Arlene Paredes

Colleagues, cousins and uncles are the worst at buying gifts, according to a survey conducted by Unicef-New Zealand. One thousand respondents were asked to find out who gives the worst gifts at Christmas.

Three separate shark sightings were reported on Monday at four beaches in Western Australia, after which the beaches were evacuated to protect the swimmers. Brighton, Trigg, Scarborough and Watermans beaches were closed to the public after the Surf Life Saving WA (SLSWA) chopper spotted two 2.5m sharks and a third 3.5m shark at about 10am Monday, said reports.

Consumer confidence in New Zealand has dropped to its lowest since the peak of recession in early 2009, according to the latest Westpac McDermott Miller quarterly survey.

Virtually nicotine-free cigarettes could help heavy smokers to quit the habit, according to an Auckland research.

Thousands of swarming bees almost disrupted the holiday shopping activities at a shopping centre in Auckland if a caretaker had not stepped in to save the day.

At least four people died, while 14 were rescued and 49 were missing on Sunday after an oil rig capsized and sank in the icy waters of the Okhotsk Sea in Russia's far east.

At least two people died after an overloaded boat believed to be making its way to Australia with hundreds of asylum seekers from the Middle East has sunk in heavy seas off the main island of Java over the weekend, ABC reported.

A street-luge rider from Brisbane has been killed in an accident while riding with a group of lugers at Mount Coot-tha on Saturday morning. Sue Wickenden, 50, failed to maneuver a turn and struck a steel barrier, which caused her death.

The link between New Zealand's residential property boom and consumer spending in the past ten years was not as close as previously projected, said a report in the Reserve Bank's latest bulletin.

You would think such a scene would happen only in medieval fiction, but early this week, a woman convicted of practicing "witchcraft and sorcery" was beheaded in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Practicing "witchcraft and sorcery" is a capital offense in Saudi Arabia.

Adriana Kemp, 14, is in a hospital for spinal injuries which were a result of bullies' beating at Flaxmere College, New Zealand's TV3 reported. Adriana was forced to the ground as two fellow pupils repeatedly punched her on a grassy field at school. The attack was filmed and uploaded to YouTube, according to the report.

A woman who stole a pistol from her gun club to shoot her father was found not guilty of his murder on grounds of mental illness.

An Australian eBay user discovered an online merchant’s database – with her name, phone number, and address – after doing a Google search for her name.

She was walking her dog through a Wollongong Park about 5.30pm Thursday when the teenage girl was sexually assaulted at knife point by a teenage boy.

Lara Giddings slammed union leaders, accusing them of spreading baseless speculation that David O'Byrne is strategizing a change in leadership following reports that Tasmania’s business lobby stresses tough budget measures should be maintained even with a change of Premier.

Chilean doctors successfully separated on Tuesday ten-month-old conjoined twins Maria Paz and Maria Jose, who were linked at the thorax, stomach and pelvis.

Australia is now one in a list of countries with the most expensive essentials from food to housing, according to a study. In fact, key essentials are now pricier in Australia than in London, New York and Singapore, prompting Aussies to call Australia as the land of the great big rip-off, reports said.

There are more liquor shops in poorer suburbs than anywhere in Victoria, according to new data. Either the locals want more liquor, or they just could not resist what is right in front of them.

Terrorist groups lurk on social networks like Facebook and YouTube to entice people to join their movement, according to a new study.

Weather reports over Bay of Plenty, where MV Rena is wedged in on a reef, said the area will experience increasing winds on Thursday at speeds of 30 knots, bringing swells up to 4m high. Marine authorities fear of damages that the ill weather could inflict on ill fated vessel MV Rena.

The family of a missing man from Geelong is offering a $50,000 reward to anyone who could lead them to him before Christmas, reports said.

The number of social hours needed for a boost in happiness drops with age, according to a US survey. The seniors, 65 years old and up, only need to spend about three hours a day socializing with family and friends to boost their happiness by around 20 percent, the survey found. But for Americans 30 years old and younger, at least six hours of social time is needed to feel the same wellness boost.

Authorities investigating the murder of Hayden Miles on Tuesday recovered human remains from a crime scene at Ruru Lawn Cemetery in Christchurch, where they have spent the past few days in search for the teen’s body.

Wellington journalist Phillip Cottrell who died from severe bashing was attacked by a bully, according to a criminal expert.

A thunderstorm which brought heavy rain over Western Australia, particularly the city of Perth and the town of Williams, caused widespread damage overnight.

The nanny of Chloe Murphy, the baby who died mysteriously, could face charges over the tragedy. Baby Chloe died a year ago, just seven weeks before her first birthday. Detectives waited for final medical reports before moving on with the case.

A 46-year-old Sydney teacher has been accused by three 11-year-old girls of indecent behavior towards them. The teacher has been charged with indecent assault and removed from a primary school in Sydney's east in November after allegations were brought to the attention of authorities, as he had allegedly inappropriately touched an 11-year-old student.

Parents can no longer deny what scientists have confirmed – there is always a favorite child. In his book, Jeffrey Kluger wrote whether we admit it or not, having a parental favorite is only natural in human behavior.

Suicide reports from schools during VCE exams in November shocked Victorian Education Minister Martin Dixon, who, after receiving the reports, ordered an investigation on student suicides and teen mental health issues in the state.