The usual obsequious political posturing and toadying from Mr Seymour.
If he ever called for such a discussion on say West Papua, Saudi women’s rights, or Israel’s Apartheid like treatment of Palestinians then it might be interesting.
The 60 or so people they interviewed claim (so Amnesty says) to have been harassed by unidentified people in some cases and in others those they declared were from various Chinese embassys. How they know for sure the veracity of these claims isn't examined.
Except that Amnesty International is not alleging genocide, at least, not yet, as far as I can tell. Looks to me that you are ascribing words and allegations to AI that are non-existent.
So it is ok that our labour govt doesn’t do a bloody thing about any of these that you have mentioned. so you call out someone who raises above the parapet for no other reason than it’s all ONLY political and we cannot stand on principles. Ffs many here have lost their way wanting a better place to live.
from daily reading here I get the strong impression that most have lost there way here in their undivided support for this govt and overlooking any short comings.
I have trouble keeping up with you TigerMountain so have drawn upon the resource of Urban Dictionary (always bound to soothe and delight you /sarc). Here is the link for those willing to dive in without checking for rocks or sharp objects: https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Tumnus
So do I read it right you complain that Act has not addressed all the genocide issues within the world ? Then why does the same not follow regarding this govt in their announcements to issues like homelessness, poor etc are incremental. And not addressing the full solution ?
and even it it is an attempt to embarrass this govt will not further the attention of this issue? I am sure that the Uighurs suffering will be thankful and those who’s lives may be saved will not care of some political posturing and is not the govt posturing over this matter? Acts posturing may save lives what is labour’s posturing going to achieve and would any Uighurs life be any better because of it ? I think not
It's interesting how easy it has been to attach genocide to the Uighur debate. The West owns all the narrative creation tools and therefore gets to decide how most people are exposed to any tale told. Genocide is a big call and needs some serious backing. Relying on a right wing religious fruit case for your evidence is not good enough. And as Tiger Montain says, if we are seriously to oppose genocide then we dont get to just cherry pick the genocide de jour. Palestinians and West Papuans have been at the front of the queue for many years. Or does rules based world only apply to countries that become independent and powerful enough to be percieved as a threat to Anglo American hegemony?
It's been well established from multiple credible sources, and how offensive that you would call it "easy" to attach genocide to what is very obviously a genocide. That was a hard won fight for Uighurs over many years and at great risk to the safety of those speaking out, their family, and friends.
I would say that it is impossible to make the case for mass extermination of Uighurs as per the definition of genocide. You may disagree and I would be interested to read anything that you may reccomend reading to support that accusation. I think that at this stage it is fair to discount anything that is based on the research of Adrian Zenz since his public statements of being on a mission from god to destroy China discredit him and none of his research holds up when subjected to serious analysis. That leaves the accusation of active suppression of Uighur births to support claims of genocide. Unsurprisingly, the analysis that purports to show this is also supplied by Adrian Zenz. He does so using data supplied by the Chinese government so it isn't hard to dig into and refute because there is plenty of population statistics supplied by the Chinese govt. Also, since Zenz made his claim using govt data, it cant be claimed that govt data used in refuting his claims is suspect. In the 70s the US govt was accused of genocide against African Americans. Long story short is that the defence of an increasing population was held to be proof that genocide was not occurring. Discrimination, oppression and racism may all be present but not genocide. So what of the Uighurs? Well, their population is also increasing and is expected to continue to do so. For a more in depth look at the rather shoddy use of statistics by Zenz, you can read here
All this discussion about the precise nature of genocide has a flavour of deflection from the tragic like throwing dice for his robe at Christ's feet at his crucification.
On the contrary, I would say it is extremely important. Is the accusation of genocide of any importance? If not, why use it except to whip up hysteria? China is being confronted in many places. Another post on this site tells of the moves being generated towards a war over Taiwan. The emotive content of the word genocide could be enough to tip the scales into accepting war. A crime on the scale of genocide should therefore be carefully defined and accusations meticulously examined. Or do you think that accusations are as good as guilt? That because some religous nutter has made the accusation we dont need to trouble our feeble minds about the detail?
Nah, outrageous words and accusations are enough for the trigger-happy; it worked with WMDs. The MSM are willingly complicit or unwitting pawns in these cynical war-games.
