1In a day of turmoil, the Government has moved to tighten the rules covering MPs' financial dealings. This comes in the wake of the Frontline investigation into the links between political parties and big business.

2Labour's truce over the Te Atatu candidate selection row has drawn criticism from the Tongan community, who are calling for a public examination of the electorate's Party membership list.

3Although Wall Street began a stock market slide last week, a number of domestic factors have also caused the New Zealand sharemarket to plunge.

4A previously unknown organisation calling itself Islamic Dawn, has announced that American academic and hostage Frank Reed, will be freed within the next two days after almost four years in captivity.

5Anglican priest Father Michael Lapsley is off the danger list in a Zimbabwe hospital after being seriously injured by a parcel bomb.

6African National Congress (ANC) leader Nelson Mandela has accused the South African Government of trying to bar White Communist Party leader Joe Slovo from this week's pioneering talks on social reform. However, the new developments in South African have seen an increasing number of moderate Whites trying to leave South Africa, while Afrikaner hardliners are taking up arms in protest.

7The Soviet Union has eased its punishing restriction on gas supplies to Lithuania. However, Lithuanians have showed their resistance to Soviet restrictions by taking to the streets on bicycles.

8Figures from the World Health Organisation (WHO) shows that New Zealand is slipping behind other countries when it comes to life expectancy.

9Seven 74 metre catamarans are being built in Tasmania to serve as English Channel ferries. The first is due to set sail for the United Kingdom on Monday, with hopes of breaking some speed records along the way - despite a major embarrassment on its first test voyage.