Checkpoint for Thursday 31 July 2008

6:57 PM.A team of Russian scientists has reached the bottom of Lake Baikal in southern Siberia - the world's deepest body of freshwater. Audio

6:55 PM.A United Nations report says the number of people dying worldwide from AIDS related illnesses fell again last year. Audio

6:53 PM.A report by the human rights organisation, Amnesty International, says the Iranian government is failing to protect them. Audio

6:50 PM.A high school in Thailand has taken the unusual initiative of installing separate toilets for transgender boys. Audio

6:44 PM.Australia's consumer watchdog is likely to recommend changes after hearing from business, supplier and consumers. Audio

6:41 PM.After meeting with the Tongan Prime Minister Felete Sevele Ms Clark said the coronation is an important event for Tonga. Audio

6:37 PM.The rate of scrap metal thefts has escalated in recent months, and the police are warning the public to keep an eye. Audio

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

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

6:29 PM.Later tonight, the UN war crimes tribunal at The Hague will hear for the first time from Radovan Karadzic. Audio

6:26 PM.The UN has voted unanimously to disband its peacekeeping mission on the disputed border between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Audio

6:23 PM.Dogged by a series of corruption allegations, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said he'll resign. Audio

6:16 PM.A 24-hour, seven-day a week ban on drinking alcohol in public places has just come into force in the inner city. Audio

6:11 PM.Lingham Crescent in Torbay remains cordoned off after the slip twisted one house from its foundations. Audio

6:07 PM.The road from Christchurch to Kaikoura will remain closed after another slip came down just as it was about to be re-opened. Audio

5:57 PM.Barak Obama's campaign officials have condemned the lyrics of a song by one of the Senator's favourite rap stars, Ludacris. Audio

5:55 PM.A Coroner has heard evidence that the deaths of 3 teenage girls in a car crash cannot be blamed on the driver texting. Audio

5:52 PM.There has been a setback to hopes of restoring traffic on State Highway One from kaikoura into Christchurch. Audio

5:50 PM.The immigration service says the man alleged to have reversed his car into a police officer is an illegal immigrant. Audio

5:47 PM.News from the Waatea team. Audio

5:44 PM.Today Parliament descended into farce as Minister Winston Peters again ducked and dived questions about donations. Audio

5:43 PM.Antonie Dixon is on trial for the murder of James Te Aute, and for seriously injuring two women with a samurai sword in 2003. Audio

5:41 PM.Several hundred Tuhoe people traveled to Parliament to witness the process of settling the iwi's Treaty of Waitangi claims. Audio

5:37 PM.Few passenger trains are running into or out of Wellington and there are long queues for them due to a point's fault. Audio

5:25 PM.The Commerce Commission has won a Court of Appeal case preventing two supermarkets from takeover offers for the Warehouse. Audio

5:19 PM.40 passengers on board a cruise ship north of Auckland are nursing cuts, bruises and sprains after the vessal suddenly rolled. Audio

5:17 PM.The backlog in Picton is causing a headache for Mainfreight - the country's biggest transport company that sends goods by rail. Audio

5:14 PM.A civil emergency declaration in Marlborough has been lifted as a major clean-up continues after last night's damaging storm. Audio

5:14 PM.The IHC has lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission today against the government. Audio

5:11 PM.Monique Devereux gives an update on the situation at Amberley Beach and other parts of the storm hit South Island. Audio

5:07 PM.The storm which caused havoc in the North Island yesterday has today caused flooding and evacuations in the South. Audio