Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Wildfires raged Sunday near Turkey's holiday beach destinations of Antalya and Mugla as the discovery of more bodies caused the death toll to rise to eight. Residents and tourists fled the danger in small boats while the coast guard and two navy ships waited out at sea in case a bigger evacuation was needed.Authorities warned tourists and residents to keep evacuating Turunc, a town in the seaside resort of Marmaris in Mugla province. Fires enveloped the area and strong winds made firefighting efforts more difficult. A helicopter attempted to extinguish the blazes, which were unreachable by land.As residents of villages around Marmaris pleaded for more help on social media, people boarded small boats carrying suitcases. Others waited anxiously to see if the fire would come down to the shore.Turkish news agency DHA said the bodies of a Turkish-German couple were found in their burned home in Manavgat, Antalya. Fires were also encroaching on a village near the town and residents were evacuating in trucks.High temperatures and strong winds were making matters worse. Antalya registered 42 degrees Celsius (over 107 degrees Fahrenheit), 5-6 degrees C higher than seasonal averages.Earlier Sunday, police water cannons, usually used to control riots, helped helicopters and fire trucks in Mugla’s popular district of Bodrum to fight fires. Turkish television showed fires had reignited after being extinguished earlier, with blazes and smoke approaching a village.Civilians were trying to protect homes and olive groves but some houses were already damaged. Social media videos showed tourists in Bodrum scampering down streets rolling their luggage to escape the nearby flames.The health minister, Fahrettin Koca, said at least 27 people affected by the fires were still receiving treatment in hospitals while hundreds of others had been released.The minister of forestry and agriculture, Bekir Pakdemirli, tweeted that 111 wildfires were “under control” across Turkey. His tweets showed that, since Wednesday, wildfires had ignited in 33 provinces.President Recep Tayyip Erdogan toured some of the affected areas on Saturday and promised to help residents rebuild their homes. But social media users criticized him for arriving in Marmaris in a massive convoy that caused more traffic.While Turkish authorities say they are investigating whether the fires may have started as “sabotage” by outlawed Kurdish militants, experts mostly point to climate change along with accidents caused by people. Erdogan said one of the fires was started by children.A heat wave across southern Europe, fed by hot air from North Africa, has led to wildfires across the Mediterranean, including on the Italian island of Sicily and in western Greece, where some residents had to be evacuated by boat to escape the flames.On Sunday afternoon, bathers on an Italian beach south of the Adriatic city of Pescara fled when they spotted towering clouds of smoke and flames from a fire in a nearby pine forest, the Italian news agency LaPresse reported. Several people were reportedly injured when they tried to put out wind-whipped flames that had reached their homes. Local officials told state TV that an elderly home in Pescara had to be evacuated.Meanwhile, in Turkey's eastern Van province, floods over the weekend destroyed at least six houses after a small river overflowed amid heavy rains. Villagers were ordered to leave their homes and climb to higher locations.Text by Zeynep Bilginsoy, APSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What we’ve seen with the transfer of this Covid patient from Fiji is very simple. It's not a medical decision, it's a political one.The medical decision was made by the DHBs, the Director of Health, the Ministry of Health. The medical decision was no.But then politics got involved. Helen Clark, it's widely asserted, (and she hasn't denied it), stepped in, the UN stepped in, pressure was applied, and voila, change of plan.This is an embarrassing flip flop.The request was initially declined on clinical grounds, following advice from three Intensive Care Units at Auckland's major hospitals.But hang on, suddenly we have room.Don't forget, our ICU and hospital staff have been flat out dealing with this RSV outbreak, which has swamped hospitals right around the country.They've been absolutely stretched; you can see why they said no.But now, the Covid patient who we were categorically told was not coming, is sitting in Middlemore hospital after a 'change of plan.’The medics are mad, they're apparently furious about this, they don't want a Delta patient in our ICU, but they've been over ruled.There is so much to unpack here, so many questions.Firstly, what's this costing? A Medevac plane out of Fiji, health workers in Hazmat suits at the airport to meet her, the transfer to Middlemore, the ICU stay.Have they had to clear out ICU for this person? Is our ICU resourced well enough for this?What's the knock on effect of this? What's the infection prevention and isolation plan?On top of that, let's look at what this says.The message being sent here is - nudge nudge wink wink, it's not what you know, it's who you know, or in this case, who you are.You get priority treatment for Covid if you have a job at the UN.Everyone else in Fiji who’s suffering, sorry.And let's not forget the mess Fiji's in right now with all this.Dr Colin Tukuitonga, an associate professor of Public health says this is a dreadful decision.He says it's putting us at unnecessary risk, he says we're playing with fire. He also points out that this sets a dangerous precedent, as many other patients who were seriously ill and in fact have died, were not granted the option of treatment in NZ.But let's get to what this is really all about, because we know there's always the story we're being told, and the real story.Who do we know who’s working on our international image of kindness, and who wants a job at the UN?It's that simple; a Prime Minister, who wants a job at the UN, is not saying no to the UN.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

HBO Max has just released a 12 episode series parodying the life of Prince George, yes, the eight year old.It navigates the trials and tribulations of being a royal childBut critics are accusing HBO of taking cheap shots at a child.Royal family commentator Victoria Arbiter joined Kate Hawkesby.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand may be taking on extra risks -- by allowing a Covid-19 patient to be transferred from Fiji to New Zealand for treatment.The woman arrived at Auckland Airport last night, before being transferred to Middlemore Hospital.She's understood to be a high-profile World Health Organisation staffer, medevaced under a UN agreement.Auckland University public health expert Colin Tukuitonga told Kate Hawkesby it's an inherently risky move.“There’s a higher chance that this is Delta varient, and Delta can go bad real quick. I think we’re accepting a risky situatuion to be honest.”Tukuitonga says if New Zealand wants to help people in Fiji, it should be deploying more specialists and resources to the country.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tramways Union drivers in Wellington have accepted a fourth pay offer from NZ Bus, bringing an end to months of wrangling over their collective agreement.The long-running saga has resulted in stop-work meetings, a strike, and a lockout.This afternoon NZ Bus confirmed in a statement a new collective employment agreement has been settled on with its Wellington drivers.Chief Operating Officer Jay Zmijewski said the agreement secures a fair and equitable outcome for existing staff and gives NZ Bus greater ability to recruit more full-time drivers."This is a great outcome. We want our drivers to be the best paid and have the best conditions in the industry, and this deal achieves that."We look forward to attracting more drivers to the industry to provide safe and secure public transport services to the people of Wellington."Tramways Union has been approached for comment.Zmijewski acknowledged the role Greater Wellington Regional Council (GWRC) has played in the pay talks."We look forward to partnering with council to improve service levels in the coming weeks and months."Wellington has been battling with a shortage of at least 60 drivers, resulting in record cancellations.A new reduced peak-hour bus timetable came into effect on Sunday for some services in an effort to provide more certainty, instead of commuters waiting for buses which never show up.Greater Wellington Regional Council chairman Daran Ponter. (Photo / Mark Mitchell)GWRC chairman Daran Ponter said today's vote was good news and meant drivers and the operators could put the issue behind them."This has been six months of tension and acrimony and both parties needed to be able to settle on an agreement they can live with for the next three years."But as importantly, it's also good for Wellingtonians. It means they can have certainty that they're not going to have stop-work meetings on a frequent basis."The council's involvement in negotiations is a significant step-change from its previous position of being a bystander.It has provided mediators and facilitators, topped up driver wages to the living wage, and changed service provision to get rid of as many split shifts as possible.Metlink general manager Scott Gallacher said new bus timetables would now be drawn up to reflect some of the "real wins" in the new agreement."One of the most positive outcomes will be guaranteed 8-hour shifts on request, making work and home life easier to manage for drivers."But the new timetable could also result in some services being axed due to the driver shortages, as has already gone ahead on Tranzurban services."We'll be looking to get agreement on a set of timetable changes that will better match staffing numbers to ultimately create a more flexible and reliable network", Gallacher said.