Checkpoint

Middle East correspondent Perry Wilton spoke to Lisa Owen about Israel's controversial plans to seize Gaza City triggering an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting. It comes as a growing list of countries, including the UK, France, and now Australia intend to recognise Palestinian statehood at the UN General Assembly in September. Our foreign minister Winston Peters is considering whether to follow suit.

Christchurch's Te Kaha stadium is set to revive Super Rugby's 'Super Round'. The 'Super Round' - last held in 2024 - will be the first major sporting event hosted at Te Kaha which is scheduled to open next April. Sports reporter Jamie Wall spoke to Lisa Owen.

A heartless and disturbing trend is how an animal welfare trust is describing the killings of three more sealions. Oamaru police are investigating after three endangered sea lions were shot at the mouth of the Waitaki River on Saturday. Two were found dead and the third had to be euthanised because of its injuries. Waitaki Police Sergeant Tony Woodbridge spoke to Lisa Owen.

It's the kind of price tag that might even make strongman Popeye cry. A 300g bag of spinach was $8.29 at one Auckland supermarket last week; or more than $27 per kg. This week it's worse with some packaged spinach is going for more than $33 a kilo. The Infometrics-Foodstuffs New Zealand Grocery Supplier Cost Index indicates there was an average 2.2% increase in what suppliers charged grocers in July, over the year earlier. United Fresh President, Jerry Prendergast spoke to Lisa Owen .

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about the homelessness minister quitting, after she was accused of dodgy rent dealings, as well as UK Police turning to the public for information about a $1 million jewellery heist.

The Labour leader Chris Hipkins has rebuked his education spokesperson after finding out she ignored, then rejected offers to work with the government on NCEA reforms. ACT's David Seymour said if she was one of his MPs, he would have fired her. But Labour is pushing, and said there still needs to be more consultation on the NCEA changes. Russell Palmer reports.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

Provincial rugby gets in full swing this weekend with the Farah Palmer Cup kicking off its 26th season. While the Black Ferns prepare for their World Cup defence, players back home will be eager to perfrom with some just one injury away from getting a ticket to England. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

Closures, swapping to more export alternatives or dirtier substitutes are some of the options facing small to medium businesses struggling to get gas contracts. The Business NZ Energy Council said a raft of business in industries from manufacutring to market gardening are worried about uncertainty around energy supplies as the come off contracts. They met with the Resources Minister and Associate Minster for Energy Shane Jones to come up with some solutions. Shane Jones spoke to Lisa Owen.

Only two of the teen boys who went through the government's controversial military-style boot camp trial haven't reoffended. Despite this, the agency and minister in charge are trumpeting its success, as the 12-month pilot finishes. Critics though said the boys should have had better support growing up, and the reoffending rate proves boot camps are a failure. Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira reports.