US brokers ceasefire as Israel, Syria clash in Druze heartland
At least 638 people have died since Sunday in violence between the Druze and Bedouins, according to the
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Scoop
4 hours ago
- Scoop
UN Experts Call For End To Israeli State And Settler Violence In The West Bank
GENEVA (24 July 2025) - UN experts* today expressed grave concern over systematic and ongoing violations by Israeli settlers and Israeli security forces against Palestinian peasants and rural workers in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. "We are deeply troubled by alleged widespread intimidation, violence, land dispossession, destruction of livelihoods and the resulting forcible displacement of communities, and we fear this is severing Palestinians from their land and undermining their food security,' the experts said. "The alleged acts of violence, destruction of property, and denial of access to land and resources appear to constitute a systemic pattern of human rights violations," they said. The experts noted a disturbing pattern of attacks targeting West Bank communities, including assaults on civilians, destruction of homes and livelihoods, and the forcible displacement of families. 'Settler violence has reportedly involved arson, livestock theft, and the poisoning or destruction of water sources, severely undermining the ability of Palestinians to sustain their agricultural way of life,' the experts added. 'The demolition of Palestinian-owned structures has further exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, leaving families homeless and vulnerable.' They said the continued attacks targeting Palestinian Bedouin, peasant and rural communities do not appear to be incidental, but rather an intentional strategy to erase their presence in key agricultural areas, undermine their food security and food sovereignty and ultimately sever Palestinians from their land. Hundreds of Bedouin families, including a significant number of children, have been displaced due to settler violence and intimidation. These attacks have caused significant economic harm, including an estimated USD $76 million in direct agricultural damages in the West Bank between October 7, 2023, and late 2024. It is estimated that the West Bank GDP declined by more than 19 per cent, and the unemployment rate rose to 35 per cent. "Israel, as the occupying power, bears the obligation to take necessary measures to safeguard Palestinian communities at risk of displacement and violence," the experts said. "This includes stopping the violence immediately, halting illegal settlement expansion, holding effective and impartial investigations into violations, prosecuting those responsible, and guaranteeing victims access to justice and reparations." 'It is essential that the West Bank be kept under Palestinian control, based on the rights to self-determination of the Palestinian people and full respect of international law,' they said. 'Israel must promptly bring to an end its unlawful presences in the West Bank, and ensure its compliance with the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice issued on 19 July 2024, including by evacuating all settlers from the Occupied Palestinian Territory.' The experts called on the international community to act with urgency to hold perpetrators accountable and ensure that violent settlers and armed forces cannot continue to operate with impunity. 'Silence and inaction only embolden further violations. We call on all States to uphold their obligations under international law—including through targeted measures, sanctions, and diplomatic pressure—to end these systematic abuses and protect Palestinian lives, livelihoods, and fundamental rights. The time for justice is now,' they said. * The experts: Carlos Arturo Duarte Torres, Working Group on the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas; Balakrishnan Rajagopal, Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and on the right to non-discrimination in this context; Morris Tidball-Binz, Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; Francesca Albanese, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967.
