1Meridian Energy is defending a $3 million bonus to staff despite rising power prices.

2A Northland man is in police custody after a routine search of his car by police lead to the discovery of a bomb in his car boot.

3There has been a potential lifeline thrown to Harmeet Sooden and his three fellow hostages in Iraq, with Palestinian leaders saying they support the charity group Sooden works for.

4More than 1000 mourners attended the funeral of Van Nguyen, who was hung last week in Singapore for drug trafficking.

516000 kindergartens are set to be closed tomorrow as teachers go on strike.

6Other news.

7TVNZ News Boss Bill Ralston may be ordered to front up to a Parliamentary Select Committee investigating recent high profile events at the State Broadcaster.

8Other news.

9A New Zealand Doctor will present a challenge in the United Kingdom tomorrow as he faces a court martial over his refusal to serve in Iraq. Having already served in Afghanistan and Iraq, he claims that he has concluded the war in Iraq is illegal.

10Former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein is threatening to boycott tonight's continuation of his trial. Today a female witness gave evidence from behind a curtain with her voice electronically disguised.

11Engine trouble is considered the likely cause of a military plane crash in Tehran, Iran that killed 128 people.

12Other news.