ASIA PACIFIC TODAY

ASIA PACIFIC TODAY. Covid-19 and the massive fail of Journalism with Trish Wood. Trish Wood is an award-winning investigative journalist who has come to her own conclusions on Covid censorship. One of her recent podcasts features yet another example of medical censorship involving the low-cost drug, Ivermectin and the author of a review that won’t see the light of day. Some of Trish's works include the critically acclaimed, five-part documentary series for Amazon Studios 'Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer'. Trish was one of the hosts for the Emmy Award-winning investigative current affairs series, The Fifth Estate. In 2006 Trish published What Was Asked of Us: An Oral History of the Iraq War by the Soldiers Who Fought It. And Trish went on to create I Didn’t Do It, believed to be the first-ever wrongful conviction series. Editorial This Pandemic has exposed Governments and their public Heath authorities and Advisory Boards like nothing else. Putting aside the disastrous lockdowns and incompetence in dealing with Covid-19, a travesty currently playing out is that while lives are being lost, early treatment of Covid-19 using inexpensive and well-known drugs is being rejected in advanced countries such as the US, Britain and Australia. Worse still, eminent doctors who have used a range of safe drugs with stunning success have been threatened, censored and renounced by the medical institutions that employ them. Governments, Public health authorities and associated medical and Big Pharma advisors, mainstream media and BIG Tech are the chief Censors. The cornerstone of Democracy is free speech. If free speech now has conditions attached, it is no longer free. If we can't discuss all things Covid without fear, then free speech is dead. The stories of early treatment success will not go away and at some point, there will be a reckoning; providing we keep asking questions and the media starts to do their job. ASIA PACIFIC TODAY. March 11, 2021

One of its declared goals that has received less attention, is that is that by 2025 its weather modification programme will allow China to control rain and snow across an area that is more than one-and-a-half times the size of India, or 20 times the size of the UK. China’s State Council said weather modification will "intensify" in areas of mitigating drought, hail, fires and high temperatures, while also assisting agricultural production and preserving ecologically protected areas. We don’t know how successful will China be in controlling their own weather but what will the impacts be on neighbouring countries? How will their weather be affected by these technologies and experiments? And as China ramps up its investments in weather modification technologies, shouldn’t rich countries like the US be doing the same - rather than wasting money and enriching millionaires on renewable energy subsidies that seriously impact energy security and costs to consumers. We talk to resident meteorologist Kirk Clyatt about weather modification and recent developments in this area.

Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan has just been signed into law. The measure is the sixth major COVID-19 relief bill Congress has authorized in a year, and a sum of “emergency” spending totalling around $US5 ($6) trillion. The OECD has already projected the U.S. economy will grow by 6.5% this year, so will this supercharge the economy or just help struggling Americans and small businesses emerge from the devastation of Covid lockdowns imposed by their Governments. We look more closely at what is contained in this bill and how it will affect business and the economy. Blake Christian, a Partner with Holthouse Carlin & Van Trigt looks more closely at what is contained in this bill and how it will affect business and the economy. Blake, a national Top 25 OZ influencer, is a tax partner at HCVT in Long Beach, California, and Park City, Utah. Blake has over 35 years of experience providing tax consulting and compliance services to clients that include multinational, publicly traded corporations, as well as closely held owner-managed businesses. He is a specialist in federal, state and local tax incentive programs, and is leading the firm’s efforts in providing tax consulting services for Qualified Opportunity Zones (QOZs). Blake’s industry experience is broad and includes manufacturing and distribution, service companies, restaurant, shipping and transportation, energy and health care.

