February 10, 2016 Pope briefs priests: don't be smug, don't judge sinners A specially-recruited group of priests have last-minute instructions from Pope Francis before fanning out through the world to show a more merciful face of the Catholic Church to sinners.
February 10, 2016 Australia drops charge against suspected Kurdish militant The government has dropped a charge against an Australian man accused of preparing to fight with Kurdish militants against the Islamic State movement.
February 8, 2016 Controversial minister to become Australia's rights envoy Australia's government says the former immigration minister who began the policy of sending asylum seekers to Pacific island detention camps will become the country's first special envoy for human rights.
February 4, 2016 Malaysian officer to serve 9 months for New Zealand assault A Malaysian military officer whose legal case prompted outrage after he left New Zealand under the protection of diplomatic immunity was sentenced Thursday to nine months of home detention after pleading guilty to indecent assault.
February 4, 2016 Australia resists pressure to allow asylum seekers to stay Australia is resisting mounting international pressure not to deport child asylum seekers, with a minister warning Thursday that allowing them to stay could attract more refugees to come by boat.
February 4, 2016 US, 11 other countries sign free-trade deal in New Zealand Trade ministers from 12 Pacific Rim countries including the United States have ceremonially signed a free-trade deal.
February 3, 2016 Police: Australian school bomb threats coming from overseas Dozens of schools around Australia have received telephoned threats over the past week in what police believe is a hoax being orchestrated overseas.
February 3, 2016 Court rules Australia can send asylum seekers to Nauru More than 260 asylum seekers face the prospect of being deported from Australia to Nauru after Australia's highest court on Wednesday rejected a challenge to the legality of the government's refugee policy.
February 2, 2016 New Zealand hit with string of vampire attacks A number of people have been injured during a series of vampire-like biting attacks on New Zealand’s North Island.
February 2, 2016 Lawmakers allowed to breastfeed in Australian Parliament Lawmakers can now breastfeed in the Australian Parliament after the government changed the rules to make politics more family-friendly.