Anti-American rallies sweep Afghanistan over plans, now on hold, by a small US church to stage an "International Burn a Koran Day".

As many as 40,000 front-line police jobs may be at risk across England and Wales if 25% funding cuts go ahead, the Police Federation says.

The government is to press ahead with privatising or selling Royal Mail, following an updated review of the postal service.

Harrowing details of alleged sex abuse by Roman Catholic clergy in Belgium are released by an official Church investigator.

About 2,500 jobs are saved after administrators KPMG agree to sell most of Connaught's failed social housing group.

A landslide has closed State Highway 1 south of Kaikoura.Police said it was not known when the road would reopen after the slip at Peketa, about 8km from Kaikoura.Traffic was being diverted on to SH70.- NZPA

Wellington police are tonight combing Oriental Bay from the land, sea and air for a missing swimmer.Inspector Ken Climo told NZPA someone had seen a man go into the water about 6.45pm but he failed to emerge.The Westpac Rescue...

The cordon around quake-damaged central Christchurch has been removed.The area bounded by Worcester, St Asaph, Madras and Colombo streets had been closed since last weekend to ensure public safety after last Saturday's magnitude...

Ten teams of police and army will patrol earthquake-stricken areas in Christchurch 24 hours a day to ward off burglars.The extra patrols would give an "intense police presence" and will be on top of normal policing, Canterbury...

A man whose dog allegedly killed 14 endangered weka on an island north of Auckland has been found guilty by a jury of three charges.Donald Shepherd, 66, was found guilty of two charges of allowing his two dogs to enter a controlled...