Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo Gonzales has arrived in Spain after fleeing the country after its presidential election.

Gonzales had an arrest warrant issued after he disputed July’s election, which was won by incumbent Nicolas Maduro.

The US, EU and Latin American countries have also questioned the election results after Venezuela refused to publish official election data to prove the result.

Europe correspondent Gavin Grey told Ryan Bridge he arrived on a Spanish Royal Air Force plane near Madrid, where he’ll be granted political asylum after having stayed at its embassy in Caracas.

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Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo Gonzales has arrived in Spain after fleeing the country after its presidential election. 
Gonzales had an arrest warrant issued after he disputed July’s election, which was won by incumbent Nicolas Maduro. 
The US, EU and Latin American countries have also questioned the election results after Venezuela refused to publish official election data to prove the result. 
Europe correspondent Gavin Grey told Ryan Bridge he arrived on a Spanish Royal Air Force plane near Madrid, where he’ll be granted political asylum after having stayed at its embassy in Caracas. 
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A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Gavin Grey: Europe correspondent on Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo Gonzales' arrival in Spain after disputing its elections

There was a high level of suspense when Peter Cowan crossed the finish line in the final of the men’s single va’a VL3 200m canoe sprint race in Paris.

In his Paralympic Games debut, the 29-year-old from Hawke’s Bay flew out of the blocks in the final to battle for the early lead.

As the contest went on, it looked to be a case of two races for medals; Ukrainian Vladyslav Yepifanov and Jack Eyers of Great Britain contesting the top two spots on the podium, while Cowan, Australian Curtis McGrath and China’s Pu Yi were locked in a race for bronze.

The eight-strong race was over in about 50sec. It was a further 45sec before Cowan got word that he would be the third man on the podium.

“It feels unreal,” Cowan told TVNZ of winning a medal in his Paralympics debut.

In tough, windy conditions, the Kiwi stayed the course and might have been a bit fortunate that McGrath drifted in his lane toward the final stretch of the race, with Cowan crossing the line just 0.06sec ahead of the Australian who beat him in their heat.

Because Cowan finished second in his heat, he had to qualify for the medal race through the semifinal rather than get direct entry into the medal race.

Cowan finished second to Eyers in the semifinal to secure his place, and left everything out there in the final; a look of elation – with perhaps a hint of disbelief – on his face when he finally heard that he had claimed the bronze.

“Coming into the race all I really focused on was the performance itself and not jumping the gun,” Cowan said.

“There were times this week when I would think about the podium, but me and my coach are pretty grounded in our goals and that’s just to focus on every performance as they come; every breath, every stroke in every race.

“In the start gate, I was just thinking about what I needed to do to build into that finish line because I never know where I’m coming in the races. I do believe the performance will give the right result at the end of the day, so to find out I made the podium, I was mind-blown.”

Yepifanov won the race with a Paralympic Games best of 47.49sec, with Eyers second in 47.87sec. Cowan finished in 48.28sec. The three medalists were all first-time Paralympians.

Cowan’s medal took New Zealand’s haul to nine in Paris, with one gold, four silver and four bronze.

There was a high level of suspense when Peter Cowan crossed the finish line in the final of the men’s single va’a VL3 200m canoe sprint race in Paris. 
In his Paralympic Games debut, the 29-year-old from Hawke’s Bay flew out of the blocks in the final to battle for the early lead. 
As the contest went on, it looked to be a case of two races for medals; Ukrainian Vladyslav Yepifanov and Jack Eyers of Great Britain contesting the top two spots on the podium, while Cowan, Australian Curtis McGrath and China’s Pu Yi were locked in a race for bronze. 
The eight-strong race was over in about 50sec. It was a further 45sec before Cowan got word that he would be the third man on the podium. 
“It feels unreal,” Cowan told TVNZ of winning a medal in his Paralympics debut. 
In tough, windy conditions, the Kiwi stayed the course and might have been a bit fortunate that McGrath drifted in his lane toward the final stretch of the race, with Cowan crossing the line just 0.06sec ahead of the Australian who beat him in their heat. 
Because Cowan finished second in his heat, he had to qualify for the medal race through the semifinal rather than get direct entry into the medal race. 
Cowan finished second to Eyers in the semifinal to secure his place, and left everything out there in the final; a look of elation – with perhaps a hint of disbelief – on his face when he finally heard that he had claimed the bronze. 
“Coming into the race all I really focused on was the performance itself and not jumping the gun,” Cowan said. 
“There were times this week when I would think about the podium, but me and my coach are pretty grounded in our goals and that’s just to focus on every performance as they come; every breath, every stroke in every race. 
“In the start gate, I was just thinking about what I needed to do to build into that finish line because I never know where I’m coming in the races. I do believe the performance will give the right result at the end of the day, so to find out I made the podium, I was mind-blown.” 
Yepifanov won the race with a Paralympic Games best of 47.49sec, with Eyers second in 47.87sec. Cowan finished in 48.28sec. The three medalists were all first-time Paralympians. 
Cowan’s medal took New Zealand’s haul to nine in Paris, with one gold, four silver and four bronze.

