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Everything you need to know about the world today, curated by 95bFM and VICE NZ.Student Allowances Will Go Up Next Year
Labour Minister for Education Chris Hipkins has announced a new policy to increase student allowances and loan living costs as of January 2018. The allowance will increase to $227 per week, and loan living costs will increase to $228.81. President of the New Zealand Union of Students' Associations Jonathan Gee told 95bFM this financial relief is critical for academic success: “I’ve heard stories of students having to take less papers in a year because they need more money to work, or starting to drop study altogether because of the cost of being a student. Hopefully, in terms of those attrition rates we’ll see them reduce over time, and we’ll see students succeed in their tertiary education.” Hipkins says this policy will make roughly 130,000 students better off by $50 a week.Aussies Won’t Get Free Tertiary Education
Government has announced Australians will need to have lived within New Zealand for three years to receive free tertiary education. The Labour government is planning to implement three years of free tertiary education by 2024, starting with first year free next year. Students from Australia currently pay the same fees as New Zealand students. Opposition education spokeswoman Nikki Kaye had previously said New Zealand “may see Australians taking advantage of the policy". Earlier this month, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern indicated this position to the Australian prime minister and reiterated that there would be fee hikes for Australian students, if Kiwis were charged international fees in Australia.What’s Behind the Insane Butter Prices
The price of butter has reached a new record, climbing to $5.67 for the cheapest 500g block. Consumer NZ Chief Executive Sue Chetwin says it’s the result of high international demand for New Zealand butter. “Every time Fonterra gets very high prices for products overseas, we have to pay those prices here, and that means that New Zealanders are paying very high prices for butter at the moment.” According to Statistics New Zealand, overall food and drink prices have risen 4.1 percent since this time last year. Milk and cheese have increased 12 percent, while pumpkin, avocado and kumara have also seen price rises since October last year. Sue Chetwin warned the dairy price rise would have a flow-on effect. "Of course it will affect other items you buy as well," said Chetwin. "Lots of other products that contain dairy will go up in price as well.”Little Meets with Ngāpuhi
The Minister of Treaty Negotiations Andrew Little attended a hui to discuss the Ngāpuhi settlement. The Ngāpuhi settlement conflict goes back to 2011 when a dispute between Tuhoronuku and Te Kotahitanga resulted in government intervention. Former Minister of Māori Affairs Dover Samuels says "There's no way in the world he is going to get complete support unanimously from Ngāpuhi, and you wouldn't expect that". Negotiations on the settlement has stalled several times over the years, with a complete halt in 2014.Robert Mugabe Stands Down
Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe has resigned after 37 years in power. The speaker of the country's parliament announced the news during a hearing to impeach Mugabe. The president’s resignation comes a week after a military takeover to block Mugabe's wife, Grace, from coming to power. The news has been met with celebration in Parliament and on the streets, with Zimbabweans hoping this will usher in a new era for the nation. The military says it will stand down following Mugabe's resignation, and Mugabe's former right-hand-man, Emmerson Mnangagwa, is expected to become the new head of state.Net Neutrality Thrown Out
The United States Federal Communications Commission will vote to put an end to net neutrality next month. Currently, internet providers are classified under Title II, which means they cannot prioritise any websites or internet traffic, or slow any others down. There is no such protection in New Zealand. A summary of the decision from FCC chairman Ajit Pai, suggests that the Commission plans to allow the internet providers to act in any way, so long as they are transparent about their practices. The plan is being criticised, with internet commentators saying it will remove important protections for consumers, as well as increasing barriers to entry for new businesses.Russia Denies Nuclear Accident
Russia is defending itself against claims there has been a nuclear accident on its territory. France's Institute for Radioprotection and Nuclear Safety said on November 9 that it had detected a cloud of radioactive pollution over Europe. Russia's weather service recently acknowledged it had measured pollution of ruthenium-106 at 1,000 times normal levels in the Ural mountains, supporting the French report. Russia is denying anything untoward occurring at any of its plants, and says that there are no health risks.Rex Tillerson Child Soldiers Law Stuff-Up
United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is under fire for a misstep in federal law. The child soldiers law, passed in 2008, states that government must be satisfied that no children under the age of 18 are compelled to serve as child soldiers. Tillerson excluded three countries, Iraq, Myanmar and Afghanistan from an annual list of offenders in the use of child soldiers, despite the fact they’re known for implementing the practice. By excluding these countries from the list, they are more likely to receive US military assistance. Documentation shows Tillerson's decision was in direct contradiction with recommendations from embassies overseeing the Middle East.Blue Tits Break Up
Blue tits divorce their partners if they turn up late to breeding season. Around 85 percent of bird species are socially monogamous, and stay together long term to focus on breeding and parenting. However, break-ups have been observed in 92 percent of socially monogamous species, including blue tits. A study carried out by Carol Gilsenan at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Germany over eight years found that if partners arrive late, the couple will likely break up.Additional reporting: Harry Willis, Laura Kvigstad, Reilly Hodson
LOCAL NEWS
Labour Minister for Education Chris Hipkins has announced a new policy to increase student allowances and loan living costs as of January 2018. The allowance will increase to $227 per week, and loan living costs will increase to $228.81. President of the New Zealand Union of Students' Associations Jonathan Gee told 95bFM this financial relief is critical for academic success: “I’ve heard stories of students having to take less papers in a year because they need more money to work, or starting to drop study altogether because of the cost of being a student. Hopefully, in terms of those attrition rates we’ll see them reduce over time, and we’ll see students succeed in their tertiary education.” Hipkins says this policy will make roughly 130,000 students better off by $50 a week.Aussies Won’t Get Free Tertiary Education
Government has announced Australians will need to have lived within New Zealand for three years to receive free tertiary education. The Labour government is planning to implement three years of free tertiary education by 2024, starting with first year free next year. Students from Australia currently pay the same fees as New Zealand students. Opposition education spokeswoman Nikki Kaye had previously said New Zealand “may see Australians taking advantage of the policy". Earlier this month, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern indicated this position to the Australian prime minister and reiterated that there would be fee hikes for Australian students, if Kiwis were charged international fees in Australia.