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're seeing a lot of raw emotion and huge pressure unfolding at the Olympics aren’t we?Which isn’t necessarily new, elite sport at that top level is hugely competitive and nothing but pressure.You're carrying the weight of the world, or at the very least your whole country, on your shoulders. There are tears, collapses, enormous highs, catastrophic lows. That’s elite sport, and most athletes at that level know that.But I just wonder whether this Olympics will be remembered for something else.For mental health issues coming to the fore and taking precedence over performance, and I can’t work out if this is a good or a bad thing.On the one hand, I appreciate how huge the toll is and admire athletes who have the guts to say, you know what? Not this time, can’t do it, my head’s not in it.I mean that can’t be easy and it takes guts. It also helps identify and draw into the mainstream that mental health as a very real issue, at even the highest levels of success.But I’m torn because on the other hand, you worked really hard to get to this level, you knew going in, surely, that competing in elite sport representing your country is no picnic.Having your head in the game is part and parcel of the deal, it’s something athletes train for these days, the sporting challenge is no longer just physical, and in most arenas it’s mental too.It's a whole body, mind approach.So you surely know that and have trained for that.So on the one hand pulling out for mental health is a good reminder to the world that even top Olympians struggle too.And there’ll be people on the sidelines going ‘oh thank god for that, that makes me feel better, I’m not alone in this.’But equally on the sidelines there may also be other world class athletes who maybe just missed out on qualifying for the Olympics, going ‘well hang on a minute, I could've had that spot, I'm mentally fit for this.’So does going all the way to the Olympics, then at the eleventh hour saying – 'no can do' is it heroic? As many are claiming, or is it a cop out? And is it heroic because it's new and different this time?Like would it still be heroic if athlete after athlete withdrew due to pressure and mental health? Are they all heroes? And if so, what do you call the ones who stayed and actually competed then? So two camps here I reckon.Those who'll say a mental health issue is just like any physical health issue, it’s the same, it forces you to withdraw and you should not be judged on that. Quite right.But equally meritorious in my view, is the other camp which says you are physically able, but if your head’s not in it then did you train enough for the mental part of this deal?And if not, then have you let yourself and your team down?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A plan to close the Milford Sound airstrip has been met with outrage by local tourism operators who use the runway.The Milford Opportunities Project Masterplan has been unveiled in Te Anau today, aimed at addressing visitor pressures and safety. It includes proposed changes to the way we access the UNESCO World Heritage site, including a plan for carbon neutral buses, charging international visitors, a ban on cruise ships in the inner sound and the removal of the airstrip.Tourism Industry Aotearoa says the plan could radically change the way we look after the jewel in New Zealand's tourism crown.However the Queenstown Milford Users Group (QMUG) is describing the plan to close the Milford Sound Airport a 'kick in the guts' and is strongly opposing the recommendation.Glenorchy Air owners James Stokes and Kirstin Stokes. (Photo / Supplied)QMUG represents the commercial GA operators flying to Milford.Chair James Stokes, who is also the owner and Managing Director of Glenorchy Air, says flying into Milford Sound is tied into the history of Fiordland, since the first fixed-wing aircraft landed there in 1932."On Trip Advisor the top three rated tourism operators in Queenstown all offer Milford Sound flightseeing experiences, and that's what they intend to put an end to.Where to next?"This would have an immediate impact, not only on the many family run businesses in the region, but on tourism too."For the businesses operating out of Queenstown, Wanaka and Te Anau, Milford Sound experiences make up more than 90 per cent of their revenue. To make this call is a kick in the guts after the most challenging 18 month period of our lives. We have invested in supporting the region and the people whose livelihoods depend on us."Stokes says the rationale seems flawed. "Why close the airport and cut out alternative modes of transport, when you are trying to reduce road traffic congestion?"The Milford Sound masterplan is aimed at protecting the future of the iconic site. (Photo / Supplied)He says from a sustainability perspective, the industry is proactively pursuing more sustainable aircraft options."If we work together and do this right we can be an example of sustainable tourism initiatives to the world."We want to work constructively to solve some of the issues together but shutting down a key contributor to the Milford tourism economy is a short sighted recommendation, which will create more problems than it solves."Stokes says the group will meet with the MOP tomrorrow to challenge the recommendation.Project governance group chair Dr Keith Turner accepts the proposal is controversial and will affect people's livelihoods."But the airstrip is in a poor state of repair, is already beginning to flood at extreme high tides, is very exposed to alpine fault tsunami risk and would be very expensive to rebuild to a modern and sustainable standard."It only carried about 3 per cent of visitors in 2019. And the visual impact and risk of cruise ships are in conflict with the majority of land-based visitors, and they have other Fiordland options equally spectacular to visit."Other proposals in the masterplan include making zero emission hop-on hop-off buses the main transport on Milford Road, with a park and ride system established. Most international visitors will only get access via the bus system, with those in campervans gaining access only if they have a booking along the road or at Milford Lodge.Under a new proposal for Milford Sound, cruise ships would be banned from the inner sound. (Photo / James Allan)There's also a recommendation for a new Te Anau visitor centre and bus hub, which would help enhance the visitor experience by helping reduce the number of day trips from Queenstown, and improved walking and some cycle tracks on the corridor.TIA Chief Executive Chris Roberts says they...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand will get the clearest look at the inner workings of the supermarket giants on Thursday when the Commerce Commission releases its draft report into the level of competition across a $22 billion sector.Shortly after the election, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister David Clark announced the competition watchdog would undertake a market study into supermarkets to determine "whether the sector is as competitive as it could be".The market study is the second of its type under new powers to compel companies to provide detailed financial information, following an examination into petrol companies ordered by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in 2018.For months, the Wellington-based competition watchdog has been receiving evidence and interviewing witnesses, sometimes under oath.The study will be released at 8:30am, followed by a press conference. You can watch it live here.Like many industries in New Zealand, it is a sector dominated by two companies. Foodstuffs, which counts New World, Pak n Save and Four Square among its subsidiaries, and Australian-owned Woolworths, the owner of Countdown.The market study is set to take around 12 months but even the draft report is likely to run to hundreds of pages and make recommendations to improve competition levels.Multiple parties are speculating that among its recommendations would be a binding code of conduct for supermarkets to adhere to, the regulator could urge the government to consider requiring a break-up of some parts of the sector.The study has been a long time coming. In 2014, Shane Jones, then a Labour MP, used Parliamentary privilege to assert that Countdown was treating many of its suppliers poorly.Katherine Rich, the former National MP and long time chief executive of the Food and Grocery Council has been providing materials to the commission including research that suggests most suppliers believe the supermarket groups engage in anti-competitive behaviour.This week, Rich launched a stinging attack targeting Foodstuffs' North Island business, claiming that even on the eve of the draft report, its members were facing the threat of having their products removed from shelves as part of negotiating tactics, demands for a "display fee" which did not promise any actual prominence or contribution to staff wages.Foodstuffs were "either not reading the political environment or dismissing government concerns which led [Clark] to call for the Study," Rich wrote on her LinkedIn page.Foodstuffs did not respond to a request for comment on the claims.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fiji 27New Zealand 12Five years after sevens made its Olympics debut, the world was treated to a dream final in the event.But unfortunately for New Zealand, it wasn't quite a dream result.The All Blacks Sevens had to content themselves with the silver medal after being overpowered by great rivals Fiji 27-12 at Tokyo Stadium tonight.It was New Zealand's second sevens silver after the women's side were runners-up in Rio five years ago, a medal collection that could increase with the Black Ferns Sevens kicking off their campaign tomorrow.But despite that silver hue now complementing the black jersey, the men's side were unable to attain the redemption they sought after the horror show of Rio 2016.They Kiwi men nervous debutants at those Games, losing to Japan and Great Britain in pool play before being dumped out of the quarter-finals by Fiji.New Zealand's woes denied the sport what would have been a fitting finale to its first inclusion at the Olympics. But the wait for a showpiece between the traditional rivals was fortunately brief.And if tonight delivered a perfect advertisement for the game on the global stage, defending champion Fiji were more than worthy gold medallists.New Zealand players with silver medals. (Photo / Photosport)"Fiji were the better team," an emotional Scott Curry told Sky TV. "We gave it everything and that's all we could do, all we could ask from this group. Every day, every game that's what we do, and we came up short."Fiji's players were the ones in tears as their anthem rung out pre-game but, moments later, the prevailing emotion was joy as their early tactic of kicking undid the challengers.Errors from Joe Webber and Andrew Knewstubb were ruthlessly exploited for the first two Fijian tries through Meli Derenalagi and Sireli Maqala, and a frantic first half continued when Jiuta Wainiqolo powered through a couple of would-be tacklers.Waisea Nacuqu of Fiji celebrates beating New Zealand for gold. (Photo / Getty)"The bounce of the ball in sevens is huge and a couple went their way early on," said Curry. "I guess they got a lot of confidence from that and got their tails up a little bit. It was always going to be tough to fight back from that."Curry did his best to lead that fightback, showing his power and pace to score his side's first try, while Sione Molia crossed after the hooter to cut the deficit to 19-12.The pressure of the occasion - absent during the first half - was a factor after the break as defence came to the fore, before the outcome was sealed by two moments that exemplified what separated the sides on the night.First Regan Ware's promising break came to nothing after the ball sprung loose from his grasp, then Asaeli Tuivuaka crossed for the decisive try as Fiji unlocked a resolute Kiwi rearguard with a timely display of their ball skills.There would be no miraculous comeback for New Zealand as the Pacific Islanders were able to celebrate their second straight sevens gold, remaining undefeated in Olympic men's play.Dejected New Zealand players. (Photo / Photosport)But despite being unable to find an answer to Fiji's quality in all facets, Clark Laidlaw's team will one day soon be able to reflect on an excellent tournament.New Zealand built well through the last few days, with their semifinal success over Great Britain their best performance, guaranteeing this country another medal for its tally.But once Fiji took care of business against Argentina in the second semifinal, New Zealand must have suspected that gold could prove elusive.In the third-place playoff, Argentina claimed their first sevens medal, backing up their heroic quarter-final victory over South Africa with a 17-12 win over Great Britain.