1The Government has decided not to regulate on a general wage agreement, blaming the Federation of Labour (FOL) and the Employers' Federation for failing to agree on a wage deal to be enforced by Government within the deadline given.

2Federation of Labour (FOL) President Jim Knox has spent the day in apparently fruitless talks as he tries to negotiate an end to the Tasman Pulp and Paper Mill dispute in Kawerau.

3Talks lasting more than 24 hours have failed to resolve the lock out at the New Zealand Steel expansion suite at Glenbrook.

4The ANZ is to cut its interest rates for first mortgages by 0.5% and dropping rates for other loans by 1%.

5Mal Churches has been named as the new Commissioner for Police. His appointment coincides with a claim by the Police Force today that it is short of 1000 staff and can not properly police the community.

6The Government has unveiled a rescue plan to try to save the geysers around Rotorua.

7The 35 nations taking part in the Stockholm Disarmament Talks have approved the final details of an agreement aimed at preventing an accidental war in Europe. Meanwhile, United States Secretary of State George Shultz has met with Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze in Washington DC. Meanwhile, arms continue to build up on both sides of the Cold War.

8French Police hunting the terrorists behind at least eight bombings in Paris this month, believe they may be hiding out in Lebanon. As part of a security crackdown following the attacks, New Zealanders and other foreign nationals now have to obtain visas to get into any French territory.

9Stamp dealers and collectors are being warned not to touch New Zealand's flawed Christmas stamp, as they may be stolen.

10The Government will spend a further $35 million to convince some New Zealand fishermen to get out of the industry in an attempt to ease pressure on some fish stocks.

11Rapidly rising gold prices and the threat of the rising waters of the Clyde Dam are sparking a new gold rush in central Otago.