A 95-year-old dementia patient is fighting for life after being tasered by police who found her armed with a knife in a nursing home at Cooma in the NSW Snowy region. Only the people who were there know what happened ... witnesses, the Police, and the woman - and there'll...

From the notes I'm receiving this doesn't have unanimous support - here's a good example: As a member of Crim Bar Assoc I cant believe Hallowes believes he can speak/show support on my behalf in regards to political matters. The Victorian Criminal Bar Association supports the proposal to amend the...

https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/changes-if-you-get-family-payments?context=22136#:~:text=From%2010%20July%202023%2C%20if,from%2085%25%20to%2090%25. Families taking in more than half a million a year DON'T NEED HANDOUTS.

The debate about how our data is used is a valuable one, but a more substantial one can only be had once we stop seeing the internet as an immaterial flow of information and begin to see it as a vast material infrastructure, with equally vast resources demands and its own environmental impacts. We need to understand the construction of smart technology and the Internet of Things as coming from mines running on slave labour, lakes of toxic sludge, data centres with militarised security, and will possibly result in a second scramble for Africa.

The post Materialising the internet (of things) appeared first on Overland literary journal.

by Mary W Maxwell, LLB (Adel)

Good day, attendees of this session of the Brisbane District Court. I am Judge Ermine.

The case before us is The King versus Patrick ODea and Russell Pridgeon. The prosecutor for Queensland, please stand, is Miss Karen Grace Brumby. The defendants, please stand, are self-representing. Please be seated.

Audio recording is permitted; photographing is prohibited. As one of the defendants is hard of hearing. I have ordered a screen to placed in front of him with an instant printout of what is being said. If it fails to work, he should signal the bailiff.

This is the peoples court and it is also th...

The sneaky left ACT Government has very quietly 'temporarily' replaced him..

The sexist sisterhood is alive and well in the NSW Greens. Not one male MP. Where are the sexism "callers out"?? Disgusting. Feeling physically sick. Vagina festival. etc

Another blow for Albanese's Vanity Voice - Rugby supports it Today's full page ad in the Financial Review - it's as if the timing of announcements among the codes is co-ordinated! The Vanity Voice has all the kinds of people and organisations supporting it that leave regular Australians a little...

In cinemas today.

Contributed by Jim Hayes

A group of 256 former world leaders has called for the world to get nuclear arms control back on track, in an open letter to be delivered to this weeks G7 meeting in Japan. Having the names of 6 former heads of state, 20 cabinet-level ministers and experts from 50 different countries including China, Russia and the US lends weight to this initiative.

Japanese prime minister, Fumio Kishida, who is from Hiroshima, the victim of a nuclear bomb during the closing of World War Two, has called for the worlds powers to at least agree to a timetable for a roadmap to renew arms control talks.

Photo by Richard A Brooks/AFP/Getty: The Peace Memorial Park and the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima, where the G7 meeting is taking place

On 8 April 2010 the United States and Russia signed what is called the New Start II treaty, which replaced the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty of 1991. It did not work, because the United States failed to keep up its side of the agreement. The first treaty, renamed Start1, expired in 2009.

The two powers were supposed to engage on partial denuclearisation, while still maintaining formidable stocks. A major problem was that the terms imposed by the United States on a weakened Russia after the collapse of the soviet union, ensured that it would maintain a superior position in ter...

This is a very good interview. A mature adult conversation for a change.

Often I find Fox, for example, unbearable. Too much hysterics, too many loud aggressive voices. Not enough respect and patience with people being interviewed.

I dont watch any of the leftwing media in Australia and America. Too woke. Too much leftwing propaganda. Too much gay propaganda.

May 18, 2023

Heres another garbage documentary on Hillsong. By SBS Australia. Media are going nuts over Hillsong.

SBS Australia is supposed to be a multi-cultural tolerant government funded Australian media. In reality, SBS like ABC Australia, another government funded media is leftwing, Woke and intolerant of conservative Bible believing Christians.

This SBS documentary features a Pentecostal Christian who went gay. Another Tony Venn-Brown type. Theyre always so bitter. And so deluded from a Biblical point of view. I really find it very hard to listen to, watch or read about their moanings and tripe.

And they attack the Jesus, the Holy Bible and Biblical things. So from a Christian point of view theyre really agents of the Devil.

We must be very careful when and how wee criticise Christians and the Christian Church.

Sure Brian Houston and his fellow Prosperity Gospel pastors worldwide are apostates, scammers, charlatans and are preaching another gospel, as the Apostle Paul put it.

Christian evangelism, Christian meetings, Bible studies, being filled with the Holy Spirit, divine healings, speaking in tongues, casting out demons and so on are all great New Testament things.

In the article below we read a lot of delusional tri...

Every now and then, the sharpened, dedicated means of halting a monstrous white elephant before its birth can work. The wise suddenly seem in charge, conscious and aware that folly can be averted. This, however, is a rare feat indeed. In Tasmania protests of some magnitude against a proposed stadium for Australian Rules Football are starting to have some effect. These have taken place against a dark backdrop: a persistent, critical housing crisis; the presence of homelessness; concerns about food and energy security, and healthcare.

On May 13, thousands gathered on Hobarts parliamentary lawns protesting the $715 million proposal that envisages a redevelopment of the Macquarie Point precinct, a rather disingenuous justification to build a needless 23,000-seat structure on prime real estate using public funds. The package totalling $745 million, also envisages upgrades for York Park (UTAS Stadium) in Launceston.

A conspicuous figure present at the protests was one of Australias more prominent authors, Richard Flanagan. As he wrote in The Age last month, Tasmania, and its population of 550,000 people, has two stadiums where AFL games are routinely played. Tasmania doesnt have a stadium problem. It has a housing and homelessness problem. Rents in Australias poorest state have almost doubled over the last five years; affordable properties were elusive to those on Youth Allowance and JobSeeker.

In its myopic vision and scope, the stadium could be said, argues Flanagan, to be a symbol of government inaction on these issues that blight Australias smallest state. In addition to housing, it has Australias worst public health system, and, with 50 per cent illiteracy, a public education problem.

Also present at the protest was federal Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie, who proved to be both colourful and agitated. Tasmanians, she declared in her address to the crowd, have had a bloody gutful over the stadium and you can stick it up your bum.

In what must surely be considered an act of self-harm, the Tasmanian Liberals also find themselves in a governing minority largely because of Premier Jeremy Rockliffs edifice fetish. A day before the large protests, Liberal backbenchers John Tucker and Lara Alexander quit the party. As Alexander reasoned, The proposed shady deal to build a stadium in Hobart has sharply divided the community. While she did not often agree with her opposite nu...

Dictator Daniel Andrews has hosted a child grooming event inside Parliament House!!! A groomer event...

Introduction by DM

The Durham report lays out that the government had very little to go on when it opened the Crossfire Hurricane investigation and that it may have been done due to hostile feelings by higher-ups in the FBI. Indeed, the report says that the

speed and manner in which the FBI opened and investigated Crossfire Hurricane during the presidential election season based on raw, unanalyzed, and uncorroborated intelligence also reflected a noticeable departure from how it approached prior matters involving possible attempted foreign election interference plans aimed at the Clinton campaign.