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My kids and my husband think I’ve gone mad; it wouldn’t be the first time.But I can't help this sense of foreboding at the moment, that we just won't and can't escape Delta coming here.I’m not scaremongering; I’m not saying this to cause alarm. I’m just incredulous as to how we’ve escaped it thus far.Because we are virtually the only country to do so.Yes our geography and isolation helps, yes sheer good luck helps, we avoided potential catastrophe with the Wellington traveller didn’t we? That could’ve been a lot worse. But I can't help thinking logic would dictate that’s it’s only a matter of time.I hope I’m wrong. I hope I’m way off beam. (However I have been ramping up my health and wellbeing lectures to my kids.)I'm also mentally preparing myself for what will be our only possible response given our slow vaccination rollout; a lockdown.We would have to respond just like Australia is now.I’m just looking at the odds and going 'hmmmm.'How long until it accidentally trips its way in here? How much luck do people get? Let’s be frank, we’ve had huge amounts of it so far.I’m grateful that my parents got vaccinated, a lot of people in the older category still aren’t and that’s a travesty. I feel bad for the people who can’t advocate or hustle for it, or have trouble getting to a vaccination centre, or just don’t know how to go about it.There’re older people in this country who are alone or just don’t have the means to push themselves forward for a vaccine which they’re entitled to. I was told yesterday of a 90 year old man with respiratory issues who lives in his own home, and has still not been offered a vaccine. That breaks my heart; people like him should absolutely have been contacted for a vaccine by now.And in communities where vaccines are being offered but they’re not turning up for them? Let’s fill those slots with people who ARE keen. I was at the optometrist yesterday and I asked him if he’d been vaccinated, given he could be described as a health worker, surely.Certainly, he’s in people’s faces, literally, on a daily basis. Surely, he’d be somewhere near the top of the list? But he’s not vaccinated yet either.In fact, he said the Optometry Board has had to proactively agitate with the Government to make a case for vaccinating optometrists. They’ve only just found out they can book vaccines now. He’s getting his in two weeks.So I hope I'm way off beam, and that maybe we really can be virtually the only country in the world to escape Delta.But I do worry that at this point, we may just be pushing our luck.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Olympics are now in full swing, with wall to wall coverage, yet it seems not as many people are watching them overseas.Over in the all-important US market, ratings for the opening ceremony dropped by 36 percent compared to Rio 2016.There are several factors thought to be behind this, but should Olympic officials be concerned?Senior TV editor at Variety Brian Steinberg joined Kate Hawkesby from New York and said the multitude of viewing options available these days makes it hard for broadcasters to pin consumers to one medium.“People are watching TV as they see fit, there are dozens and dozens of Olympics streams.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A suggestion more should be done to remove barriers for people wanting to get the Covid jab.It comes as the Group 4 rollout begins today, with people aged 60 plus, now able to book an appointment.That's despite many in Group 3 who say they still haven't received their jabs.Auckland University vaccinologist Helen Petousis-Harris says Kate Hawkesby vaccination centres need to be more approachable and accessible.“These clinics aren’t generally places that people find themselves comfortable in; I do think you have to find other ways to reach people.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scientists say they care about animals and there are strict rules about how they experiment on them.Twenty-one science organisations have signed an agreement to be more open about their use of animals in testing, teaching and research.Auckland University education lecturer Sally Birdsall was involved in developing it.She told Kate Hawkesby scientists are keen for more people to understand how the process of using animals happens.“And how the regulations actually mean that they can’t just do what they want, they’re heavily regulated.”More than 315-thousand animals were experimented on in New Zealand in 2019.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So, in what should be a surprise to absolutely no one, we are taking back an alleged ISIS terror suspect and her children. Why?Because we snoozed, and we lost.ScoMo snookered us. Australia was first out of the blocks in revoking this woman’s citizenship – she had both Australian and NZ citizenship, but she hadn’t lived here since she was 6.When she was captured on the Syrian border and detained by Turkey for deportation, Australia promptly revoked her citizenship so she couldn’t go back there.They did this on the basis of her travelling to Syria on an Australian passport in 2014 to join ISIS.In doing so, Australia deftly dumped the problem right on our doorstep. Remember that? Jacinda Ardern was furious, she huffed and puffed at Scott Morrison and in her words, “made very strong representations to Australia” that they should take this woman back, not make it our problem.Australia ignored her. They’d already gotten in first; they’d already bailed on it and exposed our government as being asleep at the wheel.When Ardern was asked at the time if she would therefore accept this Australia-NZ citizen and take her back as our problem, Ardern gave her best aggrieved facial contortion and said “Well, there’s children involved.”What we in effect know now, is that of course we were going to take them back.Justifying it with the, ‘but there are children involved’ line, was merely buttering us up for the inevitable.So yesterday, Cabinet officially announced a ‘managed return’ of this 26 year old and her two kids.What does that mean? Who’s managing it? What’s that costing? How long are they managing it for? Who’s taking responsibility? Where is she being managed? Where are the numbers on this? What are we paying to manage an alleged ISIS terrorist to come back here and make NZ her home after a 20 year absence?I notice the statement from Ardern yesterday also included her tried and true line about the kids again. “We have taken into account our international responsibilities as well as the details of this particular case, including the fact that children are involved,” she said.This is Marketing 101.If you have a winning line you think is effective, keep using it.So, apparently, she’ll be managed in a way that “minimises any risk for New Zealanders.”Really? How can you guarantee that?Let’s just hope for all our sakes, that they don’t employ more of their ‘high trust’ model here.Because when it comes to this government’s ‘kindness programme,’ I think extending it now to terrorists is a bridge too far.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The true impact of the Sydney lockdown protest won’t be known for days, with one medical expert warning the thousands of people who attended could plunge all of NSW into lockdown.Greater Sydney is already preparing for another lockdown extension announcement this week, with editor of the Medical Journal of Australia, Professor Nick Talley, saying there is a high chance demonstrators who travelled to the protest from outside Sydney could spread the virus into regional areas of the state.Thousands descend on Sydney’s Town Hall for anti-lockdown protest. (Photo / NCA) “This was an idiotic thing to do, just idiotic. Yes, we risk a superspreader event,” he told 2GB on Monday morning.“There were people from, not only across Greater Sydney, but I understand people from also outside of Greater Sydney at those protests.“That means we might even risk outbreaks outside of Greater Sydney that really lead to the whole state locking down. Just a disaster.”Thousands of people converged on the Sydney CBD on Saturday to protest the lockdown, with images and videos showing unmasked demonstrators packed tightly together shouting “freedom” and holding anti-lockdown and anti-vaccination signs.The demonstration quickly descended into chaos, with protesters reacting violently towards police officers and attacking police horses.So far 63 people have been arrested in relation to the protest and at least 90 were issued fines for breaking public health orders.NSW Police say they have received more than 5500 reports from members of the public regarding the protest.Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she was “absolutely disgusted and disappointed” in those who attended the protest, warning it could lead to a “super-spreading” event.“We don’t want a setback, and yesterday could have been a setback. Time will tell,” she said on Sunday.“But I’m just so utterly disgusted, disappointed and heartbroken that people don’t consider the safety and wellbeing of their fellow citizens.”Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys described the events that occurred on Saturday as “violent, filthy, risky behaviour”.He said a strike force had been set up to investigate the protest and urged anyone with video footage, photos or any information to submit it to Crime Stoppers.“The investigation into people’s behaviour yesterday will continue for some time, so I expect over the next few days and perhaps weeks that number of penalty infringement notices will continue to be high,” Mr Worboys said.Men wearing Anonymous masks during the protest in Sydney. (Photo /NCA)It comes as the NSW government has requested financial modelling for an extension of the Greater Sydney lockdown until mid-September.The state’s crisis cabinet will convene this morning to discuss a significant lockdown extension, according to The Australian.The publication reports a September 3 lockdown end date was originally considered but officials are now understood to be modelling multiple financial scenarios, including one where stay at home orders remain in place until September 17.Speaking to 2GB, Professor Talley said he wouldn’t be surprised if the lockdown remains in place into September.