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Everything you need to know about the world today, curated by 95bFM and VICE NZ.Call for Plastic Bag Ban in NZ
Environmentalists are calling for New Zealand to join the growing list of Pacific nations banning single-use plastic bags. Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, and some Australian and Indian states have already announced bans while Samoa is looking to introduce a ban at the beginning of next year. Zero-Waste New Zealand Director Jo Knight said that the New Zealand government needs to get on board with this movement. Knight explains that single-use plastic is everywhere. "You can walk down the beach and see it," she said.Te Reo on the Train
The main safety announcement on Auckland's train services will be read in both English and Te Reo as of today. Eventually, all train transport announcements will be in made in both languages. Auckland Transport Minister Jon Reeves said it “could help Te Reo speakers learn a thing or two". Auckland Transport is also looking into the possibility of adding other languages that represent the diversity of Auckland.KiwiBuild Looks at Prefab Houses
Housing Minister Phil Twyford says prefab manufacturing would be a game-changer for New Zealand housing. Twyford announced the government will invite expressions of interest from companies to build Kiwibuild homes in offsite factories. The Minister says manufacturing houses this way could "allow us to build Kiwibuild homes at scale and pace". National Urban and Housing development spokesperson Judith Collins said the Minister has created confusion when it comes to Kiwibuild. Collins says Twyford cannot answer simple questions about the plan, such as how it will be funded and where the houses will be built.NZ Membership for Polynesian Leaders' Group
Polynesian Leaders Group is considering membership applications from Rapanui, Hawaii and New Zealand. The Polynesian Leaders Group are currently meeting in Tuvalu to discuss new membership and review a draft charter for the group. The group was brought together in 2011 to maintain and protect the importance of cultures, traditions and languages.Promoting Malborough for Films
The Marlborough District Council plans to spend seventy thousand dollars on promoting the region as a film destination. The council will work with Screen Wellington to increase film production in the region. Economic development manager Neil Henry says, "we'll essentially be using existing resources to help filmmakers look to shoot in the region". Hollywood film The Light between the Oceans was partly filmed in Cape Campbell, bringing an estimated four million to the local economy.Turkey Election Results Being Counted
Early results in the Turkey election show the country's long-standing leader, Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the lead. With 62 percent of the votes counted Erdogan has 56 percent of the vote, while his closest competition, Muharrem Ince is on 29 percent. Erdogan needs more than half of the overall vote to win his second term as President. Turkey is also voting for members of Parliament and Erdogan's party is in the lead with half percent of the votes counted.Female Driving Ban Lifted in Saudi Arabia
A decade-old ban that prevented women from driving in Saudi Arabia has now been lifted. The change was issued last September and the first driving license was issued earlier this month. The ban lift is seen as a minor change in Saudi women's rights, as women are still restricted in travel, work or access to healthcare without the approval from a male guardian. Saudi Arabia was the only country where women were not allowed to drive.Zimbabwe Pre-election BombingAn explosion blasted through an election campaign event at White City Stadium in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. The bomb was targeted at President Emmerson Mnangagwa, and the other politicians accompanying him. The Zanu PF leader was not injured but several others were, including the vice-president, the environmental minister and deputy speaker of parliament. The first Zimbabwe election without Mugabe as a candidate since 1980 is still expected to go ahead on the 30th of July.Weibo Bans John Oliver
Chinese social network site Weibo has censored content related to comedian John Oliver, after he ran a segment satirising Chinese president Xi Jinping on Last Week Tonight. In the segment, John Oliver said, “Uncle Xi: less like your fun uncle and more like your creepy uncle who imprisons 300,000 people in his basement.” Weibo is described as China's version of Twitter, with 340 million active monthly users.Brexit Protesters Rally in London
Tens of thousands of anti-Brexit protesters rallied in Central London in the biggest protest since the UK voted to leave the European Union two years ago. The protest was organised by People’s Vote on the second anniversary of the UK's vote to depart the EU in 2016. The organisers said, "Whatever your opinion of Brexit, no one would disagree that it is a big deal, not a done deal". Britain and the European Union reached a preliminary agreement on terms of the exit last December, but plenty of work still needs to be done before the split.Additional reporting by Jemima Huston and Damian Rowe
LOCAL
Environmentalists are calling for New Zealand to join the growing list of Pacific nations banning single-use plastic bags. Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, and some Australian and Indian states have already announced bans while Samoa is looking to introduce a ban at the beginning of next year. Zero-Waste New Zealand Director Jo Knight said that the New Zealand government needs to get on board with this movement. Knight explains that single-use plastic is everywhere. "You can walk down the beach and see it," she said.Te Reo on the Train
The main safety announcement on Auckland's train services will be read in both English and Te Reo as of today. Eventually, all train transport announcements will be in made in both languages. Auckland Transport Minister Jon Reeves said it “could help Te Reo speakers learn a thing or two". Auckland Transport is also looking into the possibility of adding other languages that represent the diversity of Auckland.
