Opinion

Josh Wineera is a recently retired lieutenant colonel from the Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery. He is a former military attaché, Massey University lecturer in defence studies, and is an expert in training foreign military forces. OPINION: “Talk softly and carry a big stick,” said United States president Theodore Roosevelt, referring to a foreign policy of peaceful negotiations but having military strength should things go wrong. In Ukraine, things have gone wrong and three months into its war against Russia, military power is the chosen stick to repel Vladimir Putin’s invasion force.The New Zealand Government’s decision to send an artillery team to train Ukrainian forces is a big-stick option – indirectly. The previous support of logistics, liaison, open-sourced intelligence, and monetary donations were no doubt very welcome to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy​. Both he and his commander-in-chief, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi​, would be further appreciative of … [Read more...] about Artillery training for Ukraine is NZ’s big-stick option

The final version of Sue Gray’s long-awaited report felt a bit like being presented with a birthday cake only to find some of it had already been eaten. Six months on from reports of partygate first surfacing – and coming after the senior civil servant had already published her interim findings in January – it seemed as stale as a week-old sponge. A leak ensured that we had already seen the best photograph, showing Boris Johnson toasting staff at Lee Cain’s leaving do, while the key finding that there were “failures of leadership” at the heart of Number 10 and that those who broke the rules they’d set should have known better rang as familiar as the tune to Happy Birthday. Some of the events should never have taken place; staff should never have been so drunk at “ Wine Time Friday ” that they vomited; “There is significant learning to be drawn from these events which must be addressed immediately across Government”. It was nothing that we didn’t know already. Just as … [Read more...] about Sue Gray report seemed stale as a week-old sponge, leaving Boris Johnson to fight another day

There is a vein of disdain that runs through the harrumphing about Downing Street parties. And I’m not talking about hypocrisy or lying. It’s more serious than that. It’s something that marks a generational and cultural shift in the zeitgeist and it’s about alcohol. Newspapers manifest it in their headlines. Members of Parliament scoff at the idea of it in the House of Commons. Now we see it in actual photos, attached to the Sue Gray report. There in full gory detail in photo after photo: Boris Johnson in a government building, glass in hand, booze in glass in hand. Doesn’t he know he’s got a country to run? Isn’t he aware of the new unspoken rule of the early 21st century? Don’t dare drink in any workplace, and, when in Downing Street, don't drink and rule! There were times, of course, when drinking in Whitehall was virtually compulsory. Winston Churchill, as is often recounted, was a fairly big sipper, reputed to consume two bottles of Pol Roger per day. Indeed records of his … [Read more...] about There’s nothing wrong with drinking at work

Technology companies are living through a market rout not seen since the embers of the dotcom crash. The Nasdaq has fallen for seven consecutive weeks, the longest losing streak since 2002, and is down 30pc this year. Investment bankers who were busier than ever this time last year during the Spac frenzy are twiddling their thumbs. Bitcoin, once marketed as a hedge against inflation, has crashed too. Elon Musk’s $44bn (£35bn) agreement to buy Twitter a month ago is looking more ill-timed by the day . The superstars at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week are not youthful internet entrepreneurs but nonagenarian diplomats and financiers. A combination of a global inflationary crisis and the subsequent rise in interest rates has been a sharp rejoinder to any tech worker under the age of 35, who has only ever experienced their employers becoming richer and more powerful. Such an environment is starting to take its toll on most. This week, Snapchat’s parent company warned … [Read more...] about Inflation crisis will give tech titans even more power

As we adjust to life outside the EU, the government is busy positioning the UK as an outward-looking nation, creating international products and selling them around the world. Britain's music industry is already a genuine global leader – the world’s second biggest exporter of music, a major plank in our cultural identity and economy. The pandemic has devastated many musicians' livelihoods, particularly those heavily reliant on live performance. But for the industry’s sake the UK’s resilient recorded music sector must continue growing and punching above its weight on the world stage. Supplying one in 10 songs streamed worldwide, British artists are already overrepresented in music streaming, with a market share four times greater than the UK's overall share of global GDP. Stars like Ed Sheeran, Lewis Capaldi, Adele, Harry Styles, Dua Lipa and Stormzy contributed to the 155 million albums (or their equivalent) streamed or bought in 2020 in the UK. The 139 billion individual audio … [Read more...] about We need British music to thrive after the pandemic – now is not the time to regulate success

