They killed a couple of senior Iranian military personal. Its a bit unclear to me what discussions they were having in Syria however though this might have been the motivation. It may also have been a provocation due to US politics turning rhetorically on Israel at the time.
Don't think Israel has explained their thinking to that degree. They said it was to kill these military personal and that they were known to be in the embassy.
Stupid??! You may not realise the sanctity that embassies have always been blessed with. In international law (rather than the "rules based order") embassies are regarded as that countries territory. Historically, even during conflicts and war. Israel knows this and trashes yet another norm of international relations and we think its a bit stupid?? Straight after this, Ecuador invaded Mexico's embassy in Quito causing Mexico to break off diplomatic relations.
Israel is now bent on breaking every international norm with the full and absolute support of Joe Biden.
1.supply arms to non state groups (Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthi in Yemen and Shia militias in Iraq) to attack another nation state of the UN
2.it is not normal for a nation state to form a military unit (Quds) for the specific purpose of war with another nation state and network with non state fronts armed to assist.
Have to ask SPC, were you living under a rock for the 20th Century? Both the U.S.S.R and the USA regularly suppled arms to non state groups. It came back and bit the USA on the ass that one. On, if I got the date right – Sep 11 2001.
Going back in time, the carving up of Africa was a great time for many western nations to play that game.
As for states forming extra military units, and networking with other actors – I suggest reading a history of the British in India or the expansion of Russia East.
How many cases, pre Iran, of a nation arming "fronts" to war on another nation?
During the Cold War, groups within nations were armed to create favoured governments in those nations (overthrow existing governments in those nations).
Iran is engaged in an international crime, even the existence of a group in Iran for the purpose of ending another nation is an international crime.
The "sanctity" in International law you talk about applies only to how the Syrian Government treats the Iranian Embassy in Syria, not what the Israeli Government might do.
This phrase is in reference to a global scale nuclear war of course. Unfortunately its a fact that, if the US launched a full scale nuclear attack on Russia and the Russian's didn't respond the resulting climate change (nuclear winter) would be devastating for both the US and the rest of the surviving world.
It'll take hours for the drones to arrive.Can't help think this is a diversionary tactic, as the damage will be pretty well zero (unless the Iron Dome is not what it's cracked up to be)
Possibly its an attack structured to demonstrate to Israeli's the gravity of what their government did on 1st April, rather than to escalate. We should hope so anyway but I expect there will also be rockets fired to coincide with the drones arriving.
Unfortunately the attack on the 1st of April showed a clear desire to escalate the conflict by the Israeli government.
Is it out of the realms of possibility that the IDF let a few drones through? Few civilians killled, excuse to retaliate against Iran who then fire back which pulls USA into a wider war in the middle east?
Probably not, from a military perspective it’s not a good idea to “allow” your enemy to succeed in an attack. Once an attack like this starts, the military will do what it needs to do to stop the attack. I believe the US is shooting the down anyway.
Someone would have to give an order to let the (some) drone through. In between that person and the guys who shoot the drones will be a strict chain of command, and allowing some drones through would not be a legal order.
Iran is showing that they have teeth, but I doubt that they would want a direct confrontation with Israel, besides the US would get involved.
I could be wrong, but hopefully this is saber rattling.
If the Russian tactics against Ukraine are any guide these missile attacks are designed to be a staggered launch to all arrive at once and overwhelm the defenses. Suicide drones, cruise missiles and MRBMs (Medium Range Ballistic Missiles) are will be launched sequentially. At least some of the cruise missiles and drones will contain anti-radar warheads to target active AD radar, clearing the way for subsequent waves.
If this is indeed what iran is doing – rather than sending a wave of drones to satisfy honour or whatever and then leaving the ball in Israel's – court then I would pop down and fill up the car because the energy/price inflation spike caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine will look like the good times in six months.
There are enough psychos in the Knesset, and butchers in the IDF, to not care as long as US Imperialism has their hideous backs and keeps the guns’n’money flow happening.
The goal for these zionists is to raze Gaza, eliminate as many Palestinians as possible and then coin it from fossil fuel reserves sitting under and offshore near Gaza.
It is up to the rest of us to never forget this slaughter, BDS hard, and ban Israeli businesses from our lives and shut down their filthy embassy.
Which would be hammass, whose avowed intention is to destroy Israel and kill Jews.
[lprent: Presuming you mean hammas == Hamas. If you want to troll do it elsewhere. Adding this troll wankery variant to the blacklist.
Furthermore, if you want to make an assertion of fact, then link to it. In this case that would require a link to their current principles as at 2017 or a speech by a current leader.
I still think Putin got Iran to instigate the Palestinian attack to divert attention from Ukraine. On the face of it, the Palestinian attack looks like idiocy until you look at it while thinking about who is allied to who.
The problem is that Hammas doesn't give a fig about the lives of Palestinians either – Hammas are quite happy to kill off their countrymen/women/children by proxy with unreasonable demands in persuing a ceasefire.
If the goal of the "Zionists" were to raze Gaza and kill as many Palestinians as possible, forcibly removing Israeli settlers, leaving it to self-rule and enduring continual rocket attacks while watching Gaza's population double was a very odd way of going about it. In fact, it's almost like an Israeli intent to raze Gaza and kill as many Palestinians as possible is just some bullshit story you're telling yourself.
The government of Israeli is full of far right fuckwits. Who have openly stated they want the Palestinians gone. Convicted terrorist Itamar Ben-Gvir and the rest of his gaggle of murders have been on record to say “time to return home to Gush Katif”. You do the drawing of conclusions on that one.
And whilst the bombing of civilians continues in Gaza, these far right fuckwits have enabled the stripping of land, and wholesale murder on the west bank.
So what the "plan" again, who knows. What I do know, and what is happening with the help of the west, is murder and theft on a grand scale.
New Zealanders, of all people, should understand that minor parties in a coalition aren't running the government. But sure, far-right fuckwits have a minor role in the Israeli govt. Now consider that far-right fuckwits are the entirety of the Gazan govt. And if you have to redirect attention to what's happening on the West Bank, which has a completely different govt, you're admitting there's no basis for the claims about Gaza.
New Zealanders, of all people, should understand that minor parties in a coalition aren't running the government.
What the… dude look up the make of the government – minor parties make up the bulk of the Thirty-seventh government of Israel. They are nothing like the make up of the government here and the role minor parties play. Your statement is just out right wrong.
Go learn about the politics of Israel before you respond in future – because you're looking like an ignorant tool who just spews forth propaganda.
On that note, the West Bank is and will always be part of the same issue. To try and separate it off as you have, is disingenuous.
Perhaps, before describing me as "an ignorant tool who just spews forth propaganda," you could consider that a greater number of minor parties involved in a coalition government only further dilutes the power of those individual parties, rather than increasing it?
As for the West Bank, it cost Hamas a lot of money, time, effort, torture and murders to establish themselves as a government of Gaza completely independent of the Palestinian Authority. At least give them some credit for it.
“The numbers carry a clear message: we can choose to pay less now or pay more later. Our tax dollars can support poor families while their children are growing and developing. Or we can pay for their lack of education, obesity, alcohol abuse, and crime down the road in our healthcare and criminal justice systems.
The statistics speak for themselves.”
Is the next Labour government going to be brave enough?
"At the heart of Hilary Cass’s review of gender identity services in the NHS is a concern for the welfare of “children and young people” (doi:10.1136/bmj.q820).1 Her stated ambition is to ensure that those experiencing gender dysphoria receive a high standard of care. This will be disputed, of course, by people and lobbying groups angered by her recommendations, but it is a theme running through the review. Cass, a past president of the UK’s Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, seeks to provide better care for children and adolescents on one of the defining issues of our age. Her conclusion is alarming for anybody who genuinely cares for child welfare: gender medicine is “built on shaky foundations” (doi:10.1136/bmj.q814).2"
We aren't on the brink of war Robert, but our country is conducting on children the same experiments described in the Cass report, and with the same appalling lack of evidence for any benefit for the recipients. It's a lot more significant to us than whatever the latest lunacy is going on in the Middle East.
The issue being puberty blockers were for temporary use to delay (birth sex growth) puberty.
The use in partnership with later supply of hormones of the other birth sex in support of "gender difference" would have physiological consequences (Swedish study).
The do no harm aspect of health care intervention of one school and the Big Pharma (drugs) aspect in conflict to manage peoples "minds" for their well-being.
