What about you learn a little bit more about the topic before spouting off on something you don't understand. Whataboutism is a variant of the logical fallacy of ad hominem argument where the user accuses the other of hypocrisy without addressing the issue. It is particularly common in the spreading of propaganda by those who wish to draw attention away from an otherwise untenable position.
Children use this form of 'argument' often usually ending in tongues being poked out. A simple expression of the inability to marshall thoughts and views to mount an argument of words if you are either the child doing the 'whataboutery' or the unfortunate one trying to argue back.
Of course harking back to times when something was done differently is fine as long as it is relevant, and the arguer teases out the similarities and differences, pros & cons of the two approaches/times.
'The meaning of WHATABOUTISM is the act or practice of responding to an accusation of wrongdoing by claiming that an offense committed by another is similar or worse; also : the response itself —called also whataboutery.'
So having looked up the meaning you still can't see the fact that it is a fallacious form of argument, and as Shanreagh also a typical response by kids. Childish.
The Ukrainian children's camps are so much more wholesome, with endorsement and funding from the Ministry of Youth and Sport, eh sport
During a break in training, a teenager played a nationalist march on his guitar. It was decorated with a sticker showing white bombs hitting a mosque, under the motto, "White Europe is Our Goal."
"You need to be aware of all that," said instructor Ruslan Andreiko. "All those gender things, all those perversions of modern Bolsheviks who have come to power in Europe and now try to make all those LGBT things like gay pride parades part of the education system."
Currently suffering from Long Covid evidently takes 8 weeks so only 5 1/2 weeks to go bit like the flu, hopefully gone after 8 weeks. Friends of mine who have had have ardly been affected.
Yes but Long Covid is much more long lasting and pernicious that just 8 weeks. I had heard that it can take up to 8 weeks to recover from Covid.
Long Covid is what takes place after the body has seemingly dealt with Covid itself. Some after effects, that may or may not have manifested themselves during the infection phase are:
kidney issues
cardiac issues
clotting
continued neurological issues, memory, brain fog
This can come about often months after the initial Covid infection such as a heart attack.
From the article
There was evidence that some individuals experienced symptoms that began at the time of the initial infection and that, for others, symptoms arose some time after the initial infection had resolved and that one of the key features was a pattern of remitting/relapsing symptoms;
New chronic diseases emerged among those with long COVID, suggesting that it could well be a serious burden on individuals, family and whanau, communities, and the healthcare system well into the future: lung fibrosis, cardiac damage, multi organ damage on MRI, abnormal brain metabolism and cognitive impairment, thrombo-embolism, and questions about diabetes.
The very best idea is not to get Covid at all, just in case you are the one playing Russian Roulette with Long Covid. It apparently is not related to the severity of the initial illness so you can have a mild infection but still suffer from Long Covid.
Interestingly, I personally know of a few younger people, all under 40, vaccinated and healthy individuals, who have had a rough time with having covid.
I find that concerning as I was under the impression that omicron was mild and this group would have the best outcomes.
Affects people differently I am double jabbed reasonably fit mid 60's, friends who have had it, have just had a sore throat, headache and dry sinus's and the thing is gone within 4-5 days ?
Omicron is not mild. People can have a less severe infection but others can be very badly affected. It was very sad/bad that this myth of 'mild' Omicron was able to get such a hold here as I think it may have made some people less careful, thinking that it is just a cold, something mild……
It is very infectious and that means more people have the possibility of getting it and more people will run the risk with possibly having Long Covid.
Of course, you would. Find somebody who uses the words “mild” and “Omicron” in the same sentence, compare with your anecdotal ‘evidence’, and out comes your impression. What could go wrong? How could you go wrong?
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal minority government has reached a deal with the New Democratic Party (NDP) to stay in power until 2025. In exchange, the Liberals will support the left-leaning NDP on several of the party's key priorities in parliament. Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, Mr Trudeau said that the deal – which he termed a "supply and confidence" agreement – begins today and will continue through the end of Canada's current parliament in 2025.
The deal differs to a coalition, where parties share power. Instead, the Liberals – who failed to win a majority in the past two elections – will continue to govern as a minority, but with assurances the NDP will support them in confidence votes.
While Mr Trudeau predicted that the two parties would continue to disagree in some areas, he said they had identified some key policy areas in which they share similar objectives, including healthcare, housing and the environment.
The deal differs to a coalition, where parties share power. Instead, the Liberals – who failed to win a majority in the past two elections – will continue to govern as a minority, but with assurances the NDP will support them in confidence votes.
Last year, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh ruled out a formal agreement with the Liberals, but said that he was willing to support Mr Trudeau. At a separate news conference on Tuesday, Mr Singh said that his party views the agreement as the best way to "help people", particularly when it comes to developing a national dental care programme for low-income Canadians and a national prescription drug programme, and on issues like climate and housing.
Ahead of Mr Trudeau's announcement, Candice Bergen, leader of Canada's Conservative Party, slammed the Liberal-NDP agreement as a "callous attempt by Trudeau to hold on to power". "This is little more than backdoor socialism," she said in a statement. "This is an NDP-Liberal attempt at government by blackmail. Nation-building is replaced by vote-buying; secret deal-making over parliamentary debate; and opportunism over accountability."
It's actually normal democracy. Hysterical tossing diverse strawmen framings at media is unlikely to impress anyone…
No Dennis, don't you understand-it is "backdoor socialism".
The agreement was always going to happen when the election results were called on the night. Singh (leader of the left-leaning NDP, and who seems to be a popular leader) got 18% in the election but only 25 seats. Trudeau's Liberals got 33% but got 160 seats. It follows that, given 170 seats are needed to form a government, the NDP were bound to have influence.
The Conservatives got 34% but only 119 seats.
It looks like a poor electoral system compared with MMP.
I guess the proof of that pudding will be in the eating, eh? Given they both seem to see an overlap of interests, and thus political common ground, we'll eventually get legislation that is genuinely progressive.
Whether that is socialist or not will be open to interpretation. Justin will feel that it will happen only over his dead liberal body, of course. I was quite impressed by his political autobiography – he's a principled fella, just insufficiently audacious for me. Similar to Ardern. So I expect a govt just like ours…
His editor clearly selected the headline claiming that the protest was about Mallard from the beginning, so we can't hold Martin responsible for the headline. During the opinion this is walked back to Trevor incited them for 3 weeks straight before the police saw the the protesters driven before them and listened to the lamentation of their women.
In a string of Sunday show interviews, U.S. and global security officials also said potential NATO topics include the prospect of deploying a peacekeeping force in Ukraine and the chances of Russian-Ukrainian peace talks. They again warned Russia against the use of chemical weapons in Ukraine.
Article 4 has been triggered (on the day of the invasion)
Biden will attend the NATO summit on Thursday (our Friday?)
And again, the threats from Stoltenberg and Sullivan if chemical weapons are used Perfect time for a last ditch attempt by Zelensky to trigger direct western intervention
Chemical weapon use at this stage would benefit the Ukrainians, not the Russians
Read the article "no fly zone " is not a quote it's an interpretation of the USA's actions by by an Iranian News Site – that is a stupendously long stretch.
The carrier Harry S Truman (not the "USS Truman") has been in the Mediterranean since December and it's flying deterrence missions along with other NATO partners. There is no particular indication that it is preparing for offensive action, although an aircraft carrier is a powerful ship.
"…Chemical weapon use at this stage would benefit the Ukrainians, not the Russians…"
Clearly you've had a lot to think about since you were evicted from Parliament’s front lawn.
