1Fifteen British Navy personnel who were held captive in Iran for two weeks have been released.

2The body of a New Zealander killed in this week's Solomon Islands tsunami has been returned home to New Zealand. Aid agencies fear that disease outbreaks in refugee camps will add to the death toll.

3Plans to establish State funding for political electioneering have hit a major stumbling block with Labour's allies refusing to support the Bill.

4A fatal car crash near Hamilton has killed two women even before the official Easter road toll period began.

5The deaths of four people in a Christchurch house fire this week could have been the result of a suicide past.

6Convicted murderer Jules Mikus has filed a civil suit against the Salvation Army and the Government which is believed to relate to an accusation of alleged abuse while he was at a psychiatric institution. Mikus was convicted of the 1987 murder of Napier schoolgirl Theresa Cormack.

7Steve Maharey's swearing has again been the focus of Parliament today.

8Auckland's Mayors have been pressured by the Chinese Consulate to stay away from a performance by a travelling Chinese performing arts group Divine Performing Arts, saying Falun Gong were involved in the production.

9An Australian army captain has been arrested on charges of stealing eight rocket launchers.

10Presidential campaigning in East Timor has erupted into violence as rival supporters clash violently on the streets.

11Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards is backtracking on claims that he once snorted his father's ashes mixed with cocaine.

12The wild coyote that walked into a busy Chicago cafe has been returned to his natural habitat.

13Chinese park rangers want to legalise the sale of tiger body parts to prevent poachers cashing in on the black market. However conservationists are appalled at the notion.