In the DSM world – there are fashions. Criminal psychology and gay men in prison and lesbian women in mental health care, then post this time came the DSM 1980.
1.After the female gender is equal and we can do anything cause of feminists, came acceptance of "gender identity" different to birth sex (the two are not in fact related).
2.In the acceptance of private homosexuality but no public consorting there came an expansion of the transvestite sex worker world (a job men identifying as women, affirmation as women from hetero sexual men, that gay men could also do) and "amateurs" – partners in dresses and the developing gay club world.
3.A new category of mental health, affirmation – to both those who wanted aversion therapy for their homosexuality and those that wanted help accepting it. And this also applied to gender identity different to birth sex. Thus assistance to sex workers as well as the issue of younger people with body dysmorphia (body not idealised male and female form – and hormone/drug use in gyms – eating disorders etc/breast enhancements – plastic surgery) and gender dysphoria.
4.Social media and body dysmorphia (mental health support) and access to narratives about gender dysphoria and affirmation care. And growing rates of neurodiversity (autism etc) and helicopter parenting.
Public acceptance of identity choices, as per sexuality and gender and supportive health care treatments.
What health care is provided – to whom and when.
Women have problems with endometriosis (often requires surgery to discover it and manage) and post natal well-being.
Puberty blockers were introduced to manage early onset of puberty, to ensure a delay so that the child could be helped via other means when they still went through it before their peers.
Ending it in all cases, except research, ignores that.
Afaik the ban on PBs is for off label use with gender dysphoric children and won’t affect prescribing for early puberty. But agree it is worth marking that distinction clear in this debate. It raises some issues about off label prescribing and low medical literacy in the general population about puberty.
Well Joe90, we all know 9 year olds can get hot under the collar (so to speak) and go off topic… maybe too much honey in that trap creates impulsive behaviour. Concentrate dear boy
Back to the real issue (if true this is a big deal)
according to some sources
Iran officially joins hypersonic club
The Kheibar Shekan hypersonic missile is the weapon which was used to strike Israel's premier Ramon airbase in the Negev just a few hours ago. Until now, Iranian claims of its capabilities have been impossible to verify, however we can now say the Islamic Republic has clearly joined the very small list of nations with such advanced weapons.
Kheibar Shekan is a 3rd generation medium-range ballistic missile of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. the weapon's name means 'Fortress Breaker', 'Kheibar' being the Jewish fortress that was conquered by the Muslims in the beginning of Islam, during the battle of Khaybar.
The Kheibar shekan is the world's longest-range solid-fuel tactical ballistic missile, able to deliver a 500kg warhead to targets 1450km away. It can operate from a variety of Iranian launch platforms, and has interchangeable warheads.
In the terminal phase, the HGV (Hypersonic Glide Vehicle) warhead separates from the main missile body and is able to accelerate and manuever in order to bypass ABM systems. Once separated, the warhead accelerates to mach 7-10. It uses both a thrust vectoring motor as well as actuating fins to maneuver. The distinctive triconic shape of the warhead provides stability whilst maneuvering at hypersonic speeds in the lower atmosphere.
Iran's state TV has been continuously running this video tonight as evidence of its missiles making impact on the ground and hitting targets in Israel. But it's old footage of farm fire in Texas and completely unrelated to tonight's attack.
Ghoncheh Habibiazad | غنچه
@GhonchehAzad
·
8h
A video broadcast by Iran's state TV tonight claiming to show the impact of Iran's retaliatory attack on Israel “minutes ago” is old. In fact, it shows fire in Texas and was published in March. https://twitter.com/GhonchehAzad/status/1779307601295036862
Correction: The video is even older than that, and it's from Chile, not Texas. Accordong to @cazamosfakenews, the clip shows fire "in Achupallas (Viña del Mar) in Chile and has been circulating on social networks since February".
#Engañoso | Un vídeo difundido esta noche por la TV estatal iraní HispanTV y algunos medios de propaganda venezolanos, que asegura mostrar el impacto del ataque de represalia de Irán contra Israel "hace minutos" NO es reciente. Se corresponde con un incendio en Achupallas (Viña del Mar), en Chile y circula en redes sociales desde febrero. Nota: Corregimos desmentido anterior donde mencionábamos erróneamente que se trataba de un video grabado en Texas. Algunos verificadores internacionales están citando un video publicado en marzo y aseguran de forma errónea que fue grabado en Texas. En realidad, el video es anterior y fue grabado en Chile.
Canadian president Justin Trudeau says his country stands with Israel. " Canada unequivocally condemns Iran’s airborne attacks against Israel," Trudeau said. "We stand with Israel. After supporting Hamas’ brutal October 7 attack, the Iranian regime’s latest actions will further destabilise the region and make lasting peace more difficult.". AP
I've done a quick check and I can't any reaction from Trudeau to Israel's attack on the Iranian embassy in Damascus.
So he condemns Iran's response but not the fatal attack that prompted it. BAU for most Western countries regarding Israel, the only player I can see in the Middle East committed to apartheid and genocide.
The dead Quds generals were part of a military unit whose mission is to conquer Israel militarily – not diplomats.
MMMmmm not quite a true statement.
Quds serve as an intelligence gathering force, and one who engages in unconventional warfare. We have in our military, units which preform these duties as well.
Please tell me your statement is not part of the spin that has come with their name translated into English "Jerusalem Force".
I'm of the school of thought that the Quds helped us defeat the head choppers in Syria and Iraq. Which personally was a very good thing.
And just as a side note – if the British and the Yanks had staged a coup here in 1954, I'd be pissed about it to this day too.
I never said they were diplomats. I'm fully aware that it was military people Israel was after. My point you're not responding to is the hypocrisy that says nothing about an Israeli attack on an Iranian embassy, regardless of who they wanted to eliminate, but condemns the response.
Iran obliged Israel with the response they wanted – a flashy whizz-bang military action with little or no damage of consequence, Western sympathies, more promises of arms and with another war to fight, Netanyahu stays out of gaol.
A classic – a nation isolated over dahiya in Gaza – gets to point out Iran is opposed to its existence, is arming Houthi to attack world shipping and is supplying weapons to Russia to attack Ukraine.
And looking deeper, note Iran is arming Hezbollah and Shia militias in Iraq to make them more powerful than the armies of Lebanon and Iraq and thus undermine the sovereignty of the two nation states – to make them bases for Iran’s war on Israel.
It’s aid to the secular Baath regime in Syria predicated on being allowed to organise bases for Shia militias to partner with Quds.
At the direction of US President Donald Trump the US military killed Soleimani, head of Iran’s Quds Force, the foreign arm of the IRGC, in the early hours of Friday, January 3, 2020, in an air raid near the cargo area of Baghdad International Airport.
Generally Quds military are regarded as fair game because they are of a unit formed for war on a member state of the UN.
You claim Israel is the only state committed to genocide and fail to note the purpose of Quds is to end the existence of a Jewish state. One cannot conclude that a nation that agreed to the 1947 partition plan and Oslo Accords is the same – though one suspect BN (Likud and coalition partners) is opposed to that two state outcome and observe that dahiya doctrine does not work.
The attack on the embassy compound – including consulate was condemned by the UNSG. In international law the site is regarded as part of a nations territory.
The "imperative for Iran" to retaliate for the attack on its embassy compound in Damascus might have been avoided had the UN Security Council condemned the strike, Tehran's mission to the United Nations has said.
"Had the UN Security Council condemned the Zionist regime’s reprehensible act of aggression on our diplomatic premises in Damascus and subsequently brought to justice its perpetrators, the imperative for Iran to punish this rogue regime might have been obviated," the mission said on the social media platform X on Thursday.
No one did, it's at the court to answer the case of genocide.
Because there is prima facie evidence, to proceed to trial or judgment on the case of genocide.
Which does mean people can call it a case of genocide, at this point with at least 40 thousand dead. I say the case has a good chance to prove that the IDF, and the government of Israel have been committing genocide.
It’s a time for choosing [23 Oct 2023] The humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza requires each of us to make a choice.
Which leads me, finally, to the choice the mostly unrepentant keyboard cavalry who are happily saddling up once more – in derivative columns and hyperbolic appearances on TV – made to side with their home team’s, by now, familiar mantra: Kill first, think later.
Israel-Gaza: The triumph of hatred [6 April 2024]
Six months into the war in Gaza, the most extremist government in Israel's history is reoccupying the narrow territory after having asphyxiated it for sixteen years.
A foretaste of the resource and security-driven conflicts to come, as tempers flare and patience wears thin on overshoot spaceship Earth.
