Two committed for trial over teen's murder
A three-week trial is set to start on May 25 next year for two men charged with the murder of a teenager found dead in a Christchurch reserve.

Two Countdown staff arrested for robbery
Police have arrested two Countdown staff members for the aggravated robbery of its Botany Downs supermarket, and are searching for a third person. more »

Respected criminal lawyer dies
High profile criminal lawyer Kevin Ryan QC has died after a short illness, aged 77. The outspoken Auckland lawyer appeared in more 100 homicide trials. more »

Peres gets honorary knighthood from British Queen
Buckingham Palace says Queen Elizabeth II has given Israeli President Shimon Peres an honorary knighthood.

Child victims of the food crisis dying in Haiti
The 5-year-old teetered on broomstick legs - he weighed less than 20 pounds, even after days of drinking enriched milk. more »

Astronauts venture out for second spacewalk
Astronauts ventured back outside the international space station to perform more repair work on a jammed joint Thursday and promised to keep a tight grip on all their tools so nothing would get away this time. more »

Villa looks to build on Arsenal win
Ending 13 years of frustration against Manchester United suddenly doesn't seem so daunting for Aston Villa after winning at Arsenal for the first time since 1993.

Bannan's big day out with Big Mama
Michael Campbell once blamed an inexplicably bad performance on an alien who invaded his body. more »

England aims to silence critics
England has a point to prove on Saturday when it takes on World Cup holder South Africa at Twickenham after the southern hemisphere opponents it so hoped to beat this month all commented on its seeming lack of progress. more »

Mortgage rate cut by ANZ National
ANZ National Bank is cutting the variable home loan rate offered by both its brands ANZ and the National Bank to 8.7 percent from 9.45 percent.

Sanlu exit to cost Fonterra farmers
Fonterra chief executive Andrew Ferrier says it looks likely the cooperative's 10,724 farmers will have to write off their entire investment in toxic Chinese joint venture Sanlu. more »

Zintel profit remains steady
Zintel Group Ltd reported a $1.226 million bottom line profit in the six months to September 30, little changed from the $1.248m in the same period last year. more »