Our guest, Dr Vladimir Zelenko, a pioneer of early treatment of Covid-19 has long been subjected to censorship by a medical media cartel. Last year, Dr Zelenko, found himself in the whirlpool engulfing Hydroxychloroquine after President Trump highlighted the drug’s potential to treat Covid-19. Dr Zelenko graduated from SUNY at the Buffalo School of Medicine in 2000. He is Board Certified in Family Medicine and is the medical director at Monsey Family Medical Center in New York. Editorial Cancel Culture, Mainstream media and Big Tech had some wins this week. In Australia, after months of hounding, Craig Kelly MP, an outspoken supporter of early treatment for Covid-19, resigned from the Government benches to become an Independent. Main Stream Media were outraged with Craig Kelly. Katharine Murphy from the Guardian said that Scott Morrison must heed the lesson of Donald Trump and slap down Craig Kelly. Slap him down. Prominent members of conservative mainstream press criticised him for his apparent selfishness and crude and destructive populism which they said threatened the Conservative cause and Government itself. Really? Big Tech continues to threaten free speech, but the Australian Government said Facebook had befriended Australia again after it reversed its ban on Australian news content. Legislation was passed requiring technology giants Google and Facebook to negotiate with Australian media companies to pay for news content. Unlike big media, Individuals and small content producers will remain subject to the whims and censorship of Big Tech. So, despite what they say, all is not well in the kingdom. Big Tech and State censorship is rife in the US. House Democrats are pressing cable TV providers over their decisions to carry channels that lawmakers accuse of spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories that lead to “real world harm.” Conservative channels such as Newsmax, BlazeTV, One America Network (OANN) and Fox News are their targets.

N the US, the Democrat’s $1.9 trillion Stimulus package has recently passed the House. Blake Christian, Partner of HCVT.com joins us for an update on the bill’s passage and what the final package is likely to contain. Blake, a national Top 25 OZ influencer, is a tax partner at HCVT in Long Beach, California, and Park City, Utah. Blake has over 35 years of experience providing tax consulting and compliance services to clients that include multinational, publicly traded corporations, as well as closely held owner-managed businesses. He is a specialist in federal, state and local tax incentive programs, and is leading the firm’s efforts in providing tax consulting services for Qualified Opportunity Zones (QOZs). Blake’s industry experience is broad and includes manufacturing and distribution, service companies, restaurant, shipping and transportation, energy and health care.

Recently, an editorial in the Chinese state-run newspaper the Global Times alleged that the almost 80-year-old Five Eyes alliance of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States is an ‘axis of white supremacy’. We’re joined by Dr John Coyne head of the North and Australia’s Security program at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute to discuss some of the flaws in China’s strategic thinking and where that’s leading China. John sees opportunities in countering CCP’s increasingly divisive international policies. The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) is an independent, non-partisan think tank that produces expert and timely advice for Australia’s strategic and defence leaders. ASPI generates new ideas for government, allowing them to make better-informed decisions for Australia’s future. ASPI is one of the most authoritative and widely quoted contributors to public discussion of strategic policy issues in Australia and a recognised and authoritative Australian voice in international discussion of strategic issues, especially in the Asia-Pacific. ASPI aims, through its website, publications, blog, events and media activities, to be innovative, accurate and well-informed and to broaden public knowledge about the critical strategic choices our country will face over the coming years. The institute’s work helps to foster strategic expertise in Australia through dialogue, research and its contribution to public debate. ASPI strives to provide a strong focus and constructive commentary on the practical choices and issues which confront Australia’s strategic policy decisions, and this is reflected in ASPI's core values of collegiality, originality and innovation, quality and excellence, and independence. ASPI was established by the Australian Government in 2001 and is partially funded by the Department of Defence with other sources of revenue including sponsorship, commissioned tasks, a membership scheme, sale of publications, advertising and event registration fees.

A steadfast critic of climate change policies, Senator Malcolm Roberts joins us to talk about the findings of a report he commissioned Dr Alan Moran to prepare. The report spells out the great hidden cost of climate policies and renewables on Australian households and jobs. The report, ‘The Hidden Cost of Renewables on Electricity Prices’ uncovers blatant distortions and key facts that are excluded from reporting on the costs of climate policies.

