A short but comprehensive summary of the latest local and overseas news. It includes the latest sports news and, on week-days, updates from the previous hour of Morning Report, which is broadcast on Radio New Zealand National. This bulletin is broadcast on both Radio New Zealand National and Radio New Zealand Concert.
The United States Senate voted to raise the country's debt limit just 12 hours before it would have run out of money to pay its debts.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Finance says the US deal to avert default on its debts is not the end of the matter.
Health authorities are looking for possible links between four cases of meningococcal disease in the South Island, including one fatal case.
The Chief of the Defence Force says a former commander of New Zealand troops in Afghanistan is under investigation for permitting soldiers to drink.
A local dairy supplier is urging the diary giant Fonterra to be more open about the way it calculates its milk price.
The American Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, has held talks with Syrian opposition activists for the first time.
A Chinese national accused of killing an Auckland taxi driver last year is now waiting to hear if a Chinese court will find him guilty of murder.
The Auckland Council says its multi-million dollar cleanup for the Rugby World Cup will be worth it in the long run.
The All Black wing Hosea Gear says he's ready to start against Australia at Eden Park on Saturday.
Gear last played six weeks ago as the Hurricanes wound up their disappointing Super Rugby seasion.
A hamstring problem kept him out of the Fiji and South Africa tests.
Prop Tony Woodcock will also be back from injury, he came through his ITM Cup match for North Harbour unscathed, though his team lost 32-21 to Manawatu.