Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

A Wellington business owner is incredibly frustrated over police precautions ahead of a planned protest.Brian Tamaki's Freedoms and Rights Coalition plans action tomorrow, alongside other protests in coming days. Police have shut some roads and access ways to Parliament. Backbencher pub owner Alistair Boyce says it's unnecessary. "They are not a foreign power invading the country- this Parliamentary precinct, at the moment, looks like we're protecting ourselves against tanks and an invading army." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's looking increasingly likely Chris Luxon will have to pick up the phone to Winston Peters next month. Tonight's One News/ Verian Poll shows New Zealand First is on 6 percent - up a point - and remaining in a kingmaker position. Labour and National have both dropped 1 point - to 26 and and 36 percent- and Act's steady on 12. The Greens are on 13, and Te Pati Maori is at 2 percent. National Deputy Leader Nicola Willis says it shows the election will come down to the wire. "People listening need to know- if you want a change of Government, you are going to have to vote for it, and that's a party vote for National. Because any other vote could put a change of Government at risk." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newshub's Paddy Gower says National and Labour's leaders are gutless for refusing to debate their colleagues in the minor parties. He will moderate the show-down between Christopher Luxon and Chris Hipkins in Auckland tonight, after last week's TVNZ debate. Gower says it's important for the pair to face-off, but it seems a bit historic that the other leaders won't be there. "We know that whoever forms a Government, particularly this time around, is going to need 1 or 2 of those other parties- and they're going to be quite big. It's not just about these two main guys." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's David Parker has responded to National's criticism of the Party's fiscal plan. The plan promises to look for more savings across the Government's books and to keep net debt under 30 percent of GDP. But National questions Labour's credibility- saying it's blown all operating allowances set since 2017. Associate Finance spokesperson Parker says it's because of Covid and the cyclone and flooding. "That's no more true of us than it was of John Key when he had to meet the consequences of the global financial crisis, and then the Canterbury earthquakes. We're a very responsible Government, fiscally." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jonah Lomu’s widow has written a a cease-and-desist letter to the New Zealand Film Commission over a proposed documentary. Nadene Lomu claims she has sole rights to her deceased husband's story, and wrote the letter as a 'last resort'. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A prediction tonight's leaders debate may be more exciting than the last one. Chris vs Chris will appear on Newshub at 7 tonight, moderated by Patrick Gower. ZB Political Editor Jason Walls says some were disappointed by the debate on TVNZ- but he says this one could be a different story. "I've talked to both leaders- Chris Hipkins says he's essentially going on 'attack mode', so expect fireworks from him." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hollywood writers will be picking up their pens again. Guild leaders unanimously voted to approve a new contract- ending the almost five-month strike as of this afternoon. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says the new agreement is three years. He says it includes lifting wages, improving ongoing payments for streaming shows, and protection against replicating writers' work with AI. "We think right now, late-night and daytime TV should return as soon as next week, maybe a couple of weeks. I think most TV and film productions are still going to be delayed, so there's going to be a lot of stuff that we're not going to see until next year." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland's beaches have been widely affected by damage to a sewer pipe in St Georges Bay - in Parnell. Wastewater's confirmed to be shooting into Waitemata Harbour at two sites, shutting numerous surrounding beaches, as well as in the inner harbour and East Coast Bays. Watercare says crews have had plenty of practice working with pipes after this year's ferocious storms. Chief Operations Officer Mark Bourne says it's not clear yet when repairs will be finished. "We'll be working around the clock- we worked though until 1am last night at the site, protecting the site." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Several women are speaking out against controversial comedian Russell Brand. London's Met Police have launched an investigation after receiving a number of sexual offence allegations in London and elsewhere in the country. Brand has since accused the UK government of trying to censor him on social media. UK correspondent Enda Brady says the comedian continues to deny the allegations and says all interactions were consensual. