New Zealand fire agency FENZ's chief executive Kerry Gregory remains on leave months after Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden publicly withdrew confidence in him over withheld information.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is weighing long-taboo nuclear-powered submarines as China's naval power grows across the Pacific.

Confidential medical records belonging to about a dozen pregnant patients at Royal Darwin Hospital were posted to Instagram, prompting a formal investigation by Northern Territory Health.

Politicians in Australia's Capital Territory say they have faced a hand-delivered death threat and been spat at, describing a surge in abuse since an attack on independent MP Helen Haines.

South Africa's Electoral Commission said a Constitutional Court ruling on the ANC did not reopen candidate nominations, rejecting a bid by the MK party to fix its list ahead of the November 4 municipal vote, with Johannesburg the most contested race.

US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau told Buenos Aires that Washington is closely watching how Argentina's sovereignty bill could affect US firms, as Argentina's foreign minister defended the measure.

Alaska Senate candidate Mary Peltola and a voters' rights group have sued to stop the Trump administration from blocking certification of the state's Senate race. The suits argue the administration has no legal basis to delay confirming results that preliminary counts show favor a Democratic win.

Writers say Patrick White Publishing pushed them to delete bad reviews and delivered AI-generated artwork despite charging hundreds of dollars.

Prominent Chinese economist Ren Zeping's WeChat account has been restricted as Beijing tightens scrutiny of outspoken financial commentators. The channel can no longer gain followers, and his team says posting has been suspended entirely.

South Africa's Parliament says the national electoral commission is ready for the November 4 vote, even as officials rush to print 6.6 million extra ballots ordered by a court ruling.