The accusations aren't "as good as guilt" (well, unless you're in a jurisdiction with no presumption of innocence), but they are serious.
I'm sure that if the allegations don't represent reality in any way, the Chinese government would allow external observers to wander around the autonomous zone unsupervised and see how happy everyone is…
Except that if you click far enough through all your stuff articles you end up at the Newlines Institute which is far from independent and relies almost entirely on the analysis of the idiot, Adrian Zenz:
The reliance on the voluminous but demonstrably fraudulent work of Zenz is not surprising, given that the report was financed by the Newlines Institute’s parent organization, the Fairfax University of America (FXUA). FXUA is a disgraced institution that state regulators moved to shut down in 2019 after finding that its “teachers weren’t qualified to teach their assigned courses”, academic quality was “patently deficient,” and plagiarism was “rampant” and ignored.
Seems like a weasel reply. If the claim is genocide then where does stuff get its evidence? The only source that I can find is clicking on "declaring China's oppression" which leads to a Stuff article "Why turning a blind eye is no longer an option and the incediary equivalence to the holocaust and a link to cnn and the Newsline report, I guess to back up the holocaust claim.
I assume that if a link is used then its function is to back up the claims made otherwise why use it?
edit
Subliminal – Perhaps you personally can make it easier for others to decide whether something is genocide or whether it's just a bad case of violent hysteria that continues beyond some set point – a day, a week, a year?
You should devise a scale indicating the level of turpitude from raping a girl by a mob of men who also kill her in India, or shooting a bunch of young politicals in Scandinavia, all the way to genocide and beyond if there is worse. We get so brutalised that we can't cope in the way that one should expect,; and in NZ it is even hard to get proper coverage of world events where English isn't commonly spoken, and the protagonists are not the favourite actors on the centre stage of our world.
If one is trying to be objective about the size and intensity of the attack then perhaps it would be more sensitive to have a scale so one can know when to stop feeling:
that one can't bother with that now, or
should be unhappy,
should feel obliged to speak out,
should go on the streets to demonstrate or conduct vigils.
There is such good reporting of trivia, eg whether Prince Harry has been seen with spinach stuck to his teeth, or what Hosking has said lately, that many of us don't have time to think beyond the surface of events outside the chosen magic circle, after hearing and watching the latest shooting tragedy in the USA covered in depth, width and height.
Perhaps we should use the compound term: creeping genocide.
Surely, what is happening in Xinjiang is nowhere as dramatic as, for instance, Pol Pot in Cambodia or the massacres in Ruanda.
But the intention of the CCP is quite clear – the submersion of the Uyghur population in the greater sea of the Han majority. Their aim is transparent – erasing the Uyghur culture and religion. Uyghur children are forbidden to speak their language in school, where all instruction is in Mandarin. The number of mosques throughout Xinjiang has been steadily reduced and restrictions placed on religious expression – such as wearing beards or head coverings.
What you describe is "cultural assimilation" not "genocide".
The Chinese treat Uyghur abhorrently, no doubt (I’ve seen it in person in Kashgar). Genocide is another level. It is systematically eradicating the population.
If the Uyghurs are 'culturally assimilated' to the point of disappearing, how is that not the same as genocide? Not as dramatic, of course, but the results are the same.
I too know how badly the Uyghurs are treated. I lived in Urumqi for over 3 years.
As far as I am aware the Uyghur population has been growing faster than the Han population and has been more gradually brought into the official family size policies? Is that understanding not correct?
Tony you are applying the semantics. Genocide is death. Not having your culture mucked around with and your rituals made illegal. Please don't spread meanings wide, keep them sharp so we know what is being talked about.
In NZ I think that touching someone on the arm is legally classed as assault. That is stretching the meaning. In the end people can't get an understanding of the nature and seriousness of the crime.
Immigration New Zealand is looking into allegations that migrant sex workers were operating out of a central Wellington motel that was also being used for emergency housing.
The allegations add to ongoing concerns about the safety of residents and the public, as well as the suitability of some accommodation providers.
Immigration NZ received three complaints between July 2018 and January 2020 alleging migrant sex workers were operating out of Harbour City Motor Inn on Webb St.
not a slum, a totally respectable business with totally respectable clients, living totally respectable lives.
Spokeswoman for Harbour City “absolutely refuted” the allegations, stating she’d never received any complaints from guests, nor was she aware of the activity.