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The price of butter has reached a new record, climbing to $5.67 for the cheapest 500g block. Consumer NZ Chief Executive Sue Chetwin says it’s the result of high international demand for New Zealand butter. “Every time Fonterra gets very high prices for products overseas, we have to pay those prices here, and that means that New Zealanders are paying very high prices for butter at the moment.” According to Statistics New Zealand, overall food and drink prices have risen 4.1 percent since this time last year. Milk and cheese have increased 12 percent, while pumpkin, avocado and kumara have also seen price rises since October last year. Sue Chetwin warned the dairy price rise would have a flow-on effect. "Of course it will affect other items you buy as well," said Chetwin. "Lots of other products that contain dairy will go up in price as well.”Little Meets with Ngāpuhi
The Minister of Treaty Negotiations Andrew Little attended a hui to discuss the Ngāpuhi settlement. The Ngāpuhi settlement conflict goes back to 2011 when a dispute between Tuhoronuku and Te Kotahitanga resulted in government intervention. Former Minister of Māori Affairs Dover Samuels says "There's no way in the world he is going to get complete support unanimously from Ngāpuhi, and you wouldn't expect that". Negotiations on the settlement has stalled several times over the years, with a complete halt in 2014.
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INTERNATIONAL
Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe has resigned after 37 years in power. The speaker of the country's parliament announced the news during a hearing to impeach Mugabe. The president’s resignation comes a week after a military takeover to block Mugabe's wife, Grace, from coming to power. The news has been met with celebration in Parliament and on the streets, with Zimbabweans hoping this will usher in a new era for the nation. The military says it will stand down following Mugabe's resignation, and Mugabe's former right-hand-man, Emmerson Mnangagwa, is expected to become the new head of state.Net Neutrality Thrown Out
The United States Federal Communications Commission will vote to put an end to net neutrality next month. Currently, internet providers are classified under Title II, which means they cannot prioritise any websites or internet traffic, or slow any others down. There is no such protection in New Zealand. A summary of the decision from FCC chairman Ajit Pai, suggests that the Commission plans to allow the internet providers to act in any way, so long as they are transparent about their practices. The plan is being criticised, with internet commentators saying it will remove important protections for consumers, as well as increasing barriers to entry for new businesses.Russia Denies Nuclear Accident
Russia is defending itself against claims there has been a nuclear accident on its territory. France's Institute for Radioprotection and Nuclear Safety said on November 9 that it had detected a cloud of radioactive pollution over Europe. Russia's weather service recently acknowledged it had measured pollution of ruthenium-106 at 1,000 times normal levels in the Ural mountains, supporting the French report. Russia is denying anything untoward occurring at any of its plants, and says that there are no health risks.Rex Tillerson Child Soldiers Law Stuff-Up
United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is under fire for a misstep in federal law. The child soldiers law, passed in 2008, states that government must be satisfied that no children under the age of 18 are compelled to serve as child soldiers. Tillerson excluded three countries, Iraq, Myanmar and Afghanistan from an annual list of offenders in the use of child soldiers, despite the fact they’re known for implementing the practice. By excluding these countries from the list, they are more likely to receive US military assistance. Documentation shows Tillerson's decision was in direct contradiction with recommendations from embassies overseeing the Middle East.Blue Tits Break Up
Blue tits divorce their partners if they turn up late to breeding season. Around 85 percent of bird species are socially monogamous, and stay together long term to focus on breeding and parenting. However, break-ups have been observed in 92 percent of socially monogamous species, including blue tits. A study carried out by Carol Gilsenan at the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Germany over eight years found that if partners arrive late, the couple will likely break up.Additional reporting: Harry Willis, Laura Kvigstad, Reilly Hodson