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Everything you need to know about the world today, curated by bFM and VICE NZ.Voter Registration for Election Worse than 2014
The Electoral Commission is warning of poor enrolment for youth voters, saying it is even worse than the previous election. Current enrolment data shows that 97 percent of people aged over 70 are enrolled, but that this drops off as you move down the age brackets. Three-quarters of 25 to 29-year-olds are ready to cast a vote, while only two-thirds of those in the 18 to 24-year-old group have so far enrolled. In 2014, 200,000 people under the age of 30 did not vote.Emergency Accommodation Costs Due to Lack of Housing
A support service in Tauranga is blaming the large cost for emergency housing on picky landlords and a lack of state houses. The Ministry of Social Development has given out 1900 emergency housing grants worth a total of $1.5 million to local families over the last year in the Bay of Plenty. Te Tuinga Whanau Trust said there was still a huge need for housing, and landlords were also asking for rent much higher than tenants were able to pay. In June, there were 156 families on the waiting list for state houses in Tauranga alone. Synthetic Cannabis Continues to Kill
The Office of the Chief Coroner is reviewing the role of synthetic cannabis in some 20 deaths, as Police yesterday confirmed three more West Aucklanders had died after smoking the drug. Police reiterated that the majority of testing confirmed the presence of AMB-FUBINACA, a very strong synthetic cannabinoid. An Auckland sample obtained by VICE contained that chemical as well as mild hallucinogen pFPP, while a sample from Wellington tested positive for 5F-ADB, another synthetic cannabinoid thought to be responsible for 10 deaths in Japan in late 2014.Council of Trade Unions Wants Higher Minimum Wage
The Council of Trade Unions President Richard Wagstaff has called for Prime Minister Bill English to show leadership by setting a target for the minimum wage. Yesterday Bill English admitted he would find living on the minimum wage "quite a challenge" in response to a question by a Gisbourne apple sorter. Wagstaff said "the National government have a poor record when it comes to making a meaningful difference in the lives of hard-working Kiwis." He added that "the minimum wage has only increased by $3.75 in the last nine years" and that "we should aim higher. Having a rationale for determining what the minimum wage should be, makes sense."Green Party Pushes for Compulsory Te Reo
The Green Party has announced its plan to introduce te reo as a core subject at a hīkoi celebrating 45 years since the Māori Language Petition called for the language to be taught in schools. Aiming for 2030, the policy would see the roll out of compulsory te reo classes for years one to 10. Party leader James Shaw pledged to spend $160m to bring the plan to life, through boosting scholarships and incentivising Māori teaching. Shaw told bFM that language contained culture, and for New Zealand to be a true multicultural society, we needed to unlock that culture contained within te reo. Shaw believed most New Zealanders would back the move.China Supports Myanmar Against Rohingya
China has backed Myanmar over the treatment of its Rohingya Muslim minority, almost 400,000 of whom have left for Bangladesh to escape violence, calling the controversy an "internal affair." Hong Liang, China's ambassador to Myanmar, "strongly welcomed" the "counter-attacks of Myanmar security forces against extremist terrorists." UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres suggested the violence against Rohingya amounted to ethnic cleansing.At Least 25 Killed in Malaysian School Fire
Khirudin Drahman, the head of Kuala Lumpur's fire service, said 23 students and two teachers had died after a fire tore through a school. He added that the service will investigate happened. "It really does not make sense for so many to die in the fire," he said.Puerto Rico Welcomes Hurricane Refugees
Despite suffering its own enormous difficulties from Hurricane Irma's impact, Puerto Rico has agreed to find shelter for displaced people from the neighbouring US Virgin Islands. Up to 2,000 people from the islands who lost their homes in the storm were set to travel to Puerto Rico on a cruise ship Wednesday. One US Virgin Island refugee taken across on a plane said the people of Puerto Rico had "big hearts."Russia and Belarus Begin War Games
The Russian military began joint drills with their counterparts in Belarus Thursday morning. The Zapad-2017 operation will simulate a rebellion of "saboteurs" in Belarus. Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko accused the exercise of being possible preparation for real military action against Ukraine.Martin Shkreli Sent to Jail After Facebook Post About Clinton
The notorious "phrama bro," already found guilty of securities fraud, has been sent to jail. US district judge Kiyo Matsumoto ruled Shkreli's Facebook post offering $5,000 for a strand of Hillary Clinton's hair broke bail conditions as he awaits sentencing. Although Shkreli insisted he was "not a violent person," the judge decided the post amounted to "solicitation of an assault."Reporting by Reuben Mclaren, Conor Mercer and Ollie Powell.
