Al-Baghdadi "died after running into a dead-end tunnel, whimpering and crying and screaming all the way," Trump later said at the White House news conference, calling him a "gutless animal".
Another coward just like that dope smoking,porno watching,degenerate Osama Bin Laden.
All these cowards trying to disrupt the spread of freedom and democracy ibn America's backyard is enough to make you…sick.
Imagine the USA chasing a protest leader here like that. It isn't impossible to think of as annually or more often, there are Defence Force maneouvres with the USA and other countries and they have a game plan and often it is about a group rising up against the government. Turning language, 'weaponising' naming of protests to calling them 'terrorists' is a move towards turning the facts so they present a different picture. And even people minding their own affairs may be attacked; Why? Because we can!
Think about the Marshall Islands where the USA let off a giant atomic blast, and lots of other blasts too.
The commission's chair, [National Nuclear Commission] Rhea Moss-Christian, said the NNC Strategy is a tool for all Marshallese, whether living in the islands or overseas, to use in their individual and collective efforts to respond to the devastation resulting from the U.S. nuclear weapons testing program in the Marshall Islands.
"It is also a resource for our partners and friends outside the Marshall Islands to understand the nuclear testing impacts that persist today and how they can support the Marshallese people," Rhea Moss-Christian said.
(refers to 30 June 1946 and USA used the place for 12 years to test bombs and weapons)
This is what the USA is prepared to do to small islands that pose no threat to their might. They may choose to hold military exercises and then start testing weapons. We have new business here in NZ – setting off rockets, more dangerous an activity than on November 5th.
I don't know whether your comment is meant to be satire Blazer but the world's liar-in-chief will be lying. Sure, the terrorist leader was probably running away but the "gutless animal" bit is a perfect description of Trump himself. In fact if Trump ever found himself cornered , its how he would behave – "like a coward to the end."
Malignant narcissists have a habit of projecting their own dysfunctional personalities onto other individuals.
No, I'm not defending the ISIS leader who deserved extermination.
Yep good points Anne – only an idiot would trust or believe anything turnip.rump says but some people also don't believe in the climate crisis we are in – they make a sack of spanners look smart.
I wish we could stop the cycle of violence that causes so many innocent deaths and devastation.
They had already unplugged the secure gear by the time Chump demanded his photo op.
EDIT: or the photo was taken *beforehand* according to the story below (/open-mike-28-10-2019/#comment-1663649). Others I saw said the raid was at 3pm but maybe that was PST not EST?
Update: A previous version of this article said the raid reportedly took place at 3:30 p.m. According to more recent reporting, it took place at approximately 6:10 p.m.
Based on past practice, I'm inclined to suspect Trump had the time of the raid changed so it looked like the photo was taken after the raid instead of beforehand. Whatever… why is it that everything he's involved in always has marked discrepancies attached? I mean, top level professionals don't get the times wrong.
Ah, did not see that note. No conspiracy required – it's just the difference between the Pacific (PST) and Eastern (EST) timezones of the US coasts where its media organisations are based.
Photos of Obama and Clinton in the situation room were widely dispersed in the media as depicting the pres. and his crew watching the raid on the compound as it happened
American imperialism at its finest,don't let anyone criticise it
Two situation rooms,Dem and Republican presidents, both full of shit,both murderers
By that token, you're defending American imperialism and its endless murders, by isolating and targeting Trump , as if all this mayhem and bullshit in the ME started with him
I suspect I'm a few decades older than you, I have a long memory, seen all this bullshit a thousand times before
Of course Trump is a total dickhead, I find it hard to come up with an American pres. who wasn't
He's just the latest clueless American exceptionalist incarnation, who doesn't have the social graces or political nous to clothe it all in fine language.
If your starting point is all American presidents are total dickheads, you will always find find plenty of ammunition for that view point. The job involves balancing competing demands that are fundamentally incompatible, and I find it simply inconceivable that anyone could resolve those issues without the outcomes being pretty shitty for some people most of the time.
But that's not a useful position if you're actually looking for a path to a better world.
There will always be a president of the US, and some of them are 'less crap' than others.The ones that actually are going to be less crap are worth trying to identify and support, and the 'more crap' ones need to be called out and resisted more strongly. Rather than just taking the facile path of throwing a tantrum at all of them, in the hopes of achieving – what exactly, getting to watch it all burn?
Marty – wait until you are 80 before you write silly, disrespectful stuff like that. By then you may have learnt that you actually know less than you are currently so certain about.
I normally agree with you, but at times you come across as highly over-confident.
I agree fully with Francesca that she was not trying to deflect anything.
in vino – talk to her and her disrespectful try to shut the discussion down put down regarding what she thought my age was and then come back and I'll give you the time of day – I don't care about the age of people – you or her – I take what they write as what they write and if you think that she didn't deflect then good for you mate
That's looks like an awful lot of attempted misinformation and smearing on the back of "video blackout".
Quite likely there would have been a lot of other information coming through at the time, as the entire team would have been sweating bullets about the risk of another debacle like the failed Iran hostage rescue in 1980.
Nice smear by implying that people were there to watch a snuff film, when the situation involved an awful lot of personal risk to the personnel involved that carried enormous international and domestic political implications. Those watching would want to have the best information they possibly could in real time in case they were called on to respond to things going bad.
Well if they were called upon , they were shit out of luck .The Seals, those brave heroes, America's finest, made the final decision to kill , in haste even though Bin Laden was unarmed.
Nice try as you would say Andre, but Obama was a killer too, just like all American presidents, but with a prettier face, better speech writers, and a better handle on the political game.
tRump was handed a chance to present himself as a sober and serious leader. But no, the idiot just can't resist an opportunity to aggrandise himself.
Here’s the transcript of Trump’s entirely fictional tale about how “nobody” had heard of “handsome” Osama bin Laden until Trump demanded his death in a 2000 book, but nobody listened, and people still marvel at his prescience, “it’s true,” and the press won’t report all this. pic.twitter.com/qfMNBbZyBX
I don't like the way Trump tells the story. You can tell he is loving being in the limelight describing how the guy was killed and able to say anything he likes about it as non of it can be dis-proved.
I was disappointed in the the President's speech about Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi death. Given the same circumstances I'm sure George Washington and Abe Lincoln would've been a tad more eloquent. No doubt when Trump reflects he will rue a chance he could have made more of. Maybe some wimpy adviser limited him
"Died after running into a dead-end tunnel, whimpering and crying and screaming all the way"? A "gutless animal" who "died like a dog, he died like a coward."
Surely a half-hearted effort. The real Trump supporters would have relished some description of the brain tissue of Baghdadi's kids dripping off the ceiling, pieces of their limbs sliding down the walls the odd eyeball still looking at them.
When it comes to emulating his historic heroes he has a way to go but a touch such as naming American victims of executions by the Islamic State was nice.
Quite a peachy performance by the ringmaster in the Big Top.
What chance the author of the demise of Otto Warmbier receiving equally eloquent salutations?
"There’s no credible data to prove a successful American raid took place against Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, Russia’s Defense Ministry said. The US coalition didn’t even carry out any airstrikes in Idlib recently.
Moscow pointed out that it recorded no US coalition airstrikes in the Idlib area in northwest Syria on Saturday when the raid was held.
It also rejected Trump’s claims that Russian forces opened up the airspace under its control in Syria to American planes to facilitate the operation against the IS leader.
The ministry questioned the very possibility of al-Baghdadi’s presence in Idlib as the area is held by Al-Qaeda offshoot, Jabhat al-Nusra, who have always been mortal enemies of Islamic State."
6/12/16: al-Baghdadi killed in a US airstrike. 5/28/17: killed in Russian air strike. 6/11/17: killed in Syrian artillery strike. 6/29/17: Iranian leader says he's "definitely dead." 7/11/17: Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed his death. 10/26/2019: Killed again.
Someone bombed the site of the house where al-Baghdadi lived. Since it was only a few km from Turkish border theres many ways they could have flown to the immediate area or even used so called glide bombs without going through the airspace controlled by Syria /Russia
Why go through the charade of thanking Russia for opening its air space
"Later in his press conference, Trump said Russia allowed US forces to fly through its airspace and that the US government informed Russia that it would “like” the nature of the American mission."
Not that I could ever see NZTA taking out a judicial review of a decision from its own Minister, but Chris Bishop may well have a point here on light rail; from today's NZHerald:
From NZInfra: "Prior to submitting our proposal, we discussed it with Sir Brian Roche and Sir Michael Cullen and, together with them, corresponded with and sought meetings with Ministers to explain the concept and our investment.
"There was no invitation from the Government to submit such a proposal nor any pressure to do so."
Cullen said that the Super Fund had initiated the approach.
"The purpose of the January meeting was to try to ensure that the Government was aware that the Super Fund was interested in putting forward a proposal and that space was made to listen to that proposal."
