Everything you need to know about the world today, curated by 95bFM and VICE NZ.Lorde Wins Big at Music Awards
Lorde cleaned up at the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards last night, walking away with six Tuis. As well as securing 'Album of the Year' and 'Single of the Year', the 21-year old was recognised with the International Achievement Award for the fourth time. Lorde delivered a performance backed by a 20-person choir and confetti cannons. Vocal show by hip-hop group SWIDT was another highlight of the night, with the Onehunga rappers taking home awards for 'Best Group' and 'Best Hip Hop Artist'.Ocean Protection Put on Backburner by Labour
Technology used to monitor fishing vessels around wildlife habitats has been put on hold by the government. The decision by Labour has sparked controversy around the protection of marine wildlife, especially the endangered Maui and Hector whales. 95bFM spoke with Sea Shepherd NZ Coordinator Michael Lawry, who says the government will need to take extra action to save the endangered wildlife. Lawry says “there has to be a culture change in the whole of the fishing industry and the alliance between National party and Sandford has been unhelpful over the years…[it’s] basically abuse of our inshore oceans.” Prior to the New Zealand election, the Greens mpromised to protect the endangered whales.Healthy Homes Bill Scheduled
The government's Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill is penciled in for July 2019. Yesterday Phil Twyford, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, opened the committee for final debate and consultation. The bill aims to combat the rising number of New Zealanders facing health issues as a result of damp, poorly insulated homes. Associate Minister for Housing, Jenny Salesa, told 95bFM that poor living conditions are directly affecting lives: “Over 1600 people, in New Zealand, their lives are cut short because the kinds of houses they are living in are cold and damp”. Salesa added that landlords will have a five year window to reach the 2019 standards.Auckland House Prices Still Going Up
Auckland home owners may not be impressed with their next rates bill, after recent ratings evaluations showed a steep rise in house prices. The Auckland Council evaluation shows a 45 percent increase with the average Auckland house price now sitting at $1.076 million. No changes to rates will be finalised until June next year, but traditionally cheaper suburbs have tended to see a sharper rise in price than the city-wide average. Ratepayers can find out on Monday how their property has performed in the re-evaluations.Supplies Cut From Manus Island
Police in Papua New Guinea are hoping that cutting the supply of water, electricity and food on Manus Island forces the refugees occupying the now shut-down detention centre to move elsewhere. Manus Island police commander David Yapu says that physically forcing the refugees to move had been ruled out as an option. Police say 180 refugees have left the centre for three other facilities on the island while approximately 400 men remain at the centre. Those remaining refugees are getting sick from drinking dirty water.Mugabe Said to Refuse to Step Down
Following a military takeover of his country, VICE News reports the Zimbabwean president is not willing to resign, according to a senior official. Catholic priest Fidelis Mukonori is reportedly acting as a mediator between the military and Mugabe, who remains detained at home. A spokesperson for opposition figurehead Morgan Tsvangirai said he had returned to Zimbabwe Wednesday, having been overseas for cancer treatment.Big Win for Tongan Democratic Party
The Tongan Democratic Party led by Akilisi Pohiva has been backed by a landslide in the snap election, winning 14 of the 17 constituencies. Pohiva has been fighting to win back his role as Prime Minister after the Tongan King dissolved parliament last August citing concerns the government was acting unconstitutionally. Pohiva, the longest serving MP, received over 1,000 more votes than his opposition for the Tongatapu seat, with all but three candidates from the rest of the party also winning their respective seats. The next few weeks will see the formation of the government and the election of a prime minister.Cambodian Supreme Court Outlaws Opposition Party
The court banned the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), the primary opposition to the country’s ruling party. Leading CNRP figure Mu Sochua told BBC News it was “the end of true democracy in Cambodia.” The party had been accused of a plan to overthrow the government.France Tries to Ease Lebanese Political Crisis
French President Emmanuel Macron invited Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri and his family to France, but insisted he was not offering “exile,” The New York Times reports. Hariri has been in Saudi Arabia since announcing his resignation earlier this month. Lebanon’s Iran-tied Hezbollah movement has accused the Saudis of holding Hariri hostage.Suicide Bomb Attack Leaves a Dozen Dead in Nigeria
Four suicide bombers detonated explosive devices in the city of Maiduguri Wednesday night, killing 12 others. State authorities told AFP another 22 people were hospitalized with injuries. No group claimed responsibility for the attack, but Boko Haram militants have carried out similar coordinated attacks in recent years.Reporting by Reuben McLaren, Kelly Enright, Jean Bell
LOCAL NEWS
Lorde cleaned up at the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards last night, walking away with six Tuis. As well as securing 'Album of the Year' and 'Single of the Year', the 21-year old was recognised with the International Achievement Award for the fourth time. Lorde delivered a performance backed by a 20-person choir and confetti cannons. Vocal show by hip-hop group SWIDT was another highlight of the night, with the Onehunga rappers taking home awards for 'Best Group' and 'Best Hip Hop Artist'.Ocean Protection Put on Backburner by Labour
Technology used to monitor fishing vessels around wildlife habitats has been put on hold by the government. The decision by Labour has sparked controversy around the protection of marine wildlife, especially the endangered Maui and Hector whales. 95bFM spoke with Sea Shepherd NZ Coordinator Michael Lawry, who says the government will need to take extra action to save the endangered wildlife. Lawry says “there has to be a culture change in the whole of the fishing industry and the alliance between National party and Sandford has been unhelpful over the years…[it’s] basically abuse of our inshore oceans.” Prior to the New Zealand election, the Greens mpromised to protect the endangered whales.
