1The retiring Dean of the Otago Medical School says New Zealand's public hospital service is on the verge of breakdown. He and others are calling for an urgent national inquiry into the health system and are advocating a radical rethink on the role of private hospitals in healthcare.

2Violence erupted near Pretoria today at the funeral of two Black South Africans killed in the recent unrest in Mamelodi. Police detained several journalists who were covering the funeral.

3Canadian investigators have recovered all 256 of the bodies from the crashed DC-8 in Newfoundland.

4The World Health Organisation (WHO) says there has been a big worldwide increase in cases of the disease acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).