From the news

A few comments on recent news articles: 

• staggering evidence shows that the UK's Queen does influence legislation (as does her son also) - subtly, indirectly, and in contravention of the principles of constitutional monarchy. Roll on an Australian republic; 
• an excellent speech on integrity in Australia's Parliament - and, on that, a call to reverse one of trump's last decisions, which was to give a licence to a billionaire who, with several of his companies, has been sanctioned under various Magnitsky acts; 
• an interesting video on how to bring out additional points on thinking before moving to a final vote on trump's second impeachment trial (which I consider will lead to an acquittal, as too US republicans are either beholden or intimidated into toeing the trump line: a lot of commentators in the USA think the events are so horrible the evidence will bring people round, but, while I agree the events ARE horrible, so is the depth of control the fascist abuser has) - but trump may be in trouble because of some of his other abuses . . . and there is always the USA's 14th Amendment to its constitution, if the US Democrats have the guts and the integrity; 
  
• "To shut down far-right extremism in Australia, we must confront the ecosystem of hate"; 
• in a week when an epochal; report condemning a sports clubs culture of racism was sidelined by its racist president (who did a very reluctant resignation), important thoughts on systemic racism here, here, and thoughts on what we can learn about treaty from New Zealand; 
  
• an assessment that the division and "instability" in New Caledonia may lead to a resumption of violence not seen for decades, as well as regional and broader (as a result of the sale of mineral resources to China) effects; 
• a warning to prepare for more aggression by China on the issue of Taiwan; 
  
• capitalism has led to unrealistic deadlines exhausting workers - this time, delivery riders, with fatal consequences (the same has been known for many years in the trucking industry,. with futile half-hearted attempts at responses);
  
• finally, more utter imbecility on the climate crisis from the minor conservative party in Australia (are they determined to destroy themselves?).