1Cabinet MInister Ann Hercus has announced today that she intends to retire from politics at the next election. Hercus is Minister of Police, Social Welfare and Women's Affairs and says her reasons for retirement are personal. Analysis of her decision by political reporter Alastair Carthew.

2Auckland District Court judge Brian Blackwood is remaining silent on his resignation last night. Blackwood resigned after reports that drink driving charges against him were dropped before they went to court, because a psychiatric report suggested he might become suicidal. Would he have resigned if the matter had not become public knowledge? Interview with Chief District Court judge Peter Trapski.

3There is tension in Fiji tonight, where reports are circulating of possible moves to unseat the newly-elected Coalition Government.

4Bad driving and alcohol are being blamed for the worst Easter road toll since 1971. Nineteen people died on New Zealand's roads this Easter, with alcohol a factor in half of them. A Parliamentary Committee, looking at ways to improve road safety, today visited an alcohol treatment centre in Wellington.

5Both Labour and National are promising a new look election campaign for this year's general election. Strategists have been studying campaigns in the United Kingdom and Australia for inspiration.

6Accused Nazi war criminal Karl Linnas is en route to the Soviet Union tonight where he will face a death sentence.

7Headline News 1. Auckland plumbers are calling for a pay rise of almost 100% 2. Savings banks and building societies are rushing to take advantage of a Government move to scrap interest rate restrictions on home ownership to 3%. 3. An Australian AIDS expert believes mental illness could be a long term effect of infection

8Some car dealers and importers are flying to Japan to purchase cars, and have developed an imaginative plan to capture both customers and cars. However, there are questions about its legality.

9Worldwatch Trade relations between the United States and Japan have become Increasingly stormy this week following the American decision to impose tariffs on Japanese personal computers, hand tools and television sets. The dispute has sparked a series of top level meetings in Tokyo and Washington DC.

10Worldwatch Accused Nazi war criminal Karl Linnas is en route to the Soviet Union tonight where he will face a death sentence. His extradition has raised questions about United States extradition laws, especially as the Soviet Union has provided the evidence.

11Worldwatch in Brief 1. Jordan has vowed to continue working towards peace in the Middle East, despite a Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) rebuff. 2. Israel has attacked a refugee camp in south Lebanon, killing one person

12Worldwatch Health authorities in Britain are leading the way in getting people to give up smoking. A look at how they are achieving this and how people's attitudes towards smoking are gradually changing.

13News Update There is tension in Fiji tonight, where reports are circulating of possible moves to unseat the newly-elected Coalition Government. Fijian Prime MInister Dr Timoci Bavadra has just issued a statement saying he will not be run out of office by "a bunch of agitators".