Checkpoint

Outward bound is pushing the age boundary with a new course aimed at those 60 plus. The not for profit specialises in personal and professional development, and building resiliance by challenging people mentally and physically in the great outdoors of the Marlborough sounds. It has been going since 1962 but it is the first time its had an eight day course for people who are 60 and beyond. One of the participants, 65 year old Sally Anderson, spoke to Lisa Owen.

Autism New Zealand says it has serious concerns around what it calls "misleading claims" made by Donald Trump and his administration around the link between autism and paracetamol. The US President made the highly-contentious claims in an Oval Office address this morning, announcing the US Food and Drug Administration will be notifying physicians that the use of paracetamol during pregnancy "can be associated with a very increased risk of autism". US correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen.

Part time workers will get fewer paid sick days under proposed law changes. The government has agreed to ditch the Holidays Act and replace it with the Employment Leave Act. Under the new system part time workers will accrue sick leave according to how many hours they have actually work. Employers and Manufacturers Association, Head of Advocacy Alan McDonald spoke to Lisa Owen.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about the reaction to the UK formally recognising the state of Palestine, as well as Jeffrey Epstein being linked back to another member of the Royal family.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

The first of an expected 170,000 cruise ship visitors to New Zealand this year have hit the streets of Auckland today, with the arrival of the Crown Princess. Retailers and tourism operators are keen to cash in on the visitors, but the number of people sailing here is again expected to drop this summer. Cruise ship operators say the costs of reaching New Zealand's waters are high, while the government says it's working on making the country an attractive destination. Jessica Hopkins reports.

New Zealand driver Liam Lawson finished fifth at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku this morning. Despite the result being the 23-year-old's best to date in Formula 1 he isn't getting too excited just yet. Sports reporter Bridget Tunnicliffe spoke to Lisa Owen.

The Prime Minister says the government won't be rushed into revealing its decision on recognising Palestinian statehood. The Foreign Affairs minister Winston Peters is in New York and is expected to announce New Zealand's position later this week, at the United Nations General Assembly. In the meantime, some of New Zealand's closest partners have announced they will recognise Palestine - including three of its Five Eyes partners. Giles Dexter reports.

A massive hike in fees for a popular US work visa has some New Zealand job seekers panicking. US President Donald Trump announced that he is imposing a $170,000 NZD application fee for a particular skilled worker visa, a huge jump from the current fee that starts around $3,500. Co-Founder of Concord Visa, who helps New Zealander's with the US visa process, Kevin Park spoke to Lisa Owen.

Each year thousands of hospital workers are assaulted on the job. New figures obtained by Checkpoint show a 30% rise in assaults in just two years to over 7000 in the 12 months to June. One frontline worker says the numbers could be even higher, as many staff don't bother reporting incidents. But Health NZ says it's strengthened reporting procedures, and hospital security. Jimmy Ellingham reports.