1The sister of a three year old boy who was critically injured says her mother beat him with part of a vacuum cleaner because he wet the bed. Itupa Julie Mikaio pleaded guilty to one charge of injuring with intent to injure her son, Benjamin Mikaio. But she denies two further charges, one of injuring with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and another of failing to provide the necessities of life for a child, which the Crown alleges happened in June last year.

2A prostitutes' organisation says New Zealanders need to take their heads out of the sand and realise that human trafficking is a reality in this country. This follows claims from an Auckland lawyer that fifteen Ukrainian women working in several brothels are victims of human trafficking.

3Ministers will now have to take care of their own accommodation arrangements in the Capital and will receive a flat rate to cover costs. Following controversy surround MPs' expenses John Key launched an enquiry on how to make the system better; something 'simple and transparent'.

4Business News

5At today's United States tennis open Belgian Kim Clijsters wiped the tears off her face as the crowd roared its approval at her win over Venus Williams.

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7The Treasury says there are signs of an economic recovery and it is now tipping the unemployment rate won't go as high as it earlier predicted. It's also predicting house priced will rise, and not fall over the next year.

8A police forensics team is close to removing a second body from beneath a house in suburban Christchurch. The bodies of two women were found at the Wainui property on Friday; one of the bodies was exhumed on the weekend. A man has been charged with the murders. One of the women is his wife, the other is believed to be Tisha Lowry who disappeared almost a year ago.

9Auckland taxi drivers say punishing drivers who double park is not the way to solve traffic chaos in the central city.

10The Advertising Standards Authority has found adverts promoting Telecom's new XT mobile network breach standards by promoting un-safe behaviour.

11Waatea News

12A mystery plant that's been found in a Whangarei forest is said to have all the hallmarks of a successful and dangerous invader. It was found in a Northland forest by a district council worker.

13There's speculation in the Philippines that the "SuperFerry 9" which sank in calm seas over the weekend may have had a large hole in its hull. The Philippines is known to have one of the worst water safety records in Asia.

14One of the most anticipated films of the Venice Film Festival is about to get its world premiere. Director Michael Moore is unveiling his new movie 'Capitalism: A Love Story'.

15The All Blacks have opened test week in Hamilton by holding a public training session and mixing with thousands of young fans.

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17A criminal lawyer says two Ukrainian women brought to New Zealand and forced to work in Auckland brothels are victims of human trafficking. Jeremy Bioletti says that claims made by the Department of Labour that there are no cases of human trafficking in New Zealand are simply untrue.

18In a significant change of policy, the British government has announced it will help victims of IRA violence seek compensation from Libya, which supplied the Irish republican group with arms and explosives. Gordon Brown had previously said the government was not in a position to get involved.

19Britain and Germany have called for an urgent United Nations conference before the year is out, to encourage Afghanistan to take control of its own future. Chancellor Angela Merkel and Prime Minister Gordon Brown stopped short of proposing an exit strategy, however said they want Afghanistan to shoulder more responsibility.

20Business News

21A year ago today two of America's biggest mortgage companies were rescued from the brink of collapse. The United States government stepped in and took control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac committing over $100-billion of tax-payers money.

22A UMR research poll has found the number of people worried about the global financial crisis has hit its lowest point for almost a year.

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24News from the United Kingdom, including: conflict between the UK and Libya, the Lockerbie Bomber and now compensation claims;

25Two doctors working in the state hospital system in Queensland say they've made deadly mistakes because of overwork.

26Waatea News

27United States President Barak Obama's environmental advisor, Van Jones, has resigned after what he called a vicious smear campaign against him.

28Just days after Ted Kennedy's funeral the late senator's memoir has leaked out ahead of publication. He died at the age of 77 after battling brain cancer for over a year.

29A young American who worked as a paid assassin for the Mexican mafia says he believes it will be impossible to stop the multi-billion dollar drug cartels. Both the United States and Mexico have pledged to shutdown the cartels which are responsible for hundreds of deaths.

30The wheels have been put in motion for a number of 'urban rides' to be considered as part of the New Zealand national cycleway.