Checkpoint for Friday 5 August 2011

6:57 PM.Researchers in Australia have discovered a worrying link between HIV and premature dementia. Audio

6:53 PM.The Kohanga Reo movement says the Crown has objected to its plea for an urgent Waitangi Tribunal hearing; The Families' Commission says the best way to help vulnerable Maori families is to work with… Read more Audio

6:37 PM.Just three years ago the National Party did not believe the country had a savings problem. And in the May Budget the Government made cuts to the workplace savings scheme KiwiSaver. Audio

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

6:22 PM.The retailer Briscoe Group says people seem to have a bit more money to spend, after sales jumped nearly 5 percent. Audio

6:17 PM.The Government's strategy for bringing down youth unemployment has come under fresh scrutiny after new figures show the problem getting worse. Audio

6:13 PM.A researcher wants the Government to step in to stop a growing culture of violence and aggression among teenage girls. Audio

6:07 PM.The rout on Wall Street has extended to New Zealand, which has had its worst day on the sharemarket in two years, and Australia where stocks plunged more than 4 per cent amid panic selling. Audio

5:57 PM.Australia is poised to send its first boatload of asylum seekers to Malaysia under a controversial deal done to try to stem the tide. Audio

5:53 PM.Emergency services have planned for everything from a terrorist attack to a broken down car as they get ready for a Rugby World Cup test run tomorrow. Audio

5:50 PM.The Kohanga Reo movement says the Crown has objected to its plea for an urgent Waitangi Tribunal hearing, but shouldn't try to stop it; The Mana Party holds its first annual general meeting tomorrow… Read more Audio

5:47 PM.An Auckland father has been spared a conviction over the death of his three-year-old son who was killed when the family's van rolled into an Otago lake at Easter. Audio

5:43 PM.After five years of at times bitter wrangling, the first match has been played at Dunedin's new multi-sports stadium. Audio

5:40 PM.The local sharemarket's reeling after copping its biggest one-day loss in two years amid global alarm at the Eurozone debt crisis and weakness in America. Audio

5:38 PM.Auckland drivers are being warned they'll will be hit in the pocket twice if a congestion charge goes ahead. Audio

5:36 PM.The Earthquake Commission is looking at increasing the size of the team investigating fraudalent claims in Canterbury. Audio

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

5:23 PM.The country's first study into "girl fighting" warns of a flourishing culture amongst teens of put-downs and intimidation that is going to lead to more violence. Audio

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

5:17 PM.Our Political Editor Brent Edwards joins us. Audio

5:14 PM.The Public Service Association is urging political parties to stop using the counrty's top spy as a political football. Audio

5:10 PM.Asia's been something of a safe haven for investors but even it failed to escape today's America Europe double punch. Audio

5:07 PM.The New Zealand sharemarket's been hit by its biggest one-day loss in more than two years, thumped by the market turmoil sweeping the world. Audio

5:00 PM.Global market woes thump NZ shares, Nowhere to hide in Asia either, PSA says politicians are using to spy as a political football, More analysis from RNZ's political editor, Warning about growing… Read more Audio