Everything you need to know about the world this morning, curated by 95bFM and VICE NZ.Minimum Wage Increase a Step Towards Relieving Poverty, Say Advocates
Social advocates are commending the new Labour-led government's announcement to increase the pay packets of New Zealand's poorest workers. The minimum wage will go up from $15.75 to $16.50 in April next year and jump to $20 an hour by the year 2020. CEO of Auckland City Mission, Chris Farrelly, says the increase is an important step in moving many New Zealanders out of poverty. He says that what his organisation has noticed is that demand for food parcels doesn't only come from beneficiaries, but people working on minimum wage. Farrelly says this shows that being on minimum wage in New Zealand is not enough for people to feed their families.Register for Surgical Mesh Patients
The Ministry of Health is considering a register to track patients with surgical mesh implants. Mesh Down Under has been campaigning for years for patients who have suffered injuries following operations that use the mesh, including mesh binding with bodily tissue and eroding in people's bodies. Over the last 12 years, ACC has paid out more than $13 million to 810 patients claiming injuries from surgical mesh. Health Ministry senior manager, Stewart Jessamine, says that the Ministry is on board wants to minimise injuries. Jessamine said that "there's a lot that [the ministry] can extract from this tragedy to try and make sure that we are more aware of this going forward".Climate Change Refugees Rejected
Two families from Tuvalu have lost their cases to be recognised as refugees from climate change. The Immigration and Protection Tribunal's ruling says they do not risk being persecuted, which is required under the Refugee Convention. Both families say they are worried about not having access to clean drinking water and that life will no longer be sustainable on Tuvalu because of rising sea levels. The tribunal expressed regret in its decision, but says that it cannot rule in the families' favours due to the current state of the law.Jacinda Ardern Says Labour-Led Government Got To Work Well with Others
Incoming Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, says the new Labour-led government will be focussed on partnership. Ardern has outlined the priorities for the beginning of the new government, including a minimum wage rise, banning the sale of existing homes to non-resident foreign buyers, and new restrictions on immigration. Ardern has also indicated that the new government will focus on putting in place the policies outlined in its 100-day plan, and that they look forward to having access to the advice of groups such as the Reserve Bank to further formulate policy. The new policy agenda will start in earnest in the next week, as ministerial posts will be announced today and ministers are expected to be sworn in tomorrow.Farms To Go AI
A technology company says artificial intelligence holds solutions to improving our agriculture. This comes as director of the IoT Alliance, Kriv Naicker, says technology is going to be vital in addressing growing food shortages. Chief Executive of Kiwi Tech, Graham Muller says this could build on existing competitive advantage. He told bFM "We're doing really well in artificial intelligence and combining it with agriculture is a great way to do cutting edge things in New Zealand". Muller also added the AI could help bolster NZ's economy.Destiny Church Resort
The co-founders of Destiny Church have moved into a resort home in Auckland, while their charities face de-registration. Two of Destiny's charities will be deregistered if they do not file their 2016 and 2017 financial returns. The Tamakis' new home was described in its real estate listing as having "resort" facilities, and they have posted extensively on social media about their planned renovations. These developments have prompted questions about whether the Charities Act should be reviewed, but there has been no discussion of such a review by the incoming Labour-led government.More Power for Xi Jinping
Xi Jinping has become China's most powerful leader since Mao after changes to the Chinese Constitution. At a closing ceremony for the 19th Party Summit in Beijing, the Congress unanimously agreed Xi's Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics would be written into the party's charter. Some are viewing the decision to enshrine Xi's concept as a sign he will seek to remain in power beyond the end of his second term in 2022. A new line-up of China's top ruling council will be announced today, and if no potential successors are included it could indicate that Xi is going for broke to be an all out dictator, according to Susan Shirk, head of the 21st Century China Centre at the University of California, San Diego. Since the founding of the Chinese Communist party in 1921, only Mao has been honoured in this way while still alive. Xi is now considered above the party, with power and influence unchallenged.Republican Senator Attacks Trump For Lying, Trump Tweets Insults
Senior Republican senator Bob Corker has been attacking Trump's presidency in a slew of television interviews. The Tennessee senator has accused the President of lying, and says he believes Trump's legacy will be the debasement of the country. Trump retaliated on Twitter, calling Corker a lightweight and a dog catcher who couldn't get re-elected. The spat comes as the Republican party attempt to push tax reform through the senate, and the pair are due to meet to discuss legislation today.Fijian Fight For Worker Rights Muted
Turn out at a Fiji Trades Union Congress rally in the weekend was low due to workers feeling intimidated by their government. The protest was a call for an increase in minimum wage, a review of labour laws including the right to strike, and anger towards recent fixed term contracts. In Fiji, minimum wage is $2.68 (NZ$1.86). 2000 people protested, but FTUC National Secretary Felix Anthony says 30,000 would have if they did not feel insecure in their workplace. Anthony said that minimum wage ought to match their country's living costs, and that Saturday's march shows all is not well for workers in Fiji.IS Fighters Return Home
A new report shows thousands of defeated IS soldiers are returning to their home countries. The Soufan Center, a US-based think tank has published figures stating that 33 states have records of returning IS fighters confirming 5,600 have returned home from Iraq and Syria. As the IS started losing battles in late 2015, international arrivals to Iraq and Syria hit a standstill, and recovery data from the fall of administrative centres such as Raqqa last week has confirmed the identities of 19,000 of more than 40,000 people thought to have flocked to the region from 110 countries. The report also warns these returnees could pose security threats for many years to come.Reporting by Harry Willis, Mary-Margaret Slack and Reilly Hodson.
