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Everything you need to know today curated by 95bFM and VICE NZ.Perfect Growing Conditions Make For Bumper Weed Season
Cannabis is thriving early in the season thanks to favourable conditions in Northland. Detective Sergeant Shane Pilmer said the public is important to help detect possible areas of concern, adding "it's still a drug that causes a lot of harm". Police have recently removed 350 plants from the area and are searching for more as the conditions continue help weed thrive. Those living and working in the area have been asked to keep an eye out for any suspicious behaviour.National Concerned Unemployed Will Seek Education, Not Jobs
The National Party is concerned the $50 student-allowance boost might lead to beneficiaries studying rather than looking for work. National's Tertiary Education spokesperson, Paul Goldsmith, claims the increase, combined with free tertiary education, might mean those on the benefit could exploit the system for more money. Jonathan Gee, National President of the New Zealand Union of Students' Associations, told bFM the comparison is misleading. “The claims don’t take into account the accommodation supplements, which is up to a $130 per week, and that's accessible to most beneficiaries except students. Students, on the other hand, they get access to the accommodation benefit and that's only up to $40 a week on top of the allowance.” Gee said that from 2018 students will be up to $100 worse off than beneficiaries with respect to accommodation support.One Bitcoin Now Worth $10,000
The value of digital currency Bitcoin has surged to $10,000 per coin, having started the year at just $1,000. As a virtual currency Bitcoin is not regulated by traditional banking systems or governments, meaning no one is in charge of maintaining Bitcoin or its value. Many online currency companies including Bitcoin operate with the online transaction tracker Blockchain, maintained by anonymous hackers. Both South Korea and China banned the virtual currency earlier this year.Zero Deaths on New Zealand Roads the New Target
The New Zealand Transport Agency is looking at introducing a target of zero deaths on New Zealand roads. The New Zealand road system is already largely based off the Target Zero system developed in Sweden, which aims to reduce fatalities by assuming that road users make mistakes. The changes to the road-safety system will include making New Zealand roads more uniform, increasing the numbers of speed cameras, and monitoring high-risk roads. The changes come as the road toll has begun to trend upwards.State Care Harmful For More Than One in Ten
More children have been harmed in state care than previously thought. New research undertaken by the Ministry for Vulnerable Children Oranga Tamariki and the Office of the Chief Social Worker has found that 12 percent of Kiwi children experience harm while in state care. A broader definition of “harm” has been applied after the organisations jointly took a zero-tolerance approach to the issue. The report examined the placement of 638 children between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016, including whānau placement, non-whānau placement, child-family support-service placement, and independent living placement. Of the 85 young people who were found to have experienced harm, the largest proportion were placed with whānau.The Pope Arrives in Myanmar to Address the Rohingya Crisis
The Pope has landed in Myanmar, beginning a tense three-day trip amid the Rohingya crisis. Pope Francis was met with crowds of thousands of Catholics chanting “we love papa” when he landed in Yangon yesterday. Francis is scheduled to meet the country’s de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, who has downplayed the extent of the crisis, even after the bloody escape of more than 620,000 Rohingya to Bangladesh in the past three months. Following his Myanmar visit, Francis will travel to Bangladesh to meet Rohingya refugees.Trump Challenged on Latest Lies
TIME magazine has called out President Trump on his false claims about its person of the year. Trump claimed on Saturday in a tweet that he passed on an interview the magazine because they told him he would only “probably” be named person of the year. The magazine tweeted back: "The president is incorrect about how we choose Person of the Year. TIME does not comment on our choice until publication, which is December 6." Former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski shared his thoughts, saying the media has never wanted to give this president the credit he’s deserved, and that he didn’t know who else could be the TIME person of the year. Trump was named TIME person of the year in 2016, and if he won again would join a slew of other presidents, including Obama, Clinton, Reagan and Nixon, to win twice.Mnangagwa Might Be No Better Than Mugabe
Robert Mugabe has been removed from power in Zimbabwe, but there is growing concern about his successor, Emmerson Mnangagwa. The country’s human-rights campaigners have not forgotten the new president's alleged involvement in the suppression of political opposition in 2008. Mnangagwa’s inauguration speech contained no mention of lifting restrictions on freedom of speech or any sign of reining in the widely feared internal security service.Macron Visits Africa Amid Slavery Concerns
French President Emmanuel Macron has begun his visit to Africa. This comes amid the French public’s widespread ire towards politicians for not doing enough to prevent the epidemic of human trafficking in Libya. Sub-Saharan migrants are being exploited, as they pass through Libya on their way to Europe—a recent CNN story featured a video of migrants being sold at auction in Libya, sparking widespread condemnation of politicians who are accused of turning a blind eye. Macron has called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, branding such auction houses as crimes against humanity.More Resources Needed to Combat Sexual Violence in War Zones
The head of UN Women has condemned the inadequate response to the increasingly widespread use of rape and sexual violence in warzones. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, the executive director of UN Women, is warning that funding is diminishing for the department, and only two percent of money sent to conflict zones is being spent on women's rights—she has specifically drawn attention to Bangladesh and the treatment of Rohingya refugees. She said babies and girls are being killed and thrown in water to poison it, and that women and girls are being exposed to gruesome violence and rape. She said that providing safe accommodation for women was a priority.Reporting by Harry Willis, Grace Watson and Ollie Powell.