Obviously, no matter what side anyone is on no one seem to notice that, if you don't allow your enemy to save face thigs escalate to levels not wanted or anticipated. And to be honest, Zelensky is an actor, so he plays a role and gets applauded for it. I view this with unease which does not mean that I support the invasion. Just the scenario seem to be "odd".
Our PM has described herself as socialist along with a bunch of her Labour caucus colleagues (according to a media report I cited here a week or two back). I presume the reason our media has never cited evidence she's telling the truth is due to no journos being able to find any. So why are liberals continuing to pretend that they are really socialists? It's a baffling question which the above linked essay may throw some light on.
the Corbyn campaign in the UK is often compared to Sanders’: both were left-of-centre campaigns that unexpectedly gained popularity in 2016 and seemed on the cusp of victory by the late 2010s—and both ended up disappointing. A helpful analysis of the Corbyn campaign is Leo Panitch’s and Colin Leys’ recent book, Searching for Socialism: The Project of the Labour New Left from Benn to Corbyn.
They point out that Corbyn was handicapped by significant elite hostility from within the Labour party, but also by being unable to attract both the support of Labour voters who were newer to the party (many of whom were highly educated, London-centred and anti-Brexit) and Labour’s historically core voters (many of whom are blue collar, heartland-centred, and pro-Brexit). They also note that this experience exposed a deep divide on the left—between its liberal, internationalist wing (which is often more focused on cultural than economic issues) and its economically egalitarian base, many of whose members hold conservative views on social issues such as national identity and immigration. The American left is handicapped by similar divides
As usual nowadays the writers fail to get to the guts of the issue: how perceptions of common ground can be framed to bridge the divide. Liberals defend the status quo via practical politics whilst pretending to make progress. Leftists could control a center-left govt that actually delivers progress if they learnt how to combine liberal pragmatism with know-how can-do expertise – instead of just criticising centrists for lack of ideological commitment – thus becoming winners rather than losers.
Jong Kee runs the well worn announcement to an announcement meme, inferring those in cabinet are actors interested in "maximum theatre", rather than the wellbeing of New Zealand's most vulnerable.
He asks, and answers his own question, "why do you have restrictions on anything – the answer is to keep people safe". That's right, and Omicron has killed about 130 people in the last month alone, more than tripling our Covid casualties.
These people appear invisible to the National Party, old and new.
If anyone is still in doubt about what New Zealand's Covid response would have looked like had Surge-On been in charge, see his laissez-faire comments to chief fluffer this morning.
There are people on the right who have similar feelings about Helen Clark – and in future will feel the same about Ardern. It's not an exclusively 'left' thing.
It does raise an interesting question though; are lefties angrier and unhappier? Instinctively there has to be some truth to it – if you think the world needs improving, and that it's actually possible to do so, that's quite an irritation.
The right on the whole seem happier with the way things are, maybe because it mostly serves them pretty well. There are things to admire about their contentment, but at what point does it become oafishness?
Comments like that reflect badly on the person making them. You are probably the sort of person that would throw eggs at politicians too.
[Why don’t you leave your speculations and assumptions out of it – they only serve to make the other person look bad, but that may be your intention [see what I did there?]. This is how flaming wars start – Incognito]
I have no idea if it caused any offence because it wasn’t directed at me – it may or may not have. I don’t like people starting flame wars because I’m not a volunteer firefighter here and you are not a pyromaniac, are you?
Russian soldiers eat the best possible nutritious rations of any military, so long as it’s dog food. You can get a flavor of what’s going wrong on the ground in Ukraine from a story Reuters ran 11 years ago. The news agency reported ex-Maj. Igor Matveyev saying: “It’s embarrassing to say, but soldiers here were fed dog food. It was fed to them as stew.” The tins of dog food were covered up with labels reading “premium quality beef.”
The Ukrainians have found abandoned Russian army vehicles with food rations with “eat by” dates from seven years ago. What is so gloriously ironic is that the man responsible is one of the Kremlin’s favorite gangster cronies, Yevgeny Prigozhin, known as “Putin’s Chef.” With close ties to Russian military intelligence, the GRU, Prigozhin, an ex-convict in Soviet times, has run troll farms and the murderous mercenary unit, the Wagner Group, named after Hitler’s favorite composer. His empire has taken over 90% of the business of supplying food to the Russian army. The Ukrainians have released several videos of starving Russian soldiers scavenging for food. And that’s down to Prigozhin and his boss.
Investigative journalist Christo Grozev has tweeted, “While Russian soldiers are starving and breaking into Ukrainians’ homes begging for bread, Prigozhin’s ‘not for sale’ military food rations have flooded Russia’s ebay-like sites at $3 a can.”
Irina Borogan and Andrei Soldatov, both investigative journalists and experts on Russia’s security services, suggest that Putin’s paranoia is corroding trust inside the holy of holies, the Russian secret state. They report that the head of the FSB’s foreign intelligence service and its deputy are “being held after allegations of misusing operational funds earmarked for subversive activities and for providing poor intelligence ahead of Russia’s now-stuttering invasion.”
I've been a little wary of other humans since I was a wee boy. Something about them triggered a primal instinct.
Bellingcat is an independent international collective of researchers, investigators and citizen journalists using open source and social media investigation to probe a variety of subjects – from Mexican drug lords and crimes against humanity, to tracking the use of chemical weapons and conflicts worldwide.
With staff and contributors in more than 20 countries around the world, we operate in a unique field where advanced technology, forensic research, journalism, investigations, transparency and accountability come together. https://www.bellingcat.com/about/
So yeah, any enterprise dedicated to providing an alternative to the msm ought to make any critical thinker deeply suspicious…
What do you get when you take Steven Crowder, a conference hosted by Massey Uni and a paper entitled “Embracing Fatness as Self-Care in the Era of Trump” and add them together, well you get something like this:
Nick Robinson "spent ten years as political editor for the BBC" according to Wikipedia. His tweet included in this examination of evidence of cluster bomb usage in Ukraine features a Russian MP telling him that Russia doesn't do that – so the Ukrainians may be dropping cluster bombs on themselves.
“Bellingcat does not solicit or accept funding and contributions directly from any national government. Bellingcat can solicit or accept contributions from international or intergovernmental institutions such as the European Commission or the United Nations. Bellingcat can accept or solicit funding that is distributed by a private foundation that accepts government funds, so long as it is independent from any national government. We will not allow any funding relationship to constrain us from criticising any bodies that provide funds, exposing any wrongdoing in which said bodies may be involved or impact our editorial independence.”
The UK FCO projects were carried out covertly, and in partnership with purportedly independent, high-profile online media outfits including Bellingcat, Meduza, and the Pussy Riot-founded Mediazona. Bellingcat’s participation apparently included a UK FCO intervention in North Macedonia’s 2019 elections on behalf of the pro-NATO candidate.
