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Everything you need to know about the world today, curated by 95bFM and VICE NZ.More Drug-Drivers in Crashes than Drink-Drivers
A study by the Automobile Association (AA) has found drug-drivers are involved in more fatal crashes than drink drivers in New Zealand. This is the first time drugs have overtaken alcohol in this statistic. The two most commonly-detected drugs were cannabis and methamphetamine. AA road safety spokesperson Dylan Thomas says drug driving is becoming a big issue in New Zealand and is calling for police to be given the power to carry out roadside saliva-based drug tests. Thomas says saliva-based testing is used in other countries, and it’s time New Zealand followed suit. New Zealand Transport Agency director of safety and environment Harry Wilson says the challenge for policy makers is to change the careless attitude towards driving under the influence of illegal or prescription drugs. A member’s bill is currently being debated in Parliament—if passed, would give officers the power to do roadside saliva tests for cannabis, MDMA and methamphetamine.Calls for Algae in Lake Taupo to be Taken Seriously
Freshwater scientist Dr Marc Schallenberg is calling for algae found in Lake Taupo to be taken more seriously. Schallenberg says the algae could produce 'lake snow', a mucus-like slime which hangs in the water. The slime, while not hazardous to humans or animals, is notorious for clogging waterways and blocking piping. Schallenberg says that this slime could affect local fisheries, and should be taken into consideration should the council decide to extract water from the lake.Kiwibank to Close Branches in Dunedin
Kiwibank and New Zealand Post have announced plans to close more than half of the joint branches currently operating in Dunedin. Branches are expected to be closed in South Dunedin, Moray Place, Mosgiel and Dunedin North. The announcement has triggered a backlash from the affected communities, with many saying the closures will unfairly disadvantage the elderly and infirm. New Zealand Post channels and retail manager Janet Selwood told RNZ New Zealand post would still remain in the area, but would look to be hosted in a different business. This has not stopped residents from starting a petition to reverse the closures.Salmon Prices Continue to Rise Following Warm Summer
Salmon prices continue to rise after New Zealand's biggest supplier suffered from significant losses to its Marlborough Sounds-based stock. A spokesperson for New Zealand King Salmon said that the company has suffered from an unusually warm summer. The warmer temperatures made it harder to breed and keep the salmon, causing demand to far exceed supply. Since January, salmon prices have risen by five dollars, sometimes reaching as high as forty dollars per kilogram. The co-owner of St Pierre's sushi told Radio New Zealand that the price increase had forced his company to import fish from the Australian salmon market.Antarctica to Lose 219 Billion Tonnes of Ice This Year
A new report claims that Antarctica has lost roughly 3 trillion tonnes of ice since 1992. The report found that Antarctica had lost 76 billion tonnes per year until 2012. Since then, the rate at which ice mass was lost tripled to nearly 219 billion tonnes of ice per year. This has resulted in an annual sea level rise of 0.6 millimetres. Professor Tim Naish from the Antarctic Research Centre at Victoria University said that, while dire, the report also proved that major meltdown of ice sheets could still be prevented. However, Naish believes that major change will have to come within the next century for this to hold true.Haiti revokes Oxfam's Right to Operate After Allegations
The Haiti government is withdrawing Oxfam Great Britain's right to operate following allegations of sexual misconduct by some of the charity staff. The government says they are withdrawing the organisation for violating Haitian law and serious violation of the principle of the dignity of the human beings. In February, Haiti had temporarily stopped Oxfam Great Britain's right to operate in the country. The organisation has been hit by allegations that staff and the former Haiti country director used prostitutes during a relief mission after the 2010 earthquake.Macedonian President Rejects Change to Country Name
Macedonian President Gjordje Ivanov has rejected plans to change his country name. Under the deal, Macedonia would formally have been known as the Republic of Northern Macedonia. Ivanov will not sign the deal with Greece, who have objected to Macedonia’s use of the name, which Greece argues that it appropriates their ancient cultural heritage. The deal must be approved by Macedonians in a referendum and by the parliaments in Greece and Macedonia. The deal reached by Greece’s and Macedonia’s prime ministers is expected to be signed by their foreign ministers this weekend.Relations Between Italy and France Deteriorate Over Refugee Row
Relations between Italy and France have soured over Italy's decision to turn away a refugee ship. The ship in question, the Aquarius, had more than 600 refugees on board when it was denied access to Rome’s ports. Following the decision, French President Emmanuel Macron criticised the Italians for their actions, calling them cynical and irresponsible. Matteo Salvini -- Italy's interior minister, and the man who made the decision to turn away the boat -- responded by saying that the Italian's would not take lessons from the French. Italy later cancelled planned meetings between the French and Italian economic ministers, and called for the French ambassador to appear before Italian parliament. Salvini also demanded that Macron formally apologize to Italy. Since being turned away from Rome's ports, the refugee boat has been granted permission to land in Spain.Ivanka Trump Posts Fake Chinese Proverb
The daughter of US President Donald Trump is the subject of more internet mockery, after posting a tweet containing an ancient Chinese proverb that is neither ancient nor Chinese. Tweeting ahead of the historic summit between Trump and North Korean dictator Kim-Jong Un, Ms Trump tweeted: "Those who say it cannot be done, should not interrupt those doing it." She claimed the words were an ancient proverb, but Twitter users were quick to point out the so-called proverb is American and less than 120 years old.Additional reporting by Daniel Meech, Stewart Sowman-Lund, Darashpreet Johal.
