Latest news with #ABCNews
2 hours ago
- Business
Republican Rep. Bryan Steil booed defending Trump tariffs at Wisconsin town hall
In a rowdy town hall on Thursday night, Wisconsin Republican Rep. Bryan Steil was booed when he expressed support for President Donald Trump's trade policies. An attendee pressed Steil on Trump's tariffs against scores of U.S. trade partners. "I really feel that this is a terrible tax that's going to be placed on the citizens of the Unites States. I would like to know what dire economic circumstances put Trump in a position of deploying tariffs on over 190 countries?" the attendee asked, prompting applause from the crowd. "You have allowed him to do that and it's sad. So tell me the dire circumstances that triggered his tariff wars." Steil's response prompted loud boos from participants. "As we look at the broader tariffs back and forth with the administration, this really is, at its core needs to be, an opportunity to make sure other countries are treating the United States fairly," the congressman said. In the Elkorn town hall, the congressman was also pressed on other topics, including the impacts Trump's megabill will have on Medicaid and other services. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated the cuts to Medicaid included the sweeping tax and spending cut bill, which Trump signed into law on July 4, will result in 10 million Americans losing health insurance. Responding to the event on X, Steil wrote "despite a handful of individuals attempting to disrupt the discussion, we had a great dialogue about the issues that matter most." He committed to holding future events. Some in the room were local protestors, ABC News affiliate WISN reported, including members of a group who last week carried a mock cardboard coffin to Steil's home to protest Medicaid cuts. Earlier this year, Rep. Richard Hudson, the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, encouraged House Republicans to do more virtual events over in-person town halls after several House Republicans faced fiery constituents at in-person town halls. House Democrats are being challenged at their town halls, too, facing pushback on topics such as the response to the war in Gaza. Earlier this week, Illinois Rep. Bill Foster, a Democrat, hosted a town hall event where he was repeatedly interrupted by anti-war protesters.
The Hindu
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
In ‘cringe culture' era, posting on social media is risky business, says Gen Z
Even if you are on a social media detox currently, chances are you would have come across 'this is cringe' at some point, lurking beneath someone's comment section. Whether you are using those squiggly straws and calling it free will, throwing a birthday bash for yourself, or simply going on the trend of 'doing it for the plot', someone, somewhere, is already side-eyeing you through their screen. In an age where personal freedom is called 'free will' by the chronically online, we are supposedly reclaiming joy, awkwardness, and individuality. But can you really do anything like that in your online world without someone branding it as 'cringe'? Even recently, Vietnamese-American writer and professor Ocean Vuong shared insights about 'cringe culture', which he observed among his students, and explained how this holds young people back, in an interview with ABC News. To know more about this omnipresent word, you must decode it. Cringe is often described as awkward, embarrassing, or something that gives 'second-hand pain' to someone witnessing it. The internet throws this label around too much when you show over-enthusiasm or under-enthusiasm, appreciate millennial humour or trends from 2013, fail at something, or even wear something you like.. The list goes on, and so begins the tedious task of walking on eggshells on social media, where you end up gatekeeping your little joys if it doesn't fit the aesthetic. 'These days, people say everything is cringe, and it is wildly subjective and often uncalled for,' says Harini, a 24-year-old Air Transport Management student, who says she limits her presence online and doesn't want to 'expose' her life on social media. 'Social media has given a platform for anyone to spew hate publicly, and it is not something that should be entertained. If you post something on social media, it will be judged more than normal,' she says. She observes that people around her are losing their identities by mimicking what is perceived as 'cool': such as going to concerts they are not interested in, and having matcha even when they are not a fan of it. On the other hand, if you are trying your hand at something new, like posting your beginner-level water colour paintings or experimenting with an Instagram trend, which everyone else is already doing in a prescribed way, it is declared a 'flop'. There is no room for error, says Ms. Harini. Free will vs cringe culture When asked whether Gen Z is torn between free will and cringe culture, Madhuri Ravi, 25, a senior writer from Chennai calls it what it is: a performance. 'I feel these are two points on the spectrum of performance,' says Ms. Madhuri. 