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Everything you need to know about the world this morning curated by 95bFM and VICE NZ.Long Hot Summer Ahead
New Zealand looks set for a hot, dry summer. Climate research body NIWA is predicting less rain and high temperatures overall, as part of a La Nina weather pattern. Average water temperatures on the east coast of New Zealand would be warmer than usual in the next three months, they said. For the North Island, this summer could bring more humid days than usual, and rain would be more focused on coastal areas.Ardern Ranked 13th Most Powerful Woman
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is ranked as the 13th most powerful woman in politics on the Forbes power-list. Ardern was sworn in as the prime minister just last week, placing higher than former US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Forbes noted Ardern rose to power "on a tide of excited voters dubbed 'Jacindamania'. German Chancellor Angela Merkel tops the list for the seventh consecutive year, with former first lady Michelle Obama dropping off the list since she left the white house last year. New entry US president Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka, entered the list at number 19 as the senior advisor to the White House.Streaking Dio Girl Runs Over High School Boy on Her BikeA boy from Hamilton High School has suffered moderate injuries after being run over by a girl doing the traditional end of year undie-run. According to the Herald, the girl rode a bike through the boys' school wearing just underwear and shoes at lunchtime yesterday, as part of New Zealand's age-old end of year streaking tradition. She is understood to have run over a pupil's leg. The boy suffered minor injuries, and was taken to hospital.No Sign Yet of Ardern's Abortion Promise
Jacinda Ardern's commitment to remove abortion from the Crimes Act does not appear to be in Labour's 100 day plan. She had promised a vote on removing abortion from the Crimes Act during election debates. Justice Minister Andrew Little said Labour was still committed to changing the law, and would continue to work with their coalition partners on it, but no legislative action would take place until next year. The Green Party is also for removing abortion from the Crimes Act, with NZ First wanting to hold a nationwide binding referendum. Abortion is typically treated as a conscience vote, so politicians don't have to vote along party lines. National Party leader Bill English, a practicing Catholic, is against abortion and is not in favour of the potential changes to the law. Currently, a woman can only have an abortion if two medical consultants agree the pregnancy will harm the woman's mental or physical health.Robert Mugabe Wants to Restore the Death Penalty
Zimbabwe's president is in favour of bringing back the death penalty in response to the rising murder rates. No one has been executed in the country since 2005, however capital punishment is still part of the statute in Zimbabwe. Human rights groups have called out Zimbabwe to permanently abolish capital punishment. Only last month it was announced that more 50 applications from both men and women had been received wanting to become hangmen, in a country where the unemployment rate is more than 90 percent. Mugabe's reasoning for attempting to restore the death penalty is wanting a peaceful nation, where people do not kill one another.Uluru Climbing Ban a Unanimous Decision
Climbing the iconic Australian landmark, Uluru, will no longer be permitted from October 2019. The decision was voted on unanimously by the Board of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and is supported by Tourism Central Australia. Aboriginal Australians have long discouraged visitors from climbing the sacred site and only 16 percent have done so between 2011 and 2015. A Traditional Owner of the region, Sammy Wilson says "Closing the site is not something to be upset about but a cause for celebration." Public will still be able to access the site respectfully.Westminster Complaint Process Criticised
The recent reporting of sexual assault in the British Parliament over the last few years has raised questions over the handling of harassment complaints. Concerns have arisen about the lack of support for those making complaints, including discouraging the reporting of incidents and lack of anonymity. Theresa May states she is "deeply concerned" and promises a new "independent" process to handle such complaints. She says a "transparent, independent grievance procedure" will be implemented across all parties.Puigdemont Evades Questioning
The discharged leaders of the Catalonian separatist party have been accused by the Spanish Government of rebellion and summoned to court. Puigdemont, the former leader of the region is currently in Belgium and will not return to Spain for questioning, according to his lawyer. Puigdemont says he is in Belgium for safety and the assurance of speaking freely but would return to Spain if he and his colleagues were insured a fair trial. The charge of rebellion can hold up to 30 years in jail. Other charges include misuse of public funds and sedition, none of which are yet formalised.Saudi Arabia to Allow Women to Attend Sports Events
In another move to give Saudi women more freedom, Saudi Arabia will let women attend sports events in stadiums. This will take place for the first time next year in three major cities - Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam. This change takes place following the lifting on the driving ban on Saudi women. Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman is making major changes to modernise the kingdom. Under the the country's current guardianship system, a male family member must grant a women permission to take part in activities. The kingdom is relaxing some of its rules as part of their "Vision 2030" plan for economic and social reforms, as they prepare for a post-oil era.Reporting by Lillian Hanly, Darashpreet Johal, Jenn Tamati, Leah Garcia-Purves and Tess McClure.