...

THE Black Dog Institute welcomes the Albanese Governments first full Federal Budget which included $586.9 million in new funding for mental health as well as $14.6 billion in cost-of-living support. 

Helping people meet their basic needs feeding their family, having a roof over their heads, keeping the lights on is as much a mental health measure as it is economic,

Black Dog Institutes First Nations Director Clinton Shultz said the Institute welcomed the $10.5 million in new funding towards supporting the social and emotional wellbeing of First Nations people in the lead up to, during and following the Voice referendum. 

First Nations people are already feeling the impact of the referendum debate. Weve seen increased distress in communities around our country, Mr Shultz said. 

We hope this funding can be used to both understand and prevent social and emotional impacts to First Nations people, not only during the Voice debate but through the whole implementation of the Uluru statement including Truth and Treaty processes. 

The Black Dog Institute welcomes funding for The Essential Network (TEN), providing a tailored mental health service for frontline healthcare workers and the National Emergency Worker Support Service (NEWSS) a mental health service for employed or volunteer first responders, including police, fire, ambulance, maritime rescue

FOLLOWING another riot at the notorious Banksia Hill Youth Detention Centre, the union that represents prison guards has added its voice to those calling for a change in the way youth justice is approached in Western Australia. 

Aboriginal, legal and health experts and the CPSU/CSA all say the problems at Banksia Hill have been well documented and represent a failure of government policy and investment. 

The latest major disturbance started after a number of detainees escaped their cells on Tuesday night and gained access to the grounds of the centre before climbing onto the roof. 

The riot was brought to a close after armed officers were sent in. 

Premier Mark McGowan said the behaviour of the youths was a form of terrorism and activists should not make excuses for them. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar said the premiers response wasnt good enough. 

Here was an opportunity for us to acknowledge the depth of the issues and the problems that are leading to why these children are in Banksia Hill in the first place and why theyre on the

A CROSS-PARTY parliamentary committee has backed laws setting up a referendum to enshrine an Indigenous Voice in the constitution. 

The inquiry report, released on Friday, said the need for constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is unquestionable.

Witnesses spoke about the torment of powerlessness, how it impacts Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and threatens to affect their childrens lives, and their children, the report said.

They spoke about the potential for a Voice to overcome this powerlessness. 

While some witnesses raised concerns regarding certain aspects of the legislation, the committee is satisfied that the constitution alteration is not only fit for purpose but also will enhance Australias systems of governance and laws, the report said. 

The committee has only one recommendation: the passage of the constitution alteration, unamended.

Committee chair and Labor senator Nita Green noted the late Indigenous leader Yunupingu called for an honest answer from the Australian people to an honest question. 

This is an honest question; it is now time for the Australian people to be given the opportunity to provide an honest

A TOP-LEVEL national Indigenous surfing event will mark its 10th year this month, cementing itself as the premier event in its field. 

The Australian Indigenous Surfing Titles will mark its return to Djarrak/Bells Beach on Wadawurrung Country on Victorias Surf Coast.

The event brings together First Nations surfers from across the country including Western Australia, Queensland, NSW, South Australia and Victoria. 

Surfing Victoria is excited to welcome back the Australian Indigenous Surfing Titles to Bells Beach/Djarrak, Surfing Victoria chief executive Adam Robertson said.

The event is an incredible showcase of First Nations surfers and a true gathering of surfers from around the country.

Divisions at the AISTs including Open-age men and women, junior boys and girls under-18s, over- 35s, Elders longboard. 

Were excited to welcome the leading First Nations surfers to Djarrak for the Australian 

Indigenous Surfing Titles, Surf Coast Shire mayor Liz Pattison said. 

As a council, we support events that encourage people to stay longer on the Surf Coast in our off-peak season, and appreciate and care for this place. Its exactly what these national titles do, welcoming top First Nations surfers from across Australia to connect with each other and connect with

Former Australian Cricketer Ian Healy quite rightly asks - why has the rugby league media in Sydney gone soft on one of their own, Paul Kent and his arrest on domestic violence and choking allegations? The footballers, cricketers, and celebrities they frequently cover don't get the same treatment: https://twitter.com/SENQLD/status/1658261063941623808?s=20 Healy...

Remember when Cricket used to be a national unity game? Everyone who cared went for the national team. Those who didnt care, tolerated it through the Summer. Now the game has become a vehicle for attention seeking minorities, taking a knee, and celebrating fringe causes. Get ready for crickets proud...

Richard Boyle is a whistle-blower who is being railroaded by the Australian Federal Parliament and the following text is basically all about de-railing that criminal abuse of public office by insisting that the prosecution subpoena me.

Posting short link: https://wp.me/p1n8TZ-3hA

As this website reveals, I have been a whistle-blower for many years and the best way to deal with overt process corruption, is to confront it head-on, which is precisely what this email to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions is all about. The message is very simple the prosecution of Richard Boyle could bring down the Federal Parliament.

The Assistant Director-CDPP (Adelaide)
Via email: adelaide@cdpp.gov.au

CC: Steven Millsteed KC
smillsteed@bjennings.com.au

CC: Counsellor Lauren Gavranich,
lgavranich@ebchambers.com.au...

On a recent trip to my local shopping centre (one of those monolithic structures so big it has its own postcode) I was shocked to discover that the fashions of the 80s were back!

Despite the hefty price tag and designer labels on many items, I still couldnt comprehend it. I mean, the gear we wore in the eighties wasnt that great then I cant imagine what has prompted its resurgence! Either Ive been avoiding fashion for too long (and just about anyone who knows me would agree with that), or it is true what they say fashion and trends do go in cycles.

This got me thinking about garden trends and design styles, and the recent flurry of interest I have had in the construction of no dig gardens. Daily, my inbox is full of requests for information on no dig gardens what are they, how do they work, why are they so good, and, most importantly, how to construct them. And, just like that dreaded eighties fashion, no dig gardens have come back into vogue.

But, despite what many people may think, they are not a new concept. No dig gardens have in fact been documented since the 1800s, but the pioneer of the no-dig gardening concept is Masanobu Fukuoka of Japan, through his excellent 1953 book entitled The One-Straw Revolution. Mr Fukuoka, we salute you!

What is No Dig Gardening?

As the name suggests, no-dig gardening is all about going up, rather than down, essentially a patch above ground. Although it can be known by a number of different names, no-dig gardens are definitely NOT no-work gardens! Yes, there may be less work in setting up a no-dig patch (as opposed to the traditional dig down style of garden) but its important to remember that all gardens, particularly edible ones, require on-going maintenance, monitoring and work. Think above-ground pool vs. in-ground pool they all need work to keep them looking good, but it is somewhat easier to install an above ground pool.

Why we love them

There are so many things to love about no-dig vegetable gardens, so lets start from the ground up! No-dig veggie gardens are fantastic in Australia, as a great deal of our soil is nutrient deficient, hard to work and somewhat inhospitable to our favourite herbs and vegetables. As these raised beds do not require the soil beneath them to be dug over before installation, the risk of damage to the structure of the soil is minimised (especially important on clay soils).

