Everything you need to know about the world today, curated by 95bFM and VICE NZ.

LOCAL NEWS

Civil protection satisfied with disaster alert
The Civil Defence has called its mobile phone emergency alert a success, as a third of mobile phones were able to receive the notification, reaching around two million devices. All regions with mobile phone coverage have received the message. The Civil Defence stated that people who have not received the alerts should not worry, as this is just a new channel to deliver alerts, alongside radio, television and social media. The organisation said the number of devices able to receive the message will increase over time as people replace their phones with newer models. A survey can be completed online to give feedback on the experience and help the Civil Defence

Bullying is widespread in New Zealand’s medical profession
According to a recent study, over two-thirds of medical professionals working in New Zealand have experienced or witnessed workplace bullying. The study, by the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, found the most common bullies are clinic managers, clinic directors and those in leadership positions. According to Dr Kate Baddock, chair of the New Zealand Medical Association, the study shows that individuals need to take responsibility for their own behaviour. She told 95bFM that the culture would change if everyone said “this is what I need to do” rather than someone saying “this is what you need to do”. Baddock adds that while the findings indicate a problem among medical colleagues, a significant minority of incidents are related to patients bullying staff.

Scientists call for end to drug advertising before ratification of TPP
Two medical scientists are calling for an end to direct drug advertising before the Trans-Pacific Partnership is ratified. David Menkes, an academic psychiatrist at the University of Auckland, told 95bFM that this type of advertising is causing people to ask doctors for expensive prescription drugs. Menkes says it’s a good time to stop, with drug laws currently under review in the House of Representatives and before the TPP is ratified, as it would make regulatory reform more difficult. The psychiatrist says other companies could sue our government over the reform if it happens after the TPP is ratified.

Prime Minister rejects national criticism of increase in student grant law
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has dismissed criticism of the government’s plans to increase student grants by $50 a week. The National Party says the grant increase could be abused by the unemployed. National Party spokesperson on higher education Paul Goldsmith says with the introduction of free higher education next year there will be nothing stopping benefit recipients from enrolling in university and collecting the grant, which will be higher than the unemployment benefit. The Prime Minister says there are already safeguards in place to ensure benefit recipients are genuine students, such as pass rates. She says benefit recipients will have a range of educational opportunities available to them and it would be a good outcome if unemployed people took up additional training opportunities.

Greenpeace criticizes government over possible oil and gas exploration
Greenpeace has called on Jacinda Ardern to halt oil and gas exploration off the Taranaki coast. The world’s largest seismic exploration vessel, the Amazon Warrior, entered New Zealand waters on Saturday and Greenpeace believes the government has given it permission to begin exploring in an area where blue whales are known to live. The environmental advocacy group said documents filed with the Department of Conservation showed the vessel had been permitted to explore over the summer. Activist Kate Simcock said Jacinda Ardern still had the power to halt exploration and stop further fossil fuel searches.

Sir William Gallagher criticised after calling the Treaty of Waitangi a ‘farce’
New Zealand businessman Sir William Gallagher is facing heavy criticism after calling the Treaty of Waitangi a farce. Gallagher, who is not a historian but a fencing magnate, gave a speech at a business event on Saturday in which he said the treaty documents issued at Te Papa were forged documents and the treaty was “a sham”. He also claimed the Foreshore and Seabed Act was an example of the government “handing over the rights of all New Zealanders to Māori”, when in reality the law provides for the opposite: a significant seizure of Māori land. Gallagher made a series of bizarre and contradictory claims, including that there is no such thing as “Māori” and that Māori fence off beaches. He offered no evidence to support his claims. Half a dozen spectators in a crowd of about ninety left the hall during the speech. Gallagher said he was happy to discuss his ideas further.

Queenstown shows support for Sri Lankan family facing deportation
A Sri Lankan family from Queenstown facing deportation has received a huge outpouring of support from the local community. Around 400 people gathered on Saturday to show their support for the family, who have been living in New Zealand since 2010. Mother of three Dinesha Amarasinghe applied for permanent residency as a skilled worker for her husband and children in 2013, but in 2015 she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and her application was rejected. Last month their work visas were cancelled and they were told to leave the country. MP for Clutha-Southland Hamish Walker has written to Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway to request an exemption from the rule. The family can stay until an appeal is heard in the Immigration and Protection Tribunal. More than $25,000 has been raised to cover medical bills and living expenses while the family cannot work.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Refugees on Manus Island face poor living conditions in transit camps
About 400 refugees were forced by Papua New Guinea police last week to abandon their three-week protest and move to three facilities in the island’s capital. Refugees who remained at the detention centre on Manus Island after the detention centre was officially closed were forcibly removed by Papua New Guinea officials before the weekend and bussed to three different centres elsewhere on Manus Island. Official reports of the move describe the police operation as peaceful, but videos on social media show some of the men being beaten with metal batons. The transit centres have been described as unusable because there is little water, food or electricity and they are still under construction. Asylum seeker Walid Zazai posted updates on social media while the men were still living in the detention centre, and 95bfm was able to speak to him about the conditions shortly after their forcible removal. Zazai said the conditions were horrific. “We are in the middle of the jungle, we had to take the bus about 10 minutes into the jungle and we saw these containers that were still under construction.” The detainee added that there was “no electricity”, “no water” and “no food” in the facilities. According to Zazai, only two trays of food were brought for 200 men. The refugees do not know where else they can eat or get food. The aid organization Doctors Without Borders has been prevented from entering the new shelters, where refugees are said to be in need of medical and psychological help. Living conditions are cramped, refugees cannot find beds and have to sleep in a classroom, and some have to share a two-metre-wide room with four people. Thousands took to the streets in Australia’s capital yesterday to protest against the treatment of the refugees.

Volcanic ash disrupts tourism in Bali
Airlines have been issued a “red alert” about the danger of volcanic ash in the skies near Bali after Mount Agung spewed a thick plume of smoke that reached as high as 4,000m. It is the second major emission from the Indonesian island volcano this week and flights have been suspended. The red alert means an eruption is imminent and significant ash emissions are expected. People within a 7.5km-wide exclusion zone have been told to “evacuate immediately” and about 25,000 people are believed to still be in emergency shelters. Travellers to and from the region are urged to contact their airline or travel agent to find out the status of their flight.

Archbishop of York ends protests against Robert Mugabe
In December 2007, the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, cut his collar live on The Andrew Marr Show on BBC One and promised not to wear it again until Robert Mugabe leaves office. The white collar is what an Anglican clergyman wears to be identified and cutting the collar on live television was dramatic and showed a clear stance on Dr Sentamu’s views on Robert Mugabe. On Sunday, Dr Sentamu returned to the Marr Show and put his collar back on as promised, saying he could have glued the old one back together as Zimbabwe is “putting things right again”, although it needs something radical and new to move forward.

Additional reporting: Lisa Boudet, Jean Bell, Leonard Powell