The mother of a pregnant woman with learning difficulties pleaded with a UK court yesterday for her daughter to be sterilised to stop her having any more children.

AT&T Inc.'s CEO Randall Stephenson, expressed frustration with the way applications are sold to smart phone users, saying customers should be able to buy an application once and have it work across many different devices.

Hell hath no fury like a Belieber scorned: Pop phenom Justin Bieber admits he was upset after he missed out on the Best New Artist gong at the 53rd Grammy Awards.

Stocks on Wall Street were mixed as investors awaited a fresh reason to extend the rally, while commodities including oil, gold and copper were boosted on hopes that Chinese demand would remain strong.

Switzerland upheld its reputation for having one of the most liberal yet lethal firearms laws in Europe.

How New Zealand takes to Suzuki's latest Swift could make or break the brand here.

The mother of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has again demanded Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd back his words with action to support her son's legal and human rights.

With year-round sun and warm sea, Portugal's Algarve makes a great base for a holiday, finds Cathy Packe.

Keen to impress on Valentine's Day? Knock your beloved's socks off with a classic Gallic dish.

Strokestown Park's gracious delights front a grim attraction, writes Graham Reid.

Liqueurs - even the name sounds thick, rich and sweet. But are they glutinous, fruit-based sugar syrups, or is there something a bit more to them? Well, of course there is.

Cathrin Schaer blogs from the 61st Berlin International Film Festival.

A radio promotion offering the chance to win a 'hot' wife from Ukraine has offended New Zealand immigrants from the eastern European country.

A Facebook group aiming stop a controversial "win a wife" radio competition is asking companies to pull advertising from the station.

One of the biggest film festivals in the world started with a red carpet première of US blockbuster True Grit on Thursday in Berlin. Celebrities, star-crazed fans and journalists with silly questions, packed the German capital.

United States news organisation CNN International has released its top 10 places to propose to a loved one on Valentine's Day.

Fashionable New Zealanders give Viva insight into their perfect Valentine, plus tips for the big date.

Almost 50 New Zealand short films have this week been featured at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival in France, as part of its international spotlight programme.