Midday Edition: 10 March 2026

The Midday Edition of News Fix for 10 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):
Good afternoon. I'm Malcolm Jordan and this is your midday
news facts for Tuesday, the tenth of March. The US
President says the US Israel war on Iran is far
ahead of schedule and very complete. The death toll in
the Middle East is now over seventeen hundred, most killed
in Iran and Lebanon in US and Israeli attacks. Iran's

(00:23):
retaliatory strikes have targeted countries with US assets, the UAE
alone reportedly intercepting fifteen hundred missiles and drones. Donald Trump
as told Republican lawmakers in Florida, the US and Israel
are crushing the enemy. We took a little excursion because
we felt we had to do that to get rid
of some evil. I think you'll see it's going to

(00:44):
be a short term excursion.

Speaker 2 (00:46):
How good is our military.

Speaker 1 (00:48):
Then, at a press conference about the war, Trump says,
the US has destroyed fifty one Iranian ships.

Speaker 2 (00:54):
We've wiped every single force in Iran out very completely
to around. Naval power has been sunkets in the bottom
of the sea.

Speaker 1 (01:04):
Despite Air New Zealand suspending its earnings guidance, shares have
risen on opening trade today. It says the extreme volatility
of global jet fuel prices because of the Iran war
will meaningfully impact its finances. Business reporter Michael Sergel is
monitoring developments.

Speaker 3 (01:21):
The airline announced less than two weeks ago it expected
second half earnings in line with or just below its
first half fifty nine million dollar loss. It says that's
now changed in New Zealand says it's already adjusted fears
and may have to make further changes to prices, networks
and schedules if fuel prices remain high.

Speaker 1 (01:42):
And Finance Minister Nichola Willis says New Zealand won't follow
other countries in capping fuel price rises.

Speaker 2 (01:48):
And not any money that we throw at this problem
right now as money that we have to borrow, and
so we need to be prudent about New Zealand's a
school position.

Speaker 1 (01:57):
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albinizi has confirmed that five Iranian
football players will remain in Australia after seeking asylum following
talks with Donald Trump. He says they're willing to provide
assistance to other women in the team too, noting that
this is a very delicate situation and it is up
to them, but we say to them, if you want

(02:19):
our help, help is here. The Professional Firefighters Union has
pulled back and admin strike, but his warning it's fight
for fair pay and safety isn't over fire and emergency
is threatening to dock ten percent of wages from firefighters
taking part in industrial action. Union members have been staging
one hour stoppages twice a week to press their demands.

(02:42):
National Secretary Wattie Watson says the union anticipated this move
and will withdraw administrative action on March twenty three.

Speaker 2 (02:49):
Many of our members can't stay in an ongoing ten
percent pay cup that we're going to continue with the
one hour strike. Sense is now going to deduct them
for the one hour strikes.

Speaker 1 (03:00):
Since the government announced access would expand to malatonin, no
one younger than fifty five can buy it over the counter.
Medsafe is reviewing two applications to approve it for over
eighteens to sport. Four time Formula One World champion Maxvis
Stapan will drive a Mercedes rather than a red Ball
this year, albeit briefly at the twenty four hour endurance

(03:21):
race on Germany's Nurburgering Circuit during May. A British football
club Port Vale featuring all white striker Ben Wayn will
travel to Chelsea for next month's IFA Cup quarterfinals, their
first appearance in the last eight since nineteen fifty four,
and Sri Lanka have appointed Gary Kirston as their new
cricket coach on a two year contract. He replaces Sanath

(03:43):
Jayas Syria. I'm Malcolm Jordan. That's your latest news fix.
We'll be back with the next update at five pm
from the news Talk ZB newsroom.