“This is an unfair attack on our business,” she said, declining to be named.
Harbour City has been paid $2.5m by the Ministry of Social Development since June 2017, according to official data. Last month it was raided by police, who seized methamphetamine, cannabis and stolen property. Detective Sergeant Charlie Munro said no arrests were made………………….
Two people – a former resident of the motel and a client who claimed he used the escort services – raised concerns with Stuff about the legality of the services and the welfare of the women involved.
Both said they believed the women were young, Asian and had poor English skills.
The former resident, who declined to be named due to concerns for her safety, said she moved in to the motel towards the end of last year and lived there for six months. While there, she had conversations with men who told her they were visiting escorts.
She became concerned when told about the prices being offered for services.
Not slums, not hotels, not housing, just endless money pits made from the misery of the homeless people by business people who would otherwise have already gone bust, and the government who does not care a lot. I guess its the Kiwi way of life now for some.
Politics first. Opponents of Prime Minister Narendra Modi say he jumped the gun by declaring early victory over the pandemic. Emboldened by his initial success in keeping (reported) deaths low, Modi allowed huge crowds to gather for state election campaign rallies and mass religious festivals like Kumbh Mela, which became super-spreader events.
But somewhat surprisingly for the PM, who took COVID seriously from the start, this time he chose to score political points instead of heeding public health warnings.
How come we continue to succeed, regardless? Put it down to our track record. New Zealand has created a reasonable but not fulsome rate of subsidies, has expert crews, offers stellar post-production and props facilities, and can point to a variety of striking locations within easy reach. So would major productions come here without the subsidies? No, they wouldn’t. Moreover, the OIA discoveries initiated by Stuff’s Thomas Coughlan suggest that New Zealand has driven a hard bargain with Amazon on the Lord of the Rings television series. For example :in order to secure the maximum tourism benefits, we have pressed Amazon to concede that New Zealand will provide the only locations used by the production to represent Middle Earth:
There would effectively be two deals: one for the series as a whole, and one for each season that was produced in New Zealand. A decision paper….shows officials were worried about losing New Zealand’s “exclusivity”. If other countries were used as locations for the series, could New Zealand lose its claim to be the real world Middle-Earth?
For those who have complained in the past that these major film production deals have unduly favoured Wellington, this one looks geographically diverse, and will be offering regional benefits to our struggling tourism sector:
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Good analysis on what options the different parties have in order to form a government. The most stable option i believe could actually be the CDU/CSU with the Greens.
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The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Asia Pacific Report Students and activist staff at Australia’s University of Sydney (USyd) have set up a Gaza solidarity encampment in support of Palestinians and similar student-led protests in the United States. The camp was pitched as mass graves, crippled hospitals, thousands of civilian deaths and the near-total destruction of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James B. Dorey, Lecturer in Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong Australian teddy bear bees are cute and fluffy, but get a look at that massive (unbarbed) stinger! James Dorey Photography Most of us have been stung by a bee and we ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jen Roberts, Senior Lecturer, School of Humanities and Social Inquiry, University of Wollongong Aussie~mobs/FlickrVictor Farr, a private in the 1st Infantry Battalion, was among the first to land at Anzac Cove just before dawn on April 25 1915. Victor Farr ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Gregory Moore I had the good fortune to care for the sugar gum at The University of Melbourne’s Burnley Gardens in Victoria where I worked for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra BagzhanSadvakassov/Upsplash, CC BY-SA Australia’s inflation rate has fallen for the fifth successive quarter, and it’s now less than half of what it was back in late 2022. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Ong ViforJ, ARC Future Fellow & Professor of Economics, Curtin University Just when we think the price of rentals could not get any worse, this week’s Rental Affordability Snapshot by Anglicare has revealed low-income Australians are facing a housing crisis like ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Meighen McCrae, Associate Professor of Strategic & Defence Studies, Australian National University American and Australian stretcher bearers working together near the front line during the Battle of Hamel in 1918.Australian War Memorial While the AUKUS alliance is new, the Australian-American partnership ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tracey Holmes, Professorial Fellow in Sport, University of Canberra When the news broke last weekend that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive to a banned drug in early 2021 and were allowed to compete at the Tokyo Olympic Games six months later ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cally Jetta, Senior Lecturer and Academic Lead; College for First Nations, University of Southern Queensland Australian War MemorialAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and images of deceased people, as well as sensitive historical information ...