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, former Labour Chief of Staff Mike Munro and Business Mentors NZ CEO Sarah Trotman joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! National seeks to introduce sanctions if beneficiaries don't meet their obligations to prepare for or find work. What do we make of this policy? Despite Labour assuring everyone that a wealth tax is off the table, Wellington Central candidate Ibrahim Omer said in a leaked video that the party hadn't given it up. Should Hipkins' word be trusted-or do you think the Greens and Te Pati Maori could convince Labour? Stats NZ is looking into using AI to interview new job applicants. Could this shake up the industry- or lead to worse problems? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Farmers have expressed alarm as some banks set targets to reduce emissions when their sector is under growing financial strain. BNZ has confirmed their dairy emissions reduction target is an 11 percent reduction in financed biological emissions intensity by 2030, against a 2022 baseline. Federated Farmers has met with BNZ to raise concerns about the target, as the sector is undergoing a difficult period. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains how these proposed targets would impact the farming sector. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Air New Zealand is still figuring out how to deal with a shortage of planes after losing some of its fleet. The airline recently had to ground several planes, citing engine issues. BusinessDesk managing editor Pattrick Smellie says Air New Zealand will have to struggle through the aircraft shortage for the next 6 to 8 months- and this may impact services. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Hollywood writers' strike has reportedly ended after nearly 5 months of strike action. Sources claim the Writers Guild of America has reached a tentative agreement with major studios and streamers on a new three-year contract. Entertainment reporter Sam Rubin says the writers have achieved the outcome they wanted after the seemingly-endless months of sacrifice. "If you talk to many, many happy writers- they say they not only have a great new contract, they think they've saved the movie and television business, and maybe they have." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

First Union are publicly campaigning as the four big banks are raking in mega-profits. They say ANZ, ASB, BNZ and Westpac's profits have increased 80 percent in the past decade- and it's not being passed on to workers or customers. First Union Policy Analyst Edward Miller says staff and customers alike are suffering from increased net interest margins. "We represent bank workers, but we represent workers right across different parts of the private sector- supermarket workers, truck drivers, bus drivers, etc. There's lots of workers that are concerned about this." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National's Chris Luxon was set to make an impression at Auckland’s NorthWest mall. Between declining a hairdresser's offer to moisturise his head, pulling off a man’s beanie without asking and getting a blue stain on his suit at Little Lab- it was a memorable day on the campaign trail. ZB chief political reporter Aaron Dahmen says it was a mix of entertaining and weird- making for perfect campaign fodder. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hamilton authorities are ditching the lawnmower in parts of the city for the betterment of the planet. The City Council has launched a no-mow trial for 13 green spaces- aiming to increase biodiversity and reduce the carbon emissions created by mowing. Hamilton Council Park Services Manager Duncan MacDougall says they won't be letting everything overgrow. "Not the whole park will be mown like this- the boundaries around trees and those sorts of things will still be maintained as they are now, there'll just be sections set aside." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Environment Canterbury's worried swells may delay the rescue of a fishing boat beached off the coast of Canterbury's Shell Bay. The vessel, which ran aground on Sunday, had about 10,000 litres of diesel and 400 litres of hydraulic oil onboard. Images show the vessel on rocks, spilling oil near an endangered penguin colony. Environment Canterbury Commander Emma Parr says crews are battling two metre swells and king tides - which are forecast to worsen. "We are concerned for those wildlife, they are high risk and sensitive. We're preparing for an oiled wildlife response." LISTEN ABOVE LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National denies their new welfare policy will put more children into poverty. The party wants a traffic light-style scheme, which sanctions beneficiaries who don't meet their Jobseeker obligations. A third breach could see benefit reductions, mandatory work experience, and someone's money managed by WINZ. Labour argues the policy would increase child poverty, but National's Louise Upston says it'll be better for beneficiaries' kids. "We want to see more families, more households in work, because we know that children in a household where a parent is working will, in the long term, be far better off." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's growing speculation that Labour could eventually introduce a wealth tax. In a leaked video, Labour's Wellington Central candidate Ibrahim Omer tells a meeting that the party hasn't given up on the policy. Hipkins has pushed back against these claims and plans to discuss Omer's comments with him. ZB Political Editor Jason Walls says Hipkins has made it clear that he's not introducing a wealth tax- but other Labour candidates are feeling the pressure ahead of the election. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has announced his resignation. He'd called a sudden press conference in Melbourne this afternoon. Andrews has been in the job nearly a decade, and famously steered the Australian state through the pandemic with tough measures. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says Andrews led a complicated and divisive political legacy over the last 10 years. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki will return to her eighth ASB Classic with a new appreciation for the sport. The 2018 Australian Open champion recently made the round of 16 at the US Open after three years out for the birth of her two children. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains what we can expect from this grand return. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kids as young as 12 are leaving the classroom in search of work. Taupō Pathways For Youth Employment has been receiving calls from parents asking to help find work for their young children. Truancy services are working with thousands of kids as young as six who have been un-enrolled from school. Brendon Crompton of re-enrolment service Blue Light says the children can have complex issues keeping them away from school. "Emergency housing- kids get moved from one place to another with their families. The case worker tells them they'll only be there for a month, so the parents don't want to go through the effort of enrolling them." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dozens of officers from London's Metropolitan Police have handed in their firearms over the weekend. This comes as a Met officer was charged with murder for fatally shooting an unarmed black man. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says the British Ministry of Defence is offering to volunteer their services to support the police in London- in specific circumstances. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Both Labour and National took a dive in the latest Newshub-Reid Research poll. The National Party has lost nearly 2 points of support, taking it to just over 39 percent - and with ACT on 8.8, it needs New Zealand First to govern. NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan explains what this could mean for the election. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More overstaying migrants have been found to be living in inhumane conditions. Several overstayers have been found in a backyard shantytown in West Auckland, living in makeshift sheds and a dilapidated caravan. The Migrant Exploitation Relief Foundation has since filed a complaint about this case to Immigration New Zealand- and Auckland Council plans to investigate. Foundation trustee Casey Costello says it's important that these cases of migrant exploitation are being brought to light. "The circumstances are sad and tragic, but we have this underbelly to our workforce that is here illegally - we're not trying to protect the fact that there's illegal conduct going on - but we also want to get these investigated." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Synlait Milk has reported an annual loss of $4.3 million, following a difficult few months for the industry. The Canterbury-based milk processor reportedly earned $38.5 million the previous year. Chief executive Grant Watson aims to turn the company's profit around by diversifying growth strategies and reducing internal costs. "There's a huge amount of effort going on throughout the business to strengthen Synlait up and have it return back to being a very profitable business again." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian rugby has experienced its darkest day in a while. The Wallabies are all but out of the Rugby World Cup following their second defeat, this time to Wales with a 40-6 loss. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says this marks the first time Australia is unlikely to pass through the World Cup group stage- but sacking Eddie Jones isn't the answer. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Silver Ferns haven't won any of their last five netball tests- and captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio is sick of the feeling. A month on from New Zealand's worst performance at a World Cup, the Silver Ferns suffered a shock defeat to a second-tier England side in Christchurch last night. ZB's Jason Pine recaps the loss here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's Associate Finance spokesperson is looking on the bright side of the latest poll. The party has fallen a further 0.3 points to 26.5 and National's dropped 1.8 points to 39.1 percent. NZ First is up 1.9 points to 5.2 percent, reaching the necessary threshold to enter Parliament. David Parker says it appears the left has stabilised - while National and ACT have peaked early. "I think it's the good economic news- not just unemployment being low, but those growth figures that came out recently were higher than people expected." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gisborne District Council says a beloved family dog should've never been put down under its watch. An investigation has been launched after Sarge was taken from his property on Friday and mistakenly euthanised by an animal control officer. According to the family's social media post, he was fully chipped and in a fenced-in area. Gisborne District Council's Nedine Thatcher-Swann says she wants to unpack exactly what's happened. "To the whānau, we have failed them. And we sincerely apologise- and to our community, for this." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Z Energy says demand for petrol is falling substantially, due to fuel price spikes and lifestyle changes among Kiwis. Brent crude oil prices are at a 10-month high, with 91 fuel reaching $3.20 a litre in some parts of the country. Retail General Manager, Andy Baird says demand for jet fuel remains strong, while the consumer market is under pressure. "And that's, we think, just a factor of the pre-Covid piece. Consumers can work from home and they're doing that, so that's 2 or 3 trips a week they're now not taking. And of course, the weather hasn't been great either, so those weekend trips are down as well." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winston Peters says he doesn't feel snubbed by being the National leader's last resort. Chris Luxon today confirmed he would work with New Zealand First post-election if absolutely necessary- but reiterates his preference is a National-Act Government. Peters says Luxon's been under media pressure to make a call and has taken the time to make the right decision. He says he'd be happy to take Luxon's call post-election. "I'm a courteous person, as you know. Of course I'll talk to people when they want to talk to me for the right reasons- and for the country's interests." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every Monday until the election The Front Bench will take on the biggest talking points of the election campaign. Heather du Plessis-Allan, Newstalk ZB Senior Political Correspondent Barry Soper, former Business NZ CEO Phil O’Reilly and Auckland Councillor Richard Hills have the insight word and analysis. This week, the Executive Director of the Taxpayer’s Union Jordan Williams steps in for Barry Soper. Our expert panel discusses Christopher Luxon confirming he’ll form a Government with Winston Peters if he has to. Does it give New Zealand First more credibility? Could National lose support because of this? They also dissect Chris Hipkins getting into attack mode but ask, is it simply too late to make a difference in the polls? Heather asks the panel what they made of the debates last week and whether they’ll change any minds. Plus, they take a deep dive into the latest policy announcements – including National’s speed limits promise and Labour’s climate manifesto. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Further allegations against Russell Brand have emerged. A new accuser has claimed the actor, comedian and radio host exposed himself to her in a lift in 2008, who then joked about it on his radio show. And Sweden’s minority-coalition government is facing backlash after following in the UK’s footsteps in slashing its climate budget. It expects to miss its 2030 transport targets and has cut funding by around NZ$40 million. The climate minister has since been threatened with no-confidence votes. UK correspondent Gavin Grey joined Tim Dower. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The allegation of India’s involvement in the killing of a Sikh Canadian is based on surveillance of Indian diplomats in Canada, including intelligence provided by a major ally, a Canadian official told The Associated Press on Thursday. The official said the communications involved Indian officials and Indian diplomats in Canada and that some of the intelligence was provided by a member of the “Five Eyes” intelligence-sharing alliance, which includes the U.S., Britain, Australia and New Zealand, in addition to Canada. The official did not say which ally provided intelligence or give details of what was contained in the communications or how they were obtained. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation first reported the intelligence. The revelation came as India stopped issuing visas to Canadian citizens and told Canada to reduce its diplomatic staff as the rift widened over allegations by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of suspected Indian involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a 45-year-old Sikh separatist. Ties between the two countries have plunged to their lowest point in years after Trudeau told Parliament Monday there were “credible allegations” of Indian involvement in the assassination on Canadian soil. Nijjar, a plumber who was born in India and became a Canadian citizen in 2007, had been wanted by India for years before he was gunned down in June outside the temple he led in Surrey, a suburb of Vancouver. Speaking Thursday on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, Trudeau acknowledged the complicated diplomatic situation. "The decision to share these allegations on the floor of the House of Commons was not done lightly,” he said. “There is no question that India is a country of growing importance and a country that we need to continue to work with." “We are not looking to provoke or cause problems but we are unequivocal around the importance of the rule of law and unequivocal about the importance of protecting Canadians.” The bombshell allegation set off an international tit-for-tat, with each country expelling a diplomat. India called the allegations “absurd.” Canada has yet to provide public evidence to back Trudeau's allegations, and Canada's U.N. ambassador, Bob Rae, indicated that might not come soon. “This is very early days,” Rae told reporters Thursday, saying that while facts will emerge, they must “come out in the course of the pursuit of justice.” "That’s what we call the rule of law in Canada,” he said. Meanwhile, the company that processes Indian visas in Canada announced services had been suspended. Canadians are among the top travelers to India, with 277,000 Canadian tourists visiting the country in 2022, according to India’s Bureau of Immigration. Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi blamed the visa suspension, which includes visas issued in third countries, on safety issues. “Security threats being faced by our High Commission and consulates in Canada have disrupted their normal functioning,” Bagchi told reporters. He gave no details on the alleged threats. The announcement quickly rippled across Canada, especially among people with ties to India. Maitreyi Bhatt, a 27-year-old Indian citizen whose partner is Canadian and needs a visa, was distraught because her wedding is scheduled for late October in India, when he was to meet her family for the first time. “I’ve been crying all day,” she said. “It’s so difficult. I was just so excited for him to meet my family.” She said the venue is booked and the couple has non-refundable flights. She said her partner went to the Indian Consulate in Toronto but was escorted out by security. “People like me are just caught up in this and it’s just not fair,” she said. Sukhwinder Dhillon, a 56-year-old grocery store owner in Montreal, said he had a trip planned to India to see family and sort out his deceased father’s estate. Dhillon, who came to Canada in 1998, makes the trip every two or three years and has lost two family members since he was last home. “My father passed, and my brother passed,” Dhillon said. “I want to go now. ... Now I don’t know when we’ll go.” Bagchi, the Indian foreign ministry spokesman, also called on Canada to cut its diplomatic corps in India, saying they outnumbered Indian diplomats in Canada. The Canadian High Commission in New Delhi said Thursday that its consulates in India were open and continue to serve clients. It said some of its diplomats had received threats on social media, adding that Canada expects India to provide security for its diplomats and consular officers working there. On Wednesday, India warned its citizens to be careful when traveling to Canada because of “growing anti-India activities and politically condoned hate-crimes.” India's security and intelligence branches have long been active in South Asia and are suspected in a number of killings in Paki

A chance for the Warriors to reach their first NRL Grand Final since 2011. But they'll have to get past a formidable Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium to get to the final on October 1. A huge clash in the Rugby World Cup this weekend. The All Blacks - who have a bye week - will be watching South Africa vs Ireland with a very close eye to see who their potential quarter-final opponents will be. Liam Lawson continues to push for a full-time driver spot in Formula 1. The 21-year-old is racing in Japan this weekend for AlphaTauri one week on from his first Formula 1 points in Singapore. Andrew Gourdie and Jason Pine joined Tim Dower to discuss the week's sports newsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up to 23 cryptosporidium cases have been confirmed in Queenstown due to poor drinking water. Water regulator Taumata Arowai has ordered the council to install a parasite barrier hoping to stop the problem. Water New Zealand says about 20 percent of Kiwis drink water without this barrier. Acting Technical Manager Lesley Smith joined Tim Dower. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A spectacular weekend awaits Warriors fans. Victory against the Brisbane Broncos on enemy turf will see the Kiwi outfit qualify for their first NRL Grand Final since 2011. Warriors assistant coach Richard Agar joined Tim Dower. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rupert Murdoch is stepping down from the role of chairman of News Corp and Fox at 92. The immediate successor appears to be his son Lachlan, but there are other family members and all sorts of other behind-the-scenes stuff going on. Monash University Head of Journalism Johan Lidberg joined Tim Dower. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another allegation of bullying in the Labour Party. MP Shanan Halbert has been accused of bullying by several former staff dating back more than a year, labelling him “manipulative”, “scheming” and “a narcissist”. Minor party leaders have had their say in the latest election debate. Act’s David Seymour, the Green’s Marama Davidson, NZ First’s Winston Peters and Te Pati Maori’s Debbie Ngawera-Packer all squared off in last night’s debate on Newshub Nation. And all parties have committed to keep school lunches going. It’s only funded out to the end of the year, but Labour and National have expressed interest in keeping it going. Newstalk ZB Political Editor Jason Walls joined Tim Dower. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Airlines say they share customers' frustration at Auckland Airport's passenger congestion woes. Thousands are expected to fly in and out of the airport tomorrow as it continues to deal with big Customs wait times during busy periods. The Board of Airline Representatives claim the airport says it has capacity for just over 2000 passengers an hour on a rolling 5-minute basis. However, congestion's occurring well below that level. Executive Director Cath O'Brien told Tim Dower it's frustrating to see the airport blame airlines because of slightly early or late flights – which is expected. “When in fact what we would look for is that they would manage their airport well, and frankly as of late that’s not been happening.