'You just have to land in one of these two camps: where camp A is about coming off as genuine and relatable and camp B is where you take it so far that you know it is obviously a joke that people can laugh at. But if you are in the middle of these two points, trying hard to do something earnest but it does not come off as natural and falls flat, then you see people roasting you,' explains Ms. Madhuri on her observation of 'cringe' on social media. In essence, largely, cringe has become a euphemism for cyberbullying. A lot of YouTubers from the West lately say how misogyny, ableism, racism, homophobia, are all concealed behind this quite unserious word. 'Your social media, including Linkedin, is almost like a record of your life. Employers now want to see your social media presence. To intentionally distance yourself from social media and not know trends is almost not seen as normal,' shares Ms. Madhuri, adding that there is no real escape from social media and the cringe culture that exits within it. But then what are we heading towards, you ask? 'Eventually, as people grow older and their priorities change, they will grow out of this. This concern of coming across as 'cringe' is primarily a young person's thing, because when you are young, you are more concerned about how you are perceived by the people around you,' she adds. Still, we are currently in the thick of it where the internet is less of a free space. 'We are becoming like echo chambers. There is a quiet kind of imposition that is trying to fit us into a mould, or else you will be 'cringed' into the oblivion,' says Ms. Harini. 'Social media is, in fact, dictating how you should live your real life too. I try to stay self-aware and not let it affect me, but I see how it is deeply impacting people and how they perceive themselves,' she says, raising the lingering question: are you avoiding experiences just to dodge the label 'cringe' or stifle your own story?
Fox News
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
‘The View' faces mockery for booking 102 left-leaning guests and zero conservatives in 2025
ABC's "The View" came under fire as a partisan echo chamber after a study revealed the show had featured 102 left-leaning guests and zero conservatives so far in 2025. "It's an insane asylum now," Fox News contributor Guy Benson told "Fox & Friends." The Fox News Radio host dug into the notoriously anti-Trump show that was the subject of a study from Media Research Center's NewsBusters. The group analyzed every episode from January 6, when the program returned from a winter hiatus, through July 25, and found that it failed to book a single conservative guest to discuss politics. "I am actually surprised by this because 102 seems a little low," Benson quipped. "What's interesting [is]… the left talked for years about bringing back the fairness doctrine. This was an obsession of theirs to try to clamp down on the success of [conservative] talk radio. If they had succeeded and had gotten the fairness doctrine, 'The View' would be out of business for that reason alone. That would be basically illegal." The guest list included not only Democratic lawmakers but also liberal Hollywood stars. NewsBusters associate editor Nicholas Fondacaro previously told Fox News Digital that the closest to a conservative guest on "The View" this year was former California Republican Governor and self-proclaimed Harris 2024 voter Arnold Schwarzenegger, who appeared on the show last month. The co-hosts of "Fox & Friends" also weighed in, Thursday, unsurprised by the finding. "So 'The View' only has one view?" posited Ainsley Earhardt. Brian Kilmeade chimed in by calling it the "least surprising stat ever." "They used to be somewhat balanced," he said. "Barbara Walters started this to get some political points of view – no script – and just get a conversation going and let us know what women talk about when they're together. Then what happened? It ends up being an angry Democratic show." Lawrence Jones accused the show's co-hosts of being hostile toward right-leaning guests they have invited in the past. "When there is a conservative there, or even one of the co-panels, because there's always the one [right-leaning panelist] that they have… They're so nasty to the people of opposing views there," he said. "They say that they have a couple of independents there, but they find a way to always agree with the Democrats. It's not that Republicans don't want to come on the show, but when you go there, you've seen plenty of times where Whoopi Goldberg will walk off the set when someone of a opposing view joins the show." "The View" did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's prior request for comment on the study. An ABC News insider, who said network bookers have met with Senate press secretaries from both sides of the aisle, pushed back on an earlier version of the study from April, which found that the ABC News program booked 63 liberal guests and zero conservatives. "This study seems to ascribe political leanings to guests even when politics were not discussed. Celebrity guests are not booked because of their political leanings; they are booked on the show to promote their projects," the insider told Fox News Digital in April.
