1The Government will stop big pay increases, due next month, for MPs, judges, top public servants and local body officers.

2The New Zealand Railways Corporation (NZRC) is proposing to drop unprofitable stations from its long-distance passenger train routes, reduce passenger crews and provide cheaped catering.

3Immigration officials are standing by estimates that as many as 25,000 Pacific Islanders may have entered New Zealand during the ten-week visa-free period, despite Prime MInister David Lange saying the figures are "wildly exaggerated". However, the number of additional pupils entering New Zealand schools is putting a strain on resources at some schools.

4Thousands of Syrian troops have taken control of West Beirut in what Syria is calling a peacekeeping mission, after a week of fierce fighting between rival Muslim militia.

5Seventeen people were injured in a bomb explosion in Jerusalem today.

6French police have captured four of France's most wanted terrorists. They are believed to head the far-left terrorist group Action directe, which has committed a series of assassinations and violent attacks in France since 1979.

7It is believed that White House Chief of Staff Donald Regan may be about to resign as a result of the growing scandal surrounding the Iran Arms affair.

8The New Zealand business community appears to have lost confidence in the Government. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is being held largely responsible for the sudden sharp drop in confidence.

9New Zealand's firefighters have called off their threat of industrial action after the Fire Services Commission agreed to meet with the unions to discuss the wage claim at the centre of the dispute.

10Auckland Post Office workers are threatening industrial action over glitches in the Post Office's new computerised payroll system.

11Central Otago fruit growers have broken into a new export trade - nectarines. The first shipment leaves for London tomorrow.

12Tribute to pop artist Andy Warhol, who has died in New York aged in his late fifties.