Australia’s efforts to reduce carbon dioxide will have virtually no effect on global temperatures but climate change policies continue at the cost of billions. Politicians of all stripes and industry leaders chant of the quest for zero net emissions regardless of its meaning or cost. Millionaires and billionaires endorse the policies of climate change so how could they be wrong? Of course, many are making 'squillions'– multinational companies, global equity funds and renewable energy investors who know that 'the money is in the bag' or the windmills, and solar panels. China is also big winner in the production of solar panels and wind turbines. Meanwhile their emissions continue to rise and its commitment to the coal industry increases in contrast to other countries. It now possesses roughly half of the world’s coal power capacity as well as coal-fired power plants in development. A steadfast critic of climate change policies, Senator Roberts joins us to talk about the findings of a report he commissioned Dr Alan Moran to prepare. The report spells out the great hidden cost of climate policies and renewables on Australian households and jobs. On the issue of China, it’s bashing Australia again in language that sounds uncannily like that being used by American Democratic leaders. In an extraordinary attack recently, China’s state-sanctioned media has accused Australia, Canada, Britain and the US of being members of an “axis of white ¬ supremacy” in an attack on the Five Eyes intelligence network. We’re joined by Dr John Coyne head of the North and Australia’s Security program at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, to discuss some of the flaws in China’s strategic thinking and where that’s leading China. John sees opportunities in countering CCP’s increasingly divisive international policies. And in the US, the Democrat’s $1.9 trillion Stimulus package has recently passed the House. Blake Christian, Partner of Holthouse Carlin & Van Trigt joins us for an update on the bill’s passage and what the final package is likely to contain. Asia Pacific Today. March 5, 2021

Brian Martin is Emeritus Professor at the University of Wollongong, Australia. Professor Martin has been a prominent supporter of academic freedom and has made a great contribution to the research and commentary on dissent, free speech, whistleblowing, and advocacy. Brian Martin is emeritus professor of social sciences at the University of Wollongong, Australia. He is the author of 20 books and hundreds of articles on nonviolence, whistleblowing, scientific controversies, information issues, democracy and other topics. He is vice president of Whistleblowers Australia and runs a large website on suppression of dissent. His PhD is in theoretical physics from Sydney University. He has taught a wide range of subjects including communication studies, environmental issues, peace studies, the politics of technology, and happiness. He has undertaken many community research projects with the group Schweik Action Wollongong.

Daniel Teng, is Director at TheEpoch Times in Australia. The Epoch Times is one of the largest, independent Chinese-language news media groups in the world, headquartered in New York City. TheEpoch Times has experienced censorship in many forms and most recently on YouTube.

Our guests today are Brian Martin, Emeritus Professor at the University of Wollongong and Daniel Teng, Director at The Epoch Times in Australia. Brian Martin, Emeritus Professor at the University of Wollongong, Australia. Professor Martin has been a prominent supporter of academic freedom and has made a great contribution to the research and commentary on dissent, free speech, whistleblowing, and advocacy. Daniel Teng, is Director at The Epoch Times in Australia. The Epoch Times is one of the largest, independent Chinese-language news media groups in the world, headquartered in New York City. The Epoch Times has experienced censorship in many forms and most recently on YouTube. EDITORIAL This Pandemic has demonstrated how quickly our individual liberties can be taken away, even in Liberal Democracies Governments have given themselves emergency powers, the implications of which many of us don’t understand. These powers and secret indemnities remove accountability for serious harm and mismanagement. In this environment, we’ve also witnessed tight control of information and Mainstream media and Big Tech have emerged as effective enablers. So why would we think the Governments would stand up for freedom of expression, or fight BIG TECH and media censorship? During Covid19, the focus of concern in this country is not hate-speech but misinformation and its danger to public health. But the arbiters of misinformation – Government, Mainstream media and Big Tech have been the greatest promoters of misinformation during a pandemic – all in the name of public interest. Houston, we’ve got a problem! ASIA PACIFIC TODAY, March 03, 2021

Our guest is Dr Vladimir Zelenko, a pioneer of early treatment of Covid-19. He has long been subjected to censorship by a medical media cartel. Last year, Dr Zelenko, found himself in the whirlpool engulfing Hydroxychloroquine after President Trump highlighted the drug’s potential to treat Covid-19. Dr Zelenko graduated from SUNY at the Buffalo School of Medicine in 2000. He is Board Certified in Family Medicine and is the medical director at Monsey Family Medical Center in New York.