8 hours ago
- Politics
Russia launches 6,400 drones, missiles into Ukraine in record-breaking month
LONDON -- More than three years into Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukrainians across the country retreat each night to bomb shelters and metro stations in a nightly ritual necessitated by the long reach of Moscow's drones and missiles. This summer, Ukrainians are spending more time in such shelters than ever before. The first bombardments of Kyiv and other major cities began in the early morning of Feb. 24, 2022, as Russian troops surged across Ukraine's borders on several axes. In the years since, the attacks have never stopped. Through July, Russia launched a record 6,443 drones and missiles into the country, according to data published by the Ukrainian air force. The total is the highest of the war to date, and around 13% more than were recorded in June. The scale and complexity of Russia's drone and missile barrages have steadily increased through the war. The Iranian-designed Shahed strike drone -- adopted enthusiastically by the Russian military and rebranded as the Geran -- has become the workhorse of Moscow's nightly harassment of Ukrainian cities and vital infrastructure. For many Ukrainians, the "flying mopeds," as the Shahed and Geran variants have become known due to their distinctive sound, are emblematic of the Russian threat. The strikes are terrorizing and deadly. June saw the highest monthly level of Ukrainian civilian casualties in more than three years, according to data published by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine -- 232 people killed and 1,343 people injured. Neither Russia nor Ukraine publish data detailing the scale of their own strike campaigns. Ukraine's air force publishes a daily tally of Russian drone and missile strikes, while Russia's Defense Ministry only publishes figures of Ukrainian drones shot down. July marked a high-water mark for Russian drone attacks on Ukraine. Data published by the Ukrainian air force and analyzed by ABC News recorded a total of 6,245 attack and decoy drones launched into the country over the past month at an average rate of around 201 per day. Russia also launched 198 missiles, with an average of more than six each day. Though Ukraine's interception rate is significant, plenty of projectiles arrive with devastating effect. July saw around 89% of drones and around 61% of missiles shot down or otherwise suppressed. By comparison, June saw 5,438 drones and 239 missiles fired into Ukraine, with a daily average of 181 drones and nearly eight missiles. The air force downed or suppressed 87.2% of all drones and 73% of missiles during June. And in May, Russia launched a total of 3,835 drones and 117 missiles, for an average of around 124 drones and nearly four missiles each day. Across the month, 85.7% of drones and 57% of missiles were shot down or suppressed. "Right now, Ukraine sees around 300 to 400 drones attacking civilian targets every day -- these types of numbers were unheard of in 2023 or 2024," Yuriy Boyechko, the founder and CEO of the Hope for Ukraine charity, told ABC News. Moscow shows no sign of letting up. Russian officials and media have made much of the country's growing drone production capabilities. A recent report by the Zvezda television channel, for example, showed operations at a Geran factory in Alabuga in Russia's Republic of Tatarstan, with workers constructing and piling up dozens of attack drones ready for delivery. The design of the attack drones is ever-evolving. The first were light gray-colored craft flying low and relatively slow to their targets, carrying high-explosive and fragmentation payloads and powered by turbines. More recently, Geran variants painted black with special material to hide from radar fly higher and with tortuous routes to evade Ukrainian defense teams. Some are armed with thermobaric warheads, are armored and some are powered by jet engines. Ukrainian defenders have also reported that recent Gerans are using AI targeting systems. Russian forces may soon be able to launch 1,000 to 2,000 drones per day, according to recent warnings issued by the Institute for the Study of War think tank and German Maj. Gen. Christian Freuding. Pasi Paroinen, an OSINT analyst at the Finland-based Black Bird Group, told ABC News he believes it feasible that Russia could soon launch 1,000 drones per night. The drone barrages are effective and relatively affordable. Various estimates for the cost of domestically-produced Gerans range from around $10,000 to $50,000. Though the Western sanctions campaign has complicated Russian military procurement efforts, components from Western companies are still found in their dozens in downed Gerans -- a fact repeatedly