Everything you need to know about the world today, curated by 95bFM and VICE NZ.Jacinda Ardern is in Hospital for the Birth of Her Baby
In breaking news this morning,Jacinda Ardern has gone into labour with her first child and been admitted to hospital, the office of the Prime Minister has announced. Ardern is currently at Auckland City Hospital, alongside her partner Clarke Gayford. Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters has now officially taken up the reins as Acting Prime Minister. If Ardern's baby is born today, it will share its birthday with a number of famous political faces, including Prince William, Indonesian President Joko Widodo and, in a nice coincidence, former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto who was the first head of government to give birth while in office.Bike Auckland Labels Transport Development Plan a ‘Missed Opportunity’
Cycling advocacy group Bike Auckland has labelled Auckland's Regional Transport Development Plan a missed opportunity. The plan currently details how $16.5 billion will be spent on improving Auckland's transport infrastructure. While cycleways and walkways are expected to receive some funding, Bike Auckland member Barbara Cuthbert told RNZ that the plan did not do enough. "[The council] need to look up and realise what Aucklanders want," Cuthbert said, "Aucklanders are telling them very loudly and clearly: [we] don't want more investment in roads, because roads haven't solved Auckland's problems”. The 10 year plan has yet to receive the final go-ahead from Auckland Council.NZ Politicians Divided Over Trump’s Separation Policy
National and the Green party have both condemned US President Donald Trump's decision to separate migrant children from their families. Both parties have called Trump's separation policy inhumane, with the Greens even asking the New Zealand government to condemn it. While Winston Peters said Trump's actions were concerning, he was not willing to condemn the US over internal affairs. Since Peters' statement was issued, Trump has announced that he will be ending his separation policy. It is believed that Trump's decision may have been influenced by the massive public and political backlash the policy generated in the United States.David Seymour Wants to Axe Almost All Our Country’s Public Holidays
If David Seymour had his way, he would axe almost all public holidays. The ACT Party leader said people should be able to decide when they go on holiday and don't need the government telling us when to take the day off. Seymour wants to get rid of the Queen's Birthday, Easter and even Christmas. He said people should be able to celebrate religious holidays whenever they like. However, he would still keep ANZAC and Waitangi Day, because that is one thing that all New Zealanders have in common.Obesity Rates in School Children Continuing to Rise
A new report from the Healthy Auckland Together coalition shows while obesity rates for those under five have decreased for the third year in a row, obesity rates in primary and secondary school children are increasing. The report reveals that since 2012, the proportion of obese and overweight children in Auckland has increased from 28 percent to 39 percent. Sarah Gerritson, a researcher at the University of Auckland's School of Population Health, says childhood obesity is concerning—not just for health reasons but also for a child's education. “We know that children who experience overweight and obesity are more likely to have educational difficulties,” she says, “they find it hard to participate [knowing] they're gonna be stigmatised”.Tolaga Bay Residents Seek Answers After Floods
Tolaga Bay residents are seeking answers after recent floods caused forestry debris to block rivers and damage farms. More than 100 residents turned up to a panel held by the Gisborne District Council. Residents wanted to know how long clean up would take, where the cleared debris would be stored, and what the council was doing to prevent similar incidents in the future. The council said they were investigating who was responsible for the damage caused by forestry debris. In the meantime, it was expected that forestry companies would come up with solutions as to how to clear and store the debris. Last week it was revealed that the council had been warned seven months prior that forestry debris would cause damage in heavy floods, but had chosen not to take any precautions against it.Trump Promises End to Separating Families
