1The Philippines Government has refused a New Zealand request to waive diplomatic immunity to the teenage son of an attaché who is accused of child sex abuse. However the youth will be sent home. Most child sexual abuse cases never make it to court due to the problems associated with having the child victim give evidence. Today, the head of one of the busiest Police Child Abuse Squads called for law changes to shield victims in court.

2A Christchurch man who lost his job after being accused of sexually abusing children says his life has been ruined. He maintains the accusations were false, was never charged and has now established a group called Parents Against Justice.

3Prime Minister David Lange is gaining a high media profile while in the United States. He has addressed the United Nations (UN) as well as holding several notable television interviews.

4Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze has been suddenly recalled from the United Nations (UN) in New York to Moscow to attend a special meeting of the Communist Party Central Committee, a meeting which may herald a major shake-up of Soviet democracy.

5Protesting seamen stormed the Shipping Corporation offices in Wellington today and staged a sit-in in the board room, protesting the proposed sale of the corporation.

6Police have stepped up security around Olympic Games venues in Seoul as they brace for more violent protests against the continued detention of a student leader.

7The space shuttle Discovery will lift off in around eight hours, in a move that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) hopes will relaunch the United States' space programme which stalled following the Challenger disaster.

8An Auckland High Court judge has granted an interim injunction delaying the release of the Mason Report on Psychiatric Services.

9The Council of Trade Unions (CTU) is supporting 3000 striking freezing workers battling the Weddell Crown Corporation for a redundancy deal that could set the pace for others in the industry.

10Following a report suggesting the Audit Office be abolished, there have been strong gestures of support for it by both the Government and Opposition.

11The Department of Health is calling for a ban on smoking in the workplace and on all forms of public transport.

12The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has dispelled rumours that an American gold medal winner and further athletes have tested positive for drug use.