Getting your kids to turn off their phones can turn into one endless nag, writes Emily Shelley.

Here are five unlikely black swan events that might catch everyone unawares in the coming year.

Stranded on a train track for 2 days, this terrified dog faced certain death. But thanks to her loving companion, Lucy survived the horrifying ordeal.

All the toilets on a trans-Atlantic flight were unusable.

As part of our Summer Herald, Kiwis are recalling their brushes with celebrity. Today, John Lamplough tells of the time he pulled a pint for Status Quo.

Russians agonise over how to remember the 1917 revolutions.

Brighton's 162m British Airways i360 is the tallest moving observation tower in the world.

The Star Wars series featured a man-made planet called the Death Star which destroys other worlds with a giant laser.

A little girl has been reunited with her favourite teddy after she accidentally left him behind in Auckland Airport when her family moved to Germany.

A boy dubbed "The Kindergarten Bomber" is accused of planting a nail bomb near a Christmas market in Germany.

Migrants are seeking to marry "sham brides" who are pregnant with another man's child in a bid to exploit human rights laws and remain in Britain.

British Prime Minister Theresa May was met with awkward silence following a brief presentation to EU leaders.

Apple's tax bill chronicles a growing clash between Europe, the US and a shift in the EU's approach to tax affairs.

An "awkward" video of Theresa May at the EU summit has emerged in which the Prime Minister appears to be ignored.

The New Zealand dollar climbed more than expected and reached a 19-month high versus the euro following the European Central Bank's stimulus extension.

"Rasputin? Sure, just a few doors down, he's in the house with the smoking chimney."

Two women refused entry into New Zealand were escorted back to Europe by police officers.

Italy is set to finalise a state-backed rescue for lender Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena as soon as this weekend.

A child rapist has been jailed a decade after his crime when a mother realised what he did to her daughter while cleaning her room.

Matteo Renzi, the Italian prime minister, resigned late on Sunday night (Italian time) after losing a constitutional referendum.

Theresa May will challenge Parliament to defy the will of the people by voting down Article 50 - if the Government loses an appeal.

Going to prison is a nightmare . . . but what if it turns out to be for a romantic dinner, quirky shopping session or dream holiday?

If you think 2016 is a mess, just wait until you see what's next. A toxic mix of potential disasters could send Europe into a death spiral.

My literary ancestor was a remarkable man, writes Ewan McDonald, after a pint or two.

Nature has snatched this romantic coast from the clutches of industry, and swept Harriet O'Brien off her feet.

The deaths of two men, who died on an overnight tramp in the Tararua Ranges, have been referred to the Coroner.

Watch: Kiwi truck driver Louise Marriott is following in the footsteps of Jean Claude Van Damme.

The next 18 months presents Europe with a series of potentially existential challenges that could lead to the end the EU as we know it.

New Zealand students are performing below the international average when it comes to maths, a new study shows.

Emma Morano is the last person alive who was born in the 1800s and credits her longevity to her rather unusual diet.