Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Kevin McCarthy has become the first US House Speaker ousted from the role.

Representatives have voted 216 to 210 to remove him- after Republican ire over McCarthy  compromising with Democrats on a stopgap deal to avoid a Government shutdown.

US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says it's unclear who will replace McCarthy in the role, as the Republicans haven't lined anyone else up.

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The All Blacks have their eye fixed on the quarterfinals ahead of Friday's match.

All Blacks coach Ian Foster has made nine starting changes for the team's final World Cup pool match against Uruguay.

Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave recaps the choices made ahead of this week's key match.

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The retail sector wants changes to the justice system, after a concerning report.

The latest Retail NZ report shows the sector has suffered just under $2.6 billion in losses from crime in the year to June.

It also found 92 percent of retailers have suffered a crime in the past year.

Retail NZ Chief Executive Carolyn Young says more businesses are expecting to incorporate AI facial recognition to identify offenders, with Foodstuffs running a trial next month.

"Technology is going to be a tool that's part of the next wave of protection businesses are going to look to combat crime. Some businesses are undertaking use of number plate recognition and using that to solve crime."

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Here's some good news, we've finally got some new rules around forestry slash that might actually make a difference to places like Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay, which have been absolutely pounded by logs in Cyclone Gabrielle.

The rules are kicking in very soon- just 4 weeks’ time. And they will require forestry owners to remove their slash if it’s over a certain size, and it’s not particularly large.

Anything with a diameter of more than 10 centimetres and a length of more than 2 meters has gotta go. It can't be left behind to wash down and smash up bridges and houses.

Removing it will be expensive though; there is no doubt about that.

It will be so expensive that it will make it too expensive to plant some of that steep land. Which is great, it’s what we want, because that land shouldn’t be planted in pine anyway.

I cry absolutely no tears for the forestry owners who are whingeing about this today, because they have not done their bit for their communities. 

You take a look at that photo of Waikare beach halfway between Napier and Wairoa which popped up a couple of days ago.

That beach is covered in logs. None of the forestry guys have cleaned it up, it’s been that way since February 14. The logs destroyed the DoC campsite, and none of the forestry guys have cleaned it up.

These guys have made huge bucks off New Zealand- and broken our stuff as they made their money.

Now, I'm not naïve. I know that these rules will probably create as many problems as they solve. But we needed to start somewhere.

And here’s another bonus, just the threat of these rules has already stopped the sale of land for forestry. How good is that? It’s shocked that industry so badly that the sales have come to a shuddering halt. 

Which is good, because fewer pines means less slash for us to clean up.

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Speculation claims UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak may axe part of the High Speed 2 rail project.

Sunak is set to deliver a speech as part of the Conservative Party conference, and a rumour that he'll scrap the Manchester leg of the rail link.

UK correspondent Enda Brady says the project costs have ballooned to $200 billion, and Sunak will be feeling the pressure to cut costs.

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Tonight on The Huddle, Neale Jones from Capital and Infrastructure NZ CEO Nick Leggett joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more!

Chris Luxon says he'll be active in Christchurch next Tuesday, but there's no room in his itinerary for a rescheduled Press debate. The event due to happen tonight was called off after Chris Hipkins got Covid. Is this cowardice on Luxon's part- or a clever strategy from National?

Sanitarium says it will reinstate supplies of Weet-Bix to The Warehouse after last week's controversy. Did they make this choice because of the mass backlash?

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The Reserve Bank of Australia has kept the OCR on hold for the fourth month in a row.

The decision to keep the cash rate at 4.1 percent is the first one made by the RBA's new governor, Michele Bullock.

However, Bullock warned that Australia isn't out of the woods yet when it comes to inflation, and warned of future hikes to come.

HSBC Chief Economist Paul Bloxham thinks the RBA could hike interest rates as soon as next month, depending on the next CPI outlook.

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Another key GDT auction is set to take place tonight, and experts have an optimistic outlook.

This auction is off the back of two positive lifts in September, with a 2.7 percent and 4.6 percent increase improving moods within the sector.

The Country's Jamie Mackay says he consulted rural economists from Westpac, Jarden and Rabobank- and they're feeling positive about tonight's predicted results.

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Until Monday, no-one knew the name of the reclusive Pennsylvanian millionaire regularly visiting Hawke's Bay.

Sean Colgan found himself in the spotlight after it was revealed he'd been lending his private plane to ACT's David Seymour.

BusinessDesk managing editor Pattrick Smellie's been digging into his background- and earlier investments during the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Chris Luxon says he'll be in Christchurch next Tuesday - but still has no time for the Press debate.

Hipkins is unable to make the Press leaders debate, which was due to be held tonight, as he's tested positive for Covid-19.

Luxon has been accused of chickening out of the debate by Labour.

ZB political editor Jason Walls accuses Labour of being 'churlish', allowing Luxon to take the high road.

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