Twyford has subsequently appointed Roche to chair NZTA, but Twyford said there was no conflict of interest "because Sir Brian is not a decision-maker on the light rail project".
National Party transport spokesman Chris Bishop has criticised the process.
"Two years after the Prime Minister made this flagship promise, we have no business case, we have no costings, we have no route map, we don't even have an identification of the objectives of why they're doing it in the first place.
"If the Prime Minister had the courage of her convictions, she would remove Phil Twyford from the portfolio."
Yeah, yeah, Chris Bishop, no business case, no costings, no route map, no budget, big deal.
You've got slimy National bullshit artists saying the current Government killed massive improvements to the highway to Northland which National was implementing.
National election promises became reality and your desperate, sycophantic supporters have ridden a highway of lies since.
So Chris, if business cases, costings, route maps and trivialities like budgeting are a big deal, 1) get your sad mob to shut up and 2) since you're so good at getting headlines, grab some to tell the truth about Warkworth to Whangarei roading.
The problem of open-ended civil unrest in Hong Kong, which has been punctuated by rising acts of violence and vandalism carried out by a distinct but hardline minority, is a reflection of China’s new assertiveness under Xi – an assertiveness that marks a break with the caution of the post-Mao era. It can be seen in Xi’s signature undertaking, the Belt and Road Initiative – an infrastructure building project with global ambitions. Or, most recently, the flaunting of new weapons systems during the military parade commemorating the 70th anniversary of Communist party rule – a declaration of China’s intention to rival American military power more openly than at any time in the recent past.
Under Xi, China has been intervening much more directly in the governance of Hong Kong. The most notable example of this was the abduction to China of Hong Kong booksellers who traded in titles critical of Beijing or historical accounts that undermined Chinese orthodoxy.
Ihumatao – what gives. Had a look and managed to get on a site with a pouting curvy woman with big boobies. It's hard to get through the barriers to real information these days!
.
But NZ Initiative are showing how they have joined the list of continuing earthquakes rumbling away, making our lives more uneasy and falling into an irreparable condition.
https://nzinitiative.org.nz/reports-and-media/opinion/property-rights-and-ihumatao-blues/ Property rights and Ihumatao blues: Dr Bryce Wilkinson Insights Newsletter 27 September, 2019 The apparently successful illegal occupation of private property in Auckland’s Ihumātao is potentially a serious setback for the rule of law, and thereby New Zealanders’ wellbeing. Also disturbing are the more immediate implications for Auckland housing and the Treaty of Waitangi claims process.
.
"Ōruarangi will be home to a new neighbourhood that will provide a range of affordable housing for our whanau and new families. The developer Fletcher Building plans to build 480 homes. Around 40 of these will be affordable housing for our people.
Te Kawerau ā Maki has played a key part in the design of the new development. It will reflect our heritage, including walkways that mirror the movements of our tupuna Hape, and parks that resemble our maunga.
KAM acknowlege other iwi and hapū have whakapapa to this whenua .
This could be the loophole to get around the 'settled claim issue' although even the SOUL group when opposing the the Fletcher development in legal proceedings were as Kawerau a Maki.
There will be claim and counter-claim for a while. Then a cash deal.
Sure at a good point before the election, they'll come out singing and Prime Minister Ardern will wrap it up in her most polished of televisual emotions. Singing and orchestrated weeping covers everything.
I see a very high chance of judicial review of any decision – barring some little legislative carve-out – because one Maori group or other will feel slighted.
Ain't no stable truth emerging out of this for a long time.
There are complex relationships with that place. No gain from us talking about it here without the neccessary background understanding, and certainly not with the views of the right-wing Business Roundtable NZ Initiative added to the bonfire.
'Courage beads' are given out to children going through cancer treatment. Some families say they've become much more difficult to get out of the Child Cancer Foundation since the charity changed the way it operates.
Abso-fucking-lutely. The more I take a look at those involved in the provision of public services, the more control-freakery and utter muppetry I seem to encounter.
Newly released video shows a Fresno, California, police officer shooting a fleeing, unarmed 16-year-old in the back of the head and then handcuffing the boy as he lies motionless on the ground.
"1.5 Million Packages a Day: The Internet Brings Chaos to N.Y. Streets"
'The push for convenience is having a stark impact on gridlock, roadway safety and pollution in New York City and urban areas around the world.
One of the issues is they use the public space- streets and footpaths- as sort of warehouse. And apartment buildings which were designed for letters now have an avalanche of packages every day.
"About 15 percent of New York City households receive a package every day, according to the Sustainable Urban Freight Systems center
Where I live with a group of 20 houses , some days I see Uber Eats deliveries multiple times. Even though its about 1 km from 2 supermarkets , a Countdown truck drops off a delivery at least once a week. A neighbour uses Uber for getting to and from work even though a good bus service is 50m away
1. Two sources have confirmed to the New York Times that Baghdadi’s location in Idlib was confirmed as far back as early July, so 3.5 months ago. I spent months working on his obituary. Here’s what I can share now: https://t.co/uSB7M8HsZZ
In retrospect, it is striking how well Turkish, Russian, American, and Syrian actions fit together, effectively shaping an outcome in concert instead of bouncing off each other and breaking down in chaos.
[…]
Nevertheless, the idea that the carve-up of Syria was the result of sheer improvisation and happenstance is so far-fetched that if you believe it—well, I’ve got a pontoon bridge over the Euphrates to sell you.
I think that is the kind of stuff that goes on behind closed doors.Give me this propaganda coup to offset the Kurd issue.The promise of a homeland for the Kurds was never going to be kept .How could it? Without endless aid and military protection.
And a 10 Kurd minority in control of the richest part of the country in terms of oil fields was never going to sit well with the rest of the population
The Rojava experiment might have sounded cute, so did the kibbutzim for socialist hippies .Didnt turn out so well
Trump gave plenty of warnings he wanted to pull out.Each time he was over ridden
Who knows whos calling the shots on the American side, with the President saying one thing, the CIA another and the Pentagon going its own way .
Now it seems the Americans are going for the oil again. Out and out theft
Among the enraging aspects of this is how women's consensual sexual conduct continues to be judged so much more harshly than men's nonconsensual sexual conduct. It's not just that @RepKatieHill is leaving office; it's that men who have raped, battered, & harassed women aren't. https://t.co/fKAS031qa2
Last weekend, the conservative website RedState published a series of articles alleging that Hill had engaged in relationships with a member of her campaign staff and the House staffer. Hill denied the relationship with the House employee, which would be a violation of House rules, but did not deny the relationship with the campaign staff member.
The release of the story, complete with intimate photos of Hill, sparked debate about a double standard in the male-dominated world of political sex scandals, particularly because Hill has blamed Heslep for releasing the photos. Hill’s resignation is likely to bring those questions further out into the open.
On Wednesday, in a letter to constituents, Hill again denied the alleged relationship with the House staff member but acknowledged she was involved in a separate relationship with a member of her campaign staff “during the final tumultuous years of my abusive marriage.”
“I know that even a consensual relationship with a subordinate is inappropriate, but I still allowed it to happen despite my better judgment,” the letter read.
Perhaps Comey could take dual citizenship and become our next National Party leader. If we don't allow duality now we can soon change our laws to enable it, flexibility is our name. It would be a fun feather in his cap which Key has shown how to stick in behind the Right band.
Becoming a politician – anywhere – I think would be the last thing James Comey would have in mind. He does not strike me as a political animal. Yes, I think he is probably a conservative thinker but that does not mean he is National Party material.
He comes across to me as a man of integrity who nevertheless, like all of us, is not immune to making mistakes.
bit late as been busy, but to joe90 at 2.1.2.2 : I agree with you absolutely about Trump's obscene joy in killing another ( and probably several), whoever it be. His attitude and the proof again of his infantile stage of development is frightening. I turned off all TV and radio today when found the event such a big deal to them too…..also concerning/frightening. I write in sincerity.
The Referendums Framework Bill was due back from select committee today. But there's no report on it. Instead, the bill has been bounced back to the House under Standing order 29593) because the Committee didn't bother to produce one. They probably tried. But given the membership of the committee (which ...
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Since becoming the world’s first openly transexual mayor and member of parliament, Georgina Beyer has been recognised as a trailblazer for trans rights. Daphna Whitmore talks with her about where she sees the current trans movement We start out talking about legislation the government put on hold that would have ...
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by The Council of Disobedient Women Lizzie Marvelly: “I may have missed this… has @afterellen gone all terf-y? Or am I reading something incorrectly? “ https://twitter.com/LizzieMarvelly/status/1191840059105742849 After Ellen is a lesbian website that is unashamedly pro-lesbian, as you’d expect. So why is Ms Marvelly so bothered about lesbians having their ...
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Some days I sit and think, “what will I write…?” What do you say when you get to 1000 posts? Maybe you just start where you are, diverge to where this all began, then offer a collection of reader’s favourite posts, and a few of your own? (And throw in ...