40000 dead according to hammass, who lie as soon as breathe.
[lprent: It appears that you are simply lying with this false assertion of fact.
I don’t know of any death estimates from ‘hammas’ nor from Hamas.
The estimates you are probably referring to are by the Gazan Ministry of Health which at present are over 33k deaths. The methods used and the political position of the Ministry are detailed here in a easy to understand article that appears to be especially designed for stupid trolls like you.
I believe that the other 7k deaths comes from guesstimates from US intelligence sources (not ‘hammas’) about unreported bodies in collapsed buildings. No one actually knows because the numbers are bound to be quite inaccurate under the current fog of war conditions and that the Israelis appear to be targeting medical and aid workers. However what is clear is that the MoH figures are low.
The Israelis appear to have similar problems estimating the number of Hamas deaths despite holding the ground on which and above which most of those should have happened. Their estimates vary wildly. Similarly they haven’t ventured any estimates of the massacres that they have inflicted even in the areas where they now control and where they could dig them out from the blast effects. Also they seem to count an inordinate number of non-militant civilians as being hard-core Hamas militants based on non-military reports. It would appear in my opinion that the IDF routinely lies about the effectiveness of their intelligence and targeting. Hardly an ethical or moral position for a army to take.
If you are too stupid a troll to understand the difference between fiction, fact, opinion, or inherent inaccuracies, then simply don’t bother commenting here. I’ll happily keep pointing out just how stupid you appear. ]
The Palestinian Authority (PA) pays for it and is the direct employer of all HA staff in Gaza apart from a few Hamas political appointees. This isn’t exactly hard to find out. Most of the funding for the salaries, plant and consumables comes via the PA including from donors.
Hamas as a local authority, militia and political party may influence some people in the Gazan branches of the PA Ministry of Health. But so do many other organisation such organisations as the World Health Organisation, the Israeli Ministry of Health (diseases being no respecter of borders), the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) who have maintained a blockade of Gaza for decades and recently a ready supply of injured Gazan children, and the aid organisations who try to maintain a level of health in the area.
The Israeli government has limited influence apart from its instincts to kill and maim civilians using the IDF. Most of its influence has come from its untrustworthy habits of violating agreements to pay the taxes that it collects on behalf of the PA which are used to partially for the Gazan health system.
As the occupying force of Gaza, the Israeli government is responsible for the well being of the population under their occupation. They are most notable for doing the opposite and using dumb bombs to level civilian buildings and the civilians within.
I know this from doing a minimal level of reading and research.
Just as I know that you are a lazy foolish troll who makes little to no effort to ever do any research. Your comments over time on this site display all of the intelligence of parrot – blindly repeating the propaganda of whoever made up the latest round of misinformation designed for dumbarse parrots.
If you want links to all of this, then I suggest you provide your sources of information first, so I can inspect them for veracity and answer them with more accurate ones. In other words show some minimal effort.
Have to admit that was my reaction to the latest development too. Israel attacks an Iranian embassy with missiles – or something along those lines – and then loses it when Iran responds in kind.
Ya know, if someone came along and punched me in the eye, I would probably try to punch them back. I sure would respond. 🙄
Shocking DG wants cheaper housing, more home ownership etc.
ML is known for two things hounding Clare Curran for wanting better funded and organised state media (boo) and standing alongside Chris Penk and Simeon Brown (to make him look more significant) in photos.
Libertarians (DG) are wannabe feudal lords in liberal clothing – using the tools of capitalism and power to oppress workers & pillage resources, and using the language of freedom to act illegally & spread lies.
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Yesterday de facto Prime Minister David Seymour announced that his glove puppet government would be re-introducing charter schools, throwing $150 million at his pet quacks, donors and cronies and introducing an entire new government agency to oversee them (the existing Education Review Office, which actually knows how to review schools, ...
Seeing that, in order to discredit the figures and achieve moral superiority while attempting to deflect attention away from the military assault on Rafa, Israel supporters in NZ have seized on reports that casualty numbers in Gaza may be inflated … Continue reading → ...
David Farrar writes – Newstalk ZB report: The man responsible for a horror hit and run in central Wellington last year was on a suspended licence and was so drunk he later asked police, “Did I kill someone?” Jason Tuitama injured two women when he ran a red ...
Muriel Newman writes – Former US President Ronald Reagan once said, “Freedom is a fragile thing and it’s never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by way of inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation.” The fight for ...
Why Courts should have said Waitangi Tribunal could not summons Karen Chhour Gary Judd writes – In the High Court, Justice Isacs declined to uphold the witness summons issued by the Waitangi Tribunal to compel Minister for Children, Karen Chhour, to appear before it to be ...
Bryce Edwards writes – The number of voices raising concerns about the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill is rapidly growing. This is especially apparent now that Parliament’s select committee is listening to submissions from the public to evaluate the proposed legislation. Twenty-seven thousand submissions have been made to Parliament ...
An average of 166 New Zealand citizens left the country every day during the March quarter, up 54% from a year ago.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The economy and housing market is sinking into a longer recession through the winter after a slump in business and consumer confidence in ...
The government has made it abundantly clear they’re addicted to the smell of new asphalt. On Tuesday they introduced a new term to the country’s roading lexicon, the Roads of Regional Significance (RoRS), a little brother for the Roads of National (Party) Significance (RoNS). Driving ahead with Roads of Regional ...
School is outAnd I walk the empty hallwaysI walk aloneAlone as alwaysThere's so many lucky penniesLying on the floorBut where the hell are all the lucky peopleI can't see them any moreYesterday morning, I’d just sent out my newsletter on Tama Potaka, and I was struggling to make the coffee. ...
Hi,I wanted to check in and ask how you’re doing.This is perhaps a selfish act, of attempting to find others feeling a similar way to me — that is to say, a little hopeless at the moment.Misery loves company, that sort of deal.Some context.I wish I could say I got ...
I have hitherto been fairly quiet on the new season of Rings of Power, on the basis that the underwhelming first season did not exactly build excitement – and the rumours were fairly daft. The only real thing of substance to come out has been that they have re-cast Adar ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
“The thing is,” Chris Luxon says, leaning forward to make his point, “this has always been my thing.”“This goes all the way back to the first multinational I worked for. I was saying exactly the same thing back then. The name of our business needs to be more clear; people ...
Buzz from the Beehive It’s been a momentous few days for Children’s Minister Karen Chhour. The Court of Appeal has overturned a High Court decision which blocked a summons order from the Waitangi Tribunal for her. And today she has announced the Government is putting children first by introducing to ...
In 2014 former Australian army lawyer David McBride leaked classified military documents about Australian war crimes to the ABC. Dubbed "The Afghan Files", the documents led to an explosive report on Australian war crimes, the disbanding of an entire SAS unit, and multiple ongoing prosecutions. The journalist who wrote the ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – According to the respected Pew Research Centre, “In seven of eight [European] countries surveyed, the most trusted news outlet asked about is the public news organization in each country”. For example, “in Sweden, an overwhelming majority (90%) say they trust the public broadcaster SVT”. ...
David Farrar writes – Kata MacNamara reports: Details of Tony Blakely’s involvement in the New Zealand Government’s response to the pandemic raise serious questions about the work of the Covid-19 Royal Commission of Inquiry over which he presides. It has long been clear that Blakely, a ...
Chris Trotter writes – Are you a Brahmin or a Merchant? Or, are you merely one of those whose lives are profoundly influenced by the decisions of Brahmins and Merchants? Those are the questions that are currently shaping the politics of New Zealand and the entire West. ...
RNZ reports – It’s supposed to be a haven of healing and spiritual awakening but residents of the Kawai Purapura community say they’ve been hurt and deceived. It’s the successor to the former Centrepoint commune, and has been on the bush block opposite Albany shopping centre since 2008. It ...
TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. Usually we have a video chat to go with this wrap, but were unable to do one this week. We’ll be back next week.Several reports ...
The Transport Minister has set a hard 'fiscal envelope' of $6.54 billion for transport capital spending. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The economy is settling into a state of suspended animation as the Government’s funding freezes and job cuts chill confidence and combine with stubbornly high interest rates to ...
To be precise, the term “anti- Zionism” refers to (a) criticism of the political movement that created a modern Jewish state on the historical land of Israel, and to (b)the subjugation of Palestinians by the Israeli state. By contrast, the term “anti-Semitism” means bigotry and racism directed at Jewish people, ...