"Higgins launched the Bellingcat platform (in its beta version) on 14 July 2014,[3][4][25] raised £50k of private donations in the following month through the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter,[26] and performed additional crowdfunding in 2017.[20] Half of funding comes from grants and donations, the other half from running workshops training people in the art of open-source investigations.[27][20]
The Bellingcat website also lists the in kind support in the form of 'software access and platform resources' from the software firms: Datayo, Hunchly, Maltego, Mapbox, Planet, RiskIQ, Vizlegal.[34]
Higgins told Polygraph.info that grants from the NED and OSF pay for Bellingcat programmes to help journalists and researchers in their investigations.[20] He said that "Most our funding from grants covers stuff that isn't related to investigating anything Russia related."[20][5][36][37][2][35]
According to the i newspaper, Bellingcat is notable for its transparency, as Bellingcat investigative reports describe "how they found out the story and which techniques they used".[38]
As of approximately 2019, the organisation had sixteen[5] full-time staff plus Higgins, and at least 60 contributors.[27] Its office was previously located in Leicester;[27] however in 2018, Bellingcat shifted its main office to Amsterdam, in the Netherlands as a result of the impending Brexit and concerns over staff recruitment and mobility.[39] Since 2021, Bellingcat has also had a presence in a new Investigative Commons centre in Berlin, Germany.[39]
The average wage in Ukraine is around $400 a month.
Known as the most corrupt country in Europe…this story helps explain…why..
The glamorous wife of a prominent Ukrainian tycoon and politician 'carried £22 million in cash through a refugee border crossing into the EU', it is alleged.
The money – in US dollars and euros – was spotted by Hungarian customs in the baggage of the spouse of controversial ex-MP Igor Kotvitsky, 52, say reports.
After being run as a vassal state of Russia for centuries, it is no surprise that Ukraine has an embedded problem with corruption is it?
One could easily argue that escaping that dead hand is precisely why the Ukrainian people are literally sacrificing their lives to escape it. But you come here making comment after comment sneering at them for this – [self deleted so as Incog doesn't have to.]
Simeon Brown’s Ideology BentSimeon Brown once told Kiwis he tries to represent his deep sense of faith by interacting “with integrity”.“It’s important that there’s Christians in Parliament…and from my perspective, it’s great to be a Christian in Parliament and to bring that perspective to [laws, conversations and policies].”And with ...
Severe geological and financial earthquakes are inevitable. We just don’t know how soon and how they will play out. Are we putting the right effort into preparing for them?Every decade or so the international economy has a major financial crisis. We cannot predict exactly when or exactly how it will ...
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NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff has called on OJI Fibre Solutions to work with the government, unions, and the community before closing the Kinleith Paper Mill. “OJI has today announced 230 job losses in what will be a devastating blow for the community. OJI needs to work with ...
NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff is sounding the alarm about the latest attack on workers from Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden, who is ignoring her own officials to pursue reckless changes that would completely undermine the personal grievance system. “Brooke van Velden’s changes will ...
Hi,When I started writing Webworm in 2020, I wrote a lot about the conspiracy theories that were suddenly invading our Twitter timelines and Facebook feeds. Four years ago a reader, John, left this feedback under one of my essays:It’s a never ending labyrinth of lunacy which, as you have pointed ...
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The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking about the week’s news with regular and special guests, including: and on the week in geopolitics, including the latest from Donald Trump’s administration over Gaza and Ukraine; on the ...
Up until now, the prevailing coalition view of public servants was that there were simply too many of them. But yesterday the new Public Service Commissioner, handpicked by the Luxon Government, said it was not so much numbers but what they did and the value they produced that mattered. Sir ...
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This story was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. Within just a week, the sheer devastation of the Los Angeles wildfires has pushed to the fore fundamental questions about the impact of the climate crisis that have been ...
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Transforming New Zealand: Brian EastonBrian Easton will discuss the above topic at 2/57 Willis Street, Wellington at 5:30pm on Tuesday 26 February at 2/57 Willis Street, WellingtonThe sub-title to the above is "Why is the Left failing?" Brian Easton's analysis is based on his view that while the ...
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Mountain Tui is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Correction: On the article The Condundrum of David Seymour, Luke Malpass conducted joint reviews with Bryce Wilkinson, the architect of the Regulatory Standards Bill - not Bryce Edwards. The article ...
Tomorrow the council’s Transport, Resilience and Infrastructure Committee meet and agenda has a few interesting papers. Council’s Letter of Expectation to Auckland Transport Every year the council provide a Letter of Expectation to Auckland Transport which is part of the process for informing AT of the council’s priorities and ...
All around in my home townThey're trying to track me down, yeahThey say they want to bring me in guiltyFor the killing of a deputyFor the life of a deputySongwriter: Robert Nesta Marley.Support Nick’s Kōrero today with a 20% discount on a paid subscription to receive all my newsletters directly ...
Hi,I think all of us have probably experienced the power of music — that strange, transformative thing that gets under our skin and helps us experience this whole life thing with some kind of sanity.Listening and experiencing music has always been such a huge part of my life, and has ...
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I have now lived long enough to see a cabinet minister go both barrels on their Prime Minister and not get sacked.It used to be that the PM would have a drawer full of resignations signed by ministers on the day of their appointment, ready for such an occasion. But ...
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The proposed Waimate garbage incinerator is dead: The company behind a highly-controversial proposal to build a waste-to-energy plant in the Waimate District no longer has the land. [...] However, SIRRL director Paul Taylor said the sales and purchase agreement to purchase land from Murphy Farms, near Glenavy, lapsed at ...
The US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act has been a vital tool in combatting international corruption. It forbids US companies and citizens from bribing foreign public officials anywhere in the world. And its actually enforced: some of the world's biggest companies - Siemens, Hewlett Packard, and Bristol Myers Squibb - have ...
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Stuff’s Political Editor Luke Malpass - A Fellow at New Zealand IniativeLast week I half-joked that Stuff / The Post’s Luke Malpass1 always sounded like he was auditioning for a job at the New Zealand Initiative.Mountain Tui is a reader-supported publication. For a limited time, subscriptions are 20% off. Thanks ...
At a funeral on Friday, there were A4-sized photos covering every wall of the Dil’s reception lounge. There must have been 200 of them, telling the story in the usual way of the video reel but also, by enlargement, making it more possible to linger and step in.Our friend Nicky ...
Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with members from our team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is methane the ...
The Government’s idea is that the private sector and Community Housing Providers will fund, build and operate new affordable housing to address our housing crisis. Meanwhile, the Government does not know where almost half of the 1,700 children who left emergency housing actually went. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong ...
Oh, home, let me come homeHome is wherever I'm with youOh, home, let me come homeHome is wherever I'm with youSongwriters: Alexander Ebert / Jade Allyson CastrinosMorena,I’m on a tight time frame this morning. In about an hour and a half, I’ll need to pack up and hit the road ...
This is a post about the Mountain Tui substack, and small tweaks - further to the poll and request post the other day. Please don’t read if you aren’t interested in my personal matters. Thank you all.After oohing-and-aahing about how to structure the Substack model since November, including obtaining ...
This transcript of a recent conversation between the Prime Minister and his chief economic adviser has not been verified.We’ve announced we are the ‘Yes Government’. Do you like it?Yes, Prime Minister.Dreamed up by the PR team. It’s about being committed to growth. Not that the PR team know anything about ...
The other day, Australian Senator Nick McKim issued a warning in the Australian Parliement about the US’s descent into fascim.And of course it’s true, but I lament - that was true as soon as Trump won.What we see is now simply the reification of the intention, planning, and forces behind ...
Among the many other problems associated with Musk/DOGE sending a fleet of teenage and twenty-something cultists to remove, copy and appropriate federal records like social security, medicaid and other supposedly protected data is the fact that the youngsters doing the data-removal, copying and security protocol and filter code over-writing have ...
Jokerman dance to the nightingale tuneBird fly high by the light of the moonOh, oh, oh, JokermanSong by Bob Dylan.Morena folks, I hope this fine morning of the 7th of February finds you well. We're still close to Paihia, just a short drive out of town. Below is the view ...