Our guest is Dr Vladimir Zelenko, a pioneer of early treatment of Covid-19 and has long been subjected to censorship by a medical media cartel. Last year, Dr Zelenko, found himself in the whirlpool engulfing Hydroxychloroquine after President Trump highlighted the drug’s potential to treat Covid-19. Dr Zelenko graduated from SUNY at the Buffalo School of Medicine in 2000. He is Board Certified in Family Medicine and is the medical director at Monsey Family Medical Center in New York. Editorial Cancel Culture, Mainstream media and Big Tech had some wins this week. In Australia, after months of hounding, Craig Kelly MP, an outspoken supporter of early treatment for Covid-19, resigned from the Government benches to become an Independent. Main Stream Media were outraged with Craig Kelly. Katharine Murphy from the Guardian said that Scott Morrison must heed the lesson of Donald Trump and slap down Craig Kelly. Slap him down. Prominent members of conservative mainstream press criticised him for his apparent selfishness and crude and destructive populism which they said threatened the Conservative cause and Government itself. Really? Big Tech continues to threaten free speech, but the Australian Government said Facebook had befriended Australia again after it reversed its ban on Australian news content. Legislation was passed requiring technology giants Google and Facebook to negotiate with Australian media companies to pay for news content. Unlike big media, Individuals and small content producers will remain subject to the whims and censorship of Big Tech. So, despite what they say, all is not well in the kingdom. Big Tech and State censorship is rife in the US. House Democrats are pressing cable TV providers over their decisions to carry channels that lawmakers accuse of spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories that lead to “real world harm.” Conservative channels such as Newsmax, BlazeTV, One America Network (OANN) and Fox News are their targets.

Cancel Culture, Mainstream media and Big Tech had some wins this week. In Australia, after months of hounding, Craig Kelly MP, an outspoken supporter of early treatment for Covid-19, resigned from the Government benches to become an Independent. Main Stream Media were outraged with Craig Kelly. Katharine Murphy from the Guardian said that Scott Morrison must heed the lesson of Donald Trump and slap down Craig Kelly. Slap him down. Prominent members of conservative mainstream press criticised him for his apparent selfishness and crude and destructive populism which they said threatened the Conservative cause and Government itself. Really? Big Tech continues to threaten free speech, but the Australian Government said Facebook had befriended Australia again after it reversed its ban on Australian news content. Legislation was passed requiring technology giants Google and Facebook to negotiate with Australian media companies to pay for news content. Unlike big media, Individuals and small content producers will remain subject to the whims and censorship of Big Tech. So, despite what they say, all is not well in the kingdom. Big Tech and State censorship is rife in the US. House Democrats are pressing cable TV providers over their decisions to carry channels that lawmakers accuse of spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories that lead to “real world harm.” Conservative channels such as Newsmax, BlazeTV, One America Network (OANN) and Fox News are their targets.

While politicians, public servants and many in big business have done well during the Pandemic, the livelihoods of many in small business have been decimated. Aside from the incalculable human cost of the lockdowns, losses have been large in trade exposed sectors such as Tourism and Hospitality, Higher Education and Agriculture. We have also seen a large rise in Federal and State Government debt to meet the costs of the Pandemic and to support employment. No great reforms are likely with yet another State election due and a looming Federal election. Inspite of some good economic news, Australia has much to be concerned about. It seems the vaccine will not avert future lockdowns and external border restrictions continue to constrain growth. Is bad policy, growing debt and big Government here to stay? We catch up with Robert Carling, a Senior Fellow in the Economics Program at The Centre For Independent Studies. Robert has recently published an article "The Looming Iceberg: Australia’s post-pandemic debt risk" Prior to joining the CIS, Robert was Executive Director, Economic and Fiscal at the New South Wales Treasury from 1998 to 2006. Previous positions have been with Commonwealth Treasury, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. He holds academic qualifications in economics and finance from the London School of Economics and Political Science, Georgetown University and the University of Queensland.