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In the spirit of Remember, remember the fifth of November, let's keep this in mind FOREVER.
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There have been three polls since the election was announced, and I will shamelessly steal YouGov / UK Polling Report's Anthony Wells' summary of them:Survation – CON 34%, LAB 26%, LDEM 19%, BREX 12%, GRN 1% Ipsos MORI – CON 41%, LAB 24%, LDEM 20%, BREX 7%, GRN 3% YouGov ...
The following article is translated from Lutte Ouvrière, the weekly newspaper of the organisation usually known by the same name in France. When, for the second time this year, Chilean President Piñera announced an increase in the price of Metro tickets from 800 to 830 pesos, students in the high ...
Today, a worker contacted me asking if she could go to the police over her employer stealing thousands of dollars from her in unpaid wages. The employer also did not pay this worker’s taxes or student loan which amounts to tax fraud. As a workers rights activist, who founded the ...
Signed, Sealed, Delivered, They're Yours: Is there any person more vulnerable than a jilted lover on the rebound? Or, anything more certain than that the charmer, the predator, the glib spinner of lies and promises will seek such broken people out? Yes, of course, he will love every one of ...
Though Jonathan Romain is a fairly high profile Rabbi, writing in several papers and popping up on TV and the radio, this story doesn't seem to have made it to the Guardian yet, so I'll take the unusual step of linking the Stephen Pollard edited Jewish Chronicle:Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain ...
There's an election afoot, and that is when noted opinion formers such as myself get to make wild fools of ourselves by pretending we have the faintest idea what will happen.So, here is my absurdly optimistic prediction:Labour - 285Conservative - 262SNP - 53Lib Dems - 20PC - 5Ireland - 18 ...
Image Credit:Increase Social Media Traffic & Website Traffic I notice a few regulars no longer allow public access to the site counters. This may happen accidentally when the blog format is altered. If your ...
Belinda CridgeI was reading my son a story last night. A great tale of derring-do of five mountaineers scaling the Matterhorn for the first time. One in the party had tried six times previously and failed, this was the last attempt before winter closed another season. They tried a ...
As introduced, the Zero Carbon Bill included an expansive secrecy clause, which would have covered virtually all decisions by the Climate Change Commission over our most important policy area. The Ministry for the Environment admitted this was a mistake (or as they put it, an "oversight"), and the select committee ...
Rachael Shaw, Victoria University of WellingtonWhen we think about animals storing food, the image that usually comes to mind is a squirrel busily hiding nuts for the winter. We don’t usually think of a small songbird taking down an enormous invertebrate, tearing it into pieces and hiding these titbits ...
. . NZ First’s success in putting the euthenasia bill to a public referenda may not be the victory they believe it to be. They may even have sounded the death-knell for a second Labour-NZ First-Green coalition. On 23 July this year, NZ First MP, Jenny Marcroft, submitted a Supplementary ...
Interesting contrasting pictures in the Guardian:Corbyn gets the classic positive shot - low angle and a clear background, making him look authoritative (of course, being Corbyn, he doesn't do authoritative very well).Where as Johnson gets pictured with children at some sort of mad-hatters' tea party:Begging the question, who is the ...
Paternalism is contentious. Arguments for state action to protect us from ourselves are fraught. I come down pretty heavily on the anti-paternalism side of the argument, but I’ve heard respectable defences of paternalism. But policy around vaccination is hardly paternalistic. There’s a clear market failure that could be pointed to ...
I’ve been reading Jules Verne’s novel Twenty thousand leagues under the sea, considered as one of the very earliest science fiction stories. In brief, Monsieur Aronnax and a couple of sidekicks are taken prisoner by Captain Nemo and his mysterious crew and treated to an underwater voyage around the world ...
The climate crisis is going to mean some pretty big changes in our country, both from its impacts and the policies required to address them. Most obviously, whole suburbs are going to be underwater by 2100, meaning people and businesses are going to have to relocate to higher ground. But ...
Yesterday a dairy company was fined $483,000 for repeatedly failing to report listeria in its facility. Its a serious fine for a serious crime: listeria is a serious disease, and they were effectively trying to kill people with it. But there's another story hidden in there, and its not a ...
Gay men see the excesses of trans activism and are increasingly speaking out. A new Facebook group addressing ‘gender identity’ and contemporary trans activism has been set up for gay men, by gay men. The following is the group’s Statement of Intent, Group Rules, and link to the group for ...
Criminal Enterprises: Gangs are not welfare institutions. Nor are they a substitute for the family their members never had. They are ruthless, violent, criminal money-making machines. That is all.OKAY, first-things-first. Gangs exist for one purpose – and only one. They are a sure-fired, time-tested institution for making crime pay – ...
Prof Nick Wilson, A/Prof George Thomson, A/Prof Simon Hales, Prof Michael BakerThe NZ Ministry for the Environment has produced a valuable discussion document with many good ideas for improving the health of waterways in New Zealand. But there are important gaps. In this blog we consider three big-ticket items ...
Finding reality needs more than wishful thinking. The problem is that statistical arguments often provide a jargon to confirm biases. Image credit:Accurate Thinking Versus Wishful Thinking in Gambling I worry at the way some ...
"Today we have made a choice that will leave a legacy... I hope that means that future generations will see that we, in New Zealand, were on the right side of history." - Jacinda Ardern, Third Reading of the Zero Carbon Bill ...
Darroch Ball, New Zealand First List MP A Member’s bill has been proposed that would provide income tax exemptions for all New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel while on operational deployment overseas. The Income Tax (Exemption for Salary or Wages of NZDF Members on Active Deployment) Amendment Bill proposed by New Zealand First ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters, New Zealand First Leader New Zealand First is proud to have brought common sense to the Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Bill, which passed its final reading in Parliament today. Party Leader Rt Hon Winston Peters says months of hard work went into negotiating a balanced ...
Jenny Marcroft MP, Spokesperson for Health New Zealand First has listened to calls to recognise paramedics as registered health professionals under the Health Practitioners’ Competence Assurance Act (the Act).Today, the Coalition Government announced plans for paramedics to be registered as health practitioners under the Act, and the establishment of a ...
We began the week by commemorating the New Zealand Wars and celebrating a major increase in the number of teachers. Then, we were busy supporting offenders into work and getting our rail back on track after years of underinvestment. And that's just the start! ...
In October I was sworn in as the Mayor of Lower Hutt.It’s the privilege of my life to serve Hutt people as their Mayor. There is something really special to be able to serve the community where I was raised, and where I live. ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Racing Racing Minister Winston Peters met with Korea Racing Authority Chairperson Nak Soon Kim in Seoul today to discuss closer cooperation between the New Zealand and Korean horse racing industries. As part of the visit to the Seoul Racecourse, Mr Peters witnessed ...
Hon Shane Jones, Minister for Regional Economic Development The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) is investing $10 million to establish Otago as the centre of New Zealand’s creative digital industry over the next ten years, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones announced today. “The initiative will bring us closer to the vision of ...
Hon Shane Jones, Minister for Regional Economic Development The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF)’s skills and employment programme will help young Otago people into long-term forestry careers, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today. Te Ara Mahi will invest $63,000 in the 2020 school year to support eight 17 and 18 ...
Hon Shane Jones, Minister for Regional Economic Development The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) will support local plans to revitalise and stimulate economic development opportunities in Otago, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones has announced. The four Regional Economic Development Ministers have approved an in-principle investment of $19.9 million towards the region’s ...
Mark Patterson, Spokesperson for Primary Industries New Zealand First is pleased to have received the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) report on the Coalition Government’s Mycoplasma bovis eradication efforts, which shows significant progress in the fight against the disease. New Zealand First Spokesperson for Primary Industries, Mark Patterson, says the report’s findings ...
Hon Shane Jones, Minister for Regional Economic Development Hon David Parker, Minister for Trade and Export Growth The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) is investing to support economic growth opportunities for Otago’s engineering and manufacturing sectors, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones and Trade and Export Minister David Parker announced today. Almost $20 million ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Foreign Minister Winston Peters and his South Korean counterpart, Kang Kyung-wha, discussed in Seoul today opportunities to work more closely in the Pacific and the situation on the Korean Peninsula. Mr Peters and Minister Kang confirmed New Zealand and the ...
Hon Shane Jones, Minister for Regional Economic Development Hon Nanaia Mahuta, Minister for Māori Development The three marae in the historic Parihaka Pa complex in Taranaki have been upgraded to high speed broadband with the support of the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF), Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones announced today. “Connecting the ...
Hon Ron Mark, Minister of Defence Minister of Defence Ron Mark will today launch the Advancing Pacific Partnerships 2019 Defence Assessment during a speech at Te Papa. The Assessment outlines how Defence will partner with our Pacific Island neighbours and invest in Pacific regional security architecture. The Plan aligns with the Coalition ...