Andrew Alderson: Paralympics 2024 - Peter Cowan paddles to va’a VL3 200m bronze medal in Paris

Interesting op-ed from The Conversation by Chris Gledhill, Professor of Law at Auckland University of Technology.

It's about the Government's new gang legislation and argues that the changes that are being made in some last-minute ones could impinge on the Bill of Rights, and it makes some good points.

It says people join gangs for various reasons for some it's a matter of family connections, for others gang membership may arise from being marginalised from society.

The Royal Commission on Abuse and Care highlighted that abuse was also a pathway into gang membership, and in 2018 a report highlighted that imprisonment feeds gang recruitment. So, you don't have a choice?

If you are poor, if you have family in a gang, if you went to jail and they recruited you in jail, that's on society, not on you. You don't have a choice in the matter?

It's a crucial part of the puzzle because it sets up the entire system of response to dealing with the problem.

If you're not responsible or capable of saying no to a gang life, how can you be punished for that association?

Is the expectation that if you join a gang, and you've been raised in a household that is associated with a gang, that you are impoverished, that you don't know what is right and what is wrong?

And if so, how can you be punished?

I interviewed a guy called Puck out of Hawke's Bay, he was with the Mongrel Mob. This was years ago, and he was done for a homicide and spent time in prison, but then turned his life around and had a positive role model.

I sat down with him for a good couple of hours, had a good chat. He knew what he had done was wrong and was remorseful and really sorry and wanted to apologise to the people that he had hurt.

I found out about a year later he was back in jail. He had turned his life around, and the then Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had used him as an example of somebody who could turn their life around with a positive role model.

He then did some horrendous domestic violence stuff, dealing meth in prison. I mean, you name it.

So there's a guy who I know, who knows what he did was wrong, and he had bad influences growing up all of that stuff.

But he knows what he did was wrong and did it anyway.

Interesting op-ed from The Conversation by Chris Gledhill, Professor of Law at Auckland University of Technology. 
It's about the Government's new gang legislation and argues that the changes that are being made in some last-minute ones could impinge on the Bill of Rights, and it makes some good points. 
It says people join gangs for various reasons for some it's a matter of family connections, for others gang membership may arise from being marginalised from society. 
The Royal Commission on Abuse and Care highlighted that abuse was also a pathway into gang membership, and in 2018 a report highlighted that imprisonment feeds gang recruitment. So, you don't have a choice? 
If you are poor, if you have family in a gang, if you went to jail and they recruited you in jail, that's on society, not on you. You don't have a choice in the matter? 
It's a crucial part of the puzzle because it sets up the entire system of response to dealing with the problem. 
If you're not responsible or capable of saying no to a gang life, how can you be punished for that association? 
Is the expectation that if you join a gang, and you've been raised in a household that is associated with a gang, that you are impoverished, that you don't know what is right and what is wrong? 
And if so, how can you be punished? 
I interviewed a guy called Puck out of Hawke's Bay, he was with the Mongrel Mob. This was years ago, and he was done for a homicide and spent time in prison, but then turned his life around and had a positive role model. 
I sat down with him for a good couple of hours, had a good chat. He knew what he had done was wrong and was remorseful and really sorry and wanted to apologise to the people that he had hurt. 
I found out about a year later he was back in jail. He had turned his life around, and the then Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had used him as an example of somebody who could turn their life around with a positive role model. 
He then did some horrendous domestic violence stuff, dealing meth in prison. I mean, you name it. 
So there's a guy who I know, who knows what he did was wrong, and he had bad influences growing up all of that stuff. 
But he knows what he did was wrong and did it anyway.

Ryan Bridge: If you're not responsible or capable of saying no to a gang life, how can you be punished for it?

The Mayor of the Ruapehu District wants the Government to step in to save two businesses facing closure.

Hundreds of jobs are on the line - with the Kariori pulpmill and Tangiwai sawmill both under pressure, as energy costs have gone up significantly in recent years.

A meeting on the fate of hundreds of workers is expected tomorrow.

Ruapehu District Mayor Weston Kirton told Ryan Bridge this is not a new issue - as Tiwai Point was bailed out.

He says the Government can cap electricity prices to allow the mills to get over the line  until the issue evens out.

LISTEN ABOVE

The Mayor of the Ruapehu District wants the Government to step in to save two businesses facing closure. 
Hundreds of jobs are on the line - with the Kariori pulpmill and Tangiwai sawmill both under pressure, as energy costs have gone up significantly in recent years. 
A meeting on the fate of hundreds of workers is expected tomorrow. 
Ruapehu District Mayor Weston Kirton told Ryan Bridge this is not a new issue - as Tiwai Point was bailed out. 
He says the Government can cap electricity prices to allow the mills to get over the line  until the issue evens out. 
LISTEN ABOVE

Gavin Grey: Europe correspondent on Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo Gonzales' arrival in Spain after disputing its elections

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