1The floodwaters in South Canterbury and North Otago are receding, leaving behind a trail of destruction. Civil Defence Minister Peter Tapsell has announced an immediate Government grant of $100,000 for flood relief in the South Canterbury region. However, Federated farmers says this amount is insufficient.

2Millions of television viewers around the world saw sensational photographs of Halley's Comet, sent back to earth by the European space probe Giotto.

3Air New Zealand's 600 pilots will proceed with stop work meetings on Monday, in spite of a risk that the Government may de-register their union. Around 100 flights will be grounded, with around 6000 passengers affected.

4Many people in New Zealand will be watching the French elections closely this weekend, wary of threatened trade retaliation against New Zealand over the continued imprisonment of the two French agents convicted over the Rainbow Warrior bombing. While Prime Minister David Lange is hopeful that the trade tension between new Zealand and France will settle down after the election, some exporters fear the situation will worsen.

5The French general election this weekend is expected to bring about the end of the Socialist Parliament and the return of the Right Wing. However, Socialist President Francois Mitterrand is determined to see out the remaining two years of his term in office. Can a Right Wing Prime Minister work with a Socialist President?