A new Provincial Growth Fund investment could create about 80 new jobs in Gisborne over the next two years, turning a local small business into a “beacon of employment” in the process. Regional Economic Development Parliamentary Under-Secretary Fletcher Tabuteau said the PGF’s Te Ara Mahi funding stream would provide $1.6m ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters will travel to the Republic of Korea and Japan next week. “The Republic of Korea and Japan are two of New Zealand’s closest partners in the region with whom we share common values and ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced today that New Zealand is leading a police support mission in Bougainville as the region prepares to vote in a non-binding referendum on its political future. “New Zealand has accepted an invitation ...
New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is defending Immigration New Zealand (INZ) after it instructed officials to stop granting visas as an exception to instructions. He has also lashed out at immigrant leaders upset with the tightening of the rules, saying they had an “elevated sense of entitlement”. Members of ...
A change to the End of Life Choice Bill was passed in Parliament, meaning if politicians decide to vote for the law it must be approved by the public first. A binding referendum was a condition insisted on by New Zealand First, and Jenny Marcroft’s supplementary order paper (SOP) successfully ...
Fletcher Tabuteau, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development The Provincial Growth Fund (PGF), through its skills and employment programme,Te Ara Mahi, is investing a further $1.6m into Tairāwhiti’s workforce development, said Parliamentary Under Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau. “This PGF funding follows on from significant PGF investment earlier this ...
Rt Hon Winston Peters, New Zealand First Leader New Zealand First Leader Rt Hon Winston Peters says the Government’s steps to reduce farm livestock emissions are necessary and timely. Today the Government and farming leaders announced a plan to measure and price emissions at the farm level by 2025. “Many farmers ...
Racing Minister Winston Peters welcomes the tabling of the Racing Industry Transition Agency (RITA) 2019 Annual Report in Parliament today. He says the 2019 Annual Report marks the point when New Zealand’s racing industry’s decline was arrested and a turnaround started. RITA’s 2019 Annual Report recorded an industry net profit ...
The New Zealand Government is today sending 21 firefighters to help fight the ongoing catastrophic Australian bushfires. “The fires in Australia are in some of the toughest, most challenging conditions ever,” says Internal Affairs Minister Tracey Martin. “As of yesterday morning, there were 100 active bushfire-related incidents across Queensland and ...
More frontline support for schools through a new education agency, as part of a redesigned Ministry of Education More support for principals and school boards including through a new centre of leadership and local leadership advisor roles New independent disputes panels for parents and students Management of school property ...
The Government’s reform of the Tomorrow’s Schools system is a watershed moment in education and an opportunity to create meaningful change for ākonga Māori and their whānau, Associate Education Minister Kelvin Davis said today. “Last year through Kōrero Mātauranga | Education Conversation, Māori teachers, parents, ākonga, whānau, hapū and iwi ...
Infrastructure Minister is welcoming the first of many updated project pipelines from the newly established New Zealand Infrastructure Commission today. The New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga, has released an expanded pipeline of major capital projects – another crucial step towards delivering better infrastructure outcomes. “The first iteration of the ...
Tougher gun laws designed to improve public safety through firearms prohibition orders are proposed in a new document released for public input. Police Minister Stuart Nash says firearms prohibition orders (FPOs) would give new powers to Police to ensure high-risk individuals come nowhere near firearms. “We have already prohibited the ...
Andy Coupe has been confirmed as TVNZ’s new Board Chair. “Mr Coupe has strong commercial and capital markets experience and TVNZ has benefited from his technical knowledge of business and finance, as well as his extensive governance experience,” the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media Kris Faafoi said. Andy ...
Associate Minister of Transport Julie Anne Genter today officially opened a separated pathway, following the completion of the Kaiwharawhara Stream bridge, which will improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians along Hutt Road. The $6.8m Hutt Road project provides a separated path for cycling and pedestrians, the replacement of informal parking ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters today announced the appointment of career diplomat Si’alei van Toor as New Zealand’s next Ambassador to Russia. “I’m pleased to appoint Ms van Toor to this position. She brings a wealth of experience to the role having previously served as Senior Trade Adviser to the ...
The Treasury’s 2019 Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU) will be released on Wednesday December 11, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. The Coalition Government will publish the 2020 Budget Policy Statement at the same time, outlining the priorities for Budget 2020. Further details on arrangements for the release will ...
A new initiative to better support small businesses through hands-on mentoring and advice has been launched by the Minister for Small Business. The first event in the Kiwi Business Boost series of regional workshops and online tools has been launched in Wairoa by Stuart Nash. “The Business Boost initiative combines ...
The latest Quarterly Connectivity Report shows that more and more New Zealanders are moving to Ultra-fast Broadband (UFB), with Rolleston having the highest uptake at 74 per cent, as at the end of September. “This means that nearly three quarters of Rolleston’s households and businesses have moved to ultra-fast services. ...
The passing of the Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Bill will help ensure a safe planet for our kids and grandkids, the Minister for Climate Change James Shaw said today. The landmark legislation which provides a framework to support New Zealanders to prepare for, and adapt to, the effects ...
The review of Oranga Tamariki practice around the planned uplift of a Hastings baby in May shows significant failings by the Ministry and that the planned and funded changes to shift from a child crisis service to a proper care and protection service need to be accelerated, Children’s Minister Tracey ...
Education Minister Chris Hipkins has wished students the best of luck for this year’s NCEA and New Zealand Scholarship exams which start tomorrow. Around 140,000 students will have participated in 119 NCEA and New Zealand Scholarship exams by the end of the exam period on 3 December. “I want to ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters today announced the appointment of Bede Corry as New Zealand’s next High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. “The appointment of a senior diplomat to this important role underlines the significance New Zealand places on our relationship with the United Kingdom,” said Mr Peters. “The United ...
An innovative approach to boosting the number of frontline Police has seen 20 new officers graduate from one of the uncommon training wings in Auckland. Police Minister Stuart Nash says the graduation of 20 constables today means that 1,765 new Police officers have been deployed since the coalition government took ...
Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis says the 1.2 million hours of community work completed by offenders in the last financial year has helped local communities right across the country. “Community work sentences are a great way for people to pay something positive back to society. There is a massive benefit to ...
"A pathway for Police in leadership with Iwi Māori, to achieve the aspirations of Māori whānau." Police launch of Te Huringa o Te Tai, Pipitea Marae, Thorndon Quay, Wellington Nau mai, haere mai. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, ka nui te mihi, ki a koutou. Hello everyone, warm greetings to you all. ...
Working New Zealanders are getting more in their back pockets under the Coalition Government’s economic plan. Stats NZ data today shows average weekly ordinary time earnings are up by $83 since the Government took office. This shows that working New Zealanders are getting higher take-home pay, and that employers are ...
The Government is supporting schools to cut down their energy consumption and reduce environmental impacts, with a quarter of all schools having their lights replaced with LEDs, a sustainability contestable fund and a plan to improve the environmental sustainability of all schools in the future. Education Minister Chris Hipkins and ...
Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis heads to China on Friday to lead the New Zealand Government presence at the China-New Zealand Year of Tourism closing ceremony. The ceremony will take place at Canton Tower in Guangzhou on Sunday 10 November. “The Year of Tourism has been mutually beneficial for both New ...
Should we plan for drought or deluge and how is CO2 released from the ocean’s floor? Several climate change projects were given a boost in the latest Marsden Fund investment of $83.6 million, Research, Science and Innovation Minister Megan Woods said today. “Climate change is long-term challenge that requires out-of-the-box ...
Leaders of 16 countries negotiating the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) have announced the completion of negotiation on the text as well as agreement on virtually all market access issues between 15 countries. The leaders said they will work with India to resolve its outstanding concerns in a way that ...
Civil Defence Minister Hon Peeni Henare says World Tsunami Awareness Day today (5 November) is a chance for all New Zealanders to learn more about the tsunami risk in our regions and the right actions to take to stay safe. “All of New Zealand’s coastline is at risk of tsunami. ...
New Zealand’s more than 1000 paramedics are to have their role as key frontline health professionals formally recognised and regulated in the same way as doctors and nurses, Health Minister David Clark says. The Government has agreed to regulate paramedics under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003. “Paramedic leaders ...
Changes to insolvency law announced by the Government today will include requirements to honour up to 50 per cent of the value of gift cards or vouchers held by consumers, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Kris Faafoi says. “When a business is insolvent, these consumers are often left out of ...
Six New Zealanders tonight received medals for their meritorious work in the frontline public service. The Public Service Medal, established by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, is awarded annually. “For the second year this Government has recognised public servants who have made a real difference to the lives of New ...
Minister for Trade and Export Growth David Parker heads to Shanghai today for the China International Import Expo and meetings focused on reforming the WTO. Over 90 New Zealand companies will be exhibiting at the second China International Import Expo (CIIE), which runs from 5-10 November. “China is one of New Zealand’s ...
