Checkpoint for Thursday 12 November 2015

6:55 PM.An international team led by the Otago University believes it's solved the mystery of why the Mediterranean Sea dried up 5 point 6 million years ago. Audio

6:50 PM.Labour and the Speaker disagree on what is and is not considered unparliamentary language; Government Ministers face questions from Opposition MPs about its record on sexual abuse; Commerce Committee… Read more Audio

6:48 PM.An aviation writer says a crash between an airliner and a drone is inevitable as the machines become more and more accessible. Audio

6:46 PM.The sudden departure of Fiji's police commissioner has highlighted ongoing tension between the country's military and police. South African Ben Groenewald quit suddenly, and will be replaced by a… Read more Audio

6:40 PM.Young Asians in Auckland who hook up romantically across ethnic lines often become isolated and confused, especially if things turn abusive, researchers from the University of Auckland have found. Audio

6:27 PM.A boycott by a college football team in the United States has led to the resignation of the president of a major state university. Audio

6:20 PM.The pervasive smoke from fires set to clear land for palm oil planting has abated a little in Indonesia in the face of rain. This comes as a New Zealand link to palm oil was today revealed by RNZ News… Read more Audio

6:15 PM.A Northland conservationist has had a change of heart over Sonny Tau, who today changed his plea to guilty of hunting endangered kereru. Audio

6:10 PM.The Prime Minister remains unapologetic for claiming in Parliament Labour was "backing the rapists" on Australia's Christmas Island detention centre. Demelza Leslie. reports. Audio

6:08 PM.An update from the team at RNZ Sport. Audio

6:00 PM.Sonny Tau changes plea on hunting kereru, Phillip Smith argues in court he's being treated unfairly, Xmas Island detainees say they've been left without food, water, Mother pleads for news of detainee… Read more Audio

5:54 PM.A Green Party Member's Bill seeking to establish a supermarket referee to adjudicate between big supermarket chains and suppliers was one of four bills pulled out of the ballot today. Audio

5:53 PM.Serco's management of the Christmas Island detention centre is being investigated and three of its workers have been suspended. The Goverment says it's clear there's been a failing. The ABC political… Read more Audio

5:51 PM.The Waitangi Tribunal has granted an urgent hearing for a claim alleging the Crown has failed to reduce the number of Māori in prison and their high reoffending rates. Audio

5:49 PM.A Wellington jury today watched a video interview of a man accused of murder describing his wife as a manipulative woman who didn't know how to keep her legs shut. Michael Preston denies fatally… Read more Audio

5:47 PM.A law student in the Waikato is going to court to challenge the Government's policy on climate change. Sarah Thomson is seeking a judicial review of the greenhouse gas emission targets the government… Read more Audio

5:40 PM.A 21 year old sex predator who befriended young, naive, trusting girls through social media has been jailed for six years. Audio

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

5:26 PM.A complaint has been laid against police over an arrest in Napier which was videoed and posted on the internet. The 40 second video appears to show a police officer punching a man in the head as he… Read more Audio

5:22 PM.Greenpeace says New Zealand is inextricably linked to the Indonesian land-clearing fires that are sending a dense haze across vast expanses of South-East Asia and destroying wildlife habitats. Audio

5:18 PM.The mother of one of the New Zealand-born detainees says she is desparate for information about where her son is and whether he's all right. Audio

5:15 PM.Families and lawyers of Christmas Island detainees say they've been crammed into holding cells and left without enough food or water. In the aftermath of the riots, five New Zealanders are being… Read more Audio

5:14 PM.The man accused of leaving prison and fleeing to Brazil has given his own evidence about what he says is prejudicial coverage. Phillip John Smith has taken issue with stories in the media, as well as… Read more Audio

5:08 PM.Embattled Ngapuhi leader Raniera Sonny Tau has pleaded guilty to hunting an endangered bird. Mr Tau had previously pleaded not guilty to the charge but changed that plea today in the Auckland District… Read more Audio