Author: Admin

by Admin 07/03/2025 New Zealand has dismissed its ambassador to the United Kingdom, Phil Goff, after the diplomat publicly questioned U.S. President Donald Trump’s understanding of World War II history. The office of Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced on Thursday that Goff’s position as High Commissioner to the UK had become “untenable” following his comments during a panel discussion in London. Speaking at a Chatham House event on Wednesday alongside Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, Goff compared Trump’s approach to ending the war in Ukraine with the 1938 Munich Agreement, which allowed Nazi Germany to annex parts of Czechoslovakia. “I was re-reading Churchill’s speech to the House of Commons in 1938 after the Munich Agreement, and he turned to Chamberlain and said, ‘You had the choice between war and dishonour.  You chose dishonour, yet you will have war,’” Goff said during the discussion, referring to former UK Prime Ministers Winston Churchill and Neville Chamberlain. He then took aim at Trump’s reverence for Churchill, he said:  “President Trump has restored the bust of Churchill to the Oval Office. But do you think he really understands history?” Valtonen declined to respond directly but remarked that Churchill had made many “timeless statements.” Following Goff’s remarks, New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that discussions were underway regarding his return home but declined to provide further details. Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark criticized the decision, calling the reasoning “a very thin excuse.”  The former prime minister, who led the country from 1999 to 2008, said that similar comparisons had been made at last month’s Munich Security Conference in Germany. However, Foreign Minister Winston Peters defended the move, saying it was a necessary but “seriously disappointing” decision. “We cannot have people making comments which impinge upon our very future – no matter what the country is, whether it’s Niue, Samoa, Tonga, Japan, or, dare I say it, the United States,” Peters told reporters. “When you are in that position, you represent the government and the policies of the day. You’re not able to free-think. You are the face of New Zealand.” Goff, who has not publicly commented on his dismissal, was appointed High Commissioner to the UK in 2023.  Prior to his diplomatic role, he held multiple ministerial positions, including foreign affairs, and served two terms as the mayor of Auckland. His removal highlights the sensitivity of diplomatic relations as New Zealand navigates its ties with the United States under Trump’s leadership.

by Admin 07/03/2025 The United States President, Donald Trump, has delivered what he called a “last warning” to Hamas, demanding the immediate release of hostages held in Gaza.  This was disclosed in a statement posted on his Truth Social platform. President Trump vowed to provide Israel with everything necessary to “finish the job” and warned that “not a single Hamas member will be safe” if the group does not comply. President Trump’s ultimatum comes just hours after the White House confirmed it was engaged in direct talks with Hamas to negotiate the release of remaining hostages.  Hamas has accused the United States president of encouraging Israel to violate the current ceasefire agreement. In his post, President Trump escalated his rhetoric, warning that there would be ‘hell to pay’ if the hostages were not freed, though he did not elaborate on the specific support he was providing Israel. “Release all of the hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you,” he wrote. “For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance.” President Trump also appeared to issue a broader warning to Gaza’s population when he said: “To the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD!” Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem responded by accusing Trump of “complicating matters regarding the ceasefire agreement” and encouraging Israel to avoid implementing its terms. Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the United States has been holding direct negotiations with Hamas to secure the release of hostages, a move that was coordinated with Israel. Leavitt emphasized that Trump was acting “in the best interest of the American people” and that Special Envoy for Hostages Adam Boehler had been leading “a good faith effort” to bring Americans home. According to Leavitt, two face-to-face meetings have taken place between a United States official and Hamas representatives, “preceded by several communications.” Israel launched its military offensive against Hamas following the October 7, 2023, attack, in which approximately 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage. In response, Israel vowed to eliminate Hamas. Since the war began, at least 48,440 people have been killed in Gaza, according to figures from the Hamas-run health ministry. Israel reports that 59 hostages remain in Gaza, with up to 24 believed to be alive. Among them are five American citizens, one, Edan Alexander, is believed to be alive, while the other four are presumed dead. President Trump’s latest warning underscores his administration’s hardline stance as negotiations continue and tensions rise over the future of the ceasefire agreement.

