1The Government has ruled out a public inquiry into the operation of Labour Department contract work schemes, despite a police report suggesting widespread abuses of the schemes.

2The National Party has made a minor reshuffle of their Opposition benches.

3The sharemarket steadied today after a big New Year slide. However, analysts are predicting that the boom times of 1986 remain a long way off.

4The Shipping Corporation lost more than $28 million in its latest trading year, compared with last year's $10 million profit.

5Fire danger in Canterbury is extreme due to long grass and dry weather conditions.

6Philippines President Corazon Aquino iss et to win a landslide victory in a referendum on a new democratic Constitution.

7William Casey has resigned as director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has resigned due to ill health.His deputy, Robert Gates will step into the role of director.

8There have been further reports that Anglican Church special envoy has been abducted by Islamic Jihad in Lebanon..

9Amnesty International says Black South African Priest Dean Simon Farasani has been released from prison.

10Students began returning to school today for a new school year that is expected to see continued debate about the quality of teaching and assessment of achievement.

11The Police Association is planning a media campaign for the run-up to the general election later this year, in the hopes of pressuring the Government to increase police numbers.

12Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Father Walter Lini has been rushed to hospital in Washington DC, where he is seriously ill.

13British thriller writer Alistair MacLean has died of heart failure aged 64.

14Flamboyant American musician and entertainer Liberace is reported to be gravely ill.