and do something,” Nikita told bne IntelliNews.
“Do I need to name all the idiots on this site who claim that Ukraine and its supporters are the aggressor?”
I think you have oversimplified my friend, Russia is not the only aggressor. I’d almost say you have Zero understanding.
Take sometime out and review these idiots then.
“Chomsky’s position on Russia-Ukraine relations is surprisingly similar to International Relations (IR) scholar John Mearsheimer’s (and to a lesser extent, Henry Kissinger’s). According to Professor Mearsheimer, the U.S. is to blame for Russia invading the Ukraine. By pressuring Ukraine to join NATO, the U.S. intensified an already tense situation. It provoked Putin to defend Russia’s security interest in keeping Ukraine out of NATO. (For more, see “Mearsheimer on Ukraine.”)”
Chris Hedges: see example of his work – Chris Hedges Report: Ukraine and Crisis of Media Censorship
Throughout the Ukraine war, Western news outlets have mindlessly parroted the opinions of a ruling elite and overseen a public discourse that is often unhinged from the real world.
This is a war of murder and torture by Russian people against Ukrainian people.
And now Belarus joining its military into Russia's. This puts Poland a NATO member fully in the frame.
The chances of Ukraine continuing to exist without a full defence pact with NATO are now zero.
If Putin wanted to avoid a proxy war with NATO, what he's done is get one.
Ukraine submitted its request for full NATO membership on 22 September 2022. Turkey will veto it. A future Ukraine will join the EU, and have a defence pact with NATO without full membership.
I might add here Karl. The intellectuals in your list of impassioned writers and commentators have made a historic mistake. These illustrious individuals mistake is in thinking that US/Western imperialism is the only evil in the world. This mistaken viewpoint is not unprecedented.
The mistake was made by writers in commentators in Germany before the war, who considered British Imperialism to be the only evil in the world
So convinced were leading German intellectuals of the genocidal and racist nature of the British Empire, (and they weren't wrong about that), That they gave their support to the German National Socialists and their newly envisioned Nazi empire.
But the solution to the evil of imperialism is not another imperialism.
Because all empires are genocidal, racist and avaricious.
Racism, genocide and the driving motive of greed at the core, is the nature of all imperialisms.
Russia took control of $12.4 trillion fields in Ukraine
……Referring to data from the Canadian analytical company SecDev, the publication claims that Russian control now includes 63 Ukrainian coal deposits, 11% of oil reserves, a fifth of natural gas, 42% of metals, and a third of deposits of rare earth elements, including lithium necessary for the production of batteries. Among other things, Ukraine has lost large deposits of uranium, gold and limestone. All in all, Kyiv could lose access to two-thirds of its energy and mineral reserves.
All these deposits are needed for the production of high-tech products from microelectronics to components for aviation, which, according to the authors of WP, will make it difficult for the West to find alternatives to imports from Russia and China…..
“But apart from that. I am familiar with most of these names, as supporters and apologists for the disgusting genocide in Syria.” …………”While these intellectuals and writers may not be idiots, their one eyed hatred of US imperialism, has obscured their vision”
So Chomsky, Hedges, Prof Jeffrey Sachs, Prof John Mearsheimer, Col Douglas Macgregor are all genocide supporters?
Love to see those references
Cant really speak on their behalf but they appear to be American and suspect they love the freedoms of speech and Americas core values. I suspect the imperialism side they’re not to fond of. They’re not exactly one eyed. Again if you can show this “hatred” they supposedly exhibit, please provide references….
So Chomsky, Hedges, Prof Jeffrey Sachs, Prof John Mearsheimer, Col Douglas Macgregor are all genocide supporters?
Love to see those references. Karl Sinclair
Since you asked:
I don't know all of the intellectuals and commentators on your list, Karl. So I will admit that I can't make a judgement on all of them. But I do know for a fact, that those names on your list, that I do recognise have supported, or at the very least denied the ongoing grisly genocide being carried out right now in Syria by the Assad regime and their Russian allies.
For Noam Chomsky, the first person on your list, (and probably the most recognised and feted among this group of intellectuals), this is not his first outing as a genocide denier. As well as supporting/denying the genocide in Syria committed by the regime of Bashar Al Assad, Chomsky has supported/denied genocide in Cambodia committed by the Pol Pot regime.
From wikipedia:
…..Many scholars of Cambodia and intellectuals opposed to the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War denied or minimized the human rights abuses of the Khmer Rouge, characterizing contrary reports as "tales told by refugees" and U.S. propaganda.[1]
……On 6 June 1977, Noam Chomsky and Edward S. Herman published an article in The Nation …..
….. What filters through to the American public is a seriously distorted version of the evidence available…..
….Cambodia correspondent Nate Thayer said of Chomsky and Herman's Nation article that they "denied the credibility of information leaking out of Cambodia of a bloodbath underway and viciously attacked the authors of reportage suggesting many were suffering under the Khmer Rouge."[29]
….Chomsky, he said, questioned "refugee testimony," believing that "their stories were exaggerations or fabrications, designed for a western media involved in a 'vast and unprecedented propaganda campaign' against the Khmer Rouge government, 'including systematic distortion of the truth.'"[30]
The Oxfam international inequality index ranks governments on policies and actions that have major impacts on reducing inequality, like public service spend, taxes and labour rights. Overall, New Zealand was 8th.
136th out of 161 when it comes to fair wealth distribution, and little better on tax at 91st and labour rights, 74th.
It looks like we need a government from 2023 that includes a party with a plan in these areas.
So you will remember just last month when the entire banking and Kiwisaver industry strapped on a 24 kilo enema bomb just for proposing a marginal tax on fees?
What the media are looking for now and until the 2023 election is tax cuts.
And that's likely to be the only dice throw they have left.
1. adopt the simple Greens wealth tax (the smart land tax applied at over $1M only) – other nations do the more complicated things like CGT and inheritance taxes.
Use the money raised to adjust income tax thresholds. More people on higher incomes would gain than lose from this approach (let those people fight each other over it).
2. collect 1% from employees and employers to fund the contribution to the Cullen Fund (frees up money for health and capital input to kainga ora) – if they do not National will stop future contributions (as per 2008-2017).
3. as part of an income support package – WFF tax credits and AS – some change at the bottom of the tax system. My preference would be a low rate 10 cents up towards $20,000 (something across the board) and a low income earner rebate for individuals and couples on two incomes without children.
Benefits are tax paid, Super is based on an assessment of net tax (is impacted by rising incomes and tax changes).
PS. The USA is set to soon have one of the the largest increases in Social Security ever (nothing like it since the 70's) – we don't hear so much about affordability projections since the GFC and the pandemic though (QE …).
What the media are looking for now and until the 2023 election is tax cuts
Yep. But as a differentiation from the Nats, call it "tax cuts for the many, not the few". So start lowering GST in a series of planned and phased reductions (12.5%, 10%), and introduce a tax-free threshold on initial earnings with a series of phased increases to that threshold (initial $10k, $15k, etc.).
