Checkpoint for Thursday 19 June 2008

6:58 PM.New figures from the United Nations, show that the cultivation of coca in Colombia has increased by more then a quarter. Audio

6:53 PM.The Royal Canadian Mounted Police has announced it will curb the use of Taser stun guns. Audio

6:51 PM.New Zealand's first eco-classroom project has been officially launched at Hamilton's Hukanui Primary School. Audio

6:43 PM.Icing sugar is being put to the test by beekeepers carrying out varroa mite checks on their hives throughout the country. Audio

6:40 PM.Nine British soliders have been killed in Afghanistan in the last ten days. Audio

6:36 PM.It has released emails showing the IRD wanted to pull back on its advertising, cautious of the Electoral Finance Act. Audio

6:33 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

6:26 PM.It wasn't long ago that the Bush administration considered parts of South East Asia, as dangerous havens for terrorists. Audio

6:21 PM.If it holds it has much to offer both sides: for Israelis, respite from the missile attacks launched by militants. Audio

6:18 PM.Auckland peace activist Harmeet Sooden, who was kidnapped for four months in Iraq, has been deported from Israel. Audio

6:15 PM.Immigrant communities in South Auckand are blaming the latest crime wave on the justice system. Audio

6:14 PM.Bioethics Council has told the government that there's not enough reason to stop parents from choosing the sex of their babies. Audio

6:07 PM.The National Party has seized upon the loss of a confidential Corrections file containing information about high-risk offenders. Audio

5:56 PM.Commodore Frank Bainimarama has told the representatives that the March poll may be delayed. Audio

5:52 PM.The Christchurch City Council has decided to refund almost 80 thousand dollars in illegally collected parking fines. Audio

5:49 PM.News from the Waatea team. Audio

5:46 PM.The 73 year old is defending 23 charges of sexually abusing boys at Christchurch Maryland's School in the 1970s. Audio

5:43 PM.Winston Peters says Zimbabwe's neighbours should have put more pressure on Robert Mugabe. Audio

5:39 PM.An Otago University academic says sex selection of babies for social reasons amounts to little more than gender discrimination. Audio

5:33 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

5:29 PM.Forensic analysis has confirmed the long-held suspicion that NZ's most famous racehorse Phar Lap died of arsenic poisoning. Audio

5:26 PM.Secondary principals are annoyed about a Ministry of Education information pack promoting the Maori Education strategy. Audio

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

5:17 PM.The grandchildren of an 80-year-old woman who was violently attacked in her home have made an impassioned plea. Audio

5:12 PM.Barry Mathews is the Chief Executive of the Corrections Department. Audio

5:07 PM.The Corrections Department has confirmed a missing file containing sensitive information was found in an Auckland street. Audio