Photos of the Hindu festival of colours, which heralds the coming of spring.

John Key has revealed that 15 New Zealand SAS troops in Afghanistan were involved in a gun fight with "insurgents" on Friday.

Wave activity "appears to be stabilised" at previously-reported levels, Civil Defence Emergency Management says.

This week I want to explain why women are pants at motor racing.

The city of Agra is an enduring monument to India's famous Mughal rulers, who created such magnificent monuments as the Taj Mahal, the Agra Fort and the the abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri.

Australian director Bruce Beresford chats about his unusual childhood, and his latest film, Mao's Last Dancer.

Vietnam's food smells as good as it tastes, writes Paul Jobin.

Award-winning Auckland chef Geoff Scott finds inspiration (and weird things) on holiday in Tokyo.

A kung fu "Grand Master" who left New Zealand after a scandal in which one of his students died was detained by police on serious weapons charges in Thailand.

The aroma of your steak frying may set your tastebuds tingling - but it may also give the chef cancer, especially if they are using a gas cooker.

New Zealand's favourite car - the Toyota Corolla - should not be affected by the steering problems reported in the United States, says a Toyota spokesperson.

Kiwi sportspeople scheduled to compete in India could be endangered after a chilling warning from al Qaeda.