Online ODT

North Korea is believed to have begun assembling a long-range missile capable of reaching Alaska, a news report said today, as the communist regime prepared to test-fire a barrage of missiles from both coasts.

New Zealand's warm-up for the ICC World Twenty20 cricket championship hit a road bump today with seven-wicket loss to Australia at The Oval in London.

An opposition leadership bid to focus on Labor's debt and deficit levels backfired today when two MPs clashed physically in the Liberal party room.

The Government is defending a 10-year suspension of contributions to the New Zealand Superannuation Fund saying it will not lead to any change in pension entitlements.

Prime Minister John Key is calling for a cross-party committee to examine ways of creating greater transparency of MPs expenses.

There will be no more using KiwiSaver money to help with mortgage repayments.

The slashing of the civil service has not extended to Treasury, the department which advises the Government on financial matters.

An under-strength New Zealand arrive in Edinburgh this weekend for the final round of the world rugby sevens series with barely a whisper of a chance to finish runners-up.

Labour and the Greens have attacked a new tenancy agreement which gives Housing New Zealand the right to decide whether people on parole or bail can live in its state homes.

Pakistan's military says it has no intention of halting its offensive against the Taliban in the Swat Valley, despite a pledge by militants to temporarily stop attacking security forces in the main city out of concern for trapped civilians.