Foreign Minister Murray McCully has launched a broadside against Russia and the Security Council in New York this morning.

The Maori Party are appalled Kiwis are being treated as second-class citizens by so-called 'mates'.

South Africa's murder rate has increased for the third year running, with opposition groups saying the figures mirror "a country at war".

PM John Key will use his address to the UN to again call for reform of the Security Council, in a week in which its failings have been on display.

Prime Minister John Key has ruled out promising more troops for UN peacekeeping missions but will not rule out specialist support such as intelligence.

Kiwis have been "caught up in the net" of a harsher policy and are likely facing tough conditions in deportation centres such as that on Christmas Island, Australian Human Rights Commission president Gillian Triggs says.

Jeb Bush is entering a critical phase of his Republican presidential campaign, with top donors warning that the former Florida Governor needs to demonstrate growth.

A high-profile lawyer has rubbished Queensland's anti-bikie laws, saying they are totally useless and nothing more than a political stunt.

Catalans vote today on the de facto referendum for their independence from Spain.

Saudi Arabia faces questions of accountability as it feels the pressures of war and falling oil prices.

Nothing less than a multifaceted strategy is required to address both the political causes and the military symptoms of the rise of Isis, writes Robert Patman.

Imagine being David Cameron's public relations adviser, writes Paul Thomas. "How did this come about, according to the book? I mean, was it a dare? Did he trip?"

Hillary Clinton has begun an effort to convince voters that she is "fun" and a "real person".

Political parties - especially those that position themselves to the left of centre - in countries like ours will watch with interest what happens to the British Labour Party's new leader.

In promoting Scott Morrison to Treasurer new Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull has put his faith in someone to turn around the nation's fortunes.

Three months ago it was all just a big joke. Donald Trump? Get out! Surely The Apprentice can't be rating that badly?

Turnbull's coup against Abbott this week proves that while modern prime ministers still survive or perish based on the support of their colleagues.

The election of Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader in Britain has exposed a fatal flaw in left-wing thinking.

A narcissistic blowhard leads the Republican presidential race. Australia goes through PMs like a banana republic on fast-forward. What's going on?

Today, for millions of people, the difference between living in war or peace, between prosperity and starvation, between self-determination and oppression, are determined purely by geography and borders.

"Leftwards" is often used to mean not only "extreme" and "unrealistic" but "backward-looking" as well, writes Bryan Gould.

Things have changed, and the Kiwi PM is showing the way. So just ask yourself, what would John Howard do?

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully is preparing to lead a trade mission to Iran amid a thawing of relations between the Islamic republic and the west.

Malcolm Turnbull has flagged there will be more women in senior positions of his Government.

"You could drop a nuclear bomb on this Parliament and Julie Bishop would crawl out as deputy leader."