Drivers holding a current five-year learner or restricted car or motorbike licence, expiring between 1 December 2019 and 1 December 2021, will receive an automatic two-year extension, Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter announced today. Over 144,000 drivers’ time-limited licences are due to expire in the next two years; 67,000 ...
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Minister for Trade and Export Growth David Parker have announced the conclusion of negotiations to upgrade New Zealand’s existing free trade agreement with China. “This ensures our upgraded free trade agreement will remain the best that China has with any country,” Jacinda Ardern said. She ...
Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau congratulates the Ten Kiwi organisations who have been recognised for their outstanding contribution to the wellbeing and the prosperity of their communities. Economic Development New Zealand (EDNZ), announced the awards at its annual conference in Blenheim last weekend. “A special congratulations to ...
Minister for Building and Construction Jenny Salesa has welcomed the record high of 13,000 building and construction apprentices in active training with main provider the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO). “We are committed to reversing the long-term decline in trades training and it’s excellent to see more people ...
PHARMAC’s decision to fund a new leukaemia treatment means three new cancer medicines have now been funded so far this year, Health Minister David Clark says. From 1 December venetoclax (Venclexta) will be funded for people living with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Just last month funding was also confirmed for alectinib ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today formally gifted a white horse to Toshogu Shrine in Nikko, Japan in front of thousands of attendees at a ceremony conducted by Chief Priest Inaba. The horse named Kōmaru, which means ‘sheltered’ in Maori and ‘shining’ in Japanese, is a white 12-year-old purebred Andalusian ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has named diplomat Martin Harvey as New Zealand’s next High Commissioner to Canada. “Canada is one of New Zealand’s closest and longstanding international partners,” said Mr Peters. “Our close friendship is underpinned by our shared democratic values, history and our parliamentary traditions. As Commonwealth countries and ...
Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Kris Faafoi has today announced the appointment of Jane Wrightson as Retirement Commissioner. “Jane has strong leadership, management and governance skills which will help champion improved financial capability for all New Zealanders and provide advice on retirement income policy issues,” Kris Faafoi said. Jane Wrightson ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters and his Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi announced a plan last night to cooperate more closely in the Pacific, as part of the strong and ambitious relationship between the two countries. “Japan is one of New Zealand’s most important partners and closest friends. My discussions with Minister ...
The Government’s plan to help older New Zealanders live well, Better Later Life – He Oranga Kaumātua 2019 to 2034, was launched by Seniors Minister Tracey Martin today. “Better Later Life takes a fresh look at what is required to ensure everyone gets the chance to live well as they ...
Trees can play a lead role in New Zealand’s transition to a low emissions economy, and this is reflected in a new request for research into innovative ways to use wood fibre, announced by Forestry Minister Shane Jones at the blessing of the new government forestry hub site in Rotorua ...
In the second part of a new event series looking at the future of Auckland, The Spinoff and Auckland Council host In My Backyard: Glen Innes, to ask what the suburb can teach the rest of the city about housing. Throughout its history, Glen Innes has had the highest density of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Badlan, Postdoctoral Researcher, Atmospheric Dynamics, UNSW As the east coast bushfire crisis unfolds, New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Rural Fire Service operational officer Brett Taylor have each warned residents bushfires can create their own weather systems. This is not ...
Iran has announced the discovery of a new oilfield containing 53 billion barrels of crude. So what does that say about the NZ government’s move to be a world leader in shutting down the issue of new permits for oil and gas exploration – a move which Jacinda Ardern characterised ...
A wild, hilly spear, studded with brilliant beaches and thrilling bush, the Coromandel Peninsula is a magic geographical cul-de-sac. Here’s how to explore this stunning part of our backyard.If you’ve got friends or relatives visiting Aotearoa, top of their list should be sorting out their NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel ...
12 November 2019 Water and infrastructure professionals from across the public and private sectors attended a panel discussion on 4 November, focused on the Government’s proposed water reforms and most particularly the potential impacts on our urban environments. ...
Fifteen years on, Sam Brooks looks at Gwen Stefani’s wet, weird, wild and wonderful debut album Love. Angel. Music. Baby.The first thing we hear on Love. Angel. Music. Baby. – No Doubt frontwoman Gwen Stefani’s first album – is applause and cheering.Then a piano. Then Stefani warbling, sweetly, mournfully, almost ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Coral Gartner, Associate Professor, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland More than 2,000 people in the United States have developed serious lung damage in a poisoning outbreak associated with the use of vaping devices this year. At least 39 people ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Maggie Ivanova, Senior Lecturer, Drama, Creative and Performing Arts, Flinders University Review: The Dark Master and Totes Adorbs Hurricane, OzAsia Festival, Adelaide, 22 October – 8 November In theatre, the play text tends to drive the storytelling. The interpretation of this ...
Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee has made key amendments to the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Bill, giving borrowers more protection from harmful high cost consumer credit contracts. The changes indicate that the Select Committee ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Janet Stanley, Associate professor/Principal Research Fellow, Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute, University of Melbourne Fires of unprecedented number and ferocity are today raging in New South Wales and Queensland. Residents in some regions woke to news that the fire danger was “catastrophic”. Rural ...
The government’s reform of 1989’s Tomorrow’s Schools legislation has been announced today, and it’s promising changes for students, teachers, principals and boards.What is “Tomorrow’s Schools”?In 1989, the government introduced the Tomorrow’s Schools reforms, which meant all schools became much more independent, giving Boards power over almost all school ...
The Council of Licenced Firearms Owners (COLFO) is urging politicians to heed evidence from respected international experts on why a proposed firearms registry in New Zealand is doomed to fail. ...
Go Bus drivers in Auckland will be taking full strike action from tomorrow as relations reach a new low with their employer following a week where the company has cancelled regular wage bargaining, arbitrarily suspended union-affiliated drivers, rejected ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By William Peterson, Associate Professor, Flinders University Review: OzAsia Festival, Adelaide, 22 October – 8 November The most exciting work at OzAsia cuts across genres, styles, and cultures to create something distinctive and new: a work of art that could not exist without ...
Large and small scale and Māori foresters say the 50 Shades of Green march on parliament on Thursday (eds 14 November) highlights deliberately created confusion about the true nature and recent scope of forestry expansion. ...
Where do we watch content, what do we want from it, and how do we view New Zealand news? Here’s what we learned from NZ On Air’s latest survey on identity, culture and the media. We still like to watch free-to-view TVDespite the lingering doom and gloom around linear television, almost ...
The candidates to tackle Donald Trump are very keen on the New Zealand prime minister.It could be because Vogue called her “the anti-Trump”. It could be the desperate shortage of tolerable left-leaning leaders in the Anglosphere. Or it could be because everyone knows it’s illegal to be mean about people ...
Responding to the launch of Massey University's new policy and code regarding free speech and external speaker, Free Speech Coalition spokesman Dr David Cumin says: ...
The Government is creating a new division of the Education Ministry in an overhaul that will strip schools of the right to manage their enrolment zones and their property. ...
Making Northport Auckland’s main port will require massive investment in rail and road and will increase carbon emissions and the cost of goods says National Road Carriers Association CEO David Aitken. ...
Tuesday, November 12: After months of mounting pressure, the Environmental Protection Authority has now publicly released oil giant OMV’s application to drill a high risk oil well off the Otago Coast. ...
Simon Day eats a burger and considers becoming a vegetarian (again). For two years in my 20s, I was vegetarian. It was a choice based on the idea that it’s a much more efficient and much less environmentally invasive way to feed the world. I used to habitually roll out a ...
Ahead of TVNZ1’s new wildlife documentary Serengeti, Tara Ward presents the best animals that make up the juiciest drama on the plains.If you love nature docos filled with argy-bargy and love triangles, jealous siblings and power struggles, then TVNZ’s new wildlife documentary series Serengeti is a dream come true. The ...
The Panama Papers exposed a world in which the uber-rich and powerful were able to hide unimaginable wealth. The reporters who broke the story describe how they did it.“When it takes a whistleblower to sound the alarm… it signals that democracy’s checks and balances have all failed.”The final words in ...
Family First New Zealand has proposed a number of bills to the government regarding the access to pornography in both public places, including schools and the work place. “There has been an important national conversation around consent and ‘rape culture’. ...
Vernon Tava, the leader of the Sustainable NZ party, used to be part of the Greens. So how did he fit in there? Former MP Catherine Delahunty shares her impressions of him from then, and analyses where his new party will fit in.I first met Vernon Tava when he joined ...
A Parliamentary Petition has been issued, calling for the regulation of sunscreens in New Zealand as well as funding of effective sunscreens for low income and high risk populations. ...
It’s been a rough year for unit-holders in Fonterra Shareholders Fund, with the unit price slumping from $5.12 to its lowest point ever at $3.15. Chairman John Shewan didn’t mince words when he told the Fund’s annual meeting this week Fonterra’s financial performance had been “very poor” in 2019. Not ...
