Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has paid back over £6,000 ($12,000 NZD) in gifts and hospitality received since taking up the role after a controversy over donations. 

Starmer is covering the cost of six Taylor Swift tickets, four tickets to the races, and a designer clothing rental agreement favoured by his wife, Lady Victoria Starmer.

UK correspondent says Starmer is under pressure to improve transparency after he and some other MPs faced criticism over accepting freebies from wealthy donors.

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Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has paid back over £6,000 ($12,000 NZD) in gifts and hospitality received since taking up the role after a controversy over donations.&nbsp;
Starmer is covering the cost of six Taylor Swift tickets, four tickets to the races, and a designer clothing rental agreement favoured by his wife, Lady Victoria Starmer.
UK correspondent says Starmer is under pressure to improve transparency after he and some other MPs faced criticism over accepting freebies from wealthy donors.
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With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Enda Brady: UK correspondent on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer paying back thousands following donations controversy

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/cc8e8620-47c2-41b2-b6fa-b1fe007d1b92/transcript

The Education Minister denies ever considering banning Virtual Private Networks as part of the social media ban for under-16s, but says the tool was talked about.

The Post reported this morning Erica Stanford was looking at prohibiting VPNs, which lets internet users mask their location and online address.

The Prime Minister and Stanford rejected the claim.

She says they discussed VPNs in a different context. 

"They can be used for children to get around social media bans, and we also talked about the fact that big tech firms have the ability to know when children are doing that."

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The Education Minister denies ever considering banning Virtual Private Networks as part of the social media ban for under-16s, but says the tool was talked about.
The Post reported this morning Erica Stanford was looking at prohibiting VPNs, which lets internet users mask their location and online address.
The Prime Minister and Stanford rejected the claim.
She says they discussed VPNs in a different context.&nbsp;
"They can be used for children to get around social media bans, and we also talked about the fact that big tech firms have the ability to know when children are doing that."
LISTEN ABOVE

Erica Stanford: Education Minister explains why Government not looking to ban VPNs

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/bf16282a-2fd6-492b-a1fb-b4800064e395/transcript

The Government's celebrating the new diesel storage tanks opening at Marsden Point.

The Northland site will store 93 million litres emergency reserve, ordered at the peak of the fuel crisis, in April. 

It paid Channel Infrastructure to upgrade its tanks. 

Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says the Government's looking to boost up emergency supplies following the uncertainty of the Middle East conflict. 

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The Government's celebrating the new diesel storage tanks opening at Marsden Point.
The Northland site will store 93 million litres emergency reserve, ordered at the peak of the fuel crisis, in April.&nbsp;
It paid Channel Infrastructure to upgrade its tanks.&nbsp;
Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says the Government's looking to boost up emergency supplies following the uncertainty of the Middle East conflict.&nbsp;
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Barry Soper: Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent on the Government opening new diesel storage at Marsden Point

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/57d3613d-0c0a-41a1-96c0-b4800060cffb/transcript

The Australian Government has raised concerns over China's decision to test their ballistic missile in the Pacific.

The missile was fired from a Chinese submarine, landing between Kiribati and Tuvalu.

China says it complied with international law - and didn't target any nation.

Australian correspondent Murray Olds says this follows Australia inking the Vuvale Union Treaty with Fiji.

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The Australian Government has raised concerns over China's decision to test their ballistic missile in the Pacific.
The missile was fired from a Chinese submarine, landing between Kiribati and Tuvalu.
China says it complied with international law - and didn't target any nation.
Australian correspondent Murray Olds says this follows Australia inking the Vuvale Union Treaty with Fiji.
LISTEN ABOVE

Murray Olds: Australian correspondent on Australia's reaction to China's ballistic missile test

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/1c4ae67a-90e5-45b6-896e-b480005c527c/transcript

Enda Brady: UK correspondent on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer paying back thousands following donations controversy

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