Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is facing pressure to apologise to his Japanese counterpart after a gesture he made about two melons she gifted him.

Albanese appeared on the Bush Deep podcast with Nikki Osborne and gestured to his chest when recalling the melons after Osborne asked how the fruit had been smuggled into the country.

Former Australian ambassador Shingo Yamagami recalled the incident earlier today and labelled it 'insulting'. 

Australian correspondent Murray Olds says Albanese has insisted this wasn't intended to be a crude joke directed at Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. 

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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is facing pressure to apologise to his Japanese counterpart after a gesture he made about two melons she gifted him.
Albanese appeared on the Bush Deep podcast with Nikki Osborne and gestured to his chest when recalling the melons after Osborne asked how the fruit had been smuggled into the country.
Former Australian ambassador Shingo Yamagami recalled the incident earlier today and labelled it 'insulting'.&nbsp;
Australian correspondent Murray Olds says Albanese has insisted this wasn't intended to be a crude joke directed at Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.&nbsp;
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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

Murray Olds: Australian correspondent on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese facing backlash over 'melon' comments

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/7587a87b-83e5-4b73-aee6-b4a50056c36f/transcript

Fifty police chiefs have signed a letter urging Prime Minister Andy Burnham to explore all the legal options to prevent PC Andrew Harper's killers from being released early.

Harper was killed in 2019, when he was dragged behind the getaway car of three teenagers who had fled the scene of a quad bike theft in Berkshire.

Under changes to the Sentencing Act made this year, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers - who were sentenced to 13 years for manslaughter - will be eligible for release from custody after serving half of their sentences.

UK correspondent Enda Brady says Burnham's looking to ensure these changes no longer apply to people with manslaughter convictions.

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Fifty police chiefs have signed a letter urging Prime Minister Andy Burnham to explore all the legal options to prevent PC Andrew Harper's killers from being released early.
Harper was killed in 2019, when he was dragged behind the getaway car of three teenagers who had fled the scene of a quad bike theft in Berkshire.
Under changes to the Sentencing Act made this year, Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers - who were sentenced to 13 years for manslaughter - will be eligible for release from custody after serving half of their sentences.
UK correspondent Enda Brady says Burnham's looking to ensure these changes no longer apply to people with manslaughter convictions.
LISTEN ABOVE

Enda Brady: UK correspondent on Andy Burnham looking to keep PC Andrew Harper's killers in prison

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/3196c140-2fb1-4e11-af7d-b4aa00818f4a/transcript

A global boom for beef is driving up cattle numbers - but how likely can it keep up the momentum?

Data shows the 2025-2026 season was generally favourable for beef farmers, but concerns have been raised about the impact of overseas markets like the US. 

The Country's Hamish McKay explained further.

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A global boom for beef is driving up cattle numbers - but how likely can it keep up the momentum?
Data shows the 2025-2026 season was generally favourable for beef farmers, but concerns have been raised about the impact of overseas markets like the US.&nbsp;
The Country's Hamish McKay explained further.
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Hamish McKay: The Country spokesperson on whether the recent beef boom could continue

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/33038239-bb09-4bed-bce2-b4aa007ea095/transcript

The chair of Kiwibank's holding company is floating the idea of a Kiwibank-TSB merger.

It comes as a group of Taranaki locals is seeking an interim injunction to stop a proposed merger of TSB and Heartland banks.

The interim injunction on the TSB-Heartland merger is due to be heard on Thursday.

Forsyth Barr Associate Analyst Ben Crozier explained how this could work.

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The chair of Kiwibank's holding company is floating the idea of a Kiwibank-TSB merger.
It comes as a group of Taranaki locals is seeking an interim injunction to stop a proposed merger of TSB and Heartland banks.
The interim injunction on the TSB-Heartland merger is due to be heard on Thursday.
Forsyth Barr Associate Analyst Ben Crozier explained how this could work.
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Ben Crozier: Forsyth Barr Associate Analyst on Kiwibank looking to merge with TSB

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/896c4623-5fca-41e2-a59a-b4aa007c6d59/transcript

Murray Olds: Australian correspondent on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese facing backlash over 'melon' comments

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