odtonline

A tropical storm is building in the Pacific and threatens to dampen the beginning of the Easter holiday - but forecasters say New Zealanders should expect a fine, warm weekend before it arrives.

Workers restoring a 19th-century mansion in the Russian city of St. Petersburg have discovered a vast trove of silver and jewellery hidden in a secret compartment.

An elephant called Baby did not want a bath.

Queen Elizabeth II has become a wedding crasher.

Police say four Swiss and one French citizen have been confirmed killed by a massive avalanche in northern Norway.

Italy passed the Six Nations rugby wooden spoon back to Scotland when they beat the visitors 13-6 at Rome's Stadio Olimpico.

France have shrugged off a poor first-half performance to draw 17-17 at home to Ireland in the Six Nations, ending its hopes of a Grand Slam and leaving Wales alone at the top of the standings.

A woman is in a critical condition in hospital after her car collided with a truck carrying a 21 tonne container in Hawkes Bay.

A powerful storm system that produced multiple reports of tornadoes has lashed the US Midwest, roughing up the country music resort city of Branson and laying waste to small towns in Illinois and Kansas. At least nine people were killed.

A fight among inmates led to a prison riot in northern Mexico that killed 44 people, a security official says.