This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Because hurricanes are one of the big-ticket weather disasters that humanity has to face, climate misinformers spend a lot of effort muddying the waters on whether climate change is making hurricanes more damaging. With the official start to the hurricane ...
Yesterday the Mayor released what he calls his “plan to save public transport” which is part of his final proposal for the Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP). This comes following consultation on the draft version that occurred in March which showed, once again, that people want more done on transport, especially ...
And it's a pleasure that I have knownAnd it's a treasure that I have gainedAotearoa’s coalition government is fragile. It’s held together by the obsequious sycophancy of Christopher Luxon, who willingly contorts his party into the fringe positions of his junior coalition partners and is unwilling to contradict them. The ...
The Select Committee hearing submissions on the fast-track consenting legislation is starting to become a beat-up of regional councils. The inflexibility and slow workings of the Councils were prominent in two submissions yesterday. One, from the Coromandel Marine Farmers Association, simply said that the Waikato Regional Council’s planning decisions were ...
Back in April, the High Court surprised everyone by ruling that Ministers are above the law, at least as far as the Waitangi Tribunal is concerned. The reason for this ruling was "comity" - the idea that the different branches of government shouldn't interfere with each other's functions. Which makes ...
Buzz from the BeehiveTolling was mentioned when Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced the government was re-introducing the Roads of National Significance (RoNS) programme, with 15 “crucial” projects to support economic growth and regional development across New Zealand. All RoNS would be four-laned, grade-separated highways, and all funding, financing, and ...
or the past 14 years, ever since the Spanish government cheated on an autonomy deal, Catalonia has reliably given pro-independence parties a majority of seats in their regional parliament. But now that seems to be over. Catalans went to the polls yesterday, and stripped the Catalan parties of their majority. ...
David Farrar writes – Radio NZ report: Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins said the Electoral Commission should make sure the system ran smoothly and “taking away the right of thousands of people to vote” was not the answer. “Thousands of people enroled and voted on the day. If ...
Don Brash writes – There was a rather revealing headline in the Herald on Sunday today (12 May). It read “One in 8 Auckland homes on market were bought during boom, may now sell for loss”. The first line of text noted that “New data shows one in ...
Mike Grimshaw writes – At a time when universities are understandably nervous regarding the establishment of the University Advisory Group (UAG) and the Science System Advisory Group (SSAG) it may seem strange – or even fool-hardy – to state that there are long-standing issues in the tertiary sector ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – A lack of perspective can make something quite large or important seem small or irrelevant. Against a backdrop of high-profile, negative statistics it is easy to overlook the positive. For instance, the fact that 64 percent of Maori are employed is rarely reported. For ...
Earlier this year, the Herald ran a series of articles amounting to a sustained campaign against raised pedestrian crossings, by reporter Bernard Orsman. A key part of that campaign concerned the raised crossings being installed as part of the Pt Chevalier to Westmere project, with at least 10 articles over ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 19 include:PM Christopher Luxon is expected to hold his weekly post-cabinet news conference at 4:00pm on Monday.Parliament is not sitting this week. It resumes next week for a two-week sitting session up to and ...
Hi,Thanks to all the beautiful Worms who came to the LA Webworm popup on Saturday.It was a way to celebrate the online store we launched last week — and it was super special.As I talk about a lot, I really value our community here — and it was a BLAST ...
A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, May 5, 2024 thru Sat, May 11, 2024. (Unfortunate) Story of the week "Grief that stops at despair is an ending that I and many others, most notably ...
The Government’s introduction of legislation that would enable landlords to end tenancies with no reason marks a dark day for the 1.4 million people who rent their home in Aotearoa. ...
The Minister for Mental Health has found the Suicide Prevention Office and mental health support for 111 calls slipping through his fingers, says Labour spokesperson for Mental Health Ingrid Leary. ...
Today’s justification from the Minister for Children for scrapping protections for our tamariki was either a case of ignorance or deliberate deception. ...
The Green Party says the Government’s misguided policy on gangs will fail, following the announcement of the establishment of a national gang unit and district gang disruption units to target gang activities. ...
“With Police pay negotiations still unresolved after six months in Government, Mark Mitchell has today rolled the Commissioner out for a rebrand of their approach to gang crime,” Labour police spokesperson Ginny Andersen said. ...
The Government bringing back 50 charter schools will not increase achievement and is a distraction from the core mission of the education system, Labour education spokesperson Jan Tinetti said. ...
Te Pāti Māori is showing extreme concern over the Environment Select Committees adoption of a lucky dip draw to determine hearings for the Fast Track Approvals bill. Of the 27,000 submissions, 2,900 requested to present. All organisations will be heard; however, the remaining 2,350 submitters will be subject to 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. ...
"On the 27th of March, I sought assurances from the Chief Executive, Department of Internal Affairs, that the Department’s correct processes and policies had been followed in regards to a passport application which received media attention,” says Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden. “I raised my concerns after being ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins has announced the appointment of three new District Court Judges, to replace Judges who have recently retired. Peter James Davey of Auckland has been appointed a District Court Judge with a jury jurisdiction to be based at Whangarei. Mr Davey initially started work as a law clerk/solicitor with ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour is calling on the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) to put ideology to the side and focus on students’ learning, in reaction to the union holding paid teacher meetings across New Zealand about charter schools. “The PPTA is disrupting schools up and down the ...
Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly today announced the appointment of Craig Stobo as the new chair of the Financial Markets Authority (FMA). Mr Stobo takes over from Mark Todd, whose term expired at the end of April. Mr Stobo’s appointment is for a five-year term. “The FMA plays ...
Surf Life Saving New Zealand and Coastguard New Zealand will continue to be able to keep people safe in, on, and around the water following a funding boost of $63.644 million over four years, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey say. “Heading to the beach for ...
New Zealand and Tuvalu have reaffirmed their close relationship, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says. “New Zealand is committed to working with Tuvalu on a shared vision of resilience, prosperity and security, in close concert with Australia,” says Mr Peters, who last visited Tuvalu in 2019. “It is my pleasure ...
New Zealand is gravely concerned about the situation in New Caledonia, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The escalating situation and violent protests in Nouméa are of serious concern across the Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says. “The immediate priority must be for all sides to take steps to de-escalate the ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met today with Samoa’s O le Ao o le Malo, Afioga Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II, who is making a State Visit to New Zealand. “His Highness and I reflected on our two countries’ extensive community links, with Samoan–New Zealanders contributing to all areas of our national ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has announced that he has approved Waiheke Island ferry operator Island Direct to be eligible for SuperGold Card funding, paving the way for a commercial agreement to bring the operator into the scheme. “Island Direct started operating in November 2023, offering an additional option for people ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters today announced further sanctions on 28 individuals and 14 entities providing military and strategic support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “Russia is directly supported by its military-industrial complex in its illegal aggression against Ukraine, attacking its sovereignty and territorial integrity. New Zealand condemns all entities and ...
A year on from the tragedy at Loafers Lodge, the Government is working hard to improve building fire safety, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “I want to share my sincere condolences with the families and friends of the victims on the anniversary of the tragic fire at Loafers ...
Ka nui te mihi kia koutou. Kia ora and good afternoon, everyone. Thank you so much for having me here in the lead up to my Government’s first Budget. Before I get started can I acknowledge: Simon Bridges – Auckland Business Chamber CEO. Steve Jurkovich – Kiwibank CEO. Kids born ...
New Zealand and Vanuatu will enhance collaboration on issues of mutual interest, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “It is important to return to Port Vila this week with a broad, high-level political delegation which demonstrates our deep commitment to New Zealand’s relationship with Vanuatu,” Mr Peters says. “This ...
Minister for Land Information, Chris Penk will travel to Peru this week to represent New Zealand at a meeting of trade ministers from the Asia-Pacific region on behalf of Trade Minister Todd McClay. The annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting will be held on 17-18 May ...
Minister of Education Erica Stanford will head to the United Kingdom this week to participate in the 22nd Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (CCEM) and the 2024 Education World Forum (EWF). “I am looking forward to sharing this Government’s education priorities, such as introducing a knowledge-rich curriculum, implementing an evidence-based ...
Minister of Education Erica Stanford has today thanked outgoing New Zealand Qualifications Authority Chair, Hon Tracey Martin. “Tracey Martin tendered her resignation late last month in order to take up a new role,” Ms Stanford says. Ms Martin will relinquish the role of Chair on 10 May and current Deputy ...