RNZ News Melissa Lee has been ousted from New Zealand’s coalition cabinet and stripped of the Media portfolio, and Penny Simmonds has lost the Disability Issues portfolio in a reshuffle. Climate Change and Revenue Minister Simon Watts will take Lee’s spot in cabinet. Simmonds was a minister outside of cabinet. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Lindenmayer, Professor, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University laurello/Shutterstock Some reports and popular books, such as Bill Gammage’s Biggest Estate on Earth, have argued that extensive areas of Australia’s forests were kept open through frequent burning by ...
Analysis - Christopher Luxon framing the demotion of two ministers as the portfolios getting "too complex" is a charitable way of saying they weren't up to the job. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra With Jim Chalmers’s third budget on May 14, Australians will be looking for some more cost-of-living relief – beyond the tax cuts – although they have been warned extra measures will be modest. As ...
Analysis: Melissa Lee has lost the media portfolio and her spot in Cabinet after multiple failed attempts to find solutions for a media industry in crisis. On Wednesday, the Prime Minister announced Lee would be losing her spot in Cabinet along with her media and communications ministerial portfolio. The job ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Wilmot, Senior Lecturer, Film, Deakin University Among the many Australian who served during the second world war, there is a small group of people whose stories remain largely untold. These are the Muslim men and women who, while small in number, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kelly Saunders, PhD Candidate, University of Canberra There has been much analysis and praise of Justice Michael Lee’s recent judgement in Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation case against Channel Ten. Many people were openly relieved to read Lee’s “forensic” and “nuanced” application of law ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kathy Gibbs, Program Director for the Bachelor of Education, Griffith University zEdward_Indy/Shutterstock Around one in 20 people has attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It’s one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood and often continues into adulthood. ADHD is diagnosed ...
The Fairer Future coalition of anti-poverty groups say Whaikaha must be properly funded going forward, and that to argue that poor financial management of the new Ministry is a red herring by the Prime Minister. ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is today congratulating Hon. Paul Goldsmith on his appointment as Minister for Media and Communications and urges him to rule out state intervention in the private media sector. ...
Asia Pacific Report The West Papuan resistance OPM leader has condemned Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Joe Biden, accusing their countries of “six decades of treachery” over Papuan independence. The open letter was released today by OPM chairman Jeffrey P Bomanak on the eve of ANZAC Day ...
Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits and quirks of New Zealanders at large. This week: writer and one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2024, Lauren Groff.The book I wish I’d writtenIf I wish I’d written a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Fechner, Research Fellow, Social Marketing, Griffith University mavo/Shutterstock Imagine having dinner at a restaurant. The menu offers plant-based meat alternatives made mostly from vegetables, mushrooms, legumes and wheat that mimic meat in taste, texture and smell. Despite being given that ...
“Three Strikes is a dead-end policy proposed by a dead-end government. The Three Strikes law ignores the causes of crime, instead just brutalising people already crushed by the cost of living.” ...
By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist An Australian-born judge in Kiribati could well face deportation later this week after a tribunal ruling that he should be removed from his post. The tribunal’s report has just been tabled in the Kiribati Parliament and is due to be debated by MPs ...
With its clear mandate for police use, political nuances, and nuanced public trust, Denmark's insights provide valuable considerations for Australia and New Zealand. ...
Books editor Claire Mabey reviews poet Louise Wallace’s debut novel. A famous poet once said to me that he’s always suspicious when a poet publishes a novel. I never really understood why but maybe it’s something to do with cheating on your first form. Louise Wallace is a poet. She’s ...
For a few months at the turn of the millennium, TrueBliss burned bright as the biggest pop stars in the country. Alex Casey chats to two superfans who still hold the flame. During a humble backyard wedding in Nelson, 1999, one of the cordially invited guests had to excuse themselves ...
How will the recent wave of job cuts impact ethnic diversity in the media? In November last year, I was working a very busy day in the newsroom of a large online news site, interviewing whānau about their concerns over the imminent closure of one of the few puna reo ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ruth Knight, Researcher, Queensland University of Technology Have you ever felt sick at work? Perhaps you had food poisoning or the flu. Your belly hurt, or you felt tired, making it hard to concentrate and be productive. How likely would you be ...
