Checkpoint

Filomena Nelson is the spokesperson for the disaster mangement office in Samoa. Audio

In American Samoa at least 22 people are dead and an unknown number are still missing. Audio

The Acting Prime Minister Bill English says there is a reliable but still unconfirmed report of one New Zealander dead in Samoa. Audio

Sati Young is a Red Cross worker in the worst hit area of Samoa in a village near the tourist area Lalomanu. Audio

More than 20 people have been hospitalised in western Turkey after a van carrying beehives hit a truck. Audio

The Victorian government is under fire from gay and lesbian groups as well as civil libertarians after it proposed changes to the Australian state's discrimination laws. Audio

In his first speech in the United States as Secretary General of NATO, Anders Fogh Rasmussen has called on Americans to set aside any doubts about the commitment of other NATO members to the war in… Read more Audio

The German Chancellor Angela Merkel has outlined plans to form a swift coalition with the Free Democrats, the FDP after her victory in Sunday's general election. Audio

News from the Waatea team. Audio

KiwiRail says it can't rule out closing under-used lines to save money, as it faces the prospect of its $90,000,000 government subsidy being scrapped. Audio

Western powers have condemned Iran for test firing its most advanced long range missiles, with the United States calling the move"provocative". Audio

In the Philipines, nearly 400,000 people have taken shelter in evacuation camps after tropical storm Ketsana sparked the country's worst flooding in four decades. Audio