1Oscar Pistorius has made a sobbing court appearance, claiming he thought his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp was a burglar when he fatally shot her. Meanwhile, friends and family have said farewell to Steenkamp at a private memorial service.

2Partners of benefit fraudsters would face fines or even a prison sentence under new measures being considered by the Government.

3Police have again warned parents about the perils of Facebook after James McIntosh was jailed for having sexual contact with four girls under the age of 16.

4A coroner has recommended changing the law to prevent criminals from completing a driving ban while in prison.

5Three people have died in two separate car crashes overnight.

6Melbourne Police are horrified at the actions of a father who let his toddler steer a car down a suburban street.

7There has been a barrage of questions in Parliament over the Auditor-General's report finding the Government gave Sky City special treatment in the tender process. It has been revealed that the casino also wants an annual taxpayer-funded pay-out, to go towards marketing and promotion.

8Opponents of greyhound racing are calling for an independent inquiry into the industry. They describe it as 'a blood sport with potentially thousands of casualties'. The racing industry is already holding an inquiry, but its findings may never be released to the public.

9An international manhunt is under way for robbers who made a daring "Oceans Thirteen" style $50 million diamond heist at Brussels Airport.

10Christchurch Police are about to embark on a campaign against legal cannabis, but shop owners who already stock the legal highs insist on their right to sell it.

11At least fourteen people have been injured - some critically - after a huge explosion rocked an upmarket shopping district in Kansas City. It is believed the explosion occurred when a car crashed into a gas main.

12Sea Shepherd claims one of its ships took on water after being rammed by a Japanese whaling ship.

13Wellington Zoo staff are fighting to save a juvenile Royal Penguin found 2000 kilometres away from his sub-Antarctic home.

14ANZ Bank has confirmed it is looking to move 23 jobs off-shore within the lending services division.

15Fletcher Building has posted a modest six month profit rise.

16A Waikato University research company has pioneered a way to turn dried blood and animal waste into products such as plant pots, seedling trays and even pegs.

17Prize-winning author Hilary Mantel is facing a barrage of criticism after comparing the Duchess of Cambridge to 'a plastic doll'. However, she is also receiving support from some surprising quarters.

18New Zealand's anti-doping watchdog has revealed it is tracking around 100 New Zealand athletes deemed 'at risk of drug-taking'.