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Everything you need to know about the world today, curated by 95bFM and VICE NZ.Three Strikes Law To Stay
The Coalition Government has dropped a repeal of the three strikes law from justice reformation talks. The decision follows New Zealand First’s objection to the law-change. The Three Strikes law imposes longer minimum sentences on repeat offenders, and had been on Labour's agenda for reformation of the justice and corrections system. People Against Prisons Aotearoa Spokesperson Emilie Rakete said the three strikes law was "a piece of quite regressive legislation that was passed under the National government.” Rakete believes the law effects communities more than what is commonly perceived. “What this bill will do is put people who are already at risk of perpetuating serious violence back into an environment, often for very long periods of time, which is re-traumatising, which is not rehabilitative, which is not therapeutic, and which makes their offending worse when they are eventually released.”Train Fare Dodgers Slapped With $500 Fine
Auckland Transport has announced fines up to $500 for those who dodge fares on trains. Starting from next Monday, transport officers on trains will be able to issue people who do not tag on their travel cards or buy a ticket a $150 fine. Those who choose to go to court would face a fine of up to $500. Auckland Transport says fare dodging costs between $2-3 million a year. Compliance manager Logan Christian says the new fines are not gathering revenue, but are designed to make public transport fair for everyone.Skyscraper Steel Under Scrutiny
Auckland Council says the steel used to build an Auckland skyscraper is under review. Steel quality experts questioned whether the checks were enough to ensure the quality of Chinese steel used to build the 52-storey Seascape Apartment in Auckland in May. Andrew Minturn, Auckland Council's manager of project assessment for central city building consents, says no decision has been made on whether the steel will be approved as the submitted documents are still under review. Currently, 1600 tonnes of steel are used for temporary propping during the tower's construction.Afghanistan Decision Delayed
The Government has gone for a three-month extension while they decide to keep troops in Afghanistan, instead of a one-year rollover of the deployment. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the mandate for whether to continue in Afghanistan required a decision by June 30, but this has now been extended to September 30. This will allow The Government to make a decision alongside other troop deployments in the region, specifically Iraq. There are currently 11 personnel deployed as trainers in Afghanistan. The previous National-led government agreed in 2016 to extend the New Zealand Defence Force deployment until the middle of this year.Early Intervention Can Stop Crime Before it Starts
Investment in social, mental and learning support for children is the most constructive and cost-effective way to steer youth off the path to imprisonment, says a new report on youth offending in New Zealand. Justice sector adviser and lead author of the report, Dr Ian Lambie, argues the Government needs to adopt ‘developmental crime prevention’ models to address triggers and stop crime before it starts. Research shows that by the time youth are involved in the justice system between 50 and 70 percent meet diagnostic criteria for at least one mental or substance use disorder. The models would target both risk-creating factors—poverty, violence, childhood trauma—and protective—such as a safe place to live, trauma-informed care, mental health support.South Korean Cryptocurrency Hacked
The South Korean cryptocurrency Coinrail was hacked over the weekend triggering losses for other cryptocurrencies. An estimated NZ$53m worth of Coinrail was stolen. The hack impacting on the world's best known cryptocurrency Bitcoin, which lost NZ$700 in value in the space of an hour. Cryptocurrencies' lack of regulation and security is under fire as a police investigation of all servers connected to Coinrail has begun. Facebook and Google have both stopped advertising cryptocurrencies.Hong Kong Independence Activist Jailed
A leading activist for Hong Kong independence has been jailed for six years for his involvement in a protest in February 2016. Edward Leung was convicted in May of rioting during the protest, where demonstrators tore bricks from the pavements and set fire to piles of rubbish. The protest started as a rally to protect hawkers from health inspectors but escalated to violent clashes. High Court Judge Athena Pang says Leung actively participated in the riots and the punishment must have a deterrent effect. Former Hong Kong Governor Chris Patten says he is disappointed that legislation is being used politically to place extreme sentences on activists.ISIS Adopts iTunes
It has been discovered that ISIS supporters are funding the terrorist group through iTunes vouchers. Supporters are purchasing iTunes and Google Play gift cards, which are being turned into cash through online sales of the voucher codes. The terror monitoring group who made the discovery says this is a simple way for ISIS supporters to get cash to the terrorists without bank transfers or physical cash. ISIS leaders have been advising supporters to purchase the vouchers via the encrypted messaging service Telegram.Pope Accepts Resignations
Pope Francis has agreed to the resignations of three Chilean bishops following further revelations of the Catholic Church's abuse. One of the bishops, Following allegations of a child abuse scandal cover-up by the Chilean Catholic Church, Chile's 34 bishops all offered to resign last month. Since 2000, 80 Catholic priests have been reported for sexual abuse. Pope Francis has apologised for the Chilean Catholic Church's history of child abuse and says he made "grave mistakes".Qatar takes UAE to Court
Qatar is taking the United Arab Emirates to the UN International Court of Justice one year after the UAE began its blockade of Qatar. The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt blockaded Qatar, arguing the country has been supporting terrorism. The UAE has banned Qatar from its airspace and seaports, removed them from the UAE and have asked UAE nationals to leave Qatar. Qatar continues to call the blockade "baseless" and has told the court the UAE is committing human rights violations.US-Canada Relations Shaky
The White House says the US pulled out of a G7 agreement because Canada played a political stunt for domestic consumption. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said last Saturday Canada would impose retaliatory measures in response to the US decision to impose tariffs on aluminium and steel imports. US President Donald Trump's chief economic advisor Larry Kudlow says Trudeau had instigated a betrayal and stabbed the US in the back on trade. Kudlow says the decision to pull out of the agreement is to save face for Trump's summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.Additional reporting by Leonard Powell, Grace Watson, Justin Wong
LOCAL NEWS
The Coalition Government has dropped a repeal of the three strikes law from justice reformation talks. The decision follows New Zealand First’s objection to the law-change. The Three Strikes law imposes longer minimum sentences on repeat offenders, and had been on Labour's agenda for reformation of the justice and corrections system. People Against Prisons Aotearoa Spokesperson Emilie Rakete said the three strikes law was "a piece of quite regressive legislation that was passed under the National government.” Rakete believes the law effects communities more than what is commonly perceived. “What this bill will do is put people who are already at risk of perpetuating serious violence back into an environment, often for very long periods of time, which is re-traumatising, which is not rehabilitative, which is not therapeutic, and which makes their offending worse when they are eventually released.”Train Fare Dodgers Slapped With $500 Fine
Auckland Transport has announced fines up to $500 for those who dodge fares on trains. Starting from next Monday, transport officers on trains will be able to issue people who do not tag on their travel cards or buy a ticket a $150 fine. Those who choose to go to court would face a fine of up to $500. Auckland Transport says fare dodging costs between $2-3 million a year. Compliance manager Logan Christian says the new fines are not gathering revenue, but are designed to make public transport fair for everyone.
