1The first report of the Higher Salaries Commission has recommended salary increases of up to 38% for politicians and civil servants. The suggestion has outraged trade unions and the timing of the announcement has been condemned by Prime Minister David Lange.

2An independent study of bulk electricity pricing claims a further rise in bulk supply tariffs can not be justified. The Government plans an increase in the near future. The report was undertaken by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER).

3Maori academic Atareta Poananga, who said White New Zealanders "were the product of the riff-raff of British culture", can not be formally held to account for her remarks by the Race Relations Conciliator, despite the office receiving dozens of complaints about her comments.

4It has been revealed that Alain Mafart and Dominique Prieur, the two French spies accused of bombing the Rainbow Warrior, had rented a motel unit belonging to Prime Minister David Lange earlier this year.

5The Government has announced plans for the industrial side of the State to be reformed, with less protectionism.

6The trial of a Russian fishing captain has begun in Wellington. He is charged with failing to report some of his catches.

7The Auckland Regional Authority's (ARA) leadership crisis looks to be no closer to resolution tonight after another war of words between ARA Chairman Fred Thomas and Local Government Minister Dr Michael Bassett.

8The Minister of Justice, Geoffrey Palmer says a working party on liquor law reform will reports in August and legislation will follow. A Justice Department paper released today says New Zealand's present liquor laws are a mess.

9New Zealand's eleventh case of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) has been notified to the Health Department.

10Taranaki's oil field should produce around 17% of New Zealand's oil needs once the new Toetoe field is in production.

11Limbs Dance Company will proceed with its national tour, in spite of yesterday's fire, which gutted its Ponsonby studio.

12An Australian-born television news cameraman was shot dead and his sound operator badly injured, during an unsuccessful coup attempt in Thailand today.

13A poll has shown that the vast majority of Black South Africans living in urban areas favour a halt to foreign investment if it would help end apartheid.

14Fifty thousand Argentinians have marched to Parliament, demanding the punishment of the country's former military rulers, who are blamed for the disappearance of thousands of people during their seven years in power.

15Two English schoolboys are recovering from their attempt to row a dinghy from Dover to North Africa with only a few soft drinks as a torch as supplies.

16American space shuttle astronauts may soon have many of their more dangerous tasks taken over by computerised machines.

17An international study has shown that New Zealand school children see a life "full of gloom and doom" ahead of them and are pessimistic about the world around them.