The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is battling to control his coalition as he heads for a showdown with his hardline foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman.

If there were any doubts about where next month's election will be fought, they were dispelled yesterday.

Many popular swimming spots contain high levels of bacteria that cause diarrhoea or infection, a new report shows.

The Govt will today scrap hugely controversial plans to mine some of the country's most pristine conservation land.

The Government is backing down on its decision to mine conservation land in the face of furious public protest, according to reports.

Cabinet is due to make a decision today on mining high value conservation land.

Today Australia awakes to a race for the nation's conservative heartland as its political leaders try to eclipse each other.

Great poverty still affects pockets of NZ, ministers were told yesterday - shortly before their sumptuous three-course lunch.