US President Donald Trump has promised to end his controversial policy of separating undocumented child migrants from their families. Trump told reporters at the White House that he would be "signing something in a little while" that would "keep families together". The policy was introduced after the United States began criminally prosecuting all illegal migrants crossing the US-Mexico border. Since children cannot be jailed in the same facilities as their parents, they were placed in separate facilities. It is estimated that 2342 children were separated from their parents since May 5.Hungarian Government Criminalises Helping Undocumented Migrants
Hungary's government has just passed a law which criminalises any group or person that offers help to undocumented migrants. Any person or group who helps illegal immigrants get status to stay in Hungary will be liable to imprisonment, under the new law called Stop Soros. Interior Minister Sandor Pinter said they want to use more bills to stop Hungary from becoming a country of immigrants. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has called migrants a threat to Europe's Christian civilisation. A border fence has been built along Hungary's southern border to deter migrants from coming.Solomon Island hospital Tells Patients to Bring their Own Medical Supplies
Pregnant women in the Solomon Islands are told to bring their own maternity supplies to the hospital to give birth. The women in labour are being told to bring their own gauze, bedsheets and latex gloves. Patients are being forced to lie on the floor in corridors because of a lack of beds available. Doctors are also using expired drugs on patients, as they experience shortages in supplies at the hospital. Last month, hospital executives blamed the drug shortage on a change to the administrative process.Get Impregnated by Football Players in Return for Free Whoppers
Fast food giant Burger King is in hot water after an offensive advertising campaign in Russia which encouraged women to get impregnated by a World Cup player in return for burgers and money. The prize up for grabs was US$47,000 and a lifetime supply of free Whoppers if any women could achieve the feat. The campaign was promoted by the burger chain on VK—Russia's equivalent of Facebook—before being pulled down after an unsurprisingly negative backlash from the public. Burger King Russia have since issued a short apology on social media, saying they have removed all material relating to the competition as it was 'insulting'.Yemeni Prisoners Sexually Assaulted by UAE Security Forces
Hundreds of prisoners have been sexually abused at a jail in Southern Yemen, which run by the United Arab Emirates. Details of the torture and abuse of prisoners was exposed by Associated Press last year and since then at least five prisons have been identified where security forces have used sexual torture against prisoners. American officials have acknowledged their US forces received intelligence from their UAE partners, who participated in the interrogations in Yemen. A Pentagon spokesperson said they would need a credible report on the allegations to substantiate the allegations. The Yemeni government said they have no control over the UAE-run prisons and have ordered an investigation of the allegations of torture..Additional reporting by Daniel Meech, Stewart Sowman-Lund, Darashpreet Johal
LOCAL NEWS
In breaking news this morning,Jacinda Ardern has gone into labour with her first child and been admitted to hospital, the office of the Prime Minister has announced. Ardern is currently at Auckland City Hospital, alongside her partner Clarke Gayford. Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters has now officially taken up the reins as Acting Prime Minister. If Ardern's baby is born today, it will share its birthday with a number of famous political faces, including Prince William, Indonesian President Joko Widodo and, in a nice coincidence, former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto who was the first head of government to give birth while in office.Bike Auckland Labels Transport Development Plan a ‘Missed Opportunity’
Cycling advocacy group Bike Auckland has labelled Auckland's Regional Transport Development Plan a missed opportunity. The plan currently details how $16.5 billion will be spent on improving Auckland's transport infrastructure. While cycleways and walkways are expected to receive some funding, Bike Auckland member Barbara Cuthbert told RNZ that the plan did not do enough. "[The council] need to look up and realise what Aucklanders want," Cuthbert said, "Aucklanders are telling them very loudly and clearly: [we] don't want more investment in roads, because roads haven't solved Auckland's problems”. The 10 year plan has yet to receive the final go-ahead from Auckland Council.