“NSW is in a terrible place and it’s really sad that this is where we are now. I think it will be extended and how long – it’s unclear,” he said.When asked why NSW has struggled to get this outbreak under control, Professor Talley said it was a combination of the highly-infectious nature of the Delta variant, not locking down early enough and not having enough people vaccinated.“I think we needed to squash it very hard very early if we were going to succeed fast enough and that just didn’t happen. And of course we are largely unvaccinated which is also a problem and I think that’s why we are where we are,” he said.“We just have to deal with where we are now rather than...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Suhayra Aden and her two children are coming back to New Zealand.Aden was identified as an Islamic State terrorist by Turkey, when she was caught crossing the border from Syria in February.She's the woman who had Australian-New Zealand dual citizenship, which Australia revoked.Given there are two children involved with this case, Children's Commissioner Andrew Becroft told Kate Hawkesby we have a duty to stand up and help New Zealand citizens.“There are children who are New Zealand citizens who have nowhere to go, I think this is a chance to stand up and support them.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are calls for more help for young people living on the streets.A new report estimates an additional 18,000 children have been pushed into poverty since the first lockdown, with Maori and Pasifika worst hit.The number of homeless young people is especially concerning.Lifewise youth housing team leader Aaron Hendry told Kate Hawkesby young people need therapeutic interventions and we need to work with the community to house them long-term.“Rather than just putting them in a hotel for the night by themselves without any support, they get further harmed and they go back to the street.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I think the trans-Tasman bubble being popped is no surprise to anyone.This government was always going to act with its standard ‘abundance of caution’ and with the backing still of the majority of New Zealanders loving being a hermit kingdom, it’s a win-win.Caution and safety.. check.Political points.. check.Protect ourselves from any potential border cock ups creating a fiasco with a Delta outbreak… check.It’s not a win-win for everybody however.Anyone in the productive sector of the economy crying out for staff, will be bristling at this.Get it and understand it as they well may, it doesn’t help their plight.Those strapped for staff, those who’ve lost or are losing their immigrant workforce due to visa delays, those in small towns unable to hire locally.I saw some of this first hand when I was in Queenstown during the school holidays.Which by the way, if you’re thinking of travelling to tourist hotspots like Queenstown or Rotorua during school holidays when borders are shut, think again.It was heaving.What a shambles.I actually felt for them.Here were all these domestic tourists turning up in their droves to help the place out, and everywhere you went, the lack of staff was a glaring issue.From long wait times at cafes and restaurants, to queues out the doors of shops, to a lack of housekeeping staff to service Hotel rooms, to a shortage of transport options due to very few Ubers or taxis operating.I know for the skiiers, if you weren’t up by 5am heading up the mountain you could forget it.. the snaking queue of traffic, the supply issues like running out of coffee – quelle horror!Cleaning toilets, clearing queues.The Remarkables had two record breaking days just in the week we were there.. just on 5 thousand people up the mountain each day.Now that’s all great and fabulous, as long as everyone that’s going is spending up large and having a good time.But if you can’t spend up large because you can’t get into a restaurant because there’s not enough staff to service the crowds, then will those crowds be back?I know from friends who went to Rotorua that it was crazy busy there too.Look, I get it, great.. so good for them.. I’m not poo pooing their moment in the sun, but.. what about all the other regions needing help? And what about the fact some of these tourists would have been put off by huge crowds and lack of ability to service them, and therefore may decide not to come back?So a closed Australian bubble for 8 weeks of peak ski season may sound dire, but trust me, Kiwis are still travelling domestically in their droves.So it won’t be punters tourist towns are short of.. just staff.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Little surprise at a new report highlighting the housing sector's increasing impact on the economy.Analysis commissioned by the Property Council shows the industry makes up 15 percent of our GDP.It also reveals the sector has grown by $19.6 billion between 2009 and 2019.Infometrics Senior Economist Brad Olsen told Kate Hawkesby the growth is in line with other data.“The general economy in New Zealand grew about 25 percent over the same period. So you're seeing property trend in that similar sort of position.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Tokyo Olympics could be a good chance to get more young people interested in sport.New Zealand athletes will be back in action today in the triathlon, shooting, rugby sevens, tennis, cycling and hockey.They'll also be out on the water in the surfing, rowing, swimming and sailing.Sport New Zealand National Sport Development Manager Alex Chiet told Kate Hawkesby it's a good time for sport.“Kids and families are captivated by seeing different athletes in different sports. It's great for young people to see different sports than they'd usually see here in New Zealand.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All the action from the second day of the Tokyo Olympics that you may have missed late last night.Stunning swim17-year-old Erika Fairweather last night swam the race of her young life in the 400m freestyle heats in Tokyo, qualifying with the fourth-fastest time for this afternoon's Olympic final.Fairweather set a new national record with a rapid effort from lane eight at the Olympic Aquatics Centre, stopping the clock at 4:02.28 to best the previous mark set by Lauren Boyle at London 2012 by more than a second.Late thrillerThe Black Sticks men got their Olympic campaign right back on track, edging a seven-goal thriller against Spain.Jacob Smith's goal three minutes from fulltime proved the winner in an action-packed encounter in Tokyo, helping New Zealand to a 4-3 victory.Wouda, Shoulda, CouldaThe Oly Whites suffered a bitter – and slightly bizarre – defeat to Honduras, leading for most of the match but ultimately going down 3-2.The New Zealand side had the game under control with less than 15 minutes to play, before conceding two late goals.It was a genuine heartbreaker, as the Kiwis had scored two goals of the highest quality – including a 30 metre stunner by Liberato Cacace – but gave up three soft ones.Goalkeeper Michael Woud had a game to forget, with a portion of the blame for all three goals conceded.Tennis duo advanceKiwis tennis players Michael Venus and Marcus Daniell have progressed to the second round of the doubles event in Tokyo, after a comfortable win over a Belarus combination.The New Zealanders progressed 6-3 7-6 (8-6), wrapping the match up in 77 minutes.It probably should have been over quicker, but Venus and Daniell failed to convert any of their six break point opportunities in the second set.Streak snappedA 25-game Olympic winning streak for the Team U.S.A is over, ending Sunday when France closed the game on a 16-2 run to beat the Americans 83-76. Evan Fournier's 3-pointer off a broken play with just under a minute left put France ahead for good, as the Americans simply fell apart in the final minutes.The Americans lost for only the sixth time in 144 games at the Olympics all-time, and fell to 53-4 in the Olympics with NBA players on the roster.Medal watchNew Zealand is still without a medal. Boooo.China leads the way with six gold and 11 medals in total. Hosts Japan sit second with five gold and a silver.Coming upFairweather races in the 400m freestyle final. Other Kiwis with a chance of claiming a medal today include triathletes Hayden Wilde and Tayler Reid, with Wilde an outside hope of a medal, ranked 10th in the world.Mountain biker Anton Cooper will be looking to cause an upset in his medal race, with the $67-1 outsider hoping to upset all-around superstars Mathieu van der Poel and Tom Pidcock in the cross country mountain bike event. Given what happened in yesterday's women's road race, where a $500-1 amateur won, anything is possible…Other notable Kiwis to watch include surfers Ella Williams and Billy Stairmand, who have tough round of 16 contests today – weather permitting – after doing well to progress through the heats yesterday.Listen to Tokyo in 20 podcast, the new daily podcast from Newstalk ZB, looking back at the day's action from Tokyo 2020 and previewing what's coming up for our Kiwi athletes.Newstalk ZB - Official Radio Broadcast Partner of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is an old maxim that goes back to pre-Christian times, divide and rule.Julius Caesar modified it to divide and conquer.Fast forward a couple of thousand years, and to this current discussion about White Privilege, which is very significant in a country like New Zealand.According to emails released under the Official Information Act, the Education Ministry has spent $700,000 dollars teaching civil servants about it.People who go on the course are apparently told that recognising white privilege acknowledges New Zealand's colonial history.And it probes the impact of white privilege on society, both in the past and today.Now, at AUT, previously the University of Technology, these days they have a Diversity Professor.Edwina Pio says white privilege is alive and it needs to be addressed with rational compassion, whatever that means.Is it just me?Am I coming from a position of white privilege to suggest that when you tell someone they've had a bad deal often enough, they'll begin to believe it.Or is there real truth in this concept?Is white privilege something we've swept under the carpet for decades?Either way, I don't think I've ever sensed the factionalising of our society to the extent I do today.And I don't like it.I don't like that there seems an effort to pit New Zealanders against one another.To divide us, in order to rule us.Worst of all, I think it's working and that prompts the questions, what for, and what next?And one more; is it too late to stop this in-fighting, or have we already been conquered?