Scoop
8 hours ago
- Scoop
MoE Advice Reveals Cost-Cutting Takes Priority Over Quality In ECE
Newly released advice from the Ministry of Education to Minister David Seymour shows the Government is more focused on helping ECE providers cut costs than on making sure young children get high-quality, safe accessible early learning. In the document Options to reduce ECE service staffing costs, four options were provided (three of which remain redacted), all aimed at cutting the most significant cost for providers: staff wages. One of those options which has recently been implemented, allows employers to pay new teachers the minimum starting rate, regardless of their qualifications or experience. 'This advice confirms what we feared, that cost savings for providers are being prioritised over children's learning and wellbeing,' says Kathy Wolfe, Chief Executive of Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood New Zealand. 'Reducing pay for qualified teachers not only undermines professional standards, but it also risks deterring future teachers from joining the sector. Is this really what the Minister and Associate Minister of Education want? We were told their goal was to lift education outcomes and that journey begins in early childhood.' The Ministry's advice, requested by Minister Seymour, states that this cost-cutting measure is expected to save providers up to $22 million over two years. It also acknowledges the serious risks associated with this approach. 'The Ministry's own words say it all, this move makes ECE teaching 'less attractive for those considering studying and entering the workforce',' says Cathy Wilson, Chief Executive of Montessori Aotearoa New Zealand. 'We're already in a teacher workforce shortage and need to attract more teachers and retain a higher number of teachers. How can we expect to maintain a high-quality system when we devalue the people who deliver it? This short-term thinking will only create bigger problems, with fewer qualified teachers, more instability in the workforce, and a greater risk to children's safety and well-being. How does that help prepare tamariki for school?' Even more concerning is the Government's apparent intention to abandon the Pay Parity scheme. This initiative links the pay of ECE teachers in education and care centres to that of kindergarten teachers, who are funded directly by the government and have pay parity with primary teachers. The system was designed to ensure fairness across the teaching profession, recognising experience and qualifications whether a teacher is in ECE, primary, or secondary education. 'Teachers are teachers, whether they're working with infants, children, or teenagers,' says Mrs Wilson. 'Undermining the pay and conditions of ECE teachers sends a clear message that their work is valued less. That's not only short-sighted, but it's also damaging for teachers, tamariki, and whānau alike.' The implications are serious. In wealthier communities, providers may simply pass increased costs on to parents who can pay. In lower-income communities, however, providers will be more likely to cut wages, reduce qualified staff, or take advantage of any future changes that lower the minimum qualification requirements, effectively creating a two-tier ECE system. 'We're staring down the barrel of deepening inequity in early childhood education,' says Mrs Wolfe. 'If qualification requirements are relaxed and pay is suppressed, the quality of teaching in some demographic areas will decline, and with it, outcomes for tamariki.' This direction, Mrs Wolfe warns, will increase teacher turnover, shrink the future workforce, and accelerate the decline of New Zealand's globally recognised high-quality ECE. 'It is horrifying to see our world-leading early childhood education undermined in the name of short-term savings,' she says. 'Our tamariki deserve qualified, well-supported teachers. They deserve safe, rich learning environments. And parents deserve to know that their children are safe and getting the best possible start in life, no matter their postcode.' Te Rito Maioha and Montessori Aotearoa New Zealand are calling on the Government to reverse this direction and invest in quality, not cuts. 'The funding review is underway; however it already seems to have been undermined, and the Minister's outcome predetermined. We urge the Government to properly fund ECE, not by slashing teacher pay or lowering standards, but recognising the vital role teachers play and committing to equity and excellence for every child,' Mrs Wolfe says. Notes: The advice requested by Minister Seymour was based on the knowledge that the ECE sector would receive only a 0.5% funding increase in Budget 2025, well below the 2.5% rate of inflation. The Ministry's paper acknowledges this shortfall would place significant financial pressure on providers. In response, the Minister specifically asked for advice on how to reduce the sector's largest cost: teachers. The ECE sector has already experienced a multi-year funding freeze prior to 2017 under the then National government leaving the sector approximately 11% behind CPI over the last 10 to 15 years. ECE is considered a public good with investment outweighing the costs. For more information on the need to sufficiently fund ECE services About Te Rito Maioha: Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood New Zealand is a leader in early childhood and primary education – growing teachers, leaders, knowledge and bicultural practice so every child learns and thrives. As a membership organisation we are a strong voice for young children and quality education, advocating for the ECE sector and connecting our members with the latest sector-related issues, policy and professional development. As a specialist tertiary provider, we grow valued teachers, educators, leaders and experts with diploma, degree and postgraduate qualifications in early childhood and primary education.