Despite heavy criticism and an ongoing select committee process, the Police Minister says the Government will forge ahead with a ban on gang patches. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sam Whiting, Lecturer – Creative Industries, University of South Australia Shutterstock Everyone has a favourite band, or a favourite composer, or a favourite song. There is some music which speaks to you, deeply; and other music which might be the current ...
A new survey says ‘outlook not great’ for those charged with building infrastructure, while RMA changes delight farmers and depress environmentalists, writes Anna Rawhiti-Connell in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. First RMA changes announced ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Olli Hellmann, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Waikato Getty Images When New Zealanders commemorate Anzac Day on April 25, it’s not only to honour the soldiers who lost their lives in World War I and subsequent conflicts, but also ...
A leaked document shows the Canterbury/Waitaha arm of health agency Te Whatu Ora is scurrying to save $13.3 million by July. The “financial sustainability target”, which was “allocated” to Waitaha, is consistent with what’s happening in other districts, says Sarah Dalton, executive director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists. ...
A look at the state of the previous government’s affordable housing scheme, and what could come next.Remind me: What’s KiwiBuild again?First announced in 2012, KiwiBuild was a flagship policy of the Labour Party heading into both its 2014 and 2017 election campaigns. With Jacinda Ardern as prime minister, ...
Labour in opposition will be shocked to learn which party had six years in power but squandered any chance to make real change. Grant Robertson’s valedictory speech was a predictably entertaining trip down memory lane. The acid-tongued incoming Otago University chancellor administered a sick burn to the coalition government. He ...
Taiwan’s semiconductor industry is seen some as its ‘silicon shield’ against invasion – but how will overseas expansion affect that protection? The post The state of Taiwan’s silicon shield appeared first on Newsroom. ...
There’s relief for building owners bending under the weight of earthquake strengthening rules – and costs – that came into force seven years ago. Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has announced a scheduled 2027 review of the earthquake-prone building regulations will now start this year. Owners will also get ...
Opinion: It has been announced that nine percent of roles at Oranga Tamariki will be disestablished, presumably to help fund the tax cuts promised by the coalition Government. I am reminded of the graphics used to illustrate pandemic events, where five thousand people are standing in a field and then ...
After more than two sleepless days, running through savage terrain, Greig Hamilton didn’t know if he was going to finish one of the most gruelling psychological assaults in sport. He was metres away from the finish line, a yellow gate made famous in a Netflix documentary; a race he’d dreamed ...
Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[quiz],DIV[quiz],A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp'); Got a good quiz question?Send Newsroom your questions. The post Newsroom daily quiz, Wednesday 24 April appeared first on Newsroom. ...
The following interview with former Green Party MP Sue Kedgley came about because she features in the new memoir Hine Toa by activist Ngāhuia te Awekōtuku; the two knew each other at the University of Auckland in the early 70s, when they were both took on leadership roles in the ...
COMMENTARY:By Murray Horton New Zealand needs to get tough with Israel. It’s not as if we haven’t done so before. When NZ authorities busted a Mossad operation in Auckland 20 years ago, the government didn’t say: “Oh well, Israel has the right to defend itself.” No, it arrested, prosecuted, ...
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The government's plan to reintroduce a three strikes regime is being strongly opposed by lawyers, who argue there is no evidence it reduces crime or helps people rehabilitate. ...
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Giovanni E Ferreira, NHMRC Emerging Leader Research Fellow, Institute of Musculoskeletal Health, University of Sydney Last week in a post on X, owner of the platform Elon Musk recommended people look into disc replacement if they’re experiencing severe neck or back pain. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Hayward, Emeritus Professor of Public Policy, RMIT University anek.soowannaphoom/Shutterstock NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey caught the headlines yesterday, courtesy of a blistering speech condemning the latest GST carve-up. New South Wales, he claimed, would be A$11.9 billion worse off over the ...
While police are "broadly in favour", the government's proposed anti-gang laws are facing pushback from lawyers, rights groups and former gang members. ...
While police are "broadly in favour", the government's proposed anti-gang laws are facing pushback from lawyers, rights groups and former gang members. ...
By Miriam Zarriga in Port Moresby Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has arrived at Kokoda Station, Northern province, at the start of his state visit to Papua New Guinea. Both Albanese and Prime Minister James Marape will meet with the locals and the Northern Provincial government before they begin their ...
