CoveragePost
April 10, 2025
Essay by Keith Rankin. ‘Rational Expectations’ is a problematic theory in economics. Here I want to focus more away from economics; and more on the meanings of ‘rationality’ in decision-making, than on the problematic ambiguity of the word ‘expect’ (and its derivatives such as ‘expectations’). ‘Expectation’ here means what we believe ‘will’ happen, not ‘should’ ... <a title="Keith Rankin Essay – Rational Expectations, Intelligence, and War" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/04/10/keith-rankin-essay-rational-expectations-intelligence-and-war/" aria-label="Read more about Keith Rankin Essay – Rational Expectations, Intelligence, and War">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
March 27, 2025
Analysis by Keith Rankin. While World War Two (WW2) always was a set of intersecting conflicts – with Japan fighting a war of imperialism in East Asia and the Western Pacific – the war in Europe has been cast as the ultimate battle of ‘Good’ versus ‘Evil’. Hence the narrative of the Good War. Further, ... <a title="Keith Rankin Analysis – Learning the correct lessons from World War Two in Europe" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/03/27/keith-rankin-analysis-learning-the-correct-lessons-from-world-war-two-in-europe/" aria-label="Read more about Keith Rankin Analysis – Learning the correct lessons from World War Two in Europe">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 27, 2025
Analysis by Keith Rankin. The above chart traces the vote-share of Germany’s establishment political parties: the right-wing CDU/CSU and the now-centre-right SPD (essentially the Christian Democrats, just like National in New Zealand) and the Social Democrats (just like Labour). And it compares Germany with England to show a similar process there. An increasingly stale political centre ... <a title="Keith Rankin Chart Analysis – Germany’s stale (and still pale) political mainstream" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/02/27/keith-rankin-chart-analysis-germanys-stale-and-still-pale-political-mainstream/" aria-label="Read more about Keith Rankin Chart Analysis – Germany’s stale (and still pale) political mainstream">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 25, 2025
By Christina Persico, RNZ Pacific bulletin editor Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa has survived a vote of no confidence after weeks of political turmoil. In a vote today, she defeated the motion by 34 votes in favour and 15 against. The motion was prompted by a split in the ruling FAST Party, which saw ... <a title="Samoan Prime Minister Fiame survives in resounding no-confidence vote" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/02/25/samoan-prime-minister-fiame-survives-in-resounding-no-confidence-vote/" aria-label="Read more about Samoan Prime Minister Fiame survives in resounding no-confidence vote">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 11, 2025
Jotham Napat has been elected as the new prime minister of Vanuatu. Napat was elected unopposed in Port Vila today, receiving 50 votes with two void votes. He is the country’s fifth prime minister in four years and will lead a coalition government made up of five political parties — Leaders Party, Vanua’aku Party, Graon ... <a title="Vanuatu parliament elects Jotham Napat as new prime minister" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/02/11/vanuatu-parliament-elects-jotham-napat-as-new-prime-minister/" aria-label="Read more about Vanuatu parliament elects Jotham Napat as new prime minister">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 22, 2025
SPECIAL REPORT: By Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson and Lilomaiava Maina Vai The Speaker of the House, Papali’i Li’o Taeu Masipau, decisively addressed a letter from FAST, which informed him of the removal of Fiame along with Deputy Prime Minister Tuala Tevaga Ponifasio, Leatinu’u Wayne Fong, Olo Fiti Vaai, Faualo Harry Schuster, and Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster from ... <a title="Samoa political update: Fiame prevails in leadership crisis" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/01/22/samoa-political-update-fiame-prevails-in-leadership-crisis/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa political update: Fiame prevails in leadership crisis">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 21, 2025
By Leah Lowonbu in Port Vila Vanuatu’s only incumbent female parliamentarian has lost her seat in a snap election leaving only one woman candidate in contention after an unofficial vote count. The unofficial counting at polling locations indicated the majority of the 52 incumbent MPs have been reelected but also with some high profile departures. ... <a title="Vanuatu risks return to all-male parliament in snap election in spite of strong ‘ vot woman’ campaign" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/01/21/vanuatu-risks-return-to-all-male-parliament-in-snap-election-in-spite-of-strong-vot-woman-campaign/" aria-label="Read more about Vanuatu risks return to all-male parliament in snap election in spite of strong ‘ vot woman’ campaign">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 19, 2025
There should be only one reason why people enter politics. It is for the good of the nation and the people who voted them in. It is to be their voice at the national level where the country’s future is decided. The recent developments within the Samoan government are a stark reminder that people have ... <a title="Samoa Observer: For the people or for themselves?" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/01/19/samoa-observer-for-the-people-or-for-themselves/" aria-label="Read more about Samoa Observer: For the people or for themselves?">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 11, 2025
COMMENTARY: By Anna Naupa Out of the rubble of last year’s 7.3 magnitude earthquake that hit Vanuatu’s capital Port Vila on December 17 and the snap election due next week on January 16, a new leadership is required to reset the country’s developmental trajectory. Persistent political turmoil has hampered the Pacific nation’s ability to deal ... <a title="Vanuatu election 2025: Earthquake aftershocks expose high cost of democracy" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/01/11/vanuatu-election-2025-earthquake-aftershocks-expose-high-cost-of-democracy/" aria-label="Read more about Vanuatu election 2025: Earthquake aftershocks expose high cost of democracy">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
December 6, 2024
Keith Rankin Analysis. I recently read the Auckland Library copy of the 1986 book Prophecy and politics: militant evangelists on the road to nuclear war, by Grace Halsell (1923-2000). Before she died, she also published (in 1999) Forcing God’s Hand: Why Millions Pray for a Quick Rapture—and Destruction of Planet Earth. A revised 2003 edition ... <a title="Keith Rankin Analysis – Israel, Syria, and the Map of the ‘Millennium’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/12/06/keith-rankin-analysis-israel-syria-and-the-map-of-the-millennium/" aria-label="Read more about Keith Rankin Analysis – Israel, Syria, and the Map of the ‘Millennium’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
December 2, 2024
Regional Conflicts - Political scientist Paul Buchanan and host Selwyn Manning analyse how conflicts are expanding, arguably with warring sides taking an opportunity to take as much territory, while a 'Lame-Duck Window' exists in the United States.
CoveragePost
December 2, 2024
The LIVE Recording of A View from Afar podcast will begin today, Monday at 12:45pm December 2, 2024 (NZST) which is Sunday evening, 6:45pm (USEST). In this episode of A View From Afar political scientist Paul Buchanan and host Selwyn Manning will analyse how conflicts are expanding, arguably with warring sides taking an opportunity to take ... <a title="LIVE@12:45pm – Conflict Expansion and Opportunism Within a Lame-Duck Window" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/12/02/live1245pm-conflict-expansion-and-opportunism-within-a-lame-duck-window/" aria-label="Read more about LIVE@12:45pm – Conflict Expansion and Opportunism Within a Lame-Duck Window">Read more</a>
