Checkpoint for Thursday 20 August 2009

6:56 PM.A year ago, a cholera epidemic swept through Zimbabwe, claiming nearly 4,500 lives. Audio

6:52 PM.The bombings in Iraq overnight have revealed just how fragile the administration's hold on security there really is. Audio

6:48 PM.Athletics officials are making a teenage runner prove she's a woman, in order to keep the medal she won at the International Athletics Championships. Audio

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

6:41 PM.Former All Black Michael Jones is calling on the Auckland Rugby Union to explain the disparity in penalties dished out to high school students involved in an on-field rugby brawl. Audio

6:36 PM.There's a warning that top dressing pilots are cutting safety corners because hard pressed farmers don't pay enough for their work. Audio

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

6:27 PM.A study of almost one thousand people has shown that single-sex high schools may actually suit boys more than co-ed schools. Audio

6:24 PM.A 450 million dollar makeover plan for Wellington Airport has come under fire from some of the city's councillors. Audio

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

6:14 PM.Polls have opened in Afghanistan's presidential and provincial elections. Audio

6:11 PM.Parliament's former Speaker has denied there ever was a freeze on travel perks for MPs leaving Parliament. Audio

6:07 PM.The streamlining of travel between New Zealand and Australia has farmers and growers worried for their livelihoods. Audio

5:57 PM.The Canadian prime minister, Steven Harper, is in the Arctic - reinforcing his country's claim to sovereignty over the riches of the icy region. Audio

5:54 PM.The Local Government minister Rodney Hide has indicated the Prime Minister is softening his stance on Maori seats on the new Auckland council. Audio

5:49 PM.The Government says there's been a dramatic increase in the amount of non-urgent surgery being done in public hospitals under its watch. Audio

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

5:40 PM.ACC's Director of Clinical Services, Kevin Morris, talks about the proposed changes to services for victims of sexual abuse. Audio

5:35 PM.The head of a parliamentary inquiry into finance company failures says she'd like the people in charge of mismanaged companies banned from ever again being able to take money off innocent investors. Audio

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

5:25 PM.Voting is under way in the presidential election in Afghanistan. Audio

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

5:19 PM.The police investigating the death of a three year old Palmerston North girl say they don't know yet whether they're dealing with an accident or something more deliberate. Audio

5:14 PM.Fruit and vegetable growers have been quick to condemn the biosecurity changes claiming they create an unacceptable risk to their give billion dollar industry. Audio

5:08 PM.Express arrival lanes and fewer bag checks are part of the new deal with Australia to make trans-Tasman travel easier. Audio