Construction of these types of gardens has the two-fold advantage of both protecting and improving the...

Biden should reach out to Canada and Australia's leaders and learn from their experiences in dealing with the CCPs political interference.

 this is real progress on props.  we are getting it now because we can use 3d printing to mock up trial props for testing.  In the past it meant cranking up the machining tools and every best guess was only so good.

I do think that the big market will be in the water.  They have to find a way to cast them and finish with machining.  Yet every outboard needs this and every power boat.  That number is actually finite and we can tune them with printed props in order to get them right.  Then apply speed with metal and perhaps some trim then

We have needed a better prop solution forever.

In an incredible feat, Australia has managed to recover at least 29 different animals after undergoing a rather large-scale research project study where they were able to officially remove them from the endangered species list.

This list, also known as Australias Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act has at least 446 species of different animals that require immediate care and protection at the moment, however now, at least 29 species are now no longer on that list. According to the report, these include 15 mammals, 8 birds, 4 frogs, a reptile and a fish.

Some of these critters are the golden, Western barred, and Eastern barred bandicoots, Western quoll, sooty albatross, waterfall frog, Flinders Range worm-lizard, yellow-footed rock wallabies, greater bilby, humpback whale,...

READ MORE AT BINARY At last Australians are waking up to the danger of Drag...

Despite what you may think, direct mail marketing is far from dead. Although many have come to think of it as outdated, it remains one of the most effective marketing strategies thanks to its ability to capture your markets attention.

Because direct mail isnt as common as it used to be, people are paying more attention to the mail that they do receive. This means that your direct mail marketing campaign has a higher chance of standing out to its recipients and a higher chance of an impressive ROI.

But how do you go about creating a truly successful direct mail campaign? Lets take a look at the steps to take in order to launch an effective campaign that makes an impression and helps your business grow.

Create Your Mailing List

When deciding on your mailing list, we recommend following the 40-40-20 rule. This rule dictates that the success of your direct mail campaign is determined by the following factors:

• Your audience 40%
• Your offer 40%
• Your execution 20%

With this in mind, its always a good idea to start off your campaign by coming up with your mailing list. After all, if you get your target audience wrong, your work will most likely go to waste and it wont matter how much time and effort you put into your offer or the execution.

Set some time aside to think about who youd like to offer your services to. Is it other businesses? Pre-existing customers that youd like to entice back to your business? Take some time to consider these factors and always make sure the addresses on your mailing list are both formatted and spelt correctly. 81% of Australians open and read their mail immediately, so with the right mailing list, youre sure to make an impression on countless prospective clients.

Decide On a Format

Direct mail is available in all different shapes and sizes, so take a look at your budget and marketing goals to determine which option will work best for your campaign. Some of the most common mailer types include:

• Postcards: Postcards are generally 46 inches and are a very popular direct mailing format. Cost-effective and convenient, postcards are commonly used to promote events, announcements and new products and services.
• Brochures and catalogues: A fantastic way to highlight y...

By Andy May This is the text of my presentation on Tom Nelsons podcast which can be viewed here. The question and answers start at about 18:15 into the interview.

In the coming months, AFSA will be rolling out a series of informative blog posts around the language of food sovereignty. To begin, heres an introductory look at key differences between agroecology and regen ag, where we address semantics and distinctions to grow our movement.

...

WALKING to Mount Everest base camp was something that Waanyi and Kalkadoon man Joshua Creamer just had to do.

With no prior training, the Brisbane barrister took on one of the biggest challenges of his life as a reset. 

My youngest brother committed suicide after having mental health battles and it was pretty brutal getting through this year, Joshua said. 

Sorry business knocks you out and I needed to challenge myself physically and mentally. 

Id never aspired to do Mount Everest before, but Id been watching the TV series Alone, where people survive in the wilderness. 

I knew I needed a reset and I thought Im going to do
this.

So, within the week, he bought hiking gear and jumped on a plane to Nepal. 

I didnt do much research before I went, or I would have scared myself, Joshua laughed. 

Leaving his Brisbane-based legal practice, his wife and children, Joshua caught a small plane to Lukla the worlds most dangerous airport. 

I was sitting on the plane behind the pilot and the whole time the plane sounded like its going to crash, he said.

I thought am I going to die here? 

More on this story in our current edition.

Neurofibromatosis (NF) awareness month in May is an important event for those living with a condition that has been in the shadows for too long. A debilitating and unpredictable condition, NF is one of Australias most common genetic neurological disorders. Over 10,000 Australians are affected by NF, and yet awareness surrounding it is still very low. To shine a light on this disease and acknowledge the struggle of all affected by it, over 100 of Australias most prominent landmarks and buildings will light up blue and green on 17 May. 

Neurofibromatosis is a group of genetic disorders that manifest differently in every individual, however, it can cause tumours, hearing loss, blindness, physical variations, abnormalities in the bones, learning difficulties, chronic pain, and cancer. People born with NF require constant care, and unfortunately, there is not yet a cure for this condition. Scientists have struggled for many years to understand the intricacies of this complicated disease, and many questions still remain to be answered. 

The Childrens Tumour Foundation (CTF) is currently helping to raise awareness surrounding NF, through continuing advocacy, campaigns and crucial fundraising activities. During this years NF Awareness Month, events and activities include the Shine a Light on NF light displays, a virtual...

While some aspects of her work can be challenging, including the English nationalism of Swastika Night, Katharione Burdekin's bold speculations were extraordinary for the periodas is the fact that she got them into print with major publishers, to appreciative reviews. As a writer on gender Burdekin is even more relevant in our troubled times. Her words, her ideas, retain their danger now.

The post A Handmaids Tale with Nazis: the enduring message of Katharine Burdekins Swastika Night appeared first on Overland literary journal.

Therapeutic Albo will rue the day he appointed Kevin Rudd to be Australiaa ambassador in Washington. Is this Kevins first stuff up since his appointment to the US? While Rudd does selfies, Albo has been humiliated with a cancellation of a visit of Joe Biden, only hours after Albo put...

From the ABC's Victorian State Political Reporter. Of course.

From the Australian Jewish Association. LABOR SENATOR FATIMA PAYMAN MOURNS ISRAEL'S CREATION Several Labor and Greens MPs and Senators have taken part in events to mourn Israel's creation. Here, Senator Payman appears with a map of Israel, overlaid with the word 'Nakba' or catastrophe. The Senator came to Australia after...

When people think of scammers, many might have the idea in mind that sophisticated hooks are embedded in emails or websites or smartphone related communications.

But scammers have gone 'old school' for quite some time.

Scammers have enlisted Australia Post to deliver their fraudulent message (fake envelope on the right), as they have done so for over a decade in relation to another scam that the government has failed to act on, early in the piece, where some people are still receiving those types of letters.

In relation to the Telstra scam, the scammers have gotten hold of the customer's full name and address, stating that they have been trying to contact that person.