highlighted by frustrated officials in Kyiv. The mix of strike and decoy drones poses a "very nasty" problem for Ukraine's thinly-stretched air defense, Paroinen said. "They have been doing pretty well intercepting them overall. But it's also tying up Ukrainian manpower -- they have to have those groups of mobile anti-aircraft groups rolling around the countryside, shooting these things down." "The general consensus among analysts is that this is going to be a major problem," Paroinen said. "And this is a production capability that won't be going away, even if the war ends it will still have implications for the rest of Europe as well, that Russia will be able to produce and stockpile these weapons in pretty intense numbers." President Donald Trump's repeated interventions seem to also have failed to move the needle. The president has repeatedly expressed his frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin's continuation and expansion of drone and missile strikes on Ukraine. Putin, Trump said earlier this month, "talks nice and then bombs everybody." Ukraine has used its own fast-evolving drone arsenal to target drone production facilities deep inside Russia, but to little apparent avail. Kyiv is increasing the intensity of its drone attacks into Russia. Across July, the Defense Ministry in Moscow reported downing 3,008 Ukrainian drones at an average of around 97 per day. In June, the ministry reported downing a total of 2,368 Ukrainian drones, with an average of almost 79 drones per day across the month. Those figures were down from May, during which the ministry said it shot down 3,611 drones with an average of 116 per day. But, Paroinen said, there is little Ukraine can do about Russia's growing drone production capability. "It's far enough away from the front lines that there are not really that many weapons that can reach it. Maybe some very long-range drones, but overall, trying to destroy such a factory is beyond their means," he said. "To take down a big industrial complex really takes a lot more firepower and explosives than they can deliver, even if they launch hundreds of drones and have dozens of them hit the target," he continued. "It's not that easy -- and usually the damage can be repaired pretty quickly."
Sydney Morning Herald
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Never-ending cycle of violence in the name of religion
Thank you, David Leser, for your wonderful contribution (' My Jewish plea: let Sydney march ', August 1). This article should be compulsory reading for every high school classroom. Religious or cultural hate is as easily aroused as a passion for a sporting team, but with deadly consequences. We lose our humanity when we are willing to follow some 'magnetic leader' to attack and kill other humans, deliberately designated as inferior beings. Antisemitism is not new; it is founded on religious differences going back to the Middle Ages. European Jews were banned from owning land and craftsmen guilds. They were forced to wear a badge to identify their difference. The Holocaust, the greatest crime against humanity, is a blight on Western culture. The October 7 attacks by Hamas were also a heinous crime. Israel's disproportionate punishment of Palestinian people is, likewise, an atrocity. And so the cycle of violence continues. Ferdo Mathews, Robina (Qld) David Leser asks the only question that should be asked at this time: 'What did you do with that knowledge (of mass killings)?' The shock is that Premier Chris Minns ignores the feelings of our community, which demands an end to the killing in Gaza. ABC News persists in calling those of us who oppose the Israeli government's ongoing war as 'Palestine supporters'. Like most of us, I support a two-state solution, no easy task at all. But I am primarily a supporter of peace, and that means peace for all. Colin Hesse, Nowra Over the course of its sad tenure, the Minns government has minimised any resemblance to the Australian Labor Party. Its position against the rights of voters to protest is simply one more blight on a long list of Labor values fails. So at the next election, Minns should expect an equally shrunken minimal primary vote for a NSW Labor Party that has abandoned its supporters. Christopher Hill, Kensington I have never written to Herald before, but today I feel compelled to comment on the wonderful letter from Dawn Cohen (Letters, August 1). Her sentiments are applauded by a vast majority of Australians. If only we could see her vision for the bridge march become a reality. Thank you so much, Dawn, for putting our feelings so clearly in print. Janet Smith, Federal Don't worry Ross MacPherson (Letters, August 1), I really don't think 'everybody who has an axe to grind' will demand the