Melania Trump's speech was the high-point of the night - unfortunately it might be because it was copied from Michelle Obama.

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.

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

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

COMMENT: It is a nation that seems incapable of throwing off the shackles of its racism.

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.

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.

COMMENT: Malcolm Turnbull's narrow win in Australia ought to put fellow political brahmin John Key on notice.

Ongoing escalations in the South and East China Seas have some analysts daring to wonder who would win a war.

Source: UN / Al Jazeera

36 year old Nick Marshall was shot dead by police in Hamilton last night as they carried out a search warrant relating to the supply methamphetamine and firearms. Central New Zealand is bracing for more gale force winds and rain as a wintry storm bears down on the

At least 20 people died and dozens were injured when two passenger trains collided at high speed in southern Italy. Bernie Sanders has endorsed Hillary Clinton’s campaign for the White House at an event in New Hampshire.

COMMENT: Post Brexit, it's business as usual for existing institutions and policies in defence, counter-terrorism and migration management.

Americans are looking at New Zealand in a new light and it's entirely politically motivated.

John Key says he doesn't know Theresa May very well but his impression is she's a straight shooter and others speak highly of her.