Propaganda-wise, steal the Tory, Laffer curve bullshit of saying that the increased growth that results from these cuts will (ahem) over time actually increase tax receipts. With tax cuts for the many it might actually prove partially correct – though also with a demand-driven inflationary risk. Paying for it – increase tax on higher incomes so that from about $90k the effect is neutral and then turns net-negative somewhere in the lower-mid 100's. Almost certainly, this wouldn't be enough, so debt would have to increase, but there is some room for that.
Do you mind sharing the source for the above target list? I'm trying to find a bit more details and the only google search results I get are for images containing this information.
Jenny's comment has now been edited, because it's against site policy to copy material here without attribution. I found stupid memes and a pro-Putin twitter account as sources, none of them seemed useful for information.
Before the tired old "pearl clutching" accusations emerge, I am not suggesting any banning or removal, but questioning the presentation of bad information, and the influence this lack of quality may have on teenage readers.
Particularly those girls who struggle with the developments of puberty.
To think we critiqued publications like Cosmo for increasing body issues in teenage girls, and this celebration of bodily judgement and disconnection is feted.
Thanks SPC for keeping the debate/query going. Recognising the in built inertia in Govt implementation, which can be a good things as well as a bad one, it does seem that we could be working on aspects and signalling that we are. Otherwise the way the media seem to work is that
'can't see anything,
no Govt comment on this
therefore they (Govt) are not doing anything'
More and more…'they are not doing anything' feeds into opinion polls that reflect 'they are not doing anything, I am being ignored' If we/Labour want a third term they will need to do more than sleepwalk or 'trust us'.
I've heard the argument in the last day or two that reducing NZ's agricultural production will see that gap filled internationally by overseas farmers who have a higher GG emissions. Meaning higher aggregate global emissions. National's agriculture spokesperson Barbara Kuriger made it here as did Andrew Hoggard on RNZ. I'm informed secondhand that Luxy also did it as part of the media round this morning.
So a superficially appealing talking point. But what does it mean in practice?
Is some non-existent global referee going to set target emissions for industry sectors and require those countries who exceed them by the greatest margin to act first, while stellar performers like our NZ farmers can change more slowly?
Or is National's emissions policy for agriculture to actually produce a whole lot more, achieve worldwide market domination and displace all high-emitters with our clean-green products, thus saving the rest of planet – who will be eternally grateful and never be alarmed by the resulting rural decay and loss of food security in their own countries?
But neither of these will happen – so it must be just an obfuscation to justify more can kicking.
So, you're right, being widely discussed. I have no doubt the discussion is being driven by interest groups, but still needs to be responded to, forcefully.
Or, the EP is going to suffer from the same loss in public confidence and support that 3 waters has experienced.
The specific points from the article
Job losses in small towns (due to the reduction in herd size)
Will dropping ag exports simply mean other countries will increase their ag exports to fill the market gap? (as you pointed out many of these will have much greater carbon costs than NZ farms)
A third point which I heard in passing on Nat rad (so can't link, I'm sorry – maybe it was the same Hoggard piece you're referencing), was that reducing ag production will result in increased food prices.
But here's a similar piece from Stuff (it's very much 'might' increase food prices – but take that with a grain of salt, if farmer's costs go up, and stocking rates go down, then prices will increase)
Well this frankly seems a little odd after all I have so many times the spiel that the price paid in New Zealand is the 'market' price and so because the 'market' price is set by the international market that we export to…In a shorter sentence we already pay the maximum they can get!
Apples growers made it quite clear they don't sell their surplus apples to the local market so as to keep the price up. Oil, diamonds same thing – the market isn't a free market it is controlled left, right and centre.
And according to some would rather leave the produce rotting on the ground if they cannot ensure their prices remain high, though last season the excuse was lack of imported seasonal pickers.
I remain very cynical/skeptical about much of what farmers or their reps say.
Well they reversed the decision saying it was an error (misinformation) but the market penalized them several magnitudes more ( very close to banking covenant penalties)
Yeah bit like the UK gilt program,with defensive stands by the BOE to fight Fiscal calamity by the UK gov, with 3 different interpretations on the program will finish in 3 days,requiring another statement from the BOE (financial stability committee) that it will end on Friday.
Looks like something (?) went wrong when I scheduled today’s DR around 8:16 pm last night. Things have been very sluggish in the back-end and I apologise for the inconvenience it may have caused. Is there anything important enough that I should salvage from the DR wreckage, as I can still see the comments in the back-end?
This morning from about 7.30am and it had disappeared about the time I read Incognito's post. So a couple of hours, if that. There is always the chance that I magicked a spell check up somehow on to my posts, if so the spell has been lost.
Tempting as it may be to let whole posts disappear into the ether sometimes, this time it was most likely a combination of technical glitch and human (?) error (most likely mine, not Putin’s).
Thank you for the alerting; I hadn’t even noticed it yet, as I haven’t had a coffee yet.
Today I heard James Shaw and Damien O'Connor get hammered during their respective radio interviews regarding Labours Emission Scheme. What scares me was how vague some of their answers were. In my opinion Labour's fate was sealed today. The question that may be more important for the country is 'what policies, apart from the obvious, will National roll back once in government? Seems to me more damage may be done untangling the mess this country is in. That may encourage the Tories to leave things as they are. Given their propensity to hold the status quo, we may be jumping out of the fat and into the fire, if the so far weak National Party response to the emissions scheme is anything to go by.
Nothing says courageous, independent truth-teller quite like taking an autocrat's cash to make a puff piece about him.
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Released in 2021 as both an eight-hour miniseries and a feature film, Qazaq: History of the Golden Man turns a flattering lens on Nazarbayev as he reminisces about his years in power and shares thoughts about the country’s future.
As it turns out, a charitable foundation named after and controlled by Nazarbayev paid at least $5 million for the production, a conflict of interest that was not disclosed. Last year, Stone and the film’s director, Igor Lopatonok, told the Guardian that the Kazakh government was not involved, but refused to discuss who had funded it.
A new wave of Yankee Candle reviews on Amazon complains the products lack scent. Does that suggest another COVID-19 surge is imminent? It’s hard to say, but with official case reports increasingly an undercount, people are looking to other forms of information to gauge trends.
JorgeCaballero, a San Francisco Bay-based anesthesiologist who has tracked coronavirus-related trends on his popular Twitter account, tweeted screenshots Sundayof recent one-star Amazon reviews for Yankee scented candles, and asserted, “Yankee Candle reviews indicate that COVID is about surge again.”
Given that this is a new category in the ETS; that the ETS is already largely dedicated to funding pine trees; and that it would allow many farmers to gain an income from native bush around waterways and eroding gullies, this made perfect sense. That is, until a group of carbon farming lobbyists got busy and changed Cabinet’s minds for them – quite how, no one is certain.