LOCAL NEWS
Social advocates are commending the new Labour-led government's announcement to increase the pay packets of New Zealand's poorest workers. The minimum wage will go up from $15.75 to $16.50 in April next year and jump to $20 an hour by the year 2020. CEO of Auckland City Mission, Chris Farrelly, says the increase is an important step in moving many New Zealanders out of poverty. He says that what his organisation has noticed is that demand for food parcels doesn't only come from beneficiaries, but people working on minimum wage. Farrelly says this shows that being on minimum wage in New Zealand is not enough for people to feed their families.Register for Surgical Mesh Patients
The Ministry of Health is considering a register to track patients with surgical mesh implants. Mesh Down Under has been campaigning for years for patients who have suffered injuries following operations that use the mesh, including mesh binding with bodily tissue and eroding in people's bodies. Over the last 12 years, ACC has paid out more than $13 million to 810 patients claiming injuries from surgical mesh. Health Ministry senior manager, Stewart Jessamine, says that the Ministry is on board wants to minimise injuries. Jessamine said that "there's a lot that [the ministry] can extract from this tragedy to try and make sure that we are more aware of this going forward".
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Two families from Tuvalu have lost their cases to be recognised as refugees from climate change. The Immigration and Protection Tribunal's ruling says they do not risk being persecuted, which is required under the Refugee Convention. Both families say they are worried about not having access to clean drinking water and that life will no longer be sustainable on Tuvalu because of rising sea levels. The tribunal expressed regret in its decision, but says that it cannot rule in the families' favours due to the current state of the law.Jacinda Ardern Says Labour-Led Government Got To Work Well with Others
Incoming Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, says the new Labour-led government will be focussed on partnership. Ardern has outlined the priorities for the beginning of the new government, including a minimum wage rise, banning the sale of existing homes to non-resident foreign buyers, and new restrictions on immigration. Ardern has also indicated that the new government will focus on putting in place the policies outlined in its 100-day plan, and that they look forward to having access to the advice of groups such as the Reserve Bank to further formulate policy. The new policy agenda will start in earnest in the next week, as ministerial posts will be announced today and ministers are expected to be sworn in tomorrow.Farms To Go AI
A technology company says artificial intelligence holds solutions to improving our agriculture. This comes as director of the IoT Alliance, Kriv Naicker, says technology is going to be vital in addressing growing food shortages. Chief Executive of Kiwi Tech, Graham Muller says this could build on existing competitive advantage. He told bFM "We're doing really well in artificial intelligence and combining it with agriculture is a great way to do cutting edge things in New Zealand". Muller also added the AI could help bolster NZ's economy.
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The co-founders of Destiny Church have moved into a resort home in Auckland, while their charities face de-registration. Two of Destiny's charities will be deregistered if they do not file their 2016 and 2017 financial returns. The Tamakis' new home was described in its real estate listing as having "resort" facilities, and they have posted extensively on social media about their planned renovations. These developments have prompted questions about whether the Charities Act should be reviewed, but there has been no discussion of such a review by the incoming Labour-led government.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Xi Jinping has become China's most powerful leader since Mao after changes to the Chinese Constitution. At a closing ceremony for the 19th Party Summit in Beijing, the Congress unanimously agreed Xi's Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics would be written into the party's charter. Some are viewing the decision to enshrine Xi's concept as a sign he will seek to remain in power beyond the end of his second term in 2022. A new line-up of China's top ruling council will be announced today, and if no potential successors are included it could indicate that Xi is going for broke to be an all out dictator, according to Susan Shirk, head of the 21st Century China Centre at the University of California, San Diego. Since the founding of the Chinese Communist party in 1921, only Mao has been honoured in this way while still alive. Xi is now considered above the party, with power and influence unchallenged.Republican Senator Attacks Trump For Lying, Trump Tweets Insults
Senior Republican senator Bob Corker has been attacking Trump's presidency in a slew of television interviews. The Tennessee senator has accused the President of lying, and says he believes Trump's legacy will be the debasement of the country. Trump retaliated on Twitter, calling Corker a lightweight and a dog catcher who couldn't get re-elected. The spat comes as the Republican party attempt to push tax reform through the senate, and the pair are due to meet to discuss legislation today.Fijian Fight For Worker Rights Muted
Turn out at a Fiji Trades Union Congress rally in the weekend was low due to workers feeling intimidated by their government. The protest was a call for an increase in minimum wage, a review of labour laws including the right to strike, and anger towards recent fixed term contracts. In Fiji, minimum wage is $2.68 (NZ$1.86). 2000 people protested, but FTUC National Secretary Felix Anthony says 30,000 would have if they did not feel insecure in their workplace. Anthony said that minimum wage ought to match their country's living costs, and that Saturday's march shows all is not well for workers in Fiji.IS Fighters Return Home
A new report shows thousands of defeated IS soldiers are returning to their home countries. The Soufan Center, a US-based think tank has published figures stating that 33 states have records of returning IS fighters confirming 5,600 have returned home from Iraq and Syria. As the IS started losing battles in late 2015, international arrivals to Iraq and Syria hit a standstill, and recovery data from the fall of administrative centres such as Raqqa last week has confirmed the identities of 19,000 of more than 40,000 people thought to have flocked to the region from 110 countries. The report also warns these returnees could pose security threats for many years to come.Reporting by Harry Willis, Mary-Margaret Slack and Reilly Hodson.