Many New Zealanders might wonder why we bother with the UN, until they hear Key lament the council's performance on Syria in his speech.

Prime Minister John Key has used his speech to the United Nations General Assembly to campaign for Helen Clark to become next UN Secretary-General, saying she was a "natural leader".

John Key's session chairing UN Security Council on Syria crisis has a heightened significance after the bombing of a UN convoy delivering aid near Aleppo.

John Key and Helen Clark are stepping up their sales pitch to advance Clark as a strong and independent candidate for United Nations Secretary-General.

COMMENT: John Key is set to land in the centre of a diplomatic crisis between the US and Russia during leaders' week at the UN over the truce in Syria.

The Republican presidential nominee's daughter, became irritated with the "negativity" in a reporter's questions and abruptly ended a interview.

A hack blamed on Russia has revealed former Secretary of State Colin Powell's views on Trump, Clinton, his colleagues and the Iraq war.

Experts have warned a last-minute attack on Hillary Clinton could completely derail her campaign moments before the US election day.

It seems Donald Trump is not the only one making headlines, similar candidates and political parties are cropping up all over the world.

Clinton cancelled two days of campaigning, inserting new speculation about her health into a campaign in which Trump has called her weak and unfit.

Hillary Clinton has stumbled, verbally and physically, in the past few days.

COMMENT: The truth is we're all more Donald than we would like to be. But how many Trump traits do you have?

Foreign Minister Murray McCully says NZ is concerned about any human rights breaches or attempts to stifle political debate in Fiji.

COMMENT: There's a headline I wish would appear in newspapers across America. It would say something like, "TPP allies back big deal with China".

COMMENT: Spend any length of time in the US and you realise that the Star-Spangled Banner is not an anthem to be dishonoured lightly.

NZ to convene a meeting of the Security Council to discuss North Korea's fifth nuclear test, described by Foreign Minister Murray McCully as a threat to regional security.

Watch NZH Focus: President Barack Obama says Republican Donald Trump isn't qualified to be president and "every time he speaks that opinion is confirmed. Actress and UN Special Envoy Angelina Jolie attends a UN peacekeeping conference in London. And Turkey suspends more than 11 thousand teachers over their suspected links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party.

Watch NZH Focus: As the ASEAN meeting gets underway in Laos, Prime ministers John Key and Malcolm Turnbull have publicly declared their status as “Best Friends Forever”. Police in Paris arrest a man after his car was found near the Notre Dame Cathedral with seven gas cylinders inside. and The inclusion of a fit-again Ryan Crotty at second five is the only change to the All Blacks starting fifteen to face Argentina on Saturday.

The last thing Auckland needs is a mayor elected on a mandate to pursue a needless extravagance for no better reason than he or she promised it.

Watch NZH Focus: Laos Prime Minster has welcomed leaders at the opening of the ASEAN, Prime Minister John Key is set to meet Barack Obama for talks. The Frenchwoman who received the world's first partial face transplant has died from cancer, 11 years after the surgery. And New Zealand is bracing itself for a return to wintery weather, more snow and strong winds is making its north up the South Island.

It is a relief that a G20 summit hosted by China produced nothing worse than a dispute over steps the US President would use to alight from Air Force One.

Source: AFP

Watch NZH Focus: A strong aftershock rocks the North Island's east coast, a 5.7 magnitude quake struck at 3.19 this morning. President Barack Obama becomes the first sitting US president to visit the isolated, landlocked Southeast Asian nation of Laos. And Mel Gibson’s new movie the World War II action drama ‘Hacksaw Ridge’ premieres to rave reviews at the Venice Film Festival.

COMMENT: Why is the US election down to being between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton? Alan Duff reckons it's because the US is weird and contradictory.

COMMENT: Is there a more perfect expression of the First Amendment than roasting the head of state?

It has been 24 long years since Hillary Clinton uttered these controversial words, but she still hasn't shaken loose of them.

Watch NZH Focus: Mother Teresa of Calcutta, has been declared a saint by Pope Francis just 19 years after her death. Donald Trump has closed the gap with Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, as he consolidates support among his party’s likely voters in recent weeks. And Disney, Universal and SeaWorld are now providing free mosquito repellent as the Zika virus continues to be found in parts of Miami.

Madonna has officially endorsed Hillary Clinton by blasting Donald Trump's sons via social media.

Venezuela, Ecuador and Bolivia have recalled their ambassadors to protest what they call a "coup" in the wake of the dismissal of Brazil's President.