1The Government has announced changes to the Resource Management Act and is urging Auckland Mayor Len Brown to make more land available for housing development. Is this an underwhelming response to the housing affordability crisis? Auckland needs 400,000 new homes over the next 30 years, which amounts to 13,000 a year. However it is not just a lack of land or slow consents processes that are holding up development?

2US President Barack Obama has declared nine states of emergency as Hurricane Sandy bears down on the eastern seaboard of the United States.

3Other news.

4The Tiwai Point aluminium smelter is laying off 100 employees, and halting a planned upgrade, leaving dozens of contractors without work.

5The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by the Urewera Four to have their convictions overturned.

6Other news.

7NZ and the USA have reached a breakthrough agreement to create the world's biggest marine park in Antarctica.

8A group of Chinese businesses have funded a Newmarket billboard claiming China owns the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea. The islands are a disputed territory between China and Japan and Japanese New Zealanders have accused the Chinese of mis-information.

9London Police have arrested former popstar Gary Glitter on suspicion of sexual offences linked to the Gary Savile affair.

10There are reports that Syrian fighter jets have bombarded parts of Damascus despite a UN brokered ceasefire.

11A long-running bid by Conservation groups to stop coal mining by Bathurst Resources on the Denniston Plateau went before the Environment Court today.

12Other news.

13The Police are holding a conference on the use of tasers over the next four days.

14Other news.