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Otago Daily Times
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
West Taieri stalwart notches 300
It could be an expensive court session for Dave McNeill tonight. The veteran loose forward will bring up 300 games for the West Taieri Pigs today. Yes. 300. It is not a typo. It is just a remarkable achievement that has taken him 24 years. The 46-year-old made his debut for the Pigs in 2001. Helen Clarke was the prime minister. Social media was still just a twinkle in the eye of some future tech billionaire. And Canterbury beat Otago 30-19 in the NPC final. D'oh! But McNeill's only regret is he wished he had started a year earlier so he could have been part of the club's 100th jubilee as well as their 125th, which they celebrated last month. The truck driver loves rugby. But it is the feeling of being part of the community that keeps him coming back year after year. He enjoys the banter and listening to what the guys have been up to during the week. He has played alongside some of his team-mates for 15-odd years. "They're just a good bunch of guys and we have a laugh and a beer," he said. "That's probably the main thing. "It would have been nice to bring it up last weekend. We had a good win at home, but we're going to be away this weekend against Toko in the rain and stuff." He is not sure what has been planned to celebrate his milestone, but there will be a court session and a couple of his team-mates will also face justice for so-called crimes. Fellow loose forward Conner Jenkins will notch his 100th game and second five Pat Hamer is bringing up 50. "Between the three of us, it's quite a special day. Conner made a deal with me ... that I couldn't retire until he gets 100 games, so for us to both be doing it on the same day is really quite special." Most of McNeill's highlights have happened off the field. But there has been plenty to cheer about on the field as well. The Pigs used to compete in the Dunedin metropolitan grade, and they won the premier 2 title in 2017. That earned them a date with Green Island in the promotion-relegation fixture at Forsyth Barr Stadium. Green Island maintained their spot in the premier grade — now known as division 1 — with a 37-17 win. But it was McNeill's 200th game and he got to play at Forsyth Barr Stadium, so it was a memorable day. He also played in a preseason game with his son, Cameron Allan-McNeill, this season. Cameron plays for the Taieri premiers. They are still talking, despite the rivalry between the clubs. "He was going to come and play for us this year but Taieri sort of needed him. "He came out to a preseason game ... and I've played a few games with Cameron over the years." McNeill's father, Philip, also played for West Taieri. "I was brought up around here and spent most of my life around this place, basically." McNeill has talked about this season being his last, but in the same breath adds he would always answer an S.O.S. "I would never leave the team without players, so if they need me I'll probably come back. "But I should really be going to watch Cameron too. I do miss all his games, so I do feel a bit guilty at times." Speaking of guilt, good luck in the court session.
Deccan Herald
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
China removes senior General, naval chief and top scientist in major purge in military
Miao, the youngest general in the Chinese military hierarchy, has been under probe for serious violations of discipline since November last year. He was dismissed from the NPC in April this year.
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Business Standard
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
China removes senior general, naval chief & top scientist in military
The purge of China's powerful defence and security establishment continued as top military officials, including a senior general, chief of navy and a nuclear scientist, were expelled from the national legislature on Friday. General Miao Hua along with Vice Admiral Li Hanjun, chief of staff of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), and Liu Shipeng, deputy chief engineer of China National Nuclear Corporation, have been removed from the National People's Congress (NPC), the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported. Li is the latest of a string of PLA generals and a handful of defence industry executives to have been implicated in a sweeping crackdown in the military, the Post reported. Both have been stripped of their membership of the legislature, the report said. State-run Xinhua news agency reported that the standing committee of the NPC, which concluded its session here on Friday, also voted to remove top General Miao Hua from his position as a member of the Central Military Commission (CMC), the overall high command of the Chinese military, headed by President Xi Jinping. Miao, the youngest general in the Chinese military hierarchy, has been under probe for serious violations of discipline since November last year. He was dismissed from the NPC in April this year. Miao was also director of the Political Work Department of the CMC, a role critical in managing Communist Party ideology and personnel changes within the People's Liberation Army (PLA). His career advanced significantly after Xi assumed power, leading to roles in the Chinese Navy as a political commissar and eventually becoming the PLA's youngest admiral. The defence ministry said Miao was being investigated for suspected serious violations of discipline, a phrase used as a euphemism for corruption. Since he took over power towards the end of 2012, 72-year-old Xi has carried out massive purges in the country's over two-million-strong military, removing or punishing dozens of senior generals for corruption and indiscipline. Those who were punished included two defence ministers as Xi consolidated his hold on the armed forces and the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC). Xi has repeatedly emphasised the importance of party loyalty among PLA officials to strengthen ideological control and support China's goal of becoming a military superpower. Miao is the second CMC member to be removed from his position since the current leadership took office in 2022.
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First Post
14 hours ago
- Politics
- First Post
China expels PLA general, navy chief and nuclear scientist in sweeping anti-corruption purge
The purge of China's powerful defence and security establishment continued as top military officials, including a senior general, chief of navy and a nuclear scientist, were expelled from the national legislature on Friday. read more China's crackdown on its defence and security establishment intensified on Friday with the expulsion of several top military figures, including a senior general, the navy's chief of staff, and a nuclear industry official from the national legislature. According to the South China Morning Post, General Miao Hua, Vice Admiral Li Hanjun, chief of staff of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and Liu Shipeng and deputy chief engineer at China National Nuclear Corporation were removed from the National People's Congress (NPC). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Li is the most recent among several PLA generals and defence industry leaders to be caught up in the ongoing purge, the report said. The report also noted that both officials have lost their positions in the legislature. Separately, state news agency Xinhua reported that the NPC's standing committee, which wrapped up its session on Friday, voted to strip General Miao Hua of his membership in the Central Military Commission (CMC), the top command body of China's military, led by President Xi Jinping. Miao, the youngest general in the Chinese military hierarchy, has been under probe for serious violations of discipline since November last year. He was dismissed from the NPC in April this year. Miao was also director of the Political Work Department of the CMC, a role critical in managing Communist Party ideology and personnel changes within the People's Liberation Army (PLA). His career advanced significantly after Xi assumed power, leading to roles in the Chinese Navy as a political commissar and eventually becoming the PLA's youngest admiral. The defence ministry said Miao was being investigated for suspected serious violations of discipline, a phrase used as a euphemism for corruption. Since he took over power towards the end of 2012, 72-year-old Xi has carried out massive purges in the country's over two-million-strong military, removing or punishing dozens of senior generals for corruption and indiscipline. Those who were punished included two defence ministers as Xi consolidated his hold on the armed forces and the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Xi has repeatedly emphasised the importance of party loyalty among PLA officials to strengthen ideological control and support China's goal of becoming a military superpower. Miao is the second CMC member to be removed from his position since the current leadership took office in 2022. With inputs from agencies
South China Morning Post
16 hours ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Ex-liaison office chief in Hong Kong takes No 2 spot on NPC special committee
The former head of Beijing's liaison office in Hong Kong has been appointed the No 2 official on a special committee under the National People's Congress (NPC), the country's legislature. Advertisement Zheng Yanxiong was named vice-chairman of the NPC Education, Science, Culture and Public Health Committee, according to a statement issued on Friday after a meeting of the NPC Standing Committee, China's top legislative body. The statement said that a decision was made after the endorsement of a resolution. In January 2023, Zheng was appointed as the director of Beijing's liaison office in Hong Kong. He was replaced by Zhou Ji, who had served as executive deputy director of the central government's top office for the city's affairs, in May of this year. The NPC directs the work of 10 special committees, which fall under the leadership of the standing committee when the country's legislature is not in session. Advertisement Each special committee is composed of a chairman, several vice-chairmen and other members.
