By RNZ Nominations for the position of Green Party co-leader have closed, with James Shaw the only candidate.Shaw was ousted as co-leader less than a fortnight ago, after at least a quarter of delegates at the party’s annual…

NSW police carried out a blitz in Sydney's CBD on e-bikes which saw some riders facing big fines and a stern reaction from officers.

E-bikes are becoming a major mode of transport around the city but many riders may be unaware their mode of transport is breaking the law.

For one rider, he was reminded his bike is illegal and faced not only a large fine but was also tackled by police on George Street.

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"Ha, I hope you saw him throwing me off the bike," the rider yelled to 9News.

The rider had been caught for the second time in two months using his banned bike and was also accused of avoiding officers while they patrolled for illegal e-bikes.

The fine wasn't cheap, a whopping $704.

In NSW, only power-assisted pedal cycles and electrically power-assisted cycles are legal and the e-bikes cannot exceed speeds of 25 km/hr.

Petrol-powered bikes, bikes powered by internal combustion, or using an electric engine to solely propel the bike are illegal.

Personal electric scooters, skateboards and hoverboards are also banned. 

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E-bike user Imtisz Jahangir said the legality or illegality of e-bikes should be clearer.

"The seller should stop the sale of the bike, they don't provide information which bike is legal and which is illegal," he said.

Meanwhile, as e-bike usage is increasing across NSW their counterpart the e-scooter is set to be introduced in the state.

Commercial e-scooter trials are currently underway in Sydney before they're rolled out completely.

Ryde, North Sydney, Georges River, Parramatta and Wollongong councils have expressed interest in the trial to have the bikes available on the streets in their areas.

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Beam Australia will be supplying the scooters for the trial.

"There's up to 15 or 20 councils from across the state that are interested in trialling e-scooters so we're working with them to understand their needs," Tom Cooper from Beam Australia said.

A Sydney schoolboy has been given a VIP tour of Sydney's tallest building to help raise money for this year's Jeans for Genes campaign.

Arato Katsuda-Green was a budding tennis star when his coach noticed he was missing shots he would have nailed a year earlier.

The 10-year-old was later diagnosed with Stargardt's Disease, a genetic condition that causes blindness.

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His father, Tim Green, was diagnosed with the same condition decades earlier.

"There was no cure or treatment available, that conversation has changed a lot now," Green said.

Arato is braver than most and losing his sight didn't stop him from scaling to the very top of Sydney's tallest building, the Sydney Tower Eye, with his father to raise awareness and funds for children's medical research on Jeans for Genes day.

"Quite an amazing sight because I can see a long way," Arato said jovially.

"It's so high!"

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Gene therapy is changing lives and funding procured through the Jeans for Genes campaign can help with research done by the Children's Medical Research Institute.

"Recently with the first TGA-approved gene therapy, two teenagers who were diagnosed with a visual impairment disease, they're able to see the sky for the first time and see the stars," Reeva Nadkar from the Children's Medical Research Institute said.

"We really rely on the support of our fellow Australians for our research."

By RNZ Staff at the Christchurch City Mission say they are surprised to see people redirecting their cost of living payments to the charity.On Tuesday, 1.3 million people received the first instalment of $116.67 of the government’s…

Flooding has hit parts of New South Wales after the weather bureau warned a cold front would bring heavy rainfall to south-east Australia.

The regional town of Queanbeyan has seen a number of roads and crossings affected by rising flood waters.

The Queanbeyan State Emergency Service (SES) unit said the low-level bridge at Morriset street is closed after being cut off by floodwaters.

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Queanbeyan and Molonglo Rivers are expected to rise as the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) predicts up to 100mm rain over the coming days.

Strong winds and downpours are expected to last until Friday, with catchments already saturated and local dams full.

Residents from other parts of inland and central NSW, as well as the ACT, are being warned of rain, hail and damaging wind gusts in excess of 90km/h.

NSW SES Wagga Wagga unit has also reported flood-impacted roads, with Holbrook Road outside of Mangoplah closed due to water across the road.

A severe weather warning is also in place for the western slopes and parts of the ACT.

The powerful winds will push through to the Illawarra region into Friday.

Central and south west catchments across NSW have been issued with flood warnings, with the potential for widespread minor and major floods.

https://twitter.com/BOM_NSW/status/1555000085624377346?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Catchments of concern include the Upper Murray, Lachlan and Mitta Mitta rivers.

"Rainfall totals of 10 to 30 mm are likely over a broad area of south-eastern Australia on Thursday," Weatherzone said.

"The heaviest rain will be in central and southern inland NSW and the ACT, where 24-hour totals could exceed 150mm on and west of the ranges, with six-hourly rainfall rates possibly reaching 50 to 60mm."

The the extreme weather has already moved from the west, with toppled trees and collapsed ceilings in WA, and some parts of Victoria battered with winds of more than 110km/h.

