Everything you need to know about the world today, curated by 95bFM and VICE NZ.Kiwis Offered Bite of Chocolate Business
A Dunedin-based chocolate company is offering New Zealanders an opportunity to buy a stake in the business and receive discounted chocolate for life. A PledgeMe campaign for the public to buy-out chocolatier OCHO launched today. The campaign was borne out of the closure of the city's Cadbury factory and an attempt from the community to buy it. Dr Jim O'Malley says they want to attract as many $100 investors as possible, and by limiting the total any one person can own to 11 percent, no single investor can dominate.NZ Winters Keep Getting Shorter
A recent report has shown New Zealand's winter months have shortened by a third. The report by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research indicates that the winter months have shortened equally from both ends, beginning in mid June and ending in mid August. NIWA principal climate scientist Brett Mullan says this will have a negative effect on pest control within New Zealand. Mullan explained to 95bFM that pests tend not to die off and breed again quickly in the warmer months, instead of going dormant. Mullan said the temperature increase would also have adverse affects on New Zealand's winter crops.Earthquake Hits Cook Strait
A 4.8 earthquake hit central New Zealand last night, and was felt by 11,000 people from as far as Gore and Hamilton. The quake struck at 11.28 PM 30km west of Wellington in Cook Strait, at a depth of 36km. The quake comes almost a year to the day from 2016’s 7.8 magnitude Kaikoura earthquake. There are no reports of damage.Ardern to Pressure Australia Over Manus Island
Jacinda Ardern intends to keep pressuring Australia regarding Manus Island's refugees. The Prime Minister says that will be her sole focus when she meets her Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull later this week. Over the weekend, Ardern repeated that the situation on the island was "unacceptable". New Zealand's offer to take 150 refugees from both Manus Island's and Nauru's camps is still on the table. Ardern doesn't plan currently on going for a direct deal with Papua New Guinea, but could consider it if Australia rejects the offer again.Livestock Responsible for 20 Percent of Global Warming
A study from New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre has revealed livestock emissions are responsible for almost 20 percent of total global warming. The research shows methane and nitrous oxide emissions from stock are to blame. The study's author, Andy Reisinger, says these emissions are likely to increase as demand for livestock products grows. Reisinger believes reducing methane emissions would greatly help reducing climate change and reaching the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to less than 2 degrees celsius.White Nationalists March in Europe
Tens of thousands of nationalists demonstrated this weekend in the streets of Poland's capital, Warsaw. The demonstrators marched to celebrate the 99th anniversary of the country's independence day, with many chanting white supremacist, antisemitic and Islamophobic slogans. The state television described the demonstration as a great march of patriots, while Poland's interior minister said the demonstrators are simply proud Poles, calling the march "a beautiful sight ". Experts believe this is the biggest gathering of far-right activists in Europe in recent years.Louis C.K. Accused of Sexual Misconduct by Five Women
On Thursday, the New York Times published accounts from five women who said the comedian masturbated in front of them or over the phone without their consent. Prior to the report, the premiere of C.K.'s controversial film I Love You, Daddy was abruptly cancelled, and following the revelations, HBO announced it was "removing Louis C.K.’s past projects from its On Demand services." The intended distributor of I Love You, Daddy has since indicated it is axing release plans, while according to his publicist, "Louis is not going to answer any questions."Opioid Bust in Canada Reveals Deadly New Drug
More than 40kg of an opioid 100 times more toxic than fentanyl have been found in a house in Toronto, Canada, throwing spotlight on a poorly understood drug. The substance, called carfentanil, is considered highly dangerous by the US Drug Enforcement Agency. Originally a tranquiliser for large animals developed in the 1970s, the synthetic opioid is a potential chemical weapon, and has been studied by countries including the United States, China and Israel. The drug burst into public view last year when North American officials noticed that it was being cut with heroin and other illicit drugs. Lab researchers say an amount as small as a grain of sand could kill you. This is believed to be the largest volume of opioid ever seized in North America.Spanish PM urges Catalans to vote
The Spanish prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, visited the Catalan capital on Sunday, urging citizens to vote in the upcoming regional elections to help the country recover from recent political turmoil in the area. Rajoy addressed a crowd of more than one thousand party members, encouraging unity and the "silent majority" to "convert their voice into a vote." The prime minister's visit to Barcelona follows the dismissal of Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and suspension of the region's autonomy, with a new election called for on December 21.Alabama Senate Nominee Roy Moore Accused of Molesting 14-Year-Old
The former Alabama judge and Republican Senate nominee was accused of guiding a 14-year-old girl's hand to his underwear during a sexual encounter that took place when he was 32. Three additional women claimed that Moore asked them out—and in some cases, dated them—when they were between the ages of 16 and 18 and he was in his 30s. Moore has called the allegations a "desperate political attack" and a White House spokesperson said President Trump believes "we cannot allow a mere allegation… to destroy a person’s life."Additional reporting buy Lisa Boudet, Jean Bell, Leonard Powell.
