Midday Report Essentials for Monday 9 December 2024

In today's episode, fire crews both on the ground and in the air are pushing to thwart a wildfire in Canterbury's Selwyn district before strong winds pick up in the coming hours, in one of the biggest turning points for the Middle East in generations, yesterday Syrian rebels seized the capital of Damascus, toppling a regime that had an iron grip on the country for more than 50 years, survivors, rescuers and locals have gathered on Monday morning at Whakatane Heads to remember the fateful day five years ago, when Whakaari erupted, and it was a night of wild weather in the capital on Sunday night. Strong gusts saw trees felled, flights cancelled and even destroyed a boat in the harbour.