1Stockmarkets have plunged and the New Zealand dollar is down tonight amid widespread fears about slowing global growth. This is after America's unprecedented credit rating downgrade. NZ's market fell 91-points or 2.8%.

2News from Europe, including: Finance chiefs from the world's industrial powers are pledging to take whatever actions are needed to steady market and prevent Italy and Spain defaulting on their debt.

3Business News

4Wellington-born Nancy Wake, who became a hero of the resistance movement in the Second World War, has died in Britain at the age of 98. The Gestapo named her the white mouse as she was so hard to capture.

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6The credit ratings agency Standard & Poor's is warning the current turmoil on world markets could hit New Zealand's export market. Also NZ is reliant on overseas banks which could cause problems if the european debt crisis worsens.

7The Crown's been accused of trying to save face by seeking to get money out of three men who damaged the Waihopai spy base. The case went before e the High Court in Wellington today and is for $1.2_million.

8The American-owned Exide battery recycling plant in Lower Hutt is suing the Commerce Minister for allowing toxic lead batteries to be shipped overseas. Toxic waste is meant to be handled within the country of origin, if possible.

9Manu Korihi News, including; The executive board of Waikato-Tainui has reaffirmed Tukoroirangi Morgan as Chair, despite a vote which his critics said ousted him from the iwi's board and parliament; Iwi will be given more flexibility in negotiating aquaculture claims under proposed law changes; The Maori Party says the Mana movement's policy to set up a Treaty of Waitangi Commission is nothing new; The Labour Party says its voters aren't turning to Hone Harawira's Mana Party.

10In Australia - the High Court is about to rule on whether the Government can go ahead with its controversial plan to send asylum seekers to Malaysia. The first group of 16-men were due to leave this morning but the High Court issued a temporary injunction stopping their removal.

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12The share markets and currencies on both sides of the Tasman have fallen as investors across the Asia-Pacific region took flight over fears about the slowing world economy. Both the NZ and Australian indexes are down.

13The New Zealand dollar was trading a short time ago at 82 point 8 US cents, having gone above 84 cents earlier in the day.

14Road builders are being castigated over the route they've chosen for the next stage of Christchurch's southern motorway, which the council says is needed for the recovery, but residents want a more northerly route.

15Business news, including: House values across the country have flattened in July, driven mainly by improvements in Auckland and Canterbury.

16A campaign has been launched to turn more than 5,000 properties in Christchurch's red-zone into a permanent memorial reserve. Many of the abandoned sections are on the banks of the Avon river.

17Wellington-born Nancy Wake, who became a hero of the resistance movement in the Second World War, has died in Britain at the age of 98

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19Standard and Poor's is facing questions about its ability to determine the solvency of sovereign countries, especially as they gave AAA ratings to sub-prime mortgages, the collapse of which triggered the global financial crisis.

20News from Latin America, including; To Latin America, where Chile is marking the anniversary of the mine collapse that trapped 33 men underground for 69 days.

21Manu Korihi News, including; The executive board of Waikato-Tainui has reaffirmed Tukoroirangi Morgan as Chair, despite a vote which his critics said ousted him from the iwi's board and parliament; Iwi are being told they will be able to play a bigger role in the negotiating of aquaculture claims, under proposed law changes; The Maori Party says the Mana movement's policy to set up a Treaty of Waitangi Commission is nothing new; The Dunedin city council met today on Otakou marae for only the second time in its history