Midday Edition: 08 March 2026

The Midday Edition of News Fix for 08 March 2026, straight from the Newstalk ZB newsroom - bringing you everything you need to know in news, politics, business, entertainment and sport.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:02):
From the News Talk Zebby newsroom. This is newsfects. In
this update, US President Donald Trump says the US is
doing very well in Iran as war in the Middle
East enters its second week. Trump says he's now considering
widening the areas and groups of people being targeted, and
Iran will be hit very hard today. Meanwhile, Iran's military

(00:23):
says it's hit a US military base in Bahrain with
precision missiles. The BBC reports Cutter and the UAE both
say they've intercepted missiles today, while Saudi Arabia says a
missile was launched towards a military base. It comes as
Iran promises it will no longer launch retaliatory missiles at
neighbors unless they are attacked by them first. Trump says

(00:45):
they've knocked out forty two Iranian Navy ships in three days.
That was the end of the navy. We knocked out
their air force, we knocked out their communications, and all
telecommunications is gone. The majority of farmers are back in
the black. The latest Federated farm As Confidence survey found
seventy percent of respondents say their farm is currently profitable,

(01:05):
the highest level since two thousand and nine. Many are
seeing strong returns alongside lower debt servicing costs. President Wayne
Langford says commodity prices are up for milk and red meat.
I mean that's not only good for farmers, but ultimately
it is going to filter down into the royal communities
and to the rest of New Zealand as well. The

(01:26):
gym and exercise sector is criticizing a move to remove
a physical activity benefit on a health insurance policy. Southern
Cross Health Insurance has stopped paying up fifty dollars a
year to longtime customers who are signing up to sports events.
The insurance says the benefit wasn't strongly linked to better
medical outcomes and only one percent of customers took it up.

(01:48):
Exercise n Z CEO Richard Betty says the usage doesn't
reflect the purpose. He says the initiative was implemented poorly,
but completely scrapping it isn't the answer. Over thirty thousand
people have been pounding Auckland Central pavements this morning as
the iconic Round the Bays race got underway. It began
at nine in staggered groups, with competitors running, walking, or

(02:11):
rolling eight point four kilometers. That's news. In sports, the
All Black Sevens face an upheld battle to make the
playoffs at the Vancouver World Series tournament. The men have
lost to Spain twelve to ten in their opening match
and have tough pool games to go against Great Britain
and South Africa. On day one. The Blackfan Sevens are

(02:31):
on track for a semi final spot having trunced Great
Britain thirty five to five. And England has suffered a
historic first rugby defeat to Italy with a twenty three
eighteen collapse in Rome, raising the grim prospect of falling
to their worst ever six nace and finish. English Football's
formed teams through to the quarterfinals of the FA Cup.

(02:53):
Manchester City's bounced back from a goal down to beat
Newcastle three to one away, while Arsenal's beaten Mansfield down
to one and Chelsea needed overtime to conquer Wrexham for two.
That's Sports. I'm Sandy Hodge. For more news, listen to
news talks at b on the free iheartapp.