In the US, as in Australia, there is little focus on debt and runaway spending. To support businesses hit hard by the lockdowns, hundreds of billions in loans have been made available through the Paycheck Protection Program. The Biden Administration is seeking to pass it’s $1.9 Trillion Covid Relief Package containing further measures for small business, however Covid relief makes up a mere 9% of the entire package. Expensive pet projects and generous handouts to Democratic supporters and states are included. We're joined by Blake Christian, a Partner at Holthouse Carlin & Van Trigt who discusses Joe Biden's Relief Package and the Paycheck Protection Program. Blake, a national Top 25 OZ influencer, is a tax partner at HCVT in Long Beach, California, and Park City, Utah. Blake has over 35 years of experience providing tax consulting and compliance services to clients that include multinational, publicly traded corporations, as well as closely held owner-managed businesses. He is a specialist in federal, state and local tax incentive programs, and is leading the firm’s efforts in providing tax consulting services for Qualified Opportunity Zones (QOZs). Blake's industry experience is broad and includes manufacturing and distribution, service companies, restaurant, shipping and transportation, energy and health care.

Today we are doing what we do for each show. We talk to experts about hot topics and share their information. This is apparently inappropriate now with certain members of Parliament or certain topics. In Australia, it’s the former Liberal Party’s Craig Kelly talking about early treatment of Covid-19. One of our interviews with Craig was removed by YouTube soon after it was posted. We immediately appealed this decision and received a two word answer. Appeal rejected. No reason. Just Appeal rejected. That interview is available on the free speech platform rumble.com - look for Asia Pacific Today. I urge you to watch the interview and come to your own conclusions about the state of censorship in Australia. The Australian Government, and most of our leaders have apparently not woken up to the fact that Mainstream Media and Big Tech is flexing its muscles here and will soon be censoring others who say things they don’t like – including during elections. By the way, Graig Kelly MP is now an independent, leaving a hole for the Morrison Government and a lot less backbone. While politicians, public servants and many in big business have done well during the Pandemic, Government action has destroyed livelihoods of many in small business. Aside from the human costs of the lockdowns, losses in trade exposed sectors such as Tourism and Hospitality, Higher Education and Agriculture have been smashed. This has been accompanied by a massive rise in Government debt to meet the costs of the Pandemic and support employment. No great reforms – financial or economic - are on the agenda with yet another State election due and a looming Federal election. Despite some reprieve, Australia has much to be concerned about. The arrival of a vaccine will not avert future lockdowns and external restrictions remain, restricting growth and productivity and highlighting the lack of a plan to fight another round of this virus or another pandemic. Is Bad policy, growing debt and big Government here to stay? We catch up with Robert Carling, a Senior Fellow in the Economics Program at the Centre For Independent Studies. Roberty has recently published an article "The Looming Iceberg: Australia’s post-pandemic debt risk" As in Australia, there is little focus on debt and spending right now. Small businesses in the US has been hit hard by Government lockdowns and hundreds of billions have been made available to small and large business in several rounds of the Paycheck Protection Program. The Biden Administration is seeking to pass it’s latest $1.9 Trillion Covid Relief Package, which contains further measures for small business and other Covid relief, making up just 9% of the package along with generous handouts to Democratic supporters and badly managed Democratic states. We're joined by Blake Christian, a Partner at Holthouse Carlin & Van Trigt who discusses Biden's Relief Package and the successful PPP program.