A large area of South Australia, and some elevated areas in Victoria and north-western parts of Tasmania are on high alert with warnings of heavy rain and damaging winds.

READ MORE: China delivers its first retaliation on Taiwan

Thredbo ski resort in NSW has been forced to close lifts due to safety reasons, as the wild weather lashes the alpine region.

In South Australia, damaging winds up to 90 km/h will be felt across Adelaide and the Hills.

"We are in for a very wet afternoon, particularly in our northern region, around 50-60mm expected up in the Hills," 9News presenter Jesse Burns said.

"A wet weather warning has also been issued, with a month's worth of rain expected this week alone, particularly in our northern region with around 50mm to 60mm expected around The Hills.

"That's cause for alarm with potentially localised flash flooding in those areas."

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Senior meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) Dean Narramore explained the next cold front is "tapping into tropical moisture", which will cause moderate to heavy rainfall across parts of Victoria and NSW.

"That could lead to another possible flood event for inland parts of NSW," Narramore said.

"Looking at the rainfall totals we will see light to moderate falls right across WA and SA, but the focus of the heaviest rainfall will be north-east Victoria and south-eastern NSW."

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Residents in WA's central west to south-east corner are being told to stay away from the surf as large swell pounds the coast.

Significant wave heights exceeding seven metres have occurred in exposed locations, and erosion has been observed along the coast.

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is no longer in Taiwan, but on Thursday China made good on its promise that the island will pay a price for hosting the highest-ranking US official to visit in 25 years.

The Chinese military's Eastern Theater Command said it conducted long-range, live-fire training in the Taiwan Strait on Thursday, state broadcaster CCTV reported.

Earlier in the day, Chinese state media said that exercises to simulate an air and sea "blockade" around Taiwan had started Wednesday, but offered little solid evidence to back up the claim.

READ MORE: 'Ghost footprints' unearthed at Air Force training range

The military posturing was a deliberate show of force after Pelosi left the island on Wednesday evening, bound for South Korea.

Within hours of her departure, the Taiwanese Defence Ministry said China sent more than 20 fighter jets across the median line in the Taiwan Strait, the midway point between the mainland and Taiwan that Beijing says it does not recognise but usually respects.

On Thursday, Taiwan's Defence Ministry said its military was remaining in a "normal" but wary posture, and called the live-fire drills an "irrational act" that attempted to "change the status quo."

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"We are closely monitoring enemy activities around the sea of Taiwan and that of outlying islands, and we will act appropriately," the ministry said in a statement.

Exercises exerting pressure

Well in advance of Pelosi's near 24-hour visit to Taiwan, China had warned her presence was not welcome. The ruling Chinese Communist Party claims the self-governed island as its own territory, despite never having controlled it.

China issued a map showing six zones around Taiwan that would be the site of drills in the coming days. But on Thursday, Taiwan's Maritime and Port Bureau said in a notice that China had added a seventh military exercise area for ships and aircraft to avoid "in the waters around eastern Taiwan".

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"Chinese state media on Thursday outlined a broad range of objectives for the exercises, including strikes on land and sea targets".

"The exercises (are) focused on key training sessions including joint blockade, sea target assault, strike on ground targets, and airspace control operation, and the joint combat capabilities of the troops got tested in the military operations," said an announcement from the Xinhua news agency attributed to the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) Eastern Theater Command, which has responsibility for the areas near Taiwan.

Meanwhile, the Global Times tabloid said the drills involved some of China's newest and most sophisticated weaponry, including J-20 stealth fighters and DF-17 hypersonic missiles, and that some missiles may be fired over the island – a move that would be extremely provocative.

"The exercises are unprecedented as the PLA conventional missiles are expected to fly over the island of Taiwan for the first time," the Global Times said, citing experts.

"The PLA forces will enter areas within 12 nautical miles (22 kilometres) of the island and the so-called median line will cease to exist."

Accounts from Taiwan of Chinese military movement included the fighter jets crossing the median line and a report from Taiwan's government-run Central News Agency, citing government sources, that two of China's most powerful warships – Type 55 destroyers – were sighted Tuesday off the central and southeastern coast of the island, the closest being within 60 kilometres of land.

But there was little corroboration or firm evidence provided by China to back up the sort of claims posted in the Global Times.

China's state-run television offered video of fighter jets taking off, ships at sea and missiles on the move, but the dates of when that video was shot could not be verified.

Some analysts were sceptical Beijing could pull off what they were threatening, such as a blockade of Taiwan.

READ MORE: Five states bracing for destructive storm

"The official announcement (of the blockade) refers to just a few days, which would make it hard to qualify it on practical terms to a blockade," said Alessio Patalano, professor of war and strategy at King's College in London.

"Blockades are hard to execute and long to implement. This exercise is not that," he said.

