Checkpoint for Thursday 10 December 2015

6:48 PM.America's Silicon Valley, the home of many of the world's largest technology corporations, is suffering from a software engineer shortage. Audio

6:45 PM.Donald Trump is hinting that he might abandon America's Republican Party and seek the US presidency as an independent candidate. Audio

6:39 PM.Campaigners for a holiday to mark the New Zealand wars hope a national hikoi through major battlefields will add momentum to their cause. Audio

6:34 PM.Two people, including a teenage boy, have been arrested by the Australian Police after counter-terrorism raids in Sydney today. Audio

6:24 PM.Team New Zealand's America's Cup campaign is back in the water today with the launch of a new development boat. Audio

6:22 PM.A petition to raise the age young people can stay in state care has been delivered to the Social Development Minister, Anne Tolley. Audio

6:18 PM.New Zealanders are getting fatter, less active and drinking more dangerously. Audio

6:15 PM.The Reserve Bank governor, Graeme Wheeler, is expecting to leave interest rates at record lows for some time. Audio

6:11 PM.The Government has just announced a national cybercrime plan at the centre of its new cyber security strategy. Audio

6:05 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

5:57 PM.Chainsaws have moved in again on the Titirangi kauri tree that survived the chop when a protestor sat up in it for several nights back in March. Audio

5:51 PM.The Aluminimum Smelter has pulled its 25-year-long sponsorship of a landmark conservation programme. Audio

5:46 PM.A stoush over confidentiality and leaks at the Marlborough District Council has led to a legal opinion to put a warning shot across councillors' bows. Audio

5:43 PM.Negotiators at the Paris climate change talks are working around the clock to try to settle differences so they can finalise a global deal to slow global warming. Audio

5:40 PM.Shell is considering pulling out of New Zealand. Audio

5:37 PM.The Electoral Commission says anyone who hasn't voted yet in the first flag referendum needs to get a wriggle on. Audio

5:35 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

5:29 PM.The Government will consider America's request to do more in the fight against Islamic State. Audio

5:26 PM.Bigger trucks look likely to be allowed on the roads, but the AA is urging that in return freight companies should be forced to improve the safety of big rigs. Audio

5:23 PM.A forest fire raging in Marlborough has become so dangerous ground crews have had to pull out. Audio

5:20 PM.Help is on the way for mortgage holders and businesses after the Reserve Bank cut the cost of borrowing to a record low 2 point 5 percent. Audio

5:15 PM.A teenage boy and another man, who have both been charged today with terrorist crimes in Sydney, had plans that mentioned the police headquartes - but got the address wrong. Audio

5:12 PM.New Zealanders are getting fatter, less active and drinking more dangerously. Audio

5:07 PM.Amandeep Kaur laughed as she told her lover "we will go together" during a police interview of the pair - the day after they murdered her husband. Audio

5:00 PM.Amandeep Kaur laughed as she told her lover "we will go together" during a police interview of the pair - the day after they murdered her husband and New Zealanders are getting fatter, less active and… Read more Audio