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and President Emmanuel Macron of France today announced a new non-governmental organisation, the Christchurch Call Foundation, to coordinate the Christchurch Call’s work to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online. This change gives effect to the outcomes of the November 2023 Call Leaders’ Summit, ...
Distinguished public servant and former diplomat Sir Maarten Wevers will lead the independent review into the disability support services administered by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. The review was announced by Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston a fortnight ago to examine what could be done to strengthen the ...
Today’s announcement by Police Commissioner Andrew Coster of a National Gang Unit and district Gang Disruption Units will help deliver on the coalition Government’s pledge to restore law and order and crack down on criminal gangs, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. “The National Gang Unit and Gang Disruption Units will ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today expressed regret at North Korea’s aggressive rhetoric towards New Zealand and its international partners. “New Zealand proudly stands with the international community in upholding the rules-based order through its monitoring and surveillance deployments, which it has been regularly doing alongside partners since 2018,” Mr ...
Air Vice-Marshal Tony Davies MNZM is the new Chief of Defence Force, Defence Minister Judith Collins announced today. The Chief of Defence Force commands the Navy, Army and Air Force and is the principal military advisor to the Defence Minister and other Ministers with relevant portfolio responsibilities in the defence ...
Legislation to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act has been introduced to Parliament. The Bill’s introduction reaffirms the Coalition Government’s commitment to the safety of children in care, says Minister for Children, Karen Chhour. “While section 7AA was introduced with good intentions, it creates a conflict for Oranga ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins will this week travel to the UK and Italy to meet with her defence counterparts, and to attend Battles of Cassino commemorations. “I am humbled to be able to represent the New Zealand Government in Italy at the commemorations for the 80th anniversary of what was ...
The upcoming Budget will include funding for up to 50 charter schools to help lift declining educational performance, Associate Education Minister David Seymour announced today. $153 million in new funding will be provided over four years to establish and operate up to 15 new charter schools and convert 35 state ...
“The results of the public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has now been received, with results indicating over 13,000 submissions were made from members of the public,” Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “We heard feedback about the extended lockdowns in ...
Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, other Members of Parliament Acting Chief of Defence Force, Secretary of Defence Distinguished Guests Defence and Diplomatic Colleagues Ladies and Gentlemen, Good afternoon, tēna koutou, apinun tru It’s a pleasure to be back in Port Moresby today, and to speak here at the Kumul Leadership ...
Health, infrastructure, renewable energy, and stability are among the themes of the current visit to Papua New Guinea by a New Zealand political delegation, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Papua New Guinea carries serious weight in the Pacific, and New Zealand deeply values our relationship with it,” Mr Peters ...
The coalition Government is launching Roads of Regional Significance to sit alongside Roads of National Significance as part of its plan to deliver priority roading projects across the country, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The Roads of National Significance (RoNS) built by the previous National Government are some of New Zealand’s ...
A high-level New Zealand political delegation in Honiara today congratulated the new Government of Solomon Islands, led by Jeremiah Manele, on taking office. “We are privileged to meet the new Prime Minister and members of his Cabinet during his government’s first ten days in office,” Deputy Prime Minister and ...
New Zealand voted in favour of a resolution broadening Palestine’s participation at the United Nations General Assembly overnight, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The resolution enhances the rights of Palestine to participate in the work of the UN General Assembly while stopping short of admitting Palestine as a full ...
Introduction Good morning. It’s a great privilege to be here at the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium. I was extremely happy when the Prime Minister asked me to be his Minister for Infrastructure. It is one of the great barriers holding the New Zealand economy back from achieving its potential. Building high ...
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 ...
ANALYSIS:By David Robie, editor of Asia Pacific Report Jean-Marie Tjibaou, a revered Kanak visionary, was inspirational to indigenous Pacific political activists across Oceania, just like Tongan anthropologist and writer Epeli Hao’ofa was to cultural advocates. Tragically, he was assassinated in 1989 by an opponent within the independence movement during ...
Forget thin is in, apparently now bigger is better … or is it? After over a decade of body positivity, girls, teens and women are even more confused about what body positivity actually is. The movement began with women confronting unrealistic expectations of how their bodies should look. But sub-strands ...
Grace always sat at the bar at the back of The Cambridge, where she could watch who came in. A huge mirror ran the length of the pub, so you could sometimes watch people without them knowing. The mirror made the place seem a lot bigger than it really was. ...
MONDAY Sheriff Mark Mitchell rose at dawn. He had a long day’s ride ahead of him. He was headed for Waikeria. Waikeria! Even the name itself stirred his blood, and set root in his imagination. There was nothing and no one in Waikeria. But he would bend it to his ...
The first phase of the inquest into the death of Gore toddler Lachlan Jones finished this week, turning up plenty of revelations and few answers. But through all the confusion, heartbreak and antipathy on display, the simple fact at the heart of this case remains: if little Lachie’s body had ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Roger Benjamin, Professor in Art History, University of Sydney “She’s no oil painting”. Those were the unkind words of a colleague commenting on the subject of Vincent Namatjira’s acrylic painting, Gina. Every one of the prominent Australians and cultural heroes in Namatjira’s ...
Government plans to require local councils hold a referendum on whether to have Māori wards breaches the Treaty of Waitangi, a Waitangi Tribunal report has found. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tim Harcourt, Industry Professor and Chief Economist, University of Technology Sydney This year the National Rugby League (NRL) opened its season in Las Vegas. It was an audacious move by the league’s ambitious head honcho Peter V’Landys to showcase the game in ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Strong, Associate Professor, Music Industry, RMIT University Leading music organisations have praised the federal budget for its investment in the live music sector. The budget includes A$8.6 million for a program called Revive Live: to provide essential support to ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marnee Shay, Associate Professor, Principal Research Fellow, The University of Queensland The 2024 federal budget contains A$110 million for Indigenous education. This includes funding for various different organisations to represent and help Indigenous people as well as scholarships in a bid to ...
Air New Zealand has confirmed Nouméa’s Tontouta International airport in New Caledonia is closed until Tuesday. The airline earlier told RNZ it would update customers as soon as it could. Earlier today, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters told RNZ Morning Report government officials had been working on an “hourly basis” ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Grant Linley, PhD Candidate in Ecology, Charles Sturt University Grant Linley Australia’s unprecedented Black Summer bushfires in 2019–20 created ideal conditions for misinformation to spread, from the insidious to the absurd. It was within this context that a bizarre story ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marcel Scharth, Lecturer in Business Analytics, University of Sydney OpenAI executive Mira Murati launching GPT-4o.OpenAI Earlier this week OpenAI launched GPT-4o (“o” for “omni”), a new version of the artificial intelligence (AI) system powering the popular ChatGPT chatbot. GPT-4o is promoted ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Treasure McGuire, Assistant Director of Pharmacy, Mater Health SEQ in conjoint appointment as Associate Professor of Pharmacology, Bond University and as Associate Professor (Clinical), The University of Queensland Speedkingz/Shutterstock Menopause is a natural biological process that marks the end of a ...
A new poem by Hannah Patterson. Xiāng There’s a pear tree in our backyard And Xiāng tells me She can’t eat them anymore Not after some things that have happened in her life. She tells me, in Mandarin The word for pear sounds the same as the word for disassociation ...
‘Cycling Works’ aims to show business support for citywide cycle infrastructure. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week, supermarket giant Foodstuffs lost its attempt to block the construction of a cycle lane outside Thorndon New World in Wellington. The Spinoff’s Wellington editor ...
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 Slow Productivity by Cal Newport (Penguin, $40)Taking out the top spot in Auckland this ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Lowe, Emeritus Professor, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University For decades, Australia has exported uranium – but not used it, other than in the Lucas Heights research reactor. But change is coming. We now face a rapidly deepening commitment to ...
"In future I should walk away," Green MP Julie Anne Genter says after complaints over an exchange in Parliament and from two members of the public. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jonathan Graffam, PhD Candidate in Theatre, Monash University Gianna Rizzo/Malthouse Music pumps; lights pulsate; two sweaty bodies sway together, touching, breathing in each other’s scent. A male body framed by downlight restlessly shifts between stances and gestures. He undresses. The intensity ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sandra van der Laan, Professor of Accounting, University of Sydney Mtaya/Shutterstock At some point, you or someone else will need to make a decision about your “send-off”. Most Australians die in an institution, such as a hospital or aged care facility. ...
Asia Pacific Report Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai — who is also Chairman of the Melanesian Spearhead Group — has reaffirmed MSG’s support of the pro-independence umbrella group Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS) stance opposing the French government’s constitutional bill “unfreezing” the New Caledonia Electoral Roll. It is ...
