Latest from International Politics

Greece unable to find $2.4b for IMF debt

Greece will be unable to find the 1.6 billion ($2.4 billion) sum it is due to hand the International Monetary Fund (IMF) next month, one of the country's ministers has admitted.

US attacks Iraq's lack of 'will'

US Defence Secretary Carter warned that Iraqi troops would not be able to defeat Isis until they developed a "will to fight", reflecting surprise after the collapse in Ramadi.

Wake-up call at the Vatican

Clinton collects cash by talking to friends

In one of her last gigs on the paid lecture circuit, Hillary Clinton addressed an eBay summit aimed at promoting women in the workplace, delivering a 20-minute talk that gave her a US$315,000 payday from the company.

Asset or albatross - Bill's a mixed blessing for Hillary

A poll in March found Bill Clinton is America's most popular politician, outranking subsequent Presidents George W Bush and Barack Obama, - and his wife, Hillary, who is running for the presidency in the 2016 race.

Investor 'meh' over banks' criminal pleas

Investors yawned at the news that five of the world's biggest banks agreed to plead guilty in a currency-rigging probe.

Living hell of Nauru in inquiry spotlight

Yesterday, as the Senate began public hearings into conditions in the Australian-funded detention centre, those words seemed not too far from the truth.

Polls give Abbott and party a boost

A Budget full of giveaways for families and small businesses has achieved what seemed impossible barely three months ago.

Funds row as gay marriage vote nears

With just days to go before Ireland's historic referendum on the legalisation of gay marriage, a bitter row has broken out between supporters and opponents over the funding of their respective campaigns.

Attack on new mothers backfires

Earlier this week, Tony Abbott and his senior ministers accused new mothers who benefit from a government as well as a private parental leave scheme of committing a "rort" and "basically fraud".

Paul Thomas: Conservative voters strangle voice of an angel

Most incoming governments take charge of divided countries, that's the nature of democracy. And the UK is really no more divided now, writes Paul Thomas.

Billy Adams: Risky move on cards as Abbott weighs options

In Europe, cosmetic firms are required to put expiry dates on products with a lifespan of less than 30 months. Similar consumer protections might be worth applying to federal politicians in Australia.

Charles's letters open for all to see

Letters from Prince Charles to government ministers were finally published after a 10-year legal battle to keep them from public view, opening debate on whether the Prince overreached into political affairs.

Josie Pagani: Labour struggling to banish blues

Ed Miliband did a really good job of keeping the UK Labour Party united, writes Josie Pagani. They still lost, proving there is more to winning elections than having everyone singing

Kathy Marks: Australia - land of the great pretenders

Australia has a Budget crisis and a debt that will crush generations to come. Or does it? It depends on who's in government, and how badly they want to save their own skin.

Sweeteners for small biz, families

Joe Hockey's and Tony Abbott's budget is top-heavy on sweeteners for small business and families, without the sour taste of a Medicare co-pay or easing back on age pensions.

Problem-child 'hidden' in Budget run-up

The defining image of this year's Budget, which is widely viewed as pivotal to the electoral future of Tony Abbott's Coalition Government, is the almost complete absence of Hockey in the run-up to today's announcement.

Christopher Niesche: Abbott faces dilemma

Tony Abbott and his Treasurer have two big problems to solve when they present the Australian Budget to the nation tomorrow night.