Extremist white supremacist group behind race war plots remains on NZ terrorism watchlist
A violent neo-Nazi hate group with international reach has been relisted as a terrorist entity by the New Zealand Government, amid ongoing efforts to prevent extremist ideologies from taking root or operating within the country.
The Base is a white supremacist 'militant
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35 minutes ago
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K-Defense Day: Pimping For The Arms Dealers
Militarism is catching on across the countries of advanced economies and beyond. The sly, disingenuous term of 'defence' is used in this context, encouraging arms manufacturers, contractors and the entire apparatus of the military-industrial complex to fatten for the cause. The European Union huffs and struts towards higher targets of expenditure that will cull projects for peaceful development in favour of a fatuous rearmament agenda. Member countries of the NATO alliance, lent on by the administration of President Donald Trump, are doing the same. The countries of the Middle East continue to add to the numbers, with warring Israel seeing a 65% increase in 2024 to US$46.5 billion, the sharpest annual increase since the Six-Day War in 1967. In East Asia, military contractors are also preening themselves in Tokyo and Seoul, pressing the flesh and pursuing contracts. Japan's military spending rose by a gulping 21% in 2024. The amount of US$55.3 billion is the largest since 1952. In Seoul, on the occasion of K-Defense Day on June 8, President Lee Jae-myung made it clear that he did not want South Korea's own defence industry to miss out on all the fun. In a closed-door discussion held at the Grand Hyatt Seoul hotel organised by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), Lee solemnly promised to 'do my best to push ahead, as long as we don't end up being labelled arms dealers'. This somewhat idiosyncratic caveat is bound to make little difference, given Lee's ambitions to promote the value of South Korea's killing inventory. DAPA, wanting to make the most of its first Defense Industry Day themed 'Remembering the dedication and passion of Korea's Defense Industry', was in a bullish mood to promote Korean military prowess. Some well minted propaganda did the rounds, drawing inspiration on the exploits of Admiral Yi Sun-sin on July 8, 1592, when the turtle ship was committed to the Battle of Sacheon against the Japanese fleet. The turtle ship, in its 'historical significance', symbolised 'Korea's will to protect its territory and its independent technological prowess.' Those in the defence industry had been worried that the new President might give them the cold shoulder on this grand occasion. He had previously attacked the installation of the US Terminal High Altitude Defense system on Korean soil, ostensibly to protect South Korea from North Korean missiles, as needlessly provocative. The militarists need not have worried. All the relevant mandarins were in attendance, including the Minister of National Defense nominee Ahn Gyu-baek and Chairperson of the National Defense Committee, Seong Il-jong. The industry titans were also represented. Numerous awards of merit were also presented. Lee had purportedly told his aides that K-Defense Day, put on the calendar of commemorations by his impeached predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol in 2023, would be a good opportunity to 'highlight our support for defence.' According to Korea JoongAng Daily, Lee outlined his various achievements of late to the closed gathering, including attending the G7 summit held last month in Canada. 'A big reason I went was to showcase the strength of our defence industry and to ask them to buy our submarines.' In May, it was revealed that a trio of South Korean firms – Hyundai Heavy Industries, Hanwha Ocean and Hanwha Aerospace – had made a combined offer to the Canadian armed forces valued between US$14 to 17 billion in submarines, with US$720 million worth of armoured vehicles and artillery systems. It was a good time for the Koreans to strike, given the stated view by newly-elected Canadian Prime Minister Mike Carney that 'the old relationship with the United States based on… tight security and military cooperation is over'. Lee also explained his purpose for seeking an invitation to the latest NATO summit held in The Hague. Despite wanting to avoid accusations of being a grubby arms dealer, the ROK President was clearly placing the ambitions and wallets of arms dealers ahead of the common citizenry. He had become a pimp for arms: 'The biggest reason I wanted to go was to advertise our defence industry and weapons.' Participants at the forum pressed Lee to depart from the view that defence was a matter of procurement and competition between parties rather than a total industry beneficial to the state. The response was suitably patriotic – at least if you are a merchant of death: 'Defence and arms exports are not just a competition between companies; they're a competition between nations. We have to win as 'One Team Korea.'' In public remarks made at the start of the forum, Lee offered the sort of reasoning that launders the military-industrial complex of its stains, concealing its insatiable appetite to stimulate the cause for war. 'I hope the defence industry not only strengthens our security but also becomes one of Korea's future growth engines. The government will continue investing and providing strong support.' In response to 'the rapidly changing security environment', the government would also 'develop state-of-the-art weapon systems using artificial intelligence (AI) and unmanned robots and build a healthy business ecosystem that goes beyond the industrial structure centred on big corporations to allow small and medium enterprises and diverse talent to participate.' Militarism, following this seedy rationale, should not just be for the big corporations and arms manufacturers. In the business of killing, the little guys should also be given a chance.
