Checkpoint for Monday 27 April 2009

6:56 PM.Scientists are warning that global warming is affecting the survival of the tiny creatures that are the basis of life. Audio

6:53 PM.The province of Shanxi in central China is one of the most polluted places in the world. Audio

6:50 PM.A New Zealand pro-choice group is calling for abortion to be legalised in Samoa. Audio

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

6:43 PM.The crew onboard the MSC Melody fought off the pirates off the Seychelles late on Saturday. Audio

6:40 PM.And to Mexico now where the death toll from an outbreak of a new type of swine flu has risen to 103 people. Audio

6:36 PM.The United States has declared a public health emergency, to deal with the emerging threat of swine flu in the country. Audio

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

6:29 PM.Carbon emissions in the Thai capital Bangkok are now as high as in New York and higher even than in London. Audio

6:26 PM.A ceasefire declared by the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka has been rejected by government forces. Audio

6:23 PM.News from the business sector. Audio

6:19 PM.One of Fiji's ousted Prime Ministers says the country needs to get back to elections for the sake of the economy. Audio

6:16 PM.Fiji's lawyers are worried about a backlog of cases, with the senior courts having been out of action for two weeks. Audio

6:10 PM.Joining us now is our health correspondent Karen Brown. Audio

6:06 PM.New Zealand health authorities are now actively monitoring cases of suspected swine flu in four centres. Audio

5:58 PM.Twice as many New Zealanders have visiting the Treaty grounds than the previous year. Audio

5:55 PM.The Government has agreed on a plan today to help drought stricken farmers in Hawkes Bay. Audio

5:52 PM.Witnesses at the hearing have described how two teenagers accused of murder told them they had stabbed a taxi driver. Audio

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

5:45 PM.More details have emerged today of an attack and kidnapping of a real estate agent. Audio

5:42 PM.Former New Zealand brewing giant Lion Nathan looks set to be taken over by its major shareholder Kirin Holdings. Audio

5:34 PM.DR Michael Osterholm is an epidemiologist and the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. Audio

5:31 PM.An update from the RNZ sports team. Audio

5:27 PM.In London the stars of the British television world have been out in force for this year's BAFTA Television awards. Audio

5:24 PM.Kate Gohar, says she got a text message from the New Zealanders telling her what was happening. Audio

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

5:19 PM.With the latest details Waikato DHB's medical officer of health, Anita Bell, is on the line now. Audio

5:13 PM.Prime Minister John Key said he's happy with the level of the official response, so far. Audio

5:08 PM.Health authorities are now actively monitoring cases in four centres, Auckland, Waikato, Nelson and Otago. Audio