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand’s home of rugby, Eden Park, is branching out, into the world of art.This weekend, the stadium hosts its first ever art show, featuring more than 100 New Zealand artists.Art in the Park is what they’re calling it and director Cary Cochrane told Tim Dower with the amount of work on display, there is something for everyone.“We have 105 fantastic artists and incredibly, nearly 2000 artworks that are going to be on display; painting, sculpture, photography and print.”LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're expecting to find out today what cabinet has decided on the quarantine-free travel bubble.Ministers have been considering their options, with clusters in Australia still out of control.The tourism sector can only sit, and wait.Cardrona and Treble Cone Ski Area general manager, Bridget Legnavsky told Tim Dower she is preparing to have no Australian tourists this season and will have to rely on domestic business.“The domestic market is actually really strong, right now were in the middle of the New Zealand school holidays so we’re actually really busy.”LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The comments made by the Police Minister in her interview with Mike Yardley have to an extent obscured the important discussion.Poto Williams told Mike she does not support general arming of police; and I don't like it much myself.But the Minister shot herself in the foot with her reasoning, and the comments she went on to make about what she said were the communities she represents.Now National's accusing Williams of not backing her own officers, and saying she should be sacked.And she probably should go. She obviously doesn't have a clue.I personally like the fact that our police don't routinely carry weapons, or at least that they don't routinely carry a handgun on their hip that we can all see.There are lots of studies that show when police are routinely armed criminals are more likely to carry weapons.And once you've got used to carrying a weapon it's not so much of a leap to use it.When you go to a country where police carry handguns you notice it right away it changes the dynamic between the police and the public.The fact is our police do routinely carry firearms in locked boxes in their cars.They have to.We've seen only in the past few weeks some incredibly brazen cases; people producing guns in the streets, people ramming police cars in broad daylight, guns pointed at police, guns being fired at police.Maybe what we really need is a change in the dynamic between police and the public.Or at least a change in the dynamic with an element of the public.Bottom line: we're asking men and women to go out on the mean streets, mop up the violence, and protect the rest of us from bad people.We in return have a duty to give them the tools they need for the job.And if the tools on some of those mean streets now are firearms, then I'm sorry to say so be it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is it about true crime documentaries that draws so many people in?TV, film makers; and according to ABC Australia nearly half of all podcast users have a taste for it.Research also shows that more women are listening to true crime podcasts than men.Tim Dower asked Associate Psychology Professor and crime psychology expert Amanda Vicary if a fascination with true crime is healthy.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Extreme heat and dry conditions are fueling raging wildfires in the western US, charring more than a million acres, requiring evacuations and creating smoky conditions visible from space.Smoke stretched early Wednesday all the way to the East Coast, including New York City, because high-level winds carried them thousands of miles from the West.The smoke mixed down to the surface in New York City, creating an eerie scene Wednesday morning -- though a cold front is expected to usher the smoke out of the area later in the day.In the West, the fires have caused power outages, destroyed structures and prompted the deployment of the Oregon National Guard.As extreme drought still grips most of the West and the fires have become so intense they've created their own weather systems, the threat of more fires remains.In Oregon -- where eight fires have burned nearly 475,000 acres -- officials said the current fire season is unlike any they've seen before."I would categorize this fire season thus far as historic in terms of the amount of resources we've deployed, how many times we've deployed -- within a three-week period we've mobilized to six conflagrations -- and this is the earliest and most significant mobilization to date," Mariana Ruiz-Temple with the Oregon fire marshal's office said Tuesday.At least 1.29 million acres have burned in 83 large fires across 13 states as of Tuesday, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. More than 19,000 wildland firefighters and support personnel have been deployed to deal with the blazes.Advisories for elevated fire potential and activity have been issued across Idaho, California, Oregon and the Northern Rockies, according to fire center.It's not just fires in the US contributing to the smoky haze. The Canadian province of British Columbia declared an emergency due to wildfires there effective Wednesday. Nearly 300 active wildfires have been reported in the province.Bootleg Fire is largest in countryIn Oregon, record-breaking, triple-digit temperatures and severe drought have devastated parts of the state.The conditions are fueling the Bootleg Fire in southern Oregon, which is the largest burning wildfire in the country. The Bootleg Fire has scorched more than 394,000 acres and prompted evacuations with only 32% containment, according to InciWeb, the US clearinghouse for wildfire information.The climate crisis has made deadlier and more destructive wildfires the new normal. And Oregon Gov. Kate Brown cited recent fires, ice storms, record-breaking high temperatures and drought emergencies as evidence that climate change is impacting her state."There's absolutely no question that climate change is playing out for before our eyes," Brown said at a news conference Tuesday. "We saw the heat dome event a few weeks ago; we unfortunately lost a lot of Oregonians through that event. In February, we saw devastating ice storms, over a half a million people lost power last fall, as you are well aware; we've had unprecedented wildfires."Fire potential in the state is being driven by drought conditions, with 90% of the Oregon in either exceptional, extreme or severe drought, Doug Grafe, chief of fire protection at the Oregon Department of Forestry said while forecasting a "long, difficult fire season."He said it's possible that another 50,000 to 100,000 acres could burn before the Bootleg Fire is contained."The future for us for the remainder of the season continues to look above normal dry and above normal temperatures," Grafe said. "So this is not going to return to normal anytime soon."Red flag warnings in the area will continue into Wednesday evening, signaling dry and windy conditions with lots of smoke, CNN meteorologist Michael Guy said.As a result of the fires, 62 members of the Oregon National Guard have been deployed, along with Blackhawk helicopters to provide water...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It is hard to imagine a time when the real estate sector has had it so good.With the huge price increases we've seen, agents' percentages are steady, so they too are banking big pay increases.On a sale of $900,000, around $30,000 will go to the agent.The question therefore remains, in a sellers' market; does it make sense to cut out the middle man?Graham Squires is with Massey University's school of Economics and Finance and he told Tim Dower he can see a future where more New Zealanders take a DIY approach to selling property.“There’s going to be a few sellers, I would imagine, who want to, as you say, cut out the middle man and start to take more of a DIY ethos when they see such a high proportion of the house price being ripe for the pickin.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Makers of the film about the Christchurch mosque attacks are expecting taxpayers to subsidise the venture.The director Andrew Nicoll has been looking to cover 40 percent of production costs by way of the film subsidy.Nothing is confirmed yet, but if the movie does go ahead, it would likely qualify for that.A question to come out of this is whether taxpayers should fund a movie depicting current politicians?Eric Crampton, chief economist at the NZ Initiative told Tim Dower more often than not, it’s the filmmakers that end up winning.“It’s kind of a losing game for taxpayers, internationally; filmmakers come out of it pretty well. Countries bid against each other to try provide the largest subsidies to attract international film productions and when countries do that, the winners wind up being the film companies.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The America's Cup post-mortem report has revealed a lot of juicy gossipy stuff about what went on during the event.And to me it raises questions about who was calling the shots, and who ought to have been calling them, given that it was the sorry old taxpayer that funded the whole thing.But the headline take-out from it all is of course, the spectacular financial failure.All up NZ Inc is almost $300 million worse off as a result of it.Auckland Council has also quietly admitted it put in 92 million more than it had previously said. That's a scandal in its own right.You can partly blame it on the pandemic, and a lack of challengers, plus the lack of international visitors. But when you get below the lid, there's a string of dysfunctional stuff-ups and of course the usual pettiness and one-up-manship we've all come to associate with this event.Bottom line: we put far too much public money in, so Auckland alone has a deficit of $146 million dollars.On the upside, lots of people in lockdowns in other part of the world saw it.The question now is: do we go through all of this again to try and recoup some of the investment in facilities by hosting the next Cup? Or do we let Team New Zealand take the show on the road, and find a higher bidder?I'll admit I'm in two minds.On the one hand, I've had a gutsful of the arrogant expectation that New Zealanders will fund this rich boys' game indefinitely, whatever the cost.So part of me says good luck, if you can find another sucker city to pay for your party take it there.But another part of me says: hey, you lot owe it to New Zealand, and to Auckland, to help pay for what we built for you.And by the way, there's a fee for using our brand.