LOCAL NEWS
Cannabis is thriving early in the season thanks to favourable conditions in Northland. Detective Sergeant Shane Pilmer said the public is important to help detect possible areas of concern, adding "it's still a drug that causes a lot of harm". Police have recently removed 350 plants from the area and are searching for more as the conditions continue help weed thrive. Those living and working in the area have been asked to keep an eye out for any suspicious behaviour.National Concerned Unemployed Will Seek Education, Not Jobs
The National Party is concerned the $50 student-allowance boost might lead to beneficiaries studying rather than looking for work. National's Tertiary Education spokesperson, Paul Goldsmith, claims the increase, combined with free tertiary education, might mean those on the benefit could exploit the system for more money. Jonathan Gee, National President of the New Zealand Union of Students' Associations, told bFM the comparison is misleading. “The claims don’t take into account the accommodation supplements, which is up to a $130 per week, and that's accessible to most beneficiaries except students. Students, on the other hand, they get access to the accommodation benefit and that's only up to $40 a week on top of the allowance.” Gee said that from 2018 students will be up to $100 worse off than beneficiaries with respect to accommodation support.
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The value of digital currency Bitcoin has surged to $10,000 per coin, having started the year at just $1,000. As a virtual currency Bitcoin is not regulated by traditional banking systems or governments, meaning no one is in charge of maintaining Bitcoin or its value. Many online currency companies including Bitcoin operate with the online transaction tracker Blockchain, maintained by anonymous hackers. Both South Korea and China banned the virtual currency earlier this year.Zero Deaths on New Zealand Roads the New Target
The New Zealand Transport Agency is looking at introducing a target of zero deaths on New Zealand roads. The New Zealand road system is already largely based off the Target Zero system developed in Sweden, which aims to reduce fatalities by assuming that road users make mistakes. The changes to the road-safety system will include making New Zealand roads more uniform, increasing the numbers of speed cameras, and monitoring high-risk roads. The changes come as the road toll has begun to trend upwards.State Care Harmful For More Than One in Ten
More children have been harmed in state care than previously thought. New research undertaken by the Ministry for Vulnerable Children Oranga Tamariki and the Office of the Chief Social Worker has found that 12 percent of Kiwi children experience harm while in state care. A broader definition of “harm” has been applied after the organisations jointly took a zero-tolerance approach to the issue. The report examined the placement of 638 children between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016, including whānau placement, non-whānau placement, child-family support-service placement, and independent living placement. Of the 85 young people who were found to have experienced harm, the largest proportion were placed with whānau.
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS
The Pope has landed in Myanmar, beginning a tense three-day trip amid the Rohingya crisis. Pope Francis was met with crowds of thousands of Catholics chanting “we love papa” when he landed in Yangon yesterday. Francis is scheduled to meet the country’s de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, who has downplayed the extent of the crisis, even after the bloody escape of more than 620,000 Rohingya to Bangladesh in the past three months. Following his Myanmar visit, Francis will travel to Bangladesh to meet Rohingya refugees.Trump Challenged on Latest Lies
TIME magazine has called out President Trump on his false claims about its person of the year. Trump claimed on Saturday in a tweet that he passed on an interview the magazine because they told him he would only “probably” be named person of the year. The magazine tweeted back: "The president is incorrect about how we choose Person of the Year. TIME does not comment on our choice until publication, which is December 6." Former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski shared his thoughts, saying the media has never wanted to give this president the credit he’s deserved, and that he didn’t know who else could be the TIME person of the year. Trump was named TIME person of the year in 2016, and if he won again would join a slew of other presidents, including Obama, Clinton, Reagan and Nixon, to win twice.Mnangagwa Might Be No Better Than Mugabe
Robert Mugabe has been removed from power in Zimbabwe, but there is growing concern about his successor, Emmerson Mnangagwa. The country’s human-rights campaigners have not forgotten the new president's alleged involvement in the suppression of political opposition in 2008. Mnangagwa’s inauguration speech contained no mention of lifting restrictions on freedom of speech or any sign of reining in the widely feared internal security service.Macron Visits Africa Amid Slavery Concerns
French President Emmanuel Macron has begun his visit to Africa. This comes amid the French public’s widespread ire towards politicians for not doing enough to prevent the epidemic of human trafficking in Libya. Sub-Saharan migrants are being exploited, as they pass through Libya on their way to Europe—a recent CNN story featured a video of migrants being sold at auction in Libya, sparking widespread condemnation of politicians who are accused of turning a blind eye. Macron has called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, branding such auction houses as crimes against humanity.More Resources Needed to Combat Sexual Violence in War Zones
The head of UN Women has condemned the inadequate response to the increasingly widespread use of rape and sexual violence in warzones. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, the executive director of UN Women, is warning that funding is diminishing for the department, and only two percent of money sent to conflict zones is being spent on women's rights—she has specifically drawn attention to Bangladesh and the treatment of Rohingya refugees. She said babies and girls are being killed and thrown in water to poison it, and that women and girls are being exposed to gruesome violence and rape. She said that providing safe accommodation for women was a priority.Reporting by Harry Willis, Grace Watson and Ollie Powell.