Ah, the news – an endless cycle of screaming, crying, and gnashing of teeth. The human brain is not equipped to deal with the constant barrage of brain melting tragedy. Luckily for you, though, our brains are already fried from unsupervised access to the internet from a young age, so let us read the news so you can get back to doing whatever it is that you do.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is escalating. At the time of writing, Ukraine reports around 4000 civilians and soldiers killed, with Russia conservatively claiming around 500 soldier deaths. Russia has also opened up the war on another front, as various international news outlets report a flurry of online dis- and misinformation about the war coming from Russia. Old videos taken out of context, photoshopped news articles, and ‘staged’ videos have been circulating on social media – and we know that the Russian government has a lot of experience in online warfare. There are also reports coming out of Ukraine that Russian troops are targeting hospitals, and journalists from around the world.
Sanctions are starting to affect those living in Russia. You can’t buy an iPhone, watch Netflix, or get a Frappuccino there anymore, and sanctions from the West are beginning to push up the cost of essentials for Russians. Locals report the price of milk, among other supermarket items, has doubled over the last few weeks. News outlet Reuters estimates that 3,000,000 Ukrainians have been displaced because of the conflict.
Back at home, the New Zealand Government has offered shelter for 4000 Ukranians in a scheme that will allow ‘Ukrainian-born New Zealand citizens and residents in New Zealand to sponsor Ukrainian family members and their immediate family.’ Applications to the scheme will be open for a year, and if successful, refugees will receive a two year visa to live, work, and go to school on our shores.
Aotearoa continues to feel the effects of the recent Omicron outbreak. While case numbers look to be decreasing, experts warn that the data may be skewed by those not reporting their RAT results, or just getting sick and dealing with it. Our already struggling health system continues to be overwhelmed with COVID-19 hospitalisations, and you only need to walk through Hamilton’s CBD to see the effects it’s having on local business. Epidemiologists warn we may not have seen the worst of the outbreak, but they’re always saying depressing shit, so take that as you will.
Despite making over $400,000,000 in ‘excess’ profits, the Commerce Commision has decided against splitting our supermarket duopoly in their final report to the Government. Personally, I was disgusted that Woolworths and Foodstuffs took advantage of being the only places allowed to open under Level 4 lockdown to make a mindblowing amount of money off an already struggling population, and am bitterly disappointed the Commerce Commission put enacting any meaningful change in the ‘too hard’ basket. New World, Countdown, and Pak’n’Save all continue to use hundreds of thousands of dollars of your money to advertise on prime time television to tell you how cheap they are, though.
The Crown is still dealing with the aftermath of the recent lockdown protests in Wellington. Among the various items thrown at Police during the conflict, including bricks which injured around 40, the lab was unable to identify the ‘stinging substance’ which was sprayed directly at three officers. Questions are now being raised around how the protest was funded, with news outlets estimating the cost of the operation to be in the hundreds of thousands. Anti-vax group, Voices For Freedom, claim on their website that they ‘intend to provide basic information on finances,’ but so far haven’t released any information on the money they are collecting from vulnerable New Zealanders. Reports are also emerging from within the protest group of those receiving donations on behalf of the group simply pocketing the money.
I know this isn’t really ‘news,’ but I’ve been following the Kim / Kanye / Skete drama pretty closely. Pete Davidson’s friend allegedly leaked a text exchange where Pete sent a selfie to Ye from Kim’s bed, and then offered to help him with his mental health. Pretty childish behaviour from Pete, but then again, Kanye’s latest music video wherein he kills and buries Davidson isn’t really the best look either. Cynics say that this latest drama is a distraction from Kim’s recent comments in Variety where she said, sounding suspicially like the National Party, that poor people should just get their ‘fucking ass up and work,’ and that ‘it seems like nobody wants to work these days.’ It’s hard to take sides when everyone is in the wrong. At least Ye is actually funny, unlike the entire cast of SNL. Kanye also seems to believe that Kim and Pete’s relationship is fake to some degree, and was orchestrated by Disney who owns new show The Kardashians on Hulu. Wouldn’t surprise me tbh.
If there’s anyone at the Tauranga campus that would like to be Nexus’ reporter on the ground there, please get in touch at news@nexusmag.co.nz. We can’t pay you, but it’ll look good on your CV (maybe). You can also send your scoops, tips, and abuse there too.