In the letter, there is a phone number which the scammers are in possession of, in order to steal more information to commit fraud.

Scammers have used Australia Post previously to con businesses to 'renew' their internet domain name.

The scammer's letter looks like it's a renewal for the targeted business, where in the scam letter there will be number zero (0), instead of the letter 'O', or any other character that will be different from the legitimately registered internet address.

See post:

Domain Name Group Fraud

Thank you Andrew. See https://www.facebook.com/QldEnvironment After the first four comments happened they had to shut it down because things definitely werent going their way.

by Mary W Maxwell, LLB

Since 2005, I have known about extreme child abuse, thanks to Carol Rutz. She spoke at a meeting in Connecticut, under the auspices of Neil Brick at SMART, which has hosted survivors conferences since 1998. After then reading Rutzs book, A Nation Betrayed, I read Kathleen Sullivans Unshackled, and this prompted me to run for Congress in 2006 from the state of New Hampshire.

The goal of the article at hand is twofold: to show how the Internet enables persons with a grievance in one country to get help from abroad, and to make an outline of what is involved in chil...

In an April 17, 2023, opinion piece in STAT News,¹ Dr. Peter Lurie and Beth Ellikidis argue for the genetic engineering of food, claiming newer technologies can make highly targeted changes at the base-pair level one specific rung on the DNA ladder enhancing precision and reducing the likelihood of off-target effects in which the base pairs are unintentionally added to or deleted from the genome.

While targeted genetic engineering is indeed possible, and modern technology lowers the likelihood of unintentional additions or deletions, this precision does not guarantee there wont be adverse effects. One of the reasons for this is because many genes are multifunctional and can have multiple downstream effects.^2,3

By altering a single gene, you can inadvertently affect the expression of hundreds of others. Whats more, the multifunctionality of genes is rarely intuitive. So, while it may seem convenient to genetically engineer cows without horns to prevent injury to other cows and farmhands, as suggested by Lurie and Ellikidis, theres no telling what that tweak might do to internal organs or biological pathways.

In turn, theres no guarantee that cascading effects will not alter the nutrition of the meat or dairy that comes from that cow. Maybe itll be fine, maybe it wont. The problem is that, oftentimes with genetically engineered foods, safety testing is minimal or absent.

Who Do Lurie and Ellikidis Answer To?

When assessing the trustworthiness of people, it can be worthwhile to look at their funding and various partnerships. In the case of Lurie and Ellikidis, both are in league with Bill Gates and other Great Resetters that are pushing to replace all natural foods with patentable, genetically modified foods.

Lurie a former FDA associate commissioner is the president of the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). In the summer of 2020, Lurie launched a comprehensive campaign to put Mercola.com out of business by sending the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission after us based on bogus charges.

CSPI is funded by the Rockefeller Foundation, the Rockefeller Family Fund, Bloomberg Philanthropies and other billionaire-owned foundations. Its also partnered with the Cornell Alliance for Science, a global communications initiative whose primary funding comes from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Greg Jaffe, who heads up CSPIs Biotechnology Project, is also the associate director of legal affairs at Alliance for Science.

Considering those ties, the CSPIs long history of promoting industry scien...

Link READ MORE AT XYZ Australians have been shocked by footage on social media of...

Contributed by Joe Montero

New Parliamentary Budget Office costings on the Stage Three Tax Cuts, which had been requested by the Greens, has revealed that the cost is rising and now sits at $20 billion for the first year (2024), and will increase each financial year to $42 billion in 2033-34. This is a total of $313 billion, and it is likely to end up costing even more.

Any decent and caring human being should be moved to anger and turn their back on anyone who promotes this obscenity.

The numbers speak for themselves. They reveal how much that small group at the top of the income pyramid is taking, and how little everyone else is getting in the face of an ongoing rise in the cost of living. Those in the middle get small shift in the tax margins, and what they gain is a sop that will soon be taken over by inflation. The share of national income will keep on flowing outwards. Those on annual incomes less than $45,000 get nothing. The screws will continue to tighten on government expenditure on services that benefit the majority.

Pocketing the money are those with incomes over $180,000 a year. Most of this will go to a much smaller group of billionaires. The much larger group in the middle-income range will be given a sop through modest marginal tax bracket adjustments. Not big enough to deliver any real change, and this will soon be eaten away by inflation. Those with an income below 45,000 a year will get absolutely nothing.

Its those down the pyramid who will be paying the cost to line the pockets of those at the top of it, through the taxes they pay, and in the absence of services that could otherwise have been provided with this money.

For example, the money could have been used to lift those liv...

State Member for Lismore, Janelle Saffin, says the NSW Country Womens Association (CWA) voted at its recent AGM to oppose waste-to-energy incinerators.

A waste-to-energy incinerator proposal for the Richmond Valley Jobs Precinct in Casino prompted local resistance, after a similar plan was rejected in Western Sydney owing to air pollution impacts. The Casino proposal, under the previous LiberalsNational government, came without any community consultation.

Additionally Casino, Lithgow, Goulburn and Parkes were locations excluded from a state-wide incinerator ban by the then NSW government.      

Ms Saffin said the Tabulam branch put the motion, which was one of several successful motions from the North Coast Group at the AGM in Bathurst this month.

She says, The CWA has adopted a policy to advocate for the newly elected NSW government to rescind its decision to establish waste-to-energy incinerators, and instead immediately introduce technology and waste reduction programs that use methods...

Hoffnung im Jemen

In der saudischen Hafenmetropole Jiddah stand bereits gestern bei den Gesprchen von Auenministerin Annalena Baerbock mit ihrem saudischen Amtskollegen Faisal bin Farhan der Krieg im Jemen zwischen den Huthi und dem von Saudi-Arabien gesttzten Regime auf der Tagesordnung. Mit dessen Auenminister Ahmad Awad bin Mubarak wird Baerbock heute Gesprche fhren. Die Vereinten Nationen bezifferten die Kriegstoten im Jemen schon Ende 2021 auf rund 377.000; 60 Prozent davon seien durch indirekte Kriegsfolgen Hunger, Krankheiten zu Tode gekommen.[1] Saudi-Arabien, eine der Hauptkriegsparteien, konnte sich bei seinen militrischen Operationen im Jemen sowie bei der Durchsetzung seiner Hungerblockade gegen die jemenitischen Huthi auch auf deutsche Waffen sttzen (german-foreign-policy.com berichtete [2]). Inzwischen wchst die Hoffnung, der Krieg knne sich dem lange ersehnten Ende nhern. Ursache ist die Annherung zwischen Saudi-Arabien und Iran, die im Jemen jeweils verfeindete Kriegsparteien sttzten. Die saudisch-iranische Annherung wiederum, die jetzt einen Ausgleich auch im Jemen mglich erscheinen lsst, wurde erst durch chinesische Vermittlung mglich gemacht, gegen Widerstand aus dem Westen.[3] Auch Berlin hat Annherung und Entspannung nicht untersttzt.

