Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

SailGP was brought to a halt on Saturday after dolphin sightings in Lyttleton Harbour. Chief Executive of SailGP, Sir Russell Coutts slammed officials for their “extreme” dolphin policy. Andrew Alderson speaks to Mike Hosking about the policy and considers the future of the race in New Zealand. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Hipkins State of Nation speech and all tax policies being on the table again In his first major speech as opposition leader, Chris Hipkins gave a State of Nation speech on Sunday. Tax was a big focus, as the way we live and work continues to change with a smaller proportion of the workforce earning taxable salary and wages. ZB Political Editor Jason Walls tells Mike Hosking that the speech lacked detail on actual tax policy, being so early in the opposition campaign. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's GDP per capita paints a worse picture than the headline figure. Stats NZ data shows GDP dropped 0.1 percentage points in the final quarter of last year. After negative growth in the previous quarter, it pushes New Zealand into a technical recession. Per capita, there was a 0.7% drop in the quarter. ANZ senior economist Miles Workman told Mike Hosking that taking immigration into account, it's almost as bad as during the Global Financial Crisis. He says during the GFC per capita GDP growth fell 4.2% and as of yesterday, after five consecutive quarterly declines, it's down 3.9%. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s some good news regarding King Charles' health. Queen Camilla has been carrying out public duties while the King undergoes treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer. She told crowds in Northern Ireland that her husband is doing well in his recovery. UK correspondent Vincent McAviney told Mike Hosking that a woman at a local business gave her a get well soon card for the King. He says Camilla told her Charles was doing very well and he was disappointed he couldn't come. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New and effective anti-migraine drugs aren't publicly funded in New Zealand, costing those with chronic migraine nearly $300 a month. An Otago University survey suggests almost half of those with the disease meet the criteria for severe disability. Some report paralysis on one side of the body and loss of coherent speech. Neurologist Rosamund Hill told Mike Hosking that the medicine's publicly funded in Australia. She says it's feasible for Pharmac to identify those at the worst end of the spectrum, and how these drugs would significantly change their lives. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s a hefty price for taxpayers to keep the Chateau Tongariro Hotel empty and in disrepair. The Department of Conservation, which owns the land, has confirmed through an Official Information Act request that it will cost $2.2 million this financial year. The heritage-listed site has been shut since February last year. Ruapehu mayor Weston Kirton told Mike Hosking that there are issues around resolving the seismic reports, which put the hotel at high risk. He says there's a willingness from the Government to resolve them but a timeline is needed to do that. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Harsher penalties and restrictions are coming into force as the Government starts its crackdown on vaping. The Coalition will ban single use vapes and increase fines for selling vapes to under-18s from $10,000 to $100,000. It's aiming to have all changes in place by the end of the year. Asthma and Respiratory Foundation CEO Letitia Harding told Mike Hosking that this should’ve been tackled by the previous government. The reality is, she said, there are no FDA approved products for smoking cessation, and if it actually is for that purpose then it should be under some sort of medical regulatory control. Harding said that when vaping was introduced in 2017, people were pushing it as the ‘Holy Grail’ to smoking cessation, but the evidence was never out there that it was. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Economists are anticipating GDP growth close to zero for the last quarter. The Reserve Bank's forecasting a flat zero percent, ANZ is expecting a 0.1 percentage point growth, while ASB anticipates a 0.2-point drop. If today's economic growth figures are negative New Zealand will enter a technical recession after the last quarter also saw negative growth. NZ Initiative executive director Oliver Hartwich told Mike Hosking that if it goes slightly up or down it doesn't matter as GDP per capita is what's important. He says it plays out against a background of record immigration with a net intake of 140-thousand people, which means we're going backwards on a per capita basis. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A re-opening of Northland's Marsden Point Oil Refinery could be on the cards. The Government's investigating the feasibility of doing so as part of a study into New Zealand's fuel security requirements. The privately-owned fuel refinery was decommissioned in 2022 to become an import-only fuel terminal. Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones told Mike Hosking the Marsden Point investigation is a small part of the fuel resilience strategy he's drawing up. He says in fairness to the last Government, they did put effort into resilience after the refinery closed. Jones says it all's down to who will pay the $80 million a year to boost the amount of oil we have onshore. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another photo of the Royal Family has been revealed to be edited. Getty Images has revealed that a photo of the late Queen was “digitally enhanced at source”, adding an editor's note to the image. The Palace shared the picture on the 21st of April last year on what would have been the Queen’s 97th birthday, saying it was taken by the Princess of Wales at Balmoral in the summer of 2022. UK Correspondent Gavin Grey told Mike Hosking that while many people may have suspected images were being edited, it’s now been confirmed. While these images are relatively benign in their edits, the lack of disclosure does set a precedent. Grey said it may lead to things like war images being doctored to make it look better or worse than it actually is. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Road user charges are in for a shake-up after an accidental Government U-turn. Owners of plug-in hybrids will pay $38 per thousand kilometres, a reduction from the planned $53. The Government accidentally supported a Labour amendment on the matter. AA spokesperson Terry Collins told Mike Hosking that the clean car discount was working last year so we'll have to wait and see what happens when it gets shut down. He suspects there'll be a pause in the market. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A local business owner says there needs to be more action on retail crime. Police data shows more than 400 retail crimes were reported a day last year, with six staff a day complaining to police they'd been assaulted. Sandringham Business Association Chair Jithin Chittibomma told Mike Hosking the Government has changed, but there's still the same people in the public service they dealt with under the last Government. He says they're still putting the data in front of ministers but they haven't seen any change on the ground yet. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's about to become more expensive to complete the country's Great Walks. The Department of Conservation is increasing prices in July for the first time in four years. Hut and campsite prices will rise by 18% for all walks except Paparoa. Backpacker Youth Adventure Tourism Association chair Haydn Marriner told Mike Hosking that there's a two-year waiting period for businesses to change their costs. He says it will be built into the costs and while the increase is quite high, crews and businesses do a heap of work to maintain the walks. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A five-year legal battle against Uber has come to an end. Uber has been ordered to pay $272 million to Australian taxi operators, covering the loss of income and license values since the rideshare app entered the market. The class action settlement was reached yesterday and is the fifth largest settlement in Australian history. Australian Correspondent Donna Demaio told Mike Hosking that it works out to be about $33,800 per taxi driver. She said that lawyers called it a “gruelling battle”, Uber fighting “tooth and nail” every day for those five years. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's crackdown on antisocial Kainga Ora tenant behaviour is being labelled a "move back to the real world". It's instructed Kainga Ora to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and strengthen its management of disruptive tenants. Former Monte Cecelia Housing Trust chief executive Bernie Smith says the issues it's having are generations in the making. He told Mike Hosking that the previous government's soft approach created a lot of mayhem for tenants and homeowners trying to live in peace. Smith says they allowed tenants to remain in homes no matter the illegal activity or issues they were creating for their neighbours. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mouldy and flooding courtrooms, the district court backlog, and legal aid issues are among problems the country's courts are facing. Chief Justice Dame Helen Winkelmann has released her latest briefing to Attorney-General Judith Collins. It outlines the need to raise the cap on the number of senior court judges, and under-funding in courtroom maintenance. Criminal Bar Association President Annabel Creswell told Mike Hosking the issue of the cap on judges has been raised for years. She says everything the Chief Justice has outlined have been problems for a long time, but they're worse since Covid and since the population has increased. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealanders are drinking less alcohol than previously thought. Auckland University has carried out the country's first large-scale trial of testing wastewater to monitor alcohol consumption. It found the average alcohol consumption to be 1.2 standard drinks per day for people over 15 years, lower than the World Health Organisation's 2018 estimate. Alcohol Beverage Council executive director Virginia Nicholls told Mike Hosking that the report didn't factor in responsible drinking. She says 86% of Kiwis are drinking responsibly, but it's a concern that 16% are drinking in a hazardous way. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winston Peters delivered a State of Nation speech yesterday to a crowd of around 600 people. The speech came following the first 100 days of Government and included controversial statements comparing co-governance to the Nazi regime. ZB Political Editor Jason Walls tells Mike Hosking the New Zealand First leader was firmly back on campaign mode with cracks at the media and opposition, but the speech was mostly focused on going forward. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UK Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps abandoned a Ukraine port visit in Odessa for security reasons. UK & Europe correspondent Gavin Grey tells mike Hosking Shapps travelled with the intention to meet Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy and senior members of his wartime administration but Russian missile attacks on the city meant the trip was cancelled abruptly. Meanwhile, friends of Princess Diana have reacted to an ad using her fatal crash to promote euthanasia in France. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the first inwards visit from a Chinese leader for some time, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi visits New Zealand today. Executive Director of the NZ China Council Alistair Crozier describes the country’s relationship with China as positive but says NZ will be seeking re-assurances about China’s intentions in the Pacific. Crozier tells Mike Hosking about what is on the agenda for the Foreign Minister’s visit. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Colossal rate hikes are looming for homeowners as councils contend with rising construction and insurance costs. Local Government New Zealand says rates around the country will rise by an average of 15%. It says the main factor contributing to the rates escalation is the costs of civil construction. Vice President Campbell Barry told Mike Hosking that these costs are 20% higher now than predicted, and that’s on top of inflation. He says bridges have gone up around 36% over the last three years, and similar increases are seen with roads and water networks. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Airports Association is taking aim at the cost of Air New Zealand's domestic airfares. It's calling on the Government to set up an independent airfare monitoring system. But the Board of Airline Representatives disagrees with claims that the domestic market isn't set up to be competitive. Executive Director, Cath O'Brien told Mike Hosking that policy settings allow any Australian airline to set-up shop tomorrow if they want to. She says the reason they haven't, is because New Zealand's an expensive place to operate in and make a profit. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first case of its kind in New Zealand, a former Super Rugby player has been diagnosed post-death with a degenerative brain disease, chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Billy Guyton played for the Blues, Hurricanes, and Crusaders, but died in a suspected suicide aged 33. An examination of his brain by the Neurological Foundation's Brain Bank has now identified he had stage 2 CTE. Auckland University neuroscientist Helen Murray told Mike Hosking that CTE is caused by the repetitive accumulation of head impacts. She says it's not necessarily the number of concussions but the number of impacts, and that might not have generated any symptoms. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An unaccounted-for problem of overheating in some newly built townhouses is being seen as a country-wide problem. Frustration is brewing among owners in Auckland who are paying two times more for cooling in the summer than they would for heating in the winter. Some townhouses have just one heat pump to cool the three-storey home, which can leave rooms on higher floors unbearably hot. But the building code has no requirement to address overheating. Team Green Architects owner Sian Taylor told Mike Hosking that there's an issue with a lack of forethought for the longer-term implications of design. She says one of the biggest problems is not shading the building properly from the start, which traps the heat inside. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another bailout for Ruapehu Alpine Lifts as the Government pours $7 million into the ski field. The operator has been running on a previous government bailout for over a year. Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says it's their last chance after the Prime Minister previously said no more money would be poured into the ski field. Ruapehu District Mayor Weston Kirton told Mike Hosking he welcomes the move. He understands this is the last bailout and wants the operator to get its ducks in a row. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

United States lawmakers are concerned TikTok users' data is being accessed by China. The House of Representatives has passed a bill that would ban the social media platform if Chinese tech giant Byte Dance doesn't sell its stake within six months. It will now go to a vote in Senate. US correspondent Mitch McCann told Mike Hosking that there's a lobbying campaign by TikTok underway. He says they've hired influencers to talk about the success they've had with TikTok and the impact on small business in America. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a focus on rebuilding today for the Labour Party as MPs head to Wairarapa for their belated retreat. The annual meeting is usually held in January. Political commentator Peter Dunne told Mike Hosking that Labour has about a year to rebuild before being competitive for the 2026 election. He says they're facing a big challenge from the Greens, so Labour needs to rebuild in a way which makes them the leading party on the left again. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Online rental platform Airbnb is introducing a worldwide ban on indoor security cameras. It says it's updating its policy after consultation with guests, hosts and privacy experts. Outdoor security cameras and those in common areas, like on doorbells, are still permitted, but hosts will have to disclose their location on the property's listing. Privacy lawyer Kathryn Dalziel told Mike Hosking that Airbnb has come under fire recently, with guests posting about finding cameras in their accommodation. She thinks Airbnb's realising its brand is being affected by this negativity, particularly by people who aren't telling people they're recording or filming. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Businesses hope the Government will bring change to the Holidays Act. Brooke van Velden has laid out her agenda with a focus on regulations around contractors, public holidays, health and safety rules, and personal grievances. Also a priority is sorting out the law around holidays. Employers and Manufacturers Association Head of Advocacy Alan McDonald told Mike Hosking that there's no need for lengthy consultation as the Holidays Act has been talked about for some time. He says most in the business community just want people to get on and make the changes. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Climate Change Commission is urging the Government to cut back the number of carbon credits available. They say there are too many credits on offer and the problem is just getting worse. The coalition Government promised to use emissions pricing to meet New Zealand's climate goals. Climate Change Research Institute adjunct professor Adrian Macey told Mike Hosking that it's not clear what the Government is going to do yet. He says they want to stick to the existing climate targets, but how they do that is not clear. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are disruptions in the Red Sea hitting New Zealand as hard? Freedom Furniture has reported a $9 million loss in profit, saying that it’s partially due to the chaos in the Middle East. Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen told Mike Hosking that the disruptions are impacting businesses in quite different ways, depending on whether they’re using that route to ship to Europe. The challenge for us, he said, is shipping delays. A delay of 14-21 days will have spill over effects for businesses lasting a fair bit of time. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the second time in as many weeks, Kiwibank and ASB have reduced their fixed mortgage rates. It follows falls in wholesale rates on the expectation that central banks are getting closer to cutting their benchmark rates. ASB’s Chief Economist, Nick Tuffley, told Mike Hosking what people are seeing is the settling of rates and the response to news over the last week. The market is still reasonably patchy, but according to Tuffley its likely to even out slightly as interest rates come down. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Princess of Wales has admitted to editing an image of her and her three children. The first image since her abdominal surgery, it was posted to mark Mother's Day in the UK. It was then pulled by numerous media photo agencies over concerns it'd been manipulated. Catherine says like many amateur photographers, she occasionally experiments with editing. Daily Mirror Royal Editor Russell Myers told Mike Hosking that he's not sure why they'd publish the photo themselves or send the photo to the world's media organisations. He says there's still a litany of issues: how much it was edited, how many photos it was taken from, and when it was edited. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Property Investors' Federation says easing rents relies on many factors. The Government's re-introducing interest deductibility for landlords. They'll be able to claim 80 percent of interest expenses from April, and 100 percent from April 2025. The Government says it'll ease pressure on rents, also benefiting tenants. Property Investors' Federation President Sue Harrison told Mike Hosking that the pressure on rents, has come from insufficient rental properties. She says they've been put under high pressure from high interest rates, and the money has to come from somewhere. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Green's new co-leadership could look different under Chloe Swarbrick. The Auckland Central MP has won the race to replace James Shaw, and will lead the party alongside Marama Davidson. Former Greens MP Gareth Hughes says Swarbrick's assertive approach to politics is a contrast from Shaw. But he told Mike Hosking that people are looking for passion and authenticity in politics - and some will be drawn to her values. Hughes says people wrote her off in Auckland Central but she won overwhelmingly - so she's someone who's able to reach across and attract voters. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A US military ship is on its way to Gaza, carrying equipment to build a temporary pier off the coast. It comes after President Biden announced the US would build a floating harbour to help get aid into Gaza by sea. They had carried out an airdrop on Sunday, parachuting in more than 11-thousand meals. Europe correspondent Gavin Grey spoke to Mike Hosking about what it will contain. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Associate Finance Minister says the last Government removing landlords' interest deductibility was a tax grab. The current Government's re-introducing it. They'll be able to claim 80 percent of interest expenses from April, and 100 percent from next April. David Seymour told Mike Hosking that they've restored the integrity of the tax system. He says if you invest in any business or commercial property, you're allowed to deduct interest costs from taxable income. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Black Caps have one last shot against Australia. Today the final test match against the Australian side takes place at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, kicking off at 11am. Newstalk ZB’s Cricket Correspondent Andrew Alderson told Mike Hosking that last night was the 50th anniversary of New Zealand’s first taste of victory over Australia back in 1974. So, if New Zealand needs any belief today, he said, the 50th anniversary might do it. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former National Minister says this Government's changes are a big turn-around from the last. The Government's first 100 days are virtually up, and it's ticked off almost all of its 49 items. Many of the things on the list were to unpick the last government's changes or to begin work on their plans. The last point to tick off is setting major targets for the health system, and that's expected to be crossed off today. Former Cabinet Minister Maurice Williamson told Mike Hosking that it's a change from the last Government saying it'd do things and not doing them. He says former MPs can be critical, thinking they were better, but he says this is the best he's ever seen. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s more belief in the housing market. ASB's latest Housing Confidence survey shows net 51% of people expect house prices to rise. It's the highest reading since October 2021, before the start of the most recent housing market downturn. Senior Economist Kim Mundy says last time expectations were at this level, annual house price growth was at almost 30% - this time it's at 2.2%. So, she says, while it doesn't necessarily point to a degree of house price growth, it does suggest house prices can lift over the coming year. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The number of students leaving home schooling increased last year. Education Ministry figures show 2,286 children exited home education, the highest number on record. More than half those leaving had been learning from home for less than a year. Total home school numbers remain well above pre-pandemic levels. Secondary Principals' Council Chair Kate Gainsford told Mike Hosking that there are many factors why people are going back to mainstream. She says it could be that the realities, demands, and responsibilities of providing education at home are becoming real. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rotorua's Mayor is feeling upbeat about the Government's new emergency housing laws. Families with children living in emergency housing for more than 12 weeks will go to the top of the social housing waitlist. The verification process, eligibility settings, and obligations will also be strengthened for those entering emergency housing. Tania Tapsell told Mike Hosking that there's a lot of children in these environments, so it's great they're targeting those most in need. She sees hope for a quicker end to what's been a shambles, not only in Rotorua but across the country. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nikki Haley has withdrawn from the US presidential race meaning we're in for another Biden-Trump election. The former South Carolina governor announced her decision to suspend her campaign this morning, a day after Super Tuesday. Republican frontrunner Donald Trump beat her soundly in all but one of the 15 nominating contests. US correspondent Mitch McCann told Mike Hosking that Haley has yet to endorse Trump. He says it's possible she will in the future, but it's hard to see that happening given what she's been saying about him over the past few months. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Police Association President says military academies for youth offenders are worth a crack. The Government plans to have an Oranga Tamariki-run pilot programme by the middle of this year. Police Association President Chris Cahill told Mike Hosking that people who sponsored earlier models tell him they saw kids coming in with no self-esteem and leaving with their mana restored. He says the challenge is when they left, they went back to dysfunctional families and places with gang influence. Cahill says support at the end of the programmes is needed. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s a bad look for the country as the Prime Minister's plane woes make worldwide headlines. The Air Force's Boeing 757 never left the ground yesterday due to a technical fault with the nose landing gear. It meant Christopher Luxon had to fly commercially to Melbourne for ASEAN talks, missing a couple of meetings due to the delay. Auckland University marketing lecturer Marilyn Giroux told Mike Hosking that the likes of international outlets Reuters and Australia's Sky News all reported on the troubles. She says it's definitely not the best look we want for the country, as it's been picked up quite a lot. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium swapped its usual green field for two hours of acrobatic entertainment from pop star P!nk last night. The three-time Grammy award winner drew 37-thousand people to the first New Zealand show of her Summer Carnival tour. The Country's Rowena Duncum was there – and told Mike Hosking that P!nk's acrobatics were impressive. She says it was phenomenal how she could fly through the air —sometimes upside down— and still be able to sing. P!nk will play Auckland's Eden Park on Friday and Saturday nights. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first-ever government-funded space mission is scheduled for take-off this morning. The American-New Zealand mission will see the MethaneSAT satellite launched into space to study global emissions from agriculture and measure methane leaks from oil and gas production. Auckland University Spacecraft Mission Operations Director Chris Jackson says the ultimate goal is to drive down global warming effects from methane sources. He says methane is a very potent greenhouse gas, more so than carbon dioxide, so stopping it leaking can have a reversing effect. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What was already a busy day for Christopher Luxon has just become busier. A fault with New Zealand’s Defence Force plane has forced the Prime Minister fly commercial to Melbourne for today's ASEAN summit. He has a tight schedule to keep to, meeting with eight South-East Asian leaders on the sidelines of the special ASEAN-Australia summit. Newstalk ZB Political Reporter Demelza Jackson told Mike Hosking that each meeting is only about ten minutes long, but its more about putting a face on the New Zealand name. Tomorrow, she said, is all business, with ANZ’s business breakfast in the morning and a trip to a Fonterra factory in the afternoon. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The National Road Carriers Association says the Government's draft transport plan is a great step in the right direction. It features a half billion-dollar pothole prevention fund and 15 Roads of National Significance. It'll be funded in part by a $25 increase in vehicle registration fees in each of the next two years. Chief Executive Justin Tighe-Umbers told Mike Hosking that the policy's focused on the right stuff. He says it's a strong start, so they're pleased, and it's about getting back to basics. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Germany has admitted to an apparent hack by Russia of a military meeting where personnel discussed giving Ukraine long range missiles and possible targets. Europe correspondent Gavin grey told Mike Hosking the hack is being investigated but it is being questioned why the video conference was held on the WebEx platform rather than a secret internal army network. Meanwhile, the first vessel to be sunk by Houthi rebels in Yemen could cause a large environmental catastrophe. The Houthi rebels are targeting boats connected to Israel, the UK and the US – hitting a British registered cargo ship carrying tonnes of ammonium nitrate fertiliser. Experts say the impact of this could decimate wildlife in the area of the Gulf of Aden. Listen above. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.