closure of the Harbour Bridge. No petty gripe could ever come close to the outrage felt about the situation in Gaza, which is being expressed globally. Jane Fowler, Marrickville Alarming analysis Peter Hartcher's analysis says it is impossible for civilised, fair-minded societies not to sympathise with Palestinian victims of Benjamin Netanyahu's atrocities (' Palestine recognition infuriates Netanyahu but not Israeli people ', August 1). Hartcher also says the Coalition continues to defend Netanyahu's position, from which I logically conclude it is out of step with other civilised, fair-minded societies. Just as well Hartcher's column is analysis, as there is no news to be found here. Paul McShane, Burradoo Making enemies Hamas, a hideous terrorist organisation with no care for the lives of Palestinians or anyone else, has long preached that Israel is a heartless state intent on destroying Palestine and its people and taking their land. The current Israeli government is sadly proving it correct. Does it really think its conduct is destroying anti-Israel forces, or is it just creating more enemies out of the families and friends of the dead and injured of Gaza, and the watching world? Jennifer Katauskas, Turramurra Basic food drops from planes over Gaza and the hungry who can run to get what they can to carry back to the babies and toddlers, the elderly, the disabled and weak in their makeshift shelters. There is no denying the multiple witness accounts. But where is the human dignity? The respect for all life and land? The Australian people have said, are saying louder and persistently: 'Speak up Albanese and make the government of Israel stop the carnage, the genocide, the annihilation … with all means available to you.' Frederika Steen, Chapel Hill (Qld) Those letter writers who condemn the actions of Hamas on October 7 (Letters, August 1) and refer to the killing 1200 Israelis never mention that included among the dead are a number of Israelis killed by the IDF when putting into effect its 'Hannibal Directive'. The aim of this was to prevent Israeli soldiers being captured by Hamas. And for those who wish to deny that this happened, it is well documented in the Israeli press. Look it up. Gay O'Connor, Manly Let's not forget the Ukrainians who are being killed by Russian bombs and whose homes are being destroyed. Gaza, rightly so, has been getting more international attention due to the horrific humanitarian crisis but years of terror in Ukraine cannot be forgotten or simply ignored. A divided world playing politics cannot continue to take sides. There are no winners in these conflicts. Sadly, the innocent victims in Gaza and Ukraine seem to be simply viewed as collateral damage. Denis Suttling, Newport Beach Gambling with society Politicians will often run with the line that they are in politics to make society better. Many often do not show this by their actions (' Minns can't stall any longer on gambling reforms ', August 1). Chris Minns and his government can make society better by implementing much-needed gambling reforms. Cashless poker machine would make this state far better and show that his government isn't bowing down to the gambling lobby. John Cotterill, Kingsford Elitist exodus It is alarming to read about the growing number of parents choosing to enrol their children in religious private schools (' Using my religion: Parents and private schools ', August 1). The implication is that our fine public education sector is somehow lacking in the values and community approach perceived to be offered by independent schools. Nothing could be further from the truth and this misconception needs to be called out. Not only are teacher training standards second to none in the NSW public education system, but when these appropriately qualified teachers whose values cannot be questioned are appointed to any school, they are proud to become a vital component of the local community. In our egalitarian society, it is to be hoped more parents consider the excellent option of public education and stop the elitist trend to private schools. Joy Nason, Mona Vale The mother load With the ongoing revelations of abuse in child care centres (' Daycare nightmare for Sydney families ', August 1) my sincere thoughts go out to all young families, particularly mothers. Fifty years ago, when my children were born, few of us were economically forced to work and were able to enjoy our children and keep them in relative safety. My heart aches for those now not in that position. I work with several young mothers and I have huge admiration for them. Their morning routine involves rising early, feeding their family, readying the children for child care, driving them, in one case, to separate child care centres, a