Krieg im Sudan

Gegenstand der Gesprche zwischen Baerbock und Bin Farhan war zudem der Brgerkrieg im Sudan. Zwar ist der Sonderbeauftragte des UN-Generalsekretrs fr Sudan und Leiter der UN-Mission UNITAMS, der ehemalige SWP-Direktor Volker Perthes, in Berlin bestens vernetzt. Doch verfgt die Bundesrepublik in Sudan selbst nur ber wenig Einfluss. Whrend die beiden Brgerkriegsparteien jeweils von verschiedenen arabischen Staaten untersttzt werden die regulren Streitkrfte unter General Abdel Fattah al Burhan von den in gypten herrschenden Militrs, die Rapid Support Forces (RSF) unter Mohamed Hamdan Hemedti Dagalo von den Vereinigten Arabischen Emiraten [4] , gilt Saudi-Arabien als Macht, die annhernd gleiche Distanz zu beiden Seiten wahrt und daher als etwaiger Vermittler in Frage kommt. Riad ist es gelungen, die Evakuierung von ungefhr 8.000 Menschen ber die Hafenstadt Port Sudan nach Jiddah zu organisieren; es hat Verhandlungen zwischen beiden Brgerkriegsparteien ebenfalls in Jiddah abgehalten, bei denen ab dem 6. Mai einige Regeln zum Schutz von Zivilpersonen festgelegt wurden.[5] Dabei hat Riad die Verhandlungen gemeinsam mit Washington gefhrt, das bemht ist, seinen zuletzt schwindenden Einfluss in der Region zurckzugewinnen. Baerbock war gestern ihrerseits um Einfluss bemht.

Normalisierung in Syrien

Heute wird Baerbock zu weiteren Gesprchen im Emirat Qatar eintreffen. Dort steht unter anderem die Entwicklung in Syrien auf dem Programm. Im Nahen und Mittleren Osten schreitet mittlerweile nach dem Scheitern der vom Westen angefhrten Versuche, Prsident Bashar al Assad zu strzen, die Normalisierung der....

Says plenty about how in the loop Albo really is. Tues 1030pm : Albanese press release announcing Biden is coming. 5am Wed - Biden calls. Not coming. Biden and Albo : Two idiots. President Biden called me this morning to discuss his upcoming visit to Australia. The President apologised that...

ASIA:

Chinas industrial output and retail sales growth in April fell short of expectations, indicating a loss of momentum in the economy at the beginning of the second quarter. This has increased pressure on policymakers to support the post-COVID recovery. The data also revealed a further decline in property investment, raising concerns about the outlook for the worlds second-largest economy. Industrial output grew by 5.6% compared to the previous year, lower than the anticipated 10.9% increase. However, it was the fastest growth rate since September 2022. Retail sales, on the other hand, increased by 18.4%, the highest since March 2021, but still lower than the expected 21.0% growth. These year-on-year figures were influenced by the strict lockdowns and restrictions imposed in major cities in April 2022 due to the pandemic, which severely impacted Chinas growth in the previous year.

The major Asian stock markets had a mixed day today:

• NIKKEI 225 increased 216.65 points or 0.73% to 29,842.99
• Shanghai decreased 19.75 points or -0.60% to 3,290.99
• Hang Seng increased 7.12 points or 0.04% to 19,978.25
• ASX 200 decreased 32.40 points or -0.45% to 7,234.70
• Kospi increased 0.89 points or 0.04% to 2,480.24
• SENSEX decreased 413.24 points or -0.66% to 61,932.47
• Nifty50 decreased 112.35 points or -0.61% to 18,286.50

The major Asian currency markets had a mixed day today:

• AUDUSD decreased 0.00416 or -0.62% to 0.66564
• NZDUSD decreased 0.00125 or -0.20% to 0.62275
• USDJPY increased 0.515 or 0.38% to 136.625
• USDCNY increased 0.03412 or 0.49% to 6.99342

Precious Metals:

• Gold decreased 22.9 USD/t oz. or -1.13% to 1,997.70
• Silver decreased 0.444 USD/t. oz or -1.84% to 23.666

Some economic news from last night:

China:

Fixed Asset Investment (YoY) (Apr) decreased from 5.1% to 4.7%

Industrial Production (YoY) (Apr) increased from 3.9% to 5.6%

Chinese Industrial Production YTD (YoY) (Apr) increased from 3.0% to 3.6%

Chinese Unemployment Rate (Apr) decreased from 5.3% to 5.2%

Australia:

Westpac Consumer Sentime...

<p><p>Welcome to <a href= "https://www.thelastamericanvagabond.com/daily-wrap-up/" rel= "nofollow noopener" style="color: #ff0000;" title= "This link will take you away from steemit.com">The Daily Wrap Up</a>, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (5/15/23).<br> As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth is, or claiming they have the answer, is likely leading you astray, for one reason or another. Stay Vigilant.<br> (<a href= "https://www.rokfin.com/TLAVagabond">https://www.rokfin.com/TLAVagabond</a>)(<a href="https://www.bitchute.com/channel/24yVcta8zEjY/">https://www.bitchute.com/channel/24yVcta8zEjY/</a>)<br> !function(r,u,m,b,l,e){r._Rumble=b,r[b]||(r[b]=function(){(r[b]._=r[b]._||[]).push(arguments);if(r[b]._.length==1){l=u.createElement(m),e=u.getElementsByTagName(m)[0],l.async=1,l.src="https://rumble.com/embedJS/u2q643"+(arguments[1].video?'.'+arguments[1].video:'')+"/?url="+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+"&args="+encodeURIComponent(JSON.stringify([].slice.apply(arguments))),e.parentNode.insertBefore(l,e)}})}(window, document, "script", "Rumble");<br> <br>  <br> <br> Rumble("play", {"video":"v2lkatw","div":"rumble_v2lkatw"});<br> <br> Video Source Links (In Chronological Order)<br> <br> <br> <br> <a href="https://tlavfreespeech.itemorder.com/shop/home/">The Last American Vagabond - Free Speech Absolutist | Big Frog Beaverton | powered by OrderMyGear</a><br> <a href="https://truthclothing.io/collections/tlav">THE LAST AMERICAN VAGABOND Truth Revolution Clothing</a><br> <a href= "https://thelastamericanvagabond.locals.com/post/4011202/the-azov-patriot-front-agenda-did-depleted-uranium-explode-in-ukraine-is-it-dangerous"> (10) The Azov-Patriot Front Agenda, Did Depleted Uranium ... - thelastamericanvagabond Community</a><br> <a href= "https://www.thelastamericanvagabond.com/us-govs-toxic-legacy/">US Gov's Toxic Legacy, The War On America Domestic Terrorism, E-Verify & The Partisan Trap
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(30) Decensored News on Twitter: " WATCH - Certain tweets by Gab CEO @BasedTorba appear to be censored when searching his account namely the ones where he responded to Musk directly &amp; rebutted his recent claims about why Twitter supposedly had to censor for the Turkish government, &amp; other such commentary. https://t.co/hNpljq8mBP" / Twitter</a><br> <a href= "https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/elon-musk-gives-government-pressure-censors-tweets-before-turkey-election-1715817">...

