1An Air Force (RNZAF) Hercules will leave tomorrow morning bound for the Solomon Islands, bringing supplies to the cyclone devastated islands. Solomon Islanders in New Zealand are also launching their own relief scheme.

2South African President P W Botha remains defiant despite international condemnation of his country's raids inside Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. Six Black African nations have called for trade sanctions against South Africa and protests and violence continue unchecked in South Africa itself.

3The National Roads Board met today to look into building barriers on motorways in an effort to prevent head-on crashes.

4Former drug courier Alison Dine today told the High Court in Auckland that in 1978 she brought b250 grams of heroin into New Zealand for defendant Peter Fulcher.

5Recent disturbances at Mount Eden Prison today led to an inspection by a senior official of the Justice Department, where security and overcrowding in the remand section of the prison were discussed. Conditions at the prison have been described as "archaic" and the Auckland District Maori Council has called for it to be upgraded or closed down.

6Prime Minister David Lange's Foreign Affairs Advisor Chris Laidlaw leaves tomorrow to take up his position as High Commissioner to Zimbabwe. He will be the first resident New Zealand High Commissioner in Black Africa. He will also be accredited to Tanzania, Botswana, Zambia and Kenya.

7The first shipment of foodstuffs from Eastern Europe since the Chernobyl disaster are expected to arrive in New Zealand within the next few weeks and the National Radiation Laboratory in Christchurch is well equipped to test the products for nuclear contamination.