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour says efforts to crack down on ram raids are working. The party's police spokesperson is hitting back at claims by National Leader Chris Luxon that there are two ram raids a day. Ginny Andersen told Tim Dower data released by Police shows a 70 percent reduction in ram raids from their peak of 116 a month in August last year. “While the numbers are a bit noisy, they have been in decline generally since that point where they peaked. So they reached 35, which is the lowest we’ve had over a two-year period.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has worked to shore up US support for Ukraine on a whirlwind visit to Washington this week, delivering an upbeat message on the war’s progress while facing new questions about the flow of American dollars that for 19 months has helped keep his troops in the fight against Russian forces. The Ukrainian leader received a far quieter reception than the hero’s welcome he got last year, but also won generally favorable comments on the aid he says he needs to stave off defeat. His arrival was treated with more pomp at the White House, where a red carpet arrival on the South Lawn, followed by time in the Oval Office, an expanded gathering in the East Room and one-on-one time for the two first ladies, was a more grand reception than world leaders typically get. Zelenskyy, in long-sleeve olive drab, went to the Capitol with a firm message in private talks with Republican and Democratic leaders. The Ukrainians have a solid war plan, and “they are winning,” lawmakers quoted him as assuring them, at a time that the world is watching Western support for Kyiv. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden welcomed Zelenskyy and his wife, Olena Zelenska, later at the White House, where Zelenskyy described thanking members of Congress for their “big, huge support”. Biden was clear in his backing. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is welcomed to the Capitol in Washington, by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Photo / AP “The American people are determined to see to it that we do all we can to ensure the world stands with you,” Biden assured Zelenskyy, projecting White House support of Ukraine to other nations as well. “That is our overwhelming objective.” The serious tone was evident earlier, too, at the Pentagon, where Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin greeted Zelenskyy without the usual ceremonial band and other fanfare. At the Capitol, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who faces opposition among far-right Republicans aligned with former President Donald Trump on support for Ukraine, notably chose not to join House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries in greeting the Ukrainian president when he arrived. McCarthy also confirmed that he declined Zelenskyy’s request for a joint session of Congress, as happened during the Ukrainian president’s dramatic visit to Washington last winter, saying there wasn’t time for that on short notice. But McCarthy praised the answers that Ukrainians delivered to lawmakers. “It was direct, I thought it was honest, they were answering the questions,” McCarthy said. “I heard a lot of positive things. Republican House lawmakers described questioning Zelenskyy on the way forward for Ukraine’s counteroffensive, as the fight to roll back invading Russian forces moves closer to the two-year mark without major breakthroughs in Russia’s heavily mined lines. Zelensky “conceded that it’s tough, very tough to overcome entrenched defences,” Independent Senator Angus King said. “They believe they will make slow but steady progress, but it’s not going to be quick.” President Joe Biden meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Photo / AP It is Zelenskyy’s second visit to Washington since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and comes as Biden’s request to Congress for an additional US$24 billion for Ukraine’s military and humanitarian needs is hanging in the balance. Back home, Russia launched its heaviest strikes in a month in the hours before Zelenskyy’s arrival at Congress, killing three, igniting fires and damaging energy infrastructure as Russian missiles and artillery pounded cities across Ukraine. Zelenskyy in his White House stop stressed Ukraine’s need for strengthened air defence systems to fend off Russian missiles and drones. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan underscored that Biden would seek to drive home with Zelenskyy’s visit that the US and the world “send the unmistakable message that in the 21st century, a dictator cannot be allowed to conquer or carve up his neighbour’s territory”. “If we allow that here. it will happen elsewhere in ways that will undermine the fundamental security, not to mention the values that the American people hold so dear,” Sullivan said. Biden has called on world leaders to stand strong with Ukraine, even as he faces domestic political divisions at home. A hard-right flank of Republicans, led by Trump, Biden’s chief rival in the 2024 race for the White House, is increasingly opposed to sending more money overseas. Zelenskyy faces challenges in Europe as well as cracks emerge in what had been a largely united Western alliance behind Ukraine. Poland’s prime minister has said his country is no longer sending arms to Ukraine, a comment that appeared aimed at pressuring Kyiv and put Poland’s status as a major source of military equipment in doubt as a trade dispute between the neighbouring states escalates. President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, walk along the Colonnade at the White House

Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave joined Tim Dower to discuss France halfback Antoine Dupont's facial injury in the 96-0 win over Namibia, the Warriors' do-or-die finals clash against the Brisbane Broncos, and Liam Lawson in the Japanese Grand Prix. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An increase in employees testing positive for cannabis. The Drug Detection Agency is attributing the rise to the proliferation of medicinal cannabis and easier access. New Zealand’s Medicinal Cannabis Act came into effect in 2020. CEO Glenn Dobson told Tim Dower there is a risk people are impaired at work. “When the patient first goes to have a conversation or consultation with their GP or their doctor, they should be advising with their doctor when they’re prescribed the type of role they’re doing.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The powerbrokers’ debate last night – you learn anything from it? Your impression of anyone improve, or did you feel the shine coming off someone by the way they conducted themselves? I thought it was bloody awful myself, but I stuck with it because I kinda had to. Let's forget the weird pub beer garden look of the whole thing, I just want to think about the substance of the, er, “debate” and the performance of the players. From right to left on your screen: Winston Peters - seemed to treat the whole thing as a bit of a joke...wasn't taking it at all seriously. Didn't do himself any good. Almost like it was a rehearsal. Nothing useful to say. Debbie Ngarewa-Packer - Awful, just awful, so, pretty much as expected. Behaved like a silly third-former – the patronising way she referred to Mr Peters as Matua obviously intended as a put-down, but water off a duck's back to Peters. Marama Davidson - not a lot better than Packer banged on and on about a wealth tax that's not going to happen being the answer to, well, just about everything really. Message seemed to be: let's take money off people who've done something with their lives, give it to people who'll never do anything with their lives, and all our problems will magically be fixed. Davidson at least was cogent and fairly coherent and I was wondering how much she appreciated all the buddy-buddy high fives and fist pumps, did I even hear 'you go girl' at one point? Silly Debbie. Sit down Debbie. David Seymour – Disappointing. Should have been the star of the show, but he went on far too long, tried to set out policy details when this just wasn't a serious forum. My suggestion: either say 'no' if you're asked to appear with the same crummy crowd next time, or turn up with a bag of random insults and just hurl those around. Overall, I wanna say it's an hour of my life I'll never get back, and that's true, it's gone for good. What it confirmed for me though was that out of those four, there's only one I want anywhere near the Treasury benches in three weeks' time.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK is set to overturn several policies aimed at achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050, with Prime Minister Sunak promising a 'pragmatic' solution. Sunak confirmed that the ban on on the sale of petrol and diesel cars would be pushed back from 2030 to 2035- bringing it in line with France and Germany. The Prime Minister also announced energy efficiency targets for rental properties would be reduced and backtracked on requiring homeowners to replace gas boilers with heat pumps. UK correspondent Enda Brady says Sunak is clearly seeking a second term ahead of the next general election- but Labour and Keir Starmer hold a lead in the polls. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Labour MP Greg O'Connor has done the unthinkable and conceded that Labour is likely going to lose the election. Is this a rookie move or is there strategy behind this? 80 percent of Kiwis are wondering if Chris Luxon will work with Winston Peters - should Luxon continue to not say anything until the election? The president of the Coromandel chapter of the Rebels gang has apologised for the bad behaviour of his members over the weekend. Is this a refreshing approach from them? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a blow to New Zealand farmers everywhere, MPI discovered Mycoplasma bovis in Canterbury's Selwyn. It's just months after the announcement the country had no known cases of the cattle disease. A standard bulk tank-milk background screening picked up the infection. The Country's Jamie Mackay says the news that 1000 dairy cows will have to be culled will be devastating for the farmer impacted. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's economy is in the green and our technical recession is officially over. Stats NZ says the GDP rose 0.9 percent in the June quarter and 3.2 percent for the year to June. It also revised the figure for the March 2023 quarter to 0 percent - up from a 0.1 percent drop. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann says households are still feeling high interest rates rampant inflation- and economists warn the worst is yet to come. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.