Asia Pacific Report

1 week ago | asiapacificreport.nz | David Robie

ANALYSIS: By Joe HendrenHad Israel not launched its unprovoked attack on Iran on Friday night, in direct violation of the UN Charter, Iran would now be taking part in the sixth round of negotiations concerning the future of its nuclear programme, meeting with representatives from the United States in Muscat, the capital of Oman. Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu claimed he acted to prevent Iran from building a nuclear bomb, saying Iran had the capacity to build nine nuclear weapons.

2 weeks ago | asiapacificreport.nz | Ramzy Baroud |Romana Rubeo

By Ramzy Baroud and Romana RubeoUnlike the Palestinian message, the Israeli message is not global, but very much a localised cry for help — get us out of Gaza. This is not your typical video. The event itself might be similar to numerous other events in Gaza — a fighter emerging from a tunnel, placing a bomb under an Israeli Merkava tank, and returning to his tunnel before a massive explosion takes place. This is what is called an operation from zero distance.

1 month ago | asiapacificreport.nz | Grace Tinetali-Fiavaai

By Grace Tinetali-Fiavaai, RNZ Pacific journalistIts official. Samoa’s Parliament will be dissolved next week and the country will have an early return to the polls. The confirmation comes after a dramatic day in Parliament on Tuesday, which saw the government’s budget voted down at its first reading. In a live address today, Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa confirmed the dissolution of Parliament.

1 month ago | asiapacificreport.nz | Ian Powell

ANALYSIS: By Ian PowellWhen I despairingly contemplate the horrors and cruelty that Palestinians in Gaza are being subjected to, I sometimes try to put this in the context of where I live. I live on the Kāpiti Coast in the lower North Island of Aotearoa New Zealand. Geographically it is around the same size as Gaza. Both have coastlines running their full lengths. But, whereas the population of Gaza is a cramped two million, Kāpiti’s is a mere 56,000.

1 month ago | asiapacificreport.nz | Gordon Campbell

COMMENTARY: By Gordon CampbellSince last Thursday, intensified Israeli air strikes on Gaza have killed more than 500 Palestinians, and a prolonged Israeli aid blockade has led to widespread starvation among the territory’s two million residents. Belatedly, Israel is letting in a token amount of food aid that UN Under-Secretary Tom Fletcher has called a “a drop in the ocean”.