So much for our brave talk of ‘kaitiakitanga’ for native plants and animals. Once again, New Zealand’s ‘clean green image’ is being trashed.
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Hi,If you’ve been digging through the newly launched Webworm store (orders are being dispatched worldwide as I type!) you’ll have noticed the best model we had was Calvin.This is Calvin.Calvin.Calvin is 7, and is the son of my producer over on Flightless Bird, Rob — aka “Wobby Wob”. Rob also ...
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The future of Te Huia, the train between Hamilton and Auckland, has been getting a lot of attention recently as current funding for it is only in place till the end of June. The government initially agreed to a five year trial, through to April 2026, but that was subject ...
TL;DR: Hamas has just agreed to Israel’s ceasefire plan. Nelson hospital’s rebuild has been cut back to save money. The OECD suggests New Zealand break up network monopolies, including in electricity. PM Christopher Luxon’s news conference on a prison expansion announcement last night was his messiest yet.Here’s my top six ...
A homicide in Ponsonby, a manhunt with a killer on the run. The nation’s leader stands before a press conference reassuring a frightened nation that he’ll sort it out, he’ll keep them safe, he’ll build some new prison spaces.Sorry what? There’s a scary dude on the run with a gun ...
Hi,I know it’s been awhile since there’s been any Webworm merch — and today that all changes!Over the last four months, I’ve been working with New Zealand artist Jess Johnson to create a series of t-shirts, caps and stickers that are infused with Webworm DNA — and as of right ...
The OECD’s chief economist yesterday laid it on the line for the new Government: bring the deficit under control or face higher Reserve Bank interest rates for longer. And to bring the deficit under control, she meant not borrowing for tax cuts. But there was more. Without policy changes—introducing a ...
After a hiatus of over four months Selwyn Manning and I finally got it together to re-start the “A View from Afar” podcast series. We shall see how we go but aim to do 2 episodes per month if possible. … Continue reading → ...
In 2008, the UK Parliament passed the Climate Change Act 2008. The law established a system of targets, budgets, and plans, with inbuilt accountability mechanisms; the aim was to break the cycle of empty promises and replace it with actual progress towards emissions reduction. The law was passed with near-universal ...
Buzz from the Beehive Local Water Done Well – let’s be blunt – is a silly name, but the first big initiative to put it into practice has gone done well. This success is reflected in the headline on an RNZ report:District mayors welcome Auckland’s new water deal with ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate ConnectionsA farmworker cleans the solar panels of a solar water pump in the village of Jagadhri, Haryana Country, India. (Photo credit: Prashanth Vishwanathan/ IWMI) Decisions made in India over the next few years will play a key role in global ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – The Children’s Minister, Karen Chhour, intends to repeal Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 because it creates conflict between claimed Crown Treaty obligations and the child’s best interests. In her words, “Oranga Tamariki’s governing principles and its act should be colour ...
Geoffrey Miller writes – The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. ...
Brian Easton writes – This is about the time that the Treasury will be locking up its economic forecasts to be published in the 2024 Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU) on budget day, 30 May. I am not privy to what they will be (I will report on them ...
TL;DR:Winston Peters is reported to have won a budget increase for MFAT. David Seymour wanted his Ministry of Regulation to be three times bigger than the Productivity Commission. Simeon Brown is appointing a Crown Monitor to Watercare to protect the Claytons Crown Guarantee he had to give ratings agencies ...
The gloves are off. That might seem to be the undertone of surprisingly tough talk from New Zealand’s foreign and trade ministers. Winston Peters, the foreign minister, may be facing legal action after making allegations about former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr on Radio New Zealand. Carr had made highly ...
I could be a florist'Round the corner from Rye LaneI'll be giving daisies to craziesBut, baby, I'll wrap you up real safe Oh, I can give you flowers At the end of every dayFor the center of your table, a rainbowIn case you have people 'round to stay Depending on ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 12 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Finance Minister Nicola Willis will give a pre-budget speech on Thursday.Parliament sits from Question Time at 2pm on ...
The price of the foreign affairs “reset” is now becoming apparent, with Defence set to get a funding boost in the Budget. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed that it will be one of the few votes, apart from Health and Education and possibly Police, which will get an increase ...
A listing of 26 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 28, 2024 thru Sat, May 4, 2024. Story of the week "It’s straight out of Big Tobacco’s playbook. In fact, research by John Cook and his colleagues ...
Yesterday I received come lovely feedback following my Star Wars themed newsletter. A few people mentioned they’d enjoyed reading the personal part at the beginning.I often begin newsletters with some memories, or general thoughts, before commencing the main topic. This hopefully sets the mood and provides some context in which ...
April 30 was going to be the day we’d be calling Mum from London to wish her a happy birthday. Then it became the day we would be going to St. Paul's at Evensong to remember her. The aim of the cathedral builders was to find a way to make their ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – Can’t remember the last book by a Kiwi author you read? Think the NZ government should spend less on the arts in favor of helping the homeless? If so, as far as Newsroom is concerned, you probably deserve to be called a cultural ignoramus ...
Eric Crampton writes – Grudges are bad. Better to move on. But it can be fun to keep a couple of really trivial ones, so you’re not tempted to have other ones. For example, because of the rootkit fiasco of 2005, no Sony products in our household. ...
A new report warns an estimated third of the adult population have unmet need for health care.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāHere’s the six key things I learned about Aotaroa’s political economy this week around housing, climate and poverty:Politics - Three opinion polls confirmed support for PM Christopher Luxon ...
Today is May the fourth. Which was just a regular day when my mother took me to see the newly released Star Wars at the Odeon in Rotorua. The queue was right around the corner. Some years later this day became known as Star Wars Day, the date being a ...
Today New Zealand First will introduce a Member’s Bill that will protect women’s spaces. The ‘Fair Access to Bathrooms Bill’ will require, primarily in the interest and safety of women and girls, that all new non-domestic publicly accessible buildings provide separate, clearly demarcated, unisex and single sex bathrooms. This Bill ...
The Green Party is welcoming Climate Change Minister Simon Watts’ continuation of Hon. James Shaw’s cross-party work on climate adaptation, now in the form of a Finance and Expenditure Committee Inquiry. ...
The National Government plans to cut 390 jobs at ACC, including roles in the areas of prevention of sexual violence, road safety and workplace safety. ...
The Government has been caught in opposition to evidence once again as it looks to usher in tried, tested and failed work seminar obligations for job-seeking beneficiaries. ...
The Green Party is welcoming the announcement by the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop to approve most of the Wellington City Council’s District Plan recommendations. ...
David Seymour has failed to get the sweeping cuts he wanted to the free and healthy school lunch programme, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Hon Willie Jackson has been invited by the Oxford Union to debate the motion “This House Believes British Museums are not Very British’ on May 23rd. ...
