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The US invasion of Iraq began with a massive show of force. Almost 2,000 airstrikes and missile launches preceded a sweeping ground offensive towards Baghdad. A little under three weeks later, the Iraqi military was defeated. Victory was declared. Except that it was not until eight years and eight months later that the last American soldiers left. The initial rush to capture the centre had succeeded; the long war against the insurgency that…

Jack Hinton was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC) for his actions on the night of 28 April 1941 at Kalamata during the evacuation from Greece. · A column of German troops had entered the port, prompting Hinton – apparently tired of retreating – to organise a counter-attack. The action is described in the citation for his VC: · Yelling ‘to Hell with this, who’ll come with me?’, Hinton: · ran to within several yards of the nearest gun; … he hurled…

New Challenging the belief that animal protein is the superior type for building muscle, scientists have shown that there is actually no difference in eating meat and dairy or plant sources following a workout. · Researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign recruited 40 physically active participants – 28 males, 12 females – aged between 20 and 40 years, who took part in a seven-day "habituation diet" to reset their bodies ahead…

How does Facebook occasionally deliver such disconcertingly timed advertisements? Is it really listening to users through their smartphone microphones? Or is the truth much more unsettling? · Perhaps one of the most pervasive longstanding technology conspiracy theories is that your smartphone is constantly listening in on your private conversations. Almost everyone at some point has felt the eerie synchronicity of seeing an ad served up on a…

A Greek study reviewing 530 hospital deaths in Athens during 2022 has found that nearly half of the patients officially recorded as COVID fatalities did not die from the virus. · The retrospective audit, which involved analysis of full medical files and input from treating physicians, concluded that only 25% of the deaths were directly caused by COVID. · Another 30% were partially attributable to the virus, while 45% of the patients died from…

Democracy & Meritocracy Vs Cultural Beliefs · New Zealand has gone from a democratic system of governance where all citizens are equal regardless of Race, Colour or Creed to where we are now accepting that Cultural Beliefs must be followed due to some crazy interpretations of the Treaty of Waitangi which was signed in 1840. · We have got to the stage where we expect our professionals and trades people to exhibit knowledge of cultural beliefs…

Each year on Anzac Day, New Zealanders and Australians mark the anniversary of the Gallipoli landings of 25 April 1915. On that day, thousands of young men, far from their homes, landed on the beaches of the Gallipoli Peninsula, in what is now Türkiye. · British and French forces made the main landing at Cape Helles on the tip of the peninsula, while General William Birdwood’s Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (commonly known as Anzacs)…

With Feijoa season in full swing, there is a plethora of loaves, muffins and slices you can turn your hand too. · This easy, quick to make slightly indulgent twist on a classic pudding makes for a surprise, tasty and special desert for either a family dinner or entertaining friends.  · Ingredients · - 1kg feijoas, halved, flesh scooped out to get 400g - 170g golden syrup - 2 tablespoons lemon juice - 100g butter - ½ cup milk - 1 teaspoon…

New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill seeking to define “woman” and “man” in law based on biological sex, saying the move would provide legal clarity and reflect common-sense language. · The proposal follows a recent UK Supreme Court ruling that interpreted “woman” in the Equality Act as referring exclusively to biological females. · The bill, put forward by NZ First MP Jenny Marcroft, defines “woman” as an “adult human biological…

‘You see, but you do not observe’, Sherlock Holmes chided Dr Watson in Arthur Conan Doyle’s short story, A Scandal In Bohemia. · For decades, the world has seen Nordic countries such as Norway, Finland and Sweden as paragons of sustainable development, applauding their biking lanes, electric vehicles, wind farms and carbon taxes.  · But in our admiration, we have failed to observe the paradox shrouded by this compelling narrative. · Nordic…