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 7.5 billion dollar trip to the edge of space by Jeff Bezos [ bay zoss] is being seen as bad timing.The world's richest man has soared more than 100 kilometres above the Texas desert, with three others, and returned safely.Fellow billionaire Sir Richard Branson took a similar flight earlier this month.Oxfam New Zealand's Jo Spratt told Tim Dower the coronavirus is sweeping the world, with second and third waves, and our close neighbour Fiji has some of the highest rates of the disease in the world.“It’s just not the time to spending massive amounts of resources going to space, when we could be helping our fellow human beings.”Jeff Bezos has a multi-billion dollar Earth Fund for battling climate change.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Disney is widely regarded as the very symbol of childhood innocence.Disney and Disneyland have apparently fallen victim to cancel culture.The Jungle Cruise ride has needed a facelift, after being criticised for its depiction of indigenous Africans.But it's not the only part of the organisation under scrutiny.Architectural historian and author of "Walt Disney's Disneyland" Chris Nichols told Tim Dower attitudes and perceptions have changed since Disneyland was originally built.“Disneyland is changing constantly, things come and go and we can see bits of 1950s Disneyland still peeking through and to some people some of things can be out of place in the 21st Century.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Covid-19 has left its mark on the balance sheet of New Zealand's hosting of this year's America's Cup.Analysis found that financially, New Zealand was almost $293 million worse, but when net benefits are considered, the loss shrinks to $156 million.The impacts of the pandemic, having fewer challengers and high public investment contributed to significant deficits.AUT sailing professor Mark Orams told Tim Dower even within our closed borders, the event was held - at various times - under Covid levels two and three.“And that really constrained all of the hospitality sector, the movement of people, the ability of even New Zealanders to engage in the event in the way that was originally planned.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Act Party, as part of their Law and Order Policy, want gang members to receive their benefits on a card, which would restrict spending on alcohol, gambling and tobacco.However, it doesn't address why young people are still being drawn into gang life.Patched member of the Mongrel Mob Aotearoa Wairoa chapter and youth worker Bronson Tither, is trying to redefine what it means to be in a gang.Bronson Tither told Kerre McIvor he knows many gang members who don't use drugs, alcohol or gamble and singling them out isn't the solution."The solution needs to be more focused around doing the type of mahi with the gang members to change their mindset, so that they want to not be on the unemployment benefit and they can be supported into another pathway, another way of thinking."LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wouldn't New Zealand be the perfect place if it weren't for the gangs?Over the years you've probably heard dozens of politicians promise gang crackdowns, tough policies to curb them, rein them in, or just lock 'em up.Electronic Income Management is new terminology to me, but the idea itself has been around a fair while.The Act Party says it wants to impose it on gang members when they're receiving benefits.The idea is to make sure children being raised in the homes of gang members have their basic needs met.So, money coming in from a benefit would be controlled electronically so it couldn't be spent on, well, you know where it goes.Instead, Act wants it used on the children, making sure they're properly fed and clothed.In principle, I have no objection to that at all.Not so long ago, Simon Bridges was talking refusing benefits altogether if a gang member couldn't prove where their assets had come from, and that they'd been paid for legitimately.What about the kids caught up in that? They didn't get to choose their parents.As I said at the outset, the gangs and what they do in and to our society are to me the saddest and most shameful thing about this beautiful country.The trouble is, every time we get to an election, the beauty contest between political parties is ‘who's going to smash the gangs hardest?’And what have we got from that? Growing numbers, rising inter-gang violence and an epidemic of P.It's time for a radically different approach.Is Electronic Income Management the answer?To be honest, I believe it's wishful thinking, at best.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A man who was brought up in a gang, says education will benefit gang members' children more, rather than controlling benefit spending.The Act Party wants gang members to receive their dole on an electronic card that would restrict spending on alcohol, gambling and tobacco.Dave Letele, who also runs the Manukau food bank, told Tim Dower you're much better off educating and empowering people, rather than trying to do this.“It’s limiting and monitoring spending, it’s not dealing with the issue of why people are joining gangs and that’s the real issue here.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The pause on quarantine-free travel with Victoria's been extended until at least tomorrow.The Health Ministry says it needs a better understanding of the developing situation in the Australian state - including the number and pattern of Covid-19 cases.Correspondent Lesley Yeomans says Victoria was supposed to come out of lockdown tonight, but that's been delayed."The Premier Daniel Andrews indicated they still neds some more time and we're waiting to see what the numbers are today."Our Health Ministry will review the quarantine-free travel pause with Victoria and New South Wales tomorrow.Ministry staff are keeping in contact with Australian authorities about each state - including keeping a close eye on South Australia, which has a new community case.Meanwhile, Fiji has announced another 784 new cases and 15 new deaths overnight.LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Biden administration and Western allies formally blamed China on Monday for a massive hack of Microsoft Exchange email server software and asserted that criminal hackers associated with the Chinese government have carried out ransomware and other illicit cyber operations.The announcements, though not accompanied by sanctions against the Chinese government, were intended as a forceful condemnation of activities a senior Biden administration official described as part of a "pattern of irresponsible behavior in cyberspace." They highlighted the ongoing threat from Chinese hackers even as the administration remains consumed with trying to curb ransomware attacks from Russia-based syndicates that have targeted critical infrastructure.The broad range of cyberthreats from Beijing disclosed on Monday included a ransomware attack from government-affiliated hackers that has targeted victims — including in the U.S. — with demands for millions of dollars. U.S officials also alleged that criminal contract hackers associated with China's Ministry of State Security have engaged in cyber extortion schemes and theft for their own profit.Meanwhile, the Justice Department on Monday announced charges against four Chinese nationals who prosecutors said were working with the MSS in a hacking campaign that targeted dozens of computer systems, including companies, universities and government entities. The defendants are accused of stealing trade secrets and confidential business information.Unlike in April, when public finger-pointing of Russian hacking was paired with a raft of sanctions against Moscow, the Biden administration did not announce any actions against Beijing. Nonetheless, a senior administration official who briefed reporters said that the U.S. has confronted senior Chinese officials and that the White House regards the multination shaming as sending an important message.President Joe Biden told reporters "the investigation's not finished," and White House press secretary Jen Psaki did not rule out consequences for China, saying, "This is not the conclusion of our efforts as it relates to cyber activities with China or Russia."Even without fresh sanctions, Monday's actions are likely to exacerbate tensions with China at a delicate time. Just last week, the U.S. issued separate stark warnings against transactions with entities that operate in China's western Xinjiang region, where China is accused of repressing Uyghur Muslims and other minorities.Then on Friday, the administration advised American firms of the deteriorating investment and commercial environment in Hong Kong, where China has been cracking down on democratic freedoms it had pledged to respect in the former British colony.The European Union and Britain also called out China. The EU said malicious cyber activities with "significant effects" that targeted government institutions, political organizations and key industries in the bloc's 27 member states could be linked to Chinese hacking groups. The U.K.'s National Cyber Security Centre said the groups targeted maritime industries and naval defense contractors in the U.S. and Europe and the Finnish parliament.In a statement, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the hacking was "conducted from the territory of China for the purpose of intellectual property theft and espionage."The Microsoft Exchange cyberattack "by Chinese state-backed groups was a reckless but familiar pattern of behaviour," U.K. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said.NATO, in its first public condemnation of China for hacking activities, called on Beijing to uphold its international commitments and obligations "and to act responsibly in the international system, including in cyberspace." The alliance said it was determined to "actively deter, defend against and counter the full spectrum of cyber threats."That hackers affiliated with the Ministry of State Security were engaged...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You may be surprised to learn Year 13 girls still think being pretty and popular on social media is more important than intelligence and academic achievements.This is our 16-18 year-olds, and perhaps most surprisingly, the information comes from interviews with the top achievers at four high schools.Dr. Eunice Price at Auckland University's faculty of Education and Social Work told Tim Dower parents need to be supportive and let their kids know it isn’t the be all and end all.“Some of the pressures they feel are really real, they almost feel as if some of their failures are a life or death experience… if I have one small failure that’s my future ripped away from me.