1The head of Parliamentary Services Geoff Thorn has resigned in the wake of revelations about the phone records of Fairfax journalist Andrea Vance. Today Prime Minister John Key made the extraordinary claim that Al Qaeda terrorists are operating within New Zealand, but has given no further details nor provided any evidence. Is this just a cynical political ploy to justify the powers the GCSB Bill will give to the State?

2It has been claimed that the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) paid $20,000 to the families of two Afghan security guards killed in a botched Special Air Service (SAS) raid in 2010.

3Residents still living in Christchurch's red zone watched in horror last night as an empty house burned down while fire fighters scrambled to try to find water. Roading contractors had resealed the road, covering available hydrants.

4Disgraced lawyer Davina Murray has been found guilty of smuggling contraband into prison for convicted murderer and rapist Liam Reid.

5Mosgiel man Andrew Earl has been found guilty of causing the crash that killed Timaru financier Allan Hubbard in September 2011.

6Jonathan Krebs, the lawyer representing convicted murderer Teina Pora. says he is willing to use his own money to ensure Pora's case gets heard by the Privy Council in London.

7Research released today shows that New Zealand's youth are better behaved than their predecessors, with binge drinking, smoking and dangerous driving all declining.

8The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has returned from the South Pacific, where it has been destroying tons of World War Tow munitions in the Solomons and Kiribati.

9Badar Azim, the 25-year-old royal footman who gained international fame by helping to announce the birth of Britain's Prince George, has returned to his home in the Indian city of Kolkata after his work visa expired.

10Temperatures in China have become so hot, people are crowding into swimming pools to try to keep cool.

11More than 300,000 New Zealanders suffer rare medical disorders, but not all are able to get Pharmac-funded treatment. Today a Rare Diseases Conference was held in Wellington to discuss this issue.

12Plans by Holcim to build a $200 million cement works in Weston near Oamaru have been put on hold indefinitely.

13Happy Xero shareholders were greeted with a hug by the company's Chief Executive Rod Drury at their annual meeting today.

14Pop star Rhianna has succeeded in suing Topshop for selling t-shirts with her image printed on them.

15Next year's Big Day Out Festival will feature bands such as Pearl Jam, Blur and Arcade Fire.