1The Merino Express, a ship that will transport a shipment of live sheep to Mexico, has arrived and berthed in Timaru.

2Finance MInister Roger Douglas is keeping tight-lipped on a plan, announced by Minister of Agriculture Colin Moyle, for the Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) and the Rural Bank to help farmers with high interest private loans.

3An investigation into the Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) fire in Auckland last Christmas has found an alarming lack of training in the handling of hazardous chemicals, and recommends the introduction of a coordinated Government policy on such materials.

4The High Court has ruled that earnings on life insurance policies amount to interest, and are therefore taxable.

5The New Zealand dollar appears to have stabilised on the local foreign exchange market after falling sharply over the past three days.

6A memorial service was held today for the 248 soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division who were killed when their plane crashed in Newfoundland.

7Paul Castellano, head of the Gambino crime family in New York, America's largest Mafia family, was shot dead in an apparent hit today in New York.

8New Zealand's Southern Cross yachting team remains up with the leaders today. NZI Enterprise continues to lead the Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race.

9Five days after announcing its farm package, the Government has been forced to make amendments to it. The changes relate to the import duty measures which will come into effect earlier than planned.

10The detective heading the Rainbow Warrior inquiry says there is a probability more arrest warrants will be issued in 1986. Interview with Detective Superintendent Allan Galbraith about his feelings about the ship's bombing and the investigation that followed.