I just love it when all the media political pundits and talk show hosts ( News Talk?) throw out that word Democracy. You dont have to go to a ranch to find more bull excrement than that. Folks, this is not a democracy and probably never was one, all the way back to our founding. Why? MONEY MONEY MONEY is the answer. As long as the masters of our republic keep allowing private money into electoral politics you will continue to smell that bull excrement period!

The Open Secrets site follows the flow of money in political campaigns. After reading the enclosed data you may see why so many of our fellow citizens do not even bother to vote. Not good to do, but here is why, according to 2022 figures:

The average House of Representatives winner spent upwards close to $ 3 million. The loser spent on average around $800k.

The average Senate winner spent over $26 million. The loser spent around 1/2 of that ($13 million)

In my state of Florida DeSantis spent around $200 million. Democrat Charlie Crist spent $31 million, and people wonder why there was such a LANDSLIDE.

In 2022, 384 incumbents ran for re-election in the House 359 won!!

In 2022, 28 incumbents ran for re-election in the Senate 28 won!

If Claude Rains from the film Casablanca was monitoring things for our elections he would have said: I am shocked! There is massive spending going on here!

Statewide and local citywide races are not really different. If someone wishes to run for just about any elected office, where they allow party affiliations, if you are not from one of the Two Party/One Party gangs, then forget it buster! Oh yes, the only exclusion is for someone to be super duper wealthy enough to spend his or her own money to equal that of the other two gangsters. Or have some very very rich friends. If you cannot get your name and ideas out to the general public with an equally massive staff and volunteers. No way Jose! Money talks and everyone else walks! Is that what we want, super rich people being the only ones outside of the Two Party/One Party scam to win office?

In 1997, this writer was living in Indianapolis, Indiana. I was active in street protests against the empire, on both foreign and domestic issues. I was also a writer for a progressive weekly and was lucky to interview attorney Ed Garvey from Wisconsin. He was travelling the nation promoting the just passed Maine Clean Election Laws. In Maine, they actually were able to legislate some form of public funding of statewide elections. Candidates could decide to forego accepting private donations and rely on the small amounts of public funding for their campaigns. Obviously, their Republican and Democrat competitors would still outspend them...

By Liz Remmerswaal, Vice President of World BEYOND War, May 16, 2023

Peace Witness features those who stand up to be counted as advocating for nonviolent ways of resolving conflict.

SONIA SMITH:

The post Audio: New Episodes of Peace Witness with Liz Remmerswaal appeared first on World BEYOND War.

We all know about the danger of a future society where we're all tracked everywhere we go every single day in real time by our phones or devices . . . but actually, it's worse than that! You're already being tracked everywhere you go, every day, and it doesn't matter whether you leave your phone at home just as long as you bring your face. Today on #SolutionsWatch, James explores some of the options that are on the table for heading off the facial recognition dystopia.

This summer marks a year since Ukraine became an official candidate for European Union (EU) membership under an accelerated process following Russias invasion. Kyiv currently sits at the doorstep of the negotiations stage, which could start this year according to EU officials. Historically, this stage is the longest, most technical, and bureaucratic part of the process, requiring extensive reforms under the Copenhagen criteria a set of political, legal, and economic membership conditions.

In June 2022, the European Commission recommended granting Ukraine candidate status with an understanding that Kyiv must implement seven steps to strengthen anti-corruption and rule of law standards. Kyiv recently stated that it has complied with each of these conditions. The decision now lies with the EU, who must determine if Ukraine fulfilled basic requirements before the rigid negotiation process can start.

While Ukraines progress from applicant to candidate status was rapid, advocates should temper expectations for subsequent steps toward membership; they will not be as swift or simple. Kyiv could be caught in pre-negotiation limbo akin to current Western Balkan EU hopefuls. For reference, it took Belgrade and Podgorica about two years to start negotiations after reaching candidate status. Tirana waited six years to open formal negotiations after becoming a candidate in 2014, while Skopje sat idle for 15 years before opening talks with Brussels. Each nation had a particular set of challenges prohibiting their progress, but these roadblocks were nowhere near Ukraines predicament of fending off an invading military prior to starting negotiations.

The EUs new accessions methodology, revised in 2020, is intended to make enlargement a more credible, predictable, and dynamic. But this modified approach likely wont yield faster results for Ukraine or current candidates. EU accession is grounde...

Dr William Russell Massingham Pridgeon (right) being driven to the Brisbane Watchhouse Photo: (AAP: Darren England), from ABC News under the heading Doctor accused of masterminding child-stealing syndicate

by Mary W Maxwell, LLB

In the legal profession, we always enjoy saluting a past or occasionally a present master of the art. On entering the main building of Harvard Law School, for example, you are greeted by a huge painted portrait of Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr (1841-1935).

I have only recently discovered the work of Wilfred Massingham Seymour whose main law textbook preceded World War I. Not that I came by it randomly it was called to my attention by the grandson of the master. The book is entitled:

Native law and custom; being a compendium of the recognised native customs in force in the native territories of the colony of the Cape of Good Hope, together with legislative amendments, and reports of some of the more important decisions of the native appeal court of Griqualand East, 1901-1909

It is about the native law of the people of South Africa, and has sparked my interest to find a similar work on the native law of indigenous people in North America, Australia, Philippines, or anywhere. With regard to the Philippines, Id be curious to find what principles of law were on the books before the unruly takeover by American military forces in 1898, when the...

The findings are shocking. What's worse is how easily the media and establishment have accepted it as OK. https://www.fbi.gov/news/press-releases/statement-on-report-by-special-counsel-john-durham

Monarchists Pursue ABC Through FOI 16 May 2023 The Australian Monarchist League has made a formal FOI request under the Commonwealth Freedom of Information Act (1982) (FOI Act) which provides a right to request access to certain documents held by the ABC in regard to its pre-Coronation broadcast. Details of...

Stephen Crothers, is an Australian Scientist, Occupational Hygienist, and Forensic Investigator (11 October 2021). Here is a link to his Open Letter to the Australian people in full Open Letter. False Information Provided by the Australian Government about a Medical Intervention Professor Skerritt has stated before Parliament that the COVID-19 vaccine programme is an experiment.... [Read more]

The post Open Letter Stephen Crothers Part 2: False Information Provided by the Australian Government about a Medical Intervention appeared first on Vaccination Decisions.

There will be airspace restrictions in Sydney and Canberra between 22-25 May as the cities host a significant event. Drone owners are urged to check one of the CASA-verified drone safety apps if planning to fly a drone within 28 km of Sydney Airport and 21 km of Canberra Airport...

The EPAs new proposed rules will require U.S. power plants to slash pollution. But experts are divided on whether carbon capture is the answer.

In a remote field in Saskatchewan, not far from the border with North Dakota, the Boundary Dam coal power plant sends its exhaust into a massive system of pipes and tanks that absorb CO2 and then compress the gas so it can be shipped off to a nearby oil producer for injection underground. The carbon capture system, which cost more than $1 billion to build, first started running nine years ago. Its currently the only large-scale facility of its kind in use at a power plant anywhere in the world.