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak will self-isolate for 10 days, after initially saying they would not despite coming in contact with someone who contracted Covid-19.Johnson and Sunak came in contact with Health Secretary Sajid Javid who tested positive.The two initially claimed they didn't need to isolate as they were taking part in a pilot scheme that involves daily testing. However, backlash ensued from opposition parties claiming there's one rule for them and one for the rest of the public.Meanwhile, almost all legal restrictions in England will be lifted today, including limits on gatherings and nightclubs reopening.UK correspondent Gavin Grey told Tim Dower that means virtually everything will go back to normal."No limits on how many people can meet, the one metre-plus social distancing guidance has been removed except in places like hospitals or passport control, or entering the country. You no longer require face coverings and that's the one that's been controversial."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two athletes living in the Olympic Village have tested positive for Covid-19, the first to do so with the Tokyo Games opening on Friday.Organisers confirmed the positive tests on Sunday and both were listed as "non-Japanese". No names or other details were provided.Organisers on Sunday also said another athlete had tested positive but this person was not residing in the Olympic Village. This athlete was also identified as "non-Japanese".Organisers say since July 1, 55 people linked to the Olympics have reported positive tests. This accounting does include athletes or others who may have arrived for training camps but are not yet under the "jurisdiction" of the organising committee.The Olympic Village on Tokyo Bay will house 11,000 Olympic athletes and thousands of other support staff.Tokyo recorded 1,410 new Covid-19 cases on Saturday, the highest in six months. It was the 28th straight day that cases were higher than seven days previous.The Olympics will open on Friday under a state of emergency in Tokyo and three neighbouring prefectures. The emergency order lasts until August 22. The Olympics close on August 8.Fans — local and fans from abroad — have been banned for all Olympic events in Tokyo and the three neighbouring prefectures.A few outlying venues may allow a smattering of local fans.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Even before the Olympics are officially open, things are looking decidedly dicey in Tokyo.As of this morning, there are now 55 covid cases among people linked to the Games.This includes various contractors and suppliers, as well as the smattering of cases among the athletes themselves.Most recently, members of the South African football team have been told to isolate, after cases in their contingent.So far, the New Zealand team have not been directly affected.Let's hope it stays that way.But teams are flying in from all over the world...some from countries where the virus is totally out of control.Even with all our requirements about pre-departure tests and travellers supposedly being covid free...we get new cases arriving in managed isolation every day.To think the Olympics won't end up being a super-spreader event is living in dreamland.The first day of competition includes football and softball, as well as opening ceremony itself.Neither of those is a contact sport per se...but you can't have a game of either of those without players getting very close to one another.Some won't even know they're infectious...but they'll be spreading it among their own teammates and from team to team.And then heading back to their home countries with newly acquired new variants to share all around the world.80 per cent of people in Japan don't want it, but there's a lot invested.Sponsors have put in billions...the broadcasters have big dollars tied up...there's all the infrastructure...the accommodation...and so on.Let's hope I'm wrong, and that somehow the Games go off without causing another mass outbreak.We wouldn't want Tokyo's name to become as infamous as Wuhan's.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The more I see of this Three Waters legislation, the more it smacks of a dictatorship bent on centralisation, and the less I like it.This is a massive change in the way we live our lives, everyone needs water.But it's being hammered through with indecent haste, and the strategy seems to be to swamp us with very dodgy data and immensely complex legislation.The Prime Minister tried to win over local mayors yesterday with a sweetener, two and a half billion dollars to encourage them to go along with it.At the same time, the Government claims we need to spend anything from 120 billion to 185 billion, over the next 30 years.Now, I'm not denying that in some parts of the country there is a major infrastructure challenge.It can't be right that some councils have let their systems run down so much we see sewage in the streets when it rains, and beaches you can't swim at because they've gone code brown.It can't be right to have flood waters running through people's homes, when storm water systems can't handle the weather.So the Government has decided to tell local bodies, this is obviously too hard for you, we're going to relieve you of the job.Oh, and at the same time, we'll relieve you of the assets you do have, built up over generations and paid for by local people and are still being paid for in many areas.For the local bodies that have done a good job, spent the money and done the mahi, it's a slap in the face, and a straight out theft of assets.The good will subsidise the bad, even the Prime Minister acknowledges that in her speech.Instead of local systems accountable to local people, we'll get four massive and remote bureaucracies, accountable to no-one but themselves.It's a massive power grab, and the only way you have of escaping is to do a Whāngarei, if you can.Opt out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The quarterly inflation figures are out today.If it's anything near one percent for the three months, it will take the annual rate into territory we haven't seen for a long time.There are concerns that the first digit on that annual figure could come out to a 3.And if so, is it a blip, or a sign the economy is overheating?Infometrics chief forecaster Gareth Kiernan told Tim Dower there are a significant amount of inflationary pressures on our economy.“We’ve got oil prices rising, electricity prices are rising as well, container costs for international shipping are triple what they were before Covid and firms are also having to compete more for staff because the borders are shut.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s no secret social media giants are constantly looking for ways to get your attention, or better yet, your interaction.It's how they make their money.The granddaddy of them all, Facebook, is set to spend one billion US dollars getting influencers to create content on their platform.It's theorised this has come due to pressure from upstarts like Tik Tok.Tech commentator Paul Spain told Tim Dower when you’re dealing with the kind of numbers Facebook has, it’s a drop in the bucket.“When you’ve got that much money, you can afford to throw some of it around to make sure the best content creators are on your platform.”LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trucks, utes and even dogs will descend on city centres around the country today, as farmers take part in a huge protest.The Howl of a Protest event, organised by Groundswell New Zealand, will see thousands of farm vehicles rumbling through cities in protest against what farmers say is increasing interference from the Government, unworkable regulations and unjustified costs.The protests are taking place in 55 cities starting from Kaitaia to Southland.In Auckland, up to 50 tractors and utes are expected to take part in a convoy starting from Drury, on the Southern Motorway, at 9.20am.The convoy will be escorted by police as farmers head towards the Auckland CBD, where they are set to head down Queen St by the early afternoon.It will leave the motorway at Wellesley St, travel down Queen St before going along Beach Rd and rejoining the motorway heading south from Stanley St.Auckland motorists are told of a large convoy going through the CBD today. (File Photo / Mark Mitchell)A police spokeswoman said authorities were aware of the plans for protest action today."Police recognise and respect the lawful right to protest and our aim is to ensure that both the participants and the community are safe.Police will monitor the activities to ensure the safety of everyone involved."People have been encouraged to bring their tractor, ute and dogs for a bark-up.Groundswell NZ co-founder Bryce McKenzie, from West Otago, is expecting an "enormous" response to the nationwide event.The only major city that had left off the itinerary, and that was intentional, was Wellington.McKenzie was expecting a huge number of tractors in Auckland's Queen St today.The logistics were different in the various areas, with some towns requiring traffic management plans, he said.Bright said a number of vegetable growers would be donating three tonnes of vegetables to the City Mission.'We're fed up'The Herald understands a protest planned for Christchurch has been moved out of Cathedral Square as organisers were expecting a large number of participants.Some protesters have been diverted to other Canterbury towns.Christchurch organiser Aaron Stark told John MacDonald on NewstalkZB their main concerns are around constant changes to regulations and the "moving of goal posts"."We're fed up to be honest. Every farmer I know around here, around Canterbury, we're having the talk that maybe it's time to hang up the boots and find something else to do."It's getting to a point where we can't do it."The Otago Daily Times reports that in Dunedin, organisers have decided it would not be safe for the protest to stop in the city so participants will drive through the Octagon, between about noon and 12.15pm, their dogs barking.Hastings event organiser Chris Miles will be among thousands of people taking part in the Howl of A Protest movement today. (Photo / Warren Buckland)They will then return to Mosgiel where former Invermay head Dr Jock Allison would give a short address and Groundswell NZ's statement on how it sees things would be delivered.Even though protest vehicles would be keeping left and letting other traffic flow as smoothly as possible, there would still be significant disruption to the travelling public around Dunedin and Balclutha and more time should be left to get to destinations.In Levin, tradies and farmers are planning to drive their utes and tractors down Oxford St.The local protest group is planning to meet at Donnelly Park at 11am. The convoy would then leave for a drive through Oxford St at noon.Hundreds of farmers, growers and tradies are expected to take to the streets around Northland.Protests in Whangārei, Dargaville, Kerikeri and Kaitaia are due to start around the country at 11am.Whangārei co-ordinator Tracey Thomasson said she expected up to 200 vehicles.