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Today Act is going to push a debate about the New Zealand government's position on the Uighurs in China.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/124955298/act-party-will-file-motion-asking-parliament-to-debate-xinjiang-genocide
This is going to be interesting.
Presumably they'll be demanding to know why the government doesn't amend our employment law to align with China in this matter?
The usual obsequious political posturing and toadying from Mr Seymour.
If he ever called for such a discussion on say West Papua, Saudi women’s rights, or Israel’s Apartheid like treatment of Palestinians then it might be interesting.
True that.
One wonders what Seymour is offering as evidence of this so called genocide.
Given ACT plays to the gun lobbyists and dog whistles to the far right it may back fire in less of support sticking up for Muslim minorities.
Are you denying it is happening.
Amnesty International has been highlighting the genocide for a long time. Hardly a right wing organisation
https://www.amnesty.org.nz/uyghurs-living-abroad-nz-tell-campaign-intimidation-china
Since Amnesty corroborated the Nayirah testimony I've not had much reason to trust Amnesty
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2020/07/308236/how-blind-trust-in-amnesty-international-threatens-human-rights/
The 60 or so people they interviewed claim (so Amnesty says) to have been harassed by unidentified people in some cases and in others those they declared were from various Chinese embassys. How they know for sure the veracity of these claims isn't examined.
How many times are you happy to be lied to?
Apologising for a totalitarian torture regime citing an apologist for a totalitarian, monarchical, torture regime.
//
Except that Amnesty International is not alleging genocide, at least, not yet, as far as I can tell. Looks to me that you are ascribing words and allegations to AI that are non-existent.
So it is ok that our labour govt doesn’t do a bloody thing about any of these that you have mentioned. so you call out someone who raises above the parapet for no other reason than it’s all ONLY political and we cannot stand on principles. Ffs many here have lost their way wanting a better place to live.
from daily reading here I get the strong impression that most have lost there way here in their undivided support for this govt and overlooking any short comings.
ACT and Seymour are so caring about people in vulnerable situations!
His face is particularly suited to have a clown mask painted on it. Actually he brings a grinning faun to mind, just give him horns on his head.
heh, Mr Tumnus would be too kind an association for our twerking hero
I have trouble keeping up with you TigerMountain so have drawn upon the resource of Urban Dictionary (always bound to soothe and delight you /sarc). Here is the link for those willing to dive in without checking for rocks or sharp objects: https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Tumnus
Apols greywarshark–I was alluding to the Faun character from “The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe”.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Tumnus
No mind. Urban Dictionary keeps me up with the scatalogical scat going on in the hood!
One of those rare moments of functional opposition.
+1
A genuine debate or an attempt to embarrass Government and score political points?
It doens't matter which it is since it will boost ACT either way.
With 10 MPs in Parliament, you’d expect them to boost ACT every now and then.
So do I read it right you complain that Act has not addressed all the genocide issues within the world ? Then why does the same not follow regarding this govt in their announcements to issues like homelessness, poor etc are incremental. And not addressing the full solution ?
and even it it is an attempt to embarrass this govt will not further the attention of this issue? I am sure that the Uighurs suffering will be thankful and those who’s lives may be saved will not care of some political posturing and is not the govt posturing over this matter? Acts posturing may save lives what is labour’s posturing going to achieve and would any Uighurs life be any better because of it ? I think not
The last temptation is the greatest treason: To do the right deed for the wrong reason.
Murder in the Cathedral
It's interesting how easy it has been to attach genocide to the Uighur debate. The West owns all the narrative creation tools and therefore gets to decide how most people are exposed to any tale told. Genocide is a big call and needs some serious backing. Relying on a right wing religious fruit case for your evidence is not good enough. And as Tiger Montain says, if we are seriously to oppose genocide then we dont get to just cherry pick the genocide de jour. Palestinians and West Papuans have been at the front of the queue for many years. Or does rules based world only apply to countries that become independent and powerful enough to be percieved as a threat to Anglo American hegemony?
It's been well established from multiple credible sources, and how offensive that you would call it "easy" to attach genocide to what is very obviously a genocide. That was a hard won fight for Uighurs over many years and at great risk to the safety of those speaking out, their family, and friends.
