1Prime Minister David Lange has today responded to criticism of Government handling of the Maori Affairs loans issue and the restructuring of the Department of Maori Affairs.

2Wellington heart surgeon Alan Hilless is leaving New Zealand to take his skills overseas. Hilless was the cardiologist at the centre of the recent controversy over the performing of heart transplants in New Zealand. He claims that the Laing Report proves that the future of cardiac surgery in New Zealand seems bound to be influenced by politics.rather than science.

3Senior United States Congressman William Broomfield has proposed a reprisal against New Zealand for its ban on visiting nuclear warships.

4A three-week strike by French train drivers appears to be threatened by a number of drivers who are returning to work in defiance of the ban. However, a wave of sympathy strikes by electrical and gas workers is creating additional pressure on the right-wing French Government, which is refusing to give in to union pay demands.

5A huge prison siege is under way at HM Prison Barlinnie, the largest prison in Scotland.

6The number and cost of road accidents in New Zealand is worse than the Government realises, according to the Director of the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department at Wanganui Hospital.

7The first of several shipments of relief aid, donated to the Cook islands emergency appeal in the wake of Hurricane Sally,, will leave New Zealand for Rarotonga tomorrow. The appeal was launched by Cook Islanders living in New Zealand to help their friends and families back home.

8Secretary of the Meat Workers' Union, Blue Kennedy has failed to win nomination for a fourth term.

9The Te Maori Exhibition is attracting record crowds in Dunedin,, but the Otago Museum hosting it is facing a financial crisis as a result of the costs incurred to display Te Maori.