Checkpoint for Thursday 11 September 2014

6:57 PM.The Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered snap checks of his troops combat rediness in the far east. Two major banks in the UK - the Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds say they will leave… Read more Audio

6:56 PM.The towering American actor, Richard Kiel - best known for playing the steel-toothed villain Jaws in two James Bond films, has died aged seventy-four. Audio

6:54 PM.When police arrived at Zijad Garibovic's east Auckland home in April this year, they found him covered in the blood of his elderly neighbour. Audio

6:50 PM.The Mana Party says it will crack down on alcohol legislation, pokies and loan sharks in order to help vulnerable communities. The Maori Party Te Tai Tokerau candidate Te Hira Paenga is demanding… Read more Audio

6:46 PM.A blues singer who recorded a satirical song lampooning the Prime Minister and his Government has asked the High Court in Wellington to lift a ban on it. Audio

6:41 PM.The Earth's protective ozone layer may be showing its first sign of stabilising after years of dangerous depletion, but it's too early to give it the all clear. Audio

6:38 PM.The judge in the Oscar Pistorius murder trial is due to start giving her verdict in around one hour's time. Audio

6:35 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

6:28 PM.A new rule banning jockeys from betting on the days when they are racing has been rushed in today, and it may pave the way for a complete ban on bets by jockeys. Audio

6:22 PM.President Obama has vowed to destroy Islamic State militants, laying out his plan for escalating air strikes in Iraq and for the first time attacks across the border in Syria. Audio

6:20 PM.Auckland councillors have voted to sell the downtown Queen Elizabeth Square to a property developer, but not before some heated exchanges. Audio

6:18 PM.The Mana Movement leader took to the streets of South Auckland today to announce the party's plan to crack down on drink, pokie machines and high interest loans in the poorest communities. Audio

6:14 PM.The latest One News-Colmar Brunton poll has just been released, a day after the 3News-Reid Research poll showed the National Party continued to retain strong public support. Audio

5:55 PM.The government has revealed the identities of four new charter schools which are going ahead despite ongoing criticism of the publicly-funded private schools. Audio

5:52 PM.Two small political parties have unveiled policies, which they say will benefit Maori communities. Audio

5:47 PM.The Privacy Commission is warning smartphone users to take care when downloading apps - as one in three burrow into large amounts of private information. Audio

5:45 PM.The Reserve Bank has signalled interest rates are on hold for longer as it leaves the official cash rate at 3 point 5 percent. Audio

5:41 PM.The police aren't ruling out laying charges over the huffing explosion that seriously injured three teenagers and blew out windows of a house in Mangere last night. Audio

5:34 PM.News from the business sector including a market report. Audio

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

5:28 PM.The head of the Ministry of Social Development has told a thousand people in Ashburton the evil of the Work and Income killings must not be forgotten. Audio

5:23 PM.The Maori Party wants to scrap the main police watchdog and roll its powers into a super-strong Anti-Corruption Commission. Audio

5:18 PM.The police say they've had dozens of people contacting them today about Michael Harris, the man's who's been charged with drugging, sexually assaulting, and filming tourists at his backpackers lodge.

5:15 PM.The High Court in Christchurch has heard an 11 year old girl probably saved her life by jumping out of a moving car to escape the man who had just raped her. Audio

5:08 PM.President Obama has pledged a relentless campaign to 'degrade and destroy' Islamic State. Audio

5:00 PM.U.S. pledges to destroy Islamic State, Court hears 11 year old girl jumps from rapist's car, Latest on drugged tourists sexually assaulted and filmed, Maori Party would create strong Anti-Corruption… Read more Audio