1It is not yet known why a DC-8, taking 250 United States Army personnel from the 101st Airborne home for Christmas, crashed in newfoundland today, killing all aboard. This crash makes 1985 the worst year for air crash fatalities in aviation history.

2The Government's latest economic package has been slammed by farmers, who say it does not address the specific problems they are experiencing now. It has also caused chaos and confusion in the retail industry.

3Interest rates are falling. Westpac has cut its rates by 1% today, and it is expected that other banks will follow suit.

4Three men have appeared in the Wellington District Court on with false accounting in connection with Broadbank's multi-million dollar foreign currency trading losses.

5The longest session in the history of the New Zealand Parliament ended on a lighter note today, as MPs wished their political opponents a Merry Christmas and paid tribute to Parliamentary staff. A look back at the New Zealand political year.

6Nelson-based Air Albatross, which was involved in the Tory Channel crash whick killed eight people, says it is close to collapse due to a loss of public confidence in it.

7A man is dead and two others critically injured after a freak accident involving two tourist helicopters on Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

8A pre-Christmas boycott of shops by the Black population of South Africa is affecting a number of businesses. Meanwhile, violence continues to claim lives, with the main targets being Black police officers.

9The appearance of the nuclear armed United States submarine Henry Clay off the coast of Plymouth, on England's south coast, is puzzling defence experts.

10The Government-appointed Committee of Inquiry into Defence is now calling for submissions.

11New Zealand is likely to be the first Western country to ban the sale of smokeless tobacco. In the united States, chewing or sucking of tobacco is causing serious health problems.