Checkpoint for Wednesday 29 October 2008

6:57 PM.West African countries have become a transit point to Europe for cocaine from South America. Audio

6:55 PM.A council of 50 Pakistani and Afghan political and tribal leaders has agreed on a policy to establish dialogue. Audio

6:51 PM.The Labour Party is raising questions over John's Key's links to one of New Zealand's most notorious foreign exchange scams. Audio

6:47 PM.News from the Waatea team. Audio

6:44 PM.US government is now considering an emergency rescue package for the country's biggest car maker General Motors. Audio

6:41 PM.Scientists have identified a gene variant they say is a key indicator of whether someone is likely to survive a heart attack. Audio

6:38 PM.7 days to go in the United States presidential race. Audio

6:35 PM.There are suggestions some police officers are too ashamed to admit their occupation to friends and neighbours. Audio

6:32 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

6:24 PM.For the latest news from China we are joined now by our correspondent in Beijing, Quentin Sommerville. Audio

6:21 PM.With the business news, here's Patrick O'Meara. Audio

6:19 PM.Syria close down an American school and a cultural centre in Damascus. Audio

6:15 PM.Labour's plan to launch a commission of inquiry into gangs if it's re-elected, is being panned as unnecessary research. Audio

6:11 PM.Returning to the search off the Christchurch coastline today for a man missing from a six metre vessel. Audio

6:06 PM.The judge has described the case one of the worst of its kind after man was jailed for at least 18 years today. Audio

5:57 PM.Emergency food handouts are about to start in Cambodia to help families hit by the rising price of staple products. Audio

5:55 PM.Thousands of people are fleeing for their lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Audio

5:51 PM.The Labour Party is raising questions over John's Key's links to one of New Zealand's most notorious foreign exchange scams. Audio

5:48 PM.News from the Waatea team. Audio

5:43 PM.New Zealand's ecological footprint per capita is now ranked sixth largest in the world. Audio

5:40 PM.The Real Estate Agents Licensing Board has deemed 3 estate agents unfit to continue as certified salepersons. Audio

5:37 PM.The crown prosecutor in the murder trial of Liam Reid has told the jury that he has a Jeykell and Hyde personality. Audio

5:35 PM.There are reports that as many as 70 people may have died in an earthquake in Pakistan. Audio

5:32 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

5:27 PM.Barack Obama is about to splash out on a half-hour long commercial. Audio

5:24 PM.Ten boats and two planes have been searching the Christchurch coastline today for a man missing in a six metre vessel. Audio

5:20 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

5:17 PM.The Labour Party has pledged to launch a commission of inquiry into criminal gangs to determine the extent of their involvement in organised crime, reports Naomi Mitchell. Audio

5:13 PM.The trial of the mother and grandfather of a six year old Hamilton boy abducted in 2006 ended before it began today. Audio

5:10 PM.The New Zealand First leader, Winston Peters, is again under the campaign spotlight. Audio

5:06 PM.A man has been jailed for at least 18 years for the murder of his seven year-old stepson. Audio