Producer Susan Leonard remembers her father Ernie, a pioneer of Māori television, and how his legacy lives on in Pathfinders.My father was a fabulous man. His name was Ernie Leonard and he started in TV in the 1970s when it was still glamorous – when TVNZ made behind the ...
By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk, and Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific journalist The suspected ringleaders of the unrest in New Caledonia have been placed in home detention and the social network TikTok has been banned as French security forces struggle to restore law and order. The French ...
Multi-year appropriations - which give the government authority to spend money without reapplying annually - are loosening Parliament's control of the public purse, auditor-general says. ...
Dr. Eric Chuah who stood for a centrist NZ political party in the October 2023 NZ Elections for Maungakiekie Auckland will stand as a candidate for Tauranga City Council Ward of Matua-=Otumoetai and Mayor of Tauranga. ...
If you can’t get to the comedy fest, let us bring the comedy fest to you. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. The New Zealand International Comedy Festival is in full swing at the moment, with a veritable smorgasboard of comedy treats ...
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Iran attacking Israel… start of WW3?
This really is scary. WTF is wrong with people???
Preceded on April the 1st, when Israel bombed the Iranian embassy in Damascus.
why did Israel bomb the Iranian embassy?
To provoke this response?
They killed a couple of senior Iranian military personal. Its a bit unclear to me what discussions they were having in Syria however though this might have been the motivation. It may also have been a provocation due to US politics turning rhetorically on Israel at the time.
the bombing was more to kill the military personal rather than being an attack on the embassy?
Don't think Israel has explained their thinking to that degree. They said it was to kill these military personal and that they were known to be in the embassy.
ok, that makes sense though.
I mean, still stupid, but at least coherent.
Stupid??! You may not realise the sanctity that embassies have always been blessed with. In international law (rather than the "rules based order") embassies are regarded as that countries territory. Historically, even during conflicts and war. Israel knows this and trashes yet another norm of international relations and we think its a bit stupid?? Straight after this, Ecuador invaded Mexico's embassy in Quito causing Mexico to break off diplomatic relations.
Israel is now bent on breaking every international norm with the full and absolute support of Joe Biden.
https://electronicintifada.net/content/israel-and-us-deliberately-gutting-international-law-gaza/45696
Iran has shown extreme restraint.
I didn't say 'a bit stupid'. Don't put words in my mouth.
It is not a norm of international behaviour to
1.supply arms to non state groups (Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthi in Yemen and Shia militias in Iraq) to attack another nation state of the UN
2.it is not normal for a nation state to form a military unit (Quds) for the specific purpose of war with another nation state and network with non state fronts armed to assist.
Have to ask SPC, were you living under a rock for the 20th Century? Both the U.S.S.R and the USA regularly suppled arms to non state groups. It came back and bit the USA on the ass that one. On, if I got the date right – Sep 11 2001.
Going back in time, the carving up of Africa was a great time for many western nations to play that game.
And lets not forget THE GREAT GAME.
As for states forming extra military units, and networking with other actors – I suggest reading a history of the British in India or the expansion of Russia East.
It's all quite normal I'm afraid.
How many cases, pre Iran, of a nation arming "fronts" to war on another nation?
During the Cold War, groups within nations were armed to create favoured governments in those nations (overthrow existing governments in those nations).
Iran is engaged in an international crime, even the existence of a group in Iran for the purpose of ending another nation is an international crime.
The "sanctity" in International law you talk about applies only to how the Syrian Government treats the Iranian Embassy in Syria, not what the Israeli Government might do.
Two Quds generals were in Damascus located at the consulate by the embassy.
Quds mission is to conquer Israel, liberate Jerusalem.
I forget where I heard it/who said it but something along the lines of 'The world war after the next will be fought with sticks and stones'.
Once again I give thanks for being born in this country.
This phrase is in reference to a global scale nuclear war of course. Unfortunately its a fact that, if the US launched a full scale nuclear attack on Russia and the Russian's didn't respond the resulting climate change (nuclear winter) would be devastating for both the US and the rest of the surviving world.
Einstein said that.
End of the Reign of the Mullahs?
Guardian reporting a statement has been delivered to the u.n…
..stating that this is retaliation for the embassy attack by Israel ..
And that as long as Israel doesn't escalate..that the matter is 'concluded'..
It'll take hours for the drones to arrive.Can't help think this is a diversionary tactic, as the damage will be pretty well zero (unless the Iron Dome is not what it's cracked up to be)
Possibly its an attack structured to demonstrate to Israeli's the gravity of what their government did on 1st April, rather than to escalate. We should hope so anyway but I expect there will also be rockets fired to coincide with the drones arriving.
Unfortunately the attack on the 1st of April showed a clear desire to escalate the conflict by the Israeli government.
Is it out of the realms of possibility that the IDF let a few drones through? Few civilians killled, excuse to retaliate against Iran who then fire back which pulls USA into a wider war in the middle east?
It is unlikely. The attack is grounds for retaliation, whether it was successful or not.
Probably not, from a military perspective it’s not a good idea to “allow” your enemy to succeed in an attack. Once an attack like this starts, the military will do what it needs to do to stop the attack. I believe the US is shooting the down anyway.
Someone would have to give an order to let the (some) drone through. In between that person and the guys who shoot the drones will be a strict chain of command, and allowing some drones through would not be a legal order.
Iran is showing that they have teeth, but I doubt that they would want a direct confrontation with Israel, besides the US would get involved.
I could be wrong, but hopefully this is saber rattling.
If the Russian tactics against Ukraine are any guide these missile attacks are designed to be a staggered launch to all arrive at once and overwhelm the defenses. Suicide drones, cruise missiles and MRBMs (Medium Range Ballistic Missiles) are will be launched sequentially. At least some of the cruise missiles and drones will contain anti-radar warheads to target active AD radar, clearing the way for subsequent waves.
If this is indeed what iran is doing – rather than sending a wave of drones to satisfy honour or whatever and then leaving the ball in Israel's – court then I would pop down and fill up the car because the energy/price inflation spike caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine will look like the good times in six months.
Iran has said that 'this is what they are doing'..
There are enough psychos in the Knesset, and butchers in the IDF, to not care as long as US Imperialism has their hideous backs and keeps the guns’n’money flow happening.
The goal for these zionists is to raze Gaza, eliminate as many Palestinians as possible and then coin it from fossil fuel reserves sitting under and offshore near Gaza.
It is up to the rest of us to never forget this slaughter, BDS hard, and ban Israeli businesses from our lives and shut down their filthy embassy.
Odd that hammass played into their hands with their psychopathic cowardly behaviour isn't it.
Hmm.. Thats an interesting take that would put you in the minority. Most people would place the perpetrators of genocide as the psychopathic cowards
Which would be hammass, whose avowed intention
is to destroy Israel and kill Jews.[lprent: Presuming you mean hammas == Hamas. If you want to troll do it elsewhere. Adding this troll wankery variant to the blacklist.
Furthermore, if you want to make an assertion of fact, then link to it. In this case that would require a link to their current principles as at 2017 or a speech by a current leader.
I’d suggest you don’t do this again. ]
I still think Putin got Iran to instigate the Palestinian attack to divert attention from Ukraine. On the face of it, the Palestinian attack looks like idiocy until you look at it while thinking about who is allied to who.
The problem is that Hammas doesn't give a fig about the lives of Palestinians either – Hammas are quite happy to kill off their countrymen/women/children by proxy with unreasonable demands in persuing a ceasefire.
If the goal of the "Zionists" were to raze Gaza and kill as many Palestinians as possible, forcibly removing Israeli settlers, leaving it to self-rule and enduring continual rocket attacks while watching Gaza's population double was a very odd way of going about it. In fact, it's almost like an Israeli intent to raze Gaza and kill as many Palestinians as possible is just some bullshit story you're telling yourself.
The government of Israeli is full of far right fuckwits. Who have openly stated they want the Palestinians gone. Convicted terrorist Itamar Ben-Gvir and the rest of his gaggle of murders have been on record to say “time to return home to Gush Katif”. You do the drawing of conclusions on that one.
And whilst the bombing of civilians continues in Gaza, these far right fuckwits have enabled the stripping of land, and wholesale murder on the west bank.
So what the "plan" again, who knows. What I do know, and what is happening with the help of the west, is murder and theft on a grand scale.