Editor’s Note: Here below is a list of the main issues currently under discussion in New Zealand and links to media coverage.New Zealand Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand.Today’s content by Dr Bryce Edwards.Zero Carbon Bill, climate change Henry Cooke (Stuff): NZ First kept methane target from exiting ...
At 5:00pm on 22 November 2019, the period closes for public submissions regarding the changes BSA is proposing to the Election Programmes Code of Broadcasting Practice (Election Programmes Code). ...
Rachel Boyack was confirmed as the Labour Party candidate for Nelson for the 2020 General Election at a meeting of Party members held in Nelson tonight ...
The Zero Carbon Bill is bland and ineffective. Don’t fall for the spin, argues Steve Abel of Greenpeace. It was hard to not be buoyed by our House of Representatives, seemingly aligned in their commitment to climate action, at last week’s passing of the Zero Carbon Act. Bold expositions of pride ...
A new nationwide Curia Market Research poll shows the vast majority of New Zealanders are confused about what the End of Life Choice Bill aims to legalise. ...
The Prime Minster is defending her proposed firearms protection orders which has received mixed reactions in parliament; and attempted suicide in police custody has risen by almost 400 percent in four years. ...
A Helen Clark Foundation project to reduce online harm will be presented today in competition at the Paris Peace Forum. 'The Christchurch Principles' full report is available for download here . The Forum is a prestigious international event, initiated ...
Construction of more than 500 houses for New Zealand’s most needy families has been put on hold during a housing crisis because of a controversial policy change. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Justin Sinclair, Research Fellow, NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University Endometriosis is a chronic, inflammatory condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus is found outside of the womb. It affects around one in ten women of reproductive age, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Fisher, Professor of Cattle & Sheep Production Medicine, University of Melbourne The plight of Australia’s dairy farmers is on the political agenda this week, after One Nation leader Pauline Hanson narrowly failed in her Senate bid for a minimum milk price. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katina Zammit, Deputy Dean, School of Education, Western Sydney University When I was younger I decided to learn Greek. I learnt the letter-sound correspondences and could say the words – the sounds, that is. But although I could and still can decode ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Pamela Snow, Professor and Head, Rural Health School, La Trobe University Being able to read means being able to make meaning from printed words. At a functional level, we read to get the message – such as how many times per day ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thijs Dhollander, Post-doctoral neuroscientist, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health While looking at the MRI brain scan of a 29-year-old woman that had been taken for a different study, researchers in Israel recently stumbled upon a scientific mystery. The woman appears ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alison Holland, Senior Lecturer in Australian History, Macquarie University When the minister for Indigenous Australians, Ken Wyatt, recently announced a co-design process for creating an Indigenous “voice to government”, it was characterised as a shift in rhetoric. Yet, on closer inspection, it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joshua Zadro, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Sydney Patients might not be getting the best advice about which treatments do or don’t work, according to our study published today. We found professional societies are more likely to call out other health professionals ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Abou-Nemeh, Lecturer in Early Modern History, Victoria University of Wellington This week New Zealand’s parliamentarians will vote on the third reading of the End of Life Choice Bill. Much public discussion on the merits of euthanasia has centred around the role ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Cris Brack, Associate Professor, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University Trees die. You don’t have to like it, but they do. And this comes as a surprise to some. A senior public servant once told one of us (Brack): ...
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The government's firearms prohibition order proposal - to keep high-risk individuals away from firearms - is being met with both approval and alarm bells. ...
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Good morning, and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: Armed police arrest raises alarm, report makes strong call for Auckland port to go north, and a battle is going on among Fonterra shareholders.Serious concerns have been raised about the trial of armed police officers, after a team arrested an ...
Some observers have been thinking that the forthcoming British election on 12 December would be about a lot more than just Brexit. Some of the issues polling supports this view. And the party leaders have certainly been leading off with their plans for the radiant future. And yet – new ...
A little-known hormone-related condition affecting up to 8 percent of people with periods is sometimes mistaken for bipolar disorder and incorrectly treated. ...
The unusual case of Winston Peters vs the Crown took a new twist yesterday with revelations the deputy PM and head of the civil service have not talked since the Government was formed. ...
Dr Samantha Marsh explains why we need to be wary of drawing definitive conclusions from single studies on social media that appear to ‘let us off the hook’. ...
Tech sector giants have a vested interest in prioritising freedom of expression, often at the expense of other rights. A new project to reduce harmful online content, presented yesterday to the Paris Peace Forum, aims to change that. One of the architects of the Christchurch Principles, Dr David Hall, explains. What ...
As parliament voted all but unanimously to pass the Zero Carbon Bill into law last week, climate change minister James Shaw credited Generation Zero for its very existence. Here, Jenny Coatham explains how the youth-led climate action group pulled off such a monumental task. Our generation has been described as having ...
Open mike 28/10/2019 
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Anyone else doing a Labour Day LEC picnic?
Good riddance
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=12280178
Al-Baghdadi "died after running into a dead-end tunnel, whimpering and crying and screaming all the way," Trump later said at the White House news conference, calling him a "gutless animal".
Another coward just like that dope smoking,porno watching,degenerate Osama Bin Laden.
All these cowards trying to disrupt the spread of freedom and democracy ibn America's backyard is enough to make you…sick.
Imagine the USA chasing a protest leader here like that. It isn't impossible to think of as annually or more often, there are Defence Force maneouvres with the USA and other countries and they have a game plan and often it is about a group rising up against the government. Turning language, 'weaponising' naming of protests to calling them 'terrorists' is a move towards turning the facts so they present a different picture. And even people minding their own affairs may be attacked; Why? Because we can!
Think about the Marshall Islands where the USA let off a giant atomic blast, and lots of other blasts too.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/401921/marshalls-endorses-nuclear-commission-strategy
The commission's chair, [National Nuclear Commission] Rhea Moss-Christian, said the NNC Strategy is a tool for all Marshallese, whether living in the islands or overseas, to use in their individual and collective efforts to respond to the devastation resulting from the U.S. nuclear weapons testing program in the Marshall Islands.
"It is also a resource for our partners and friends outside the Marshall Islands to understand the nuclear testing impacts that persist today and how they can support the Marshallese people," Rhea Moss-Christian said.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pj2tXEoqUT0
(refers to the 1953 blast)
(refers to 30 June 1946 and USA used the place for 12 years to test bombs and weapons)
This is what the USA is prepared to do to small islands that pose no threat to their might. They may choose to hold military exercises and then start testing weapons. We have new business here in NZ – setting off rockets, more dangerous an activity than on November 5th.
Some background on the Islamic leader just killed by USA forces.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/labourday/audio/2018719604/islamic-state-leader-killed
I don't know whether your comment is meant to be satire Blazer but the world's liar-in-chief will be lying. Sure, the terrorist leader was probably running away but the "gutless animal" bit is a perfect description of Trump himself. In fact if Trump ever found himself cornered , its how he would behave – "like a coward to the end."
Malignant narcissists have a habit of projecting their own dysfunctional personalities onto other individuals.
No, I'm not defending the ISIS leader who deserved extermination.
Yep good points Anne – only an idiot would trust or believe anything turnip.rump says but some people also don't believe in the climate crisis we are in – they make a sack of spanners look smart.
I wish we could stop the cycle of violence that causes so many innocent deaths and devastation.
His gleeful description of ghastly violence was particularly vile.
What's with all the unconnected cables floating around? Didn't they have time to plug em in somewhere. Make it look authentic.
It beggars sane belief!
They had already unplugged the secure gear by the time Chump demanded his photo op.
EDIT: or the photo was taken *beforehand* according to the story below (/open-mike-28-10-2019/#comment-1663649). Others I saw said the raid was at 3pm but maybe that was PST not EST?
From Andre's link:
Based on past practice, I'm inclined to suspect Trump had the time of the raid changed so it looked like the photo was taken after the raid instead of beforehand. Whatever… why is it that everything he's involved in always has marked discrepancies attached? I mean, top level professionals don't get the times wrong.
Remember this?
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/map-flap-trump-displays-altered-weather-map-showing/story?id=65384094
I love all the pretty pictures on his desk. Donald likes pretty pictures. 😡
Ah, did not see that note. No conspiracy required – it's just the difference between the Pacific (PST) and Eastern (EST) timezones of the US coasts where its media organisations are based.
Possibly WiFi is not considered secure enough for all their little treats and trinkets connecting to an intra/internet
Then again, Obama didnt have a fucking clue what he was looking at , there was a video blackout during the raid
But good to look all presidential and deadly serious, even if the promised snuff movie turns out to be a blank screen
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/al-qaeda/8493391/Osama-bin-Laden-dead-Blackout-during-raid-on-bin-Laden-compound.html
wtf – defending t.rump by deflection – how sad lol
Not a defense of Trump
Marty
I despise all warmongers .
