The American presidential election has been dominated over recent days by speculation about the mental fitness of the two main candidates.

Kiwis don't have a vote in the US election but that doesn't stop them having an opinion about what the result should be.

A group of former national security officials have signed an open letter warning that, if Donald Trump elected, "he would be the most reckless president".

Crowds cheered Donald Trump for a $20 million gift to a children's home. But did he ever make the donation?

The two major-party presidential candidates are advertising duelling economic speeches this week - both set to be delivered from Detroit.

Historians may conclude that the 2016 US election was decided in early August when Trump suffered one of the most politically calamitous weeks ever.

It's indisputable that Donald Trump's presidential campaign has reached its lowest ebb.

COMMENT: As the world tunes into Rio Olympics, politicians in Canberra have turned their attention to another favourite sport of Australians: bank bashing.

Democrats rally behind their candidate while Republicans are slower to back Donald Trump.

The United Nations Security Council will hold its second secret ballot in its selection process for a new Secretary General to replace Ban Ki Moon.

Kevin Rudd says Australia Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's rejection of Rudd's bid to be UN Secretary General was a breach of faith and would damage Turnbull internationally.

Donald Trump insisted there was "great unity in my campaign" yesterday despite signs the Republican Party is turning against its nominee.

Did David Bain do it? That's one question. The other one is this: did he get a fair trial? I was gonna write two versions of this.

COMMENT: The support for Trump, Sanders and Brexit is a sign that something is rotten in the state of our democracy.

COMMENT: Women and their supporters have the opportunity to change the dynamics of local government this year.

Donald Trump is facing mounting criticism from leaders of his own party, as a confrontation between the Republican nominee and the Muslim American parents.

Donald Trump will remain impetuous, Clinton will remain cautious and the tenor will remain nasty.

Watch NZH Focus: Donald Trump lashes out at two Muslim American parents who lost their son while he served in Iraq and who appeared at the Democratic Convention.

The rise of Putin and Trump combined with the Brexit fall out are all signs another great war is looming, a British academic has warned.

COMMENT: Was America listening? There's madness around. Some of it may be anger and fear but mostly it looks like fun. Mindless, reckless, foolish fun.

There's nothing like the wacky hoopla of American politics, although no one's ever seen anything quite like the battle going on there at the moment.

Hillary Clinton had a lengthy to-do list yesterday: Reintroduce one of the most famous people in the world. Take down Donald Trump.

COMMENT: Hillary Clinton is a perfect picture of pragmatism and power. That is the contrast.

An offer of amnesty by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has been met with scepticism by rebel fighters and residents.

Michelle Obama made clear this week that she is all-in for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign.

Hillary Clinton spoke directly to Trump's constituency of white, working-class voters - but delivered in a style sharply contrasting to the Republican convention.

Watch as we remember Presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's road to the presidential campaign.

Hillary Clinton has much of Hollywood backing her presidential campaign, Donald Trump has Moscow. Now another enemy of the state has supported him.

COMMENT: I enjoy reading Alan Duff's occasional articles about life in France and life in New Zealand from a distance.

Trump's loose and provocative talk about the Russians and Clinton's emails seemed beyond even his standards for creating turmoil and controversy.