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Housing Minister Phil Twyford says prefab manufacturing would be a game-changer for New Zealand housing. Twyford announced the government will invite expressions of interest from companies to build Kiwibuild homes in offsite factories. The Minister says manufacturing houses this way could "allow us to build Kiwibuild homes at scale and pace". National Urban and Housing development spokesperson Judith Collins said the Minister has created confusion when it comes to Kiwibuild. Collins says Twyford cannot answer simple questions about the plan, such as how it will be funded and where the houses will be built.NZ Membership for Polynesian Leaders' Group
Polynesian Leaders Group is considering membership applications from Rapanui, Hawaii and New Zealand. The Polynesian Leaders Group are currently meeting in Tuvalu to discuss new membership and review a draft charter for the group. The group was brought together in 2011 to maintain and protect the importance of cultures, traditions and languages.Promoting Malborough for Films
The Marlborough District Council plans to spend seventy thousand dollars on promoting the region as a film destination. The council will work with Screen Wellington to increase film production in the region. Economic development manager Neil Henry says, "we'll essentially be using existing resources to help filmmakers look to shoot in the region". Hollywood film The Light between the Oceans was partly filmed in Cape Campbell, bringing an estimated four million to the local economy.
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INTERNATIONAL
Early results in the Turkey election show the country's long-standing leader, Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the lead. With 62 percent of the votes counted Erdogan has 56 percent of the vote, while his closest competition, Muharrem Ince is on 29 percent. Erdogan needs more than half of the overall vote to win his second term as President. Turkey is also voting for members of Parliament and Erdogan's party is in the lead with half percent of the votes counted.Female Driving Ban Lifted in Saudi Arabia
A decade-old ban that prevented women from driving in Saudi Arabia has now been lifted. The change was issued last September and the first driving license was issued earlier this month. The ban lift is seen as a minor change in Saudi women's rights, as women are still restricted in travel, work or access to healthcare without the approval from a male guardian. Saudi Arabia was the only country where women were not allowed to drive.Zimbabwe Pre-election BombingAn explosion blasted through an election campaign event at White City Stadium in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. The bomb was targeted at President Emmerson Mnangagwa, and the other politicians accompanying him. The Zanu PF leader was not injured but several others were, including the vice-president, the environmental minister and deputy speaker of parliament. The first Zimbabwe election without Mugabe as a candidate since 1980 is still expected to go ahead on the 30th of July.Weibo Bans John Oliver
Chinese social network site Weibo has censored content related to comedian John Oliver, after he ran a segment satirising Chinese president Xi Jinping on Last Week Tonight. In the segment, John Oliver said, “Uncle Xi: less like your fun uncle and more like your creepy uncle who imprisons 300,000 people in his basement.” Weibo is described as China's version of Twitter, with 340 million active monthly users.Brexit Protesters Rally in London
Tens of thousands of anti-Brexit protesters rallied in Central London in the biggest protest since the UK voted to leave the European Union two years ago. The protest was organised by People’s Vote on the second anniversary of the UK's vote to depart the EU in 2016. The organisers said, "Whatever your opinion of Brexit, no one would disagree that it is a big deal, not a done deal". Britain and the European Union reached a preliminary agreement on terms of the exit last December, but plenty of work still needs to be done before the split.Additional reporting by Jemima Huston and Damian Rowe