Photos of Obama and Clinton in the situation room were widely dispersed in the media as depicting the pres. and his crew watching the raid on the compound as it happened
American imperialism at its finest,don't let anyone criticise it
Two situation rooms,Dem and Republican presidents, both full of shit,both murderers
Yeah nah you just defended t.rump by deflecting
By that token, you're defending American imperialism and its endless murders, by isolating and targeting Trump , as if all this mayhem and bullshit in the ME started with him
I suspect I'm a few decades older than you, I have a long memory, seen all this bullshit a thousand times before
Of course Trump is a total dickhead, I find it hard to come up with an American pres. who wasn't
He's just the latest clueless American exceptionalist incarnation, who doesn't have the social graces or political nous to clothe it all in fine language.
you may well be 80 or so but it is irrelevant to me
I read what you write and respond to that – sorry if you don't like it
If your starting point is all American presidents are total dickheads, you will always find find plenty of ammunition for that view point. The job involves balancing competing demands that are fundamentally incompatible, and I find it simply inconceivable that anyone could resolve those issues without the outcomes being pretty shitty for some people most of the time.
But that's not a useful position if you're actually looking for a path to a better world.
There will always be a president of the US, and some of them are 'less crap' than others.The ones that actually are going to be less crap are worth trying to identify and support, and the 'more crap' ones need to be called out and resisted more strongly. Rather than just taking the facile path of throwing a tantrum at all of them, in the hopes of achieving – what exactly, getting to watch it all burn?
Marty – wait until you are 80 before you write silly, disrespectful stuff like that. By then you may have learnt that you actually know less than you are currently so certain about.
I normally agree with you, but at times you come across as highly over-confident.
I agree fully with Francesca that she was not trying to deflect anything.
in vino – talk to her and her disrespectful try to shut the discussion down put down regarding what she thought my age was and then come back and I'll give you the time of day – I don't care about the age of people – you or her – I take what they write as what they write and if you think that she didn't deflect then good for you mate
+100
My 10:15pm directed to support francesca
What those two photos say about differences between them …
https://www.businessinsider.com.au/trump-situation-room-photo-baghdadi-analysis-obama-bin-laden-comparison-2019-10?r=US&IR=T
That's looks like an awful lot of attempted misinformation and smearing on the back of "video blackout".
Quite likely there would have been a lot of other information coming through at the time, as the entire team would have been sweating bullets about the risk of another debacle like the failed Iran hostage rescue in 1980.
Nice smear by implying that people were there to watch a snuff film, when the situation involved an awful lot of personal risk to the personnel involved that carried enormous international and domestic political implications. Those watching would want to have the best information they possibly could in real time in case they were called on to respond to things going bad.
Well if they were called upon , they were shit out of luck .The Seals, those brave heroes, America's finest, made the final decision to kill , in haste even though Bin Laden was unarmed.
Nice try as you would say Andre, but Obama was a killer too, just like all American presidents, but with a prettier face, better speech writers, and a better handle on the political game.
"America remains the one indispensable nation "
At least none of them were golfing.
Yes , that makes a huge difference when extra judicial assassinations are going on
It does if you are trying to get publicity mileage from it. The dead people are dead, all the same.
More details on timelines and photo timestamps …
https://www.newsweek.com/obama-photographer-baghdadi-raid-trump-situation-room-suggested-staged-timestamp-golfing-1468012
tRump was handed a chance to present himself as a sober and serious leader. But no, the idiot just can't resist an opportunity to aggrandise himself.
I don't like the way Trump tells the story. You can tell he is loving being in the limelight describing how the guy was killed and able to say anything he likes about it as non of it can be dis-proved.
I was disappointed in the the President's speech about Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi death. Given the same circumstances I'm sure George Washington and Abe Lincoln would've been a tad more eloquent. No doubt when Trump reflects he will rue a chance he could have made more of. Maybe some wimpy adviser limited him
"Died after running into a dead-end tunnel, whimpering and crying and screaming all the way"? A "gutless animal" who "died like a dog, he died like a coward."
Surely a half-hearted effort. The real Trump supporters would have relished some description of the brain tissue of Baghdadi's kids dripping off the ceiling, pieces of their limbs sliding down the walls the odd eyeball still looking at them.
When it comes to emulating his historic heroes he has a way to go but a touch such as naming American victims of executions by the Islamic State was nice.
Quite a peachy performance by the ringmaster in the Big Top.
What chance the author of the demise of Otto Warmbier receiving equally eloquent salutations?
Seems tRump was combobulating, again.
It's a level or few up from "we came, we saw, he died".
and only a level or two below stroking his cheeto while he watches the video
"when Trump reflects"
hilarious
Total load of typical Murican bullshit
"There’s no credible data to prove a successful American raid took place against Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, Russia’s Defense Ministry said. The US coalition didn’t even carry out any airstrikes in Idlib recently.
Moscow pointed out that it recorded no US coalition airstrikes in the Idlib area in northwest Syria on Saturday when the raid was held.
It also rejected Trump’s claims that Russian forces opened up the airspace under its control in Syria to American planes to facilitate the operation against the IS leader.
The ministry questioned the very possibility of al-Baghdadi’s presence in Idlib as the area is held by Al-Qaeda offshoot, Jabhat al-Nusra, who have always been mortal enemies of Islamic State."
https://www.rt.com/russia/471984-trump-russia-baghdadi-killed-syria/
How many times has he been killed already?
At least twice, and counting.
Funny how he was flushed out just as the US was decamping.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/16/russia-claims-it-may-have-killed-isis-leader-abu-bakr-al-baghdadi
Dude's obviously a cat with three to go.
Someone bombed the site of the house where al-Baghdadi lived. Since it was only a few km from Turkish border theres many ways they could have flown to the immediate area or even used so called glide bombs without going through the airspace controlled by Syria /Russia
Why go through the charade of thanking Russia for opening its air space
"Later in his press conference, Trump said Russia allowed US forces to fly through its airspace and that the US government informed Russia that it would “like” the nature of the American mission."
https://www.businessinsider.com.au/trump-thanks-russia-help-mission-kill-abu-bakr-al-baghdadi-2019-10?r=US&IR=T
Mortal enemies, if al Nusra had taken Damascus, it and IS would have merged …
They operated separately because one was fighting Assad and one was fighting the Western Back Iraq regime.
The only player who saw them for what they were was Turkey. Which is why they worked with both.
Unpacking Generalissimo Bonespurs' statement about the raid …
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/10/27/politics/donald-trump-baghdadi-death-isis/index.html
This seems a very good innovation for boaties. I think by the Grey in the West Coast SI would be another place for them.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/401907/cameras-to-help-boaties-over-dangerous-bar-crossings
Not that I could ever see NZTA taking out a judicial review of a decision from its own Minister, but Chris Bishop may well have a point here on light rail; from today's NZHerald:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12280093
From NZInfra: "Prior to submitting our proposal, we discussed it with Sir Brian Roche and Sir Michael Cullen and, together with them, corresponded with and sought meetings with Ministers to explain the concept and our investment.
"There was no invitation from the Government to submit such a proposal nor any pressure to do so."
Cullen said that the Super Fund had initiated the approach.
"The purpose of the January meeting was to try to ensure that the Government was aware that the Super Fund was interested in putting forward a proposal and that space was made to listen to that proposal."
Twyford has subsequently appointed Roche to chair NZTA, but Twyford said there was no conflict of interest "because Sir Brian is not a decision-maker on the light rail project".
National Party transport spokesman Chris Bishop has criticised the process.
"Two years after the Prime Minister made this flagship promise, we have no business case, we have no costings, we have no route map, we don't even have an identification of the objectives of why they're doing it in the first place.
"If the Prime Minister had the courage of her convictions, she would remove Phil Twyford from the portfolio."
Yeah, yeah, Chris Bishop, no business case, no costings, no route map, no budget, big deal.
You've got slimy National bullshit artists saying the current Government killed massive improvements to the highway to Northland which National was implementing.
National election promises became reality and your desperate, sycophantic supporters have ridden a highway of lies since.
So Chris, if business cases, costings, route maps and trivialities like budgeting are a big deal, 1) get your sad mob to shut up and 2) since you're so good at getting headlines, grab some to tell the truth about Warkworth to Whangarei roading.
Plenty more scrutiny to come on this one, even if we don't like where it comes from.
Twyford will now need Cabinet help landing this plane.
Hong Kong – what is happening there and why?
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/oct/16/china-hong-kong-xi-jinping
The problem of open-ended civil unrest in Hong Kong, which has been punctuated by rising acts of violence and vandalism carried out by a distinct but hardline minority, is a reflection of China’s new assertiveness under Xi – an assertiveness that marks a break with the caution of the post-Mao era. It can be seen in Xi’s signature undertaking, the Belt and Road Initiative – an infrastructure building project with global ambitions. Or, most recently, the flaunting of new weapons systems during the military parade commemorating the 70th anniversary of Communist party rule – a declaration of China’s intention to rival American military power more openly than at any time in the recent past.