It’s been an eventful week as always, so here’s a few things that we have found interesting. We also hope everyone had a happy and relaxing Waitangi Day! This week in Greater Auckland We’re still running on summer time, but provided two chewy posts: On Tuesday, a guest ...
Queuing on Queen St: the Government is set to announce another apparently splashy growth policy on Sunday of offering residence visas to wealthy migrants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāLong stories short, the top six things in our political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, February 7:PM Christopher ...
The fact that Waitangi ended up being such a low-key affair may mark it out as one of the most significant Waitangi Days in recent years. A group of women draped in “Toitu Te Tiriti” banners who turned their backs on the politicians’ powhiri was about as rough as it ...
Hi,This week’s Flightless Bird episode was about “fake seizure guy” — a Melbourne man who fakes seizures in order to get members of the public to sit on him.The audio documentary (which I have included in this newsletter in case you don’t listen to Flightless Bird) built on reporting first ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Karin Kirk The 119th Congress comes with a price tag. The oil and gas industry gave about $24 million in campaign contributions to the members of the U.S. House and Senate expected to be sworn in January 3, 2025, according to a ...
Early morning, the shadows still long, but you can already feel the warmth building. Our motel was across the road from the historic homestead where Henry Williams' family lived. The evening before, we wandered around the gardens, reading the plaques and enjoying the close proximity to the history of the ...
Thanks folks for your feedback, votes and comments this week. I’ll be making the changes soon. Appreciate all your emails, comments and subscriptions too. I know your time is valuable - muchas gracias.A lot is happening both here and around the world - so I want to provide a snippets ...
Data released today by Statistics NZ shows that unemployment rose to 5.1%, with 33,000 more people out of work than last year said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Economist Craig Renney. “The latest data shows that employment fell in Aotearoa at its fastest rate since the GFC. Unemployment rose in 8 ...
National’s cuts to disability support funding and freezing of new residential placements has resulted in significant mental health decline for intellectually disabled people. ...
The hundreds of jobs lost needlessly as a result of the Kinleith Mill paper production closure will have a devastating impact on the Tokoroa community - something that could have easily been avoided. ...
Today Te Pāti Māori MP for Te Tai Tokerau, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, released her members bill that will see the return of tamariki and mokopuna Māori from state care back to te iwi Māori. This bill will establish an independent authority that asserts and protects the rights promised in He Whakaputanga ...
The Whangarei District Council being forced to fluoridate their local water supply is facing a despotic Soviet-era disgrace. This is not a matter of being pro-fluoride or anti-fluoride. It is a matter of what New Zealanders see and value as democracy in our country. Individual democratically elected Councillors are not ...
Nicola Willis’ latest supermarket announcement is painfully weak with no new ideas, no real plan, and no relief for Kiwis struggling with rising grocery costs. ...
Half of Pacific children sometimes going without food is just one of many heartbreaking lowlights in the Salvation Army’s annual State of the Nation report. ...
The Salvation Army’s State of the Nation report is a bleak indictment on the failure of Government to take steps to end poverty, with those on benefits, including their children, hit hardest. ...
New Zealand First has today introduced a Member’s Bill which would restore decision-making power to local communities regarding the fluoridation of drinking water. The ‘Fluoridation (Referendum) Legislation Bill’ seeks to repeal the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Act 2021 that granted centralised authority to the Direct General of Health ...
New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill aimed at preventing banks from refusing their services to businesses because of the current “Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Framework”. “This Bill ensures fairness and prevents ESG standards from perpetuating woke ideology in the banking sector being driven by unelected, globalist, climate ...
Erica Stanford has reached peak shortsightedness if today’s announcement is anything to go by, picking apart immigration settings piece by piece to the detriment of the New Zealand economy. ...
Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. The intention was to establish a colony with the cession of sovereignty to the Crown, ...
Te Whatu Ora Chief Executive Margie Apa leaving her job four months early is another symptom of this government’s failure to deliver healthcare for New Zealanders. ...
The Green Party is calling for the Prime Minister to show leadership and be unequivocal about Aotearoa New Zealand’s opposition to a proposal by the US President to remove Palestinians from Gaza. ...
The latest unemployment figures reveal that job losses are hitting Māori and Pacific people especially hard, with Māori unemployment reaching a staggering 9.7% for the December 2024 quarter and Pasifika unemployment reaching 10.5%. ...
Waitangi 2025: Waitangi Day must be community and not politically driven - Shane Jones Our originating document, theTreaty of Waitangi, was signed on February 6, 1840. An agreement between Māori and the British Crown. Initially inked by Ngā Puhi in Waitangi, further signatures were added as it travelled south. ...
Despite being confronted every day with people in genuine need being stopped from accessing emergency housing – National still won’t commit to building more public houses. ...
The Green Party says the Government is giving up on growing the country’s public housing stock, despite overwhelming evidence that we need more affordable houses to solve the housing crisis. ...
Before any thoughts of the New Year and what lies ahead could even be contemplated, New Zealand reeled with the tragedy of Senior Sergeant Lyn Fleming losing her life. For over 38 years she had faithfully served as a front-line Police officer. Working alongside her was Senior Sergeant Adam Ramsay ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson will return to politics at Waitangi on Monday the 3rd of February where she will hold a stand up with fellow co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. ...
Te Pāti Māori is appalled by the government's blatant mishandling of the school lunch programme. David Seymour’s ‘cost-saving’ measures have left tamariki across Aotearoa with unidentifiable meals, causing distress and outrage among parents and communities alike. “What’s the difference between providing inedible food, and providing no food at all?” Said ...
The Government is doubling down on outdated and volatile fossil fuels, showing how shortsighted and destructive their policies are for working New Zealanders. ...
Green Party MP Steve Abel this morning joined Coromandel locals in Waihi to condemn new mining plans announced by Shane Jones in the pit of the town’s Australian-owned Gold mine. ...
The Green Party is calling on the Government to strengthen its just-announced 2030-2035 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement and address its woeful lack of commitment to climate security. ...
Today marks a historic moment for Taranaki iwi with the passing of the Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill in Parliament. "Today, we stand together as descendants of Taranaki, and our tūpuna, Taranaki Maunga, is now formally acknowledged by the law as a living tūpuna. ...
Labour is relieved to see Children’s Minister Karen Chhour has woken up to reality and reversed her government’s terrible decisions to cut funding from frontline service providers – temporarily. ...
It is the first week of David Seymour’s school lunch programme and already social media reports are circulating of revolting meals, late deliveries, and mislabelled packaging. ...
The Green Party says that with no-cause evictions returning from today, the move to allow landlords to end tenancies without reason plunges renters, and particularly families who rent, into insecurity and stress. ...
The Government’s commitment to get New Zealand’s roads back on track is delivering strong results, with around 98 per cent of potholes on state highways repaired within 24 hours of identification every month since targets were introduced, Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is ...
The former Cadbury factory will be the site of the Inpatient Building for the new Dunedin Hospital and Health Minister Simeon Brown says actions have been taken to get the cost overruns under control. “Today I am giving the people of Dunedin certainty that we will build the new Dunedin ...
From today, Plunket in Whāngarei will be offering childhood immunisations – the first of up to 27 sites nationwide, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. The investment of $1 million into the pilot, announced in October 2024, was made possible due to the Government’s record $16.68 billion investment in health. It ...
