Kiwi mum Jacqui Thomas has taken a year out to backpack round the world - with her 7-year-old daughter.

Gold investors have high hopes about price rises continuing in 2011.

Staff at the NZ Embassy in Rome have been told to be on the look out for suspicious packages after mail bombs exploded in the hands of employees at the Swiss and Chilean embassies in Rome on Thursday.

Former All Blacks star Doug Howlett was arrested by Irish police on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly at his Christmas party night out with his Munster teammates.

The grandfather of Spanish fashion, 81-year-old Elio Berhanyer, has become the latest victim of the country's ailing economy.

The American spy agency has created a panel to assess what damage may have been done by WikiLeaks.

The EU criticised airport operators yesterday for failing to deal adequately with the heavy snow and freezing weather.

Spain has become the latest country to pass an anti-smoking law for its eateries.

Kiwi kids have spread a little Christmas cheer to those stranded at Heathrow Airport in London.

Two Air New Zealand flights have taken off from London's Heathrow Airport this morning.

Alas, this this is the second-to-last novel from the Portuguese Nobel Prize winner from whom I have gained so much enjoyment and stimulus over the past few years.

Hundreds of stranded New Zealanders might be able to make it home for the holidays after all with the news that London's Heathrow Airport is due to reopen on a limited basis this evening, New Zealand time.

Heavy snow has caused chaos in Europe, stranding thousands of would-be holiday-makers.