Midday Edition: 23 February 2025

The Midday Edition of News Fix for 23 February 2025, straight from the Newstalk ZB newsroom - bringing you everything you need to know in news, politics, business, entertainment and sport.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:04):
No, the news talks had been newsroom, this is NEWSFACS.
In this update, the Vatican says Pope Francis is now
in a critical condition after suffering a long asthmatic respiratory crisis.
The eighty eight year old has been treated in hospital
for double pneumonia and chronic bronchitis. It's reported the Pontiff
has also had a blood transfusion. Sky News Lisa Holland

(00:26):
says the Vaticans, given the sense, have been very concerned,
with updates this morning suggesting he's still at high risk. Actually,
it's been quite a hard day for the Vatican team
monitoring the Pope as to how he's feeling. The government
has announced changes to the overseas investment at in a
bid to drive higher wages. The reforms include making investment

(00:49):
decisions aside from residential land, farmland and fishing quota in
fifteen days, and giving more power to grant consents without
ministerial involvement. Associate Finance Minister David Seymour says New Zealand's
capital to labor ratio has seen very little growth over
the past ten years, averaging around zero point seven percent annually.

(01:11):
He says productivity growth also averages zero point two percent
between twenty thirteen and twenty twenty three. Israel has pushed
back the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, citing a
need for further security reviews. It was set to release
the six hundred and twenty Palestinians in exchange for Harmas
releasing six hostages. The delays thought to be down to

(01:34):
the failed transfer of Israeli hostage Scherybbas's body, which Hamas
has called a mistake. President Donald Trump has abruptly fired
the top general Charles Brown, who is the highest ranking
officer in the United States. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths also
fired Navy chief Elisa Franchetti, the first woman to serve

(01:55):
on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. CNN's Caitlin Collins says
this has been rumored for wait weeks now after remarks
suggesting Brown's two quote woke. His term does not expire
until the fall of twenty twenty seven. But when this ouster,
Trump has removed him from his post and is now
picking someone else to take this position, that's news. In sport,

(02:16):
Hue heavyweight Joseph Parker has enjoyed a second round knockout
at Congolese Powerpunch and Martin mccoley in Riad Interim Football Firms.
Coach Michael Mayne is excited to test his players in
their two match series against Costa Rica, which is just
kicking off in San Jose. Main's inexperienced squad features three
uncapped players and fourteen with less than twenty caps. While

(02:39):
the Ferns are ranked higher, Maine says Costa Rica's style
of play will present many challenges. This is the perfect
challenge for this team right now. What I've seen from
Costa Rica is there are very typical Central American team,
lots of flair in the team. They like to get
on the ball. They're quite off the cuffs. Arsenal's Premier
League title challenge has been dented by an unexpected one

(03:02):
nil home loss to west Ham that featured a fifth
red card for the season for Michael Arteta's team That Sports.
I'm Sandy Hodge. For more news, listen to News Talk
said Be Live on iHeartRadio.