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The government's Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill is penciled in for July 2019. Yesterday Phil Twyford, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, opened the committee for final debate and consultation. The bill aims to combat the rising number of New Zealanders facing health issues as a result of damp, poorly insulated homes. Associate Minister for Housing, Jenny Salesa, told 95bFM that poor living conditions are directly affecting lives: “Over 1600 people, in New Zealand, their lives are cut short because the kinds of houses they are living in are cold and damp”. Salesa added that landlords will have a five year window to reach the 2019 standards.Auckland House Prices Still Going Up
Auckland home owners may not be impressed with their next rates bill, after recent ratings evaluations showed a steep rise in house prices. The Auckland Council evaluation shows a 45 percent increase with the average Auckland house price now sitting at $1.076 million. No changes to rates will be finalised until June next year, but traditionally cheaper suburbs have tended to see a sharper rise in price than the city-wide average. Ratepayers can find out on Monday how their property has performed in the re-evaluations.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Police in Papua New Guinea are hoping that cutting the supply of water, electricity and food on Manus Island forces the refugees occupying the now shut-down detention centre to move elsewhere. Manus Island police commander David Yapu says that physically forcing the refugees to move had been ruled out as an option. Police say 180 refugees have left the centre for three other facilities on the island while approximately 400 men remain at the centre. Those remaining refugees are getting sick from drinking dirty water.Mugabe Said to Refuse to Step Down
Following a military takeover of his country, VICE News reports the Zimbabwean president is not willing to resign, according to a senior official. Catholic priest Fidelis Mukonori is reportedly acting as a mediator between the military and Mugabe, who remains detained at home. A spokesperson for opposition figurehead Morgan Tsvangirai said he had returned to Zimbabwe Wednesday, having been overseas for cancer treatment.
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The Tongan Democratic Party led by Akilisi Pohiva has been backed by a landslide in the snap election, winning 14 of the 17 constituencies. Pohiva has been fighting to win back his role as Prime Minister after the Tongan King dissolved parliament last August citing concerns the government was acting unconstitutionally. Pohiva, the longest serving MP, received over 1,000 more votes than his opposition for the Tongatapu seat, with all but three candidates from the rest of the party also winning their respective seats. The next few weeks will see the formation of the government and the election of a prime minister.Cambodian Supreme Court Outlaws Opposition Party
The court banned the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), the primary opposition to the country’s ruling party. Leading CNRP figure Mu Sochua told BBC News it was “the end of true democracy in Cambodia.” The party had been accused of a plan to overthrow the government.France Tries to Ease Lebanese Political Crisis
French President Emmanuel Macron invited Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri and his family to France, but insisted he was not offering “exile,” The New York Times reports. Hariri has been in Saudi Arabia since announcing his resignation earlier this month. Lebanon’s Iran-tied Hezbollah movement has accused the Saudis of holding Hariri hostage.Suicide Bomb Attack Leaves a Dozen Dead in Nigeria
Four suicide bombers detonated explosive devices in the city of Maiduguri Wednesday night, killing 12 others. State authorities told AFP another 22 people were hospitalized with injuries. No group claimed responsibility for the attack, but Boko Haram militants have carried out similar coordinated attacks in recent years.Reporting by Reuben McLaren, Kelly Enright, Jean Bell