New Zealanders, of all people, should understand that minor parties in a coalition aren't running the government. But sure, far-right fuckwits have a minor role in the Israeli govt. Now consider that far-right fuckwits are the entirety of the Gazan govt. And if you have to redirect attention to what's happening on the West Bank, which has a completely different govt, you're admitting there's no basis for the claims about Gaza.
What the… dude look up the make of the government – minor parties make up the bulk of the Thirty-seventh government of Israel. They are nothing like the make up of the government here and the role minor parties play. Your statement is just out right wrong.
Go learn about the politics of Israel before you respond in future – because you're looking like an ignorant tool who just spews forth propaganda.
On that note, the West Bank is and will always be part of the same issue. To try and separate it off as you have, is disingenuous.
Perhaps, before describing me as "an ignorant tool who just spews forth propaganda," you could consider that a greater number of minor parties involved in a coalition government only further dilutes the power of those individual parties, rather than increasing it?
As for the West Bank, it cost Hamas a lot of money, time, effort, torture and murders to establish themselves as a government of Gaza completely independent of the Palestinian Authority. At least give them some credit for it.
Iran has launched a wave of ballistic missiles towards Israel. A significant rise in tension for the entire Middle East?
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-middle-east-68737710?src_origin=BBCS_BBC
To take our minds of the Middle East.
Some proof that a UBI does work.
https://academicminute.org/2014/06/jane-costello-duke-university-sharing-the-wealth/
“The numbers carry a clear message: we can choose to pay less now or pay more later. Our tax dollars can support poor families while their children are growing and developing. Or we can pay for their lack of education, obesity, alcohol abuse, and crime down the road in our healthcare and criminal justice systems.
The statistics speak for themselves.”
Is the next Labour government going to be brave enough?
The British Medical Journal on the Cass Report.
https://www.bmj.com/content/385/bmj.q837
"At the heart of Hilary Cass’s review of gender identity services in the NHS is a concern for the welfare of “children and young people” (doi:10.1136/bmj.q820).1 Her stated ambition is to ensure that those experiencing gender dysphoria receive a high standard of care. This will be disputed, of course, by people and lobbying groups angered by her recommendations, but it is a theme running through the review. Cass, a past president of the UK’s Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, seeks to provide better care for children and adolescents on one of the defining issues of our age. Her conclusion is alarming for anybody who genuinely cares for child welfare: gender medicine is “built on shaky foundations” (doi:10.1136/bmj.q814).2"
On the brink of WWIII so, READ THE CASS REPORT!!!!!
Yes this place is a little bit weird sometimes.
We have to do something in the mean time, may as well be well-read rather than ignorant.
We aren't on the brink of war Robert, but our country is conducting on children the same experiments described in the Cass report, and with the same appalling lack of evidence for any benefit for the recipients. It's a lot more significant to us than whatever the latest lunacy is going on in the Middle East.
The issue being puberty blockers were for temporary use to delay (birth sex growth) puberty.
The use in partnership with later supply of hormones of the other birth sex in support of "gender difference" would have physiological consequences (Swedish study).
The do no harm aspect of health care intervention of one school and the Big Pharma (drugs) aspect in conflict to manage peoples "minds" for their well-being.
In the DSM world – there are fashions. Criminal psychology and gay men in prison and lesbian women in mental health care, then post this time came the DSM 1980.
1.After the female gender is equal and we can do anything cause of feminists, came acceptance of "gender identity" different to birth sex (the two are not in fact related).
2.In the acceptance of private homosexuality but no public consorting there came an expansion of the transvestite sex worker world (a job men identifying as women, affirmation as women from hetero sexual men, that gay men could also do) and "amateurs" – partners in dresses and the developing gay club world.
3.A new category of mental health, affirmation – to both those who wanted aversion therapy for their homosexuality and those that wanted help accepting it. And this also applied to gender identity different to birth sex. Thus assistance to sex workers as well as the issue of younger people with body dysmorphia (body not idealised male and female form – and hormone/drug use in gyms – eating disorders etc/breast enhancements – plastic surgery) and gender dysphoria.
4.Social media and body dysmorphia (mental health support) and access to narratives about gender dysphoria and affirmation care. And growing rates of neurodiversity (autism etc) and helicopter parenting.
Public acceptance of identity choices, as per sexuality and gender and supportive health care treatments.
What health care is provided – to whom and when.
Women have problems with endometriosis (often requires surgery to discover it and manage) and post natal well-being.
Puberty blockers were introduced to manage early onset of puberty, to ensure a delay so that the child could be helped via other means when they still went through it before their peers.
Ending it in all cases, except research, ignores that.
Afaik the ban on PBs is for off label use with gender dysphoric children and won’t affect prescribing for early puberty. But agree it is worth marking that distinction clear in this debate. It raises some issues about off label prescribing and low medical literacy in the general population about puberty.
The final paragraph has a different take/tone than what your excerpt would indicate..
After noting the paucity of research on this
It urges "advocates and activists' not to campaign 'using substandard evidence'..
And calls for this report to be the stimulus for more quality research/evidence..
The above comment is addressed to visub…way back in the thread..
Iran hit the Nevatim airbase in Israel with HYPERSONIC SONIC MISSILES (mach5-10)
IF TRUE…. This is a big f$&&ing deal
Unipolar world here we come
https://x.com/realscottritter/status/1779304880139559275?s=46&t=Mb3vWtlQ9iVITzFN3xvWAQ
Meant to say multi-polar not unipolar
opps
If wannabe kid fucker Scotty Groomer says so….
Criticism coming from a grown up that calls himself Joe90 (A fictional nine-year-old schoolboy spy)
Hmmmm….
You might have issues yourself …
Just saying
ohh… and many decent well known political commentators still talk to Scott Ritter to this day.
I mean he wasn’t ever set up by the CIA for speaking out against the military industrial complex was he.
Still Joe90…. You know best
Idiot.
Nope, no projection there…
Care to name these decent well known political commentators
Of course, Scotty Groomer was set up… twice….
Better I suspect, than a blow-in….
/
Well Joe90, we all know 9 year olds can get hot under the collar (so to speak) and go off topic… maybe too much honey in that trap creates impulsive behaviour. Concentrate dear boy
Back to the real issue (if true this is a big deal)
according to some sources
Iran officially joins hypersonic club
The Kheibar Shekan hypersonic missile is the weapon which was used to strike Israel's premier Ramon airbase in the Negev just a few hours ago. Until now, Iranian claims of its capabilities have been impossible to verify, however we can now say the Islamic Republic has clearly joined the very small list of nations with such advanced weapons.
Kheibar Shekan is a 3rd generation medium-range ballistic missile of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. the weapon's name means 'Fortress Breaker', 'Kheibar' being the Jewish fortress that was conquered by the Muslims in the beginning of Islam, during the battle of Khaybar.
The Kheibar shekan is the world's longest-range solid-fuel tactical ballistic missile, able to deliver a 500kg warhead to targets 1450km away. It can operate from a variety of Iranian launch platforms, and has interchangeable warheads.
In the terminal phase, the HGV (Hypersonic Glide Vehicle) warhead separates from the main missile body and is able to accelerate and manuever in order to bypass ABM systems. Once separated, the warhead accelerates to mach 7-10. It uses both a thrust vectoring motor as well as actuating fins to maneuver. The distinctive triconic shape of the warhead provides stability whilst maneuvering at hypersonic speeds in the lower atmosphere.
The interwebs are awash with mis/disinfo, outright lies, and dim-wit wishcasting but sure, according to some sources….
/
Sources, huh…
//
Shayan Sardarizadeh
@Shayan86
Iran's state TV has been continuously running this video tonight as evidence of its missiles making impact on the ground and hitting targets in Israel. But it's old footage of farm fire in Texas and completely unrelated to tonight's attack.
https://twitter.com/Shayan86/status/1779312359195984093
@Shayan86
Correction: The video is even older than that, and it's from Chile, not Texas. Accordong to @cazamosfakenews, the clip shows fire "in Achupallas (Viña del Mar) in Chile and has been circulating on social networks since February".
https://twitter.com/Shayan86/status/1779327757714960865
They fired missiles at the base.
Not the same thing as hit, had any impact, caused any significant damage etc.
1) The attack included ballistic missiles that achieve hypersonic speeds, nothing that new there. Here is some real information about it.
2) Scott Ritter is a russian propagandist
3) "multipolar" is code for a world ruled by fascists and/or brutal authoritarians
Anyone else notice the new green to go and fast load up of comments?