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Auckland Council says the steel used to build an Auckland skyscraper is under review. Steel quality experts questioned whether the checks were enough to ensure the quality of Chinese steel used to build the 52-storey Seascape Apartment in Auckland in May. Andrew Minturn, Auckland Council's manager of project assessment for central city building consents, says no decision has been made on whether the steel will be approved as the submitted documents are still under review. Currently, 1600 tonnes of steel are used for temporary propping during the tower's construction.Afghanistan Decision Delayed
The Government has gone for a three-month extension while they decide to keep troops in Afghanistan, instead of a one-year rollover of the deployment. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the mandate for whether to continue in Afghanistan required a decision by June 30, but this has now been extended to September 30. This will allow The Government to make a decision alongside other troop deployments in the region, specifically Iraq. There are currently 11 personnel deployed as trainers in Afghanistan. The previous National-led government agreed in 2016 to extend the New Zealand Defence Force deployment until the middle of this year.Early Intervention Can Stop Crime Before it Starts
Investment in social, mental and learning support for children is the most constructive and cost-effective way to steer youth off the path to imprisonment, says a new report on youth offending in New Zealand. Justice sector adviser and lead author of the report, Dr Ian Lambie, argues the Government needs to adopt ‘developmental crime prevention’ models to address triggers and stop crime before it starts. Research shows that by the time youth are involved in the justice system between 50 and 70 percent meet diagnostic criteria for at least one mental or substance use disorder. The models would target both risk-creating factors—poverty, violence, childhood trauma—and protective—such as a safe place to live, trauma-informed care, mental health support.
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS
The South Korean cryptocurrency Coinrail was hacked over the weekend triggering losses for other cryptocurrencies. An estimated NZ$53m worth of Coinrail was stolen. The hack impacting on the world's best known cryptocurrency Bitcoin, which lost NZ$700 in value in the space of an hour. Cryptocurrencies' lack of regulation and security is under fire as a police investigation of all servers connected to Coinrail has begun. Facebook and Google have both stopped advertising cryptocurrencies.Hong Kong Independence Activist Jailed
A leading activist for Hong Kong independence has been jailed for six years for his involvement in a protest in February 2016. Edward Leung was convicted in May of rioting during the protest, where demonstrators tore bricks from the pavements and set fire to piles of rubbish. The protest started as a rally to protect hawkers from health inspectors but escalated to violent clashes. High Court Judge Athena Pang says Leung actively participated in the riots and the punishment must have a deterrent effect. Former Hong Kong Governor Chris Patten says he is disappointed that legislation is being used politically to place extreme sentences on activists.ISIS Adopts iTunes
It has been discovered that ISIS supporters are funding the terrorist group through iTunes vouchers. Supporters are purchasing iTunes and Google Play gift cards, which are being turned into cash through online sales of the voucher codes. The terror monitoring group who made the discovery says this is a simple way for ISIS supporters to get cash to the terrorists without bank transfers or physical cash. ISIS leaders have been advising supporters to purchase the vouchers via the encrypted messaging service Telegram.Pope Accepts Resignations
Pope Francis has agreed to the resignations of three Chilean bishops following further revelations of the Catholic Church's abuse. One of the bishops, Following allegations of a child abuse scandal cover-up by the Chilean Catholic Church, Chile's 34 bishops all offered to resign last month. Since 2000, 80 Catholic priests have been reported for sexual abuse. Pope Francis has apologised for the Chilean Catholic Church's history of child abuse and says he made "grave mistakes".Qatar takes UAE to Court
Qatar is taking the United Arab Emirates to the UN International Court of Justice one year after the UAE began its blockade of Qatar. The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt blockaded Qatar, arguing the country has been supporting terrorism. The UAE has banned Qatar from its airspace and seaports, removed them from the UAE and have asked UAE nationals to leave Qatar. Qatar continues to call the blockade "baseless" and has told the court the UAE is committing human rights violations.US-Canada Relations Shaky
The White House says the US pulled out of a G7 agreement because Canada played a political stunt for domestic consumption. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said last Saturday Canada would impose retaliatory measures in response to the US decision to impose tariffs on aluminium and steel imports. US President Donald Trump's chief economic advisor Larry Kudlow says Trudeau had instigated a betrayal and stabbed the US in the back on trade. Kudlow says the decision to pull out of the agreement is to save face for Trump's summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.Additional reporting by Leonard Powell, Grace Watson, Justin Wong