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National and the Green party have both condemned US President Donald Trump's decision to separate migrant children from their families. Both parties have called Trump's separation policy inhumane, with the Greens even asking the New Zealand government to condemn it. While Winston Peters said Trump's actions were concerning, he was not willing to condemn the US over internal affairs. Since Peters' statement was issued, Trump has announced that he will be ending his separation policy. It is believed that Trump's decision may have been influenced by the massive public and political backlash the policy generated in the United States.David Seymour Wants to Axe Almost All Our Country’s Public Holidays
If David Seymour had his way, he would axe almost all public holidays. The ACT Party leader said people should be able to decide when they go on holiday and don't need the government telling us when to take the day off. Seymour wants to get rid of the Queen's Birthday, Easter and even Christmas. He said people should be able to celebrate religious holidays whenever they like. However, he would still keep ANZAC and Waitangi Day, because that is one thing that all New Zealanders have in common.Obesity Rates in School Children Continuing to Rise
A new report from the Healthy Auckland Together coalition shows while obesity rates for those under five have decreased for the third year in a row, obesity rates in primary and secondary school children are increasing. The report reveals that since 2012, the proportion of obese and overweight children in Auckland has increased from 28 percent to 39 percent. Sarah Gerritson, a researcher at the University of Auckland's School of Population Health, says childhood obesity is concerning—not just for health reasons but also for a child's education. “We know that children who experience overweight and obesity are more likely to have educational difficulties,” she says, “they find it hard to participate [knowing] they're gonna be stigmatised”.
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Tolaga Bay residents are seeking answers after recent floods caused forestry debris to block rivers and damage farms. More than 100 residents turned up to a panel held by the Gisborne District Council. Residents wanted to know how long clean up would take, where the cleared debris would be stored, and what the council was doing to prevent similar incidents in the future. The council said they were investigating who was responsible for the damage caused by forestry debris. In the meantime, it was expected that forestry companies would come up with solutions as to how to clear and store the debris. Last week it was revealed that the council had been warned seven months prior that forestry debris would cause damage in heavy floods, but had chosen not to take any precautions against it.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
US President Donald Trump has promised to end his controversial policy of separating undocumented child migrants from their families. Trump told reporters at the White House that he would be "signing something in a little while" that would "keep families together". The policy was introduced after the United States began criminally prosecuting all illegal migrants crossing the US-Mexico border. Since children cannot be jailed in the same facilities as their parents, they were placed in separate facilities. It is estimated that 2342 children were separated from their parents since May 5.Hungarian Government Criminalises Helping Undocumented Migrants
Hungary's government has just passed a law which criminalises any group or person that offers help to undocumented migrants. Any person or group who helps illegal immigrants get status to stay in Hungary will be liable to imprisonment, under the new law called Stop Soros. Interior Minister Sandor Pinter said they want to use more bills to stop Hungary from becoming a country of immigrants. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has called migrants a threat to Europe's Christian civilisation. A border fence has been built along Hungary's southern border to deter migrants from coming.Solomon Island hospital Tells Patients to Bring their Own Medical Supplies
Pregnant women in the Solomon Islands are told to bring their own maternity supplies to the hospital to give birth. The women in labour are being told to bring their own gauze, bedsheets and latex gloves. Patients are being forced to lie on the floor in corridors because of a lack of beds available. Doctors are also using expired drugs on patients, as they experience shortages in supplies at the hospital. Last month, hospital executives blamed the drug shortage on a change to the administrative process.Get Impregnated by Football Players in Return for Free Whoppers
Fast food giant Burger King is in hot water after an offensive advertising campaign in Russia which encouraged women to get impregnated by a World Cup player in return for burgers and money. The prize up for grabs was US$47,000 and a lifetime supply of free Whoppers if any women could achieve the feat. The campaign was promoted by the burger chain on VK—Russia's equivalent of Facebook—before being pulled down after an unsurprisingly negative backlash from the public. Burger King Russia have since issued a short apology on social media, saying they have removed all material relating to the competition as it was 'insulting'.Yemeni Prisoners Sexually Assaulted by UAE Security Forces
Hundreds of prisoners have been sexually abused at a jail in Southern Yemen, which run by the United Arab Emirates. Details of the torture and abuse of prisoners was exposed by Associated Press last year and since then at least five prisons have been identified where security forces have used sexual torture against prisoners. American officials have acknowledged their US forces received intelligence from their UAE partners, who participated in the interrogations in Yemen. A Pentagon spokesperson said they would need a credible report on the allegations to substantiate the allegations. The Yemeni government said they have no control over the UAE-run prisons and have ordered an investigation of the allegations of torture..Additional reporting by Daniel Meech, Stewart Sowman-Lund, Darashpreet Johal