LOCAL NEWS
The Electoral Commission is warning of poor enrolment for youth voters, saying it is even worse than the previous election. Current enrolment data shows that 97 percent of people aged over 70 are enrolled, but that this drops off as you move down the age brackets. Three-quarters of 25 to 29-year-olds are ready to cast a vote, while only two-thirds of those in the 18 to 24-year-old group have so far enrolled. In 2014, 200,000 people under the age of 30 did not vote.Emergency Accommodation Costs Due to Lack of Housing
A support service in Tauranga is blaming the large cost for emergency housing on picky landlords and a lack of state houses. The Ministry of Social Development has given out 1900 emergency housing grants worth a total of $1.5 million to local families over the last year in the Bay of Plenty. Te Tuinga Whanau Trust said there was still a huge need for housing, and landlords were also asking for rent much higher than tenants were able to pay. In June, there were 156 families on the waiting list for state houses in Tauranga alone. Synthetic Cannabis Continues to Kill
The Office of the Chief Coroner is reviewing the role of synthetic cannabis in some 20 deaths, as Police yesterday confirmed three more West Aucklanders had died after smoking the drug. Police reiterated that the majority of testing confirmed the presence of AMB-FUBINACA, a very strong synthetic cannabinoid. An Auckland sample obtained by VICE contained that chemical as well as mild hallucinogen pFPP, while a sample from Wellington tested positive for 5F-ADB, another synthetic cannabinoid thought to be responsible for 10 deaths in Japan in late 2014.
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The Council of Trade Unions President Richard Wagstaff has called for Prime Minister Bill English to show leadership by setting a target for the minimum wage. Yesterday Bill English admitted he would find living on the minimum wage "quite a challenge" in response to a question by a Gisbourne apple sorter. Wagstaff said "the National government have a poor record when it comes to making a meaningful difference in the lives of hard-working Kiwis." He added that "the minimum wage has only increased by $3.75 in the last nine years" and that "we should aim higher. Having a rationale for determining what the minimum wage should be, makes sense."Green Party Pushes for Compulsory Te Reo
The Green Party has announced its plan to introduce te reo as a core subject at a hīkoi celebrating 45 years since the Māori Language Petition called for the language to be taught in schools. Aiming for 2030, the policy would see the roll out of compulsory te reo classes for years one to 10. Party leader James Shaw pledged to spend $160m to bring the plan to life, through boosting scholarships and incentivising Māori teaching. Shaw told bFM that language contained culture, and for New Zealand to be a true multicultural society, we needed to unlock that culture contained within te reo. Shaw believed most New Zealanders would back the move.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
China has backed Myanmar over the treatment of its Rohingya Muslim minority, almost 400,000 of whom have left for Bangladesh to escape violence, calling the controversy an "internal affair." Hong Liang, China's ambassador to Myanmar, "strongly welcomed" the "counter-attacks of Myanmar security forces against extremist terrorists." UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres suggested the violence against Rohingya amounted to ethnic cleansing.At Least 25 Killed in Malaysian School Fire
Khirudin Drahman, the head of Kuala Lumpur's fire service, said 23 students and two teachers had died after a fire tore through a school. He added that the service will investigate happened. "It really does not make sense for so many to die in the fire," he said.Puerto Rico Welcomes Hurricane Refugees
Despite suffering its own enormous difficulties from Hurricane Irma's impact, Puerto Rico has agreed to find shelter for displaced people from the neighbouring US Virgin Islands. Up to 2,000 people from the islands who lost their homes in the storm were set to travel to Puerto Rico on a cruise ship Wednesday. One US Virgin Island refugee taken across on a plane said the people of Puerto Rico had "big hearts."Russia and Belarus Begin War Games
The Russian military began joint drills with their counterparts in Belarus Thursday morning. The Zapad-2017 operation will simulate a rebellion of "saboteurs" in Belarus. Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko accused the exercise of being possible preparation for real military action against Ukraine.Martin Shkreli Sent to Jail After Facebook Post About Clinton
The notorious "phrama bro," already found guilty of securities fraud, has been sent to jail. US district judge Kiyo Matsumoto ruled Shkreli's Facebook post offering $5,000 for a strand of Hillary Clinton's hair broke bail conditions as he awaits sentencing. Although Shkreli insisted he was "not a violent person," the judge decided the post amounted to "solicitation of an assault."Reporting by Reuben Mclaren, Conor Mercer and Ollie Powell.