Slovakia has elected a pro-Russian populist as its new president, cementing the country's switch towards policies more friendly towards Moscow. A big police operation linked to allegations of fraud involving post-Covid funding has seen raids in numerous EU countries. And shock in Finland as one person is killed in a school shooting committed by a 12 year old.

Just a third of New Zealanders now say they trust the news. That's the major finding of AUT's research centre for Journalism, Media and Democracy's fifth annual Trust in News in Aotearoa New Zealand report. Trust in news in general fell from 42 percent last year to 33 percent in this year's report - but it's a whopping 20 percent down from the first report in 2020 when it was at 53 percent. All 16 news brands that were part of this survey suffered declines in trust. The ODT had the highest trust score, with RNZ and the NBR tied in second place and TVNZ, Newsroom, BusinessDesk and 'other commercial radio' tied for third. Other findings from this year's survey: Fewer people believed the news media was independent of political influence and more said they actively avoid the news to some degree. The survey was conducted in February just before the shock announcement that Newshub was set to close, and that TVNZ would be cutting jobs and news programmes. Final decisions are expected from both organisations this week. Kathryn is joined by Dr Merja Myllylahti and Dr Greg Treadwell, co-authors of the report.

Comedians Irene and Michele take a look back at the funny stories of the week including the April Fool's joke that backfired on German grocery chain Aldi, when customers began demanding a joke icecream flavour be made available for sale.

The Wellington Phoenix has their biggest game of the A-League season coming up, as they vie for a spot in the finals.

A new 40 kilometer bike trail is opening in Eskdale on land left devastated by Cyclone Gabrielle; Napier rates are doubling, and 83-year-old Sir Tom Jones is set to rock Napier this weekend.

Tilly Lloyd from Unity Wellington reviews How to Win an Information War, by Peter Pomerantsev, published by Faber.

The new director of the Mt John observatory is found dead on the eve of its 50th anniversary celebrations, with academics from around the world attending.

An appeal of the sentencing of Fiji's former leader Frank Bainimarama and suspended police chief has been moved to next month.

The cruise ship season is drawing to a close, and in Picton that marks the end of very busy few months for the Picton Flower Ladies.

As a young architecture student, Deidre Brown was told to "leave Māori architecture on the marae where it belongs".The University of Auckland professor  (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahu) is the first academic and the first Māori woman to receive the NZ Institute of Architects' 2023 Gold Medal. Deidre Brown is also co-director of the Māori and Pacific Housing Research Centre MĀPIHI, which works towards creating healthy, affordable and sustainable homes for Māori and Pacific whānau.