Despite weather extremes, an Auckland climate scientist is unconvinced about the role of human-induced global warming.

Charlie Sheen has been dumped by his girlfriend Natalie Kenly.

The annual Medellín Flowers Festival sees Colombia's "City of Eternal Spring" bedecked with colourful blooms.

Misbehaving politician part of trivia captivating Washington at expense of more important issues.

Japan's biggest quake since records began triggered a shocking 10m tsunami. See how the quake ranks in history.

New Zealand cyclist Alison Shanks won the individual pursuit to claim her second gold medal at the World Cup track meet in Colombia today.

Being British, beaches didn't give me much to shout about in my formative years.

The first man to walk the entire length of the Amazon river put his NZ-made backpacks through some serious paces.

Cocaine smugglers are literally turning the drug into innocent-looking plasticware and candles - the latest trick to fool customs officers.

NZ has for the first time designated four international terrorist groups which are not listed by the United Nations, John Key says.

US President Barack Obama's recent Nobel Peace Prize has generated much praise as well consternation around the world.

New Zealand has been named the 20th best country for quality of life by a UN report on migration and development.

Alex Macdonald says he was kept in Tongan police custody for five days, accused of killing his skipper.

It's a story that reads like the plot of a movie thriller - lost in the Pacific.

Army officer lets his tired and hungry soldiers keep cache of drug dollars found buried in the Colombian mountains.