1A man has appeared in court today charged with the spate of arsons in Hastings recently.

2The brother and sister of murdered English tourist Monica Cantwell arrived in New Zealand today and expressed gratitude for the sympathy and condolences they have received from the public of New Zealand.

3Air New Zealand pilots will proceed with their planned strike later this week after talks with the airline stalled.

4Colombian authorities believe drug lords blew up an airliner that crashed near Bogota today.

5Today marks ten years since the Erebus disaster. Remembrance services have been held around New Zealand.

6Two local skinheads are in hospital in Timaru after a group of men gave them a vicious beating with iron bars. Local police are concerned at the increased frequency and violence of gang confrontations in Timaru.

7The Mongrel Mob is involved in a violent local feud with local gangs in Perth and there are calls for them to be deported back to New Zealand.

8Sydney's psychopathic serial killer, dubbed The Granny Killer, has taken his fifth victim in the past eight months.

9Millions of students and workers went on a general strike in Czechoslovakia today in support of reform.

10Rajiv Gandhi is currently just a caretaker Prime Minister in India after the general election delivered a hung Parliament.

11The space shuttle Discovery has completed its secret military mission and landed safely at Edwards Air Force Base.

12Health Minister Helen Clark wants to stop major tobacco company Rothmans using university students to promote its cigarettes, by handing out free cigarettes at beaches and sporting events this summer.

13Throughout the country, local radio stations have been promoting the launch of TV3 with the Show Us Your 3 competition.