Green Party MP Hūhana Lyndon says her Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill is an opportunity to right some past wrongs around the alienation of Māori land. ...
A senior, highly respected King’s Counsel with decades of experience in our law courts, Gary Judd KC, has filed a complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students - highlighting the utter depths of absurdity this woke cultural madness has taken our society. The tikanga regulations will compel law ...
The Government needs to be clear with the people of the Nelson Marlborough region about the changes it is considering for the Nelson Hospital rebuild, Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said. ...
Ministers must front up about which projects it will push through under its Fast Track Approvals legislation, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
The Government is again adding to New Zealand’s growing unemployment, this time cutting jobs at the agencies responsible for urban development and growing much needed housing stock. ...
With Minister Karen Chhour indicating in the House today that she either doesn’t know or care about the frontline cuts she’s making to Oranga Tamariki, we risk seeing more and more of our children falling through the cracks. ...
The Labour Party is saddened to learn of the death of Sir Robert Martin, a globally renowned disability advocate who led the way for disability rights both in New Zealand and internationally. ...
Labour is calling for the Government to urgently rethink its coalition commitment to restart live animal exports, Labour animal welfare spokesperson Rachel Boyack said. ...
Today’s Financial Stability Report has once again highlighted that poverty and deep inequality are political choices - and this Government is choosing to make them worse. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to do more for our households in most need as unemployment rises and the cost of living crisis endures. ...
Unemployment is on the rise and it’s only going to get worse under this Government, Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said. Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate grew to 4.3 percent in the March quarter from 4 percent in the December quarter. “This is the second rise in unemployment ...
The New Zealand Labour Party welcomes the entering into force of the European Union and New Zealand free trade agreement. This agreement opens the door for a huge increase in trade opportunities with a market of 450 million people who are high value discerning consumers of New Zealand goods and ...
The National-led Government continues its fiscal jiggery pokery with its Pharmac announcement today, Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says. “The government has increased Pharmac funding but conceded it will only make minimal increases in access to medicine”, said Ayesha Verrall “This is far from the bold promises made to fund ...
This afternoon’s interim Waitangi Tribunal report must be taken seriously as it affects our most vulnerable children, Labour children’s spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime. ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
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. ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced the upcoming Budget will include new funding of $571 million for Defence Force pay and projects. “Our servicemen and women do New Zealand proud throughout the world and this funding will help ensure we retain their services and expertise as we navigate an increasingly ...
New Zealand’s ability to cope with climate change will be strengthened as part of the Government’s focus to build resilience as we rebuild the economy, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “An enduring and long-term approach is needed to provide New Zealanders and the economy with certainty as the climate ...
Jobseeker beneficiaries who have work obligations must now meet with MSD within two weeks of their benefit starting to determine their next step towards finding a job, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “A key part of the coalition Government’s plan to have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker ...
A new standalone Social Investment Agency will power-up the social investment approach, driving positive change for our most vulnerable New Zealanders, Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis says. “Despite the Government currently investing more than $70 billion every year into social services, we are not seeing the outcomes we want for ...
Check against delivery Good morning. It is a pleasure to be with you to outline the Coalition Government’s approach to our first Budget. Thank you Mark Skelly, President of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, together with your Board and team, for hosting me. I’d like to acknowledge His Worship ...
Your Excellency Ambassador Meredith, Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassadors from European Union Member States, Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished guests, Thank you everyone for joining us. Ladies and gentlemen - In diplomacy, we often speak of ‘close’ and ‘long-standing’ relations. ...
The Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) will be repealed this year so that a better regime can be put in place to provide New Zealanders safe and timely access to medicines, medical devices and health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The medicines and products we are talking about ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, today released his decision on twenty recommendations referred to him by the Wellington City Council relating to its Intensification Planning Instrument, after the Council rejected those recommendations of the Independent Hearings Panel and made alternative recommendations. “Wellington notified its District Plan on ...
Rape Awareness Week (6-10 May) is an important opportunity to acknowledge the continued effort required by government and communities to ensure that all New Zealanders can live free from violence, say Ministers Karen Chhour and Louise Upston. “With 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men experiencing sexual violence ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government will be delivering a more efficient Healthy School Lunches Programme, saving taxpayers approximately $107 million a year compared to how Labour funded it, by embracing innovation and commercial expertise. “We are delivering on our commitment to treat taxpayers’ money ...
New research on the impacts of extreme weather on coastal marine habitats in Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay will help fishery managers plan for and respond to any future events, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. A report released today on research by Niwa on behalf of Fisheries New Zealand ...
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will lead a broad political delegation on a five-stop Pacific tour next week to strengthen New Zealand’s engagement with the region. The delegation will visit Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Tuvalu. “New Zealand has deep and ...
There has been a material decline in gas production according to figures released today by the Gas Industry Co. Figures released by the Gas Industry Company show that there was a 12.5 per cent reduction in gas production during 2023, and a 27.8 per cent reduction in gas production in the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins tonight announced the recipients of the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry, saying they all contribute to New Zealanders’ security and wellbeing. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients, whose innovative products and services play a critical role in the delivery of New Zealand’s defence capabilities, ...
Welcome to you all - it is a pleasure to be here this evening.I would like to start by thanking Greg Lowe, Chair of the New Zealand Defence Industry Advisory Council, for co-hosting this reception with me. This evening is about recognising businesses from across New Zealand and overseas who in ...
It is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government. I would like to thank Akolade for the invitation to address this Summit, and to acknowledge the great effort you are making to grow New Zealand’s digital future. Today, we stand at the cusp of ...
New Zealand is urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire to avoid the further humanitarian catastrophe that military action in Rafah would unleash, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The immense suffering in Gaza cannot be allowed to worsen further. Both sides have a responsibility to ...
A new online data dashboard released today as part of the Government’s school attendance action plan makes more timely daily attendance data available to the public and parents, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. The interactive dashboard will be updated once a week to show a national average of how ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced Rosemary Banks will be New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the United States of America. “Our relationship with the United States is crucial for New Zealand in strategic, security and economic terms,” Mr Peters says. “New Zealand and the United States have a ...
The Government is considering creating a new tier of minerals permitting that will make it easier for hobby miners to prospect for gold. “New Zealand was built on gold, it’s in our DNA. Our gold deposits, particularly in regions such as Otago and the West Coast have always attracted fortune-hunters. ...
Minister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...
New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli. ...
The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today. "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today. Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says. “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
Good evening – Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us. ...
From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
The Environment Select Committee has just announced that 60 percent of individuals who asked to speak at the hearings will not be heard. This equates to almost 700 people who made individual submissions and more than 1000 more who made a form submission. ...
The Royal New Zealand Ballet is performing Swan Lake around the country. What kind of dream does the ballet sell?Before going to see the Royal New Zealand Ballet perform Swan Lake, I had about as much familiarity with the plot of this ballet as could be expected from having ...