We speak with Dr Paul Bertsch, Deputy Director of Science of the new Land and Water Business Unit at the CSIRO. The Business Unit brings together a diverse team of approximately 650 scientists and technical specialists from across CSIRO and builds partnerships with industry, government, and other research providers to generate the science which underpins sound stewardship of land and water resources, ecosystems, and the built environment. Wastewater-based epidemiology approaches, to detect Covid-19 in wastewater, are being implemented worldwide as an environmental surveillance approach, to inform health authority decision-making. Dr Bertsch’s team are at the forefront of developing more accurate tests for Covid-19 in wastewater in Australia. Prior to joining CSIRO in 2013, Paul was the Director of the Tracy Farmer Institute for Sustainability and the Environment and Professor of Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology, University of Kentucky, Lexington. He is the Georgia Power Professor of Environmental Chemistry Emeritus at the University of Georgia, Athens and is an adjunct Professor of Environmental Systems Engineering and Science at Clemson University, South Carolina.

Get ready for Biden's massive tax hikes with Blake Christian. In the United States, there is much uncertainty following the election of Joe Biden as President. Many new and controversial policies have been imposed through Executive Order, while Congress has been fixated with Impeachment Proceedings and political theatre. Small business has been devastated by sweeping lockdowns in some states and the Covid relief package still in train. In this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes,” Benjamin Franklin. There has been talk of both long-term and short-term capital gains being taxed at very high Federal Rates by the Biden administration. Blake Christian, a partner at Holthouse Carlin & Van Trigt joins us to discuss Biden's tax hikes and the impact on investment. Blake, a national Top 25 OZ influencer, is a tax partner at HCVT LLP in Long Beach, California, and Park City, Utah.Blake has over 35 years of experience providing tax consulting and compliance services to clients that include multinational, publicly traded corporations, as well as closely held owner-managed businesses. He has specialized in federal, state and local tax incentive programs, and is leading the firm’s efforts in providing tax consulting services for Qualified Opportunity Zones (QOZs). Blake's industry experience is broad and includes manufacturing and distribution, service companies, restaurant, shipping and transportation, energy and health care.

Things get curiouser and curiouser. Despite more than 12 months of the pandemic and the availability of a vaccine, the future appears no brighter and Government overreach has intensified. State such as Victoria still can't prevent Covid-19 outbreaks in quarantine without imposing widespread lockdowns, while border restrictions follow in neighbouring states. Despite their ruinous consequences, governments have not justified such policies on scientific grounds. Worse still, they ferment fear with warnings of new, more infectious strains and questionable evidence of the virus in wastewater systems. One question amongst many big questions is why there is no early treatment of Covid-19 in Australia. Why are responsible Parliamentarians, eminent immunologists and medical practitioners being censored, bullied or threatened for talking about drugs that are used successfully in other countries to fight Covid-19? Even with a vaccine, isn’t effective early treatment still essential? Can we be confident that the Government is acting in our interests? Is State Censorship now a way of Pandemic Life? What is the role of the media and are they acting as chief censors and reporters of scientific fact? And are we being prepared for mandatory vaccinations with a new vaccine? Today our special guest is Craig Kelly MP. Craig Kelly MP is a member of the Australian House of Representatives and represents the electorate of Hughes, in New South Wales, for the Liberal Party of Australia. In government, Craig has been appointed to key posts including serving on the House Economics Committee and the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, as well as Chairing the Parliamentary Committee on Law Enforcement. In the United States, there is much uncertainty following the election of Joe Biden as President. Many new and controversial policies have been imposed through executive order, while Congress has been fixated with Impeachment Proceedings and political theatre. Small business has been devastated by sweeping lockdowns in some states and the Covid relief package still in train. In this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes,” Benjamin Franklin. There has been talk of both long-term and short-term capital gains being taxed at very high Federal Rates by the Biden administration. Blake Christian, a partner at Holthouse Carlin & Van Trigt joins us to discuss Biden's tax hikes and the impact on investment. And as Facebook bullies Australia, Project Veritas released a new video exposing Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s contradictory position when it comes to COVID-19 vaccines. ASIA PACIFIC TODAY. February 19, 2021

