1Petitioners against homosexual law reform say democracy was gagged at Parliament today. The men who organised a huge petition opposing reform told a Parliamentary Select Committee today that there were not being given a chance to express their point of view.

2Opposition leader Jim McLay has warned that a future National Government would repeal legislation banning nuclear armed and powered warships in New Zealand ports if it harmed The Australia, New Zealand, United States Security Treaty (ANZUS).

3An Air New Zealand Boeing 747, bound for Singapore, turned back to Auckland today with one engine shut down.

4Auckland Police, helped by Hauraki Gulf locals, have continued the search today for a child and boatmaster lost at sea overnight.

5Major suppliers of both home computers and New Zealand wine have announced price cuts this week, citing oversupply as the reason.

6The Government is being asked to offset a slump in sales of televisions, video cassette recorders (VCRs) and stereos by cutting sales tax now.

7The new Criminal Justice Act came into effect today, bringing with it a new emphasis on how society should deal with criminals.

8Author Keri Hulme has made the shortlist for the prestigious Booker Prize for her novel 'The Bone People', the first time a New Zealander has made the shortlist.

9Beer has been flown to the Chatham Islands as the locals ran the risk of running dry.

10The Soviet Union has presented its new proposals on nuclear disarmament to the United States delegation at the arms talks in Geneva.

11Four Soviet diplomats have been kidnapped in Lebanon.

12South African President Pieter Botha (PW Botha) has reaffirmed his commitment to political reform, but has ruled out 'one man, one vote' in a single State. Instead, he has outlined a future path between absolute apartheid and Black majority rule, restating his commitment to tribal homelands and segregated schools and residential areas.

13Angola claims that more than fifty of its soldiers have been killed in an attack by South African war planes.

14Heavy fighting is being reported on the ground in the Iran - Iraq War, and air raids are being reported by both sides.

15The long-running protest against the siting of Tokyo's Narita Airport has brought some of the most violent scenes in the area in two decades.

16French film actress Simone Signoret has died, aged 64.

17Most of the infants rescued from the ruins of Mexico City's General Hospital are recovering well. The search for survivors is continuing, twelve days after the earthquake.

18Prince Andrew has just published a book of his photography.

19Record numbers of luxury cars have entered New Zealand in the past year, and there appears to be no shortage of buyers.

20The Government is reactiviating studies on a multi-million scheme designed to cure a serious tourist bottleneck at Milford Sound.