I would say that it is impossible to make the case for mass extermination of Uighurs as per the definition of genocide. You may disagree and I would be interested to read anything that you may reccomend reading to support that accusation. I think that at this stage it is fair to discount anything that is based on the research of Adrian Zenz since his public statements of being on a mission from god to destroy China discredit him and none of his research holds up when subjected to serious analysis. That leaves the accusation of active suppression of Uighur births to support claims of genocide. Unsurprisingly, the analysis that purports to show this is also supplied by Adrian Zenz. He does so using data supplied by the Chinese government so it isn't hard to dig into and refute because there is plenty of population statistics supplied by the Chinese govt. Also, since Zenz made his claim using govt data, it cant be claimed that govt data used in refuting his claims is suspect. In the 70s the US govt was accused of genocide against African Americans. Long story short is that the defence of an increasing population was held to be proof that genocide was not occurring. Discrimination, oppression and racism may all be present but not genocide. So what of the Uighurs? Well, their population is also increasing and is expected to continue to do so. For a more in depth look at the rather shoddy use of statistics by Zenz, you can read here
All this discussion about the precise nature of genocide has a flavour of deflection from the tragic like throwing dice for his robe at Christ's feet at his crucification.
On the contrary, I would say it is extremely important. Is the accusation of genocide of any importance? If not, why use it except to whip up hysteria? China is being confronted in many places. Another post on this site tells of the moves being generated towards a war over Taiwan. The emotive content of the word genocide could be enough to tip the scales into accepting war. A crime on the scale of genocide should therefore be carefully defined and accusations meticulously examined. Or do you think that accusations are as good as guilt? That because some religous nutter has made the accusation we dont need to trouble our feeble minds about the detail?
Nah, outrageous words and accusations are enough for the trigger-happy; it worked with WMDs. The MSM are willingly complicit or unwitting pawns in these cynical war-games.
Genocide is adequately defined.
The accusations aren't "as good as guilt" (well, unless you're in a jurisdiction with no presumption of innocence), but they are serious.
I'm sure that if the allegations don't represent reality in any way, the Chinese government would allow external observers to wander around the autonomous zone unsupervised and see how happy everyone is…
Except that if you click far enough through all your stuff articles you end up at the Newlines Institute which is far from independent and relies almost entirely on the analysis of the idiot, Adrian Zenz:
"almost".
Weasel word, that.
Especially as clicking through the Stuff link seems to lead to reporting by Stuff journalists based on investigations they conducted in NZ.
So there does seem to be something for the international community to investigate, even if we exclude some dude you have a hard-on for.
Seems like a weasel reply. If the claim is genocide then where does stuff get its evidence? The only source that I can find is clicking on "declaring China's oppression" which leads to a Stuff article "Why turning a blind eye is no longer an option and the incediary equivalence to the holocaust and a link to cnn and the Newsline report, I guess to back up the holocaust claim.
I assume that if a link is used then its function is to back up the claims made otherwise why use it?
Impressive. Two clicks got me to an entire Stuff/NZonair 40 minute documentary that consisted largely of stuff-conducted interviews with Uyghurs in NZ.
And a corresponding text article, if you don't want to watch TV. Stuff aren't exactly trying to hide their work.
And yet you only saw links to CNN and Newsline? Seems unlikely.
edit
Subliminal – Perhaps you personally can make it easier for others to decide whether something is genocide or whether it's just a bad case of violent hysteria that continues beyond some set point – a day, a week, a year?
You should devise a scale indicating the level of turpitude from raping a girl by a mob of men who also kill her in India, or shooting a bunch of young politicals in Scandinavia, all the way to genocide and beyond if there is worse. We get so brutalised that we can't cope in the way that one should expect,; and in NZ it is even hard to get proper coverage of world events where English isn't commonly spoken, and the protagonists are not the favourite actors on the centre stage of our world.
If one is trying to be objective about the size and intensity of the attack then perhaps it would be more sensitive to have a scale so one can know when to stop feeling:
There is such good reporting of trivia, eg whether Prince Harry has been seen with spinach stuck to his teeth, or what Hosking has said lately, that many of us don't have time to think beyond the surface of events outside the chosen magic circle, after hearing and watching the latest shooting tragedy in the USA covered in depth, width and height.
Perhaps we should use the compound term: creeping genocide.
Surely, what is happening in Xinjiang is nowhere as dramatic as, for instance, Pol Pot in Cambodia or the massacres in Ruanda.
