1Superannuation payouts will shrink by up to 23% over the next 20 years as a result of new Government taxes.

2The Wellington and Wairarapa regions were shaken by an earthquake around 3.00am.

3Dozens of Aucklanders have responded to the loss of the police launch Deodar yesterday with offers of help and boats.

4The man accused of murdering English tourist Monica Cantwell at Mount Maunganui will make a second appearance in court today.

5The startling political changes in East Germany have revived the gatherings of the four World War Two allies - Britain, France, the United States and the Soviet Union.

6It is being reported that Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev offered to resign at the weekend if he no longer had the confidence of Communist Party leaders.

7The changes in Eastern Europe's political structure have been tied to changes in how people view their leaders. The removal of many of the restraints placed on the news media has made that possible, especially in East Germany, where television coverage revealed the lavish lifestyles many of the country's former leaders were enjoying.

8An upsurge in violence in Sri Lanka has killed at least fifty people, with most of the attacks blamed on an extreme left-wing Sinhalese group who rampaged across the island burning private property and vehicles.

9Hong Kong is expected to start sending Vietnamese boat people back home to Vietnam within 24 hours.

10Attempts are being made by Central American Presidents to stop the fighting in El Salvador and Nicaragua. Meanwhile, record numbers of El Salvador residents are trying to escape the violence in their country.

11The Transport Amendment Bill has been referred to a Select Committee. The most controversial aspect of the Bill is the proposal to allow traffic officers onto private property without the consent of the owner or occupier. But the Government remains determined to pass the Bill into law before Christmas.

12A new Health Department survey has disputed tobacco company claims that advertising has no impact on the number of teenage smokers.

13Is Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer on the defensive? He has indicated room for maneuvre with regards to the Transport Amendment Bill and new Accident Compensation reforms. There is also the suggestion of a Cabinet reshuffle early in the new year. As Labour heads into an election year, it is desperate to claw back some support from its dismal polls.

14In the United Kingdom, a song featuring the sounds of sheep baa-ing to Baa Baa Black Sheep has become a hit.