Lately for Thursday 24 February 2022

Photo: RNZ

10:18 Vitalii Rybak I'm ready to take up arms

Vitalii Rybak is a Ukrainian journalist working in the west of his country but he says if necessary he will take up arms to defend Ukraine against Russia. 

10:24 What should New Zealand's response be to Russia's invasion of Ukraine?

Geoffrey Miller is an international analyst at the Democracy Project at Victoria University in Wellington. He says New Zealand could be part of an international sanctions effort against Russia. 

10:34 Hong Kong ramps up Covid-19 restrictions

As New Zealand and some other countries look to ease Covid-19 restrictions Hong Kong is moving in the other direction. From Thursday it's compulsory to wear masks in parks and when you're exercising. Eating and drinking is banned on all public transport and masks must be worn at all times while in transit. From next month Hong Kong will carry out compulsory covid testing for all its citizens to try to slow the spread of the virus. Tom Grundy is the Editor in Chief at the Hong Kong Free Press.

Tom Grundy from Hong Kong Free Press Photo: supplied

10:39 New Zealand moves into Phase 3 of Omicron

In less than two hours New Zealand will enter phase three of its Omicron response. It is almost two years to the day when the first Covid-19 case was reported here on February 28 2020. Since then we've had a national state of emergency and an alert level system. RNZ's health correspondent Rowan Quinn talks through what to expect under phase three. 

Photo: 123RF

10:50 Red Cross clinical director Dr Tony Smith