A new poem by Auckland poet Eamonn Tee. High Tide at Local Maxima It is only going to get worse. The streams will be narrow and fickle. The week will bend and buckle like a pot-bellied waist. You will make it to the weekend with one ...
The New Zealand entrepreneur behind beauty business Ethique is gearing up to launch a new eco-venture. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Our thirst for a tasty bevvy is insatiable, but it comes with a hefty plastic price for the planet: 580 billion ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 James by Percival Everett (Mantle, $38) A retelling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from ...
By Kamna Kumar in Suva Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Henry Puna stressed the importance of media freedom and its link to the climate and environmental crisis at the 2024 World Press Freedom Day event organised by the University of the South Pacific’s journalism programme. Under the theme “A Planet for ...
Tara Ward previews a new local TV series offering alternative visions of motherhood. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. A woman is clambering up the side of her two-story house, clinging desperately to a drainpipe. Nearby, her child is perched on the ...
Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) is supportive of the cross-party approach to climate adaptation announced by the Minister of Climate Change today. ...
The Sustainable Business Council (SBC) and Climate Leaders Coalition (CLC) welcome today’s announcement from Government around a bipartisan inquiry into an enduring climate adaptation framework for New Zealand. ...
The Free Speech Union welcomes the decision by the Department of Internal Affairs, and Minister Brooke Van Velden, to abandon proposals to further regulate online speech. ...
Its new building in Wellington will not be nearly big enough for all its records, and it has also run out of money to build its new storage facility in Levin. ...
BusinessNZ is congratulating the Minister of Climate Change for his work in achieving cross-party consensus for a way forward on climate adaptation. ...
Recent research reveals the repeal of smokefree measures is not only bad for our health, but also the economy. The Government has repealed various smokefree measures to ensure it keeps collecting $1.2 billion a year in tobacco taxes, in order to pay for tax cuts already being delivered to ...
The club’s surprisingly good season is built on the desire to prove a random A-League YouTuber wrong… and a few other factors.“There’s no way that Wellington Phoenix play finals this year. I can’t see it happening at all.” Those are the words of Lachlan Raeside, an Australian football content ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By César Albarrán-Torres, Senior Lecturer, Department of Media and Communication, Swinburne University of Technology Apple TV+ As one of billions of bilingual individuals in the world, it disappoints me when a film or TV show with characters of a non-English-speaking background is ...
The under-utilised course is a waste of space, and with a little political will, it could be turned into something better. For the duration of her stay in Wellington, my long-suffering cousin listened to me rant about golf courses. They’re bad for the environment: water intensive and pesticide heavy. They ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Leah Ruppanner, Professor of Sociology and Founding Director of The Future of Work Lab, Podcast at MissPerceived, The University of Melbourne Shutterstock A recent report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows US fertility rates dropped 2% in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amy Corderoy, Medical doctor and PhD candidate studying involuntary psychiatric treatment, School of Psychiatry, UNSW Sydney shop_py/Shutterstock Picture two people, both suffering from a serious mental illness requiring hospital admission. One was born in Australia, the other in Asia. Hopefully, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sarah Treby, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, RMIT University P.j.Hickox, Shutterstock Peatlands store more carbon per square metre than any other ecosystem on Earth. These waterlogged, mossy bogs beat even dense rainforests for their ability to act as carbon reservoirs. Under the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Goss, Adjunct Associate Professor, Health Research Institute, University of Canberra Government spending on health has been growing so rapidly that a decade ago the then health minister Peter Dutton called it “unmanageable” and “unsustainable”. Health spending grew in real terms by ...
New Zealand's largest electricity distributor is warning the country to hurry up with controls around charging electric vehicles or face unnecessary bills running into the billions. ...
New Zealanders have been asked to conserve energy this morning to combat a possible electricity shortfall, writes Stewart Sowman-Lund in this extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. A call to conserve power New Zealand is facing a possible electricity shortfall, with people up ...
Writer Rebecca K Reilly breaks down the national book awards. What are the Ockhams?The Ockham New Zealand Book Awards are our annual national awards for books published for adults, and have existed in this form since 2016. There are four categories: Fiction, Poetry, General Non-fiction and Illustrated Non-fiction. There ...
Wellington City Council should keep its 34% ownership share in Wellington International Airport, argue Unions Wellington spokespeople Finn Cordwell and Ashok Jacob. Insanity, as the saying goes, is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Wellington City Council (WCC) is yet again proposing to dispose ...
New Zealand’s largest book publisher has undergone drastic changes this week, leaving its future role in local publishing uncertain. Two of the most recognisable local publishers in New Zealand are among those restructured out of Penguin Random House, it was announced this week. Head of publishing Claire Murdoch will leave ...
Successive governments have tried, and failed, to count Māori. But with the return of social investment, it’s more important than ever to get good data. The post Government looks for a better way to count Māori appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Experts in financing social investment initiatives say New Zealand is in a prime position to tackle social issues via a social investment approach The post What will Willis’ social investment fund look like? appeared first on Newsroom. ...
In 2021 the Public Interest Journalism Fund launched the Te Rito Journalism project, a $2.4 million initiative to boost diversity in New Zealand’s newsrooms. The initiative was in response to the decades-long shortage of Māori and Pacific journalists in the media industry. It was billed as New Zealand’s ...
The Black Ferns Sevens appeared to be a mile behind Australia at the halfway point of the 2023-24 SVNS international circuit. Winless in three tournaments, a cup quarter-final exit in Perth was one of their worst results. To add insult to injury, talismanic skipper Sarah Hirini had been ruled out ...
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By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist A former Tuvalu prime minister says while the New Zealand government’s oil and gas plans show it is concerned about its economy, he is more concerned about the livelihoods and survival of the Tuvalu people. Enele Sopoaga — who still serves as an MP ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Many people who follow federal budgets know about the magnificent “budget tree” in a parliamentary courtyard, which turns a glorious red in time for the May event. This week Treasurer Jim Chalmers posed by ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samantha Bennett, Professor of Music, Australian National University Richard P J Lambert/flickr, CC BY The future belongs to the analogue loyalists. Fuck digital. As a tsunami of CDs, DAT tapes and samplers swept the recording industry in the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Strong, Associate professor, Music Industry, RMIT University This week American rapper Macklemore released a new track, Hind’s Hall, which has gained a lot of attention because of its explicitly political nature. The track is unapologetically pro-Palestine. It declares the artist’s ...
