Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair's claim that his Cabinet colleagues were fully aware of his determination to deal with Saddam Hussein has been bluntly called into question by testimony from two of his most senior officials.

The country's soldiers are about to get more killing power with a new weapon which will better the range and accuracy of the rifles used by the enemies they are likely to be fighting.

Former Gisborne man Willie Rare could tomorrow be sentenced to up to 12 years in a Bali jail after admitting to a charge of possessing cocaine. He also admitted to buying a "bong" for smoking marijuana from the same people who sold him the

Boris Karpichkov admits that he comes across as paranoid and a little nuts.

The air force's 17 mothballed Skyhawk jet fighters look likely to end up as museum pieces or spare parts after a Christmas deadline passed with no sign of any money from the American buyer.

The Defence Force insists that New Zealand SAS troops in Afghanistan involved in a fatal shootout were fired upon first.

The NZ Defence Force says SAS soldiers were acting in self defence when they led a raid on a factory in Afghanistan in which two soldiers were killed.

New Zealand soldiers have been accused of being involved in a botched raid on a factory in Afghanistan which left two workers dead.

When his father was diagnosed with terminal cancer this week, Squadron Leader Steve Hall was determined to make it home from Afghanistan.

Alien worshippers are urging the Govt to admit extraterrestrial life is out there after the release of thousands of secret files.

Dr Marc Shaw, serving in Afghanistan, writes about his experience of a Christmas far from home.