Scoop
a day ago
- Scoop
Richest 1% People Have Enough New Wealth To End Annual Poverty 22 Times Over
Recent funding cuts on health, gender equality and human rights have given a sudden blow to a range of important services for the most underserved communities. But solution is not as simple as suggesting low- and middle-income countries to increase 'domestic investment on health and gender' or find 'innovative ways to financing.' Global North nations have plundered wealth and resources from the Global South. We need redistributive justice and a range of tax reforms keeping people in the Global South central. We need to reform global financial architecture using the foundation of development justice - so to fully fund gender equality and human right to health with equity and justice. Countries in the Global South should not be servicing debt and paying the rich nations but rather investing in delivering on all health, gender and other goals enshrined in SDGs. The latest Oxfam report which was released at 4th UN Financing for Development meet in Seville, Spain, shows that since 2015 the top 1% people in the world have amassed US$ 33.9 Trillion in new wealth which is enough to end annual poverty 22 times over. We need health responses to be fully funded, of course, but we also have to ensure that equity and justice guides us on how we use those resources so that we are able to first serve those farthest behind or most likely to be left behind. Advertisement - scroll to continue reading It is not the absence of science-based tools that has failed the global south on responding to key health epidemics, be it infectious diseases or non-communicable diseases, but deep-rooted inequities and injustices that plague our so-called world order. If we are to deliver on promises enshrined in SDG3 related to HIV and TB and other health issues, we must strengthen competencies and capacities in the Global South – and reduce dependencies on the Global North. Celebrating 25+ years of struggle and leadership of NMP+ Network of Maharashtra People Living with HIV (NMP+) was established over 25 years ago. Since last two decades it champions a social enterprise model to reduce dependency on donor-driven funding for HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services. Famous German film and TV actress Annabelle Mandeng has been a supporter of movements of people living with HIV and human rights for over two decades now. She has also hosted events like the artists against AIDS gala in Berlin. Speaking at an Affiliated Independent Event organised ahead of 13th International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference on HIV Science (IAS 2025), Annabelle Mandeng said: "When I read about NMP plus, the immortal words of Margaret Mead come to my mind: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Over 50,000 people living with HIV from all gender diversities can live a life of rights and human dignity - thanks to NMP+." Annabelle Mandeng added that "NMP+ has helped people with HIV to care for each other as well as rise collectively to improve HIV responses in their state. Congratulations to Manoj Pardeshi and NMP+ for developing and leveraging social enterprise approaches for the last two decades so that NMP+ can be less dependent on external funding. TAAL+ or a "Treatment, Adherence, Advocacy, Literacy" is a community-run pharmacy based on social enterprise that has been up and running since 2006. TAAL is a shining example today for other civil societies to inspire them to use social enterprise and become self reliant. It is the first ever community-led e pharmacy in India. Over the years, it has transitioned into an integrated healthcare centre as well as managing an online or e-commerce platform since 2023. It offers in-person and online consultation, counselling as well as quality assured and affordable lifesaving medicines for HIV, STI and other co- infections and co-morbidities. Screening for infectious and non-communicable diseases is also provided along with a linkage to care services. Over 3,200 people receive life-saving anti-retroviral therapy along with other care services. Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and other HIV prevention tools are also available via TAAL+." Dr Bharat Bhushan Rewari who served at senior levels with Indian government's national AIDS control programme and led the rollout of lifesaving antiretroviral therapy for several years since its beginning on 7 April 2004, said that "World has achieved major progress in its response to HIV/AIDS epidemic with significant reduction in new infections, AIDS-related death and improving lives of people living with HIV. Community has played a big role in this journey especially in empowering people living with HIV and reducing stigma and discrimination. NMP+ is one such organisation which started working for people living with HIV early on (in 2000) when stigma was high and access to treatment was an issue. NMP+ provided a platform for people living with HIV to support each other, and foster self-esteem. Over the years, it has worked tirelessly to uphold dignity and rights of people living with HIV. Their work has helped transform AIDS-related stigma into self-confidence, fear into hope and shame into self-respect. It has worked closely with the government to raise treatment literacy. Today NMP+ proudly stands as a symbol of resilience and a voice for people living with HIV and vulnerable communities." David Bridger, UNAIDS Country Director for India, said: "Today we celebrate 25 years of hard work and progress made possible by NMP+ but at the same time reflect on what