1It is feared that strikes at two dairy factories today could put tomorrow's conciliation talks at risk.

2Trouble is brewing between hawkes Bay farmers and horticulturalists over widespread spray damage to vineyards, apple orchards and other crops.

3Opposition Immigration spokesman Roger McClay says the latest statistics shows New Zealanders are emigrating as quickly as possible to escape law and order problems, rising inflation and high interest rates.

4A severe electrical thunderstorm in Auckland this evening disrupted traffic and torrential rain caused some flooding.

5It is being claimed that two Sydney kidney transplant patients have died after reciving kidneys from a male homosexual donor suffering from AIDS.

6Two crew are missing, presumed dead, after an Iraqi missile attack on a Greek tanker in the Persian Gulf.

7Top Soviet politician Mikhail Gorbachev is in London at the invitation of a group of British MPs.

8The head of Britain's State-owned coal industry says there can be no peace talks on the nine-month old strike unless the miners change their stance. Meanwhile, a nationwide appeal for gifts for striking miners and their families is beginning to see some positive results, with truckloads of toys pouring into collection stations.