CoveragePost
January 19, 2024
Analysis by Keith Rankin. In the European Union at least, mortality data is now available until close to the end of 2023. In northern Europe, mortality has been markedly higher than it should have been in the ‘Fall’ – autumn – of 2023. The main exception is Poland. Respiratory illness is most likely the culprit. ... <a title="Keith Rankin Chart Analysis – Excess Mortality to Fall 2023: mainly Northeast Europe" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/01/19/keith-rankin-chart-analysis-excess-mortality-to-fall-2023-mainly-northeast-europe/" aria-label="Read more about Keith Rankin Chart Analysis – Excess Mortality to Fall 2023: mainly Northeast Europe">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 18, 2024
Analysis by Keith Rankin. I enjoy Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup as a succinct and pertinent summary of current New Zealand politics. But, in The Liberal v Conservative anguish over the direction of NZ politics (NZ Herald, 3 January 2024) Edwards corrupts the word ‘liberal’ too much. The word ‘liberal’ has a definite, important, and nuanced ... <a title="Keith Rankin Analysis – To be (a) liberal" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/01/18/keith-rankin-analysis-to-be-a-liberal/" aria-label="Read more about Keith Rankin Analysis – To be (a) liberal">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 15, 2024
Analysis by Keith Rankin. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) – based in The Hague, in The Netherlands – is being asked by South Africa if the 100-day (so far) slaughter by the Government of Israel in Gaza constitutes a ‘genocide’. Thus ‘genocide’ is presented as a binary concept, in a context where there is ... <a title="Keith Rankin Analysis – Genocide as a Concept: Binary or Analogue?" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/01/15/keith-rankin-analysis-genocide-as-a-concept-binary-or-analogue/" aria-label="Read more about Keith Rankin Analysis – Genocide as a Concept: Binary or Analogue?">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
January 10, 2024
Analysis by Keith Rankin. In the absence of more detailed recent data on deaths in New Zealand, the Smithometer acts as a good proxy for older New Zealanders’ mortality. The Smithometer includes all New Zealand deaths where the persons’ surnames are Smith, including women with birth surnames of Smith. So, the Smithometer most reflects the ... <a title="Keith Rankin Analysis – Mortality of Older New Zealanders, the Latest Smithometer" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2024/01/10/keith-rankin-analysis-mortality-of-older-new-zealanders-the-latest-smithometer/" aria-label="Read more about Keith Rankin Analysis – Mortality of Older New Zealanders, the Latest Smithometer">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
December 22, 2023
Analysis by Keith Rankin. When countries’ national elections are closely fought, it means that the median voters critically determine the parliamentary or congressional outcome. But, though depending to a considerable extent on the prevailing political culture, the centre-of-gravity of the resulting government may be far from that median usually ‘centrist’ position of the voters. The ... <a title="Keith Rankin Analysis – Political Culture and Close Elections" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/12/22/keith-rankin-analysis-political-culture-and-close-elections/" aria-label="Read more about Keith Rankin Analysis – Political Culture and Close Elections">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
December 21, 2023
Dr Paul Buchanan and Selwyn Manning note and discuss some of the big world events that have occurred and are occurring in 2023.
And in particular, they discuss the rise of the Global South; evaluate the the wars that continue to rage in Ukraine and Gaza; and tensions in the South China Sea.
Plus Paul and Selwyn note, with particular reference, the trends that will become prominent in 2024, including the decline of Western democracies and a rightward turn in many places (including in Argentina and New Zealand in their respective 2023 elections).
CoveragePost
December 21, 2023
The LIVE Recording of A View from Afar podcast will begin at midday Thurs December 21, 2023 (NZST) and Wednesday December 20, 8pm (USEDST). Today, In this the twelfth episode of A View from Afar for 2023 political scientist Dr Paul Buchanan and Selwyn Manning will note and discuss some of the big world events ... <a title="LIVE TODAY: Buchanan and Manning Assess 2023 Global Trends and Conflicts" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/12/21/live-today-buchanan-and-manning-assess-2023-global-trends-and-conflicts/" aria-label="Read more about LIVE TODAY: Buchanan and Manning Assess 2023 Global Trends and Conflicts">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
December 19, 2023
Analysis by Keith Rankin. Last week the new government effectively cancelled the plans of Kiwi Rail – in the form of ‘The Interislander’ – derailing its intended Picton rail and road expansion. The plans were judged to be too costly; in particular, the rate of cost escalation was deemed unacceptable. The bigger picture is the ... <a title="Keith Rankin Analysis – The Shipping News: Lyttelton versus Picton, and other stories" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/12/19/keith-rankin-analysis-the-shipping-news-lyttelton-versus-picton-and-other-stories/" aria-label="Read more about Keith Rankin Analysis – The Shipping News: Lyttelton versus Picton, and other stories">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
December 14, 2023
Analysis by Keith Rankin. Tertiary education is in crisis in Aotearoa New Zealand. Vocational education, the domain of the Polytechnic ‘Institutes of Technology’; and Science and Humanities’ education, the traditional domain of the Universities. 2023 was an election year, yet tertiary education did not feature in the election campaign, despite these manifest crises. The Labour ... <a title="Keith Rankin Analysis – Te Pūkenga, Universities, and Unitec" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/12/14/keith-rankin-analysis-te-pukenga-universities-and-unitec/" aria-label="Read more about Keith Rankin Analysis – Te Pūkenga, Universities, and Unitec">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
December 4, 2023
Analysis by Geoffrey Miller – Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz) New Zealand’s international relations are under new management. And Winston Peters, the new foreign minister, is already setting a change agenda. As expected, this includes a more pro-US positioning when it comes to the Pacific – where Peters will be picking up where he left off. Peters sought ... <a title="Geoffrey Miller’s Analysis – New Zealand’s foreign policy resets on AUKUS, Gaza and Ukraine" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/12/04/geoffrey-millers-analysis-new-zealands-foreign-policy-resets-on-aukus-gaza-and-ukraine/" aria-label="Read more about Geoffrey Miller’s Analysis – New Zealand’s foreign policy resets on AUKUS, Gaza and Ukraine">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
December 1, 2023
Analysis by Keith Rankin. Supremacism is a cultural belief that an in-group of humanity is inherently superior to other groups, and that those other groups have lesser human rights as a consequence of their presumed inferiority or corruption. The Jewish religion does have texts which can be understood as supremacist. That doesn’t make Judaism a ... <a title="Keith Rankin Essay: Supremacism, Israel and Neozionism" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/12/01/keith-rankin-essay-supremacism-israel-and-neozionism/" aria-label="Read more about Keith Rankin Essay: Supremacism, Israel and Neozionism">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
November 28, 2023
Analysis by Keith Rankin. The new government is making a weak start to its tenure. On Morning Report (RNZ, 28 Nov 2023, Prime Minister Luxon to lead first cabinet meeting), Mr Luxon repeated a comment such as he has made several times before: “The number one job is to rebuild the economy so we can ... <a title="Keith Rankin Analysis – Government by Cliché" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2023/11/28/keith-rankin-analysis-government-by-cliche/" aria-label="Read more about Keith Rankin Analysis – Government by Cliché">Read more</a>
