It took about two hours to convince authorities something was wrong after the first calls that an avalanche buried a four-star spa hotel in central Italy, leaving at least 30 people missing.

COMMENT: An odd affliction seems to have affected PM Bill English in Europe: he has forgotten John Key's name.

Bill English will return to New Zealand today after his first trip overseas as PM. He spoke to Claire Trevett in Berlin about his trip.

Germany sought to calm European anxieties over Trump's presidency after he dismissed Nato as "obsolete" and said he believed the EU would break up.

Italian glasses giant Luxottica has agreed an eye-watering £40 billion ($68b) merger deal with Essilor, the world's leading manufacturer of lenses.

In a post-Brexit minefield, Bill English managed to avoid inflaming European sensitivities on his first major international visit as a 'junior world leader'.

"This is another card in the prime minister's hand" in her talks with the EU, British politician Michael Gove says.

A police statement, in which a terrified Kim Kardashian described the moment she lost $14.5m worth of jewels has been published for the first time.

UK-born event manager Amy Cowan shares tips for seeing her hometown.

The New Zealand PM said overall relations with the US were very positive.

Prime Minister Bill English will wind up his trip to Europe after a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

"We perceive it as a threat. These actions threaten our interests, our security," says Russia as the first of thousands more US troops and tanks rolled in to Poland.

Immigrants to New Zealand are often quick to pick up our signature twang - but it seems one ex-pat hasn't lost its British accent more than a century after moving here.

Prime Minister Bill English has visited the New Zealand memorial in Hyde Park after a day of Brexit meetings in London.

A French tourist visiting New Zealand who was reported missing by his family has been found safe and well.

COMMENT: Bill English would have been entitled to feel quite cock-a-hoop when he rolled up to 10 Downing St with Theresa May early this morning.

Police are appealing for sightings of a French tourist last known to be at Abel Tasman National Park who failed to return to work in France and hasn't been in touch with his family.

A senior theatre lecturer says the historical justifications for casting only men in an upcoming Shakespeare production aren't accurate.

Bill English took a break from politics today to commemorate those of 100 years ago with a visit to the World War I battlegrounds in Flanders in Belgium.

The newlyweds who shared their wedding cake with a homeless man say they are blown away by the response to their spontaneous act of kindness.

German automaker Volkswagen plans to admit guilt to settle investigations in regards to its emissions cheating scandal.

The European Union seems keen for a trade agreement with New Zealand.

How much do teenagers - and adults - understand what they've agreed to give up when they sign up with social media sites?

Young migrants are being hidden and sheltered by French villagers near the Italian border, who sometimes help them to slip undetected into the country.

Bill English leaves today for a trip to Brussels, London and Berlin - his first trip since former PM John Key stood down last December.

A woman claims to have realised £7million of her gold is missing nearly two years after the Hatton Garden jewellery raid.

The mother of missing Que Langdon believes her former partner is fully capable of deliberately disappearing with their little girl.

Social media giants have been accused by UK officials of confusing children into signing away their privacy. Youngsters desperate

A former All Black has proposed to his girlfriend in the city of love.

A virile, muscled statue of the sea god Neptune has fallen foul of Facebook's prudish policies on nudity after an Italian art historian was told to remove it from her web page.