1A South African Boeing 747 jumbo jet has crashed into the Indian Ocean near Mauritius. 160 people are feared dead.

2The pilot of a small plane which flipped on take-off at North Shore Airport has been hospitalised this afternoon.

3The most wanted man in Ireland, Dessie O'Hare (also known as "The Border Fox"), an Irish republican paramilitary terrorist, is critically ill in a Dublin Hospital with fifteen gunshot wounds.

4What is believed to be an incendiary bomb has been found in the Selfridges department store in London.

5France denies that it paid a ransom for the return of two hostages being held in Lebanon by Shi'ite extremists. Today the two former hostages returned to France.

6There is still no sign of John Jackson, the Christchurch tramper missing in South Westland, although police have narrowed their search area to the Pyke River region near Haast.

7The Consumers' Institute is warning people against borrowing money at high interest rates, and is calling for a law change to protect borrowers.

8The family of a New Zealand man who hanged himself in a Queensland prison are calling for an independent inquiry into his death.

9Musician David Bowie performed his final concert in an eight-month world tour in Auckland last night.

10Retailers are hoping Christmas sales will provide a much needed economic boost for the retail industry. This year, GI Joe is the toy on most children's' Christmas list.