Checkpoint for Thursday 9 July 2009

6:58 PM.The Science Express train travels across Germany, stopping at towns and cities with the aim of getting the public excited about science. Audio

6:54 PM.Thousands of Victorians who weren't physically injured and didn't suffer property loss in February's bush fires have received Centrelink disaster recovery payments. Audio

6:51 PM.There's a call for countries like New Zealand to liberalise immigration policies to take in people displaced by climate change. Audio

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

6:46 PM.Armed police are understood to be dealing with an unfolding situation after they were called just before 5pm. Audio

6:41 PM.The Australian Government has rejected the notion of 'people's bank' that would be set up to provide competition for Australia's four big banks. Audio

6:36 PM.New evidence the country's aging workforce and gender imbalances could put some key professions under pressure. Audio

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

6:25 PM.A Far North Maori leader says he feels double crossed at a ruling blocking a big holiday homes project on a landmark Northland beach. Audio

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

6:17 PM.Volunteer organisations say growing numbers of people are willing to provide their time and talent for free, with some reporting increases of up to 150 percent. Audio

6:14 PM.A new geological map of Taranaki has identified five new fault lines and scientists say there could still be more to find. Audio

6:08 PM.A Korean tourist has been killed and four others seriously injured after their bus rolled on the Milford Highway near Te Anau in extreme icy conditions. Audio

5:56 PM.Global warming and the economic downturn were the two big topics up for discussion at the G8 summit in the Italian town of L'Aquila. Audio

5:53 PM.Auckland's annual Starlight Symphony has lost its major sponsor and now the concert is under threat. Audio

5:49 PM.Retailers are up in arms with the anti-social behaviour of an unruly element of young people who congregate at Garden Place in the centre of Hamilton. Audio

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

5:43 PM.The man charged with murdering his ex girlfriend and former student in Dunedin last year has spent a second day in the witness box describing his relationship with her. Audio

5:39 PM.Hamilton City Council says it will keep a hard line on the alleged infringements of the Building Act. Audio

5:36 PM.A Hamilton man fined $1500 for letting his family and friends watch the V8 race from the rooftop of his house is vowing to fight back. Audio

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

5:26 PM.The family of a New Zealand man shot and killed in Jamaica are trying to get to the Caribbean nation to support his widow. Audio

5:23 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

5:19 PM.The Southern District road-policing manager is asking families and friends of young people to take more responsibility for young dangerous drivers. Audio

5:15 PM.Steven Pahl is the Chief Executive of Destination Queenstown. Audio

5:13 PM.A Korean tourist has died and four others are seriously injured after their tour bus rolled on the road between Milford Sound and Te Anau. Audio

5:08 PM.The Former Labour Minister Taito Philip Field, has this afternoon begun giving evidence in his own defence at the High Court in Auckland. Audio