1In a televised speech to the American people, United States President Ronald Reagan has tonight conceded that his secret Iran policy had turned into an arms for hostages deal, and admitted his policy was a mistake. He also admitted that he had failed to exert proper control over National Security Council (NSC) staff.

2The state of civil emergency, imposed on the Bay of Plenty after last Monday's earthquake, has been officially downgraded.

3High seas have battered the islands of Tokelau and first reports suggest there may have been considerable damage.

4National MPs spent their caucus meeting soul-searching today, following a row caused by Sir Robert Muldoon's statement yesterday which contradicted official party policy. On top of this, the latest National Business Review (NBR) poll has shown National sliding further behind the Government.

5Prime Minister David Lange has welcomed the prospect of progress in the arms talks in Geneva, but warns that the present Soviet proposal to remove all medium-range missiles from Europe, still leaves 100 such missiles in Asia. United States negotiators in Geneva have today tabled their response to Mikhail Gorbachev's proposal.

6Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze has ended his two-day visit to Australia. He was heckled by Jewish and Afghan demonstrators in both Canberra and Sydney during his visit.

7Australian Defence Minister Kim Beazley, currently in New Zealand, has handed over two artillery guns to New Zealand Defence MInister Frank O'Flynn.

8The strike by ships' officers ended this afternoon when an agreement concerning their superannuation fund was ironed out in the Wellington High Court. The strike had tied up vessels in New Zealand and Australian ports and threatened petrol supplies.

9There is still a chance that strike action, planned at New Zealand's trading banks next Monday and Tuesday, could be averted.

10Jonathan Pollard, a former United States Navy intelligence analyst, has been sentenced to life in prison for passing military secrets to israel.

11New evidence about the explosion which destroyed the space shuttle Challenger suggests that previously unsuspected mechanical failures contributed to the disaster.

12An abandoned Danish freighter, loaded with 400 tonnes of explosives, is being towed to safe anchorage near the English harbour of Falmouth.

13Three years ago, Auckland fire fighters fought a difficult blaze in the old Civil Defence bunker at Epsom's Teacher's College. Today another fire broke out in the bunker, but previous experience proved invaluable to the fire fighters.

14The Immigration Department is looking at ways to streamline its operation in the face of an increasing number of would-be immigrants to New Zealand.