Patalano said the biggest impact of the exercises would be psychological.

"During the period of time in question, ships and aircraft will likely reroute to avoid the area, but this is one primary objective of the chosen locations: create disruption, discomfort, and fear of worse to come," he said.

Rerouting planes and ships

China's retaliatory exercises have already caused disruption to flight and ship schedules in Taiwan, though the island is trying to lessen their impact.

Taiwan's transportation minister said agreements had been reached with Japan and the Philippines to reroute 18 international flight routes departing from the island – affecting about 300 flights in total – to avoid the PLA's live-fire drills.

And on Wednesday, Taiwan's Maritime and Port Bureau issued three notices, asking vessels to use alternative routes for seven ports around the island.

China's planned live-fire drills were also causing unease in Japan.

Japan's chief cabinet secretary, Hirokazu Matsuno, said the drills posed a threat to his country's security.

One of the six exercise areas set up by China was near Japan's Yonaguni Island, part of Okinawa prefecture and only 110 kilometres off the coast of Taiwan.

That same Chinese exercise zone is also close to the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands, a rocky uninhabited chain known as the Diaoyus in China, and over which Beijing claims sovereignty.

READ MORE: China delivers its first retaliation on Taiwan

"In particular, a training area has been set up in the waters near Japan, and if China were to conduct live ammunition exercises in such an area, it could affect the security of Japan and its people," Matsuno said.

Meanwhile, the United States military was silent on the Chinese exercises and did not provide any answers to CNN questions on Thursday.

Besides keeping a close eye on Chinese military movements around the island, Taiwan also said it would strengthen security against cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns.

Taiwan's cabinet spokesperson Lo Ping-cheng said in a Wednesday news conference that the government had enhanced security at key infrastructure points and increased the level of cybersecurity alertness across government offices.

Taiwan is anticipating increased "cognitive warfare," referring to disinformation campaigns used to sway public opinion, Lo said.

All of Australia's big four banks have moved to pass on the official interest rate increase to customers.

Westpac and NAB announced they will both join the Commonwealth Bank and ANZ in passing on the Reserve Bank of Australia's newest cash rate rise.

Those with home loans will face an increase of 0.5 per cent on their variable interest rates, the full amount announced by the RBA on Tuesday.

READ MORE: Five states bracing for destructive storm

It will also increase the interest rates on select savings products.

CommBank was the first to announce the change, followed by ANZ.

Both of those institutions' changes will come into effect August 12, as will NAB's, while Westpac customers will see a shift on August 18.

Macquarie Bank had earlier taken far less time to pass on the official rate increase, announcing on Tuesday afternoon its variable home loan rates will rise by half a per cent next Friday.

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A large slip on a Beach Haven cliff has seen hundreds of cubic metres of land fall away from a family’s new multi-million dollar home.Heavy rain that has battered Auckland during the past month caused the land made up of clay, dirt,…

The man jailed over the bombing of the National Crime Authority office in Adelaide has lost an appeal over an unrelated conviction for spitting at a detective.

In March, Domenic Perre was found guilty in Adelaide Magistrates Court of aggravated assault over the incident at the Adelaide Remand Centre in 2018.

Two detectives had gone to speak with Perre over an alleged assault on him by another prisoner.

READ MORE: 'Ghost footprints' unearthed at Air Force training range

But when the cell door was opened and one of the officers stood in the doorway and called his name, Perre turned over on his bed, raised his head and spat on the sergeant's clothing.

He had previously indicated to prison officers he did not wish to speak with police.

In an appeal against his conviction, Perre argued that the magistrate hearing the case had not adequately explained his reasons for reaching the guilty verdict and had not properly considered the lack of forensic evidence, including DNA or photographs or video of the incident.

In a Supreme Court judgment on Thursday, Chief Justice Chris Kourakis found that the magistrate's reasons for his decision were inadequate and failed to properly explain how he was convinced of Perre's guilt.

But Justice Kourakis said he was satisfied the evidence did prove Perre spat on the detective in the course of his official duties.

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He said he had read the evidence given by the two officers and found it to be coherent and consistent.

"There is no significant overstatement, prevarication, or obstructiveness in their evidence such as to detract from its apparent reliability," the chief justice said.

In June this year, Perre was found guilty of murder and attempted murder in relation to the NCA bombing.

The 1994 attack killed Detective Sergeant Geoffrey Bowen and seriously injured lawyer Peter Wallis.

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Bowen died from horrific injuries, including the loss of his left arm, while Mr Wallis, who died in 2018, lost an eye and suffered severe burns.

In his verdict, Justice Kevin Nicholson said while the prosecution case was largely circumstantial he was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Perre had built and posted the bomb.

He also found that Perre had intended to kill Sgt Bowen or anyone else who happened to open the package or be close by when it detonated.

Perre will face sentencing submissions in relation to the bombing next month.