Trump-aligned candidate leads Romania's presidential race, German spy agency classifies far-right AfD party as extremist, Vatican installs chimney for conclave smoke signals, and a spate of cryptocurrency-linked kidnappings in France.

A law to enforce the use of plain language in official documents and on government websites is being scrapped over criticism it is achieving nothing more than extra costs and red tape, but proponents argue that's not true and the Act needs to stay.

Local councils and insurers are increasingly deciding which properties are at climate risk, in a legislative void.

Our comedians Irene Pink and Donna Brookbanks with a few of the funny stories from the last week, including the British boy who's won his second consecutive gull screeching championship.

Sam Ackerman brings us the latest sports from New Zealand and the rest of the world.

Tom discusses the latest events in Te Whanganui-a-Tara including local government update and the missing Wellington Water report.

Lisa Adler from Unity Books Wellington reviews 38 Londres Street by Phillipe Sands published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson.

Back to the wild weather that has been battering the country - in particular Canterbury and Wellington.

Angela Franklyn's stage and screen career in London was stopped in its tracks when she was diagnosed with a rare health condition.

Edward White discusses the ongoing reaction in Beijing to Donald Trump's trade tarrif war.