LOCAL NEWS
Crown to Pardon Rua Kēnana
The Crown has announced it will return to Maungapōhatu to grant a statutory pardon to Tūhoe prophet Rua Kēnana. Seventy police invaded the Ngāi Tūhoe settlement in 1916 to arrest Kēnana, killing his son Toko and his uncle Te Maipi in the process. The Crown has already acknowledged their part in what happened at Maungapōhatu during the settlement of the Tūhoe Treaty claims in 2014. Maungapōhatu Trustees and Maori Development Minister Te Ururoa Flavell, have plans to meet today to discuss the pardon ahead of an agreement.
Government to Increase Punishments for Drug-Taking Beneficiaries
National announced they will cut benefits for young people who refuse to do work experience or who continue to fail drug tests. National's Social Development Minister Anne Tolley, alongside leader Bill English, announced yesterday that $72 million over the next four years would be invested into training and work experience and drug rehabilitation services if necessary. English has said he heard from employers two or three times a week claiming they were unable to find enough young workers who could pass a drug test. Government figures show 466 beneficiaries failed or refused to take a drug test over the past three years.
Thousands Seeking Employment Breach Advice
Lack of adequate sick leave, insecurity around hours, unfair treatment, and unjust dismissal are among the 12,000 complaints received annually by the Citizens' Advice Bureau (CAB) and Community Law Aotearoa. CAB social policy advisor Jayne McKendry said the number of people seeking help had risen 40 percent in the past five years. A prominent problem, she said, was people working without any employment agreement at all—CAB had received 473 such complaints in just the past six months. Immigrants and young people were most at risk, McKendry said.
INTERNATIONAL
Trump Declares State of Emergency in Florida, US Territories
President Trump has approved state of emergency declarations for Florida, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands as Hurricane Irma continues to barrel through the Caribbean. The Category 5 storm was set to hit Puerto Rico Wednesday, with the US National Hurricane Center reporting wind speeds as high as 185 mph. In Florida, the mayor of Miami-Dade County said some evacuations might start later Wednesday, although the scale of potential impact on the state was not yet clear
Suu Kyi Dismisses "Misinformation" About Violence in Myanmar
Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of Myanmar's ruling party, has condemned "misinformation" about violence inside her country. Without addressing the army's alleged crackdown on Rohingya Muslims or the exodus of the minority group to Bangladesh, she said the authorities would ensure "all the people in our country are entitled to protection of their rights." According to anonymous government sources in Bangladesh, Myanmar has begun placing land mines near the border.
Cambodian Government Warns of Ban for Opposition Party
A Cambodian government spokesman has threatened to ban the official opposition party from taking part in elections if it fails to appoint a new leader. Kem Sokha, leader of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), has been arrested and stands accused of treason. Government spokesman Phay Siphan said: "If they don't comply with the law, they will not exist and have no right to political activity."
North Korea Threatens More Nuclear Tests
North Korea's ambassador to the UN has warned of more "gift package" actions to antagonize the US. Speaking at a conference in Geneva, Han Tae-song described Sunday's nuclear test as a "self-defense" measure and a "gift package" aimed at the US. "The US will receive more 'gift packages'… as long as it relies on reckless provocations and futile attempts to put pressure on [North Korea]," he said.
Reporting by Katie Doyle, Leah Garcia-Purves, and Kelly Enright.