LIBERAL MP CRAIG KELLY DISCUSSES EARLY COVID TREATMENT AND THE ENSUING CENSORSHIP Things get curiouser and curiouser. Despite more than 12 months of the pandemic and the availability of a vaccine, the future appears no brighter and Government overreach has intensified. State such as Victoria still can't prevent Covid-19 outbreaks in quarantine without imposing widespread lockdowns, while border restrictions follow in neighbouring states. Despite their ruinous consequences, governments have not justified such policies on scientific grounds. Worse still, they foment fear with warnings of new, more infectious strains and stories of the virus in wastewater systems. One question amongst many big questions is why there is no early treatment of Covid-19 in Australia. Why are responsible Parliamentarians, eminent immunologists and medical practitioners being censored, bullied or threatened for talking about drugs that are used successfully in other countries to fight Covid-19? Even with a vaccine, isn’t effective early treatment still essential? Can we be confident that the Government is acting in our interests? Is State Censorship now a way of Pandemic Life? What is the role of the media and are they acting as chief censors or reporters of scientific fact? And are we being prepared for mandatory vaccinations with a new vaccine? Today our special guest is Craig Kelly MP. Craig Kelly MP is a member of the Australian House of Representatives and represents the electorate of Hughes, in New South Wales, for the Liberal Party of Australia. In government, Craig has been appointed to key posts including serving on the House Economics Committee and the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, as well as Chairing the Parliamentary Committee on Law Enforcement.

A tragedy occurred recently in Northern India where a part of the Nanda Devi glacier broke off, triggering a massive flood and washing away parts of two hydropower plants and other infrastructure, leaving 50 lives lost and over 150 feared dead. While some climate experts rushed to declare this a climate change event from rising temperatures, rational observers point to other causes including the construction of back-to-back dams and rush for renewable energy projects that may have destabilised the fragile environment in the Himalayas. We're joined by Sanjeev Ahluwalia, is an Advisor at Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi. Sanjeev's expertise is in economic regulation, political economy, public sector financial management and governance. He has had experience at senior levels in The Energy Research Institute, Ministries of Finance, Commerce in the Government of India and in Finance and Industry in the Government of Uttar Pradesh. Sanjeev has a Masters in Economic Policy Management from Columbia University, New York; a post graduate Diploma in Financial Management from Delhi University and a Masters in History from St. Stephens College, Delhi. He hosts a blog: Opinion India (ahlu-india.com) which is also available at Times of India Blogs and writes for the Asian Age; swarajyamag.com and theglobalist.com (Washington DC).

In this episode, we speak to Dr Paul Bertsch, Deputy Director of Science of the new Land and Water Business Unit at the CSIRO. Wastewater-based epidemiology approaches, to detect Covid-19 in wastewater, are being implemented worldwide as an environmental surveillance approach, to inform health authority decision-making. Dr Bertsch’s team are at the forefront of developing more accurate tests for Covid-19 in wastewater in Australia. In India, we also dig deeper into a tragedy that occurred recently in northern India where a part of the Nanda Devi glacier broke off, triggering a massive flood, washing away parts of two hydropower plants and other infrastructure, leaving 50 lives lost and over 150 feared dead. While some climate exerts rushed to declare this a climate change event from rising temperatures, rational observers point to other causes including the construction of back-to-back dams and rush for renewable energy projects that may have destabilised the fragile environment in the Himalayas. We're joined by Sanjeev Ahluwalia, is an Advisor at Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi. ASIA PACIFIC TODAY. February 23, 2021

Paul Dimattina says lockdowns are killing business in Victoria Victoria's into day three of a lockdown that could go past the planned five days. Questions are again being raised about Victoria’s infection control procedures, with a leading virus expert claiming the state’s protocol had failed. Paul Dimattina is a prominent Melbourne restaurateur, and strong critic of Premier Dan Andrew's Covid-19 shutdowns which continue to smash Melbourne's hospitality industry.

One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts says small business needs genuine IR reform. We’re joined by Senator Malcolm Roberts, One Nation Senator for Queensland who questions whether the new legislation will assist recovery and what is required for genuine reform of Industrial Relations.