But the intention of the CCP is quite clear – the submersion of the Uyghur population in the greater sea of the Han majority. Their aim is transparent – erasing the Uyghur culture and religion. Uyghur children are forbidden to speak their language in school, where all instruction is in Mandarin. The number of mosques throughout Xinjiang has been steadily reduced and restrictions placed on religious expression – such as wearing beards or head coverings.
Creeping genocide is still genocide!
What you describe is "cultural assimilation" not "genocide".
The Chinese treat Uyghur abhorrently, no doubt (I’ve seen it in person in Kashgar). Genocide is another level. It is systematically eradicating the population.
Ah, semantics!
If the Uyghurs are 'culturally assimilated' to the point of disappearing, how is that not the same as genocide? Not as dramatic, of course, but the results are the same.
I too know how badly the Uyghurs are treated. I lived in Urumqi for over 3 years.
As far as I am aware the Uyghur population has been growing faster than the Han population and has been more gradually brought into the official family size policies? Is that understanding not correct?
Tony you are applying the semantics. Genocide is death. Not having your culture mucked around with and your rituals made illegal. Please don't spread meanings wide, keep them sharp so we know what is being talked about.
In NZ I think that touching someone on the arm is legally classed as assault. That is stretching the meaning. In the end people can't get an understanding of the nature and seriousness of the crime.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/124924367/immigration-nz-looking-into-complaints-migrant-sex-workers-operated-in-former-wellington-emergency-housing-motel
not a slum, a totally respectable business with totally respectable clients, living totally respectable lives.
Not slums, not hotels, not housing, just endless money pits made from the misery of the homeless people by business people who would otherwise have already gone bust, and the government who does not care a lot. I guess its the Kiwi way of life now for some.
India is having big troubles. But they have been building for some time under the leadership they have elected.
https://theprint.in/opinion/why-modi-government-gets-away-with-lies/422211/ 2020
https://www.gzeromedia.com/modis-covid-apocalypse Apr.26/2021
Politics first. Opponents of Prime Minister Narendra Modi say he jumped the gun by declaring early victory over the pandemic. Emboldened by his initial success in keeping (reported) deaths low, Modi allowed huge crowds to gather for state election campaign rallies and mass religious festivals like Kumbh Mela, which became super-spreader events.
But somewhat surprisingly for the PM, who took COVID seriously from the start, this time he chose to score political points instead of heeding public health warnings.
2019 https://theconversation.com/narendra-modis-performance-on-the-indian-economy-five-key-policies-assessed-116485
Important points about our film subsidies made by Gordon Campbell on Werewolf via Scoop.
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL2104/S00108/on-the-demonisation-of-film-and-tv-subsidies.htm
How come we continue to succeed, regardless? Put it down to our track record. New Zealand has created a reasonable but not fulsome rate of subsidies, has expert crews, offers stellar post-production and props facilities, and can point to a variety of striking locations within easy reach. So would major productions come here without the subsidies? No, they wouldn’t. Moreover, the OIA discoveries initiated by Stuff’s Thomas Coughlan suggest that New Zealand has driven a hard bargain with Amazon on the Lord of the Rings television series. For example :in order to secure the maximum tourism benefits, we have pressed Amazon to concede that New Zealand will provide the only locations used by the production to represent Middle Earth:
There would effectively be two deals: one for the series as a whole, and one for each season that was produced in New Zealand. A decision paper….shows officials were worried about losing New Zealand’s “exclusivity”. If other countries were used as locations for the series, could New Zealand lose its claim to be the real world Middle-Earth?
For those who have complained in the past that these major film production deals have unduly favoured Wellington, this one looks geographically diverse, and will be offering regional benefits to our struggling tourism sector:
Terry Pratchett seems to make the world a nicer place even after he's dead.
Message from his link: https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgxwLtkSCmFxRvPclWWBncQFJzMQZ
Some Terry.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/b03mz1wb
Ta
This article might be of interest to Weka.
The possibility of the Greens being King maker in the next coalition government in Germany with Annalena Baerbock as a potential Vice Chancellor.
Good analysis on what options the different parties have in order to form a government. The most stable option i believe could actually be the CDU/CSU with the Greens.
Intersting times.
https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/green-candidate-and-kingmaker-annalena-baerbock-holds-the-keys-to-germany-s-next-election-a-69889a74-d1bf-4179-a595-853b26113ca3