Read Full Story

My mum took her first job in 1980, when she was fourteen. In my childhood, she worked as a medical receptionist. For every hour she worked, she was almost certainly paid less than a man in a job of comparable value. For every curtailed pay check, there was a lower superannuation benefit, a lower amount left for savings at the end of each week and, inevitably, a lower amount to put towards a house deposit.

The post The gender pay gaps grim legacy: homelessness among older women in Australia appeared first on Overland literary journal.

Microsoft is again engaging in anti-competitive behaviour without any court action.

It's 'forcing' its users to use the inbuilt browser, instead of allowing the user to freely choose competitive products.

Last time this occurred, Microsoft was in the courts and as a result it was fined.

No such action even after months of this fraudulent activity?

See more within the link:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2023/02/16/discover-new-ways-to-multitask-with-microsoft-365-and-edge/

See also video:

Their ABC Four Corners 'Story Of The Century'. Unlike the FBI's opening of a full investigation of unknown members of the Trump campaign based on raw, uncorroborated information, in this matter involving a Clinton campaign, the FBI never opened any type of inquiry, issued any taskings, employed any analytical personnel,...

Story of the Century - live coverage from their ABC?

The federal government has pledged $236 million over 10 years to fund a national flood warning network, in a bid to protect communities from the types of flooding which took place last year in the Northern Rivers.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said the funding would be used to purchase and upgrade flood gauges in disaster-prone areas, such as the North Coast.

For almost a decade, experts have been telling us that we have to upgrade Australias flood warning infrastructure, Ms Plibersek said.

Weve seen really terrifying examples in recent years where communities were left with not enough information; they were unprepared during floods because of broken or outdated flood gauges.

Ms Plibersek said the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) owned about a third of Australias flood gauges, but the rest were operated by state or local governments or private entities.

Many of them are old, they have to be read manually, so youre sending people out into dangerous weather to read flood gauges, she said.

The roll out of new flood gauges will start in Queensland, and come under the a...

ASIA:

Indias annual wholesale price index (WPI) fell for the first time in nearly three years in April, as prices softened across the board. WPI fell by 0.92% from the same month a year earlier, having risen 1.34% in March. The data compared with a Reuters poll that predicted a fall of 0.20%. In April, the food index rose 0.17% year-on-year, compared with 2.32% in March, while fuel and power rose 0.93% as against a 8.96% rise in the previous month. The decline in the rate of inflation was broad based, primarily driven by falls in prices of crude, energy prices, non-food and food articles, the government said in a statement. Data released on Friday showed Indias annual retail inflation eased to an 18-month low in April, staying well below the Reserve Bank of Indias (RBI) upper tolerance limit for the second consecutive month.

The major Asian stock markets had a green day today:

• NIKKEI 225 increased 238.04 points or 0.81% to 29,626.34
• Shanghai increased 38.37 points or 1.17% to 3,310.74
• Hang Seng increased 343.89 points or 1.75% to 19,971.13
• ASX 200 increased 10.40 points or 0.14% to 7,267.10
• Kospi increased 3.93 points or 0.16% to 2,479.35
• SENSEX increased 317.81 points or 0.51% to 62,345.71
• Nifty50 increased 84.05 points or 0.46% to 18,398.85

The major Asian currency markets had a mixed day today:

• AUDUSD increased 0.00565 or 0.85% to 0.67025
• NZDUSD increased 0.00489 or 0.79% to 0.62379
• USDJPY increased 0.347 or 0.26% to 136.057
• USDCNY decreased 0.01156 or -0.17% to 6.95964

Precious Metals:

• Gold increased 5.81 USD/t oz. or 0.29% to 2,016.96
• Silver increased 0.166 USD/t. oz or 0.69% to 24.076

Some economic news from last night:

Australia:

Building Approvals (MoM) (Apr) decreased from 3.9% to -0.1%

Some economic news from today:

India:

WPI Inflation (YoY) (Apr) decreased from 1.34% to -0.92%

EUROPE/EMEA:

Efforts are being made to extend a deal that allows the safe export of Ukrainian grain from the Black Sea, despite Russia threatening to quit the...

When I lived on the remote island of Beqa, in Fiji, I watched as foreign-based NGOs entered villages and told Fijians how to live their lives, saying things like no more eating ika bula (sea turtle), and it is time you stop fishing kawakawa (grouper). These environmental NGOs had good intentions, of course, but their work was ineffective. Why would a Fijian man who has been eating ika bula for traditional occasions since childhood suddenly stop because some white guy who spent three days in his village told him to? Why do international conservation organizations often ask Indigenous people to halt their traditional and sustainable practices instead of focusing on larger issues at play, such as the bycatch of giant fishing vessels? I went into conservation to answer the call to better our planet. People like me who want to dedicate their career to help this earth and all of its species will not accomplish anything by allowing any sort of continuance of traditional conservation. Most of our current models of international conservation are dated and ineffective. If we want to make real change, we need to change our mindsets. We need to challenge current conservation practice. The village of Naceva, Beqa, Fiji on a cloudy day. Image courtesy of Audrey Moreng. Some of international conservation today still takes on a new form of colonialism. Colonialism is the exploitation of people, often Indigenous, by a foreign power. It usually involves taking resources, making the colonizer more powerful, all while furtheringThis article was originally published on Mongabay

Are moral standards real, relative, or both? Reading through Hill's overview of the history of western philosophy in After the Natural Law, I was reminded of a thought: that this history and development has largely been an ongoing battle between two opposing worldviews, with land lost and regained over the millennia. Materialism and idealism. Absolutism and relativism. Atheism and theism. Their seeds are all there in the ancient Greeks. But the land itself remains largely the same. And perhaps therein lies part of the answer: it is all the same land. As in, both positions occupy some ground, but like changing borders they miss the wider truth: that the land itself encompasses both. Reality can tolerate either extreme position, to a degree, because each takes into account a part of reality as a whole. But they are incomplete on their own, and when either demands exclusive worship like some tribal god, they commit a form of philosophical blasphemy. Borrowing somewhat from political...

NEW: A South Korean truth commission created by law in 2019 is seeking classified U.S. military and intelligence records for its wide-ranging investigation into the Gwangju Uprising of 1980. It also wants answers about South Korean generals who were trained by U.S. Special Forces and fought with the United States during its counterinsurgency war in South Vietnam. Washington has not responded - yet.

The first professional one-mile race was held in London on July 26, 1855. Charles Westhall won with a time of 4 minutes and 28 seconds. Over the next 90 years, the time was slowly but surely whittled down to 4:01.4 by Swedens Gunder Hagg on July 17, 1945.

Nine years later, on May 6, 1954, Englands Roger Bannister did the impossible. He ran a 3:59.4 mile. The following month, the impossible was done again. John Landy of Australia ran a 3:58 mile on June 21, 1954.

Within a year, we had three runners breaking the four-minute barrier in the same race.

The current mile world record holder is Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco with a time of 3:43.13. As of this writing, about 20 male high school runners have accomplished the impossible.

So, what changed since July 17, 1945?