long drive to work, a day spent teaching, and then a reverse trip after a long working day. They have the stress of having their working life interrupted when children are sick, and being constantly aware and alert that they could be called from work at any time. To compound this with the idea that their child has been harmed or endangered by an abuser must be heart-breaking and is so undeserved. Heather Johnson, West Pennant Hills Greens aggrieved It always amazes me the level of contempt ordinary Aussies harbour towards the Greens (Letters, August 1). People want the Greens to be progressive but not too pushy. An alternative, but not too 'out there'. Loud but measured. And, for Pete's sake – constructive. Both major parties, which have failed miserably at addressing many festering issues, have cultivated this intense dislike of the Greens. The Lucky Country. Mark Paskal, Austinmer Who needs a US ambassador, anyway? Why fret about the lack of a US ambassador, Don Firth (Letters, August 1)? Honestly, why would Washington bother with formal diplomacy when Canberra's default position is 'whatever you say, boss'? We've practically perfected the art of the pre-emptive cultural cringe. Whether it's trade tariffs, AUKUS or parking spots for nuclear subs, successive Australian governments – red tie or blue – have dutifully rolled over before America even asks. We're like Pavlov's Dog (DOGE): they ring the bell, we fetch the treaty – it's peak efficiency, really. So perhaps Trump's real message is: 'Why waste a perfectly good ambassadorial nominee on a country that'll say yes anyway?' He's saving the trouble and the airfare. Let's not pretend we're being snubbed because we're not important. It's precisely because we're so reliable – obedient, even – that no high-powered envoy is needed. It might be 'deeply concerning' for those clinging to the theatre of diplomacy, but in the Trumpverse loyalty without question is worth more than any photo op. So, let's relax – the relationship is just fine, we're still in the club, we're just not invited to speak. Michael Cunningham, Macmasters Beach Even a broken clock is right twice a day ('Egads, Trump isn't all bad. He's even had some success', July 31). Also, Australia is not disadvantaged by the lack of a US ambassador. We are better served by US Consul General Jeremy Cornforth, a competent career diplomat acting as an ambassador, than a Trump political appointee. Tim Coen, Ashfield Donald Trump's threat to bludgeon Canada — and by inference other like-minded countries including Australia — on the matter of Palestinian statehood, is yet another line in the sand over which this great disruptor is all too comfortable to cross (' Trump warns Canada on trade over its Palestine stance', 1 August). Those who dare counter his whimsical grasp on how the world works, we are warned, will suffer his wrath with more ad-hoc tariffs. As Australia debates the issue amid the appalling evidence of genocide in Gaza, Trump would have us toe the line — his pro-Israel line. It is yet another example of his apparent right to tinker with, or downright dictate, how sovereign states should behave. Those lines in the sand are becoming so numerous they are beginning to resemble a ladder, and that is one we climb at our peril. Bradley Wynne, Croydon Canadian PM Mark Carney spoke with solemn, calm and measured language when he announced his country's conditional decision to recognise Palestine yesterday . Trump responded in sarcastic and bully-boy style with 'Wow! That will make it very hard for us to make a trade deal with them.' Does he really expect that every country across the world will collectively bend to his will from fear of economic reprisals and ultimately become his puppets, begging for tariff relief? Lorraine Hickey, Green Point Respect to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who believes the democratic state of law is 'a sacred thing' (' The world leader who refuses to bow to Donald Trump ', August 1). He recognises US economic, military and technological power and yet refuses to allow Trump's use of tariffs to force the capitulation of Brazilian law by pursuing criminal charges against former President Bolsonaro for an attempted coup. How refreshing. Marie Del Monte, Ashfield Ha ha, so Australia dodged the latest Trump tariff bullet. It is so obvious that allowing about two American cows into the country to be served up to homesick US tourists or expats as Omaha ribs has saved us from another 5 per cent to 10 per cent tariff hit. Well played, Albo. Now, just keep reminding the president that there is a definite line in the sand on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Malcolm Freak, Armidale E-bike pedlars Correspondent John Kempler's faith