Under Xi, China has been intervening much more directly in the governance of Hong Kong. The most notable example of this was the abduction to China of Hong Kong booksellers who traded in titles critical of Beijing or historical accounts that undermined Chinese orthodoxy.
Ihumatao – what gives. Had a look and managed to get on a site with a pouting curvy woman with big boobies. It's hard to get through the barriers to real information these days!
17/10/2019 https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2018718179/ihumatao-occupiers-shut-out-of-talks-no-word-from-govt
17/10/2019 https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/116676277/ihumtao-protesters-shut-out-of-government-talks
6/10/2019 https://teaomaori.news/know-were-not-alone-indigenous-canadian-filmmaker-visits-ihumatao
2/10/2019 https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/news/2019/10/02/much-to-learn-from-ah-kaa-ihumatao.html
.
But NZ Initiative are showing how they have joined the list of continuing earthquakes rumbling away, making our lives more uneasy and falling into an irreparable condition.
https://nzinitiative.org.nz/reports-and-media/opinion/property-rights-and-ihumatao-blues/
Property rights and Ihumatao blues: Dr Bryce Wilkinson Insights Newsletter 27 September, 2019
The apparently successful illegal occupation of private property in Auckland’s Ihumātao is potentially a serious setback for the rule of law, and thereby New Zealanders’ wellbeing. Also disturbing are the more immediate implications for Auckland housing and the Treaty of Waitangi claims process.
.
Some points about not rubbishing people when argument and race combine. Another RW from Tauranga totally disparaging about reasonable Maori protests and giving that as a reason why we should be come a Republic (like the great 'America' no doubt).
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/116870443/extreme-positions-on-race-relations-push-common-ground-out-of-reach
What the actual fuck, in your opinion, that she is a "pouting curvy woman with big boobies" have to do with anything?
Jezuz
I agree – wtf indeed
Just a land deal jacked up with guilt cash.
Government pays, Tainui Holdings buys it, and then the protesters can ague with Tainui if any family will get housed there.
I dont see that . The claim is now that its not part of Kawerau a Maki at all but another iwi that hasnt done a treaty settlement.
Which conflicts with this
https://protectingihumatao.nz/
"Ōruarangi will be home to a new neighbourhood that will provide a range of affordable housing for our whanau and new families. The developer Fletcher Building plans to build 480 homes. Around 40 of these will be affordable housing for our people.
Te Kawerau ā Maki has played a key part in the design of the new development. It will reflect our heritage, including walkways that mirror the movements of our tupuna Hape, and parks that resemble our maunga.
KAM acknowlege other iwi and hapū have whakapapa to this whenua .
This could be the loophole to get around the 'settled claim issue' although even the SOUL group when opposing the the Fletcher development in legal proceedings were as Kawerau a Maki.
There will be claim and counter-claim for a while. Then a cash deal.
Sure at a good point before the election, they'll come out singing and Prime Minister Ardern will wrap it up in her most polished of televisual emotions. Singing and orchestrated weeping covers everything.
I see a very high chance of judicial review of any decision – barring some little legislative carve-out – because one Maori group or other will feel slighted.
Ain't no stable truth emerging out of this for a long time.
There are complex relationships with that place. No gain from us talking about it here without the neccessary background understanding, and certainly not with the views of the right-wing
Business RoundtableNZ Initiative added to the bonfire.you forget that those two know next to nothing about it so they must have a say and put their opinions across
So it seems. Statements including the words "I feel" would be more illuminating.
Hoo boy, the end of the video.
For anyone with a taste for homegrown and politically-flavoured Hip Hop; "Bunga" by SWIDT is a must:
The story behind "Bunga":
https://thespinoff.co.nz/music/26-10-2019/swidt-the-most-electrifying-rap-group-in-new-zealand-is-now-the-most-political/
Just give the kids the bloody beads you wankers
Abso-fucking-lutely. The more I take a look at those involved in the provision of public services, the more control-freakery and utter muppetry I seem to encounter.
I guess the 16 year old should gave respected what the police were doing. Eh, Bern.
/
Newly released video shows a Fresno, California, police officer shooting a fleeing, unarmed 16-year-old in the back of the head and then handcuffing the boy as he lies motionless on the ground.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/oct/25/police-shooting-video-isiah-murrietta-golding-fresno-california
I really really hope this shit gets sorted out before my black nephew (currently living in St Louis MO) reaches his teens.
Who would guessed, from NY Times
"1.5 Million Packages a Day: The Internet Brings Chaos to N.Y. Streets"
'The push for convenience is having a stark impact on gridlock, roadway safety and pollution in New York City and urban areas around the world.
One of the issues is they use the public space- streets and footpaths- as sort of warehouse. And apartment buildings which were designed for letters now have an avalanche of packages every day.
"About 15 percent of New York City households receive a package every day, according to the Sustainable Urban Freight Systems center
Where I live with a group of 20 houses , some days I see Uber Eats deliveries multiple times. Even though its about 1 km from 2 supermarkets , a Countdown truck drops off a delivery at least once a week. A neighbour uses Uber for getting to and from work even though a good bus service is 50m away
10 people drive to and from supermarket to shop or one truck delivers, which is more like a bus service …
Thread.
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1188514608056811530.html
They needed Turkey and Russia and Syria to guarantee air movement in and out.
A pay off for handing Turkey, Russia and Syria the territory held by the Kurds?
Speculation that the whole thing was a stitch-up.
In retrospect, it is striking how well Turkish, Russian, American, and Syrian actions fit together, effectively shaping an outcome in concert instead of bouncing off each other and breaking down in chaos.
[…]
Nevertheless, the idea that the carve-up of Syria was the result of sheer improvisation and happenstance is so far-fetched that if you believe it—well, I’ve got a pontoon bridge over the Euphrates to sell you.
https://tcf.org/content/commentary/theres-method-syrias-madness/
I think that is the kind of stuff that goes on behind closed doors.Give me this propaganda coup to offset the Kurd issue.The promise of a homeland for the Kurds was never going to be kept .How could it? Without endless aid and military protection.
And a 10 Kurd minority in control of the richest part of the country in terms of oil fields was never going to sit well with the rest of the population
The Rojava experiment might have sounded cute, so did the kibbutzim for socialist hippies .Didnt turn out so well
Trump gave plenty of warnings he wanted to pull out.Each time he was over ridden
Who knows whos calling the shots on the American side, with the President saying one thing, the CIA another and the Pentagon going its own way .
Now it seems the Americans are going for the oil again. Out and out theft
Only Repugs can fuck around and keep their jobs.
The fall came just as quickly.
Last weekend, the conservative website RedState published a series of articles alleging that Hill had engaged in relationships with a member of her campaign staff and the House staffer. Hill denied the relationship with the House employee, which would be a violation of House rules, but did not deny the relationship with the campaign staff member.
The release of the story, complete with intimate photos of Hill, sparked debate about a double standard in the male-dominated world of political sex scandals, particularly because Hill has blamed Heslep for releasing the photos. Hill’s resignation is likely to bring those questions further out into the open.
On Wednesday, in a letter to constituents, Hill again denied the alleged relationship with the House staff member but acknowledged she was involved in a separate relationship with a member of her campaign staff “during the final tumultuous years of my abusive marriage.”
“I know that even a consensual relationship with a subordinate is inappropriate, but I still allowed it to happen despite my better judgment,” the letter read.
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-10-27/rep-katie-hill-resigns-amid-scandal
That fucking sucks.
Terrible – the right will love this shit and use it again and again…
He is welcome to come and live in NZ but I hope for his sake and the rest of the US he doesn't have to:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12280210
… not to mention for the sake of the rest of world.
Perhaps Comey could take dual citizenship and become our next National Party leader. If we don't allow duality now we can soon change our laws to enable it, flexibility is our name. It would be a fun feather in his cap which Key has shown how to stick in behind the Right band.
Becoming a politician – anywhere – I think would be the last thing James Comey would have in mind. He does not strike me as a political animal. Yes, I think he is probably a conservative thinker but that does not mean he is National Party material.
He comes across to me as a man of integrity who nevertheless, like all of us, is not immune to making mistakes.
Heh.
Seems the Criminal-in-Chief went to a ball game. First they booed him. Then they chanted "lock him up".
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-boos-world-series-nationals_n_5db64153e4b05df62ec1940f
Oh Dear! How Sad! 😂
bit late as been busy, but to joe90 at 2.1.2.2 : I agree with you absolutely about Trump's obscene joy in killing another ( and probably several), whoever it be. His attitude and the proof again of his infantile stage of development is frightening. I turned off all TV and radio today when found the event such a big deal to them too…..also concerning/frightening. I write in sincerity.