Explainer - The government from 2025 is mandating how state schools teach children to read. But what is structured literacy and how does it compare to other teaching methods? ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Danica Jenkins, Lecturer in European Studies, University of Sydney On a freezing spring night in March, Georgia’s national soccer team beat Greece in a nail-biter penalty shootout to qualify for the Euro 2024 championships. The atmosphere on the streets of the capital ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam G. Arian, Lecturer (Accounting & Finance), Australian Catholic University Loic Manegarium/Pexels Imagine every ton of carbon dioxide a company emits is slowly inflating its costs — not just in terms of potential fines or fees but in the capital it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Somwrita Sarkar, Senior Lecturer in Design and Computation, University of Sydney The “latte line” is the infamous, invisible boundary that divides Sydney between the more affluent north-east and the south-west. Historically, people north of the line enjoy better access to jobs and ...
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Belated moves to supply air defence systems to Ukraine (presumably to protect its energy infrastructure).
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-63217558
'
The Following cities in Ukraine hit by Russian missiles
[deleted unattributed copypasta]
Do I need to name all the idiots on this site who claim that Ukraine and its supporters are the aggressor?
[the only sources I can find via google for that list are a meme website and a pro-putin twitter account that has no reference. Neither of those are acceptable sources for claims of fact. You also failed to link to where you copied from. You absolutely know that all quotes have to be linked, and I’m sick of having to chase this up. Stop treating TS as if it’s FB. Two week ban (double your last ban) – weka]
The air bombardment came with the appointment of Surovikin, known for the bombing of Aleppo (when commander of their aerospace forces) and atrocities in Idlib in Syria (when in army command). He later became a General with command of the 5th southern district.
His combat roles were in Afghanistan 1980’s Moscow 1991 and Chechnya 2004.
southern district – as per the army group south in Ukraine from June to October.
One has to wonder why they continue fighting Are they lunatics? Their buildings are being turned to rubble, their civilian populations are being either killed or forced to seek refuge in neighboring countries What is it all for? To regain territory whose inhabitants have made it pretty clear, since 2014, that they do not want to be part of Ukraine?
Russia's interests seem pretty clear. They need to hold Crimea, which seems to be an important defensive outpost for Russia. They also probably need to re-establish land access to Crimea. They had that access, via Ukraine, when the latter was friendly to Russia, but that seems to have changed, since 2014, with Ukraine looking Westward and seeking to join NATO.
I look at the situation much the same way as I would look at a chess game, and I see that the Ukrainians are doing rather well. I see also that the Russians have refrained from playing the nuclear gambit – up until now anyway.
Hold Crimea because it's an important defensive outpost? Defence against what and whom? Ukraine attacking Russia seeking to annex it?
To regain territory whose inhabitants have made it pretty clear, since 2014, that they do not want to be part of Ukraine?
The 1991 referendum to leave the USSR was as below. Post that leaving Russia started moving more Russians into the area – similar in approach to Israel and China. Take over the space with your own people then say it is yours.
The 2014 referendum was as dodgy as hell.
The referendum was illegal under the Constitution of Ukraine. It is not recognized by most countries, mainly due to the presence of Russian forces. Thirteen members of the United Nations Security Council voted in favor of a resolution declaring the referendum invalid, but Russia vetoed it and China abstained. A United Nations General Assembly resolution was later adopted, by a vote of 100 in favor vs. 11 against with 58 abstentions, which declared the referendum invalid and affirmed Ukraine's territorial integrity. As the plebiscite was proclaimed, the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People called for a boycott of the referendum.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Crimean_status_referendum
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ukraine_Referendum_1991.png
"One has to wonder why they continue fighting Are they lunatics? Their buildings are being turned to rubble, their civilian populations are being either killed or…."
Britain V Nazi Germany 1940 just as well they didn't listen to defeatists then either
Yup, they should let Putin annex Ukrainian territory without a fight like they did in 2014 because that will placate him and he won't invade and annex more Ukrainian territory and attack Ukrainian cities and kill even more Ukrainians like he did in 2022.
ffs //
The nuclear gambit is the one where you throw away all chances of winning by throwing the board over, right? I can't imagine why they haven't tried that.
Ukrainians express their defiance
With spirit like this Russia’s defeat is guaranteed.
Hi Zero,
You said
“Do I need to name all the idiots on this site who claim that Ukraine and its supporters are the aggressor?”
I think you have oversimplified my friend, Russia is not the only aggressor. I’d almost say you have Zero understanding.
Take sometime out and review these idiots then.
“Chomsky’s position on Russia-Ukraine relations is surprisingly similar to International Relations (IR) scholar John Mearsheimer’s (and to a lesser extent, Henry Kissinger’s). According to Professor Mearsheimer, the U.S. is to blame for Russia invading the Ukraine. By pressuring Ukraine to join NATO, the U.S. intensified an already tense situation. It provoked Putin to defend Russia’s security interest in keeping Ukraine out of NATO. (For more, see “Mearsheimer on Ukraine.”)”
Noam Chomsky: article https://medium.com/statecraft-and-global-affairs/chomsky-on-ukraine-america-is-manufacturing-monsters-f136e7b217a9I’m
Prof Jeffrey Sachs: https://youtu.be/wmOePNsNFw0
Prof John Mearsheimer: https://youtu.be/qciVozNtCDM
Col Douglas Macgregor: https://youtu.be/gaHa59_daGo
Kissinger: https://youtu.be/WOZw0zGFvzI
Alexander Mercouris: https://youtu.be/GYCNkjJ5m9k
Chris Hedges: see example of his work – Chris Hedges Report: Ukraine and Crisis of Media Censorship
Throughout the Ukraine war, Western news outlets have mindlessly parroted the opinions of a ruling elite and overseen a public discourse that is often unhinged from the real world.
https://youtu.be/N0H7PIJcEP0
John Pilger – This Is a War of Propaganda’: John Pilger on Ukraine and Assange https://youtu.be/u9pEotvlW-s
If it was a war about joining NATO, Russia would have invaded Finland by now.
This isn't a war about propaganda.
Belarus and Russia to deploy joint regional military group | News | DW | 10.10.2
This is a war of murder and torture by Russian people against Ukrainian people.
And now Belarus joining its military into Russia's. This puts Poland a NATO member fully in the frame.
The chances of Ukraine continuing to exist without a full defence pact with NATO are now zero.
If Putin wanted to avoid a proxy war with NATO, what he's done is get one.
Ukraine submitted its request for full NATO membership on 22 September 2022. Turkey will veto it. A future Ukraine will join the EU, and have a defence pact with NATO without full membership.
Yep, a NATO security guarantee to all EU members. It could well be
The second part could co-exist with an EU-Russia defence pact post the Putin/Duginite era.
Hi Karl, I didn't know your list of 'idiots' commented here.
But apart from that. I am familiar with most of these names, as supporters and apologists for the disgusting genocide in Syria.
(While these intellectuals and writers may not be idiots, their one eyed hatred of US imperialism, has obscured their vision).
I might add here Karl. The intellectuals in your list of impassioned writers and commentators have made a historic mistake. These illustrious individuals mistake is in thinking that US/Western imperialism is the only evil in the world. This mistaken viewpoint is not unprecedented.
