Everything you need to know about the world today curated by 95bFM and VICE NZ.
LOCAL NEWS
Violence in Prisons
Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier says the level of violence in prisons is “alarming” after a report revealed almost half of the prisoners in Christchurch Men’s Prison had been assaulted. The report indicates that a combination of mental health issues, gang activity, bullying and contraband introduction has resulted in a volatile prison environment. 60 percent of inmates say that they have been bullied but only 27 percent have reported this to officials. This is the third inspection report published under a United Nations convention and Minister of Corrections Kelvin Davis says quote “If we want to reduce the prison population…the focus has to be on rehabilitation.”
Videos by VICE
Waitakere Ranges Regional Park Tracks Closed Due to Kauri Dieback Disease
Auckland council’s environment and community committee has voted to close several tracks in the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park to limit the spread of kauri dieback disease. Councillors opted not to close the ranges entirely to combat the disease, though Mayor Phil Goff says he is sympathetic to calls for their closure. The Waitakere ranges are the most infected in the country with kauri dieback, according to a report earlier this year. The regional manager of Forest and Bird, Nick Beveridge, says he is disappointed at the council’s inaction.
Management of Asthma App
A new phone app will help healthcare workers and parents control asthma in both children and adolescents. The app will allow users to manage the condition and will be accessible to anyone at anytime. Teresa Demetriou from the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation says the treatment of asthma needs to be looked at more: “Anybody that is involved in the healthcare of children and adolescents who have asthma. It’s to help with identification, the diagnosis and the treatment of asthma”. The guidelines in the app will also reduce the size of cultural disparity for people with the condition.
A new app promoting guidelines on the management of asthma, will also reduce the gap in cultural disparity on the condition. Statistics show, Maori children are 3.4 percent more likely to suffer from asthma, while Pasifika children are 3.9 percent more likely to be hospitalised. Asthma and Respiratory foundation’s Teresa Demetriou says the app will help reduce this gap with the information available on it; the numbers are far higher in the Maori and Pacific people and people living in the lower socioeconomic areas in New Zealand, so the guidelines are an important step to reducing those disparities and improving the outcomes for children with asthma”. The app was launched in May earlier this year.
Conservation of Water Across NZ
Regions across New Zealand are being asked to conserve water amidst concerns that the country could be on the verge of drought. Multiple locations have reached temperatures more than 8 degrees hotter than average. Auckland, Christchurch and Queenstown are asking locals to save water as restrictions in Napier allowed reservoirs to refill. Weatherwatch is hopeful that warmer than usual sea temperatures can help create rain.
National Government Overspent on Emergency Housing
Housing Minister Phil Twyford has announced that the previous government overspent on emergency housing. Twyford says that more than $50 million was spent on emergency and transitional housing for New Zealanders when only $2 million was forecast. According to the minister, this underfunding made the previous government’s budget projections look better but the budget did not accurately reflect the real costs of the policies. The existing budget left by the National government to fund front-line housing services drops from $50 million to $37 million dollars in 2018 and 2019 which the Government will need to find funding to cover.
Two Species of Kiwi from “Endangered” to “Vulnerable”
The Ōkārito kiwi and Northern brown kiwi have had their endangered status reduced to “vulnerable” in a recent assessment of threatened species. The status was updated on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Red List, a record of endangered species world wide. Intensive predator controls in the habitats of both species of kiwi are what led to the upgrade in conservation status. The organisation says that a wider study of New Zealand showed many endemic bird species are in decline because of threats of invasive species.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
German Bank Allegedly Involved in Trump/Russia Relationship
Donald Trump’s biggest lender, Deutsche Bank, has been forced to submit information regarding its relationship with the United States president. Special investigator Robert Mueller issued the German bank with a subpoena among growing concerns about possible links between the presidential campaign and the Russian government. Trump has been loaned close to $300 million by the bank in previous years. The investigation indicates that legal interrogation of the president’s behaviour is not limited to whether or not he obstructed justice in the firing of former FBI chief James Comey. The American leader has consistently denied any collusion between his campaign and Russia.
Spanish Supreme Court Lifts Arrest Warrants for Catalan Leaders
The Supreme Court of Spain has withdrawn the arrest warrants for ousted Catalan President Carles Puigdemont and four other ex-ministers. The Catalonian leaders escaped to Belgium last month after a referendum calling for unilateral independence of Catalonia was ruled illegal by Spain. Spanish Supreme Court judge Pablo Llareno says the warrant’s withdrawal means that Spain can be in full control of the investigation into the leader’s behaviour. Llareno adds that they may still face possible charges for rebellion and sedition. Rebellion is considered to be one of the most serious crimes in Spain with a jail term of up to 30 years.
Trump Declares US will recognise Jerusalem as Israel Capital
Donald Trump says the United States plan to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Trump is expected to announce his decision on Wednesday, two days after the deadline for him to decide whether to keep the American embassy in Tel Aviv. Arab and European leaders warn that the decision to recognise Jerusalem could derail any peace initiative and potentially ignite fresh violence in the region. Jordanian King Abdullah the second warns that the adoption of the resolution will quote “have serious implications for security and stability in the Middle East.”
Brexit Deal Needs to Soften
British Prime Minister Theresa May is under pressure to soften the United Kingdom’s break from the European Union. UK ministers say they are confident they will soon secure an exit deal, but May is having difficulties negotiating in Brussels. The government is struggling to get support for its Brexit deal, as key coalition partners are refusing to support it in its current state.
Saudi Business Leaders Detained in Corruption Purge
159 Saudi business leaders including members of the royal family have been detained at a five star hotel in Riyadh during a corruption purge. Prince Mohammed has been accused of using the purge to consolidate his power base but he insists his intention is to give global business leaders faith in the investment process. High level corruption has been rampant in the kingdom for decades and has seen business leaders taking large cuts of contracts in public and private sectors. This process is thought to be a template for a solidification of the monarchy in Saudi Arabia.
Reporting by Reilly Hodson, Jemima Huston and Issy Walker.
