Cuba is also a more-than-safe place, with a rich cultural tradition and a unique social environment in constant transformation.

Christie insists he wasn't taken "hostage" by Trump.

COMMENT: In Washington DC, I was a diplomat for a day. I drove down wide boulevards where Secret Service agents paced in cargo pants and tactical vests.

Republican front-runner's poor standing with key voters is a major hurdle in the general election.

Tenacity, competence and caution have been touchstones of Helen Clark's enduring political career.

The prospect of Donald Trump leading the GOP ticket this November is enough to send many Republicans into a defensive crouch/cower.

Both Clinton and Sanders are campaigning heavily in New York, marking the beginning of a potentially long slog through the state.

Prime Minister John Key has just attended a dinner hosted by President Barack Obama in the East Room of the White House.

Despite worldwide shock and indignation, it looks like little Aylan Kurdi's tragic death last summer changed little.

Donald Trump came under fire this week for saying that women should be subject to "some sort of punishment" for undergoing illegal abortions.

None of the three remaining Republican presidential candidates would guarantee yesterday that they would support the eventual GOP nominee for president.

BARRY SOPER: If there's even a remote possibility of Clark slipping into the UN's Secretary-General role she'd be into it like a Queensland fruit fly.

Trump has doubled down on supporting his campaign manager, asking if he can press charges against her.

Bernie Sanders is preparing to ratchet up his attacks on Hillary Clinton ahead of a New York showdown.

COMMENT: West will never thwart each and every attack, but the power to undermine propaganda is in our hands.

United States President Barack Obama challenged Cuba's Communist Government with an impassioned call for democracy and economic reforms yesterday.

Donald Trump swept to victory in yesterday's primaries but rival Ted Cruz showed some fight with a win in Utah that gave hope to establishment Republicans.

Castro accuses US of double standards after Obama criticises human rights record.

Donald Trump's success will rest on his white voters following his attacks on ethnic groups - and they might not be enough.

Cuban trip comes amid high anticipation and anxiety on the island.

US President Barack Obama says he and Cuban President Raul Castro had a "frank and candid conversation" on human rights and democracy, and are making progress in tearing down barriers between the two nations.

Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton and her allies have begun preparing a playbook to defeat Donald Trump in a general-election match-up.

COMMENT: He's a pouty-lipped liar but there is something about the guy. He's funny, has great one-liners and he's energised.

Mitt Romney is calling for republicans to join together in doing one thing - vote for Cruz and force an open convention.

Fox News has blasted Republican candidate Donald Trump over his "sick obsession" with female anchor Megyn Kelly.

As Donald Trump basked in the glow of victories, he gave a shout-out to embattled campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, positioned at his right hand.

Brazil's Lower House of Congress has launched impeachment proceedings against President Dilma Rousseff after thousands of Brazilians took to the streets.

A secretive group of Republican operatives and conservative leaders convened for more than three hours to discuss ways to unite the right against Donald Trump.

A criminal complaint of alleged battery was filed against Lewandowski last week by Michelle Fields who says he assaulted her as she tried to ask a question.

The warning was issued by the London-based Economist Intelligence Unit, which put a Trump presidency in sixth place among the top 10 risks facing the world.