LOCAL NEWS
A study by the Automobile Association (AA) has found drug-drivers are involved in more fatal crashes than drink drivers in New Zealand. This is the first time drugs have overtaken alcohol in this statistic. The two most commonly-detected drugs were cannabis and methamphetamine. AA road safety spokesperson Dylan Thomas says drug driving is becoming a big issue in New Zealand and is calling for police to be given the power to carry out roadside saliva-based drug tests. Thomas says saliva-based testing is used in other countries, and it’s time New Zealand followed suit. New Zealand Transport Agency director of safety and environment Harry Wilson says the challenge for policy makers is to change the careless attitude towards driving under the influence of illegal or prescription drugs. A member’s bill is currently being debated in Parliament—if passed, would give officers the power to do roadside saliva tests for cannabis, MDMA and methamphetamine.Calls for Algae in Lake Taupo to be Taken Seriously
Freshwater scientist Dr Marc Schallenberg is calling for algae found in Lake Taupo to be taken more seriously. Schallenberg says the algae could produce 'lake snow', a mucus-like slime which hangs in the water. The slime, while not hazardous to humans or animals, is notorious for clogging waterways and blocking piping. Schallenberg says that this slime could affect local fisheries, and should be taken into consideration should the council decide to extract water from the lake.
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Kiwibank and New Zealand Post have announced plans to close more than half of the joint branches currently operating in Dunedin. Branches are expected to be closed in South Dunedin, Moray Place, Mosgiel and Dunedin North. The announcement has triggered a backlash from the affected communities, with many saying the closures will unfairly disadvantage the elderly and infirm. New Zealand Post channels and retail manager Janet Selwood told RNZ New Zealand post would still remain in the area, but would look to be hosted in a different business. This has not stopped residents from starting a petition to reverse the closures.Salmon Prices Continue to Rise Following Warm Summer
Salmon prices continue to rise after New Zealand's biggest supplier suffered from significant losses to its Marlborough Sounds-based stock. A spokesperson for New Zealand King Salmon said that the company has suffered from an unusually warm summer. The warmer temperatures made it harder to breed and keep the salmon, causing demand to far exceed supply. Since January, salmon prices have risen by five dollars, sometimes reaching as high as forty dollars per kilogram. The co-owner of St Pierre's sushi told Radio New Zealand that the price increase had forced his company to import fish from the Australian salmon market.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
A new report claims that Antarctica has lost roughly 3 trillion tonnes of ice since 1992. The report found that Antarctica had lost 76 billion tonnes per year until 2012. Since then, the rate at which ice mass was lost tripled to nearly 219 billion tonnes of ice per year. This has resulted in an annual sea level rise of 0.6 millimetres. Professor Tim Naish from the Antarctic Research Centre at Victoria University said that, while dire, the report also proved that major meltdown of ice sheets could still be prevented. However, Naish believes that major change will have to come within the next century for this to hold true.Haiti revokes Oxfam's Right to Operate After Allegations
The Haiti government is withdrawing Oxfam Great Britain's right to operate following allegations of sexual misconduct by some of the charity staff. The government says they are withdrawing the organisation for violating Haitian law and serious violation of the principle of the dignity of the human beings. In February, Haiti had temporarily stopped Oxfam Great Britain's right to operate in the country. The organisation has been hit by allegations that staff and the former Haiti country director used prostitutes during a relief mission after the 2010 earthquake.Macedonian President Rejects Change to Country Name
Macedonian President Gjordje Ivanov has rejected plans to change his country name. Under the deal, Macedonia would formally have been known as the Republic of Northern Macedonia. Ivanov will not sign the deal with Greece, who have objected to Macedonia’s use of the name, which Greece argues that it appropriates their ancient cultural heritage. The deal must be approved by Macedonians in a referendum and by the parliaments in Greece and Macedonia. The deal reached by Greece’s and Macedonia’s prime ministers is expected to be signed by their foreign ministers this weekend.Relations Between Italy and France Deteriorate Over Refugee Row
Relations between Italy and France have soured over Italy's decision to turn away a refugee ship. The ship in question, the Aquarius, had more than 600 refugees on board when it was denied access to Rome’s ports. Following the decision, French President Emmanuel Macron criticised the Italians for their actions, calling them cynical and irresponsible. Matteo Salvini -- Italy's interior minister, and the man who made the decision to turn away the boat -- responded by saying that the Italian's would not take lessons from the French. Italy later cancelled planned meetings between the French and Italian economic ministers, and called for the French ambassador to appear before Italian parliament. Salvini also demanded that Macron formally apologize to Italy. Since being turned away from Rome's ports, the refugee boat has been granted permission to land in Spain.Ivanka Trump Posts Fake Chinese Proverb
The daughter of US President Donald Trump is the subject of more internet mockery, after posting a tweet containing an ancient Chinese proverb that is neither ancient nor Chinese. Tweeting ahead of the historic summit between Trump and North Korean dictator Kim-Jong Un, Ms Trump tweeted: "Those who say it cannot be done, should not interrupt those doing it." She claimed the words were an ancient proverb, but Twitter users were quick to point out the so-called proverb is American and less than 120 years old.Additional reporting by Daniel Meech, Stewart Sowman-Lund, Darashpreet Johal.