Checkpoint for Thursday 12 June 2008

6:58 PM.Thousands of people from one area of southern China alone die every year from air pollution. Audio

6:56 PM.California has laws in place which require farm bosses to give workers water and breaks as well as to provide shade. Audio

6:53 PM.The price of oil is continuing to rise - some analysts now predict it will reach US$200 per barrel by the end of the year. Audio

6:50 PM.The deposed King of Nepal left the Royal palace in the centre of the capital Kathmandu and moved to a home in the forest. Audio

6:46 PM.The Iraq war has surged back into the centre of the US presidential campaign. Audio

6:41 PM.Drinking on the streets of central Wellington looks certain to become part of history following a City Council meeting today. Audio

6:37 PM.Bus and coach drivers, and tourism operators have told MPs that a new bill enforcing rest breaks is unworkable. Audio

6:34 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

6:27 PM.Heavy rain is expected in the southern hydro lakes region over the next two days. Audio

6:23 PM.A potentially fatal bacteria immune to a common antibiotic has infected 21 babies at Auckland City Hospital's. Audio

6:20 PM.British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, has boosted his flagging leadership after winning a critical vote on anti terrorism laws. Audio

6:12 PM.Paul Offit has been brought to NZ by the Auckland University-based Immunisation Advisory Centre to discuss vaccines. Audio

6:07 PM.Caltex and BP have put up petrol prices by a further 6 cents - the second time this week. Audio

5:58 PM.The Pakistani army has made its anger clear after the deaths of eleven of its soldiers in a US air and artillery strike. Audio

5:55 PM.A Whakatane man's told a court he doesn't recall saying anything to provoke being pepper sprayed. Audio

5:53 PM.News from the Waatea team. Audio

5:48 PM.Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has lost patience with an MP notorious for her ill temper. Audio

5:43 PM.The Law Commission wants an urgent inquiry into the way rape trials are conducted in this country. Audio

5:37 PM.The police investigating why a woman's file was accessed 72 times say a significant number were for the right reasons. Audio

5:34 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

5:29 PM.The price of vegetables caused the overall price of food to rise by 1% in May. Vegetables cost 11% more in May than in April. Audio

5:26 PM.Four people have been killed and at least 20 injured after a tornado tore through a Boy Scout camp. Audio

5:22 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

5:19 PM.Two men found dead on top of a railway freight wagon in Christchurch have been identified. Audio

5:16 PM.At the service he was described as a hard working young man whose life was shattered by criminals. Audio

5:12 PM.Three young men have appeared in court charged with the murder of liquor storeowner Navtej Singh. Audio

5:07 PM.Caltex and BP have raised the price of fuel by another 6 cents - the second increase in two days. Audio