One example of what I see as Western hypocrisy.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/350245033/live-explosions-heard-after-iran-launches-attack-israel-drones-shot-down
Canadian president Justin Trudeau says his country stands with Israel. " Canada unequivocally condemns Iran’s airborne attacks against Israel," Trudeau said. "We stand with Israel. After supporting Hamas’ brutal October 7 attack, the Iranian regime’s latest actions will further destabilise the region and make lasting peace more difficult.". AP
I've done a quick check and I can't any reaction from Trudeau to Israel's attack on the Iranian embassy in Damascus.
So he condemns Iran's response but not the fatal attack that prompted it. BAU for most Western countries regarding Israel, the only player I can see in the Middle East committed to apartheid and genocide.
The dead Quds generals were part of a military unit whose mission is to conquer Israel militarily – not diplomats.
MMMmmm not quite a true statement.
Quds serve as an intelligence gathering force, and one who engages in unconventional warfare. We have in our military, units which preform these duties as well.
Please tell me your statement is not part of the spin that has come with their name translated into English "Jerusalem Force".
I'm of the school of thought that the Quds helped us defeat the head choppers in Syria and Iraq. Which personally was a very good thing.
And just as a side note – if the British and the Yanks had staged a coup here in 1954, I'd be pissed about it to this day too.
I never said they were diplomats. I'm fully aware that it was military people Israel was after. My point you're not responding to is the hypocrisy that says nothing about an Israeli attack on an Iranian embassy, regardless of who they wanted to eliminate, but condemns the response.
Iran obliged Israel with the response they wanted – a flashy whizz-bang military action with little or no damage of consequence, Western sympathies, more promises of arms and with another war to fight, Netanyahu stays out of gaol.
A classic – a nation isolated over dahiya in Gaza – gets to point out Iran is opposed to its existence, is arming Houthi to attack world shipping and is supplying weapons to Russia to attack Ukraine.
And looking deeper, note Iran is arming Hezbollah and Shia militias in Iraq to make them more powerful than the armies of Lebanon and Iraq and thus undermine the sovereignty of the two nation states – to make them bases for Iran’s war on Israel.
It’s aid to the secular Baath regime in Syria predicated on being allowed to organise bases for Shia militias to partner with Quds.
Generally Quds military are regarded as fair game because they are of a unit formed for war on a member state of the UN.
You claim Israel is the only state committed to genocide and fail to note the purpose of Quds is to end the existence of a Jewish state. One cannot conclude that a nation that agreed to the 1947 partition plan and Oslo Accords is the same – though one suspect BN (Likud and coalition partners) is opposed to that two state outcome and observe that dahiya doctrine does not work.
The attack on the embassy compound – including consulate was condemned by the UNSG. In international law the site is regarded as part of a nations territory.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/un-chief-criticizes-strike-on-iranian-consulate-warns-against-further-escalation/
However this
https://www.trtworld.com/middle-east/iran-urges-un-to-condemn-israel-to-prevent-retaliation-after-embassy-attack-17739908
Currently only one country is committing genocide and having to answer a case brought to the International Court of Justice over its actions.
Who concluded it is committing genocide?
No one did, it's at the court to answer the case of genocide.
Because there is prima facie evidence, to proceed to trial or judgment on the case of genocide.
Which does mean people can call it a case of genocide, at this point with at least 40 thousand dead. I say the case has a good chance to prove that the IDF, and the government of Israel have been committing genocide.
The Israeli judge agreed on two points – incitement (comments by those in government) and enabling delivery of aid to civilians.
40,000 with the missing.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/longform/2023/10/9/israel-hamas-war-in-maps-and-charts-live-tracker
Death numbers in war do not determine genocide – bombing of civilian areas has occurred in Syria and Ukraine.
By numbers, Syria has been and Ukraine is being depopulated.
Tell that to the dead.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/20/world/middleeast/gaza-rafah-strike-children.html
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/4/22/israels-war-on-gaza-live-baby-born-after-mother-killed-in-strike-stable
The collateral damage and/or 'removal' of 'human shields' by the IDF, in pursuit of eradication, will grow support for (fanatical) Hamas ideology.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamas#Political_and_religious_positions
A foretaste of the resource and security-driven conflicts to come, as tempers flare and patience wears thin on overshoot spaceship Earth.
40000 dead according to hammass, who lie as soon as breathe.[lprent: It appears that you are simply lying with this false assertion of fact.
I don’t know of any death estimates from ‘hammas’ nor from Hamas.
The estimates you are probably referring to are by the Gazan Ministry of Health which at present are over 33k deaths. The methods used and the political position of the Ministry are detailed here in a easy to understand article that appears to be especially designed for stupid trolls like you.
I believe that the other 7k deaths comes from guesstimates from US intelligence sources (not ‘hammas’) about unreported bodies in collapsed buildings. No one actually knows because the numbers are bound to be quite inaccurate under the current fog of war conditions and that the Israelis appear to be targeting medical and aid workers. However what is clear is that the MoH figures are low.
The Israelis appear to have similar problems estimating the number of Hamas deaths despite holding the ground on which and above which most of those should have happened. Their estimates vary wildly. Similarly they haven’t ventured any estimates of the massacres that they have inflicted even in the areas where they now control and where they could dig them out from the blast effects. Also they seem to count an inordinate number of non-militant civilians as being hard-core Hamas militants based on non-military reports. It would appear in my opinion that the IDF routinely lies about the effectiveness of their intelligence and targeting. Hardly an ethical or moral position for a army to take.
If you are too stupid a troll to understand the difference between fiction, fact, opinion, or inherent inaccuracies, then simply don’t bother commenting here. I’ll happily keep pointing out just how stupid you appear. ]
Who runs the Gazan ministry of health?
The Palestinian Authority (PA) pays for it and is the direct employer of all HA staff in Gaza apart from a few Hamas political appointees. This isn’t exactly hard to find out. Most of the funding for the salaries, plant and consumables comes via the PA including from donors.
Hamas as a local authority, militia and political party may influence some people in the Gazan branches of the PA Ministry of Health. But so do many other organisation such organisations as the World Health Organisation, the Israeli Ministry of Health (diseases being no respecter of borders), the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) who have maintained a blockade of Gaza for decades and recently a ready supply of injured Gazan children, and the aid organisations who try to maintain a level of health in the area.
The Israeli government has limited influence apart from its instincts to kill and maim civilians using the IDF. Most of its influence has come from its untrustworthy habits of violating agreements to pay the taxes that it collects on behalf of the PA which are used to partially for the Gazan health system.
As the occupying force of Gaza, the Israeli government is responsible for the well being of the population under their occupation. They are most notable for doing the opposite and using dumb bombs to level civilian buildings and the civilians within.
I know this from doing a minimal level of reading and research.
Just as I know that you are a lazy foolish troll who makes little to no effort to ever do any research. Your comments over time on this site display all of the intelligence of parrot – blindly repeating the propaganda of whoever made up the latest round of misinformation designed for dumbarse parrots.
If you want links to all of this, then I suggest you provide your sources of information first, so I can inspect them for veracity and answer them with more accurate ones. In other words show some minimal effort.
So has any head of the Gaza Health Ministry since 2007 not been a member of Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya?
Grey Area @10
Have to admit that was my reaction to the latest development too. Israel attacks an Iranian embassy with missiles – or something along those lines – and then loses it when Iran responds in kind.
Ya know, if someone came along and punched me in the eye, I would probably try to punch them back. I sure would respond. 🙄
Bloody Hell. Mass killing in Sydney – thank goodness he did not have an automatic rifle.
Hobart, gun laws etc.
Port Arthur not Hobart.
Also we have similar laws this government want to repeal.
Exactly – repealing those laws is a dumb idea indeed.
Shocking DG wants cheaper housing, more home ownership etc.
ML is known for two things hounding Clare Curran for wanting better funded and organised state media (boo) and standing alongside Chris Penk and Simeon Brown (to make him look more significant) in photos.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350244337/damien-grant-housing-market-so-tightly-regulated-weve-created-landed-gentry
Libertarians (DG) are wannabe feudal lords in liberal clothing – using the tools of capitalism and power to oppress workers & pillage resources, and using the language of freedom to act illegally & spread lies.
They are the religious fanatics of capitalism
One of the scariest things about today..is wondering what would have happened had Trump been in the white house…
https://youtu.be/Jji3mPSWoew?si=66sm8JPETuyC2R4y
It's a great day today