1News
8 hours ago
- 1News
Greens want passenger trains between Auckland and Tauranga
The Green Party is calling on the Government to extend the Auckland-Hamilton passenger rail network to Tauranga. However, Bay of Plenty Regional Council's chairman said now was not the time for regional passenger rail. Green Party transport spokeswoman Julie Anne Genter was in Tauranga on Thursday launching a petition urging Minister of Rail Winston Peters to "Restore Regional Rail". Te Huia, the Hamilton to Auckland passenger rail link, had proven the demand for the service, she said. "It's time to extend that service to the people of Tauranga and some of the smaller towns in between." Extending the service could be done "relatively quickly and at an affordable cost," with operating costs of $10 million over the first four years, Genter said. Last week, Peters threw his support behind a Sunday service for Te Huia, so it made sense for him to look at extending the service to Tauranga, she said. "Aotearoa was once linked up by rail services and bus services that were affordable and frequent, and they linked our major centres, and they enabled people to get to even rural parts of our beautiful country. "It's time to get our rail network back on track." The party's plan would require new stations in Tauranga, Morrinsville and Waharoa but could be run with existing trains. It would also need passing loops and full double-tracking, including through the Whangamarino Swamp in Waikato, to speed up the service. The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including Hulk Hogan dies, sentencing for a New Zealander who assaulted two airline stewards, and a big accolade for Te Papa. (Source: 1News) The plan stated the initial proposal could be up and running in the next two years. The Greens' full plan was costed at $3.3 billion, with stage two including additional trains for extra services in peak conditions, station refurbishments, a depot in Waikato and duplication of the single track near Meremere rolled out over the next five to 10 years. These improvements would make a trip between Tauranga and Auckland take two-and-a-half hours, the plan stated. Asked if passenger rail would clash with the freight trains, Genter said the initial proposal would be a couple of services a day and there was capacity on the line for that. Stage two would increase network capacity and extend electrification, which would benefit passengers and freight, she said. "It makes sense to make use of our existing rail lines for those passenger services." Passenger rail between Tauranga, Hamilton and Auckland was discontinued in 2001 because of low patronage and high operating costs. Asked if it would be different this time, Genter said everywhere that rail was invested in, patronage was growing. "The privatisation of the rail network in the [1990s] led to underinvestment and a decline, but now rail patronage is growing across the world – it's what people want. "Now is the perfect time to use the track we already have and revitalise our passenger rail network." Stage two would increase network capacity and extend electrification, which would benefit passengers and freight, she said. "It makes sense to make use of our existing rail lines for those passenger services." Passenger rail between Tauranga, Hamilton and Auckland was discontinued in 2001 because of low patronage and high operating costs. Asked if it would be different this time, Genter said everywhere that rail was invested in, patronage was growing. "The privatisation of the rail network in the [1990s] led to underinvestment and a decline, but now rail patronage is growing across the world – it's what people want. "Now is the perfect time to use the track we already have and revitalise our passenger rail network." Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale was "conditionally supportive" of a Tauranga to Auckland passenger rail service. A transit time of two-and-a-half hours from Tauranga to Auckland needed to be resolved to make it an "attractive option", he said. The service would also need to deliver value for money, Drysdale said. He also had "questions" about the Kaimai Tunnel and freight impacts. "From a Tauranga perspective, I would like to see some options of utilising our local rail network and finding a way to connect passengers from the Mount, Te Puke/Pāpāmoa and Ōmokoroa/Te Puna. 'Considering we have trains running through our city centre, the availability of passenger services could make a huge difference to our public transport system.' Genter said they would be open to looking at passenger rail within Tauranga. "Tauranga absolutely needs more passenger transport options." Traffic was "so bad" in Tauranga and it was not from a lack of roads, she said. "You can build as many highways as you want, the traffic is only going to get worse over time and transport costs will escalate." The petition also called for the overnight rail service between Auckland and Wellington to be reinstated, and for the return of the Southerner connection between Christchurch and Dunedin. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