New Zealand’s strong commitment to the rights of disabled people has continued with the response to an important United Nations report, Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston has announced. Of the 63 concluding observations of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), 47 will be progressed ...
Resources Minister Shane Jones has launched New Zealand’s national Minerals Strategy and Critical Minerals List, documents that lay a strategic and enduring path for the mineral sector, with the aim of doubling exports to $3 billion by 2035. Mr Jones released the documents, which present the Coalition Government’s transformative vision ...
Firstly I want to thank OceanaGold for hosting our event today. Your operation at Waihi is impressive. I want to acknowledge local MP Scott Simpson, local government dignitaries, community stakeholders and all of you who have gathered here today. It’s a privilege to welcome you to the launch of the ...
Racing Minister, Winston Peters has announced the Government is preparing public consultation on GST policy proposals which would make the New Zealand racing industry more competitive. “The racing industry makes an important economic contribution. New Zealand thoroughbreds are in demand overseas as racehorses and for breeding. The domestic thoroughbred industry ...
Business confidence remains very high and shows the economy is on track to improve, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis says. “The latest ANZ Business Outlook survey, released yesterday, shows business confidence and expected own activity are ‘still both very high’.” The survey reports business confidence fell eight points to +54 ...
Enabling works have begun this week on an expanded radiology unit at Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital which will double CT scanning capacity in Hawke’s Bay to ensure more locals can benefit from access to timely, quality healthcare, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. This investment of $29.3m in the ...
The Government has today announced New Zealand’s second international climate target under the Paris Agreement, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand will reduce emissions by 51 to 55 per cent compared to 2005 levels, by 2035. “We have worked hard to set a target that is both ambitious ...
Nine years of negotiations between the Crown and iwi of Taranaki have concluded following Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill passing its third reading in Parliament today, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “This Bill addresses the historical grievances endured by the eight iwi ...
As schools start back for 2025, there will be a relentless focus on teaching the basics brilliantly so all Kiwi kids grow up with the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to grow the New Zealand of the future, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “A world-leading education system is a key ...
Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson have welcomed Kāinga Ora’s decision to re-open its tender for carpets to allow wool carpet suppliers to bid. “In 2024 Kāinga Ora issued requests for tender (RFTs) seeking bids from suppliers to carpet their properties,” Mr Bishop says. “As part ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today visited Otahuhu College where the new school lunch programme has served up healthy lunches to students in the first days of the school year. “As schools open in 2025, the programme will deliver nutritious meals to around 242,000 students, every school day. On ...
Minister for Children Karen Chhour has intervened in Oranga Tamariki’s review of social service provider contracts to ensure Barnardos can continue to deliver its 0800 What’s Up hotline. “When I found out about the potential impact to this service, I asked Oranga Tamariki for an explanation. Based on the information ...
A bill to make revenue collection on imported and exported goods fairer and more effective had its first reading in Parliament, Customs Minister Casey Costello said today. “The Customs (Levies and Other Matters) Amendment Bill modernises the way in which Customs can recover the costs of services that are needed ...
Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Department of Internal Affairs [the Department] has achieved significant progress in completing applications for New Zealand citizenship. “December 2024 saw the Department complete 5,661 citizenship applications, the most for any month in 2024. This is a 54 per cent increase compared ...
Reversals to Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions begin tonight and will be in place by 1 July, says Minister of Transport Chris Bishop. “The previous government was obsessed with slowing New Zealanders down by imposing illogical and untargeted speed limit reductions on state highways and local roads. “National campaigned on ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has announced Budget 2025 – the Growth Budget - will be delivered on Thursday 22 May. “This year’s Budget will drive forward the Government’s plan to grow our economy to improve the incomes of New Zealanders now and in the years ahead. “Budget 2025 will build ...
For the Government, 2025 will bring a relentless focus on unleashing the growth we need to lift incomes, strengthen local businesses and create opportunity. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today laid out the Government’s growth agenda in his Statement to Parliament. “Just over a year ago this Government was elected by ...
Associate Education Minister David Seymour welcomes students back to school with a call to raise attendance from last year. “The Government encourages all students to attend school every day because there is a clear connection between being present at school and setting yourself up for a bright future,” says Mr ...
The Government is relaxing visitor visa requirements to allow tourists to work remotely while visiting New Zealand, Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford and Tourism Minister Louise Upston say. “The change is part of the Government’s plan to unlock New Zealand’s potential by shifting the country onto ...
The opening of Kāinga Ora’s development of 134 homes in Epuni, Lower Hutt will provide much-needed social housing for Hutt families, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I’ve been a strong advocate for social housing on Kāinga Ora’s Epuni site ever since the old earthquake-prone housing was demolished in 2015. I ...
Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay will travel to Australia today for meetings with Australian Trade Minister, Senator Don Farrell, and the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum (ANZLF). Mr McClay recently hosted Minister Farrell in Rotorua for the annual Closer Economic Relations (CER) Trade Ministers’ meeting, where ANZLF presented on ...
“We’re not here to interfere in people’s property rights,” Ngāi Tahu’s Te Maire Tau has told the High Court.Tau, a historian, Upoko (traditional leader) of Ngāi Tūāhuriri, and a university professor of history, is the lead witness in a case designed to force the Crown to recognise the tribe’s rangatiratanga ...
Pacific Media Watch Trump administration officials barred two Associated Press (AP) reporters from covering White House events this week because the US-based independent news agency did not change its style guide to align with the president’s political agenda. The AP is being punished for using the term “Gulf of Mexico,” ...
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific Presenter/Bulletin editor France’s top diplomat in the Pacific region says talks around the “unfreezing” of New Caledonia’s highly controversial electoral roll are back on the table. The French government intended to make a constitutional amendment that would lift restrictions prescribed under the Nouméa Accord, which ...
By bringing these global voices to the fight for free expression in New Zealand, we’ll continue to protect and expand our culture of free speech, says Nathan Seiuli, the Free Speech Union's Events Manager. ...
The issue is no longer a hypothetical one. US President Donald Trump will not explicitly suggest death camps, but he has already consented to Israel’s continuing a war that is not a war but rather a barbaric assault on a desolate stretch of land. From there, the road to annihilation is ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cecelia Cmielewski, Research Fellow, Institute for Culture and Society, Western Sydney University To be selected as the artist and curator team to represent Australia at the Venice Biennale is considered the ultimate exhibition for an artistic team. To have your selection rescinded, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steve Turton, Adjunct Professor of Environmental Geography, CQUniversity Australia Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia is bearing down on the northwest coast of Australia and is likely to make landfall early Friday evening. It’s a monster storm of great concern to Western Australia. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Danielle Ireland-Piper, Associate Professor, ANU National Security College, Australian National University A Victorian government decision to allow dingo culling in the state’s east until 2028 has reignited debate over what has been dubbed Australia’s most controversial animal. Animals Australia, an animal welfare ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hassan Vally, Associate Professor, Epidemiology, Deakin University Overnight, Robert F. Kennedy Jr was confirmed as the secretary of the US Health and Human Services Department. Put simply, this makes him the most influential figure in overseeing the health and wellbeing of more ...
Everything you missed from day five of the Treaty principles bill hearings, when the Justice Committee heard eight hours of submissions.Read our recaps of the previous hearings here.It was another work from home day for the Justice Committee, the only people in Room 3 being security guards, committee ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milad Haghani, Associate Professor & Principal Fellow in Urban Risk & Resilience, The University of Melbourne Juris Teivans/Shutterstock In Australia, fatal road crashes are climbing again, especially since the pandemic, and despite years of attempts to reduce road trauma, the numbers ...