Some may point to training or nutrition and perhaps they play a recent role. But remember, Bannister made history in 1954 and his record was smashed just 46 days later. So, yeah its more than training and nutrition.

Could it be that once we choose to envision the possible instead of fixating on the impossible, our power is released? If so, where can we effectively focus this power today?

(FYI: The womens record is 4:12:33 run by Sifan Hassan of The Netherlands.)

On April 26, Mary Zhao, a writer for Radio Free Asia, wrote a bizarre piece attacking China for not providing transgender girls with necessary medicines, exposing once again the absurd lengths to which the US propagandists will go to undermine a nation it has targeted. The same day, they posted a cartoon of French President Macron portrayed as a chicken for daring to state that Europe must reduce its strategic dependency on the U.S. to avoid getting caught up in crises that are not ours and for China commenting positively to what he stated. On the same front page, they posted false stories about North Korea, Myanmar and Vietnam.

So, as we celebrate International Press Freedom Day on May 3, what is Radio Free Asia?   The answer-it is an arm of the US propaganda forces arrayed against the peoples of Asia to try to maintain US hegemony over them by manipulating their minds, their thoughts, their perception and their understanding of the world around them.

RFA tries to mask its role as a propaganda organ by attempting to appear objective. One of the devices they use is a Fact Check page, where its editors ask themselves questions and provide their own answers. For instance, they ask if the waters between Taiwan and the mainland of China are international waters. The answer they give is, of course, yes, and so US naval patrols through the Taiwan Straight are, according to them, legal under international law.

But of course, they arrive at this answer by regarding Taiwan as a separate country and not part of China when in fact Taiwan is part of China and so the waters between the mainland and Taiwan are all Chinese territorial waters just as Canadas waters in its archipelagos are considered internal waters by Canada. There are other examples of their facts clashing with reality, but let...

By Ahmed Adel | May 15, 2023

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi announced that his country is considering opening a NATO liaison office, demonstrating that Tokyo is deepening its ties with the US and becoming more hostile to China and Russia. Tokyos rapprochement with NATO would strengthen the anti-China/Russia alliance and advance the US plans to create a NATO-styled organisation in the Far East.

We are already in discussions, but no details (have been) finalised yet, Hayashi said on May 10.

He specifically referenced Russias special military operation in Ukraine as something with repercussions far beyond Europes borders that made Japan rethink regional security.

The reason why we are discussing about this is that since the aggression by Russia to Ukraine, the world (has) become more unstable, he claimed. Something happening in East Europe is not only confined to the issue in East Europe, and that affects directly the situation here in the Pacific. Thats why a cooperation between us in East Asia and NATO (is) becoming increasingly important.

However, the foreign minister failed to explain how events in Ukraine affect those in East Asia. Rather, Hayashi is using this as a weak justification for why Japan is militarising, which directly relates to Tokyos claims against sovereign seas and territories belonging to China and Russia.

The opening of a NATO office in Japan does not mean that the country will join the Alliance, but it does open a path for Japan to become a member of an expanded AUKUS (Australia-United Kingdom-United States). This, in turn, will require Tokyo to strengthen its contacts with NATO.

It is recalled that NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, went to Japan and South Korea in January 2023 to lay the groundwork for strengthened ties. This is one of the reasons why Tokyo is already involved in conflicts that are not directly related to the region, despite some of the mental gymnastics it procures to create a justification.

The Japanese government is also providing $5.5 billion in aid to Ukraine, which can be seen as a step forward for the country to join AUKUS and confirms Tokyos intentions to strengthen its relationship with NATO. However, NATO will not officially expand to include Japan because members of the Alliance, such as Hungary, do not always align their position for the sake of serving US interests.

At the same time, France, at least in rhetoric, is seeking a degree of autonomy from the US. French President Emmanuel Macron said on April 9 that Europe needs to limit its dependence on the US.

In this way, the expansion of NATO to Asia is not likely since this initiative could lead to a further weakening of unity within the military alliance. The Americans are aware of this, and for this reason, they are working on a separate Eastern bloc to strength...

• MapLight Therapeutics is currently seeking patients between the ages of 12 and 45 for their IRIS Phase 2 clinical trial. This study is designed to evaluate the potential impact of their ML-004 compound on the social communication deficits and associated irritability symptoms experienced by individuals with autism. For those interested in participating in this trial, please contact Kelly Amaguin at kamaguin@maplightrx.com.
• Dont miss an opportunity to watch SPELLERS, the new film about nonspeakers with autism that asks, What if weve been wrong about every single one of them? The movie answers this intriguing question through the stories of eight nonspeakers who all found their voice using a letterboard to communicate their thoughts and feelings. Screenings of SPELLERS are happening across the country. You can watch the film online if there isnt a screening near you. 
• Researchers from the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation have recently identified four distinct sets of alterations in functional connectivity that could help explain clinical and behavioral differences among individuals with autism. Their new study used an extensive collection of neuroimaging data to identify ASD subtypes to produce testable theories about how different biochemical, genetic, and cellular processes may shape the wide range of ASDs clinical manifestations. The researchers found that individuals with ASD clustered into ...

The Disorder of Things is back, and with a symposium too. Over the next week well feature a succession of posts on Joanne Yaos The Ideal River: How Control of Nature Shaped the International Order, followed by a rejoinder from Joanne herself (the full set of posts will be available in one easy spot here). The first post is an introduction to the book and commentaries from George Lawson. George is Professor of International Relations at the Australian National University. He is a global historical sociologist who works primarily on revolutions. His most recent books are: On Revolutions: Unruly Politics in the Contemporary World (with Colin Beck, Mlada Bukovansky, Erica Chenoweth, Sharon Nepstad and Daniel Ritter) (Oxford, 2022), and Anatomies of Revolution (Cambridge, 2019).

...

Zero-knowledge proofs could be a viable means to address recent network congestion and high fees on the Bitcoin blockchain.

An article based on results from an online survey has been retracted for data issues, and an Australian university is investigating what happened.

The article, International nursing students perceptions and experiences of transition to the nursing workforce A cross-sectional survey, became available online on Jan. 29, 2022.

Published in the journal Nurse Education in Practice, the study reported 110 responses to an online survey of nursing students who came to Australia from other countries and planned to remain there to work.  

The retraction notice, posted this month, stated:

This article has been retracted at the request of the authors because the data reported in the manuscript are likely to have been compromised. It came to the co-authors attention after the publication of the article that a large proportion of the surveys reported in the study had been completed by a respondent using the first authors IP addresses.

The authors would like to apologize to readers for this error.

Della John McKitterick of the University of South Australia, and the first author on the paper, seemed to dispute the information in the notice. 

One of the respondents has used my username (not my IP address) to enter the data, McKitterick told us. McKitterick, whose ORCID profile indicates she is a PhD student at the university, did not tell us how she learned of the data breach or respond to our follow up query about the discrepancy between the retraction notice and her statement regarding the IP address. 

The University of South Australia is investigating the matter, which McKitterick cited as her reason for not divulging further details. None of the articles other authors replied to requests for...

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