1Fears are growing that Iraq cold be heading towards civil war, following the deadliest car bombing since American-led forces invaded Iraq six months ago. At least 80 people were killed as they left a mosque in the Holy city of Najaf.

2Opposition to the Government's Foreshore and Seabed proposals gathered momentum at a national hui in Blenheim today. The Labour Party was warned that the Maori vote can not be taken for granted and Maori MPs were issued with the same ultimatum: support an alternative Maori plan or be replaced.

3Police investigating the brutal bashing of South Auckland man Sam Tua hope a blood trail will lead them to the person responsible for the crime.

4Health officials still have no idea what the mysterious lung condition was that caused three sudden and unexplained deaths in Dunedin this month.

5British Prime Minister Tony Blair's closest adviser and communications chief Alistair Campbell has resigned. Campbell drafted the British Government's controversial dossier on Iraq.

6British inquests are to be held into the 1997 deaths of Princess Diana and Dodi al Fayed.

7American cyber-investigators have arrested a Minnesota teenager in connection with a recent computer work responsible for billions of dollars worth of damage worldwide.

8The Silver Secateurs Grapevine Pruning Awards were held in Martinborough last night.

9The funeral for the eight year old twins killed in a house fire last week was held in Hastings today. The girls were the grand daughters of local MP Russell Fairbrother.

10The first Women's Show aimed at females in their late twenties and beyond kicked off in Auckland today.

11New Zealand's first washable men's suit will become available next month.