Checkpoint for Wednesday 27 May 2009

6:58 PM.If everything goes according to plan the permanent population of the International Space Station is about to double from three to six. Audio

6:55 PM.The police in Auckland have given a demonstration of how to break into cars, as an example of how easy it is for thieves. Audio

6:52 PM.For the first time, an Hispanic-American has been selected to sit on the highest court in the US. Audio

6:49 PM.California's Supreme Court has upheld a ban on gay marriage backing a decision by voters last November that defined marriage as between one man and one woman. Audio

6:46 PM.News from the Waatea team. Audio

6:43 PM.Local media say the explosion in Lahore has killed at least ten people and wounded 80, many are buried in the rubble. Audio

6:38 PM.The Law Society today dismissed as bad law the 'three strikes' sentencing proposal, and warned it could put potential witnesses at risk. Audio

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

6:28 PM.The English football giants and FA Cup finalists Everton are helping to create New Zealand's first ever Premier League affiliated youth academy. Audio

6:25 PM.A string of massive power pylons stretching from South Waikato to Auckland looks set to become a reality, with a draft decision approving resource consents for the seven hundred million dollar… Read more Audio

6:22 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

6:17 PM.Parent representatives are back on the board of trustees of the Correspondence School after a six year absence. Audio

6:10 PM.The man who dubbed himself Billy the Hunted One was captured this morning after dodging the police for months, prompting some locals to question why it's taken so long. Audio

6:06 PM.Plans by a Chinese appliance and electronics maker to take a cornerstone shareholding in Fisher and Paykel Appliances have been welcomed by investors. Audio

5:57 PM.Liam James Reid was convicted of raping and murdering a twenty year old deaf woman, Emma Agnew near Christchurch in 2007, and raping and attempting to murder a twenty one year old university student… Read more Audio

5:52 PM.Queenstown is coming to terms with the fact its construction industry could be wiped out after the receivers were called in yesterday to take over the billion dollar Kawarau Falls development. Audio

5:50 PM.MPs have been warned that the proposed US-style"three strikes"sentencing law could result in offenders killing witnesses to try to avoid a third conviction. Audio

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

5:43 PM.The defence have closed their case in the retrial of David Bain, but not before the unusual step was taken of allowing the crown to call rebuttal evidence. Audio

5:39 PM.A string of massive power pylons stretching from South Waikato to Auckland looks set to become a reality, with a draft decision approving resource consents for the seven hundred million dollar… Read more Audio

5:36 PM.The Prime Minister says it is"semantics"to say he and his Finance Minister don't have the same priorities for the Budget after giving differing views today. Audio

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

5:26 PM.Fonterra is blaming the higher New Zealand dollar and lower dairy prices for a reduced forecast payout to its eleven thousand farmers. Audio

5:24 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

5:19 PM.A South Canterbury farmer who spotted fugitive William Stewart early this morning just before he was finally caught says the police had been secretly camping nearby. Audio

5:17 PM.Documents released under the Official Information Act show the Government is paying a ministerial advisor the equivalent of two thousand dollars a day. Audio

5:14 PM.The Chinese appliance and electronic maker Haier is to take a 20 percent shareholding in Fisher and Paykel Appliances. Audio

5:07 PM.The attack happened late this morning at the Zion Wildlife Gardens, and was witnessed by a group of eight tourists, understood to be English and French. Audio