In its eagerness to appease supporters of Israel, the media is happy to ride roughshod over due process and basic rights. It’s damaging Australia’s (and New Zealand’s?) democracy.COMMENTARY:By Bernard Keane Two moments stand out so far from the Federal Court hearings relating to Antoinette Lattouf’s sacking by the ...
“The reality is we’re getting poorer. The government this year is leaning heavy on chasing economic growth, which is absolutely the right thing to do.” ...
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 The Vegetarian by Han Kang (Granta, $28) Han Kang’s astounding novel was based on an ...
This new docuseries about two single comedians looking for love is also a joyful celebration of female friendship. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. “How many people do you think are boning right now?” Kura Forrester asks Brynley Stent as the bright ...
A new poem by Freya Turnbull. Hunger Song – After Kaveh Akbar (Untitled With Hunger And Matcheads) I hold my age in ripped fishnet hold an empty vessel oldyoung body cracks like gunshot like killa i was a father ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dominik Koll, Honorary Lecturer, Australian National University View of the Pacific Ocean from the International Space Station.NASA Earth must have experienced something exceptional 10 million years ago. Our study of rock samples from the floor of the Pacific Ocean has found ...
Troy Rawhiti-Connell reviews Kia Tupu Te Ara, a documentary chronicling the meteoric rise of Aotearoa’s groundbreaking metal band. “Two brothers attempt to storm the world of thrash metal with the Māori language, despite the fact they’re both still teenagers,” reads the synopsis of Kent Belcher’s documentary, Kia Tupu Te Ara. ...
Three freelance writers have been awarded grants to work on their ambitious journalism projects. In January, The Spinoff announced the Vince Geddes In-Depth Journalism Fund, supported by the Auckland Radio Trust (ART). The fund was established to provide much-needed financial and editorial support to talented freelance journalists, empowering them to ...
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist in Avarua, Rarotonga China has confirmed details of its meeting with Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown for the first time, saying Beijing “stands ready to have an in-depth exchange” with the island nation. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters during his ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Gillespie, Professor of Law, University of Waikato The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ 2023 strategic foreign policy assessment, “Navigating a shifting world”, accurately foresaw a more uncertain and complex time ahead for New Zealand. But already it feels out of date. The ...
Our parliamentary throuple may be the longest running in the country, but cracks are showing. Gabi Lardies wonders if differing attachment styles may be to blame. Though no one ever anticipated happiness or roses in the three-way coalition, the relationship has wobbled on for over a year without breaking up. ...
As Mike White’s dark satire returns for a third season, we look back on some of The White Lotus’s most memorable characters. The White Lotus looks like a dream holiday, but this resort is anything but paradise. Set in an exclusive five star hotel resort, HBO’s award-winning series is a ...
Analysis: Would the last scientist to leave the building please turn out the lights? Because the confirmation of Robert F Kennedy Jr as US Secretary of Health suggests we’re heading back to the dark ages.It’s a sad irony that President John F Kennedy propelled America into the space age; now his nephew ...
The crux of my message today is that New Zealand needs to bend two curves. One is the long-term economic growth trajectory, which needs to bend upwards to expand our productive capacity and national real incomes. The second is our net public debt ...
Away from the tense scenes on the paepae, under a closely guarded canvas tent, te iwi Māori do the real work of Waitangi: talking. We were invited inside to listen. ...
The Jono & Ben star is self-aware and surrounded by extraordinary women in Three’s latest local comedy series. The first episode of Vince, written by and starring Jono Pryor, opens with intrigue, a loincloth and a man in the middle of some kind of breakdown. As the titular character, a ...
Whatabout,whataboutry!
Is it a legitimate component of robust argument or a simpletons response a la 2 wrongs make…a right.
It was a constant feature of the Key Govt for 9 years-'Labour did it too'.
It seems to have fallen out of favour with the right these days.
Those with double standards and full blown hypocrites seem to despise it with a …passion.
Imo if it's fact,it's fact and perfectly…acceptable.
Just because it's a fact doesn't make it relevant.
This seems off topic even for open mike.
What about you learn a little bit more about the topic before spouting off on something you don't understand. Whataboutism is a variant of the logical fallacy of ad hominem argument where the user accuses the other of hypocrisy without addressing the issue. It is particularly common in the spreading of propaganda by those who wish to draw attention away from an otherwise untenable position.
Children use this form of 'argument' often usually ending in tongues being poked out. A simple expression of the inability to marshall thoughts and views to mount an argument of words if you are either the child doing the 'whataboutery' or the unfortunate one trying to argue back.
Of course harking back to times when something was done differently is fine as long as it is relevant, and the arguer teases out the similarities and differences, pros & cons of the two approaches/times.
Really?
Whatabout Merriam-Websters definition?
'The meaning of WHATABOUTISM is the act or practice of responding to an accusation of wrongdoing by claiming that an offense committed by another is similar or worse; also : the response itself —called also whataboutery.'
So having looked up the meaning you still can't see the fact that it is a fallacious form of argument, and as Shanreagh also a typical response by kids. Childish.
Putin
KomsomolJugendhttps://twitter.com/SasshaPetrova/status/1504627593357631488
https://twitter.com/SasshaPetrova/status/1504627601771360256
The Ukrainian children's camps are so much more wholesome, with endorsement and funding from the Ministry of Youth and Sport, eh sport
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ukrainian-nationalist-camp-training-kids-to-kill/
They certainly knew what was coming.
Protect myself from evil LGBT and Roma and western values
I don't know that I would be holding Russia up as a good example of positive attitudes towards LGBT.
https://www.hrw.org/report/2018/12/12/no-support/russias-gay-propaganda-law-imperils-lgbt-youth
Weka, there is an interesting article on Long Covid in the feeds today.
This one? https://sciblogs.co.nz/public-health-expert/2022/03/22/long-covid-a-crucial-reason-for-vax-mask-and-distance/
Yes Thanks Incognito.
Currently suffering from Long Covid evidently takes 8 weeks so only 5 1/2 weeks to go bit like the flu, hopefully gone after 8 weeks. Friends of mine who have had have ardly been affected.
Yes but Long Covid is much more long lasting and pernicious that just 8 weeks. I had heard that it can take up to 8 weeks to recover from Covid.
Long Covid is what takes place after the body has seemingly dealt with Covid itself. Some after effects, that may or may not have manifested themselves during the infection phase are:
kidney issues
cardiac issues
clotting
continued neurological issues, memory, brain fog
This can come about often months after the initial Covid infection such as a heart attack.
From the article
The very best idea is not to get Covid at all, just in case you are the one playing Russian Roulette with Long Covid. It apparently is not related to the severity of the initial illness so you can have a mild infection but still suffer from Long Covid.
Interestingly, I personally know of a few younger people, all under 40, vaccinated and healthy individuals, who have had a rough time with having covid.
I find that concerning as I was under the impression that omicron was mild and this group would have the best outcomes.
Affects people differently I am double jabbed reasonably fit mid 60's, friends who have had it, have just had a sore throat, headache and dry sinus's and the thing is gone within 4-5 days ?
Adjust your impression.
I second Incognito…….
Omicron is not mild. People can have a less severe infection but others can be very badly affected. It was very sad/bad that this myth of 'mild' Omicron was able to get such a hold here as I think it may have made some people less careful, thinking that it is just a cold, something mild……
It is very infectious and that means more people have the possibility of getting it and more people will run the risk with possibly having Long Covid.
