Everything you need to know about the world today, curated by 95bFM and VICE NZ .
LOCAL
Pests Expected to Cause Havoc over Winter
Summer weather has contributed to a sharp rise in mice and rat populations this year. The record-breaking summer has made the breeding season longer for rodents due to the dryer weather. A growing number of communities are using backyard traps to curb the number of pests. Predator Free Wellington spokesperson Kelvin Hastie says urban areas that aren’t trapping will see pest numbers skyrocket in winter. Close to 10,000 Auckland households are trapping in the lead-up to winter.
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Government Algorithms Need to be Regulated
Members of the Artificial Intelligence and Law in New Zealand Project say government use of algorithms needs to be watched by a body of regulators. An article by members of the project says New Zealand needs regulators to check that algorithms are reliable. University of Otago law associate professor Colin Gavaghan told 95bFM that first they need to abide by existing privacy and discrimination laws. “What we really need to make sure is that our existing laws stick to the new technology,” he said. “We’ve got rules against discrimination, we’ve got rules that support privacy and access to your own data. We want to make sure that at the very minimum that these laws that we’ve already got aren’t pushed aside by the new technology”. Algorithms are currently being used by the ACC, Immigration New Zealand, Inland Revenue and the Department of Corrections.
Will New Zealand follow Australia in Banking Inquiry?
Calls for a banking inquiry in New Zealand have grown following Royal Commission Investigation in Australia. As most major New Zealand banks are owned by Australian banks, concerns have been raised over the dishonest practices uncovered across the Tasman. Australian bank AMP was found to be charging customers for advice that was never delivered for almost a decade. Consumer New Zealand Head Sue Chetwin said that the Australian inquiry had been a wake-up call for New Zealand subsidiaries.
Road Toll Already High
This year’s road toll is set to overtake last year’s toll. 18 more people have been killed on New Zealand roads than this time last year—which in turn was the highest since 2009, with 380 people killed. Police superintendent Steve Greally, the national manager for road policing, says that the road toll is frustrating. He said police do have a part in preventing people from driving irresponsibly, but to really reduce the death toll adults should be making better, safer decisions. Official figures have the toll at 125 deaths so far this year.
Auckland Council to Improve Recycling with Container Deposit
Auckland Council wants to improve litter and recycling rates by introducing a national container deposit. The incentivised scheme would have plastic bottles or cans earn 10 cents for each drink container returned. General Manager of Waste Solutions Ian Stupple said only 50 percent of drink containers are recycled right now. Similar schemes have been operating in areas in Canada for decades. The scheme is also projected to save ratepayers and councils millions in recycling costs.
Free Trade Proposed For Commonwealth
Foreign Minister Winston Peters, is talking up the possibility of a free trade agreement amongst all Commonwealth nations. The idea of a trade agreement including all 53 Commonwealth nations was brought to attention at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in London. Winston Peters has said that the leaders want to get started on a deal before the UK leaves the European Union in March next year. New Zealand’s current prerogative is to set up trade deals with the UK and Europe before pushing for the Commonwealth deals.
Rescue Helicopter Services to be Cut
Rescue helicopter services in the central North Island regions of New Zealand may be cut after a proposed redesign of air ambulance services. Mayors from Taupo, Rotorua and Ruapehu are meeting with Health Minister David Clark today to discuss the potential service cut. The region will have to rely on choppers coming from Taranaki, Tauranga, and Napier if the redesign of the national air ambulance services goes ahead.
INTERNATIONAL
Deadly Attack in Afghanistan
A suicide bomb attack has killed 57 people at a voter registration centre in the Afghanistan capital, Kabul. The Islamist State Group say they are responsible for the suicide bomber who detonated explosives at a distribution centre in Western Kabul. The bombing is Kabul’s deadliest attack since January this year, an additional 115 were injured. There have already been four attacks on Afghan voting centres since voting registration started a week ago.
Anti-Government Protests in Armenia
Thousands of anti-government protesters have rallied in the Armenian capital Yerevan after the arrest of opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan. Pashinyan asked Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan to resign in a televised debate last Sunday, which lead to Pashinyan’s arrest shortly after.
Kim Jong Un Halts Nuclear Missile Testing
North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un has announced the country will halt all testings of nuclear missiles and close a major testing site. President Donald Trump has tweeted his support of the decision calling it “big progress”. US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has said UN security council sanctions were a good motivator for the decision. However, some experts are still critical of the move. Former US Negotiator Wendy Sherman said that this does not mean that Kim Jong Un will destroy his current nuclear weapons. The US and North Korea are set to hold a summit later this year to discuss nuclear weapons.
Democrats Sue Trump Campaign for Russia Collusion
The United States Democratic Party has filed a lawsuit against the Trump Campaign for colluding with Russia. The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Manhattan, also naming whistle-blowing website Wikileaks and its founder Julian Assange. President Trump has denied colluding with Russia throughout his Presidency. The President responded to the lawsuit by tweeting “a complete witch hunt”. US Intelligence agencies confirmed Russian interference in the 2016 election that benefited the Trump Campaign in early 2017.
Gas Shortage in Yemen Capital
The Saudi Arabian blockade of Houthi ports has lead to a chronic shortage of gas in the Yemen capital, Sanaa. The shortage of fuel has caused factories to lay off staff, hospitals to close wards and the cost of taxi services to rise astronomically. Sanaa’s poorest populations have resorted to burning rubbish as an alternative to cooking gas. According to UN’s Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs fuel imports in Yemen make up a third of the national requirement.
Israel Dismisses Allegations Against Spy Agency for Lecturer Death
Israel’s defence minister has dismissed allegations that the Israeli spy agency, Mossad killed a Palestinian lecturer on Saturday. Fadi al-Batsh, an electrical engineering lecturer and a member of Hamas was shot down by two men on a motorbike in Malaysia. Israeli defence minister Avigdor Lieberman said al-Batsh was killed as part of an internal Palestinian dispute.
Additional reporting by Jemima Huston, Damian Rowe and Bailley Verry.
