The world, in perspective.

Absorbing and sometimes sobering new books by Julian Sayarer, Rowan Hooper and Ben Okri

Amid an unprecedented rise of firebombings as a weapon of intimidation and revenge, nearly 10 fires are being deliberately lit on average every day. See if your area is a hotspot.

Strong winds and rain challenged fire crews on Thursday.

Northwest gales could bring gusts of up to 130km/h in exposed places.

Both sides of the Cook Strait continue to be lashed by wild weather as a front moves up the country.

A scrub fire that forced evacuations in the central Otago town of Roxburgh is still uncontained, with crews battling the blaze into the night.

A scrub fire that forced evacuations in the central Otago town of Roxburgh is still uncontained, with crews battling the blaze into the night.

Hundreds of homes are without power and evacuations are under way, as fire crews battle a blaze in Roxburgh.

A large and growing scrub fire near the Desert Road was sparked by gunfire, the Defence Force says.

<img align='right' src='https://images.jpost.com/image/upload/f_auto,fl_lossy/q_auto/c_fill,g_faces:center,h_1200,w_1600/743449' alt='A truck catches fire near Hadera on October 25, 2026. (photo credit: FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE)' title='A truck catches fire near Hadera on October 25, 2026. (photo credit: FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE)' /><br />A report of a burning

Fire and Emergency said the blaze did not appear to threaten any properties.

Fire and Emergency says its crews have described the blaze as being the size of a bus.

SEJONG, Oct. 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's budget minister on Wednesday vowed to ...