Soon after they served the daily free lunch they had prepared for dozens of children at a rural Indian school, the two cooks realised something was very wrong.

A weaker New Zealand dollar and signs of life in the US housing market have combined to drive the share price of timber products group Tenon higher.

A pane of glass was all that prevented three Kiwi travellers from being dragged underneath a train when it derailed in Thailand.

It was a free school meal of rice, lentils and potatoes. But it was tainted by insecticide, and by the end of lunch 22 children were dead.

A Taliban commander has written to Malala Yousafzai, telling her she was shot for being critical of the Taliban - not because she championed girls' education.

Japan's snow tours ensure Doug Conway has lots to do.

It's hard to beat Thailand's beaches. But where to go if you've been to Phuket and Koh Samui, the most popular choice of tourists, and you'd like to try somewhere slightly less crowded?

Derek Cheng challenges himself and sets a new personal best for culinary repugnancy.

The news is in that Malaysia is the cheapest destination for shopping, and Kuala Lumpur is the home to some of the best malls in Asia. And, as luck would have it, there are plenty of shops to buy new luggage.

War and uncertainty have left their mark on Kabul, but there is hope, writes Peter Feeney.

Luxury steps up to new high-tech levels at a renowned Hong Kong institution.

China is making up for lost time on the fairways with the most opulent courses you've ever seen, writes James Ihaka.

Kris Shannon and Andrew Koubaridis get suited and booted in China.

Thanks to blockbuster movies and intrepid travel programmes, New Zealanders are broadening their holiday horizons.

Jennifer Ennion discovers Thailand's Koh Phangan is perfect for those who want to get away from it all.

A peek behind the scenes at Cathay Pacific's kitchens fascinates Shandelle Battersby.

Kris Shannon gets busy in the Japanese capital.

Devout desert dwellers and blessed bovines live in harmony in the Rajasthan desert, writes Paul Rush.