5: 

Fast-Food Workers Walk Out in Hundreds of Cities

4: 

Climate Change Could Push 100 Million People Into Poverty by 2030

As the world continues to warm into “uncharted territory,” the World Bank says that reductions in global poverty in recent decades could be undone by unmitigated climate change, pushing 100 million people into extreme poverty by 2030.

Data from the UK’s Met Office shows that the 2015 global mean temperature is now 1 degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels, measured between 1850 and 1900. This marks an important milestone, as the United Nations has said that in order to avoid devastating consequences of climate change, global temperature rise must remain within 2C (3.6F).

“We’ve had similar natural events in the past, yet this is the first time we’re set to reach the 1C marker,” Stephen Belcher, director of the Met Office Hadley Centre, said. “It’s clear that it is human influence driving our modern climate into uncharted territory.”

To date, the office has recorded a global mean sea level rise of 20 centimeters over pre-industrial levels, but estimate that this number could triple by 2100 in a world that is 2C warmer. Their data indicates that temperatures in 2016 will be similar to this year, and that they expect the warming trend to continue in years ahead.

Vice News

3: 

The TPPA: A shady deal cooked behind closed doors

The veil of secrecy behind the controversial TPPA has just been lifted, and it spells bad news for New Zealanders, the seas we swim and fish in, and for the air we breath.

Greenpeace NZ policy advisor, Nathan Argent, says the deal, cooked up between New Zealand, the USA and 10 other nations, will stifle efforts to combat climate change and instead strengthen the arm of the most powerful polluters on the planet at a time we should be consigning them to history.

“The ugly truth behind this deal it that it’s clearly been concocted for the sole benefit of foreign companies and their sharp-suited billionaires, not for the people of New Zealand,” he says.

“The inclusion of so-called investor state dispute settlement clauses gives special legal rights to foreign investors, which could see our Government being sued for, say, stopping the pollution of our rivers if these companies think it would harm their profits.”

The agreement shows a complete lack of leadership and vision when it comes to environmental safeguards, Argent says, and doesn’t include any new enforcement mechanisms to ensure that countries uphold environmental standards.

“We’re only weeks away from the world gathering in Paris to thrash out a deal to tackle climate pollution, yet our government has handcuffed our ability to build a cleaner, smarter and safer future for our families.”

Greenpeace

2: 

Former soldier arrested over Bloody Sunday killings

A 66-year-old former soldier has been arrested in relation to the Bloody Sunday killings in Londonderry in 1972, police in Northern Ireland have said.

Tuesday’s arrest is the first in a renewed murder investigation announced by police in 2012 into one of the most notorious episodes during three decades of unrest in Northern Ireland.

Thirteen civil rights protesters were killed on Sunday, January 30, 1972, when British troops opened fire during an unauthorised march in Derry’s Bogside area.

Fourteen people were also injured, one of whom died later in hospital. The victims were all unarmed Catholics.

The detention of the ex-soldier “marked a new phase in the overall investigation which could continue for some time,” said Detective Chief Inspector Ian Harrison, the officer leading the probe.

Britain’s Ministry of Defence said it was aware that a former soldier had been arrested in connection with the investigation and that it would be inappropriate to comment further.

Aljazeera

1: 

Payouts for underpaid beneficiaries

Work and Income has paid most benefits a day late for almost 20 years and is trying to pass legislation to wipe the debt.

But beneficiaries are claiming back the extra day’s pay and, in some cases, getting it.

Benefits are meant to start the same day a stand-down period ends, usually a couple of weeks after someone first applies.

RNZ reported in September that since 1998, the government had been starting payments the day after stand-down.

Since then, advocates have been helping people claim the extra day’s pay, sending out hundreds of review forms, which are forwarded on to Work and Income.

RNZ