The mistake was made by writers in commentators in Germany before the war, who considered British Imperialism to be the only evil in the world
So convinced were leading German intellectuals of the genocidal and racist nature of the British Empire, (and they weren't wrong about that), That they gave their support to the German National Socialists and their newly envisioned Nazi empire.
But the solution to the evil of imperialism is not another imperialism.
Because all empires are genocidal, racist and avaricious.
Racism, genocide and the driving motive of greed at the core, is the nature of all imperialisms.
Hi, Jenny are we there yet
You said
“But apart from that. I am familiar with most of these names, as supporters and apologists for the disgusting genocide in Syria.” …………”While these intellectuals and writers may not be idiots, their one eyed hatred of US imperialism, has obscured their vision”
So Chomsky, Hedges, Prof Jeffrey Sachs, Prof John Mearsheimer, Col Douglas Macgregor are all genocide supporters?
Love to see those references
Cant really speak on their behalf but they appear to be American and suspect they love the freedoms of speech and Americas core values. I suspect the imperialism side they’re not to fond of. They’re not exactly one eyed. Again if you can show this “hatred” they supposedly exhibit, please provide references….
cheers
So Chomsky, Hedges, Prof Jeffrey Sachs, Prof John Mearsheimer, Col Douglas Macgregor are all genocide supporters?
Love to see those references. Karl Sinclair
Since you asked:
I don't know all of the intellectuals and commentators on your list, Karl. So I will admit that I can't make a judgement on all of them. But I do know for a fact, that those names on your list, that I do recognise have supported, or at the very least denied the ongoing grisly genocide being carried out right now in Syria by the Assad regime and their Russian allies.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/anadolu-post/assad-regime-hanged-13-000-opponents-amnesty/742944
For Noam Chomsky, the first person on your list, (and probably the most recognised and feted among this group of intellectuals), this is not his first outing as a genocide denier. As well as supporting/denying the genocide in Syria committed by the regime of Bashar Al Assad, Chomsky has supported/denied genocide in Cambodia committed by the Pol Pot regime.
From wikipedia:
mod note.
Wow 20 years today.
Feels like it just happened yesterday.
Adam-can you say what you are talking about-the subject of your post-rather than turn us into clickbate.
mouse over link = Bali bombing no need to click
It depends on the browser being used, whether the nature of the link shows up.
Thank you for enlightening the rest of us who aren't using your browser.
The Oxfam international inequality index ranks governments on policies and actions that have major impacts on reducing inequality, like public service spend, taxes and labour rights. Overall, New Zealand was 8th.
136th out of 161 when it comes to fair wealth distribution, and little better on tax at 91st and labour rights, 74th.
It looks like we need a government from 2023 that includes a party with a plan in these areas.
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2022/10/exclusive-new-zealand-ranked-136th-in-world-on-fair-wealth-distribution-leading-to-call-for-new-tax.html
So you will remember just last month when the entire banking and Kiwisaver industry strapped on a 24 kilo enema bomb just for proposing a marginal tax on fees?
What the media are looking for now and until the 2023 election is tax cuts.
And that's likely to be the only dice throw they have left.
Labour should
1. adopt the simple Greens wealth tax (the smart land tax applied at over $1M only) – other nations do the more complicated things like CGT and inheritance taxes.
Use the money raised to adjust income tax thresholds. More people on higher incomes would gain than lose from this approach (let those people fight each other over it).
2. collect 1% from employees and employers to fund the contribution to the Cullen Fund (frees up money for health and capital input to kainga ora) – if they do not National will stop future contributions (as per 2008-2017).
3. as part of an income support package – WFF tax credits and AS – some change at the bottom of the tax system. My preference would be a low rate 10 cents up towards $20,000 (something across the board) and a low income earner rebate for individuals and couples on two incomes without children.
Only point 3 has a chance Budget next year.
Personally I'd wipe tax on all benefits including NZSuper and a really low tax for any income under $20k. Stop taxing the poor.
Sure, it's about the 2023 election policy.
Benefits are tax paid, Super is based on an assessment of net tax (is impacted by rising incomes and tax changes).
PS. The USA is set to soon have one of the the largest increases in Social Security ever (nothing like it since the 70's) – we don't hear so much about affordability projections since the GFC and the pandemic though (QE …).
Yep. But as a differentiation from the Nats, call it "tax cuts for the many, not the few". So start lowering GST in a series of planned and phased reductions (12.5%, 10%), and introduce a tax-free threshold on initial earnings with a series of phased increases to that threshold (initial $10k, $15k, etc.).
Propaganda-wise, steal the Tory, Laffer curve bullshit of saying that the increased growth that results from these cuts will (ahem) over time actually increase tax receipts. With tax cuts for the many it might actually prove partially correct – though also with a demand-driven inflationary risk. Paying for it – increase tax on higher incomes so that from about $90k the effect is neutral and then turns net-negative somewhere in the lower-mid 100's. Almost certainly, this wouldn't be enough, so debt would have to increase, but there is some room for that.
Why wait until 2023? Why not address things now?
Labour have just over 30% and Greens 10%. Lost about 15% support in 18 months.
Opinion polling for the next New Zealand general election – Wikipedia
Figure it out Shanreagh.
Righto, leaving now to figure it out…..
OK Ad, what would you do?
What would you recommend, on the assumption that you are wanting a third term for Labour. Hopefully I am not wrong here?
Labour has over 50% of the seats. Greens already have the policies.
@Jenny are we there yet
Do you mind sharing the source for the above target list? I'm trying to find a bit more details and the only google search results I get are for images containing this information.
Thanks in advance.
Jenny's comment has now been edited, because it's against site policy to copy material here without attribution. I found stupid memes and a pro-Putin twitter account as sources, none of them seemed useful for information.
One selection from Auckland Libraries teenage books:
Welcome to St. Hell : my trans teen misadventure / Lewis Hancox
Before the tired old "pearl clutching" accusations emerge, I am not suggesting any banning or removal, but questioning the presentation of bad information, and the influence this lack of quality may have on teenage readers.
Particularly those girls who struggle with the developments of puberty.
To think we critiqued publications like Cosmo for increasing body issues in teenage girls, and this celebration of bodily judgement and disconnection is feted.
https://twitter.com/FamEdTrust/status/1579784233320869888?s=20&t=jaO04L1uUH5LDCRMqLjSRw
Thanks SPC for keeping the debate/query going. Recognising the in built inertia in Govt implementation, which can be a good things as well as a bad one, it does seem that we could be working on aspects and signalling that we are. Otherwise the way the media seem to work is that
'can't see anything,
no Govt comment on this
therefore they (Govt) are not doing anything'
More and more…'they are not doing anything' feeds into opinion polls that reflect 'they are not doing anything, I am being ignored' If we/Labour want a third term they will need to do more than sleepwalk or 'trust us'.