by Admin 07/03/2025 Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino has strongly rebuked U.S. President Donald Trump for claiming that the United States is “reclaiming” the Panama Canal, calling the assertion a falsehood and an affront to Panama’s sovereignty. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, Mulino dismissed President Trump’s remarks, stating that the waterway, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, “is not in the process of recovery” by the United States government. He wrote that“Once again, President Trump is lying, I reject, on behalf of Panama and all Panamanians, this new affront to the truth and our dignity as a nation.” President Trump’s controversial statement came during his annual address to Congress on Tuesday. In it, he declared that Washington was taking back the canal to strengthen U.S. national security. “We’ve already started doing it. We’re taking it back,” President Trump said. He was referring to a deal announced on Tuesday, in which a consortium led by the United States investment firm BlackRock Inc. agreed to acquire a controlling stake in a company previously owned by a Chinese group that operates ports at both ends of the canal. According to regulatory filings, Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings is set to sell its entire stake in Hutchison Port Holdings and Hutchison Port Group Holdings to BlackRock for nearly $23 billion, including $5 billion in debt. However, the deal still requires approval from the Panamanian government. Despite Trump’s claims, Panama insists it retains full control over the canal and that the sale of port operations does not equate to the U.S. reclaiming the waterway.  The Hong Kong-based group’s involvement in managing the ports at the canal’s entrances never constituted Chinese control over the canal itself, according to Panamanian officials. Since his campaign, President Trump has repeatedly argued that the United States should never have relinquished control of the canal and has accused Panama of overcharging the U.S. for its use.  Upon returning to office, President Trump has further escalated his rhetoric, alleging that China exerts influence over canal operations, a claim Panama and China have both denied. In February, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with President Mulino and insisted that China was manipulating canal operations to serve its interests.  Panama rejected this assertion, maintaining that the canal operated independently and without foreign interference. The Panama Canal was built by the United States in the early 1900s to facilitate commercial and military shipping between the country’s east and west coasts.  However, under the terms of a 1977 treaty signed by United States President Jimmy Carter, Washington officially transferred control of the canal to Panama on December 31, 1999. President Trump has frequently criticized this decision, claiming Carter “foolishly” gave the canal away.  His latest remarks suggest that his administration may be seeking a more assertive role in Panama’s strategic waterway, though how far the U.S. intends to go remains unclear. For now, the Panamanian government remains firm in its stance: the canal belongs to Panama, and no foreign power is reclaiming it.

by Admin Feb 26, 2025 A child in Texas has died from measles, making it the first U.S. fatality from the highly contagious disease in nearly a decade, state health officials confirmed on Wednesday morning.  The unvaccinated child was hospitalized in Lubbock health facility last week and tested positive for measles before succumbing to the deadly diseases within 24 hours, according to local authorities. The fatality comes as measles cases increased drastically in parts of western Texas and neighboring New Mexico states, with more than 130 people infected this year, mostly among unvaccinated children.  At least 20 people have been hospitalized in Texas, and health workers warn that the outbreak is likely to escalate.  Experts have feared that falling vaccination levels could contribute to further outbreaks across the country. The measles resurgence comes at a sensitive time for, as newly appointed Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime critic of vaccines, downplays the severity of the outbreak.  During a meeting of President Donald Trump’s cabinet, Kennedy dismissed concerns, stating, “It’s not unusual. You have measles outbreaks every year.” Kennedy also claimed that two deaths had been reported, though neither Texas nor New Mexico health officials confirmed an additional fatality.  His comments have drawn criticism from medical experts, who emphasize the importance of vaccination in preventing severe measles complications and deaths. Health professionals stress that the measles vaccine remains one of the most effective tools against the disease.  Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease specialist at Johns Hopkins University, disclosed that the child’s death “should serve as a reminder that there was a reason the vaccine was developed and that it remains invaluable for public health.” Dr. Lara Johnson, chief medical officer at Covenant Children’s Hospital in Lubbock, where the child was treated, reflected on the resurgence of measles in the United States. She said, “When I graduated from medical school in 2002, I was confident I would never see a measles outbreak unless I chose to work internationally,” she said. Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus that spreads through airborne droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes or breathes.  The disease is known for its distinct rash but also leads to severe complications, particularly in unvaccinated individuals, infants under 12 months who are not yet eligible for vaccination, and those with weakened immune systems. During outbreaks, about one in five measles patients require hospitalization, and one in 20 develops pneumonia. In rare cases, measles can cause brain swelling and be fatal. The measles vaccine is highly effective in preventing infection, with a single dose providing 93% protection and two doses offering 97% immunity.  Before the vaccine was introduced in 1963, millions of Americans contracted measles annually, leading to hundreds of deaths.  The disease was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, but outbreaks continue to occur, primarily in communities with low vaccination rates. In 2023, the United States reported that 285 measles cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  The largest recent outbreak occurred in 2019, with 1,274 cases, primarily in Orthodox Jewish communities in New York and New Jerse,y marking the highest number of cases in decades. With the current outbreak expanding and vaccination rates declining, public health officials are urging families to ensure their children receive the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine to prevent further infections and fatalities.