1School Leaving Age This Government has moved quickly to make changes in education. They have brought about the end of the external system; the banishment of corporal punishment; a great range of subjects being officially recognised; and teachers are being paid considerably more. However, the Government is now considering raising the school leaving age from 15 to 18. Cynics believe this is more about reducing unemployment figures, that any altruism regarding education standards. However, much potential untrained labour walks away through the school gates every year, and is lost to the workforce. Another proposal is the payment of a family allowance, encouraging students to remain at school for longer. Discussion and viewer talkback with Tongariro MP Noel Scott, who advocates raising the leaving age to eighteen.

2Australian police have arrested eight people from the Armenian community, in connection with the weekend bombing of the Turkish Consulate in Melbourne.

3The United States' National Security Advisor, John Poindexter has resigned in the wake of President Ronald Reagan's secret Iran arms deal. His deputy, Oliver North has been fired.

4Communist and Government negotiators in the Philippines appear to be on the verge of reaching a ceasefire agreement.

5Salvage workers are working in vain off the southern coast of Ireland to refloat the stricken bulk carrier Kowloon Bridge.

6A brief listing of the New Zealand news headlines.

7School Leaving Age This Government has moved quickly to make changes in education. They have brought about the end of the external system; the banishment of corporal punishment; a great range of subjects being officially recognised; and teachers are being paid considerably more. However, the Government is now considering raising the school leaving age from 15 to 18. Cynics believe this is more about reducing unemployment figures, that any altruism regarding education standards. However, much potential untrained labour walks away through the school gates every year, and is lost to the workforce. Another proposal is the payment of a family allowance, encouraging students to remain at school for longer. Discussion and viewer talkback with Tongariro MP Noel Scott, who advocates raising the leaving age to eighteen.

8A brief listing of the national and international news headlines.

9School Leaving Age This Government has moved quickly to make changes in education. They have brought about the end of the external system; the banishment of corporal punishment; a great range of subjects being officially recognised; and teachers are being paid considerably more. However, the Government is now considering raising the school leaving age from 15 to 18. Cynics believe this is more about reducing unemployment figures, that any altruism regarding education standards. However, much potential untrained labour walks away through the school gates every year, and is lost to the workforce. Another proposal is the payment of a family allowance, encouraging students to remain at school for longer. Discussion and viewer talkback with Tongariro MP Noel Scott, who advocates raising the leaving age to eighteen.

10A brief listing of the New Zealand news headlines.

11The United States' National Security Advisor, John Poindexter has resigned in the wake of President Ronald Reagan's secret Iran arms deal. His deputy, Oliver North has been fired. It has also been revealed the some of the proceeds from the trade eventually made its way to Contra rebels in Nicaragua. The Soviet Union has accused the United States of trying to escalate the Gulf War with its secret shipment of weapons to Iran.

12Australian police have arrested eight people from the Armenian community, in connection with the weekend bombing of the Turkish Consulate in Melbourne.

13A mentally ill Sydney man has appeared in court this morning, charged with threatening the life of Pope John Paul II in Brisbane yesterday.

14This week is National Adoption Week in the United States, where attention focuses on the estimated 55,000 - 65,000 'border babies' waiting to be adopted. An increasing number will never be placed with families. Most are the children of drug addicts, and are proving undesirable to would-be adoptive parents. There is now a call for foster parents to care for these babies temporarily, but the number of babies is outgrowing the willing foster families.