Checkpoint

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about British Prime Minister Andy Burnham possibly meeting with US President Donald Trump again next month, as well as London bus drivers walking off the job again in a dispute over working in extreme heat.

News from the business sector, including a market report.

It's long been known that contact sports like boxing, rugby and football can cause brain damage. But new research in the United States now suggest at least 25 percent of American footballers can expect to end up with a degenerative brain disease known as CTE - and the real figure may be even higher. Sports reporter Felicity Reid spoke to Lisa Owen.

A Northland teenager with a passion for volleyball is smashing it with her pick of scholarships from several US universities. Kerikeri year 13 student, Kaia Derbyshire has chosen Butte College in California and will head there next year to study and compete at indoor and beach volleyball. Kaia has had to travel hours to training in Auckland and Tauranga with the aim of going international. Kaia Derbyshire spoke to Lisa Owen.

The scheme that is meant to be driving down New Zealand's climate pollution is instead letting emitters kick the can down the road by planting pine forests. Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Simon Upton says the emissions trading scheme needs major reform to do its job properly. He has tabled a report in Parliament suggesting forestry should be phased out of the scheme altogether, or at the very least restricted. Climate change correspondent Kate Newton spoke to Lisa Owen.

Most under five year olds will be eligible for free flu vaccinations from next year, but that's not soon enough according to one doctor. Pharmac has announced that children from six months up to five years old will be able to get funded influenza vaccinations from April 2027. Clinical director of the National Hauora Coalition, Dr Nina Bevin spoke to Lisa Owen.

A top ministry boss has offered his resignation after being found to have deliberately misled MPs about a bungled immigration IT project. That offer has been turned down - although Parliament's privileges committee today found him - and another former public servant - in contempt of Parliament. Political editor Craig McCulloch reports.

Singer, songwriter, actor, activist and philanthropist. Many are mourning the death of the woman dubbed the Queen of Country, Dolly Parton. She was 80 years old and reportedly died after becoming ill with cancer. Christchurch based music publicist, Steve Guest worked with friend and legend Dolly for more than two decades. He spoke to Lisa Owen.

A man who strangled his partner to death at her home in Auckland during an argument last year had choked her twice before, once causing her to lose consciousness. Hao Feng pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of the 40 year old Xiaoyan Wang in may, after the Crown withdrew a murder charge. Today he was sentenced to four years and two months in prison. Amy Williams reports.

Netball New Zealand is closing in on a decision over the future of its elite domestic competition. RNZ understands a series of key meetings are being held this week as pressure mounts on the national body to make a call on what shape the ANZ Premiership will take next year. Netball NZ has been unable to commit to running a professional league next season as it faces losses of up to $6 million for the current financial year. Sports editor Dana Johannsen spoke to Lisa Owen.