SIR – My wife and I have a friend who is a widow in her 80s. Recently we found her in a distressed state. She said that her gas bill, normally about £30 per month, had gone up to £170. She does not bank online and her bank has recently closed its branch in the nearest town four miles away. She tried phoning her supplier, British Gas, only to be told by an automated voice on each attempt that the wait time was “more than an hour”. So distressed has she become that she has had to visit her GP, who suggested that she was suffering from anxiety brought on by the situation with her gas supply. She is now taking anti-anxiety medicine and has managed to get her bill altered. I can only say that this is a disgraceful way to deal with any customer. David J Hartshorn SIR – Gillian Courage (Letters, May 5) writes of her energy supplier’s grab for more money. The same applies to our long-term supplier, Ovo Energy. On Wednesday we received two emails, one complaining about a lack of … [Read more...] about Letters: An automated voice is no comfort to a widow faced with soaring gas bills

Andrew Neil describes BBC licence fee as a 'Straitjacket' Sign up for our news briefing, including a daily special Russia-Ukraine edition SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Tim Davie, the director-general of the BBC , is due to address staff on Thursday after saying earlier this week he would have to look at the volume of material produced by the corporation – a move, it is understood, designed to weather the licence fee freeze at £159 for two years. Related articles BBC licence fee warning as Nadine Dorries wields AXE on hated levy BBC licence fee on brink: Execs admit 'existential' crisis The settlement will cost the BBC £285million in funding by 2027, Mr Davie said when the decision was … [Read more...] about BBC4 faces AXE: Arts channel bleeding funds as Netflix and £285m black hole hammer Beeb

The Met Police acted with "integrity" during its partygate investigation and officers made decisions "based on the facts and were proper", the force's acting commissioner has said. Sir Stephen House, giving evidence to the London Assembly's police and crime committee, defended the nearly four-month investigation into lockdown-breaking parties in Downing Street and Whitehall. The investigation has come under criticism for only fining Boris Johnson once following the publication of the Sue Gray inquiry which revealed partying in Downing Street while COVID restrictions were in place. Challenged over why the prime minister did not receive a fine for attending a leaving party for his former communications director Lee Cain on 13 November 2020, Sir Stephen said he was "confident of the integrity of the decisions" taken. Photos of the gathering emerged two days before Ms Gray's full inquiry was published. Advertisement Sir Stephen said officers had "looked at … [Read more...] about Partygate: Met Police acted with ‘integrity’ over lockdown party inquiry and made decisions ‘based on facts’, says Met chief

MARTIN Lewis' MoneySavingExpert has revealed an easy step that workers can take to boost their state pension and it could turn £800 into £5,500. You could risk losing out on thousands of pounds if you fail to take action sooner - but it's a simple check. It takes 35 years of National Insurance contributions to get the full amount of state pension and you can pay for gaps in your record. At the moment you can top up for any missing years dating back to 2006 but a six-year limit will return in April 2023, restricting how far you can go back. In the latest MoneySavingExpert weekly newsletter, Martin Lewis and his team warned that you could risk losing a decade's worth of payments if you miss out on the crucial step. National insurance contributions are usually taken directly from your wages if you're employed or via self-assessment for the self-employed . Read More on Martin Lewis PASS IT ON Martin Lewis urges families hit by … [Read more...] about Martin Lewis reveals the easy check that could turn £800 into £5,500

HOLLY Willoughby was left unimpressed by This Morning guest Beverley Turner today after she insisted unemployed mums should get a job to ease cost of living crisis. The presenter, 41, argued the situation was "impossible" as desperate families 'live' in McDonald's with their kids to dodge energy bills. Holly said it was the "saddest" thing she'd ever heard - but commentator Beverley criticised those not taking up jobs in cafes and shops while their children are at school. Reacting to the news that some hard-up Brits are using the fast-food chain's electricity as prices soar, Beverley: "I don't think there are many people doing that, we need to keep perspective in a way." But Holly argued even if it was just one person, it was "one too many". Refusing to back down on her argument, Beverley said: "I'm going to sound incredibly callous now, but there is a huge employment shortage. READ MORE ON HOLLY WILLOUGHBY TOP DOG Holly Willoughby shares … [Read more...] about Holly Willoughby sees red as This Morning guest Beverley Turner tells mums ‘get a job’ to ease cost-of-living crisis