I'm happy to stick with the South African Medical Association "mild" impression, and my own anecdotal evidence at this stage.
https://twitter.com/EssexPR/status/1470007687475773449
Of course, you would. Find somebody who uses the words “mild” and “Omicron” in the same sentence, compare with your anecdotal ‘evidence’, and out comes your impression. What could go wrong? How could you go wrong?
Three more years of center-left governance in Canada, conservatives bitch & moan: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-60837941
It's actually normal democracy. Hysterical tossing diverse strawmen framings at media is unlikely to impress anyone…
No Dennis, don't you understand-it is "backdoor socialism".


The agreement was always going to happen when the election results were called on the night. Singh (leader of the left-leaning NDP, and who seems to be a popular leader) got 18% in the election but only 25 seats. Trudeau's Liberals got 33% but got 160 seats. It follows that, given 170 seats are needed to form a government, the NDP were bound to have influence.
The Conservatives got 34% but only 119 seats.
It looks like a poor electoral system compared with MMP.
Whether that is socialist or not will be open to interpretation. Justin will feel that it will happen only over his dead liberal body, of course. I was quite impressed by his political autobiography – he's a principled fella, just insufficiently audacious for me. Similar to Ardern. So I expect a govt just like ours…
Just like here in NZ with Winnie and NZF ?
Bomber performs full blown Olympic grade pommel horse routine over a shark.
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2022/03/23/labour-can-not-dodge-an-independent-inquiry-into-how-mallard-incited-parliament-lawn-protest/
His editor clearly selected the headline claiming that the protest was about Mallard from the beginning, so we can't hold Martin responsible for the headline. During the opinion this is walked back to Trevor incited them for 3 weeks straight before the police saw the the protesters driven before them and listened to the lamentation of their women.
Time to buckle up I think
Things may be about to heat up
https://www.farsnews.ir/en/news/14010102000435/US-Navy-Deplys-Carrier-Srike-Grp-in-Med-Implemen-Ukraine-N-Fly-Zne-If
In a string of Sunday show interviews, U.S. and global security officials also said potential NATO topics include the prospect of deploying a peacekeeping force in Ukraine and the chances of Russian-Ukrainian peace talks. They again warned Russia against the use of chemical weapons in Ukraine.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2022/03/20/war-ukraine-nato-discuss-more-support-against-russian-invasion/7112857001/
Article 4 has been triggered (on the day of the invasion)
Biden will attend the NATO summit on Thursday (our Friday?)
And again, the threats from Stoltenberg and Sullivan if chemical weapons are used Perfect time for a last ditch attempt by Zelensky to trigger direct western intervention
Chemical weapon use at this stage would benefit the Ukrainians, not the Russians
Read the article "no fly zone " is not a quote it's an interpretation of the USA's actions by by an Iranian News Site – that is a stupendously long stretch.
The carrier Harry S Truman (not the "USS Truman") has been in the Mediterranean since December and it's flying deterrence missions along with other NATO partners. There is no particular indication that it is preparing for offensive action, although an aircraft carrier is a powerful ship.
"…Chemical weapon use at this stage would benefit the Ukrainians, not the Russians…"
Clearly you've had a lot to think about since you were evicted from Parliament’s front lawn.
Your "intelligence" is faulty.
Nowhere near Wellington , ridiculously obedient to all the scanning in, mask wearing, vax etc
Sorry to disappoint your crude assumptions
Obviously, no matter what side anyone is on no one seem to notice that, if you don't allow your enemy to save face thigs escalate to levels not wanted or anticipated. And to be honest, Zelensky is an actor, so he plays a role and gets applauded for it. I view this with unease which does not mean that I support the invasion. Just the scenario seem to be "odd".
For a generation now, third-way centrism as political praxis has been defeating the left – if you correlate the left with socialism. Yet…
Our PM has described herself as socialist along with a bunch of her Labour caucus colleagues (according to a media report I cited here a week or two back). I presume the reason our media has never cited evidence she's telling the truth is due to no journos being able to find any. So why are liberals continuing to pretend that they are really socialists? It's a baffling question which the above linked essay may throw some light on.
As usual nowadays the writers fail to get to the guts of the issue: how perceptions of common ground can be framed to bridge the divide. Liberals defend the status quo via practical politics whilst pretending to make progress. Leftists could control a center-left govt that actually delivers progress if they learnt how to combine liberal pragmatism with know-how can-do expertise – instead of just criticising centrists for lack of ideological commitment – thus becoming winners rather than losers.
Leave the inadequacies of the writers behind.
We managed the balance just fine here for 3 terms under Helen Clark.
Budget 2022 will give a strong indication of whether we will do it for 3 terms again.
Jong Kee runs the well worn announcement to an announcement meme, inferring those in cabinet are actors interested in "maximum theatre", rather than the wellbeing of New Zealand's most vulnerable.
He asks, and answers his own question, "why do you have restrictions on anything – the answer is to keep people safe". That's right, and Omicron has killed about 130 people in the last month alone, more than tripling our Covid casualties.
These people appear invisible to the National Party, old and new.
If anyone is still in doubt about what New Zealand's Covid response would have looked like had Surge-On been in charge, see his laissez-faire comments to chief fluffer this morning.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-omicron-outbreak-john-key-criticises-government-over-delayed-announcements-jacinda-ardern-set-to-reveal-vaccine-mandate-decisions/Y7Q2IUNO7M3RD5YJ7M75XPKYNY/
I hope I live longer than Key I have a desire to piss on his grave.
Are you charging Sir John Key rent for living in your head?
There are people on the right who have similar feelings about Helen Clark – and in future will feel the same about Ardern. It's not an exclusively 'left' thing.
It does raise an interesting question though; are lefties angrier and unhappier? Instinctively there has to be some truth to it – if you think the world needs improving, and that it's actually possible to do so, that's quite an irritation.
The right on the whole seem happier with the way things are, maybe because it mostly serves them pretty well. There are things to admire about their contentment, but at what point does it become oafishness?
Wow – this is the level we have descended to.
One comment by one commenter doesn’t make a summer.
Key derangement syndrome is real
You won't. Been a lefty your stress and torment about the state of the world will drive you to an early grave.
"Don't worry be happy"
Comments like that reflect badly on the person making them. You are probably the sort of person that would throw eggs at politicians too.
[Why don’t you leave your speculations and assumptions out of it – they only serve to make the other person look bad, but that may be your intention [see what I did there?]. This is how flaming wars start – Incognito]
Mod note
Noted. I assume it was the second sentence only that caused offence.
I have no idea if it caused any offence because it wasn’t directed at me – it may or may not have. I don’t like people starting flame wars because I’m not a volunteer firefighter here and you are not a pyromaniac, are you?
We might have to line up
but there will probably be a wall to keep the .bottom feeders out.
To gain respect you have to first give respect, thats Sir John Key to the likes of you
But only Ms Collins.
Sob, sob.
Respect is earned, not demanded.
Sir John Key has earned the right, kneel before Key!
I guess, "Sir Judith" is off the table now?
What went wrong?
She seemed (to some) sure-fire???
Sir Judith? Lady Macbeth, more like it.
Shes a lady all right
TJ singing about her in 1971!? I know she was getting on but never guessed that she was that old.
Plenty of good tunes can be played on an old piano…
Wrong instrument Pucky; "old fiddle" sounds about Right
https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/there%27s+many+a+good+tune+played+on+an+old+fiddle
You mean clavichord? I do appreciate the classics.
