1This year's wage round begins next week and negotiations are unlikely to go smoothly. Tomorrow the Metal Trades Award negotiations will begin, the first under new Labour laws.

2The Government's commitment to spend up large on defence is facing a crucial test. Australian Defence Minister Kim Beazley arrives in New Zealand this week seeking a multi-million commitment from New Zealand to help build a new fleet of warships to help defend the South Pacific.

3The future of reconciliation talks scheduled for Tuesday, between opposing factions in Fiji, is now in doubt, following renewed violence.

4Israeli jet fighters have struck against five Palestinian guerrilla bases in southern Lebanon.

5A blazing multi-storey building has collapsed in Madrid, burying nine firefighters.

6The Tourist Hotel Corporation (THC) s facing community push back over its plan to cut down beachfront trees in front of its almost completed hotel in Queenstown Bay. It also wants to relocate a children's playground and a historical changing pavilion.

7Coastguard rescued five young men from an overturned runabout off the coast of Waiheke Island this evening.

8A Queenstown doctor has developed a way of helping new parents solve the problem of sleepless nights, by using electronics to take the ancient Chinese art of acupuncture into the home.