I've heard the argument in the last day or two that reducing NZ's agricultural production will see that gap filled internationally by overseas farmers who have a higher GG emissions. Meaning higher aggregate global emissions. National's agriculture spokesperson Barbara Kuriger made it here as did Andrew Hoggard on RNZ. I'm informed secondhand that Luxy also did it as part of the media round this morning.
So a superficially appealing talking point. But what does it mean in practice?
Is some non-existent global referee going to set target emissions for industry sectors and require those countries who exceed them by the greatest margin to act first, while stellar performers like our NZ farmers can change more slowly?
Or is National's emissions policy for agriculture to actually produce a whole lot more, achieve worldwide market domination and displace all high-emitters with our clean-green products, thus saving the rest of planet – who will be eternally grateful and never be alarmed by the resulting rural decay and loss of food security in their own countries?
But neither of these will happen – so it must be just an obfuscation to justify more can kicking.
Was front page (I understand – I read it online, so can't actually confirm) of the Herald this morning
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/the-front-page-why-farmers-are-opposed-to-govts-emission-plan/N36PQMAXVP62EAUEUQQ6OMJFRU/?c_id=1&objectid=12558072&ref=rss
So, you're right, being widely discussed. I have no doubt the discussion is being driven by interest groups, but still needs to be responded to, forcefully.
Or, the EP is going to suffer from the same loss in public confidence and support that 3 waters has experienced.
The specific points from the article
A third point which I heard in passing on Nat rad (so can't link, I'm sorry – maybe it was the same Hoggard piece you're referencing), was that reducing ag production will result in increased food prices.
But here's a similar piece from Stuff (it's very much 'might' increase food prices – but take that with a grain of salt, if farmer's costs go up, and stocking rates go down, then prices will increase)
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/130135935/food-prices-will-go-up-when-farmers-start-paying-for-their-emissions
Well this frankly seems a little odd after all I have so many times the spiel that the price paid in New Zealand is the 'market' price and so because the 'market' price is set by the international market that we export to…In a shorter sentence we already pay the maximum they can get!
Apples growers made it quite clear they don't sell their surplus apples to the local market so as to keep the price up. Oil, diamonds same thing – the market isn't a free market it is controlled left, right and centre.
And according to some would rather leave the produce rotting on the ground if they cannot ensure their prices remain high, though last season the excuse was lack of imported seasonal pickers.
I remain very cynical/skeptical about much of what farmers or their reps say.
Is there some issue with today's Daily Review that appears to have vanished into the ether?
I don't think it was Putin,he is busy with a pipeline in Poland.
You never know…
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/476460/nz-linked-russian-oligarch-alexander-abramov-and-family-hit-by-tailored-sanctions-from-government
Looks like cloudflare is playing up
I'll have to take your word for it….seems to be a lot of it about
Cant have been misinformation heavy penalties to be had.
https://twitter.com/realmichaelseif/status/1579858356541718529
Will they accept their own stock in payment?
Well they reversed the decision saying it was an error (misinformation) but the market penalized them several magnitudes more ( very close to banking covenant penalties)
Yes saw they'd claimed 'error'…it was an error no doubt…an error of judgement i suspect.
A lot of those about as well.
Yeah bit like the UK gilt program,with defensive stands by the BOE to fight Fiscal calamity by the UK gov, with 3 different interpretations on the program will finish in 3 days,requiring another statement from the BOE (financial stability committee) that it will end on Friday.
( 30 YR RATE JUST HIT 5%)
Looks like something (?) went wrong when I scheduled today’s DR around 8:16 pm last night. Things have been very sluggish in the back-end and I apologise for the inconvenience it may have caused. Is there anything important enough that I should salvage from the DR wreckage, as I can still see the comments in the back-end?
I don't know but I had a brief 3 or so hours when I had a spell check function on TS but this has now come to an end.
Noted, but spellcheckers don’t correct sloppiness.
When was that?
This morning from about 7.30am and it had disappeared about the time I read Incognito's post. So a couple of hours, if that. There is always the chance that I magicked a spell check up somehow on to my posts, if so the spell has been lost.
Perhaps I'm the one who's jinxed
"Is there anything important enough that I should salvage from the DR wreckage,"
I dont think so but was uncertain as to the reason it disappeared…thought perhaps some unknown breach of protocol had occurred.
A technical glitch is unavoidable.
Thank you for the explanation
Tempting as it may be to let whole posts disappear into the ether sometimes, this time it was most likely a combination of technical glitch and human (?) error (most likely mine, not Putin’s).
Thank you for the alerting; I hadn’t even noticed it yet, as I haven’t had a coffee yet.
Today I heard James Shaw and Damien O'Connor get hammered during their respective radio interviews regarding Labours Emission Scheme. What scares me was how vague some of their answers were. In my opinion Labour's fate was sealed today. The question that may be more important for the country is 'what policies, apart from the obvious, will National roll back once in government? Seems to me more damage may be done untangling the mess this country is in. That may encourage the Tories to leave things as they are. Given their propensity to hold the status quo, we may be jumping out of the fat and into the fire, if the so far weak National Party response to the emissions scheme is anything to go by.
What scares me is how sloppy some of the comments here are.
What irks me is that some still refer to voices in their heads rather than providing simple links to the sources of those voices.
Nothing says courageous, independent truth-teller quite like taking an autocrat's cash to make a puff piece about him.
/
Released in 2021 as both an eight-hour miniseries and a feature film, Qazaq: History of the Golden Man turns a flattering lens on Nazarbayev as he reminisces about his years in power and shares thoughts about the country’s future.
As it turns out, a charitable foundation named after and controlled by Nazarbayev paid at least $5 million for the production, a conflict of interest that was not disclosed. Last year, Stone and the film’s director, Igor Lopatonok, told the Guardian that the Kazakh government was not involved, but refused to discuss who had funded it.
https://www.occrp.org/en/investigations/sidebar/oliver-stone-documentary-about-kazakhstans-former-leader-nazarbayev-was-funded-by-a-nazarbayev-foundation
A new public health index.
A new wave of Yankee Candle reviews on Amazon complains the products lack scent. Does that suggest another COVID-19 surge is imminent? It’s hard to say, but with official case reports increasingly an undercount, people are looking to other forms of information to gauge trends.
Jorge Caballero, a San Francisco Bay-based anesthesiologist who has tracked coronavirus-related trends on his popular Twitter account, tweeted screenshots Sunday of recent one-star Amazon reviews for Yankee scented candles, and asserted, “Yankee Candle reviews indicate that COVID is about surge again.”
https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/covid-scent-loss-yankee-candle-amazon-reviews-20221011.html
Gee, wonder what changed mid September.
/
https://twitter.com/Thoughtfulnz/status/1579986308180905984
Dame Anne Salmond: Seeing the wood for the trees (msn.com)