Jong Kee did run one of the World's Leading Merchant Banks and developed NZ into a Rockstar Economy.
Russian army gone to the dogs:
Be a little wary of any Bellingcat operative
I've been a little wary of other humans since I was a wee boy. Something about them triggered a primal instinct.
So yeah, any enterprise dedicated to providing an alternative to the msm ought to make any critical thinker deeply suspicious…
Hmm, who to take seriously…a distinguished investigative journalist with a string of awards for his reporting on human rights abuses, torture and wrongful convictions or an assorted pack of Putin/Assad humping stooges and self styled cit-journos who exploit cadavers and fake IEDs for clicks as they miraculously hitchhike through a war zone.
Finally Iggy Pop gets his moment in the Ukraine war.
(4) Iggy Pop – Dog Food – YouTube
What do you get when you take Steven Crowder, a conference hosted by Massey Uni and a paper entitled “Embracing Fatness as Self-Care in the Era of Trump” and add them together, well you get something like this:
I am embarrassed to say that I have a Masters from Massey
.
Was it agricultural based?
No. Worse. Psychology.
At least it was interesting?
If it involved drinking out a gumboot at the Fitz or got you an invite to one of the Vet parties… then yes I expect
Ahh the Fitz, for my brother it was Eagle Rock and the Railway, for me the Cobb, the Railway and Highflyers
Good times
Indeed
Nick Robinson "spent ten years as political editor for the BBC" according to Wikipedia. His tweet included in this examination of evidence of cluster bomb usage in Ukraine features a Russian MP telling him that Russia doesn't do that – so the Ukrainians may be dropping cluster bombs on themselves.
Or could be extraterrestrials doing it? Anyway, the photos & technical details identifying them as Russian-made are here: https://www.bellingcat.com/news/rest-of-world/2022/03/11/these-are-the-cluster-munitions-documented-by-ukrainian-civilians/
Testing, testing. 123
Most succint comment ever from you
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300547908/covid19-nz-government-removes-vaccine-pass-most-vaccine-mandates-and-outdoor-gathering-limit
'Vaccine mandates will be narrowed to cover only health, aged care, corrections and border workers, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced.'
Three of those decisions I agree with, one I don't
Your homeopathic psychic osteopathy proving difficult to access?
Does anyone know who funds Bellingcat?
Super mystery – perhaps look on their website where they list their funding sources and donor policy etc
https://www.bellingcat.com/about/
“Bellingcat does not solicit or accept funding and contributions directly from any national government. Bellingcat can solicit or accept contributions from international or intergovernmental institutions such as the European Commission or the United Nations. Bellingcat can accept or solicit funding that is distributed by a private foundation that accepts government funds, so long as it is independent from any national government. We will not allow any funding relationship to constrain us from criticising any bodies that provide funds, exposing any wrongdoing in which said bodies may be involved or impact our editorial independence.”
Well they would say that wouldn't they? hat tip to Mandy Rice Davies
Who funds Bellingcat ? Some think its Nato member states an the UK
"Higgins launched the Bellingcat platform (in its beta version) on 14 July 2014,[3][4][25] raised £50k of private donations in the following month through the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter,[26] and performed additional crowdfunding in 2017.[20] Half of funding comes from grants and donations, the other half from running workshops training people in the art of open-source investigations.[27][20]
Since 2018 the Bellingcat website is operated by the Dutch Stichting Bellingcat [Wikidata].[1] (tr. Bellingcat Foundation).[28][29] Bellingcat has received grants from Civitates-EU,[30][31] Porticus [Wikidata] the Brenninkmeijer family philanthropy, Adessium Foundation, National Endowment for Democracy (NED), PAX for Peace,[20][32] Open Society Foundation (OSF), the Dutch Postcode Lottery, the Digital News Initiative,[1][33][20] Zandstorm CV and Sigrid Rausing Trust.[34] Higgins has said much of the grant money does not directly fund investigations and is used for support services such as document translations and training.[20] The organisation publishes guides on how to analyse data and how to create reports, such as "How to Scrape Interactive Geospatial Data" and "How to Identify Burnt Villages by Satellite Imagery".[27]
Bellingcat received a €500,000 cash prize from the Nationale Postcode Loterij of The Netherlands; it used these funds to open a new office in The Hague in 2019.[35]
The Bellingcat website also lists the in kind support in the form of 'software access and platform resources' from the software firms: Datayo, Hunchly, Maltego, Mapbox, Planet, RiskIQ, Vizlegal.[34]
Higgins told Polygraph.info that grants from the NED and OSF pay for Bellingcat programmes to help journalists and researchers in their investigations.[20] He said that "Most our funding from grants covers stuff that isn't related to investigating anything Russia related."[20][5][36][37][2][35]
According to the i newspaper, Bellingcat is notable for its transparency, as Bellingcat investigative reports describe "how they found out the story and which techniques they used".[38]
As of approximately 2019, the organisation had sixteen[5] full-time staff plus Higgins, and at least 60 contributors.[27] Its office was previously located in Leicester;[27] however in 2018, Bellingcat shifted its main office to Amsterdam, in the Netherlands as a result of the impending Brexit and concerns over staff recruitment and mobility.[39] Since 2021, Bellingcat has also had a presence in a new Investigative Commons centre in Berlin, Germany.[39]
As reported in Foreign Policy, one of the unintended consequences of open-source intelligence outlets such as Bellingcat (and others) is that it gives the US intelligence community freedom to discuss Russian intelligence operations publicly without revealing their own sources or methods.[40]
On 8 October 2021, Bellingcat was designated as a "foreign agent" in Russia"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bellingcat#:~:text=Bellingcat%20has%20received%20grants%20from,CV%20and%20Sigrid%20Rausing%20Trust.
Really interesting interview with Zelenskyy just out on DW. 25 minutes long, good to hear his perspective straight from the horse's mouth.
Thanks, Uncooked.
That disclaimer doesn't exclude intelligence agencies or thinktanks.
I followed the Skripal case and Bellingcat's annotations thereon. Reads like a thriller script by a fifth-form English class.
Think you're on to it Wooly
https://mronline.org/2021/10/11/bellingcat-funded-by-u-s-and-uk-intelligence-contractors-that-aided-extremists-in-syria/
NED does the work that years ago the CIA did covertly, and Bellingcat lists the NED as one of its funders
The average wage in Ukraine is around $400 a month.
Known as the most corrupt country in Europe…this story helps explain…why..
The glamorous wife of a prominent Ukrainian tycoon and politician 'carried £22 million in cash through a refugee border crossing into the EU', it is alleged.
The money – in US dollars and euros – was spotted by Hungarian customs in the baggage of the spouse of controversial ex-MP Igor Kotvitsky, 52, say reports.
Ukrainian tycoon's wife 'carried £22 million in cash through a refugee border crossing into the EU' | Daily Mail Online
After being run as a vassal state of Russia for centuries, it is no surprise that Ukraine has an embedded problem with corruption is it?
One could easily argue that escaping that dead hand is precisely why the Ukrainian people are literally sacrificing their lives to escape it. But you come here making comment after comment sneering at them for this – [self deleted so as Incog doesn't have to.]
Thanks, comrade
Пожалуйста
The fact that you may not like the story content is your problem.
Contact the Daily Mail.
As for vassal states….I could go on,but here's an article you may enjoy.
Opinion | Ukraine and a Post-Pax Americana World – The New York Times (nytimes.com)