LOCAL NEWS
New Zealand looks set for a hot, dry summer. Climate research body NIWA is predicting less rain and high temperatures overall, as part of a La Nina weather pattern. Average water temperatures on the east coast of New Zealand would be warmer than usual in the next three months, they said. For the North Island, this summer could bring more humid days than usual, and rain would be more focused on coastal areas.Ardern Ranked 13th Most Powerful Woman
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is ranked as the 13th most powerful woman in politics on the Forbes power-list. Ardern was sworn in as the prime minister just last week, placing higher than former US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Forbes noted Ardern rose to power "on a tide of excited voters dubbed 'Jacindamania'. German Chancellor Angela Merkel tops the list for the seventh consecutive year, with former first lady Michelle Obama dropping off the list since she left the white house last year. New entry US president Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka, entered the list at number 19 as the senior advisor to the White House.
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Jacinda Ardern's commitment to remove abortion from the Crimes Act does not appear to be in Labour's 100 day plan. She had promised a vote on removing abortion from the Crimes Act during election debates. Justice Minister Andrew Little said Labour was still committed to changing the law, and would continue to work with their coalition partners on it, but no legislative action would take place until next year. The Green Party is also for removing abortion from the Crimes Act, with NZ First wanting to hold a nationwide binding referendum. Abortion is typically treated as a conscience vote, so politicians don't have to vote along party lines. National Party leader Bill English, a practicing Catholic, is against abortion and is not in favour of the potential changes to the law. Currently, a woman can only have an abortion if two medical consultants agree the pregnancy will harm the woman's mental or physical health.
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Zimbabwe's president is in favour of bringing back the death penalty in response to the rising murder rates. No one has been executed in the country since 2005, however capital punishment is still part of the statute in Zimbabwe. Human rights groups have called out Zimbabwe to permanently abolish capital punishment. Only last month it was announced that more 50 applications from both men and women had been received wanting to become hangmen, in a country where the unemployment rate is more than 90 percent. Mugabe's reasoning for attempting to restore the death penalty is wanting a peaceful nation, where people do not kill one another.Uluru Climbing Ban a Unanimous Decision
Climbing the iconic Australian landmark, Uluru, will no longer be permitted from October 2019. The decision was voted on unanimously by the Board of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and is supported by Tourism Central Australia. Aboriginal Australians have long discouraged visitors from climbing the sacred site and only 16 percent have done so between 2011 and 2015. A Traditional Owner of the region, Sammy Wilson says "Closing the site is not something to be upset about but a cause for celebration." Public will still be able to access the site respectfully.Westminster Complaint Process Criticised
The recent reporting of sexual assault in the British Parliament over the last few years has raised questions over the handling of harassment complaints. Concerns have arisen about the lack of support for those making complaints, including discouraging the reporting of incidents and lack of anonymity. Theresa May states she is "deeply concerned" and promises a new "independent" process to handle such complaints. She says a "transparent, independent grievance procedure" will be implemented across all parties.Puigdemont Evades Questioning
The discharged leaders of the Catalonian separatist party have been accused by the Spanish Government of rebellion and summoned to court. Puigdemont, the former leader of the region is currently in Belgium and will not return to Spain for questioning, according to his lawyer. Puigdemont says he is in Belgium for safety and the assurance of speaking freely but would return to Spain if he and his colleagues were insured a fair trial. The charge of rebellion can hold up to 30 years in jail. Other charges include misuse of public funds and sedition, none of which are yet formalised.Saudi Arabia to Allow Women to Attend Sports Events
In another move to give Saudi women more freedom, Saudi Arabia will let women attend sports events in stadiums. This will take place for the first time next year in three major cities - Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam. This change takes place following the lifting on the driving ban on Saudi women. Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman is making major changes to modernise the kingdom. Under the the country's current guardianship system, a male family member must grant a women permission to take part in activities. The kingdom is relaxing some of its rules as part of their "Vision 2030" plan for economic and social reforms, as they prepare for a post-oil era.Reporting by Lillian Hanly, Darashpreet Johal, Jenn Tamati, Leah Garcia-Purves and Tess McClure.