LOCAL NEWS
A Dunedin-based chocolate company is offering New Zealanders an opportunity to buy a stake in the business and receive discounted chocolate for life. A PledgeMe campaign for the public to buy-out chocolatier OCHO launched today. The campaign was borne out of the closure of the city's Cadbury factory and an attempt from the community to buy it. Dr Jim O'Malley says they want to attract as many $100 investors as possible, and by limiting the total any one person can own to 11 percent, no single investor can dominate.NZ Winters Keep Getting Shorter
A recent report has shown New Zealand's winter months have shortened by a third. The report by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research indicates that the winter months have shortened equally from both ends, beginning in mid June and ending in mid August. NIWA principal climate scientist Brett Mullan says this will have a negative effect on pest control within New Zealand. Mullan explained to 95bFM that pests tend not to die off and breed again quickly in the warmer months, instead of going dormant. Mullan said the temperature increase would also have adverse affects on New Zealand's winter crops.
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A 4.8 earthquake hit central New Zealand last night, and was felt by 11,000 people from as far as Gore and Hamilton. The quake struck at 11.28 PM 30km west of Wellington in Cook Strait, at a depth of 36km. The quake comes almost a year to the day from 2016’s 7.8 magnitude Kaikoura earthquake. There are no reports of damage.Ardern to Pressure Australia Over Manus Island
Jacinda Ardern intends to keep pressuring Australia regarding Manus Island's refugees. The Prime Minister says that will be her sole focus when she meets her Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull later this week. Over the weekend, Ardern repeated that the situation on the island was "unacceptable". New Zealand's offer to take 150 refugees from both Manus Island's and Nauru's camps is still on the table. Ardern doesn't plan currently on going for a direct deal with Papua New Guinea, but could consider it if Australia rejects the offer again.Livestock Responsible for 20 Percent of Global Warming
A study from New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre has revealed livestock emissions are responsible for almost 20 percent of total global warming. The research shows methane and nitrous oxide emissions from stock are to blame. The study's author, Andy Reisinger, says these emissions are likely to increase as demand for livestock products grows. Reisinger believes reducing methane emissions would greatly help reducing climate change and reaching the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to less than 2 degrees celsius.
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Tens of thousands of nationalists demonstrated this weekend in the streets of Poland's capital, Warsaw. The demonstrators marched to celebrate the 99th anniversary of the country's independence day, with many chanting white supremacist, antisemitic and Islamophobic slogans. The state television described the demonstration as a great march of patriots, while Poland's interior minister said the demonstrators are simply proud Poles, calling the march "a beautiful sight ". Experts believe this is the biggest gathering of far-right activists in Europe in recent years.Louis C.K. Accused of Sexual Misconduct by Five Women
On Thursday, the New York Times published accounts from five women who said the comedian masturbated in front of them or over the phone without their consent. Prior to the report, the premiere of C.K.'s controversial film I Love You, Daddy was abruptly cancelled, and following the revelations, HBO announced it was "removing Louis C.K.’s past projects from its On Demand services." The intended distributor of I Love You, Daddy has since indicated it is axing release plans, while according to his publicist, "Louis is not going to answer any questions."Opioid Bust in Canada Reveals Deadly New Drug
More than 40kg of an opioid 100 times more toxic than fentanyl have been found in a house in Toronto, Canada, throwing spotlight on a poorly understood drug. The substance, called carfentanil, is considered highly dangerous by the US Drug Enforcement Agency. Originally a tranquiliser for large animals developed in the 1970s, the synthetic opioid is a potential chemical weapon, and has been studied by countries including the United States, China and Israel. The drug burst into public view last year when North American officials noticed that it was being cut with heroin and other illicit drugs. Lab researchers say an amount as small as a grain of sand could kill you. This is believed to be the largest volume of opioid ever seized in North America.Spanish PM urges Catalans to vote
The Spanish prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, visited the Catalan capital on Sunday, urging citizens to vote in the upcoming regional elections to help the country recover from recent political turmoil in the area. Rajoy addressed a crowd of more than one thousand party members, encouraging unity and the "silent majority" to "convert their voice into a vote." The prime minister's visit to Barcelona follows the dismissal of Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and suspension of the region's autonomy, with a new election called for on December 21.Alabama Senate Nominee Roy Moore Accused of Molesting 14-Year-Old
The former Alabama judge and Republican Senate nominee was accused of guiding a 14-year-old girl's hand to his underwear during a sexual encounter that took place when he was 32. Three additional women claimed that Moore asked them out—and in some cases, dated them—when they were between the ages of 16 and 18 and he was in his 30s. Moore has called the allegations a "desperate political attack" and a White House spokesperson said President Trump believes "we cannot allow a mere allegation… to destroy a person’s life."Additional reporting buy Lisa Boudet, Jean Bell, Leonard Powell.