Checkpoint for Friday 22 May 2009

6:58 PM.In Australia a Labour member of parliament is arguing that he should have been able to use his parliamentary expense allowance to pay for pot plants in his office. Audio

6:57 PM.Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez has seized control of gas installations in the east of the country including a compression plant belonging to an American energy company. Audio

6:54 PM.News from the Waatea team. Audio

6:39 PM.It's just three weeks to the Mt Albert by-election, an election the Labour Party must win to retain the seat it has held since its formation. Audio

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

6:26 PM.A defence witness has told the High Court in Christchurch that David Bain's fingerprints on the rifle used to kill his family were made with sweat, not blood as the Crown claims. Audio

6:23 PM.Religious leaders in New York have united to renounce violence after the FBI cracked an alleged plot to bomb New York Jewish centres. Audio

6:17 PM.The United States President Barack Obama is defending his plan to close the Guantanamo detention centre in the face of harsh criticism. Audio

6:15 PM.The Government will provide 10 million dollars over three years in next week's Budget for the Police roll out of the taser stun guns. Audio

6:12 PM.The Labour and Green Parties are describing the new Auckland Transition Agency as a steamroller and bulldozer. Audio

6:06 PM.Mark Ford is now one of the most important and powerful people in Auckland. Audio

5:58 PM.A Spanish grandmother who described herself as the"world's oldest Internet blogger"has died at the age of 97. Audio

5:55 PM.Wanganui voters have again roundly rejected a change to the spelling of their city. Audio

5:53 PM.Energy analysts are warning that any move by the Government to restrict profits in the electricity industry could put security of supply at risk. Audio

5:49 PM.The Burmese military regime has put the trial of Aung San Suu Kyi back behind closed doors after opening it for a day to western diplomats and media. Audio

5:46 PM.News from the Waatea team.. Audio

5:42 PM.The TradeMe website has pulled an auction by the Counties Manukau Steelers who had put their rugby team up for sale but not before they got some nibbles. Audio

5:39 PM.Pacific Island community leaders say the skills of the new Auckland Transition Agency members are more focused on business rather than community interests. Audio

5:34 PM.The police hunt for the Rotorua couple who fled with millions of dollars from Westpac bank is now focusing on Hong Kong. Audio

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

5:29 PM.The British government has reversed a policy that limits the rights of Gurkha veterans to settle in Britain. Audio

5:26 PM.A Nepalese climber Apa Sherpa has climbed Everest for the 19th time, breaking his own world record for the maximum number of ascents. Audio

5:23 PM.The New South Wales Premier has declared a natural disaster in northern New South Wales as locals around Lismore brace themselves for 10-metre-plus flood. Audio

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

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

5:17 PM.The National Party candidate in the Mount Albert by-election has committed the ultimate political sin by admitting she does not expect to win the Labour strong-hold. Audio

5:14 PM.The Rodney District Council is fighting to be excluded from any future supercity but John Law says his appointment is not a sop to the district and he's not the Minister's mate. Audio

5:09 PM.Mark Ford is now one of the most important and powerful people in Auckland. Audio