Checkpoint

The Prime Minister has doubled down on his claim there are jobs for young people across the country, and they should take any work. Despite youth unemployment sitting at nearly 13%. Taranaki is top of the table when it comes to 15-24 year olds not in employment education or training, or NEETs. In the second quarter of this year 18.5% of people in that age group in region were NEETs. Nelson Pulotu is the general manager of Tutaki, a NGO in Stratford which is running a pilot programme to help young people on benefits into work, he spoke to Lisa Owen.

Middle East correspondent Perry Wilton spoke to Lisa Owen about the fast approaching release of the remaining Israeli hostages. It is part of the first phase of what is a fragile peace deal between Israel and Hamas - that will also see nearly 2000 Palestinians prisoners and detainees freed. US President Donald Trump is making his way to Israel for the release, before heading to Egypt for a summit to try and finalise an end to the war in Gaza.

Ignoring your tax debt wont make it go away - that message from IRD as it cracks down on people owing relatively small amounts. The department is phoning people who owe more than $1000 and have had the debt for more than 6 months. IRD Customer Segment leader Tony Morris spoke to Lisa Owen.

Lisa Owen, Susana Lei'ataua and producer Johnny Sutherland taste Durian coffee for the first time.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer weighing in on Trump's Gaza Ceasefire deal, as well as the Princess of Wales who has issued a warning about the damage smartphones can cause.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The White Ferns are dancing with the danger zone at the Cricket World Cup. Following back to back losses to kick off their campaign, the Kiwis face a crucial match against Bangledesh's army of spinners in Guwahati tonight. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

Medical disinformation is a growing concern for doctors and scientists, but what happens when it comes from people in the highest authority who are shaping health policy? Recently US President Trump claimed a link between austism and the pain killer tylenol, or paracetamol as it is known here. The US Health Secretary, Robert F Kennedy Junior has also blamed vaccines for autism when there is no evidence to support his claims. Dr Ashani Weeraratna is a leading cancer researcher and was a guest speaker at this week's New Zealand Society for Oncology annual meeting. She spoke to Lisa Owen.

Northland's community is grappling with the imminent closure of its leading hospitality training provider. The shutting of the QRC Te Tai Tokerau will force school leavers to travel large distances to seek qualifications, and leave hotels and restaurants scrambling for staff. With the region's polytechnic also facing an uncertain future, it couldn't have come at a worse time. Peter de Graaf reports.

They're older and slower, but just because the arthritis is kicking in, that doesn't mean they can't have fun with a group of buddies. No, it's not an ad for a retirement village, it's the ethos of Wellington professional dog-walker, Justin Meade. The pooch-obssessed pack-walker has just started a new dog-walking service, one-day-a-week, for senior dogs. Mary Argue tagged along.