in the benefits and future of e-bike commuting overlooks the disadvantages (Letters, 31 July). His experience is with local travel by e-bike. I commuted on a motorbike for two years. It rains, the wind blows, it's cold, and sometimes very hot. There are slippery road surfaces and potholes. And no physical protection, not just from the weather but from car and truck drivers, who do make mistakes. The notion that e-bikes should be subsidised is nuts. That (public) money would be better directed into hospital services to pay for the inevitable increase in serious road injuries from e-bike commuting. Dedicated roads for e-bikes? He's dreaming. Still, some will benefit from public subsidies of e-bike commuting. They are those who sell and service the bikes. So, as usual, the main beneficiaries wouldn't be the pedallers, they would be the pedlars. Norman Carter, Roseville Big tech threat Rather than weakening copyright law, as Scott Farquhar proposes (' Billionaire tech chief spruiks AI amid 150 cuts ', July 31), a better solution would be for AI companies to provide small parcels of equity to publishers and writers. That would remove alleged financial obstacles while ensuring that all contributors share any upside, which is fairer and better for Australia. AI companies are now offering salary and equity packages of more than $100 million to top developers. Clearly, they are prepared to pay if they have to. In addition, it's worth noting that Farquhar's own success and wealth derives from his company's use of copyright laws. Intellectual property rights are the important way we protect talent and expertise. We should not weaken them for big tech. Anthony Healy, Centennial Park Just not cricket No, Mr Greenberg, England's combative, hostile approach is not great cricket (' It's great cricket': Angry, abrasive England an Ashes goldmine for CA', August 1). It's just another sad example of big money corrupting the game. Bullying and threatening behaviour should not be a desirable part of any sport, especially one we encourage our children to take part in. Graham Hansen, Denistone Mighty moles The British and Irish Lions is a misnomer. None of the countries involved have lions. Australia has wallabies. Plenty of them. Other rugby nations use native animals such as springboks, kiwis and pumas. We should be playing the British and Irish Squirrels, or the British and Irish Moles. Phil Blight, Gymea Bay Cheep seats Virgin's decision to allow pets on planes brings a new meaning to travelling cattle class. Ian Costley, Belrose Postscript Letters of outrage and despair have poured in since shocking images from Gaza of emaciated, hungry children began appearing in the media. The effect on readers over the past week has been profound, with dozens of people writing to the Herald for the first time and thousands preparing to take part in their first protest march. The general message: Stop the war, now! 'Let's call a spade a spade: Israel is starving Palestinians to death,' wrote Marilyn Lebeter. Meg Pickup felt helpless. 'Shame on those countries enabling Netanyahu's behaviour. Shame on the rest of us for standing idly by.' 'We must not stand by while war crimes are carried out. Australia must act,' wrote Deborah Nestola. Jack Amond agreed. 'In years to come, this will be recognised as a crime against humanity,' he said. Coalition frontbencher Dan Tehan's comment that Hamas, not Israel, was to blame for the starvation in Gaza was quickly challenged. 'Is this the blood-stained hill the Liberal Party wish to take a stand on?' asked a 'distressed' James Cottam. Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce was in front of the cameras once more this week, announcing his improbable plan to dump Australia's 2050 net-zero target and blaming renewables for rising electricity prices. Sceptical readers were quick to write in. 'It's hard to understand how the electors of New England put up with his inane prognostications,' said Peter Nash. 'Will no one rid us of this turbulent beast?' pleaded clean-energy devotee Ken Enderby. Labor's lifting of longstanding restrictions on America's access to our beef market got a unanimous thumbs down from readers. 'I don't like the idea of capitulating to a bully like Trump, and sure as hell won't be buying US beef,' wrote Alph William. Victor Marshall said: 'Australians will only buy American meat once, as it falls a long way short of the quality and taste of Australian meat.' 'I won't buy it or anything else from America. If we all do the same the message will soon filter through,' wrote Olga Stosic. The idea of prime US rump going into the bin will surely be hard to swallow for the US president. His fondness of steak is well known, preferring it well done – with ketchup.
