1A Christchurch hotel receptionist is being hailed a hero after being confronted by armed men early this morning. The thieves bound and robbed her and several guests of the Redwood Inn, but police say her level headedness prevented any bloodshed.

2The introduction of cartoned milk next week marks the beginning of what may become a milk war.

3Minister of Defence Frank O'Flynn has today delivered a stinging attack on France at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, saying continued French nuclear testing in the Pacific shows a complete disregard for the people of the region and their right to live in safety.

4United States President Ronald Reagan has vetoed Congressional moves to impose tough new sanctions against South Africa.

5In Sudan, the drought that has already claimed thousands of lives, threatens to kill another two million people. Stocks of food and medical aid remain in depots, unable to be distributed because of the continuing civil war in southern Sudan.

6British journalist David Hirst, who has reported on numerous kidnappings in Beirut, was himself kidnapped yesterday, but managed to escape.

7The United States airline Eastern, already plagued with financial and aircraft maintenance problems, is back in the news. Some of the sirlines' baggage handlers are accused of handling tonnes of illegal drugs from South America.

8Twenty thousand people attended the thirtieth Alexandra Blossom Festival today.