
Scroll downtime: Teens face two-hour cap on social media apps
A two-hour cap on social media apps for teenagers is being considered by the British Government.
Peter Kyle, the Technology Secretary, suggested he was considering new limits on scroll time for young people in an attempt to tackle 'addictive' behaviour.
It comes as ministers examine a package of potential

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2 hours ago
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PSA Welcomes Mayoral Candidate's Commitment To Pay Equity
Press Release – PSA The union representing library workers at Wellington City Council welcomes mayoral candidate Andrew Little's commitment to pay equity, and encourages all local body candidates to make the same commitment. 'This is just the latest example of people across the political spectrum recognising the Government's vandalism of the Equal Pay Act as an unjust attack on women,' said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary of the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi. 'We call on the Council to fix the undervaluation it knows is there, and deliver pay equity to these workers.' 'Local body candidates around the country have the chance to do the right thing and recognise the true value library workers bring to their communities.' 'But this is no substitution for legislation that guarantees pay equity in full, with provisions for maintaining it. We will keep fighting to reverse the Government's changes.' The PSA lodged the library workers' pay equity claim with Auckland, Tauranga, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin councils in 2019. Since then, the PSA worked with the councils in good faith to reach a settlement. Library workers were one of the pay equity claims that was close to being settled before being cancelled by last month's amendments to the Equal Pay Act.


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3 hours ago
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Scientists Hit Back Over Prime Minister's 'Worthies' Insult
A British scientist says it's concerning Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has dismissed him and other climate scientists as "worthies" for raising concerns about plans to lower the country's methane emissions target. Global professor of environmental change at Oxford University Paul Behrens said the government appeared to be trying to deflect attention from questions about the country's agricultural greenhouse gases. "I think the characterisation of climate scientists as 'worthies' reflects a really concerning dismissal of evidence-based policy making," he said. "While the Prime Minister's remarks may aim to deflect criticism of New Zealand's agricultural emissions profile they overlook the clear global consensus that methane reductions are critical to limiting near term warming." Luxon denied he was dismissing science or deflecting attention from this country's farming emissions. "What a load of rubbish, my point was very clear, those scientists can write to leaders of 194 countries before they send it to me," he said. Though a decision is yet to be revealed, farming groups appear have swayed the government to reduce the current target, which is shrinking emissions somewhere between 24 and 47 per cent by 2050. Several climate experts say the country will set a dangerous precedent for Ireland and other big methane emitters if it aims too low. When 26 international climate change scientists wrote to Luxon accusing him of "ignoring scientific evidence" showing global heating caused by methane has to reduce, the prime minister said it was lovely if "worthies" wanted to write him letters but New Zealand was already managing methane emissions better than "every other country on the planet". The scientists were worried that the government might be about to adopt a target that lets heating caused by methane emissions stay the same, rather than turning down the thermostat on the country's cows and sheep. That is because the government asked a scientific panel to tell it how much methane emissions would need to drop to just level off global heating from methane, not reduce it. The answer was 14 to 24 per cent by 2050, about half the current target. The debate is whether that is enough. Federated Farmers and Beef + Lamb says yes, because methane is much shorter lived than the other main heating gases, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide. One of the members of the government's panel, climate scientist Dave Frame, said New Zealand should lower its target unless other countries commit to bigger cuts to methane from farming than they have currently. He said the planet was not on track to limit heating inside 1.5C hotter than pre-industrial times, despite countries' promises. "If the world really did cut emissions in line with what those kind of guys are talking about, then I think we should absolutely be part of it. "In the absence of that action, I think a 'no additional warming target' is a reasonable fall back position." Dr Frame said unlike more profitable dairy farming, sheep and beef farms could not absorb the cost of methane pricing. Another member of the government's panel atmospheric scientist Laura Revell said it was a tricky call for the government. "Everyone is in agreement - those on the panel, those who wrote the letter - that methane is a greenhouse gas which global action is needed to address," she said. "We know that the consequences of climate change are severe, we are seeing it already and every bit of warming we can avoid helps. "On the other hand, farming is a big part of the New Zealand economy and these emissions are associated with feeding people." The Climate Change Commission said the country should aim for a cut of at least 35 percent, because the costs and impacts of global heating are turning out worse than expected. It said there is no reasonable excuse to do less on methane, under New Zealand's climate commitments.


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3 hours ago
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Climate Legal Action Necessary Response To Govt Inaction
Press Release – NZCTU We strongly support legal action to ensure that the Government is held to account for its legal obligations under the Climate Change Response Act, said NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff. The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi welcomes the legal action taken against the Minister of Climate Change by a coalition of legal experts as an important step in ensuring that Aotearoa meets its climate action obligations. 'We strongly support legal action to ensure that the Government is held to account for its legal obligations under the Climate Change Response Act,' said NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff. 'The union movement is deeply concerned by the Emissions Reduction Plan 2026-2030, which contains no significant policies to reduce emissions and will fail to get New Zealand meaningfully closer to our 2050 net-zero commitment. 'The actions – or lack of them – by this Government on climate change are the actions of climate deniers, not responsible leaders. 'Workers and communities need real political leadership that combats global emissions and invests in creating a just transition for industries and workers. We need leadership that develops and upholds long term consensus, not more U-turns. 'Instead, we have a government that cancelled 35 climate policies without consulting the public first, as required by law. Robust public engagement is essential. 'Climate policy is yet another area where this Government is prioritising corporate interests over democratic accountability and the interests of working people. 'Evidence is clear that a near-total focus on tree planting through vast pine forests is not a sufficient response – we must reduce emissions at source. 'Alongside the weak emissions budget, in Budget 2025 we saw a total abdication of responsibility on climate change and ensuring a Just Transition for working people in an increasingly volatile world. 'The NZCTU supports bold climate action to reduce emissions, adapt to the changing climate, and transition to a zero emissions economy that provides full employment for workers,' said Wagstaff.