COMMENT: It's official. Donald Trump - yes, that one, the one from TV - is legit running for President.

As students of comparative civil-military relations, we were surprised to read the Herald's editorial, "Coup's failure hopeful sign for democracy."

The big rallies and marches in Cleveland have been relatively orderly this week save for a simultaneous proliferation of ad hoc protests.

COMMENT: As Britain's new Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson ponders a worldwide tour, NZ can stand proud as the only country he has not offended.

COMMENT: Donald Trump is adding fuel to Wall Street anxiety about his candidacy, jabbing directly at big banks this week with new language.

COMMENT: They look so accessible and they're talked about as though they're everyone's next door neighbour.

Watch NZ Herald Focus: Russia's participation in the Rio Olympics is still uncertain as the IOC explores legal options for banning the country from the Games. Also Lady Gaga and her fiancé, Taylor Kinney, are ending their 5 year relationship

Trump made a splashy debut on the convention stage to introduce his wife, Melania, whose speech was a highlight of an otherwise uneven evening.

Here are questions we will know the answers to by the end of the week.

COMMENT: Melania said the Trumps will bring kindness, love and compassion to the White House.

Cleveland is getting rowdy as pro-Trump, anti-Trump factions clash ahead of the Republican National Convention.

Russia run a state-sponsored doping programme at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, that’s according to a report out today. Prime Minister John Key says he can't say if he brought up the case of a New Zealander convicted of drug smuggling in Indonesia with its president.

Rage? Rancor? Violence? That wasn't the situation when about 2000 Clevelanders joined hands at the Hope Memorial Bridge.

Having summoned democracy to his side, the Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan may need to be more willing to honour it.

COMMENT: For such a wily campaigner Kevin Rudd has left his run late for the world's top diplomatic post.

Republican Party will be focused on two goals in Convention: reintroducing Donald Trump, and healing the leftover wounds of a brutal primary season.

COMMENT: After the attack in Nice, Donald Trump was able to promote his idea of banning Muslims in the United States.

Chief Brexit campaigner Boris Johnson faced a wave of criticism and mockery after being named Britain's Foreign Secretary.

COMMENT: Helen Clark has stormed through the transparent part of her bid to lead the United Nations.

Theresa May has moved into 10 Downing St to become the UK's second female PM, taking charge at one of the most turbulent times in recent history.

Prime minister John Key was a guest of the French President, Francois Hollande at the Bastille Day commemorations in Paris Chris Froome was allowed to keep the yellow jersey after the Tour de France race jury ruled he lost his bike in unfair circumstances.

COMMENT:

The Philippines has urged Beijing to respect an international tribunal's ruling that rejected Chinese claims to most of the South China Sea.

The new British Prime Minister Theresa May has made Boris Johnson, the former London mayor who led the Brexit campaign, foreign minister. Another day and another wild weather warning - 140 kilometre winds and more heavy rain is heading our way.

Helen Clark is profoundly competent. Competence aside, she still faces a very merky, messy and secretive appointment process at the UN

Theresa May is formally appointed by the Queen as the UK's new prime minister. Japan’s Emperor Akihito could abdicate within a few years that’s according to a government source.

Many in Britain will be breathing more easily knowing a new Prime Minister is being sworn in today.

Hillary Clinton delivered a shot across the bows to the Trans-Pacific Partnership as her bid for the US presidency was endorsed by Bernie Sanders.