we still need to achieve to truly end AIDS as a public health threat. I think today is also really important for us to reflect and recognise that efforts of NMP+ have not only supported people living with HIV, but they have also transformed public health approaches globally. Putting people at the centre is now an approach widely accepted." One of the key brains behind TAAL+ is Manoj Pardeshi - a founding member of NMP+ and also of National Coalition of People Living with HIV in India (NCPI+): "In those initial years, there was no funding. Later donors came but their funding was as per their own respective mandates, while the needs of the community could be different. So we thought of having a separate funding mechanism that would cater to our unmet needs. That is how TAAL became a social entrepreneur model." Manoj shared that two decades ago, they could barely have an action plan for 3 or 6 months and then at most for a year. "We never thought that we would complete 25 years one day." Hope lies in the people, not FfD4 The 4th International Conference on Financing for Development was recently held in Seville, Spain with the intent to reform financing at all levels, including reform of the international financial architecture and to address the financing challenges preventing the investment push for the SDGs. But this meet only served the interest of the rich (and rich nations). It failed to restructure the global economy and financial system, so as to benefit all equitably, including women, girls and all gender diverse peoples. This was said by experts at a recently concluded SHE & Rights session on World Population Day. It looked into women and girls as merely 'economic potentials' for 'economic benefits' without really addressing the fundamental barriers to gender justice, including labour rights, safeguards for corporate abuses and preventing gender-based violence in the workplace. It failed to guarantee long-term, flexible, inclusive, equitable financing for development. The hope lies in the people of the Global South - to hold the North accountable and ensure sustainable development with human rights and justice becomes a reality for all. Shobha Shukla – CNS (Citizen News Service) (Shobha Shukla is the award-winning founding Managing Editor and Executive Director of CNS (Citizen News Service) and is a feminist, health and development justice advocate. She is a former senior Physics faculty of prestigious Loreto Convent College and current Coordinator of Asia Pacific Regional Media Alliance for Health and Development (APCAT Media) and Chairperson of Global AMR Media Alliance (GAMA received AMR One Health Emerging Leaders and Outstanding Talents Award 2024). She also coordinates SHE & Rights initiative (Sexual health with equity & rights). Follow her on Twitter @shobha1shukla or read her writings here
Scoop
2 days ago
- Scoop
Pacific News In Brief For 11 July
Fiji - donation China's Ambassador to Fiji Zhou Jian has handed over a FJ$100,000 (approximately US$44,600) donation to the newly installed chief of the Lau group. Ratu Tevita Mara received the chiefly title of Tui Nayau on Tuesday, and on Thursday the Sau ni Vanua o Lau, Na Tui Lau titles. Solar street lights, household solar facilities, and a mini bus for the people of Lau have also been donated by China. Zhou said with the strong relationship that Fiji has with China, China will continue to provide support and assistance to the best of its ability for Fiji's rural development. He said China will continue to assist Fiji in responding to climate change through both bilateral and multilateral channels. Tonga - court A 37-year-old man has been sentenced to three years in prison for reckless driving that caused the deaths of his two children. Matangi Tonga reported the court heard that on 22 January of this year, in an attempt to overtake a vehicle at excessive speed, he lost control of the vehicle which had defective tyres and veered off the road. The crash caused the deaths of his two children who were in the car - the youngest was nine years old. Justice Tupou sentenced him on 8 July at the Supreme Court in Nuku'alofa, after he pleaded guilty to the charge in May. Samoa - death A prominent Samoan businessman and former Samoa National Provident Fund chairman has died. Local media reported Papali'i Panoa Moala died on Wednesday night. He was a long-serving board member of the Fund, and also served as its chair from 2021 until earlier this year. Papali'i was previously the Fund's chief executive and remained on the board following his resignation as chair. Family, friends, and community leaders have been sharing tributes online. Cook Islands - tourism Cook Islands is projected to achieve record visitor arrivals in 2025, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. The latest ANZ Research Pacific Insight report forecasts 180,000 tourists. Cook Islands News reported this being due to increased air connectivity. However there are still challenges ahead in the balance of growth with environmental and workforce sustainability. Cook Islands - pearls The Cook Islands marine resources ministry is exploring solutions to revive a shrinking pearl farming industry. Local media reported that discussions around new cultivation methods and international partnerships are still underway. Marine resources minister Tingika Elikana said there are just a few farmers on the island of Manihiki. Opposition leader Tina Browne added that the Manihiki lagoon can no longer support the growth of pearl shells. Because of this, she proposes a hatchery be set up to cultivate the shells before transferring them to Manihiki.