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the England football players targeted with online racist abuse after his team's loss in the final of the European championship condemned social media companies Thursday for doing too little to block "hateful and hurtful" messages on their platforms.In comments directed at Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, Bukayo Saka said he didn't want anyone else to be targeted by the kind of messages he and teammates Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho received after the three Black players missed penalty kicks during the shootout that ended Sunday's game."I knew instantly the kind of hate that I was about to receive and that (it) is a sad reality that your powerful platforms are not doing enough to stop these messages," the 19-year-old Saka wrote on Instagram. "There is no place for racism or hate of any kind in football. …"The U.K. Football Policing Unit is investigating potential hate crimes linked to the online abuse, and four people have already been arrested, according to a statement from the National Police Chiefs Council."We are working very closely with social media platforms, who are providing data we need to progress enquiries,'' Cheshire police Chief Constable Mark Roberts, who leads soccer policing nationwide, said. "If we identify that you are behind this crime, we will track you down and you will face the serious consequences of your shameful actions."The hate crime investigation follows a night of widespread crime and disorder during and after Sunday's European Football Championship match. As of Tuesday, authorities around the country had made 264 arrests linked to 897 incidents surrounding the final, the police chiefs said.- by DANICA KIRKA Associated PressSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I was holding my breath for a moment listening to our 2 o'clock news yesterday.In the end, the interest rate didn't go up, but the flag's been raised and the printing of money is coming to an end; the party's almost over.You've probably noticed signs of inflation in your supermarket shop, a couple of things I buy regularly have sneaked up all of a sudden.That big pack of toilet roll jumped by a dollar, from $8 to $9, only a dollar, but it's still a 12 and a half percent hike.Dog food has gone up 50 cents a bucket, and sure, it only works out to a few dollars more every week, but in percentage terms it's quite a hike.Even a small coffee has sneaked up to 5 bucks from 4.50, that's well over 10 percent.Petrol is up more than 20 cents a litre since last year, 95 is at least $2.35, the average over 2020 was $2.11 a litre.You might say that's just a return to normal conditions.I saw broccoli priced at $4.99 a piece yesterday, I think that's a record, and cauliflower is off the charts, I've seen an asking price of 8 bucks.Now sure, they are seasonal, and with luck we'll be back to 99c when the supply comes back in.But even putting seasonal factors to one side, you've probably seen signs of inflation yourself.Some experts are freaking out, and others are quite laid back about it all.We've had low inflation for a long time they say; this is just a short term catch up.I hope the second lot have it right and this is just catching up.I'm sure anyone who has experienced high inflation and the stiff interest rates that come with it will be hoping that too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Senate's top Democrat is backing a bill that would strike down a longstanding federal prohibition on marijuana, embracing a proposal that has slim chance of becoming law yet demonstrates growing public support for decriminalizing the drug.Proposals to legalize marijuana are nothing new. But Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is a sponsor of the effort unveiled Wednesday, underscoring how a once-fringe idea is increasingly mainstream. The measure would erode a central pillar of the decades-long war on drugs, which has disproportionately affected communities of colour in the United States."I will use my clout as majority leader to make this a priority in the Senate," said Schumer, of New York, who is the first Senate leader to support such an effort. "It's not just an idea whose time has come, it's long overdue."The bill would treat marijuana much like alcohol or tobacco, allowing it to be taxed and regulated. States could still outlaw its use. And those under the age of 21 couldn't purchase it. It would remain illegal to sell significant quantities without proper licensing and authorization, much like bootlegging alcohol. It would also clear the path for additional cannabis medical research.But besides clearing obstacles to recreational use, advocates say the bill would help the poor and those from communities of colour who have disproportionately been arrested, charged and jailed for marijuana crimes.The bill would expunge federal nonviolent convictions and allow for records of them to be sealed. Those currently serving nonviolent marijuana-related sentences could also seek a review hearing and receive an expungement."We have our precious resources being used to lock up ... Black and brown people for doing things that presidents, Congress people and senators have done," said Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, who is also a cosponsor of the bill, along with Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden.A similar bill has passed the House. But the measure faces a virtually nonexistent path in a narrowly divided Senate, where 60 votes are needed to pass most legislation.Schumer acknowledged that not all Democrats support the bill. That includes President Joe Biden, who has said he supports decriminalizing marijuana but believes the federal prohibition should remain."I've spoken in the past about the president's views on marijuana. Nothing has changed and there's no new endorsements of legislation today," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday.Republicans and influential law enforcement groups are certain to oppose it, as well."I don't understand how Republicans who say they are for 'states rights' won't support what my colleagues are talking about," said Wyden. "What this bill does is we decriminalize at the federal level, but we don't require states to legalize."Schumer and the other sponsors of the bill say their proposal is a "discussion draft" that's intended to get the conversation started.Though 18 states have legalized recreational use and 37 allow for some sort of medical marijuana, the remaining federal prohibition has created headaches for the industry in states where it is legal, making it hard for businesses to get banking services and loans.Those in the marijuana industry called Schumer's support a significant advance."It is a big ask and I'm a realist," said Joe Caltabiano, CEO of Choice Consolidation Corp. and the cofounder of Cresco Labs. "It will take a lot to get this bill through Congress."Maritza Perez, of the Drug Policy Alliance, said Congress is finally catching up with where the general public has long been. Meanwhile, those who are convicted of marijuana-related offenses face life-altering consequences, making it hard to get a job or receive public benefits.Earlier this month, American sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson was left off the U.S. team's Olympic roster following a positive test for marijuana, costing...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Declaring Venice's waterways a "national monument," Italy is banning mammoth cruise liners from sailing into the lagoon city, which risked being declared an imperiled world heritage site by the United Nations later this month.Culture Minister Dario Franceschini said the ban was urgently adopted at a Cabinet meeting Tuesday and will take effect Aug. 1. It applies to the lagoon basin near St. Mark's Square and the Giudecca Canal, which is a major marine artery in Venice.Franceschini said the government decided to act fast "to avoid the concrete risk" that the U.N. culture agency UNESCO would add Venice to its list of "world heritage in danger" after it begins meeting later this week in Beijing.The Cabinet decree also "establishes an unbreakable principle, by declaring the urban waterways of St. Mark's Basin, St. Mark's Canal and the Giudecca Canal a national monument,'' the minister added.Before the coronavirus pandemic severely curtailed international travel, cruise ships discharging thousands of day-trippers overwhelmed Venice and its delicate marine environment. Environmentalists and cultural heritage have battled for decades with business interests, since the cruise industry is a major source of revenue for the city.The government's decision was "awaited by UNESCO and by all those who have been to Venice and who have remained disturbed by the huge size of these ships passing through the most fragile and most beautiful place in the world," Franceschini told reporters.UNESCO recommended last month placing Venice on the agency's list of World Heritage in Danger sites.There was no immediate comment from the U.N. cultural agency.The Italian government earlier this year had decided on a ban but without quickly setting a date for it to start.But now, the government "decided to impose a strong acceleration" to implementing the move given the looming UNESCO review, Franceschini said in a statement.Another impetus was the startling appearance in early June of a 92,000-ton cruise ship nosing its way down the Giudecca Canal for the first time since the pandemic's arrival in early 2020 effectively suspended mass tourism in Venice.The ban applies to ships weighing more than 25,000 tons or longer than 180 meters (530 feet) or with other characteristics that would make them too polluting or overwhelming for Venice's environment.Italian Premier Mario Draghi's office specified that ships that don't have any of those characteristics and thus "are considered sustainable" to the Venetian environment can continue to dock in Venice. The premier's office noted that permitted ships generally have about 200 passengers compared to the thousands that huge cruise vessels carry.With only a few hours of shore time in Venice, the big liners' passengers tend to clump around classic tourist sites like St. Mark's Square, adding to the city's already crowded public spaces.No cars are allowed in historic Venice, which consists of narrow alleys and many bridges linking passageways. During high tourist season, which occupies a good deal of the year in Venice, navigating as a pedestrian is a daunting challenge.The Cabinet decree also establishes compensation mechanisms for navigation companies and others affected by the ban. Until a more suitable docking area can be established elsewhere in waters outside the heart of Venice, the government has approved creating at least four temporary docking sites near the industrial port of Marghera, located on the northwestern Adriatic Sea.- by FRANCES D'EMILIO Associated PressSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.