Image: Shutterstock
Everything you need to know about the world today, curated by 95bFM and VICE NZ.Trans Pacific Partnership Talks Continue
The new government is set to renegotiate the country's position in the TPP. The Trans Pacific Partnership is a trade agreement between the 12 APEC countries. The next round of discussions will be held in Vietnam next month. One potential area of contention is NZ First's stance on limiting overseas investment. Incoming Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said while the new government will support export growth, she would not go into detail about the new negotiations. Outgoing Trade Minister, Todd McClay warned the new government that they should proceed with talks cautiously, so as to not weaken already strong relations with other APEC countries. Earlier this year, the US withdrew from the TPP, and New Zealand then took the reins for the talks.Caltex Station Owner Forced to Pay $125k in Underpaid Wages
A petrol station owner is being forced to pay more than $125,000 to 232 former and current staff, having failed to pay them minimum wage and the correct holiday pay over the past six years. Dipak Bargia, the director of the six companies who own the stations, cited the automatic payroll systems as failing to calculate the correct holiday wages. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is using this incident as a warning to other large franchise owners, to check that their workers are being paid correctly. In the past year, the Labour Inspectorate has issued penalties amounting to nearly $580,000. Regional Manager Loua Ward said it was disappointing that a high profile organisation had failed in this area, as the incident could influence consumers' purchasing decisions.Jacinda Ardern Officially Prime Minister Today
Jacinda Ardern will be officially sworn in as prime minister today. Ardern released her cabinet line-up yesterday in her first major speech as coalition leader. Amongst those in cabinet is Kelvin Davis as Minister for the Crown and Māori Relations and the Associate Minister of Education, the Greens' Julie Anne Genter is the Minister for Women and Winston Peters as Minister for Foreign Affairs. In a video posted on social media yesterday, National leader Bill English thanked voters for their support and said it was a privilege to be the prime minister.Poverty Action Group Says It's Sanctions on Solo Mother Beneficiaries Gone
Auckland Action Against Poverty is advocating for the removal of sanctions on solo-mothers. These sanctions prevent solo-mothers who choose not to name the father of the child from accessing certain benefits. The new Labour-led government has said it will make changes to the welfare system, however AAAP believe major changes will need to be made. Spokesperson for the organisation Vanessa Cole says removing sanctions removes conditions for single mothers. Cole spoke with 95bFM News and said "these policies are people's rights, and it removes the stigma around it, when we had more progressive universal policies it was accepted that it was ok for people to be able to get access to housing and get access to an adequate income". Auckland Action Against Poverty challenges Labour to step up to make a real commitment in order to improve the lives of beneficiaries.Kurdish Authority Willing to Hold Off on Separation
The Kurdish Regional Government has suggested a "freeze" on the results of a recent referendum in favour of independence, expressing openness to an immediate ceasefire and talks. Iraqi troops have clashed with Kurdish forces in Kirkuk following the disputed vote.Chinese President Offers No Hint of Successor
Xi Jinping has announced the new members of the politburo's standing committee, his six closest deputies. But none are his heir apparent, as all six men are in their 60s, and Jinping is expected to be in power until at least 2022.Kenya Set to Hold Reelection
The head of the country's Supreme Court said it lacked enough judges to hear a case urging a delay in Thursday's election. Deputy chief justice Philomena Mwilu could not attend the hearing because her bodyguard was shot and hospitalised. The opposition is refusing to take part in the election replay, claiming the August vote was subject to corruption.North Korean University Facing Faculty Shortage
The Pyongyang University of Science and Technology is making "vigorous" efforts to recruit international academics now that US travel restrictions have left the institution without enough lecturers. Prior to the ban, roughly 60 members of the 130-person faculty at the English-language university were from the US.Reporting by Katie Doyle, Lillian Hanly, Darashpreet Johal, Jenn Tamati & Leah Garcia-Purves.
LOCAL NEWS
The new government is set to renegotiate the country's position in the TPP. The Trans Pacific Partnership is a trade agreement between the 12 APEC countries. The next round of discussions will be held in Vietnam next month. One potential area of contention is NZ First's stance on limiting overseas investment. Incoming Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said while the new government will support export growth, she would not go into detail about the new negotiations. Outgoing Trade Minister, Todd McClay warned the new government that they should proceed with talks cautiously, so as to not weaken already strong relations with other APEC countries. Earlier this year, the US withdrew from the TPP, and New Zealand then took the reins for the talks.Caltex Station Owner Forced to Pay $125k in Underpaid Wages
A petrol station owner is being forced to pay more than $125,000 to 232 former and current staff, having failed to pay them minimum wage and the correct holiday pay over the past six years. Dipak Bargia, the director of the six companies who own the stations, cited the automatic payroll systems as failing to calculate the correct holiday wages. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is using this incident as a warning to other large franchise owners, to check that their workers are being paid correctly. In the past year, the Labour Inspectorate has issued penalties amounting to nearly $580,000. Regional Manager Loua Ward said it was disappointing that a high profile organisation had failed in this area, as the incident could influence consumers' purchasing decisions.
Advertisement
Jacinda Ardern will be officially sworn in as prime minister today. Ardern released her cabinet line-up yesterday in her first major speech as coalition leader. Amongst those in cabinet is Kelvin Davis as Minister for the Crown and Māori Relations and the Associate Minister of Education, the Greens' Julie Anne Genter is the Minister for Women and Winston Peters as Minister for Foreign Affairs. In a video posted on social media yesterday, National leader Bill English thanked voters for their support and said it was a privilege to be the prime minister.Poverty Action Group Says It's Sanctions on Solo Mother Beneficiaries Gone
Auckland Action Against Poverty is advocating for the removal of sanctions on solo-mothers. These sanctions prevent solo-mothers who choose not to name the father of the child from accessing certain benefits. The new Labour-led government has said it will make changes to the welfare system, however AAAP believe major changes will need to be made. Spokesperson for the organisation Vanessa Cole says removing sanctions removes conditions for single mothers. Cole spoke with 95bFM News and said "these policies are people's rights, and it removes the stigma around it, when we had more progressive universal policies it was accepted that it was ok for people to be able to get access to housing and get access to an adequate income". Auckland Action Against Poverty challenges Labour to step up to make a real commitment in order to improve the lives of beneficiaries.
Advertisement
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
The Kurdish Regional Government has suggested a "freeze" on the results of a recent referendum in favour of independence, expressing openness to an immediate ceasefire and talks. Iraqi troops have clashed with Kurdish forces in Kirkuk following the disputed vote.Chinese President Offers No Hint of Successor
Xi Jinping has announced the new members of the politburo's standing committee, his six closest deputies. But none are his heir apparent, as all six men are in their 60s, and Jinping is expected to be in power until at least 2022.Kenya Set to Hold Reelection
The head of the country's Supreme Court said it lacked enough judges to hear a case urging a delay in Thursday's election. Deputy chief justice Philomena Mwilu could not attend the hearing because her bodyguard was shot and hospitalised. The opposition is refusing to take part in the election replay, claiming the August vote was subject to corruption.North Korean University Facing Faculty Shortage
The Pyongyang University of Science and Technology is making "vigorous" efforts to recruit international academics now that US travel restrictions have left the institution without enough lecturers. Prior to the ban, roughly 60 members of the 130-person faculty at the English-language university were from the US.Reporting by Katie Doyle, Lillian Hanly, Darashpreet Johal, Jenn Tamati & Leah Garcia-Purves.