Everything you need to know about the world today, curated by 95bFM and VICE NZ.
LOCAL NEWS
Five Eyes Network Accuses China of Influencing NZ
New Zealand’s relationship with China has come under fire in a report by American former CIA analyst Peter Mattis. Mattis claimed the Chinese Communist Party donated large sums of money to Labour when he testified at the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission. Mattis went on to say that former prime minister Bill English had briefed a national MP that had once worked at an institution that trained Chinese spies. He added that he believes China has reached New Zealand’s “political core” and that whether New Zealand is allowed to remain a part of the Five Eyes intelligence network needs to be considered. President of the National Party Nigel Haworth and National Party leader Simon Bridges say they have no idea what Mattis is talking about.
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M Bovis Cull to Begin
The government has announced a $886 million plan to eradicate cattle disease Myclopasma bovis over the next decade, and compensate farmers for some of their losses. 41 farms have been infected since the disease was discovered last July. The plan includes culling all cattle on all infected properties. $16 million will be lost from production. 68 percent of the cost will be met by the Government, the rest with Diary NZ and Beef and Lamb NZ. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the plan is a tough call, but the alternative is to risk the spread of disease across the national herd.
NCEA Overhaul Ahead
Proposals for an overhaul of the NCEA qualification have met a mixed response from teachers over the workload the changes might create. Among potential changes is the abolishment of Level 1 exams, cancelling the $76 exam fee and introducing major projects at all 3 levels. English teacher Natalie Falata says NCEA is too assessment-heavy and students are not learning. Post Primary Teachers’ Association president Jack Boyle says that they will be looking at how workloads can be reduced for teachers and students. He said there was concern that projects were not enough to assess students on.
Gender Pay Gap Widens for Mothers
A report shows the gender pay gap widens once a woman becomes a mother. Research commissioned by the Ministry for Women find the hourly wages decrease on average by 8.3 percent for women who took longer than 12 months to return to work after being a parent. Women also receive fewer hours of work, depending on the time they spent away from the labour market. The research found men, on average, do not experience changes in wages and hours of work after they become a parent. Ministry for Women acting Chief Executive Margaret Retter says the research can be used to inform women, which they can discuss with their partners on flexible working arrangements.
Buses on Strike
Go Bus drivers in Auckland will be the latest to take industrial action, following a series of strikes in Auckland and the Waikato region. The 60 drivers will strike early this morning, and commuters in South Auckland are being advised to find alternative transport as Go Bus is a large transport provider in the area. FIRST Union Organiser Graham McKean told 95bFM the main issue with Go Bus is working conditions and issues around overtime. McKean says drivers are expected to drive for too long with very limited breaks—the equivalent of driving from Auckland to Napier without a single stop, day in day out.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Austria Cuts Benefits for Immigrants, Refugees
The Austrian government has revealed plans to reduce benefits for immigrants, including refugees. The amount of benefit for immigrants will be capped at 563 euros a month, which can rise to 863 if they pass a German test. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz says the German language will become the key to accessing minimum benefit, and those with insufficient language skills will not be able to get it. The current Austrian government is a coalition between the conservative People’s Party and the far-right Freedom Party. Both parties campaigned in the last election with a hard line on immigration.
France Smoking Rate Drops
The number of smokers in France has dropped by around 1 million people over the last year says a Public Health Survey. Taxing cigarettes, using plain packaging and paying people for using alternatives and a national cigarette-free month are all thought to have added to the decrease. Despite these measures, worldwide the number of smokers has increased—a fact attributed to population increases. The survey says smoking still affects those on lower incomes disproportionately.
Single-Use Plastic Ban
The EU has proposed a ban on single-use plastic items in an attempt to save sea-life. It is estimated that the plan will save 3.4 million tonnes of carbon emissions, $37 billion of environmental damage and save consumers almost $11.7 billion. All of the EU’s 28 member states have to agree and the European Parliament has to pass the bill before the plan can be enacted. Producers of current single-use plastic items would be given incentives to produce plastic free if the plan is passed.
Italian Prime Minister Named
Italy’s president, Sergio Mattarella, has appointed Carlo Cottarelli as Italy’s interim prime minister. This comes after weeks of negotiations between Italy’s two populist parties after their attempts to form a government failed. The parties Five Star movement and the League put forward candidates for prime minister and finance minister. Mattarella has power as President to accept or reject ministers and did not accept the parties’ proposed finance minister, prompting the resignation of their proposed prime minister.
Additional reporting by Leonard Powell, Grace Watson, Justin Wong
